Category: Animal House
HI all! A question for you! How can I accomodate eight dogs, a tigeress and two cubs, a lion, a polar bear, two badgers and four horses in my house with no mess and no feed bills? Answers on a postcard please, because it's getting crowded in here!
Why haven't these predators attacked the horses or each other,and why isnt the polar bear over heating.
my pets are very good to each other. btw, two Shetland ponies are arriving today too!
dont say you werent warned about those little Scottish horror stories. 1 threw me ten times in one lesson as a child!
his name Sir John Tiddles!
good luck pal.
my ponies arrived today, the black and white one fled for a hiding place, and the brown and white one made fast friends of my chestnut and white mares. The badgers are confused, the dogs take no notice of anyone, the tigers are absorbed in each other, the lion's watching the tigers, and the polar bear's wondering what on earth she's doing in a house.
LOL!
Are you having any communication problems i think some still speak Gaelic if they do?,You are in deep doo dah if not already...I can see That bear needing counselling is it cold at all where you are let the poor soul out for some fresh air! .
checks with friend munching thru the contens of my fridge
Oi! Pal any danger of these black widows arriving any time soon
black widow spiders? oh no! Spiders not for me! by the way, the polar bear's now thrown in her lot with the tigers. My black and white Shetland pony is watching the Television, and my brown and white Shetland's watching everyone at once. The dogs are still snorhrhrhrhrhrhrhrhing.
The spiders are here 3 females and 5 males as they are often eaten during sex,the cat has left home in disgust and a big hairy mexican tarantula who im lookng after,is yet to emerge from her burrow.
Hmm? that's bizzare behaviour animal planet has nothing on this lot...what's the little horse watching has he located your whisky yet ...He will and then all hell will break loose.
all four of my horses and all the other creatures that populate my house are just glad to get out of the various cramped warehouses they stayed in. No the horses haven't found the whisky yet, I hid it.
You're not sereious are you? All those animals can't posinbly fit in one house and not either kill each other or get your local Spca calling you.
I'm serious, I have eight dogs, two badgers, three tigers, four horses, one lion and one polar bear, and they get on fine in my house. For more information, read my profile. You will see that all is not how it seems on this topic.
Oh ok, I get it now. And you're not the only one who shares space with a wide assortment of animals. In my room right now there's a penguin, a monkey, a swan, several bears, a cat, an armadillo, a manatee, several bunnies, and quight a few dogs including one real Labrador. They all say hello.
hehehehehehehehe! I had you going didn't i? Neither would I, or could I keep real animals like what I have if they were real. This whole topic's just a bit of fun. btw, all my dogs, horses, tigers, badgers and other animals say hi.
We share our flat with a large assortment of bears, 2 snakes,a spider,2 tigers,2 rabbits and a dog or 3. 2 of which are real.
Ardeth saved a large bear from the dustbin last week,how someone could even think of throwing away this sad eyed fella is beyond me.
he has a home for life.
a quick update! in the past week, three more polar bears have got their paws in the door! things are getting crowded in here, but there's not much disagreement between the diffrent animals.
Are they Norwegian or Canadian bears those ponies must be getting worried but...Little monsters come armed with big attitudes .Smile
I've taken delivery of a musical octopus at least he's sitting on the stereo and staring worriedly at my Nazgul model.
I don't know what nattionallity the polar bears are, they didn't come with documents! arhrhrhrhrhrhrhg! they said they wanted a home and could I provide one, and before I knew it, they had their paws in the door! the first polar bear to end up with me was very pleased though, she's enjoying the company of three more of her kind. The ponies don't really seem to mind the bears much. One of the bears is continually staring at the brown and white pony, wheras the other three bears are either watching the television, like my black and white pony is, or hogging the sofa so I can't sit down and watch the box any more! I once found the lion cub tickling the tiger cub's paws. The tiger cub said he enjoyed having his paws tickled. As for the badgers, they just stand strong silent guard over the rest of the animals, keeping order. Re your musical octopus, none of my animals plays music. I think if one started, the others would linch it for being a nusense.
LOL!
I'd watch the bear its obviously remembered its predatory instincts,you may become ponyless very soon..If it starts any nonsense send it up here we like rebellious animals
The octopus had an accident yesterday my nephew covered it with yellow paint,and the stereo hmmm? the little darling
Are your lot not appreciative of culture? Think of the musical genre you could create with such a diversity of nationalities and species! An animal orchestra and it might divert that polar bear's attention away from food on the hoof.
my polar bear says he's just facinated by the pony. He's scared of it as it's a lot larger than he is. One of the other bears keeps tickling the paws of a tiger cub, aided and abetted by the lion, who helps the bear out. The badgers plead for restraint, but their pleas go unanswered. The tiger's longing to get the polar bears back for tickling his paws, but he's not managed it yet.
thats one big Shetland i take it the bears are juveniles hmmm where's Mum! that's what I'd be asking.
Id love to give those tigers a hug its an ambition to cuddle an awake Siberian tiger,anaway as everyone is friendly though i get a sense of simmering frustration from those Badgers might that cause a rucus.
the badgers just stamp their paws in frustration, though they know it's all in fun. The polar bears look up to the ponies, quite litterally. The ponies like to think they are above having their hooves tickled, although I saw one of the dogs working on getting my black and white pony to lift a hoof so he could tickle it. The dogs aren't above tickling each other's paws, or having a game of hide and seek among the furnishing in my sitting room. The polar bear's mum is the first polar bear I got, she's tried to keep order among her cubs, but they just keep going after the lion and tiger cubs. The tigress is pretty cooll about everything, prefering to lie and let things happen, as long as they don't endanger her cubs of course. The cubs have tried tickling the paws of the mother polar bear and the tigress, but they'll have none of it. My other two horses, the grey and chestnut mares, just watch all, not having the inclination to get involved.
Hmmm an outbreak of rampant tickling wish i was there to join in the shenanigans smile.
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Well,here we have a joint operation between a group of bears and 2 tigers who havea big snake in a pincer movement who's getting it in the neck for slithering off while the rest create artistic havoc with some abandoned poster paint...
a snake getting it in the neck? *smile* about time someone taught him a lesson. Had a very strange thing happen today. the tigress said she'd seen a white tigress outside my house, and that the white tigress had started banging on my door with one large forpaw. Some of the other animals were a bit hostile to the residant tigress's suggestion that she go and see what the newcommer wanted, but soon they gave in to her reasoning that how would they like it if it was a badger, or a pony, or something other than a tiger that was banging on the door, and she'd raised objections? Anyway, the tigress heard from the white newcommer that she had two cubs, and was desperate for a home. She'd heard of this place, my house, and how as long as you weren't badly behaved, weren't a reptile, and they had space, you could stay as long as you liked. She'd heard that there was a place in scotland for reptiles, but on looking at her stripes and her paws, and those of her cubs, she'd come to the realisation she was feline and wasn't a reptile, so there she was, begging for a home. The tigress tried, but couldn't open the front door, so she told the newcommer that she would tell me of their conversation and that the door would be opened tomorrow so she could come in with her cubs. I must pay tribute to my tigress's pursuasive powers, although she needent have gone so far as to roll onto her back in play and wave her paws in the air, something she does when trying to endear humans to her kind. I was, and am still sympathetic to the white tigress's plight, so she, and her cubs, are getting their paws in the door sometime tomorrow morning. oh, btw, the tiger cubs are now setting upon the polar bear cubs and tickling their paws. It's payback time for the bear cubs I think!
Well eh? Their not fussy just impatient .smile
I like that tigress and her talent for diplomacy but have you thought she may be an ulterior motive...That of ganging up on the bears with more tigers than you shake a lamb shank at....It's just possible that she's planning something...
............................................................The snake is watching a video of Ananconda and threatening to bring some of his relatives,or even Isildur,over for a square go {fisticuffs} which is impossible for him snort!
this il be good pal.
smile
well, the snow tiger is here! she got her paw in the door this morning with two of her cubs. all three are lovely, and yes, the bengaul tiger cub has already tried to tickle the paws of the snow tiger cubs! Their mother wanted a piece of the action too, so the Bengul tigress said she would do the honours and tickle the snow tigeress's paws. Both the tigress's are enjoying their new found game. I think the snow tiger was having issues with some of her roomates in the place she used to be in. her cubs are wonderful, and she is too!
Jeez its a great big love in over there wouldn't mind some of that tickling...
What do the others think of yet more tigers are the badgers annoyed?
I think the badgers have given up being annoyed at anything. They've worked out that all the tigers and other animals want is to play, and that's fine by them. the ponies hide in their corners and try to ignore the antics of the polar bears, dogs and tigers, thinking it's rather beneath them to even think of having their hooves tickled, even though they haven't tried it. The bengaul tigeress keeps stroking and massaging the snow tigeress's paws, as she says they are soft and very strokeable. From time to time she also tickles the snow tigress's paws, depending on what they both want from their time together. The snow tigress says she's at peace now, and can enjoy her life. And while all this is going on, the bears are tickling the dogs paws, while the dogs are tickling the paws of the tiger cubs. It settles down around midnight, and starts up again around dawn, but all's fine here.
What the hell is this? lol!...
I see thats great to hear i was worried about the arrival of another tiger,does she have blue eyes the white tigress they are so beautiful..My tigers say hello they may come down for some tickling....And those Shetlanders think they are a cut above its the Norse blood.smile
Here the snake has called Rolf Harris and some big fellow called Jose we'er none the wiser i just hope he has legs, eh 2 black widows escaped this morning and caused havoc among the dogs who dont like them at all they have called a meeting of all animals with less than 8 legs i suppose that will include the snakes....The others are curious about Jose apparently he really loves water, so bang goes the bath....I just hope Senor is a Cappybarra
I don't know what colour my tigress's eyes are. I will have to get someone to take a look for me. as to another contributer's question as to what this topic is all about, it's a topic dealing with my less than authadox pets. It's only a bit of fun, but the dogs and other animals are all here, and residing in my house. The cubs and some of the adults play together, and one of their favourite games is hide and seek amongst my furniture. They also love to stroke and tickle each other's paws. they're mostly at hthese passtimes during the day when I'm not in the room with them. Then the polar bear cubs set upon the tiger cubs, tickling their paws, while the two tigress's are stroking and tickling each other's paws. the mother polar bear watches all.
Lol some people have wwaaaay too much time on their hands! Lol jkjk, I think this topic is hilarious guys. I love it. Lol! By the way, I've got fifty cats in my room, forty-mine male, one female, the female is expecting seven little kittycats. Theyr'e so darling, I love them! Lol! Oh oh oh oooh and I also have nine guide dogs, I let them take turns! And I've got ten rats, twenty thousand Mexican Jumping Beans, a shoebox filled with glowworms and a cage of golden ravens, all in my little bedroom here with me and my computer. Lol!
Caitlin
P.S. DOn't nobody dare make jokes about my kitties, because I didnt' mean for it to be sick, okay? So don't you dare, they're wonderful!
fifty cats! oh god! at least I have a house to put my animals in! You keep your cats and everything in your room? sheesh
another update. two of my polar bears have clambered onto the speakers on my hifi and won't get off! arhrhrhrhrhrhrhrhrhg! they say they like the vibrations when I play music etc. Another form of paw stimulation? I think so. They especially like heavy rock music, more vibrations you see?
my snow tiger has just had an embarrissing experience. She resides on the back of an easy chair in my living room, with her cubs Nestled close to her. Now if she lies fairly still, she won't roll off and fall on the floor. Now I don't know what caused her to fall off and land on her back with her paws in the air, a rather enthusiastic session of paw tickling I think, but this she did, her forepaws pointing skywards, and her hind paws outstretched in a most undignified manner! She's so large she finds it impossible to roll onto her belly, so I was treated to the sight of my two Shetland ponies, who don't usually associate with the tigers, pushing her onto her chest with their noses in a desperate attempt to restore her dignaty. The snow tigress was none the worse for wear after this, and I saw her and the bengaul tigress tickling each other's paws again, so I think everything's fine now.
hmm. my room is shared with fourteen bunnies, a kitty, a guide dog, a yorkshire terrier, a horse, a mouse, a bear, a large selection of penguins, one mother, a father, and baby cubs from differing families, and a live ginnypig. Caitlin, fifty kitties? no!
If those cats are real though I suspect she's at it,it's a wonder your woman has time to be on here at all.smile
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That was close for the tiger eh? She could have been there all day in a heap and fair play to the ponies,i was wrong about those Shetlanders hmm? Imagine the fun they could have had with your tiger belly up and helpless.
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Here we had an emergency of our own 1 of the pigs anounced he's getting hitched to a fluffy rabbit news to her apparently, but he can't decide who will be his best man he did mention a rather shifty camel called Abdul but he sided with the snake in the last argument so its tense here to say the least......P.S the stereo still doesnt sound right...
...Ahh Yes! Good Good Good Vibrations Dobbin, me Team/Community Leader... Now as for me Kitty, THE Boo BOO! also known as FeFe and will come to Socks and too, Moose Dog! Go Figure! Well, hmm, Now just one Pet-A-Kitty and if you Pet her longer than she desires she.. she... will snap at you like a hissing snake and loves so much so to B I T E
Now , where oh where has me kitty kat a Boo Boo gone... ... ... she must-a-hv gone in a search of GooD Good Good Vibrations..... ...CG
Lol. My kitties are meowing pitiously.
Caitlin
hi all. back again with yet more news and some developments on the manajorial front. My manajory has grown by one, one white horse. I saw him at felexstowe market, and well, just had to give him a home. He's standing beside one of my shetland ponies now, glad to be out of the draught and cold of a warehouse. News is that the polar bears have been tickling each other's paws, giving the tigers a rest, for which they are eternally grateful. Though the snow tigress has threatened to tickle the bengaul tiger cub's paws. The cub says she's up for it, so we'll see where that leads. oh, btw, the polar bears who stand on my speakers can't get enough of the massage their paws get when the music is on. They seem to enjoy that hugely.
...POLAR BEARS! Oh to be in the Company of Polars Bears... Bears did you say, Hmm Now, that {s} on the end of bear equates to two! and they tickle each other paws... Oh maybe they so enRAPped with each other that they not given to notice me and I could maybe.... like... hmm ... now.... maybe cuddle 'em! *smile with a worried look* ...CG here
My fifty cats are now joined by a little cuddly gorilla, only a foot tall, which is currently swinging from my shutter rail.
Caitlin
My polar bears are very approachable. They love being stroked and generally made a fuss of. As has already been shown, offer to tickle or massage their paws and you're their friend for life. in fact all my pets like their paws stroked or massaged, so there'd be no problem getting close to any of them. oh, btw, and they'll kill me for telling you this. I even saw the badgers, yes, those paragons of rectitude and concervitism, tickling each other's paws. I think the snow tiger cubs were watching the badgers through half closed eyes, so I don't know what'll happen necxt!
I've just caught one of the polar bears behind me reading the screen. I didn't notice him until I heard the thudding of paws as he ran down the stairs! Now I think they're all looking forward to having their paws massaged and tickled as well as getting a hug.
...the Tigress is laying low, near the corner of the room observing everything and My such Wonderous Surroundings.. Hmmm Now, me paws are fine and think I will streach out my claws on this carpet of Great Chineese Design... absolute heaven to the touch of the claws and... and.. the pads of the paws.... Oh and Caitlan's kitties, they seem to like me, must have came for a visit... Hey! little one with the TOO SHARK CLAWS...back up, oh here let me get me teeth gently all about you and here... ... here is Your nice soft comfy box with all good play-things. Snuggle Softly rest... Now back to me comfy corner, my perch as it were... Tigress is content. ...CG Here
I opened my door today and another tiger cub ran in! He says he's one of the bengaul tigress's cubs, but that's debateable. anyway, he's now got a home with me, and has shoved the lion off his pearch on the back of my sofa, the lion took refuge on my coffee table! The snow tigress keeps waving her paws in the air, if she's not careful, she'll fall off her ledge again and end up on the floor.
...Sounds as though LION is definitely showing himself to be King as it were... Coffee Table you mention... Yes! Coffee Rules or maybe not so if King-Lion has suddenly taken over.... all paws walking very very softly.....
the lion is now back on the sofa between the two tigers. The newest tiger has quickly worked out the games the others play and is looking forward to getting his paws stroked and tickled. I heard him asking one of the polar bear cubs if she might tickle his paws. I didn't hear the polar bear's response as I was only passing through the room at the time.
...Polar Bear Cub Knows THE Just Right tickles upon the paws of Tigress... *sniff* Mmm coffee Beans grinding in the New Mill...
I have just filled my grinder as a matter of fact, and I have got my perculator doing it's stuff in here as I type. and, oh dear! the polar bears are coming up the stairs, I can hear the swish thud of their paws! Coffee anyone? The tiger cub says she enjoyed having her paws stroked and tickled by the polar bear. The polar bear has asked her to stroke her paws now.
...Tigress holds Polar Bear with a gentle hug known only to the two of them and aPaw tickle gives...and... and.. then they both have Tea Party Time {only Coffee is used at this Tea Party!!}...Oh Oh OH here comes, can it BE??? Winnie THE Pooh Bear!... Oh a REAL party...
tigress holds the polar bear cub? is she trying to steal her? hmm. btw, watch out for the arrival of a fox and two otters. If it is the snow tigress and the polar bear cub holding onto each other, which would make some kind of sense, what would the polar bear's mother think of this? The paw tickling is still going on, and it sounds like the cubs are running up and down the stairs now too! I know I shouldn't have left the coffee pot unatended! arhrhrhrhrhrhrhrhg!
One of the kitties sneaked into my backpack today. Whilst in the middle of a Health presentation, she clawed her way out, bounded over my desk, scratching my BrailleNote's display, and jumped onto the overhead projector, juch to the shock and dismay of my instructor, and the amusement of the class. It was my one female, and I guess she's getting bored? Anyway. I managed to gather her up and I had to take her to the office where my mom picked her up. I wonder if she'll try this stunt again anytime soon, she seems to have enjoyed it. I can't say my BrailleNote, or my Health teacher, or I feel the same way.
woops! what a calamity! My pets might like to tickle each other's paws, but at least my pets don't do that kind of thing! My tigress's would probably not fit into a small backpack anyway. I doubt they'd even consider getting in it.
Lol. This morning I checked to make sure none of the little kittens (they were born two days ago), sneaked in. Naughty little things they are. Anyway, how are your pets doing, Dobbin?
Caitlin
...I have heard via FeFe that Tigress has regressed back to Her Special Corner where pads on paws get nice rub from the rug Chineese and laws enabled to Strengthen...never know when they might come in handy... ... and oh! sniff sniff, THAT coffee sure sniffs good to the Tigress....who seems to be a Waiting the Moment to Pounce on it..
my tigress, the bengaul one, is very happy tonight, as another cub found his way to my place. He came crawling to my door, half drowned from the rain, complaining that his paws were wet and he was cold and needed a home. The bengaul tigress said she'd take him in and told one of her cubs to go get a towel from the airing cupboard to dry the cub off. The towel having arrived, I was treated to the sight of the bengaul and the snow tigress wrapping the new cub up in the towel, rubbing the water from his coat and paws. This done, the snow tigress took the bengaul tiger cub to her place, where she curled her body round his to keep him warm. Her cubs loved the newcommer on site. They took a forepaw each and are now massaging the new tiger cub's paws as I type. Meanwhile, the bengaul tigress has come up the stairs to see if my coffee perculator is running. Last word I heard was that the new tiger cub was enjoying his paw massage, and that he was feeling a lot happier now he was warm and dry.
..Oh! Tigress it isn't laws you are strengthening IT IS CLAWS... You somehow MUST be related to Pooh Bear, he is kinda "silly" you understand....
both my tigress's, the polar bear's mother and the ponies have read this topic and find it most amusing. Both the tigress want me to put it on record that they keep their claws sheethed and don't use them unless provoked. They enjoy paw massages, in fact all the bears and tigers do. The lion is bored with paw massages, and hides in a corner most of the time. The ponies are glad they have four feet on the ground. hang on, my snow tigress wants to type a message. fjeqfdsklasdl;kfd aslk qfdj lka sld! Hang on snowy, I think your paws are a bit large for this keyboard, you tell me what you want to say and I'll right it down. She says that she enjoys a paw massage, and enjoys having her paws tickled even more than that. Looking down at her right forepaw, she admits it is a bit large to be typing on the keyboard with any degree of legibility. waving a paw, she disappears down the stairs, followed by the rest of the animals.
...Pooh Bear takes a runnin' tumblein' head over heels and bounce bounce bump! right down the steps with the rest of the New Friends Found.
Lol. I love reading this topic ...
Caitlin
my tiger cubs are playing together at the moment. In fact so are the adults. The two tigress are playing togehtertogether, and one of the badgers has unbent enough to play with the mother polar bear.
..it seems as though Caitlin's kitty who came for a visit and was placed ever so gently in the area most comfy and with all the nicest of play toys and tired it's little kitten-self out...well, hm now, appears to be re-AWakening....
I returned from a long day yesterday to find my snow tigress and one of the bengaul tiger cubs warming their forepaws on one of my radiators. Immediately the bengaul cub saw me sit down on the sofa, she clambered onto my lap. At this the snow tigress looked envious as she can't do the same thing as she's too large. The bengaul tiger cub snuggled up to me and fell asleep. The snow tigress had to be content with resting her forepaws on the cushions and from there letting me stroke her ears and paws. It was clear though, that given half a chance, she would have clambered onto my lap.
a bit more of an update. you know I said there would be otters coming soon to my manajory? well, there are! six otters, four large and two small are coming soon!
...One here, "Hi!," holding tightly onto My Winnie-The-Pooh-Bear and He is all golden fur you understand with his velvety Red vest so soft on. REALLY Spruced up and oh so fine! Well, here we are aWait-ing for the Story here to continue on ... Oh and Pooh should like to join in from time-to-time and wants for those to know that want to BEnTHEknow2know that between Pooh's ears it is well, NOT all fluff!! gotts some un-fluff as it were...What? that is..is..perhaps... ... ... deBATeable. *smile* .... Poooh would like some some some honey in a milkshake please.... Oh Oh Dobbin, you are too kind! "ThankYou!" Pooh Bear has made request of me to say to Thee for granting this request. ...ConnieG. here
I arrived in my living room this morning to find one of the bengaul tiger cubs close to falling on top of one of my labradores. The tiger cubs have taken to sitting on the back of my sofa, and this one had slipped so that he was only stopping himself from falling by digging in his toes . worse was to happen when one of the polar bear cubs sneaked up on the poor tiger cub and started tickling the poor tiger cub's hind paws. the snow tigress caught the tiger cub before he fell onto the labradore and gave the polar bear cub a peace of her mind. The polar bear cub returned to his mother very subdewed.
*smile* ... ahh dear little Polar Bear Cub... **sad sad bear face...** CG here === Pooh Bear, kind Bear that feels so verry deeply goes over to Polar Bear Cub and ... and ... here Have a Mini Sized HONEY Milkshake, it was the last of the Milkshade Dobbin prepared and he poured it into this specail cup with a .. with a ... with a ...like a lip pour spout.. You should like it and it like won't get all over , well, not too bad a clean up *worried look* and well, HONEY is GOOD! and BEARS LIKE HONEY, it helps BEARS to be Strong and a well a it just helps Bears to BE Good! ... and ahh, well, Hope you like it and Pooh thinks with little un-fluff between the ears of how verry MUCH THAT left over HONEY Milkshake would have tasted... Polar Bear Cub seems to enJOY his Milkshake and seems to be so content that is almost about to go sleepy rest for just a little while... ...ConnieG./CG here
my tiger cubs are warming their hind paws against a radiator as I speak. The snow tigress wants some of what the cubs have, complaining her paws are freezing and that she wants to get them warm. The polar bears look down at their paws and are grateful for the thick fur they have keeping them warm. it's cold here at the moment. The lion cub, wanting warm paws also, has joined the tiger cubs by the radiator.
...Well well well muses Winnie-The-Pooh-Bear, so here you are Tigress feeling a bit of a ccold rush and sending the wrong tingles up your spine, can't relax can you..?? Here, give me a paw, ... and ... here ... give to me your other front paw ... feel better Now don't you Tigress. I can feel for you, NOT that that same Life Experiences I have had as What! you are Experiencing ... it is just that ... it is just that ... that ... himm now, Well, TIGER is a Friend of mine of Story of Olden Days in a place and time so long long ago ... I almost forgot what I was saying... fluff you underestand between my ears at times kinda blocks my thinkin' ... Now where was I ... Ah Yes! ... Himm Now, TIGER of Days of Old ...well, someone put those kleets-like- -thing-A-maGiggers on his CLAWS too at one time and TIGER in such the mis-fit of moods... I removed them from off his front paws and then TIGER was given to be BOUNCY-all-Happy-all-Over, just like I am when HONEY is my Sweet Reward. === In a not too long passsage of time Tigress is feeling content and warmth of Compassion expressed is filling up the tingles that were as claws on a chalk board running the wrong way, ccold vicious chills you understand... === Tigress goes to her Special Corner to relax an unwind === Ahh the feel of SHARPenin' the CLAWS on the Chineese Rug so velvety friction smooth to hungry Claws and Pads too are finding sweet their reief , to just BE and be relaxed ... and ... content. ...Connie here
My kitties are now meowing and gambling around in a pile of twine they unrolled from a roll of the stuff. The little devils!
the snow tigress told me of her paw massage. She said it was very good, and that both her forepaws were almost asleep. Curling and uncurling her toes to wake them up, she stretched languidly and nearly fell off her pearch. Scrabbling frantically with her hind paws, she managed to save herself by digging in her toes and holding on for dear life as, with her forepaws, she pushed herself back onto the ledge she lies on. One very relieved tigress. Although she was, and is still grateful to the ponies who helped her onto her paws after she fell off her ledge that one time, she knows they don't much like tigers, but for what reason she doesn't know. She wouldn't even think of eating a horse you see, she eats fish and things, so when the otters arrive, there's going to be an increased bill for fish.
The snow tigress enjoys playing with her tiny cubs, who love to tickle her paws, for her paws are huge and soft, just right for the cubs to stroke and tickle. The Snow tigress doesn't mind any of this, she quite enjoys it actually. She likes to feel her cubs stroking her paws, as she's so large she can't really touch the cubs without fear of harming them. So the times when her cubs touch, stroke and tickle her paws, are the only times when she really has physical contact with them.
oh my god. All this is just weird.
hi lu, have you worked out how I can have the animals I have in my house without problems?
another update! I heard a lot of banging and scratching at my door todayy. Recognising the sound of scrabbling paws, I looked out to find a fox, who was banging and scrabbling at the door, accompanied by six otters,four adults and two cubs. Now they've got a new home with me. Problem though, the dogs are looking to chase the fox, which is now unlawful in england and wales! I'm coming close to binding the dogs paws together to stop them from chasing the fox! Oh dear! now the fox is chasing the dogs! chaos here!
update number two for today! more scrabbling of paws against UPVC doors, and this time it was a tiger cub. Not wanting to damage my door, he'd used his toes, rather than her claws to scratch against the door, banging with the flat of her paw on the door for good measure, so her paw was rather sore. After bathing it, the cub said she'd got no home, and that she would be very grateful if I could give her a home. slipping her paw into my hand she pleaded for understanding. I couldn't ignore her cry for help could I. so now I have seven tiger cubs, two tigress, five horses, two badgers, four polar bears, eight dogs, one lion and six otters! now I really can't give any more animals a home, not because I don't want to, but because I have no more room! more animal antics later!
...in the meanwhile Winnie-The-Pooh-Bear has shy-ly asked by a downward nod of the head with a tilt of one-half a smile... Dobbin muses much as Pooh has been known to and Yes! Yes!! I shall go and make some more of THAT Honey Milkshake that you so seem to enJOY... and Yes, What? you ask..! Tigress with the Claws all un-kleeted wants some to!!! O.k. o.k. What! next.... Dobbin off for to get some Honey in a Milkshake for Tigress... ... Pooh Bear is so verry plesed and goes over to Caitlin's kitty to untangle AND to tangle some twine with. What FUN!!! *smile* ...Connie here
...Drat THIS twine...Oh the bother!... this twine is ... is .... is ... a getting on seeminly my last nerve .... Tigress where? are you... in Need of some SHARP CLAWS to cut me loose... === Tigress with the Claws so verry sharp and polished smooth from countless times of Chineese rug manicuring... well, Tigress, arises from her Special Comfy Cosy Corner and with aLeap!n-aBound! comes to the rescue! Almost-Razor fine cutting claws, just a slight rub on twine knarled into all unimaginable mess of tangeling... and RELEASED! ... Caitlins kitty and Pooh-Bear relax after.. after.. a bit of too much tangeling... Pooh's paw in need of care while Caitlin's kitty all frisky and decides that Friendly toys of hers are safer and ALOT more enJOYable. ... ... Dobbin is kind and goes and gets some gauze with gentle ointment for healing on Pooh-Bear's Paw to gets its start.... Silly old bear Muses Pooh-Bear, I Really gotta be more careful... folks think paper cuts hurt! well, just let me tell you about twine cuts.... Dobbin you are kind .... Hope you have a pleasant Thanksgiving ... Honeyeed Milkshakes are Really so verry sothing to hungry Tummies ... and ... and ... to frazzled nerves on the mend ... Oh here kitty kitty kitty.... CG
I spent about a half hour this morning trying to persuade my dad to let me adopt a guide-dog-wanna-be, who'd flunked out of guide dog school. The idea is that young people, who are guide-dog-owner-wanna-bes can learn to care for a dog before they get their actual guide dog. My dad was firm--no. Gurhrhrhrhrhr! I went to my room, where the meows of my now eighty cats, sixy male and twenty females, accosted me. I love my kitties!
I'd like to know where the shince rug came from,as I don't own one, and as for my tigress clawing the place up, well, I haven't seen evidence of that yet. Currently the tiger cubs are playing with the otters, facinated by them, as they've never seen a mammal with webbed feet. They think only ducks have webbed feet, and now this strange thing, six strange things have come into the house, and they've got webs between their toes on all four paws! The polar bears were quick to say that they had slight webbing between the toes of their hind paws too, as they swam a good deal in the wild. Now the tigers are anxiously examining each other's paws to see if they have webs between their toes. Oh, btw, did I tell you I had a fox too? well, he's currently curled up with one of my otters, enjoying the warmth of the otter's fur, as she's got more than he has.
Otters are so cute. And blubbery too, to keep them warm, sometimes. it's so cute how they crack shells of crabs and stuff open with rocks on their little chests when they're hungry. lol. I read a book about htem when I was little and I was totally enthralled!
Caitlin
a point to note. otters, unlike beavers, don't have blubber. their insulation is done entirely with two layers of fur. this is why when oil slicks happen, otters suffer most of all, as their fur's water resistance is destroyed by the oil. Otters trap air in the fir to keep themselves warm.
...Pooh is wondering what Dobbin is talkin' about regarding the shince rug because all he has any understanding at all about and... that is not too verry much due to all the fluff AND un-fluff between his ears... o.k. NOW back to the understanding of Where the Chineese rug came from... It was a SPECIAL Gift sent to Dobblin while he was away from his home of Great Tigers and Bears and critters... WEll, because Dobbin has made such a loving home then this gift of a rug was sent to Honor his kindnesses shown... besides Tigress REALLY NEEDed a special haven for her claws that are ONLY readied... ... ... just in case .... ... .. of any DANGER that may preesent itself to hurt the little cubs n- kittens n- all.... Dobbin's place is Creature Friendly...Just ask Pooh-Bear. ...Connie here
I went into my bedroom today to find the fox, who lies on top of the quilt, trying to get beneath it. He said he was cold. It looked like the otter was trying to do the same thing too! Maybe they were envious of the labradore, who accidentally got covered by the quilt when I straightened my bed this morning. I know the otter wants the warmth most of all, and the fox is aiding her in getting it. btw, the tigers are still examining their paws to see if they've got webs between their toes. Of course, this kind of thing leads to more paw tickling and general merriment. The snow tigress is rather annoyed though, her rug disappeared into the wash yesterday and she's wanting it back.
...Disappeared into the W A S H!!!! ....Tigress is about having a fit and so much so ... himm now .... Oh my GOODness! such the Cat Howlings and so much so when the rug so .. so ... so well, how should I put this ... the rug is now rather say placemat size given that it went through the Wash and Dry Cycles and it .. it ... it S H R U N K!!!! Cats Howls can be heard all over the neighborhood and also to a neighboring community .... KNOCK KNOCK! KNOCK!!! SPECIAL DELIVERY of a NEW Rug for Tigress ... Thank GOODness! Someone heard the howl and answerd the prayer in a manner of speaking! ...Pooh-Bear helps to unroll the most B E A U T I F U L New Rug with texture more so a deepened marvelous to the pad paw touch. Tigress at home once again in her Special Corner of Comfort lying aTop the New Chineese Rug . . . Ahh Home SweetHome and Claws in such good care that no sharpening is necessary {The NOW Placemat size rug that got washed will be reserved for such grooming purposes} *smile* ...CG
my snow tigress has today decided she's bored of being downstairs and wants to go upstairs. I heard her heavy paws padding up my stairs and along my hallway to my bedroom, where she promtly evicted the labradore from his place under the quilt and commondeered it for herself! Now she's dug in for the long term, her forepaws gripping the quilt for all she's worth. She says she's going nowhere!
...and IF DOBBIN EVEN THINKS OF ENTERING .... he shall well, be EATEN! Mmmm Dobbin you taste good! You must be a Turkey for Sure... Happy Thanksgiving from America...this is Connie CG ........................................... oh oh all a bad dream.... *smile* Tigress goes downstairs to the kitchen and fixes up a drink of Hawaiian Punch with MICHIGAN and NOT Texas VERNORS Ginger ALE compliments of Pooh-Bear, the GREATEST Creature helper of All Time... Cheers! Pooh says The Tigress, TIGER, er rather "Tigger" would be so Bouncy-Happy *hop hop* .... Tigress on her New Rug with Pooh by her side and in front of her fore-paws her Newly fashioned placemat............... Oh! What? say... on Televison a repeat of TIGER BASEBALL Games of the Summer-Time Season... Tigress in search of her main-man, er a rather her Main Tiger...... GO GO GO DETROIT TIGER BASEBALL .... Dobbin comes down the steps and Pooh offers him some of the Special Drink... Dobbin sits on the New rug by Tigress and holds Pooh-Bear lovingly as the TIGERS continues to play in a repeat of a Memory of a Time that has nearly faded... .... Spring Training Baseball SEASON looms on the horizon.... Tigress snoring *smile* CG here
My cats now want accounts on the zone. I told them they can't, seeing as how they can't type, and stuff. But they just keep purring. I may have to give in soon, and register them all.
Caitlin
bassball in england? we! don't! have! that! rubbish! what would tigers know of bassball anyway? the closest they'll get to their natural home is documentaries about tigers on animal planet. Oh, btw, the horses are already clammouring for me to record a documentary about horses on Sunday night, as well as a well known fictional story about horses on radio four on Sunday afternoon! My snow tigress, yes, the one with the fat paws and short tail, her that was the runt of her litter, is now snug beneath my quilt. she's just too fat. I think her mother rejected her as soon as she saw her. The tigress's cubs are fine, so it was a mistake of birth that made the snow tigress as she is. She's got large paws, a shortened tail, a large head and floppy ears, the only thing that makes her a tiger is her stripes and whiskers! She says she had her cubs in a dark cold place and brought them to me so that she could look after them in safety. What she doesn't have in looks, she makes up for in the huggability steaks. My snow tigeress is very huggable. Her paws are very strokable, and she's kind and gentle considering what she's been through.
COME TO D*E*T*R*O*I*T and we ALL will SHOW YOU WHAT! TIGER BASEBALL IS ALL ABOUT! England! Well for once in spite of all our troubles and well ... ... ... .... GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE EARTH! {except for SCOTLAND}.... As for Tigress she wisks her tail and Pooh-Bear Opens the Front Door to allow for BOTH their SAFE Passages OUT!... "Pilgrim Rock here we come..." Yo!!!!!!! NEW YORK... I may be given' up a Hollar for THE Yankees BASEBALL TEAM...and Yes, Yes, it is understood that I am en-Route to MICHIGAN.... Ahh Yes! HOME SWEET HOME ...OH! What! a lovely thot... ... Pooh-Bear thot to Roll Up the Red Chineese Rug and brought it along....matches his Velvety vest so sweet... Yes, Pooh-Bear, Please take the rug with You as You Continue to Travel to the Hundred Acre Woods... later all.... Happy Holidays.... Connie CG here
my bengaul tigeress's cub is playing with his mother's tail at the moment. He keeps passing it from paw to paw as his mother watches him in bewilderment. two of her older cubs watch from atop the back of the single person chair their mother occupies. They wish they were able to play with their mother's long tail, but content themselves with rolling on the floor, catching and then tickling each other's paws. One of my white horses, looks moodily out at the world, thoroughly disaprooving of everything that goes on. The other horses try to reason with him, but he'll hear none of it. Throughout all this, two tiger cubs play on the floor, while another cub plays with his mother's tail. Meanwhile, up in the bedroom, the snow tigress lies on her side under the quilt, luxuriating in the feeling of warm paws. Observing one of the otters blowing into its fur to warm itself, the snow tigress puts her head beneath the quilt and blows hard, her warm breath acting like a heater, much as the otters does. She sighs contentedly as her hind paws become warmer as the warm air caresses them. curling and Stretching her toes serves to increase the warmth, as the heat is distributed over her pads. Tucking her forepaws beneath the quilt, the snow tigress closes her eyes and drifts in a dream.
My kitties are feeling the biting chill of winter. Last night they all insisted on coming into bed with me. Furry and warm and cozy, it was. ...
Caitlin
snuggling down into the warmth of the quilt, the snow tigress wiggles her toes to increase the warmth round her paws. Enjoying the warmth of where she's lying, she breathes deeply, warmth spreading from the end of her tail, to the tip of her nose and the tips of her toes.
The smallest of my penguin chicks has been missing for a while now, I was extremely worried, seeing as she is the smallest of the penguin chicks and therefore harder to find and to comfort. Well, she found me today, in fits of terror. She is now sitting on the desk in fromt of the keyboard, calming down gradually. She is perhaps one of my favorite penguin chicks, and so I am very glad I found her again. and she is as well.
an update. Another penguin chick has found it's way to my room and is now sitting on my desk along with the penguin twins, and another chick. They are all grouped around velvet, my smallest penguin chick. She doesn't want to be alone any more, for that scares her now. So I have five penguins in front of me.
penguins? you collect them I see. well good luck to you, and just make sure you can move in your house once your collection is complete. my animal collection is large, in number as well as in the size of the animals. btw, my snow tigress is enjoying her place under the quilt. all four of her paws are warm, and she's very happy.
My kitties want to meet Alison's penguins now! Hehehehe!
Caitlin
an otter and a labradore I own have taken a liking to each other and are lying together. The otter's head reasting on the labradore's shoulder. Meanwhile, my snow tigress is still enjoying her rather palacial place beneath the quilt. she says she's warm and content, and that her four oversized white paws have never been so warm before. The two spanyals on the bed snooze for most of the day, while the fox talks to the snow tigress, begging her to let him join her under the quilt, for he complains that he's cold and needs warmth. the snow tigress, while not unsympathetic to his need, can't do much about his situation.
more animal antics at my house! My snow tigress decided she would rest her head on the shoulder of one of my black labradores. Not only that, one of my otters snugled up to the tigress, and she held him close, caressing the otter in her paws. One of the spanyals rested his head on the tigress's flank, and they all lay there for a few hours, each enjoying the other's company and sharing the warmth
my snow tigress is still under my quilt, though she consented to emerging from beneath it for a brief spell a few days ago. the manajory stands currently at nine tigers, that's seven cubs and two tigress's, five horses, two badgers, four polar bears, eight dogs, six otters, one lion and one fox. It's not overcrowded in here, yet.
My Mexican Jumping Beans have died lol. There is now a dead worm clinging to the bottom of the bucket, and the others are dead. The sad thing is I don't even care lol. I want a cat, I want fifty cats, like what I write about in here hehehe. Caitlin P.S. Or a dog, a nice tame dog that won't jump on me or bark at the slightest sound!
Not much change here, the tigers are still tickling each other's paws, as well as tickling the polar bear's paws too. My bengaul tigress now has two of her older cubs watching over the two snow tiger cubs. The snow tigress left them in the bengaul tigress's care when her pearch was deemed to be too dangerous for her to stay on. Now my snow tigress is sleeping, as well as, during her brief spells of conciousness, playing with the otter and the fox who reside on the bed with her. They like to tickle her massive paws, and she doesn't mind them doing so.
big news! Indeed, big in more ways than one! Today, the most enormous tiger walked through my door. He's huge, and it is a male, for no female could be that large! He's nearly six feet from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, and about two feet high from the ground to his shoulder. He's, in a word, massive! His tail's two feet long!" My bengaul tigress tells me that the huge tiger is her mate, and that the five bengaul tiger cubs I have given homes to are all theirs. The male tiger seems to be very happy to be in a quiet place. He says the last place he was in was very loud and terrified him. Now he's with his mate and her cubs, two of which are gazing down at him, having not seen him in a long time.
My goodness, that's an aweful lot of pets :P I'd love to own a tiger, they're fuzzy and soooo adorable ;)
my large male tiger was forced to have his paws washed yesterday as they were filthy from his wanderings. he also had some old war wounds which need attending to, and we'll be doing this in the next few days. The tiger hated having his paws washed and dried. Unfortunately, we can do little for his broken hind leg except splint it, which we have done.
my male tiger has just had all holes in him sewn up. He's now very happy as he has no longer got a hole in his paw, or in his side any more.
my snow tigeress and the labradore who lie on my bed had an argument as to who's turn it was to reside under the blanket. the snow tiger argued that she had right of residance as long as the labradore didn't dig her out from beneath the blanket. The labradore's so fat, he can't dig the snow tiger out, and he nows it too.
When Winnie-The-Pooh-Bear heard of how the Newest Tiger to arrive had a broken hind paw, well, this was just too much for Kind Pooh Bear to take and so a CARE Package fit for Kings and Princesses alike has been sent Air Mail and should arrive shortly. In time for the Holidays so that All Creatures both Great and Small may have Treats and Holidays Gifts a plenty. *smile* Post Script: Pooh Bear even sent of his Special Colection of stored Honey in Clay Containers of upmost the quality the Verry Best to share.... Dobbin, you are Welcomed to partake of the Treats with your tiger cubs and all there. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. ..CG here
*grin* my male bengaul tiger and his mate are very happy to be together again. They can't believe how many of their cubs survived cubhood, as they now have five half grown cubs. The bengaul tigeress is still looking after the snow tigress's cubs, as they are too small to find for themselves, and the snow tigress had no milk to give them when they were born.
...musta been she was trained only to Comfort provide from a Velvety Plush Rug and not a too closed in bed, mattresses scare her of being suffacated you understand.(A childood, er a rather, a cubhood accident you understand) that simply not to her liking and in america she is doing splendid and gives Thanks for the care of the cubs... ... it is just she needed to be re-united with her love. THE DETROIT Tigers Baseball club had better amount to something this coming season is all I have to say in her behalf!! Oh and by the way, she wants to keep the little shrunken ruglet, it brings fond memories to her. She keeps it ever close to her and it does wonders for her nails!! *smile with a hint of a Friendly Growl of the Holidays* ..CG
my snow tigress complained today as she was turned out of her warm haven so that the quilt she sleeps beneath could be washed. The labradore tried to make a claim on the snow tigress's place once the quilt had been washed and replaced, but he's fat, she's not, and she got back to her favourite spot. The labradore leapt upon the bed, as did the two spanyals the fox and the otter.
I found out today that my snow tigress has blue eyes, I know the question was posed as to whether she had blue eyes some time ago, well I've now found out that she does, and also that my bengaul tiger cubs are more detailed than I first thought, having more colour and finer detail on them than first thought.
a quick update! after hearing the sound of tiny paws scratching at my front door, I opened it to find a polar bear and a tiger cub on my doorstep. The polar bear begged for my help, as they'd both broken out of a warehouse and walked miles. The tiger cub's paws were raw from walking on hard ground, whereas the polar bear's paws could cope with the hard ground. of course I took them in, how could I not do that? Once the tiger cub's paws had been bathed and the polar bear cub had washed his paws, I wrapped both cubs in warm blankets. Now they're sleeping peacefully, warm in their blankets. After a day or so, newcommers tend to reject the blankets, as they're recovered from their various ordeals. Mind you, the tiger cub can't get over the way that his forepaws are warmed if he tucks them into a fold on the blanket. claws retracted, he works his forepaws into the blanket.
Wow this topic is getting huge ... and interesting ... Caitlin
one of the bengaul tiger cubs has just leapt onto the back of the male tiger. The male tiger is quite strong enough to cope, but he's laid down conditions. one, that the tiger cub can only stay if he doesn't move about too much, two, that if he has to hold on for any reason, that he holds on with his paws with claws retracted, using his toes to grip rather than his claws. The tiger cub seems happy with this and keeps curling and relaxing his paws, enjoying the feel of the male tiger's long, thick fur on his pads and between his toes. The male tiger doesn't mind the cub doing this, as it is pleasureable to both the cub and himself. sometimes the tiger cub rolls onto his back and waves all four paws in the air. the male tiger gets very concerned when the cub does this when on his back.
Dobbin, gotta agree with Caitlin. Your story is interesting. There are so many tender moments present. Seems as if there were more of these moments in reality then the world would certainly be less cold and cruel. More poor little paws to be healed, so too in the lives of us all, hurt paws as it were in need of gentle healing...
Tell all your pets Happy Holidays from me, my kittens say so too, meow. Caitlin
all my pets say hi and thanks for the holiday wishes. i found two of the tiger cubs warming their paws by the radiator in my sitting room. one of the polar bears was massaging one of the badger's paws, the badgers seem to have given up their opposition to all the paw massage and tickling, i think after one of them was convinced by one of the polar bears to try a paw massage. The badger loved it so much she can't get enough of it now. I also found my fox, one of my spanyals, and my snow tigress warming their paws at the radiator in my bedroom. This done, they all leapt onto or under the quilt. The snow tigress disordered things by fighting her way beneath the quilt, almost pulling it off the bed. The dogs, as well as the fox, had to pull the quilt back into alinement and smooth it over. I think this meant the snow tiger had her hind paws accidentally stepped on by the labradore, who, being large, is also heavy. The snow tigress complained loudly, and the labradore did his best to make amends, massaging the tigress's hind paws, which she enjoyed, and then turning his attention to her forepaws. massaging her large, fat forepaws with his rather oversized paws. the labradore likes snuggling up to the snow tigress, as she's got loads of fur, which keeps him, as well as her warm. The spanyals seem to have loads of fur of their own, so the snow tigress doesn't mind the labradore cuddling up with her. During all this, the otter runs about, attempting to direct operations, whereas all she succseeds in doing is messing things up. I heard the fox telling her to "go sit in a corner and wait for them to sort it all out!" when she was getting under their paws during the rearrangement of the quilt. all's peace now.
Dear little Otter, trying so much so to be helpful, only to be sent to the corner. Hangs head feeling hurt and a bit of shame. :( Dobbin, you don't suppose there might, I mean there just might be a little extra treat or something special for Otter? Maybe? I mean Otter was doing her very best, this my thot.
this particular otter is a bit of a busy body, sticking her nose in where it's not wanted. She's too small to help with sorting the quilt out, and as for helping the snow tigress onto the bed, for she's so fat she can't get onto the bed that easily, only the dogs with help from the fox were any good at sorting her out. i must put on record here that the otter was allowed back onto the quilt when all was settled.
Lol poor Otter that cant' help ... I hope she still got plenty in her stocking, as did all the animals ... lol.
Caitlin
What I must admit I shall sleep more easily tonight in just knowing that Otter was not condemmed to the Corner forever...
Yeah, poor otter, it's not good to be in trouble, heh. Especially over the holidays. SO yay, Otter is happy now ...
Caitlin
the tiger cub who's taken to standing on the back of my large male tiger keeps falling off. The adult male tiger keeps telling the cub to keep the toes of one paw curled into his fur at all times to make sure he doesn't fall off, but the cub forgets from time to time, and his paws slip and he ends up falling off his perch. some of the other cubs help the fallen cub to regain his place, then it starts all over again.
a quick update. all my pets have heard something about the imminant arrival of a kangaroo in their midst. In fact, I caught one of my labradores trying to operate my computer to look up what a kangaroo was on the net. The arrival of the kangroo and her joey seems very likely, but I won't know for sure until next week.
Next week? Why Dobbin, that is like making us wait until next year to know of this happening, if it is to take place or not... well, guess we shall have to wait... ...
i wish I could know sooner, but the place where they esel the cangaroos says there's stock of them, but they ca't accept delivery instructions until after the weekend. it looks however, that I will be getting one of the kangaroos. I've seen one, and it's massive! it stands about four feet tall, and its tail is about three feet long. The kangroo is female, as it has a joey in its pouch, so really it is a her. if you see what I mean.
Why er a Yes! Dobbin I can understand that particular situation... So really you will be getting not one, rather two kangaroos. One out of a pouch and one in a pouch!
um, yep. the joey is sewn into the pouch though, so you can only really see its head and forepaws, but, yes, there are two kangaroos, though one will remain ever in the pouch.
Awww, it's stuck in the pouch! How horrible! Poor thing! Wait, won't it grow and get too big, and the pouch explode? hehehe.
Caitlin
hi all! questions, questions. it seems the joey doesn't get any larger, you know, forever young, the peter pan sindrome I think they call it, you know, the boy who never grew up? Also, as for naming my pets, no I haven't thought of names for them yet, maybe I'll put that to the zone community and see if they can think up some names? How would that be? I'll list all my pets with a rough description of each, and if people can private message me with suggested names, I might get somewhere towards naming them. Oh yes! I've got a name for my snow tigress, her name's half tail, as she can't really be called anything else. If you look at her, she's got a long body, long legs, and huge paws. Her tail is short in proportion to her body, so it looks as if she's got half a tail! as for the other animals, they haven't got names, any suggestions?
Sewn in! Oh dear *worried look* and I overheard one of the cubs talking how he was going to try and find a way to hide in kanga's pouch....
I'd like for the joey to be free from the pouch, so that it could be free standing, but that's not how some of these soft display creatures are made. I think the kangaroo would have to be twice the size to accomodate an anatomically correct joey in her pouch. As it is, they can get away with much if they make it so the joey can't leave the pouch. this means that the cubs will have to either stand on their hind legs to talk to the joey, or the okanga will have to lie on her side to allow her joey to get to cub level. Maybe the kanga can lift each cub in her forepaws so that the joey may talk to the cubs. I will have to look into that. btw, I've already got some cubs practising for the times when they'll have to help the kanga back to her feet if she falls over, much as they know how to help the male tiger back onto his paws if he falls over.
happy new year all! or that is what one of my tigers had anyway. He got hold of the wine and yes, well, one rather drunk puss! In fact, if any of my tigers heard me refer to them as puss, they'd clobber me!
my badgers have put their collective paws down and threatened the tiger and polar bear cubs with having their paws tied together if they dared drink my wine again.
Hehehe drunk tigers, I would have liked to see that, from a safe distance though! My cats say happy new year, they're bedridden after eating all the confedi.
Caitlin
cats eating confedi? oh no! serious indigestion me thinks!
Dobbin, here it is the next week you spoke of last week and I am wondering Where or where are the Kangaroos? They ought to be hopping in any moment I suspect....... Oh please tell me they are still on their way to your warm and loving home....I mean like they haven't gotten delayed or anything? *worried look*
well! new animals? yeah over here to. two more penguin twins, brought to me from a penguin orphanage, their mother died shortly after they were born, and now they live with me. two pairs of twins now!
I was given a five day delivery window, I.E. the shop said they would send the kangaroos out tomorrow, that's wednesday fifth january, and I would get them by the twelth, I know that sounds crappy service, and I think it is, but that was all they could offer.
Oh my goodness 5 days in transit... how tiring but if that is the best they could offer..
actually, it's about a day in transit, and up to the curier company when they deliver, up to that five day window.
leopards! No, that's not a new expletive, it's by way of announcing the fact that a leopard is getting his paw in the door either tomorrow or Monday. the kangaroo is prooving more hard to track down, due to imcompitant people I fear. I'm on the case however, and that's all that can be said about this. more updates later.
kangaroo! yes, it could be a kangaroo or a cry of triumph! The kangaroo would have bounced through my door today, had she and her joey not been so well wrapped up it took me an hour to free them! Not complainign about that though, it's a good thing. Don't want kanga bouncing all over the delivery lorry do we? no! I am now awaiting a lleopard, which might end up on my lap as I'm writing, as there's nowhere else to put him! He'll have to occupy my study chair!
just measured my kangaroo, she's nearly four feet tall from her head to her toes, and her tail's three feet long!
my tiger and polar bear cubs are eyeing the kangaroo and her joey with intrest. They hold no ill will towards the kanga, for they don't know what she is. One of my horses had migrated upstairs to the bedroom, which is turning into a refuge for those animals who either like to laze about on a quilt, or, like half tail, my snow tigress, are persecuted for how they look. The horse seems to have been in some kind of accident, and he's all out of sorts, though well enough.
a leopard? Wow!...
the leopard is here! he walked in to my life this morning, and immediately got himself into trouble. Eyeing up Kanga's joey with a view to eating him, the leopard began to stalk the kangaroo. One of the badgers, seeing what the leopard was up to, walked up to him and clouted him! The leopard looked as shocked as a big cat can look, and asked the badger what the hell she thought she was doing. The badger replied that in this house, noone stalks anyone else, and he'd better learn that fast. The leopard asked what would happen to him if he stalked the kanga's joey again, and the badger flipped him onto his back and tied his paws together! The leopard, astonished and scared, begged to be set free, the female badger freed him, and he ran upstairs for cover. Coming whimpering into the study, he related what had gone on in the living room, and I told him not to be so stupid as to stalk another animal here. One of the badgers brought up a list of do's and don't's regarding conduct in my house. The leopard read the list, and then asked what on earth he was meant to eat if he wasn't allowed to make meals of the horses, badgers, dogs, otters, bears, lions, tigers or the kanga. The badger replied that she would show him what they ate, and apparently rustled up a salmon salad, which the leopard enjoyed hugely. The leopard is now lying in my lap as I type, and has his perch on my computer chair.
Well Thank Goodness that the baby kanga wasn't eaten! After all the time it took to get Mama and baby kanga to your place and not even hardly settled in. Would have thot the leopard would have known the house rules by now but them to have this newest creature come along and with one like it attached I suppose leopard thot ths was its chance for some live action...
My cats have recovered from New Year's, and are now lounging around. As Derek and I streamed until about 12:30 PM our time last nigh, the cats are tired out and are still dozing on my bed. Heh.
(Gosh I wish I really didh ave cats!)
Caitlin
Caitlin, if you don't tell, I won't tell... *smile* It is good to hear that your {imaginary} cats have recovered from their confetti eating binge.
Ah indeed they have. And they say hi to YOU CG, grins.
Caitlin
no news here accept that one of my twin penguins fell from the bed which is high off the ground,she's laying in my lap, she has a headache and her twin's screaming that someone tell her is her sister's ok..I have to go confort her.
I heard banging coming from the living room today. Arriving, I found the kanga leaping about, among all the furniture too! She was apparently showing the other creatures how a kangaroo gets about. The most hillarious thing I saw was one of the labradores trying to jump like the kangaroo did! He pushed off with his toes and almost fell on his nose! The kangaroo laughed so hard she nearly fell over too. Throughout all this, the badgers looked at each other and decide that tickling each other's paws, which they enjoy just as much as the others do, is far more worth while than leaping around and possibly hurting one's self. Constance, my female badger, remarked to Brock, her mate, that she'd much rather have her paws stroked and tickled than try to leap about like a kangaroo. During all this, the labradore was rubbing his nose with a fat forepaw after coming a croppa while attempting a particularly ambitios leap. On another note, I'm still looking for names for my pets. I have named a few of my pets, but there are many more, so you can all have a go if you wish. The ones I have named are: my snow tigress, she's named half tail, as she looks like she's got half a tail, her body being longer than her tail. Then there's reynard, he's the fox, Constance and Brock, the badgers, and of course Kanga and Roo, the kangaroo and her joey, though I didn't need to tell you that did i. So you still have five horses, eight dogs, six otters, four polar bears, eight tiger cubs, a bengal tigress and her mate, a lion and a leopard to name, so there's plenty to choose from. Now dear reader, I must go as there's more banging and thumping downstairs, and I think the labradore has done himself an injory again.
my labradore didn't injor himself, more by luck than judgement I think. The kanga stopped leaping around and the labradore got bored with it soon afterwards, as he said his paws were tired after ttrying to stand like a kangaroo does when bouncing, that is almost on their toes, so his paws ached horribly, as a dog's paws are not designed like a kangaroos are. the labradore complains that his paws are stiff now, and that he can hardly flex each paw. The leopard, having watched the others massaging and tickling each other's paws, offered to massage the labradore's paws, which the labradore was understandably warey about. The leopard showed the Labradore that his paws were smaller than his, and when the labradore saw he had larger paws than the cat did, he was happy to let the leopard stroke each paw. Soon afterwards, the labradore's paws were not so stiff and unco-oprative. he could curl the toes of each paw without pain, or any struggle, as it had been an effort before the massage. The leopard is now pleased to the rafters that he's managed to master something, as he's never learned much, so he says. He dropped out of lessons as a cub, and never went back. He only wishes now that another member of the manajory would stroke his paws.
Glad to hear that Kanga and baby Roo have found their place in the home and that Yes! leaping is premitted. I should be given to think though that after a few days Kanga will settle down and not go off leaping so very much. It is just that the ride in transit was so confining and how good it must have felt to finally be freed from confining travel.
yup, she really was well secured when I got her. She couldn't even bang on the box to be let out like my snow tigress and leopard did.
my leopard's in trouble again. Will he ever learn? He was caught stalking one of the snow tiger cubs yesterday! While she doesn't look after the snow tiger cubs, half tail is very upset by the whole episode. When my bengal tigress told her, Half Tail nearly throttled the leopard! She was talked down from committing murder by constance and Kanga, who managed to defuse the situation. Needless to say, Half tail returned to her spot beneath the quilt in my bedroom, very angry, only to find that the labradore, the otter and Reynard the fox had all scrambled beneath the quilt, leaving no room for her! I heard yelling and thumping coming from my bedroom as Half tail made her views plain with threats and a lot of stamping paws. Reynard scrambled down under the quilt, scared by Half tail's paw stomping and yelling. Half tail dug the fox out from beneath the quilt, throwing the entire quilt onto the floor! finding they had no quilt, the labradore and the otter vacated the bed, much to Half tail's relief. Now they really had a problem. None of the animals were strong enough to lift the quilt and put it back on the bed. Even the dogs, the two spanyals and one labradore, could not do it between them. It was down to me to sort the mess out. I told half tail she'd been rather harsh towards the labradore, Reynard and the otter. Half tail, now snug and warm beneath the quilt, agreed she'd been harsh, but then told me of the leopard stalking her cubs.
"I might not look after them day to day," Half tail said, "but I do care for my cubs, and to hear that the dam leopard has been stalking them is just too much!" Meanwhile, constance and Brock had tied the leopard up, tightly binding his paws, which they'd warned him they'd do if he tried anything like stalking another animal. Now the leopard is sentanced by the badgers to spend three hours with his paws tied together.
...sounds terribly painful...just wondering is this three hour sentence to be served all at one time or say one hour a day three days in a row?
it's up to the badgers, but I think they are going for hour periods. I must say, the leopard doesn't much like having his paws tied together. He whimpers pitifully throughout the hour sessions, but the badgers persist, knowing that in the end, maybe the leopard will remember the humiliation and discomfort and not stalk other animals again.
the leopard complains that the badgers tie his paws so tightly that his paws hurt, as well as him not being able to move. I told the badgers to be a bit more gentle with the leopard, as he only has small fragile paws, and though it was their duty to decide on, and carry out just punishment for crimes, that I would intervene if I thought the punishments were detremental to the criminal's health. so was with the method of binding the leopard's paws.
Yes yes of course stalking can not be allowed and good to know that this sentence of three hourse is over a span of days. Poor poor little leopards paws... I really think he's learned his lesson. Some lessons are so very difficult to have to learn. *sigh*
the leopard has to learn to ignore his instinct to stalk other animals. He knows he's got food, so stalking other creatures is not on. The poor cubs don't know he's only practising his skills, they're terrified of the leopard.
The leopard is threatening the badgers that he will tie their paws together and see how they like it. The worst of it is, that as part of the sentance, the leopard's made to lie in the middle of the livin groom floor where most of the animals can see him. This is almost worse for the leopard than having his paws bound for an hour a day.
my male tiger threatened the leopard with being stalked. The leopard pointed out that he, the male tiger, wouldn't get very far on account of his injored hind leg, while splinted, still gives him trouble in that it wasn't treated fast enough, so now the tiger can't move that leg very well, causing the toes on that paw to drag on the floor, making a lot of noise. The large male tiger can't run or jump, so he's pretty much unable to catch anything. The leopard dared not taunt the tiger re his injored leg and dangling hind paw, as he knew he'd get into serious trouble. having his paws tied together would be the least of his worries. He would be thrown out, and have to walk the streets. the leopard knew he was no domestic cat, and would be spotted, if that's not too much of a punn, as soon as he entered populated places.
Poor Tigge Tigge! Must be not fun, having people walk all over you, literally. Heheh.
Caitlin
the male tiger, not being very mobile himself, gets his pleasure from letting his cubs clamber into his back, draw their paws through his fur etc. He's so large he can't move very well, and his injored leg doesn't help matters. His cubs, all five of them, massage his ears and paws. He lifts one paw at a time and they sstroke it. One cub is always sitting on the male tiger's back. The leopard has now finished his sentance, and is now gently flexing each paw to get the stiffness out of them. He'll not forget his punishment soon I'll bet. The badgers go back to their law enforcement role, occationally breaking off from watching all to roll about the carpet strokeing and tickleing each other's paws.
Knock Knock! Knock Knock!! Knockey Knock Knock! Knockey Knock Knock!! Bang Bang Bangety Bang Bang!! KNOCK KNOCK!! Coming Hollars Dobbin and wondering what on earth is the matter and who is at the door. Bangety Bang KNOCK KNOCK!! COMING!!!!!!! Opens the door only to find a Special Delivery Person with one of the largest packages, well, really three large packages and what?!?!?! Ah Yes, Mr. Dobbin I have a package, well, really three for you and really more so as I understand the packages are for Leopard and Cubs n- all. Here is an envelope describing the "How To" for apprently this is a do-it-yourself-project of a jungle gym amusement thingy. Winnie the Pooh heard of all the difficulities of Stalking and Paws tied and so on and so forth and thot this just the ticket to a peaceful paradise. Should take all of 2 or 3 days to put it together. Enjoy!
Awww Alison, I didn't see your penguin post? How is she doing? And Dobbin it was good to kind of talk to you on Ventrilo the other day, you said yoru tiger looked mad! Hehehehe.
Caitlin
By the way, not much news here. My cats are nibbling on my printer cord, no wonder it wouldn't print last night!
Caitlin
jungle gym? I can imagine the cubs getting up there, but not my male tiger, nor either of the tigeresss. The leopard would have a go too I suppose, maybe he aught to stalk the rope swing rather than the cubs? all's quiet here at the moment, kanga's stopped leaping around, one of the tiger cubs is stroking the bengal tigress's paws, which she's enjoying if the purring is anything to go by.
Yes Dobbin a specially made jungle gym just for your little cubs and leopard. The outside is especially designed for the cubs while as Yes! there is a rope swing for make- believe-stalking... There is also a safe place provided for Mama Kanga to leap, nice and comfy padded area so as not to injure little Roo. Dobbin, there is even a loft area in case you want to climb up into it as a quiet get away place for yourself and yet still be close to your creatures so they won't be given to worry about you. They like to keep you close by them.
sounds as big as a house! *smile* intresting idea that. Kanga's looking at the padded area with slight constonation, at first, she thought it was a trampoline, for that's what it looked like to her, and what would a kangaroo want with a trampoline? I told her, then showed her what the padded area was, and she's now happy with things. My cubs are getting into everything, and the leopard's stalking the rope and batting at it with his forepaws. Hang on, he's just taken to swinging on the rope! The tiger cubs are clambering all over the structure. the material is soft enough to be comforting to their paws, but strong enough for them to dig their claws in if they wish, though I notice they're not extending their claws, prefering to use their toes to grip. strengthening their paws maybe? I put my hand out and touched one of the tiger's paws, and his claws were retracted. The cub said all the cubs used their paws rather than their claws to give themselves purchase. the polar bear cubs haven't got the hang of things yet, and my bengal tigress is asking why she can't clamber onto the structure. When I point out she's too large, she fires back with the fact that the kanga has her own place, so why can't she? I say she can try clambering over the structure, and the tirgress does, exclaiming that the feel of the material on her pads is as good as a paw massage! She keeps rubbing her paws against the material, and deliberately letting one paw slip, so she gets the full benefit of massage. I once saw her slide backwards down the sloping scratch wall, all the while trying to hold on with her paws without using her claws. of course, she didn't manage to hold on, but I don't think this was her real intention. I think she was trying to get the ultimate paw massage. *smile*
Ooh I like jungle gyms! So does my pet monkey!
Caitlin
well she's doing fine, but it seems that her twein's lost or something, I think she got lost wandering around...we can't find her right now and so the first penguin that fell from the bed, (I haven't named either of them) is really upset..
Oh dear *worried look* A penguin that could possibly be lost... I wonder if the penguin heard of Dobbin's jungle gym and decided to go for a visit? ...Meanwhile Caitlin's pet monkey is begging for a jungle gym of its own... Pooh Bear heard of this begging and Caitlin, I have it on good authority that a small sized version of Dobbin's jungle gym is on its way to your home. *surprize*
even my badgers have taken a look at the jungle gym. While they say it's not really for them, they investigated it thoroughly.
and then when the home was so verrry verrry quiet there was a rumbleing noise so I have been told that Dobblin went to investigate and what did he discover? Why it seems the badgers thot no one was awake and knowing of their whereabouts and there they were! ...trying to leap on back paws and falling all funny backwards like for standing on back paws for them is well, sorta out of the question. I suppose they thot the area was padded and they would not be given to hurt themselves. Only thing is that when they were discovered by Dobbin they felt a bit, well a bit silly for you understnad they "police" the place, keeping the place running smoothly by having the rules met and here they were all in a topisy turvy and having a wonderful time. They asked Dobbin not to tell the others of their enjoyment. That became the badgers and Dobbin's special secrete you understand.
yeah I don't think, she went to Dobbin's place, it's really far away and she's so small, she said she would never leave my room, which makes me think she's well been stolen...and I'm on sharp lookout...
the last I knew, your penguin, for I think this is of whom we are speaking here, left my place early yesterday morning. the mother of the polar bear cubs took the penguin to the train station and saw her on safe onto a train. Btw, I know the polar bear didn't do the penguin any harm, for she knows that I would throw her out, and her name would be tainted throughout the entire world. As for my badgers enjoying themselves on the jungle gym, well yes, it was rather funny to see them trying to stand on their hind paws. I've now shown them how to access parts of the gym which means now that they can enjoy it as much as the rest. While they have taken it upon themselves to police the place, I don't think they are above having fun. They've found the paw massaging potential of the material covering the jungle gym, and can often be found rubbing their paws against it. Of course, as they all say, nothing beats the massage that another member of the group can give, be it a polar bear massaging the paws of a dog, a dog massaging the paws of a tiger, a tiger massaging the paws of a badger etc etc. Everyone says that's the best massage of all.
more leopards! My leopard has been pining for his mate and their two cubs, implooring me to search the internet for them. I searched, and found them. They're due to find their way to my place tomorrow. it seems also that the two leopard cubs have made friends with two snow leopard cubs, who had no home to go to, so the snow leopard cubs are coming to my place too. I'm currently searching for an adult snow leopard to teach the snow leopard cubs how to be snow leopards, and that search is still ongoing. My snow tigress, hearing of the imminant arrival of the snow leopards, and knowing the leopard's tendancy to stalk anything that was small and defenceless and not a leopard of his own kind, immediately told the leopard, who was already in trouble with my badgers, that she would take the snow leopard cubs in and look after them, as she knew more about snow leopards than he did, and quite frankly, she didn't trust him not to frighten the poor cubs into flight, where they could end up in all kinds of places. Half tail, that's the snow tigress, is very good with tiny cubs. Where she lies is beneath a quilt, and that's warm and dry. Her fur is also thick and warm, and she doesn't mind the cubs snuggling up to her, in fact she quite likes it. She's got big paws, with which she can caress the cubs, her paws being large and having thick, warm fur on them. Half tail has banned the leopard from going near the cubs when they arrive, telling him to keep himself to himself, and look after his mate and their cubs.
Hey, hurray for u for collecting stuft animals. I have a ton on my couch alone I have a hedgehog, an alligator, a horse, 2 puppies,a bear, a goose, and 5 turtles. In a shadow box on my wall I have yet more turtles. On the top of my computer shelf I have I have my model horse collection. On my shelf, and dresser chair and bed there are yet more creatures. Where did u find a stuft badger? In the last couple years I've tried to find more unusual animals for my home a badger would be cool. So would a pollar bear actually. right now I'm on a search for the newest beany baby turtle and a stuft collie because my first guidedog is a collie.
Today, I'm going out to lunch with my grandparents and some relatives. My kittycats are begging to come along. What should I do?
Caitlin
hello, dobin, how cool that u collect stuft animals. i have many many of them on my couch alone I have 3 puppies, 5 turtles, a cat, an alligator, a horse, and a goose. There are animals on my bedroom shelf, dresser and chair. There is also a large over 30 turtle collection in a shadow box on my wall. And my model horse collection. But I do more than collect I name them grin. There's bonny and amego and molly and alley and goldy and...
i get mine from interfauna. This is a british business, and they are so good at what they do. There you will find your collie, your polar bears and your badgers, amongst other animals of course.
I used to like stuffed animals but I guess the obsession didn't last hehehe. But I love reading this topic.
Caitlin
two new bears! up in the mountains, where we were snowshoeing, I found a mother bear and her cub, with no home, so i decided to bring them home, and they are now safe here with me. I'm still on the lookout for my penguin to return he...
I can't get to that thing, the website, it says it's "forbidden' or something, any help?
I've just been informed, that for commercial reasons, I cannot post the exact web url for interfauna, but I've done a search for it in google, and it's there, though don't confuse the retailer of soft toy animals with vivisection, for that's there too. you are looking for a company in bath in the UK
my snow tigress says she'll wallop anyone who comes near her snow leopard cubs. She's a lovely tigress, really friendly n'all, but if she's protecting her cubs, she can be a real tirant!
Alison I am hopeing to hear of the safe return of your penguin....
lol yeah she is serious when she's protecting her cubs he... yeah she came in yesterday (not the tigress) he!!!!!!
leopards! more leopards! my male leopard is leaping around because his mate and her cubs arrived today! The snow tigress has taken charge of the snow leopard cubs. She made dam sure the leopard got nowhere near the snow leopard cubs. She made sure they were kept well out of range of the leopard, taking them to where she stays, which is beneath a quilt. She made sure the snow leopards were comfortable, then threw the quilt over herself and the cubs. Now she's looking after the cubs, and the male leopard is watching over his mate and their cubs.
my snow leopard cubs are now asleep cuddled up close to halftail the snow tigress. She instantly fell in love with the snow leopard cubs, warning the common leopard off when he tried to stalk them. She walloped him much as the badgers did, though I think her open pawed slap must have hurt him more, as her paw is larger. One of the common leopard's cubs is picking a fight with one of the tiger cubs. I think the badgers will have to step in on this one. Never a dull moment here.
Awww. How cute. Little fights among the youngins, and the motherly tigress. I love reading thsi topic lol!
Caitlin
my snow tigress is now hugging the snow leopard cubs close to her. they are cuddled up to her, snuggled into her warm thick fur. She's purring with happiness, as if they were her own cubs.
Well Dobbin it is good, really good that you have the badgers who help you. Do they get special allowances for keeping the fighting to a minimum?
We should publish this topic as a book, it's long and interesting enough. Well, maybe just what Dobbin and everyone else says. My psots are stupid. But we're almost at 200 that rocks. Caitlin
my badgers have nominated themselves as the keepers of the law, I didn't appoint them, so they don't get any allowances as such. They're allowed the run of the house, as are all the other animals. It's just that the badgers are steady characters who hold a deep love for the quiet life. They are historians and traditionalists. While they are woodlanders by birth, my two badgers are rapidly learning to get along with many diffrent animals. I heard one of them talking to my male tiger a few days ago. They were having quite an animated conversation about something or other. If any animals can be said to be aloof, it's the horses, who like to keep themselves to themselves. The other animals are always playing together, yes, even the badgers join in. The horses though, they choose not to join in with the play. My lepards are finding out what it is to have their paws stroked and tickled, and they're loving it as much as the bears, dogs and tigers are. The badgers also enjoy a paw massage, but they wouldn't admit it if you asked them.
my snow tigress is still purring with contentment as she looks after the snow leopard cubs. Every now and again she strokes each cub with a massive soft forepaw, something they seem to enjoy. The cubs just snuggle down into the warmth of the snow tigress's fur and sleep for most of the day.
The badgers sound like LL, keepers of the law. Heh.
yeah actually, the bear that came in a few days ago has two cubs.
the tiger cubs have ttarted tickling the leopard cub's paws! they seem to enjoy it, and that's all that matters. The badgers take things easy, unless there is a drama of course, then they will get up and try to sort things out. worst case, they'll wade in with their hard paws. the badgers haven't used their claws or teeth on anyone yet, and I think they'd hate to do so. Even the tigers don't use their claws at all, even when climbing, prefering to grip with their toes.
your animals are nice to each other which amazes me very much seeing as you have so many varieties. do you have any birds?
no, no birds as yet.
going downstairs a while ago, i found one of the leopard cubs tickling the paws of one of the badgers. it seems the badger didn't mind, in fact she was quite enjoying it I think. The badger batted playfully at the leopard with her fore paws as he tickled her hind. I think she was teaching him how to use his paws rather than his claws when playing, it seems to be working too.
heydy. i'm going to join u dobbin. if i didn't do so, all my little children will kill me lol. they want me to introduce them one by one. but is to long for me to do so, i'll just introduce rathymly. i've 8 doggys, 3 bears, 2 panda, 2 piggys and a cow. they are very close to each other. my doggys always have fun with the bears and panda. unfortunately, i have 8 doggys and only 3 bears and a panda. they will play together but at the same time my lovely doggys will fite with each other for the panda. just like what is happening now. o no! i got to go now. if not i will lost my panda daughter.
nonononono! i forget... if i didn't mamtion them out they will kill me for sure. i have a sheepy and a rabbit. sheepy is fiting with cow for the grass. o no sheepy! thats not grass, just green in colour. stop the fite now please. and rabbit? yum yum, you are eating my carrot. but sigh! again, that's not carrot my dear, is just something like carrot and is orrange in collour. piggy piggy, where are you and my grand daughter go? o no! she is too young. not the time for food yet. give her some milk my dear. ok ok ok. i'm coming. don't cry sheepy. i'll get u and cowdy some grass.
sounds as crazy as my place. The leopard cub is now tickling the badger's paws like crazy, and the badger is awaiting her turn to get him back, and believe me, those badgers n'alf know how to tickle paws! the leopard cub better watch out!
I was playing some particulalrly hard rock music through my sterio yesterday, my polar bears enjoying the vibrations on their paws as the speakers rumbled and pumped out sound. one of them got so into it, he dived off the speaker he was standing on and landed on his back with all four paws in the air! he's ok now though.
lol, where did he get the idea to jump of the sterio? i forgot to tell you, I also have a horse, she sleeps on my bed half the time and doesn't really interact with the other animals much, but she likes to watch them frolic and play.
i think he lost his balance, not holding on tightly enough with his paws, forgetting to grip with his toes I think. You see, the bears try not to dig in their claws while standing on the sterio speakers.
he...well all the sudden I guess my penguins and rabbits wanted quality time with me or something (hahaha), and so now i have three rabbits, and two penguins all huddled on my desk hahaha! lol well maybe they should hold on with their claws, (bears) because it's easier to grip! he
my polar bear clambered back onto the speaker, he's none the worse for falling off.
Awww again? Lol! They just won't learn from their and others' mistakes will they? Ahahah. And Alison how cute, your animals wuv ya sooo much! Awawawawaw! Caitlin
i've got a couple of capybara and two husky dogs coming my direction later this week! what's a capybara? i hear you ask. Well, put capybara into google and you'll find out!
sounds like an interesting animal, dobbin, lol...
Yup it does sound interesting. I know Alison's got a new little pet comin' her way right sis? Lol? Tell us? Lol... Caitlin
i caught my otter trying to look up capybara on the internet. of course, she didn't get very far, as she found typing with webbed paws a bit of a trial. all's peace at the moment here, no fighting, just a lot of merriment among the animals.
lol, dobbin, I visitted that website, interfauna, and i . ordered something, a snow (it was white he) tiger cub and a "tiger cub" that's the only discription it gave. Like cait said he he he good to hear nop fighting.
i hope you enjoy your purchases from interfauna, as they do some great soft toy animals.
thumping from the study announced the fact that my labradore, yes the one that lies on my second computer chair, was trying to use the computer. slapping at the keyboard with his large soft paws, he was getting nowhere. Reynard, the fox even had a go, he's got smaller paws than the labradore, but even he couldn't type on the keyboard. my snow tigress hits seven keys at once when she tries it, so I wonder who'll try next?
lol! I bet if you had birds they would try. he.
two capybara and two husky dogs found their way to my place today, and have now got their paws in the door!
It may be that the Badgers are going to need to be on Special Alert for awhile given that the Capybara have come *extremely worried look* Dobbin, I should think there will be plenty of Tiger and other Big Cats of yours, gentle as they may be, attempting to pounce on these creatures.
in fact, the tigers and other big cats are wondering what on earth a capybara is. they are staring at the capybara, accusing them of being jumped up guinnie pigs, which the capybara are extremely annoyed about, as they are related to the guinnie pig, but are far larger. the husky dogs are enjoying warming their paws on the radiator and making free use of the quilt and the soft furnishings. both of them are crashed out, one on my bed, the other on the living room sofa. My Snow leopard cubs are still enjoying being looked after by the snow tigress. She just purrs contentedly whenever one of the snow leopard cubs snuggles into her fur, which is quite often.`
Dobbin, my understanding though brief, is that Capybara are of the rodent family, therefore the extremely worried look for my thots were of say a cat and mouse type fight...so perhaps my fears unfounded???
Hahhaa ... jumped up guinea pigs? That's funny! Who'da thunk, this post is at 228 now? Geeeeeez!
my capybara have started sitting on the tails of any tigers or leopards who accuse them of being jumped up guinnie pigs. Having a 140 pound capybara sit on your tail is not very nice, so the leopards and tigers have stopped their games, branding the capybara as moody creatures with no sense of fun. Now I don't think that's true, but there you are. My husky dogs are still delighting in warming their paws on the radiator and settling themselves beneath the quilt, which they seem to enjoy quite a bit.
my capybara are plotting against the leopards in order to tickle their paws in retaliation for stalking them. they've got the tigers involved too. The husky dogs said they are willing to hold the leopards down while the capybara take their revenge.
wow, rebelion? or whatever, going on in your very crowded home he.
no,not really, just a little bit of fun. Revenge over, the leopards paws are tingling and the capaybara's wish for revenge is satisfied. The leopards are none the worse for having their paws tickled, but I don't think they'll be stalking the capybara again. *smile*
hehehe I wouldn't if I had one sit on my tail hahaha.
I caught my tiger cubs rolling onto their backs and waving their paws in the air earlier today. that looked so funny! The leopards were tickling the tiger's paws too, and they all seemed to be having a great time of it.
my male leopard thought he'd try leaping off his pearch on my speaker onto my keyboard today. he landed on his back with his paws in the air! that looked funny, but he wasn't very happy. He said he'd meant to land paws first, but twisted in mid air. After being checked over, which involved a rub down, more like a massage really, he was found to be uninjored. My thoughts are that he was doing it for the massage. I don't think he'll be leaping from that speaker againthough.
not much going on here at the moment re my animals, all is quiet at the moment. apart from when the male leopard tries to provoke the snow tigress into using her paws on him by stalking her snow leopard cubs. My female leopard and her cubs are settled in well. sometimes the capybara take it into their heads to pull playfully on the leopard cubs tails, which the leopard cubs hate. That's the only time they get their claws out. when this happens, their mother, plus one of the badgers is there to stop anyone getting damaged. The badger often ends up walloping the capybara for antagonsing the leopards.
Wow! Fight fight! Ahahah. Nifty! As long as no one gets hurt, then it won't be nifty at all. Lol.
i think the capybara are still angry at the leopards for calling them jumped up guinnie pigs.
my snow tigress gets very upset when I have to wash the quilt she lies on. Even though i move her, and an assortment of other animals from the quilt while I change the cover on it, she gets very upset, pining for her snow leopard cubs, even though she's only separated from them for a matter of minutes.
my polar bear cubs were playing with the capybara today. A strange thing I know, but there it is. one of the tiger cubs somewhat dampened the enthusiasm of the game by remarking that the capybara looked very good eating. the tiger cub's mother shut him up with a slap from a large forepaw. quickly adding that the cub was only joking about eating the capybara, while silently hoping that this was the case.
Lol!!! Such violence again. And lol about the detatchment hting when changing the quilt. How sweet...
my polar bears are currently playing on the carpet of my living room, rolling about, swiping at each other's paws and snarling theatrically. the tiger cubs are looking to join them, but one or two are scared of leaping down to the floor from where they sleep which is a few feet off the carpet.
lol! busy there!
yes busy busy ... and also sounds like this would make a good play or somethign ... movie...
my animals have been watching the weathere with growing alarm, all that is except the polar bears, who while enjoying the comfort of a warm house, want to get their paws into the snow. My tigers aren't at all intrested in the cold weather, nor are the badgers or any of the others. My snow tigress, though taking full note of the weather for the coming week, saw snow and decided to stay under her quilt, terrified that her snow leopard cubs would catch cold if they went outside. I think she's still traumatised by the memory of giving birth to her cubs in a dark, cold place.
let it snow! Let it snow! let it snow! well, that's what my polar bears and husky dogs want. it's snowing here in suffolk england, and I caught my polar bears watching the snow from my window with their forepaws on the windowsill. they wanted to get outside, but the badgers told them that if they came into the house with wet paws they'd get in serious trouble. the husky dogs are up for rolling in the snow also, so the same warning went out to them. My snow tigress still can't face taking her cubs out into the snow in case they get lost in snowdrifts. the tigers, Capybara, horses and dogs are also rather unenthusiastic about the snow. the kangaroo can't understand what snow is, and wonders why the polar bears get excited about it. the otters are also getting intrested, in fact I caught one of them with one of my serving trays, he said he was going to use it as a taboggen if he ever got outside and found a hill with snow on it. Oh by the way, a dalmation is coming my way soon, I'll keep you posted as to her arrival in my household. Ok, got to go, my polar bears are battering at the door with their forepaws and the Kangaroo is yelling at them to stop making a raket!
I hope this is all one big joke... someone having all those animals!
a dalmation dog arrived today. He's very upset about something, though he won't say what. one of My husky dogs has apparently started talking with the dog, and has already got close to him , and they seem to be getting on like a house on fire, though the husky hasnt managed to find the reason for the dalmation's depression. all's well re the snow, in the fact that it has gone, much to the annoyance of the otters and polar bears. the kangaroo is leaping up and down about the lack of snow as she hates it, as do the tigers, leopards, dogs, badgers, capybara and horses. My snow tigress is content to let the snow leopards in her charge sleep through the cold winter days, and she does pretty much the same thing too. Oh, btw, the fox isn't too worried either, he just lies about all day, snoring loudly and getting regularly thumped by one of my otters, who can't stand his snoring.
white rabbits! yes, easter is coming, and I've got two white rabbits in my house! the rabbits are huge! Large, fluffy, white rabbits. My other animals are very intrested in the rabbits, though not for food purposes. In fact, the fox is smaller than the rabbits.
I now have two more otters! two wonderful otters! they are sitting on my amplifyer in my living room. they are so cool!
things are getting wild! Due to the rather large collection of animals now living in my house, I can't turn a corner without seeing a stuffed toy animal. this is wonderful! Ever since the polar bears were moved from atop the speakers of my hifi, they've been missing their regular paw massages whenever I turned the music on, so they've taken to massaging each other's paws, and those of the dalmation, who's always complaining his paws are cold. Two of my otters, the two who stand on my amp, start dancing whenever the music is turned on, as it's now louder and clearer than ever since I now use a larger amp and speakers.
Glad at least someone likes loud music. I don't ... it hurts my ears! Heh!
Caitlin
Btw, glad to see this on Topics with New Posts again. Or maybe it has been and I just haven't been on in ages. Or both. In any case I do enjoy reading it and hoe none of y'all mind my posting with my probably really stupid comments and things.
Caitlin
did I say the music was very loud? no i didn't, I just said it was louder, not horrendously so though. Mind you, the otters are getting paw massages from the bass speaker as it's very responsive at low levels. the polar bears are envious of the otters, and the dalmation is wishing he could join the otters on the amp. More trouble re my leopards. One of the leopard cubs was caught harrassing a capybara, and the kangaroo decided she'd take things into her own paws and punish the leopard cub. to this end, she asked her joey to leave her pouch, and then both she and the joey grabbed hold of the leopard cub and bundled him into the pouch. Then the kangaroo took off round the house with the leopard cub, who suffers from motion sickness, so we found out later. The leopard, hanging on desperately with all four paws, begged the kangaroo to put him down, but she wouldn't. Eventually she stopped bouncing round the house, and set the leopard cub back on his paws. I heard the cub was very ill for a few hours afterwards. though one thing is certain, he won't be giving the capybara trouble in a hurry. Oh, btw, my snow tigress has just been through traumah again. Yes, I had to change her quilt cover yesterday! Horror! it's not that she gets attached to the quilt cover, it's that I remove her cubs from her care for about twenty minutes while I change the quilt cover. The snow tigress, whom some of the animals call half tail due to the way she looks, snarls and spits with fury whenever I remove her cubs, even though she knows the otter, who resides on the quilt with her, looks after her cubs. So, not only is half tail clinging to her cubs with her forepaws and the quilt with her hind, whenever I come to remove her from the quilt, she's hanging on to it with all four paws in protest. I can't win! needless to say, the reunion between half tail and her cubs when all's over for the fortnight is pretty emotional on half tail's part, even though all the animals know tey've got a home for life here, and nothing will hhappen to them. Oh, btw, my dalmation has now got a name, his name's sparkky. more in my next post as to the history of this name amongst the firehouse dogs of america.
why call a dalmation sparky you may ask. Well, the reason is this. ever since dalmations entered the service of humans as companions to horses who used to pull the fire trucks of america, the dalmations, the male ones at least, have been named sparky. it begs the question, what happens if during a fire service confrence in America, all the dalmations are present and someone calls out the name Sparky? would there be an invasion of dalmations? *smile* well, that would be a television moment don't you think? Well, my dalmation named sparky is wonderful, he's not like the usual soft toy dalmations. he looks like a real dalmation for a start, his ears are well done, as is the rest of him, right down to his paws, which look like paws, right down to four indevidual toes on each paw. he looks very alert, with rather alert eyes, and an attentive expression, one wonderful dog! though I have hheard him say he's a little unhappy, due to having poor circulation in his paws, so they're always cold. One of my rabbits has taken to massaging Sparky's paws, something the dalmation has taken quite a liking to.
a meerkat arrived today, and he's already causing a stirr among the otters, whom he upset by barging into the middle of their number. snowy Half-Tail, my snow tigress, wanted to protect the meerkat until she saw how large he was, then she thought he probably didn't need protecting. Meanwhile, Whitie, one of snowy Half-Tail's snow leopard cubs and Sparky, my dalmation, want to play together, but as both Whitie and her sister are blind, snowy is very reluctant to let either of them go out alone, let alone play with Sparky or any of the other animals. She's terrified that the snow leopard cubs will be stalked and harrassed by some of the other animals, and she wants a multi lateral agreement that no animal will stalk another, especially from the common leopards, who are prone to stalking other animals. Sparky and Whitie have hatched a plan for Sparky to help whitie off the bed where she resides, so that they can play together, as they are very good friends, even though snowy doesn't see this. All she sees is a large dalmation with big paws, wanting to play with a blind snow leopard cub, and that cub being too inexperiened to realise what she's getting herself in to. Whitie hasn't told her foster mother that she's explored the dalmation with her forepaws, from his ears right down to the pads on his paws, for if she did, she'd get a walloping for sure.
A yell of terror from Snowy Half-Tail rocked the whole house today. it transpired that Sparky and Whitie had carried out their plan, and that the dalmation had got the snow leopard cub off the bed and taken her down stairs. there they'd played together for about an hour before Snowy woke to find only one Snow leopard cub lying beside her. screaming, snowy banged the quilt with her forepaws in an attempt to get attention, aas she can't get off the bed by herself. She succseeded in disturbing the dogs and otters who share the quilt with her, none of whom could tell her anything about where Whitie had gone. Snowy Half-Tail only calmed down when Whitie was returned to her by Sparky, whom Snowy wanted to wallop when she saw him, though she couldn't reach him.
more animal antics. Kalihari, my meerkat, has managed to soothe the feelings of the two otters he's standing beside. kanga hasn't again taken the law into her own paws re the leopard cubs, but she's got she's keeping a lofty eye on everyone. Whitie says she will now play with a polar bear cub, snowy Half-Tail doesn't agree with that, but who's to say the polar bears, who are rather gentle really, won't spirit Whitie away for a bit of fun downstairs where they are? Sparky did it, and he had no help. All the polar bear cubs are up for helping Whitie to play with them.to
more polar bears! Two more came to my door today begging help. these two are cubs, and were desperate to be hugged and to sleep in a warm place. snowy half tail didn't get to hear in advance of their arrival, so it's only now she's making a fuss about wanting to protect the cubs, much to the annoyance of one of my otters, who says she will wallop snowy if she mentions those Polar bear cubs one more time. Whitie told the otter not to be so hard on snowy, as she was only expressing her true personallity, wanting to protect everything small and seemingly vulnrable. snowy may yet be able to caress a polar bear cub though. She's trying to coax one of the newcommers over to her.
a large brown bear got his paw in the door yesterday, and Snowy half tail, along with tolstuka, the female polar bear cub, took him in. the brown bear's name is Bruin, and he's already made friends with snowy, tolstuka and Whitie.
Bruin's mate got her paw in the door a few days ago, along with a large polar bear. bruin's mate, named Brunetta, is now constantly by Bruin's side. one of my labradors has taken a liking to the large male polar bear, she thought he needed a hug, and now they're inseperable.
late last night, the sound of heavy paws on carpet coming down the hall announced the arrival of my large polar bear. he lies on my lap while I am at my computer, and wanted to spend the night in another place. he says he study is frightening, especially with that red eye watching him. by the red eye, I think he's refering to the burgler alarm sensor, which flashes every ten seconds. So the polar bear came into my room and I managed to find room for him on the quilt with snowy half Tail and the others. there he settled down and spent a peaceful night. Bruin and brunetta settled on eother side of the large polar bear and took a forepaw each. they began stroking the polar bear's forepaws, something he found most comforting I believe. Now he's lying on my lap again while I tpe this. The polar bear is large with a black nose, brown eyes, and a shaggy coat. he's got heavy paws, so he's unable to go anywhere quietly.
a rather bedraggled raccoon came into my house today. he'd been walking for days in the rain because his home had been destroyed by dogs. he'd escaped, but had nowhere to go. A bird who'd seen my animals through a window, told the Raccoon about my place and he padded off to find me. one of my tiger cubs found him banging on the door with one of his forepaws in an attempt to attract attention. when he came in he was soaked from ears to paws, but soon dried off next to a radiator. The other animals are thrilled a raccoon's come to stay, and the raccoon is growing fonder of the other animals with every minute. My large Polar bear, who's name is Isaac, met the raccoon and nearly scared the fur off him! it was only when Isaac rolled onto his back and waved his paws in the air that the raccoon relaxed and let Isaac hug him.
snow leopards, aren't they wonderful? Well, my large female one certainly is, and she's found her long lost cubs, much to snowy half tail's disgust. snowy didn't want to give the snow leopard her cubs, but my otter reminded snowy of the agreement that she agreed to that if Whitie's mother was ever found, that she and her sister were to be reunited with their mother. snowy grudgingly gave the cubs back to their mother and is now looking after her own cubs. My large Polar bear, who's name is isaac, is currently looking for a mate. i think I've found him one, but she's miles away from here, and will take about a week to get here. Feeling lonely, Isaac spoke to the female snow lepard who let him cuddle up to her, curling her body round his. comforted by this, Isaac relaxed.
another snow leopard got his paw in the door today. he is furious as he was looking for his mate, who also ended up here, and was bundled into a plastic bag, for quaranteen purposes so it was said, and then stuffed into a box. when he struggled free of the bag and then clambered out of the box after arriving at my place, he complained he had a stiff tail, hense his name, stifftail. one of his cubs, Blanche, Whitie's sister, sorted stifftail's tail for him by taking it in her paws and working the muscles out of spasm. Stifftail now lies on my sofa, Blanche cradled in his forepaws.
Isaac found himself a mate a few days ago. She's as large as he is, and they're getting on fine. Amber, my female snow leopard took to hiding beneath the quilt just as snowy half tail does. She says it's warm and she feels safe there. blanche and stifftail have joined Whitie and Amber on or under the quilt. Two of my spanyals have slunk off to my spare room, and now for some strange reason best known to themselves, have taken up residence atop my tumble dryer. Amber said that she didn't much like the spanyals, and that she was glad they'd gone. Bruin and his mate Brunetta are spending some time apart, while Bruin tries to stop Isaac from breaking the necks of the male polar bears who live downstairs. Isaac hates the way they treat the younger polar bear cubs, and he wants to do them harm, as talking hasn't worked.
um....
all the animals i couldn't cope with. much to nuch for me.
although...i don't think i would mind the bear lol!
Isaac has a new mate, her name's arki, and she's rather shy. her method of arrival at my place was traumatic for her as she's terrified of dark places and hates plastic bags. She was put into a plastic bag before being shoved into a box for transit to my place. Wandering in the garden one day, Arki saw something white beneath a bush. going closer, she realised what she'd seen was a polar bear cub. talking to the cub, she found it was lost and frightened. While there were several cubs already in the place where she lived, she told the polar bear cub that she would see if space could be found. The cub, a male, is being looked after by Arki until tuesday, when he can come into the house. She has to tell him the do's and don'ts of living in a house.
the new polar bear cub entered the house a few days ago, he's now snuggled up to Arki and she's not letting him out of her sight. amber and her cubs fell in love with the new arrival, but stifftail's not impressed. he wonders why Arki even considered rescuing a cub who's mother didn't want him. In his view, the cub should have been left to die. Arki and Amber wouldn't hear of that happening.
No! by all means please do not let little cubbie die, it is a lonely world as it is at times and then mama leaves... Dobbin's place is Home Sweet Animal Home Place where none is forsaken. *smile*
things are going well at my place, a lhuge polar bear has asked to come and live at my place, and he's even larger than Isaac, and that's saying something. I'll post more about him in the next few days.
lol where do you find all these creatures ...
unfortunately, I cannot overtly advertise the website as their terms and conditions don't allow posting of links etc, all I can say is look at badgerworld.co.uk and then look for the interfauna badger and you will be taken to the site. it's a great site, a british company, and the service is fantastic. btw, a large lion, a polar bear and a tiger are arriving soon, they begged Amber, one of my snow leopards, for a home as they said they were being persecuted at their old homes.
The lion, tiger and polar bear have arrived! clarence, the lion, insists he should be leader of all the animals. Matilda, my kangaroo, has taken to call clarence "leo" as she says it's easier to remember, and what kind of a name is Clarence anyway? Clarence hates the name Leo, and protests loudly whenever Matilda refers to him as such. Clarence is currently in confrence with Isaac about various things, and maybe his nick name is one of them. the polar bear and the large tiger are in my bedroom, the large bear sprawled on my bed, the tiger on his hind legs, one of his forepaws in that of snowy half tail, who recognises the tiger as a distant cousin of hers.
oh my gosh that is a lot of animals. arn't you starting to run out of room?
not yet stargate. *smile*
i'm sure you will soon lol!
I think it is that Dobbin's place is so verrry special a place indeed that the more he fills it with his cuddlies then the more expansive his place becomes.
snowy half tail's in the doghouse, if a cat can be said to be so. here is the lowdown on what happened. it was partly the fault of one of the snow leopard cubs, but she wasn't to know what trouble her little prank would cause. The large male tiger finally managed to get beneath the quilt when Snowy was asleep. One of her cubs helped him by lifting the edge of the quilt enough for him to get a paw beneath, then he was able to work his way under the quilt, careful not to touch Snowy half tail in the process. Touching any part of her, especially her paws, would alert the territorial tigress that another animal was muscling in on her patch, even though she could only claim part of the quilt for herself. Dry mouthed, the tiger fought his way beneath the quilt, until only his hind paws showed outside the quilt, the rest of him covered by the quilt. The tiger carefully turned, bringing first one hind paw, then the other under the quilt. Pushing with the toes of one of his hind paws, then the other, and pulling with alternate forepaws, as well as wriggling and twisting so not to pull the quilt off of Snowy, which would have alerted her for sure, the tiger worked his way up under the quilt until his left forepaw, then his right, then his head emerged from the depths of the quilt. Looking to his left, he saw he was only inches from Snowy half tail, who mercifully was still asleep. The tiger relaxed, moving his left hind paw a little to the left. In doing so, his paw brushed Snowy’s pads, the tiger froze, not daring to pull his paw away. Snowy stirred, moved her paw a little, and settled back to sleep. The tiger knew Snowy was pretty much immobile. For example she couldn’t do what he’d just done, hard work for him though it had been. The tiger collapsed exhausted beneath the quilt, knowing now that even if Snowy woke up, she couldn’t do much to evict him. What she’d do when she found out who’d helped him to get beneath the quilt, the tiger didn’t want to think about. Snowy would have that poor cub punished harshly, even though he was her own. Distant cousins Snowy and the male tiger might be, but there was no bond there at all. Snowy hated the male Bengal tiger, and everyone knew it.
One of Snowy’s cubs crawled from his refuge beneath the quilt and sat between the male tiger’s forepaws. The tiger recognised the cub as the one who’d dug beneath the quilt for him. As he’d promised he’d do, the male tiger used his forepaws to rub the cub down from the cub’s ears to the pads on his tiny paws. This was the snow tiger cub’s reward for helping the male tiger get beneath the quilt. During the rub down, the snow tiger cub lay down and submitted happily to the Bengal tiger’s ministrations, as his huge paws worked their way from his ears to his paws, not missing an inch. The adult tiger’s eyes filled with tears when the snow tiger cub curled up and fell asleep. Caressing the cub between his paws, the large male tiger watched him with half closed eyes.
Blanche was feeling mischievous. She was bored that day. Everything seemed to be happening to everyone but her, and she had grown tired of lying beside Stifftail, who spent most of his time sleeping. Amber and Whitie were forever going downstairs and talking with the other animals, and Blanche wanted to do the same, but Stifftail had forbad it. It was as if blanche and Whitie were from two different families, not sisters. Blanche checked to see if Stifftail was asleep by touching the pad of one paw with hers. There was no reaction from the huge male snow leopard. Blanche crawled away from Stifftail and found the edge of the quilt. She decided she was going to have some fun with the new tiger. Crawling beneath the quilt, blanche worked her way carefully towards the large male tiger’s hind paws. She’d heard everything that had gone on re the tiger’s invasion on Snowy half tail’s patch, so she knew where he was, even that one of Snowy’s cub’s had let the large male tiger stroke him until he’d fallen asleep. Now Blanche was crawling towards the male tiger’s hind paws, to tickle the pads of one paw and see what happened. Finding one of the tiger’s hind paws with her forepaw, blanche quickly checked to make sure she wasn’t about to tickle Snowy, who she knew hated having her paws touched. Blanche had learned this while in Snowy Half tail’s care, and she and Whitie had been tracing all over Snowy’s body with their paws to see how large she was. She’d warned them both she hated anyone touching her paws, but she’d make an exception for them just this once. In this way, blanche knew what Snowy’s hind paws felt like, and the paw beneath hers wasn’t Snowy’s. Blanche tensed every muscle in preparation to roll away as soon as she’d tickled the pads of the paw she’d found. She didn’t want to get in the way of thrashing paws, their claws sheathed as blanche knew they’d be. No tiger slept with their claws exposed.
Taking a deep breath, Blanche made sure her own claws were sheathed, then tickled the pads of the male tiger’s left hind paw with the toes of her right fore. The reaction was instant!
Screaming, the male tiger whipped his paw away! In doing so, he kicked one of Snowy’s hind paws, which woke her.
“ouch!” Snowy yelled, “Which bumbling idiot kicked my paw!” She flexed the toes of the injured paw, unable to do anything else to alleviate her discomfort. Snowy rounded on the male tiger, her fury even more acute now she’d seen him beneath the quilt, and worse still, seen him with one of her own cubs.
“What the hell are you doing here!” She demanded, all control vanishing.
“the, the b, the boss, he let me come here,” the male tiger stammered, now terrified!
“the boss is a total dimwit if he thinks I would even give you the time of day!” Snowy yelled, “didn’t you tell him what my decision was? That you were not allowed beneath my, yes, my quilt? Did you tell him?”
“No, no Snowy I didn’t, please, please don’t hurt me!” the tiger replied, shaking from nose to tail. He could see Snowy’s forepaws, and they looked powerful. Before he knew what had happened, Snowy had snatched her cub from between the male Bengal tiger’s paws, bullying the tiny creature under the quilt, vowing she’d deal with him later. Then she grabbed hold of the Bengal tiger’s left forepaw in one of hers, the paw holding the Bengal tiger’s was like a vice! Whimpering, the tiger tried to free his paw, but Snowy held on, dragging the paw she held towards her until the tiger’s body followed far enough for her to use her free forepaw to land a crashing blow on the poor Bengal tiger’s nose. The open pawed slap landed smack on the end of the Bengal tiger’s nose, making his eyes water. Sniffing, the Bengal tiger tried to release his forepaw from that of the enraged snow tigress.
“You will pay for disobeying me!” Snowy screamed, her voice seeming to fill the room, “you will,,,” Snowy got no further.
Arki and the large male polar bear who’d arrived with the Bengal tiger launched themselves at Snowy, the large male polar bear landing smack on top of the snow tigress, knocking the wind from her and dead pawing her with a smart whack from one of his heavy forepaws. Snowy lay gasping and crying with shock and pain, while Arki protected the Bengal tiger with her body, putting herself between Snowy and the now openly weeping tiger. Arki’s cub crawled up to where her mother was tending to the Bengal tiger. All Arki could do was massage the tiger’s squashed paw, she could do little else for him.
Meanwhile, blanche cowered at the other end of the quilt. She could hear what was going on, and knew the commotion must have woken Stifftail. Blanche knew she was in big trouble if anyone found out what she’d done, and if Snowy managed to drag the truth from the cub who’d helped the Bengal tiger, she’d be found out for sure, for it was the same tiger cub who stayed snuggled up to Snowy’s side, not the one who lay between her paws, so he would have seen everything, including blanche tickling the Bengal tiger’s hind paw! Blanche felt the toes on all four of her own paws curling as she realised the full extent of what she’d unleashed with her little prank. Tickling the pads of the male tiger’s paw had been so easy, but now everything was about to go wrong, for her, as well as for Snowy’s poor cub. Indeed blanche could already hear Snowy recovering from whatever Arki and that oversized friend of hers had done to her. Soon she’d be questioning her cub, and the outcome wouldn’t be at all pleasant. Blanche had to will her paws to relax and carry her so she could crawl away to emerge beside Stifftail and await her fait. Snowy’s yell of anger came to her loud and clear, and blanche knew she was really for it.
“Stifftail!” Snowy yelled, “when that disgusting cub of yours reappears, make sure she gets a proper hiding! She thought it would be fun to tickle the Bengal tiger’s hind paws! He kicked me, and now this has happened!” Stifftail knew of Snowy’s deep hatred for the Bengal tiger.
“I’ll warn her off,” Stifftail replied, trying not to show he was grinning. The thought of blanche crawling beneath the quilt and tickling the paws of the huge Bengal tiger amused him greatly.
“Wherever you are blanche, well done my cub,” Stifftail thought.
Meanwhile, the male Bengal tiger had also learned what had tickled his hind paw. He was angry at first that someone had even attempted it, but when he heard it was a cub who’d done it, the tiger found it hard to be angry with blanche, even though what she’d done was dangerous.
“cubs will be cubs,” he said. Arki grinned, then yelped as her own cub tickled one of her hind paws.
“Get off!” She complained. The cub grinned at her.
“Sorry mum,” she said, but Arki knew she wasn’t.
“I’ve just been to talk to the boss,” brunetta said, crawling in from the hall landing, “he’s not impressed with your conduct Snowy. He says he only allowed you beneath the quilt because you had poor circulation to your paws, and being beneath the quilt would keep you comfortable. He says that if you continue to claim that no other animal can seek refuge beneath the quilt, he will permanently remove you from your place and find you a new place. There I am assured, there will be no quilt, and your paws will have to become cold. You are privileged as your place was almost permanent, but now Snowy, now you might find others taking your place. Other animals, like me, Amber, Stifftail, even the overgrown furballs who winded you earlier. They are all more deserving of the warmth and security the quilt offers than you are. You thought you had it all Snowy, and for a long time you did. Now though, the boss is seriously considering giving your place to another creature. Your former life might have been hard, but Arki and her cub’s was too. They deserve a spell beneath the quilt just as much, no, more than you do.” Snowy tried to protest, but the huge male polar bear who’d winded her showed her a massive paw and she subsided into silence.
“Snowy takes up too much room under that quilt anyway,” Whitie remarked, “she needs to learn what cold paws are. Personally, I think we cubs should spend our time beneath the quilt, we get cold paws too!”
meanwhile the large male Bengal tiger worked his way beneath the quilt, careful not to even brush Snowy half tail. Once he was ensconced, he tried to ignore the throbbing pain in his left forepaw, though he wished someone would massage his other three paws, for he’d heard that a paw massage stimulated chemicals which gave relief from pain. His eyes fell on Snowy’s face. She looked angry and ready to explode. Staring down at his forepaws, the tiger wished someone would massage his paws, and show him what it was Snowy had boasted of that first night. She’d wanted one up on him, using her diagnoses of poor circulation to strengthen her claim to a nice warm place. Now though, all four of Snowy’s paws were on shaky ground, and if Brunetta’s words were correct, the ground was about to open up and swallow the snow tigress, cold paws and all.
A movement at the corner of his vision made the tiger look round. A tiny white cub crawled towards him across the quilt.
Blanche had been told by Stifftail to apologise to the tiger for the trouble she’d caused, and now blanche was crawling towards the massive creature’s head. Fascinated, the Bengal tiger watched as blanche crawled slowly towards him, stopping every few minutes. It seemed to him, that blanche was feeling in front of her with a forepaw before crawling a little further. This behaviour was strange. When the cub drew level with his shoulder, the Bengal tiger then saw the reason for her having to explore with her forepaws. The cub’s eyes had not yet opened.
“Come here little one,” the tiger said, drawing blanche closer with one massive forepaw.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” Blanche said, feeling the tiger’s whiskers tickling her as he held her between his massive forepaws.
“What did you do little one?” he asked.
“I was the cub who tickled your paw,” blanche replied, expecting the tiger to rip her apart with his claws, but the tiger did nothing. The huge Bengal tiger began to stroke blanche with one massive forepaw. He knew he should be tearing this cub apart, for his mother had said to him anything with spots was an enemy, but he couldn’t bring himself to unsheathe his claws, let alone do this cub harm.
Stifftail and Amber were anxiously watching the goings on. They’d sent blanche off on her errand and had only just remembered when the tiger took blanche in his paws, that tigers and leopards were sworn enemies. They’d forgotten, so used were they to gentle creatures, no matter what they were. Now , sick to their stomachs, they waited for the tiger to kill blanche. Amber knew they’d possibly sent blanche to her death.
“What’s your name little one?” the tiger asked the now terrified snow leopard cub.
“Blanche sir,” blanche whispered, finally realising she was in grave danger and beginning to cry.
“Why are you crying blanche,” the massive Bengal tiger asked.
“Because mum and Stifftail say tigers are our enemies, and that you’ll kill us cubs if you get your paws on us, and now you have your paws round me, and I tickled your paw, so now, now you’re going to kill me!” Blanche replied quickly.
“No blanche, no!” the tiger said, almost crying himself now, “I wouldn’t hurt a cub, no matter who’s cub it was! I won’t kill you, I promise.” With that blanche felt herself drawn closer to the massive tiger, the tiger’s huge paws enveloping her. She then felt his rough tongue licking her ear.
“You tickled my paw little Blanche,” the tiger said gently, “the only thing I will say about that is that what you did was dangerous, and I am angry at you for that because I am concerned about you, that you might have hurt yourself. Tickling my hind paw was a brave, but silly thing to do, especially with Snowy half tail so close by. Now she’s my enemy, you’re not. She hurt me, you didn’t. You tickled my paw, but you meant no harm by it. Snowy crushed my paw and hit me, and she meant me harm.”
Snowy spat with contempt at the Bengal tiger, but he was unphased by her disgusting display. He no longer cared what Snowy half tail did, for he had a cub in his paws, a cub of a long maligned tribe, a defenceless snow leopard cub, which he couldn’t bare to kill, but which he knew he would protect with his life.
“blanche,” the tiger said, “would you like to stroke my paws again?” Blanche still shaking with fear, nodded.
“Okay,” the tiger said, turn round, that’s it, and feel with your paw for mine. That’s it. Now there are three more like that one, take your time little cub. This time we can both enjoy the experience.” Blanche communicated with her sire , Whitie and with Amber through touching their paws, and now she was able to touch the paws of a tiger, to convey to him how sorry she was she’d tickled his hind paw, a paw which she’d soon be stroking.
“Say no more about what you did little one,” the tiger said, reading blanche’s thoughts, “the fact you tickled my paw doesn’t worry me, what worried me was that you didn’t inform anyone first. If you’d asked, I’d have gladly let you tickle my paws, all four of them, but through not asking me, you put yourself in danger, and that we cannot have.”
“I suppose I also caused you to get into a fight with Snowy half tail,” Blanche said, the full enormity of what she’d started finally hitting home.
“I can’t blame you for Snowy’s behaviour,” the huge tiger replied, “what she did was totally beyond reason, and was no fault of yours.”
“I must go and find your hind paws now,” blanche said.
“No, no don’t, not yet, please,” the tiger begged, “let me look at you some more.” Blanche heard the tiger’s voice cracking, and realised he was close to tears.
“What is he doing to our cub!” Stifftail whispered to amber.
“I think that tiger might be just about to adopt blanche as his honorary niece,” amber replied, “something tells me that huge tiger’s either lost his own cubs, or hated the doctrine his mother tried to drum into him and played with leopard cubs when he was a cub. I think blanche’s family now has a new member.” Stifftail looked away, he didn’t hold with all this kind of stuff.
“How can a tiger adopt a leopard cub!” he yelled.
“one just has,” Whitie replied, “in fact, he’s adopted two snow leopard cubs.” Stifftail dug in his toes to stop himself from leaping off the quilt.
“you mean, that you too Whitie, you have spoken to that striped ball of sentimentality? He can’t adopt the cubs of other big cats!”
“Why not if he lost his own cubs?” Arki asked.
“he can adopt tiger cubs, even snow tiger cubs,” Stifftail replied, “but not cubs of snow leopards!”
“he has adopted snow tiger cubs,” Brunetta replied, “Snowy’s two have become firm friends with the Bengal tiger. That’s why Snowy hates him so much. She could never make friends as fast as he can. Snowy’s authoritarian, you will do this, do that, do the other. Her jungle cousin isn’t. he gave the cubs the choice, to take him as they found him, or leave him. They took him.”
“next thing I’ll be hearing is that Arki’s cub has been adopted by foster!” Stifftail yelled, referring to the raccoon who lived downstairs.
“No,” Arki replied, “though she has been adopted by the so called furball who sat on Snowy earlier. Stifftail was close to pulling his fur out!
“this place is full of misfits!” He yelled, “unlikely alliances which would never happen in the wild! This is wrong!”
“it feels okay to me,” the Bengal tiger, who Blanche had named Tigger, as she couldn’t quite say tiger, said. The huge Bengal tiger, on hearing of his new name, laughed merrily.
“Tigger it is then,” he said, embracing blanche as tightly as he dared. Whitie crawled towards Tigger and the huge tiger hugged her also. Amber made her way towards Tigger and he took both her forepaws in his before taking one of Amber’s paws in both of his and stroking it.
“So you are Amber, the mother of the cub who tickled my paw,” Tigger said. Amber opened her mouth to apologise to him, but the huge tiger raised his paw to stop her. “No, no need,” he said, “for your cub, both your cubs, have brought me peace.”
“you lost your own cubs?” Amber asked, seeing the way Tigger looked at Whitie, who’d snuggled down beside him.
“both my cubs,” Tigger said, “both of them, dead. Hunters shot their mother, and soon after they both died. I found them,,, found them stiff in the grass. I had to bury my own cubs Amber!” amber could hardly believe her eyes as the huge tiger broke down totally. She never thought a male tiger ever cried. This one did, openly too. Tigger wiped his eyes with a trembling forepaw.
“I could never see cubs without feeling my world disintegrating all over again,” he sobbed, “I know I shouldn’t feel this way about cubs who aren’t even my own sub species, they’re your cubs Amber, not mine, and I’m sorry for imposing myself on them.” Amber knew Tigger hadn’t imposed himself on her cubs, they’d found him and adopted him as much as he had them.
“you haven’t imposed yourself on my cubs,” Amber said, “no Tigger,” here Amber smiled, “I hear Whitie even tried the same trick as Blanche had, but managed to avoid Snowy half tail, so it went unremarked.” Whitie hid her head on hearing this.
“She did,” Tigger replied, “but as you said, Snowy didn’t get involved, so noone knew of it, only me and Whitie.”
“Welcome home Tigger,” Amber said. Stifftail turned away, unable to watch Amber and Tigger any more.
So too in our own lives there are those fierce appearing ones who want not to have gentle strokes applied to their lives, their paws as it were, but it is then upon further inspection that though considered enemies yet still a little cubbie, a little one of innocent and brave though perhaps misguided ventures can wiggle its way in and touch the one of deepest despair and somewhere inspite of all heartaches and seemingly misfortunes that seem to arise, yet still it is found that bonds of love prevail when a looking past what is considered to be and rather coming into an understanding of what can be, what is.
Snowy half tail refused to let her problem with tigger lie, so she is now ousted from her prime position on the quilt, relegated to lying on the carpet, one cub choosing to stay with her, the other choosing to stay with tigger. now snowy is doubly Furious as she's realising her actions have consiquences and that she's not going to get away with screaming at, spitting at or using her paws on tigger. meanwhile, tigger and blanche are cuddled up together, Tigger not Quite able to let her go back to amber.
It seems snowy Half tail did not heed the warning from the boss. Here’s what happened soon after the end of the last account.
Once Tigger had composed himself, Amber and her cubs went back to their place on the quilt. Snowy Half tail was furious! She knew both her cubs had been adopted by Tigger, and she hated it. She didn’t see how the, in her view, stupid idiot of a tiger could have ever charmed her cubs. That Tigger had won the hearts of he snow leopard cubs, Snowy could understand, for Whitie and blanche were stupid cubs, they knew nothing, and Snowy wondered why she’d not seen them for what they were and let them die, just as Stifftail wanted to. But oh no, that bimbling bag of fur amber had saved Whitie and blanche, and now the snow leopard cubs had Tigger on their side. What did Tigger think he was playing at, almost weeping when blanche touched his paw after they’d met? Was he a tiger or a flea? Did he subscribe to all that a tiger was, fierce and dominant, or did he just roll over with his paws in the air at the sight of a couple of cubs and let them tickle his paws until he was laughing fit to bust? Snowy knew the answer to be the latter. Tigger loved physical contact with blanche and Whitie, and no doubt amber would end up playing with him too, after all, she’d do that kind of thing, so Snowy thought. Snowy couldn’t bear to look at her cub, snuggled down, deeply asleep beside Tigger. That dam tiger! He seemed to have wormed his way into the lives of all the cubs. it seemed even the polar bear cubs weren’t immune from his pervasive manner. Snowy watched angrily as Tigger and Arki’s cub played together, Arki’s cub catching hold of one of Tigger’s paws and holding it while the tiger pretended his paw was trapped and tried gently to free it before the cub began tickling his pads. Snowy watching angrily as Tigger lost his battle with the polar bear cub and she began to tickle his paw, something snowy felt Tigger hadn’t done much to prevent her from doing. Maybe he didn’t want to free his paw after all the whimpering and supposed desperate struggle to free his supposedly trapped paw. Snowy would have fought the cub’s efforts to even touch her paw, let alone tickle it. She hated the thought of anyone touching her paws. The thought sickened her. She couldn’t see how Tigger enjoyed all that.
“go on Tigger, use your claws on her you big wimp!” snowy yelled, Stop tugging at your paw like a pansy and kill the cub!” Tigger stopped worrying at his paw and looked at snowy.
“that wasn’t a joke was it half tail,” he said, “you were serious!”
“I was and am,” snowy snapped, “and my name’s snowy, not Half tail!”
“My paw isn’t trapped,” Tigger said, “it’s a game Arki’s cub and I are playing. Or hadn’t you noticed that?” snowy buried her head beneath the quilt, not wanting to take the matter further.
“I feel sick,” Tigger said. Snowy’s entreaties to him to kill Arki’s cub had upset him greatly.
“come on Tigger!” the polar bear cub said enthusiastically, “one more go at freeing your paw, or I will tickle it!” Tigger let his paw lie flaccid on the quilt. He couldn’t muster the strength to play with the polar bear cub any more, for his mind was full of horrible images. Images of dead cubs, Images he couldn’t push away to the back of his mind. The film was running again, finding the cubs dead in the grass, trying to revive them, and then lying down, weeping and hugging the cub’s lifeless bodies to him as he went to peaces. Tigger began to cry. Great big tears rolled down the tiger’s face as the polar bear cub watched. Up until then, Tigger had been staring into space, their game forgotten.
“What’s the matter Tiggie,” Arki’s cub asked. Tigger gulped hard:
“Tiggie was what my cubs used to call me,” he thought, the memory tearing him apart. Tigger buried his face in his paws and cried pitifully.
“I can’t cope any more!” he sobbed, “I can’t stand this! Someone stop it! Please!”
“now you’ve upset him!” snowy snapped, angry at Tigger more than at Arki’s cub, but that didn’t matter, she had someone to vent her spleen at and that was all she needed.
“What did I say?” the polar bear cub asked, looking miserably at Tigger.
“I’m sorry Tigger. That is if I said something I shouldn’t have.”
“come here my cub,” Arki said gently to the female polar bear cub. She went to her mother.
“you called him Tiggie. Now I know you meant no harm by that, it is a pet name for him, but I think his cubs used to call him that. Maybe his mate did too. You weren’t to know that, so noone’s blaming you, least of all Tigger himself I think. That was why he went to peaces. That and snowy urging him to kill you when you wouldn’t let go of his paw.”
“But we were playing a game!” the cub whimpered.
“I know that, and so does Tigger, but snowy wasn’t playing. She wanted Tigger to do you serious harm.”
Tigger, hot and exhausted from crying, lay with his face buried in his forepaws.
“Tigger?” Arki’s cub asked gently, going towards the prostrate tiger. Tigger raised his head and looked at the polar bear cub.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Tigger said, “you weren’t to know that what you called me was what my now dead mate and cubs used to call me.” Tigger rubbed a damp forepaw over eyes red from weeping, “I won’t talk of what I saw when snowy urged me to kill you little one, for it is not right for me to inflict that on a cub. That, and your innocent words made me lose it totally.
“I won’t call you that ever again,” the polar bear cub replied, “I’m sorry Tigger, I really am, I won’t do it again, I promise.”
“but, but I want you to, sort of,” Tigger replied, “for they were my family, and now you are, so, if you want, I’ll be Tiggie once more.”
“I told you he’d adopt Arki’s cub didn’t I!” Stifftail yelled, “that dam tiger doesn’t know when he’s had too much of a good thing, he’s stark raving mad!”
“At least he doesn’t want to murder his own cubs,” Arki said with distaste.
“now that’s low!” Stifftail complained, “I wanted to leave Whitie and Blanche, but that was then, and this is now!”
“but you’ve advocated that we left my cub to die,” Arki reminded Stifftail, and that wasn’t too long ago.”
“I know,” Stifftail replied, “but I still think Tigger’s mad!”
“What’s so mad about wanting to look after cubs Stifftail?” amber asked, “I looked after a cub while I was wandering in search of Whitie and Blanche. I was as close to her as I am to my own cubs. She died under the wheels of a lorry wile we were crossing a road in France. I know what Tigger feels. I don’t think he’s mad, he’s desperate for a reason to carry on, and so far he’s found four reasons, my two cubs, one of Snowy’s and Arki’s cub. They are all his cubs too now. Don’t say any more about this, keep your views to yourself Stifftail.” Amber rounded savagely on snowy Half tail.
“As for you!” she snarled, her fur standing on end, “you deserve nothing! You took what we gave you, and then you gave nothing back. Now you urge a tiger to kill a cub. You violate the rules of this house Half tail! You incited murder! And I’ll bet if you had your way every cub in this place would be on your menu! You disgust me half tail! I’ve had enough of you and your despicable antics!” With that Amber shoved snowy hard! The snow tigress tried to hang on with her forepaws, and the toes of her hind paws, but amber stamped on her paws, finally shoving her off the quilt. Snowy landed with a thud on the carpet.
“you deserved all that!” Amber yelled. Snowy hissed and spat at Amber. Turning to Arki’s overgrown furball friend, amber commanded:
“Drag snowy half tail well away from here. Put her near to where the boss shreds paper. There she will be no danger to anyone and he won’t trip over her. While she’s done immeasurable harm to us, I’m sure the boss doesn’t want to hurt her, no matter what she’s done to us. he’ll be angry with her, furious in fact, but he won’t hurt her. He wouldn’t hurt any of us, no matter what we’d done.”
“I will gladly do as you ask,” the huge male polar bear replied, leaping down and dragging snowy away. One of Snowy’s cubs followed his mother, wanting to be with her rather than with Tigger. Snowy herself made no protest as the huge male polar bear dragged her away.
Amber managed to work her way beneath the quilt after Snowy half tail's departure. Now she, her cub Whitie, Brunetta, and Tigger are luxuriating in the warmth of the quilt.
Hi Dobbin, Your story here has many interesting thots. Was re-rading Post #282 where discussion is made of violating the rules of the house... so too in our lives, it ought to be that as one needs to take then too in that measure does one give in return. To simply not to be only a taker. Dobbin, Yes, it is right to be a taker, we all need at times to receive of others along Life's way and equally so others from time to time are in need of receiving (from us as well as others) When we close up ourselves to giving when it is within us to do so then Yes, that is living in a way of violation... ......................... then too I note Half-Tails little cubbie, that still this one, no matter the violations of its mother, was still to be found by it's mothers side giving us to know that there are indeed ties that bind. Connie
Snowy half tail's other cub, the one who stayed with tigger, respects his fellow cub's choice, but as Snowy wasn't too kind to him, he left as soon as he could.
Tigger woke slowly, luxuriating in the warmth afforded him by the thick quilt covering him from the toes of his hind paws to his neck. His whole body was warm, from his ears to the pads of all four of his paws, and he couldn’t have asked for anything more. Tigger wasn’t boastful of having won his battle with snowy half tail, after all, she’d brought the fight to him, but he was relieved it was all over. Wiggling the toes of both his hind paws, Tigger basked in the warmth this small action generated. He felt the warmth spreading all over the pads of his hind paws, and he knew that if he wiggled the toes of his forepaws, the same thing would happen for them. This was if they were already warm of course, if his paws were cold, Tigger found it a near impossible task to move the toes of the paw, let alone do what he was doing now. Tigger put his head beneath the quilt and blew hard, the heat from his breath warming his forepaws. Feeling even better about things, Tigger lay back and enjoyed just lying beneath the quilt. Amber, lying under the quilt a little way off with her cub Whitie, turned her head and made eye contact with Tigger.
“We’ve got a good place here Tiggie,” she said, smiling at the massive Bengal tiger. Tigger grinned, it certainly felt good to him today, that was for sure.> Tigger tried not to think of his past life, but sometimes, when he felt safe, he let his mind travel into places where he dared not usually go. Places which he knew he must visit, places which caused him pain and sadness. Tigger knew he must try to come to terms with the deaths of his mate and their cubs. digging his forepaws deeper into the quilt, Tigger closed his eyes and thought about his mate and their cubs. They had been everything to him, and some inconsiderate human had snatched his mate’s life away, also killing their cubs, which were only a few weeks old at the time. Tigger knew he couldn’t bring them back, but he wished fervently that he could. If they’d been able to come to the place he was now, they’d be happy he was sure. Tigger felt the all too familiar sensation which meant he was close to losing it totally. Hardly able to breathe, and with his eyes stinging, Tigger tried to keep a lid on his emotions, not to cry, but it was too difficult. Burying his face in his paws, Tigger gave himself up to weeping for his mate and their cubs. somewhere along the line, Whitie appeared, and Tigger took her in his forepaws, hugging her to him. Then, to Whitie’s surprise and then delight, Tigger began to wash and groom her fur from her nose to her tail, missing nothing. Whitie hadn’t been groomed like this since she was a very young cub, and at first it felt a little strange, but then she began to enjoy it. Using his teeth and his rough tongue, Tigger nibbled at and licked Whitie’s fur, the snow leopard cub relaxing as the huge Bengal tiger worked his way carefully from her ears to her paws. When he came to her paws, Tigger examined each paw carefully, holding it gently in his. Then, satisfied there were no thorns or other problems, he concluded the grooming session by hugging Whitie tightly. Whitie snuggled into Tigger’s hug, cementing her bond with the huge male Bengal tiger.
His eyes dry now, Tigger looked round him, straight into Amber’s face. The female snow leopard was smiling, and her eyes were shining with delight. Tigger snapped into full consciousness, his grooming of Whitie having been completed in a semi daze.
“Amber!” he gasped, “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have, I really shouldn’t have,,,”
“I’m sure Whitie loved every minute,” she said, “in fact, so did I. it was lovely to see you grooming her from nose to tail. It was natural, unforced, loving.” Tigger loved Whitie and her sister with all his heart, and he was glad Amber had seen it.
“I love your cubs with all my heart Amber,” Tigger whispered. Amber smiled and took one of Tigger’s paws in hers.
“You keep loving them,” she whispered, “for apart from me, you’re the only big cat who does.” Tigger knew Stifftail wanted to let his cubs die, and for that he could never forgive the male snow leopard.
“I will protect them with my life,” Tigger said. Amber saw in his eyes that he was deadly serious.
“you’ve got beautifully soft paws Tigger,” Amber whispered to the male tiger, “can, can I look at the rest of you?” Tigger realised what Amber was asking of him.
“Which bits of me do you want to see?” He asked.
“Your face, your body, your paws, everything!” Amber whispered. Tigger grinned at Amber and gave her both his forepaws.
“touch them, stroke them, look at them, embrace them,” Tigger invited. Amber looked at Tigger’s face for a long time, then transferred her attention to his forepaws, one by one, then she turned to his hind paws and examined them also. Embracing each paw, stroking the pads, massaging each paw. Tigger relaxed, enjoying her ministrations. Stifftail watched all this, realising his mate was making advances towards the tiger who’d adopted her cubs. Stifftail realised Amber wanted to have some fun, fun with another animal, with an animal who would play with her, stroke and tickle her paws, all that and more. Stifftail didn’t much like Amber touching his paws, nor did he like touching the paws of his cubs or even those of his own mate. Stifftail watched angrily as Tigger and Amber played, though he knew she was getting release through play with the huge male tiger.
ok this is starting to sound quite sexual? or is it just me
now let's discuss this. Advances could be taken two ways. Advances towards playing, or advances towards sexual ends. While this topic is a bit of fun really, and the goings on are entirely fictional, let's dip into this subject for a while. The act of one animal stroking another's paws could be taken in two ways. Sexualy, sure, that's one, but then they could be playing also. In this instance, I use the descriptions of the times when the animals touch and tickle each other's paws to indecate times when they learn to trust and get on with one another, as no animal can run if one of its paws is being stroked by another. I use the descriptions of the animals stroking each other's paws to try and illistrate the trust which can grow between two young animals if they grow up together. The paws of any animal are sensitive, so anyone stroking them must only have good intentions at heart, or the animal who's paw is being stroked might realise the intentions of the animal they'd given their paw, and their trust to, might not be as trustworthy as they first seemed. The cubs also play in a similar manner. Stifftail gets angry because his mate is spending time with a huge tiger, who happens to enjoy the things she does. Amber's release could be a release of cubbish energy. So this writing could be taken two ways I suppose. Some of the animals spend their time beneath a quilt as it is teritory they can claim for their own. Snowy Half tail had part of the quilt as her teritory for a long time, now she's lost it, and Tigger, along with Amber and her cub, have taken it over. Sometime in the future, some other animal might take the teritory from them. Getting under the quilt is a way of asserting the fact one or other of the animals is there to stay. So my writing could be taken in two ways.
Brock, one of my badgers was walking in the local park when he spotted two albino squirrels huddled together beneath a bush. going towards them, he saw they were youngsters, only just ready to leave the dray. Now Brock's thoughts strayed to his own cubhood, which had been an idyllic one by all accounts, and he wondered if he could help these two lost creatures. Lumbering closer, he noticed the squirrel cubs, Brock always calls everything young a cub, cowering away from him. The badger hadn't thought of how large he must seem to them. He noticed one of the squirrels, the older one, watching him covertly from behind her forepaw. The other squirrel, her younger brother, kept his head buried in her shoulder, not wanting to look at the huge badger. Brock, lost for words and for something to prove he wasn't a threat, hit upon the only thing which seemed to make all young animals laugh, no matter what species they were. Throwing his pride to the wind, Brock did something very unbadgerlike. Rolling onto his back, he waved his paws in the air. This made the young female squirrel laugh, despite her fear.
"Just look at that huge badger!" She whispered to her brother, nudging him. The male cub looked at Brock for the first time, and even he had to smile. Regaining his paws, Brock went towards the two young squirrels and extended a forepaw towards the female squirrel cub. She took his paw in both of hers and said:
"I don't know if we can trust you, we hope we can, but I wonder, could you please tell us of a place we can make our home? some human children destroyed our old home while throwing sticks for conkers. Now we're alone as our mother was killed when the dray fell from the tree." Brock remembered how he, along with his mate Constance, had been in a similar situation, and he'd been given a home. Surely the boss wouldn't refuse these two young squirrels a home if Brock explained their situation? Taking his courage in his paw, Brock told the squirrels to follow him back to his home, where he would see if they could stay. if they could, They would be among many animals, most of whom would be friendly, but some of whom would be hostile, as some always are, but no animal would attack them for food, or in anger either. if they were caught up in a fight, only the animal's paws would be used, as someone Brock called "The boss," forbad the animals to use their claws. Brock told the young squirrels of his mate Constance, and of the other animals, Matilda the kangaroo, the huge male tiger Hop along, Sparky the Dalmatian, and of course, of Amber and the, "snow patrol," which was Brock's group name for the polar bears and other snow loving animals. The two squirrels, conker, and his sister Hazel, were soon wide eyed at the tales Brock told. He said that the boss, who's species he never hinted at, never interfered in their lives, just settling disputes when all else had failed and things had come to blows. Then he was straight in, threatening the animals with expulsion and return to their former lives, which was enough to settle any argument, as no animal wanted to go back to their former life. So, Brock and the two squirrels made their way back to Brock's home, Conker riding on the back of the huge badger, as his legs were too short to keep up with his sister’s and the huge badger's fast pace.
Hi, I'm a a pink and yellow and white bunny. For a long time I lived in the house of an old lady. I sat on a shelf with a bunch of other animals. Then 1 day the old lady fell down and tmen came and took her away. And people started coming in the house and packing up everything. All of us animals wondered what was happening. A woman came one day and put us all in a box and left us in a strange room. It was scarey but we were happy to be with each other. Then after a few weeks the same woman came she set us all on a table outside of the strange room. On other tables there were lots of things that had belonged to the old lady. People came by all day and bought things. Some of them took some of my friends. Then a lady who tapped a stick that sort of looked like the cane the old lady used came by. She picked each of us uup and asked the lady with her what we looked like. The lady I had a cute face! Ah gee, thanks. The lady with the cane carried me away. I was upset because I couldn't say by to my friends. now i live on a couch. They are lots of stuft animals here i sit between a big teddy bear and a dolphin. The yaren't very nice to me. They pushed me off the couch a few times and that makes the lady with the cane mad. Speeking of which she's coming over here to post on the zone. By!
Well, the boss let the two albino squirrels in, and also found that one of them, Hazel, was hiding an injory. A plaster soon fixed the problem, as stitching her slight wound wouldn't work. Now she's sporting a plaster on one of her hind paws. She said she must have grazed her paw when she fell from the tree after their drey was destroyed.
Now we can have a plaster signing party!
Do you know how small the plaster is? You wouldn't be able to sign much on that. When the squirrels entered the lounge, Clarence, my large lion, padded over to take a look. Hazel was nervous about him coming near, but when he took her in his paws and hugged her, something noone thought Clarence capable of doing, him being so aloof all the time, Hazel relaxed. After getting her paw seen to, Hazel now sits on a chest of drawers between one of my husky dogs and one of my otters. Her brother, Conker, sits on my sky box with one of the polar bears, who promised Hazel she'd look after her younger brother.
Snowy half tail is furious! After her disgraceful conduct over Tigger claiming his place beneath the quilt, the snow tigress has been forced to lie on the carpet. Unfortunately she's right under a window, which last night was opened as the night was a hot one. Of course, cold air blew in and found its way to Snowy, eddying round her paws, chilling them. Now there's nothing more Snowy hates than cold paws, and in the morning Snowy half tail was in a terrible mood. Furious at the world in general, and Tigger in particular, she set to banging the carpet with both forepaws and yelling until Stifftail told her to shut up. Ignoring him, Snowy kept up her protest until stopped by the large male polar bear, who lumbered down from his place on the quilt and walloped Snowy with considerable force. Snowy, shocked by the appearance of the huge bear, as well as by his sudden transformation from a furry lump of nothing to a raging menace, shut her mouth with a snap and buried her face in her forepaws.
"You caused your own misery Half tail," the bear said, returning to his place. Snowy, her paw stinging where the bear had slapped it, watched him leave through the gap between the toes of her left forepaw. She dared not make direct eye contact with him, in case he came back to give her more of the same. Snowy knew she'd really messed things up. Hitting Tigger hadn't been a very clever thing to do, and no matter how she tried to justify it in her own mind, she knew she was worse off for it. Tigger had the luxury of the quilt, his paws were warm, he could now, as she'd been able to once, bury his paws in the soft folds of the quilt, wiggling the toes of each paw to feel the warmth spreading over the pads. Snowy felt more miserable than she'd felt for a long time. Hitting Tigger, or Tiggie as Amber called him, had been a stupid thing to do. There was enough room under the quilt for both of them, and Snowy admitted to herself she'd known that all along. She'd just been protective of her patch, and tried to ward off an intruder. Which Tigger wasn't. Snowy tried to imagine the warmth such a large tiger would generate, it would be considerable, and she was missing out on it. Amber, instead of her, was getting the benefit of Tigger's proximity. worst of all, they were having a lot of fun, each stroking and tickling the other's paws. Something they obviously enjoy a lot, but was not Snowy’s thing. Snowy Half tail had enjoyed having her paws massaged once, but not now, that was cubbish stuff and not for her, though right now, she’d do anything to have warm paws. Shivering with cold, Snowy looked up in mute appeal at the animals on the quilt. Snowy fervently wished she could take back those few seconds of madness in which she’d walloped Tigger. Now he was in her spot, and she could think of no way of even getting close to regaining her former place, a warm, safe place under the quilt.
Furious with Amber for playing with Tigger, Stifftail decided he would get his revenge. So when Snowy Half tail looked up at the animals on the quilt in mute appeal to them for sanctuary after her “night of the cold paws,” as she dubbed the night when the window had been opened and cold air had eddied horribly around her paws, chilling them to their marrow, Stifftail decided he would make his move, and go to Snowy’s aid. After all, Amber would really worry when she saw him stroking Snowy’s paws, which he thought he might be able to coax her into letting him do, for Stifftail wasn’t entirely sure Snowy’s hatred of anyone stroking her paws could not be undone. Maybe it stemmed from her last relationship with a male, who’d forcibly touched her and mated with her. Stifftail knew leopards and tigers could never mate, their offspring wouldn’t survive, but he knew he had a chance of getting close to Snowy, very close to her, and that would surely make amber think twice about touching that dam Bengal tiger’s paws! Stifftail decided he would make Amber pay for her agreement to Tigger’s advances. Tigger must have been desperate for a mate, he’d had to be to even think of making friends with Amber, for leopards of any sort just did not mix with tigers. So Stifftail responded to Snowy’s mute appeal to someone, anyone to help her. Little was he to know, that there was more to Snowy’s remorse than just a need to be warm.
Leaping down from the quilt, Stifftail approached Snowy half tail. Seeing him coming towards her, Snowy waited, expecting more sore paws at the end of their encounter. When Stifftail did nothing but lie down beside her and, to her annoyance, take one of her forepaws in his, Snowy was relieved, almost to the point of ignoring the fact he’d taken one of her paws in his.
“Snowy,” Stifftail said, “I’d like to help, if I can.” Snowy wondered what had brought this change of heart on. She’d heard Stifftail hated her almost as much as Amber did, but now, here he was, stroking her paw and offering help. Snowy looked at him.
“I’m rapidly coming to the realisation I’m a selfish and ungrateful tigress,” Snowy said, “Stifftail, I had so much, a nice warm place, the snow leopard cubs, even my own cubs with me again, and now,” She made a chopping action with her free forepaw, “it’s all gone, and I’m here, freezing my paws off. I know I shouldn’t have attacked Tigger, that was stupid. Now I wish I could take back those few moments of madness! I don’t want to be out here! I want to be warm, last night was painful! Now though, I’ve blown everything. Lost the lot, screwed my life up. I know I have one of my cubs, he stayed, but my other one left me for Tigger and Amber’s care. I realise I wasn’t too kind to him either now, and am regretting that more than what I did to Tigger. I ruled the quilt with an iron paw, and I know I shouldn’t have. We all live and learn, and I thought, just because I’d had my cubs in a cold dark place, I knew it all. I now know I didn’t and still don’t. I would give anything, anything to be back where I was. Under the quilt, snug, warm paws, my cubs beside me. Now though, I’m here, for I don’t know how long, and it’s killing me Stifftail!” Stifftail was unprepared for this, and he didn’t like it. He thought Snowy to be a hard bitch, but now he was finding a compassionate side to her, a side which he couldn’t deal with. He thought she was like him, would throw her cubs to the lions if given half a chance, but no, it seemed he’d totally miscalculated Snowy half tail. Here, instead of an unemotional killing machine, who thought of noone but herself, there was a tigress, who wanted her cubs to love her, who loved her cubs dearly, and was torn apart when first Whitie, Blanche, and then her eldest cub left her. Stifftail felt the paw in which he held Snowy’s getting wet, looking at the tigress’s face, he saw she was crying.
“I can’t cope with this!” Snowy sobbed. Stifftail dropped Snowy’s paw and withdrew hurriedly. He wasn’t getting mixed up with a tigress who wanted anything to do with reconciliation with anyone on the quilt. He wanted to spite Amber, to show her what pain was, but it seemed he’d already pushed her away, and she didn’t care about him. All Amber cared about was Whitie, Blanche and now, Tigger.
?”Stifftail,” Snowy said, “please, would you ask Arki if she would come to me. I need to talk with her.” Stifftail shuffled off in a raging temper. Yelling up to Arki that:
“Half tail wants a chat!” Snowy, on hearing him deriding her, buried her face in her paws and broke down completely.
Arki got off the quilt hind paws first, feeling carefully for the carpet beneath her paws before committing herself. Crawling towards Snowy, she saw the tigress was in a bad way. Now Arki was a gentle bear, she’d been terrified beyond anything imaginable in her early life, and this had left its mark on her. Reaching Snowy’s side, Arki took one of the snow tigress’s forepaws, now damp from her tears, in hers.
“snowy dear?” Arki said gently, “it’s Arki.” Snowy Half tail stared at Arki through her tears.
“You’ve come to me,” the snow tigress said faintly, “Arki, I’m so sorry about everything! During the night of the cold paws, I didn’t get any sleep, so I thought long and hard. I’ve been a total bitch Arki, a total bitch to everyone! Amber, Tigger, Whitie, Blanche, even you and your cub. I know I deserved all this,” Snowy waved a paw round her, “I don’t want this any more. I don’t want to be isolated any more Arki! I will apologise to Tigger, and I’ll mean it too.”
“Tigger doesn’t hold anything against you,” Arki said, “he just wishes you’d let him play with your cubs, but if you don’t want that, then he’ll be okay with it.”
“Tigger can adopt my cubs if he wants,” snowy said, “after all, what kind of a role model have I been for them?” At this, the cub who’d stayed with snowy buried his head in her shoulder.
“I won’t leave you little one,” snowy said gently, stroking the tiny cub’s head with one massive forepaw.
Stifftail was now apoplectic with fury! He had misjudged Snowy half tail’s character, and now looked a total idiot as well as a spiteful creature. He knew Amber had realised what he was doing, and probably hated him for it too. Now Arki, that stupid female polar bear, was acting as go between for snowy to make amends with Tigger! Stifftail knew crawling beneath the quilt and smacking the pads of Tigger’s paws would only serve to bring the whole quilt community down on him like a tonne of furry, but very angry bricks. Stifftail knew Arki’s large male polar bear friend, the furball, would have a field day, using his paws to beat him into the carpet. Stifftail hated the furball, he was silent but very loyal to Arki. So comfortable with him was she that Arki would even let him hug her cub, something Stifftail knew no mother polar bear ever let happen. Male polar bears got nowhere near the cubs. Then Stifftail shuddered from his nose to his toes. He’d forgotten about Isaac. Arki would surely bring him in to pulverise anyone who offended the quilt community. Isaac was only away from the community, not excluded from it, and Stifftail knew he and Arki often talked late at night when her cub was asleep in the protective paws of the furball. Stifftail wondered what consequences his little escapade would bring on him. He wanted so badly to hurt Tigger! He blamed the Bengal tiger for everything! The fact Amber started stroking Tigger’s paws, not the other way round didn’t register with the snow leopard, Stifftail wanted Tigger’s hide.
Leisure time.
The day was warm, and all round the house, cubs of various animals, from tigers to otters, were wondering what to do with their day. There were three otter cubs, all from different families, two common snow leopard cubs, polar bear cubs from various families, as well as tiger cubs and one lion cub. Two snow leopard cubs, two young rabbits, and two capybara rounded off the tally of young animals. Then their were the parents of the cubs, some birth parents, others adoptive parents. The cubs sometimes involved them in their play, with varying rates of success. It was known, for example, that Tigger, a large Bengal tiger who resided on the quilt upstairs, would play with any cubs, be they his own species or those of another species entirely. Arki, a large female polar bear, and Brunetta, a large female brown bear, were of much the same mind as Tigger. Amber, an adult female snow leopard, would also play with other animals cubs, but preferred to play with her own snow leopard cubs, or the cubs of Snowy half tail, two fine snow tiger cubs. Isaac, Arki’s mate, would also play with the cubs, but Stifftail, Amber’s mate, would not. He hated their games. Be they chasing each other, or playing tag, or the worst game of all, the game where each cub would tickle the other’s paws until both cubs were laughing helplessly. Then, worst of all, if it was possible to get much worse, the cubs might set upon the adults and try to tickle their paws. Stifftail hated it when any cub tried it on with him, Dealing out harsh punishment to any cub who dared to ask him if they could play with him. Soon no cub asked Stifftail to play. Stifftail had once publicly walloped Blanche, his own cub, for attempting to tickle the pads of one of his forepaws. The paw the cub had targeted was used to wallop her forcibly. Many of the adult animals thought Stifftail’s aversion to playing with the cubs extreme and punishments he dealt out, totally disproportionate to the supposed crime. Soon all the cubs feared him, even Stifftail’s own cubs wouldn’t go near him for fear of reprisal.
Tigger loved the cubs, he wanted to play with all of them, some of which he’d never seen the like of before. He’d never met an otter cub, and when he did, he was enchanted by them. Tigger would let the cubs clamber all over him in play, letting them stand on his back as they played a version of king of the castle, a favourite game among the cubs. Tigger would also let the cubs stroke and tickle his paws, and they’d let him stroke and tickle theirs. The cubs loved Tigger, for he was so large, but so gentle, and would always join in their games.
Arki, Isaac, Brunetta, and Bruin were not averse to playing with the cubs, also going so far as letting them scramble onto their backs to claim their patch. Clarence, the huge male lion, didn’t so much resent the cubs play, as not know how to play with them. He would attempt to play, but felt awkward and self conscious. He couldn’t abandon himself to rolling on the carpet while a cub or two, or even, in extreme cases, four cubs tickled his paws.
Clarence wanted to play, but he didn’t know how.
Tigger, knowing of Clarence’s wish to play with the cubs, decided he would try and help the huge lion. Tigger and Clarence had been firm friends ever since the tiger had extended the paw of friendship to the lion when they’d first met after Clarence had been turned out of his pride. Clarence had been somewhat surprised when the huge male tiger had quite literally thrust a paw through the bars of the cage Clarence was in and taken his. Clarence had been offended at first, but found he couldn’t pull his paw away. Something in the tiger’s eyes had told the lion that he should trust him. The tiger, whom Clarence now knew as Tigger, had stuck by the huge lion from that day on. Clarence had been terrified the day they were moved from their holding place, in case Tigger and he should be separated, but to his great relief they weren’t, ending up going to the same new home.
Clarence had found himself weeping with relief when he realised he and Tigger weren’t to be parted. Clarence, a he lion, once master of a pride numbering seven lioness and ten cubs, found himself crying with relief that he’d not been separated from his friend, who happened to be a huge male tiger.
One day, Tigger and Clarence met for a chat. Little was Clarence to know, that Tigger would start that very day to show him how to play together with another animal.
Tigger was a very paws on tiger, not afraid of letting others practise what he taught them, as well as getting into the lessons himself.
“So you want to learn to play with these cubs Clarence,” Tigger said. Clarence looked at his friend.
“I’d like to,” the lion said, “but how do I do it? I mean, you play with the cubs all the time, any cubs, be they those of tigers or of other animals entirely. I used to know how to play, how to be gentle with cubs, even how to enjoy playing with the cubs, but now I’ve been out of it for so long.” Tigger smiled:
“I’ll teach you how,” he said, “we’ll take things nice and slowly, so that you learn to play gently, and also know how it is to have cubs playing with you. There are older cubs who are tough as nails, who will help me. First though, how about if we try a game or two. The easiest games to learn are tag, or the paw tickling game. Of course, if you don’t want your paws tickled, you can always learn what it is to have them stroked. The cubs spend most of their time just stroking each other’s paws.” Clarence looked down at his forepaws.
“I used to like having my paws stroked,” he said, “though I don’t know if I still would like it.”
“Would you let me stroke your left forepaw?” Tigger asked. Clarence looked at the tiger.
“Well, yes okay,” he said, offering Tigger his paw. Tigger took the proffered forepaw in both of his and began to stroke it gently. Clarence closed his eyes as Tigger’s paw massage soothed him. Stretching out on the carpet, Clarence breathed deeply, beginning to enjoy the paw massage. Tigger massaged first Clarence’s left forepaw, then his right, then moved to the lion’s hind paws. Clarence no longer cared about what others thought, all he wanted was more paw massage, lots more massage. So when Tigger transferred his attention to Clarence’s hind paws, the lion pressed the pads of his paw hard against Tigger’s. Tigger took this signal for what it was, and began to massage even more slowly, sending Clarence to sleep. Tigger had wanted Clarence to have a go at massaging his paws, but now the lion was sleeping peacefully. He knew he could wake him by rubbing the fur on the sole of one paw the wrong direction, but that would only upset Clarence, and there was all the time in the world for the lion to learn to stroke the paws of another animal.
Clarence woke feeling well rested, with all four paws invigorated by Tigger’s massaging. Languidly stretching each paw, Clarence looked round him, spotting Tigger.
“That was wonderful Tigger,” Clarence said. Tigger’s smile would have lit up a street.
“We are from the same area Clarence,” Tigger said. Clarence looked at Tigger in a mirror on the wall and saw some of what the tiger meant.
“We do have very similar faces,” the lion said.
“Our paws too,” Tigger said, waving one of his forepaws, “they’re similar too. All right, the fur on the soles of your paws is slightly silkier than mine, but our paws are similar in structure. So I thought we were from the same area of jungle.” Clarence managed to explore one of his hind paws with his forepaw. Then Tigger let him examine one of his hind paws. The paws of the lion and tiger were similar in so many ways. So were their forepaws. Clarence examined Tigger with his eyes and paws, realising how similar they both were. The same facial structure, the same short tail, the same structure to the fore and hind paws. Of course, Clarence was a lion and Tigger a tiger, there were differences between them, but there were similarities too. This made Clarence feel better to know there were others like him. Tigger seemed to enjoy Clarence’s examination of him.
“I can see how the cubs win him over now,” the lion thought, gently massaging one of Tigger’s hind paws. Clarence knew he’d not yet learned how to play with another animal, but he’d learned an awful lot even so. He now had an animal trusting him with its life, letting him take hold of and within reason, do what he wished with its paws, the very things it used for getting about and catching its food. Tigger was letting a lion, his sworn enemy, handle his paws, stroke and massage them until he was asleep. Clarence felt honoured Tigger should trust him with so much.
do yourself a favor, sell all your pets. at least you have money. i know its really getting crowded.
I don't understand what you mean by this. We all collect various things and have various hobbies we do, be they stamp collecting, collecting art, strange shaped bottles, or whatever. Mine is collecting and writing about my soft toy animal collection. I have been creative writing for years, and this is what I do. I do not understand what you meant when you wrote this.
The polar bears have taken to splashing in the bathtub which is never used. This often results in lots of water everywhere, as well as yelps of surprise as one polar bear applies his or her cold, damp paw to the nose of another. Then more splashing as the polar bear who's nose was touched gets back at the bear with the damp paws. All good fun this. Meanwhile, Cklarence and Tigger have progressed to playing together, each furiously tickling the other's paws. Clarence is getting used to playing with Tigger, and soon he will graduate to playing with one of the older cubs, until he gets used to being gentle with them.
Clarence and Tigger ended up having an impromptu dip in the bath tub. In a fit of sheer mischief, Bruin and Brunetta picked them up and threw them in! Clarence struggled and kicked, but the two brown bears were stronger than him, and they managed to drop Clarence in the bathtub. Soaking wet, clarence floundered about for a while, his huge paws making a lot of splash as he fought to work out where he was. Clarence struggled from the bathtub, his mane plastered to his head. He looked a sorry state. Water dripping from the end of his nose, Clarence wiped his eyes with a damp paw.
"I'll kill those two!" he yelled, padding towards the living room, dragging himself along, his paws leaving wet patches on the carpet. Clarence was furious! The lion was about to lash out about him with his paws when he saw Tigger, who'd had much the same thing done to him. Tigger was lying, his paws heavy as lead, on a towel on the carpet. it seemed Bruin and Brunetta had overstepped the mark. clarence knew towels only came out when the boss got involved, and somehow he knew Bruin and his mate wouldn't get away with this. It would take a long time for Tigger and Clarence to dry out. the two friends hugged each other for warmth, even though it was hot that day.
Danger to Arki.
Arki and her cub were lying on the quilt in the heat of another hot day. They’d splashed about in the bathtub, and had also witnessed what Bruin and Brunetta had done to Clarence and Tigger. Now dry, Tigger had returned to the quilt community and flopped gratefully onto the quilt. Arki’s cub, turned to her foster mother and asked her the one question Arki hoped never to be asked.
“How did you get here mum? I know how I got to this place, but how did you get here?” Arki shivered when she remembered the plastic bag she’d been transported in. Even now she could feel the old fear rising in her, choking her and causing her paws to become damp with the sweat of fear. Breathing rapidly, Arki tried to calm herself, but it was no good. Her cub saw her foster mother’s reaction to her question, and was greatly upset by it.
“You don’t need to tell me if it upsets you,” the cub said to Arki, who was staring straight ahead, her eyes glazed and unfocused.
“I can still feel the plastic clawing at my paws! This is horrible!” Arki yelled, thrashing about with all four paws.
“There’s no plastic near your paws mum!” The cub said.
“I can feel it!” Arki whimpered, “take it away someone please!” It was Tigger who came to ~Arki’s aid. He was strong enough to restrain her, and this he did, sheltering her cub from any flying paws. Tigger held Arki’s forepaws, while the female polar bear cried into his fur.
“It’s all right Arki,” Tigger said gently, “it’s all over now, all finished.”
“I can’t stand it!” Arki sobbed.
“you had a panic attack, that’s all,” Tigger said, “there was no plastic anywhere near your paws Arki. Arki, still shaking violently, looked down at her own paws.
“How come my paws felt all hot and horrible like they did when I was frightened and in that horrible place if there was no plastic round them?” Arki asked.
“You must have thought the sweat on your pads meant the plastic was back,” Tigger replied, “there were no plastic bags anywhere near you Arki.” Arki looked at her cub. Brunetta was having a stern word with the cub.
“You don’t ask about an animal’s former life, not ever!” Brunetta yelled, “We’ve all come from stressful places, and don’t want to remember them! Some of the other animals have told you their stories, and weren’t they a warning to you? You are a stupid cub! Don’t ask Arki anything more!” Arki was shocked at the way Brunetta tore into her cub.
“Brunetta, Brunetta! Stop it!” Arki pleaded, “my cub didn’t know she was doing wrong! I thought I’d got over my arrival here, but I now know I haven’t. It’s not her fault!”
“She aught not to ask silly questions!” The furball screamed, walloping the polar bear cub with one hard forepaw.
“Leave my cub alone, both of you!” Arki yelled. The Furball bristled with fury.
“If that cub asks one more question like that, I’ll tear her paws off!” he yelled.
“I’m sorry!” the cub whimpered, “I won’t do it again, I promise!” Tigger looked into the furball’s face, and realised what was going on. The large male polar bear didn’t want to look after Arki’s cub, he wanted Arki for himself. He wanted her to have his cubs. This cub was in the way!
“Arki,” Tigger said, “watch out, keep an eye on your cub. For the furball wants to kill it.” Arki looked into the furball’s face. The polar bear stared back at her.
“You will be mine Arki, one day, one day you will have my cubs!” Arki felt sick with fear. This bear was stronger than she, much stronger. Curling up Arki buried her face in her paws and burst into tears.
“You disgust me!” Tigger yelled at the furball, leaping at him and knocking him off the quilt, both Tigger and the polar bear crashing onto the carpet. Tigger leant over the bear’s back and placed his forepaws on those of the polar bear, forcing the bear’s paws down onto the carpet. Tigger felt the huge polar bear kicking and struggling beneath him, and wished he had someone of his own size and weight to help. Snowy couldn’t, and she was the nearest in stature to him. The only other animal Tigger knew who came remotely close to his own stature was Clarence, and those stairs weren’t his favourite place in the house. Tigger banged on the floor with a hind paw, three times, then a pause, then three times more. His paw hurt after that, but Tigger carried on, thud, thud, thud, pause, thud, thud, thud. Hoping Clarence would overcome his dislike of the stairs to come to his aid, for Tigger was already tiring. This bear was strong, very strong!
Clarence heard Tigger’s distress call and made his best speed up the stairs, copying the polar bear he’d seen disappearing up the stairs six weeks previously. One by one, placing his fore and hind paws ever so carefully, Clarence struggled up the stairs. Once on the landing, he applied his paws to the carpet, dug in his toes and crawled quickly to his friend’s aid.
Tigger sensed Clarence arriving, and then the lion gripping one of the polar bear’s hind paws in both his forepaws and crushing it. the polar bear screamed!
“I don’t know what all this is about, Clarence yelled, “but if Tigger’s got any animal down on the carpet like this, things are bad.”
“He made, made threats towards, Arki, Arki and her cub,” Tigger panted, now exhausted. Feeling the Tiger’s grip on his forepaws lessening, the polar bear tried to throw Tigger off. Tigger rolled away, knowing he was beaten. Clarence though, being built like a battering ram, waited for the polar bear to turn his head before cuffing him hard across the nose. Now Clarence’s paws were a lot heavier than Tigger’s, and he could n’alf slap. The polar bear lost all feeling in one side of his face, and his head felt like it had hit a brick wall. Clarence looked down at the paw which had so much stopping power.
“I wasn’t even trying,” he said to the bear. The polar bear snarled at Clarence.
“I’ll eat you for dinner!” Clarence sat on the polar bear, and in full view of him, licked a forepaw and began washing his fur. The polar bear, immobile beneath Clarence, watched him with growing rage.
“I don’t know what’s going on here,” the bear yelled, “but whatever it is it’s unnatural! Tigers calling on the help of lions? A male lion or tiger calling on the help of a female lion or tiger might be okay, but two males of differing species? What the hell’s going on!”
“Tigger was the only animal who was good to me when I was turned out of my pride,” Clarence said. Now I’m trying to repay him. Nothing’s too much.” Tigger grinned at his friend.
“Thanks for your help today Clarence,” the tiger said. The polar bear was furious!
“I don’t know what kind of relationship you two have, but it’s unnatural!” the polar bear screamed. Clarence and Tigger smiled at each other.
“I’m not having this!” the furball yelled, “I can’t stand this!” Tigger crawled across to Clarence and took one of his forepaws in both of his. The furball Screeched as if he’d been electrocuted!
“Good luck to them is what I say,” Arki said. Amber covered her mouth with one paw, trying not to laugh at the polar bear’s reaction.
“Good friends, my paw!” the furball yelled, “there’s something else to it than just good friends!” Tigger and Clarence stared at the furball.
“there’s nothing else to it,” Tigger said, “we’re just good friends, that’s all.” The furball knew he wouldn’t be able to prove anything.
“Now you remember this,” Tigger said, “you furball, are not to go anywhere near Arki, okay? If you threaten, harass, or intimidate her or her cub, we’ll do far worse to you than has been done today!” the furball mumbled his assent to the conditions imposed on him.
Whitie and Blanche go missing.
Early this morning, the quilt community, in fact the whole house was woken by Amber’s yell of fear when she realised Whitie and blanche were missing. Tigger tried to calm her down, but Amber was beside herself with worry. Tigger held Amber’s forepaws and tried to comfort her, but he soon realised that nothing would work. Amber banged the quilt with all four paws, screaming for someone to help her find her lost cubs! The boss was called in, and was very concerned when he heard of Whitie and her sister’s disappearance. The boss ordered all the quilt community to vacate the quilt, and he then began a systematic search of the quilt and the room in general. Amber and Stifftail were carted off to the study, where they waited anxiously for news, while Tigger and the others were told to go to the spare room. Tigger was almost as upset as the snow leopards, though he tried to keep a lid on his feelings. Arki was terrified, and Brunetta felt sick with fear for the safety of the cubs. the furball cursed everyone, including Amber for letting the cubs out of her sight.
Meanwhile the boss searched the whole room, finding Blanche in one corner between the forelegs of the black and white horse who refused to talk to anyone. He just nodded at Blanche when the boss found her.
“Stupid cub decided she wanted to visit me,” he spat, “horrid little scrap!” The boss told the horse that if he wanted to be evicted, he was going the right way about it, and if he even thought of kicking Blanche or any other animal for that matter, he’d be out for sure. The horse snorted and laid back his ears. The boss was no longer interested in what the horse had to say however, for he’d found Whitie, and she was very distressed. The full story didn’t come out for some time, when all the quilt community were reunited. Amber made quite sure Whitie and ~Blanche weren’t going anywhere. She made sure Whitie was beside her, and Blanche beside Arki.
Blanche’s tale was simple enough, she’d gone to speak to the horse whom she thought was lonely, only to find out he hated her and her kind, as well as every other animal in the place. Whitie’s tale was a more sorry one however. She’d crawled away towards the edge of the quilt, and had fallen off, landing beneath the bed. Whitie had crawled about a bit, finding all sorts of strange things, boxes, electrical stuff, everything but any sign of the quilt community. The place was dusty and Whitie coughed and sneezed a good deal. Bruised and Frightened, Whitie lay for a long time, not daring to call out or move in case there were horrible things in this new place which would do her harm. She’d been in that place for a long time before the boss reached in and touched one of her forepaws. Whitie sniffed at the hand touching her, recognised the scent as someone friendly, and held on to the hand with both forepaws. The boss dragged Whitie out, combed the dust out of her fur, smoothed it down and then hugged her before placing her back with Amber. Whitie vowed never to crawl near the edge of the quilt again, and blanche vowed never to go near the horse who’d verbally abused her.
A stormy day.
Matilda, the kangaroo who stands in the living room, watched the television, which seemed permanently tuned to bbc news twenty four. Gloomily, she watched the weather forecast, unable to read the writing, but recognising the symbols of storms and heavy rain. Sighing with resignation, she turned her attention to Hop Along, who watched all from his new place, where he could see everything going on in the room. Bruin yawned, stretching his forepaws. He’d been asleep for the last few hours, and the familiar BBC news signature tune had woken him, its final crashing notes shaking him into full consciousness. He looked to his left, straight into Clarence’s face. The lion, lying with his chin resting on his crossed forepaws , regarded the world through half closed eyes.
“Those storms will be nothing,” he predicted, “nothing to what I was used to. I lived in the Okavango delta, where we had to learn to live with water. My cubs played in it. Now that’s a strange thing for cats to do. My cubs,,” Clarence wiped his eyes with one massive forepaw, “they learned to hunt in the water, and so did I. I had to! Now, well, that’s all ended.” Clarence swallowed hard, trying to stop himself from crying.
“You miss your cubs don’t you,” Carol said gently, surprised she was talking to a lion. Clarence looked at the large white rabbit.
“I do Carol,” Clarence replied, “I miss them more than I can tell you.” Carol leapt down from her place on the coffee table, and crawled across to Clarence. The huge lion leant down, and picked the rabbit up in his forepaws. Lewis spat at the lion.
“You hurt my sister, I will break your paws!” He blustered. Isaac laughed harshly.
“I’d like to see you try,” he said, “Clarence would eat you for dinner!” Lewis thumped his hind paws on the coffee table, angry with Clarence, who ignored him, instead concentrating on stroking Carol’s head and ears with one massive forepaw. Carol looked into the lion’s face, reaching up a paw to touch his nose. Clarence licked her paw as she touched his nose. Carol withdrew her paw slightly as she felt the lion’s rough tongue against her pads.
“You have such soft fur,” Clarence said to Carol, who tried not to tremble with fear as Clarence hugged her. Carol looked down and saw one of Clarence’s large forepaws. She began stroking his paw, Clarence smiling at her. Clarence stopped stroking Carol, tucking his forepaws under his chin and closing his eyes. Carol crawled away, examining Clarence closely, from his forepaws to his hind. She ruffled Clarence’s mane with her paw, the lion breathing deeply as he dozed. Carol crawled towards Clarence’s hind paws, finding the lion’s short tail. Picking the end up in her forepaws she played with the tassel. Clarence slept on, unconcerned by the rabbit’s actions. Clarence’s hind paws caught Carol’s eye. They were almost as large as his forepaws, and when Carol touched the pads on the sole of one paw, she found them tough, the fur around them soft and silky. Carol stroked Clarence’s hind paw. Turning her attention to his other hind paw, stroking both in turn. Clarence unconsciously curled his toes around carol’s paw, holding her pads against his. It seemed as if the lion enjoyed having his paws stroked. Carol gently removed her paw from Clarence’s, working it free from the lion’s grip. Smoothing her paw across Clarence’s pads, Carol saw stroking the pads of his paw caused Clarence to relax. The huge lion relaxed, sighing contentedly in sleep. Carol gently stroked Clarence’s hind paw. She was engaged in this pastime when Clarence suddenly woke screaming!
“There’s a huge storm coming!” He mewed pitifully. Carol felt Clarence’s paw become damp with sweat, the lion clenching his paws in fear.
“I can hear the thunder coming!” Clarence whimpered, shaking with fear. Bruin looked at Clarence.
“Shut it!” He snapped. Clarence buried his face in his forepaws, whimpering with misery. Bruin smacked Clarence’s forepaw with his. Clarence began to cry.
“I’ve got a headache!” he wailed, banging the sofa with his paws. Carol heard Clarence’s accelerated breathing, and realised he was terrified.
“I’ll try and help you if you want,” the rabbit said to the lion. Clarence looked behind him, to where Carol was playing with his tail.
“How can you help me?” he asked, desperate for anything.
“I will try stroking your paws,” Carol said, “concentrate on that rather than on your headache.” Clarence consented, and Carol began stroking the lion’s right hind paw. The tense paw relaxed as she worked, Clarence becoming calmer and eventually relaxing his entire body. When carol came to Clarence’s left forepaw, after Massaging his right and left hind paws, carol looked into the lion’s face. Clarence was almost asleep.
“Paw massage is good,” Clarence murmured, “headache gone, fear gone too.” Carol took hold of the lion’s huge left forepaw and began to stroke it.
When the storm broke, thunder crashed overhead, rain fell heavily, and lightening lit up the sky. Clarence whimpered and pawed nervously at the sofa.
“Concentrate on your paws Clarence,” Carol said gently. Clarence took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Concentrate on my paws,” he said aloud, “Clarence, concentrate on your paws!” Clarence closed his eyes, willing himself to track the progress of Carol’s paws over his. Breathing slowly, Clarence fought to keep control.
“I’ve read about the Okavango,” Sparky said, “aren’t there huge storms there all the time in the wet season? If so, then why are you so terrified of a little local storm?” Clarence whimpered with fear.
“I was terrified of them when I was a cub!” The panic stricken lion wailed, “I never got used to them!” Suddenly hail hit the windows!
Kalahari leapt onto the window sill and looked out at the street!
“Huge hailstones!” The meerkat said excitedly. Clarence screeched with terror as thunder crashed suddenly overhead. Carol felt Clarence’s paws trembling as she massaged them.
“Concentrate on your paws Clarence,” The doe said. Clarence covered his ears with his forepaws.
“I can’t cope with this!” He yelled, “I can’t cope with this any more!” Then, as soon as the storm started, it slowed and died. The silence was deafening.
“There you are Clarence,” one of the capybara said, “it’s all over, and you didn’t get wet! Scaredy cat!” Clarence snarled feebly, but didn’t have the energy to get properly angry. Clarence took Carol in his paws and hugged her.
“Thank you,” he said, nuzzling the doe’s ear. Carol felt Clarence’s wet fur against her ear and realised the huge lion had been crying.
“It’s all finished now,” Carol said. Clarence nodded, stroking Carol with his forepaws. Carol returned to her place, having dispelled the myth all lions were out to eat anything smaller than them which moved. Lewis watched his sister’s arrival on the coffee table.
“that Clarence is a big sissy!” the buck rabbit scoffed.
“He’s a big softy you mean,” Carol replied.
if you want to read more about the past lives of my animals and how they arrived in my house, visit the following link, which will take you to the animal intro page.
http://www.btinternet.com/~m.wilsher/intropageanimals.htm
Soothing times.
Rain fell heavily, and Arki, concerned that Snowy would get wet if the wind changed direction, leant over her to close the window, managing to hook a paw behind the handle and pull it forward. Once the window was closed, pushing the handle down was easy. The window handles had been designed with arthritic humans in mind, so everything was easy to get hold of and operate, just right for a female polar bear with weak paws. Snowy was grateful Arki had closed the window, for her paws were getting cold.
The furball mistrusted Tigger, ever since the Bengal tiger had leapt on top of him after perceiving a threat to Arki and her cub.
The quilt community had heard of the goings on downstairs during the storm, and some of them liked the idea of having their paws massaged. Tigger knew what it was like to have his paws massaged, as Amber had shown him many a time. Arki wasn’t so keen on a paw massage, as she wasn’t sure she’d like it after her traumatic arrival at her new home. She always kept her paws well tucked in, and only let others touch them in very rare situations. Brunetta saw Arki watching Amber massaging Tigger’s paws, and asked her if she wanted a paw massage. Arki looked at Brunetta, wondering if she dared refuse the offer.
“I don’t know,” Arki said, staring down at her forepaws, “I don’t know if I can Brunetta, I probably wouldn’t like it.”
“I’ve tried it, and it’s fine,” Tolstuka said. Arki looked at her.
“Well,” she said uncertainly, “if you say it is okay.” Tolstuka leapt onto the quilt and stumbled across to Arki, finally falling over as she tripped over her own paws.
“You clumsy cub!” Arki laughed. Tolstuka looked at her forepaws as if they’d done something inexcusable.
“I tripped over my own paws!” she whimpered, “I’m not good at walking on the quilt.” Arki reached over to Tolstuka with her right forepaw and took one of the cub’s forepaws in hers. Tolstuka wiggled the toes of the paw Arki held, trying to rub the larger polar bear’s pads. Arki looked at Tolstuka, then, sighing with resignation, rolled onto her side, letting her cub have access to all four of her paws.
“Go on,” Arki said, “here are my paws. Tolstuka took Arki’s left forepaw in both of hers and began to stroke it. Arki breathed deeply, waiting for the fear to kick in, but it never did. Arki could feel Tolstuka’s paws gently massaging hers, but Arki felt no fear or panic. If anything, she was drifting into sleep. Tolstuka, having massaged three of Arki’s paws, turned her attention to her left forepaw. Arki felt peace stealing over her as Tolstuka massaged that final paw. Arki felt everything more clearly, for her left forepaw seemed to be more sensitive than the other three. Arki had enjoyed the massage so far, but this was something different. Arki closed her eyes, concentrating hard on the sensation in her left forepaw. Arki breathed deeply, wanting the massage to go on forever. Amber, noticing the expression on Arki’s face, smiled and said:
“You’ve found Arki’s soft spot Tolstuka.” Arki found she couldn’t pull her paw away. Even if she had the strength, she didn’t want to. Tolstuka looked at Arki’s face. The large female polar bear’s eyes were closed, and she was almost asleep.
“I hate that paw massage stuff!” Stifftail spat.
“Noone’s forcing you to have your paws massaged, so shut it!” Brunetta replied crossly. She was fed up with Stifftail’s moaning, and with the furball’s antics too. The two miserable animals made a right pair, and she wished they’d sit in a corner and be miserable together, leaving the rest of the quilt community to do what they wished. The furball was soon siding with Stifftail, and both were shoved off the quilt and chased into a corner by Clarence, who’d wandered upstairs to see what was going on, just in time to see Arki fall asleep.
Confined to their corner, the furball and Stifftail watched what was going on.
“Clarence’s one of those who likes having his paws massaged,” The furball whispered to Stifftail, “watch this, I’ll teach him a lesson.” With that the furball crawled towards Clarence, who was now lying on the carpet talking to Amber. When the furball was in range of Clarence’s right hind paw, he slapped the pads of the lion’s paw with all his force! Clarence screamed and, growling with fury, turned on the furball, landing a crashing blow between the male polar bear’s ears with one massive forepaw. Seeing stars, The furball retreated.
“Will you leave Clarence alone!” Amber yelled. Stifftail hid his face in his paws, in case his face should give away anything. Clarence snarled and spat, threatening the dazed male polar bear with all sorts of destruction. Clarence was furious!” Arki, hearing the commotion, yawned, stretched her paws,, opened her eyes, and watched proceedings.
“Go on Clarence, wallop him!” Whitie yelled.
“Don’t encourage him!” Amber snapped.
Open for business.
Clarence, his right hind paw stinging from the furball’s attack on it, looked round him. He wondered whom he might ask for a paw massage. Clarence looked at Arki, and she looked at him.
“Would you Massage my paws Arki?” he asked. Arki looked into Clarence’s eyes, trying to gauge whether he was in a mood for trouble. He was powerfully built, much stronger than her, and if he wanted to use those paws of his on her, Arki knew she had no chance of defending herself.
“As long as you promise me you won’t do me harm with those paws of yours,” Arki said. Clarence waved one of the paws in question.
“No,” he said, “I promise I won’t do you harm.” Arki patted the quilt beside her. There was enough room for Clarence to lie beside her. Clarence reared onto his hind legs and rested his forepaws on the quilt. Arki then got eye to eye with the huge lion. She was surprised to find a gentle expression in Clarence’s eyes. Arki patted the quilt once more, inviting the huge lion to lie beside her. Clarence said:
“I can’t very easily get up there, I’m quite weak in my forelegs, and can’t really support my bodyweight.” Brunetta, hearing this, leapt down from her place on the quilt and crawled to Clarence’s side.
“Lift your right hind paw and place it in my forepaws,” Brunetta said. She cupped her forepaws and Clarence tried placing his hind paw in Brunetta’s forepaws. Brunetta gasped as she felt the lions weight.
“Now, now swing your body hard to the left and onto the quilt!” Brunetta panted, wondering if she would collapse under Clarence’s weight. Clarence pushed off with the paw brunetta was supporting, making the female brown bear lose her grip on his paw. Arki grabbed Clarence’s left hind paw as it came within range, and then hauled on it, dragging the lion onto the quilt. Arki’s cub, seeing Clarence’s exhausted state, and that his right hind paw was dangling over the side, picked up his paw in both her forepaws and placed it on the quilt.
“Thank you all,” Clarence panted. Brunetta struggled onto the quilt.
“No problem,” she replied.
Clarence, having never lain on a quilt in his life before, sighed with contentment as the warmth and security of the quilt made itself felt.
“You lot are so lucky here,” he said, working his forepaws into a fold of the quilt, and instantly feeling the warmth spreading from his forepaws right down to his hind.
“We’re safe and comfortable downstairs,” Clarence continued, “but nothing like this! I think we need a quilt downstairs too.” While Clarence had been eulogising about the properties of a quilt, Arki had begun to massage his hind paws, starting with those as Clarence’s forepaws were hidden from her by a fold of the quilt. Clarence began to purr with contentment.
“One happy lion,” Amber remarked. Arki, intent on her task, carried on with Clarence’s paw massage, transferring her attention to his left hind paw. Massaging and stroking the pads of his paw, just as she’d seen Tolstuka do when Arki herself had her paws massaged. By the time Arki had made it to Clarence’s forepaws, the lion was deeply comatose, and struggling not to fall asleep completely. Clarence forced himself to respond to Arki’s massage of each one of his paws, by wiggling the toes of each paw so she knew he was still awake. When she found his most sensitive paw though, which happened to be the same as her own, Clarence forgot about staying awake. All consuming waves of warmth and pleasure overwhelmed the huge lion as Arki stroked his left forepaw. Clarence relaxed, letting himself go totally. Arki felt the paw she held relax completely, and knew what had happened.
“You’ve found Clarence’s soft spot.” Brunetta said, watching all.
Tigger, massaging Amber’s paws, had long ago found her soft spot, the right hind paw in Amber’s case, and the female snow leopard had given up the fight to stay awake. Tigger hadn’t tried massaging Amber’s paws before, feeling he’d mess it up if he tried, and she wouldn’t enjoy it. After reassurances from Amber that she wouldn’t hold it against him if he messed things up, Tigger took the plunge. Now his friend was as relaxed as Clarence was. Whitie, noticing her mother’s enjoyment of the massage, whispered to Tigger that she would like her paws massaged. Tigger promised her he’d massage her paws when he’d finished his work on Amber. Blanche touched her sister’s paw, and when Whitie touched noses with her, Blanche asked if when Whitie had learned how to massage the paws of another animal, could she possibly have her paws massaged. Whitie took Blanche’s forepaw in both of hers and began to massage it. Blanche was soon purring loudly and rapidly approaching the deep sleep stage both Clarence and Amber were in. Whitie had learned how to massage the paws of other animals, but never herself had the pleasure of a massage. Whitie continued massaging Blanche’s paws until her sister was deeply asleep.
Whitie’s massage
Whitie finished Blanche’s paw massage and, checking her sister was asleep, Whitie left her and crawled towards Tigger. Tigger, having finished Amber’s massage, gathered Whitie to him, hugging her close. He loved the snow leopard cubs, and they knew it. Whitie felt Tigger’s large soft paws take hold of her and snuggled up to the huge tiger. She then felt his rough tongue licking her fur as he groomed her, something Tigger only did for cubs, although it was well known Amber wanted him to groom her in a similar manner, though could never bring herself to ask. Whitie enjoyed the grooming session, but wanted to get on with the massage, as she’d felt Blanche’s reaction to it and wanted some herself.
“I’m now going to start massaging your paws Whitie,” Tigger said, taking her left forepaw in his. Tigger marvelled at how tiny Whitie’s paws were, for she seemed to be forever the cub, never growing in stature, although maturing in mind all the time. Tigger looked at, then massaged each of Whitie’s paws, the cub stretching out full length on the quilt.
“Can I massage your paws after this?” Whitie asked dreamily.
“You can Whitie, you can,” Tigger replied.
“Thank you,” Whitie whispered, concentrating hard on what her paws were telling her. Whitie, not adept at wiggling her toes, gripped Tigger’s paw briefly in each of hers as he stroked it to let him know she was enjoying his attentions. Whitie’s right forepaw was her soft spot, and when Tigger massaged it, Whitie gave herself up to pure pleasure. Purring contentedly, Whitie enjoyed Tigger’s massage. Once the massage ended, Whitie roused herself, and began to massage Tigger’s paws. She found he had large, soft paws. Tigger began to purr, just like Whitie had.
A new arrival from across the pond.
Sam, a large male polar bear, lay in his cage thinking of the cub whom he’d last seen being thrown over a fence by his former mate. Sam himself, had been shipped to America soon after, and now lay in a cage in a zoo in Florida. It had been three months or so since Sam had watched his cub being literally thrown out of the family, all because his mate didn’t want two cubs. Sam would have looked after the lost cub if he’d had the chance, but male polar bears didn’t usually do that kind of thing, and his mate hadn’t given him the chance to look after their cub, she’d just thrown her over the fence. Depressed, Sam crawled over to the pool and dipped a paw in the water. The weather in Florida was horrendously hot, and Sam only got relief from the heat by dipping his paws in the pool, or amercing himself entirely, which he sometimes did. Sam lay down in the water to cool off. He was tired of life, exhausted by being locked in his cage, depressed at the loss of his cub, and wondering where to go next. Sam had been born in the UK, and so had his cub. The UK was more to Sam’s liking as it wasn’t so hot, and he could spend long periods out of the water. He remembered the wind and rain and longed to wake to the sound of rain. Florida was nice with its hot weather and tremendous storms, but Sam wanted to feel the British weather again. Cupping a forepaw and flicking water over his head, Sam clambered from the water, lay down, and cried himself to sleep.
Sam dreamt he was flying to the weather he wanted so much to experience. He could feel the effort he had to make to breathe the slightly oxygen depleted air in an aircraft, as he’d had to do when going to Florida. Sam tried to wake fully, but couldn’t. Letting go totally, Sam let sleep overcome him again, wondering if the dream would return. The next thing Sam knew was the feel of something soft and warm beneath his paws, a warm blanket or quilt Sam thought, and a scent, a scent he knew well which brought tears to his eyes. Still drugged with sleep, Sam reached out with both forepaws to gather a tiny cub to him. The cub snuggled up to Sam, recognising him instantly.
“My cub, “ Sam whispered, embracing the tiny cub tightly.
Arki woke suddenly. The scent of another male polar bear in the room made her fur bristle. She’d had trouble with male polar bears , and didn’t want trouble from this one. Looking round, she saw a large male polar bear hugging her cub. Launching herself at the newcomer, Arki walloped him with all her force! This woke the male polar bear, who looked at her through his tears. Arki hadn’t realised the huge male bear had been crying even before she’d hit him.
“Let go of my cub!” Arki yelled.
“Your cub?” The male polar bear sniffed, “she’s my cub,”
“I’m looking after her now,” Arki replied crossly, “now give her to me!”
“She’s my cub,” The polar bear sobbed, “My previous mate threw out one of her cubs, and now I find the cub here,” The bear replied.
“He’s my sire mum,” the cub yawned, waking slowly.
“Where did you come from?” Arki asked.
“I was born in the UK, then shipped to America,” the bear replied, “now I’m back home.”
“You and your cub, my cub I should say, do look similar,” Arki said, “so what’s your name?”
“They called me Sam,” Sam replied.
“Well Sam, you’re safe here,” Arki said.
The furball spat at Sam.
“You’re disgusting!” Tigger yelled at the furball.
“Who’s that?” Sam asked, waving a paw at the furball.
Oh him,” Arki said, “that’s the furball, he’s lusting after me, hates your cub, and wants me to have his. He’s a horrid individual, as miserable as sin and has no appeal to me what so ever.” The furball glared at Arki.
“One day Arki,” he said, “one day you will have my cubs!” Sam looked at his cub, then at Arki, and realised the two loved each other dearly. The furball was threatening Arki, he wasn’t expressing a wish for her to have his cubs, he was close to forcing her.
“Can I help you look after the cub?” Sam asked Arki. Arki was about to reply when Isaac crawled into the room, spotted Sam and asked who he was, and what the hell he was doing hugging his and Arki’s cub. Arki quickly explained, Isaac still hostile to the whole idea.
“So this cub has three guardians now?” He asked.
“Our cub has about thirty to forty guardians,” Arki said, “every animal will look out for her. Well, almost every one.” The furball snarled at Sam, who cuffed him hard across the nose.
“You do anything to upset or harm Arki, her cub, Isaac, or anyone here, I’ll personally break your paws!” Sam warned. The furball subsided into angry silence.
Sammy.... what all he is not being put through and having for one reason or another to experience...
sam's now settling in well. Arki and Isaac have taken him in and are treating him as a member of the family.
Well this is certainly good news indeed! (well as long as members of the family are being treated decently and with respect)
Members of the family as far as Arki and Isaac are concerned include almost everyone, apart from the furball, who made his own problems. Stifftail, while being a bit of a miserable customer, is still considered part of the family, even though he advocates leaving cubs to their fait if their birth mothers reject them. He's not one for giving disabled cubs, or those who's mothers abandon them, a second chance. I don't know why this is, but it's something the rest of the animals can't get their heads around. btw, my eight dogs have gone walkies, never to return.
Should free up some space I am given to think...
yah, it's true.
all the spanyals and all but two of the labradores have fled the house in protest at the number of polar bears and other strange creatures enhabiting my place. only two labradores are left, and they promise they are out the door as soon as they can find a place to go.
Polar Bears hide their faces in their paws thinking, "I don't seem to be so strange..." As far as the labradores I would welcome them only my kitty, FeeFeeBooBooKitty Cat would not be so very much in the way of acceptance sorry to say. *sigh* Connie
Sam gets into a fight.
Rain fell heavily outside, while Sam, the newest arrival in the house, struggled to open one of the windows. In the end, Whitie used one of her tiny forepaws to press the button, while Sam used both of his to pull the handle up, from which point he could push open the window. Sam leant perilously far out of the window, letting the rain fall on his nose and the pads of one upturned forepaw, while Arki and Amber held onto Sam’s hind paws, in case the eccentric male polar bear should lose his balance and fall out of the window.
Seeing Sam’s antics, Brunetta asked what the hell he thought he was playing at. Warning him that the boss wouldn’t be impressed if he had to wash Sam’s fur after it had been dirtied by rainwater. Sam explained that during his time in America, he’d missed the rain and wind , The pads on his paws becoming dry and cracked with the heat. After a lot of persuasion, Arki convinced Sam to vacate the window and come back into the warmth of the house. When he did so, his fur was soaked with rainwater. Brunetta grabbed a towel from the store and frantically dried Sam’s fur, anxious that the boss didn’t realise what the polar bear had been doing. Brunetta knew it was forbidden for any animal to go anywhere near the towel store, and wondered where she’d hide the wet towel. Unable to think of a suitable hiding place, she pushed the towel out of the window, slamming the window shut and locking it. Brunetta knew there’d be questions from the boss about what a towel was doing in his front garden, but she didn’t worry about that. As long as Sam wasn’t found with rainwater on his fur, and she wasn’t linked with the towel, Brunetta was happy.
Sam lay on the quilt, his cub snuggled close to him. Still not quite believing his cub was beside him, Sam traced all over her body with his paws, from her nose to her tail. The cub, enjoying every minute of Sam’s attention, closed her eyes and let him stroke her as much as he wanted.
Arki watched Sam stroking the cub and smiled to herself.
“He’s one happy bear,” she thought.
Sam continued stroking his cub, and all was peace until Sam touched the pads of one of the cub’s hind paws. The polar bear cub, almost asleep until then, suddenly yelped.
“What’s wrong!” Sam asked anxiously.
“I’ve got ticklish paws!” The cub replied. Sam hugged her.
“Sorry if my paw tickled yours,” he said, “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“that’s okay,” the cub replied, snuggling down once more, “it was a shock that’s all,” she yawned, snuggling closer to Sam and working her forepaws deep into his fur. Sam closed his eyes, relaxing totally now that his cub was with him.
Arki saw the growing bond between Sam and his cub. She didn’t feel threatened by it, although she wasn’t sure if Isaac would feel the same as she did. While not an aggressive bear, Isaac had taken it for granted that he and Arki would be looking after the orphan polar bear cub. Now, just as Isaac was getting used to the idea of having a cub to look after, the cub’s sire comes along, wishing to look after his cub. Arki knew Isaac resented Sam’s intrusion into their lives, although he was too polite to show his irritation.
One day however, Sam and Isaac met in the living room. Isaac, having recently discussed with Bruin the problems he had with Sam, was about ready to explode. Seeing the weaker male polar bear in front of him, Isaac attacked Sam! Rolling him over, Isaac walloped Sam with all his force. Sam, unprepared for Isaac’s sudden attack, couldn’t defend himself now he was on his back. Kicking furiously with all four paws, Sam tried to protect his face from Isaac’s raking claws. Sam felt Isaac’s claws digging into, then ripping into the pads of one forepaw. Screaming with fear and pain, Sam tried to tear his paw away, doing more damage to it. Isaac was furious! Delivering a stinging blow to Sam’s nose incapacitated the weaker bear, leaving Isaac free to do what he wished with Sam.
Suddenly a paw landed smack on Isaac’s nose! The larger polar bear, now as helpless as Sam, collapsed onto the carpet, numb from his nose to his paws. Looking up, Isaac saw whom had attacked him, and could hardly believe his eyes. Clarence looked down at Isaac lying on the floor.
“I never thought you’d actually attack Sam,” The lion said sadly, “now I know you would. It wasn’t Sam’s fault he and his cub were separated. Of course, I would give anything to see my cubs again, anything at all. They went with their mothers when I was cast out of my pride, and I will never see them again.” Isaac heard Clarence’s words, and saw the lion’s devastated expression. He never thought Clarence would defend Sam, but the lion had. Worse still, he’d learned certain tricks which only polar bears should know.
Isaac watched as Clarence helped Sam from the room, the polar bear still too beaten up to help the lion much.
“Come on Sam,” Clarence said, “help me here, crawl as best you can.” Sam, still immobilised from the affects of the blow to his nose, could hardly lift a paw, let alone crawl up the stairs. Clarence yelled to Tigger, who struggled from beneath the quilt and came to his aid. With the combined efforts of Clarence and Tigger, Sam was hauled up the stairs and unceremoniously dumped on the quilt. There he lay, exhausted and sobbing. Soon Arki and Sam’s cub were fussing over Sam, but Arki knew that only time would heal the problems caused by Isaac’s attack on Sam’s nose. Bathing Sam’s paw was easy enough, as the male polar bear couldn’t resist as Arki washed the wounded pads. In fact, Sam could feel very little as Arki worked. Once she’d finished, she made sure Sam was as comfortable as she could make him. Once Sam was attended to, Clarence told Arki and Tigger what had taken place in the living room. Arki was furious!
“How dare he do something like that!” She yelled, “Isaac’s behaviour is disgusting!”
“He won’t be allowed to do anything like that again,” Clarence promised, “I will make sure of that.” Arki hugged Sam tightly, almost crying herself as she felt the male polar bear trembling violently.
“It’s okay Sam, it’s going to be all right,” Arki whispered. Sam snuggled up to Arki, something which would have had Isaac spitting with anger if he’d known. Arki felt a thrill of pleasure as Sam hugged her.
Life choices.
Sam calmed down gradually, feeling returning to his body as the affects of the attack on his nose wore off. Arki spent the time stroking Sam from nose to tail, trying to work out her own feelings towards him looking after her cub. Arki didn’t mind Sam looking after the cub, in fact she quite enjoyed sharing the responsibility with him. Isaac never took charge of the cub, even though he was free to do so at any time. Arki knew it was she who’d wanted a cub, Isaac hadn’t really been fussed either way. If he’d not cared much whether he had a cub or not, why then did Isaac attack Sam? Arki realised suddenly that the cub had nothing to do with it. Isaac was scared that Arki would find Sam attractive and leave him for the younger male polar bear. Arki found to her surprise that she could quite easily leave Isaac. Sam was attractive, from his nose to his paws. Though she found Isaac attractive too. What she found a real turn off was his violent streak. Arki continued stroking Sam, reaching his hind paws. Gently massaging his right hind paw, Arki thought about Isaac, did she really feel anything for him? Arki felt Sam wiggle the toes of the paw she was stroking, which meant he had sensation in that paw. Arki looked at her cub, who watched her stroking Sam.
“don’t get me involved,” the cub said, “I’m not the one who’s got to make the choice. I’ve made my choice, I want to be with you and Sam. Isaac’s not part of my life, and never has been. When I go down to see him, he is always talking to a female polar bear, the one who sits on top of the television beside Conker. She’s an attractive polar bear, if what I’ve heard is to be believed, Isaac for one doesn’t hide his admiration for her in any way. I don’t know what her mate would think if he knew, though he’s in the boss’s study all the time, reading books and doing other boring things like that.” Arki was shocked to hear this from her cub.
“This female polar bear, describe her to me!” Arki snapped.
“She sits quietly on top of that box on top of the television. She’s a very well proportioned bear. I wouldn’t call her that huggable though, she looks as if she could go through life without regular hugs, being a very independent sort. I once saw Isaac stroking her paws, and she seemed to be enjoying his attention.” Arki was furious!
“If Isaac can make advances towards her, then I can go with whomever I wish! I might not look as good as she does, nor be as secure as she is, but I have a cub and someone to help me look after that cub! I will not be thrown on the scrapheap by a male polar bear who begged for a mate, then when he didn’t like what he saw, ran off with another female polar bear! Isaac is a disgrace! I hate him!”
Sam listened to Arki’s tirade. He’d seen the polar bear whom Isaac had made friends with, and she was beautiful, but to his mind, Arki had what he wanted in a mate. Sam wondered if Arki was open to advances. Now that the furball was out of the way, having been transferred to the boss’s study, would he be safe to approach her? Arki was very gentle, and seemed to like the same things he did. They lived in the same area of the house, and they had one unbreakable connection, the cub whom they both loved dearly. Arki finished massaging Sam’s paw, something he was obviously enjoying, and looked into his face. Sam smiled at her.
“You do a wonderful paw massage Arki,” he said. Arki grinned:
“I haven’t had my paws massaged in ages,” she said. Sam took hold of Arki’s right forepaw in both of his and began to stroke it. Arki closed her eyes and basked in the sensations her paw was feeding to her brain. Sam continued to massage Arki’s paw until she was asleep. Sam gazed into Arki’s face, wishing she would consent to be his mate.
Meanwhile, Isaac and his new-found mate cuddled together on the sofa. Isaac nuzzling her ear and rubbing the pads of her paws. He’d forgotten about Arki, but was still furious about Sam snatching the cub away from him. Even so, maybe he would have cubs with his new-found mate. As far as Isaac was concerned, Sam could have Arki. She was a clumsy neurotic heap of fur. He’d loved her once, but not any more. Sam was welcome to her. Isaac told foster to go upstairs and deliver a message to Arki.
“Tell her she can do what she wants with Sam,” Isaac said to the raccoon, who was devastated by the news he had to impart, “tell her she’s a horrid furball and that I don’t know what I saw in her. Tell her I still think of her cub as mine, and not Sam’s. Tell her the cub is in danger if she doesn’t agree to live with me and leave Arki and Sam to their own lives.” Foster was dreadfully upset by Isaac’s words.
“You can’t tell Arki that!” He protested.
“You’re just the messenger, do as you are told!” Isaac snapped.
“No, no I won’t!” Foster replied, turning his back on |Isaac.
“If you don’t do what I say, I will tear your tail off!” Isaac screamed.
“Isaac,” Clarence said, “you harm that cub, I will break your neck!”
“I’d like to see you try!” Isaac challenged. Clarence leapt upon Isaac, knocking his mate to the floor!
“Okay you two! Stop it now!” Matilda commanded. Clarence already had his forepaws around Isaac’s neck and was about to strangle him!
“Stop it!” Matilda screamed, “Clarence, stop it now!” Clarence left Isaac alone.
“Now you see what I can do,” the lion said, “I won’t hesitate to carry out my threat if you so much as think of hurting Arki, her cub, or Sam!” foster fled upstairs to tell Arki and Sam of the danger they and their cub were in.
Tigger, on hearing the raccoon’s message, promised to watch out for the three polar bears. Amber too vowed she’d never let Isaac get close to them.
Reaching safety.
Wind and rain are never a cat’s best friend, and this was very much the case for a lioness named Elsa, her cub’s Tembi and Tembo, and an adult lynx and her cub, who refused to give their names. The group had started out consisting of Elsa and her two cubs, the adult lynx and her cub had attached themselves somewhere along the line between the Okavango delta and the English street along which they were now walking. The trek had been difficult, especially for Tembi and Tembo, who’s paws had become sore from walking on the hard road surface. Elsa had to force the cubs to bathe their paws in ponds and streams, as it was a necessary thing to do to clean the dirt out of the grazes on their pads, but painful for the cubs. Elsa hated the nightly ritual of bathing her cub’s paws, for Tembi would cry with pain as she was forced by Elsa to amerce her paws in the water. Now though, Tembi’s paws were as hardy as Elsa’s. The lynx and her cub hadn’t had those problems, in fact they’d seemed pretty much impervious to everything which had gone before.
Elsa had left her home on the Okavango delta to look for Clarence, the lion whom the other pride lioness had rejected. Elsa had a soft spot for Clarence, the huge lion with his kind eyes and huge soft paws. Elsa remembered him caressing her during their love making, and she somehow felt he really felt something for her. Now she was on a road, in a country she hardly knew, with sore paws, dragging two increasingly fractious and exhausted cubs along with her. Elsa hoped Tembi and Tembo wouldn’t hold it against her. Elsa watched as Tembi, a female cub, the youngest of her two cubs, stumbled along, her sore pads giving her trouble. Tembi hardly complained, though Elsa could see in her eyes that all was not well in her world. Tembo, a male, and older of the two cubs, complained constantly about his sore paws.
Elsa wished she could do something for her cubs, and she’d passed many a sleepless night wondering if what she was doing was right. She had been cast out of her pride soon after Clarence had suffered the same indignity. Elsa had been close to giving birth to her cubs then, and had been forced to have the cubs alone. Elsa remembered the birth of her cubs, a painful, lonely, and terrifying time, where she’d been torn between listening out for danger and giving birth to her cubs. her body had taken over however, and Elsa had given herself up to having her cubs. She was relieved when they were born and she could protect them once more. Now she was dragging them away from their marshy homeland to somewhere, the location of which she didn’t know. Elsa knew one thing, and this was that the place she entered would be her final home, she couldn’t keep dragging her poor cubs all over the place. Tembi she couldn’t drag, Tembo however was a different matter. The way he’d been behaving, Elsa would have dragged him twice round the earth as punishment. Tembo had twice attacked Tembi, the female cub totally unprepared for her brother’s attack.
Elsa, now numbed in body and mind to almost everything around her, wondered if she would ever find a home for her cubs. Turning up a side alley, Elsa led her cubs and the two lynx along the path.
Suddenly Tembi stopped walking and lay down on the concrete, utterly exhausted. Elsa stopped to help her, when Tembo kicked his sister savagely:
“Get up you wimp!” He snarled, swiping at her with a paw. Tembi mewed in protest, but couldn’t stop Tembo’s attack. Elsa rounded on her eldest cub, but even she could hardly raise a paw to him, so exhausted was she. The lynx however, seemed quite fresh, and the adult female walloped Tembo hard! Tembo yowled with pain and shrank back from the large lynx. Elsa lay down and took Tembi in her paws. The tiny cub was trembling violently, and Elsa knew she wasn’t trembling with fear.
“We can’t go on any further,” Elsa thought, “we’re stopping here.” Elsa struggled to her feet and went towards a gate in the fence to one side of the alley. Pushing at it with a forepaw, she found it gave under pressure. Returning to Tembi’s side, Elsa tried to lift her cub by the scruff of her neck. It was then she realised how exhausted she herself was. Elsa couldn’t lift her own cub. Closing her eyes, Elsa braced her paws and put all her strength into lifting her cub, but she couldn’t lift her. Tembi had grown, but not by much. She was only a month old, if that. Elsa wondered if Tembi would see two months old, for the way she looked at the moment, it looked doubtful. Elsa stopped struggling to lift her cub, leaving Tembi lying limp on the concrete for the moment.
“Let’s go in here,” Elsa said, pushing open the gate. The large female lynx picked Tembi up and gave Tembo a kick.
“You follow,” she snarled at the male lion cub, leaving her own cub to crawl along behind her, which he’d been used to doing.
On entering the place beyond the gate, Elsa found herself in an enclosed place with grass under her paws. There was noone in sight, but, as she watched, the door to a house opened and a large white animal with black spots put its head out into the daylight. Looking round, it spotted Elsa and her exhausted companions.
“can I help?” Amber called to Elsa, who didn’t have a clue what she was.
“I don’t know,” Elsa replied, confused and a little scared, “we, we’re looking for a place to stay, tonight, forever, eventually that is.” Amber left the security of the doorway and ventured into the garden to take a look at the newcomers.
“You lot look finished,” she said, “What on earth have you been doing?”
“We’ve had a long journey,” the female lynx said.
“I’ll say,” Amber replied, “well, you’d better come in and stay a while.” Elsa nearly ran into the house, but checked her pace. Amber, realising how desperate the lioness was, and remembering her own long journey, held up a paw to stop her.
“No need to run,” she said, “I know how it is for you.” Elsa walked into the house, Amber picking up Tembi and carrying the cub in after her, with Tembo and the two lynx following.
Once in the living room, Amber laid Tembi on a rug. The poor female cub made no protest as Amber checked her over from nose to tail.
“One extremely exhausted little lioness,” she said gently. Amber looked up from her examination of Tembi, straight into Elsa’s terrified eyes.
“Tembi will be okay,” Amber said, “but I don’t have the knowledge to look after her. I will have to give the responsibility for her care to someone else.” Amber looked over at Clarence, who’d crawled alongside Elsa, seemingly without the lioness noticing.
“I’ll leave Tembi in your capable paws Clarence,” Amber said, heading for the door. Elsa looked round, and when she saw the gentle eyes of the lion for whom she’d been searching, and in pursuit of whom she’d dragged her cubs across seas and countless lands, Elsa didn’t know what to say. The huge lion took Tembi in his massive forepaws, gently stroking her. The tiny cub showed no reaction, no recognition of the huge lion who had sired her. The truth was, Tembi was worn out.
Drifting in a daze, Tembi felt Clarence take her in his paws, but didn’t have the strength to react. She remembered her sire’s scent, and it pleased her, beyond that, she let things take their course, for she could do little else.
Clarence settled down with Tembi between his forepaws, while Elsa took Tembo and the two lynx to another part of the room. Very gently, taking Tembi with him, Clarence moved towards the place where he slept, gently placing Tembi on the sofa, then lying down himself. Taking Tembi in his paws, Clarence hugged her tenderly. Tembi’s exhausted state saddened him, he could see how the journey had taken its toll on the tiny cub. Clarence looked at his cub, and his vision blurred with tears.
“My cub,” Clarence sobbed, stroking Tembi’s ears, “what happened to you my sweetheart?” Clarence guessed that Elsa had wandered with her cubs in search of him, but Tembi’s exhaustion wasn’t all down to walking. He knew Tembo had mercilessly bullied his younger sister, and this made Clarence very angry! Clarence slept after a long time of gazing at Tembi.
Hours later, Tembi woke, feeling herself in the embrace of a larger lion, Tembi turned her head and looked into Clarence’s face. Then, very gently, she touched his cheek with one tiny forepaw. Clarence woke at his cub’s touch.
“Tembi my dear,” Clarence said, “How are you feeling?” Tembi flexed her paws one by one. They were stiff and ached horribly, but, over all, she felt a lot better than she had for weeks.
“I’m okay,” she replied. Clarence smiled, stroking Tembi’s right forepaw, the one with which she’d touched his cheek. Tembi shook herself:
“My fur’s all wet!” She mewed. Touching her paw to her ear, Tembi then licked her paw.
“Salt,” she said, “I can taste salt!” she looked at Clarence, noticing his red rimmed eyes, and dirty, tear streaked facial fur.
“You soppy thing,” Tembi laughed, taking Clarence’s huge left forepaw in both of hers.
“the thought I’d never see you, Elsa or Tembo again nearly tore me apart Tembi,” Clarence choked. Tembi snuggled up to Clarence, the huge lion setting to nuzzling her tenderly, then grooming her from nose to tail. Tembi submitted herself happily to her sire’s attentions, loving every minute. Clarence even gently stroked the pads of Tembi’s paws, this action seeming to soothe the cub even more than the grooming had. Tembi curled up tightly between Clarence’s forepaws, making sure her forepaws rested on one of his, and that his free forepaw was resting over her back like a warm soft blanket. Clarence submitted to Tembi’ arranging his paws, happy she was with him once more.
Meanwhile, Elsa and Tembo were having a less convivial time of it. Elsa, having slept for a few hours, now took the opportunity to say everything to her eldest cub that she’d meant to say during the journey. And her words weren’t pleasant ones.
A family chat.
Elsa was furious with Tembo! She’d watched how Tembi had suffered unnecessarily at the lion cub’s paws. Not a day went by without Tembo taking his anger out on the little lioness, Tembi being cuffed and generally knocked about by her older brother, who thought of her as a legitimate target on which to vent his frustration, walloping Tembi as a way of getting anger out of his system. Tembo would take any opportunity to take his anger out on his younger and smaller sister. She’d only have to whimper with pain as Elsa bathed her paws, sore from walking, for Tembo to clout her with a hard forepaw and tell her to shut up and cope in silence, even though Tembo himself complained incessantly when his paws were sore.
Hearing Elsa remonstrating with Tembo, who as usual seemed to be taking no notice, Clarence looked up at his mate and Tembo standing on the ledge above where he lay. His eyes growing hard with anger at Tembo’s conduct, Clarence dug the toes of his hind paws into the fabric of the sofa to stop himself from crawling up to Tembo and giving him a taste of what the male cub dealt out to Tembi. Clarence was strong, his paws large enough to wallop Tembo so hard he’d not forget his punishment for a long time.
Tembi felt her sire’s agitation.
“Tembo walloped me for whimpering with pain while having my paws bathed,” Tembi said. Clarence gently picked up one of Tembi’s forepaws and examined the sole of her paw, noticing the scarring from old wounds, as well as the thickening of the pads themselves. Tembi’s paw looked much as his did, and he was older than her by several years. Clarence knew of the pain gone through when the pads crack and split due to walking on unnaturally hard surfaces. He’d experienced it himself, and didn’t blame Tembi for whimpering while her mother bathed her paws.
“I know my paws are in a real state,” Tembi said. Clarence tenderly stroked the paw he held.
“You’ve been walking a long time, over ground not usually trodden by cubs,” the lion replied, “it’s no wonder your paws are like they are.”
“Tembo’s paws are just as bad, and so are mum’s,” Tembi replied, “I took a look one night while they were asleep. Tembo’s paws were sore, but not as bad as mum’s. Tembi became still, staring into the middle distance.
“Now I know!” the cub suddenly exclaimed. Then, almost in a whisper, as if she was afraid Elsa might overhear:
“I now know why mum splashed water on her face during her bath, and she would always turn away from us.” Elsa overheard Tembi’s words, and realised the cub had guessed what she’d been trying to hide. Elsa hid her head, afraid Tembi would see she’d overheard her words. Elsa, dreadfully ashamed she couldn’t show her cubs her pain, looked down, staring hard at her paws.
Tembo, watching all, guessed what his mother had been trying to hide. Spitting with contempt at Elsa, Tembo turned his back, angry with both his mother and Tembi for being, as he saw them, weak creatures.
Clarence suddenly leapt from where he’d been lying, grabbing Tembo by the scruff of his neck and dragging the male cub down with him, Tembo landing hard between Clarence’s forepaws. Tembo squealed with fear as he was confronted by the massive lion. Clarence inflated his lungs and roared into Tembo’s face! The sound reverberated around the room, and Tembi, along with Lewis, Carol, and the lynx cub, fled for cover under the dining table. Bruin, asleep until Clarence roared at Tembo, snapped into full wakefulness, demanding loudly to know what on earth was going on! Elsa watched what was happening, her mood still heavy with her own feelings of shame at her behaviour.
Tembo shrank back from Clarence, now very frightened. Clarence made his presence felt physically by walloping Tembo with the flat of his paw. Tembo yowled with pain and fear.
“You do not, not! Ever! Hit your sister, and nor do you ever spit at your mother!” Clarence yelled, “do you hear me Tembo!” Tembo whimpered a reply.
“Speak up, I can’t hear you!” Clarence shouted.
“Nor can we hear now you’re shouting your head off Clarence,” Hop along murmured. Clarence overheard |Hop along’s words, and rounding savagely on the huge male tiger, nearly threw Tembo at him!
“If you think you can discipline this blasted cub then you are welcome to try!” the lion screamed, “until then Hop along, I would keep your mouth shut!”
“That was ill advised and very stupid Hop along,” Matilda said to the large male tiger, “Clarence is far more mobile than you, and he can really use his paws.” Hop along knew well enough, and cursed himself for voicing his thoughts.
Clarence continued yelling at Tembo, while Tembi and the animals who lived in the rest of the room either cowered in corners and alcoves, hid their heads, or put their paws over their ears. Soon Clarence ran out of things to shout, and finished his tirade with one final cuff to Tembo’s ear. Almost throwing Tembo aside, Clarence flopped down exhausted on the sofa. Sensing the drama was at an end, the other animals crept from their hiding places and returned to their homes. Tembi returned to Clarence’s side, where she found the lion in a trance like state, and very close to tears.
“I can’t believe what I’ve just done,” Clarence whispered, tears rolling down his nose, “I lost it totally, totally lost control! I hit my own cub!”
“Tembo deserved it,” Kalahari said, “after all, words won’t change him. Only actions will change a cub like Tembo. He’s been in need of a lesson for a long time if what I’ve heard is correct. You gave him that lesson. Losing your temper with your cub is sometimes the only way. It seems talk and mediation doesn’t work with some cubs, and Tembo’s one of those. Well done to you is what I say.” Sounds of agreement from all the animals rippled round the room. Kalahari might have been small, but the meerkat talked sense.
Hi Dobbin, While reading through these last postings of yours it got me to thinking. So many times the stories you write relates to happenings we go through from time to time in life. For example with the Mama lioness and her cubs and how painfully sore the pads of their paws became from walking on ground not accoustumed to and perhaps realy not at all designed for and yet still too it seems there are those areas in life we venture forth in and where there are those life toughtening up experiences as it were. Those painful hurtful times that seems to be daily and yet trudge on we must till at some point a place of rest is found for paws hurting and spirit as it were hurting and aching. Life Flows on. Connie
Hi Connie, I didn't know my writing was so meaningful. *smile* I suppose diffrent ppl draw diffrent things from what I write. Of course I am trying to reflect life. Glad you are enjoying the diary entries. More animal antics to come in the near future.
Tembi becomes ill.
Tembi shivered violently with cold. It seemed the long journey to her new home had taken a far greater toll on her than everyone first thought. Her head aching, and paws freezing, Tembi shivered constantly, mewing pitifully to herself. Clarence and Elsa tried their best to help their cub, but all they could do was try and give her warmth, which they took turns in doing, curling round Tembi. Meanwhile, Winifred, one of the adult otters, grateful to turn her paw to what she’d been used to doing on the riverbank, kept Tembi supplied with sweet drinks to keep her energy levels up.
Clarence was more Anxious than he wanted to show. He felt Tembi’s body shivering between his paws as he hugged the tiny cub, and wondered if she would survive the day. She was so small, and so very young. Clarence cursed Elsa for making her cubs trek across oceans and lands in search of him. Couldn’t she have waited until her cubs were older and stronger? Then maybe Tembi would never be strong enough to undertake such a journey of that magnitude. Clarence stroked Tembi’s head with one huge forepaw, trying to convey his love for her. Tembi, sleeping fitfully, woke and looked at Clarence with exhausted eyes.
“I feel dreadful!” Tembi whimpered. Clarence stroked Tembi’s back with one paw, the cub shivering with pleasure as she felt his touch. Clarence watched as Tembi snuggled down and fell asleep once more.
Elsa was dreadfully upset about Tembi’s condition. She blamed herself for the cub’s illness, wondering if dragging Tembi across the world was the right thing to do. Elsa couldn’t change things now, but she wished Tembi would get better soon. Elsa herself had once been in Tembi’s situation, and remembered how unpleasant the illness was. Aching paws, a raging headache and watering eyes stuck in Elsa’s memory as some of the worst things about the illness. Elsa looked desperately round her, looking at the faces of the other animals in the room. Elsa suddenly felt a paw take hers, and looking round, she saw the large husky dog who lived beside her. He motioned to her that he wanted to help. Desperate to try anything, Elsa nodded and waved a paw at Tembi. The husky dog crawled down to Tembi and, holding a restraining paw up to Clarence, began using his paws on Tembi, touching her on various places on her body. First he touched Tembi’s shoulder, than her hock, then the pads of all four paws. Tembi visibly relaxed as the husky dog worked on her. Clarence and Elsa watched, anxious about their cub, but also fascinated by the dog’s actions. Whatever he was doing made Tembi feel better, that was certain. The Husky dog finished treating Tembi, and returned to his place.
“What were you doing to Tembi?” Elsa asked. The husky dog touched Elsa’s paw and motioned to her that he wanted her to lie down on her side. Once Elsa was lying down, the dog started treating her in the same way he had her cub. Elsa found herself drifting away into a dream. The dog’s paws were soft and warm, and Elsa found herself basking in the warmth of whatever was happening to her.
Days passed, and Tembi’s condition improved with the husky dog’s help.
Liken as to how the Huskie doggie was enabled to be of help to a cubbie of kitten quality...so too there are those who enter our lives that in perhaps other situations would be so unlikely the compatability and yet still those are situations that exist. One has at times to be in a frame of thot to be in receivership of help even from most the unlikely or what could be considered bewildering situations. Dobbin, continue please.... *smile* Life Flows on. Connie
i will continue writing, just as soon as I have suitable inspiration that is.
Naming Arki’s cub.
Arki woke slowly, luxuriating in the warmth of her mate Sam’s embrace, his scent reassuring her as she surfaced from a deep sleep. Looking to her left, Arki saw her cub, who was still sleeping peacefully. Arki examined the cub from nose to tail, thinking hard about a name for her. For months Arki and her adopted cub had known each other, but the cub hadn’t had a name. Arki took the cub’s tiny forepaw in hers and thought hard.
“Candy seems a nice name for our cub,” Arki thought. Arki looked at Sam, who, like his cub,, was still asleep.
“I love you dearly Sam,” Arki thought, stroking Sam’s paw with hers. This woke the male polar bear, who yawned and stretched his paws, in turn waking his cub, who did likewise. The two polar bears looked at Arki.
“Morning already?” Sam asked, rubbing a paw over eyes witch, for the moment refused to see anything properly.
“yeah, think so,” his cub replied, yawning and stretching. Arki watched them, enjoying every minute.
“I’ve got something to talk to you both about,” Arki said.
“Can we wake up first?” the cub asked. Arki, impatient to put her question to her cub, suppressed her eagerness to proceed.
“Arki’s got something important to say, I can feel it,” Sam said.
“Even if she has,” his cub replied, “I’m still waking up!” Arki unconsciously started drumming on the quilt with the toes of one forepaw. Her cub noticed this:
“stop drumming on the quilt!” She snapped.
“Sorry,” Arki said, clamping her forepaws tightly under her chin to stop herself from repeating the offensive action.
“Right,” the cub said after five minutes, which to Arki seemed like five hours, “now what was it you wanted to say to us mum?” Arki looked at her cub and then at Sam.
“I was thinking of a name for you little one,” she said.
“I was wondering what her name was,” Sam said, “I have known her for months but never knew her name, as my former mate never named her, for obvious reasons, and now she’s here, and safe, we should think of a name for her.”
“I was thinking of the name Candy,” Arki said, “how would that be?” Sam was smiling broadly, he obviously liked the name, and the cub nodded:
“Candy I am then,” she said. Arki hugged both Sam and Candy in turn.
“I love you both,” she said. Sam and Candy enthusiastically returned Arki’s hug, each embracing Arki and stroking her forepaws, something both knew she liked. Arki smiled, relaxing into the quilt. Candy, feeling mischievous, tickled Arki’s right hind paw. Arki squealed with surprise!
“Candy!” She yelped, “don’t do that!” Sam rolled onto his back and waved his paws in the air, laughing helplessly at Candy’s actions.
“Go Candy!” he encouraged. Arki glared at him.
“Don’t encourage her!” Arki snapped, but Sam knew she was enjoying every minute of contact with her cub.
“I’ll stroke your paw if you like,” Candy said to Arki, massaging the pads of Arki’s hind paw. Arki grinned at her cub.
“I love you Candy,” she said. Candy left Arki’s hind paws and took hold of both her forepaws. Arki looked into her cub’s eyes.
“let’s go downstairs and meet some of the other cubs,” Sam suggested.
Once they were downstairs, Tembi, along with other cubs such as Tarker, Winifred’s cub, embraced Candy in turn. Tarker wanted to show that otter cubs and polar bear cubs could play together, and very soon, he and Candy were playing together on the carpet. Whitie and Blanche played with Tembi, who delighted in tickling the snow leopard cub’s paws. Whitie fought back, giving Tembi as good as she got. Arki, Sam, Clarence and Amber watched their cubs playing. Clarence swallowed hard, trying to suppress an urge to burst into tears. His emotions welling up, Clarence watched Tembi playing with Whitie. Sam too swallowed a huge lump in his throat as he watched his cub playing with an otter cub.
Candy thinks about life.
Candy stretched languidly. She’d fallen asleep early the night before, and now was waking in the early dawn. Crawling off the quilt, being careful not to wake Sam or Arki, She went to the window to watch the dawn coming in over the houses opposite. Light filtered from the eastern sky, seeming to paint its way across to the west. Candy watched this, wondering what she’d do if she couldn’t see these things. Whitie and Blanch couldn’t, neither it was said could the lynx cub who arrived with Elsa and her cubs. Candy remembered playing with Tembi, the lioness tickling her paws until Candy was weak from laughing. Candy remembered Whitie and Blanche playing with Tembo, and, when the male lion cub had got bored, which was rather quickly if her memory served her right, the two snow leopard cubs had turned their attention to the lynx cub, who played with the snow leopard cubs as roughly as they did with him, rolling them over and batting at their paws as enthusiastically as they did his. Candy wondered how the three blind cubs played, how did they manage to do anything at all without their parents guiding them? Candy often saw Whitie and Blanche playing, and there was no chasing, no leaping, nothing like that. Just a lot of swiping at, and tickling of paws and pulling of ears and tails, all in fun she was sure. The dawn was well in now, and Candy turned back to the room, crawled over to the quilt and lay down, thinking hard. She took the dawn for granted almost. Of course, it would always be there, wouldn’t it? Candy, deeply troubled by her thoughts, closed her eyes.
“If I open my eyes now, it will be light,” she thought, “I can reassure myself that it is daytime. Whitie, Blanche and the lynx cub can’t know that for sure.” Indeed, Candy had noticed Whitie and Blanche prowling round the room at odd hours.
“Maybe they are awake at funny times because they Can’t see the light, so don’t know when it is night and they should sleep?” Candy thought. She opened her eyes and could see Whitie lying to her left. The snow leopard cub seemed to be asleep, though there was no certainty, as her eyes were always closed.
“Whitie!” Candy whispered. The snow leopard cub, awake since Candy had crawled from the quilt, crawled over to her and touched her paw with her own.
“Candy?” Whitie asked. Candy looked at the snow leopard cub. How on earth would she ask the questions she had formed in her mind?
“You called me Candy,” Whitie said, “what’s up?” Candy took Whitie’s paw in hers, Candy was close to tears.
“I was watching the dawn coming in over the houses earlier,” the polar bear cub said, “and I wondered how you, Blanche and the lynx cub coped with not seeing things like that.” “We’ve never seen things like the dawn,” Whitie said, “so we don’t think about it, because we are not missing it, because we don’t know it. I am blind, but that is only what others tell me I am. For me, this is normality, and I get on as best I can. So it is for Blanche and the lynx cub. We play together, and we rarely think of what we don’t have, though it is always present at the back of our minds.” Candy began to stroke Whitie’s paw.
“Would you teach me how to play the way you do?” Candy asked, “I want to learn, for I have noticed that you and Blanche play with the lynx cub, but noone else plays with any of you three. Noone among the cubs that is. I know that some are scared of you three.” Whitie looked troubled.
“Scared of us?” She asked, totally bewildered, “What have we done to make anyone scared of us?”
“It’s nothing you’ve done,” Tigger said, “it’s the fact you are different from them. The cub’s don’t understand, so they shy away.”
“Tarker would play with me, but not with you,” Candy said to Whitie, “I asked him, but he said he didn’t want to play with you, Blanche, or the lynx cub. When I asked him why not, he wouldn’t reply.” Whitie felt her whole world disintegrate. She’d never known any of this went on.
“They hate me because I can’t see them?” She asked, hardly believing what she was hearing.
“Not just you,” Candy said gently, although she knew no matter how she spoke to Whitie, the hammer blow would be as violent, “they hate and fear all three of you.”
“Tembi doesn’t hate me, not that I’ve noticed,” Whitie said.
“Tembi’s in the same situation as you are,” Candy said, “she’s weak, and fragile. They don’t like her either.”
“You see now why I wanted Whitie and Blanche killed at birth!” Stifftail screamed at Amber, “no cubs should be put through this!”
“Shut up!” Candy snarled.
“Oh that’s big of you!” Stifftail spat, “come here and say that cub! You say that one more time and I’ll tear your throat out!”
“Leave it out all of you!” Arki yelled. Stifftail spat at Candy, who turned her back on the male snow leopard.
“What are we going to do?” Whitie asked, her usual carefree manner vanishing.
“First of all,” Candy said, “you were going to teach me how to play the games you play with Blanche and the lynx cub.” Whitie shook her head.
“I can’t play now,” She mewed, “not after this, not ever! I just want to lie down, bury my face in my paws and cry!” Candy tried to take Whitie’s other paw in hers, but was shaken off.
“And what do you feel towards us?” Whitie asked.
“I don’t fear you,” Candy replied, “I want to play with you, like, like normal cubs do. Whitie, I didn’t want to tell you this! I really didn’t want to tell you! But I had to, or, or, oh I don’t know!” Candy buried her face in her paws and lost it totally.
“Misunderstanding someone breeds fear sometimes,” Tigger said, “It’s not right, but it happens.” Whitie, who’d taken Candy’s paw in hers and was stroking it, sighed heavily as she thought of the work Candy, she and Blanche would have to do to turn the situation around.
....and when misunderstandings can be shared in an atmosphere of those coming together in order that understanding be increased then any fears that are present begin to diminish as care and concern for one the other is shown forth.
more animal antics. An educational proposal.
Whitie felt Candy trembling as she wept.
“It’s going to be all right,” Whitie said, sounding more confident than she felt. Candy wiped her eyes with a damp paw.
“it’s not going to be all right,” she sniffed, “the cubs, all except Tembi, hate you Whitie!”
“They can’t hate someone they’ve never taken the trouble to meet,” Whitie said.
“Oh yes they can, and they do!” Candy wailed, “they won’t listen Whitie, not at all!”
“How about if we try educating them in a more interactive manner,” Tigger suggested.
“Now you’ve really lost your marbles Tigger,” Stifftail scoffed, “What the hell are you on about?”
“No, I’m serious,” Tigger replied.
“yeah, and so was Constance the last time she had one of her funny turns and said she could see a pink dragon!” Stifftail laughed.
“Constance was injured in her former home, and that’s a side affect of what happened to her,” Tigger replied, “she hallucinates when her head injury plays up. It only happens from time to time, and it’s not very nice when it does.”
“I thought the last one was bloody funny,” Stifftail replied, “There was Constance, stiff as a board, staring at nothing, and she starts talking about pink dragons!” it was hilarious!” Tigger glared at Stifftail.
“She was scared of the dragon wasn’t she,” he said.
“she wanted to get away from it,” Stifftail conceded, “but it was still funny, what she said n’all.” Tigger clenched his forepaws to stop himself from walloping Stifftail.
“Constance fears the times her head injury plays up!” The tiger yelled, “she ends up crying and begging to be released from her torment! Don’t you ever give me any more insight into your slurry filled thoughts!”
“Oh, that’s big of you!” Stifftail mocked, “you are so big Tiggie, “slurry filled thoughts” you say!”
“Shut up Stifftail!” Amber snapped. Stifftail yawned insultingly at Amber.
“I’m bored,” Stifftail said, “there’s no fun here.” Sam snorted with disgust.
“You are so vitriolic!” he yelled, crushing the end of Stifftail’s long tail in both forepaws. Stifftail screamed and turned on Sam, trying to bite him! Sam let go with his left forepaw and, still holding onto Stifftail’s tail with his right, punched the snow leopard on the nose with his free paw as it came within range. Stifftail growled with fury!
“I hate you!” he yelled at Sam.
“You’re not on my Christmas card list,” Sam replied calmly. Amber laughed out loud, despite her attempts not to.
“I will tear your throat out!” Stifftail screeched.
“Stop it you two!” Clarence yelled. His thunderous voice stopped everyone in their tracks.
“I have heard everything here, and I think it’s disgusting!” the lion shouted, “Sam, release Stifftail’s tail! Do it now!” Sam dropped the end of the snow leopard’s tail.
“now Stifftail,” Clarence said, “you will keep your views to yourself! You are a horrid, vindictive, nasty creature! I would ban you from setting paw in this house if I were in charge, but I am not, so I can’t!” Turning to Tigger, Clarence looked at his old friend.
“Your idea of interactive lessons for the cubs regarding getting on with Whitie and the other blind cubs is a good one,” he said, “We will now go, you and I, and put it to the parents of the cubs. Elsa can teach the lessons, she’s good at that kind of thing.” Tigger smiled at Clarence.
“Thank you,” he said, “I will go with you to arrange this. Maybe we can educate them about Constance’s little problem as well, that is if she wants to cooperate of course.” Clarence agreed, having seen Constance go through one of her, episodes,” as she called them. He’d seen how the cubs and some of the adult animals had laughed at her ramblings while she was in her other place. Clarence was disappointed to find Tembo among those who laughed at the female badger’s torment.
Tigger and Clarence made their way downstairs with Whitie and Blanche. Once in the living room, Clarence called together all the adult animals. He’d gained the respect of a fair number of the animals after refusing to give in to his instinct to eat Carol during the storm, and now Clarence could call a meeting without Matilda’s help.
“Right,” Clarence said when he had the attention of all the adult animals, “There have been some unfortunate things happening here, which have caused me and others great concern. the main one is the refusal of the cubs to play with Whitie, Blanche or the lynx cub.”
“You can’t like everyone,” Winifred said.
“No,” Clarence agreed, “but I’ve heard it’s not anything to do with that.” Winifred looked down at her paws, she knew why Tarker never played with the blind cubs, and Clarence was correct, it had nothing to do with the personality of the cubs.
“none of the tiger cubs, or the common leopard cubs, or the polar bear cubs will play with Whitie, Blanche, or the lynx cub,” Clarence said, “nor will they play with Tembi, and she’s not blind like they are.”
“She played with Whitie!” Tarker yelled, “she’ll become blind now I’ll bet.” Clarence heard Whitie’s distressed whimper at Tarker’s words, and fought to ignore her.
“That kind of attitude is what we are going to try to remedy,” Clarence said, “Tigger has an idea which could be a lot of fun, as well as be educational to those cubs who think Whitie and Blanche are strange. Tigger, the floor’s yours.” Tigger crawled forward and gazed at the assembled animals.
“my plan is simple,” he said, “teach the cubs what it is to be blind like Whitie and Blanche are. We can do this by covering their eyes with a handkerchief or something. the boss has a scarf which I’ve seen in a drawer, he never goes there, and I can get the scarf, or maybe two scarves. We can use it to cover the cub’s eyes.”
“Then what?” Winifred asked, still staring at her paws.
“we get them to try and play with each other,” Tigger said, “nice and gentle like, no claws or nothing, just touching each other with their paws. Then they will see what it is like for Whitie, Blanche and the lynx cub.”
“You are going to make them blind?” Winifred asked incredulously, “what good would that do?”
“It would teach them, for a while at least, what it is to be as Whitie and Blanche are all the time,” Tigger replied, “it will be okay.”
“I’ll bet you won’t do it!” Winifred yikkered, “you, big brash Tiggie! You wouldn’t do it would you?” Tigger looked sadly at Winifred.
“Winnie dear,” he said, “I don’t need to pretend, “I know what it is not to see too well. I can’t see you for example, and you are only two feet away from me. I can see you when you’re close up, but by then you are six inches from my nose. Yes Winifred, even I will put the scarf on.” Clarence stared at Tigger.
“So that was why you nearly fell down the stairs when we came down here,” he said, “I thought you were being clumsy!” Tigger looked at his friend.
“Clarence,” he said, “now you know why I took your paw that first time we met. I needed a reference point as to where you were.”
“Reference point it might have been,” Clarence said, “but you gave me strength when you took hold of my paw that day.” Tigger took Clarence’s paw in his.
“we all need help to be strong sometimes Clarence,” Tigger said.
“so you couldn’t save your cubs from the hunters,” Clarence said, “you didn’t find them in the grass did you Tigger.” Tigger swallowed hard.
“No I didn’t,” he replied hoarsely, “I couldn’t see enough to drag them away as the hunters shot their mother and then did the same to our cubs. I ran, I could do nothing else.” Tigger buried his face in his paws.
“I went back when I could no longer hear the hunters, and it was then I found my cubs. I was no use to my mate or my cubs!” Tigger sobbed.
“What was that you said about strength,” Isaac said.
“shut it,” Elsa warned quietly, “Tigger probably hasn’t told anyone the real truth before now.” It was true, Tigger hadn’t. In an effort to deny his own vulnerability, he’d adapted the story to hide the fact he’d been present at the time his cubs were killed. Up until that day, Tigger couldn’t face the realisation he’d been unable to save his own cubs.
Tigger let everything hang out, not concealing anything. He told the assembled animals the whole story, every last horrendous detail.
“I know I couldn’t have saved my cubs,” Tigger said, “but every day I feel guilty for leaving them. I could have tried to save them, and I should have done so, but I ran away!”
“You would have been killed if you’d tried,” Bruin said.
“I know,” Tigger replied, “but I didn’t try, I ran away, I was a coward!”
“You realised you could do nothing,” Whitie said, “you couldn’t have saved those cubs Tigger.” Tigger reached out with a forepaw and groped for Whitie’s. The snow leopard cub felt Tigger touch her shoulder and trace his way to her paw.
“You talk sense Whitie,” Tigger said, “I sometimes find it hard to accept how I am. I didn’t always have poor vision, it came on gradually, and now, now I can’t see much at all.”
“Now we’ve had the ins and outs of your life Tigger,” Winifred snapped, “can we get on with what we were meant to be talking about in the first place!”
“Tigger’s experience makes it even more important we educate the cubs, and some of the adults too I think,” Matilda said.
Meanwhile, Tigger hugged Whitie tightly.
“You’re only a cub,” he said to the snow leopard, “but you talk so much sense.”
“I had to grow up fast,” Whitie admitted, “I had to look after Blanche when we were separated from our mother. I managed to keep her fed and watered, that was until Snowy half tail found us. She found us not a moment too soon, for we were both going downhill fast. Snowy might be authoritarian, and seem a total bitch to most of the animals here, but she saved mine and blanche’s lives. I know Snowy was forced to give us back to our mother when she was found, but I think it was a bit harsh, for Snowy had picked us up off the track and saved our lives."
plushophile? pm
Trying times.
*a conversation continued from the last diary entry.*
Tigger released Whitie’s paw.
“I know Snowy isn’t all bad,” Tigger said, “but she’s territorial, and can be quite venomous in her comments towards others. Stifftail, I am sorry to say, is also of that mind. I hate to say this about your sire Whitie, but I am a plain speaker, and speak how I find. Stifftail holds abominable views about you and your sister’s life chances. I still get upset whenever I think of what he wanted to do when you were first born. How could anyone think of it?” Whitie sensed Tigger’s distress.
~”I know,” she said, “but that’s all over now, all ended.”
Elsa watched Whitie and Tigger’s interaction. She thought they had some kind of understanding between them, and now she knew why the tiger and the snow leopard cub were so comfortable together. Elsa knew Tembo hated Whitie and Blanche, and had refused outright to talk to the lynx cub. She knew also that when Clarence’s eye fell on her, he’d be asking her to teach the cubs.
“I’ll have a go,” Elsa replied to Clarence’s unspoken request.
“I’m not getting involved,” Tembo spat.
“You will get involved!” Elsa snarled, “if you don’t, I’ll wallop you so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week!” Tembo grumbled, but subsided into silence when he realised he wasn’t getting very far with his complaints.
Elsa grinned at Tigger, who took her paw in his and wished her good luck with teaching the cubs.
Later that day, Elsa called all the cubs to her and told them about their first structured lesson.
“today we are going to find out about different species. Here we are lucky to have a secure home, where we are well treated. We have no need to fight, no need to cause each other problems. We are no longer in danger, no longer in fear of our lives. You cubs have a place for life here, so there’s no need to exclude anyone. I think you know what I’m getting at.” Tarker spat at Whitie.
“who told Elsa what we really think?” he asked Tembo, “Whitie must have overheard something, she’s the brains of the trio, the other two, Blanche and that dam lynx cub don’t have a brain cell between them.”
“I don’t think it was Whitie,” Tembo replied, “My suspicions fall on Candy. That polar bear cub is so tight with Whitie it’s almost too much to cope with. Word has it she’s asked Whitie to teach her to play how blind cubs do. I ask you! Who would want to learn how to play with a blind cub? Run away from them is what I say, don’t play with them! They don’t deserve anything! Whitie shouldn’t be allowed any autonomy at all! That snow leopard cub is getting too big for her paws! She thinks she can change the world! Now I’ll bet she and Candy are on a crusade to change the minds of us cubs! Tigger, that stupid tiger, has taken the idea, and instead of killing it, has added his own two pence worth, and now we have my mum and sire involved, and everything’s going the way those two spoilt cubs want!”
“lovely views you have,” Blanche said to Tembo, clouting him with one hard forepaw. Tembo, surprised any cub, let alone a blind cub, would dare hit him, stared open mouthed at Blanche.
“I’ll murder you!” he yelled. Suddenly Tembo found himself on the floor, with someone sitting on him! This was a heavy animal, with massive paws! Pippa, one of the larger Bengal tiger cubs, sat on Tembo, her huge forepaws pinning his to the floor.
“You touch a hair on the head of any other cub, I will rip your ear off!” Pippa warned. For good measure, she took Tembo’s left ear between her teeth and pricked it. Tembo wailed with fear.
“Don’t hurt me!” he wined, “don’t do it Pippa, please!” Pippa released Tembo’s ear and looked into the lion cub’s face.
“Remember what I say,” she said, “for as you have seen, I’m heavier than you, I can do you much harm.” Tembo whimpered with fear and Pippa left him.
“Disgusting brute,” she muttered, returning to her place. Elsa had observed all, and, while not condoning Pippa’s outburst, almost clapped her paws with delight at the affect her actions had on Tembo.
“Thanks Pippa!” Blanche called, only to feel a large paw take hold of hers.
“I’m here,” Pippa purred, “no need to shout.” Blanche nearly leapt into thee air with fright!
“I wish you wouldn’t do that!” She mewed, “You nearly caused me a heart attack!”
“I’m sorry for scaring you,” Pippa replied, “but I didn’t think you should be alone, not with Tembo in one of his moods.”
“but, but I didn’t hear anything, you made no sound when you arrived, no sound of paws on carpet or anything!”
“I am light on my paws, and I have big, soft, padded paws, here, feel my left forepaw.” Blanche explored Pippa’s paw, it was huge and the sole of her paw was very well padded.
“You do have big soft paws Pippa,” Blanche agreed. Pippa curled the toes of the paw Blanche was touching, enfolding Blanche’s tiny paw in hers.
“I won’t let Tembo bully anyone,” she said, “it’s terrible what he does. Bullying poor Tembi like he does drives her round the twist, I know it! She’s had enough of it! Tembo’s had her in tears many times, and I’ve had enough of his insults and general low level violent behaviour.”
“But you’re only a cub,” Blanche replied, “Pippa, you can’t take him on single pawed.”
“No,” the female tiger cub replied, “but I have allies. Not all the cubs are with Tembo and Tarker on this one. Some of them, Tolstuka, her Brother Ben, and the common leopard cubs, can’t stand what Tembo does to his sister. I am trying to extend that to the way the cubs treat you blind cubs too. To make that as unacceptable as what Tembo is doing to his sister. Tolstuka knows you and Whitie well, and will play with you if you ask her, though she’s a little shy of asking herself. Her brother Ben though, he won’t play with any blind cubs, no matter how Tolstuka begs. We have a lot to do blanche, and we’d better start now.”
“What is this I’m hearing?” The large Bengal tigress asked, “Pippa, you are the most disruptive cub in my family! Always messing about. Now you are coming over all serious and sober? What is the meaning of this?”
“Mum,” Pippa said, “I might mess about in the family place, but now this is serious stuff. Blanche, Tembi and the others are having horrible things said about them by some of the other cubs, some of whom are my brothers and sisters! I can’t let this go on!” The Bengal tigress, named Tinka by her mother, as she’d been disruptive as a cub, didn’t know what to say in reply to Pippa. Tinka looked at Hop Along, who grinned:
“Pippa’s right,” he said, “This can’t go on any longer. Tembo and Tarker, in fact anyone else who harasses or is guilty of walloping or verbally abusing those who are weaker than themselves need to be told what is what. Tigger’s idea of using a scarf to blindfold the cubs and show them how it is is a good one.” Tembo spat at Hop along, who ignored his antics.
“So who’s going to get the scarves we need?” Pippa asked.
“I’d sooner use the scarf to tie Tembo’s paws together,” Tembi remarked. Tembo glared at his sister.
“And why would you want to do that?” he asked.
“because you’ve been jabbing at me with a paw for ten minutes now!” Tembi yelled, “I can’t get away because there’re so many cubs here now, and you took advantage of that! Just leave me alone Tembo!” Tembo ignored her.
“Crying like a newborn cub,” he scoffed to anyone who’d listen. Tembi pushed her way through the assembled cubs and escaped into the hallway, where she scrambled up the stairs.
“Don’t go up there!” Elsa commanded, but Tembi ignored her mother. Reaching the top of the stairs, Tembi turned left and padded along to the place where she could just about see a snow tigress lying on the floor. Crawling towards her, Tembi came face to face with Snowy half tail. The snow tigress looked at the female lion cub.
“Can I stay here for a bit?” Tembi asked, wondering who this white tigress was. She’d heard of snowy half tail, but had never met, “’er with the big paws,” which was Sparky’s name for Snowy. Snowy looked Tembi over from ears to paws. She’d heard of the tiny lion cub, but hadn’t ever entertained the thought she’d ever meet her. Snowy, realising this might be a time where she could redeem herself in the eyes of the other animals, took Tembi in her paws and hugged her. Tembi felt snowy half tail’s large paws embracing her, and it felt wonderful! Snowy began to groom Tembi from nose to tail, purring as she went about her work. Tembi snuggled closer to snowy, enjoying the feeling of the snow tigress’s thick warm fur. Snowy’s cub joined in, stroking Tembi’s paws while his mother groomed her. Tembi felt the cub’s paws enveloping hers, and they were soft and warm. Tembi felt safe, and knew she could easily sleep where she was. Snowy’s contented purring, and the warmth of her embrace made Tembi feel sleepy. Snowy’s cub was also helping by massaging Tembi’s paws, something guaranteed to send her to sleep. After the grooming session, Tembi gave up the fight against sleep, curling up beside Snowy and closing her eyes. Snowy’s cub kept stroking, stroking, stroking Tembi’s paws, and Tembi enjoyed every minute of it. Snowy half tail took Tembi in her forepaws once more, and, closing her eyes, tenderly embraced the lion cub. Relaxing totally, snowy drifted to sleep.
Snowy lets it all hang out.
Elsa stared at Tembi in the paws of Snowy half tail. She’d run up the stairs at her greatest speed, which wasn’t much. Snowy glanced at the lioness, knowing she was larger and stronger than Elsa, so was safe from attack. Elsa rubbed her eyes with one forepaw and looked again at the scene before her. Tembi was snuggled up to Snowy half tail, the snow tigress holding the female lion cub in her paws as if she were her own cub.
“Snowy?” Elsa whispered, “hey snowy!” Snowy half tail stirred, opened one eye, saw Elsa, and shook herself awake.
“Oh, um, Elsa isn’t it?” snowy yawned.
“Yes, it is.” Elsa replied, watching Snowy half tail intently. Snowy looked down at Tembi cradled in her forepaws.
“I understand there were some goings on downstairs,” snowy said. Elsa nodded, watching Snowy all the time.
“There were, but what have they to do with you?” Elsa asked.
“When a cub comes to me, begging for sanctuary from her brother, it’s got everything to do with me Elsa,” Snowy half tail replied.
“Tembi came to you?” Elsa asked.
“Sure,” Snowy replied, “begged me for help she did, and when she snuggled down beside me, well, neither she nor I found the experience unpleasant, so she stayed and I didn’t try to drive her away.”
“I always thought you were a hard pawed tigress,” Elsa said. Snowy mewed in misery.
“I’m not hard pawed!” She said, “I looked after Whitie and blanche for ages. The only really horrible thing I’ve done is insult and wallop Tigger, and I’ve apologised for that. I just want a peaceful life Elsa. Now you go and tell all the cubs down there, that if they ever want a place to stay, they can come to me and I will shelter them.” Elsa breathed a sigh of relief as Tembi woke and looked round her.
“Let’s go Tembi,” Elsa said. Tembi looked at her mother.
“I’m not going down there if Tembo’s going to prod at and hit me mum, I can’t stand him!” Elsa looked down at her paws.
“Tembo is a bit of a pawful,” she said, “no Tembi, he won’t harm you.” Tembi reluctantly left Snowy half tail’s side, the snow tigress watching her leave, sadness in her eyes.
“I don’t want to be vilified for the rest of my life Elsa,” snowy mewed. Tembi turned back to the snow tigress and tried to embrace her. Snowy nuzzled Tembi’s ear, embracing the cub tightly in both forepaws. Tembi felt Snowy’s fur against her cheek, and it was wet.
“Are you crying snowy?” Tembi asked. Snowy, moved to tears by Tembi’s departure, clumsily wiped her eyes with one huge forepaw.
“I’m sorry,” snowy sobbed, “I miss my cubs, my snow leopard cubs, I miss all the cubs, for they hear I’m a hard pawed tigress, and I’m not Tembi, I’m not! I don’t want you to leave Tembi, I love you little cub!” Tembi stroked snowy half tail’s paw, now wet from wiping her eyes.
“Look snowy,” Tembi said, “I must go now, but I will be back soon, I will visit you every day, I promise.” Snowy embraced Tembi once more. Elsa watched all, wondering how a tiny lion cub could move such a huge snow tigress to tears just by staying with her for a few minutes. Tembi crept away, hardly able to lift her paws. The sight of Snowy’s tears affecting her deeply. Tembi briefly touched the pads of Snowy’s right forepaw with her tiny paw.
“I’m going to leave you now,” Tembi said, “but I will be back tomorrow.” Snowy buried her face in her paws, almost choking on her tears. Coughing, snowy gasped for breath.
“Snowy, please don’t cry,” Tembi pleaded. Snowy breathed hard, trying to calm herself and take control of her emotions.
“I’m sorry Tembi, Elsa,” snowy sniffed, “I don’t know what came over me. I’ll be all right in a minute.” Tembi stroked Snowy’s paw, Snowy nearly crying as she felt the cub’s paw stroking hers.
“I will tell the other cubs to drop by,” Tembi said, “I will ask Whitie and Blanche to visit, I’ll even tell Candy too, I’m sure she will visit you.” Snowy half tail watched Tembi walk away with Elsa, feeling as if her world was falling apart.”
Tembi, her paws feeling as heavy as lead, followed her mother downstairs. Feeling she needed time alone, Tembi crawled into a corner of the living room to think about what she’d seen. While she was piecing together the events of the last hour, Candy lay down beside her.
“Tembi?” The polar bear cub said gently, “I heard you visited Snowy half tail.
“I did,” Tembi replied, “and Candy, she was very upset when I tried to leave her. Please, Candy, if you can, try to give Snowy a hug when you pass her. She’s missing her cubs. She’s missing her role as protector of the snow leopard cubs. She just wants cubs round her. Please Candy,” Tembi pleaded, feeling her own emotions rising, “please go to Snowy, let her hug you.” Candy had always wanted to hug snowy, but Arki had forbidden it on the grounds Snowy was of bad character.
“I will Tembi, I Will.” Candy replied.
…of bad character, toughened to life and thus refusing of hugs or even so much the sharing of a few words… and so it seems so oft this presents itself in life. Someone so hard passes our way, so cold and seemingly unfeeling and then it is that something magical as it were comes into being when moments in deep sharing of thots in spoken words communicating one to the other.. and life anew is breathed into situations and you know the thing being the words don’t have to be agreeable to the one seeming so cold, so hard, so “all dressed in black” as it were. Oh the clothes perhaps not all black but so somber the person that only darkness is perceived. THEN it happens, the “magic” ….. I tell you what, give me the skulls and here put this dorag wrap of the Jack Daniels back, for I couldn’t help but to overhear that argument between you and your boss and I don’t want you to loose this sale but “Jack Daniels” you are so opposed to and well, …I will take the skulls if it will make you feel any better. My reply, Really, no one ever refused the alcohol advertising on my account… So the skulls don’t bother you asked of the toughened motorcycle rider to the cashier. No Sir, The skulls they are my friends in this place, surrounded all day by them am I, friends we are. He smiles on leaving with the packaged skulls dorag in hand with a promise of return… Life Flows on. Connie
i don't understand all that about jack daniels Connie, *smile* but here are some more animal antics.
A lynx cub’s bid for freedom.
Seeing Elsa disappearing up the stairs to find Tembi, Clarence set to marshalling the rest of the cubs. Having seen most of them back to their parents, all except Candy, Whitie and Blanche, who were able to stay away from Amber and Arki for as long as they wished on account of them being slightly older than the other cubs, Clarence settled down on the sofa. Feeling a paw scrabbling at his, Clarence looked round to find the lynx cub scrabbling at one of his forepaws with his tiny one. Clarence took the tiny cub in both paws and hugged him, the lynx cub snuggling into Clarence’s embrace. Bruin watched Clarence and the tiny cub.
“I’d watch it if I were you Clarence,” the brown bear warned, “the cub’s mother might not like you hugging her cub. She’s asleep at the moment, so you’d better make sure you send that cub back to his mother before she wakes, or you might be heading for a load of trouble. Clarence, lost in his thoughts, hardly heard Bruin’s words. The tiny lynx cub buried his paws in Clarence’s mane, the huge lion purring with contentment. Stroking the cub’s back with one massive paw, Clarence gazed at the blind cub. The lynx cub, feeling secure and warm, purred softly as his paws became warmer. When Clarence began stroking him, the cub snuggled up to the huge lion and fell asleep. Clarence was drifting off himself when a scream of terror woke him!
“My cub! Where is my cub!” Clarence recognised the voice of the large female lynx. Tumbling off the sofa, the adult lynx ran out of the room screaming!
“If only she’d looked closer to home,” the lynx cub mewed, “I’m here, safe and warm.” Clarence grinned despite an urge to reprimand the cub for not telling his mother where he was going. Screaming back into the lounge, the adult lynx skidded to a halt beside Tinka, begging her for help. Tinka said she couldn’t be expected to have seen the cub leave, as she was watching the television, and she was incommunicado while she was watching 100%. The large lynx said something unprintable about the television, banging the carpet with her paw in anguish.
“Where is my cub!” She yelled. Clarence watched in astonishment as the lynx cub turned and felt round him with all four paws, his hind paw finding a bit of paper Clarence had secreted for later reading. Using both forepaws, the cub screwed the paper into a ball and, taking careful aim, threw it at the adult lynx! Clarence was furious! Not only had the cub thrown something at his mother, he’d also screwed up an old pizza menu Clarence had rescued from the table and was planning to read later! Clarence forgot his own problems however, because the adult lynx had gone ballistic! The ball of paper hitting her on the nose, the lynx turned round, snarling and spitting! Screaming, she launched herself at Clarence!
“how dare you throw paper at me!” the lynx yelled. Clarence fended her off with one huge paw, while her cub crawled out of range, hiding between Isaac and Bruin. Clarence brought both forepaws into play, fending off the angry lynx.
“It wasn’t me who threw the paper!” Clarence pleaded, “it was your cub!”
“My cub?” the female lynx replied, “how can he throw a huge ball of paper like that? He’s only small!”
“Well he did!” Clarence replied, “and that was my bedtime reading too!” Spitting and snarling with renewed anger at her cub for one, not telling her where he was, and two, throwing the paper at her, the lynx caught hold of Clarence’s paw and he lifted her onto the sofa. Stepping carefully over Bruin’s hind paws, the Female lynx found her cub with his face buried in his paws.
“There you are!” She yelled, walloping her cub. The cub mewed pitifully for mercy, but his mother was furious! Dragging her cub back to their home by one paw, she told him she’d punish him later! The lynx cub’s taste of freedom hadn’t gone quite the way he’d planned.
Greetings once again Dobbin, What can I say except your animal antics remide me of so many "people happening antics" Dobbin, your paws er rather hands have nice strokes on keyboard to me in that whether there is understanding or not you seem to enjoy my paw er a rather hand strokes on the keyboards in typing responses to you. (Well I haven't felt mean paw er rather hand stroking of the keyboard directed to me from you - "Thanks")I really look forward to reading these stories. Like this most current one of the lynx cub's taste of freedom. Like little children whose parents are so worried when their young can't be located and I think it is many times due to so many kidnappings that end so tragically, at least here in the United States. Parents are so worried when their young can't be found and then so releaved and rather than hugging that child who has returned... hmm well now that walloping that the cub received so too many times the child.. my kids haven't known of that particular walloping though louder than normal voice tones.... Connie
A polar bear causes problems.
The lynx cub whimpered pitifully as his mother dragged him back to their home. Feeling hot, and still shaking with fear, the female lynx panted slightly as she dragged her cub, the cub crawling as fast as he could. Reaching their home, the female lynx dropped her cub’s paw, and flopped down on the soft cushion they slept on.
“How dare you ever, ever! Run off without telling me!” She screamed. Her cub, now recovering from being dragged, Mewed that he was with Clarence the whole time.
“Clarence, while being a gentle lion, is to be treated with respect! You can’t just go up to him and demand he hug you! I’ll bet that’s what you did wasn’t it!” The Adult lynx yelled. The cub replied that he had touched Clarence’s forepaw, and the lion had embraced him.
“I’ll bet you even tickled that dam lion’s paws!” The female lynx yelled, “I saw you and Whitie playing, and you thought the lions liked having their paws tickled too I’ll bet.”
“No mum no!” the cub mewed, “I never tickled Clarence’s paws!”
“You’re welcome to though if you want to little one,” Clarence said. The lynx cub’s mother spat at the lion in disgust.
“I don’t want my cub associating with lions!” She screeched, “that was why we didn’t give our names to Elsa, for the silly lioness would have probably stolen my cub! I want nothing to do with you lions!”
“Oh well,” Clarence said, “you can’t please everyone.” but he was very upset by the adult lynx’s dismissal of him and his kind.
“I dare you to tickle Clarence’s paws,” Tarker said to the lynx cub.
“I wonder if he’ll eat the little bleeder,” one of the capybara said.
“I’m hoping he does,” Tarker replied, “that way we can get rid of the snivelling wretch and then there’s only three to go.” Candy snorted with disgust.
“You two are horrible!” She yelled.
“And what you gonna do about me, ay? Come on candy, fight me!” Tarker challenged.
“That’s quite enough!” Winifred snapped, “you will not fight candy Tarker, and you will stop bullying the lynx cub! I know why you do it, and your reasons are horrible!”
“So you’re no longer denying the fact your cub hates the blind cubs then,” Tinka said.
“No,” Winifred replied, “I don’t deny it now, I tried, but now it’s just too much!” Kalahari took the opportunity to kick Tarker, something he’d wanted to do for a long time. Tarker tumbled off the shelf he was on and landed with a yell of pain on the carpet. Ben, Tolstuka’s brother, looked down at the stunned otter cub.
“You really have torn it this time haven’t you,” he said. Tarker spat at the polar bear.
“Hang on,” Ben said, “We’re of one mind you and I, and you go and spit at me?” Candy turned on Ben.
“You horrid creature! She screamed, “you believe that the lynx cub, Whitie, blanche and Tembi should be killed?”
“yeah,” Ben replied, “they’re useless, worthless individuals, who can’t contribute anything to our community.” Candy looked into the older cub’s eyes. Ben stared straight back at her, deadly serious.
“I’m with Stifftail on this one,” Ben said, “Whitie and Blanche should have been killed at birth.” Candy bristled with anger, Ben continued:
“Tembi should have been left to die where she collapsed before she was brought in here, and as for you Candy, I don’t know why Amber rescued you. Now you’ve got that silly polar bear called Sam looking after you, who is so weak and soft, that he couldn’t fight a fly! Amber should have left you to die in the forest!”
“what about you!” Candy yelled.
“I’m a proper polar bear,” Ben replied, “I am a polar bear worth my place! You, and your foster mother, and her lover, and Isaac, and Whitie, and Blanche, and the lynx cub, and Elsa, and Tembi, and Bruin, and Brunetta, and Amber are just soft! You lot couldn’t hold a candle to any of us display animals! You lot are just silly furballs!” Tarker applauded Ben’s speech. Candy knew she and all those others whom Ben had named were vulnerable creatures. Ben was condemning everyone at once, all Candy’s friends, and worst of all, he was condemning her foster mother. Arki might not be the fastest off the mark, but she made up for it in many ways. Candy banged her paw down in impotent anger.
“You are ridiculing over half the household!” She yelled.
“Everyone who’s not a display animal, yup,” Ben replied.
“So all the cuddly and soft animals, all those who like a hug, are in your view no use to the community?” Candy asked.
“Yup,” Ben replied, “including Tigger and Clarence, Tinka’s cubs, Sunbeam’s cub’s are all right, and so’s she and her mate, but the rest of you, including snowy half tail, can walk out the door and I’ll not miss any of you!”
“But that’s a horrible thing to say!” Candy wailed.
“It’s what’s in my mind you disgusting cub!” Ben yelled, swiping at Candy! His paw caught her on her nose, bringing tears to her eyes.
“Stop crying, or I will give you something to cry about!” Ben yelled. Clarence had heard enough! Leaping off the sofa, he grabbed Ben in both forepaws and pinned the startled polar bear on the floor.
“I’ll eat you for dinner!” Clarence snarled.
“You will do no such thing!” Elsa screeched, coming closer after talking to Hop along. Clarence was furious!
“Did you hear what this jumped up cub said?” Clarence asked Elsa, pointing at Ben with a trembling paw, “he condemned us all! Including you! He said we were worthless creatures!”
“I don’t like that,” Elsa replied, having had a long chat with Tembi about Snowy half tail, “We are not useless creatures! We get about more than do you so called display animals, we enjoy a hug, you don’t, we can be stroked, you often don’t like it, we are more mobile than you are. We so called useless creatures, are not so useless after all!” Clarence, getting more and more upset, finally lost his temper, walloping Ben with all his force! The polar bear shrieked with pain and curled into a frightened heap.
“As for you Tarker,” Tigger yelled, barrelling in from the hallway, “You won’t last five minutes if I get my paws on you! You do not insult the cubs, you do not insult Arki, Brunetta, snowy or Amber! You leave their cubs alone too! In fact, you would do well to leave everyone alone!” Turning to Ben, Tigger screamed:
“You are a horrible, vindictive animal Ben! Now shut up before Clarence and I tear your stuffing out!” Ben spat at Tigger!
“Right, now you qualify for retribution!” Clarence roared, “This option does not come with a cute gift or nice fluffy bunny!” Carol couldn’t help laughing at the lion, who was deadly serious, although his speech brought smiles to the faces of some of the animals. Ben spat at Clarence, the lion losing his temper and walloping the polar bear so hard he fell off the table he was standing on, landing on top of Tarker! The otter screamed as the polar bear fell on top of him!
“Get up, both of you!” Clarence commanded, shying a paw at the two cubs. Seeing the lion’s massive forepaws, Tarker began pleading for his life!
“Oh Clarence, Clarence!” The otter mewed, “please, don’t, don’t hurt me!” Ben cuffed him hard!
“Don’t plead for your life you wimp!” the polar bear snarled, “that lion’s so soft he won’t hurt you, I know he won’t!” Clarence suddenly picked Ben up and threw him across the room! Ben screamed as he flew through the air and landed with a crash among the bottles of wine on the wine rack. Ben crashed to the floor and lay there, dazed and confused.
“You think I speak empty words?” Clarence yelled, his voice reverberating off the walls, “you are a horrible creature Ben! Tarker did well to plead for his life, but how sincere is he? Let’s find out!” Clarence grabbed hold of Tarker’s long tail in both forepaws, and, rearing onto his hind legs, swung the otter over his head! Tarker screeched with fear and pain!
“Don’t, don’t do it Clarence! I beg you!” Clarence then did something which Tigger thought impossible. Clarence began to pivot on the toes of his hind paws! Fascinated, Tigger watched Clarence, watching how the lion placed his hind paws. Watching the lion’s hind paws, he saw Clarence standing on the tips of his toes as he pivoted, spinning the otter round by his tail! Tarker screamed as Clarence spun faster and faster, exacting his revenge!
“Let me go!” Tarker pleaded. He howled with terror as Clarence tossed him from paw to paw!
“Don’t do that Clarence!” Tigger pleaded, “you’ll drop him!” Clarence dropped into the sofa, giving The otter a soft landing. Tarker mewed pitifully, his head spinning.
“I feel sick!” he moaned. Clarence growled at the otter, Tarker trying to crawl away. Digging in his toes, Tarker fought to free his tail! Clarence let Tarker go, and the otter crawled away.
“I think he’s learned his lesson,” Tigger said, “Now we’ll deal with Ben!” Tigger crawled over to the prostrate polar bear.
“You are the scum of the earth!” Tigger yelled, “I hate you Ben! You want to experience what Tarker did? If you do, it will be worse for you, for both Clarence and I can stand on our hind paws, and we’ll play catch with you as the thing we are catching!” Ben moaned pitifully.
“Now you can see what we, as you say, soft, useless animals can do! We are a team! We care for each other! You picked on the wrong people! Now you would do well to think about what you have said!” Tigger yelled. Ben began to cry.
“Think about it Ben,” Lewis said, “you are public enemy number one! You have successfully earned the disrespect of every animal in this house!” Ben spat at the rabbit.
“Now what do we do?” Whitie asked.
“What we do is banish Ben to the spare room and then get on with our lives.” Candy replied.
“that means having my paws tickled by a lynx cub! Yippee!” Clarence whooped. The lynx cub grinned at the huge lion.
“Let’s sort it then,” Tigger suggested.
more animal antics. Forging bonds.
The lynx cub examined Clarence’s huge forepaws with his tiny ones.
“No wonder mum was frightened of him,” the cub thought as he explored the lion’s huge left forepaw, “Clarence has got massive paws, although he’s gentle with them. Clarence relaxed all four paws, having told the lynx cub he could examine all four of them. Closing his eyes, Clarence let his paws tell him what was happening. The lynx cub was very gentle when massaging each paw. Clarence was soon finding it hard not to fall asleep. The cub massaged Clarence’s pads, the lion purring with contentment. The cub moved to Clarence’s hind paws, stroking them also. Clarence gave in to sleep. The lynx cub, massaging Clarence’s left hind paw, felt the lion drifting into sleep. Stroking the pads of the lion’s paw, the cub felt the paw relax totally. The cub tried taking hold of Clarence’s paw and slightly curling the lion’s toes to see if he would resist. There was no resistance, the huge lion seemed to have forgotten his paw existed. The lynx cub knew however that if he put a paw wrong and caused Clarence discomfort, the lion would soon remember his paw, and use it to deadly affect. The cub realised Clarence had been soothed to sleep by the paw massage, and although the lion had said the cub could tickle his paws, he couldn’t bring himself to wake the huge lion. Finishing the paw massage, the lynx cub settled down beside Clarence, taking one of his massive forepaws in both of his tiny ones. The lion shifted slightly, working his forepaw into those of the lynx cub.
The cubs mother watched anxiously as her cub stroked Clarence’s paws. She’d not wanted him to associate with the lion in any way what so ever, let alone stroke the brute’s paws! Now she had no control at all, for the cub’s fait was out of her paws, due to some agreement made between Tigger, Clarence and her cub.
Clarence woke after a long time. Taking his time, he lay still, his eyes still closed, exploring the sensations his body was feeding to his brain. Clarence could feel the lynx cub’s paws holding his right forepaw, and he also knew the cub had stroked all four of his paws. Smiling to himself, Clarence opened his eyes and looked at the lynx cub, who held tightly onto his right forepaw. The cub was asleep, his grip not lessening on Clarence’s paw.
“Sleep well little one,” Clarence whispered, the sight bringing tears to his eyes. The cub had a tight hold on Clarence’s paw, and his paw was soon numb from a long period of immobility. Clarence knew he must move his paw to get circulation back into it. Wiggling the toes of the paw the lynx cub held, Clarence felt the paw throbbing as blood coursed back into it. Clarence had always hated having dead paws, and now he tried not to show his discomfort and fear of the pain as his paw came back to life. The lynx cub felt Clarence wiggling the toes of the paw he held and relaxed his grip. Clarence took the opportunity to flex his entire paw, feeling the throbbing pain increase as the blood flow was restored. The pain dying, Clarence watched as the lynx cub crawled away to find his mother, who was overjoyed to have her cub back safe and sound.
“I don’t want you stroking that lion’s paws ever again!” She yelled at her cub, clouting him hard with her paw! Clarence growled deep in his throat, signalling he didn’t like what the adult lynx was doing.
“Wan’a fight me Clarence?” The adult lynx challenged. Clarence shook his head:
“I don’t want to fight you,” he said, “I wish you’d stop hitting your cub for no reason, that’s all.” The adult lynx spat at the lion.
“How I discipline my cub is up to me!” she yelled.
“What did he do wrong?” Bruin asked.
“He stroked that dam lion’s paws when I strictly forbad it!” the adult lynx screamed, “I don’t want him getting in with a lion, or any animal who likes that kind of stuff! It’s all wrong!”
“Paw Massage is wrong?” Amber asked, “I quite like it.”
“You would!” the capybara snapped, “you’re a sissy!” Amber turned on the Capybara and slapped him with one very large and well padded forepaw.
“Want the other one?” She asked calmly. The capybara, his head singing from the impact of the snow leopard’s paw, didn’t reply.
“Paw massage is all very well,” Brydy, one of the Shetland ponies whinnied, “what happens if we horses want some of that? We haven’t got paws, and we don’t like giving up our hooves to the control of an animal who has long claws and sharp teeth.”
“We wouldn’t hurt you,” Isaac replied.
“I’ve heard a horse likes having their ears stroked,” Tigger said, “maybe that’s an idea.”
“Brydy’s huge!” Whitie mewed, “I can’t even reach her shoulder, so how on earth am I going to massage her ears?”
“We’re not lying down either,” Brydy said, “that way you lot with your big paws and long claws can get us.”
“I don’t know,” Amber said, “you want some of the massage Brydy, but you won’t give up a hoof, nor will you lie down so we can stroke your ears, so how on earth are we going to include you in this?”
“I’ll lower my head so you can stroke my muzzle,” Brydy replied, “that’s all I’m prepared to do.”
“I’m not even prepared to do that!” Domino, the black and white Shetland pony said. Brydy looked at her sister.
“You always were the more nervous one,” she said. Domino looked away.
Later that day, Everyone had returned to their homes. Arki, and the rest of the animals who slept on, or under the quilt were back in their places. Amber, under the quilt and lying beside Tigger, rolled onto her side. Whitie, who usually slept between Amber’s forepaws, cuddled up to her mother, Amber embracing Whitie in her forepaws. Tigger watched, thinking how much he loved Amber and her cubs. They’d made him feel whole again after the death of his first mate and her cubs. Amber looked at Tigger.
“You were wonderful earlier,” Amber said. Tigger grinned and touched Amber’s paw with his.
“Ben and Tarker must learn they can’t get away with insulting our cubs,” he said. Amber smiled at Tigger. Whitie placed her tiny paw in Tigger’s massive one and the Bengal tiger looked down at the cub’s tiny paw, and then at her face.
“You okay Whitie love?” he said gently. Whitie could hear the tiger’s love for her. She knew Tigger loved her, Blanche and their mother.
“do you love my mum?” Whitie asked. Tigger smiled:
“That I do, and she does me Whitie cub,” he said gently. Whitie smiled:
“I know,” she said, “mum doesn’t stop talking about you. She hardly talks about anyone else! That’s fine by me and Blanche, for we’re crazy about you too.” Amber looked anxiously at Tigger’s face as her cub blew her most private conversations with her wide open to the Bengal tiger.
“You two are crazy about me?” Tigger asked.
“We are,” Whitie replied, “in fact all three of us are, mum, Blanche and me.” Tigger looked into Amber’s eyes. The female snow leopard saw a kindness and gentility in the large tiger’s eyes which she loved. Tigger was so kind and considerate too, and best of all for Amber, as well as loving her, he adored her cubs.
“I love you all, You Amber, You Whitie cub, and Blanche.” Blanche seldom left Stifftail’s side, and this upset Amber a great deal. Blanche didn’t much take note of what her sister or mother were doing either. Blanche was content with her own company, whereas Whitie couldn’t stand being alone. That was why it was always Whitie who had the adventures, and Blanche lost out. Blanche and Whitie played, but even that was becoming a struggle, for blanche seldom did that much either.
“You okay Whitie cub?” Tigger asked, enfolding the snow leopard’s tiny paw in his huge one. Whitie gulped hard, trying not to cry.
“It’s nothing,” Whitie sniffed, trying to remain in control, “nothing at all.
“Something must be upsetting you,” Tigger said, “you look so upset Whitie cub.” Whitie suddenly clung to Tigger, burying her face in his shoulder.
“Have I said something I shouldn’t?” Tigger asked Whitie, “please Whitie, tell me what’s wrong,” Tigger pleaded, now as upset as the snow leopard cub.
“I’m not angry,” Whitie sobbed, “it’s something you’ve said, several times now, which might not seem a lot to you, but means a lot to me.”
“What’s that Whitie?” Tigger asked gently.
“You called me, called me Whitie cub, and I love that,” Whitie whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. Tigger hugged Whitie tightly.
“You are my Whitie cub,” he said, “and it means a lot to me to hear you say that you like it Whitie. My dear, precious Whitie cub.” Whitie smiled at Tigger.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “for getting all silly I mean.”
“that wasn’t silly,” Tigger replied, “it was great to hear your thoughts and now I know that you three love me, you know that I love all three of you, and to cap it all, one of my cubs likes my pet name for her.” Whitie smiled.
Blanche, though she was the first to meet Tigger, and by all accounts had named the Bengal tiger such on account she mispronounced Tiger once and the name stuck, did not totally agree with the way her mother and sister had thrown in their lot with Tigger. Feeling loyalty to Stifftail, despite everything he said about wanting her and Whitie to be left to die, Blanche did not quite feel she could throw her paws round Tigger’s neck and hug him as her elder sister had. Blanche had always been closer to her sire, and though She couldn’t see it at the time, her closeness to Stifftail would, in time, lead her into danger.
Sometimes compromises can be good... in the refusal of surrendeing paws or lying down...rather giving way to be muzzle stroked. *smile*
Danger for blanche.
Stifftail looked at Blanche. He’d overheard Tigger and Whitie’s conversation, and didn’t much like it. Tigger’s term of endearment towards Whitie sickened Stifftail. How long would it be before the sentimental tiger enchanted Blanche and started calling her something as silly as Blanchey cub? Stifftail clenched his paws in an attempt to keep himself from walloping anyone. Blanche felt Stifftail’s clenched paw and realised why his paw was clenched.
“You hate Tigger don’t you Stifftail?” Blanche asked. Stifftail growled:
“I hate that dam Tiger!” Stifftail snarled. Blanche wanted to go to Tigger. Crawling towards him, she was stopped when Stifftail grabbed hold of her tail!
“Let go of my tail!” Blanche mewed, kicking out at Stifftail with one tiny hind paw, the blow landing on Stifftail’s forepaw, the male snow leopard hardly noticing it. Stifftail bit down on the end of Blanche’s tail! Blanche screamed!
“What are you doing Stifftail!” she yelled, “stop biting my tail!” Stifftail walloped his, Blanche crying as the pain increased.
“Let go of her!” Amber commanded, “Stifftail, let go of my cub!” Stifftail spat at Amber, spitting ripped out fur over the quilt. Blanche howled in agony, wriggling and kicking in an attempt to free herself. Tigger had seen enough! He turned on Stifftail, beating the adult male snow leopard over the head with a pillow. Stifftail was forced to leave off biting Blanche as Tigger tried to suffocate him!
“Leave me alone!” Stifftail yelled, his voice muffled by the large pillow Tigger was using to smother the snow leopard.
“You attacked an innocent cub!” Tigger yelled, coshing Stifftail with the pillow.
“Leave me alone!” Stifftail pleaded, now Fearing for his own life.
“You do not attack my cubs!” Tigger yelled.
“Get him Tigger!” Arki cheered. Tigger hauled on Stifftail’s tail, making the snow leopard scream!
“Want me to bite on your tail?” Tigger asked. Stifftail moaned with fear and pain.
“Leave it out both of you!” Brunetta screamed, walloping Stifftail!
“right, now you’re for it!” Stifftail bellowed, attacking Brunetta! Tigger beat the snow leopard off the female brown bear, throwing him off the quilt onto the floor.
“You are a horrible animal Stifftail!” Tigger yelled.
Meanwhile, Amber was embracing blanche, and doing her best to tend to the cub’s injuries. Amber had always feared this would happen, and now it had, she was determined not to let blanche get into danger once more. Whitie hugged her sister, stroking the sobbing cub’s ears, nose and paws in an attempt to soothe her. Blanche sobbed with pain and fear.
“Keep him a way from me!” She begged, “keep Stifftail away from me Whitie!” Whitie hugged Blanche, stroking her sister’s forepaws in a desperate attempt to calm her.
“Stifftail won’t come anywhere near you now,” Whitie said to Blanche, who clung to her with all four paws.
“come here both of you,” Amber said to her cubs. When they were beside her, Amber hugged each cub in turn.
Meanwhile, Tigger was giving Stifftail a hiding. Tigger battered at Stifftail with all four paws, kicking the adult snow leopard’s body with his hind paws, and slapping at his head with his fore. Stifftail screamed as the tiger’s paws slammed into his body!
“You deserve all you’re getting you horrid creature!” Hazel, one of the white squirrels yelled.
“When I get free of this mad tiger,” Stifftail yelled, “you’ll be next on my list for destruction!” Tigger’s paw smashed into Stifftail’s nose, making the snow leopard roar with pain!
“You bully, you great big bully!” Stifftail sobbed. Tigger left him then, levering himself off Stifftail causing him as much pain as he could. Amber watched the fight:
“Are you all right Tiggie?” She asked. Tigger flexed each paw in turn.
“Stifftail bit one of my paws, but it’s nothing much,” he replied, “I’m fine.” Stifftail crawled into a corner and lay down to sulk. He’d not expected Tigger to be so good at Paw to paw combat. His head aching, Stifftail settled down to consider his next move.
Amber embraced Tigger tightly, feeling the tiger flinch slightly as she did so.
“Has he hurt you Tiggie?” Amber asked. Tigger grinned:
“A little,” he said, but it’s only bruising. Tigger licked Amber’s ear, the female snow leopard purring with happiness and relief her mate had survived. Tigger took one of Amber’s forepaws in his and began to examine it. He loved everything about Amber. It was her personality which had first attracted him to her, but now he could see her as well as know the mind of the owner of the white fur and black spots, he’d begun to explore her with his eyes and paws, liking what he found. Tigger loved Amber from her ears to her paws. She was massive, but so gentle towards everyone. Everything about her was huge! Her paws and tail were the most enormous paws and the longest tail he’d ever seen on a big cat. Amber new Tigger was fascinated by her tail, and quite often, during their times together, Amber would curl her tail round one of Tigger’s hind paws and tickle the sole of his paw by twitching the end of her tail, something which made Tigger laugh merrily. Amber watched Tigger examining and stroking her forepaw, and casually wrapped her tail around his right hind paw, using the end to tickle his pads. Tigger yelped with surprise, and tried to free his paw, an instinctive reaction. Amber then tightened her tail round his paw, showing him how strong the muscles in her tail actually were. Tigger whimpered and Amber took him in her paws and hugged him, loosening her hold on his hind paw.
“that was scary!” Tigger mewed. Amber stroked Tigger’s paws.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” she said, “I was only playing.”
“The bit when you tightened your tail around my paw, that was scary,” Tigger replied. Amber let Tigger take her forepaw in both of his and stroke it. Amber’s paws were large and thickly furred. The sole of her paw had thick fur on it, her pads furred also. Amber purred as Tigger began to stroke her paw.
“I love you Amber,” Tigger whispered. Amber smiled and nuzzled one of the paws stroking hers.
“I love you too Tiggie,” Amber replied. Whitie listened to Tigger and her mother’s talk. Smiling, she dove beneath the quilt and tickled one of Tigger’s hind paws. The tiger Squealed with fear and whipped his paw away.
“What’s that!” He yelled, “something tickled my paw!” Amber grinned:
“That was Whitie,” she said, “I saw her diving under the quilt and now she’s tickled your paw. Tigger watched as Whitie emerged from beneath the quilt.
“You bad cub!” He scolded, “Whitie grinned, as Tigger embraced her tenderly.
Blanche listened to the conversations going on around her. She knew Tigger had saved her from certain death. Blanche crawled over the quilt to Tigger and hugged him.
“Thank you Tigger,” she said. Tigger purred as he felt Blanche’s hug.
“I love you Blanche, my dear, blanche cub.” Stifftail moaned as if wounded at Tigger’s term of endearment towards Blanche.
“I think we’ve just upset Stifftail,” Whitie said.
“Frankly my dear Whitie cub,” Tigger replied, “I don’t care.” Blanche yawned, feeling Tigger’s paws embracing her.
“I could sleep for a week,” she said.
“You’re safe now,” Whitie said to Blanche. Blanche hugged her sister tightly.
“Thank you Whitie,” Blanche replied, stroking Whitie’s forepaws. Amber watched her cubs. She knew she loved Tigger, Whitie and Blanche, and they loved her.
“I love you all,” she said. Tigger sighed contentedly. Tigger, Whitie, Blanche, and Amber relaxed, secure in the knowledge Stifftail was being watched intently.
Interesting "love play" going on between Amber and Tigger.
Tigger loves everything about Amber, and she shows off a bit, showing him what she can do with her tail etc. it's all a bit of fun between them, though Amber wrapping her tail around Tigger's paw frightened him a bit. I think they love each other dearly, and they both love the cubs.
I read through all of this this afternoon, and I was quite wrapped up in the whole thing. Nicely done.
thanks, watch out for more animal antics!
Brunetta finds her calling in life.
Stifftail watched Amber and her family lying snug beneath the quilt. He knew he’d never get close to Amber again. He’d blown his chance when he’d told her that he’d rather his cubs died at birth.
Sulking, Stifftail buried his face in his paws.
Meanwhile, Tigger and Amber hugged Whitie and Blanche tightly, the two cubs snuggling close to them. Blanche, stroking Tigger’s right forepaw, tried not to think of what her sire would have done to her had the huge tiger who’s paw she was now stroking not intervened.
“Thank you Tigger,” Blanche said softly, “I owe my life to you.” Tigger shook his head.
“Don’t say That,” he pleaded, “please blanche, don’t say that.”
“But it’s true!” blanche replied, “if you hadn’t done what you did, I would be dead now.” Blanche squealed as she felt Tigger’s teeth close gently onto one of her ears!
“Don’t say any more little Blanche,” the tiger said firmly. Blanche, shocked into silence by Tigger’s action, lay on the quilt, frightened to move.
“Why did you do that!” Amber demanded of Tigger, “why bite Blanche’s ear!”
“She can’t see my face,” Tigger replied, “and seeing my face would tell anyone that I don’t wish for the conversation to continue. Blanche can’t see my face, so I had to tell her in another way, the best of which is to gently use my teeth to get the point across.” Until Tigger mentioned it, Amber hadn’t ever thought of it that way.
Blanche whimpered with fear, then she felt Tigger nuzzling rather than biting her ear. Cuddling up to the huge tiger, Blanche worked her paws into his fur.
“Dear, sweet Blanchey cub,” Tigger purred. Blanche felt a rush of emotion as Tigger hugged her.
“Hold me close Tigger!” Blanche pleaded. Tigger embraced his tiny cub.
“You’re safe here Blanche,” Tigger said gently. Blanche sniffed slightly, tears threatening to overcome her.
“It’s okay to cry,” Tigger said, stroking Blanche’s tiny paws. Blanche cuddled even closer to Tigger, burying her face in his fur. Tigger felt his fur getting wet and realised Blanche was crying. He held her tenderly, letting her do her own thing. Tears don’t last forever, and Blanche recovered her composure.
Meanwhile, Arki and Sam stroked Candy, the cub enjoying every minute of their attention. Sam massaged Candy’s ears, back and hind paws, Arki her forepaws, muzzle and belly. Candy basked in warmth. She loved being stroked, her soft spots being her belly and the soles of her paws. Brunetta watched the two adult polar bears massaging their cub. She hardly saw Bruin now, after the initial joy of meeting her again, after a long time apart, Bruin had lost interest, and now Brunetta was alone. She saw the families around her, Arki and Sam with Candy their cub, Amber and Tigger with their cubs blanche, Whitie, and the yet unnamed male snow tiger cub. Stifftail was unattached, but he was a nasty [piece of work, and brunetta wasn’t so desperate as to even consider asking him to be with her. Sighing regretfully, Brunetta kept a watch on what was going on around her, that which seldom included her. Brunetta saw the image in front of her blur as tears overcame her. Covering her face with her paws, Brunetta tried to hide the fact she was crying. Brunetta suddenly felt small paws take hold of hers and hold them tight. Brunetta looked through the gaps between her toes and was surprised to see Reynard, the red fox. Brunetta let Reynard take her paws and place them on the quilt, so that her face was now visible. The fox saw red rimmed eyes and a tear stained face, the female brown bear’s facial fur dirty with tears.
“What’s up?” The fox asked. Not the best line he could have used, he was certain of that, but the best he could think of at short notice. Brunetta took a deep breath, the effort seeming to shake her whole body.
“I see other animals with their families, doing what families do. Mothers and sires hugging cubs and cubs hugging their parents and their siblings. I see them stroking each other, tickling each other’s paws, all that, and Reynard, I’m not part of that any more. Bruin doesn’t want to know me. He’s too wrapped up in what’s going on downstairs, and there are no other brown bears here, let alone a cub for me to look after. I feel as if there’s nothing to live for any more, noone will hug me, why should they? They have their families, they won’t want to know a fat old bear like me.”
“I know where you’re coming from,” Reynard said, “there’re no vixens here, so I’m in the same predicament. Though I think I know who might be able to help you. Go and talk with Snowy Half Tail.”
“Why Snowy?” Brunetta asked, “she’s a tigress!”
“She’s kind and gentle, and in the same situation as you are,” Reynard replied, “please, just give it a try, go and talk to her.” A thud and a few choice words made Brunetta look round. Snowy, hearing she might be wanted, had struggled across the carpet, crawling by pushing with one hind paw and pulling with both forepaws, as she couldn’t put all four paws to the ground. Reaching the quilt, she’d quite literally clawed her way onto the quilt, finally throwing herself upwards and forwards to get to Brunetta’s side. Now totally worn out, snowy lay beside Brunetta, panting for air with all four paws aching from her exertions.
“I heard you wanted me Brunetta,” snowy half tail panted, “but first, let, let me rest a while, please.” Brunetta looked snowy over, from her slightly open mouth as she fought to pull in air, to her heaving ribs and sweat soaked fur, to her trembling paws. Her heart going out to the snow tigress, Brunetta took one of snowy’s forepaws, now damp with perspiration, and began to stroke it. Snowy swallowed hard, her fight for air continuing.
“thank you Brunetta,” she said. Coughing convulsively, Snowy’s paws clenched as she fought for air and her lungs complained.
“I wasn’t supposed to do this,” Snowy gasped, “I’m too large, not enough strength really, not now.” Brunetta hugged Snowy, desperately hoping the snow tigress didn’t die where she lay.
“Cubbing nearly finished me off,” snowy continued, “all the pain and effort I went through nearly finished me off.” Brunetta heard snowy panting for breath and thought she might try to help her.
“Can I take hold of your left forepaw?” brunetta asked. Snowy weakly waved her left forepaw, shocked that it felt as heavy as lead.
“Now, when I squeeze your paw,” Brunetta said, “I want you Snowy, to close your mouth and breathe in through your nose,, then, when I let go, I want you to open your mouth and breathe out slowly. Concentrate on breathing out slowly.” Snowy nodded, wondering what on earth Brunetta was playing at.
“Okay,” she gasped, “I don’t know what this is all about, but anything’s better than this!” snowy breathed in when she felt Brunetta’s paw tighten on hers.
“Now breathe out slowly, very slowly,” Brunetta commanded, gradually releasing Snowy’s paw.
“We’ll do it twice more,” Brunetta said. Snowy closed her mouth and breathed in through her nose once more. The pressure on her paw relaxed and snowy concentrated on breathing out through her mouth.
“One more for luck,” Brunetta said. Snowy repeated the ritual a third time, and realised she felt much better.
“Thank you,” Snowy said to the female brown bear, “that did the trick, whatever it was.”
“Now you’re back in control of your breathing,” Brunetta replied. Snowy took Brunetta’s forepaw in both of hers and began to stroke it.
“Do you like your hind paws stroked too?” snowy asked.”
“I do,” Brunetta replied, “do you like your paws stroked?”
“I’ve always found it unpleasant,” snowy replied, “but I think that’s down to rough handling in the past. I’m willing to give it a go.” Brunetta relaxed as Snowy’s huge paws massaged hers. Massaging Brunetta’s hind paws, snowy thought about having her own paws taken in those of the female brown bear. Would she be able to cope with it? Would she like it? Or would it be a dreadful experience like before?
Once Snowy had finished Brunetta’s paw massage, she lay down and Brunetta took hold of one of her forepaws in both of hers.
“I’ll take it slowly,” the bear said, “tell me at any time if you want me to stop and I will.” Snowy clenched her teeth, waiting for all hell to break loose. Snowy found, to her great astonishment, that she enjoyed the massage of her forepaws, and that when Brunetta massaged her hind paws, Snowy wanted to press her paws into those of the brown bear. This she did, pressing her pads against ~Brunetta’s, but Brunetta stopped stroking her.
“Relax your paw snowy,” Brunetta said, “just let it lie in my paws.” Snowy concentrated on relaxing her paw. The massage continued, and snowy was soon asleep. Brunetta let go of Snowy’s right hind paw and lay down beside the sleeping snow tigress, taking her left forepaw in both of hers. Brunetta felt alive once more, she had a purpose in life once more, even if it was soothing the mind of a stressed out snow tigress. Best of all, she had company, something she’d missed for so long.
Snowy and Brunetta grow closer.
Snowy half tail drifted in a dream. She’d never felt so good as she did now, Brunetta’s massage had done wonders for her, and Snowy’s paws were no longer cold.
Brunetta listened to Snowy’s breathing. She could plainly hear a whistling wheeze as the tigress breathed in. Maybe she was older than she looked. Brunetta felt Snowy’s paw in hers, the large white paw relaxed and beautifully warm after the massage. Brunetta remembered Snowy’s paws being cold to her touch before she’d massaged them.
“It looks like I’m going to be massaging this tigress’s paws for a long time to come,” Brunetta thought, “I don’t mind that, I like it.” Brunetta turned her mind to what her own paw massage had been like. Snowy had done a good job, and was gentle with Brunetta’s paws, which were smaller than her own. Snowy had taken her time, exploring each of Brunetta’s paws with hers, in fact, Brunetta could still feel the warmth generated by Snowy’s paw massage. Brunetta’s mind strayed back to Snowy. Why did she have such bad circulation in her paws? Why was she almost unable to breathe when Brunetta first saw her? Later that day, when Snowy woke, Brunetta asked her some questions.
“I’m about two years old,” snowy replied, “I was born with several problems, big paws for my body size, a short tail, and large head. My mother almost couldn’t deliver me. I was pulled into the world backwards. Of course, I was cast out of my family once I was weaned. My mother didn’t want to know me after that. She would turn her head away when I was suckling, she couldn’t bear to watch me, nor touch me. She used to slap at my paws rather than stroke them, which fostered in me a hatred for anyone touching my paws I suppose. My sister got all my mother’s attention. Of course, I grew into my paws, but the damage had been done. Thrown out of the family home, I wandered for ages. It was during that time I fell in cub. I had my cubs in a dark alley between two human dwelling places. Terrible labour it was, screaming, paw clenching agony, and very hard work. All thoughts of safety left my mind as my cubs were born. Of course, I had the breathing problem even then, and things were made more difficult by that. In the end my cubs were born, and I lay too exhausted to feed them. Somehow they found the milk I had for them, I couldn’t help them, I didn’t have the strength. Somehow I managed to find food for myself, raiding bins, things like that. My cubs too, they survived. It’s all a blur to me now. I’m two years old now, nearly tow and a half, but I feel much older, inside I mean. My illness, if it is an illness, is taking it out of me Brunetta. I’ve always had cold paws and breathing problems, maybe until recently I wanted others to feel sorry for me. When I didn’t get my own way, I lashed out. I know now I was wrong, for I’ve heard many animals tell their tales, and they’ve suffered more than I have. Tigger for instance, he lost his cubs because he was physically unable to defend them. I’m sorry for it. I’m glad he’s found love with Amber, and glad he adopted her cubs as his own.” Snowy breathed in sharply, her breath whistling through her nose.
“Are you all right Snowy?” Brunetta asked. Snowy nodded:
“fine thank you Brunetta,” Snowy replied. Snowy took Brunetta’s left forepaw in both of hers. Brunetta felt Snowy half tail’s paws trembling as the tigress stroked her paw.
“Take it easy snowy,” Brunetta said gently, fearing for the snow tigress’s welfare.
“I’m okay,” Snowy replied, “but thanks for your concern.” Snowy transferred her attention to Brunetta’s hind paws, the female brown bear wiggling her toes as Snowy stroked each of her paws. Snowy grinned, gently patting the pads of Brunetta’s right hind paw. Brunetta smiled at the snow tigress.
“I like that,” she said, “carry on stroking my paws snowy. Snowy continued stroking Brunetta’s paws, until she’s stroked all four of the bear’s paws twice over. Brunetta tried hard not to fall asleep during the impromptu massage.
“I love this,” Brunetta yawned. Snowy smiled at her.
“Every little helps,” she replied. Brunetta felt Snowy’s paws relaxing as the snow tigress stroked her paws. It seemed to Brunetta that Snowy concentrating on massaging her paws seemed to calm her down.
“Take it slowly,” Brunetta advised, “nice and slowly snowy.” Snowy concentrated hard, taking her time, feeling herself relaxing as she stroked Brunetta’s right forepaw.
“That was wonderful,” Brunetta said when Snowy had finished. Snowy grinned:
“I enjoyed it too,” she replied, “now Brunetta, could you massage my paws?” Brunetta smiled at the snow tigress:
“Of course I will,” she replied, “now when you’re lying comfortably, I’ll begin.” Snowy stretched out full length, stretching her spine, her tail, her limbs and the toes of all four paws before relaxing totally. Brunetta watched as the snow tigress went through her routine. Snowy’s paws were massive! Brunetta knew that if she didn’t know snowy was as gentle as she was, she’d be frightened of the tigress.
“Stretch those paws snowy,” Brunetta said. Grinning, Snowy placed each of her paws into Brunetta’s forepaws, before clenching and stretching her paws to show the bear how large her paws were. Brunetta massaged each of Snowy’s paws, and then when she’d finished, she hugged the tigress tightly. Snowy purred with pleasure as Brunetta hugged her tightly.
Snowy half tail fights for her cub.
Bruin was furious! Word had come to him that his mate was stroking the paws of a tigress he despised. Snowy half tail had upset him while he was resident with the quilt crew and he hated her. Foster had informed the residents of the living room that Brunetta and snowy had become firm friends, all because of a paw massage, or so it was said. Bruin could imagine his mate massaging the paws of the weak, fat tigress, and the thought made him feel sick. Bruin hated everything about snowy, and if Brunetta was prepared to stroke Snowy’s paws, then Brunetta could be added to the list. He’d loved her once, even begged the boss to find her, but now, well, he was more interested in going out with the lads, and Brunetta didn’t do that kind of thing. Bruin dug his toes into the sofa on which he lay. He didn’t want anything to do with Brunetta any more, but had an almost uncontrollable urge to go to her and wallop her for fraternising with the enemy. The possibility of Snowy maybe changing her outlook on life didn’t enter Bruin’s head. Snowy’s name was mud, and Bruin was glad she’d been moved from the living room area. He couldn’t stand her appearance, the fat white tigress with her large head, big paws and tiny tail repulsed him utterly. What Brunetta saw in Snowy Bruin couldn’t guess.
Bruin aired his views to Isaac, who’d once been part of the quilt crew. While Isaac thought Snowy unusual, he didn’t hate her.
“I like paw massages,” Isaac said, “I always have.” Clarence grinned at Isaac, the polar bear and the huge lion had been massaging each other’s paws for ages now. They did it at night, so not to alert the other animals, some of whom got funny ideas in their heads. Isaac reached over and began to stroke Clarence’s paw, something he wouldn’t usually do during the day. Bruin saw this and spat onto the carpet with disgust.
“That’s wrong! Two male creatures cannot stroke each other’s paws!” Bruin snapped.
“Tigger and Clarence do,” Tinka said.
“That’s just my point!” Bruin yelled, “It’s wrong! They are wrong!” Bruin watched angrily as Clarence gave Isaac his right hind paw to work on. Isaac took the lion’s huge hind paw in both his forepaws and began to stroke it.
“It makes me sick!” Bruin yelled. Clarence wiggled the toes of the paw Isaac was stroking, making sure Bruin saw it. Bruin leapt off the sofa and crawled from the room. Struggling up the stairs, he crawled as fast as he could put his paws to the floor towards the main bedroom where the quilt crew lived. Busting in, Bruin saw brunetta and Snowy together, Brunetta hugging the snow tigress. Bruin screamed with rage!
“Are we all going to the dogs?” He yelled.
“No,” Tigger yawned, “eight dogs left here some time ago, there are only two huskies here now, oh, and a fox, but he’s a fox, not a dog as such, well, he sort of is.”
“Shut it Tiggie!” Bruin spat, using Tigger’s pet name to insult the Bengal tiger.
“Don’t use Tigger’s pet name like that!” Whitie mewed. Bruin rushed at the cub, dragging her off the quilt! Whitie tried resisting by digging her toes into the quilt to slow the bear down, but Bruin was stronger than her! Dragging Whitie onto the carpet, Bruin walloped the cub with his paw, Whitie squealing with pain and Surprise.
Snowy watched all with growing alarm. Suddenly she wriggled free of Brunetta’s hug, and launched herself off the quilt! Brunetta, feeling snowy fighting for freedom, woke to see the snow tigress fighting with Bruin! Bruin heard Snowy’s breath wheezing in her attempt to pull in air.
“so the fat white thing thinks she’s good enough to fight me does she?” he Scoffed, “Snowy, you are Disgusting! You should have been drowned at birth! |You are a genetic mess!” Snowy’s paw landed across Bruin’s nose with tremendous force! Bruin screamed with pain and anger! Snowy began to push Bruin out of the room, slapping at him as she went. When she judged her hind paws were level with Whitie, who lay dazed and confused on the carpet, snowy felt for Whitie with her right hind paw, and, feeling her pads touch the cub, snowy pushed her away with all her strength! Whitie rolled away from the tigress’s paw, covering her face with her paws. Whitie crawled round to Tigger, who pulled her onto the quilt. Meanwhile, snowy and Bruin fought in the hallway, the latter’s hind paws getting dangerously close to the stairs. Snowy, realising her chance, shoved Bruin hard! The bear fell backwards down the stairs, sliding and tumbling! Snowy lay gasping and sobbing on the carpet, her own forepaws only inches from the first step. Bruin landed with a crash at the bottom of the stairs. Bruised and battered, he lay on the carpet to recover. Clarence crawled up to Bruin and looked down at him.
“I know what you did,” the lion snarled, “you deserved everything you got! Attacking a cub! Who the hell do you think you are Bruin!” Bruin spat at Clarence. Clarence placed one huge paw on Bruin’s belly, squeezing the air from the brown bear.
“You now qualify for gold standard retribution, you disgusting animal!” Clarence said softly. Clarence hit Bruin hard across his nose! Bruin screeched with pain and threw up his paws to protect his face! Clarence caught Bruin’s left forepaw in his teeth and bit down on it! Bruin screamed! Clarence pinned Bruin with one massive forepaw, then hit him with his free paw. Letting go of Bruin’s left forepaw, Clarence took a deep breath:
“You, don’t! Ever! Hit! Cubs!” Clarence yelled. Bruin, pain from his paws and a million other places racking his body, whimpered in submission to the large lion.
Meanwhile, Brunetta had caught up with Snowy. She found the snow tigress lying exhausted on the carpet by the stairs. The female brown bear could see snowy was drenched in sweat from nose to tail, and was breathing hard.
“What the hell were you doing!” Brunetta demanded of Snowy, “You know you can’t fight anyone without endangering your life!” Snowy looked at Brunetta with exhausted eyes.
“My cub,” she gasped, “Whitie, my cub.” Brunetta had forgotten Snowy had looked after Amber’s cubs for six months before Amber found her way to the house.
“I’m sorry snowy,” Brunetta said contritely, “I forgot, I know you still love those cubs.”
“Bruin was an ass to do what he did,” Snowy panted, “I showed him!”
“Calm down!” Brunetta commanded, “Snowy, you’re going to do yourself harm getting upset like this!”
“How can I not be upset when someone attacks my cub?” Snowy sobbed, almost choking on her tears, “a defenceless cub Brunetta!”
“Whitie shouldn’t have issued that challenge,” Brunetta replied, “but she will know not to do such a thing again. Thanks to you snowy, there will be a next time.” Snowy half tail clung to the carpet with all four paws, for the room was spinning.
“I feel dreadful!” snowy mewed.
With Tigger and Clarence’s help, Brunetta got Snowy back onto the quilt. Whitie listened to the goings on, feeling very ashamed of what she’d done. Tigger had torn a strip off her for challenging Bruin. Now snowy was in a bad way, and Whitie felt it was her fault.
When Snowy was as comfortable as she could make her, Brunetta went to talk to Whitie. Hearing the huge female brown bear crawling towards her, Whitie knew she was in trouble.
“Whitie,” Brunetta said firmly, “come here!” Whitie crawled forward, feeling Brunetta’s paws take a firm hold on her.
“I know you were only protecting Tigger,” the brown bear said, “but you nearly caused Snowy to lose her life.”
“I know,” Whitie sobbed, “I know I shouldn’t have said what I did, that a name is just that, but it was so wrong of Bruin to do what he did, I had to say something!”
“You are a tiny cub Whitie, despite what you may think you are!” Brunetta remonstrated, “You knew how large Bruin was, but you foolishly issued the challenge. You have only yourself to blame for what happened to snowy! Whitie nodded, tears rolling down her nose.
“it was too fast for mum or Tigger to do anything,” Whitie sobbed, “snowy though, she came to my rescue. The so called fat, unfit genetic mess saved me.” Brunetta, serious though she knew the matter was, thought Whitie had learned her lesson, although she wanted the cub to remedy some of the harm she’d caused.
“Whitie,” Brunetta said, “you will help Snowy get over this. You will help her by massaging her from her ears to her paws. Whitie remembered exploring Snowy’s paws. They’d been huge and she’d hated having them touched.
“Snowy will kill me!” Whitie mewed, “she hates having her paws touched!”
“No she doesn’t, come, you’ll see,” Brunetta replied. Whitie crawled towards Snowy, the snow tigress watching her blearily from where she lay. Reaching snowy half tail’s side, Whitie felt herself taken in two very familiar forepaws. Snowy half tail hugged Whitie tightly, and then began to groom her.
“My cub,” Snowy purred as she worked her way over Whitie’s fur with her teeth and tongue, grooming Whitie thoroughly from nose to tail. Amber hissed and spat at Snowy!
“Leave my cub alone!” Amber yelled. Snowy ignored her, carrying on grooming Whitie. Amber struggled free of the quilt and launched herself at Snowy! The snow tigress threw Whitie aside, and caught Amber as she landed on top of her! Snowy, panting for air, threw Amber off her onto the carpet! ?Amber landed with a crash on the carpet, paws flailing in all directions.
“Remember who found your cubs and looked after them!” Tigger yelled, “remember whom it was who looked after your cubs for six months like they were her own Amber. You’ve just attacked the tigress who loves your cubs as much as you do!” Snowy lay panting on the quilt. Amber picked herself up off the floor and crawled to the quilt, where she scrambled on board. Whitie, sensing no danger, crawled over to Snowy, the snow tigress embracing her in trembling paws.
“Whitie cub,” snowy said hoarsely, “dear Whitie cub.”
“Don’t die Snowy, Please don’t die!” Whitie pleaded. Snowy coughed convulsively, her whole body jerking with the effort.
“I’ll be okay,” the tigress gasped, “give me time Whitie,” Whitie felt Snowy’s paws become damp with sweat. This tigress wasn’t in a good way at all!
“Brunetta said I was to massage your paws Snowy,” Whitie said. Snowy weakly waved a forepaw, unable to speak. Then, remembering Whitie couldn’t see her, she weakly brushed at the cub’s fur with her left forepaw. Whitie, taking this as consent to her massaging her paws, Began to stroke Snowy half tail’s paws. Snowy’s breathing became easier as Whitie made progress with the massage, and by the time she’d reached Snowy’s right hind paw, the snow tigress’s breathing was back to normal, or as normal as it would ever be.
“Thank you Whitie,” snowy said. Whitie left off stroking the pads of Snowy’s right hind paw and hugged the tigress tightly.
“You saved my life snowy,” Whitie said, “it should be me thanking you.” Snowy smiled.
“Ah,” snowy replied, “little Whitie cub, soon you will forget how I found you. You will forget the place, the place where two frightened cubs huddled out of the rain. I found you there while playing hide and seek with my own cubs. Two blind cubs, barely weaned. I promised you I’d look after you until the end, and I will keep that promise, even now I’m not too well myself.”
“But another episode like that with Bruin would kill you!” Whitie replied.
“Cubs sometimes need rescuing,” was Snowy’s reply, “If I died while rescuing my cub, and my cub survived, I wouldn’t be unhappy. A mother pledges to give her life for her cubs. My mother wouldn’t pledge that for me, for she hated me, but for you Whitie, blanche and my own cubs too, I would put my life on the line if necessary.” Whitie knew only too well what the snow tigress was saying, and was greatly moved by her words.
“If only the downstairs lot could hear you Snowy,” Tigger said.
“They hate her for what she looks like,” Whitie replied, “they don’t know the real snowy half tail.
A busy day.
Clarence couldn’t sleep. The events of the previous day haunted him, and he couldn’t settle. The news that Bruin had attacked Whitie upset Clarence so much that he’d been tense ever since. Now his paws ached, he had a headache and the night was a hot one. Shifting slightly, Clarence lay, awake with his mind thrumming. Suddenly he heard something unusual, something, or someone was scratching at the door. Clarence got off the sofa, and crawled to the front door, hooking the chain through the loop to stop the door from flying back and crushing him, Clarence leapt for the handle, dragging it down with one paw while throwing himself backwards. The door opened as far as the chain would allow, and Clarence looked outside. Two white foxes stood there, A vixen and her cub, or so Clarence thought.
“Can I help?” Clarence asked.
“I don’t know,” the large vixen replied, “we’re looking for a place to stay, my cub here was born in a bush about a month back, and we’re both exhausted from walking. We will go as soon as we’ve rested, but could you tell me where we can lie up for the night?” Clarence wondered if bringing the foxes into the house would be a good idea, they had thick fur, and it was warm inside the house. Clarence then remembered something. The boss sometimes pressed a button behind a round thing on a thick stick, and when he did this, cool air came from the round thing. Maybe if he could operate the round thing, things might not be so bad for the foxes. Clarence released the chain, and the two foxes followed him into the house, Clarence kicking the door shut. The vixen looked concerned as the door closed.
“I don’t know if I want to be shut in,” she said, “what if we have to escape?”
“You’re safe here,” I promise,” Clarence replied. The foxes entered the living room, and Clarence crawled over to the round thing on the stick. Clawing his way up the stick, which he now found to be metal, and more of a pole, Clarence hoped it would support his weight. Paw over paw he worked his forepaws up the pole, until he was standing on his hind legs. Clarence then took a good hold of the pole with one forepaw and reached behind the round thing at the top with the other. Feeling the buttons, Clarence knew he’d have to be quick, for the paw supporting his entire weight was becoming damp with sweat, for the room was hot. Clarence pressed a button on the box behind the round thing, and to his great relief, air came out of the round thing. Clarence slid down the pole, unable to muster the strength to spring round like he would usually do. Sprawled on the carpet, Clarence looked up, straight into hop along’s face. The large Bengal tiger regarded the sweat soaked and panting lion for a minute or so.
“Why didn’t you ask me if you could get up on the chair on which my tail is,” Hop along asked, “then you wouldn’t have had to claw your way up the pole like that.” Clarence held a paw up to the cold air coming from the round thing.
“I didn’t think about that,” he said, “
Meanwhile, the white foxes, which were Arctic foxes, lay on the floor, the vixen trying to revive her cub, who’d slumped to the floor, panting hard. The vixen leapt to her paws, and ran into the bathroom. Turning the cold tap on the bath with both forepaws, she waited for Clarence, who shuffled in with her cub in his paws. Carrying the tiny creature into the bathroom, Clarence laid her under the stream of water from the tap. The water soaked the cub’s fur. Clarence put his paw into the stream of water and flicked it over the cub’s head. The cub, almost comatose, began to revive.
“It’s too hot here,” the vixen said, “my cub can’t cope!”
“We’ll make sure she’s all right,” Clarence promised. Clarence leapt into the bath, jamming his paw against the outlet.
“Now, get in,” he said to the vixen, who watched in alarm as the water level rose around Clarence’s paws. She leapt into the water, feeling the cold liquid against her paws. It felt wonderful!
“Now roll,” Clarence said, jamming his paw even tighter into the outlet. Looking desperately round him, Clarence saw something on a chain which looked useful. Grabbing the thing, he removed his paw from the outlet, and stuffed the thing he’d found into the hole where his paw had been, and the water stopped flowing out of the bathtub.
The two arctic foxes splashed about in the water. The vixen splashing the water over her cub’s head. The cub waved her paws in the air, splashing Clarence. Clarence splashed the fox cub, the cub laughing as she felt the water on her paws.
“The water tickles!” She laughed. Clarence hugged her tightly. The vixen watched the huge lion and her cub. She knew she should be scared, but she wasn’t, this lion was really gentle with her cub. The white vixen splashed her cub with as much vigour as she could.
“Let’s splash your mum back,” Clarence said, flicking water at the vixen.
“What is your name?” The vixen asked Clarence.
“My name’s Clarence,” the huge lion replied.
“My name’s Brushtail,” the vixen laughed. Clarence smiled:
“How about your cub?” He asked.
“Her name’s Tilly,” Brushtail replied. Clarence and Tilly splashed each other, Brushtail watching, hardly able to keep a straight face.
“I don’t know who’s the bigger cub!” She laughed. Clarence smiled, taking hold of Brushtail’s paw. Brushtail felt a warm paw take hold of hers and liked it.
“I’m going to put you in snowy half tail’s care,” Clarence said, “she’s a snow tigress, and very gentle.”
“A Snow tigress?” Brushtail barked, “Oh no!”
“A snow tigress indeed,” someone purred. Brushtail turned and stared at the tigress facing her.
“but, but, I know you!” Brushtail barked, “you’re snowy half tail! I met you a year ago! You were going to take me and my sister into your care when our mother returned to find us after three days away. You left, but you didn’t want to leave us.” Snowy smiled, taking Brushtail’s paw in hers.
“Brushtail cub,” she said gently, making the vixen’s eyes fill with tears.
“I remember you calling me that, you were so, so gentle to me and my sister. Dear snowy, Snowy half tail.” Snowy hugged Brushtail tightly.
Tilly watched her mother’s reaction to the snow tigress’s presence.
“You told me snowy white tigress’s were our enemies,” Tilly said.
“This snow tigress isn’t an enemy Tilly,” Brushtail replied.
“Do you want me to look after you for a while?” Snowy asked. Brushtail smiled at her.
“I remember you looking after me when I was a cub,” Brushtail replied, “I would love you to look after us for a while. Tilly took her mother’s lead, and went with Snowy. Snowy led the two arctic foxes upstairs to where she lived. On the floor, snowy had a new rug on which she lay. The rug was warm to the paws, and very soon, snowy, plus her canine friends were contentedly snuggled up together on the rug.
Meanwhile, the other animals were puzzling over another rug. This rug had many paw prints on it. There were several sizes of print on the rug, and it looked as if any one of the animals in the living room could have dirtied the rug. surveying the damaged rug, Isaac wondered who could have caused the damage.
Isaac looked at the rug, and then turned to the room in general.
“I think this is the work of cubs!” he said, “what have you cubs been doing! I think we should eliminate suspects by measuring paws! The rug is dirty now, and the evidence is here, so I think we should have you cubs and all the adults with the right kind of paws measure their paws against the prints to find out who did this!”
All the adult animals and cubs with medium size to small paws with four toes on each paw, lined up to measure their paws against the various paw prints on the rug. the bears and otters were exempt from this, as their paws were either too big or their pads didn’t conform to the right pattern. The otter’s paws and those of the bears were checked, the pads thoroughly examined, and the number of toes on each paw counted before they were ruled out of the investigation into who had desecrated the rug. Isaac presided over the id parade, each animal placing each and every one of his or her paws, both fore and hind, over the various paw prints. If one fitted, they were told to stand to one side of the room by the cabinet. If the animal’s paws didn’t fit, the animal was asked to go home.
The paws were measured quickly, and not all the culprits were cubs. Elsa’s paws fitted, and so did Sparky’s! cubs who’s paws fitted included those of Tembi and Tembo. Once the id parade was over, Isaac turned to the assembled animals who’s paws had fitted the prints on the rug.
“What on earth were you doing!” Isaac yelled at the group, “some of you are adults too! You have no excuse! The cubs shouldn’t have done what they did, but you certainly shouldn’t! Where did you find the ink, what possessed you Elsa, Sparky?”
“We found the ink in the cabinet,” Elsa replied, “We wanted to have some fun, and it was fun!” Isaac looked at the soiled rug.
“This is Ruined!” he yelled, “The boss is gonna go mad! You adults need to remember you are role models to the cubs, don’t follow their lead!” Tembi was ashamed of her part in the whole sorry episode.
“I’m sorry Isaac,” she mewed. Isaac banged his paw down hard on the carpet!
“You are a bad cub Tembi!” he yelled, walloping her. Tembi whimpered with pain and fear.
“It doesn’t matter if the rug is dirty,” Elsa said, “the boss puts dirty things into a machine which cleans things. He puts powder in the machine and it cleans what the humans call clothes. We can put the rug in there and wash it, then the boss will never know.” Tembi looked miserably at the rug.
“I shouldn’t have gone along with this,” she said, “my paws were black for ages afterwards!” Tembo snarled at his sister, venting his anger at her for no reason at all.
“Shut it Tembi!” he snapped, “you’ll get us all in trouble with your big mouth!”
“couldn’t the boss have left us a rug on purpose?” Clarence asked, “thinking that we might want one?” This hadn’t entered the minds of anyone else in the room, and the possibility was there.
“Well,” Elsa said, “if that’s the case, then everything’s fine, for the boss would want us to make the rug our own, and we have certainly done that.” Clarence smiled, picking up a corner of the rug in his paws and rubbing them together.
“The rug was warm to the touch, Clarence putting the rug to his cheek and feeling the heat radiate from it.
“this rug’s wonderful!” He said.
“Now there’s gonna be a war over who owns the rug!” Tembo said enthusiastically.
“No,” Matilda said, “there will be no rug war. I think Clarence should have the rug, as none of us need it. He’s got big paws, and needs to keep them warm. That way, any cubs who want to, can snuggle down beside him in warmth and security. All the cubs were in agreement, for each knew how good Clarence’s hugs were. If a cub was upset, they went to Clarence every time, the huge lion hearing much, but repeating nothing. Clarence and Foster arranged the rug on the sofa, and Clarence lay down on it. It was deliciously warm to Clarence’s paws, and the lion took a fold of the blanket and folded it over his forepaws.
“Clarence looks like the cat who got the cream,” Elsa remarked.
“Oh ha ha! Very funny,” Tembi replied.
Brushtail thinks things over.
Brushtail woke slowly, feeling Snowy half tail’s paw holding hers. Brushtail, warmed by the snow tigress’s thick fur, thought about the journey on which she had embarked over two months previously. She had been pregnant at the time, and she’d walked until her paws were sore. Resting beneath a bush, Brushtail felt her cub’s moving inside her, and knew it was time for their birth. Stretching out on her side, Brushtail had given herself up to birthing her cubs, even though she had no den in which to protect them. Brushtail’s labour was fast, the cub emerging easily. Once she was sure she wasn’t going to give birth to a second cub, Brushtail examined her newborn cub. It was female, and a large cub. Guiding the cub to her milk, Brushtail realised afresh how defenceless she now was. Now she could no longer protect the cub as she’d used to. More frightened than she’d been, including during her labour, Brushtail had picked her cub up by the scruff of its neck and carried it to another bush. There, she’d lain down with her cub, trying not to feel fear, to think rationally. Brushtail had heard tales of a place where lost animals could find refuge and comfort, although the tales never told how to get to the place. The line “you will know the place when you find it,” sprang into her mind. Brushtail had looked about her, wondering if she would ever find the place. Her tiny cub looked even more defenceless, and Brushtail knew it would be a miracle if both of them got to safety.
Brushtail got to her feet, picking up her cub and running from the bush. Sprinting through a field, Brushtail slithered down a bank, her paws skidding in the wet grass. Hitting the road, Brushtail ran along the road, breathing hard as she ran with her cub. Brushtail ran with her cub for two weeks, raiding bins and the backs of restaurants for waste food. When her cub learned to run, Brushtail named her Tilly after reading the name on a scrap of newspaper while raiding bins at the back of a local restaurant. After Brushtail and Tilly were almost caught by humans who found them sheltering under a bridge, Brushtail knew things were really serious. Now desperate for refuge, Brushtail and Tilly ran out of the town centre and along a main road. Turning up a side road, Brushtail and Tilly banged on a door which caught their eye.
Now Brushtail and her cub were safe, warm and well fed. The badgers and otters cooked up good food, a fish and vegetable mix with chicken stock mixed in. Brushtail knew what it was to be hungry, and the food offered at the place where she and her cub now lived was good and wholesome. The rabbits, kangaroos and capybara ate the vegetables only, forgoing the meet.
Brushtail felt a nose brushing her cheek. Raising her eyes, she found herself looking into snowy half tail’s face.
“you were whimpering pitifully Brushtail,” snowy said. Brushtail snuggled up to the snow tigress. Snowy hugged Brushtail tightly.
“I didn’t know I was whimpering,” Brushtail replied, “I’m sorry snowy.”
“No need to be sorry,” snowy replied, “it’s all right to be upset.” Brushtail wiped her eyes with one paw.
“I was reliving mine and Tilly’s run from where Tilly came into the world,” Brushtail whimpered. Snowy hugged her tightly.
“You’re safe now,” Snowy purred. Tilly tickled the pads of Snowy’s right forepaw. Snowy yelped with surprise, whipping her paw away. Grinning at Tilly, snowy hugged the fox cub tightly.
“How dare you tickle my paws little one,” she purred. Tilly smiled at the snow tigress and licked her ear. Snowy stroked Tilly’s whiskers with one massive paw, the fox nibbling playfully at the tigress’s paw. Snowy growled in mock anger, briefly unsheathing her claws. Tilly drew back hurriedly.
“Hey!” she wined, “that’s too much, too much!” Snowy sheathed her claws once more, and showed Tilly her paw.
“You tickled my paw and then began biting at it!” Snowy mewed, “I was showing you I’m not all fluffy nothing.”
“I never thought you were fluffy nothing snowy!” Tilly replied, now very upset.
“just remember what I have hiding in these paws little fox,” snowy purred. Brushtail looked at Snowy’s face to see if she was genuinely threatening her cub. The snow tigress suddenly dropped her act and began to groom Tilly from nose to tail. Tilly submitted happily to this, her lesson over with.
“Can I stroke your paws Snowy?” Brushtail asked. Snowy scratched at Brushtail with the toes of one hind paw.
“Start with my hind paws,” the snow tigress said, “and thank you Brushtail.” Brushtail caught Snowy’s left hind paw in both her forepaws and began to stroke it. She examined the paw from toes to heel, taking in pads and claws on route. Brushtail then stroked Snowy’s paw, the snow tigress purring with contentment and wiggling the toes of the paw Brushtail was stroking.
“would you stroke my paws?” Brushtail asked
“Of course I will Brushtail cub,” snowy replied. Brushtail nearly cried. Snowy calling her “Brushtail cub made her want to cry every time. Sometimes Snowy called Brushtail “Brushy cub,” and this had the same affect on the vixen.
“I will tickle your paws too if you want Brushy cub,” snowy said. Brushtail remembered how snowy had tickled her paws when she and her sister had been cared for by her all that time ago. It had been wonderful then, and Brushtail wanted a reminder of that time.
In time, Brushtail stroked all four of Snowy half tail’s paws, the tigress finishing grooming Tilly just in time for the vixen to massage her forepaws. Snowy purred loudly as Brushtail worked her paws over her forepaws. When all was finished, Snowy turned her attention to Brushtail.
“Now Brushy cub,” Snowy said, “can I look at your paws?” Brushtail rolled onto her side, and snowy began to stroke the vixen’s tiny paws. Once she’d stroked all four paws, snowy tickled Brushtail’s right forepaw, the vixen laughing helplessly.
“This is as good as when I was a cub!” she barked, “go on snowy, tickle the other three paws!” Tilly watched what Snowy was doing, and grabbed her mother’s left forepaw, tickling it mercilessly. Brushtail, helpless with laughter, and now powerless to stop the situation from escalating, rolled and squirmed in an attempt to moderate the amount of tickling the two rogue animals put her through.
“Stop it! Stop it please!” Brushtail pleaded, laughing helplessly. Tilly and snowy stopped their assault on her paws and hugged her.
“We both love you dearly Brushtail,” Snowy purred. Brushtail buried her face in Snowy’s fur, Tilly burying her face in Brushtail’s. Snowy half tail purred with happiness as the two foxes and her remaining cub snuggled close to her on the soft, warm rug.
Bruin tries to make amends.
Bruin was livid! Angry Clarence had got the warm rug, and furious Brunetta was stroking Snowy’s paws, he realised he was going nowhere. Relaxing all four paws and breathing deeply, he tried to think clearly. Covering his face with his paws, Bruin breathed deeply, once, twice, thrice, until his muscles relaxed. Bruin crawled up the stairs to where Brunetta lay on the quilt. Brunetta watched him coming, Bruin all the while trying to look as apologetic as possible.
“What do you want Bruin?” Brunetta asked.
“I want to, to apologise,” Bruin stammered, “to you, to Snowy. I realise now that I was stupid to attack Snowy, and Whitie, and that I will try to get on with Snowy. You can stroke Snowy’s paws, for she obviously likes it, and maybe it does some good for her.” Brunetta stared open mouthed at Bruin.
“Are you serious?” She asked, “please, someone tell me I’m dreaming!”
“I’m serious Brunetta, Really I am!” Bruin sobbed, “I want to make amends for what I’ve done!”
“You will have to go a long way to remedy your behaviour!” Amber snarled, “you attacked my cub!” Bruin rolled onto his back exposing his belly and the soles of his paws for the inspection of the quilt community.
“There he goes, rolling over like a dog!” Reynard barked. Brushtail hid her face in her paws to disguise the fact she was grinning.
“You look so funny Bruin!” Brushtail barked, finally giving up the struggle and rolling on the rug, laughing helplessly and waving her paws in the air! Bruin realised the white fox was laughing at him and leapt to his paws!
“You are a disrespectful animal!” Bruin yelled, thumping Brushtail with all his strength! Brushtail squealed with pain and retaliated, biting Bruin once through his left forepaw and twice on the nose. Bruin backed off, screaming and yelling hysterically!
“How dare you attack my mum!” Tilly yelled, leaping on top of Bruin, who moaned with pain as Tilly’s tiny paws slapped at his head.
“All right, stop it all of you!” Arki commanded, “Bruin’s suffered enough!”
“He attacked my mum!” Tilly barked.
“This has all gone completely out of control!” Arki yelled, “Tilly, step back, Brushtail, you step back also! Let me get to Bruin.” Arki crawled to Bruin’s side.
“I feel dreadful!” Bruin whimpered. Arki checked the brown bear over, finding injuries to his left forepaw and to his nose. Bruin began to weep like a frightened cub.
“I wanted, wanted to make amends with Brunetta Arki,” Bruin sobbed, salt from his tears getting into the puncture wounds on his nose and causing him even more discomfort and pain, “I rolled onto my back to show submission, and that dam white fox began laughing at me!”
“You shouldn’t have reacted like you did, but I also agree that Brushtail overreacted,” Arki replied.
“Just let me talk to Brunetta, please!” Bruin pleaded. Arki bathed the brown bear’s wounds, and then helped him onto the quilt where Brunetta took over, hugging Bruin tightly.
“I’m sorry Brunetta,” Bruin sobbed, “sorry for everything, for attacking Snowy, for saying that you couldn’t stroke Snowy’s paws, and for attacking Whitie when she challenged me. I should have seen she’s only a cub. I attacked a cub, a blind cub too!” Brunetta hugged Bruin tightly, and while she was doing this, snowy took hold of Bruin’s left hind paw in both her forepaws and began to stroke it. Bruin felt himself relaxing as Snowy’s paw massage did its work. Snowy turned her attention to Bruin’s right hind paw, and the bear made an effort to place his paw in Snowy’s, the snow tigress patting the pads of Bruin’s paw, acknowledging his assent to her stroking him. Bruin pressed his paw into Snowy’s, the tigress stopping her massage and giving Bruin the same advice as Whitie had her.
“Let your paw lie in mine Bruin, don’t press it into mine.” Bruin closed his eyes, letting snowy work her magic over all four of his paws, including the damaged forepaw. Snowy went extra carefully over Bruin’s injured left forepaw, even so, she managed to massage it. Bruin was soon asleep, with Brunetta embracing him tightly.
“My work’s done,” Snowy said, releasing Bruin’s right forepaw. Tigger looked at snowy:
“Would you stroke my paws snowy?” he asked. Snowy looked at him. She opened her mouth to tell Tigger in no uncertain terms why she was not going to stroke his paws, everything to do with him now occupying her rightful place under the quilt and all that, when she realised that, if she’d not hit Tigger, she’d still be beneath the quilt herself.
“Rapid recalculation snowy?” Amber asked. Snowy looked down at her paws.
”Something like that,” she replied. Snowy stroked Tigger’s paws, the Bengal tiger purring as Snowy’s huge warm paws worked their magic on his.
A lynx takes her life in her paws.
Clarence drifted in a dream, his paws warmed by the rug he’d acquired.
Meanwhile, a little way off, the lynx cub wanted a hug from Clarence, having enjoyed it the last time the lion hugged him. The cub had also felt the rug on which Clarence lay during Isaac’s examination of the paws of all the animals, and wanted more of the rug’s softness. Making sure his mother knew where he was going, the cub crawled to Clarence’s side, feeling the warmth of the rug caressing the pads of all four paws. Clarence’s body heat warmed the rug, and the rug radiated the heat out to where the lynx cub lay. Clarence felt the cub sideling alongside him and opened one eye lazily to look at the cub.
“Want a hug little’n?” Clarence asked. The lynx cub crawled towards Clarence’s forepaws, the lion taking the cub in both paws and embracing him tightly. The lynx cub, startled at how warm he now was, snuggled into Clarence’s embrace. Clarence smiled down at the tiny lynx cub.
“Sweet dreams little one,” Clarence said. Clarence felt the cub bury his paws in his mane. Purring with contentment, the lynx cub finally slept. Clarence felt like sleeping also, but knew he must keep alert for signs that the lynx cub’s mother was getting upset about her cub spending more time away from her than was strictly necessary. Clarence closed his eyes, and was drifting off, when he felt a paw touch his. Opening his eyes, Clarence saw the adult female lynx looking nervously into his face, her paw on his.
“I’m, so, so sorry, and scared,” the lynx mewed, “Sorry for what I said about you in the past, and scared for my life.”
“Nothing like candour,” Clarence thought, but showed no reaction to the lynx’s words.
“I was wondering, you see,” the female lynx gabbled, “as my cub is so relaxed with you, if I could come a bit closer to you, and maybe, maybe then I would be relaxed too, in time, you see.” The lynx’s paw was shaking now, in fact she shook from nose to tail. Clarence gently laid the sleeping lynx cub on the rug beside him and then, as gently as he’d laid down her cub, embraced the cub’s mother with both forepaws. Drawing her close, Clarence began to stroke the lynx’s back with one huge paw. The female lynx bit her tongue to stop herself from crying out with fear. Her pulse racing, and paws damp with the sweat of fear, the female lynx panted hard for air, her whole body telling her to run! Fighting her instinct, the lynx dug in her toes, trying to concentrate on anything other than her fear. Closing her eyes, she shook her head, trying to dispel the thought she was about to die! Clarence felt the female lynx’s fear, and it upset him.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, I promise,” Clarence purred. The female lynx opened her eyes and looked into Clarence’s face. The lion’s eyes were gentle, his paws even more so. The female lynx looked down at one of Clarence’s huge forepaws. They were a lot larger than hers, if not so thickly furred. Clarence saw the lynx looking down at his paw and he turned it over to show her the pads. Flexing the toes of his paw and extending his claws, Clarence showed off his paw to the female lynx, the lynx drawing back in fear.
“This paw isn’t going to harm you,” Clarence said. He hugged the female lynx as tightly as she would let him, the lynx relaxing as she felt the lion’s strong paws embracing her.
“You and your cub are safe,” Clarence purred. The female lynx decided that if Clarence was going to kill her, he’d have done it by now, and that, as she was still alive, she would try to enjoy every moment. Relaxing, the lynx gave her paw to Clarence, feeling his paw envelope hers.
“can I hug you Clarence?” the female lynx asked, surprising herself.
“You can,” Clarence replied, “I love a hug, especially when I’m being hugged by someone with thick, warm fur.” The lynx grinned and embraced Clarence.
“Snatching my mate?” Elsa asked, grinning at the female lynx, who screamed when she saw the lioness!
“I’m sorry!” the female lynx mewed, “I wasn’t stealing your mate!” Elsa licked her ear.
“Ellie,” the lioness purred, “you’re okay with me until further notice.” The female lynx flinched as she heard her name used.
“I never told you my name!” How did you know it?”
“your cub told me,” Elsa replied, “he’s a good cub Ellie, you should be proud of him.” Ellie looked into Clarence’s face, the lion looking desperately at her.
“Are you going to hug me Ellie?” Clarence asked. Ellie smiled and did her best to embrace Clarence, in the end, settling for stroking one of his huge forepaws.
“You’ve got nice warm paws Ellie,” Clarence purred. The female lynx smiled, relaxing all four of her paws and beginning to enjoy herself.
“Can I stroke your paws Ellie?” Clarence asked. For answer Ellie rolled onto her back and placed a furry forepaw into Clarence’s.
“there are three more,” she said. Clarence smiled and began to stroke Ellie’s paw, the lynx closing her eyes and snuggling up to the huge lion.
“One happy lynx,” Elsa laughed. Clarence smiled.
an unlikely bond
An unlikely bond.
Ellie snuggled close to Clarence, her paws being stroked by the huge lion. Clarence purred contentedly as he massaged her paws. Ellie’s paws now warmer
and more relaxed than she’d ever known, the adult female lynx slept deeply, her mind untroubled by worries about her cub, as he was sleeping peacefully
beside the lion who had her paw in his. Ellie woke slowly, feeling the pleasant affects of Clarence’s massage. Yawning, Ellie stretched all four paws,
curling and stretching the toes of each paw in turn, Clarence watching her.
“Lovely soft paws you have Ellie,” Clarence said. Ellie smiled:
“Yours aren’t exactly hard,” she replied, “You know how to massage a paw. Clarence smiled, hugging Ellie tenderly.
“Thank you for letting me stroke your paws Ellie,” Clarence said. Ellie grinned:
“Any time you want to hug me or stroke my paws, you only have to ask,” she said. Ellie’s cub woke, and, crawling to his mother’s side, lay down beside
her. Foster the raccoon put his forepaws on the edge of the sofa, looking up into Ellie’s face. Ellie rubbed noses with foster, who drew back hurriedly
when he realised just what the big cat had done.
“it’s okay Rocky,” Ellie purred.
“My name’s not Rocky,” the raccoon protested, “it’s Foster.”
“I like Rocky better,” Ellie replied. Foster grinned, he liked the name too, maybe he’d change his name to Rocky. Meanwhile, Ellie’s cub played
with his mother’s tail. Ellie flicked her tail, making her cub chase it. She then made the mistake of slightly twitching the toes of one hind paw, the
cub taking the opportunity to tickle her pads. Ellie laughed helplessly as her cub tickled her paw. Foster laughed as he watched the antics of the lynx
cub and his mother.
“You two are so funny!” The raccoon whooped. Ellie grinned, lying down and offering her cub her other hind paw to tickle. The cub obliged, tickling
Ellie’s hind paws. Ellie let her cub stroke and tickle her hind paws for a bit longer, before putting an end to it by the simple act of hugging him.
The cub snuggled into his mother’s embrace.
“You learn fast little one,” she said, “You’re almost as good as Clarence at paw massages.” Ellie’s cub smiled and buried his head in her shoulder.
Ellie grinned at Clarence and said:
“Let’s tickle Clarence’s paws!” Clarence mewed pitifully with mock fear, tucking his paws into the rug on which he lay. Ellie’s cub dug furiously
at the rug, unearthing Clarence’s left forepaw and tickling the pads. Clarence tried to keep up the pretence of hating having his paws tickled, but his
eyes gave his true feelings away, he was enjoying contact with Ellie’s cub. As Ellie joined in the quest to stroke Clarence’s paws, Clarence curled up,
trying to tuck in his paws, while the two lynx went for his hind paws like things possessed. Clarence gave up the struggle, letting the lynx have all
four paws, whimpering and snarling as he gave up the fight. Clarence rolled onto his back and waved his paws in the air. Ellie laughed at his antics,
grabbing his right forepaw in both of hers and stroking it.
“We both love you dearly Clarence,” Ellie said. Clarence looked at her.
“You were scared of me yesterday,” he said.
“Noone can be scared of a big softy like you Clarence,” Ellie’s cub said. Clarence rubbed his eyes with his free forepaw. Ellie had seen this once
before, and recognised the lion was hiding tears.
“Clarence’s crying,” Ellie announced. Clarence shook his right forepaw free from Ellie’s grip and rolled onto his chest, getting his hind paws tangled
in the rug as he did so. Feeling the rug tighten round his paws, Clarence struggled weakly to free himself. Giving up the struggle to free his hind paws,
Clarence lay with his face buried in his forepaws, trying not to show how Ellie’s, and then her cub’s words had affected him.
“I think Clarence likes us mum,” the lynx cub said. Clarence looked at the two lynx.
“I love you both very much,” the lion choked. Clarence curled the toes of both his hind paws into the rug in which they were entangled in an attempt
to focus his mind on something to stop himself from breaking down and weeping uncontrollably. Clarence had been deeply upset by Ellie’s dismissal of him
and had wanted to show her the truth. Now he had, and she’d not only changed her view, but wanted to be with him, he found it hard not to cry with relief.
Digging the toes of both forepaws into the rug, and taking a fresh grip of the part of the rug in which his hind paws were cocooned, Clarence tried to
keep control.
“That lion’s an emotional wreck,” Ellie said to Elsa, who grinned:
“Touch his paw and he’ll give up the fight,” she said. Ellie touched Clarence’s clenched right forepaw, the lion finally letting himself go totally.
Hugging Ellie tightly, Clarence cried into her fur, his tears soaking into her thick warm coat. Ellie stroked Clarence’s ears, letting the huge lion
cry. When his tears dried, Clarence licked Ellie’s ear, the lynx purring softly.
“My hind paws are trapped in the rug!” Clarence laughed, “I can’t believe it!”
Meanwhile, Ellie’s cub crawled to Clarence’s hind paws and carefully explored them with his forepaws, feeling the rug in which the lion’s hind paws were
entangled. Realising the lion was in no fit state to help in his own rescue, the lynx cub waited for Clarence to calm down before trying to help him.
When he heard Clarence mentioning his trapped paws, the lynx cub touched the mass of tangled rug with one paw, in which he hoped he would find two huge
hind paws. Clarence felt the lynx cub touching the rug.
“Can you help me free my paws little one?” Clarence asked. The cub stroked the rug where he thought the pads of one of Clarence’s hind paws were.
Clarence tried to wiggle the toes of the paw the lynx cub was stroking, but he could hardly move them.
“My paws are well and truly stuck!” Clarence whimpered. The cub stroked the rug once more, and Clarence tried hard to relax.
“Let me try to free your paws,” the lynx cub said gently, “now Clarence, lift both hind paws off the sofa.” Clarence lifted both hind paws as far
as he could off the sofa, “that’s it,” The lynx cub continued, “hold it there.” Clarence felt the cub unravelling the rug from round his hind paws, and
soon his right, and then his left hind paw were freed. The lynx cub tickled the pads of each of Clarence’s hind paws, the lion laughing delightedly.
Thank you little one,” he said. The cub stroked Clarence’s left hind paw to soothe him.
“You really were in a tangle,” the cub said. Clarence purred with pleasure and relief.
“Thanks to you, I’m now free,” he replied. The lynx cub crawled to Clarence’s head and hugged the lion as best he could. Clarence began to stroke
the lynx cub from ears to paws, examining him as he did so. The lion saw tiny ears with tufts of fur on their tips, a tiny body covered in thick fur,
a gentle face, and broad but tiny paws and a tiny tail. The cub, enjoying every minute of this, rubbed back against Clarence’s paws as the lion worked
them over his body. It was clear to the huge lion what part the cub liked best, for when he began stroking the lynx cub’s paws, the cub pressed each paw
hard into Clarence’s, the lion having to tell the cub to relax his paws and let him do the work. Once the cub relaxed each paw, which involved Clarence
telling him how to relax in stages, by first touching the cub’s toes, then the sole of his paw, while telling him to relax each paw in turn, the cub found
the paw massage even more pleasurable.
“I think he likes that,” Ellie said. Clarence, concentrating on massaging the lynx cub’s left forepaw, smiled at Ellie.
“I could do the same for you too,” he invited, “I know you like my paw massages.” Ellie grinned, she liked Clarence’s paw massages a great deal.
“I would like that,” she replied, “but something has been bothering me, my cub hasn’t got a name yet. What should we call him?” Clarence looked
at Ellie.
“We?” he asked, “Ellie, that’s your choice, not mine.”
“Well, as you are part of my family Clarence, I thought you might like to help me decide on a name for my cub,” Ellie replied quickly. Clarence looked
at Ellie, emotion welling up in him once more.
“Oh Ellie,” Clarence sobbed, “Little’n here isn’t my cub, I can’t help you name him!”
“but you’d like to wouldn’t you?” Ellie asked. Clarence looked at the lynx cub.
“I love your cub, you too,” Clarence blurted, “but I’m not the cub’s sire, I’m a different cat entirely! We don’t even cross paths in the wild!”
“Maybe so,” Ellie replied, “but Clarence, you’ve been more loving to my cub than any male cat has ever been. You love my cub dearly,, and he loves
you, I can see that. So I’m asking for your help, for you to carry on loving my cub as much as I do.” Clarence embraced Ellie as tightly as he dared,
crying unashamedly into her thick fur.
“You’re adopting me?” Clarence asked. Ellie grinned:
“yeah, looks like it,” she replied airily. Clarence gulped hard.
“I love both of you,” he cried, “I can’t help how I feel Ellie.” Ellie smiled:
“My cub and I love you dearly Clarence,” Ellie replied.
“I’m honoured you would ask me to help you name your cub,” Clarence sniffed, “I love your cub as if he is my own! I don’t know why I do!”
“Stop questioning and get on with the job,” the lynx cub said. Clarence smiled and hugged the cub tightly.
“Let’s call you Pipin,” Clarence suggested. The cub smiled, throwing his paws round the neck of the huge lion. Clarence smiled, enjoying the cub’s
hug.
“We both love you Pipin,” Ellie said, trying not to cry. She realised suddenly how quickly her situation had changed, from fearing Clarence a few
days ago, she’d fallen in love with the huge lion.
Stressful times for Clarence.
Elsa saw the look in Ellie’s eyes and snarled menacingly at her.
“You might fall for Clarence’s charms, but he’s my mate!” the lioness warned. Ellie shrank back from the enraged lioness, knowing she was no longer, “all right” , with Elsa.
“Okay, okay!” Ellie mewed, “I’m sorry!”
“As for Clarence saying he loves you, he means as a friend, not a mate! Got that? Well, you’d better have got it Ellie, or I will rip your paws off!” Elsa screamed. Ellie was now terrified!
“No Elsa no!” Clarence protested, “don’t say things like that, please! Look, Ellie means no harm, she doesn’t want me to sire her cubs, I couldn’t! She’s lonely and needs a friend. She also wants stability and a secure place for her cub Pipin, and I am willing to provide that for him. So what if Ellie likes having her paws stroked? As a matter of record, so do you Elsa. You play silly games like making paw prints on rugs. I don’t mind those games myself, though I couldn’t possibly have dipped my paw in that ink well, it was too small! Anyway, Ellie might be having romantic ideas of spending her life with me as her mate, but that won’t happen. I will play with her, stroke her paws, tickle them even, but this is what I would do for any adult animal or cub who wanted to play. I am mated to one lioness, and one only! Now will you apologise to Ellie and forget this conversation! I am here for all those who want a hug or time out. I don’t want a peaceful atmosphere spoilt by misconceptions. If it’s cubs you’re worried about, Tembi and Tembo are quite enough to deal with. I don’t want any more cubs thank you. If you want cubs Elsa, there’s that other lion who stands close to you, he might want cubs. I don’t want any more cubs of my own.”
“the trouble with you Clarence is that You’re too dam busy looking after the reprehensible offspring of other animals you disgusting creature!” Elsa screamed.
“Reprehensible offspring?” Clarence mused, “no I cannot accept that. What has Pipin ever done to harm anyone, what have Whitie or blanche done to harm anyone? What has Tembi done to harm others?” Clarence asked.
“Tembi’s done nothing, but those others, they’re not our breed!” Elsa screamed.
“So you’re a breedist now?” Clarence asked.
“If breedism means hating you looking after the cubs of other breeds of cat then yes, yes I dam well am!” Elsa yowled.
“I’m sorry for you,” Clarence yawned. He was tired of the conversation already, “I have cubs to look after, even if you don’t Elsa.” Elsa turned tail on Clarence and stormed off, almost spitting with rage!
Clarence looked at Ellie. The poor lynx was shaking with fear from nose to tail.
“I shouldn’t have thought it, let alone hinted at it,” Ellie said miserably. Clarence smiled:
“I know what you were thinking,” he purred, instantly relaxing the female lynx, “shall I tell you why I was thrown out of my pride Ellie?”
“Okay,” the female lynx replied, now interested, “Why were you thrown out?”
“Because I didn’t want to procreate,” Clarence replied.
“Oh right,” Ellie said, “but you did the once, with Elsa?” Clarence nodded:
“Just the once,” he said, “and I didn’t like it much. I love Elsa, but I wish cubs were born another way. I can’t stand all that pain and mess.
“so it’s birth you can’t stand,” Ellie said. Clarence nodded.
“It’s nice when the cubs are born and all the yowling and mewing are over with, but during the birth of the cubs, I can’t listen to it, let alone watch.” Ellie remembered Pipin’s birth, it had been messy and painful, but there was nothing unusual in that.
“He probably wants cubs to be dropped by a bird or something,” Bruin scoffed.
“it’s unlikely any of us will have cubs here,” Ellie said, “it’s a pity, for if you knew what really went on, you might not be so frightened of the whole thing Clarence.” Clarence looked down at his paws.
“I’d probably be more frightened than ever,” the lion replied. Tinka buried her face in her paws.
“I wish this subject hadn’t been raised,” she mewed, “the birth of my cub was terrible!”
“Sorry to hear that,” Elli replied, concerned, “what happened?”
“I’m not discussing it!” Tinka snapped, “it’s private!”
“In all fairness Tinka,” Matilda replied, “if you didn’t want to talk about it, why mention it in the first place?” Tinka was caught in a corner, and she knew it.
“So what happened during the birth of your cub Tinka?” Foster asked. Tinka dug her paws into the soft cushion on which she lay.
“I’m leaving!” Clarence whimpered, crawling from the sofa.
“You’re going nowhere,” Ellie replied, blocking his path. Clarence looked as if he was about to be very sick.
“I can’t cope with this!” he whined.
“Clarence dear,” Ellie said gently, “those cubs you love playing with and who love playing with you don’t just appear from nowhere. It’s not so bad as all that. Come on, take the plunge and listen to what Tinka has to say.”
“But it will be a horrendous story, and I don’t want to hear that!” Clarence whimpered.
“All right,” Ellie said, “I’ll tell my cub’s birth story if you’d like.”
“I’d like that very much,” Tinka said.
“You’re next,” Ellie replied, “don’t think you’re getting away with not telling your story Tinka.” Tinka grumbled to herself, but made no outward protest. Clarence dug his toes into the carpet, dreading what he was about to hear. Ellie sat down and began her tale.
“cubbing started with growing pain and discomfort inside me, round about my hocks and my lower belly. Of course I knew I was in cub, and somehow new what to expect, but at the same time it was new to me. The discomfort got more acute, and I could no longer walk, I had to lie down. The discomfort came in waves, infrequently at first, but then more frequently, growing in intensity all the time. I was stuck with it, on my own, with noone to turn to if things went wrong. The discomfort became almost constant, and I suddenly felt an urge to push something out of my body, a big thing which I felt I just had to get rid of. So, I pushed the thing into the world, and that thing, as I knew then and know now, was my cub. Delivering him was hard work, but worth every minute.” Clarence looked at Ellie’s face, the female lynx’s eyes were shining with the memory of her cub’s birth.
“You enjoyed all that pain and mess?” Clarence asked incredulously.
“No,” Ellie replied, “but now I can look back on it with good memories, for I know all was fine in the end. Painful and stressful it was, but worth it all the same.”
“Watch out,” Bruin warned, “Ellie will re-enact a cubbing in a minute if we’re not careful.”
“Don’t be so disgusting!” Tinka mewed, “how could anyone think of it?”
“I hardly noticed Skip’s birth,” Matilda said.
“Oh lucky you!” Tinka snapped, “of course, your joeys are an inch long, so you don’t have to struggle to birth them. You have it easy rat!”
“I saw many cubs born before I had Pipin,” Ellie said, “so I knew what cubbing was. Of course, after Pipin was born, my mate wanted to kill him, so we fled for our lives.
Clarence was deeply moved by Ellie’s description of Pipin’s birth. He felt that if he’d been there, he would have wanted to take Ellie in his paws and hug her, tell her all would be well, if only she took things in her stride. Ellie noticed the look in Clarence’s eyes.
“I’m not about to have a cub,” she mewed, “that’s all over now, I’m not in danger.” Clarence took Ellie in his paws and hugged her.
“It wasn’t too bad was it?” he asked gently. Ellie, realising the huge lion was close to tears, rubbed his huge left forepaw with her tiny right forepaw and replied that Pipin’s birth was one of the best things that had happened to her.
“If you want more stories about cubbing,” Bruin said, “go and talk to that dammed white fox. She’s a rum old customer! I ask you, what the hell was her cub doing when it first set paw in here, falling all over the dam place!”
“that “dammed fox,”” Clarence said with irritation vibrating from every muscle, “has a name, her name’s Brushtail, and her cub was suffering from heat stroke! You do not! Ever! Talk about Brushtail in that manner!”
“Oooh, come and look at the big fierce lion everyone,” Bruin scoffed, “Clarence, you couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding!” Clarence lost his temper totally! Walloping Bruin with all his force, he dragged the bear off the sofa and threw him onto the carpet!
“You want more gold standard retribution?” Clarence asked quietly, “if so, you’re going the right way! I’ll knock the stuffing from you Bruin!” Ellie cowered under the dining table with Pipin.
“Now we know,” Bruin said ominously, “we know what Clarence likes. Not content with making overtures to another species of big cat, he’s into female foxes too, a dog! A bitch! You like bitches do you Clarence?” Clarence knew what Bruin was saying and his words upset and angered him.
“Brushtail’s a friend, that’s all,” he said.
“A, “friend”, Clarence says,” Bruin scoffed, “A ,”friend,” and so was Ellie, now look where you two almost were!” Clarence’s paw suddenly smashed down on Bruin’s nose! Bruin screeched with pain!
“You disgusting animal!” Clarence yelled, “you are an abomination!” Bruin, in pain though he was, mocked the huge lion.
“”Abominable individual,” oh wow! Boohoo!” he scoffed. Clarence suddenly leapt on top of Bruin, crushing the air from his lungs!
“I’ll give you something to think about!” Clarence yelled, now totally losing control! “You disgusting, imbecilic halfwit!” Clarence could have used stronger words, but he was conscious of cubs around him.
Ellie watched with Pipin mewing and crying beside her.
“it’s all right,” Ellie said gently, “Clarence is angry with Bruin, not with you Pipin.” Clarence began battering at Bruin’s head with his paws!
“You’ll kill him!” Isaac yelled, “Stop it Clarence!” Clarence wasn’t listening, was incapable of listening, he was angry beyond reasonable thought, he’d lost it totally!
“Stop it Clarence, please!” Ellie begged, “you’ll kill Bruin, and then what will you do?”
“this bear’s caused me so much grief!” Clarence yelled, “now he’s for it!” Clarence delivered a double pawed blow to Bruin’s head, knocking the brown bear unconscious.
Tigger watched the goings on from the doorway into the living room. He felt sorry for Clarence, for he knew the lion better than anyone else in the house.
“No wonder the poor fellow lost it,” Tigger thought, “Bruin hates Clarence, and his all embracing love for cubs, no matter who’s cubs they may be, infuriated Bruin beyond sense. Now the bear’s said one thing too many, and Clarence has done his worst.” Tigger crawled into the room, and touched Clarence’s paw, the lion having slumped weeping onto the carpet after knocking Bruin out.
“I can’t cope Tiggie,” Clarence sobbed, “I lost it, and now look what’s happened! What have I done!” Tigger checked Bruin over, and found a bruised bear, nothing more.
“He deserved all that!” Brunetta said crossly, coming into the room and looking down at Bruin’s unconscious form.
“You’re his mate!” Winifred yinnied.
“I don’t know if I am sometimes Winifred,” Brunetta replied, “I don’t feel certain about anything these days.
Meanwhile, Tigger was soothing Clarence, the huge lion clinging to him as if he were drowning.
“I’m gonna be sent away for this,” Clarence sobbed, “the boss will go mad!”
“I’m sure he will understand,” Tigger replied, “the boss knows more about us than we think he does. He will know what provoked you into doing what you did. Now come with me my friend, for we have two lynx to comfort.” Clarence dried his eyes and followed Tigger to where Ellie and Pipin huddled together beneath the table.
“It’s all over now,” Tigger said gently to the two lynx, who’d worked themselves into sobbing shivering wrecks.
“Clarence killed Bruin!” Ellie sobbed, “now he will be sent away, and we will be sad forever.” Tigger took Ellie in his paws and embraced her tenderly.
“You know me don’t you Ellie?” Tigger purred. Ellie, shell shocked by what she’d seen, faintly mewed a response to his question.
“It’s all over now, all finished, noone will hurt you or your cub Ellie. I promise that.” Ellie clung to Tigger’s paw, her own paw shaking so much she had to fight to keep hold.
“Bruin was saying such horrible things about Clarence, horrid, disgusting things!” Ellie sobbed.
“I know, I know,” Tigger replied, “Bruin spoke rubbish, we know the real Clarence, the kind, gentle lion who would put his life on the line for cubs which are not his own.” Ellie released Tigger’s paw and crept forward until she found Clarence’s forepaws. As if blind, Ellie felt her way over the lion’s huge paws with hers, creeping closer to him until their noses touched. Ellie touched Clarence’s nose with her left forepaw, then began to examine his face with her paws, much as Pipin had once done. Clarence let her do this, wondering why she was acting so strangely. Ellie snuggled up to Clarence, working her paws into the lion’s thick mane. Clarence took Ellie in both forepaws and hugged her tenderly.
“I love you Ellie,” he whispered. Ellie burst into tears.
Meanwhile, Bruin was getting the benefit of the business end of Tigger’s anger. The tiger told the now semi conscious bear in no uncertain terms what he thought of his views, and his general behaviour.
“You disgust me!” Tigger concluded, storming out of the room. Clarence carried Ellie, then Pipin back to the sofa, where he lay them down gently. Climbing up and settling into his rug, Clarence saw Tembi making a bee line for the two lynx. When she got to them, Ellie and Pipin hugged her tightly.
Facing their worst nightmares.
Leo woke slowly. His paws cramped, tail stiff and head aching, he wondered where he was. He looked down at his paws, they were warm and resting on a soft blanket. Leo looked round him, seeing his younger brother lying beside him, looking as nervous as usual. He lay, sitting up slightly, the pads of one hind paw visible as if he was thinking of rolling onto his side. The poor lion stared fixedly ahead, breathing rapidly.
“Where are we?” He asked. Leo looked full at him.
“How the hell should I know Theo, I’ve got a headache, my paws are stiff and all I know is that we’re somewhere different to where we were yesterday. Theo, full name Theodore, because his mother thought it suited him, looked down at his paws.
“We don’t know whether we are safe!” Theo whimpered.
“I feel we are,” Leo said.
“Oh yeah, wonderful that!” Theo scoffed. You were the one who told me we were safe in the other place, now look where we are!” he began to cry. Leo turned his head away, embarrassed by his brother’s display.
Clarence saw the large lion, and, feeling well disposed to the newcomer, crawled over to him. Leo and Clarence faced each other, the former stunned by the latter’s manner.
“”Can you tell me where we are?” Leo asked. Clarence thrust a forepaw towards the newcomer, who took the offered paw in his. Clarence felt Leo’s paw trembling slightly as he held his paw.
“Can you tell us where we are and what will happen to us?” Leo asked, “me and my brother Theodore were in a large place, and now we’re here with all these other animals, he expects me to know what’s going on, and I know nothing! Theodore’s shaking violently, whereas I’m not, though I want to. Oh by the way, my name’s Leo, or have I already told you that? I can’t remember!” Clarence felt Leo’s paw trembling as he held his.
“You can both relax,” Clarence said, “you’re both safe here, and so,” Clarence looked down at the cub sleeping between Leo’s forepaws, “can your cub.” Leo looked down at the cub lying on the rug.
“She’s mine, her name’s Portia.” Clarence stroked Portia’s head, the cub purring softly. Leo saw the affect his cub had on Clarence and smiled.
“She’s lovely isn’t she,” he said proudly. Clarence took the cub in his paws and hugged her.
“Portia’s lovely Leo,” he said.
Another lion crawled over to them. The first thing Clarence noticed was that this lion had fat paws, and as he watched, the lion tripped over his paws, sprawling full length beside him.
“You crazy thing Trip,” Leo laughed.
“Why do you call him trip?” Clarence asked.
“For the very reason he’s now sprawled on the carpet, he’s got fat paws and trips over them all the time. His real name is Tommy, but we all know him as trip,” Leoreplied. Tommy, or Trip, regarded Clarence and Leo with bleary eyes.
“At least the carpet’s soft here,” he said. Tommy Trip waved one huge paw, “I never grew into my paws, it’s a real pest,” he mewed. Clarence looked at Tommy’s paws. They were huge for the lion’s body size. Leo let go of Clarence’s paw and Clarence hugged him, Leo blinking hard to disguise a rush of emotion which almost ended in tears. Tommy saw this and grinned, he knew Leo very well, and the huge lion was said to be aggressive, but in truth, he was prone to emotional episodes. Clarence took Leo’s left forepaw in both of his and began to stroke it. Leo looked surprised, but then relaxed as the paw massage had its age old affect. ?Closing his eyes, Leo relaxed all four paws, remembering how good he’d felt when his mother massaged his paws when he was a cub. Purring with pleasure, Leo drifted in a dream. Tommy Trip looked at Clarence:
“I could do with a bit of that,” he said, “would you?” Clarence grinned at the young lion.
“I will finish Leo’s massage, then attend to Theo over there, who looks in desperate need. I will then come to you, okay?” Tommy was about to protest when he caught sight of Theo looking close to breakdown.
“Okay,” he said.” Clarence finished Leo’s paw massage and transferred his attention to Theodore, who lay nervously beside his older and larger brother. Clarence massaged all four of Theo’s paws, the young lion unable to stop them from shaking. In the end, Clarence embraced Theo as if he were his own cub.
Elsa spat on the carpet with disgust. She’d rapidly become disillusioned with Clarence after his revelation about not liking procreation. She wanted cubs, but there were no eligible male lions in the place. Now not one, or two, but three had turned up, she was spoilt for choice. She’d chosen Tommy Trip as he was around her stature and she liked his looks, especially his gentle eyes and fat paws. Clarence heard his mate spitting on the carpet, and wondered what the boss would have to say about it. He knew how she felt about his stance on procreation, who didn’t, but Clarence was unperturbed about it. If she wanted to go with another lion because she wanted cubs, then that was fine by Clarence, he had his paws full with tending to his family, which numbered many cubs and adults, most of which weren’t of his own species. Finishing Theo’s massage, Clarence turned to Tommy, who rolled over eagerly presenting Clarence with four fat, and rather cub like paws. Clarence realised the lion hadn’t grown into his paws as he should have, and this endeared him strongly to him . Clarence liked massaging fat paws, as he could work more easily with them. Tommy wiggled the toes of all four paws as Clarence worked. Clarence ended Tommy Trip’s massage by gently hugging him. Tommy felt Clarence’s huge paws embracing him and it felt wonderful! Snuggling closer, Trip worked his forepaws deeper into Clarence’s fur, the huge lion purring with contentment.
“You have big soft paws Clarence,” Trip mewed. Clarence smiled, rocking Trip gently, causing the younger lion to close his eyes and fall asleep.
“I can’t believe what I just saw!” Leo whispered, for the atmosphere in the room had changed to a general mood of calming warmth. Clarence grinned at him:
“I could do the same for you if you want,” he invited. Leo looked at the smaller lion.
“I couldn’t,” he said, “a huge lion like me being rocked to sleep like a cub? What would others think!”
“The idea appeals to you I see,” Clarence replied. Leo looked down at his paws, embarrassed.
“Sort of,” he admitted gruffly.
“You like to think you’re all big and hard,” Theodore said, “whereas, in truth Leo, you like your paws stroked and tickled, and you would like nothing better than for Clarence to take you in his paws and rock you to sleep as he’s just done for Trip.” Leo stared harder at his forepaws.
“I think he’s trying not to admit outright that you got it in one Theo,” Elsa said. Leo looked at Clarence, his eyes pleading with him.
“Okay you big cub,” Clarence laughed, “your turn next.” Leo looked round him, to see what the other animals thought of his unspoken wish to be rocked to sleep like a cub. Most of them took no notice at all. Only Elsa looked disgusted.
“Call yourself a lion?” She asked, going close to Leo, “you’re a pansy! Just like Clarence!” Leo growled at Elsa,, bearing his teeth. Theo whimpered with fear:
“No Leo, don’t roar in here, you will deafen everyone!” Elsa, now almost dancing with fury, challenged the huge lion.
“Go on!” She yelled into his face, dancing on her toes in the most infuriating manner she knew, “roar at me you big woose!” Leo inflated his lungs and did as Elsa asked. The sound reverberated off the walls and sent most of the cubs diving for cover! It even alerted Tigger, who came skidding and tumbling down the stairs to see what had happened. When he saw Leo, Tigger stopped dead.
“Okay sir,” he said, now much afraid, “have it your way!” Tigger fled! Clarence looked at Leo:
“You’ve really torn it!” he said, “now go and apologise to Tigger. Leo, feeling dreadful, crawled up the stairs to talk to the tiger. After a while, Leo and Tigger came down together, Tigger’s eyes nearly starting from his head at the sight of the huge lion’s paws!
“This lion assures me he’s gentle,” Tigger said to Clarence, “am I to believe him?” Leo whimpered and rolled onto his back, waving his paws in the air, which made Tigger laugh, despite his reservations.
“You big cub!” Tigger laughed, reaching over and tickling the pads of Leo’s left hind paw. Leo laughed helplessly, scrabbling at Tigger’s paw with the toes of his right hind paw. This degenerated into both animals tickling each other’s paws. Something which Clarence thought impossible only five minutes previously. Once Leo and Tigger had thoroughly tickled each other’s paws, the two vastly different cats lay down together for a chat.
“I was thrown out of my pride by the females who wanted a more aggressive lion,” Leo replied to Tigger’s enquiry about how he’d come to be at the place, “the humans drugged me and brought me here. Thanks to Clarence I now have no headache and my paws are no longer stiff. My brother insisted on coming with me, so here we both are.” When Tigger told his tale, omitting nothing, Leo was moved to tears.
“I’m sorry,” the huge lion sobbed, “I know you don’t want pity n’all that, but I love my cubs, and I don’t know how anyone would carry on after that.”
“That is why I have adopted Whitie, Blanche and candy,” Tigger replied, “they are now my cubs. Leo clumsily wiped his eyes.
“Tell me Tigger,” the lion pleaded, “are we safe here?” Tigger took Leo’s paw and looked into the lion’s eyes.
“We are safe here Leo, I promise.” Leo took Tigger’s free paw in his and gently squeezed it.
“Your friend, Clarence isn’t it?” Tigger nodded, “he’s so gentle,” Leo said. Tigger smiled with pleasure.
“I’m glad you’ve met him,” he said, “he’s a wonderful friend to me, and I trust him with my life.” Leo was about to tell Tigger about wanting Clarence to rock him to sleep as he had Trip, but decided not to at the last moment. Maybe this tiger, though partial to having his paws tickled, didn’t go in for hugs and things like that. Tigger noticed the lion’s preoccupied expression and smiled at him.
“Being rocked to sleep by a lion with huge paws is nice isn’t it,” he said. Leo started with surprise!
“How, how did you know about that!” He demanded, now more embarrassed than ever.
“I know what Clarence did for you, and what you asked of him. I know now that if you hadn’t roared at Elsa, you would be asleep after Clarence had massaged your paws and rocked you gently into slumber.” Leo looked down at his paws, unable to meet Tigger’s eye.
“I’ve had Clarence do it for me,” Tigger said, “it’s nice.” Leo relaxed a little. Leo smiled, relieved someone else liked the same things he did.
Clarence stood off, listening to the conversation between Tigger and Leo. Even though he knew Tigger’s story like the back of his paw, Clarence was still deeply affected by the tale of the deaths of Tigger’s cubs and mate. While telling the tale, Tigger tried to be strong, but often he’d end up crying openly, which would upset Clarence, both friends ending up crying for the cubs and tigress who couldn’t be saved.
Tigger saw Clarence and moved away from Leo:
“Time for your paw massage I think,” the tiger said. Leo rolled onto his side, and was delighted when Tigger helped Clarence with the paw massage. The tiger and lion partnership worked well, Leo soon drifting into sleep.
“You didn’t need to rock him to sleep Clarence,” Tigger whispered, “he’s well gone.” Clarence smiled:
“Real teamwork that Tiggie,” he replied. Tigger took Clarence’s paw and began to stroke it.
“I like that Tigger,” Clarence purred. Tigger grinned and stroked the pads of Clarence’s paw.
“That feels even better,” the lion said. Tigger finished Clarence’s paw massage, and when it was over, Clarence repaid Tigger’s kindness, massaging his paws until the large tiger was lying comatose on the carpet. Leo looked over at Tigger.
“He looks so peaceful,” the huge lion purred.
Meanwhile, Trip and Elsa were arguing over Clarence’s behaviour.”
“That lion’s not right in the head I tell you Trip, he’s mad!” Elsa screamed.
“Clarence isn’t mad, he’s just a soft, gentle lion who wouldn’t hurt a fly!”
“All that paw massage and cubbish play he indulges in!” Elsa yelled, “it’s wrong!”
“It’s harmless fun!” Trip mewed, “Clarence never touches any animal’s paws without their permission, so it’s healthy play. I quite like having my paws stroked, tickled and massaged. Our paws are the most sensitive parts of our bodies Elsa, and if paw massage becomes an offence, I will go mad! Clarence has big, soft, gentle paws which he can, and does do a lot of good with. He knows his stuff, and I for one am going back for more paw massage!”
“I can’t believe Clarence can’t handle the subject of birthing cubs!” Elsa yowled, changing tack suddenly.
“Clarence needs to see a cub being born,” Trip replied, “then he might not be so scared of the whole thing.”
“Noone can have cubs here though,” Elsa replied, “so how on earth will he ever see a cubbing?”
“I don’t know,” Trip replied, “ask someone to re-enact one maybe? Ellie, that lynx Clarence is friendly with, I heard her talking to her cub about his birth, maybe she’d re-enact a cubbing for Clarence,.”
“I don’t know what his hang ups are,” Elsa snapped, “but I think he’s a woose! Cubbing’s no big deal!”
“To him it is,” Trip replied, “Clarence is so gentle, any pain upsets him.”
“Why then did he beat up Bruin twice in one week?” Elsa asked. News travelled quickly in the house, and Trip, though having only been resident for a few hours, had heard everything about Bruin’s misdeeds, from several sources too.
“he might have beaten the bear up,” Trip replied, “but he cried bitterly about it afterwards. I know what might help. When Ellie’s in pain, maybe Clarence can massage her paws, that would help her through cubbing, don’t you think Elsa?” Elsa, who’d had two cubs of her own, thought for a minute.
“Yes, it would help,” she replied.
Clarence and Leo listened to Elsa and Trip’s conversation.
“Maybe it would work,” Leo said to Clarence, “Ellie showing you a cubbing and you helping her by massaging her paws.” Clarence wanted to see a cubbing, for he desperately wanted to overcome his fear, but all the same, he couldn’t quite take the plunge and ask Ellie to help him.
Ellie, now noticing Elsa was off the scene as far as her loving Clarence was concerned, let herself go with the flow of her feelings towards the huge, but gentle lion. She saw he loved cubs, her cub in particular, and wanted to help him overcome his fear of cubbing.
Sidling up to Clarence, Ellie saw for the first time how large Leo was, as he was lying beside Clarence and was quite a bit larger than him.
“I thought Clarence was huge,” Ellie thought. Feeling eyes on her, Ellie looked up, straight into Leo’s eyes. The huge lion regarded her with mild interest.
“You must be Ellie,” Leo said. Leo’s voice was soft and gentle, not the kind of voice Ellie expected from such a huge lion.
“Yes, yes Leo I, I am,” Ellie replied, feeling herself beginning to shake with fear, her paws becoming damp with sweat.
“It’s okay Ellie,” Leo said, “I won’t harm you.” Ellie stared hard at her paws.
“No, of, of course not,” Ellie stammered. Leo reached out with one huge paw and touched Ellie’s. His paw was soft and warm, his touch gentle.
“Come closer, please,” Leo invited. Ellie felt her paws taking her closer to the huge lion, then felt his paws embracing her, enfolding her in a lion sized hug. The next thing Ellie felt was warm breath ruffling her fur, and then she heard purring, contented, soothing purring. Leo groomed Ellie from nose to tail, the adult female lynx submitting happily to the huge lion’s attentions.
“Clarence really would like you to help him overcome his fear of birth,” Leo purred, “Ellie, he can’t ask himself, so I am asking for him.” Ellie looked at Clarence, who nodded.
“Would you help me too?” Leo asked, “for I, like your dear friend Clarence, am frightened of the same thing he is. Would you help both of us?” Ellie considered Leo’s request, feeling the huge lion’s paws around her.
“I will help you both,” she said.
“You do have a choice,” Leo replied, “we’re not coercing you.” Ellie shook her head.
“I will help, and gladly too,” she replied.
Letting the cat out of the bag.
Leo released Ellie and she settled down on her side, closing her eyes. Leo knew what was about to happen and braced himself for witnessing what he’d dreaded for years. Leo saw Clarence watching, gripping the carpet with the toes of all four paws. Ellie suddenly tensed all her muscles, gasping with pain from the first of many contractions which would bring her imaginary cubs into the world. Clenching her paws, Ellie breathed hard as she came down from her first real effort.
The sound of banging on the door put an end to Ellie’s acting. Ellie sprang to her paws, eager to see who was hammering on the door.
“You’re meant to be having cubs!” Theodore mewed.
“they can wait!” Ellie replied, “there’s someone at the door and they’re battering it down, how on earth can I concentrate on cubbing with that rumpus going on I ask you!” Ellie fled for the door. Leo, relieved the cubbing was over for now, relaxed gratefully onto the rug on which he lay. Clarence gently eased his toes loose from the carpet, as relieved as Leo that the mock cubbing had only got so far.
“What I saw and heard was bad enough,” Leo said.
Meanwhile, Ellie had leapt up at the door and dragged down the handle to let in a bedraggled looking dog, who carried in his mouth a bag, which seemed to have something living inside it.
“Can I, and, my friend come in for a minute,” The dog asked, speaking round the cord which he held in his teeth.
“You Can, I suppose,” Ellie replied, confused, stepping back into the hallway.
“My friend, in here,” the dog said, putting down the bag and waving a paw at it, “he’s trapped, someone put him in here, and he can’t get out, I can’t free him either. Not with paws like mine.” Ellie looked at the bag. It was pinned at the top, and Ellie could see through a tiny window into the interior of the bag. A tiny tiger cub crouched in the depths, staring out with pleading, Terrified eyes, pressing his tiny forepaws against the window as he tried to force his way out in a final desperate bid for freedom. Ellie looked at the cub, at his desperate expression, pleading eyes and desperately scrabbling paws. She heard them scrabbling as the cub tried to grip with his toes, his paws damp with sweat from struggling against the restraining bag. Ellie looked up into the dog’s face. His eyes were almost as desperate as those of the trapped tiger cub.
“Look,” she said, “I don’t know if I can help. Maybe others here might be able to.” The dog looked down at the bag in which the tiger was now lying on his back, scrabbling at the window with the toes of his hind paws, pressing them against the plastic window in an attempt to force just the toes of one paw into the open.
“I found him like this,” the dog said, “he was rolling and kicking inside that bag, as now, unable to free himself. We got talking, and he begged me to help him find someone to release him. So we wandered for days, me carrying him. I’m just a stray dog, but he’s a tiger cub, trapped in a bag. The dog watched as, mewing pitifully, the tiger cub kicked violently at the walls of his prison, the heavy duty plastic preventing him even forcing the toes of one tiny paw through to the outside world. The cub, now exhausted, sank down onto the floor of the bag, crying with fatigue and terror.
“Please help him!” the dog begged. Ellie looked at the dog. He had a name tag, “rocky” it said.
“Let’s bring him indoors,” Ellie suggested, “you come too Rocky, and we’ll see what we can do.” Rocky padded into the living room and looked about him in amazement!
“My friends,” Ellie said, waving an expansive paw round the room. The cabinet polar bears spat with disgust, but everyone else smiled at Ellie.
“Could someone take a look at this bag?” Ellie asked, “there’s a tiny tiger cub in there, and he’s desperate to get out. Some human put him in there, and his friend here can’t free him. We need someone with dextrous paws and some strength. Tigger wandered in, and, overhearing what Ellie had said, went to take a look at the bag containing the now exhausted tiger cub, which lay on the floor, twitching and shaking whenever the cub inside it made a fresh attempt to break free. Tigger watched the tiny cub lying in the depths of the bag for several minutes, deeply moved by the cub’s predicament. Coupled with his tiny stature, his tiny ears, tiny paws, and those eyes, staring desperately at Tigger through the plastic window, the cub touched Tigger deeply.
Snarling with anger, the cub suddenly pressed his hind paws against the window and scrabbled at it with the toes of his fore, trying to fight his way free. Tigger looked at the bag, at the bottom end, where he found no way in, and finally at the closed top end of the bag, the cub all the while kicking and scrabbling with all four of his tiny paws. Tigger saw something then, at the top end of the bag, there was something holding it shut. Tigger took the top of the bag between his teeth and paws and pulled hard. The bag split open, Tigger putting his paw inside and feeling the cub’s tiny forepaws take hold of his large one. Gripping Tigger’s paw, the tiger cub released his grip on the bag which he’d maintained with his hind paws, letting Tigger draw him fourth.
The tiny tiger cub slithered from the bag, trying to help Tigger by pushing with the toes of each hind paw in turn. Once in the open, the shivering, sweat soaked cub looked even more pathetic. His fur plastered to his skin, the tiger cub lay staring wildly about him and shaking from his ears to his paws.
“hello little one,” Tigger purred, taking the tiny sweat soaked bundle of fur in his paws and hugging him.
“I wouldn’t hug that!” Tinka spat, “he’s all dirty Tigger! His fur and paws are drenched!”
“sometimes a wash is not the first priority Tinka,” Tigger replied, hugging the cub tightly. Tinka spat on the floor.
“At least dry him off before you hug him!” She pleaded, “how disgusting!”
“Drying the sweat off him would kill him Tinka,” Tigger replied, “he needs to cool down naturally. Please, let me deal with him.” Ellie looked at the tiny cub in Tigger’s paws.
“You’re safe here little one,” Tigger purred. The cub, now almost dry, snuggled up to Tigger, purring for the first time in many long and terrifying weeks.
“Who put you in a bag little cub?” Tigger asked. The tiny tiger cub took Tigger’s left forepaw in his and held on with such strength Tigger nearly cried out.
“Okay little one,” he said, squeeze my paw, squeeze away. The cub closed his eyes, struggling to hold back tears, his grip on Tigger’s paw stronger than ever as he fought not to cry, not to show how terrified he was.
“You can cry little one,” Tigger said gently, feeling the cub’s tiny paws tightening on his larger one as, claws sheathed, the cub dug his toes into Tigger’s pads in an attempt to take his mind off his ordeal.
“if you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to little cub,” Tigger said gently. The cub fought harder than ever to control his emotions, squeezing Tigger’s paw, but in the end the tiny creature gave up the struggle. Tears rolling down his face, the tiny tiger cub let go of Tigger’s paw and buried his face in the huge tiger’s shoulder.
“It’s okay to cry little cub,” Tigger purred. The cub, his tiny forepaws clinging to Tigger’s fur, cried for a long time. Once his tears dried, the cub rubbed clenched paws over red eyes.
“I was loved once,” the cub sniffed, “once a human child loved me. But the child grew up, and no longer wanted me. I was put into an old bag which had contained gloves or something, and, they, they,” tears welled in the cub’s eyes once more, “they threw me out! What had I done wrong Tigger? Please tell me, and I’ll never do it again, I promise!” Tigger hid his face in his paws to hide his own welling tears from the tiny cub. The bit about him being thrown out was hard enough, but Tigger understood humans grew up and sometimes no longer wanted soft toys like himself and the cub now weeping pitifully beside him. What really upset Tigger was that the cub thought it was something he’d done which had made the humans throw him out like the boss threw out old cans and things. Tigger had seen his own carrying box dumped, and that looked pretty final. To throw out a tiny soft toy tiger cub though? Who would think of, let alone do something like that? Tigger felt the cub’s tiny paw scrabbling at his. Letting the tiny tiger cub take his left forepaw in both his tiny ones, Tigger looked at him.
“You are upset too,” the cub stated, “so you’ve been thrown out too?” Tigger shook his head.
“No, thank goodness,” he sniffed, “listen little cub,” Tigger continued, “and remember this. No matter what you think you might have done, the humans knew what they were doing. What happened to you was not your fault little cub.” The tiger cub looked into Tigger’s face. He liked this huge tiger, who was so gentle towards him. Rocky was a dear friend, and wonderful company, without whom he wouldn’t be here now, but he was no tiger, and what the cub needed now was a tiger to look after him. Tigger saw the look in the cub’s eyes.
“Shall we clean you up little one?” He asked gently. The cub hesitated slightly, then nodded. Tigger began grooming the tiny creature from the tips of his impossibly small ears, to the soles of four tiny paws. The cub, feeling Tigger working on him, purred contentedly.
“That’s the sound I want to hear,” Tigger purred. The cub smiled up at his new found friend.
“Thank you Tigger,” The cub Whispered. Tigger, only half hearing the cub’s words, thought he’d called him “Tiggie.” Almost crying himself now, Tigger finished checking the pads on the sole of the cub’s right hind paw, checked over his tail, then lay down and embraced him tightly. Snuggling into Tigger’s hug, the cub began stroking Tigger’s right forepaw.
“I won’t throw you out little cub,” Tigger purred, “that’s a promise.” The cub buried his face in Tigger’s shoulder.
A tiger cub finds a permanent home.
Tigger watched over the tiny tiger cub, the rest of the animals in the room watching Tigger. Smiling at him, Leo crawled over to Tigger and looked closely at the tiger cub. Purring gently, the huge lion embraced the tiny cub. Tigger grinned at Leo.
“I see you’ve taken a liking to the tiny chap too,” he said. Leo took the sleeping cub in his paws and embraced him. The tiny cub snuggled up, ignoring the age old doctrine that Tigers never mixed with lions. Working his paws into Leo’s mane, the tiger cub snuggled up to him.
“You’re safe here,” Leo purred. The tiny tiger cub cuddled up tightly to Leo, the lion’s eyes filling with tears.
“I never thought I’d be able to love a tiger cub,” Leo sobbed. Tigger smiled at the huge lion, taking his paw.
“We’re all cats,” he purred, “tigers and lions need not be enemies, for we have enough as it is.” Leo knew what it was to be harassed. In his old home, a dingy cage, he and Theodore had been constantly plagued by a tiger who would bang on the door of his cage with both forepaws, screaming that he would go mad if he spent a moment longer in that place. Leo and Theodore had endured this for years, and themselves had gone slightly mad, but they’d kept it together, Leo telling Theodore they were safe and that nothing would happen to them. Nothing did, but at the same time they got no stimulation. Theodore had become more and more anxious, and Leo himself fared little better. One day they’d both been lying in their cage as usual, when they’d both felt an uncontrollable urge to sleep. Settling down, they’d both dropped off, or so Leo supposed, for minutes later, or so it had seemed to them, they were in the place they now called home. Leo wondered how much longer they’d be at the place though, and were they really safe? He’d told Theo they were safe, but his stock with his brother was low on that score.
“I hope we’re safe here,” Leo said. Tigger gently hugged Leo, the huge lion automatically burying his head in the tiger’s shoulder.
“You are safe here Leo,” Tigger purred, “I promise you are safe here.” Leo felt tears pricking the backs of his eyes. Sniffing slightly, he fought to remain in control.
“it’s okay to cry Leo,” Tigger said gently.
“That’s cub stuff,” Leo replied.
“No it isn’t,” Tigger said. Tigger pulled Leo closer, ruffling his mane and massaging the huge lion’s ears and paws. Leo let himself go, crying into Tigger’s fur. Tigger said nothing, letting Leo get it out of his system. His tears drying, Leo looked at Tigger.
“Thank you Tigger,” he sniffed, “thank you very much. I, I might have guessed how you’d be, what with you being friendly with Clarence n’all. But I never knew how, how understanding of a lion a tiger could be.
“Any time you want to talk,” Tigger replied, “I’m only upstairs.” Leo smiled, stroking Tigger’s paws.
The tiny tiger cub watched all, knowing that what was taking place was highly unusual, even so, he knew what it was to be lonely and in danger, and to be rescued by those who, by tradition or indoctrination, should have no interest in saving his life.
“I think you’d better concentrate on looking after your cub Tigger,” Leo said, “he’s probably wondering what we’re up to.” Tigger squeezed Leo’s paw.
“My cub?” Tigger asked, “well, I suppose he is, for he can be noone else’s round here, Tinka and Hop along have already got five cubs, so it falls to me to look after him.” Tigger looked down at the tiny cub.
“Do you want to stay with me little one?” he asked. For answer, the cub took Tigger’s forepaw in both his tiny ones.
Let’s go upstairs then little one,” Tigger said, “there is where I live, and I have a place for you up there as Snowy’s cub has decided to make amends with his mother and go back to live with her. Tigger took the scruff of the cub’s neck in his teeth and crawled out the door and up the stairs with him. Reaching the quilt, Tigger worked his way beneath it and dropped the tiny cub into the quilt’s soft embrace. Snuggling down beneath the quilt as Tigger had done, the cub felt the warmth enveloping him from his nose to his tail.
“My paws are warmer than they’ve ever been!” the tiger cub mewed. Tigger smiled:
“It’s lovely up here little’n,” he said. Tigger worked his paws beneath the quilt.
“Now we both have nice warm paws,” he said, taking hold of the cub’s left forepaw beneath the quilt and stroking it. The cub snuggled into Tigger’s fur, the adult Bengal tiger purring with contentment. Amber looked across at her friend.
“You have rescued another cub then Tigger?” She asked. Tigger relayed the story of the cub’s arrival and extrication from the bag.
“Poor chap,” Amber said, “Well, he’s safe here now.” Tigger smiled:
“he is,” he replied, “He is indeed safe here. I won’t throw him out."
All mixed up.
The tiny tiger cub woke slowly. Opening his eyes, he saw a face in front of him, a face with white fur all over, and it was unlike any he’d seen before. Arki watched the tiny tiger cub until he woke, but then it was too late, he’d seen her.
“What are you?” The cub asked.
“I’m a polar bear little one,” Arki replied, “my name’s Arki.” The tiger cub freed his forepaws from where they’d been wrapped up in the quilt and stretched each paw. Arki reached out with one large paw and enveloped one of the cub’s tiny forepaws in hers. The tiger cub looked surprised and afraid for a few seconds, but when he felt how soft and warm the paw was holding his, he relaxed.
“Arki,” he mewed, “nice name that. Your paws are nice and warm.” Arki smiled and licked the tiger cub’s ear. The cub touched Arki’s nose with one tiny forepaw, making Arki sneeze violently as his paw tickled her.
“Sorry Arki,” the cub whispered, aware that Tigger and Amber were sleeping nearby. Arki wiped her eyes with a well padded forepaw.
“That’s okay little one,” she said. Arki looked down at the cub’s paw.
“You’ve got such tiny paws little cub,” Arki said.
“I’ll bet you had small paws when you were a cub,” The tiger cub replied.
“They were small, just like yours little’n,” Arki said. The cub held Arki’s paw between his.
“I like you,” he said. Arki smiled:
I like you too little cub,” she replied.
The sound of large paws scuffing on carpet announced the arrival of Leo, who gazed round the room in amazement. Before him were two snow leopards, two female polar bears, a female brown bear, and numerous cubs of the above, not to mention an otter, a husky dog and a red fox, as well as a snow tigress and her cubs, plus two arctic foxes. Arki, hearing the sound of large paws on carpet, looked round, expecting to see Clarence. When she saw Leo Arki screamed with fear and buried her head in the quilt! This lion was huge!
“Get him out of here!” Arki wailed.
“That’s Leo,” Tigger replied, waking suddenly, “he’s all right, honestly Arki, he’s fine!” Arki watched in horror as the tiny tiger cub who’s paws she’d been stroking crawled over to the edge of the quilt, leapt off it, and made his way to the large lion. Prodding at the lion with a tiny paw, The tiger cub invited retribution. All the lion did was roll onto his back and wave his paws in the air. Arki expected the lion to kill the little cub, but he didn’t, indeed, he seemed to like, even love the tiny creature.
“I can’t watch any more!” Arki whimpered, burying her face in her paws.
“Leo’s as soft as Clarence is,” Tigger said, “I’ve even tickled his paws!” Arki stared at Tigger between the toes of one forepaw.
“You’re joking!” Arki protested, her voice muffled by the paws covering her face.
“No,” Tigger replied, “here, I’ll show you.”
“No no no!” Arki pleaded.
“I will show you he’s no danger Arki,” Tigger replied.
“I will show you if you won’t let Tigger,” Whitie said. Arki shot out a paw and got a good grip on Whitie’s tail and one tiny hind paw.
“You will go nowhere near that brute!” Arki yelled. Whitie struggled frantically, but her efforts were no match for the strong paw holding her.
“Let go of me Arki!” Whitie yelled.
“I’ll go,” Candy said suddenly. Arki squealed as if she’d been shot and made a grab for her cub! Her paw grabbed hold of Sam’s, not Candy’s! Looking properly, Arki found Sam lying beside her, the male polar bear having blocked Arki’s access to Candy while the cub escaped and made her way to Leo’s side. Arki whacked Sam hard across his nose and paws, screaming at him that he was about to be an accessory to murder, and that she’d never speak to him again if harm came to their cub, and what the hell was he playing at sacrificing the life of his own cub?” Sam had seen the lion, and recognised him. Leo and Theodore had been at the same zoo in America Sam had. He’d spoken long distance with them, and although Leo had never seen the large polar bear to whom he’d spoken, the two had become firm friends.
Candy was now at Leo’s side, the lion leaving the tiger cub to return to the quilt, and transferring his attention to Candy, whom he took in his paws and began to stroke. Candy couldn’t believe how soft Leo’s paws were, they were as soft as her own mother’s, and he was so gentle with them too!”
“Nice soft paws ay Candy,” Leo purred. Candy, laughing with delight as Leo’s paws tickled her own, snuggled up to the huge lion. Sam then made his move, crawling off the quilt and over to Leo.
“Leo?” Sam said gently. The lion looked round, but didn’t recognise the polar bear who’d spoken to him, though the voice was familiar.
“Who are you?” Leo asked.
“My name’s Sam,” The polar bear replied, “Remember those nights when we used to talk for hours Leo?” Leo stared at Sam, Candy forgotten for the moment.
“You said you’d left a cub in England,” Leo replied, “you wanted to get back there to find your cub.”
“and find her I did,” Sam replied, “the polar bear cub you’ve been playing with is my cub Candy. I am the polar bear to whom you spoke for weeks. Leo took both Sam’s forepaws in his, his eyes filling with tears. Anger rose in Leo, that Sam should have left him and Theodore alone in their hell, but he forced it down, realising the male polar bear had wanted to find his cub, and it was wrong for Leo to use him as a crutch to solve his own problems. Once Leo had put away feelings of anger, he felt overjoyed to find his friend again, and wanted to run and tell Theo all about it.
“So you found your cub?” Leo asked, “how wonderful!” Sam smiled:
“It is wonderful Leo, it is,” he replied.
Meanwhile, Arki watched, wondering what on earth to make of all this. Sam obviously knew Leo, for they were chatting amicably, each holding the other’s paw without fear. Arki crawled off the quilt and went closer to Leo. The huge lion watched her approach.
“You must be Arki,” he purred. Arki swallowed hard, trying not to take fright. This lion was even more massive up close, and he had big paws! He was even larger than Clarence, and Arki thought him impossibly massive!
“I, I’m, I mean, My name’s Arki, Sir,” Arki mumbled, hoping the huge lion would just vanish. Leo crawled over to Arki, who watched him with terrified eyes. Suddenly Leo had Arki in his forepaws! Whimpering with terror, Arki tried to struggle but found she had no strength, the huge lion was killing her!” Arki’s panic attack subsided, and what she’d thought was snarling resolved itself into purring, what she thought were claws were warm, exceptionally soft paws, and what she’d thought was a death grip was in reality a gentle hug. Then another sound registered itself, Sam shouting, and he was shouting at her.
“Arki! Stop it! You attacked Leo! You hit him! All he did was touch your paw, and, and you went for him!” Arki felt the lion’s paws holding her, and realised her own paws were immobilised. Leo had pinned her paws to stop her from doing any more damage to him.
“Arki, dear Arki,” Leo sniffed, “What have |I done to deserve a walloping? I did nothing, I was kind to your cub, and kind to your mate.” Arki looked into the lion’s streaming eyes.
“I’m so, so sorry,” she said, “I didn’t mean to attack you. Honestly Leo, I didn’t mean to,” Arki now saw how much she’d hurt the huge lion.
“thank goodness you were only using your paws!” Sam yelled. Arki tried to free her left forepaw and touch Leo’s cheek, the lion reluctantly releasing her paw.
“I lost it totally,” Arki admitted, “I’m sorry Leo, I should have thought first. I saw the way you and Sam were, the way you played with the tiger cub and Candy, and the way you let Tigger tickle your paws. If you were aggressive, you wouldn’t have done all that.” Arki stroked Leo’s cheek with her free paw, the lion still stunned by the ferocity of her attack and unable to look her in the eye.
“I’ll leave,” Leo sobbed, “I know I’m not wanted here.” Releasing Arki, Leo watched her crawl away, one very distressed polar bear. Then he turned, and stopped dead in his tracks. The snow tigress whom he’d seen on first entering the room was watching him, and when his eyes met hers, Leo found himself unable to take his eyes off hers. She had friendly deep blue eyes. The tigress waved a paw at Leo, beckoning him closer. Automatically, Leo obeyed, his paws shuffling the rest of him towards her. Leo saw the snow tigress was lying on a rug, and had many animals round her. Two of her own cubs, plus a grown arctic fox, and a tiny arctic fox cub. The snow tigress indicated Leo should lie down, the other animals making room for him on the rug. As if in a dream, Leo lay down, feeling his fore and hind paws taken in those of the foxes and tiger cubs, who began to massage his paws. Leo, forced to relax, sprawled on the rug, realising he was in the power of the foxes and the tiger cubs, and held by the deep blue eyes of the snow tigress. The snow tigress indicated to the large arctic vixen that she wished to take Leo’s right paw in her own, and when the fox left off, the tigress took Leo’s forepaw in hers, the lion’s other three paws being massaged by two tiger cubs and a fox cub.
“Thank you Brushtail,” Snowy purred. Leo lay wondering what would happen to him, what would this tigress do to him now she had him under her spell.
“You look lost Leo,” Snowy said gently. Leo found he couldn’t speak, words deserted him, only sight, scent, sound and touch were left to him. He could smell the tigress’s scent, a warm, coconut like scent it was. A scent which was warm and comforting to Leo, and relaxed him. Leo took a deep breath, Snowy’s scent enveloping him in warm waves.
“That’s better isn’t it,” Snowy Half tail purred. Leo, now giving up all control, worked closer to Snowy, the snow tigress embracing him.
“They said you were too unwell to do any of this,” Leo murmured.
“Too unwell to show kindness to another animal?” Snowy asked, “no. they might have said I was too ill to do much, but this is all right. My condition is controlled by watching what I do and by regular paw massages.
“My mother used to control my Brother’s panic attacks with paw massages,” Leo replied, “I try my best to help him, but he’s always on the verge of losing it.”
“Your brother?” Snowy asked, “where is he now?”
“He’s downstairs, probably fretting over where I’ve got to.”
“Why not bring him to me, I will see what I can do,” snowy suggested. Leo gently disengaged his paws from those of the three cubs and that of Snowy half tail, and crawled away to find Theo. Finding him on the rug where they lived, almost frantic with worry, Leo, with a lot of coaxing, persuaded Theo to follow him. Once lying beside Snowy, Theo found himself amerced in the same warm scent and embraced by the same large, soft paws Leo had been. Snowy decided she’d take full control of Theo’s paw massage, starting with his left fore and working her way round all four of the young lion’s trembling [paws. Tilly, Brushtail, and Snowy’s two cubs watched as she started her work. Theo lay uncertainly on the rug, his instinct to run fighting with his rational mind, a battle with his instinct Theo was trying to win. Digging the toes of three paws into the rug, Theo tried to make it as hard as possible to run away.
“This is dreadful!” Theo mewed.
“You don’t’ like paw massages?” Snowy asked.
“it’s not that,” Theodore replied, “it’s just that my instinct tells me to run, but I know I mustn’t, but I so want to run! I want to! I want to!” Snowy felt the young lion’s tears wetting her paws as they fell off the end of his nose and fell onto her paws as she worked on his left forepaw. Snowy stopped stroking Theodore’s paw and embraced the now openly crying lion.
“I won’t hurt you little cub,” snowy purred. Theodore buried his face in Snowy’s fur.
“I don’t want to run Snowy,” he mewed pitifully.
“What’s your name little cub?” Snowy asked.
“Little cub!” Amber snapped, “he’s about two years old, “he’s no cub! What’s Half tail on?”
“I think it’s rather sweet,” Brushtail replied.
“You would!” Amber yelled at the vixen, “you’re as cubbish as Tembi is! Both of you disgust me! “Brushy cub,” that’s what she calls you isn’t it fox! Well, you’re disgusting!”
“Leave it Amber, leave it!” Tigger spat, his words whip cracking Amber into silence.
“My name’s Theodore,” Theo mewed, hating the sound of his own name. |he preferred the contracted version. Theo knew Leo was not his brother’s full name, their mother wanting grand sounding names for her cubs. Leopold and Theodore sounded fine, or so she thought. Theo hated his full name, but Theo was all right. Snowy felt Theodore’s distaste for his name and knew how he felt. Being labelled “half tail,” as she was didn’t amuse Snowy one bit, but she knew that was how she’d been named.
“Would you like me to call you by another name?” Snowy asked. Theo nodded:
“My brother calls me Theo,” Theodore replied, “Everyone calls him Leo, but that’s not his full name. Our mother called us Theodore and Leopold. Now, can you imagine the lion we both know as Leo being named Leopold?” Snowy grinned, she couldn’t imagine it without smiling.
“No,” she replied, “Leo’s much better.”
“I think so,” Theo replied.
“Your paws have stopped shaking Theo,” snowy said. Theo looked down at his paws in astonishment! They had indeed stopped shaking, and he felt better than he had in a long time.
“Now can I massage your paws Theo my cub?” Snowy asked gently. Tears filling his eyes, Theodore gave Snowy his left forepaw. Embracing the sobbing lion, Snowy massaged his paws one by one, taking her time over each. Leo watched Snowy and Theo’s interaction, relief coursing through him that someone had managed to calm his brother. The mention of his full name embarrassed Leo hugely, but he admitted to himself it would have come out in the end. Once snowy had reached Theo’s left hind paw, the young lion had stopped crying and was sound asleep. Letting him roll gently onto his side, Snowy finished massaging his paws. Once she’d finished, snowy gently rubbed Theo down from nose to tail, soothing the sleeping lion into deeper slumber. At a signal from Snowy, Brushtail and Brunetta gently picked Theo up in their paws and carried him to the quilt, leaving the rug free for Leo, who lay down beside snowy so she could continue his massage. Snowy looked at the prostrate lion.
“Your brother is better now I think,” she said. Leo took Snowy’s paw in his.
Thank you Snowy,” he said, “We are both very grateful for what you’ve done for us today.” Snowy smiled.
“Now my cub, will you let me finish what I started?” Leo gave Snowy his left forepaw, and Snowy’s cubs, plus Tilly, Brushtail’s cub, helped out also, as Leo was so large, Snowy couldn’t reach all of him without difficulty. Leo breathed deeply, every breath drawing the white tigress’s strange scent deep into his lungs, soothing him, caressing his mind like her paws and those of the cubs did his own paws.
Tilly and the two snow tiger cubs enjoyed their work with snowy. They’d learned fast about paw massages, having helped snowy with her own condition. Now they worked with snowy, not for her, for they enjoyed their work, and knew snowy could not do what she did without their help. Brushtail, though not as involved with the massage work as her cub, enjoyed her part in the running of things as much as Tilly did. Brushtail massaged the paws of those animals who didn’t like cubs, or had paws which scared the cubs, such as Hop along, who’s paws were vast, and due to abuse in his early life, needed special care. Hop along was so massive that when it came to massaging his paws, it took Clarence and Tigger to help him lie down. Snowy and Brushtail then got on with their work. Brushtail knew it was time for Hop along to have his paws massaged later that day. Regular paw massages helped him cope with the pain from his damaged leg, and Brushtail knew how grateful Hop along had been when Clarence and Tigger had devised a way of him lying down without causing him pain so Snowy could massage his paws.
Finishing Leo’s massage, Snowy Whispered to Brushtail to find Clarence so that Leo could be lifted from the rug and carried to another rug set up on the other side of the room. This done, snowy headed downstairs to work on hop along. Finding the massive male Bengal tiger standing in his usual place by the door into the living room, snowy noticed he was wearing a rug similar to that on which she slept and worked. The huge tiger regarded Snowy with kind eyes, but Snowy could see the pain behind the cheerful exterior. Hop along was in terrible discomfort from his leg, and it often left him exhausted and slightly irritable. A lack of sleep due to the pain in his leg also meant Hop along was nearly always tired.
“You are the bringer of the only real relief I get Snowy,” he said as he saw her, his vision dulled by constant pain. Snowy saw the stress in hop along, and realised her own difficulties were minor compared to his. She could be relieved by paw massages, whereas Hop along could not really be said to be given relief by them. They were the best solution, however temporary that anyone could offer.
Clarence and Tigger helped Hop along to lie down, the large tiger almost weeping with pain as he was forced to move his injured leg. Once down however, things calmed down a lot. Snowy worked on Hop along’s forepaws, while Brushtail worked on his hind, being careful not to aggravate his leg. Hop along tried to get into the spirit of the thing, but could not achieve the total relaxation Clarence or Ellie could. Once The tigress and the vixen had done all they could, Clarence and Tigger helped Hop along onto his feet again, enduring the swearing and insults the pain maddened tiger threw at them. Clarence and Tigger knew Hop along experienced a lot of pain from his damaged leg, so they didn’t take the insults and bad language personally. When well out of Hop along’s hearing, Clarence had often remarked to Tigger that, compared to the large tiger’s, their lot had been easy. Heading upstairs once more, Snowy and Tigger stopped in the hallway. Looking at each other, a single thought passed between them.
“What the hell are you and I fighting for Snowy?” Tigger asked.
“I was wondering the same thing,” snowy replied.
“We’ve been at each other’s throats for so long now,” Tigger said, “it’s been crazy, and why? Because you said and did things for which you’ve now apologised, and I can’t let them go. Well I will let them go snowy. We’ve both been bloody stupid over this.” He extended his paw towards Snowy, who took it in hers.
“let’s go on from here,” snowy said, “after all Tigger, “we’re both tigers, even if we don’t share the same habitat.” Tigger felt Snowy’s warm soft paw envelope his, and it felt very good, very good indeed.
“Peace Tigger?” Snowy asked.
“yes Snowy, peace,” Tigger choked, the enormity of the situation hitting home.
“We have to work together now,” Snowy said, “for our troubles aren’t over yet. Amber hates me, and if she realises we’ve made peace, she’ll go ballistic.
“Are you both stupid?” Amber asked, “of course I dam well know what you two have been saying! I know it all! I hate you Snowy! I don’t know why Tigger has prostituted himself like this! You are weak Tigger, as weak as a cub if you think this dam genetic misfit will keep her word. She’s horrible! An abomination! You are disgusting snowy!” A low growl stopped Amber’s tirade. Looking round, she saw Leo at the top of the stairs, rapidly approaching her.
“Snowy has done more for us than you ever have Amber,” the huge lion said, “I would keep your mouth shut if I were you. For there are stronger animals than you here now, who might not agree with your views on Snowy.” Amber looked at the huge lion, at his commanding stature, and his massive paws.
“You couldn’t attack me, even if you wanted too,” Amber challenged, “you are a big wimp Leopold!” Leo smiled, opened his mouth, and shook the windows with the loudest roar any of the animals had ever heard! Snowy mewed with fear and clung to Tigger, Amber hurriedly retreated, and Clarence came bounding up the stairs.
“What the hell’s going on!” He demanded.
“Leo lost his temper,” Snowy mewed faintly.
“Lost my temper snowy?” Leo replied, “no, no no, I can’t accept that. I threatened Amber, that’s all. She was saying horrid things about snowy you see Clarence, and I couldn’t let that go on now could I? Not after what snowy did for me and Theo. Clarence hadn’t really met snowy Half tail, but he knew she’d been good to Tembi in the past, and that his cub often spoke warmly of the snow tigress.
“Amber,” Clarence said, “you might not like the current accord between Tigger and snowy, but that gives you no right to upset them. Snowy loves your cubs as her own, if it hadn’t been for her Whitie and Blanche wouldn’t have survived to be returned to you. You have a lot to thank Snowy for. The tigress you call a genetic misfit has shown herself to be a gentle creature. Even with the health problems she has, Snowy has shown she will help others to the extent of almost curing their ailments.” Clarence looked at Leo, who nodded. “Theo’s much better now Snowy,” Leo said, “he would like to thank you himself, but whenever I mention going to you, Theo breaks down, telling me he’d never get through it.”
“Send him to me Leo,” snowy said, forgetting Amber for the moment, “Send Theo to me, and let him say what he wants. I don’t mind tears, for I myself have been in terrible situations.” Leo went to find his brother.
“Now Amber,” Clarence said,” go back to your place on the quilt, and remember this. If I hear anything more about you terrorising snowy or those she helps, you will have more problems than you have ever had before, is that clear!” Amber mewed that she understood.
Leo arrived with Theo, the latter looking as if he wanted to be anywhere but where he was at that moment.
“Snowy,” Theo said, his voice almost cracking, “Thank you for all you’ve done today. Snowy smiled and hugged Theo, something which broke the lion’s already fragile control on his emotions.
“It’s all right Theo,” Snowy said, “tell you What, why not come to me regularly, that way we can keep in contact.” Theo wasn’t about to argue with Snowy, he liked her, and that was plain for all to see.
“That’s settled then,” Leo said. The truth was, Leo liked Snowy a great deal too.
A deadly plot.
Leo woke slowly. He wondered why he was so warm, his paws enveloped in folds of the rug he lay upon. Then he remembered the events of the previous night. Shortly after everyone had settled down for the night, snowy asked Leo if he would like a change of scenery for a night. Theodore was in Clarence’s care for the night, so Leo could relax in the knowledge his brother was safe. Clarence had lain down on the rug beside Snowy half tail, the snow tigress enveloping him in a warm hug. Leo wanted to return her affection, but she told him to save it for later, now was his time to relax and be looked after. Leo lay on the rug, letting snowy work her magic all over him from nose to tail. Snowy half tail knew how to stroke a lion, Leo could feel that. She especially knew how to stroke his paws, gently taking each of his paws in hers and rubbing the pads until Leo relaxed the paw totally. Once this was done, Snowy asked Leo to roll onto his back, so she could more easily reach his ears. Snowy’s ear massage was almost as good as her paw massage. Leo found himself drifting in a dream.
Amber watched from where she lay on another rug not too far away. After hearing of her disgraceful behaviour during the last few weeks, the boss had turfed her from under the quilt, telling her to lie on a rug like snowy did. Tigger elected to stay on the quilt, as he wanted to be as far away from Amber as possible without leaving the quilt crew entirely. Amber lay beside Stifftail, swallowing her distaste at his views on the life chances of their two cubs Whitie and Blanche.
Stifftail looked at Amber, he’d wanted to make amends with her for so long, for he’d thought long and hard about his two cubs, how they’d adapted to their situations, and how much a part of the community they now were.
“Amber,” Stifftail said, “I’ve been thinking about our cubs.”
“Thinking of ways to get rid of them you mean?” Amber asked.
“No Amber no!” Stifftail replied, “I was thinking about them, how they’d coped with their problems, that kind of thing. I know now that you were right, they are wonderful cubs. I want to, to apologise to both of them, to you too. I can’t undo what I said, but I can try to repair the damage done.”
“I will only let you near my cubs if you promise me one thing,” Amber said.
“What’s that?” Stifftail asked, eager to comply.
“You help me get rid of Snowy half tail,” Amber said. Stifftail stared at her.
“No Amber no!” he mewed, “I can’t do that! Snowy’s all right, she saved your, our cubs! I can’t help you do that!” Amber swept her paw down in a chopping motion.
“that’s it then,” she said, no access to Whitie or Blanche.” Stifftail’s squeal of pain made Tigger and Arki look round to see what had happened. Even Leo, comatose from Snowy’s massage, woke suddenly, flexing his paws for battle,.
“snowy needs to be got rid of, killed and put into one of those black rubbish sacks the boss uses to throw rubbish out and then thrown into the black bin where he puts food waste. I’ve read the recycling leaflet he got through the door, and I know what goes in the black bin. Snowy needs to be thrown out of the community!
“I agree,” Morose said. Morose, a black and white horse who lived in an alcove of the room, was a disagreeable animal. He’d been rescued by the boss by feeding him lies and deception. Now the horse stood in the alcove, just waiting to cause problems. His real name was Maurice, but as usual, one of the cubs, Candy this time it was said, had misheard his name and told the rest of the room his name was morose, which in time, suited the horse well, as he was every bit of that. Amber turned and looked up into the horse’s mean eyes. She hated him, but if their purposes were similar, she’d work with him to get rid of snowy half tail.
“how shall we do it Morose?” Amber asked. The horse’s eyes fastened onto the snow tigress in question.
“I could always kick her to death,” he offered, “she can’t move very well, and I can at least walk.” Leo, on hearing this, rolled onto his paws, growling and snarling.
“Oh dear,” Morose said, “we’ve upset the big cat, I’m so scared!” Leo noted Morose’s mocking tone. Snowy meanwhile, had given up trying to massage Leo, fighting to ignore the talk around her, for she’d seen the black sacks, and the black bin of which Amber and Morose spoke. Terrified, snowy lay on her rug, wondering what was going to happen to her. Leo hadn’t finished however.
“You should be scared Morose,” Leo replied softly, “for I am larger, stronger, and more angry than you will ever get! I want your stuffing horse!” With that he launched himself at Morose, accidentally stepping on Snowy’s left forepaw as he did so. Snowy squealed with pain, but Leo was angry, and hardly heeded her. Flying at Morose, Leo landed with his forepaws clasped round the horse’s neck. Twisting his body, Leo brought the horse down. Leaning on him, Leo roared into Morose’s face.
“You are a horrible creature!” Leo yelled. Morose finally felt fear, for the lion was massive, heavy, and very angry!
“Let me go!” Morose pleaded.
“No, I won’t!” Leo snarled, “you know what we lions can do, for you’ve seen Clarence give punishment. I am larger than he is, stronger than he is, and more experienced than he is. I can rip your stuffing out and hang your skin from a flagpole without effort. Also, I will do the same for Amber too, for I hate her almost as much as I hate you horse!” Amber whimpered with fear. Snowy, realising what was going on, buried her face in her paws and began to cry quietly, in case she alerted Amber. Tigger and Arki watched, and Now Brunetta, who’d been woken by Leo’s attack on Morose, watched also, fascinated by Leo’s sudden change into a raging fury.
“Snowy half tail stays,” Leo growled, “it’s not my wish for her to go, if anything Morose,, you should leave, for you got your place here by lies and deception. You are a horrid, spiteful creature, who while being disabled yourself, give disabled animals a bad name!” Morose knew he looked worse than snowy half tail, his body twisted and eyes misaligned. He knew he was a physical wreck, but he thought Snowy worse than himself. He wanted to take revenge on those whom he thought had a better life than he did, which was everybody. Maurice, or Morose could have had a good life, but he’d chosen the path of making other animals lives hell, and now could not go back. He knew the other animals didn’t care what he looked like, and would take him as they found him, but Morose hated everybody in the room, including Amber, whom he’d sided with. He wanted to cause maximum trouble, and thought he could do so easily. Morose was now learning that even though Snowy was clumsy, had large paws, was thrown out of her family shortly after birth, and had health problems, she was still respected by most of the animals who lived in the house, and also, despite her earlier misdeeds, she was able to redeem herself to emerge with her standing in the community almost undamaged. Morose hated Snowy for this, in his view, a misfit like her should never be allowed to redeem herself like snowy had apparently done. Morose made the mistake of airing his views to Leo, who cuffed him hard across the side of his head with his paw. Morose squealed with pain!
“You should be banished from here!” Leo yelled, almost weeping with rage, “I will make sure you are banished from here!” Leo kicked the horse to his feet, and then out into the hallway. Leo knew Morose was light, in fact Leo was twice the weight of the horse he was attacking. Leo Suddenly felt someone arrive beside him. It was the furball!
“Both of us Leo,” The furball said, “I might have made mistakes in the past, but I never wanted Snowy dead. I’m now regretting wanting Candy dead too. Shadow has spoken sternly to me about my conduct, and I want to make amends. If dealing with Morose will go some way to doing this, I will help you gladly. Leo looked over at the huge polar bear.
“Any help gratefully received,” the lion replied. The furball and Leo worked their forepaws beneath Morose’s belly and lifted him off his feet, hefting him over the banister and letting him fall down the stairs! Morose screamed as he fell, crashing and tumbling. Leo wasn’t sure if the horse would survive the fall, for he knew how steep the stairs were. The furball looked at Leo and smiled:
“One nasty creature dealt with,” he said. Leo nodded, but looked unhappy.
“I didn’t want to do that,” he said, “I hate doing things like that.” The furball returned to the study, while Leo returned to the bedroom. Tigger and Arki met him, and each hugged Leo tightly. Tigger and his cub each hugged Leo, the cub working his paws into Leo’s mane while he hugged the lion. Leo hugged the cub tightly. He massaged the cub’s paws, the cub laughing as Leo’s paws inadvertently tickled his. Tigger watched his cub and Leo’s interaction.
“He’s as comfortable with you as he is with me,” Tigger said. Leo smiled and rubbed the cub’s paw with his. The cub buried his head in Leo’s mane.
“that’s wonderful to see,” Arki said. Leo purred contentedly as the tiger cub snuggled up to him. Leo tickled the cub’s paws, the cub waving his paws in the air as Leo tickled him. Arki laughed helplessly, grateful to let off steam after the anxious times before.
Meanwhile, Morose lay at the bottom of the stairs, his body bruised and battered. He knew he’d blown his chances totally and would be out of the house as soon as the boss heard what he’d proposed.
Soothing shattered nerves
Morose realised his time was up. Struggling to his feet, he staggered up the stairs to have one last go at snowy Half tail. Entering the room he was stopped by Arki, who, snarling, threw herself at him! Landing on his back, she walloped him round the head, Morose collapsing onto the floor semi conscious.
“You listen to me horse,” Arki yelled at the dazed animal, “there are more animals looking out for snowy than ever looked out for you! Every adult, every cub, even the unborn cubs of all the animals are looking out for snowy! You picked the wrong target! Now we will kill you, and hang the consequences!” Arki levered herself off Morose, and Leo looked down at the disgraced horse.
“We were willing to give you a home, to protect you. Now though, you deserve nothing Morose, you have violated our laws and attacked one of those towards whom we hold great affection. Worse still, you offered to kill snowy half tail for Amber. Amber herself will be punished for her part in the crimes against snowy Half tail, but she will still have a home here due to her having cubs here. She understands this, and knows that she has to thank her cubs for being allowed to stay. We will try to reform her. Amber’s hatred towards Snowy is unfounded, and she will soon realise this I’m sure. You however hate Snowy for no other reason than she looks strange. Her blue eyes, big paws and shortened tail are her endearing physical features as far as some animals are concerned. But most of all, they see what’s inside her, a gentle, loving snow tigress, who had her problems, but is now coming through them. You Morose, you wanted snowy dead! Amber also wanted this, and in some ways, her punishment will be the greater because of her masterminding the whole thing. You will be asked to leave, and be banished from the house forever. The boss will let me do this, as he knows what you are, he took you in on your record, which was a false one. Now he has told me he will let us deal with you in the way we feel fit. It is down to us whether you live or die Morose.” Leo said.
“Snowy is a horrid creature!” Morose whinnied.
“We know that’s how you feel,” Tigger replied, “now Morose, you will get to your filthy hooves, Hooves which not even the capybara would clean if you asked them, and leave this place. If you are not out of the door within one minute, I give Leo permission to throw you down the stairs and leap on top of you, beating you until you are senseless or dead, Whichever comes first. Morose staggered to his feet and left the room, Leo following close behind.
“let him have his space Leo,” Arki warned, “we have to be fair to him, for we are a fair and just community.”
“I hate you snowy, you disgusting genetic freak!” Morose yelled. Snowy, still crying, didn’t reply to his parting shot. When Leo had followed Morose down the street and made sure he wasn’t coming back, he returned to the house, firmly closed the door, and padded up the stairs to where Snowy lay on her rug. Lying down beside her, Leo took Snowy’s paw in his and began to stroke it. Snowy, still sobbing, turned her head and looked at him through her tears.
“He’s gone,” Leo whispered to her, gently squeezing her paw, “Morose has been banished from this house, never to return.”
“Amber though,” snowy sniffed, “she’s the one who cooked all this up. She must be punished too.” Leo looked over at Amber.
“She will be punished, and snowy, you will punish her. Just be kind to her cubs, and to the cubs of other animals as you’ve done before. Amber’s punishment will be painful for her, but not in the way Morose’s was. Amber will learn, because her hatred towards you is born of misguided notion. She thinks you are bitter and twisted deep down, that you can’t possibly be the kind tigress everyone sees every day. She’s waiting for the time when your true nature comes to the fore.”
“My true nature?” Snowy asked bewildered, “but this is my true nature! Leo, Please believe me! I’m the one who looked after Brushtail when she was a cub, I’m the one who looked after Whitie and Blanche, who laid down my life for Whitie when Bruin attacked her!” Leo had heard all about Snowy’s run in with Bruin.
“I know, I know!” Leo replied, “snowy, I don’t doubt you, but Amber does. Show her over these next few weeks and months who the real Snowy is.”
“she can see the real Snowy every day, the paw masseur is me! I am the one who comforted Theo, I’m the one who looked after Tembi when she was lonely! this is the real snowy half tail!” Snowy yelled. snowy began to gasp for air as her distress mounted. Panting, she covered her face with her paws.
“I can’t do any more than I’m doing Leo, I can’t!” She gasped. Coughing convulsively, Snowy fought for breath. Once she’d calmed down and her breathing was easier, she lay down properly, her whole body weak from the fight for air. Struggling to regulate her breathing, snowy closed her eyes.
Feeling a paw on hers, snowy opened her eyes and looked at what was touching her paw. Tigger’s tiny adopted cub was stroking her paw with his tiny one. Snowy hadn’t met the tiny cub, and looked closely at him.
“I can see you’re interested in me,” the cub said, “go on snowy, take a look at me. From my ears to the soles of my paws, I don’t mind. First though, Would you hug me?” snowy looked desperately round for Tigger, but he was nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t see if he was willing to let her touch his cub or not, so she’d have to take the chance.
“Are you sure you want to be hugged by a snow tigress with fat paws little cub?” snowy asked. The tiger cub smiled:
“Either you hug me,” he said, stepping closer and trying to hug snowy, “Or I’ll hug you.” Snowy felt the cub’s paws try to embrace her, and the feeling of the cub’s paws on her neck fur brought tears to her eyes.
“You can’t hug me little’n,” she sniffed, “you’re not large enough to-do that yet.”
“But I want to,” the cub replied, “Snowy, please, if I can’t hug you in the normal way, show me another way that I can.” Snowy, her vision blurred by tears, took the tiny cub in her paws.
“Okay little cub,” she replied, “why not come and lie between my forepaws? That’s it. Now take my right forepaw in both of yours, and I will hold you with my left.” The cub lay down on his chest with one of his forepaws on top of Snowy’s right forepaw, the other beneath her paw, his pads touching hers.
“Like this?” He asked. Snowy nodded, smiling.
“Now,” she said, If I bring my left forepaw off the rug, what happens?”
“You can hug me like I want you to, and I can hug you as best I can!” the tiger cub said excitedly.
“Yes little cub,” snowy said, bending her left foreleg until her paw touched the cub’s back. Then she drew her paw down his back, feeling the cub shiver with pleasure as her pads ruffled his fur.
“And if I lift a hind paw,” the cub said, “and you snowy put your forepaw pads upwards on the rug, I can place my hind paw in your paw, then if you could stroke my paw, I’d like that a great deal. Snowy did as the cub asked, and soon she had his tiny left hind paw in her left forepaw, the cub drumming with his toes on her pads. Snowy laughed, drawing the cub close to her.
“Now you can hold my paw, and I can hold yours,” snowy said. The cub looked at her.
“I like this,” he said, “please stroke my paw Snowy.” Snowy did as the cub asked, and he was soon purring contentedly.
“I knew you weren’t the horrid tigress Morose said you were,” the cub mewed. Snowy stroked the cub’s tiny paw, concentrating on her work. The cub rubbed back against her paw, drumming even faster on her pads with his toes, snowy grinning at him.
“Keep those toes still little’n,” she said gently, “and enjoy the massage.” The cub released Snowy’s paw and rolled onto his back.
“now you can massage all four of my paws!” he said. Arki looked sternly at the tiger cub.
“Please snowy, would you massage my paws?” the cub asked, catching Arki’s eye. Snowy, smiling broadly, began her work afresh, stroking all four of the tiny tiger cub’s paws.
“Do you think that’s the mark of a spiteful, vindictive tigress Amber?” Leo asked. Amber mewed that she knew she’d done wrong, that she hadn’t a hope of seeing the back of snowy, and that she was silly to even think of employing morose. Amber looked at Snowy, still stroking the tiny left forepaw of Tigger’s cub. She’d not seen Tigger’s adopted cub up close, and he was tiny, everything about him was miniature, from his ears, right down to the three tiny pads on the sole of each miniature paw. Snowy was impossibly massive when compared to the cub she was stroking, and Amber could see for herself, the cub wasn’t the least bit concerned Snowy might hurt him. Letting her stroke and massage his paws as she wished, willingly giving her whichever paw she wanted to work on, and purring throughout for good measure.
“I never want this to end,” the cub mewed.
“neither do I little one,” snowycried, her tears born of joy and relief. Snowy, now working by touch alone, as tears obscured her vision.
“I want to stroke your paws now snowy!” the cub mewed. Arki raised a paw in the tiger cub’s direction, and he, like before, changed his form of address.
“can I stroke your paws later Snowy?” snowy half tail laughed at the cub’s reaction to Arki’s signals.
“he must learn manners,” Arki said, “he knows how to be polite, but he forgets himself sometimes.”
“He’s also only a young cub Arki,” snowy sniffed, “don’t be too hard on him.” Arki patted Snowy’s shoulder with one padded white paw.
“he’s a wonderful cub snowy,” Arki said, “you have found a good friend there.” Snowy looked down at the tiger cub, who looked back at her.
“You can stroke my paws little one,” she said, “I would be delighted to let you do that.”
“Like Tilly does?” The cub asked.
“He’s learned a lot already,” Brushtail said, “Tilly’s been teaching him, they’ve been practising on each other for hours on end! I can’t separate them!” the tiny tiger cub and Tilly laughed helplessly at the vixen’s words.
“We even asked Clarence to let us stroke his paws,” the tiger cub mewed, “and he did. He liked it too!” snowy smiled at the tiny cub.
“that’s wonderful,” she said.
“Brushtail hid her head, for she knew what was coming.
“We even stroked Brushtail’s paws,” The cub mewed, “tickled them too we did!” Brushtail, now hiding her face in her forepaws, nodded:
“they tickled my paws the little scoundrels!” she wined, “I was enjoying the massage when first Tilly tickled my left forepaw, then the tiger cub my right hind! I could have walloped them both!” snowy saw Brushtail’s eyes were sparkling with delight. She’d enjoyed the change of plan as much as the cubs had.
“Of course, we wouldn’t tickle Clarence’s paws the way we did mum’s,” Tilly said, joining in with the conversation, “his paws are too big! Have you seen how big his paws are snowy? They’re massive!”
“I wish someone would stroke my paws,” Leo said. Brushtail, Tilly and the tiger cub looked at him.
“No way!” Tilly barked, “you’ve got huge paws, even bigger than Clarence’s! We’re not massaging those without you being tied down, and each paw held by two adult animals. You’re too big Leo!”
“I’ll stroke your paws Leo,~” Whitie said.
“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” Amber snapped.
“I will, and you’re going to do nothing to stop me!” Whitie replied, crawling away from Amber’s side. Amber tried to follow her cub, but Stifftail stopped her.
“Let her go,” he said. Whitie crawled up to Leo, who rolled onto his side and extended a forepaw towards her. When Whitie’s paw touched his, Leo relaxed. Whitie began to stroke Leo’s paw, the lion closing his eyes and beginning to purr with contentment.
“Now tickle the pads of his paw Whitie,” Tilly whispered. Leo’s free forepaw shot out and the lion soon had the toes of his huge paw entwined in the scruff of Tilly’s neck.
“I heard that,” Leo growled softly. Tilly began to shake with fear.
“I didn’t mean it Leo, honestly!” The fox cub pleaded.
“You meant it all right!” Brushtail barked, “Tilly, what you are doing is serious work! You can’t just tickle the paws of any animal on whom you are working! You mustn’t do that again, nor incite others to do so. I hope Whitie’s of sound enough character that she wouldn’t have carried out your instructions! That behaviour is how we lose customers!”
“I don’t mind cubs tickling my paws,” Leo replied, “but, please, not during a massage. Afterwards, then yeah, sure, but not before a massage, and please, let me wake fully first.” Tilly knew she’d been well and truly told off.
“Please Leo,” Brushtail pleaded, looking with horror at the lion’s paw entangled in her cub’s fur, “let Tilly go.” Leo let the fox cub go, Tilly bolting for cover.
“Tickle your paws?” Whitie spat, offended, “who the hell does Tilly think I am? I want to do this as my profession, as my full time work! I want to make something of my life, give this my best shot, and she thinks I would throw it all away for a bit of frivolous and dangerous fun? Definitely not!” Leo looked at the blind snow Leopard cub.
“You do a wonderful paw massage Whitie,” he said. Whitie patted the paw she still held in hers.
“Thank you Leo,” she replied. Leo settled down once more, Whitie working her magic over all four of his huge paws. Soon Leo was purring with deep contentment. Then the purring stopped, changing to deep regular breathing as the huge lion, relaxed by the snow leopard cub’s ministrations, fell into a deep untroubled sleep.
Meanwhile, the tiny tiger cub was having less success in his attempt to massage Snowy’s paws. He didn’t so much massage them as tickle them, not knowing the correct way to stroke a paw. This ended up in total chaos, snowy weak with laughter, and unable to teach the cub. Every time the tiger cub touched her paw he somehow managed to tickle it! Snowy, wiping her eyes with a huge paw, looked blearily at the Bengal tiger cub.
“You need to learn a lot more my friend,” she said.
“At least he can tickle someone’s paws,” Brushtail said, “I couldn’t even do that. You had to teach me Snowy.” Snowy grinned at the vixen.
“that’s true,” she replied, “now he has to learn how to stroke a paw rather than tickle it. I don’t think he’ll be massaging larger animals paws just yet.”
Trouble for Leo.
Night fell over the house, and Tembi couldn’t sleep. Shifting her weight onto the heels of her paws so her toes didn’t catch in the fabric of the sofa, she crawled off the sofa, careful not to alert Clarence, between who’s paws she usually slept. Tembi turned her paws on their sides so her weight was born by the fur on the sides of her paws. This made her movements even quieter than crawling normally. Tembi crawled away from the sofa, and then, when she was close to the door, she got to her paws and padded out of the room. Padding up the stairs, Tembi was glad her paws were small enough to fit on the stairs. Carefully placing her paws down, Tembi crept slowly up the stairs. Gently, Tembi made sure the pads of her paws were firmly on the tread of the stairs, her toes, claws sheathed, touching the riser of the stairs before she committed her weight to the tread of the stair, increasing the load born by her paw. Gently placing each of her paws on the carpet, Tembi went up the stairs, taking her time, listening for any movement from the living room or from the upstairs landing.
“I can see you little cub,” someone said. Tembi froze in mid stride, one forepaw in the air.
“Go back to sleep please!” Tembi silently implored. Tembi breathed slowly, trying to control her rising panic. Although she knew she wouldn’t get into a lot of trouble for creeping upstairs, the initial anger was something she could do without.
“Stop there Tembi,” the voice said. Tembi placed her left forepaw on the tread of the stair, her weight now evenly distributed between all four of her paws. Breathing deeply, Tembi tried not to panic.
“Who’s there?” She asked. Her answer came via a waved paw, a large, well padded paw it was too. Tembi could see the paw waving at her between the railings at the top of the stairs. The paw was tawny in colour, the pads black and claws retracted. Tembi recognised the paw as belonging to a large male lion, Leo Maybe?
“Go downstairs little Tembi and go back to sleep,” the voice said. Tembi hesitated:
“Leo,” she ventured, “I can’t sleep!” Leo, realising she’d recognised him, put one eye to the gap between two of the railings and gazed down upon Tembi, who looked up into his face uncertainly.
“Can I come up?” She asked.
“Oh all right Tembi,” Leo sighed exasperatedly, though in truth he was overjoyed to see Tembi. Once on the landing, Tembi was scooped up in Leo’s massive forepaws, the lion shuffling on the sides of his paws as Tembi had done to reduce noise. Once in the large bedroom with its rugs, Leo released Tembi, the little cub settling down on a rug, the warmth familiar, but always comforting to her. Leo knew Clarence would go crazy when he woke and realised Tembi had wandered off. He expected to hear Clarence’s yell of distress with every passing second. Leo soon settled down and fell asleep.
Leo suddenly felt something gripping his paw with amazing strength! Waking, the pain increased!
“Two can play at that game Leo!” Clarence snarled, “What have you done with my cub!” Leo tried to wave a paw towards Tembi, whom he felt Clarence must have seen, but he couldn’t wave any of his paws, what was happening! Leo woke with a start, and, seeing Clarence looking down at him, screamed with terror, lashing out with his hind paws!
“Leo, Leo!” Clarence yelled, “stop it!” Leo subsided, sobbing pitifully.
“I’m sorry Clarence,” Leo sobbed, “I told her to go back home, but she insisted on coming up here. I told Tembi, honestly I did!” Clarence had already seen Tembi, and realised what she’d done. What he couldn’t work out was why Leo was so upset.
Clarence had woken, and, realising Tembi had vanished, tracked her by means of her scent left wherever her paws touched carpet, up the stairs and into the main bedroom. There he’d found Tembi sleeping. He’d also found Leo sleeping with one forepaw under his belly, restricting blood to his paw. Clarence had tried shaking the huge lion’s shoulder, and when he got no response took hold of Leo’s free forepaw to check for a pulse in it. Leo had then woken, screaming hysterically.
“What’s there to be sorry for?” Clarence asked. Leo told all about his dream.
“The pain was caused by your paw being crushed under your weight you silly thing,” Snowy said.
“You were snarling at me Clarence,” Leo whimpered.
“I wasn’t,” Clarence replied, “I was talking to Tembi. I said to her that two could play at the game she’d played at, as she didn’t notice me until I was right beside her.
“you said that in my dream,” Leo sniffed.
“What did I say in your dream?” Clarence asked, now intrigued.
“You said that two can play at that game Leo, and then you asked where your cub was. I tried to wave a paw at Tembi, but both paws were trapped!”
“One beneath your body and the other held by Clarence,” Sam said. Leo flexed his now throbbing forepaw.
“I thought you were going to harm me for stealing your cub!” Leo sobbed, fresh tears overwhelming him. Clarence saw how terrified Leo was.
“I know you wouldn’t steal my cub Leo,” Clarence replied.
“I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t woken,” Leo sniffed, “It doesn’t bear thinking about!”
“Maybe Clarence would have imprisoned Portia?” Arki suggested. Leo screeched with fear!
“Oh no!” He wailed.
“You stupid idiot Arki!” Tigger remonstrated, “you’ve really torn it now!”
“Not Portia!” Leo begged, “Please, Not my cub!”
“Is Leo awake or is he going round the twist?” Brunetta asked.
“What I want to know is who’s cub the other lion cub is,” Brushtail said.
“Leo’s confused,” Clarence replied.
“You bet he is,” Arki said, “he’s rapidly losing it.”
“I think he’s lost it already,” Tilly remarked.
“Leo, Leo!” Clarence said sharply, smacking the larger lion’s paw with his, “are you awake?”
“I’m awake,” Leo sobbed, “just don’t hurt Portia, I beg you not to hurt Portia!” Clarence walloped Leo round the head with an open paw!
“Listen to me you bloody fool!” Clarence screamed, “you’d better snap out of this nonsense or I’ll really give you something to cry about! Now stop acting like a cub!”
“he’s as bad as Theodore,” Tolstuka said.
“I suppose being kept in a cage would drive anyone round the bend,” Brunetta said, “maybe Leo’s better at hiding his problems than Theo.”
Leo buried his face in his paws, his cheek stinging from Clarence’s slap.
“I always thought you were more tolerant than that Clarence,” snowy said.
“Inter species yes,” Clarence replied, “but not when another male lion is involved! At first I let it go, for we all are traumatised by our former lives, but now, now Leo should be sorting himself out!” Clarence looked with disgust at Leo.
“What! Is! Wrong! With! You! Leo!” Clarence yelled, rhythmically whacking Leo’s paws with his. Leo curled into a miserable heap, whimpering and mewing like a frightened cub.
“Now that’s totally uncalled for Clarence!” Tigger yelled.
“he’s a mess, a bloody mess Tigger!” Clarence shouted.
“And you weren’t when I met you?” Tigger replied, “Clarence, I remember you reacting in exactly the same way to your trauma as Leo is now to his. You are the most intolerant animal I’ve ever met!”
“I thought as Tembi was your cub Clarence,,” Leo mewed, “ when you realised she’d gone and then you found her with me, You’d want to take revenge on me for stealing your cub. I am a large male who’s come into your pride, and normally, the incoming males will try and drive off or eat the cubs of the other males to make sure they could mate with the females and make their genes successful. So I thought you would punish me by hurting my cub!” Leo mewed. Clarence suddenly felt very stupid. No wonder Leo had been so terrified, both in his dream and now. Now as upset as Leo, Clarence left the room as fast as he could.
Going downstairs, Clarence told Portia to go upstairs and see Leo, Portia only too glad to be told she could venture upstairs. Finding the room, Portia soon found her way to her sire’s side. Leo, feeling his cub’s familiar paw on his as well as catching her scent, gathered Portia to him, hugging her tightly. Portia knew her sire was upset about something, but didn’t know what could possibly upset him this much. She knew of his brother Theodore’s nervous disposition, for she’d felt the younger lion’s trembling paws, and now her sire’s paws were trembling like Theo’s had once done.
“What’s wrong Leo?” Portia asked, trying to stroke his huge left forepaw with her tiny one.
“It’s a dream he had,” Tilly replied, “it’s too long to go into, but the upshot was Leo thought Clarence would kill you as you and Leo had supposedly invaded his pride.”
“But Clarence’s a gentle lion, isn’t he? Have I got the wrong end of the stick about him? Will he try and kill me?” Portia asked.
“No he won’t try and kill you,” Tigger replied, “If Clarence even hints at it, I’ll give him such a walloping he’ll never consider anything ever again. It was just a huge misunderstanding between Clarence and Leo, that’s all Portia, you need not worry.”
Meanwhile, Clarence lay on the sofa, weeping as if his whole world had just fallen apart. How could he have forgotten how it was when he first came into the house. He was secure now, but back then he hadn’t known whether he would live or die. Clarence cursed himself fluently and out loud, banging the rug with his paws, making Isaac feel sick with the rocking motion set up by Clarence’s paws slamming into the sofa.
“Stop it Clarence!” Isaac said, “you’re making me feel ill!”
“I don’t like the words he’s using, they’re disgusting!” Tinka remarked. Consumed by his own misery, Clarence hardly heard their words.
It was only when Clarence stopped flailing about with his paws, that Ellie dared to go near him. When she lay down beside the sobbing lion, Ellie found herself taken in Clarence’s paws and hugged fiercely. Ellie soon learned what had taken place upstairs, and found herself feeling very sorry for Leo. Clarence hadn’t let the huge lion explain things, he’d just assumed he knew what was going on, and worse, Clarence had beaten Leo round his head and paws.
“You need to apologise to Leo,” Ellie said, “Clarence, you need to do it now, right now, no delay! What you have done is inexcusable! Leo was petrified after his dream, and you did nothing to reassure him, gave him no time to talk, to show his inner feelings. I’ve been talking to Tigger and,,,”
I know,” Clarence replied, “I know!”
“I will say my bit,” Ellie said, “I know how badly you took the memory of your time before you came here. I know Tigger spent hours letting you get things out of your system. The problem is that you forgot that you’d once been just like Leo is now. How would you feel if Tembi was in danger Clarence? Answer me that!” Clarence shook his head.
“I’d go as mad as Leo did,” he mumbled.
“Quite so,” Ellie replied, “so now Clarence, you have a lot of bridge mending to do, and the repair programme starts now!”
Meanwhile, back upstairs, Snowy, Portia, and Brushtail were trying to comfort Leo. Portia had heard of snowy from Leo, but had never until that day met her. The lion cub knew of Leo’s feelings towards Snowy Half tail, and told Snowy all about them. Leo looked down at his paws, embarrassed and fearful of Snowy’s reaction to Portia’s revelations.
“I wish you hadn’t told her Portia!” Leo snapped, rounding on his cub, “You’ve probably just lost me the only real friend I have in this place! I know it’s wrong to love a tigress, for I’m a lion, so I kept it under wraps!”
“No you didn’t,” snowy said laughing, “Leo, you all but told me yourself! I’ve known what your feelings were for me for ages. Portia’s just confirmed what I knew all along. Cubs are wonderful, for they tell it how it is.” Leo was still furious with Portia.
“Go away!” he yelled at her, “go on Portia, leave here! I don’t want to see you ever again! I’m disgusted with your behaviour!”
“Don’t say that Leo,” snowy mewed, crawling over to Portia and taking the now sobbing cub in her paws, “please don’t ever say that to your cub.” Leo knew how fragile the life of his cub was, for Portia had almost lost it once.
It happened one day in the zoo where he, Portia and Theo had lived for a short while. Portia, newborn then, had found her way into an overturned bucket left in their cage by one of the keepers. Finding the place to her liking, she’d gone to sleep in the bucket, only waking when the bucket rolled down a slight slope on which it was lying, and splashed into the pool at the bottom. Portia, being too small and too disorientated to get out in time, had almost drowned that day, Leo leaping in to scoop her out of the water.
Leo hugged Snowy tightly, Portia drying her eyes and laughing merrily as everything was confirmed to her.
“That’s lovely,” she said. Leo purred as Snowy stroked his paws. Portia smiled, nudging Snowy with her nose. Snowy smiled:
“You want your paws stroked too?” Snowy asked. Portia snuggled up to Snowy.
“I think that’s a yes,” Leo purred. Snowy, smiling broadly, left off stroking Leo’s paws for a moment to take Portia in her paws and hug her.
“Relax Portia cub,” Snowy said. Portia felt warmth spreading from her ears to her paws. Portia began to purr contentedly.
“This is wonderful!” the cub purred. Portia worked her paws into Snowy’s, pressing her pads against the snow tigress’s.
“Relax your paws Portia,” snowy said gently. Portia relaxed her paws, and things got better.
“I could sleep for a week,” the cub mewed. Snowy stroked Portia’s left hind paw.
“Settle down and sleep if you like,” she purred. Portia worked her paws into Snowy’s fur, snuggled closer to the snow tigress, and was soon sleeping peacefully.
“One very contented cub,” Snowy said to Leo, who smiled.
“I know I shouldn’t have said that about not wanting to see Portia ever again, that was a horrid thing to say, especially to her after what happened in the pool at our previous home.” Leo told snowy all about the episode with the abandoned bucket.
“I’m surprised she wasn’t killed,” Snowy said, “you say the bucket filled quickly with water?”
“It did,” Leo said, “I had to dive to rescue my cub.” Snowy looked at the tiny cub snuggled close to her.
“No wonder you went mad when you thought she was in danger,” Snowy said.
“I love my cub very much Snowy,” Leo choked, “Apart from Theo, she’s all I have in the world, and I nearly lost her! Portia’s mother died soon after giving birth to her. The keepers hand reared Portia, but it was clear to them whenever they took her away from me that I didn’t want her to leave, neither did Theo, but he was too nervous to put up much resistance. One day, I nearly attacked one of the keepers. I’d had enough of them, messing with Portia, as I saw it then. Now, having watched the bright box in the living room, I know they hand reared Portia, feeding her and such like. Snowy settled down to sleep.
“Leo,” she said, “I’m tired, I need to sleep.” Leo took Snowy’s left forepaw in his.
“Sleep well my sweet Snowy,” he said. Snowy wiggled the toes of her left forepaw, and Leo gently squeezed them.
“I can sleep properly now,” snowy murmured, “now I know my lion loves me, and he knows I love him and his tiny cub. I haven’t felt so good in ages.” Snowy closed her eyes, letting herself drift away.
Clarence watched all this, wondering if he and Ellie would ever be as contented. When Leo saw him, Clarence was greeted with unsheathed claws and hostile growling and snarling.
“Okay okay!” Clarence said, “I know I’m not flavour of the month at the moment,,”
At the moment?” Leo asked, “You don’t know the half of it Clarence! You said bad things here today!
“It was all a misunderstanding!” Clarence pleaded, “all that about me wanting to harm your cub n’all, that was your dream!”
“All that about me being mad, you smacking me round the head and beating on my paws!” Leo snarled, “that was totally unnecessary!”
“I know Leo, I know,” Clarence replied, his eyes downcast, “I should have listened to you. You were terrified.”
“We all have our problems, you included Clarence. I’ll give you one warning,” Leo said, “you hit me again for no reason, I will retaliate, and Clarence, look at me, what do you see? A lion who’s bigger than you, that’s what. I could suffocate you and hardly notice.” Clarence looked at Leo’s huge paws.
“Um, yes Leo, I’m sure you could,” Clarence said. Leo retracted his claws, raised a massive forepaw, curled and stretched his toes, then extended his claws.
“okay Leo!” Clarence whimpered. Leo placed his paw on the carpet, still snarling. Clarence turned and fled! Leo listened as Clarence’s paws thudded down the stairs. Leo turned and settled down beside Snowy. Tembi looked at the tigress and the other animals. She wanted to stay with them, but her loyalties were torn between her sire and her friends. Tembi decided she would hang about for a while and see what happened, and fell asleep soon after.
Raining cats and dogs.
Ellie was woken by banging on the door of the house where she and the other animals lived. Yawning, she stretched and lay back down, hoping the banging would stop. As it didn’t, Ellie shook herself and got to her feet. Padding to the door, she yelled through the door to find out who was there. She heard an answering bark from a dog, a large dog it seemed to be, although Ellie knew a bark could be deceiving.
“Can we come in?” the dog barked, “it’s raining out here!” Ellie became concerned as now not two, but four paws were banging on the door! Then there were six, then eight paws banging on the door!
“Who else is out there?” She asked.
“I have two tiger cubs and a golden Labrador with me, we’re all wet through to our skins!”
“And what are you?” Ellie asked, not sure if she was getting the true measure of the newcomers.
“I’m a dog, a boxer dog, my name’s roly, and my Labrador friend is Lucky!”
“It’s Lucy,” someone whispered harshly.
“Lucy, Lucky, what’s the difference?” The boxer dog asked, “you were more than Lucky when I found you in that ditch, “so I think Lucky’s quite a good name for you.”
“Look,” Ellie yelled, “do you want to come in or not?
“yes, we do, please,” the boxer named Roly yelled. Ellie opened the door, and the two dogs, and two tiger cubs walked into the house. Lucky, or Lucy, , looked round the hallway. “This place is too nice for us,” she said, “we’re wet through, and my paws are covered in mud!” She looked with growing distress at the muddy paw prints left on the carpet by the other members of her group.
“We’re making a thorough mess of the place already, and we’re not in it five minutes!” Lucy whimpered. Ellie approached the Labrador, she looked as if she was about to cry.
“Look, Lucky, it’s going to be all right,” Ellie said, the Labrador bitch trying not to show her irritation at being addressed as “lucky”
“My Name’s Lucy!” the Labrador snapped.
“Okay okay!” Ellie said, waving a huge forepaw in a disarming manner, ~”I hear you.”
“My paws are all covered with mud,” Lucy barked.
“yes, I was coming to that,” Ellie said, “we can wash the mud off you Luck, I mean Lucy.” Roly looked at Ellie with interest.
“You’re not the usual pet domestic cat,” he said. Ellie bristled with anger!
“Domestic cat?” She spat, “No Sir, I’m not a domestic cat! I’m a lynx!”
“A lynx?” Lucy asked, “but, they’re big cats, powerful cats, who will eat things like overfed domesticated dogs! Oh Roly, what have we walked into here? We’re gonna be eaten!” Ellie, fast losing her temper, rounded on Lucy.
“Look you stupid dog!” She yelled, “just stand there, what’s the command? Oh yes, stay! I will go and find someone else who knows a bit more about this.” Ellie ran off. Busting into the lounge, she found Rocky, whom she knew was a domestic dog breed.
“Look Rocky dear,” Ellie said, “we have this overfed boxer dog and a silly Labrador bitch wanting help, and there are two tiger cubs too, but I can deal with them. Please, go and talk to Lucky and Roly!
“It’s Lucy!” came a shout from the hallway.
“Your name will be lunch if you don’t shut up!” Ellie spat. Lucy whimpered with terror!
“now Ellie,” Rocky said, “that’s a little harsh. Domestic dogs aren’t used to big cats like you. I’m an exception, not the rule. Please, give Lucy and Roly a break.” Ellie subsided into the sofa where she lived. Clarence woke, heard the tail end of Rocky and Ellie’s conversation and leapt off the sofa to investigate. The next thing Ellie heard was a howl of terror, followed by the sound of heavy paws scampering up the stairs, and Clarence’s yell of:
“I’m not going to hurt you!” Followed by Lucy’s scream of fear as she entered the main bedroom!
“Nowhere’s safe in this place!” Lucy barked, turning, only to see Leo coming up the stairs towards her!
“We won’t hurt you,” Leo purred, Lucy staring at the huge lion.
“But, but there are so many animals here, all with huge claws and sharp teeth!” Lucy barked. Leo embraced Lucy in his paws, the Labrador whimpering and almost crying with fear. Leo purred in her ear, hugging Lucy to him.
“We’ll look after you Lucy,” Leo purred. Lucy sniffed a little, trying not to cry.
“Come with me Lucy,” Leo invited, let me introduce you to my friends. Lucy padded along beside the huge lion.
“We have a new arrival!” Leo mewed. Arki leapt off the quilt, frightening Lucy almost as much as Leo’s appearance had. Howling with terror, Lucy tried to run, blundering into Leo and falling onto the lion’s back. Lucy screeched and beat on Leo’s back with her forepaws!
“I can’t cope with this!” Lucy squealed. Then, screaming, she tried to get out of the room, but the door was closed and she couldn’t manage it.
“We’re not going to harm you!” Arki yelled.
“There are so many animals here, bears, tigers, foxes, even Leopards! Are you telling me none of them mean me harm?” Lucy asked.
“I’m telling you exactly that,” Arki replied, “look Lucky,,,”
“It’s Lucy!” the Labrador bitch yelled.
“Okay Lucy,” Arki said, “We won’t harm you, and that’s a promise. Now come and meet the rest of us.” In time, Lucy met Amber, Stifftail, Brushtail, Snowy, Sam, Brunetta, Tigger, and the cubs of the various animals. Lucy found herself playing with Tigger’s cub, who took a great liking to her almost instantly. Leo left to find Roly and the newest tiger cubs. Leo settled the two tiger cubs downstairs, then escorted Roly upstairs, finding a spare rug on route, which he spread on the floor in a spare corner of the bedroom. There Roly lay down as if this had been his home forever. Settling himself comfortably, Roly called to Lucy, who, relieved he’d not been eaten, ran to roly and hugged him. Roly stroked Lucy’s forepaws, the Labrador bitch trying her best to calm herself.
“I think they are a good kind lot here,” Roly said, “we should have a happy life here.” Lucy nodded, trying to settle properly. Eventually, she lay down beside Roly.
Snowy adopts a pup.
With everything running round her head, Lucy couldn’t sleep. The other animals in the room were sleeping peacefully, but Lucy just couldn’t settle properly. She wondered whom amongst the animals she’d met that day would give her, a Labrador pup, the time of day. Lucy was only six months old, Roly finding her in a ditch after her owners had thrown her out. Lucy knew she owed Roly a lot, for she’d most likely be dead now if he’d not found her. Getting to her paws, Lucy padded over to where a shaft of moonlight shone on the glossy white coat of a snow tigress. Lucy remembered the tigress’s name was Snowy, and she could see Snowy was asleep. Lucy examined Snowy in the moonlight, from the snow tigress’s head, to what she could see of her paws. Snowy was massive, her paws a lot larger than Lucy’s. Lucy extended her left forepaw towards the snow tigress, touching the pads of one massive forepaw. The snow tigress stirred, opened one eye, then opened both and looked at Lucy.
“Hay pup,” Snowy yawned, “you all right little one?” Lucy, her mouth now dry with fear, couldn’t reply.
“Lucy isn’t it?” Snowy asked. Lucy nodded, still unable to speak.
“Why don’t you come and lie down beside me,” Snowy invited. Lucy looked at the snow tigress, at how large she was compared to her own small stature.
“Do I have a choice?” Lucy asked.
“You do,” Snowy replied, “I’m not forcing you into anything Lucy pup.” Lucy caught her breath, Snowy had called her “Lucy pup,” a term last used by her mother. Struggling not to burst into tears, Lucy lay down beside Snowy, Brushtail and Tilly making room for her.
“Can I hug you little pup?” snowy asked. Lucy nodded, still struggling not to cry.
Don’t call me Lucy pup again, please,” Lucy thought, “I’ll lose it totally if you do Snowy.” Lucy felt Snowy’s strong paws take hold of her, and then she was being hugged by the huge white tigress. Working her paws into Snowy’s fur, Lucy breathed deeply, trying to keep control of her emotions.
“You are so tiny Lucy pup,” Snowy said, “so very small.” Lucy buried her head in Snowy’s fur and let herself go totally.
“I’m sorry if I’ve upset you,” snowy said contritely. Lucy wiped her eyes with her paw:
“My mother used to call me Lucy pup,” the Labrador sobbed, “I was taken from her at two months old and thrown out by my human owners.
“I noticed you wore the mark of the human around your neck Lucy,” Snowy said.
“Oh, the collar you mean?” Lucy asked, “well, yes, that is the mark of the humans I suppose. Roly found me cowering in a ditch, that was why he called me Lucky. Because I was Lucky really, even though my name is Lucy.” Snowy smiled and took Lucy’s tiny left forepaw in her massive right and began to massage it. Lucy snuggled closer, her tears now dry.
“Do you mind me calling you Lucy pup Lucy?” Snowy asked. Lucy touched Snowy’s whiskers with her free forepaw.
“No Snowy I don’t,” the Labrador replied, “I like it.” Snowy began to groom Lucy methodically. The Labrador pup, though not used to being groomed, less still groomed by a big cat, found the experience very pleasant. Snowy worked with her teeth, tongue and paws to thoroughly groom Lucy from ears to paws. Lastly, Snowy examined each one of Lucy’s tiny paws, Lucy now unafraid of the snow tigress, and willing to let her examine her. Snowy found scuffed pads and broken claws on each of Lucy’s paws. Snowy knew she could do little for Lucy’s scuffed pads, and that only time would heal them. She could, however, do something about the state of the pup’s claws. Lifting the edge of the rug on which she slept, snowy found what she was looking for. A nail file dropped by the boss some time ago. He never missed it, and Snowy had squirreled it away because she’d thought it an interesting find. Taking the handle of the file in her teeth, Snowy rasped the rough edge against Lucy’s broken claws. Lucy whimpered in protest, for she found the vibration of the rasping uncomfortable.
“I’ll go gently,” Snowy said, gently rasping away the rough edges of each of Lucy’s claws until she was happy with the result. Once this was done, Snowy blew the dust off the file and replaced it in her hiding place. Lucy, her claws now filed, found her paws were throbbing mercilessly. Explaining this to Snowy, Lucy wondered what the snow tigress would do. What she did to remedy the situation worked a treat. Snowy massaged each and every one of Lucy’s paws until the pup’s discomfort had vanished. Lucy settled down finally, spending the night with snowy half tail.
Snowy examined the sleeping Labrador pup. She’d never seen anyone so in need of protection, apart from cubs of course. This pup was so defenceless, so young too. Lucy still had her soft puppy fur on her, and she was so small. Snowy examined Lucy, from her floppy ears, to the pads of her tiny paws. Snowy felt the usual emotions which meant she was rapidly falling in love with yet another defenceless creature. Snowy had long ago given up trying to fight her natural instinct to protect anything smaller than herself, and now accepted her calling in life. As with Brushtail, Whitie, Blanche and Tilly before, Lucy had captured Snowy’s heart. Snowy had a lot of love for everyone, and she knew by the end of her examination of Lucy, that she loved the Labrador pup. Even though it might be considered unnatural for her to look after a pup of a domestic dog breed, snowy didn’t care. Lucy was a pup who needed protecting. In truth, snowy saw no difference between the cubs she looked after and Lucy. Lucy was a pup, not a cub, but she could easily be a cub in Snowy’s eyes.
Lucy slept on, and making sure she had a paw permanently on Lucy’s, Snowy too fell asleep.
The next day, the whole house was woken to banging on the front door. Snowy heard Bruin’s yell of:
“will you shut that noise up!”
“I need help, please!” a voice on the other side of the door yelled.
“Oh yeah yeah yeah, like you do,” Bruin yelled back, “it’s six in the morning, who are you?”
“I’m a snow leopard, my name’s Salty!” Bruin opened the front door on the chain and looked Salty over. The large male snow leopard looked desperately at Bruin.
“Do you own this place?” Salty asked. Bruin looked at the snow leopard through the gap in the door.
“I don’t own this place,” Bruin replied, “I’m not sure what you want.”
“I’m so frightened and alone!” Salty mewed, “I’m lost, I slept out in the open for ages. I was thrown out of a zoo far from here, and |I need sanctuary! I did nothing wrong, I promise!” Bruin went to close the door, but the snow leopard put his paw in the way. Bruin tried to slam the door, but the leopard’s paw was in the way.
“We’re full!” Bruin yelled. Salty’s eyes pleaded with the angry bear.
“You’re crushing my paw in the door!” Salty whimpered. Bruin spat at the huge leopard.
“take your paw from the door and then it won’t be crushed will it!” Bruin yelled. The snow leopard began to cry as he removed his paw and the door slammed in his face.
“I’m genuine, I need help!” the poor leopard sobbed.
“Bye!” Bruin yelled, slamming the door home.
“Leo watched, disgusted with Bruin.
“You are a horrid creature Bruin!” Leo yelled, physically throwing the bear aside, Bruin landing on the carpet. Leo released the chain and opened the door. Salty, still crying with pain and fear, gazed apathetically at the lion.
“Come in Salty, please,” Leo said. Salty massaged his aching paw, and once he could walk on it, he entered the house. The warmth washed over the snow leopard as he walked into the house. Shivering with pleasure, Salty padded into the lounge, gazing in amazement at the other animals in the room.
“Let me talk to you for a minute,” Leo said. Salty looked desperately at Leo.
“I’ll do anything, anything!” Salty sniffed, “You can examine me from nose to tail, look at my paws, anything! I’ll even roll onto my back and let you tickle my paws!” Leo saw how desperate the poor leopard was.
“I don’t want to examine your paws or anything like that,” Leo said.
“what do you want me to do!” the poor leopard yelled.
“Just relax,” Leo said, “you’re safe here.” Salty stared at him.
“I’m safe?” he asked, “can I stay?” Leo thrust out a paw to Salty and took his.
“You are safe, and you can stay here, I promise you are welcome to stay.” Salty began to cry once more, Leo speaking gently to the weeping leopard.
“It’s okay, I promise it’s okay Salty,” Leo said gently, stroking Salty’s paws.
Meanwhile, Bruin was getting a hiding from Clarence.
?”how dare you turn an animal away!” the lion yelled into Bruin’s face. Bruin spat at Clarence.
“That snow leopard could have coped on his own, he’s just a big wimp!” Bruin yelled. Clarence smacked Bruin across the nose with his paw!
“You remember my paws Bruin?” Clarence asked, “well, you’ll dam well not forget them now!” Clarence booted Bruin out of the room and up the stairs, kicking the disgraced bear into the spare room and slamming the door! Returning to the lounge, Clarence approached the now calm Snowy leopard.
“Did you say your name was Salty?” Clarence asked. Salty nodded.
“My name’s Clarence,” Clarence said, giving Salty his paw. Salty held Clarence’s paw and looked into the lion’s face and saw a gentle creature.
“Welcome home Salty,” Clarence said. Salty’s eyes filled with tears as he looked at Clarence,.
“I can’t relax, not yet.”
Look mister Salty,” Portia said, going up to the huge snow leopard, “you’re safe here, you can stay here, now please relax and enjoy yourself.” Salty looked down at the tiny female lion cub.
“but you’re only a cub,” he said, “how can you tell me what to do?”
“Because she’s my cub,” Leo replied. Salty accepted Portia’s words then, he had no real choice.
“Thank you for letting me stay,” Salty said.
Salty makes his mark.
Salty tried to keep calm, there were so many animals round him, some of whom he’d never encountered or heard of before. Some of the animals had webbed feet, but were not birds. Salty heard them referred to as otters. Salty lay down, trying to sleep. The animals around him watched Salty trying to sleep. Leo looked at Salty.
“You can sleep soundly tonight Salty,” Leo whispered. Salty closed his eyes, trying to sleep.
“I can’t relax!” Salty whimpered. Leo crawled over to him and began massaging his paws. Salty breathed deeply, trying to relax.
“Warm paws,” Salty murmured, “must try to get into warm paws.”
“Just let the warmth spread all over your body,” Leo whispered. Salty struggled to relax, despite Leo’s entreaties. Soon Salty had no choice but to give in, his body telling him he was too exhausted to carry on. Salty let Leo curl round him, the lion making his fur into a warm cocoon for the snow leopard to snuggle into. Snuggle into it Salty did, soon falling asleep. Leo purred contentedly, this sound making Salty relax even more. Leo felt the paw he was stroking relax, the leopard finally submitting to the inevitable. Feeling his paws becoming warmer and warmer, Salty closed his eyes.
“that’s it Salty,” Leo purred. Salty let himself drift to sleep.
Leo let Salty rest his head on his shoulder.
“One very nervous snow leopard,” Leo thought, “I wonder what happened to him before he came here?” Leo felt Salty’s nervousness, for Salty’s paws were damp with sweat, his paws shaking uncontrollably throughout the massage. This leopard was one anxious cat.
Salty slept fitfully, stirring at the slightest sound. The next morning, he was exhausted, having not slept at all well.
“What a night,” Salty complained to Leo, “I was woken by thumps, bangs and other carry on, plus one of the cubs took hold of my paw! Tell them cubs to bloody well leave my paws alone!”
“I’m sorry Mister Salty,” Portia said, “that cub who took hold of your paw was me. I thought I might be able to help you.”
“Well you didn’t!” Salty yelled, losing his temper, “you ruined my night!”
“I’m sorry,” Portia replied, “I won’t do it again.”
“Make dam sure you don’t!” Salty shouted. Very upset, Portia crawled away.
“Portia was only trying to help you Salty,” Leo said, “she meant no harm.” Salty looked at the tiny female lion cub, his anger subsiding into sadness.
“Portia,” Salty called. The cub looked round at him.
“Please,” Salty pleaded, “Portia, please come to me.” Portia crawled towards Salty, until her forepaws were inches from his.
“May I?” Salty asked, taking Portia in both his forepaws and hugging her.
“I’m sorry Portia,” salty mewed, stroking the cub’s ears and forepaws, “I didn’t mean to get angry with you. I’m so confused about everything here, I don’t know if I’m safe, if the animals here are friendly, any of that. I go to sleep, and wake to find my paw in that of a tiny cub, and it scares me! I’ve never known cubs to be as forward as that.”
“I meant you no harm mister Salty,” Portia replied. Salty smiled, giving Portia his left forepaw.
“Please Portia, stroke my paw,” he said. Portia looked at Leo for guidance.
“I know you massage paws Leo,” she said, “and you said you were going to teach me how. Now I need to know how.”
“Right,” Leo said, “take Salty’s paw in both of yours. Then, with your claws sheathed, stroke the pads of his paw gently with the pads of your paw.” Portia did as her sire instructed, and Salty, feeling warmth creeping up his leg from the paw Portia was stroking, settled down on his side.
“You can massage all four paws little cub,” Salty purred. Portia continued stroking Salty’s paw, and accidentally rubbed the toes of his paw with her pads. This caused Salty to give in totally to the affects of the pleasurable paw massage. Relaxing totally, salty drifted into a deeper sleep than he’d known since he was a very young cub.
“That’s it,” Leo said to Portia, who grinned at him. Salty slept on, his body and paws now relaxed and his mind having the best recuperation it had experienced in weeks. Portia hugged Salty, the huge snow leopard unconsciously snuggling up to her.
“Mister Salty’s one handsome snow leopard Leo,” Portia said. Leo smiled at his cub.
“Am I?” Salty asked, having woken and heard Portia’s remark to her sire. Portia looked down at her paws, embarrassed Salty had overheard.
“You weren’t meant to hear that mister Salty,” Portia mewed. Salty took the female lion cub in his paws and hugged her.
“I’m glad you think me Handsome Portia,” Salty said. Portia smiled, enjoying Salty’s attention.
“Can I groom you Portia?” Salty asked. Portia always liked to be groomed, but she wasn’t sure what Leo would say.
“Go On Salty,” Leo said, “I know Portia would be delighted.” Salty smiled at the tiny cub.
“Portia,” he said, “please, about this mister Salty stuff, I’m just Salty, okay?”
“Ok mister,,, I mean Salty,” Portia replied. Salty smiled and began grooming Portia from her ears to her paws.
Leo watched, glad his cub had found a potential friend. Portia purred as Salty worked on her fur.
“You’ve got the softest fur I’ve ever felt on a cub Portia,” Salty said. Portia, half asleep, roused herself slightly:
“Have I?” She asked.
“yes,” Salty replied, examining Portia’s left forepaw, “you’ve got the softest paws too.” Portia smiled as the paw massage Salty was giving her had its full affect.
“You’ve got large soft paws Salty, and I like that,” Portia mewed. Salty smiled.
“I had paws as small as yours once,” he said, “long, long ago when I was a cub.” The scuffing of tiny paws on carpet made Portia look round. Whitie crawled into the room.
“Hi Whitie!” Portia mewed. Whitie crawled towards the female lion cub, and it was only when she was a foot off his left forepaw that Salty looked up from his work on Portia’s right forepaw. Forgetting his work, Salty froze, Portia’s right forepaw in his massive left.
“A snow leopard cub!” Salty exclaimed, “a tiny snow leopard cub!” Salty stared at Whitie, who’d stopped at the sound of his voice.
“Who is this Portia?” Whitie asked.
“His name’s Salty, he’s a snow leopard Whitie,” Portia replied. Whitie stretched out a paw and touched Salty’s.
“You have huge paws Salty!” Whitie mewed. Salty grinned.
“Would you like to feel how good a massage is from those paws Whitie?” Salty asked. Whitie traced round Salty’s massive left forepaw with her tiny paw.
“yeah, okay,” she replied. Salty smiled:
“When I’ve finished working on Portia, then I’ll work on you, okay Whitie?” Whitie smiled and nodded. Salty stroked Portia’s paws, the female lion cub drifting into deep sleep. Once Salty had finished massaging all four of Portia’s paws, he turned his attention to Whitie.
“Lie down here Whitie Cub,” Salty said. Whitie, recognising the familiar form of endearment used by all snow leopards, settled down, rolling onto her side to let the huge snow leopard have access to all four of her tiny paws. Salty began to stroke Whitie’s paws, stroking and rubbing her pads. Whitie purred and snuggled up to the huge leopard. Working her paws into Salty’s, Whitie relaxed totally, letting Salty do his work. Whitie purred contentedly as Salty worked his magic over each one of her tiny paws.
“I’ve never felt anything like this! This is amazing!” Whitie mewed. Salty licked Whitie’s ear. Salty continued his work, transferring his attention to Whitie’s left hind paw. Whitie wiggled the toes of her hind paw, pressing her pads into Salty’s. Salty smiled:
“You are one happy snow leopard cub Whitie,” he purred.
Leo and Theo watched Salty tending to Whitie.
“Salty’s relaxed properly for the first time since he got here,” Theo said. Leo grinned at his brother.
“I think he’ll settle down here well,” Leo purred.
“Salty’s so good with the cubs!” Theo mewed, looking with envy at Whitie, who was now sound asleep. Salty looked at Theo.
“You want some of this?” he asked, waving a huge forepaw at Theo. Theo looked down at his paws, ashamed his intentions were exposed. “I’m sorry,” Theo mewed, “I know paw massages are only for cubs.” Salty grinned at Theo.
“Why not show me your paws?” the huge snow leopard said. Theo rolled onto his side, waving all four paws. Salty went closer, picking up one of Theodore’s forepaws in his and examining it. Theo pressed his paw into Salty’s, Salty smiling and gently stroking Theo’s paw. Theo drifted away into a dream, Leo watching him. Salty smiled at Leo as he worked on Theo.
“One happy customer I think,” Salty said. Leo wanted some of what Theo was getting. He knew Snowy did a fantastic massage, but he wanted to feel Salty’s brand of massage. Raising his right forepaw, Leo looked at Salty in mute appeal, unable to voice his thoughts.
“I think Leo wants a massage too Salty,” Portia said, “but he can’t bring himself to ask you.” Salty looked at Leo.
“Okay cub,” he said, playfully tickling the pads of Leo’s raised paw, “I’ll stroke your paws in a minute. Leo flinched away as he felt Salty’s paw tickle his.
“You weren’t expecting that were you,” Salty said.
“No!” Leo replied, “now if I wasn’t so laid back about things, I’d have bitten you for doing something like that!” Salty grinned at Leo as he finished Theo’s paw massage.
“I don’t know who’s the bigger cub,” Salty said, “Theo or Leo.” Salty hugged the huge lion, Leo snuggling up to him.
“He just wants physical contact,” Portia said, “my sire’s a real softy under all that fur.” Leo swiped at his cub with mock aggression.
“Don’t you say that about me,” he growled, though everyone, including Leo, knew the truth of Portia’s words. Working his paws deep into Salty’s thick fur, Leo felt real warmth envelope him.
Rug problems.
Angry whinnying and thumping woke the members of the household! Brydy stamped her feet and whinnied angrily, waking the whole house! Clarence shook himself awake and looked round at Brydy.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. Brydy kicked the sofa.
“Some bugger nicked my blanket!” She yelled. Clarence looked round the room.
“I can’t see it here,” he said. Tembi and Portia buried their faces in their paws, hoping Clarence didn’t notice them. Brydy squealed:
“You lot, you paws are responsible for this!” Brydy’s reference to “paws,” was the name the horses gave to those animals with paws, claws and teeth. Salty looked at Portia, sensing the cub’s uneasiness.
“Do you know anything Portia?” He asked. Portia looked up at the snow leopard, and realised she couldn’t lie to him.
“I nicked the rug,” she said, “not just me though, Tembi helped me.”
“Oh thanks!” Tembi mewed, “goody goody four paws Portia! Thanks for dropping me in it!” Brydy shrieked with anger and kicked the sofa with all her strength.
“You cubs are horrid creatures!” She whinnied, “where did you take my rug!”
“We took it upstairs,” Tembi mewed pitifully, “snowy and Tigger wanted a rug. They’re now lying on a rug on top of the wardrobe, they all want to be in trees and such like, and the wardrobe is the next best thing.”
“snowy doesn’t deserve a rug!” Brydy yelled, “she already had one! Now you’re telling me Sam and the cubs upstairs have a rug now? Why do they have a rug and I don’t? I’m bloody angry!”
“The paws are stronger than us,” Domino said, “they can take what they want. Even the cubs can take our rugs.” Brydy snorted and averted her gaze.
“You cubs, and you adult paws too, you’re all horrid creatures!” She whinnied. Tembi hid her head, ashamed of her part in the whole episode.
“I’m sorry Brydy!” she mewed. Brydy suddenly attacked Tembi! Clarence immediately defended his cub, wrapping his paws around Brydy’s neck, threatening to throttle her.
“You attack my cub, I’ll murder you horse!” Clarence snarled. Brydy squealed with fear!
“A rug is just a rug,” Salty said, “but I’d like one myself.” Brydy snorted and stamped her feet in anger.
“You paws have fur so you can keep warm!” The Shetland pony yelled, “I don’t have so much fur as you!” Brydy stormed back to her corner.
“I’m disgusted!” She yelled.
Tigger crawled in then. Seeing him Brydy spat at the Bengal tiger.
“I believe you are benefiting from Tembi and Portia’s criminal activities!” Brydy yelled.
“A rug did appear today,” Tigger yawned, “it’s very soft on the paws.”
“You paws disgust me!” Brydy yelled. Tigger smiled at Brydy’s words.
“Paws?” he asked, “is that what you horses call us lot?” Domino nodded, surprised she could bring herself to converse with the Bengal tiger.
“paws,” Tigger mused, “yes, I suppose that’s a good description of us, for we all have paws, all except Latoya of course, but she’s one with us, though not of us.” Salty stretched full length on the carpet, stretching his paws one by one.
“You scare me when you do that!” Matilda said. Salty grinned up at the kangaroo.
“I don’t want to frighten you sport,” he said in a disastrous attempt at an Australian accent, which had everyone, including Matilda, laughing fit to bust.
“Okay, so I can’t do Australian,” Salty mewed. Matilda hopped over to Salty and patted him on his head like she would a cub.
“There there,” she said gently, “it’s not the end of the world.” The expression of astonishment and surprise on Salty’s face was so comical Matilda couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Go away rat!” Salty growled, furious with the kangaroo.”
“I think you’d better heed his warning Matilda,” Hop along said, “Salty’s as large as you are, and looks to me to be powerfully built. Not one to be messed with I don’t think.” Matilda smiled, hopping back to her place. Salty lay on the carpet and buried his face in his paws.
“I still want justice!” Brydy yelled.
“Your rug is safe beneath snowy half tail,” Tigger replied. Brydy spat at the tiger.
“Now now that’s not very lady like is it,” Tigger mewed. Brydy stamped her hoof in warning.
“Oh no!” Tigger whimpered, “I’m so scared!” Brydy snorted with disgust and turned away.
“Hadn’t we better return Brydy’s rug to her?” Portia mewed.
“It’s not the rug I’m angry about,” Brydy whinnied, “we Shetland ponies can do without our rugs, it’s the fact that cubs of the paws have stolen rugs from us horses! It’s not fair!”
“While I sympathise with your plight Brydy,” Hop along said, “I can do nothing to remedy the situation.”
“It’s all right for you Hop along, you’ve got a rug. Noone would dare steal it off you now would they, even though everyone knows you can’t chase anything! “Oh no,” the cubs say, “precious Hop along is too disabled for us to steal his rug, so we’ll go after a horse instead!” What a load of hogwash it is! The thing was, the cubs knew they’d be able to intimidate us horses!” Brydy suddenly ran at hop along, tearing the rug off his back and throwing it over the tiger’s head in an attempt to suffocate him. Hop along freaked out, trying to fend off the rug with one forepaw, while trying not to cause himself any more pain than necessary.
“Get off me!” Hop along pleaded, his voice muffled by the blanket. Tigger tore the rug away from hop along’s face and snapped at Brydy’s nose. The angry Shetland pony retired to her corner snorting and whinnying.
“Stupid bitch!” Hop along sobbed, “she knows I can’t defend myself against attack.”
“Next time, you cubs know whom to pick on,” Brydy said, “I picked on hop along, and see what happened.” Hop along mewed pitifully, for he knew he was at the mercy of the other animals.
Leo crawled over to Hop Along and helped Tigger to replace the rug on the huge male tiger’s back. Patting Hop Along’s paw reassuringly, Leo grinned at the tiger.
“We’ll all watch out for you Hop along,” Leo said. Hop along looked through red rimmed eyes at the huge lion.
“Thank you,” Hop along mewed. Tigger crawled out of the room and returned to his place upstairs.
Leo gently wiped hop along’s eyes with his paw, Leo’s considerate action almost moving the tiger to tears. Leo finished his job, Hop along nuzzling the lion’s paw. Leo grinned at Hop along.
“Time we all settled down I think,” Leo said
. “You might be able to settle,” Brydy whinnied, “but I’m still missing my rug!”
“You’re a Shetland pony Brydy,” Tinka said sleepily, “you don’t need a rug, especially not in this place.” Brydy spat at the tigress.
“That’s not very nice,” Tinka mewed.
“I don’t think you’re very nice!” Brydy squealed, “You are one of them, one of the paws! Domino and I hate members of the paws! You look at us, and you see dinner!” Tinka laughed harshly.
“I like my meat a little more lean than that!” She mewed.
“So you’re saying we’re fat now?” Domino snapped.
“I will eat you if you want Domino,” Tinka offered.
“No!” Domino squealed.
“I was only joking,” Tinka replied, “you know, I hate horse meat.” Brydy shook her hoof at Tinka!
“You stupid mare!” Domino yelled. Tinka sprang off the chair on which she was sitting and flew at Brydy, wrapping her paws round the horse’s neck! Brydy whinnied shrilly, her fear rising. Tinka roared into Brydy’s face! The Shetland pony began to scream with terror!
“Oh shut up!” Tinka yelled, smacking Brydy across her nose. Brydy whinnied pitifully. Tinka returned to her easy chair, curling up into it and patting the rug with a huge forepaw, inviting her cub to rejoin her.
Salty meets a pup
Night fell over the house, and sleep wouldn’t come to Salty. After an hour of trying to sleep, Salty ventured upstairs to the main bedroom. Salty made sure his claws were sheathed before padding into the room. Once in the room, Salty looked round and saw a pair of eyes watching his every move. Salty lifted a massive forepaw and waved it in the air, noticing the eyes following his paw.
“Hello Salty,” a voice said. Salty didn’t know the voice. Creeping into the room, Salty padded across the carpet towards the voice. The room was in darkness, the light from the landing giving just enough illumination to pick out the eyes of the animal who had spoken to Salty, now though all was quiet, and dark. Salty could see little, as there was no ambient light in the room. Suddenly a huge paw gripped his left forepaw! Salty screamed!
“What the hell’s going on!” Tigger demanded, slapping at the light switch with one huge paw and illuminating the whole room. While Snowy, who’d caused Salty to cry out, struggled to calm the snow leopard before he attempted to climb the walls.
“I’m so sorry Salty!” Snowy said, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“How else do you expect me to react when something grabs my paw in the dark!” Salty protested, “You are a real pest Snowy! I should give you a walloping for this!” snowy mewed pitifully.
“I didn’t mean any harm,” she said.
“Look snowy Half tail,” Salty said, “you are a grown snow tigress, I’d have thought you’d be able to work out the possible reactions to you grabbing the paw of an unsuspecting animal without warning! I’m furious, feeling sick, and don’t know if I want to be anywhere near you! I suppose Whitie told you about me, as you know my name. How she could have known anything about what I look like, I don’t know, as she’s blind as a bat, but there it is.”
“Whitie said she’d met a snow leopard with big paws,” snowy replied, “and I’ll have you know that though Whitie is blind, she can tell a lot about the animals she meets.” Salty realised Snowy’s reaction to his saying Whitie was as “blind as a bat,” had stung the snow tigress.
“Do you know Whitie?” Salty asked dumbly, feeling his paws on shaky ground.
“I looked after Whitie and her sister Blanche for six months,” Snowy replied, “Whitie’s my cub.”
“but she can’t be,” Salty protested, “she’s a snow leopard, like me!”
“We’re all cats Salty,” was Snowy’s reply.
“You adopted Whitie?” Salty asked.
“I found Whitie and Blanche cowering in a tiny cave while I was wandering one day. They were so helpless and in need of protection, I couldn’t let them go on fending for themselves.”
“Now their mother’s been found?” Salty asked. For answer there was the scuffing of large paws on fabric, then a thud and the same paws, scuffing carpet and coming towards him. Salty looked round to see another adult snow leopard approaching, this one was female, and very attractive too. Stifftail noticed Salty’s interest in Amber and snarled at him:
“Keep your paws off my mate!”
“Hey Stifftail, that was harsh!” Amber snapped, “all Salty did was look at me!”
“Yes,” Stifftail replied, “but I know what he was thinking.
“Let me look at you Salty,” Amber said. Salty rolled onto his side, letting Amber examine him from his nose to the end of his long tail, from his ears, to the pads of all four massive paws. Amber took Salty’s left forepaw in hers, gently stroking it. Salty began to purr, despite his attempts to show no reaction.
“You disgust me Amber!” Stifftail yelled. Amber ignored his outburst, for now she had a new focus in life. Stifftail’s appeal had waned for Amber, he’d become as stiff in his views as his name suggested his tail was. Scowling and spitting at snowy, whom she still loathed, Amber turned her back on both of them, concentrating on Salty. Salty however, didn’t like seeing Amber mistreating snowy half tail, the saviour of her cubs.
“What have you got against snowy?” Salty asked, going straight to the heart of the issue.
“She’s a misfit!” Amber yelled, not caring if snowy overheard, “she’s got big paws, a short tail, and she’s fat!” Salty looked over at the snow tigress in question. He knew she had big paws, for he’d seen as well as felt them on his. As for her being fat, or a misfit, he wasn’t so sure.
“I’m not so sure you’re entirely correct Amber,” Salty said.
“When you get to know what kind of a creature Snowy is, You’ll soon think as we do.”
“Speak for yourself Amber!” Lucy barked, “I for one like snowy.” Amber growled at the Labrador pup, telling her to be quiet.
“snowy will protect anything with silly ears and tiny paws!” Amber snapped. Lucy whimpered pitifully.
“You look more like a spaniel Lucy!” Amber growled, “you’re not a Labrador at all!” Salty removed his left forepaw from Ambers grasp.
“I don’t like this!” he said crossly, “I don’t like this at all Amber! Haven’t you got anything nice to say about anyone?”
“It would seem not,” Arki remarked, spitting with contempt at Amber.
“Let me make my own choices as to what I think of the animals I meet,” Salty said, “I will decide whom I want to talk to! Amber, you for one are on my black list already! I don’t want to talk to you no more Amber!” Amber crawled away. Lucy took her courage in her tiny paw and crawled over to Salty, who took her in his paws and hugged her tenderly. Lucy squealed with surprise as she felt the huge snow leopard’s paws embrace her, but when she felt how gentle the huge cat was, she relaxed and began to enjoy Salty’s gentle paws and soft warm fur.
“This is so wonderful!” Lucy barked. Salty purred with contentment.
“You make me sick Salty!” Amber mewed, “how the hell can you hug a scrap like that!”
“Quite easily Amber,” Salty replied. He stroked one of Lucy’s forepaws, the Labrador pup working her paw into his.
“Lucy enjoys having her paws stroked too, look,” Salty said. Amber hid her head as Salty stroked the pads of Lucy’s paw, the Labrador pup catching on to Salty’s plan and making a huge thing of having her paw stroked by the snow leopard. Salty laughed merrily as he felt Lucy wiggling the toes of the paw he was stroking.
“that’s it pup,” he said, “we’ll show her.” Lucy grinned and snuggled up to Salty. Amber refused to look at the huge snow leopard or the tiny pup he was hugging.
“Now little pup,” Salty said to Lucy, “Will you introduce me to Snowy?” Lucy nodded.
“Follow me,” she said.
Two new arrivals.
Lucy tugged at Salty’s paw, the huge snow leopard smiling at the Labrador pup’s enthusiasm. Padding across to Snowy, Salty lay down so he didn’t look so large to the snow tigress, whom he could see could not get up from where she was lying. Snowy looked at the huge leopard, trying to hide her own problems in case he attacked her. Salty looked into the snow tigress’s deep blue eyes.
“it’s okay Snowy,” he said gently, “I’m not going to harm you.” Snowy took Salty’s left forepaw in both of hers.
“Thank you Salty,” Snowy replied, feeling her chest tighten. Her eyes wide with terror, Snowy was suddenly gripped by a spasm of coughing. Burying her face in her paws, Snowy struggled to breathe deeply, her coughing fit racking her whole body. Snowy’s breath wheezed in her throat as she gasped for air.
“I thought I’d got on top of this!” snowy said, trying not to cry, as she knew crying made things worse. Salty cupped both his huge forepaws over Snowy’s nose and mouth, trying to make a seal of sorts. The snow tigress, re breathing her own air, began to calm down.
“thanks Salty,” snowy gasped, “you saved me.” Salty smiled at her.
“glad I could help,” he said. Snowy tried not to think about anything that would stress her and set her off, but sometimes she couldn’t stop an episode. Salty knew what had triggered a flair up in Snowy’s condition, amber’s comments had upset her.
“It’s okay snowy,” Salty said. He touched her paw with his. Snowy held his paw in hers.
“thank you Salty,” Snowy said faintly. Salty hugged snowy half tail. Snowy snuggled up to him, working her paws into his fur. Salty touched Snowy’s cheek with the toes of one huge forepaw.
“That’s it snowy,” Salty purred, “relax everything.” Snowy nuzzled the pads of Salty’s paw.
“You are so considerate Salty,” snowy purred. Salty heard Snowy’s breath whistling through her nose as she breathed.
“Can I do anything more to help?” Salty asked. Snowy buried her face in Salty’s fur.
“Just hug me, please,” Snowy pleaded. Salty hugged her tenderly, forgetting she was a snow tigress and wouldn’t ever cross paths with him in normal situations.
“It’s okay snowy,” Salty purred, “relax your body, relax your paws, and enjoy the warmth.” Snowy breathed deeply, struggling to relax her paws.
“that’s it Snowy,” Salty said, stroking Snowy’s paw with his.
Dawn arrived some time during Salty and snowy half tail’s encounter. Snowy let Salty hold her paw in his, the snow tigress enjoying the large male snow leopard’s company.
“let those paws relax snowy,” Salty mewed. Snowy totally let go, letting Salty take the full weight of her head on his shoulder.
“that’s it snowy,” Salty said. Snowy felt the tension draining from her, and soon she was asleep. Salty lay with Snowy’s head on his shoulder, enjoying her proximity.
Loud banging on the door woke Salty. Surfacing, he felt snowy wake with a start, fighting madly to free her paw from his!
“What’s all that rumpus!” Snowy demanded shrilly.
“It’s okay snowy,” Salty said, holding on tightly to the snow tigress’s paw, “it’s only someone at the door. A yell of:
“Get upstairs both of you! We don’t like white tigers and raccoon cats down here!” followed by the rapidly approaching sound of scuffing of paws on carpet, announced the fact that someone, it sounded like Bruin from the yell of disgust, had opened the door to two more homeless and needy creatures. Salty knew what Bruin meant by white tigers, but what the hell was a raccoon cat? The paws were very close now, and Salty, along with everyone else, turned to see what was approaching. A white tiger padded into the room, followed by a smaller cat, with the tail markings of a raccoon. Salty waved his free paw at the two newcomers.
“come in, lie down,” he invited.
“Who the hell does he think he is!” Amber complained, “lord of the manner? I’ll have you know Salty, you’ve only been here for two weeks! I’ve been here for ages, so I should say who lies down in here!”
“I’ve been here longer than any of you, so if we’re arguing,” Snowy said, “it should be me who says who stays.” This shut amber up sharpish, for she couldn’t argue with snowy on this one. The white tiger and so called raccoon cat padded into the room, settling down beside Salty. The huge snow leopard looked them over.
“I can see one of you is a snow tiger, but, if you don’t mind me asking, the cat with the racoon tail, what are you?” the cat with the raccoon like tail markings nervously looked up into Salty’s face.
“I’m an ocelot,” the cat said, “I’m no threat to anyone here, I know the rules! I was told them by Constance, who directed us here when she found me and my friend wandering through the forest. We’ve run away from persecution. I was wanted for my fur, and my snowy friend for his body. Apparently bits of tigers are prized as delicacies by certain humans. We ran! Now we’re here, and we hope safe.”
“If we’re not safe here,” the snow tiger said, “I’ll strangle that animal with the stripy face! She swore on her life we’d be safe here, and her life she will give if she’s wrong!” The ocelot motioned with his paw in an attempt to calm the frightened tiger.
“Don’t you wave that bloody paw at me!” the tiger snarled, “you wave that paw one more time I’ll crush it!” the ocelot mewed an apology.
“another thing,” the tiger snapped, “as for me being your friend, I’m not! I only tagged along with you until I was safe, now you can get stuffed racoon tail! You’re just an oversized domestic cat!” the ocelot looked hurt, and well he might.
“After digging you out of the trap, and everything else,” he mewed, “that’s how you repay me is it?” the tiger spat in the ocelot’s face.
“I don’t know why I even agreed to being dug out of that trap,” the white tiger snapped, “I hate racoon cats!” Salty thought the snow tiger very manipulative and ungrateful.
“So you met when one of you dug the other out of a trap?” he asked.
“We did,” the ocelot replied, now very upset, “I thought the tiger wanted to be rescued. I put myself in danger for him! I don’t want praise, but to be insulted and degraded is too much after everything that’s happened!” The ocelot turned and stormed from the room, only to meet Bruin coming up the stairs.
“You stay there!” the brown bear commanded. The ocelot looked round him. He had no way out.
“I don’t want to be here if I’m going to cause trouble,” he mewed.
Meanwhile, Snowy was dealing out justice to the male snow tiger. Spanking him about his head with a huge forepaw, she told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of him, his attitude, behaviour and views.
“You used the ocelot’s gentle nature to your advantage you horrid creature!” Snowy screamed.
“He’s a horrid animal!” the snow tiger yelled, “I got what I wanted, and now he can get lost!”
Bruin approached the ocelot, belting the unsuspecting cat over the nose with his paw!
“That hurt!” the ocelot mewed, “what have I done to deserve that!”
“You are disgusting!” Bruin yelled, “You are a horrid creature! How could you impersonate a raccoon!”
“My tail’s marked like a raccoon’s, but I am not a raccoon, and have never wanted to be one! I can’t help how I look!” the ocelot mewed. Bruin dragged the ocelot down the stairs and threw him out of the house! The poor cat landed on the hard concrete. Watching through streaming eyes, the cat watched the door slam in his face.
Scrabbling at the door with his paws, the ocelot tried to claw his way up towards the handle. His paws slipping on the smooth surface of the door, the ocelot gave up after a few attempts. Banging on the door with the flat of his paw, the cat beat furiously on the door.
“It’s cold and wet out here!” he mewed, “it’s raining!”
Leo opened the door, to be faced with a very bedraggled ocelot.
“I’m sorry about that,” Leo said. The ocelot looked at Leo, torn between fearing the huge lion and trusting him as he looked gentle enough.
“come in,” Leo said, “and we can dry you off.” The ocelot padded into the warm house, his fur steaming as the water evaporated.
“Thank you,” the poor cat mewed. Leo guided the ocelot with one huge paw into the lounge, patting the rug on which he lay with one huge paw. The ocelot lay down, and Leo began to groom him, licking and nibbling at his fur. The ocelot put away his fear of the lion, realising that this lion was unusual. Leo stroked, groomed and massaged the ocelot from ears to paws.
“Is that better?” Leo asked. The ocelot, now warm and dry, replied that it was, and that he felt better than he had for a long time. Leo stroked the ocelot’s paws, gently massaging each paw in turn, the ocelot doing his best to relax.
“You are so gentle,” The ocelot mewed. Leo purred in the smaller cat’s ear, trying to reassure him. The ocelot curled up on the rug, snuggling into Leo’s fur.
“That’s what I like to see,” Leo said.
Ocelot adoption
Leo finished grooming the ocelot, who seemed to like having his paws stroked. In fact, while he’d been stroking the smaller cat’s left hind paw, the ocelot had fallen asleep. Leo, big gentle cat that he was, found himself rapidly becoming fond of the ocelot.
“he’s so small and defenceless,” Leo thought. Embracing the ocelot tightly, Leo closed his eyes.
“You haven’t adopted that ocelot have you Leo?” Theo asked.
“what?” Leo asked, half asleep, “what was that you said Theo?”
“What I said was,” Theo replied, “well, more what I was asking, was if you’d adopted that ocelot.” Leo looked down at the cat snuggled against his body.
“My mind says I want to,” the lion replied, “but my reasoning says I can’t possibly do it.”
“Why not?” Clarence asked, “for you are a cat, and so’s he. It wouldn’t be that strange.”
“Dogs adopt ducklings, and that’s not seen as strange,” Hop along remarked.
“yeah, true,” Leo replied, “but I can’t really do it. It was a silly thought of mine.”
“A genuine thought, born of a wish to help others,” Theo said.
“but he’s an ocelot!” Leo replied, his conflicting emotions nearly getting the better of him.
“How does this feel?” the ocelot asked, hugging Leo as best he could. Leo, shocked and embarrassed the ocelot had overheard, was equally overwhelmed by the feeling he got when the smaller cat threw his paws around his neck and hugged him. Leo’s eyes filled with tears.
“that feels wonderful,” Leo sniffed, “I’m as bad as snowy, adopting unlikely animals.” The ocelot snuggled up to Leo once more, Leo hugging him close.
“Are you crying Leo?” The ocelot asked, “my fur’s getting wet!” Leo wiped his eyes with a huge paw.
“yeah, I am,” Leo sobbed, now unable to hide his feelings.
“that’s Leo all over,” Theo said, “he’ll adopt anyone who needs a guiding paw.” Leo held the ocelot tenderly in his paws, gazing into his eyes.
“You are so wonderful,” Leo purred. The ocelot could feel the depth of love the lion held for him.
“Not anyone Theodore,” salty said, coming into the room, “Leo likes that ocelot a great deal.”
“I’ve heard his snowy companion doesn’t like him much now,” Constance said, “after all he did for the tiger too. Disgusting it is!” Leo growled deep in his throat, anger flaring in him.
“You mean to say Constance, that the tiger you pointed here, the one who came in with my friend here, told him he no longer wanted to know him once he was safe?” Constance nodded.
“Sorry to be the bringer of bad news n’all, but that’s what he said,” she confirmed. Leo dug the toes of all four paws into the carpet.
“The little swine, the horrid little, I haven’t got the words to describe him! That tiger should be thrown out right now! From what I heard, the ocelot saved that tiger’s life! Not only that, but he endangered his own doing it!” Leo was close to tears, but for a different reason this time.
“I won’t have him taken advantage of!” the lion roared, “that tiger had better keep well out of my way!” The ocelot felt Leo’s anger and tried to comfort him.
“Don’t worry about him,” the ocelot said, “he’s small. The one I’m worried about is that brown bear who threw me down the stairs, then out of the house! He should be dealt with, if anyone can deal with him.”
“Bruin will be dealt with,” Leo promised, “I will deal with him later!” Bruin looked at Leo, and knew the huge lion meant business.
“Bruin,” Leo snarled, “you don’t attack my cub and get away with it that easily. You qualify for gold standard retribution for your crime!” Bruin knew of Leo’s strength, and knew also that he couldn’t defeat him. ~The ocelot felt a lump in his throat and tears pricking the backs of his eyes. He was sure he’d not misheard Leo.
“Leo called me his cub,” the ocelot thought, burying his face in his paws in case Leo or Theo should realise he’d overheard. Theo touched Leo’s paw with his.
“I think your ocelot friend has finally realised how you feel about him,” he said. Leo smiled and stroked the ocelot’s paws, the young cat turning his face to Leo’s, Leo seeing plainly that he’d been crying.
“Don’t cry little cub,” Leo said gently. The ocelot felt fresh tears pricking the backs of his eyes as he looked into the face of the huge lion. This lion was so unimaginably huge, so powerful, with such big paws, that the ocelot found it difficult, but then not so difficult to imagine him as gentle. Leo was gentle, he could see that. NO lion could have eyes like Leo’s and not be gentle at heart.
“Do you think of me as your cub Leo?” The ocelot asked. Leo smiled:
“I do, I do,” he replied. The ocelot rubbed his eyes with his paw.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said, “I want to be someone’s cub, but can I be a lion’s cub?” Leo hugged the ocelot tenderly.
“now can you be a lion’s cub?” he asked. The ocelot smiled and snuggled up to Leo.
“I can be,” he said, “Leo, I’d love to be your cub.” Leo purred softly, the ocelot burying his face in Leo’s mane.
“Welcome home my cub,” Leo purred.
Portia was overjoyed when she heard Leo had adopted the ocelot. She didn’t care what an ocelot was, as a cub, she just wanted playmates, and the new member of her family, even though he was much larger than her, might be a good playmate.
Portia named the ocelot “Ringo” as she said his tail had different coloured bands on it from root to tip.
Portia and Ringo played together a great deal, and sometimes, even Theo would play with Ringo, Leo’s younger brother unbending and actually finding he enjoyed playing with the younger animals. Always it was though that Ringo, after a day’s adventure with Portia, who’d appointed herself the ocelot’s guardian, Ringo would always return to Leo’s side to sleep. Portia gave up her space between Leo’s forepaws so Ringo could snuggle down into the warm space. Anyway, being an older cub, she often liked sleeping in different places every night, sometimes beside Pipin, other times beside Clarence and Tembi on their rug.
Meanwhile, Bruin was getting the worst of it from Clarence.
“You disgust me Bruin!” Clarence yelled. Bruin spat at the lion, a huge mistake! Clarence belted Bruin across his nose, furious with him for throwing Ringo out.
“It’s raining outside,” Clarence yelled, “how would it be Bruin if I threw you out into the cold and wet?” Bruin lay on his back where Clarence had thrown him. His paws in the air, Bruin looked a sorry state. He watched in horror as Clarence’s paw came into his line of sight, slamming down on his nose! Bruin screamed with pain!
“I will not let you get away with mistreating our most vulnerable cousins!” Clarence screamed.
“Don’t do him too much harm!” Tinka pleaded.
“but he threw Ringo out!” Clarence yelled, almost weeping. Leo growled menacingly.
“Let me deal with him!” He snarled, “Ringo’s my cub!”
“Oh dear Bruin,” Kalahari said, “you’ve really bust it this time.” Leo rose to his feet and padded across to Bruin, Kalahari watching intently.
“Get him Leo!” the meerkat encouraged. Leo looked down with distaste at Bruin sprawled on the carpet.
“Leave now Clarence,” Leo said softly, “I’ll deal with this.” Clarence knew he had no choice, and crawled away. Leo picked bruin up by his forepaws, dragged him to the front door, opened the door, lifted Bruin up so his head didn’t strike the step, then threw the brown bear bodily out of the house! Bruin flew into the street, landing with a thud on the hard concrete.
“I would have found a black sack to put you in Bruin,” Leo said, “but I don’t know where they are!” Bruin moaned with pain and fear. He’d thought himself so safe, his safety and comfort assured by the boss letting him in. Now he wasn’t so sure who ran the house, was it the boss, or the animals he let in? Bruin decided that, if he ever got back into the house, he would lodge a complaint with the boss about Leo’s treatment of him and see what happened. Lying on the concrete, Bruin knew his case wouldn’t be helped by his treatment of Ringo. Bruin had thrown the ocelot out into the cold and wet, and the boss wouldn’t give him the time of day. The boss would commend Leo for taking in Ringo and protecting him, whereas Bruin would get no hearing at all. Miserably, Bruin dragged himself to the gate into the wood behind the house where the animals lived. Clawing his way up the metal, he opened the gate and crawled through. Struggling along the path, his paws now sore from the hard ground, as he was not used to outdoor life, Bruin knew he must find shelter and food. He knew wild brown bears ate berries and other plant like stuff, so he must now do the same. Crawling forward, Bruin found himself a bush to hide in.
Leo watched as Bruin crawled away. Making sure the brown bear was out of sight, Leo slammed the door.
“now he’ll have to do time out there,” the lion thought.
Bruin hid in his bush, massaging his sore paws as best he could. He knew he couldn’t hold out for long, for he hadn’t got the skills to survive, and his paws were not up to the job of walking on hard ground. They were already sore, and set to get even more painful. Bruin settled down to think. What was it he hated about the ocelot named Ringo?
Learning how to be cold and wet.
Bruin must have slept for he was woken by thunder and rain. Surfacing from sleep, Bruin realised how bad his shelter was when he saw as well as felt water filling his refuge. Soon his hind paws were wet, and Bruin began to feel real cold. Moving slightly, Bruin felt his paws sinking into the mud. Putting his head out into the rain, he saw that the rain was coming down hard. Bruin retreated back under the bush and realised he’d have to get used to being constantly wet and cold. Miserably, Bruin looked down at his paws, they were already muddy and wet, and would be cold very soon too. He knew his treatment of Ringo had led to this. Bruin also knew that getting back into the house wasn’t going to be easy. Leo hated him for attacking Ringo, so Bruin knew he couldn’t appeal to the lion for help. He reasoned it would have to be one of the badgers he spoke to when they went for a walk in the wood. Bruin knew Constance, and Brock her mate, were often to be found walking in the wood. He knew he’d have to wait for them to find him, and that could be days away. Bruin thought about Ringo. What had triggered his behaviour towards the ocelot. He realised he didn’t know, he just hated the tiny cat. Bruin felt his paws sinking into the mud and realised he would have to get back into the house soon if he was to survive. Crawling from the shelter of the bush, Bruin made his way slowly to where he could see the back door of the house, just beyond the tree line. There seemed to be noone at home, but Bruin knew the animals seldom showed themselves at the windows. Entering the garden via the back gate, Bruin crawled over the grass, his fur and paws now thick with mud and leaves. Bruin was approaching the back door when it flew open, and a plastic milk bottle flew out, catching Bruin on his nose! Bruin yelled with surprise and pain, as the bottle was full of water, and had struck and drenched him from nose to tail.
“That hurt!” He wailed, the door crashing shut.
Leo left the back door after lobbing his missile.
“Bloody bear,” he grumbled, “how dare he show his face around here!”
“What did you throw at him?” Theo asked. Leo flexed his paw.
“A four pint plastic milk bottle,” he replied, “I filled it with water for good measure.” Theo looked uncomfortable:
“Was that really a wise thing to do?” Theo asked.
“No,” Leo replied, “but it felt bloody good”
“That’s not very nice,” Hop along said.
“No it isn’t, I agree,” Leo said, “but I’m entitled to revenge for what Bruin did to Ringo.”
Bruin lay on the grass, wet from his nose to the toes and pads of all four paws. Feeling miserable and with his paws heavy with water, Bruin crawled away from the house. Lapping water from the overturned bottle, Bruin hid beneath a bush. Now more wet than ever, Bruin used the rest of the water to wash his fur and paws as best he could. Splashing water over his forepaws, he washed his face to clear the mud. Once that was done, he used the rest of the water to wash his fore and hind paws, working the water deep into the fur on the soles of his paws and between his pads to clean his paws properly. There was nothing more Bruin hated than mud caked paws. This done, Bruin settled down beneath the bush. The rain had stopped for the moment, and things were looking up weather-wise. Bruin slept despite the cold. He was woken some hours later by a paw touching his. Looking up, he saw a snow tiger looking at him.
“I saw you out here,” the tiger said, “I’m the tiger who came with the ocelot.” Bruin remembered the white tiger.
“Have you come with news of more punishment for me?” He asked.
“no,” the tiger replied, “more to say that I’m with you on this one. That ocelot’s a pest! He’s really annoying, what with his prowling round the house at all hours n’all. Mind you, the badgers are just as bad! They are forever patrolling the house at all hours of the day and night too!”
“Yes okay,” Bruin replied, “but how can you help me? I can’t climb drainpipes, nor get through narrow gaps like you can.”
“I’ll clamber back up the drainpipe I slid down, and then get in through an open window at the top. You go to the back door, and I will let you in there. You will be warm in a very few minutes Bruin,” the tiger replied.
“You are so stupid cat,” someone said. Then Bruin saw the tiger collapse onto the grass. Looking round, Bruin saw Constance standing on the grass, looking down at the tiger she’d just knocked unconscious.
“He’s so stupid,” she said to Bruin, “mouthing off about his plans to snowy. Snowy told me, and I dealt with him. Now he’s busted, and so are you. You will have to do a lot more to get back into the community than sneak into the house and hope we don’t notice. What you did to Ringo was disgusting in the extreme, and you will not be able to redeem yourself that easily.”
“Someone threw a full bottle of water at me!” Bruin wined.
“That was Leo,” Constance said, “you must understand how upset he is about what you did to his cub. Be thankful the top wasn’t on the bottle. Now that would have really hurt. Oh by the way, nice clean paws you have there, glad to see the water came in useful after all.” Bruin looked at Constance.
“Look Constance,” he said, “I don’t want to be out here! I know I did wrong throwing the ocelot out of the house, but I hate him so much!”
“Why do you hate him?” Constance asked, “he’s done nothing to harm you. You didn’t give him a chance to prove himself.”
“I just don’t like him,,” Bruin replied.
“But you physically threw him out of the house!” Constance said, “you deserve no sympathy.” The tiger began to wake up.
“My head hurts,” he moaned.
“So it should,” Constance replied, “I have hard paws, and you deserve everything you got for plotting to get Bruin into the house by the back door!” The tiger moved his head a little and wished he hadn’t. the garden spun and then turned upside-down. Whimpering with distress, the disgraced snow tiger laid his head back on the grass.
“I feel so ill!” he whimpered.
“I’ll get Clarence and Tigger to help carry you into the house,” Constance said. Then she had another thought.
“”No I won’t do that,” she said, “As you are out here now, I will leave you here with Bruin, then maybe you both can learn a lesson.” With that she walked away. Bruin watched Constance shamble away.
“well, now what do we do?” Bruin asked, “we’re stuck out here, my paws are already freezing!”
We’ll have to curl up together for warmth ,” the white tiger said, “bury our paws in each other’s fur, that kind of thing.” Bruin was horrified at the thought of curling up with another male, but knew he’d have to do so to survive. The tiger and brown bear curled up together beneath the bush, the snow tiger doing his best to insulate Bruin from the worst of the cold. Rain started falling, and the bush refuge became waterlogged.
“My paws are all wet, yuck!” the white tiger complained.
“I’m rapidly getting used to it,” Bruin replied, “just let them get wet. That’s all you can do.” Soon however, Bruin and the snow tiger were massaging each other’s paws to keep feeling in them. The two outcasts shivered their way through the day. Night was a different matter.
The tiger and bear must have slept, for when they woke it was dark. Their bodies and paws frozen, they tried to get some warmth back by rubbing each other down from nose to tail. They loathed to call what they were doing massage, due to the implications of the term, but that’s exactly what they were doing. The massage brought warmth back to them, but they knew it was only temporary.
“We must try and get back into the house!” The tiger mewed, “It’s horrible out here!”
“How can we?” Bruin asked, “I’m thrown out for booting the ocelot out of the house, and you’re out for trying to help me get back in. We’re finished!”
“maybe not,” someone said. Bruin looked round him and then saw who’d spoken, it was Whitie.
“What are you doing out here Whitie?” Bruin asked.
“Constance sent me out here,” the snow leopard cub replied, “she says you and the snow tiger can redeem yourselves if you do a few things. Which will be spoken of when you get back in the house.” Bruin and the snow tiger followed Whitie to the back door, where she let them in. Doing their best to wipe their paws on the mat, the bear and the snow tiger padded into the house. When they entered the living room, Bruin and the snow tiger met with a reception party, who had soapy water to wash their fur and paws, and towels to dry them off. Once the bear and the tiger were washed and dried, they settled down to hear their punishments.
Matilda looked at the two disgraced animals.
“You two have done bad things,” she said, “I’ve never seen or heard of such dreadful behaviour! Bruin, you attacked a defenceless creature for no reason, and as for you master snow tiger, you plotted to get Bruin back in by the back door. Bruin will be punished severely for his crime. He will be sent out into the woods for a week, to live like a wild bear, to get cold paws, to feel what it is like to be alone. You tiger, will be banned from playing with the other cubs for the same period, and you will help the otters with preparation of the veg fish mix.” Matilda knew the tiger cubs hated getting their paws dirty, and now this one would have to. Bruin hid his face in his paws.
“I can’t do a week out there!” he whimpered, “my paws are already painful from the day and a half I have already spent out there. He held his left forepaw up for inspection, and the scuffed and sore pads were plain to see.
“how would it be if you were forced to apologise to Ringo?” Leo asked. Bruin looked at the ocelot nestled between Leo’s paws.
“I can’t apologise to him!” Bruin snapped, his hatred for the cat surfacing.
“out you go then,” Isaac said, shoving bruin out of the house.
Bruin learns a lesson.
Bruin crawled away from the back door of the house, realising he was in the open for a week. As he thought of the week ahead, Bruin’s sore pads made themselves felt. Feeling the grass beneath his paws, Bruin lay down on the grass, covering his face with his forepaws. Bruin felt the wind ruffling his fur and drawing across his sore paws. He wondered what had made him hate Ringo on sight. Maybe it was the cat’s resemblance to a domestic cat. Bruin knew a domestic cat’s underpaw tactics and scheming ways repulsed him. Bruin knew he could tolerate tigers, lions and leopards, for the house was full of them, indeed he counted Tigger as a friend, that was until recently of course, when Bruin had started being horrid to Ringo. Then Tigger had turned into a raging fury.
Bruin heard paws coming towards him, looking up, he saw a domestic cat, a tabby cat this one was, and bruin’s hackles rose. He now knew what he hated about the ocelot. Even though he’d now isolated the reason for his hatred of Ringo, Bruin still had to do his week in the wilderness. The tabby cat prodded Bruin with one dainty paw.
“Get away from me you overfed moggie!” Bruin snarled.
“Oh sorry,” the tabby replied, “I’ll leave now if you don’t want me here. I was about to offer my services to you to help you get through this week, but now I won’t, as it’s clear you don’t want me here.” Bruin looked at the tabby cat.
“Can you help me?” he asked.
“Well, I can, but if I will is another matter,” the tabby replied. Bruin swallowed hard, trying to force down the urge to wallop the cat.
“Keep your paws to yourself,” the tabby spat. Bruin took a deep breath.
“Okay,” Bruin said, “I’m sorry for what I said, now will you help me?” the tabby took hold of Bruin’s paw, the bear fighting the urge to pull his paw away.
“Now I’m your only hope of survival,” the tabby mewed. Bruin shook his paw free and crawled to the gate.
“Where do we find food here?” he asked. The tabby bounded after him.
“I’ll show you in the wood,” he said. The cat caught sight of the sole of one of Bruin’s hind paws as the bear raised it to take the pressure off his sore pads.
“I can show you something to help take the sting out of sore paws too,” the cat said. Bruin crawled along the path, feeling worse than ever as his pads got more painful.
“I don’t know if I’ll still be alive at the end of this week,” Bruin whimpered. The tabby cat followed Bruin out of the gate and slammed it shut.
“Now we’re going to find food,” the cat said, “berries for you, mice and things for me.” Bruin was glad the cat hadn’t assumed he’d eat mice.
“Okay,” he said.
“I don’t know your name,” the cat said.
“Bruin,” the bear replied, “and yours?”
“Tib,” the cat said, looking down at his paws, “I’m embarrassed. My owners aren’t very imaginative.” Bruin smiled, and to his astonishment, found himself holding out his paw to Tib. The cat took Bruin’s offered paw and gently squeezed it, conscious of the bear’s sore pads. Bruin found the cat’s paw to be soft, his grip gentle, but his pads were rough and tough.
“Now I think we’d better rearrange things a bit,” Tib suggested, “you need to get something put on your pads Bruin, for they look sore.” Bruin admitted his paws were sore, and that he couldn’t concentrate on learning how to hunt for food if they weren’t bathed soon. Tib smiled:
“Tell you what,” he said, “how about if I check your paws over, and you check mine. We compare notes, and then I show you how we can treat sore paws, okay?” bruin was up for that.
“Okay,” he said, but where do we go to do this?”
“I know a disused shed not far from here,” Tib replied, “we can go there, there’s nice warm straw, and we can stay there.
“Sounds good,” Bruin replied, “warm straw, wow!” Tib grinned and patted Bruin’s paw.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said.
Bruin followed Tib to the shed where the cat opened the door by hooking the toes of one paw beneath the bottom edge of the door and pulling. The door opened, and Tib waved his paw for Bruin to enter. The straw on the floor of the shed felt good to Bruin’s sore pads. Entering, Tib closed the door and padded across to Bruin, who was already lying down on the straw, glad to take his weight off his sore paws.
“Will you let me take a look at your paws Bruin?” Tib asked. Bruin waved a forepaw.
“Go on,” he said, “they’re yours.” Tib examined all four of Bruin’s paws, finding scuffed pads, broken nails and a lot of sore spots. Bruin endured the pain of the examination with clenched teeth and closed eyes.
“I know you’re being gentle,” he said, “but it hurts all the same Tib.” The cat gently patted the hind paw he was examining.
“It’ll all be over in a minute,” he said. Bruin hoped it would. Once Tib had finished his examination, he left the shed and came back with a stem in his mouth. Dumping the stem on the straw, Tib ripped leaves off the stem and began rubbing them on Bruin’s sore pads. The bear hardly had time to take everything in. One minute he was in pain from the sore patches on the soles of all four paws, the next each paw was being soothed by the leaves Tib had brought in. Bruin’s sore paws were soon soothed. Once this was done, Tib invited Bruin to examine his paws. Bruin, now feeling very remorseful about treating Ringo with such contempt, examined Tib’s paws with care and consideration, just as he’d done to Brunetta when they’d been together. Since their separation, Bruin hadn’t got this close to an animal in peace, and that was over two months ago. Tib realised Bruin knew what he was doing when examining paws, for the bear did a thorough job, parting the fur on the sole of each paw, and checking the pads by sight and touch. Once all was done, Bruin lay down beside Tib and looked at the cat.
“Your paws are fine,” the bear said, “but now I’m feeling very bad for what I did to Ringo.”
Who’s Ringo?” Tib asked. Bruin explained who Ringo was, and what he’d done to the ocelot.
“You share your house with lions, tigers and an ocelot?” Tib asked, totally astonished by Bruin’s tale.
“I do, or rather I did,” Bruin replied, “I might not ever get back in there.”
“I know Constance,” Tib said, “she’s one of the badgers from your place isn’t she?”
“She is,” Bruin replied, “A gentle creature really, but she doesn’t take any crap.”
“She looks that way,” Tib replied, “sounds it too. She’s one knowledgeable badger. She taught me how to use the leaves to soothe my paws.”
“Ah the old woodland ways,” someone said, “they always were the best, still are.” The bear and the cat looked round. Constance stood on the straw.
“I didn’t hear you come in!” Tib mewed.
“Light on my paws for a badger I be Tib,” Constance replied. Bruin had never heard her talk like this before.
“Tib show Bruin bear how soothe paws with leaves Constance,” Tib said. Constance nodded.
“Me still think woodlanders knows best,” she replied, using a dialect which was fast grabbing Bruin’s attention, “Badgers know what is what when it comes to treating injured animals, for we be healers in woods. We be historians too, make notes of everything that go on in woods and other place where badgers be. We no forget anything, though we forgive much. Me see how Bruin be sorry for what he do to Ringo ocelot. Me see he be dam sorry and maybe want return to house place. Constance talk to Brunetta, who want Bruin home, we talk to other animals, and them plenty furious with Bruin, and well them have right to be too. But them say after long talk, that if Constance be satisfied he no attack ocelot again, Bruin come back, but we keep hawk eye on him plenty big time.” Bruin had never heard anything like this! All Constance was saying was that the animals had talked things over, and that if he promised not to attack Ringo again, they’d let him back into the house, but it didn’t sound like that. Constance went round the houses a bit, but that was the beauty of her dialect.
“So you be letting Bruin back into house place then?” Tib asked.
“We be that,” Constance replied, “but we keep eye on him for long time to come.” Tib nodded:
“I understand why you do thing,” he replied. Constance waved a paw at Bruin:
“comeback to house place now,” she said, “You need thank Brunetta for wanting you back in house. She like snowy, but she love Bruin bear too.”
“I must apologise to Snowy too,” Bruin said, “I’ve wronged her also.”
Constance smiled at Bruin and took his paw in hers.
“Brunetta want you back big time,” she said, “she do lots to get Leo let Bruin back in you know.” Bruin could well believe it, and was more grateful than he could put into words.
Tib and Bruin made their way back to the house with Constance. Tib stopped at the open back door.
“I can’t go in here,” he said, “we’ll say goodbye now Bruin.” Bruin turned to Tib and hugged the cat. Tib snuggled up to Bruin, the bear’s eyes filling with tears. Bruin released Tib, the cat bounding away and leaping for the top of the fence, where he turned and watched as Ringo appeared at the back door, grabbed hold of Bruin’s paw, and tugged the bear into the house. Once the door was closed, Tib vanished into the wood.
In the house, Constance and Ringo made sure Bruin was settled down on the sofa. Bruin made sure he looked Ringo full in the face and watched the ocelot as much as possible as he worked on him. Soon Bruin was comfortable, his paws bathed and dried. Ringo looked at the bear’s face, having got a good look at the rest of him while he was working on him, for it was Ringo who did most of the work to make Bruin comfortable. This attention from the cat he most hated made Bruin feel worse than ever.
“Ringo,” Bruin said, “”Please, give me your paw.” Ringo gave Bruin his paw, the bear looking into his face.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you when you first got here,” Bruin said, “I can’t undo what I did, but I can apologise, and then try to make things up to you.” Ringo smiled at the bear and nuzzled his paw.
“We will go on from here Bruin,” the cat said. Bruin’s vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears.
okay. this has turned in to a story now
yah it is, a kind of diary entry type thing. *smile*
Snowy puts her cards on the table.
Ringo dried Bruin’s tears, the brown bear struggling to keep a lid on his emotions. Ringo took hold of Bruin’s left forepaw and stroked it, the bear hugging the ocelot tightly. Ringo felt Bruin’s paws embracing him, the bear trying to hug him without causing himself pain from his damaged paws. Ringo snuggled up to Bruin, trying to make the bear’s job easier.
“Well,” Hop along said, “I never thought I’d see that.” Leo looked at the tiger:
“I never thought I’d see it either,” he said, “for I thought bruin hated anything that looked anything like a domestic cat.”
“I think we’ve got Tib to thank for that,” Constance replied.
Bruin stroked Ringo from his nose to the pads of his paws, the ocelot beginning to relax and enjoy the brown bear’s attention.
Meanwhile, Brushtail had just finished massaging Snowy’s paws. The snow tigress was on a regular regime of paw massages, which seemed to help control her chronic respiratory problems. The massage over with, snowy wanted to find Leo. Venturing downstairs, she arrived just as Bruin finished Ringo’s massage. Knowing full well what had taken place, the snow tigress was astonished to find Bruin back in the house.
“Don’t you remember what he did to Whitie and to me?” she asked.
“I remember he made you fight for the life of your cub,” Leo said, “I can’t remember if I was here when that happened, but I have heard that was what happened.”
“Yes, yes that is true!” Snowy gasped, her distress mounting, “I fought, fought for Whitie’s life. Bruin was going to kill her!” Leo saw Snowy’s distress and touched her paw to reassure her.
“I can’t, can’t let him get away with what he did to me and my cub!” She panted. Snowy saw the room she was in blurring and fading. Snowy passed out on the carpet.
“Get her air!” Leo commanded, someone open the front door so we can get her air!” Clarence dragged the front door open, while Isaac and Leo dragged Snowy’s unresisting body to the front door. As the cold air hit her face, Snowy regained consciousness.
“Snowy?” Leo asked, almost unable to control his feelings.
“Let her come round will you!” Isaac pleaded. Leo looked at the polar bear.
“You’re in love with her aren’t you Leo,” Isaac asked. Leo nodded.
“I love Snowy half tail more than I can put into words,” he replied. Isaac laughed harshly.
“How can a lion love a tigress!”
“Just as a tigress can love a lion Isaac,” Snowy replied weakly. Isaac stared down at Snowy.
“You mean, mean to say that you’re in love with Leo?” He asked.
“Of course,” Snowy replied, “I have been for weeks now. He never leaves my thoughts.” Leo took hold of Snowy’s paw, feeling the tigress’s pads hot against his.
“I need to rest,” Snowy said, “lots of rest and quiet.” Leo squeezed the paw he held.
“I will make sure you get all the rest you need snowy,” he said. Leo felt warmth spreading through him from his ears to the pads of all four paws as he held Snowy’s paw. Leo didn’t know why he loved the snow tigress, he only knew that he did, and that she loved him. Leo lovingly squeezed the fat white paw held in his huge tawny one. Snowy looked into Leo’s eyes, her own smiling into his.
“You have been good to me Leo,” snowy gasped. Leo stroked the white paw he held.
“I will continue to be good to you Snowy,” he said. Snowy smiled.
“For as long as I am here,” she said, “I’m with you Leo.” Leo knew there would be a time when Snowy’s body would give up the fight and they would no longer be together, but hopefully that time would not come soon. Leo knew thoughts like this were selfish, but he didn’t want to lose snowy half tail.
“You can’t think like that Leo,” Hop along said, reading the lion’s thoughts.
“I don’t want to lose her,” Leo said.
“When snowy becomes too incapacitated by her illness, you must let her decide what she wants,” Theo said. Snowy looked into Leo’s eyes.
“If I feel it’s time to call it a day,” she said, “I will do what I wish.” Leo knew his thoughts were born of a selfish need for snowy to be with him, and not of consideration for her own welfare.
“I’m sorry Snowy,” he said.
“Those thoughts are understandable,” snowy replied, “but it’s my choice what happens to me.” Leo felt tears pricking the backs of his eyes.
“We shouldn’t be talking like this!” he sobbed.
“Leo,” Snowy said, “I have thought long and hard about my own death, for I have had to with my condition. I could die at any time, at any moment. I have searched my soul, my beliefs, and everything. I know I’ve not been very nice to some of those animals with whom I have lived, but now I’m making strides to remedy the hurt I caused. While I’m not close to death yet, I will implore you while I still can to, if the worst happens, let me go.”” Leo looked into the snow tigress’s deep blue eyes.
“I know it’s hard to talk about this Leo,” Snowy said, “especially for you, a lion in the prime of your life. You see Leo my dear, I never will be in the prime of my life, and never will have the chance either. So I have had to think of things which might not, as you are a healthy cat, have crossed your mind at all.” Leo embraced Snowy tightly.
“Please don’t talk like this!” he sobbed, “Snowy, you will have many years yet!”
“But Leo,” snowy said, gently brushing away the lion’s tears, “do I want these years? Will I be able to have a life worth living with the illness I have? I don’t know. All I know is sometimes I don’t want to live, sometimes it all seems too much to cope with.” Leo cried into Snowy’s fur, the snow tigress letting him weep.
“I love you Leo,” snowy said, “but what I said had to be said. Now you know a little of how it is for me.”
“It’s not fair!” Leo sniffed.
“I have thought that many a time Leo dear,” snowy replied, “but life isn’t fair. Some have to live with debilitating conditions, and I am chosen to live this way.”
“But your family could have helped, not thrown you out, that kind of thing snowy!” Leo choked, “they made things worse for you!”
“sometimes I wonder if my mother wasn’t right to kick me out and possibly let me die,” snowy said, “and that’s the truth Leo, I sometimes wonder in my darkest, most private moments, if it would have been better if I’d died soon after birth.”
“How long is it since you’ve thought these horrid thoughts?” Leo asked, “surely not here, not in this place?”
“Here, and before too,” Snowy replied, “when my cubs were being born and I was fighting for breath during their birth, I wondered if I’d make it, and if I survived labour, would I survive long enough to raise my cubs. During the birth of my second cub, who was the largest of my two cubs, I wanted to die. The pain and effort, along with struggling to pull in air, was too much for me. Somehow I managed to survive the births of my cubs, but afterwards I couldn’t feed them, couldn’t even lick them dry. The cubs dried each other off, then found their way to my pitiful milk supply. I woke to find them having fed and curled up to sleep. What happened in the hours between my last heaving effort to birth my cubs and that time, I do not know.” Leo was inconsolable.
“Why are you saying all this Snowy!” Bruin snapped, “do you want to destroy Leo completely? Are you on the self pity express?” snowy looked at Bruin and the look in her eyes shut him up.
“Leo needs to know this,” Snowy replied, her breath shallow, “I need to tell him, so that he knows what he’s getting into by pledging himself to me. I don’t want him under any misconceptions about my condition, for they only lead to mistrust and doubt. My love for Leo is strong, but my body is anything but strong. He needs to know the limits of what I can do, the frailties of my existence on this earth.” Turning to Leo, snowy embraced him tightly:
“I love you Leo,” Snowy purred, the huge lion weeping into her fur.
The big l
Leo’s tears dried after a while, and he looked at snowy.
“I won’t die just yet,” snowy purred. Leo buried his face in her shoulder.
“I love you Leo,” Snowy said. Leo looked at her.
“I would do anything, anything to help you snowy!” Leo said. Snowy smiled:
“Thank you Leo,” she said. Leo ruffled Snowy’s ears with his paw, something which made her laugh delightedly.
“Ruffling my ears are we Leo?” She asked. Leo smiled at her, And began Stroking her paws.
“You can stroke my paws all you like Leo,” Snowy said. Leo picked up her left forepaw and began to stroke her pads. Snowy pressed her paw into Leo’s.
“I could get used to this,” Snowy purred, “very, very used to this!” Leo embraced her, stroking all four of her large fat paws.
“I love you from your ears to your paws snowy,” Leo said. Snowy smiled:
“I love you from your ears to your paws Leo,” she replied. Leo tickled Snowy’s right forepaw, snowy mewing and whipping her paw away!
“You big bully!” she mewed, batting at his paw with hers. Leo smiled snuggling up to her.
“I think their love play is disgusting!” Tarker spat.
“I think it’s rather sweet,” Winifred said. Kalahari smiled at the two big cats.
“let them do what they want,” he said. Snowy and Leo held each other’s paws tightly.
“Shall we go upstairs to my place?” snowy purred, “it’s quieter up there, and warmer too.”
“How about if you lie on my rug snowy?” Leo replied, “Theo, Ringo and Portia won’t mind.” Theo smiled, crawling away, and touching Snowy’s paw with his as he passed her. Snowy grinned back at Theo. Theo led Portia and Ringo away. Leo then pulled snowy, with her pushing with her hind paws as best she could, onto the rug, Snowy settling down as comfortably as she could. Snowy felt the rug warming her paws from heels to toes. Then Leo, now settled himself, took hold of Snowy’s right forepaw and began to stroke it.
“I like you stroking my paws Leo, I really do!” snowy purred.
“I like stroking your paws, so that’s just as well,” Leo said smiling. Snowy worked her paw into Leo’s.
“can I stroke your paws Leo, please?” snowy asked. Leo snuggled up to Snowy.
“I would love you to,” he said, but I don’t want you to move too much snowy. Please, for your own good, why not just stroke my forepaws today?” Snowy thought for a minute.
“How about if you roll onto your side Leo, and I use my forepaws to stroke your forepaws, and my hind to massage your hind?”
“you mean you can do that?” Leo asked, “your hind paws are that dextrous?”
“yours are too,” snowy replied, ”now Leo, I can show you something.” With that, when Leo was lying on his side, Snowy took hold of Leo’s left hind paw in her right hind, Leo smiling as he felt the toes of Snowy’s paw curl round his, holding the pads of his paw against hers. Snowy used her hind paw to massage Leo’s in much the same way as she used her forepaws to massage his forepaws. Leo was amazed at how good the massage felt as Snowy used the pads and toes of her right hind paw to massage and stroke his left hind.
“this feels wonderful!” Leo purred, “the best of it is, I know you can do this with little or no exertion, which is wonderful for both of us as you don’t get stressed, and we can relax. Snowy smiled.
“you can do the same for me next,” snowy purred, “it’s easy Leo, really easy.” Leo, consumed by the sensation coming from his right hind paw this time, as Snowy had changed paws, couldn’t reply.
“I could just drift away here, it’s so peaceful, I feel so much at peace,” Leo mewed. Snowy rubbed his hind paw with hers.
“Now it’s your turn to massage my paws,” Snowy purred, “I’ll show you how.” Leo felt snowy release his paw, and he knew the massage was over.
“now,” snowy said, press the pads of your hind paw against mine Leo, that’s it,” snowy said, feeling Leo pressing the pads of his left hind against her right, “now curl the toes of your left hind paw round mine, so that you are holding my hind paw like you would my fore,” snowy instructed. Leo did so, gently enfolding the toes of Snowy’s paw with his.
“now try gently moving the toes of that paw, like you would those on your forepaw Leo,” snowy instructed. Leo did so, feeling his whole paw move as he moved his toes.
“Now gently rub my pads with yours, and try to alternate between the two methods,” snowy said. Leo did as the snow tigress asked, and found that he could massage another cat’s hind paws with both his hind and forepaws, even if massaging with his hind paws took a little practise.
“this means I could stroke all four of your paws at once,” Leo said.
“Not so fast Leo,” snowy replied, “concentrate on getting one paw doing what it should first.” Leo smiled.
“This is wonderful,” he said, “I never knew my hind paws were so sensitive!” snowy grinned.
“You will learn,” she said, “you will learn to let yourself enjoy it too, for your paw at the moment is tense, relax it, let the smallest movement do it’s thing.” Leo relaxed all four paws, took three deep breaths, then tried again, taking Snowy’s right hind paw in his left hind and stroking it.
“One relaxed paw,” snowy said, hugging Leo. Leo smiled.
“I like this,” he said, “I’ve been wanting to massage your paws like this for ages Snowy.” Snowy smiled.
“I love it Leo,” she replied, licking his ear. Leo realised he could hold Snowy’s forepaws in his while stroking her hind at the same time.
“Now we can be in physical contact all the time Leo,” snowy said.
“I’m up for that snowy,” Leo replied.”
Theo and the other animals watched snowy and Leo.
“they really do love each other dearly,” Theo said to Tembi, who was finding it hard to hold back tears.
“it’s wonderful to see those two together,” the female cub replied. Theo touched Tembi’s paw, the cub finally losing control and, burying her face in Theo’s thick mane, bursting into tears. Theo cradled Tembi as she cried, drawing her close to him. He’d rapidly grown fond of Tembi, and she him. The two young animals had stayed close together for a long time, but Tembi dared not speak of her feelings towards Theo, nor Theo speak of his feelings for the female cub. The thing was, even though Tembi was a cub in stature, she was anything but when it came to her mind. Theo knew Tembi would never grow any larger than she was then, but neither would he, or any of the animals for that matter. What really infuriated Theo was that the others, despite this fact, still saw her as a cub, not as the mature, sensitive, rather playful adolescent he knew. Tembi stroked Theo’s paws, the larger male lion catching Tembi’s tiny forepaw with the toes of his right hind as she stroked it. Tembi laughed as she felt Theo’s paw grip hers.
“You rogue!” she said laughing and nuzzling his ear. Theo let Tembi finish the paw massage, then hugged her tightly.
“Is this right?” Tembi asked.
“does it feel okay to you?” Theo enquired.
“It does,” Tembi replied, “but the others,,,”
“nuts to the others,” Theo replied.
“Theo!” Clarence snapped, “Tembi’s only a cub!”
“Leave them,” Hop along said, “Clarence, we’re never going to grow any larger, not even you will. We need to focus on other things than just how an animal looks here if we are ever to get on and lead normal lives. Tembi might look like a cub, but she’s not a cub any more. We soft toy animals are born a certain stature, never to grow any larger, though our minds grow and mature. The humans who made us restricted our physical growth, but not that of our emotions. Theo and Tembi should be allowed to love each other just like Snowy and Leo are allowed to.” Clarence hadn’t thought of it like that.
“Even though we have self awareness, we are soft toy animals when all is said and done,” Ellie said, “so we can’t grow any larger than we are now.”
“I suppose, now you put it like that,” Clarence said, “we can’t really stop any animal from loving another, even if they look like a cub.” Tembi licked Theo’s ear.
“Let’s stroke each other’s paws Theo,” she said. Theo smiled and snuggled up to Tembi.
“Though you might look like a cub, you and I aren’t cubs any more Tembi,” he purred. Tembi grinned.
“Cubs we aren’t,” Tembi purred.
Finding each other.
Tembi and Theo snuggled up together, each holding the other’s paws. Theo loved Tembi so very much. The little lioness had attracted his attention some time ago, and it was only now he felt able to devote himself to her, now that the problem of whether cubs could grow up emotionally was resolved. Tembi also had been attracted to Theo for as long as she could remember, and now she had her paw in his,, his paw in hers, and all was right with the world. Tembi smiled at Theo, Theo patting her tiny forepaw with his large one.
“I know it sounds silly,” Tembi mewed, but it’s true when I say I love you from your ears to your paws Theo.” Theo smiled.
“I know everyone says it,” he replied, “but the same is true for me with you. I love every inch of your body, and your mind too.” Theo touched Tembi’s cheek with his paw, the little lioness laughing at his antics and snuggling up to him. Theo purred contentedly as Tembi’s fur touched his. Tembi examined the paw she held. Theo’s paws were possibly the largest on a lion, excluding Leo’ and Clarence’s that she’d ever seen. Her claws sheathed, Tembi stroked the pads of Theo’s paw with the toes of one paw, Theo enfolding her paw in his. Theo smiled as he felt Tembi’s paw stroking his. Tembi looked up into Theo’s eyes. She’d never seen such gentle eyes. Theo looked into her face, and Tembi felt warmth spreading from her nose to the toes of all four paws. She knew what this warmth was. Curling up in the space between Theo’s forepaws, Tembi took hold of his left forepaw in both of hers.
“My paws are all yours,” Theo purred. Tembi gently caressed the paw she held, Theo nuzzling her ear to let her know he was enjoying her attention. Tembi purred softly as she massaged and stroked his paw. Leo watched his brother and Tembi’s love play. Leo knew their play was serious, they were in love with each other, as much as he and snowy were.
Theo and Tembi snuggled up together and fell asleep. Snowy watched them, feeling happier than she had for a long time.
“Those two are wonderful together,” she said. Tarker spat on the carpet with disgust.
“I think their love play is just that, play! How on earth can Theo, a grown lion, fall in love with a cub!”
“Tell me this Tarker,” Hop along said, his exasperation plain for all to see, “since when have you, or any of us grown an inch larger?” Tarker thought for a minute.
“I’ve been the same size for as long as I can remember,” he replied, “but I still say Theo and Tembi’s relationship is wrong!”
“Ah hang on a minute,” Hop along said, his calm tone infuriating the otter cub, “have you ever felt anything for some of the female otters round here Tarker?” There was one fully grown female otter and a female cub in the house, both of whom were older than Tarker or his mother. Tarker hesitated:
“There’s the cub up in the study where the boss bangs on his tray. She’s lovely, her name’s Emily and she’s really something!”
“There you go,” Hop along said, “you are falling in love with a bitch otter, who to everyone’s eyes is a cub. Though you wouldn’t think of her as one, because inside she’s no cub. Looks can be deceiving.” Tarker looked down at his paws, deflated and ashamed.
“I don’t think Tarker would know how to love another animal,” Portia mewed, “he’s a disagreeable cub!”
“I certainly don’t like him,” a voice said. Portia spun round to see a tiny cub coming into the room.
“Emily?” She asked.
“that’s me,” the otter cub replied.
“You are so tiny!” Portia mewed, instantly wanting to protect Emily. Emily smiled as Portia took her in her paws and hugged her.
“I never thought I’d be hugged by a lioness,” Emily mewed.
“Well you have been now,” Portia purred. Emily worked her paws into Portia’s fur.
“Your fur is so warm!” Emily yinnied. Portia smiled:
“Yours is too Emily dear,” she said.
“I mustn’t call her anything like little cub,” Portia thought, “for even though to my eyes she looks like a cub, she’s not.” Emily snuggled up to Portia.
Meanwhile, Tommy Trip and Elsa had caught the love bug too. Stroking each other’s ears and paws, they found they’d forgotten what it was like and how enjoyable it was. Curling up together, they stroked and massaged each other’s paws and ears until both were relaxed and sleepy.
“We should do this more often,” Elsa purred. Tommy smiled and nuzzled her cheek.
“We should Elsa my sweetheart, we should,” he replied.
Troubled times
Amber was furious! She knew everything about snowy and Leo’s blossoming relationship, and she hated everything about it! She couldn’t see how Leo, a huge male lion, with the pick of any lioness he wanted, could possibly sink so low as to cuddle up with snowy, a misfit of a tigress, who Amber loathed intensely. The fat, unfit, genetic mess should have been drowned at birth as far as Amber was concerned. Snowy did not good for anyone according to Amber,, even though the tigress had saved Whitie and Blanche single pawed. Amber listened to Snowy and Leo’s talk through a crack in the floorboards of the room she was in. She was directly above where snowy and Leo lay, and could hear them talking, as well as hear everyone else talking too, so she knew very well what had taken place downstairs between Snowy and Leo, Theo and Tembi and Elsa and Tommy. Amber couldn’t stand the thought of Snowy and Leo together, the idea sickened her. Crawling downstairs, Amber crawled into the living room, where Leo was sleeping. Snowy too was sleeping peacefully after their love making. Amber crawled up to snowy, grateful there was no wind to carry her scent to the tigress. When Amber was almost paw to paw with snowy, she raised her left forepaw and brought it smashing down on Snowy’s nose! Snowy woke, screaming with pain. Leo leapt upon Amber, belting her round the head with his paw, knocking the female snow leopard unconscious! Leo turned back to snowy to find her rubbing her nose with both forepaws.
“Why did she do that!” Snowy yelled, her eyes streaming.
“I know why,” Kalahari said, “Amber hates you snowy, she can’t stand the ground you walk on.”
“I’ve done her no harm,” Snowy mewed, “no harm at all Kalahari.”
“We know that,” the meerkat replied, “but Amber hates you from your ears to the pads on your paws. She wants you dead!”
“I saved her cubs!” Snowy sobbed, now extremely upset.
“I know that,” Kalahari replied, “but Amber seems to have forgotten, or if she hasn’t, she chooses to forget. My views on your relationship with Leo are positive, but Amber’s are anything but positive.” Leo dragged Amber back up the stairs to her own place, dumping the groggy female snow leopard on the floor of the bedroom.
“You remember my paws Amber,” Leo warned, “for they will do you more harm if you dare come near Snowy or any other animal ever again. Your intentions were black, your heart is too. Now let everyone live in peace. Amber curled into a miserable heap on the carpet.
Meanwhile, Brunetta and Arki were talking and stroking each other’s paws. Ever since Arki had overcome her fear of paw massage, she’d been a keen exponent of the art for the cure of everything from sleeplessness to stress. Now it was Arki’s turn to have her paws stroked, and she was glad of the massage. Brunetta started with Arki’s right forepaw, taking it in hers and gently stroking it. Arki was soon asleep. Brunetta felt the female polar bear getting deeper into sleep by the way her paws reacted to her massage. At first Arki’s paws were slightly tense, but as she relaxed and drifted deeper into sleep, they relaxed totally. Brunetta massaged and stroked all four of Arki’s paws, then stroked her from her ears to the pads of her paws. When all was over, Arki instinctively curled into a white ball of fur, tucking in her paws. Brunetta embraced the sleeping polar bear as best she could, Arki now deeply asleep.
“I’ve lost count of the times I’ve woken in Arki’s paws,” Brunetta thought as she stroked Arki’s ears, “they’ve been many and all have been pleasant.” Brunetta looked at Arki curled up comfortably on the quilt beside her.
“She looks so peaceful,” the female brown bear thought, “it’s really rather sweet.” Curling up herself, Brunetta fell asleep also.
Meanwhile, Theo and Tembi were awake after the going’s on with Amber, and discovering afresh how good and for filling a decent paw massage was. Curling up together, Theo holding Tembi’s tiny forepaw in his large’’’’’’’’’’ one, both fell asleep.
Back on the quilt, Arki was dreaming of a dark place. She knew the dark place, it was a box like the one she remembered from when she was very young. There was something else too, the feel and smell of plastic. Arki could feel the plastic bag against her nose and the soles of all four paws. It was even making her paws damp with sweat, just like it used to in the box. Arki tried to breathe, but she couldn’t! terrified, Arki lashed out with all four paws, screaming to be let out! Brunetta woke when Arki’s left forepaw smacked her on the nose. Blinking hard, Brunetta was about to remonstrate with Arki, when she realised what was happening.
Holding tightly onto Arki’s forepaws, Brunetta tried to wake the screaming female polar bear. Arki woke, finally, and stared round her.
“You were having another one of your nightmares weren’t you Arki,” Brunetta said gently to the weeping polar bear.
“I was,” Arki sobbed, “I wish I could control it! I wish it would stop! Did I hurt you Brunetta?”
“You punched me on the nose, but nothing much,” Brunetta replied. Arki buried her head in Brunetta’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry!” Arki sobbed. Brunetta stroked Arki’s paws reassuringly, and this seemed to calm her down.
Leo crawled into the room.
“What was all that banging!” He asked irritably.
“I know what it was Leo,” Theo said, crawling alongside his brother and touching his paw. Leo looked angrily at Theo.
“What was it then?” He snapped.
“Arki’s nightmare,” Theo replied, “and please don’t snap at me Leo, I did nothing wrong.” Leo looked at his brother’s face. Theo’s eyes had their familiar hunted expression, and Leo remembered how easily his brother was frightened.
“I’m sorry Theo,” Leo said, taking the younger lion’s paw in his, “I forget sometimes.”
“Arki has nightmares about plastic bags, boxes and things,” Theo replied.
“I’m so sorry, both of you,” Leo said. Arki crawled off the quilt and took Leo’s paw in hers. Leo felt the Polar bear’s soft warm paw envelope his, and it felt wonderful!
“You are beautiful Arki, and you have the softest paws,” Leo said impulsively.
“Does she Leo?” Snowy asked, making the lion whirl round.
“I, I meant, meant no more than that snowy!” Leo protested. Snowy, her eyes smiling at him, patted Leo’s paw.
“Arki does have soft warm paws,” Snowy said. Snowy gasped as Arki took one of her forepaws in both of hers.
“How are you snowy my dear,” Arki asked. Snowy felt her throat constrict as she looked into the polar bear’s eyes. Snowy fought back tears.
“Are you okay snowy?” Arki asked. Snowy felt her paw in that of the female polar bear, and desperately wanted to be close to her, for Arki to hug her. Arki felt Snowy’s mood.
“Come here Snowy my pet,” Arki said softly. Snowy felt herself embraced by Arki. Snowy let herself go.
“Even huge snow tigress’s need a hug sometimes,” Arki said. Snowy buried her paws in Arki’s fur.
“Thank you Arki, Thank you so much,” snowy sniffed. Arki nuzzled Snowy’s ear, her simple gesture reducing snowy to tears.
“come to me any time Snowy,” Arki whispered. Snowy promised she would, and went to thank Arki again, but she waved it away.
“Just remember I’m here snowy dear,” Arki replied, “when ever you need me, I‘m here.” Snowy wiped her eyes with one huge fat paw.
“thank you Arki,” she said, trying hard to compose herself. Arki patted Snowy’s paw reassuringly.
“Nice big, soft, very strokable paws you have there snowy,” Arki said. Snowy smiled. Arki took one of her paws and began to stroke it, snowy purring with pleasure.
“that’s wonderful to see,” Theo said, tuning and crawling back down the stairs, Leo following. Meanwhile, Snowy, her brain being rapidly consumed by the affects of Arki’s paw massage, stretched out on the quilt, gradually going deeper and deeper into sleep.
“Sleep well Snowy dear,” Arki whispered.
Winter warmer.
Heavy rain hit the windows of the house. Arki, hearing as well as feeling the change in the weather, crawled off the quilt to take a look outside. Seeing the rain hammering down, Arki returned to the quilt, Brunetta’s paw stopping her as she crawled back to her place.
“Arki,” Brunetta said, “it’s cold today.” Arki felt Brunetta’s pads against her paw, and they were cold.
“Your paws are freezing Brunetta!” Arki said.
“She hasn’t got the fur us polar bears have mum,” Candy replied. Arki looked at her cub.
“No, I suppose not,” she said.
“I’ve been shivering here all night,” Brunetta said, “I wanted to get beneath the quilt for warmth, but I don’t know if it would be allowed, I’m so cold! Arki! My paws are like ice!”
“I think the boss wouldn’t mind if you worked your way beneath the quilt. That’s what he’s provided it for after all,” Arki said. Brunetta released Arki’s paw and scrabbled at the quilt with her forepaws.
“You won’t do it like that,” Arki said, “here Brunetta, crawl off the quilt for a bit and I’ll see if I can help.” Brunetta did as Arki asked, and the female polar bear rolled the quilt back, Brunetta lying down in the space beneath. Arki then threw the quilt over the female brown bear. Brunetta felt the quilt’s warmth enveloping her from nose to tail.
“Grab the edge of the quilt and tuck it under your body,” Arki suggested, “so that one forepaw holds it in place, that’s it.” Brunetta felt the soft quilt embracing her, and it felt wonderful!
“Nice warm paws now Brunetta?” Arki asked. Brunetta smiled. Snowy looked at the two bears.
“You lucky things,” she said, “you have a nice warm quilt, and I’m up here on this wardrobe. Granted we have a rug, and that’s nice on the paws n’all, but I’d love to be back down there, with a quilt n’all”
“Why not come down and join us,” Arki invited, “in fact I don’t know why you didn’t stay here last night after the paw massage, for you were well gone snowy.” Snowy had left soon after she’d woken and found Arki asleep.
“No,” the snow tigress said, “I suppose I could have stayed, but the quilt is your place now.”
“You can come here, lie down, and wrap yourself in the quilt,” Arki said smiling, it’s plenty large enough for you and Brunetta to share. Snowy, always plagued by cold paws, for the affect of massages never lasted long, was tempted to take up Arki’s offer.
“Warm paws Snowy,” Lucy said, “I’d go for that any day.” Snowy looked down at the Labrador pup.
“I’ll go now,” she said, sliding off the top of the wardrobe to the top of the chest of drawers, then flopping unceremoniously onto the carpet. Snowy ignored the fact she’d hit the floor with considerable force and crawled away towards the quilt. Once on the quilt, snowy was exhausted, as she knew she’d be. Panting for breath, snowy tried to calm her breathing and heart rate.
“I hate being this ill!” snowy yelled, “I can’t do anything!” Arki hugged her friend tightly.
“It’s okay Snowy,” she said gently. Snowy found herself snuggling up to Arki, for she couldn’t resist the urge to snuggle up to the polar bear’s warm fur. Arki smiled and embraced snowy, Snowy purring with pleasure as she felt Arki’s soft paws caress her.
“I could sleep for ages here,” snowy purred. Arki smiled at the snow tigress.
“I don’t know how anyone could think evil of Snowy,” Arki thought, “Yes she’s done some horrid things in her time, but she’s apologised for them and has worked to remedy the hurt she caused. Snowy doesn’t need anyone hassling her.” Arki stroked the snow tigress’s forepaws.
“You have beautiful blue eyes, and nice big, fat strokable paws Snowy,” Arki said. Snowy looked into Arki’s face.
“Can I stroke your paws Arki?” Snowy asked. Arki smiled and rolled onto her side.
“My paws are all yours,” Arki replied. Snowy stroked and Massaged Arki’s paws, trying her best to repay the polar bear for all the help she’d given her. ~Arki closed her eyes as Snowy’s paw massage had its usual affect.
“This is wonderful!” Arki said faintly as her mind focused on what her paws were telling her. Snowy smiled as she worked on Arki, feeling the female polar bear relaxing totally. Snuggling closer to Snowy, Arki drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, beneath the quilt, Brunetta felt warmer than she had for a long time. Wiggling the toes on both hind paws created more warmth, which spread over her pads and caressed them. Tucking her forepaws beneath the quilt, Brunetta felt them grow warmer and warmer. Breathing deeply, Brunetta fell asleep to the sound of lashing rain and strong gale force winds which threw it against the windows. Glad to be in a warm dry place with others of her kind, Brunetta let go totally.
Arki too was deeply asleep, snowy having massaged all four of the polar bear’s paws. Snowy settled down herself, working her forepaws into Arki’s fur to keep them warm.
“I hope no poor homeless creature is out in that weather,” snowy thought as rain was hurled against glass by the winter wind.
Bear rescue.
Tigger looked out of a window in the back room of the house. The wind was up, and trees were bending at crazy angles. Tigger, his sight failing, couldn’t see as well as he’d used to do, and could just make out the shadow of tree a couple of feet from the window through which he looked. Tigger listened to the wind, now joined by rain. He hoped noone was out there in need of a home. Tigger, warm and safe from harm though he was, remembered what it was to be frightened and homeless. After his mate’s death at the hands of hunters, he’d roamed alone for ages before humans picked him up and threw him into a cage. Now he was free again, to go where he wished. Tigger opened the window and looked out. The wood at the back of the house looked ark and uninviting, but Tigger felt something was wrong, and that despite appearances, he must go out and look in the wood for something or someone. Closing the window, Tigger made his way downstairs and out into the back garden. Crawling along the path which led into the wood, Tigger felt the wind and rain hitting him from all angles, his paws wet from the leaves and muddy track. Tigger blinked hard to clear the water from his eyes and restore what vision he still had, though he knew it wasn’t much. Feeling his way with his forepaws as much as looking for the path, Tigger made slow progress along the path, crawling slowly.
Not far off, a brown bear, wet through from nose to tail, cowered beneath a bush. He didn’t know where he was, just that he was cold and wet, his nose and paws like ice. Feeling utterly miserable, he looked out at the pelting rain.
“I’m just as wet under here as I’d be out there,” he thought, “but at least this is shelter from the wind, even if it is rather pitiful shelter.” The bear rubbed a muddy paw over his eyes to clear the water from them, realising he could no longer feel his toes.
“I’m going to die out here if I don’t find shelter soon,” the bear thought. Suddenly he heard something! The scuffing of paws on the track. The bear cautiously looked out from his refuge.
“what’s that!” he asked himself as a large cat like creature crawled towards him. Then fear overcame the brown bear, and he buried himself in the bush, covering his face with his paws, willing the strange creature to leave him alone.
Tigger heard the rustling of branches and made his way to the bush. He found what his eyes at first saw as a log under the bush, but then, as he watched, it moved and whimpered with fear. Tigger knew logs didn’t move of their own free will, nor did they whimper with fear.
“Don’t touch me,” the strange brown thing whimpered, “leave me alone!”
“What are you?” Tigger asked.
“I’m noone, nothing, just go away!” the thing pleaded. Tigger, unable to see much beyond the end of his own nose in the faint light, touched the brown thing with his paw. The thing wriggled and curled into a ball. Tigger felt the pads of it’s forepaw as it fought to distance itself from him.
“So it’s an animal, not an animated log,” Tigger thought.
“I come in peace,” Tigger said.
“I want peace!” the animal replied.
“I won’t hurt you, that’s what I mean,” Tigger said, “now please, tell me what you are and how you came to be here.”
“I’m not telling you anything!” The animal replied, “you might be an enemy wanting to do me harm! I don’t know you!”
“My name’s Tigger,” the tiger replied, “I’m, a, a Bengal tiger.” The brown animal screamed with terror!
“Oh no no!” he wailed, “not a tiger! I hate tigers! They have long claws, and sharp teeth, and they will eat bears!”
“so you’re a bear are you?” Tigger asked.
“Yes, I mean no! Just go away!” the animal, almost certainly a bear replied shrilly.
“Look,” Tigger said, “I will leave, but will you at least tell me if you’re all right out here, you see, I,,,” Tigger stopped. How could he let this animal know that he’d felt someone was in danger and had gone to look for them.
“You what?” The bear asked, “you want to eat me?”
“No,” Tigger replied, now struggling to make himself sound plausible, “you see, I felt something.”
“Yes, I feel something too,” the bear snapped, “cold and wet, as well as scared out of my fur by a tiger’s close proximity to me!”
“It wasn’t that kind of feeling,” Tigger replied, now floundering, “I knew someone needed help, or might need help, or might be lost.”
“Lost?” The bear spat, yes, you can get lost!” Tigger, torn between leaving and trying to reason with the bear, hesitated for a minute.
“Please,” Tigger pleaded.
“Please nothing!” the bear snapped, “you get out of my face!”
“I don’t mean you harm, I want to help!” Tigger whimpered.
“What if I don’t want your help?” the bear asked, “you’re stuffed then aren’t you Tigger.”
“It’s cold and wet out here,” Tigger said, trying one last time, “and I thought you might want somewhere warm to stay.”
“I can guess where you mean by warm,” the bear scoffed, “it will be a hole somewhere.”
“no,” Tigger replied, “not a hole, a, a house. A nice warm house with rugs and carpets and everything you need for a happy life.” The brown bear suddenly became still.
A house, he’d heard of one, lived in one once too. It had been warm, a safe place. Then he was chucked out of the house by his former owner, put into a plastic bag and dumped like rubbish. The bear remembered the struggle he’d had to free himself from the bag before it was picked up and taken to wherever black bags are taken. He wasn’t damaged, just unwanted by his former human owner. The bear, feeling depressed and frightened, crawled away from the black sack from which he’d spent four days struggling free. His fur and paws became dirty with mud and rainwater as he crawled away as fast as he could go. He spent days Splashing through puddles, falling down kerbs and once, he was nearly run over by a car. One day, feeling utterly miserable and with his fur and all four paws sore and muddy, he’d found a gate and opened it. Finding himself in a wood, the bear had hidden himself beneath the bush where Tigger found him three days later.
“I used to live in a house,” the brown bear said, “I used to be loved by a human, but they no longer wanted me.” Recounting his tale brought tears to the bear’s eyes, which he angrily wiped away with his paw. Suddenly he felt himself in the huge paws of the Bengal tiger! Whimpering with fear, the brown bear struggled but couldn’t free himself this time!
“Let me go!” the bear pleaded.
“I’m taking you home!” Tigger mewed.
“I might not want to go with you!” the bear replied.
“I know your tale,” Tigger said, “it’s one I’ve heard before. You were owned by a human, then that human got tired with looking after you, so they threw you out, into a black sack no doubt.”
“yes, yes they did!” the brown bear sobbed.
“Where I live that won’t happen!” Tigger mewed, “we’re safe and warm in a house!”
“We?” The bear asked, “how many of you are there?”
too many for me to count,” Tigger replied, “As a cub I could never count, and I run out of toes after eighteen, so I lose count.” This made the bear laugh despite his situation.
“We’ll look after you,” Tigger said. The brown bear crawled along beside Tigger, one of his paws in that of the Bengal tiger. The tiger’s paw, though wet, was warm and comforting to the bear.
“Your paw is so warm, so warm!” the bear exclaimed. Tigger and the bear crawled back to the house, Tigger letting the bedraggled brown bear into the house.
“Let’s clean you up,” Tigger said, working the taps on the bath with his paws. Tigger helped the bear into the bath and then washed the bear’s fur and paws with warm water, the bear watching in astonishment as the colour of his fur went from dirty black to brown. He began to relax, and when Tigger massaged his paws, the bear really began to enjoy himself. Tigger massaged the bear’s paws to clean them, massaging his pads and toes to get feeling back into them. The bear, now warmed by the water and the affects of Tigger’s massage, relaxed totally. He closed his eyes, feeling somehow that things would never be the same again. The tiger was so gentle, the water so warm, the massage so exquisitely pleasurable, that the brown bear didn’t want it to end. Half asleep, the brown bear saw Tigger drying him bit by bit, first his body, then his head, then his paws. When Tigger rubbed his paws, the brown bear realised how gentle the tiger really was. The towelling down complete, Tigger and another animal, a huge lion, guided the sleepy bear into the lounge. Tigger and Leo helped the bear lie down on the carpet. Now warm and dry, the bear looked round him. There were lions, bears and other animals around him, more animals than he could count! No wonder Tigger had run out of toes when trying to keep track of the number of animals in the house! the brown bear lay on the floor and watched as a huge white tigress approached him and took his paw in hers.
“Welcome home,” snowy purred. The brown bear looked into the tigress’s deep blue eyes.
“Are you the matriarch of the family?” He asked. Snowy grinned.
“I suppose you could say that,” Snowy replied, “Leo and I are the leaders of the family.” Leo grinned.
“Welcome home,” he said. Tigger smiled and made to go upstairs. Snowy stopped him by waving her paw at him.
“Tigger,” she said, “please, tell us how you found this bear.” Tigger turned and settled down on the rug beside Leo.
“Are we all comfortable? He asked. The brown bear smiled.
“I am,” he replied dreamily, “I am more comfortable than I’ve ever been thanks to you Tigger.”
“If everyone’s comfortable, I will begin my tale,” Tigger purred.
Tigger’s story, or the rescue of Kodiak.
Tigger crossed his forepaws and rested his chin on them.
“That’s better,” he said, “now I will begin my tale.”
“About time too!” Tarker scoffed.
“shut it pup,” Arki said. Arki, hearing of another rescue, had brought all the animals who usually lived upstairs down to hear how Tigger had rescued the brown bear.
“Well,” Tigger began, feeling Portia snuggle up to him and take his right forepaw in both of her tiny ones, “I will begin my tale now if everyone is settled.” Theo grinned at Portia.
“Not everyone’s settled Tigger,” he said, “Portia isn’t. Tigger purred as Portia settled herself, his paw still in hers. Settling down, Portia rested her head on Tigger’s shoulder.
“Are you settled now Portia dear?” Tigger asked. Portia mewed that she was settled.
“Right,” Tigger said to everyone, “I’m not a good story teller, but I will do my best, so bear with me.” Tigger recounted the whole story of the brown bear’s arrival, the other animals listening without interruption, keeping their questions till he’d finished. Once Tigger’s tale had ended, Arki reached forward and touched the Bengal tiger’s paw.
“Tigger,” she said, “you said you thought the bear was a log! Did you really think this? Or were you dramatising what was a mundane sighting.”
“I genuinely thought he was a log,” Tigger replied, “for I couldn’t see him that well.”
“What do you mean you can’t see him?” Tarker snapped, “he’s plenty big enough to see!”
“My sight is failing fast Tarker,” Tigger said, unashamed to mention his problems.
“Tigger is so kind and gentle,” the brown bear said, “he helped me wash my fur and paws. He can really massage a paw you know.” Arki smiled, for she knew how good Tigger’s paw massages were.
“What’s your name?” She asked the brown bear. The bear looked at her.
“my name’s Kodiak,” he said.
“what a strange name for a bear!” Tarker yinnied.
“No it isn’t,” Kalahari replied, “look it up in a book you lazy good for nothing otter!”
“I like that name,” Arki said gently to the brown bear, who grinned at her. Tigger smiled at Kodiak and the huge bear gave him his paw.
“You saved my life Tigger,” the bear said. Tigger looked at Kodiak, the brown bear a blurry shadow, even though he was only inches away.
“Don’t speak of it any more,” he said. Kodiak looked into Tigger’s near sightless eyes.
“You can’t see me can you,” he said gently. Tigger shook his head.
“My sight is failing fast now,” Tigger replied, “I’m losing my sight with every passing second.” Everyone was hushed by Tigger’s words. Kodiak stroked Tigger’s paw, the Bengal tiger grateful for physical contact with the bear. Closing his eyes, Tigger waited for a few minutes before opening them. As he’d been told when he was a cub, in the end he wouldn’t be able to see anything at all.
“I’m at peace now,” Tigger said.
“How the hell can you be at peace when you’ve just lost your sight!” Elsa snapped, very upset.
“there’s no more conflict between my eyes and my paws now,” Tigger replied, “things will be easier now my eyes don’t tell me anything. Getting inaccurate information is worse than none at all.”
I know the feeling,” Tembo said, “when I’ve been at the cat nip, wow! Then I see all kinds of things!”
“Shut it you horrid creature!” Theo growled, “you don’t know the half of this, come to think of it, none of us other than Whitie, Blanche, Pipin and Tigger really know what it’s like.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Portia asked, trying not to cry.
“Nothing Portia love,” Tigger replied, gently licking her ear. Tigger felt Portia’s body trembling beside his.
“”don’t cry Portia dear,” Tigger mewed. Portia buried her face in his fur, weeping pitifully.
“it’s not that bad Portia,” Tigger said. Portia walloped him!
“not that bad?” the little lioness sobbed, “it’s worse Tigger, you’ve just lost your sight and you don’t care? You think you can carry on like you always have? You can’t! It’s not bad Tiggie love, it’s worse!”
“No Portia dear,” Tigger replied, “it’s not worse. For now I can concentrate on what my paws are telling me. They’ve always been better at telling me about my surroundings than my eyes ever were. Portia, please dear, don’t cry. If you can, be happy for me that it’s the end of years of problems. I now have one problem to deal with rather than a multitude.”
“How can you ever hope to find a mate Tigger?” Tembo asked, “for all you know, the lioness you choose might look like a scruffy old moggie!”
“you are horrible Tembo!” Whitie yelled.
“Oh yeah?” Tembo scoffed, “and what are you gonna do about it blind one? Hit me? I’d like to see you,,,” Tembo got no further, for he felt claws digging into his shoulder and teeth ripping at his ear! Whitie had forgotten one of the rules of the house in her rage. Tembo screamed as Whitie’s claws dug into his fur.
“You want to know what I’m going to do do you cub?” Whitie snarled, “how about this!” With that she cuffed Tembo hard about his head with her paw. Tembo collapsed on the carpet.
“You’ve killed him!” Elsa yelled.
“Just knocked him out,” Whitie replied, dusting off her paws.
“Mangy moggie!” Whitie spat, “disgusting animal! He’s got fleas!” Tembo lay on the carpet, gradually coming round.
“He needs no more punishment Whitie,” Tigger said, “that’s all.” Whitie stamped back to her place, angry and upset.
“how would you find a mate Tigger?” snowy asked.
“I’ve already found one,” Tigger replied, “though she doesn’t know that I’ve never actually seen her.” Tigger drew Portia close to him and hugged her.
“Now you know why I told you to close your eyes Portia love,” Tigger said, “for that way you learned how to show physical love for me in the only way I could understand. I had to show you the way I did things, or it would never have worked between us.”
“Oh Tigger!” Portia sobbed, “I don’t know what to say!”
“Say nothing if you don’t want to,” the tiger replied. Portia looked Tigger over from nose to tail. She loved him, but it wasn’t his looks which excited her. Closing her eyes, she touched Tigger’s paw with hers.
“This is how I know you best,” she said. Tigger embraced Portia tenderly.
“Please Portia,” Tigger whispered, “Try and be happy for me love.” Portia touched Tigger’s whiskers with her nose, the hard whiskers tickling her.
“Tiggie,” Portia replied, “I should have realised what was happening. I forgot you can’t see me. So when you told me a few minutes back that now you really couldn’t see me at all, I lost it. Now I come to think of it, touching each other with our noses and paws is the way we’ve always expressed ourselves. It seemed natural to me to do it that way, for it’s all I’ve known. It was the reminder of why we do things that way which upset me most of all. Now we’re here, together Tigger, you and me, , with your whiskers tickling my nose.” Tigger stroked Portia’s paw.
“I love you Portia,” Tigger said. Portia snuggled up to the huge Bengal tiger.
“I Love you too Tiggie,” she said. Tigger’s purr of contentment would have rattled the windows.
Kodiak inadvertently causes trouble.
Kodiak woke slowly. At first he couldn’t remember where he was, but then everything came back to him, the strange but gentle tiger who’d found him in the wood, the way the tiger had helped him clean his fur and paws, plus the tiger’s tale and the drama which followed it. Kodiak knew his place wasn’t downstairs though, for there was already a male brown bear in the room. Kodiak had noticed him on the first night. Now he wondered if the resident male brown bear would take exception to his presence. Stretching languidly, Kodiak looked round the room. There were lions, tigers, otters, leopards, dogs, polar bears, and even two horses in the room where he’d spent the night. If this wasn’t enough to cope with, there were two very strange animals in the room, one was the animal who’d told one of the otters to read a book, the other was a huge cat like creature with brownie black spots and huge paws. Kodiak didn’t know what kind of creatures these two were. Crawling to where the animal who’d chastised the otter was reading a large book, Kodiak tried reading over the animal’s shoulder without him noticing. The animal turned his head and made eye contact with the brown bear.
“I hate those who read over my shoulder like that Kodiak,” the animal said. Kodiak stared at his paws.
“I’m sorry,” he said. The strange animal closed the book and rested his paw on the cover.
“What can I do for you?” the animal asked. Kodiak hesitated.
“I wonder,” he said, “could you please tell me about this place? Give me some pointers as to who’s who, some history, that kind of thing?”
“Well,” the animal said, “for starters, I’m a meerkat, my name’s Kalahari.”
“What on earth is a Meerkat?” Kodiak asked.
“I’m a meerkat,” Kalahari replied, “I’m not of this country though, oh no. I come from the desert. We’ve got animals from many different countries of the world here.”
“I know where Tigers come from, both white and the Bengal variety,” Kodiak said, “but there’s another animal I’m curious about. A huge cat like creature he is, with the most enormous paws and tail I’ve ever seen!”
“Oh, that’ll be Salty,” Kalahari replied, “he’s a snow leopard. He’s a fine fellow, keeps himself to himself mostly. Upstairs there are other animals, more polar bears, common leopards, snow leopards and otters. There’s a female brown bear up there too.”
“yes Kodiak,” Bruin said, “before you get any ideas in your head, that female brown bear is my mate. So keep your paws off her!”
“You’ve done more to upset Brunetta in the last few weeks than any bear should be able to stand,” Salty said, “I think she’s about as much your mate as Snowy is mine Bruin.” Bruin glared at Salty.
“You are a horrid animal Salty!” Bruin yelled.
“It is true all the same,” a voice said, “I only pleaded for you to be let back in on compassionate grounds because I hate to see anyone out in the cold. I thought I loved you Bruin, now though, I think having a mate is more trouble than it’s worth for me. I’d prefer a close circle of friends any day. Bruin fell silent.
“if no animal is to be thrown out of the house any more,” Kalahari said, “then where are they to be punished if they do wrong?”
“the spare room has a wardrobe in it, a dark, uninhabited place where no animal goes. Once that door closes on you, you’re isolated from everything,” snowy said.
“It sounds a horrid place,” Tigger said.
“It is, I’ve seen inside it,” Clarence replied.
“You are shut away in the dark with a wooden floor to lie on, and if you’re too large, you can’t even do that! The door shuts tight, and you’re alone. I don’t know what’s worse, being outside or locked in the wardrobe,” Snowy said.
“When were you locked in the wardrobe?” Brunetta asked.
“I had to be locked in there for a time, so did Leo, so we knew what it was like. It was part of our training to become leaders of the community. When the community started to get lawless and divided, it was time to act. Leo and I persuaded the boss to let us use the wardrobe for a prison and lock Leo and myself up in it so we knew what it was like to be isolated in there. The boss took a lot of convincing, but we managed to prevail upon him to let us use the wardrobe as a prison for criminals. He opened the door and Leo got in first. Being large, to close the door I had to push Leo to the back of the wardrobe before I could close the door, even then it was difficult. It was up to each of us to ask the boss to set a time for the other’s imprisonment so the prisoner knew nothing of the time they were to spend in the wardrobe. I spent an hour, which seemed like five years, and Leo spent half an hour, before he had to be taken out as he was dreadfully upset by the whole thing.” Leo, listening to Snowy’s account, grimaced as he remembered his time in the wardrobe.
“Snowy learned what it was like to be shut up in a confined space,” he said, “I already knew, and the experience was almost too much for me. I will never do anything which could end up with me in the wardrobe. It’s horrid in there!”
“I don’t think some of us would fit in there Snowy,” Salty said, “I know that wardrobe, and it’s not large enough for some of us.”
“You would be stuffed in there if you had to be Salty,” Snowy said, you’d go, even if it strained every muscle in your body!”
“look,” Lucy barked, “this kind of talk frightens me, can we stop it now?”
“that’s what we want to happen,” Leo said, “if we tell you all what this place is like, then noone will do anything which could result in them being shovelled in there. I never want to go in there again!”
“What I’d like to know,” Kodiak said, “changing the subject completely, is this. Where am I going to stay? I can’t stay here. Not with Bruin here.”
“This is true,” snowy replied, “how about if you go to the place where Bruin used to stay. It’s where I have my place, up in the bedroom, on the quilt. It’s nice and warm up there, the quilt is soft on the paws, and I’m sure you’d like it. Brunetta lives up there too, she’ll show you to your new place.” With that snowy settled down on the rug beside Leo. Brunetta took Kodiak’s paw and led him up the stairs to the place where the quilt was.
“Lie down here,” Brunetta invited, patting the quilt with her paw. Kodiak lay down on the quilt, the soft material caressing his paws.
“This is wonderful!” he exclaimed as his paws were warmed by the quilt. Arki crawled into the room and lay down on the quilt. Kodiak examined Arki from nose to tail, taking in everything about her, from her ears to the pads of her paws. Arki grinned at Kodiak as she settled herself.
“You like the look of me Kodiak?” She asked. Kodiak smiled:
“I do,” he said, “you are very beautiful.” Arki grinned and rested her chin on her forepaws.
“Sam’s my mate,” she said drowsily, “I’m spoken for.” She stretched languidly, clenching and stretching the toes of all four paws.
“nice place this,” Arki added, relaxing finally. Kodiak tore his eyes from Arki, and focused on Brunetta, who lay beside him. She was even more beautiful to Kodiak’s eyes than Arki. Everything about Brunetta was perfect, from her ears to her paws. Kodiak felt himself warming to Brunetta, and when she took his paw in hers, he knew he felt something for her.
“if I stroke your paws, will you stroke mine?” Brunetta asked. Kodiak, at that moment, would have agreed to jumping over the moon if Brunetta had asked it of him.
“I will,” he said, “but I don’t know how to stroke a paw, not properly, not like Tigger does it anyway.” Brunetta smiled.
“Tigger is very good at what he does,” she said, “but I will show you how it’s done, and you will be able, in time, to massage paws as well as he can,” She replied. Kodiak felt Brunetta’s paws gently holding his.
“Let me stroke your paws first,” Brunetta said, “and I will tell you what I’m doing as I do it, then you try it.” Brunetta stroked Kodiak’s left forepaw with both of hers.
“first rub the back of the paw, like this,” Brunetta said, rubbing Kodiak’s paw, “now lift the paw gently and hold it in one of your paws while rubbing the pads of the paw with your free paw, like this,” Brunetta demonstrated, Kodiak feeling her pads working over his. “very gently,” Brunetta advised, “stroke the pads of the paw very gently, for the sole and pads of the paw are sensitive. Now gently take hold of the toes of the paw you are stroking with yours, like this,” Brunetta said, curling the toes of her left forepaw gently round those of Kodiak’s right.
“My paw feels warm now!” Kodiak exclaimed, “when you took my paw in yours, it felt warm and pleasant.”
“That’s right,” Brunetta replied, “that’s how it’s meant to feel. Now when you have gentle hold of the paw, rub your pads against those of the paw you are stroking, like this. Brunetta demonstrated. Kodiak felt the same sensation he had when in the bathtub during Tigger’s ministrations. He wanted to stay awake, but at the same time sleep for weeks. His whole world was focused through the pads of his right forepaw. Kodiak could not help relaxing totally.
“There you are,” Brunetta said gently.
“You do the same for all four paws?” Kodiak asked hopefully.
“Yes Kodiak, I do,” Brunetta replied. Kodiak knew he was going to enjoy learning all about this.
“But what if an animal doesn’t want to give you its paws?” Kodiak asked.
“Then you don’t force them,” Brunetta replied, “It’s all done on consent. You have to trust that I wont’ harm you while your paws are in my care. You can do little to defend yourself with your paws out of action. We never force an animal to give up their paws. Sometimes paw massage is used on a sick animal without their consent, but this is rare. I’ve used it only once, and the animal who’s paws I stroked thanked me for it afterwards.” Kodiak smiled.
“I suppose this kind of thing is used to help animals who have long term ailments?” he asked. Brunetta started to massage Kodiak’s right hind paw.
“yes it is,” she confirmed, “snowy has regular paw massages to help her.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Kodiak asked.
“that’s confidential information,” Brunetta replied, “all I can say is that she has her paws massaged every day to help her control her illness.”
“I saw Tigger and Portia stroking each other’s paws while we were downstairs,” Kodiak said faintly, “is that a similar thing to this?”
“it is,” Brunetta replied, “but the feelings between the two animals are different, though the techniques used are the same.” Arki looked at Kodiak.
“I used to hate having my paws stroked,” she said, “now though, I enjoy it as much as anyone here.”
“What made you change your mind?” Kodiak asked.
“My paws had been badly bruised by something which happened in my early life, so I wasn’t too keen to let another animal near them. One day Tolstuka convinced me to let her stroke one of my paws, and from that day to this, I’ve never looked back. I suppose if the animal stroking your paws means you no harm and respects you, that comes through in the massage. The same happens if the animal hates you and wants to do you harm. Though they might be gently stroking your paws, you know they don’t mean any good towards you.”
“Can I stroke your paws Arki?” Kodiak asked. Arki smiled at him.
“If you like,” she said.
“That way I can really see if what I’m doing is the right thing, for you don’t know me, and you are not teaching me, so your reaction to what I do will be genuine.”
“Are you saying I might act relaxed when I’m not?” Brunetta asked, though she knew the reasons behind Kodiak’s question to Arki, and agreed with him.
“No!” Kodiak protested, taking the bait beautifully, “What I meant was,,,”
I know what you meant Kodiak, and yes it’s a good move to stroke Arki’s paws.” Arki rolled onto her side, waving a forepaw at Kodiak.
“Come on then,” she said, “I want my paws stroked!” Kodiak grinned at Arki, who rolled onto her back and waved her paws in the air.
“I want my paws stroked!” she wined, sounding like a spoilt cub, “I want them stroked now! Now! Now!” Kodiak laughed so much he nearly cried.
“You great big cub!” he said. Arki stopped waving her paws in the air and grinned at him.
“I’m only messing about,” she said, “though waving my paws in the air felt very good indeed!”
“I’ve never done that,” Kodiak said.
“It feels so good!” Arki enthused.
“But I’d look silly!” Kodiak replied, “waving my paws in the air like a cub.”
“You laughed at Arki because she was playing at being a spoilt cub,” Brunetta replied, “it still doesn’t mean the feeling you get from waving your paws in the air is any less pleasurable.” Kodiak grinned at Arki.
“As long as you wave your paws too,” he said, “I’m not doing this on my own.” Arki grinned.
“The trick is to relax your paws and kick hard at the air with them, really go for it!” Kodiak rolled onto his back, feeling rather self conscious.
“now pedal the air with all four paws, like this!” Arki encouraged, waving her paws in the air. Kodiak watched her.
“You seem to enjoy it,” he said, “but I don’t know if I would.”
“Just try it, just once,” Arki said. Kodiak tried waving his paws in the air, and felt tremendous release from doing so.
“That’s it!” Arki encouraged, “go on Kodiak! Really push at the air with those paws!” Kodiak tried putting everything he had into pedalling the air with his paws, and found he quite liked it. Arki clapped her paws with delight!
“It’s wonderful isn’t it?” she said, grabbing hold of Kodiak’s right forepaw and tickling his pads. Kodiak laughed helplessly!
“Tickling my paw wasn’t in the script!” he laughed, “it feels good though.” Arki stroked his paw.
“now do you want to stroke my paws?” She asked. Kodiak smiled at the female polar bear.
“I’d be delighted to do so,” he said. Kodiak examined Arki’s paws, giving himself time to remember what Brunetta had taught him.
“Come on then!” Arki said impatiently, “stroke my paws!”
“Okay,” Kodiak said, “but I can’t remember how!” Arki grinned and hugged Kodiak tightly.
“Your up for stroking my paws,” she said, “but when the time comes you forget how! Come, I’ll show you.” With that she gently guided Kodiak through what Brunetta had taught him only a few minutes before.
Soon Kodiak got to do what he’d wished to do ever since he’d met Arki, namely stroke her paws. While stroking her left forepaw, Kodiak realised he’d not formally asked the female polar bear her name, just learned it by overhearing others use it.
“?We were never formally introduced,” he said. Arki grinned:
“We weren’t now you come to think of it,” she replied.
“Can I call you Arki?” Kodiak asked. Arki laughed.
“Arki’s my name, so I don’t mind if you call me by it,” she said, You are so funny! Of course you can call me Arki you silly thing.” Kodiak smiled at Arki and squeezed her paw.
“come to think of it,” Arki said, “I tickled your paw without knowing your name, and that’s not very polite.” Kodiak massaged Arki’s pads.
“You did,” he said, “and I’m most offended!” Arki heard the brown bear’s tone and hugged him.
“Dear Kodiak,” she said, “what a hoot this all is!” Kodiak smiled, feeling part of the family at last.
Sam watched Arki and Kodiak. He wondered if Arki had overstepped the mark from being polite and welcoming to the brown bear, to being too friendly with him. She’d played with him and him with her like they were cubs! Sam crawled over to Arki and walloped her!
“that’s enough cub play!” he snapped.
“Hey Sam, that hurt!” Arki whimpered.
“I don’t like you getting too close to that brown bear Arki!” Sam yelled.
“I was playing with him, making him feel at ease, that’s all Sam! There was nothing else to what I was doing!”
“It didn’t look like that!” Sam blustered, “it looked and sounded as if you were too familiar with him! Like you two were cubs and could do cubbish things like waiving your paws in the air and tickling each other’s paws! You are not a cub Arki!” Sam’s paw landed across Arki’s nose with an audible smack.
“I’m sorry Sam,” Arki sniffed, “it wont happen again.” Sam snorted with disgust.
“I should think not!” he spat, “what the hell were you playing at?” Arki whimpered with pain and misery. Sam tugged at her paw.
“Come on,” he said, “let’s go!” With that he tugged Arki away, the female polar bear extremely upset.
“What’s upset him?” Kodiak asked when Arki and Sam were out of earshot.
“Sam’s blustering about Arki acting like a cub is camouflage for his real feelings,” Brunetta said, “he was worried you and Arki would get too close, if you know what I mean.”
“She was playing with me, we were playing together Brunetta!” Kodiak whimpered, “she was expressing her love for physical contact with other animals!”
“Sam wishes she’d express her love for physical contact only with him. He hates it when other animals stroke Arki’s paws,” Brunetta said.
“Sam thinks he has an automatic and sole right to Arki does he?” Kodiak asked, “that Arki can’t make her own choices as to whom she wants to stroke her paws?”
It seems that way,” Brunetta replied.
“I will fight him!” Kodiak yelled, “I will fight for Arki to have freedom of choice as to whom she wants to stroke her paws! I loved it when she waved her paws in the air! When she tickled my paw too, that was a shock, but was spontaneous and very enjoyable. I will not let Sam control Arki’s life!”
“You need not fight Sam Kodiak,” a voice said. Kodiak looked round to see a huge snow leopard standing on the carpet.
“Salty?” Kodiak asked.
“yes,” the snow leopard replied, “I am Salty, and I am the one who is about to give Sam a hiding for controlling Arki. She is not his property, she is a free spirit, able to do whatever she wants, even if it is waving her paws in the air or having her paws stroked or tickled by another bear or whomever she wishes. Sam will regret not letting his mate express herself. I will not let him have his way with her. Arki is free to play, free to do what she dam well likes!”
“Since when have you been Arki’s protector?” Sam asked, busting into the room!
“Since I have been able to do this!” Salty replied, belting Sam about the head with his paw! Sam collapsed onto the carpet!
“You’ll be put in the wardrobe for that!” Whitie mewed.
“Sam will go there before I do Whitie cub,” Salty replied. Sam lay groaning on the carpet as he came round.
“I’ve got a monstrous headache,” Sam moaned.
“I can do the same again,” Salty said. Sam spat at him!
“You won’t tie Arki’s paws Sam!” Salty snarled.
“Arki was being too familiar with Kodiak!” Sam yelled, “she shouldn’t have done what she did!”
“You don’t have exclusive rights to Arki!” Salty yelled, “she can do what she dam well likes, even go with another bear if she gets mistreated by her current mate!” Sam growled deep in his throat.
“Are you suggesting I mistreat Arki?” He asked.
“Physically maybe not, but on what I’ve seen, then that’s a possibility,” Salty said, “psychologically, well, that’s debateable.” Sam left the room as fast as he could.
“I’m not listening to this!” He yelled.
Arki watched all from her hiding place under the bed. She’d seen everything, having shot beneath the bed during the period when Sam was unconscious. Now she lay, fighting not to cry. Salty had mentioned psychological and physical abuse, and Arki knew both. Sam hated it when she got too close to the cubs, playing with them as she’d done with Kodiak. He also hated it when other animals stroked and massaged her paws, be they cubs or other adult animals. The fact Kodiak was a bear didn’t register with Sam, as much as the notion of another animal stroking Arki’s paws did. He hated anyone but himself stroking her paws, and Arki was fed up with it.
Salty caught sight of Arki cowering beneath the bed.
“Arki?” Salty said gently. Arki crawled out of her refuge.
“I know all that you spoke of,” she said, “I know everything about it Salty.” Salty lay down and embraced Arki tightly.
“Arki dear, it’s okay my pet, I promise,” Salty said gently. Arki buried her face in his fur.
“Salty,” she sobbed, “I want to stroke the paws of other animals, and they want to stroke mine, but Sam hates anyone stroking my paws! My paws are mine to do with what I want!” Salty hugged Arki close, nuzzling her ear and stroking her paws.
“It’s all right Arki,” Salty said, “we will make sure Sam never gets the chance to touch you again.” Arki cried into Salty’s fur.
“We’ll make sure noone harms her,” Brunetta said. Sam listened at the door, knowing he was really for it. When Leo and Snowy heard of this, he’d be in the wardrobe for sure.
Sam gets punished.
Leo and snowy were dreadfully upset and angry when they heard what had taken place between Arki and Sam. Theo volunteered to finish Sam once and for all, and would have done so if Leo hadn’t asked Clarence to restrain him. Spitting and snarling, Theo had submitted to Clarence’s greater weight and strength as the huge Lion held gently but firmly to both his forepaws.
Meanwhile, Leo crawled upstairs to find Sam and deal with him. Finding the disgraced polar bear in the bedroom, Leo dragged Sam into the spare room and booted the door shut.
“What the hell were you doing walloping Arki!” Leo yelled.
“Arki’s been acting like a cub!” Sam whimpered, “she’s not a cub any more Leo! I wanted to teach her that she can’t play silly games like she does! All that paw massage, tickling and whatnot, it’s wrong!”
“Sam,” Leo said, “does it do anyone any harm? Is it violent? Is it degrading towards anyone? Does it cause pain?” No, no, no and no I think. I will only ban something which is offensive or dangerous to an individual animal or to others. Of course, if an animal massaged, touched or tickled another animal’s paws without that animal’s consent, then yes that should be stopped and I would stop it immediately and bring the full weight of the law down on the offender. In this case though, Arki isn’t doing herself or anyone else any harm what so ever. I heard from Salty that Arki asked Kodiak if he would massage her paws.”
“Yes, she asked him,” Sam replied, “but then Arki tickled Kodiak’s paw, and he said that wasn’t in the script, so she should be punished for that at least!”
“Was he laughing when he said it? Was he distressed?”
“he was laughing about the whole thing,” Sam admitted, realising his effort to get Arki into trouble had failed.
“Did Kodiak mention anything else to do with Arki tickling his paw?” Leo asked. Sam knew the lion was prompting him, and probably had heard a detailed account from Salty, whom Sam was beginning to detest intensely.
“He said that even though Arki tickling his paw hadn’t been foreseen, he’d enjoyed it hugely,” Sam replied.
“There you go,” Leo said, “so no harm was done to either Arki Or Kodiak. They enjoyed their time together I believe.”
“But Arki’s my mate!” Sam yelled, “she’s not allowed to play with other male bears! Especially when she strokes their paws and gets them to stroke hers!”
“You know as well as any animal here for what purposes we animals use paw massage,” Leo replied, “therefore, I will not answer that point. Or maybe I will, just to ram home that cubs can massage each other’s paws, so can adult animals, be they a male animal massaging a female animal’s paws, or two female animals, or two males massaging each other’s paws, the same applies if they want to go as far as tickling each other’s paws! Within reason This is all Legal among consenting creatures! The massage itself isn’t what you should consider, it’s the emotion behind it. Watch and listen carefully, and you will see the masseurs intentions.”
“So Arki wasn’t making overtures to Kodiak?” Sam asked.
“it seems not,” Leo replied, “and him telling her she was beautiful isn’t an overture Sam.”
I’ve messed things up between me and Arki,” Sam said, almost weeping.
“I guess you have,” Leo replied, “for what was your reaction to Arki stroking Kodiak’s paws and him stroking her’s?”
“I’m not telling you!” Sam whimpered, shaking from ears to paws, “I’m not telling you Leo!”
“You hit her didn’t you Sam,” Leo said sadly. Sam made the mistake of looking at Leo’s face, and what he saw there made him lose control totally. The sorrow in Leo’s eyes tore at Sam, as if his attack on Arki had also hurt Leo himself.
“What are you so dam upset about!” Sam yelled. Leo swallowed hard.
“I’m upset because of what I have to do next,” the huge lion replied. Sam saw tears in Leo’s eyes, something the lion didn’t attempt to hide.
“Whatever you are going to do will affect me, not you, so why are you so chewed up about it!” Sam sniffed.
“I’m sure you will be as “chewed up” as you put it, when you hear what I’ve got to do,” Leo replied.
“What are you going to do to me?” Sam asked.
“You see that wardrobe over there?” Leo asked, waving a paw at it. Sam nodded.
“Not in there, not there! Anything but in there!” Sam yelled, realising what the lion was about to do.
Go over to it,” Leo said, “and open the door.” Sam crawled across to the door as slowly as he could, but Leo was switched on to his tactics.
“Go at a normal pace, not slower!” he yelled, his voice filling the room. Sam crawled to the door and opened it. The interior of the wardrobe was dark and uninviting.
“Get in!” Leo commanded. Sam stepped up and into the wardrobe, Leo pushing him fully into it and slamming the door.
“Now I must be strong,” Leo thought, “not let my knowledge of Sam’s former life and my own fears of the wardrobe influence Sam’s punishment.” Leo crawled out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Sam lay in the darkness of the wardrobe, his fear and terror growing as he remembered the American cage he’d been imprisoned in. Sam cried bitterly as he relived his fear and anxiety. He knew he couldn’t break out of the wardrobe, the door was tight fitting, He’d had to pull hard at the door to open it, and then Leo had to kick the door with all his strength to get it home. Sam sobbed and beat the wooden floor with all four paws.
“I never thought it would come to this!” Sam yelled, “let me out! I can’t stand it here!” Sam banged on the door with his forepaws, then he banged on the wall with his hind, and shouted at the top of his voice, until his pads were sore, his claws scuffed and he was hoarse from shouting. Worn out, Sam settled down as comfortably as he could, which was a near impossible task. Sam must have fallen asleep, for the next thing he knew someone was opening the door. Sam woke, and believing he was dreaming, poured out everything to the apparition before him, telling it how sorry he was, how he would never do anything like he’d done ever again, and longed with all he had to be free. Sam thought the apparition looked like Leo, but it couldn’t be, for the lion had been so angry with him, that he’d never want to let him out, or that’s what Sam thought.
“you can come out now Sam,” Leo said, Tugging at the polar bear’s tear drenched left forepaw. Sam snapped into full wakefulness.
“Leo?” he asked, “it’s you isn’t it?” the huge lion smiled.
“yes Sam it is,” he replied, “now Sam, come, and I will tell you something of what was upsetting me.”
“Why should you be upset on my account?” Sam asked, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Leo held up a paw to stop him.
“Sam,” the lion said, “Do you remember mine and Theo’s story?” Sam did, and when he thought of it, and thought of his own terrors, he felt worse than ever about what he’d done, and what he’d forced Leo to do to him.”
“Oh Leo, Leo I’m sorry!” Sam sobbed, now feeling worse than ever.
“I will not tell you how long you were incarcerated,” Leo said, “but let that be a lesson to you Sam. You will learn another lesson too, for I think you have lost Arki’s love and her friendship. I am telling you, as Arki feels she cannot do so. She never wants to see you again, and that I can quite understand.” Sam howled with misery!
Arki an Kodiak grow close.
Arki shook and trembled in Kodiak’s paws as she tried not to watch Sam returning dejectedly to his place. Shaking from ears to paws, Arki kept her eyes on Kodiak’s, determined not to make eye contact with Sam.
“Hold me tight Kodiak! Please, don’t let me go!” Arki pleaded. Kodiak took a firm hold of Arki with his paws, curling his toes into her thick warm fur, something which wasn’t at all unpleasant. Arki’s fur warmed Kodiak’s pads, an he revelled in her proximity to him, trying not to make it too obvious to anyone else other than Arki herself. Arki snuggled into Kodiak’s embrace, burying her face in his shoulder. Breathing deeply, she tried to relax.
“Relax those paws Arki,” Kodiak encouraged, “start with your left hind paw, uncurl those toes and relax your paw, that’s it, gently does it.” Arki felt her whole body aching with tension. Her paws throbbing painfully, Arki felt dreadful.
“Relax those paws Arki,” Kodiak repeated. Arki made a huge effort to relax her paws, but they wouldn’t obey her!
“I can’t!” Arki whimpered. Kodiak began to stroke Arki’s paws, one by one, Arki too exhausted and frightened to enjoy the experience much. Even so, the massage had its affect, and Arki felt better after Kodiak had rubbed the pads of all four paws twice over. Settling down finally, Arki took Kodiak’s left forepaw in both of hers.
“Thank you Kodiak,” she whispered. Kodiak smiled, tenderly nuzzling Arki’s ear. Arki smiled with genuine pleasure.
“I love that,” she said, “Kodiak, your paws and fur are so soft and warm, and you’re so very gentle!” Kodiak smiled at Arki and touched her nose with his forepaw.
“You are beautiful yourself Arki,” he replied, “now, shall we play?” Arki grinned:
“Stroking each other as well as stroking and tickling each other’s paws?” she asked hopefully.
“Yes,” Kodiak replied. Arki smiled and held both of Kodiak’s forepaws in hers.
“Warm, soft, strokable, gentle paws you have Kodiak,” Arki said.
“Yours are soft, warm and gentle too Arki,” Kodiak replied.
Brunetta watched Arki and Kodiak as they settled down together, realising they were bonding fast. Arki, though she dared not put her feelings into words, , was rapidly falling in love with Kodiak. She loved him from his ears to the pads of all four paws.
Arki, lying on the quilt beside Kodiak, began to stroke his left forepaw. Kodiak enveloped her paw in his, the soft fur and pads of his paw stroking Arki’s. Arki smiled as she felt Kodiak’s paw holding hers.
“Please don’t tickle my paws Kodiak, not yet,” Arki pleaded, “let’s just stay here, like this.” Kodiak smiled.
“I’m up for that Arki dear,” he said.
Kodiak and Arki take the plunge
Arki slept deeply, her paw in Kodiak’s. The brown bear had such silky paws, and they were soft and warm too. Arki knew this was because of Kodiak’s breeding, but it was also part of him. Best of all, Kodiak knew how to make Arki feel wanted, which if she was honest with herself, she’d never felt from Sam. Sam’s and her relationship had been forged by their mutual love for Candy, not for each other, and though Arki had fallen in love with Sam he hadn’t with her, and Sam had shown that plainly. Kodiak filled Arki’s dreams, in which he was stroking her paws, soothing her fears and terrors away. Arki’s dream seemed so real, as if the events in it were really happening. In Arki’s dream, Kodiak massaged Arki’s paws, and when he’d finished, he lay down beside her and hugged her tightly. Arki wished the dream would never end. She woke in the early morning with her paws remembering the gentle touch of the bear in her dream. Arki found Kodiak had taken one of her paws in his and now held it, even though he was sleeping peacefully. His eyes closed, Kodiak slept deeply, even so, the grip on Arki’s paw was firm but gentle. Arki didn’t mind this in the least, for it helped her remember her dream, the way the brown bear stroked and massaged her paws. He’d been so considerate towards her.
When Kodiak woke, he found Arki watching him.
“Did you sleep well?” She asked.
“I did,” Kodiak said, “but I don’t know if you did Arki my dear. You were crying out for help, and it was only when I began stroking your paws that you calmed down.”
“So you were really stroking my paws!” Arki exclaimed, “I thought I’d dreamt it.”
“no,” Kodiak replied, “that was no dream.”
“It was lovely though,” Arki replied, “you can really massage paws!” Kodiak smiled.
“the best of it was it soothed and calmed you down,” he replied, “what was the first portion of your dream about? You were crying out for help!”
“Probably the same old nightmare,” Arki said, “the one about the box and the plastic bags. Maybe you stopped me from reaching that place just in time. I see a long tunnel, then I’m lying in the dark place, with my paws against plastic and my nostrils full of the smell of cardboard and plastic bags! I hate that smell!” I get upset just thinking about it!”
“Don’t talk about it any more,” Kodiak replied, “I think I know what you mean, for I travelled in a box like that once. I didn’t much like it, but it’s over and gone, never to return.” Arki began to cry.
“Hey Arki love, it’s all over,” Kodiak said gently, “I promise, noone will put you into a plastic bag or cardboard box ever again!” Arki sniffed and wiped her eyes with clenched paws.
“I can’t forget it Kodiak, I really can’t!” she sobbed. Kodiak took Arki in his paws and held her close, gently stroking her ears and back with one forepaw while holding her with the other.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered, “I promise you’re safe now!” Arki, her nose buried in Kodiak’s warm, sweet scented fur, breathed deeply in an attempt to calm herself.
“Thank you Kodiak,” Arki whispered. Kodiak ruffled Arki’s ears with his paw, and she laughed with delight.
“You are a softy Kodiak,” Arki said, touching his nose with her paw. Kodiak playfully stuck his tongue out at Arki, which had her laughing helplessly. Kodiak released Arki and she lay for a while, just looking at, and not touching Kodiak. Kodiak was doing much the same as Arki, drinking her in. He knew the initial spark he’d felt for her had been real, for it had knocked him sideways. Now he was close to being with Arki forever.
“Arki,” he said, “could you, I mean, will you be my mate?” Arki smiled.
“I could be anyone’s mate,” she said, “but I won’t be just anyone’s mate Kodiak, not after what I’ve gone through. The bear I pledge myself to would have to be very special, a kind, gentle, considerate individual. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I will give you all I have to give.” Kodiak took Arki’s paw in his:
“I will do my best to be a good friend and mate to you Arki,” Kodiak said. Arki smiled and, gently shaking her paw free from Kodiak’s, closed her eyes and, with both forepaws, began to explore Kodiak’s body, from his nose to the pads of all four paws.
Kodiak smiled as he felt Arki’s touch. As Arki touched his nose, he nuzzled the pads of her paw, making her laugh merrily.
Finding her way over Kodiak’s body with her paws, Arki liked what she felt. Extremely thick, Soft, beautifully warm fur, as well as gentle paws, each of which Kodiak used to take brief hold of hers as she found them, curling his toes round hers. Kodiak’s paws were so soft and gentle, so very soft and gentle. Feeling his paws embracing hers, Arki felt whole for the first time in ages.
“I love you Kodiak,” she whispered. Kodiak enveloped Arki’s left forepaw in his right.
“I love you too Arki dear,” he replied.
Soon it was Kodiak’s turn to return Arki’s Massage, and he did, with all the consideration and gentility he’d been born with. Arki snuggled up to Kodiak as his paws worked over her body from her nose to the toes of all four of her paws. Arki felt safe, wanted and loved by this brown bear who was so very gentle and kind to her, and could be her mate. Arki was also glad Kodiak felt he was not too old to play crazy and sometimes rather cubbish games with her.
Isaac takes it out on Arki.
News of Sam’s punishment and Arki’s friendship with Kodiak reached the other animals, and not all were happy with what they heard. Isaac wasn’t surprised, although he blamed Arki rather than Sam for what happened to her, telling everyone Arki was a loose female polar bear, who would take any opportunity going, and her blossoming friendship with a brown bear was surely enough proof of that for his statement to stand. Bruin was glad Arki had befriended Kodiak, as now Brunetta was still unattached to anyone, leading Bruin to think he might be in with a chance of getting back with her. Most of the inhabitants of the living room were overjoyed Arki had found someone who loved her and treated her with respect.
Meanwhile, Kodiak woke slowly, the previous night’s events still fresh in his mind. His paws seemed to remember the touch of those of the female polar bear to whom he’d given himself. Kodiak thought about Arki, and the mere thought of her warmed him all over. He’d not yet opened his eyes, and when he did, he knew he’d see Arki lying beside him on the quilt.
Suddenly Kodiak felt a huge furry paw take hold of his. It was that of a polar bear, Kodiak knew this, but it wasn’t Arki’s! this paw was rough, and the grip was fierce, painful! Opening his eyes, Kodiak saw a polar bear, but it wasn’t Arki, it was Isaac!
“You realise you have pledged yourself to a loose female don’t you Kodiak?” Isaac Asked, still crushing the startled brown bear’s paw in his.
“Arki’s not loose, and stop crushing my paw!” Kodiak pleaded.
“She’s a disloyal prostitute!” Isaac snarled.
“No she’s not!” Kodiak yelled, walloping Isaac across the nose with his free paw! Isaac threw up his forepaws to protect his face, letting go of Kodiak’s paw. Kodiak brought both forepaws smashing down on Isaac’s nose! Isaac screamed and lay limp on the quilt, all the nerves to his limbs complaining about the assault on his nose by shorting out and refusing to work. Isaac lay inert on the quilt, the toes of one forepaw twitching as his body registered the shock of the attack.
“You horrid creature!” Isaac yelled.
“How would you react if you woke to find a bleedin’ great male polar bear crushing your paw!” Kodiak yelled, “worse, that bear running your mate into the ground?” Isaac didn’t reply, for he knew what he’d do, and it was exactly what Kodiak had done.”
“I take your lack of response as addition you’d do what I did?” Kodiak asked, “yes? Well, leave me and Arki alone!” Isaac whimpered with pain as feeling returned to his body.
“I’m leaving,” he sniffed, “I’m going!” Kodiak watched Isaac leave. He then realised Arki was nowhere to be seen. Brunetta had vanished also, having gone for her walk in the wood, or so Kodiak thought.
“Arki?” Kodiak called softly. Crawling off the quilt, Kodiak looked beneath the bed. There, well out of sight, he found a bundle of white fur, which Kodiak knew well.
“Arki dear,” he said, “it’s okay my love, Isaac’s gone now. Arki, curled into a trembling ball under the bed, looked out at Kodiak with terrified eyes.
“Arki love?” Kodiak said gently, crawling beneath the bed and taking her paw in his, “it’s okay, it’s all ended now.” Arki’s paw lay flaccid in Kodiak’s, the female polar bear shaking with terror.
“come on Arki dear,” Kodiak said, “let’s go from here.” But Arki wouldn’t leave her refuge, removing her paw from Kodiak’s when he tried to guide her into the open.
“Okay,” Kodiak said, “we’ll stay here for a while.” Arki, her mouth dry, couldn’t reply. Kodiak took Arki in his paws, Arki snuggling up to him and burying her face in his fur.
“It’s okay Arki,” Kodiak said for the hundredth time. Feeling his fur getting wet, he realised Arki was crying. Kodiak let Arki cry, not trying to stop her. Once her tears had dried, he gently asked her what had taken place. Arki shook her head and buried her face in her paws. Kodiak realised then Arki hadn’t spoken to him since the previous night.
“Arki love,” Kodiak said, stroking one of the paws covering Arki’s face, “please, come with me, it’ll be okay, noone will harm you now.” Kodiak said to Arki, who looked at him between the toes of the paw he was stroking.
“It’s all ended now,” Kodiak whispered, “I promise you Arki, it’s all ended now.” Arki placed her paws on the carpet and looked Kodiak full in the face. The look in Arki’s eyes made Kodiak want to cry.
“there was nothing you could have done,” Arki said faintly, “nothing at all.”
“Nothing I could have done to stop what Arki?” Kodiak asked, but Arki shook her head.
“I can’t talk about it,” she said. Kodiak took Arki’s paw in his.
“Did he, Isaac, did he hurt you Arki?” Kodiak asked. Arki shook her head.
“I’m not talking about it Kodiak!” She yelled. Suddenly the fire in Arki died, and she crumpled totally.
“I woke to find Isaac’s paw covering my mouth, and him threatening that if I screamed or struggled he’d harm me.” Arki said, her words tumbling over each other, “Isaac then hit me on the nose with his paw, knowing it would incapacitate me. The pain from that was horrendous, but I knew he’d do worse to me if I cried out, so I didn’t dare. Throughout all this you were sleeping not far away, but Isaac was careful not to disturb you. Once he had me unable to struggle, he threw me on the floor. I lay there for a while, unable to do anything, but when feeling returned to my paws, I crawled beneath the bed, and stayed there until you came. Now, now I don’t know what to do!” Kodiak hugged Arki tightly.
“I did to Isaac what he did to you,” Kodiak said, “I woke to find Isaac’s paw crushing mine,,,”
“I heard what he said to you,” Arki replied, “I heard everything!”
“You’re not a prostitute,” Kodiak said, “Arki, you’ve been sorely treated by two male bears in your short life, and I’m not going to be the third to do what they did.” Arki wriggled free of Kodiak’s embrace.
“Let’s leave here,” she said. Kodiak took her paw, but Arki shook it free.
“Let me do it,” she said, “let me crawl out of here by myself.” Kodiak did as Arki wanted, and left her to it. Seeing her crawling into the open, Kodiak patted the sole of Arki’s left hind paw by way of encouragement as it drew level with his forepaws. Arki wiggled her toes as she crawled, acknowledging Kodiak’s loving gesture. Once Arki’s hind paws had disappeared from view, Kodiak followed into the open, where he found Arki clambering onto the quilt. Watching her, Kodiak realised afresh how much he loved Arki. Arki crawled across the quilt to her place and lay down exhausted in strength and spirit. Kodiak joined her on the quilt, lying down beside Arki and taking her paw in his.
“Can I stroke your paws Arki?” He asked. Arki breathed deeply, trying to calm herself.
“Hold me and stroke my paws Kodiak, please!” Arki begged. Kodiak heard the desperation in his mate’s voice, a desperate plea for normality, for him to tell her she was safe and that everything was going to be all right.
“I love you Arki,” Kodiak said, embracing the female polar bear tightly. Arki snuggled into Kodiak’s hug, letting him run his paws all over her body from her nose to the pads of her paws. Arki buried her face in Kodiak’s thick, warm, soft fur.
“Hold me forever Kodiak,” Arki pleaded. Kodiak silently vowed he’d avenge what Isaac had done to Arki. Arki seemed to sense his thoughts.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” she said softly.”
“How did you know I was thinking of doing anything?” Kodiak asked.
“Your paws told me,” Arki replied, “it is said that the paws of an animal can give away their thoughts, and yours have just done that.” Kodiak stroked Arki’s ears.
“I promise I won’t do anything stupid,” he said.
“I don’t believe you,” Arki replied.
“is it that obvious?” Kodiak asked.
“Please Kodiak,” Arki pleaded, “leave Isaac alone. Let others deal with him.” Kodiak knew Arki would know if he was even considering doing anything to Isaac, so he hugged her, making sure at least one of his paws touched one of hers and said:
“I won’t do anything to Isaac, I will leave it to others.” Arki smiled, for she could feel his intentions through the pressure of the pads of his left forepaw against those of her right fore.
“Thank you Kodiak, thank you,” Arki said. Kodiak smiled, tenderly nuzzling Arki’s ear.
“I’m safe now,” Arki said, “safe, very safe now.” Holding Arki close, Kodiak snuggled into the quilt.
Sam’s luck runs out.
Arki woke slowly, feeling Kodiak’s reassuring touch as she surfaced from deep, warm, comfortable sleep. The shock and fear of the last day or so had worn Arki down, and now she was safe, her body had shut down totally, forcing her into deep sleep. Arki stretched all four of her huge paws, which woke Kodiak, who looked at Arki with eyes full of gentle love for her.
“Good morning my dear,” Arki said, touching Kodiak’s paw, and feeling his paw envelope her own well padded paw. Kodiak held on to Arki’s paw for a long time, feeling her warm fur, and well padded paw in his.
“Morning Arki love,” Kodiak replied, snuggling closer to her. Arki smiled and looked up to where Amber and Stifftail slept. The two snow leopards slept on top of the wardrobe, for it was warm up there, and they could see everything that went on.
“Morning Amber, Stifftail, Have any of you seen the weather today?” Arki asked.
“Try listening before you ask such asinine questions!” Stifftail snapped. Arki listened, and heard rain hitting the windows, driven by a gale force wind.
“What do you hear?” Stifftail asked.
“Wind and rain,” Arki replied.
“Then why the hell did you ask!” Stifftail yelled.
“There’s no need to be like that,” Brunetta said, “Arki was just being polite to you. I now see why most of us have written you off Stiffy!”
“Don’t call me Stiffy!” Stifftail wined, “my name’s bad enough as it is!”
“Oh dear,” Tilly said, “you really did get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.” Stifftail snarled savagely at the arctic fox cub.
“So what if I did!” he yelled, “just leave me alone, every dam one of you!” Brushtail looked up at Stifftail.
“You are a horrid creature,” she barked, “a nasty piece of work!”
“you can shut it too!” Stifftail yelled.
“Harmonious times lie ahead,” Lucy mused. Reynard laughed harshly.
“With Stifftail here? I don’t think so,” he replied.
“Look,” Amber mewed, “we’re all safe here. We have a warm place to stay, good food, and a comfortable place to sleep. What are we arguing for?”
“You can’t talk Amber!” Brushtail yelled, “you’re the one who hates snowy so much you attacked her while she was asleep!” Amber hoped Brushtail wouldn’t remember that.
“It’s true I don’t like Snowy,” Amber replied, “but now she’s leader of the community n’all, I haven’t got much choice but to try and get on with her, misfit though she is.”
“I heard they locked Sam up in the wardrobe,” Reynard said. Sam, lying on the carpet a little way off, snarled at the fox to:
“Shut it!”
“I heard he was so freaked out, he’ll never go near Arki again,” Tolstuka remarked. Sam growled deep in his throat.
“You mention that bloody wardrobe one more time, I’ll, I’ll break your paws! I’ll break your paws Tolstuka! One by one!” he yelled.
“I don’t think Sam likes us talking about the wardrobe,” Hazel remarked to Lucy. Lucy nudged the albino squirrel with her nose.
“I’d be quiet,” she whispered, “for Sam’s a lot larger than both of us put together!” Hazel massaged Lucy’s left forepaw with her right.
“Don’t worry about me,” she said, “I’ll be okay.” Hazel turned, to find Sam’s nose two inches from her face! The polar bear opened his mouth and gave vent to a threatening snarl, which went on and on and on! Breathing through his nose, Sam varied the pitch of his snarl until Hazel and Lucy were trembling from nose to tail! Then Sam picked Hazel up in his teeth and, with a jerk of his head, threw her onto the quilt! Hazel screamed as she flew through the air! Arki caught the flying Squirrel as she landed, holding on tight to her.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you!” Arki said with as much reassurance as she could muster, for Sam’s violence had upset her as much as it had Lucy and Hazel.
“Give it a rest you great big bully!” Kodiak yelled.
“No Kodiak, don’t fight him!” Arki pleaded, “Sam’s not worth it!”
“He’s game when he’s deliberately thrown a squirrel across the room Arki,” Kodiak replied.
The sound of scuffing paws announced the arrival of Tigger.
“Keep out of this blind one,” Sam scoffed, “you think you can fight me too? Get a load of this!” Sam jeered, playing to an audience which comprised one, namely Stifftail, “the blind tiger is going to fight me! I’d like to see him,,,” Sam’s sentence ended in a yell of pain as Tigger’s hard left forepaw smashed into his nose! Sam crumpled to the floor.
“Someone help me get this to the wardrobe!” Tigger yelled, leaping on top of Sam to suppress his struggles when he woke. Kodiak and the furball, who’d heard the commotion and come to investigate, dragged Sam out of the room, with Tigger delivering a stinging blow to Sam’s nose by way of a parting shot. Sam’s paws were useless, his whole body limp and seemingly lifeless. Only his breathing told the other animals he was alive.
Shoving Sam into the wardrobe and slamming the door, the furball and Kodiak returned to their places.
“Someone had better tell Leo and snowy,” Tigger said. Leo shuffled into the room.
“I already know,” the lion said, “Sam’s really for it this time! I’m not letting him out for a long time! Throwing Hazel across the room, who the hell does he think he is! I hope she’s not hurt.
“She landed on the quilt,” Arki replied, “she’s a bit shocked, but that’s nothing time won’t cure.” Leo looked at the shivering white squirrel in Arki’s massive paws.
“Poor little thing,” he said gently. Hazel, seeing Leo up close for the first time, didn’t know whether to run away or fight him.
“What’s that!” she demanded of Arki.
“That’s Leo,” Arki replied, “he’s a lion.”
“I don’t want anything to do with big huge lions!” Hazel whimpered, “polar bears are bad enough!”
“A polar bear is bigger than a lion Hazel,” Kodiak volunteered.
“Oh no they’re not!” Hazel yelled, “well at least this lion outstrips any polar bear I’ve ever seen! He’s huge, with big paws!”
“I’m very gentle though,” Leo said.
“No you’re not, not with those great big paws!, you can’t be!” Hazel yelled.
?”You’re hurting my ears little one,” Leo said gently. Then he reached forward with both forepaws, and took Hazel in both paws.
“Let go of me!” Hazel yelled, battering with her tiny paws at the huge paws holding her.
“Now don’t be like that,” Leo purred. Hazel wriggled and beat at Leo’s paws until the lion released her.
“You are horrible!” Hazel yelled.
“A nicer, more gentle lion you could never hope to meet Hazel,” snowy said, crawling into the room.
“You’re telling me Snowy that this great big cat is gentle?” Hazel asked, “you must be joking!”
“No,” Snowy replied, “I’m not joking, he’s really gentle.”
“How can a huge thing like that with the paws he’s got know anything about gentility?” Hazel asked.
“he does know about gentility, and how to be extra careful when handling tiny animals like cubs, or squirrels for that matter,” Snowy replied. Hazel laughed harshly:
“You expect me to believe that?” she said, “when you’re a huge cat too? I’ll only believe it when I hear it from a small animal. Hey Lucy! Get over to that huge lion and show me he’s gentle! You look up for it!” Lucy looked at Leo, who was now close to tears.
“I’m not afraid of him,” she said, “for I know how good he is to other animals.” With that, Lucy walked up to Leo, sat down between his forepaws and looked up into his face. When Leo lowered his head to nuzzle her ear, Lucy rubbed his cheek with her nose, making Leo smile with pleasure. Gently stroking Lucy’s back with his huge left forepaw, Leo let Lucy stroke the pads of his right with both her tiny forepaws.
“I don’t know if you noticed,” Snowy said, “but Leo’s claws are sheathed. He’s got no intention of doing Lucy any harm at all.” Hazel waited, wondering if Leo would suddenly attack Lucy, but he didn’t. He just kept stroking, stroking, stroking her back, while the tiny Labrador pup stroked the pads of Leo’s free paw, being careful not to tickle them of course.
“Now I must go and attend to Sam,” Leo said to Lucy, who caressed Leo’s right forepaw one last time and then stepped away from him.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” the pup said, “hopefully we can meet in better times Leo.”
“I’m only downstairs if you want to visit,” Leo said, smiling at Lucy. Patting her tiny left forepaw with his right, Leo shuffled out of the room to deal with Sam. The Polar bear was really for it this time!
Family stresses.
Isaac watched as Leo, having found Sam in the wardrobe, pulled the terrified polar bear out by one hind paw and dumped him unceremoniously on the carpet. Isaac wondered if his attack on Arki would be mentioned. Brunetta had come back from her walk in the wood to find Arki in a dreadful state, Kodiak trying to comfort her. Learning of the goings on while she was away, Brunetta vowed never to leave the room without making sure she had someone she and Arki trusted in there to keep Arki safe. Isaac was not to be trusted it seemed, and therefore, he should be watched at all times.
Brunetta had been as good as her word, keeping an eagle eye on Isaac, something which the male polar bear had noticed. He knew Brunetta’s sudden interest in him wasn’t anything to do with a liking for him. Anyway, he didn’t want to mate with her. In fact, Isaac wouldn’t have mated with Brunetta had she been the last bear on earth.
Leo dragged Sam down the stairs, the polar bear having to use his forepaws to protect his face as he thumped down the stairs. Once he was down, Leo dragged him quickly into the living room. Leo spun round and clobbered Sam with his paw. Sam wailed with fear and pain!
“you are a menace to everyone!” Leo yelled. Sam raised his paws to cover his face.
”Please Leo, just lock me up, don’t hurt me!” Sam yelled.
“you are hardly worth me dirtying my paws!” Leo yelled. He was rapidly losing it!”
“calm down Leo, please!” snowy pleaded. Leo’s eyes burned with hatred for Sam!
“I will not stand for this!” Leo yelled, “how dare Sam attack a tiny defenceless squirrel!”
“I saw Isaac Attacking Arki,” Whitie said. Leo spun round on her.
“How can you see him?” Leo snapped, “you’re blind!”
“you know dam well what I meant!” Whitie snapped back, her paw landing with considerable force on Leo’s! the huge lion, surprised by the snow leopard’s sudden attack, stared open mouthed at her.
“Okay,” he said gruffly, “what happened?”
“Isaac crawled into the room, soft on his paws though he was, I still heard him,” Whitie mewed, “he crawled onto the quilt and put his paw over Arki’s mouth, telling her to be quiet, or he’d do, do horrible things to her, which I cannot repeat. He then walloped Arki across her nose and threw her onto the floor. Once he’d done this, he took hold of Kodiak’s paw, crushing it. Kodiak and Isaac had a blazing argument about Arki. Meanwhile, Arki recovered a little crawling beneath the bed and hiding there until Kodiak found her and coaxed her out.” Leo was furious!
“You are only a cub!” he snapped, “how am I to believe this!”
“Because it’s all true,” Brushtail barked. Leo looked at the arctic fox.
”You are not known to be a storyteller,” Leo said. Snowy smiled at Brushtail.
“snowy!” Leo demanded, “you seem to know this fox. I hate foxes, but I will let her corroboration of Whitie’s testimony stand if you say she is of good character.”
“Arctic foxes, by their nature, are not as disreputable as the red fox Leo,” snowy replied, “but I also know this vixen from old time, as I comforted her when she was a tiny cub.” Brushtail spat with disgust at Leo’s attitude. Leo rounded on Brushtail.
“You’d better be correct!” He snapped. Isaac looked over at Leo.
“She is correct, and so is Whitie.” He said. Leo rounded on Isaac!
“Are you polar bears ever going to learn?” Leo asked. Isaac had the decency to avert his gaze.
“I will go to the wardrobe now,” Isaac said, crawling away, his head bowed. Leo decided to let Isaac go for the moment, because he had to deal with Sam. Dragging Sam out of the house via the back door, Leo threw him into a shed in the garden. Leo was careful not to throw Sam into the wrong shed, for one of the sheds was furnished as a comfortable sleeping place, and Sam wasn’t in line for a spell in there. Throwing Sam into the second of the two sheds, Leo slammed the door on a weeping polar bear. Leo knew Sam would be destined for a spell in the shed, with a hard concrete floor to sleep on. Leo knew the badgers who served the food to the prisoners were careful not to make physical contact with them. Sam would get no contact at all, by eye, or by touch. This would be worse punishment for him than the hard flooring. Sam lay in the dark shed, miserably contemplating his lot, which wasn’t a happy one.
Meanwhile, Leo returned to the house, slamming the back door. Meeting Isaac, he found the huge polar bear making his way to the wardrobe. Leo stopped him.
“Isaac?” Leo asked. Isaac Looked at the lion through shattered eyes.
“I don’t want to go to the wardrobe!” Isaac begged. Leo looked at Isaac.
“You attacked Arki though Didn’t you,” the lion said. Isaac looked down at his paws.
“I did,” he replied, “and I know I shouldn’t have done so.”
“Have you spoken to Arki?” Leo asked. Isaac looked at Leo.
“do you honestly think Kodiak would let me near her, or that she’d talk to me after what I did?” He asked.
“Suppose not,” Leo replied. Isaac suddenly said:
“I love Arki Leo. I know she doesn’t love me any more, and after me running off with that other female polar bear, I’m not surprised she doesn’t, but I can’t help feeling the way I do.”
“You should have thought about your feelings towards Arki before you ran off,” Leo said. Isaac knew the truth of Leo’s words.
“There’s more to it too,” Isaac sighed, “I threatened Arki and Candy when Sam appeared on the scene. Arki definitely won’t talk to me!” Leo nodded at someone behind Isaac’s shoulder, and out of sight of the male polar bear.
“I can’t talk to you Isaac,” Arki said. Isaac turned and looked Arki full in the face.
“I’m sorry for threatening you and your cub,” Isaac said. Arki shook her head.
“I can’t let it go,” she replied. Isaac knew his luck had run out. Padding down the stairs, Isaac tried to make himself scarce..
“I can’t forgive Isaac for what he did to me earlier today,” Arki said.
“go back to Kodiak,” Leo said, “he’ll look after you.”
Arki crawled away.
Settling down to normality.
Arki crawled onto the quilt, Kodiak embracing her tenderly.
“Isaac’s just a jealous bully,” Kodiak remarked, “furious now he knows what he lost.” Arki felt Kodiak stroking her belly and paws, something which she enjoyed.
“I could get used to this,” Arki said, snuggling closer to Kodiak. Kodiak smiled, feeling Arki’s fur against his, the toes of her left forepaw curling round his paw as he stroked her pads.
“All I need is right here,” Kodiak said, nuzzling Arki’s ear. Arki breathed deeply, relaxing into the brown bear’s hug.
Meanwhile, Isaac hid in a corner, grateful Leo hadn’t locked him up. Leo was letting Isaac off a spell in the wardrobe, as the polar bear had confessed to beating Arki up, after realising the evidence was stacked against him. Leo hated the wardrobe anyway, and he was relieved he’d not had to lock Isaac up. Settling down on his rug, Leo looked at snowy. She lay on the rug, her chin on her forepaws.
“How are you snowy love?” Leo asked. Snowy smiled at him.
“I’m fine thanks Leo,” Snowy replied. She took his paw in hers, “even better now you’re back.” Leo caught his breath as he felt Snowy’s paw envelope his, it was so soft and warm!
“I love you snowy,” Leo purred. Snowy began to stroke Leo’s paw, the lion working his paw into hers.
Isaac watched Leo and snowy. He wondered what Leo saw in snowy, for as far as Isaac could see, she was a fat tigress with a tiny tail and big paws. The polar bear, while not in the least attracted to tigress’s, could still see how some could be attracted to some females of species other than his own, and snowy was most unattractive in his view. Even though he had these thoughts, Isaac dared not impart them to anyone, for Leo was a big cat, and could easily do him serious damage. A polar bear Isaac might be, but he was no fighter, not when Leo was concerned.
Meanwhile, Kodiak and Arki, warmed by the soft quilt, started talking about cubs. Kodiak wondered what their cubs would look like if they had any. Arki and he knew that polar bears and brown bears were related, so the possibility of a polar bear giving birth to cubs when her mate was a brown bear was not impossible.
“I think we’d have cubs with thick brown fur,” Arki said, “They’d have thick brown fur.”
“I don’t know,” Kodiak mused, “maybe they’d have brown fur, but white paws.”
“That would look unusual,” Arki replied, “but then again, I’d love my cubs no matter how they looked.” Kodiak nodded.
“or maybe they’d have brown fur all over, but the fur on the soles of their paws would be white. Or maybe they’d have brown fur for the most part, but have white muzzles,” he said.
“We’ll never know,” Arki replied, “for we are soft toy animals, and we can’t have cubs.” Kodiak nuzzled Arki’s ear.
“We can dream though can’t we?” he asked. Arki touched Kodiak’s nose with her paw:
“Yes,” she replied, “I know what I’ll be dreaming of, cubs with the softest, silkiest fur imaginable.” Kodiak smiled, hugging Arki tightly.
Theo’s flashback.
Ellie warmed her paws by the heat of the radiator in the living room. a lynx she was, and used to cold weather she might be, but she knew she’d never turn her back upon the life she had now. Ellie knew she and her cub Pipin were safe, and that she had the rest of the animals looking out for her. Ellie looked round as Theo padded over to her, his huge paws making hardly a sound on the carpet.
“Are you okay Ellie?” Theo asked. Ellie smiled at the young lion and embraced him with both forepaws. Theo grinned, snuggling up to Ellie, luxuriating in her thick warm fur. Theo grinned and buried his face in Ellie’s shoulder. Ellie hugged Theo tenderly.
“You are so sweet Theo,” Ellie laughed. Theo felt Ellie take his huge right forepaw in both of hers and begin to massage it. The young lion wiggled his toes, Ellie smiling at him.
“You like that Theo?” Ellie asked. Theo laughed nervously.
“yes I do,” he whispered, seemingly terrified others might overhear him and realise what was happening. Tembi watched Theo, smiling at him as he snuggled up to Ellie. Ellie rubbed the pads of Theo’s paw, the young and very nervous lion settling down beside her so she could continue massaging his paw. Closing his eyes, Theo drifted in a dream. Tembi padded across to Theo and began to stroke his hind paws. Theo looked drowsily at his mate.
“It’s so peaceful here Tembi,” Theo murmured. Tembi and Ellie patted Theo’s paws, the lion purring contentedly.
Leo watched Ellie and Tembi massaging his brother’s paws.
“I hope you find peace here Theo,” Leo thought. Leo knew the route of Theo’s troubles. Leo and Theo had remained close ever since they were cubs. In their early life, a lioness in their cage pride died while giving birth to her second litter of cubs. Theo had seen it all, and rescued Portia, the only cub to survive. Theo had been so traumatised by his experience that he curled up in a corner, Portia beside him. Theo wouldn’t let the tiny female cub out of his sight for three weeks. Portia was Leo’s cub, though he didn’t mind Theo looking after her. After a few weeks, Theo felt able to leave Portia alone for short periods. Even so, he was always watchful, watching over the tiny cub. Theo had never really come to terms with the death of the lioness and her unborn cubs. Many a night Theo lay awake, wondering what he could have done to help the mother to be. He ran through what he’d seen, trying to work out how he could have done something to help. The Lioness’s terrified eyes and pained cries haunted his dreams for months afterwards. Leo hadn’t been present at the birth of his cubs, for the vet had singled him out for a general check up. Leo had been reluctant to leave his mate, who was soon to have their cubs, but he had no choice in the matter. By the time Leo returned to the cage pride, his mate was dead, and Theo was curled around one tiny cub. Leo couldn’t get close to his cub, eventually having to threaten Theo, and then attack him before his younger brother would let him see his cub. Theo, terrified and devastated that his brother had felt it necessary to attack him, withdrew totally from Leo for weeks on end.
Leo remembered all this, and felt wretched all over again. He knew now that what Theo had seen was the cause of him refusing to let go of Portia. Theo wouldn’t have harmed the tiny cub, but Leo wanted to see her, and to do this he’d felt it necessary to drive his brother away from Portia with threats and the liberal use of hard forepaws and unsheathed claws. Leo looked down at his paws and felt like bursting into tears.
“Leo?” Theo asked gently, resting his paw on Leo’s. Leo looked at his brother.
“I’m sorry Theo,” Leo choked.
“Sorry for what?” Theo asked, confused by Leo’s behaviour.
“Sorry for driving you away from Portia all that time ago. Well, not for driving you away as such, for I’d tried to reason with you, but more for the way in which I did it. Using my claws and paws on you wasn’t the right thing to do. I know that now.” Theo’s mind flashed back to the scene of the lioness struggling to give birth to her cubs.
“I didn’t want Portia to, to, to go the way of her mother and those other cubs Leo,” Theo said, his voice cracking.
“No Theo, I know,” Leo replied, “I know.”
“But you don’t, you can’t know! You weren’t there, when, during, during all that.”
“Allie was my mate Theo,” Leo said, “I miss her too.” Theo nodded.
“Sorry,” he said. Leo took a deep breath.
“you’ve never really got over that have you Theo,” Leo said gently.
“No,” Theo replied, staring down at his paws.
“Why are you staring down at your paws like that Theo?” Leo asked, but he thought he already knew. Theo had the same manner about him as when his mother had caught him playing where she’d strictly told him he couldn’t and had soundly told him off. Theo was ashamed of his own perceived weakness.
“I can’t come to terms with it Leo,” Theo replied, “what happened to Allie was so awful, I saw it all, and couldn’t do anything to help her!” Leo hugged his brother, who was now crying inconsolably.
“I see Allie in my dreams every night!” Theo sobbed. Leo tried to comfort his brother, but knew Theo needed to weep for Allie, for the lioness at who’s side he’d lain for hours while she struggled to bring her cubs into the world had been a good friend to him. Theo had been there till the end, finally cleaning up the tiny cub whom Allie had managed to bring into the world before she died. It was said later that Allie died from over exertion while trying to birth a cub which was too large to be born naturally. Theo was glad a smaller cub came into the world first. Of course he’d have done anything to help Allie give birth safely to all her cubs, but the past couldn’t be changed, and Theo was glad Portia had been born safely. Theo clung to the belief Allie lived on in Portia, her and Leo’s one and only cub.
Portia watched her sire and his brother. She knew what was upsetting Theo, and wanted to go to him and hug him. Portia padded across to Theo, and before she knew what was happening the weeping lion had taken her in both his huge forepaws and was hugging and grooming her like he had that first time. Many adults, and mature cubs for that matter, would have complained at Theo’s treatment, branding it a terrible thing to do to a cub of mature mind, but Portia submitted to Theo’s ministrations, knowing the origin of his actions. The grooming Theo gave Portia was desperate, his paws and tongue working furiously over her fur, just like that first time, as if he was racing to get her warm and dry. Theo finished off by rubbing the soles of Portia’s paws, trying to warm them. It was then that Portia, looking over at Tarker, and seeing his sneer of disgust, could take it no longer.
“stop it Theo!” she commanded. Theo’s body seemed to jerk violently, as if waking from a nightmare.
“What?” Theo asked, Portia’s paw still held firmly in his, the little lioness unable to free it.
“You were grooming me like I was a tiny cub!” Portia snapped, Tarker’s eyes on her making her angry with Theo for putting her in such an embarrassing situation.
“let go of my paw!” Portia yelled, trying to bite Theo’s paw. Theo dropped Portia’s paw. It was then she looked into Theo’s face. The young lion looked confused and upset.
“What was I doing to you Portia?” Theo asked desperately.
“You were grooming me like I was a newborn cub!” Portia yelled.
“But you are, were, I saw you, just the same as you were when you were newborn, I was grooming a newborn cub,” Theo replied.
“No you dam well weren’t!” Tarker yelled, “you were grooming Portia, a year old cub as if she was newborn and unable to do it for herself! How degrading is that! You should be ashamed of your actions!”
“I was grooming a newborn cub!” Theo shouted, “I saw a newborn cub! I felt a newborn cub in my paws! I groomed the cub’s fur! I stroked her paws! “ Then more softly, “Her soft fur, her tiny soft paws. This cub was real!” In a sudden fit of temper, Portia walloped Theo across his nose! Whimpering with anxiety and pain, Theo threw up his paws to protect his face.
“You horrid creature!” she yelled, “you make me sick Theo!”
“Stop! Stop it Portia!” Tigger yelled. Portia spun round on her mate.
“why should I stop? Tell me Tigger, if you are so dam clever!” Portia demanded.
“it’s not Theo’s fault,” Tigger said quickly, trying to stop Portia from doing Theo even more damage by cramming as much information in to as shorter time span as he could by talking as fast as was understandable.
“Theo saw you Portia, but it wasn’t you as you are now. He saw you as a cub, the cub whom he rescued. It’s a flashback mixed with reality. He sees the real Portia in front of him, and hugs you because he loves you, but then he begins to groom you like you are a cub because his brain is telling him in his distressed state that you are a cub, even though in his right mind he knows you aren’t a cub any more.” Portia looked at Tigger in astonished silence.
“I’m sorry Portia,” Theo sniffed, rubbing his nose with one large paw.
“I don’t understand all this,” Portia said, “I’m clueless when it comes to matters of the mind. So you’re saying Tigger, that Theo’s mind played tricks on him. His eyes saw me as I am, but his mind told him I was a defenceless cub on the point of death whom he had to clean up quickly to give me any hope of survival?”
“yes Portia, that’s exactly what happened,” Tigger replied, “and I believe you were enjoying his ministrations too, for you were purring and snuggling up to Theo throughout it all. That was until Tarker spat with disgust. You then changed your tune and now we’re here.” Portia closed her eyes, thinking back to Theo’s frantic attempt to care for a cub on the point of death. She had enjoyed his ministrations, Portia had felt safe, warm and unconditionally loved. Desperate Theo might have been to clean Portia’s fur and paws, but his actions towards her had always been tender and loving. Portia admitted to herself she’d enjoyed Theo’s attentions and only lashed out at him the minute she’d realised Tarker had seen what the young lion was doing and had started commenting on Theo’s grooming, and her own enjoyment of his attention.
“I’m sorry Theo,” Portia mewed, “I shouldn’t have lashed out at you.” Theo, his eyes streaming, hid his face in his paws.
Portia stumbled across the carpet, almost tripping over her own paws. Arriving at Tigger’s side, she collapsed beside the huge Bengal tiger.
“What do I do now!” Portia asked, almost crushing Tigger’s left forepaw in both of hers.
“You need to tell Tarker where he can shove his disgust for starters,” Tigger replied, “then, well, you need to talk to Theo about what happened the day of your birth and try to understand why he acts like he does sometimes.” Portia looked at Theo. The lion’s face was still buried in his huge forepaws. Releasing Tigger’s paw and padding across to Theo, Portia touched the back of the young lion’s left forepaw with one of her own paws.
“Theo?” Portia asked gently. Looking up as she felt eyes upon her, Portia looked straight into Leo’s eyes, and she couldn’t bear the expression in them.
“You seem to be more concerned with what others think of you than you are about the lion who saved your life Portia,” Leo said, “I’m devastated if this is the case.” Portia looked at Theo. The young male lion had lifted his head, his paws now flat on the rug where he slept. Portia looked into Theo’s face, the expression in the lion’s eyes making her want to weep.
“go to Theo Portia,” Leo said. Portia heard no command in Leo’s tone, but knew she had no choice, for her paws were taking her closer to Theo of their own free will, or so it seemed. Once she was next to Theo, Leo nodded to his brother, and Portia felt Theo’s paws embracing her. Portia knew then where she wanted to be more than anywhere else other than with Tigger. She knew Tigger’s and her relationship could break down, but this one was set in stone. Theo would love her no matter what. Portia reached up with her forepaws and hugged Theo.
“I’m sorry Theo,” Portia whispered, burying her face in the lion’s thick mane. Theo began to purr, the sound telling Portia the young lion felt peace at last.
“You won’t lose me Theo,” Portia said gently, “I’m all right now.” Portia felt Theo’s paws tighten around her, and she gave herself up to enjoying his hug.
Perdy puts her paw in it. Cold winds blew through the woods at the back of the house, where a female snow leopard named Perdy cowered beneath a bush trying to shelter from the wind. Despite her thick fur coat, Perdy shivered with cold. It was the wind which made the cold unbearable for her, the wind chilling her to the bone. Getting to her paws, Perdy raised each paw from the ground in turn and flexed her toes to stimulate some circulation to them. Clenching her teeth against the cold, she padded towards the house.
“Kalahari watched the garden from the rear window of the house. He knew the weather was bad, and was glad he was indoors. Kalahari then saw something, a large snow white cat with black spots and a long tail. Recognising what this animal was, Kalahari scampered up the stairs and burst into the bedroom.
“there’s a snow leopard outside!” he panted, the run leaving him slightly breathless. Stifftail looked at Amber, and Amber looked at her cubs, just in case they’d ventured outside. Everyone was accounted for, so the snow leopard Kalahari had seen must be a newcomer.
“Is it showing any sign of coming closer?” Tigger asked. Kalahari turned and ran to another window.
“I’ll take a look,” he said, “um, well, it looks pretty desperate, tail down and ears laid back, that kind of thing.”
“it might be furious because it can’t find food,” Amber said, “It’ll be okay.” Kalahari watched the snow leopard go to the back door. Frantic banging on the door told the animals in the house that the snow leopard wanted to come in. Amber leapt from her place and crawled downstairs, Kalahari and Tigger following. Amber opened the back door, to be faced with a shivering, bedraggled female snow leopard.
“Are you all right my dear?” Amber asked. The newcomer sneezed and clung to the raised step into the house with the toes of her forepaws for support, digging them into the concrete.
“I’m so cold!” the poor cat mewed. Amber placed a paw on that of the newcomer.
“Come in and we’ll help you,” she said.
“The boss will go crazy!” Tarker yelled, “You can’t just let anyone in!”
“This poor snow leopard is cold and wet,” amber replied, “would you like it if you were cold and wet and noone helped you Tarker?” The female snow leopard followed amber into the house, where Tigger was already filling the bath in preparation for washing the snow leopard’s fur.
“What’s your name?” Amber asked. The female snow leopard looked at her. “Perdita,” the snow leopard replied, “though everyone calls me Perdy, My parents thought they’d give me a grand name, but I don’t really like it. Perdy’s better.” Amber smiled:
“Well Perdy,” she said, “go into the bathroom, and Tigger will help you wash your fur and paws. Perdy padded into the bathroom, the steam from the bathtub swirling round her. Tigger smiled at Perdy, extending a paw towards her. Perdy took his paw in hers and Tigger hugged her. Perdy, taken by surprise, didn’t know what to make of the huge tiger’s conduct. His hug was warm and comforting, but she wasn’t used to physical contact. Tigger guided Perdy towards the bathtub, the female snow leopard stepping cautiously into the bathtub. The warm water caressed her paws as she waded deeper. Tigger stroked Perdy’s left forepaw beneath the water, the snow leopard lying down in the warm water. Perdy, the water working its magic on her, purred contentedly as things warmed up. Tigger began massaging Perdy’s paws, the female snow leopard submitting happily to his attentions. By degrees, Tigger’s paws worked their way over every inch of Perdy’s Body, from her nose to the end of her long tail. Perdy hadn’t been so warm, or felt so relaxed for a long time, and this tiger certainly knew how to massage life back into her frozen paws. All too soon, the massage and bath were over, and Tigger was helping Perdy out of the tub, water streaming from her water repellent fur. Padding into the kitchen, Tigger and Perdy stopped where a thick and very soft towel had been spread on the floor. Here Tigger asked Perdy to lift each paw in turn. Perdy complied, and the tiger wrapped each paw in the towel, rubbing them gently until they were dry. Perdy smiled as she felt the affects of the massage. Once her paws were dry, Tigger took Perdy’s left forepaw in his and guided her into the lounge, where he motioned to her to lie down. Throughout all this, Tigger said nothing, preferring to remain silent until Perdy was warm and dry, and possibly more amenable to answering questions. Perdy curled up beside the radiator, her fur steaming as the heat worked on the remaining water held in it.
“is that better Perdy?” Tigger asked. Perdy smiled at the Bengal tiger.
“It is, thank you,” she replied. Tigger smiled, patting Perdy’s paw reassuringly.
“You’re safe here,” Tigger said. Perdy stared at him.
“You, mean, mean, I, I can stay?” she asked. Tigger squeezed the paw he’d patted.
“Of course,” he said. Perdy looked round her, seeing many animals, another male Bengal tiger, a Bengal tigress, a kangaroo, and several lions, as well as contingents of polar bears and otters. There were tiger cubs, and lots of other cubs. other big cats included two lynx, one of which was a cub, and to Perdy’s surprise and delight, a huge male snow leopard. Perdy had already met a female snow leopard, for it was she who’d beckoned her into the house. Maybe this huge male was her mate? Perdy kept her head down, not wanting to attract the attentions of anyone other than Tigger, whom she felt safe with as he’d helped her. Salty saw the large female snow leopard, and smiled at her.
“She’s lovely,” he thought, padding over to Perdy and touching her paw with his.
“What’s your name dear?” Salty purred. Perdy looked up into Salty’s face.
“My name?” she asked, overwhelmed by the size of the male snow leopard who’s paw touched hers.
“yes dear,” Salty said gently. Perdy lowered her head and looked at Salty out of the corner of her eye,, trying to gauge the snow leopard’s character without him realising she was watching him.
“My name’s Perdy,” Perdy replied.
“Look at me Perdy dear,” Salty said gently. Perdy raised her head and looked at Salty.
“You are safe here,” Salty said. Perdy impulsively took hold of Salty’s paw, Salty smiling broadly.
“You haven’t even asked me my name yet!” Salty laughed. Perdy hesitated:
“What’s your name?” She asked. Salty grinned:
“My name’s Salty,” the male snow leopard replied. Perdy held Salty’s paw, liking what she felt, Salty’s soft warm paw comforting to her.
“Is the female snow leopard I met your mate?”” Perdy asked. Salty shook his head.
“I don’t have a mate yet,” Salty said, “Amber’s, well, unattached last time I knew, though that might be wrong, who knows.” Perdy looked down at her paws, hoping Salty didn’t see her real feelings. She wanted to be close to him, but how could she tell him?
“Are you okay Perdy?” Salty asked. Perdy smiled at him and touched his nose with her paw. Salty laughed merrily, playfully sticking his tongue out at her. Perdy grinned and embraced Salty tightly.
“hang on a minute!” Tarker yelled, “it’s a bit soon for that isn’t it?” Salty grinned at the otter cub, but basically ignored him. Perdy’s large padded paws held Salty tenderly. Salty looked into Perdy’s blue eyes.
“you are beautiful Perdy dear,” Salty purred. Perdy smiled as rain hit the windows of the house.
“We’re warm and safe in here,” she said.
Sam lay in his shed. He’d been there for a week now, and knew of Isaac’s narrow escape from the wardrobe. He knew the reason for Leo’s clemency was that Isaac had confessed to his crime, knowing the evidence was stacked against him. Sam hadn’t confessed, denying everything, hoping noone would find out. The problem was, there were only a few animals who actively showed their true feelings towards those whom they didn’t like. Tarker was one, and amber too, Stifftail also, but that was about the sum total. All the others were too grateful to the boss for letting them into the house to show their true feelings. Sam felt the concrete beneath his paws, the cold wind ripping into him.
“I hate them all!” Sam thought. Then he thought about his old life, the heat of the Florida summer, and his wish to get back to the cooler weather of the British isles. This made Sam regret his previous thoughts, for he’d got what he wanted, and hadn’t realised it until it was nearly too late. Stretching out on the concrete, Sam waited for his next meal, the highlight of his day now all else was denied him. Even then, the experience was painful to Sam, a bear who’d been so used to contact of all sorts, be it visual or physical. The otter who came twice a day and dumped the bowl of fish and rice in front of Sam made a deliberate point of not making eye contact with him, let alone touching him. As far as she was concerned, he wasn’t there, and this was the worst of it. Sam wondered when Leo would release him. Or would the huge lion just forget about him?
Sam lay on the concrete dreaming about a warm place to sleep. He’d not had much in the way of sleep since he’d been thrown into the shed, and now all he wanted to do was curl up on a soft warm quilt, or on one of the blankets snowy favoured, even that would do. In an ideal world Sam knew he wanted the quilt.
The bitch otter came with Sam’s evening meal, and Sam, in a desperate bid for freedom launched himself at her and knocked her down! Scrambling over her body, Sam ran for the open back door. Winifred got to her paws and watched Sam disappear into the house. She knew she could not catch the polar bear, so she didn’t even try.
Sam burst into the house and crawled as quickly as he could towards the living room. Salty saw him coming and brought his paw smashing down on Sam’s nose, instantly immobilising the polar bear.
“What the hell’s going on!” Perdy demanded, now terrified by Sam’s sudden appearance on the scene.
“I don’t know,” Salty replied, “but whatever it is, I’ve just stopped it.” Leo crawled over and took a look at Sam, who glared back at him.
“You aren’t meant to be here!” Leo yelled. Winifred padded stiffly into the room then.
“Sam went crazy!” she yinnied. Leo looked at the bitch otter.
“Did he harm you?” The lion asked. Winifred shook her head.
“Knocked me down, that’s all,” she replied, “I think he was more intent on getting away from the shed than doing me harm.” Sam, now beginning to recover, moaned pitifully as sensation returned to his body.
“I don’t want to go back to the shed Leo, I can’t stand it in there any more!” Sam whimpered. Leo growled deep in his throat, the sound making Perdy nervous.
“You are a real pawful to deal with Sam!” Leo yelled. “I don’t know what I can do to you that will make you see the seriousness of what you did to Hazel!” Sam begged Leo for mercy. Leo suddenly looked exhausted.
“just get out of my sight!” he snarled.
Perdy listened to Sam’s paws scuffing on the carpet as he fled. Turning, she saw Tigger lying beside her, and reached out a paw to touch his. Feeling the female snow leopard’s paw enveloping his, Tigger smiled with pleasure. Perdy attempted to hug Tigger, the Bengal tiger submitting happily to her embrace. Perdy thought hard about Tigger. Throughout her treatment, he’d never once made eye contact with her. Maybe this was the way things worked, so she focused more on what her body was telling her rather than on Tigger himself. Another puzzling realisation was that Tigger seemed to find her with his paws, rather than looking at what he was doing. Perdy looked into the tiger’s eyes, but the tiger seemed not to notice her.
“Are you in there Tigger?” Perdy asked. Tigger replied that he was awake, and that he was paying attention.
“I’ve been looking into your eyes for the last five minutes and you’ve not reacted to me!” Perdy spat. Salty touched her paw, but she shook him off.
“Are you impolite, disrespectful or just plain ignorant!”
“Perdy!” Salty pleaded. Perdy spun round on the large male snow leopard.
“What!” she snarled, now furious with Salty.
“Tigger, he can’t see you Perdy,” salty said, “he wasn’t being disrespectful, lazy or anything else.”
“Why didn’t you say something Tigger?” Perdy snapped.
“Why should I mention anything about my disability if it isn’t affecting my work?” Tigger asked. Perdy didn’t know what to say after this, so she changed the subject.
“So how many other disabled animals have we here?” Perdy asked, “is this a place for cripples?” Salty backhanded Perdy across her nose with his paw to shut her up.
“if you’re going to be like that,” Hop along said, “you will be out of this place before your paws have touched the carpet!” Perdy spun round on Hop along and stared at the huge Bengal tiger. Hop-along met her gaze, but knew he couldn’t hide the almost permanent look of discomfort in his eyes. Snowy’s paw massages only went so far to help with the pain from his injured leg. The leg had healed, but not correctly, and caused Hop-along permanent pain. Even so, the Bengal tiger was happy enough with his life, he could now get about slowly, limping carefully towards wherever he wanted to get to. Perdy saw Hop-along’s huge form, his huge paws and long tail. She then looked back at Salty, finally registering how powerful he was.
“There are many animals with disabilities here Perdy,” snowy Half-tail said, “I am disabled myself, but you wouldn’t know it at first glance. You carry on as you are doing, and you will not know how good and kind these animals are. We have our disagreements, but on the whole we get on well, otters with badgers, polar bears with tigers, snow leopards with brown bears, brown bears with raccoons, and snow tigers with common leopards and everyone else. Life is good here, and we will stick by those who play by the rules, even if they are disabled. You know nothing of our lives, nothing of our history. You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. I’ll bet that before you knew Tigger was blind, you quite liked him. Now though, you feel uneasy about him?” Perdy looked away, ashamed to admit this was exactly how she felt.
“Perdy will learn soon enough who she can and can’t trust in this place,” Portia mewed. Tarker spat on the carpet.
“I rest my case,” Portia added. Winifred ran to her cub and walloped him for spitting.
“That’s a disgusting habit Tarker!” She yinnied. Tarker tissed and yinnied with pain and embarrassment at the public walloping.
“So now what do we do?” Portia asked, “Perdy doesn’t like Tigger, and when she realises there are more blind animals, Whitie and blanche to name two, she’ll go crazy!” Perdy looked at Portia.
“Who are Whitie and Blanche?” She asked.
“Two snow leopard cubs,” Portia replied, regretting saying what she had.
“Snow leopard cubs?” Perdy asked, “Amber’s cubs?” Snowy’s fur stood on end, and she growled a warning to Perdy.
“My cubs too,!” she snarled.
“Your cubs?” Perdy asked, “the only snow tigress I ever heard of who took in cubs and looked after them was snowy Half-tail, but she features in folk lore, she lived ages ago! If at all that is. It was said this snow tigress, though very unwell herself, found two snow leopard cubs and looked after them until their mother returned to them some months after snowy found them.” Snowy smiled.
“I wonder who’s the blind one here,” she said, “Perdy, did the storyteller describe snowy Half-tail to you?” Perdy, now confused, blurted:
“Yes, well, kind of. My mother said that Snowy was large, fat she said, with big paws and a short tail. She also said she couldn’t move very quickly because of some kind of problem with her breathing. It was said when snowy had cubs of her own, she only just about survived their birth. Snowy’s long dead though, she has to be! She was very ill so the stories say.”
“Perdy,” snowy said, “do your eyes not see me?” Perdy stared at the snow tigress.
“I see you, but I don’t know your name,” Perdy replied.
“Ah, but you do,” Snowy replied, “you know it very well indeed.”
“I don’t know your name!” Perdy yelled, now more furious than ever.
“a snow tigress, with a short tail and fat paws?” snowy asked, “surely you know one of that description?”
“Well, yes, snowy half-tail, but you’re not her, are you?”
“I am snowy,” snowy replied, “the same as in the stories you were told. I have been here for years, longer than you or your mother have lived. I am very unwell, it is true, but it is also true that I took in two defenceless snow leopard cubs and looked after them. Their names were Whitie and blanche, and Amber was, and still is their mother, for she lives here too. You met her a while ago.” Perdy felt a strange feeling come over her. To find Snowy still living in a house with other animals felt very strange, for her mother had told her snowy had died. Now though, this was plainly untrue, for the real Snowy Half-tail was alive, very alive, and had spoken to her.
“Snowy?” Perdy said, her voice shaking uncontrollably, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise.” Snowy looked severely at Perdy.
“I am leader here now,” snowy said, “Leo and myself lead the community here.” Perdy looked at Leo, the huge lion looking back at her with mild interest.
“I always looked up to Snowy, the one in the stories,” Perdy gabbled, “I wished I could be like her, look after lost cubs, that kind of thing.”
“Snowy is no super cat,” Leo said, “it was her will to survive which has brought her to where she is today. Now Perdy, I suggest you start looking to what really matters. Tigger was kind to you, and you were relaxed with him, that was before you learned of his sight problems. Now I ask you, what shows the real Tigger, the fact he can’t see you, or the way he cared for you when you first got here?” Perdy knew what Leo was getting at.
“I’m sorry Tigger,” Perdy said.
“I think you need to apologise to Hop-along, Pipin, Whitie, Blanche and snowy too,” Tigger said. Perdy knew she’d really put her paw in it.
“I shouldn’t have said what I did,” Perdy mewed, “I’m sorry, I feel dreadful now!” Portia padded up to Tigger, put her paws round his neck and hugged him. Perdy stared at them!
“You, you two are, are, I mean, Tigger’s your mate?” Perdy babbled. Portia smiled as Tigger’s paws embraced her.
“He is,” she said, “I’m his, he’s mine.” Tigger began to purr contentedly.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Leo and snowy now get together!” Perdy yelled, now totally confused by the whole arrangement.
“Too late,” Leo said smiling, “we are together.” Perdy ran from the room, up the stairs and into the main bedroom, where she saw many other animals, more snow leopards, polar bears, and brown bears.
“Ah Perdy,” Amber said, “now you know where you stand here, welcome.” Perdy threw herself onto the quilt, where resided two brown bears and one polar bear.
“This place is crazy!” perdy yelled.
“Be quiet please,” Kodiak said, “I’m trying to sleep.” Perdy worked her paws into a fold of the quilt and rested her head on them, unable to work out what kind of a place she’d come to.
Brydy has a foal.
Domino and Brydy fled to the stable block adjoining the garden at the back of the house where they used to live. The two Shetland ponies had finally got fed up with the profusion of predators in the house, and the admission of Perdy into their household was the final straw. The horses walked out in protest. Brydy was glad she’d got out, for she was due to foal any day now, having gone to a donor stallion. Domino knew of the impending birth of the foal, but secretly wished there was another horse who could attend the foaling, as she was terrified of the thought of Brydy having a foal. Brydy went into labour one afternoon. Domino was grazing in the garden when she heard Brydy’s pained yell.
“the foal’s coming!” Terrified, domino ran to the stable, saw Brydy lying on the straw, then bolted towards the house, Brydy’s pained whinnying echoing round her head. Banging on the door with both forefeet, Domino wondered if anyone would come to Brydy’s aid, for both she and Brydy had said some horrible things to Leo about the,” paws,” as they’d collectively named the animals with claws and teeth. Now, with Brydy’s increasingly desperate cries echoing round the garden, Domino wondered if anyone would come.
Leo watched from the back window. Still angry with Brydy and Domino, he’d vowed never to help the horses ever again. He knew very well what was happening to Brydy, but maintained that Domino would have to come to them if she wanted help with Brydy’s foaling. He was grievously upset by the sentiments expressed by the horses, especially when his group had done nothing to harm Brydy or domino. Banging on the door made Leo change his mind on helping Domino, for it sounded urgent and, after all, the newborn foal shouldn’t suffer for its mother’s folly. Going to the door, Leo opened it and Domino squealed into his face!
“Brydy’s having her foal!” Leo desperately wanted to ask domino what she thought he should do about it, but he restrained himself.
“Right,” Leo said, “I’ll go find Elsa.” Padding slowly back to the living room, Leo found Elsa sleeping beside the radiator, as it was cold that day. Shaking her shoulder, Leo woke Elsa and told her what was happening. Elsa leapt to her paws and ran from the house!
“You’re so casual about the whole thing Leo!” Elsa snarled, “Brydy’s having her foal!” The door slammed behind Elsa, and Leo returned to his rug. he wanted nothing to do with the horses if he could help it. They’d isolated themselves from the community, and Leo couldn’t do anything about that.
Meanwhile, Elsa and Domino nearly scorched the grass as they tore over it to where Brydy lay in the stable. Elsa saw Brydy was lying on her side, each contraction causing her to squeal with pain and push hard to deliver her foal.
“Brydy,” Elsa said gently, “it’s Elsa, Everything’s fine, just try to relax as much as you can, let nature do its thing. Brydy opened her eyes and looked at Elsa.
“What were you thinking of domino!” Brydy yelled, “bringing a member of the paws here, what the hell are you on!”
“Elsa’s had cubs,” Domino protested, “Leo thought she’d know what to do!” Brydy’s reply was a pained whinny and more expulsive efforts as her foal’s head emerged into the outside world. Elsa lay down beside Brydy and began to stroke her neck and, on the assumption that if a paw massage worked to soothe Snowy’s pain, a hoof massage might do the same for Brydy, Elsa took Brydy’s left forefoot in her paws and began to stroke the sole of her hoof. Elsa had seen the sole of a horse’s foot, so knew what bit to stroke so Brydy could feel it. The massage seemed to work, for Brydy calmed down, and the foaling seemed to be easier on her. The pain was still there, but the panic wasn’t. Soon Brydy’s foal was born, a skewbald filly it was. After the foal’s birth Brydy lay for a minute, recovering from her labour. Elsa let go of Brydy’s hoof and got to her paws, the straw crackling and rustling beneath her considerable weight.
“you’ve got a beautiful filly Brydy,” Domino said softly, not wanting to speak too loudly, in case Elsa changed from a seemingly caring midwife to the raging menace she was said to be. Brydy got to her feet and nudged her filly foal onto her tiny hooves. Brydy looked at Elsa.
“Thank you,” she said, forgetting for a moment the hatred she had for the paws. Elsa smiled as she looked at the newborn filly, her eyes shining with an expression which Brydy knew from seeing other foaling attendants watching a newborn foal, an expression which said they wanted to protect the newborn foal as much as the foal’s mother did. Brydy cleaned her foal up, then looked at Elsa.
“Come,” she said, “come and meet the foal you helped into the world. Elsa padded across to the tiny filly, and the tiny creature hugged her.
“Your mum and I love you little one,” Elsa whispered. Domino spat on the straw with disgust.
“You’d love to eat the foal you mean!” she squealed.
“No Elsa, don’t!” Brydy whinnied, now very upset. Elsa, now angry with Domino, but not wishing to confirm her species reputation for chasing and eating horses, walked out of the stable as slowly as she could, trying not to burst into tears.
Making her way back to the house, Elsa let herself in, and miserably made her way upstairs, throwing herself onto the quilt on which Perdy, Kodiak, Arki and Brunetta lived. Seeing Elsa crashing onto the scene in a terrible state, Arki asked her what the matter was. Tears overwhelming her, Elsa blurted the whole story of Brydy’s foal’s birth and domino’s reaction to the presence of a lioness, even though that lioness had helped Brydy have her foal. Arki took Elsa’s paw.
“don’t worry about domino,” she said, “how was Brydy towards you.”
“Brydy was fine,” Elsa sniffed.
The sound of stumbling hooves grew louder, and before they knew it, Brydy’s filly came tearing into the room, almost launching herself at Elsa!
“I wanted to see you again,” the filly panted. Elsa embraced the filly tenderly.
“thank you little one,” she whispered. The filly nuzzled Elsa’s ear. Brydy burst in then.
“Where the hell have you been!” she demanded of her foal.
“I came to find Elsa,” the filly replied. Brydy softened a little.
“I was worried about you!” she snapped, still furious with her foal for running off, but glad she’d made contact with Elsa.
“A tiny snow leopard cub, or that’s what she said she was, let me into the house mum,” the filly said.
“Whitie most likely,” Brydy thought, “that cub gets her paws into everything.”
“Now you’re safe,” Brydy said, “I think we’d better name you little one.”
“As a member of the “paws,” I’ll keep my mouth shut,” Elsa said.
“What name did you have in mind for my foal Elsa?” Brydy asked.
“Rosie,” Elsa replied.
“I like it,” the filly said, “Rosie, yes, what a nice name!” The filly was known as Rosie ever after.
Brydy led Rosie away, and Elsa, after being hugged one last time by Arki, and told not to worry about what Domino thought, left also.
While Brydy and Rosie left for the stable, Elsa flopped down beside Tommy Trip.
“How was it?” Tommy asked, knowing things weren’t too good from the way Elsa had fled upstairs.
“the foaling went fine,” Elsa said, “but as for domino’s behaviour, I’d rather not talk about it, she reduced me to tears.”
“you let a horse upset you Elsa?” Tommy asked, “I thought you were tougher than that.”
“it was her assertion I would eat Rosie which upset me most of all,” Elsa mewed.
“Who’s Rosie?” Tommy asked.
“Rosie’s Brydy’s foal,” Elsa replied, “she’s beautiful.” Tommy saw the look in Elsa’s eyes, and it was the same one as she had when looking at Tembi or Tembo, Elsa loved Rosie like she was her own.
“Domino told you she thought you’d eat Rosie?” Snowy asked incredulously, “what a load of rubbish!”
“I wanted to tell her that,” Elsa said, “but I was so upset I daren’t say anything to her. I just walked out of the stable, or I would have probably chased Domino round the garden.”
Snowy took Elsa’s forepaw in both her large padded paws and began to stroke it. Elsa snuggled up to snowy, the huge tigress purring contentedly as she felt Elsa cuddle up to her. Snowy massaged all four of Elsa’s paws, the lioness closing her eyes and relaxing, concentrating on the exquisite pleasure of the paw massage. Elsa’s paws relaxed in hers, snowy explored each paw in turn, checking them for injuries. Finding none, snowy massaged the pads of Elsa’s paws, the lioness trying not to press her paws into those of the snow tigress, as she knew that wasn’t the done thing. All too soon, Elsa’s paw massage was over, and snowy settled herself. Elsa looked at the snow tigress’s face.
“Can I snowy?” She asked.
“Can you what?” Snowy asked.
“massage your paws, I’d like to, but if you don’t want me to, I’ll understand.” Snowy rolled onto her side, waving a paw at Elsa.
“here are my paws, all four of them,” snowy said. Elsa smiled, stroking each one of snowy Half-tail’s huge fat paws.
“you have such lovely paws snowy,” Elsa said. Snowy wiggled the toes of her left forepaw, the one Elsa was stroking.
“Thanks,” snowy said, working her paw into Elsa’s. Elsa smiled as she felt Snowy’s pads against her own.
Snowy purred contentedly as Elsa worked on her paws. Once the massage was over, Elsa left snowy sleeping peacefully.
Elsa, her paws still tingling from Snowy’s massage, padded across the carpet towards Theo, who smiled at her. Theo had large paws, and Elsa enjoyed the massage he gave. Tembi watched her mother and Theo playing tag, the two adult lions rolling on the carpet, each swiping at and grabbing the other’s paws, Elsa winning when she managed to get hold of Theo’s left forepaw and tickle his pads. Theo laughed helplessly as Elsa tickled him. Tembi joined in, tickling Theo’s hind paws, and Theo knew he couldn’t fight them. Laughing helplessly, Theo wriggled and twisted, pawing at Elsa and Tembi with his free fore and hind paws, remembering not to extend his claws so he didn’t harm them. The three lions only stopped their fun when Theo had got Tembi and Elsa back by tickling their paws. By way of finishing the game, Tembi and Elsa hugged Theo tenderly. Theo rubbed noses with both Elsa and Tembi, but he held onto Tembi with both forepaws, hugging her to him until she curled up and closed her eyes.
“I’ll leave you two to it,” Elsa said. Theo and Tembi smiled, Tembi snuggling closer to Theo.
Coming to an understanding.
Kodiak and Perdy lay close together on the quilt listening to the wind and rain as it hit the windows of the house, Arki having gone downstairs for a while to talk with Leo and snowy. Perdy looked at Kodiak. The male brown bear’s eyes were half closed, his head resting on his huge soft forepaws. Perdy reached over with her left forepaw and touched Kodiak’s right, the brown bear turning his head and looking at her.
“You were so still,” Perdy said gently, “I wondered if you were still with us.” Kodiak stretched languidly, first stretching his spine, then all four paws. Perdy watched him doing this, watching him curl and then stretch the toes of all four paws as he worked the stiffness out of them.
“What was your former home like Kodiak?” Perdy asked. Kodiak left off stretching his paws and looked at the female snow leopard.
“if I talk about it, I’ll burst into tears,” Kodiak replied, “not because the place was horrible, but because of the manner of my leaving.” Perdy took Kodiak’s right forepaw in both of hers, feeling his warm pads against hers.
“You don’t have to tell me,” she said, “I was only curious, but if it’s too painful, I’ll not ask again.” Kodiak closed his eyes, willing himself not to burst into tears while he told Perdy his story.
“I’ve never told anyone this,” Kodiak said, “I know I should really tell Arki first, as she’s my mate, but she hasn’t asked yet. Maybe she doesn’t want to bring the subject up, for it would lead to me asking about her early life, and I know she’s terrified by the subject.”
Kodiak told Perdy everything. When he came to the four day struggle for freedom from the black sack, Kodiak broke down, weeping into Perdy’s fur.
“I’d done nothing to my previous owner,” the bear sobbed, “and they put me in there! I fought madly with all four paws and all my strength to free myself, for I knew what would happen to me if I didn’t get out of there.” Perdy didn’t want to ask further questions about what happened to black sacks. She’d seen the boss throwing them out, and it looked rather final.
“Once you got free,” Perdy asked, “what happened when you managed to free yourself from the sack?” Kodiak continued his tale, Perdy now embracing him in both forepaws. Snuggling up to her for reassurance, Kodiak continued his tale.
Once he’d told everything, Kodiak hugged Perdy gently, the female snow leopard nuzzling his cheek.
“You’re safe here now,” she purred. Kodiak smiled:
“I know,” he said, “and Perdy, thanks for listening to me.” Perdy lightly touched Kodiak’s nose with her paw, making the bear sneeze as her fur touched him.
“that’s all right,” she said.
Arki watched Kodiak and Perdy, digging her toes into the carpet of the hallway as she listened. Arki knew Perdy’s same question to her would result in her losing it totally. As it was, just thinking about her early life made Arki’s breathing quicken, her mouth dry, her whole body shake uncontrollably with terror and her paws begin to ache from digging her toes into the carpet. Just the sound of a stiff plastic bag crackling as someone screwed it up to throw it away made Arki want to scream with fear. She knew fear was a good thing, but uncontrolled fear wasn’t. there was no way she was up to controlling this fear yet. Arki knew it had total control over her. Rubbing damp pads against the carpet, she padded into the room and lay down beside Kodiak, who hugged her tenderly.
“You’ve been thinking of your early life haven’t you Arki,” Kodiak said gently. Arki shivered with fright.
“I couldn’t help it,” she sniffed, “I saw and heard you and Perdy, and it got me thinking about my own early life, and now I’m in this state!” Perdy watched Arki’s distress with concern. No wonder she didn’t like talking about her early life, If just thinking about it caused her to react like this. Perdy touched Arki’s right hind paw, feeling how hot it was. Feeling something touch her paw, Arki curled her toes around it for support as her panic attack continued. Perdy massaged Arki’s hind paw, the female polar bear shivering and sobbing into Kodiak’s fur. it was only when Arki’s toes relaxed, that Perdy stopped stroking her paw. Arki, realising what the female snow leopard had done, embraced her as tightly as she could, Perdy rubbing Arki’s back with both forepaws as the female polar bear snuggled close. Arki buried her head in Perdy’s thick warm fur, clinging to her with desperate urgency.
“It’s okay Arki, I promise,” Perdy said gently, gently hugging the female polar bear until she relaxed. Perdy gently brushed the shaggy fur out of Arki’s eyes, this tender gesture moving Arki to tears.
“Don’t cry Arki dear,” Perdy said gently, “you’re safe here now.” Perdy began to stroke Arki’s forepaws, the female polar bear’s tears wetting her fur.
While she was stroking Arki’s paws, Perdy accidentally tickled the pads of one paw. Arki laughed despite her distress, and this made Perdy tickle her paws even more, Arki’s tears turning to laughter as the snow leopard tickled her paws until she could laugh no more.
“You big bully, tickling my paws like that!” Arki laughed, hugging Perdy tightly. Perdy smiled.
“it was accidental at first,” she replied, “but when I found you liked it, I continued tickling your paws until you were laughing helplessly.” Arki knew this was the best thing Perdy could have done for her.
Meanwhile, Theo woke from a beautiful dream. he’d been running and playing with Leo. They were cubs again, and the games had ended with each stroking the other’s paws, which both enjoyed hugely. Now the games were over, and so was the dream. Theo was back in the real world, and neither he, nor Leo were cubs any more. Opening his eyes, he saw Leo looking at him. Theo’s older brother’s eyes were concerned, almost angry.
“What on earth were you playing at Theodore!” Leo asked. Theo knew Leo only used his full name when furious with him.
“Nothing Leo,” Theo mewed, hoping he wouldn’t have to tell his brother about his dream.
“You were pawing at me!” Leo yelled, “snowy and I were settling down for a quiet night together when you began pawing at me! Our night was Ruined! I couldn’t sleep! You were scrabbling at me with your paws, and whimpering from time to time. What the hell was going on!”
“I don’t know,” Theo mewed.
“You’re hiding something!” Leo yelled.
“No Leo, I’m not!” Theo protested.
“I know you are, because last night, you managed to get hold of one of my paws. You began to stroke and tickle it like you used to do when we were cubs! I’ve never been so embarrassed in all my life! Heaven only knows what Snowy thought!”
“I was asleep!” Theo mewed.
“Even so, keep your paws to yourself!” Leo yelled, slamming one of his paws onto the rug in sudden rage.
“I think you were cubs once more,” snowy said, “I saw what happened Leo. Theo’s dream was as clear to me as it is to him.”
“No snowy, don’t tell him!” Theo silently implored, curling his toes into the rug with anxiety.
“You dreamt we were cubs once more?” Leo asked his brother.
“yes Leo,” Theo mewed, freeing his toes from the rug and getting up in preparation for running for his life. Leo saw this and suddenly felt dreadful about everything he’d said to Theo. Theo and Leo had been very close as cubs, and were still close now. Thinking back to those days before either of them knew about death and pain, Leo remembered playing with Theo, running about, chasing him all over the place, and when he’d caught Theo, or Theo had caught him, they’d roll in the grass playing tag, each grabbing at the other’s paws, and whenever one got the better of the other, it would be the victor’s duty to tickle the pads of the vanquished cub’s paws until he was laughing so hard he couldn’t move for weakness. Leo remembered it was he who always started the games of tag, and being the larger cub, almost always overwhelmed Theo. Theo didn’t mind however, and it wasn’t always one sided, for Leo would often let Theo win the games, knowing his younger brother knew full well he wasn’t trying on those days. Leo missed those times as much as Theo did, and he sometimes dreamt of them too, but his dreams never seemed to stray into reality, always remaining distant, as if Leo were watching himself and Theo on a television screen, rather than being in the thick of the action. Theo’s dreams were obviously very real to him, for he’d almost physically involved Leo in them.
“We were playing tag, like we used to,” Theo mewed, now unable to keep quiet about his dream, for the dream filled his head, and he was afraid it would burst if he didn’t tell someone. “We were chasing each other through the wood Leo, like we used to. Once you’d caught me, we rolled on the grass in play, playing tag I think. That day, we called it a draw, so we both stroked and tickled each other’s paws. It was such a wonderful time Leo, so, so wonderful.” Leo’s eyes filled with tears as he watched his brother, for he knew that for a brief second, before his adult sensibilities kicked in, he’d enjoyed Theo stroking and then tickling the pads of his right forepaw.
“those were good times Theo,” Leo whispered. Leo looked down at his paws, his vision blurring as tears overcame him.
“Hug me Theo, please!” Leo pleaded. Theo embraced his brother like he had when they were very young, and still able to play together. Often, when they were cubs, Leo and Theo would curl up together, each holding onto the other’s paw for support throughout the dark nights. Leo had forgotten all this, or maybe he’d chosen to distance himself from those memories. Theo hadn’t, and still longed to play with Leo in the long grass as they’d used to do, before they were put into cages and knew captive life. Leo held Theo in his forepaws, feeling more dreadful than ever now he admitted to himself that he too wished for those far off carefree days.
“Shall we play Theo?” Leo asked, “once more, for old time’s sake?” Theo looked at his brother.
“we can’t,” Theo replied, “for all its realism, my dream was only that, a dream. I know we’re adult lions now, and can’t play those cubbish games any more.” Leo looked into Theo’s eyes, Theo’s gaze never leaving his.
“once more, please, then we’ll leave those games forever,” Leo said softly, his tone not pleading or coaxing.
“How does this feel?” Theo asked, stroking the pads of Leo’s left forepaw. Leo’s reaction was unforced, natural. His paw gripped Theo’s and Theo knew Leo was up for one last round of the games they’d played as cubs.
Leo rolled onto his side, presenting Theo with a good view of all four of his paws. Theo first stroked all four of Leo’s paws, the huge lion purring contentedly as his younger brother worked on his paws. Theo massaged all four of Leo’s paws, taking his time over every aspect of his work. Theo’s paws worked over Leo’s with as much care and consideration as he knew, massaging Leo’s pads with gentle care, Leo purring contentedly. When Theo had finished Leo’s paw massage, Leo looked at his younger brother through a pleasurable haze.
“Thank you Theo,” Leo mewed. Theo smiled at his brother, throwing his paws round Leo’s neck. Leo snuggled up to Theo, giving up to an irresistible need for his brother’s companionship.
“Theo,” Leo said softly, “please, if I ever get like that again, refusing to remember the times we had, tell me to let you stroke my paws so I can remember what those times were like.” Theo smiled.
“You won’t forget again, I’m sure of that,” he said.
“Please Theo, let me stroke your paws,” Leo pleaded. Theo rolled over and let Leo massage all four of his paws, just as he’d done for him. Leo took his time over each of Theo’s paws, stroking, massaging, and even tickling them. Theo smiled as he felt his brother’s paws working over his.
“Time for tag Leo?” Theo mewed. Leo smiled and patted Theo’s paw.
“Let’s play!” he purred. Theo sprang up and grabbed Leo’s left forepaw in both of his and tickled it, Leo laughing helplessly!
“Okay Theo, okay!” Leo laughed, hugging Theo tenderly. Theo smiled, releasing Leo’s paw and returning to his rug. Leo watched his brother leave, wondering why he himself didn’t automatically remember the games Theo held so dear. The game of tag hadn’t really begun, but Leo knew his and Theo’s time together had reinforced the bond between them.
Arctic adoption.
A large female polar bear named Allie crawled across the grass while trying to marshal two rather excitable young seals. The seals were named Sasha and Sandy. Sasha was a harp seal, Sandy a common grey.
Allie had adopted her “cubs,” as she called Sandy and Sasha, when their mothers had died giving birth to them. Allie had lost her own cub to an angry male polar bear. Torn apart by grief for her cub, Allie had made her way down to the beach where female seals hauled out to birth their young. Hiding herself behind a large snowdrift, Allie watched Sasha and Sandy’s mothers as they gave birth to them. Food was the last thing on Allie’s mind as she watched the seal pups emerging into the world. She realised something was wrong when the harp seal and grey seal mothers didn’t move from their prone positions after the pups had been born half an hour, and their pups had spent that time scrabbling around on the frozen ground. Allie knew she still had milk for her cub, and thought she might try to rescue these two seal pups, in the hope her milk would give them enough nutrients to survive. Rushing forward with as much speed and aggression as she could muster, which wasn’t much in her state, Allie scooped up the two tiny pups and ran off with them. Conveying them to her den, Allie settled down to suckle the two seal pups. Fortunately they didn’t know how to fear Allie, and milk was their only concern. Allie had a lot of milk to give, so the pups were soon fed. Allie decided she’d hide with the pups for as long as she could, hoping they’d soon be strong enough to allow her to go and find food for herself. Months passed, and Sasha and Sandy became strong young seals. The fact they were two different breeds of seal didn’t matter to them, as they’d known nothing else but living with each other, and the knowledge their mother was a polar bear also didn’t trouble them, as her love and care was all they’d known. As Sasha said to anyone who’d listen:
“My mum’s a polar bear, and isn’t that cool!” Allie loved her “cubs,” as she called them.
Allie reached the door of a house which had attracted her attention. Banging on the door with the flat of her paw, Allie waited for Sasha and Sandy to crawl up beside her. Just as the seal pups arrived, the door opened and a large male snow leopard looked at Allie.
“Can I help you?” Salty asked. Allie looked at the snow leopard.
“I’m looking for a home,” she said.
“What’s your name?” Salty asked.
“Allie,” Allie replied.
“My name’s Salty,” The snow leopard replied. Salty looked at the two seal pups.
“do those two also want a home?” Salty asked, waving a huge paw at Sasha and Sandy.
“oh, yes, those two too,” Allie replied, “They’re, well, my cubs.” Salty never missed a beat. Leading Allie, Sasha and Sandy into the house, Salty listened to the swish scuff of Allie’s paws, plus the shuffling from the flippers of the two seals on the lino flooring of the hallway. Entering the lounge, they met Leo, who stared at the newcomers.
“More strays?” he asked. Salty nodded.
“this is Allie,” he replied, waving a paw at the female polar bear, “and these two are,,,” he looked at Allie for help.
“The harp seal’s name is Sasha, and the grey’s name is Sandy.” Salty smiled at them and looked at Leo.
“now you know as much as I do,” he said. Leo held up a huge paw to stop Salty.
“Don’t polar bears eat seals?” he asked. Sandy and Sasha looked terrified!
“They do, well, usually,” Allie replied, “though this one doesn’t, I rescued them after their mothers died. They’re, well, they’re my cubs.” Leo looked into Allie’s eyes. He saw nothing but love for the seals as Allie spoke of them.
“You’re telling me those two are your cubs? How silly can you be!” Isaac scoffed, “all they’re good for is eating!” Allie’s fur stood on end and, snarling with rage, she ran at Isaac!
“Okay, okay! Stop it both of you!” Leo commanded. Allie walloped Isaac over the head with her paw, dropping him.
“Noone threatens my cubs!” she yelled. Leo’s first impressions were confirmed. Allie’s reactions were instinctive, as if the seal pups were polar bear cubs.
“Stranger things happen,” Leo thought, very moved by the situation. Looking at Allie, Leo waved his paw, indicating she should leave Isaac and come to him. Allie crawled over to Leo, and the huge lion hugged her.
“I can see you love those seal pups,” Leo purred. Allie smiled, surprised a lion would hug her. Leo looked over at Isaac, who glared at Allie.
“You try anything, I’ll break your paws!” Clarence growled. Isaac knew of Clarence’s strength, and didn’t want to cross him. Crawling away from Sasha and Sandy, Isaac curled into a corner, hiding from Allie, who he was sure now hated him.
Leo stroked Allie’s paws, the polar bear smiling at him as his paws worked over hers.
“We’ll look after you and your cubs,” Leo purred. Allie looked over at Salty, who smiled and padded nearer. Allie hugged him, Salty smiling as Allie threw her warm soft paws round his neck and embraced him. Salty snuggled up to the female polar bear, her pups shuffling closer for a better view. Releasing Salty, Allie’s eye fell on snowy, who smiled at her. Before Allie could react, Sandy had crawled over to snowy, the huge snow tigress enveloping the grey seal pup in a huge hug. Cradling Sandy in her paws, snowy purred contentedly, while Allie, unable to work out whether she should be fearful for her pup’s safety, stared at snowy.
“such soft fur you have Sandy,” snowy purred. Sandy, unable to think of anything to say, snuggled up to the snow tigress, not knowing how to fear a creature she’d never met. Snowy felt the seal pup snuggle up to her, it’s warm fur against her own. Allie, her mouth dry with fear, couldn’t ask Snowy to let go of her pup.
“it’s okay Allie,” Leo said, “Snowy’s gentle, she won’t harm your pup.” Allie saw Leo blink back tears as he spoke to her.
“What’s wrong?” Allie asked, surprised at herself for asking this huge lion about his most private thoughts. Leo, realising Allie had seen his rush of emotion, wiped his eyes with one large forepaw and took a deep breath.
“it’s nothing,” he replied, but Allie knew Leo was desperately upset.
“Something you said to me upset you,” she said gently. Leo stared down at his paws, for his emotions were getting the better of him again.
“I must control myself!” Leo thought, biting his bottom lip to stop himself from weeping, “pull yourself together Leo!”
“It’s nothing, nothing at all,” Leo choked. As he said it, he knew what he was saying was rubbish, and it seemed Allie knew it too.
“You told me everything would be all right,” the female polar bear said gently, “did you have a cub with the same name as me? Or maybe your mate had the same name as me?” Leo tried to turn a sob into a cough, but Allie knew how close to the edge he was. Allie threw caution to the wind and hugged Leo close. This broke Leo’s fragile control on his emotions and he burst into tears.
“Allie was the name of your mate wasn’t it,” Allie said gently as Leo cried into her fur. Leo nodded, unable to speak. Allie gently held Leo until the lion’s tears dried.
“I’m so sorry,” Leo sniffed, “I shouldn’t have got so emotional about that.” Allie touched Leo’s paw with hers.
“I know what it’s like,” she said, “for I lost my cub, and the mention of her name reduced me to tears for ages afterwards.”
“What was your cub’s name?” Leo asked.
“Whitie,” Allie replied.
We have a snow leopard cub named Whitie here,” Leo said.
“Do you?” Allie asked, “I hope she’s as gentle as my Whitie was. I called my cub Whitie because she had no pigment in her skin at all, her nose was white, her eyes were white, and so were the pads on the soles of all four paws. I knew she’d have problems with sunburnt pads etc, but she was my cub, and I knew we’d get round the problem somehow. Now she’s dead, and I’ve only memories of her.” Leo wondered if Allie would look round every time Whitie was mentioned, hoping to see her cub. If so, life would be tough for her.
Snowy released Sandy and it was Sasha’s turn to be hugged by the snow tigress. Allie looked round at the sound of tiny paws scuffing the carpet. A snow leopard cub crawled into the room. Allie couldn’t take her eyes off the cub. She was so small, and there was something about her which instantly drew Allie to her.
“that snow leopard cub,” Allie thought, “I can’t take my eyes off her!” Whitie was so named because she had very few spots on her, being almost completely white from her ears to the pads on the soles of her tiny paws. Leo saw the expression in Allie’s eyes.
“that’s Whitie,” he said gently. I want to hug that snow leopard cub!” Allie thought, “but I can’t, for it wouldn’t be right. She’s not my Whitie, she’s not even my species! She’s a snow leopard cub!”
Whitie and Sandy were soon playing together, Whitie pleased to have been accepted hook line and sinker by this strange creature who had fur from nose to tail, and flippers instead of paws, but wasn’t a fish or like any mammal she’d ever encountered before. Sandy, after trying to stroke Whitie’s paws with her flipper and failing, ended up using her whiskers to do the job, making Whitie laugh helplessly. Once this was over, Sandy insisted Whitie meet her sister and her mum. Whitie wasn’t surprised when Sandy introduced Sasha, but became extremely confused when Allie appeared in front of her. Whitie knew what Allie was, she was unmistakably a polar bear, and didn’t polar bears eat seals? Whitie kept her mouth shut, remembering she’d been fostered by a snow tigress.
“hello Whitie,” Allie said, trying not to show how much just saying the name of her dead cub tore at her.
“Did I say something?” Whitie asked, sensing Allie’s distress.
“No Whitie, you haven’t said anything out of place,” Leo said, “Allie’s dreadfully upset.”
“how can I upset Allie?” Whitie asked, “I’ve done nothing, nor said anything to her!”
“Allie lost her cub Whitie,” snowy said, “her cub had the same name as you.”
“Oh great!” Whitie snapped, “bloody wonderful this is!”
“Don’t use that language!” snowy remonstrated.
“this stupid polar bear thinks I’m her cub now does she? Well I’m not!”
“Whitie,” Leo said, “if blanche died suddenly, wouldn’t mention of her name bring back memories of her?” Whitie hadn’t thought of it that way.
“I suppose so,” Whitie replied.
“it so happens you look a little like Allie’s cub too,” snowy said.
“Now this is really scary!” Whitie mewed, “how the hell, I mean on earth can a snow leopard cub look like a polar bear cub?”
“Whitie, my Whitie that is, or was,” Allie replied, “had similar markings to you, that is to say you’re nearly all white from ears to paws, and she was all white, right down to the pads on the soles of her paws.” Whitie knew her pads were white, though Blanche’s weren’t, and Blanche also had the lion’s share of spots.
“I see what you mean now,” Whitie mewed, “I do have white pads, and you can see them when I’m crawling over the carpet. I’m sorry I got angry Allie.”
“You’d better apologise for swearing too you disgusting cub!” Tarker yelled.
“I think that can be overlooked,” Snowy said, “on account of the stressful situation. Just don’t do it again Whitie.” Allie looked at Whitie, examining the snow leopard cub.
“you are so much like my Whitie,” Allie said, examining Whitie’s tiny left forepaw. “You are of a similar age too,” Allie concluded. Whitie didn’t know what to make of this.
“I’m nearly white from my ears to the pads on the soles of my paws,” Whitie said, “and my name happens to be Whitie. This doesn’t mean I’m your cub, have been your cub, or want to be your cub!”
“No, you’re right, I’m sorry,” Allie said. Whitie tore her paw from Allie’s and crawled away as quickly as she could place her paws on the carpet.
Back upstairs, Whitie angrily told her mother what had taken place between her and Allie.
“Allie’s probably never got over the death of her cub,” amber replied, “and hearing her cub’s name, along with seeing a cub who looked like her lost cub, even if it was a different species, probably upset Allie a great deal. She meant no harm I’m sure.”
“but it was strange, she almost wanted to adopt me as her cub, I’m sure of it!” Whitie mewed, “I’m not her cub!”
“I know that, and I’m sure Allie does when she’s in her right mind,” Amber said, “but she’s seeing in you similar things which made her lost cub who she was, be it a white coat, or even white pads on the soles of your paws. Grief does strange things to the minds of us all Whitie. Just hearing the name of a loved one, or seeing something which was associated with them can trigger memories of that someone. To Allie, you probably looked like her cub in all but stature. She wasn’t seeing a snow leopard cub when she looked at you Whitie, Allie was seeing her own cub. For you might look very similar to the cub she lost.”
“I don’t understand all this,” Whitie said, “I’m not Allie’s cub, I’m yours, and Snowy’s!”
“You’re not Snowy’s cub Whitie,” Amber replied, “but you feel as at home with her as you do with me. In fact, you aren’t Tigger’s cub either, but he adopted you as his own cub. You didn’t complain about that.”
“He’s a cat, like I am,” Whitie mewed, “you’re a cat mum, so’s snowy, Allie’s not a cat!”
“Nor is she a seal,” if Allie’s the polar bear I saw marshalling those two seals in the garden a few hours back.” Amber replied, “ you’d never try and doubt the love Allie feels for those two seals, or the love they feel towards her, would you Whitie?”
“No,” Whitie replied, “but Allie can’t love me, I’m not her cub!”
“You’re more her cub than those seals are,” amber replied. Whitie didn’t know what her mother was driving at.
“I don’t want to go anywhere near her ever again!” Whitie yelled, “Allie’s horrible!”
“When Allie was stroking you downstairs,” amber said, “How did you feel? Apart from confused that is. Did it feel okay to you?”
“Well, yes it did,” Whitie admitted, “as if she was desperate to love me like she had her cub.” Amber looked up, and nodded at Allie, who’d crawled in as silently as she could during their conversation. Whitie felt two soft, padded paws envelope her, and her reaction was instant. Whitie snuggled up to Allie, for deep down, the snow leopard cub knew the female polar bear wanted to love and protect her.
“I know you’re not my Whitie,” Allie said softly to the snow leopard cub, “but you look so much like my little Whitie cub it’s unnerving.”
“Whitie cub,” Whitie thought, “now it’s my turn to burst into tears, for Allie doesn’t know what she does to me when she uses that name. I’ll bet she called her cub “Whitie cub” and it had the same affect on her cub then as it has on me now.” Whitie snuggled up to Allie, working her paws into the polar bear’s thick fur.
“I was nearly noone’s cub when my mum ran away from us in fear after the hunters found us in the mountains,” Whitie thought, “if it hadn’t been for snowy I would still be noone’s cub. Isn’t it better to be someone’s cub?” Whitie snuggled up to Allie.
“I’m Snowy’s cub as well as my mum’s cub,” Whitie said, “I can also be your cub too Allie.” Allie stroked Whitie’s ears.
“While my Whitie will never be forgotten, I can love another cub, another Whitie cub. Let me hug you little cub, my dear Whitie cub,” Allie said softly. Whitie snuggled up to Allie, weeping into her fur.
“shh Whitie my dear, it’s all right,” Allie said softly, “everything’s going to be all right.” Allie groomed Whitie from nose to tail, the cub finally relaxing.
“That’s better isn’t it?” Allie asked. There was no answer from Whitie, for she was asleep. Allie curled herself round Whitie, enveloping the snow leopard cub in soft warm fur.
Sasha and Sandy arrived, saw what was happening and gathered round Allie.
“Looks like mum’s done it again,” Sasha remarked.
“Allie wouldn’t be herself if she didn’t do what she does,” Sandy said, “our mum’s one wonderful polar bear.”
Allie’s introduction.
Allie woke, feeling someone massaging one of her forepaws. The sensation was new to her, but it was so pleasant that she was afraid to open her eyes in case the animal massaging her paw noticed she was awake and fled in fear. In the end curiosity overcame Allie and she opened her eyes a little, just enough to see who it was massaging her paws. Allie realised then she didn’t have to worry about the animal seeing her eyes open, for the masseur was Whitie, and Allie knew the snow leopard cub couldn’t see her.
“Whitie cub,” Allie said gently. Whitie touched noses with Allie, the same way she acknowledged anyone who spoke to her.
“yes Allie,” Whitie replied, still stroking the pads of Allie’s left forepaw.
“where did you learn to stroke other animals paws?” Allie asked.
“Brunetta taught me,” Whitie said, “I don’t know who taught her though.” Arki smiled at Allie and pointed at Tigger. Allie smiled back at the female polar bear.
“The same tiger who rescued me,” Kodiak said. Allie looked over at Tigger and smiled at him.
“Tigger’s like me,” Whitie said, “he can’t see you Allie, so you’ll have to go up to him and touch his paw with yours, or call his name.” Allie nuzzled Whitie’s ear.
“I would go and touch his paw if one of my own paws wasn’t in that of a certain snow leopard cub,” she said gently, wiggling her toes. Whitie smiled and patted Allie’s paw. Tigger, hearing his name mentioned, crawled over to where Allie lay. Allie touched Tigger’s paw with hers, feeling the Bengal tiger take her paw in both of his.
“You wanted me?” Tigger purred.
“I understand it was you who taught Brunetta to stroke the paws of other animals?” Allie asked. Tigger smiled.
“I did,” he said, “and Brunetta in her turn taught Whitie.”
“I’ve never had my paws stroked until today,” Allie said, “and it’s wonderful!” Tigger stroked Allie’s pads, “like now,” Allie added, curling her toes round Tigger’s, “this feels so good!” Tigger smiled, gently nuzzling Allie’s ear. Allie breathed deeply, amazed at what the paw massage did for her. Kodiak took Allie’s right hind paw in his forepaws and began to stroke her pads. Allie pressed her paw into Kodiak’s, the brown bear patting her paw.
“Don’t press your paw into mine Allie, just relax your paw,” Kodiak said gently. Allie smiled, consciously relaxing her hind paw. Kodiak smiled, gently stroking the polar bear’s pads with his.
“I could get so used to this,” Allie said, “I don’t want this to end!”
“Paw massage is something we do a lot of here,” Tigger replied, “we use it for all kinds of purposes, from general relaxation, to pain relief, to play. It’s quite common for cubs, and adults for that matter, to tickle each other’s paws as well as massage them while playing. Allie smiled, then yelped with surprise as Whitie, Tigger and Kodiak tickled her paws! Rolling onto her back, Allie curled her toes to trap the paws of her three masseurs in an attempt to stop the tickling!
“You never warned me!” Allie laughed as she released the paws massaging hers.
“Sorry,” Tigger said. Allie smiled and hugged Whitie, Tigger and Kodiak in turn. When she came to Tigger, Allie, sensing he was the instigator of the assault on her own paws, tickled the Bengal tiger’s paws until Tigger could laugh no more. The huge tiger hugged her while he recovered, working his huge paws into her fur.
“I suppose I deserve that,” Tigger mewed. Allie stroked one of Tigger’s forepaws, it was soft and warm.
“I didn’t mind what you three did,” Allie said, “what I couldn’t take was a pleasurable massage turning so quickly into a paw tickling session. If you’re going to do that, warn me first please.” Tigger touched her paw with his free one.
“I will,” he replied, “I’m sorry Allie.” Allie smiled and touched Tigger’s nose with her forepaw.
“You are so gentle,” Allie said to Tigger. Tigger smiled and hugged her.
“When you two have quite finished,” Arki said playfully, We’ll make introductions.” Allie realised she hardly knew the names of any of the animals, even some of those who’d massaged, then tickled her paws were strangers to her.
“Okay, sorry,” Tigger replied, surreptitiously patting Allie’s paw.
“Well,” Arki said, “I’m Arki,” she pointed with her paw at Brunetta, and so on, each animal giving Allie their name. Allie had never seen so many different types of animals! Snow leopards, polar bears, brown bears, foxes, both red and Arctic, and tigers too! There were three of them including Tigger, one snow tiger cub, and a tiny Bengal tiger cub. There was even a Labrador dog. They all lazed about on rugs and quilts, every one looking as if they were happy with their lot. One big cat, who’d hidden from her, Popped up on Allie’s left and touched her paw with his. He had rings on his tail, and unsurprisingly for Allie, was called Ringo. He was an ocelot, and one of the most handsome cats Allie had ever seen. The sound of scuffing paws reached Allie’s ears, and a huge animal walked in. It had a long brown and white banded tail, and the brightest most alert eyes of any animal in the place. Following him was a very strange animal. This one was constantly looking about him, checking everything out, but he also had a knowledgeable air about him, as if he consumed books for breakfast. Kodiak saw the two animals and smiled.
“the raccoon’s name is rocky foster,” he said, “and the Meerkat’s name is Kalahari.” Allie didn’t know what a raccoon was, nor did she have a clue what a meerkat was.
“I don’t know who’s who,” she said, “for all I know, a raccoon could be the smaller animal, the one with the watchful eyes, a meerkat could be the bright eyed animal with the banded tail.”
“Oh, so you’ve never seen a raccoon or a Meerkat before?” Kodiak Asked.
“Well, no I haven’t,” Allie replied, “I’m a polar bear, these don’t look like polar animals to me.” Kodiak was about to make introductions when Kalahari raised a paw to stop him.
“I’ll take over,” the meerkat said, “you’re digging a hole for yourself Kodiak.” Turning to Allie, Kalahari smiled at her and took her paw in his.
“I’m Kalahari,” he said, “may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“My name’s Allie,” Allie replied, totally confused by the meerkat’s manner.
“Stop the chivalrous bit Kalahari, you’re an earthy chap usually,” the raccoon said. Kalahari grinned and patted Allie’s paw.
“Welcome home,” he said.
“Your friend?” Allie asked, waving a paw at the raccoon.
“Oh him,” Kalahari said dismissively, “he’s rocky foster, noone really.” The raccoon smacked Kalahari playfully round the ear with his paw, Kalahari’s grin of mischief widening into a huge smile. Allie realised these two got on very well indeed.
“My name’s rocky foster,” The raccoon said, “most just call me rocky, as my full name is a real mouthful.”
“Nice to meet you rocky,” Allie replied.
“Rocky’s a raccoon, and I’m a meerkat,” Kalahari said,
“I hope this lot have been treating you well,” rocky said. Allie smiled.
“they massaged and tickled my paws,” she said.
“that’s all part of living here,” Rocky replied, “we’re always at that game, with mutual consent of course.” Allie didn’t let on that she’d not known she was going to have her paws tickled until it happened, in case the animals responsible got punished. Allie didn’t want to bring Tigger and Kodiak trouble, less still Whitie, whom she’d adopted as her own.
“paw massage is wonderful,” Allie said, though she’d not known its pleasures until she’d arrived at the house, as that kind of thing was frowned upon in her cave when she was a cub. Now though, she wished it hadn’t been, for she’d learned so much about the animals who stroked her paws while they were engaged in massaging them. She’d learned that Tigger, Whitie and Kodiak were gentle creatures, simply by concentrating on the way they stroked her paws. It was done with care and consideration, and Allie knew somehow that this didn’t just stem from professional pride in their work. It was deeper than that, it was part of each and every one of them.
“Allie?” Kodiak asked gently. Allie opened her eyes.
“Yeah?” She asked dreamily.
“You’ve been asleep for ages,” Tigger said. Allie then realised she had taken the tiger’s paw in hers, though she couldn’t remember actually doing so.
“I’m sorry Tigger,” Allie said, releasing his paw. Tigger smiled:
“You’ve been asleep for hours,” he said, “I could have removed my paw from yours , but that would mean waking you, and I didn’t want to do that.” Allie threw her paws round Tigger’s neck and embraced him tightly.
“You are so gentle Tigger,”” Allie said. Tigger tenderly licked her ear. Allie knew she was going to enjoy living at her new home, if all the animals were kind and gentle like Tigger, Whitie and Kodiak. Though she knew there were kind and gentle creatures like those who stroked her paws, there were also those who looked kind and gentle, but were anything but that when the surface was scratched.
Intimate times.
Allie woke slowly. She lay for a while, exploring the sensations her body was feeding to her brain. Her left forepaw was covered by that of another animal. This animal’s paw was large, thickly furred, and extremely soft. Keeping her eyes closed, Allie felt the body heat of the other animals warming her, and she supposed she was contributing too, but then revised this on remembering that polar bears didn’t radiate much heat at all. Yawning, Allie stretched her toes, this action waking the animal who’s forepaw rested on top of her own.
“Morning Allie,” Perdy mewed. Allie apologised to Perdy for waking her.
“No problem,” Perdy replied, “I must have rested my paw on yours in sleep, I didn’t realise I’d done it.”
“No, that’s all right,” Allie said, “by the way Perdy, you’ve got lovely soft paws.” Perdy smiled and embraced Allie.
“How’s that?” she asked. Allie snuggled up to the female snow leopard.
“I think that’s positive feedback Perdy,” Brunetta said. Allie worked her paws into Perdy’s thick fur, snuggling close to her.
“You are so gentle Perdy,” Allie said. Perdy rubbed the female polar bear’s back with one well padded paw.
“how’s that?” Perdy asked. Allie curled her toes into Perdy’s fur, careful not to dig in her claws. Feeling Allie curling her toes into her fur, Perdy smiled and tenderly licked the female polar bear’s ear, purring contentedly all the time. Allie’s paws got warmer, the warmth and softness of the snow leopard’s fur lulling her to sleep.
“Allie’s drifting away,” Kodiak said softly. Arki watched Perdy. Perdy curled her tail around Allie’s hind paws, using its black tip to gently stroke the pads of the female polar bear’s left hind paw. Arki marvelled at how agile the snow leopard’s tail was. Indeed, she remembered Amber tickling the pads of Isaac’s paw with the tip of her tail long ago. So if Snow leopards could tickle paws with their tails, why not massage them too? Arki remembered her own introduction to paw massage. Tolstuka had been responsible for it, and Arki remembered how hesitant she’d been to accept the cub’s offer of a paw massage. Taking it slowly, Tolstuka stroked one of Arki’s forepaws, then the other, until Arki, overcome by a desire for more massage, literally rolled over onto her side and let Tolstuka massage all four paws. Arki buried her paws in the quilt, wishing she was beneath it. Kodiak, sensing her mood, hugged Arki tightly. Arki snuggled up to Kodiak, working her paws into his fur, which was much softer and warmer than the quilt. She stroked his ears, muzzle and forepaws, Kodiak nuzzling her cheek as she stroked him. Arki breathed deeply, Kodiak’s scent thrilling her. The sound of paws on material made Arki look round. Tigger crawled onto the quilt, and Seeing him, Allie smiled. She seemed to like Tigger a great deal, in fact all the animals did, for Tigger was very gentle, and he certainly knew how to massage life back into cold stiff paws. Perdy also noticed Tigger, and releasing Allie, threw her paws round the tiger’s neck and hugged him. Tigger purred contentedly and raised his left forepaw to touch Perdy’s nose. Perdy tickled Tigger’s pads with her whiskers, the tiger grinning at her. Perdy then nuzzled Tigger’s cheek.
“I’m spoken for Perdy,” Tigger mewed. Perdy sighed:
“I can dream can’t I?” she said. Portia padded in then, saw and heard what was happening, and launched herself at Perdy! Perdy, being much larger than the little lioness, stopped her attack by raising her paw and bringing it crashing down on Portia’s nose! Portia yowled with pain and withdrew hurriedly.
“That was unnecessary!” Tigger snapped, the sound of Portia’s paws hurrying away from Perdy reaching him. Perdy spat at Tigger!
“That cub was about to attack me!” she yelled, “what else was I meant to do? Take her in my paws and pat her on the head in praise for a job well done? I don’t think so! Bloody cubs!” Tigger lashed out at Perdy, his paw catching her across her face!” Perdy screamed with pain and threw up her paws to protect herself. Tigger’s paw wasn’t soft any more, it was hard, very hard! Perdy, the side of her face stinging from Tigger’s attack, crawled away as fast as she could. Tigger went in search of Portia, finding her cowering beneath the raised bed on top of which the animals had their quilt. Crawling in beside her, Tigger turned round and tried to embrace Portia with both forepaws. Spitting at him, Portia fled!
“You were complicit in that act!” she screamed, “you wanted her didn’t you Tigger!” Tigger couldn’t believe his ears!
“No Portia love, no!” He mewed, “It’s not like that! I was being friendly towards Perdy, there is nothing going on between us!” Portia banged the carpet with one tiny forepaw.
“It sounded like there was!” She yelled, “Perdy saying she could dream about something or other. I know what that was!”
“Yes Portia,” Tigger pleaded, “she said she was dreaming of having me to herself, I’d already told her I was spoken for!” Portia then realised she’d put her paw in it.
“I misread the situation I think,” she said faintly, “I’m so sorry Tigger!” Portia turned and crawled away, unable to say any more to the Bengal tiger. Tigger tried so hard not to cry, but his emotions got the better of him and, burying his face in his paws, he burst into tears.
Portia knew she’d upset Tigger by busting in and separating him from Perdy. Perdy and he were friends, that was all. Now she wondered if she would be able to call Tigger her mate for much longer after this.
Tigger rubbed his streaming eyes with clenched paws, sniffing and swallowing hard. He crawled out into the open and onto the quilt, where Allie touched his paw.
“Can I hug you Tigger?” She asked. Tigger nodded, snuggling up to Allie as he felt her paws embrace him. Allie liked Tigger a great deal, and the tiger knew it. Allie’s paws were so soft, and she was so gentle, Tigger didn’t want to leave her side. Allie certainly knew how to hug him. The female polar bear’s fur was warm and comforting to Tigger.
“You certainly know how to soothe a stressed mind Allie,,” Tigger said. Allie nuzzled his ear.
“I’ve heard you’re not so bad at that yourself Tigger,” she replied. Tigger didn’t know if he could summon up the strength to massage another animal’s paws. Portia’s antics had greatly upset him. Tigger touched Allie’s cheek with one paw, the female polar bear rubbing back against his pressure.
“I could try,” Tigger said, “try to massage your paws I mean.” Allie smiled at him, though she knew he couldn’t see it.
“I’d like that,” she replied softly. Tigger began to stroke Allie’s left forepaw, massaging and stroking her pads. Allie felt Tigger’s hesitation, and tried to encourage him.
“go on Tigger, rub my pads!” Allie urged. Tigger knew she could feel his anxiety. Brunetta looked at Tigger and said:
“Remember what I told you Tigger, when you’re massaging another animal’s paws, noone else matters but the animal you’re working on. Concentrate on Allie.” Tigger closed his eyes, struggling to clear his mind of thoughts of Portia. Once Tigger relaxed, Allie felt a change in the massage he gave her. She knew Tigger was now totally committed to his work. As Allie drifted in a haze of pleasure, she wondered if it would be right to ask Tigger if she could stroke his paws. Allie roused herself and put the question to Tigger.
“Tigger, can, can I stroke your paws?” Tigger, stroking the pads of Allie’s left hind paw, smiled and patted her paw, letting her know he was up for it. Allie rubbed back against Tigger’s paw, letting him know she’d understood. Tigger finished massaging Allie’s hind paws and crawled along until she could take his forepaws in hers. Allie took Tigger’s left forepaw in both her own and began to stroke it, Tigger purring contentedly as the familiar sensations enveloped his brain and calmed him. Tigger’s paw relaxed in Allie’s, the tiger resting his head on her shoulder and breathing deeply.
“Let it all go Tigger,” Allie whispered. Tigger relaxed each paw in turn, and Allie’s massage did the rest to send the tiger into a blissful sleep. Allie explored Tigger’s paws by sight and touch, the tiger now deeply asleep. His paws were large and soft, the pads rough, telling of hard times somewhere in his past. Allie wondered about Tigger, where had he come from? What happened to him before he arrived at his current home? Allie desperately wanted to ask him all this and more.
Tigger woke slowly, Allie’s paw massage making his paws tingle and the rest of him feel like he was floating on air. Stretching, Tigger relaxed onto the quilt, his paws lying flaccid. Allie watched him, wishing she had the courage to ask the tiger all the questions which were running round in her head. Tigger seemed to sense her thoughts.
“You don’t want to know about my early life Allie dear,” he said, “it was just too awful. Finding my cubs dead n’all, no, please, don’t make me relive that.”
“You have cubs now though,” Allie said, “adopted cubs, Whitie, Blanche, and that tiny Bengal tiger cub. The one with the large eyes and soft paws. I know, for he asked me to play with him, and I tickled the soles of his paws. He laughed helplessly, gripping my paws with his tiny ones.” Tigger remembered the tiny cub’s arrival. The cub struggling to free himself from the bag he’d been imprisoned in. Tigger closed his eyes and shook his head as he remembered the sight of the cub’s terrified eyes, while his paws scrabbled at the plastic window in the side of the bag. Tigger remembered it all, right down to the feel of the tiny cub’s sweat soaked fur, and the way his paws clung to him for protection. Allie realised she’d asked one question too many, and Tigger was dreadfully upset.
“I’m sorry Tigger,” Allie said, “I shouldn’t have asked anything about your life, what business is it of mine anyway?”
Tigger rubbed his eyes with one paw, he looked exhausted.
“The tiger cub who’s paws you tickled was brought here by a dog, who found the tiger cub sealed in a bag and dumped in the trash. I can’t ever forget what I saw that day Allie! It was too much for anyone to cope with. The cub’s eyes still haunt me now, the sound of his paws scrabbling against the plastic window fills me with horror. That tiny cub did all he could to escape, but he couldn’t even force the toes of one paw through the plastic bag, it was just too strong. I freed him by untying the top of the bag and putting one paw into the bag. The cub gripped my forepaw with both his and I pulled him out, the cub helping me along by pushing with the toes of his hind paws. Now he’s my cub, kind of.”
“You adopted him,” Allie said, understanding the situation entirely.
“I did,” Tigger replied, “I couldn’t let him suffer any longer.”
“he loved playing with me,” Allie said, “that tiger cub’s got no fear of anyone.” Tigger smiled.
“the last animal I rescued was Kodiak,” Tigger said, “I was just about able to see him that day, for later the same evening, I lost my sight totally.
“Oh Tigger,” Allie said softly, “I’m sorry, though that sounds terrible too. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“Do you know why my cubs died?” Tigger asked, “it was because I couldn’t see enough to run to them and rescue them from the hunters who killed them and their mother. My mate’s body was never found, but my cubs bodies were found, I found them. They were stiff in the grass.” Tigger couldn’t see Allie’s look of horror, but he felt her paw touch and envelope his.
“Tigger, that’s a dreadful tale!” she said, “I can’t think of any words to describe that.”
“I know,” Tigger replied, “I know you’ve felt it too Allie.”
“yes Tigger,” Allie replied, “but my loss, though horrendous, was different. The male polar bear who killed my Whitie cub was only doing what male polar bears have done for generations, he was obeying instinct. It’s not the same with your cubs. Those humans don’t instinctively kill tiger cubs. That’s the worst of it.” Tigger knew this. he nodded.
“let’s change the subject,” Tigger said, “how would it be if I stroked your paws once more?”
“really, I should be offering you that, for I caused you to relive so much pain Tigger,” Allie replied. Tigger took Allie’s left forepaw and touched her pads.
“If I work on you, it takes my mind off the death of my cubs,” Tigger said. Allie’s paw was relaxed in Tigger’s, her pads warm against his. He began to stroke her paw, Allie wiggling her toes to let him know she was enjoying every minute of Tigger’s attention. Tigger stroked Allie’s paws one by one, taking his time over each, working the toes of his forepaws deep into the fur on Allie’s paw to check for damage and stimulate the pleasure causing chemicals to flow into her bloodstream and intoxicate her, which after all was the purpose of the whole venture. Allie felt Tigger’s paws doing their thing, and knew she would soon be in the same pleasurable haze as she’d been the first time. Allie closed her eyes and thought about Tigger, visualising the tiger’s paws, which she’d examined and massaged, working on her own, trying to imagine what she would see if she could watch her own paw massage. Allie realised she wouldn’t mind if Tigger and she massaged each other’s paws every day. She confessed to herself that she’d rather enjoy that state of affairs.
Tigger stroked Allie’s paws, totally focusing all he had through the pads and toes of his forepaws. Sensing Allie’s mood, he realised she was thinking of him, and of how good it would be to have her paws massaged by him as frequently as possible. Tigger remembered her paws stroking his, and wished she’d agree to stroking his paws once more, just once more. Tigger felt the toes of Allie’s right forepaw curl round his as he stroked her paw, and knew for certain their thoughts were going in a similar direction. Smiling at Allie, Tigger patted the top of her paw which held his with his remaining free forepaw. Allie wiggled her toes without releasing Tigger’s paw, her pads massaging his.
“do you trust me Allie?” Tigger asked. Allie sighed contentedly.
“I do Tigger, I really do,” she replied. Tigger stroked Allie’s left hind paw, feeling the polar bear relaxing slowly. When her paw rested flaccidly in his, Tigger knew Allie had fallen asleep completely.
“Allie’s got a thing about you I think Tigger,” Perdy said. Tigger finished stroking Allie and then turned to the female snow leopard.
“and you haven’t?” He asked, smiling broadly.
“All right, I have,” Perdy admitted, “you can see through me Tigger. Tigger took Perdy’s left forepaw in both of his and began to stroke it. Perdy relaxing as the massage did its work.
“I love working with you cold climate creatures,” Tigger said, “your fur and paws are always so warm and soft, a pleasure to work with. Not saying the fur and paws of my temperate cousins aren’t a joy to work with too, for everyone’s a pleasure to work with, but the cold weather creatures have something special.” Perdy purred contentedly.
“Can Arki and I have a bit of that?” Kodiak Asked. Tigger smiled.
“Of course you can,” he said, “as soon as I’ve finished working with Perdy.”
“Which I hope won’t be for a long time yet,” Perdy purred. Tigger patted her paw.
Tigger finished his work on Perdy, the snow leopard soon sleeping peacefully. Turning his attention to Kodiak, the Bengal tiger began to stroke the brown bear’s paws, treating him as he treated everyone else, as if their massage was the only thing in the whole world which mattered to him.
Kodiak soon found himself drifting away, as he had countless times before. This was one feeling he’d never grow tired of though, for Kodiak was a tactile bear, who’d always loved physical contact with other animals.
When Kodiak was sleeping like Perdy before him, Tigger settled himself beside Arki, who took his left forepaw in both of hers and stroked it, Tigger closing his eyes and relaxing his body. Arki looked Tigger over, from his ears, to the pads of his hind paws.
“Sleep well Tigger dear,” Arki whispered as the Bengal tiger snuggled up to her.
Snow fell outside the house, and the animals stared at it in wonder. Allie and Isaac had seen snow, as had Sam and Amber, but Arki hadn’t, nor had her cub Candy. Allie looked out at the snow falling heavily onto the grass in the back garden.
“My paws are wishing to feel snow beneath them again,” she said.
“Well get out there then Allie,” Amber replied. Allie padded downstairs and opened the back door. The cold hit her like a slashing blade as she ventured outside. Feeling the cold air against her skin and the pads of her paws, Allie smiled with sudden pleasure. She was back where nature intended her to be. Crawling onto the grass, Allie rolled onto her back and joyfully waved her paws in the air.
“You do look funny when you do that mum,” Sandy barked. Allie grinned up at the seal pup, who watched her from a back window. Making a huge display of waving her paws, Allie felt better than she had for ages. Pushing her hind paws into the snow, she felt the cold envelope her paws, and it felt good, very good!
“My home is nice and warm,” she thought, “but sometimes it’s nice to get out and amerce one’s paws in snow.”
Allie flicked snow about with all four paws, enjoying herself hugely, rolling over and digging her paws into the deep snow. Sandy laughed as she watched her foster mother’s antics.
“Let’s all go out and join her before she ruins all the snow!” she barked. So Brushtail, Tilly, candy, Arki, Whitie, Perdy, Sasha and Isaac all piled out into the deep snow. The, “snow patrol,” as Brock had dubbed the arctic animals of the household, rolled and played in the snow, using their paws to roll snowballs, which they threw at each other, as well as resorting to the old game of tickling each other’s paws. Sandy and Sasha couldn’t get involved with the snowball fight, or tickle the paws of other animals, so they contented themselves with just lying on the snow, enjoying a taste of their natural environment. Exhausted from play, and wet through with snow, the snow patrol returned to the house, eager for hot baths and drying their fur by the radiators.
“The only thing we don’t have is an open fire,” |Perdy said, “that would be so good.”
“why do we want fire?” Isaac asked, “we’re all terrified of it.”
“radiators aren’t the same,” Perdy replied.
“where have you experienced an open fire,” rocky Foster asked, “you’re a snow leopard, not a domestic cat.”
“Lucy was telling me about them, they sound wonderful.”
“fire’s terrible,” Leo growled, “don’t mention it here.”
“You are so miserable these days Leo,” Perdy said. Leo’s growl increased in volume, until Perdy thought he would roar with rage, but he restrained himself just in time.
“No more talk of open fires Perdy!” Leo snarled, his fur standing on end. Perdy crawled away, anxious not to anger Leo, for he was huge, with massive paws.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Tigger helped the snow patrol wash their fur and paws. He worked thoroughly, working from their noses to their tails, missing no part of their bodies in his quest to wash their fur. this gentle and unfailing attention from Tigger to his work, along with the warm water and the sensation of his paws working their magic all over their bodies, often sent an animal to sleep. Many a time Tigger had to wake a polar bear or snow leopard from sleep. Whitie soon drifted away, and Tigger wished he didn’t have to wake her, for she was sleeping peacefully.
Back in the living room, Perdy crawled as quickly as she could, trying to get away from Leo, whom she greatly feared. Tembo saw her and spat at her.
“Go back to your own country!” he yelled. Then The male lion cub used insults alluding to Perdy’s country of origin, natural habitat, and breeding which made Elsa blush with embarrassment, Clarence grow furious, and Perdy herself want to tear Tembo’s head off! The insults were so derogatory that even Snowy, who was not unused to bad language, felt her blood boil at the lion cub’s words.
“I’d desist from using those words Tembo,” Clarence said. The adult lion’s eyes were angry. The lion so famed for his gentle nature looked positively dangerous.
“Oh, so you want me to desist do you Clarence?” Tembo scoffed.
“don’t anger him Tembo!” Theo pleaded.
“Don’t speak to me like that!” Clarence yelled.
“oh look, now we’ll see something!” Tembo scoffed, “Clarence getting angry. I’m looking forward to the show! Roll up for the day’s spectacular,,,” Tembo’s speech ended in a shriek of pain and fear as Clarence, driven mad, leapt upon Tembo and clamped the cub’s head between his massive forepaws.
“You listen to me!” Clarence snarled, “you never, ever! Ever! Use those words towards anyone! Let alone members of this household, Do I make myself clear Tembo?”
“Don’t hurt him!” Tembi pleaded.
“Hurt him?” Leo enquired, “Clarence looks like he would gladly kill Tembo!”
“Don’t say things like that Leo!” Theo pleaded, “they’re just words!” he yelled, addressing himself to Clarence, “Tembo probably doesn’t know what he’s saying, he’s only a cub!”
“Tembo a Cub?” Clarence asked, “and since when have you been his spokesperson Theo? No my friend, you are wrong. Tembo knows what the words mean, and he knows their affect too! He meant to cause maximum offence to Perdy. Why he said what he did I don’t know, but I will find out, won’t I Tembo! Won’t I find out you disgusting cub! You horrid creature! You foul mouthed insolent bag of stuffing!” Referring to any soft toy animal as “a bag of stuffing” degraded their status in the household to that of soft toys, which all indeed were, but shied away from speaking of. Tembo snarled and spat at Clarence. More angry at him for what he’d said than what he’d done to him.
“I’m not a bag of stuffing!” Tembo yelled.
“Oh you are,” Clarence snarled, “you are very much that. You are more disgraced than Snowy after she got evicted from her place beneath the quilt. You have less status than did hop along during his spell of captivity in his former place. Even he had more standing in this household when he first came here, unknown and badly maimed by his ordeal. He looked a sorry state then, but those who care for us saw in him a gentle, kind and considerate tiger, so they worked on him to restore him to something like his former self. Now he, though still bearing the scars of his captivity, and while never able to fully regain his former aesthetic glory, will never be turned out of this house! But you Tembo, you are a different matter. You, who have never known hardship, choose to treat those who have as if they are no better than excrement! You might have walked miles to get here, but you know nothing Tembo, absolutely nothing! How if I make you like Hop along was? I can do it, tear your paws open till the stuffing pours from them, rip your ears, tear off your tail! You are the worst kind of example of a cub! You vindictive, spiteful bag of stuffing!”
Hop along stared at his paws, trying not to think of his old home and the indignities and pain he went through. Sensing the Bengal tiger’s distress, Leo crawled up to him and tried to throw his paws around Hop along’s neck. Hop along dropped to his knees, then lay down so Leo could hug him. He caught his breath as the huge lion’s large soft paws embraced him.
“It will be okay,” Leo purred. Hop along hadn’t been so close to Leo before, and the lion was even more magnificent close up. He was massively built, but had tiny ears for his stature. Most of all, Hop along noticed the lion’s eyes, which were very gentle.
“We have both known hardship,” Leo said, “let’s be good to each other Hop along.” Hop along felt Leo take his left forepaw and hold it tenderly. Hop along did then what he would not have usually done, and took Leo’s free forepaw in his free one. Gazing into the lion’s face, Hop along felt huge affection towards Leo and his brother Theo. For Theo had confided in Hop along many times, telling the huge Bengal tiger of his and Leo’s early life.
“yes, let’s be good to each other Leo,” Hop along replied. Leo gently brushed Hop along’s nose with his.
Meanwhile, Clarence was struggling to control his fury at Tembo.
“this will not be the last you hear of this!” The lion yelled, almost sobbing with rage. Tembo spat at his sire, Clarence finally losing control and bringing his paw smashing down on Tembo’s nose. Tembo screamed with pain!
“I will carry out my threats if you use those words again Tembo!” Clarence yelled. Elsa held up a paw to stop Clarence:
“Tembo’s only a cub!” she pleaded.
“He’s not a cub any more Elsa,” Clarence said, “he’s a spiteful, disagreeable creature!” Tembo crawled away, snivelling to himself. He’d never taken the time to entertain the thought his sire, always gentle and very sensitive to the moods of others, as well as easily upset, would turn on him. This change in Clarence was the hardest thing for Tembo to take.
Leo stroked Hop along’s paws, the Bengal tiger enjoying every minute of his attention. Theo watched him.
“I would have massaged your paws Hop along,” Theo said, “but mine are too small to do it properly.”
“Rubbish,” Leo replied, “all you need is to have a go Theo.” Theo looked at Hop along’s paws, they were huge!
“I don’t know if I’d do a very good job of massaging your paws Hop along,” he mewed.
“Why not come and try it?” Hop along suggested. Theo looked uncertain.
“I don’t know,” he mewed, “your paws are so very large, and mine, well, look at them!” he waved his left forepaw, “they’re miniscule in comparison Hop along.”
“I won’t complain if you get it wrong Theo,” Hop along said, “come on, take the plunge.” Theo crawled towards Hop along, and when the young lion was within touching distance, Hop along extended a huge forepaw and touched Theo’s smaller one.
“Come closer,” Hop along purred. Theo dared not look at the tiger’s face, in case he got wind of something terrible the huge cat was about to do to him. In the end, all Theo felt was two paws embracing him, and what soft paws they were! Theo, despite his fear, couldn’t help snuggling up to Hop along. The huge tiger purred as he felt the lion’s instinctive reaction to his hug. Theo was slightly reassured by Leo’s presence, and the understanding that seemed to be between him and the Bengal tiger. Theo’s paws became warmer and warmer, his fear evaporating with every passing minute. Hop along looked at the lion caressed between his forepaws.
“You need not fear me Theo,” Hop along purred, “I won’t harm you.” Theo buried his face in Hop along’s shoulder, the Bengal tiger gently licking Theo’s ear. As Hop along’s velvety paws traced their way over Theo’s body, Theo felt light headed. He knew the feeling well, for Leo had often massaged his paws, and the sensation was familiar to him. The question Theo had to find an answer to was, could he let go enough to enjoy the massage to its full potential, or would he permanently be on guard, waiting for something awful to happen. Theo decided that he would let go, basking in the warmth of Hop along’s hug and massage. Theo felt himself drifting away on waves of warmth.
“This is so wonderful!” Theo mewed.
“Who’s massaging who?” Leo asked. Hop along smiled.
“if I can prove to Theo I’m no danger to him, then maybe he’ll be able to bring himself to stroke my paws Leo,” the tiger replied. Theo took a deep breath and extended a paw towards Hop along’s left forepaw. Touching the pads of the tiger’s paw, Theo looked anxiously at Hop along’s face for reaction to his touch. Hop along smiled, purring contentedly as he felt Theo’s paw touch his.
“Take hold of my paw Theo,” Hop along invited. Theo attempted to take Hop along’s paw in one of his, but the tiger’s paw was so huge he couldn’t manage it.
“Why not use both your forepaws Theo,” Hop along said. Theo brought his other paw into play, and held Hop along’s paw in both of his. Hop along groomed Theo, hoping the young lion would realise all he wanted was to make friends with him.
“I’ve never been groomed by a tiger before,” Theo mewed, “it’s, well, lovely!” Hop along’s purr became deeper and more reassuring to Theo, who’d long since forgotten his fear.
Meanwhile, Tembo sulked in a corner of the living room, hissing and spitting at everyone in sight. Clarence ignored him, though he was still furious with the cub for what he’d said to Perdy. Looking for someone to take his anger out on, Tembo focused on Theo and Hop along, who seemed to be having a great time of it, stroking each other in that annoying way which most of the animals in the household seemed to have adopted. Tembo hated all the paw massage and general physical contact which the other animals indulged in. Clarence was always stroking Isaac’s paws, and the polar bear regularly returned the lion’s massage. Elsa and Tembi were always at it, stroking each other. The Thing Tembo hated most of all was when animals of different breeds or species stroked, or worse, groomed each other. Tembo thought a polar bear stroking the paws of a lion the stupidest thing he’d ever seen! The thought Clarence and Isaac might gain mutual pleasure from paw massage never entered the lion cub’s head, he hated it, and that was that. Tembo was determined not to let Theo and Hop along have any pleasure at all. To Tembo, what they were doing was disgusting!
“Now you’re for it!” Tembo yelled, charging full tilt towards Theo and Hop along. A growl from his left registered in Tembo’s brain, but he took no notice. The growl quickly turned into a lion’s full throated roar! Tembo knew Clarence could roar, but he was out of practise, and it didn’t sound like his voice anyway. Suddenly huge paws grabbed Tembo and his vision was full of the face of a huge lion, Leo! Tembo had forgotten about the huge community leader! ?Tembo’s blood ran cold as the huge lion’s angry eyes board into his.
“You dare to attack those doing no harm to others?” Leo asked quietly, his voice more threatening because of this.
“I wasn’t, I mean, I didn’t,” Tembo stammered, though he knew the lion knew his true intentions.
“You made a huge mistake Tembo,” Leo snarled, “you went after Hop along, but worse, you went after Theo, my brother. Noone, not even a cub goes after him and gets away with it. You are a stupid cub, for you forgot about me. You forgot about the close relationship I have with my brother. You forget that at your peril. I have no qualms about dealing with you in the harshest possible manner.” Tembo felt his paws grow damp with sweat. He now knew what it was to be terrified.
“I’m, sorry, so, so sorry!” Tembo mewed.
“Like hell you are Tembo,” Tembi said, “you’re about as sorry as Morose was when he caused all that trouble between the community members a few months back. You don’t care one ounce for Theo or Hop along!” Tembo spat at his sister.
“What those two are doing is disgusting!” he yelled, waving a paw at Theo and |Hop along.
“You might be glad of any pain relief you can get when I’ve finished with you Tembo!” Leo yelled.
“Don’t hurt my cub!” Elsa sobbed, “Leo, I beg you not to hurt Tembo!”
“he should have thought about his actions,” Leo snarled, “now he’s at my mercy!” Elsa wailed as if she’d been wounded.
“Please Leo!” She pleaded, “Tembo’s sorry for what he said!”
“No he’s not the least bit sorry Elsa!” Leo snapped, now furious with the lioness, “You have an insincere cub here, a liar, a scheming traitorous insolent cub!” Elsa wanted to attack Leo for what he said about Tembo, but the look in Salty’s eyes stopped her. The snow leopard’s ice blue eyes held a message for her, and her alone. Salty had seen everything, remembered too, and had been the grey cat to such an extent, that he’d observed Tembo’s most private moments and knew the cub’s most private thoughts.
“Tembo’s not misguided,” Salty’s eyes said, “he’s a vindictive, spiteful creature.” Elsa couldn’t stand the look in the large snow leopard’s eyes. They were so beautiful, the message they held so terrible, Elsa couldn’t look into them and turned her head away, staring down at her own paws.
“The truth is hard to take sometimes Elsa,” Salty said. Elsa mewed pitifully.
“That snow leopard is a spy!” Tembo yelled, wriggling and twisting in the vice like grip of Leo’s paws. Struggling madly, Tembo clawed at Leo’s massive paws with his tiny ones, his sweat dampened paws slipping off Leo’s as he tried to grip with the toes of both forepaws.
“You won’t get away little cub,” Leo growled. Tembo shrieked with fear.
“you are a horrid runt!” Leo yelled. Of course, this wasn’t true, but it was offensive enough to Tembo to make his fur stand on end.
“Tembi’s the runt!” Tembo yelled.
“She stands taller than you in every way Tembo,” Kalahari said.
“Shut it meerkat, before I eat you!” Tembo screeched.
“I wouldn’t say that if I were you,” someone said. Tembo looked round to see a tiny male lion cub with fury in his face.
“Who the hell are you!” Tembo demanded.
“My name is not important,” the cub said, “but I know your name, your name is mud in these parts.”
“Where did you come from!” Tembo yelled.
“I’m one of the cubs who arrived with Leo and Theo,” the male lion cub said calmly, “I’ve been observing you, and I don’t like what I find.” Tembo spat at the cub.
“You are, are horrible, and disgusting, and a disgrace, and you don’t know how much trouble you’re in now you’ve walloped me! I’ll rip your tail off! That’s a promise!” Tembo yelled. The male lion cub, still cool as a cucumber, smiled at Tembo, which angered him even more.
“You’d better watch your back!” Tembo yelled, “for I’ll be sticking my claws into you as soon as I can free myself from Leo’s grasp!” Tembo wriggled and twisted, but couldn’t free himself. Leo seemed to be asleep, his paws still clamped round Tembo. The newcomer’s closed eyes haunted Tembo, they seemed to boar into his soul.
“What, is, your , name!” Tembo stammered, “I, I demand to know!”
“My name?” The lion cub asked, his closed eyes seeming never to leave Tembo’s open ones, “it’s a very old Turkish name. My name is Aslan, it means lion in Turkish.”
“It also has other associations too,” Kalahari said, “but I won’t burden you with those. The name Aslan is a nice name I think.” Tembo began to shake with fear, for the cub’s expression terrified him.
“That name, it is weird, and so are you, for, for you are like Whitie and blanche, oh no! You are, are horrible!” The cub named Aslan knew nothing of the reasons why his mother had given him that name, all he knew was he’d been observing Tembo, and now wanted to give him a warning.
“Why do you attack Theo and Hop along?” Aslan asked. Tembo closed his eyes, but the cub’s presence didn’t diminish, if anything, it was stronger, forcing Tembo to open his eyes and look into the lion cub’s face.
“What they are doing is disgusting!” Tembo yelled. Aslan shook his head, as if Tembo’s voice irritated his ears.
“Please don’t shout,” the cub pleaded.
“I will do what I dam well like!” Tembo screamed. Leo tightened his grip on Tembo, who’d almost forgotten he was held fast in the huge lion’s paws, so great was his fear of the lion cub named Aslan.
“You will do as Aslan says,” Leo snarled, “if you don’t, I will crush the life from you.”
“Since when has he been your cub Leo!” Tembo yelled.
“he’s not my cub,” Leo replied, “but he’s worthy of a little respect. Don’t shout at him again.” Tembo wriggled and twisted, battering with his forepaws at Leo’s paws, which still held him tightly.
“You won’t get away Tembo,” Leo said, “I’m not even trying to hold you.” Tembo whimpered with fear.
“You have brought this on yourself Tembo,” Kalahari said, “noone but you is responsible for your current situation. Aslan certainly isn’t.”
“But he threatened me!” Tembo whimpered.
“an outburst for which he can’t be blamed,” Leo replied, “for you are saying the most reprehensible things about Theo and Hop along. How can you know that what you call disgusting, isn’t in fact very pleasurable indeed? I know paw massage is one of the most pleasurable pastimes.”
“How can you get pleasure from that!” Tembo yelled.
“If you let me stroke your paws, I can show you,” Aslan said. Tembo swung at Aslan’s head with one forepaw, the blind cub ducking just in time.
“You will never get hold of my paws!” Tembo yelled.
“Ah well,” Aslan said, “that’s too bad for you. I will just have to see if some other animal will let me massage their paws.”
“I’m up for it,” Salty yawned. Aslan had never been up close to the huge male snow leopard, and wondered if he was entirely safe.
“You want your paws massaged?” the cub asked hesitantly, “I don’t know if I can.”
“Scared of him are we Aslan?” Tembo scoffed, “now who’s the wimp!” The tiny blind cub clenched his paws to stop them from shaking, for he was genuinely frightened of Salty. When he spoke of massaging the paws of other animals, Aslan thought of cubs like Pipin, Whitie or Blanche, not of adult animals like Salty, Clarence or Leo.
“I can only massage the paws of other cubs,” Aslan mewed.
“You scaredy cat!” Tembo spat, warming to the attack on his new target, “You don’t frighten me any more!” Tembo suddenly lunged at Aslan, catching Leo off guard! Tembo flew at the younger cub! Confused, Leo scrabbled at Tembo’s fur with his paws, trying to get purchase on it, but his paws slipped off, damp with the sweat of fear. Leo whimpered with fear, realising he’d lost control of Tembo! Snarling, he tried to knock Tembo out with his paw! But the cub was too fast for him, ducking his wild swipe! Tembo focused on the now terrified lion cub named Aslan, knocking him to the carpet and trampling him beneath his paws, making sure his claws dug into the cub’s skin. Aslan screamed as Tembo’s attack hit home! Leo, defeated and paralysed with fear, watched helplessly as Tembo trampled on and tore at the little lion cub. Then it was Tembo’s turn to scream for help, for now he was being attacked!
Theo, seeing Tembo going for Aslan, had torn his paw free of Hop along’s and hurled himself over the carpet towards Tembo! Theo’s body crashed into Tembo’s, forcing the lion cub into the carpet and away from Aslan, who lay winded and terrified. Theo rolled over, ending up on top of Tembo! Digging the toes of all four of his paws into the carpet, Theo anchored himself to the carpet, so Tembo, lying beneath him, could go nowhere. Theo dug his claws into the carpet, trying to curl his toes that extra little bit, fixing himself firmly. Panting and gasping for air, Theo yelled at Aslan to:
“Get out of here Aslan! Go little cub! Go, go, go!” Aslan needed no telling, picking himself up off the carpet, he fled!
“I won!” Tembo yelled, “that little bleeder’s running away, his tail between his legs! Ha ha ha ha!” Theo put his mouth close to Tembo’s ear and began to growl, putting in all the anger and fury he felt towards the male lion cub.
“You don’t realise what’s happened do you? Or who’s cub you’ve attacked?” Theo snarled, “this isn’t Leo pinning you down you know Tembo, “it’s Theo, I’m the one who likes paw massages, remember me? You think me disgusting don’t you cub? Well, You are the one who’s disgusting, attacking Aslan like that, who the hell do you think you are! You attacked my cub!”
“That cub’s nothing but mouth!” Tembo snarled, “he couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding Theo, and neither can you, great big cub that you are! You wouldn’t hurt me, not really, for you haven’t got it in you! Go on, just try it! You’ll be sobbing your heart out before you’ve drawn first blood!” Theo suddenly clenched his hind paws, pressing his pads hard into the carpet and digging his toes even harder into the thick pile for purchase. Relaxing his forepaws, Theo lunged at Tembo, gripping the cub’s head hard in both forepaws! Tembo screeched with fear as he felt Theo’s toes digging into his fur!”
“Now I will stick my claws into you Tembo!” Theo yelled, his voice sounding like the voice from the pit of hell! Tembo screamed with fear! Theo opened his mouth and roared point blank into Tembo’s ear! Tembo closed his eyes and put all his strength into screaming! He could feel Theo’s paws on him, the larger lion’s pads rough against his skin, Theo’s toes digging hard into his fur. Any moment Tembo knew he would feel the claws digging in. Theo closed his eyes, and put all his might into digging his toes into Tembo’s fur as hard as he could, raking them through the cub’s fur! Tembo, feeling Theo’s paws raking through his fur, the lion’s toes digging in, wondered if he would be pierced to his heart. Theo held on grimly, digging the pads and toes of both his hind paws into the carpet, and his fore into Tembo’s fur, while snarling and roaring with all his pent up fear at the strength and potency of his own rage, and anger at Tembo, which he now could hardly control!” Suddenly Theo’s strength ebbed, and he angrily threw Tembo aside, the disgraced lion cub somersaulting through the air and landing with a crash on the sofa beside Clarence.
“You can deal with him now!” Theo snarled at Clarence, “he’s your cub after all! I need to attend to my own cub.”
Meanwhile, Tembi fussed over Aslan, her one and only cub. She and Theo had mated in the early summer of the previous year, and Aslan, their cub had been born in the early winter of the same year. Tembi knew her brother Tembo was a bully, and she was powerless against him. She had Theo to thank for saving their cub for a second time. Tembi thought about Aslan’s birth, how terrified she and Theo had been, and how Theo had managed to put his fears aside to help Tembi through the birth of their cub. Stroking Aslan’s paws, Tembi thought back to that time, remembering how soothing Theo’s massage had been when she was in pain. It had been very welcome then, very very welcome. She knew the power of the massage, for it had helped her bring a cub into the world.
The simple act of massaging her cub’s body and paws soothed Tembi as well as her cub Aslan, so that when Theo returned to them, they were half asleep. Theo, his body and mind in shock from what he’d done to Tembo, flopped exhausted on the carpet.
The questions are already being asked Tembi,” Theo panted, “Aslan tells everyone he came with Leo and me, but now, now everyone has just about guessed what really happened.”
“When I went into labour, we went far into the wood so noone would realise what was happening,” Tembi replied, “there you helped me give birth to our cub.” Theo remembered the wood, the cold late autumn air, and Tembi lying on her side struggling to deliver their cub while he stroked her paws and spoke gently to her. Though terrified, Theo had done his work well, guiding the tiny cub into the world and doing his best to comfort and encourage Tembi in her effort to bring their cub into the light of day. Theo remembered it all, every single minute. Though this time, cubbing was a joyful event, not a sad one. Theo threw his paws around Tembi and hugged her, then did the same for Aslan, the cub snuggling into his embrace.
“You’re safe now Aslan my cub,” Theo purred. Aslan snuggled into his sire’s fur, Tembi watching, love in her eyes for both Theo and their cub.
“Aslan’s your cub Theo?” Leo asked, astonished at what he’d just witnessed.
“yes Leo he is,” Theo replied. Leo stared into his brother’s face.
“You never said,” he mewed, “you never said anything to me about Tembi having your cub!”
“We kept it quiet, because it was a shock to both of us when Tembi became pregnant. I’m sorry Leo.”
“so that was why you and Tembi walked into the woods that night,” Leo said, “she was in labour about to give birth to your cub?” Tembi nodded.
“I remember you complained of belly ache that day Tembi,,” Elsa said, “of course, I didn’t know then what was going on, but rubbed your belly as I’d done when you were a cub and you had colic. Though this colic would end with the arrival of a new life into the world.” Tembi remembered padding out of the door, her teeth and paws clenched against increasing pain and discomfort, and the relief she’d felt when they were far enough from the house to allow her to give herself up to a suddenly uncontrollable urge to push down hard against her cub. Theo had watched Tembi anxiously, knowing she couldn’t have done this in the house, in case someone realised what was happening.
“That was awful,” Tembi said, “being unable to do what I wanted until we were out of the house.”
“But why so secret?” Leo asked.
“We didn’t know how the community would take it,” Theo replied, “hence our story about finding Aslan wandering alone. The truth was, when you first saw him Tembi had only just recovered to the point where we could pretend we’d found Aslan. In truth, he was only two hours old at that time.”
“Theo was wonderful!” Tembi mewed, “I couldn’t have gone through it without him. Aslan being my first cub, his birth was a long one, but Theo was amazing throughout it all.”
Leo looked into his nephew’s face. Aslan, sensing Leo’s eyes on him, reached up with a tiny paw to touch Leo’s nose. Leo gathered the tiny cub in both forepaws and hugged him tenderly.
“Welcome home,” he said to the lion cub, who snuggled into his uncle’s fur without fear.
“So Aslan’s your cub Tembi!” Tembo spat, “you’re a bit young to be having cubs!”
“What she does is up to her,” Salty growled, “it’s no business of yours Tembo.”
“I only wish you had come clean about your pregnancy Tembi, so we could help,” Ellie the female lynx said.
“Ellie, dear sweet Ellie,” Tembi replied, “I would have loved to come clean, but the climate wasn’t right. I needed to have my cub in secret, and I nearly gave the game away on the way out of the house. I was in so much pain, I wanted to mew pitifully and push hard against my cub, but I had to fight it, I just had to.” Theo hugged Tembi tenderly, the little lioness snuggling into his fur.
“We survived though Tembi my love,” Theo said, “we coped together.” Tembi smiled and licked Theo’s ear.
“yes Theo, we did,” she replied.
Ellie padded up to Aslan and examined the male lion cub closely. Aslan, sensing a large cat with heavy fur, turned and touched Ellie’s paw with his.
“What are you?” he asked.
“That’s Ellie, my mother!” Pipin snapped, “you don’t talk to her like that!” Ellie hugged Aslan tightly.
!”Ignore him little one,” she said gently to Aslan, “Pipin’s very protective of me. My name’s Ellie, and I’m a lynx.” Aslan took Ellie’s offered paw, Ellie’s paw was soft and thickly furred, it felt wonderfully warm between his paws. Ellie smiled and licked the lion cub’s ear. Aslan began to stroke Ellie’s paw, just as Theo had shown him. Rubbing her pads with his, he massaged Ellie’s toes and the spaces between her pads. Ellie snuggled close, thinking she might fall asleep any moment.
“I know we kept Aslan’s birth a secret,” Theo said, “I don’t know about you Tembi, but now, well, I want to tell the world!” Tembi smiled.
“I would love to tell them everything,” she said, everything, describe the methods we used to keep his birth a secret, the birth itself, everything, for we have a wonderful cub now Theo, and I want everyone to know about him.” Theo hugged his mate.
“You are so right,” he said.
“You know you and Leo were wondering what cubbing was like Theo?” Ellie said, “Well, you could both have seen it for real that day.” Tembi smiled.
“I wouldn’t have minded others witnessing Aslan’s birth,” she said, “We were so afraid though, scared of what the community might think.
“I think the community wouldn’t have minded a bit, even if you’d had Aslan in this house,” Salty said, “we love cubs, and a new addition to the family is to be celebrated.”
“agreed,” Leo said, “I’m just a little upset Theo felt he couldn’t confide in me.”
“Yes Leo, I’m so sorry,” Theo said. Leo saw his brother really meant what he said. Leo touched his brother’s paw.
“It’s okay,” he said, “next time though, tell us when you’re going to have a cub.” Tembi and Theo smiled.
“We will,” they said.
Fear of the dark.
After the revelation regarding Aslan’s real manner of arrival in the household, the animals all settled down for the night. Snow had turned to rain, and what rain it was! It came down in sheets, the strong wind throwing it against the windows, which made sleeping difficult. Aslan, ensconced between Tembi’s forepaws, shifted restlessly.
“It’s okay little cub,” Tembi whispered, it’s only rain, it won’t harm you.” The tiny male cub buried his head in his mother’s fur.
“It was raining the day I was born,” he mewed, “I remember the feeling of wet grass under my paws. It was cold and clung to my paws, not letting them go! That’s why I hate rain.” Tembi massaged Aslan’s tiny right forepaw, the cub relaxing as the massage took affect.
“You see?” Tembo scoffed, “Aslan’s nothing but a frightened cub! Frightened of the rain, what a load of rubbish!”
“Leave him alone Tembo,” Salty said softly.
“No Salty, I won’t!” Tembo jeered, “what are you going to do if I don’t leave him alone? Nothing! So I won’t leave him alone, I’ll do what I want with the little scrap!”
“I say again, leave Aslan alone!” Salty snarled. Tembo laughed, and striding up to Salty, danced in front of him, jeering and singing:
“Who’s afraid of Salty, who’s afraid of Salty!” Salty’s paw smashed into Tembo’s shoulder, sending the cub flying across the room!
“That’s only a taste!” Salty yelled, as Tembo’s body crashed into the radiator. Tembo’s scream of pain as he hit the radiator, then the floor woke Elsa, who scrambled to her paws, then tripped over them in her haste to go to Tembo’s aid. Lying on the floor as winded as her cub, Elsa watched Tembo struggle to his own paws and crawl away. Salty watched the lion cub crawl into a corner.
“he won’t learn,” Salty growled.
“He will learn,” someone said, “for I will teach him.” Salty looked down, to see Aslan in front of him.
“With all due respect Aslan, you’re a cub, and much younger than Tembo. You couldn’t teach him anything.”
“I will,” the little lion said, “I will teach him by degrees that I’m not his punch bag.”
“Brave words little cub,” Salty said, “but do you not remember what Tembo did to you only yesterday? Theodore had to rescue you little cub. Tembo’s much stronger than you. You can’t teach him anything.”
“physically stronger he might be,” Aslan said, “but in character? Is Tembo strong in that sense?” Salty had to agree, the lion cub wasn’t strong in character.
“No Aslan, he’s not strong in character,” the snow leopard replied, “but talking to him won’t work! He doesn’t respond to that!”
“He was frightened of me and I laid no paw on him,” Aslan said.
“Yes, frightened of you he was,” Salty replied, “but that was not because of who you are, it was because of what you are. In that you are blind, and that’s the thing which scares him most of all. When Tembo said you were like Whitie, Blanche and Pipin, that’s what he meant little cub.”
“What do you mean by me being blind? What is that?” Aslan asked. Salty, uncomfortable with this subject, hesitated:
“Ask Whitie,” he said, “she’ll tell you.”
“Who’s Whitie? And Salty, why can’t you tell me what you mean by me being blind?”
“Whitie’s a snow leopard cub,” Salty replied, “and as for your second question, well, I don’t know much about what it is to be blind, I just know that’s what you are though.” Aslan felt fear from Salty.
“What are you afraid of Salty?” Aslan asked.
“I’m not afraid!” Salty snapped.
“Does being blind, whatever that is, frighten you Salty?” Aslan asked. Salty felt fear rise in him. He felt hot all over, and his paws began to shake and become damp with sweat. It was the most intense fear Salty had.
“I’m mortally terrified of it,” Salty whispered.
“So you will not speak of it?” Aslan asked, “not even to one who is blind, as you call it?”
“No Aslan, I can’t,” Salty replied, his voice almost cracking.
“Are you saying I’m a bad cub because of this so called blind thing?” Aslan asked.
“No, not at all,” Salty protested, “but, but it’s something which terrifies me.”
“I’ve done nothing to harm you, but you’re scared of me?” Aslan asked.
“No little cub, no!” Salty replied, “I never said that.”
“You might as well have said it,” Aslan replied, “you fear what I am Salty.”
“I fear your situation, not you yourself Aslan,” Salty mewed.
“I’m sorry for you,” Aslan said, “I hope you will learn to accept me for who I am, and not think of me as just a blind cub.” Aslan’s words tore into Salty, and the huge male snow Leopard began to cry. Lying down, he buried his face in his huge forepaws and wept.
Aslan left Salty alone, greatly upset by the snow leopard’s words. Returning to Tembi’s side, Aslan settled down, but Salty’s manner troubled him. Aslan felt Theo lying on his other side to Tembi. He also felt his sire’s turmoil.
“Theo?” Aslan asked softly. Theo rolled over and took Aslan in both paws.
“You are sensitive to my mood little cub,” the young lion mewed, “I can’t deny I’m upset, as upset as you are.” Aslan touched Theo’s nose with one tiny paw, Theo nuzzling the pads of his paw.
“You won’t understand why others are frightened of your situation,” Theo said, “because you live with it every day, and can cope with it. Those who don’t live like you do, fear what you deal with.”
“You mean you don’t deal with it too?” Aslan asked.
“Not in the same way you do my cub,” Theo said, stroking Aslan’s paw with his.
“What is Salty so terrified of?” the cub enquired.
“I don’t know how to explain it other than this, so please forgive me,” Theo said, “but it’s like this. We, who are not blind, can see things like colours, shapes, the sky is blue, the trees with their leaves of green, and we can see each other. We can tell who’s in a room if we have previously met, or seen pictures by remembering what we’ve seen before and matching that to what our eyes tell us. I can, for example see that you have a dark mane, short tail, black whiskers, and,” here Theo picked up one of Aslan’s paws and examined the pads, “black pads on the sole of your paws little cub. Now I see all this. I don’t need to touch you to know any of this. I can see your mane, tail and whiskers when you are close to me, or when you are far away. I can also see the pads on the soles of your paws when you lie on your side or on your back while I’m grooming you. I don’t need to touch you to find any of this out about you. Now you Aslan, describe me.”
“Well Theo,” Aslan replied, “you are large, larger than me that is, but not as large as Leo, for he’s massive. You have a rough mane, soft silky fur, tiny ears for your general size, and large very strokable paws. Your paws are ticklish too!” Theo smiled, despite the gravity of the subject.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Your pads are rough, and your whiskers tickle me whenever you hug me. It’s nice that.” Theo gulped hard. Aslan’s words bringing a rush of emotion which brought tears to his eyes, “your paws are very soft too,” Aslan concluded.
“You see Aslan my cub,” Theo choked, “you described what your paws tell you when you touch me. If I refused to let you touch me, you’d know none of this. To you I would just be a voice, and that’s all.” Aslan knew what his sire meant. There were many animals to whom he’d spoken, but hadn’t touched, to him they were just voices. Salty for one, though Aslan had engaged in conversation with him, he’d not touched the snow leopard. He knew nothing about him other than the sound of his voice and the fact he was terrified of what Aslan was.
“Being blind means you have to listen to and touch the world around you to experience it,” Theo said, “I know that’s rather lame, but it’s the best I can describe the difference between my situation and your own my cub.”
“What are green and Blue?” Aslan asked, “Theo, you said Blue is what the sky is, and the leaves on the trees are green.”
“You ask a question Aslan, which I cannot answer. Noone can answer that question, you have to see green leaves and blue sky to know what they are. This is one question I would dearly love to answer, but I cannot. My cub, that’s the worst of it. If you have not seen colours, like blue and green, there’s no way someone can describe them to you. I would try little cub, but I couldn’t do it, even if I was promised the world. Colour is not something anyone can describe, and for that I’m more sorry than I can put into words. I would give all I have to be able to describe a sunset to you in the full glory in which I see it little cub, but I cannot describe the sunset, as you’ve never before seen colour. So all that I’m saying about colours are useless words, useless, dreadfully upsetting words, because you will not be able to experience the richness of life I can. The thing is Aslan,” Theo said, taking the cub in his paws and hugging him, “I know that if I could not see these things tomorrow I’d go crazy. For this I feel dreadful, for you are in that position already, but I can’t help feeling the way I do.” Aslan felt Theo’s tears wetting his fur as his sire wept.
the other animals in the living room listened to Theo and Aslan’s conversation, and not one dared speak. Even Tembo and Tarker were silent, for they realised that what Theo had said was true for them also. Tembi lay with her face buried in her paws, the raw power of what Theo had said leaving her feeling weak and helpless. She knew that when she opened her eyes, she’d be able to see everyone and everything, but Aslan could not see anything, even if he could open his eyes, which Tembi now knew would never happen. Tembi kept her eyes closed and tried to imagine living life in that dark place. All she’d have to tell her what the world was like around her would be her ears and paws. What if other animals refused to touch her? What if Theo refused to touch her? What would she do then? Tembi knew she and her mate communicated their love for each other in visual signals most of the time. Emotions were communicated that way too. If a lion snarled or growled, it was usually too late. Tembi often spoke lovingly to Theo, and him to her, but they were only words, hot air, and they could be meaningless rubbish. Tembi admitted to herself the times when she truly knew Theo loved her was when he embraced her, caressed her paws, licked her ear, nuzzled her cheek, all that. But this was touch again, and Tembi knew it wasn’t done to go up to a strange animal and touch them to find out what they were feeling. Tembi knew touch never lied, that when she touched Theo or Aslan, that her paws told each of them her true feelings towards them. The same for them touching her, their touch never lied. She could tell if they were anxious, happy, sad, confused, feeling frightened or secure, all that, and it was all through the contact between their paws and her fur or paws, or her paws and their fur or paws. The voice could lie, words could lie, but touch and visual cues never lied. Tembi realised if she lost visual cues, she’d have to rely on touch if she wanted the absolute truth from anyone she met. Words could be spoken with false sincerity, but the true feelings of the speaker could only be gleaned by touch or sight. Tembi felt hot, her head ached, her forepaws were wet, and when she licked her left forepaw, she tasted salty tears.
“Don’t cry mum,” someone said. Tembi turned and saw Aslan lying beside her.
“I was, was thinking,” she stammered.
“I know what you were thinking of mum,” Aslan said, “you were thinking about what Theo and I were talking about earlier.”
“Yes Aslan I was,” his mother replied, “and Theo’s right in so many things he said to you little cub.”
“So it’s not me they fear, it’s my situation?” Aslan asked. Tembi touched his paw with hers:
“Yes little cub,” she replied.
“But Salty wouldn’t talk about it,” Aslan mewed.
“He’s dead scared,” Tembi said.
“And Theo isn’t?” Aslan asked.
“Theo’s, well, more courageous than Salty, in my view anyway,” Tembi replied.
“Theo’s very honest about everything,” Aslan said, “I could feel it in his paws when I held them while he spoke to me. He meant every word he said.”
“Theo and I love you very much Aslan,” Tembi said, “don’t forget that little cub.” Aslan snuggled up to Tembi, warm and secure in her presence.
“How you can love a cub like him I’ll never understand!” Tembo spat.
“he’s far nicer than you are, that’s for certain,” Portia mewed. Tembo snarled and spat at her.
“I rest my case,” Portia yawned. Tembi stroked Aslan’s paw, the cub working his tiny paw into her larger one.
“That feels so good,” Aslan mewed. Theo watched his mate and their cub.
“I love you both,” Theo purred. Aslan shook himself awake and Tembi guided him to Theo, both of them having the same idea. Tembi and Aslan tried to hug Theo simultaneously. Theo smiled, hugging first his mate, then his cub.
“how about if we all settle down and see if we can get some sleep,” Tembi suggested. Theo and Aslan were up for that, and both Tembi and Aslan were soon cuddled up to Theo, who rested his head on his forepaws, his paws resting on those of Tembi and Aslan. Aslan found Theo’s paw to be warm and soft.
“I can sleep like this,” the cub mewed. Tembi gently nuzzled Theo’s paw which held hers so tenderly.
“Let’s all see if we can sleep,” she said, “for it’s been quite a day.”
Tembo’s luck runs out.
A large female tabby cat watched the house from her vantage point on the top of the fence in the back garden. She was lonely, her mate killed beneath the wheels of a car not three days before.
Sitting on the fence, she thought about her mate, the pain of his death tearing her apart. Looking down at her paws, she tried to compose herself for what she was about to do. She had to find a home, and her mate had said that if she was in need of a home, to talk to the brown bear whom he’d helped in the woods some months back. The female tabby was named Tib, having adopted her mate’s name as a reminder of him, the only reminder she’d ever have now. She looked over at the back door of the house, thinking deeply about her now dead mate. After the accident which killed her mate outright, Tib had waited for the coast to clear, then she’d padded from the bushes where she’d hidden to wait for her mate’s return. Dragging his body off the road, Tib hid it in the bushes, before settling down to the old tabby death customs. She set to cleaning up her mate’s fur, licking the blood from his fur, smoothing over the fur, trying to provide her mate with some dignity in death. She couldn’t do much about the crushed ribs or scuffed pads and claws, but she groomed and cleaned her mate’s body from nose to tail as best she could. When she’d finished, he looked quite normal, that was if one ignored the crushed ribs and scuffed paws and claws. Tib looked down at her mate, thankful the car hadn’t damaged his face. His brown eyes looked at her with mute terror.
“You knew you were going to die,” she thought, “my poor dear, sweet mate. My Tib. She got up and dug a grave for her mate, her claws and paws in as much of a state as her dead mate’s by the time she’d finished. She dragged her mate’s body and placed it in the grave with as much ceremony as a cat can, which wasn’t much. Her mate’s body kind of fell into the grave, which upset her a great deal, but she couldn’t lift him, even if she’d wanted to. Once her mate lay in the grave, Tib covered his body with earth. It was then that she decided to adopt her mate’s name, so she could be reminded of him. Once she’d finished her work, Tib walked away, the full shock and horror of what had taken place hardly registering with her then.
On the fence two days later, the shock was registering, strong and powerful. Tib felt light headed, and then all at once she was on the grass! She’d fallen off the fence and landed on her back in the long grass in the garden. Winded and disorientated, Tib got to her paws and padded towards the back door of the house.
Theo, walking in the garden with Aslan, spotted the tabby cat and called to her.
“Are you lost?” Tib, concentrating on her paws, looked up, straight into the eyes of the king of beasts. Tib felt nervous as she looked into Theo’s eyes. Theo saw this cat was lonely, her eyes told him so.
“Can I help?” Theo asked. Tib found she couldn’t reply, her mouth had gone dry, and all she could do was stare at Theo. Mental shock had become physical shock, and Tib stood flat pawed on the grass, staring mutely at Theo, hoping he’d understand.
“Are you just going to stare at me, or will you answer my question!” Theo snapped. Aslan touched his sire’s paw.
“Theo,” he mewed, “I don’t think she’s in a position to answer. I think she’s in shock.” Theo hadn’t thought of this. Putting away thoughts of the flogging he might get from Leo for inviting a stranger into the house, Theo pointed at the back door.
“come in,” he said to the tabby, who nodded her thanks and followed them.
Once inside the house, They met Leo, who stared at Tib.
“Who’s this?” he asked Theo.
“A cat,” Theo replied, “tabby by the look of her.” Leo banged his paw on the lino floor of the hallway in frustration.
“I know that, I can see she’s a cat, and that she’s tabby too!” he snapped, “who is she? Where did you find her, and what the hell do you think you are doing bringing her in here without mine or Snowy’s say so!”
“She looked, well, upset,” Theo mewed, now wishing he’d never let the tabby in, “she’s, well, lost.”
“Go home and drink milk cat!” Leo snarled. Tib turned and made to leave.
“No Leo, please! Listen!” Aslan pleaded. Leo looked at his nephew.
“What?” he asked.
“I think, think she’s in shock,” Aslan said, “something awful has happened to her very recently.”
Yeah right,” Leo spat, “the only thing that has happened to her is that she’s been born a moggie!”
“You are horrible!” Aslan yelled, “Leo, how can you say such a thing! Are you totally stupid? Are you blind? For I can see she’s distressed, and I can’t bloody see her!”
“Don’t use that language!” Leo snapped, “I’m not stupid, nor am I blind Aslan, don’t ever accuse me of that!”
“Let me talk to her,” Aslan said, “please Leo.”
“No, I won’t!” Leo snarled, cuffing Aslan across his nose, “you don’t know anything about this, so keep your nose, and your paws off her!”
“My paws?” Aslan enquired, “why would I touch her?”
“Because you’re into that stuff!” Leo snapped.
“What’s come over you Leo?” Theo asked, “you believe as much in the power of touch as any animal here. Why are you denouncing it now?”
“I don’t want this cat here!” Leo yelled.
“if you’re angry at me for bringing her in, then I’m sorry, but she was in a bad way, still is! I found her in the garden Leo,” Theo mewed.
“You have overstepped the mark!” Leo yelled, “bringing a flea ridden moggie into the house!”
“But, well, we have to help her!” Theo whimpered, “if we don’t, then, then it’s not right. We’re a kind, tolerant community here, and since when have we ever turned an animal away who really needed our help. Leo, if you turn this cat away, I’ll leave and never return!” Leo knew Theo would carry out his threat, and it jerked him out of his rage.
“Okay,” he said, “let her say her piece.” Aslan went up to the tabby cat and touched her paw with his. Tib looked down into the closed eyes of a young lion cub.
“I’ll bet you are too young to be involved in all this little one,” she mewed. Aslan squeezed her paw. Tib leant down and licked Aslan’s ear.
“Come,” he said. The tabby turned and followed the tiny cub into the living room, where she found herself surrounded by many different types of animal.
“Lie down here and tell us your tale,” Leo said, indicating with his paw where Tib should lie. She collapsed onto the carpet, Aslan lying beside her and resting his paw on hers.
“Thank you little cub,” she mewed. Leo was about to tell Aslan to take his paw off the tabby’s when something stopped him. Aslan seemed to be the only one who knew this cat in any way. Leo looked at Tib.
“Tell us your tale,” he growled. Tib told her story.
“So your mate was the cat who helped me when I was cast out of the house?” Bruin asked. Tib nodded:
“he was,” she said, leaving it at that. She didn’t want to let on she’d been tipped off about the place she was now in, in case that big lion got angry again.
“Your tale is a sad one Tib,” Aslan said.
“I will go now,” Tib said, “I can’t stay here, I can see that.”
“Wait a minute!” Leo said.
“You of all the animals here want me to stay as little time as possible,” Tib replied.
“No, well, I was wrong, Aslan was right after all, Theo too. They’ve talked sense the whole time, and I’ve listened to fears. You’ve been through a lot, and I’m sorry for doubting you.” Leo couldn’t meet his brother’s eye. Theo knew his older brother felt terrible about his dreadful temper.
“You have been through a lot Tib,” Aslan said, gently stroking her paw. Tib touched Aslan’s nose with hers.
“Thank you little cub,” she said. Aslan snuggled up to Tib, her long fur warm against his. Theo watched Tib and his cub. They seemed content, Aslan snuggled up to the tabby as if he’d known her all his life. Tib began to purr contentedly as she became warmer and warmer. Resting her head on her forepaws, she closed her eyes.
“that cat knows what side her bread’s buttered,” Bruin remarked. Tib rolled onto her side and drew Aslan closer to her, caressing the lion cub in her warm paws. Aslan snuggled up to Tib, stroking her thick, warm fur with one tiny paw.
“Your cub seems to have taken a liking to that horrid scruffy moggie Tembi,” Tembo said.
“Scruffy moggie?” Tib asked, “who said that?”
“That was Tembo,” Aslan replied, “he’s a horrid creature.”
“Which one’s Tembo?” Tib asked, scanning the faces of the animals around her.
“He’s a lion cub, that’s all I know,” Aslan replied. Tib scanned the faces of the male lion cubs, looking for a signal as to which one called her scruffy. Her paws weren’t in very good shape, but that wasn’t surprising considering she’d buried her mate only a day or so before.
“Tembo,” Tib said to the room in general, “if I hear you making fun of me again, I’ll tear your paws off!”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Tembo replied, always wanting the last word. Tib now had a fix on him, and she sprang at the lion cub, gripping his head between both her huge forepaws!
“You listen to me!” Tib hissed, “you make comments like that again, and you’ll not see the sunrise! Okay?” Tembo whimpered with fear. This cat was dangerous!
“Let me go!” Tembo snapped. Tib let him go, but before she did, she back handed him across the mouth with her paw! Tembo screeched as Tib’s hard paw connected with his mouth.
“that’s only a taste,” Tib said. Walking back to Aslan, Tib sat down and began washing her face and paws.
“You haven’t heard the last of this!” Tembo yelled. Tib glared at Tembo, the expression in her eyes telling the cub far more than he wanted to know.
“I think you’ve made an enemy of her already Tembo,” Theo said. Tembo told Theo where he could shove his comments.
“right!” Tib yelled, “now you’re for it!” Theo threw himself at Tib, tackling her to the floor, the combined weight of their bodies slamming into Aslan! The cub screamed as he was rolled over by the two scrapping cats! Aslan crawled away, bruised and frightened. Theo clamped both Tib’s forepaws in one of his huge forepaws, his other paw clamping her mouth shut so she couldn’t bite him.
“You calm down right now!” Theo yelled. Tib snorted and blew through her nose, extending her claws to prick Theo’s pads.
“Hey!” Theo yelled as Tib’s claws dug into his paw, “that’s not nice!” Tib wrenched one paw free from Theo’s and brought it smashing down on his nose! Theo dropped her paw and threw up both his paws to shield his face!
“Maybe someone will teach Tembo a real lesson,” Salty mewed. Tib ran to Tembo and, picking him up off the floor, shook him like a dog does a rat! She then threw him hard across the room! Tembo smashed into the wall, his body crumpling to the carpet.
“You’ve killed him!” Elsa yelled.
“What if I have?” Tib snarled, “isn’t’ that what he wanted to do to Aslan?”
“But Tembo’s my cub!” Elsa sobbed.
“I’m sorry for you, but not for him,” Tib replied. Elsa went over to Tembo and touched him with her paw. He was unusually still. Elsa picked Tembo’s lifeless body up in her mouth and carried him out of the house. numb with shock, she laid Tembo on the floor of the shed. Elsa returned to the house, catching Clarence’s eye as she passed him. Clarence looked as shocked at the goings on as she felt.
“My cub’s dead!” Elsa sobbed. Tib looked at Leo, the lion’s face giving her no clue as to his feelings towards her. Elsa turned savagely on Tib.
“Why did you murder my cub!” she screamed.
“Tembo was bad to the bone Elsa,” Tib said, “he would have murdered Aslan just because he didn’t like him. Tembo wanted Aslan dead. I didn’t mean to kill your cub, but maybe it’s for the best. Tembo was a danger to us all.”
“You’ve never seen him before!” Elsa yelled.
“I’ve lived round here for years, I watched your arrival. I know your cub. I know Tembo’s behaviour towards his sister. I know he wanted her dead. This is the personality of the cub you’ve been protecting all this time. Tembo won’t be missed by many here.” Theo looked down at his paws, unable to look at Elsa, in case she realised that he would have killed Tembo if Tib hadn’t done it.
“What now?” Aslan asked.
“Tib leaves right now!” Leo yelled, “she can’t be allowed to stay!”
“no Leo,” Salty said, “Tib stays. It wasn’t her fault Tembo pushed his luck. If the truth be told, many here would have gladly done what she did. Even you would, if only you’d admit it to yourself.” Leo looked at the snow leopard.
“You mean you would too?” he asked. Salty looked Leo full in the face.
“Do I really need to answer that?” he asked. Leo clenched his paws, suddenly angry.
“So you’ve all had it in for Tembo?” he yelled.
“No Leo,” Clarence said, “He’s been destroying himself. He’s been provoking us beyond what we could stand. It is only because we are so comfortable here that we haven’t done what Tib did. We are no longer wild animals, we are comfortable, secure and warm. We let things go that wild animals don’t. Tib’s a wild cat, so she knew what Tembo was. She knew he’d kill Aslan if he got half a chance. Quite honestly, I knew it too. Tembo wanted Aslan dead.”
Elsa walked out of the house, then through the back gate to the wood. She didn’t want anything more to do with the animals in the house. they didn’t seem to care about Tembo. Picking up Tembo’s body, Elsa walked into the woods and buried him beneath a tree. Once this was done, she walked on into the wood, her mind numbed by what she’d seen.
Back in the house, Tib lay with her face buried in her paws.
“I just lost it,” she mewed, “I don’t know whether to be sorry or not.” Theo, seeing Elsa had disappeared, relaxed a little.
“I can’t say I’m sorry,” he said, “Tembo was heading for it all the time he was here.”
“We know that, but we don’t say it Theo,” Leo warned.
“I will say it Leo,” Theo replied, “for that cub nearly killed my cub. If Tib hadn’t done it, I would have! I don’t mind admitting it, there! I would have killed Tembo sooner or later.” Leo stared at his brother.
“How, how could you even think of it!” He yelled.
“When Tembo went after Aslan that first time, I saw the murderous intent in Tembo’s face. He wanted my cub dead Leo, my cub, who’d done nothing to harm anyone. If Tembo had killed Aslan, how would you feel now?” Leo looked at the tiny blind cub.
“I would rip his throat out!” Leo yelled.
“There,” Theo mewed, “I rest my case.” Leo looked at Tib.
“You can stay,” he said gruffly, “just don’t try anything like that ever again.”
Meanwhile, Elsa padded through the wood, her paws hardly feeling the ground beneath them. She’d seen her cub killed by a tabby cat, and although she knew she was much larger than Tib, Elsa dared not challenge the tabby. There was something about Tib, a wild power which Elsa could never match. Elsa admitted she’d become too soft, too habituated into soft living, what with the rugs and warmth in the house. now she was roaming alone, and wondering what would become of her.
Elsa thinks things over.
Elsa padded along the woodland track, her head and tail drooping with tiredness. She felt drained of all strength, physically sick and dreadfully lonely. Tembo’s death had shocked her, even though she was now completely honest with herself, she’d seen some kind of retribution coming his way for a long time. There were only so many times a cub could spit in the face of a community and get away with it. Elsa realised then that Theo had tried to save her cub. He’d fought Tib and she’d won flying at Tembo and killing him. Were Theo’s actions to save Tembo’s life, or to save Tib from possible eviction, Elsa didn’t know. Elsa lay down, wondering if she’d ever feel whole again.
Elsa must have slept, for the next thing she knew was something warm and soft lying down beside her. Elsa, now realising she was freezing cold, snuggled up to the warm thing. It had fur, and when she touched it, she realised it had paws, big soft paws, which embraced her tenderly. Elsa felt the paws embracing her, and knew whomever it was meant her no harm. Resting her head on the shoulder of whomever was hugging her, Elsa breathed deeply, trying not to be frightened. Opening her eyes, she looked quickly at the thing holding her in its soft warm paws. It was Theo.
“Elsa,” Theo mewed, “please, listen to me.” Elsa twitched an ear.
“About Tembo’s death,”
“Tib murdered my cub!” Elsa mewed.
“I know,” Theo replied, “but no matter what you felt for him, you must understand this. Tembo was responsible for his own actions. He was no longer listening to you or Tembi. He didn’t care about either of you! He wanted to destroy Aslan and Tembi. Tib doesn’t know the rules, she was defending a cub who’d been kind to her even when he didn’t know her. I was wrong to do what I did.”
“Try and save my cub you mean?” Elsa asked.
“Yes,” Theo replied, “for it was useless, and maybe Tembo wanted to have a run in with her, he made remarks to Tib, spoiling for a fight.”
“That Tabby’s dangerous Theo!” Elsa mewed, “all right, I might be larger than her, but I wouldn’t dare fight her! Tembo was stupid to challenge her!”
“Tembo was a spiteful cub Elsa,” Theo mewed, “I don’t like speaking in this manner as he was your cub, but it can’t be denied, he hated everyone, including his younger sister, whom he tried to kill many times.” Elsa remembered rescuing Tembi from her brother’s unprovoked attacks on her. Now that was ended forever.
“You are right Theo,” Elsa mewed, “Tembo was a danger to his sister, and your cub. I’m not surprised you and Tembi went into the woods so she could give birth to Aslan. I would have done the same.” Theo licked Elsa’s ear.
“Come back to the house, please,” Theo pleaded, “there we can try and work out where we go from here. I saw you bury Tembo.”” Elsa looked into Theo’s face. The young lion’s eyes were red from weeping. He’d wept for Tembo, but why should he weep for a cub who nearly killed his mate and his cub?
“You’ve been crying Theo,” Elsa said gently. Theo looked away.
“I wept not for the cub Tembo was, but for the cub he might have been. He turned bad through long suffering and hating. Now he’s gone, and we have to carry on.” Elsa got to her paws and shook herself.
“Let’s go back to the house,” she said, “and if I meet Tib on route, I’ll tear her paws off!”
“Tembo picked a fight with Tib, not the other way round,” Theo reminded Elsa.
“You’re right,” Elsa replied, “no matter how much I try to deny it, you’re right.”
“Let’s go,” Theo said, briefly taking Elsa’s paw in his. Elsa looked into Theo’s face.
“You would have done what Tib did in the end,” Elsa stated. Theo looked down at his paws.
“yes Elsa,” he replied, “I would have. For there’s only so much a lion can take.” Elsa hugged Theo.
“You were protecting your cub,” she said, “there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Tembo made his own way,” Theo mewed, “I’m sorry it ended like this Elsa.” Elsa looked down the track.
“Let’s go,” she said. Theo released her paw and they walked back to the house. entering through the back door, Elsa came face to face with Tib. Elsa’s fur bristled and she bared her teeth.
“Get out of my way!” she growled. Tib walked backwards, conscious of the old rule, never turn your back on an enemy. Elsa knew what she was doing and cursed her for it.
“You horrid animal!” Elsa yelled. Tib slunk away, feeling more dreadful than she could put into words.
“if the truth be told Elsa,” Salty said, “Tib did what most of the animals here would have done in the end. Tembo had overstepped the mark and he wasn’t safe any more. Tembo’s number was up, and it was only a matter of time until he was killed. With the new cubs about, there’s no way the community could have a dangerous individual like him on the scene.” Elsa knew what the snow leopard meant, even so, it was still terrible. Elsa lay down, feeling something move inside her. She knew then, she was in cub. Tommy and Elsa had been close for some time now, and they’d been trying for cubs of their own. Now Elsa was sure she was in cub, and this realisation made her fear for their safety. For one dreadful minute, Elsa feared that Tembo would harm her cubs as soon as they were born, but then she remembered what Tib had done. Relief flooding through her, Elsa looked over at Tommy, who grinned at her, for he’d felt her cubs moving too.
“In cub Elsa?” he asked, though he knew very well what her answer would be.
“yes,” she replied.
“How long until we see them?” Tommy asked.
“A few weeks yet I think,” Elsa replied, “but we’d better make plans for their arrival. I don’t want to have them in the woods if I can at all help it.”
“No you don’t want to have them in the wood mum,” Tembi mewed, “it was cold and uncomfortable!” Theo hugged Tembi.
“When we have another cub,” he said, “I’ll make sure you have a soft bed to lie on.” Tembi smiled and nuzzled his cheek.
Elsa wasn’t so sure how soon it was until her cubs were due. She knew they were active inside her now, so their birth couldn’t be that far off.
Elsa began to plan for the arrival of her cubs.
A friend for life.
The news of Elsa’s pregnancy spread throughout the house. Clarence was overjoyed at the news, for despite not wanting to sire any more cubs, he’d always loved Elsa, and wished the best for her. When she told him, Clarence threw his paws round her and hugged her tightly. This reaction, Elsa knew, was Clarence all over, he was nothing but a big softy beneath all that fur. Tommy watched Clarence’s reaction, and warned him off.
“She’s my mate now Clarence, paws off!” he snarled. Clarence squeezed Elsa’s paw and she left him, Clarence watching her leave, his eyes full of pain.
Elsa was furious with Tommy.
“Clarence isn’t a danger to me, my cubs, or anything else. He’s a kind and gentle lion, who loves cubs, and will do anything to protect them. So leave him alone!! Elsa snarled.
“He threatened to kill Tembo!” Tommy replied.
“I’m not surprised he did,” Elsa said, “Tembo was heading for trouble anyway. Clarence would have been the last to lay paws on Tembo. I know that, for Tembo was his cub!”
“Well,” Tommy snapped, “I don’t want him anywhere near you! Oh, and by the way, when you have your cubs, I’m not going to be there, for I hate the whole business of cubbing.” Elsa stopped dead.
“So you’re quite willing to have the pleasure, but not to help me through the pain?” Tommy looked away.
“I just don’t like it,” he mewed. Elsa was devastated.
“I don’t know what to say!” she growled.
“Say nothing, because it won’t change my mind!” Tommy snapped. Elsa walked out of the room, her cubs stirring inside her as if they felt her emotional distress. Elsa padded up the stairs to where Tib lay on the quilt having her paws massaged by Kodiak, who’d appointed himself the tabby’s guardian.
“I’m in cub,” Elsa announced to the room in general, avoiding Tib’s eye.
“That’s wonderful!” Tigger mewed.
“Agreed,” Ringo added, “when are they due?”
“Any time within the next four weeks,” Elsa replied, hoping she was somewhere near the truth.
“That’s good,” Tib mewed, “more cubs in the house, wonderful!”
“don’t get any ideas about killing these cubs Tib,” Stifftail mewed.
“Now that’s not fair!” Tib yelled. Elsa felt her pulse quicken, her paws become damp and her toes curl involuntarily, she was becoming anxious.
“I don’t want to hear that kind of talk either!” Elsa said, “I hope Tib wouldn’t do my cubs harm.”
“Of course I won’t!” Tib snarled, “I killed Tembo for one reason only! That was that he was a danger to the others!”
“That he was, I know that now,” Elsa replied. Elsa looked Tib full in the face, and the look in the tabby’s eyes brought tears to her own.
“I’m not sorry Tembo died,” Tib said, “but I’m more sorry for the distress I caused you than I can tell you Elsa.” Elsa’s vision blurred with tears as she looked into Tib’s eyes. Suddenly she was being embraced in Tib’s paws, the tabby hugging her tightly. Elsa felt no fear, just immense sadness.
“I’m sorry Elsa,” Tib mewed. Elsa buried her face in Tib’s fur, weeping for her cub. Tib stroked Elsa’s back, ears and paws, trying to tell her how confused and apologetic she was for and about what had taken place the previous day. Elsa felt Tib’s paws working over her, and despite everything, her touch was genuine, her intentions non threatening. Elsa began to relax a little.
“How about a paw massage Elsa?” Kodiak asked. Tigger laughed merrily:
“You make me look lazy Kodiak,” he said, “ever since I showed you how to stroke a paw, you really have been eager to try it on everyone!”
“I don’t know if it wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” Elsa mewed, “they say that whatever happens to me happens to my cubs. Whatever I eat, they get, whatever chemicals I put into my body, be it by massage or through other means, my cubs get a share also. A paw massage wouldn’t be a bad thing after what Tommy’s just said to me.”
“What did he say?” Snowy asked.
“He told me he wouldn’t be at the birth of our cubs, because, because he didn’t like cubbing! As if I’m going to have any choice in the matter! I’d like some support from the father of my cubs!”
“if Tommy won’t give you support, I know who would,” Tigger mewed.
“yes, I know,” Elsa replied, “and Clarence has been wonderful to me.”
“He still loves you Elsa,” Tigger said, “Clarence would give his life for you and your cubs.” Elsa looked down at her paws. She knew Clarence still loved her, and she often regretted leaving him.
“We’ll all help you through your cubbing,” Brushtail barked, “it’ll be like what us foxes do, we have a huge gathering when a vixen is due to have her cubs. That way it can be a huge celebration of the cub’s birth.”
“What happens if things go wrong?” Stifftail asked.
“You really know how to spoil a conversation!” Amber snapped, cuffing Stifftail across his nose with the back of her paw.
“A valid question, if somewhat inappropriate considering,” Brushtail replied, “well, if the worst happens, the extended family are all there to comfort the mother. So it works both ways.” Elsa was glad she had support, even if it was from an assortment of different animals.
“Thank you all,” she said.
Tib looked over Elsa’s shoulder and smiled.
“Ah, Clarence,” she mewed, “what can we do for you?” Clarence looked shell shocked.
“I’ve, just, just done the most awful thing,” he mewed. Elsa turned and looked into the lion’s terrified eyes.
“What have you done?” She asked.
“Tommy, he, he attacked me,” Clarence replied, his voice and paws shaking, so, I, I defended myself, and, well, well, he’s now, badly injured! Theo’s treating him now, but, but, well, it doesn’t look good. Leo sent me up here to tell you what I’d done. He treated me like a naughty cub! Retribution n’all that stuff. Well, now you know what I’ve done.”
“I would have stood up to Leo,” Tigger snapped, “he’s a bully sometimes!”
“Leo knows Clarence has terrible difficulty raising a paw to anyone,” snowy mewed, “Leo’s just throwing his weight about because Clarence was driven over the edge.”
“I don’t think Tommy’s going to survive this,” Clarence whimpered, “I tore him up pretty badly.” Elsa looked into Clarence’s face. The terrified lion stared back at her.
“I’m sorry Elsa,” Clarence said. Tib released Elsa and she padded over to Clarence, who hugged her with both paws.
“I want you to be there when I have my cubs Clarence,” Elsa mewed. Clarence stroked Elsa’s paws:
“I will be there,” he replied, “no matter how frightened I am, I’ll be there.” Elsa buried her face in Clarence’s fur, breathing in his scent, his warm, sweet, comforting scent.
“You now need to look after those cubs Elsa,” Snowy said, “Clarence will help, so will Tigger and Theo. They will make sure you’re safe.” Elsa rubbed Clarence’s massive left forepaw with both of hers, the huge lion watching her.
“I still love you Elsa, despite everything,” Clarence sniffed.
“I know Clarence, I know,” she replied, “and I’m sorry about everything, going with Tommy n’all. I know now I did it only because I wanted cubs. He doesn’t love me at all. I tried to love him, and for a time I thought I did, but when he said he’d refuse to be at the birth of our cubs, I had my doubts about him. Now I know, I know what love is, for when I told you about my cubs Clarence, you threw your paws round me and hugged me. I felt safe, as if, if I’d come home.” Clarence hugged Elsa as tightly as he dared.
“You have come home Elsa, you have,” he said, “for nothing will harm you now, and you are totally safe with me, and with these other good animals.”
“you great big softy!” Elsa sobbed, “I love you Clarence, and that’s the truth!” Clarence held Elsa tightly in both paws, hugging her tenderly.
“I don’t mind if the cubs aren’t mine Elsa,” Clarence said, “I will help you through it all, get my paws dirty during the birth of your cubs if I have to, all that. I will be there for you throughout it all, to massage your paws, hug you, stroke your ears, everything I can do to help, I will.” Elsa snuggled up to the large lion.
“you used to be scared of cubbing,” she mewed.
“I am still,” Clarence replied, “but I will be there, I will be there because I love you Elsa, and that means being with you throughout everything.” Elsa stroked Clarence’s paws.
“I’ll try to make things as easy as I can,” she said, “I know you’re not trained in attending cubbings.”
“Making things easy is my job, not yours Elsa dear,” Clarence replied, “I’m not the one giving birth to the cubs.” Elsa smiled.
“It will be okay,” she said.
“Even so,” Clarence replied, “I will ask everyone I can think of about cubbing, what it’s like, what to do, all that. I want to know.” Elsa hugged Clarence.
“I’d ask Theo and Tembi then,” she mewed, “They only recently had Aslan. Tembi will tell you from her point of view and Theo from his, and that way you should get a good idea. Ellie’s always eager to tell anyone about Pipin’s birth too.”
“I know,” Clarence replied, “she’d have me witnessing a mock cubbing if she had half a chance. That lynx is impossible!” Elsa licked Clarence’s ear.
“Better to be prepared,” she said. Clarence felt Elsa’s cubs kicking at his paw as he touched her belly, Elsa smiling as she felt his touch and the reaction of her cubs to it.
“We’ll get through this together Elsa my love,” Clarence said. Elsa squeezed his paw.
Meanwhile, Tommy lay on the carpet of the living room, wishing he’d never met Clarence. Clarence had beaten him up severely, and now he was bruised and aching from nose to tail. Leo had dragged Tommy to safety after Clarence’s attack on him.
“You make sure that dam lion’s out of this house by sundown!” Tommy yelled at Leo. Leo looked at Tommy.
“You don’t love Elsa at all do you,” he stated. Tommy spat on the carpet.
“All she wanted from me was cubs!” he yelled, “that was the agreement we had! Now, now she’s got cubs, I don’t want to be with her any more!”
“Clarence loves Elsa dearly Leo,” Sparky said. Leo looked at the Dalmatian.
“He does,” Leo replied, “and I’ll bet he thought Tommy did too, so he got wild with him when he realised Tommy didn’t love Elsa at all.”
“She loved Tommy though, or tried to,” Sparky replied, “now though, she’s lonely, and Clarence is in your bad books.”
“I shouldn’t have sent him away like that,” Leo said, “I treated him like a cub. Clarence doesn’t often lose his temper, but when he does the affect is massive.” Tommy moaned with pain.
“for a pacifist, he n’alf knows where to hit someone,” he complained.
The sound of scuffing paws on carpet announced the arrival of Elsa and Clarence. Seeing Clarence, Leo motioned with his paw for him to come to him. Clarence, seeing Leo, began to shake with fear. Leo patted the carpet with his paw.
“Clarence,” he said, “come here please. Clarence stared at his leader, not moving a muscle, as if his paws were stuck to the carpet. Indeed, Clarence wished they were, so he had a reason not to go up to Leo. Curling his toes into the carpet, Clarence stared down at his paws.
“Clarence, did you hear me?” Leo asked. Clarence’s reaction to Leo’s voice told the lion he’d heard what he’d said.
“Don’t get angry with him Leo,” Theo mewed, “Clarence was only defending Elsa. It should be celebrated that he still loves her to literally fight for her. Tommy wouldn’t fight for Elsa, that’s almost certain.” Leo crawled up to Clarence and touched the terrified lion’s paw.
“Clarence, please,” Leo begged, “look at me.” Clarence raised his head, his eyes terrified and bewildered.
“I can’t believe I did that to him Leo,” Clarence whispered, waving a paw at Tommy.
“good thing you did if you ask me,” Tinka said, “Tommy’s a horrid animal! Fancy telling Elsa he wouldn’t be there at the birth of her cubs! How could he!”
“Well I’ll be there,” Clarence replied, “I’ll be there from the start until it’s all over!”
“Brave talk,” Leo said, “but you’re scared of cubbing.”
“Scared I am,” Clarence replied, “but afraid to go through it with Elsa I’m not. I will learn, I will talk to others who have seen it or been through it.”
“I’ll describe Aslan’s birth to you if it will help you Clarence,” Tembi said. Clarence looked at her.
“Thank you,” he replied.
“I’ll help too,” Ellie chimed in.
“You’d re-enact it too if you had the chance,” Clarence said smiling. Ellie grinned.
Elsa hugged Ellie, Tembi and Clarence tightly.
“I know what cubbing’s like,” she said, “I’ve gone through it, but everyone’s help is greatly appreciated.” Clarence hugged Elsa tenderly, her cubs reacting to his presence.
“They seem to react to you,” Elsa laughed. Clarence smiled.
“Let’s wait until they’re born,” he said, “then we will see.” Elsa knew she wanted to ask Clarence something, but how could she word what she wanted to say.
“Clarence,” Elsa said, “about my cubs. Would you help me look after them?” Clarence thought about her words.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” he asked.
“I am sure,” Elsa replied. Clarence looked into her eyes.
“I would be delighted to help,” he said. Elsa tried to throw her paws round Clarence’s neck, but she could only reach so far. Clarence rolled onto his side, took Elsa in his paws and hugged her. Elsa snuggled up to him, working her paws into his fur, stroking his mane, caressing his huge ears and paws. Clarence smiled as he felt her touch.
“Elsa dear,” he purred, “could I do something for you which I’ve been longing to do for a long time now?”
“That depends,” she said airily, knowing he meant her no harm.
“could I stroke your body and paws?” Clarence asked. Elsa looked down at her paws, they were tiny compared to Clarence’s.
“There’s not much to stroke in the paw department,” she said, “my paws are tiny!”
“I used to stroke them,” Clarence said, “then they were as small as they are now.” Elsa agreed.
“I’d love it,” she said, “please Clarence.” Clarence waited until Elsa lay down, then he began to work on her, starting by massaging her head and ears, then her neck, then her back and legs, then her belly and paws. Clarence took extra care over Elsa’s belly and paws. Stroking her belly ever so gently, her paws also. Elsa curled her toes, catching hold of Clarence’s and holding the pads of his huge paws against her own.
“You like that?” Clarence asked. Elsa, now almost comatose, mewed a reply, but Clarence could hardly hear it.
“it’s at times like these when things are most relaxed that cubs decide to make their arrival,” Clarence thought, “I hope it doesn’t happen here. If it does, there are many willing paws to help me and Elsa.” Clarence gently touched Elsa’s belly, feeling her cubs kick at his pads as he touched her.
“They do seem to be reacting to me,” he thought, “I’m looking forward to meeting them for real.
The birth of Elsa’s cubs and what happened next.
The time for Elsa’s cubs to be born drew near. Throughout everything, Clarence was never far from her, for which Elsa was more grateful than she could put into words. Clarence asked a lot of questions of Ellie, Theo and Tembi about cubbing and related subjects, so he was as clued up as he could be so he could do his duty when the time came. Unlike Tembi, Elsa’s cubs were no secret, so she was able to spend time choosing a place to have her cubs. She wanted a place that was warm, secure and had soft bedding so she could have her cubs in as much comfort as possible. Elsa knew that the bedding would have to be a rug of some kind, one that didn’t give off fibres when a paw was dragged across it. This was important so her cubs didn’t breathe in the fibres from the rug. Elsa also wanted a strong rug, so she could dig her paws into it during her labour without ripping it. Having settled on a place, a secluded alcove in the spare room of the house where no animal went, Clarence and Elsa furnished it with a rug. Clarence and Elsa settled down there, spending most of their time there to get used to the cubbing den. Clarence knew Elsa was nervous, for he could feel it in her paws as he stroked them. Clarence tried to reassure his mate about the birth of the cubs, but he knew his words sounded empty, for Elsa must realise he was as nervous as she was.
Elsa’s labour started one cold night. She was downstairs, chatting with Leo when the first contractions came. Elsa knew she had time, or she thought she did. Suddenly she felt an irresistible urge to push against her cub!
“This shouldn’t be happening yet!” She yelled, “I want to push against my cub! It’s too early for this!” Elsa, despite her protests, knew she had to do what her body demanded of her, and, squatting on her haunches, pressed down against her cub. Leo, realising what was happening, covered his mouth with his paw, breathing deeply, as he thought he was going to be sick with fear. Elsa moaned and panted, her labour progressing faster than she’d anticipated. After the initial urge to push against her cub, Elsa was able to lie down on her side before another pain gripped her. Clarence was by her side in an instant, and when Leo saw him, he leapt to his paws and ran for the garden.
“Labour wasn’t meant to be like this!” Elsa sobbed, giving herself up to another urge to press down against her cub, “it’s too quick!” Clarence was worried, he’d heard fast labours could mean problems with the cubs, but then they could also mean the body knew what it was doing and just got on with it.
“Can you get upstairs?” Clarence asked.
“I don’t know!” Elsa mewed. Now all the animals were crowding round, shouting advice and encouragement. Clarence yelled at them all to:
“Shut up and give us some room!” The animals fell back, Elsa hardly noticing them. She was fighting to bring her cubs into the world when she was ready, not when they were, and losing the fight. Whimpering with fear and pain, Elsa braced her paws and heaved! Clarence watched as the tiny forepaws and head of a lion cub emerged. Now he felt no fear, for what was the use of it. Elsa was frightened enough as it was, and Clarence knew that his fear would only make things worse. Elsa bore down against her cub once more, and it slid into the outside world. Clarence stroked Elsa’s paws as she delivered a second cub, gripping his paws with hers, crushing them as best she could when her pain got too much. Clarence didn’t mind, for the pain he was suffering was nothing to Elsa’s.
“We’re not going to make it upstairs now!” Elsa mewed.
“Don’t worry about that,” Clarence said gently, “just concentrate on having your cub. Elsa bore down against her cub for the last time, feeling her pain ease as the cub slid free. She knew two cubs were all there were, and the immediate relief was wonderful. Elsa lay, her body drenched with sweat.
“what’s that!” Someone yelled. Clarence looked round, to see Ellie waving her paw at one of the cubs, which was struggling onto its tiny paws. The cub was white from nose to tail!
“What is it indeed,” Clarence thought. Elsa caught the general drift of the conversation, realised there was something wrong and roused herself, turning to look at her cubs. She at once saw the white cub.
“What have I given birth to!” she yelled.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Clarence said quickly.
“But, my cub, it’s white!” Elsa mewed. The tiny cub staggered over to Elsa and tried to suckle from her milk supply. Elsa growled at the white cub and pushed it away with her paw. The cub, confused, looked at its sibling, who’d got to its paws and staggered towards Elsa in a similar manner. Elsa let this one drink. The white cub tried again to drink, but Elsa snapped at its head, and drove it away. Clarence watched Elsa and her cubs with growing alarm.
“There must be some kind of explanation for this!” He yelled. Tommy looked at the white cub, sniffed at it, then walloped it! The cub flew across the room, smashing into the back of the sofa where Clarence slept. The cub fell onto the seat of the sofa, limp and apparently lifeless.
“Everyone, get out of here!” Clarence yelled. He picked the white cub up in his mouth and carried it upstairs to the spare room, where the prepared cubbing den was. Lying the tiny cub down in the warm rug, which Clarence himself had been lying on when he heard Elsa’s squeal of pain, he lay down beside the cub to protect it, wondering how on earth he was to feed it, for Elsa wouldn’t, or would she? Miserably, Clarence examined the cub, who snuggled up to him as it felt his touch. The cub had tightly shut eyes, normal pigment of lips and paw pads, but its fur was white. It was white from the tips of it’s ears to the soles of its paws. Clarence gulped hard, realising this cub wouldn’t have long to live if he didn’t do something soon.
“I can’t let it die,” he thought. Clarence got to his paws, picking the tiny cub up in his mouth, feeling it relax as all cubs do when being carried. His vision blurred by tears, Clarence made his way to the door onto the landing. He was about to leave when Elsa arrived, brushing past him. She was carrying her other cub, the one with the regular markings. Clarence put the white cub down gently on the carpet and turned to his mate.
“Don’t even ask,” she said, “The answer is no.” Clarence opened his mouth to protest, but Elsa waved her paw at him.
“Drown it,” she said, It’s bad enough having Tommy’s cubs, but having a white cub too? I can’t cope with that!”
“but you asked me to look after them,” Clarence mewed, “it’s not this cub’s fault it was born white!” Elsa looked with distaste at the white cub.
“Take it away!” She yelled, “I don’t want it!” Clarence, leaden pawed, picked up the tiny bundle of fur in his mouth and carried it downstairs. Tigger heard his friend’s scuffing paws, and felt Clarence’s mood.
“Let me hold the tiny cub Clarence,” Tigger said. Clarence was about to refuse, when he realised that his and Tigger’s love might be the only thing this cub knew before it starved to death. He placed the tiny cub in Tigger’s paws, the blind tiger embracing the tiny white form tenderly. Tigger felt the tiny cub lick his paw, trying to find milk.
“Poor thing,” Tigger mewed. Clarence looked down at the tiny cub, wondering how long he had to find a solution to the problem of food before it was too late.
“Can anyone help? Please!” Clarence sobbed. The other animals, tigers, bears, otters and leopards all looked at each other. Aslan, Tembi’s tiny blind cub crawled over to Tigger and stroked the white lion cub’s paw with his.
“Mum’s still got some milk,” he said to Clarence, “now if I forgo half what I drink, then this little cub can have some too.” Clarence stared at Aslan.
“You’d have to ask your mum,” he said, “she might not want to give her milk to a cub which isn’t hers.”
“I’m sure she won’t mind,” Aslan said. Tembi spat on the carpet.
“You little rogue!” She yelled, words almost failing her, “How dare you!”
“Tembi,” Theo mewed, “Aslan’s right. It’s not the cub’s fault it was born white. Elsa doesn’t want it, so it will die if we don’t help it. Aslan’s been born a month now, but you still feed him with milk, how about if you fed the white cub too? It wouldn’t be difficult.”
“No, no and no!” Tembi yelled. Theo watched as Aslan crawled over with the tiny white cub. Tembi watched also, as Aslan, as blind as the newborn cub itself, guided it by one paw.
“She’s already been abandoned by her mother,” Aslan said, “you didn’t abandon me, so please, don’t abandon her.” Tembi looked at the white cub, now shivering with cold.
“Go on,” Theo said, “take her in your paws, hug her.” Tembi took the tiny cub in her paws and did just as Theo suggested. Tembi felt the cub snuggle up to her, and her reservations evaporated.
“What was I saying?” She asked, “I don’t know what came over me. Of course I’ll help this cub.” Soon the white cub was drinking thirstily from Tembi’s ample milk supply.
“There will be enough to go round,” Tinka mewed, “there always is in small families of one or two cubs.” Tembi knew this.
“Thank you mum,” Aslan said. Tembi hugged her older cub.
“You were right to ask,” she said, “I was wrong to refuse.” Aslan felt no triumph, just relief he’d not had to witness the preventable death of a cub.
“She’s got white fur from nose to tail,” Theo said to Aslan, “she’s beautiful!”
“Her fur felt soft and warm when I touched her,” Aslan said. Theo extended a large paw and touched the white cub’s tiny one.
“How could Elsa abandon you little one?” he asked.
Clarence watched everything, relieved someone had found milk for the tiny white cub. The full enormity of what Aslan had forced Tembi to do hadn’t hit home yet.
“Aslan saved that cub’s life Clarence,” Tigger mewed.
“What?” Clarence asked.
“Didn’t you hear what he asked Tembi to do? He asked her to let the white cub drink from her milk supply. She was reluctant, but he told her that the cub had been abandoned by her birth mother, and it would be a crime to let her suffer needlessly. So now Tembi’s letting the cub drink milk.” Clarence looked at Tembi, who smiled. Having the white cub snuggled up to her, purring contentedly felt very good indeed!
“this cub’s mine now,” she mewed. Clarence ran to Tembi and hugged her, then threw his paws around Aslan, almost crushing the cub in his embrace.
“You saved that cub!” Clarence sobbed. Tembi and Aslan smiled, Tembi kicking herself for initially refusing to help the white cub.
Elsa padded in, saw her white cub snuggled close to Theo, and realised what he and Tembi had done.
“You, you horrid creatures!” Elsa yelled, “how dare you give a home to that, that freak of nature!”
“It’s not her fault she was born white,” Aslan said, “if you’re talking of freaks of nature, then why not have a go at me too? I’m not meant in the normal course of things to survive as long as I have, but I have. I will not have you talking of this cub like that! She’s beautiful from her ears to her paws!”
“How do you know she’s beautiful!” Elsa yelled, “you can’t see her!”
“I felt her fur, I felt her paws, and she’s beautiful inside that white fur,” Aslan said, “I’ve been told she’s white from ears to paws. Theo seemed to like what he saw anyway.” Elsa spat at Aslan.
“You are impossible!” She yelled, “I gave birth to that cub only three hours ago, and I want it dead!”
“You don’t own this cub,” Aslan said, “she’s not your property. Her life is not yours to throw away.” Elsa clenched her teeth, trying to suppress an urge to kill Aslan!
“You mark my words,” she said, “that cub’s no good!”
“I don’t think her condition is life threatening,” Kalahari said, “I think it’s a gene Tommy carried which has transmitted to one of his cubs.”
“And what would you know about this!” Elsa yelled.
“The condition is called leucism, Kalahari replied, “it’s caused by a recessive gene which causes loss of white pigment in the skin and fur. it’s non lethal, just a bit of a pest when summer comes. Cubs who have this are not albino, as their lips and paws have pigment, their eyes do too. It’s said your cub will have golden yellow or blue eyes when they open.” Elsa was frightened.
“This cub’s a genetic misfit!” She yelled.
“Join the club,” Snowy mewed.
“that’s horrible!” Clarence snapped, angry at snowy for cracking a joke about such a serious subject.”
“There’s nothing wrong with white animals,” Salty mewed, “and snowy, you’re not a genetic misfit, nor is our newest arrival.”
“I think she is!” Elsa yelled.
“Let’s all settle down,” Kalahari suggested, “let’s all see what happens shall we? The white cub is no problem to any of us, none at all. Let her live, let her play like any other cub.” Elsa knew she was outvoted, and stormed upstairs to tend to her other cub. Leo padded back into the living room, looking decidedly unwell.
“is it over?” he asked. Theo looked at his brother.
“Settle down,” he said, “there’s quite a tale to tell.” When Theo finished telling the tale of the birth of Elsa’s cubs and what happened next, Leo was crying.
“that poor white cub,” he sobbed.
“she’s all right now,” Theo said, “she’s safe.”
“You rescued her?” Leo asked. For in truth, he’d been so upset by Elsa’s rejection of her cub that he’d taken little notice of anything Theo had said after that.
“I told you, Tembi’s feeding her, and Aslan’s adopted her as his sister.” Leo looked through his tears at the white cub snuggled up to Aslan, who was stroking her paws.
1 “she’s, so, so beautiful!” Leo mewed.
The power of the bath.
Aslan and the yet unnamed white female lion cub settled down curled together. Theo and Tembi watched them, marvelling at how Aslan had warmed to the white cub. He lay curled round her, one of her tiny forepaws held firmly in both of his. The female cub snuggled as close to Aslan as she could, burying her free paw in his mane. Aslan purred as he felt the white cub’s paw working into his mane.
“Are you all right my pet?” Aslan purred. The white female cub buried her face in Aslan’s fur.
“I’m okay now,” she mewed, “I’m fed, warm and safe.” Aslan felt the white cub’s tongue licking his ear. He smiled, embracing her tenderly.
“You can sleep easily tonight,” Aslan whispered, “I promise you that.” The white cub wiggled the toes of the paw Aslan held, making the male lion cub smile.
“Go to sleep little’n,” he yawned.
“I don’t want to,” the cub mewed, “I’d rather stay awake, that way I don’t miss a minute with you.” Her words made Aslan want to cry. He realised every minute with this cub was precious, for she nearly didn’t make it. Aslan embraced the white cub tenderly.
“You need to sleep little one,” he mewed. The white female lion cub touched Aslan’s nose with one tiny paw. Aslan wanted to tell her to take her paw away, as he didn’t like anyone touching his face, but something stopped him. The tiny cub examined Aslan’s ears, closed eyes, nose and mouth with her paw, Aslan sneezing as the fur of her paw touched his nose. The white cub laughed merrily.
“You are so funny,” she mewed. Aslan licked her paw, the cub smiling at him, though he couldn’t see it.
“Anyone for a bath?” Tigger asked. This call always came around sundown, and many animals looked forward to it, for Tigger was famous for his massages. The white cub, hearing this, was curious.
“Come on Aslan, let’s try this,” she said, eager to try anything new. Aslan hesitated, he’d never had one of Tigger’s so called baths before, though he’d heard of them.
“You can, but I’m not going to,” he said. Then he realised he’d have to have a bath, for if the white cub was going to have one, he’d have to go with her, just in case anything happened, and she obviously wanted him close by her at all times.
“Oh, all right,” he said gruffly. Making their way to the bathroom, they passed Tigger who smiled as he caught the scent of the two cubs who’d accepted his invitation.
“Aslan and the little white female lion cub,” he purred. Aslan mumbled something under his breath, which Tigger heard.
“You need not be frightened,” Tigger replied. Aslan felt the heat of the water hit him as he entered the bathroom. The white cub was full of questions.
“What’s going to happen?” She asked.
“Well,” Tigger replied, “in front of you is a bathtub, I will help you into it, then you can swim about a bit. The water’s not deep, so you won’t be in any danger. I’ll be here all the time. Aslan got in first, the warm water caressing his paws. Tigger turned something on the side of the bath, and the water came to life! Aslan felt his paws getting the most wonderful massage they’d ever had! In fact his whole body was getting it! Aslan, despite his aversion to getting his face wet, plunged his head beneath the water to see what it felt like. The water roared in his ears, and it was very strange. Aslan suddenly squealed with fear! Something was hurting his eyes! A bright thing, too bright! Aslan closed his eyes, hardly realising what he’d done. Darkness returned. Tigger pulled Aslan out of the water, anxious the cub had been injured.
“Are you all right?” Tigger asked. Aslan mewed something about pain in his eyes.
“What?” Tembi demanded, having bounded in when she heard Aslan’s scream.
“My eyes,” Aslan mewed, something’s happened to them!” Involuntarily, Aslan relaxed, his eyes opening naturally. He found the new world not as scary as he had before. He couldn’t understand what he was seeing, but he was, there was no doubt about that! Aslan reached out and touched Tembi’s paw, identifying her. He then looked at her.
“You’re my mum,” he said. Tembi then realised what the cub was doing.
“You can see me Aslan?” She asked. Aslan hesitated:
“I think so,” he said, “your paw feels like my mum’s, and your scent tells me who you are, so, well, yes, I suppose I am looking at you.” Tembi threw her paws round Aslan and hugged him, weeping into his fur.
“How did this happen?” she asked.
“Aslan’s eyes were gummed shut by the mucus and stuff which protects them in the first few weeks of life,” Tigger replied, “his eyes were never washed as he didn’t like having his face touched or getting it wet. When he felt the massage of the water though, he tried ducking his head beneath the water, and bang! What did he get? All the washes his face ever wanted in one go. Now he can see properly. Tigger placed his paw gently over Aslan’s left eye, the cub instinctively raising his own paw to remove Tigger’s.
“There,” Tigger said, “my paw wasn’t touching Aslan, but he saw it and wanted to remove it. Tembi was speechless with excitement!
“so who have we here?” Aslan asked, curiosity overcoming fear.
“Feel our paws first,” Tigger replied. Aslan got the Tiger’s drift. Tigger gave Aslan his left forepaw.
“I’d say this was Tigger’s paw,” he said. Tigger grinned.
“It is,” he mewed. Aslan threw his paws round the tiger’s neck, hugging him. Tigger purred contentedly.
“Now for the other cub here,” Aslan said, taking the white cub’s paw.
“I know you,” he said, “you’re the tiny white cub whom my mum’s adopted. The white cub smiled.
“I am,” she mewed.
“So, I take white to mean what your fur is,” Aslan said, touching her shoulder. The cub nodded:
“I suppose it is,” she said. Aslan turned the white cub’s paw over and looked at it.
“I can feel your pads,” Aslan said, “and, if Theo said correctly, your pads were black? So this is what black is.” The white cub curled her toes round Aslan’s.
“You are looking at her paw,” Tembi said. Aslan dropped the cub’s paw and looked at Tembi.
“This is going to be very weird,” he said, “I’m going to have to touch you, and you will have to explain what I’m seeing as I touch you. That way I will learn what I’m seeing. Tembi smiled.
“This is so wonderful!” She whooped. Theo ran in then.
“What the hell’s going on!” he demanded. Aslan, catching the scent of his sire, looked at Theo. Theo nearly fell over when he realised his cub was looking at him!
“That’s what’s going on,” Tembi replied. Theo’s eyes filled with tears.
“This is a miracle!” He choked.
“Not really,” Tigger mewed.
“Oh shut it!” Theo snapped, “I don’t want any of your scientific rubbish!”
“But it’s no miracle,” Tigger persisted, “Aslan’s just experiencing what most cubs do when their eyes open for the first time.”
“Tigger said Aslan never washed his face,” the white cub mewed, “he’s a dirty cub!” Aslan could tell she was only half serious, “the water washed his face, and his eyes opened like they were meant to.”
“All right, it’s not a miracle,” Theo mewed, “but it’s wonderful all the same!
“I’m wondering if when I get into the water,” the white cub said, “the same won’t happen to me.”
“Not yet little one,” Tigger said, “your eyes aren’t ready yet.” Aslan went to Theo and took his paw, just to confirm who he was.
“Hello Theo,” Aslan said. Theo threw his paws round his cub, hugging him tightly.
“There’re those whiskers that tickle me,” Aslan mewed. Aslan tickled the pads of Theo’s right forepaw with the toes of his left, Theo laughing helplessly.
“There are those ticklish paws too,” Aslan laughed. Theo licked his cub’s ear and rubbed noses with him.
“You young rogue!” Theo laughed, embracing his cub.
Aslan guided the white female lion cub into the bath, the water massaging their paws as they entered. Aslan and the white cub played together, each enthusiastically splashing the other.
“Those two are inseparable,” Tigger mewed. Tembi touched Tigger’s paw.
“I wish you could see them,” she said, “for they look so happy.” Tigger suddenly looked very sad.
“I wish I could too,” he said, “but that won’t happen. There’s no cure for me.” Tembi and Theo’s elation was suddenly tempered with sadness for Tigger. The tiger had said he was at peace with his disability, but the truth, as they now saw, was anything but peaceful.
“I’m glad for your cub Theo, Tembi, and I will be glad for the white cub when her eyes open and she can see the world. For me though, there’s nothing to see any more, and never will be.” Tigger was always so cheerful and ready to roll onto his back and play with the cubs, that rarely did anyone give a thought to what went on in the mind of the large Bengal tiger. Tigger listened to Aslan and the white lion cub’s play. Shaking himself, and sighing regretfully, he rested his forepaws on the rim of the bathtub, resting his chin on them and closing his eyes. Tigger stayed like this for several minutes, his mood affecting everyone, including the two cubs playing in the warm water. Aslan and the white cub stopped their play, turning towards Tigger. They placed their damp forepaws on Tigger’s, Aslan’s paws on Tigger’s left forepaw, and the white cub’s on his right, then lowered their heads until their whiskers touched the Bengal tiger’s nose. Aslan, who’d known Tigger’s world, but now knew the world of the sighted, felt the tiger’s mood more keenly than any other animal in that small room. the white cub’s mood was affected by Aslan’s, though she knew that one day she would see all her friend could. Tigger felt the cub’s paws and whiskers on his, and their presence comforted him.
“Thank you both,” Tigger mewed. Tigger began to cry, his tears splashing into the water.
“What’s wrong Tigger?” the white cub asked.
“I’ll be all right in a minute,” Tigger sniffed. Aslan knew what was upsetting the Bengal tiger, but dared not put it into words.
“Are you unwell?” The white cub asked. Tigger sniffed, fiercely gripping the rim of the tub with both paws.
“Not unwell,” Tigger sobbed, “just very sad.” Tembi felt dreadful.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” she mewed, “for all I’ve done is upset you Tigger.” Tigger took a deep breath.
“You only put into words that which I wish for every day,” he said, “no, your words made me think of something witch I suppress deep inside, or maybe not so deep inside.”
“We will do anything to help you Tigger,” the white cub said. At her words, Aslan tried to turn a sob into a cough, but it didn’t fool Tigger.
“come here Aslan,” Tigger said. The white cub withdrew a little, knowing Tigger wanted Aslan directly in front of him.
“Listen to me Aslan my friend,” Tigger mewed, “We both know the dark place and that of light, and I know you are entering the place of light, a place in which I have been, but will never be again. It is a rich place, a wonderful place too, and I want you to take everything it has to offer with both paws and embrace it. Will you do this for me? Look around you little cub, see everything you can see, enjoy and love the world you see, and when your white friend comes to see her surroundings, tell her what I say.” Aslan tried not to cry, but he felt his eyes grow wet with tears, and his whole body fill with sadness for Tigger. Throwing his paws round Tigger’s neck, Aslan wept into the tiger’s fur, Tigger letting him cry.
When Aslan’s tears dried, Tigger took his tiny paw in his and stroked it.
“go now Aslan,” Tigger said, “and do what I asked of you.” Aslan looked at Tigger:
“I will Tigger, I will,” he replied.
“Come,” Aslan said to the white female lion cub, “let’s go from here.”
The two cubs made their way back to the living room, their hearts as heavy as lead.
“Where the hell have you two been?” Tarker asked.
“It’s a long story,” Aslan replied, looking Tarker in the face. Tarker suddenly realised what he was seeing.
“Aslan!” he mewed, “you, you’re looking at me!”
“yes,” Aslan replied, “I had My eyes opened by a bath time massage.”
“This is wonderful!” Tarker mewed.
“It is,” Aslan said, “I think.”
“What do you mean you think it is wonderful?” Tarker enquired, “it’s amazing you can see when we thought you’d never be able to. Stop complaining!”
“I’m not,” Aslan replied, “it’s, well, just that Tigger can’t see what I can now.”
“Oh him,” Tarker said, “he’s old and silly! He’s losing his sight because he’s getting on a bit.”
“He’s not old,” Aslan mewed, “he’s only two years old! He’s not meant to lose his sight, not yet!”
“You’re upset because of something that’s happening to him, which you have no control over, and won’t affect you?” Tarker spat, “that’s silly, as silly as Tigger is!”
“It’s called being concerned about other animals Tarker, and I’m sorry that you seem not to be!” Aslan sobbed, greatly upset by Tarker’s words.
“Let Tigger do his own thing and you do yours,” Tarker snapped, “it’s not your business to be medalling in his life. He’s the past, we’re the future. Let him grow old and die. We don’t need him!”
“You might not need him,” Aslan sobbed, his breath coming in short gasps, “but I do, I like him!” Aslan focused on Tarker, and ran at the otter cub! When he judged he was within pouncing range, Aslan extended his claws and sprang!
A set of huge paws caught Aslan in mid air, bringing him down to the carpet and holding him firmly.
“Don’t do it Aslan, it’s not worth it!” someone yelled. Aslan knew to whom the large paws holding him belonged, and screaming, beat upon them with his own tiny ones.
“It is worth it Theo!” Aslan sobbed, “it’s worth it when Tarker’s insulting Tigger! Tigger doesn’t need it, and neither do I! I won’t have it!” Theo Turned Aslan in his paws so the cub was looking into his face.
“Tarker’s not worth it little cub,” Theo said gently.
“but, but Theo, I can’t let Tarker say things like that! It’s wrong, it’s so wrong!” Aslan mewed.
“I know Aslan my cub, I know,” Theo said softly, “but sometimes we need to let those things go over our heads. You are right to feel for Tigger. You are right to get angry at Tarker for what he says about him, but you must realise this. We cannot do anything to help those like Tarker. He is poisoned in his mind Aslan. By what he is poisoned I don’t know, but he is, and nothing we can do will change that. Springing on him and tearing his throat out would have solved nothing.”
“It would have stopped him saying dreadful things!” Aslan sniffed.
“I know, I know,” Theo replied, “but taking your claws to him isn’t the way to solve the problem.”
“I know what Tigger’s going through,” Aslan sobbed, “and it’s horrible!” Aslan paused, Theo Feeling the cub’s emotions rising, suddenly they burst from him!
“,If, if I could tear Tarker’s eyes out I would! Just to show him!” Aslan yelled, his body vibrating with anger.
“don’t ever let me hear you talking like that again Aslan!” Theo shouted. Aslan buried his face in Theo’s shoulder, crying pitifully. Theo knew Aslan’s words were born of anger, not malice.
“I know it’s hard little cub,” Theo mewed.
“No Theo, fortunately you don’t’ know,” Aslan sobbed, “What Tarker says is horrible, what he makes light of is horrible! I’d wish noone to go through what Tigger’s going through. It’s too much to hear some jumped up cub talking about things of which he knows nothing. I know Tigger’s made a life for himself after he lost his sight, but that’s not the point! We’re not discussing that!” Theo held his sobbing cub tightly.
“come home little cub,” Theo mewed. Aslan let himself be carried back to the rug on which he, the white cub and his parents lived.
Once there, Aslan found his younger sister, the so called white cub, lying on the rug. When she sensed Aslan’s presence, she rolled over and took him in her tiny paws in an attempt to hug him. Aslan threw his paws around her and held her close.
“Now we have had our baths, we can sleep,” the white cub said.
“Not me,” Aslan mewed, “I can’t sleep, not after what’s happened tonight.”
“We’ll both stay up then,” the white cub said, “for if you can’t sleep, then I won’t either.”
“But you must,” Tembi yawned, “both of you.”
“but mum,” both cubs said in unison. Tembi couldn’t decide whether to laugh or be angry.
“Go to sleep,” she said, “or you’ll be fractious and bad tempered in the morning.”
“What did mum say?” the white cub asked Aslan.
“Mum used a word that I’ve never heard before,” Aslan replied. “Let’s talk to Kalahari about it in the morning. That’s if we’re not already, um, fractious of course.” Tembi laughed merrily at her cub’s attempts to work out the meaning of the words she used.
“I’ll tell you what fractious means in the morning,” she said.
When morning came, Aslan and the white cub were surprised to find they’d slept well. Of course, they were eager to ask Kalahari what veracious meant. The meerkat, frustrated at being woken at such an early hour, but amused by the two cub’s enthusiasm for the word fractious, told them what it meant.
“Kalahari intoned, “the dictionary definition of fractious is, either stubbornly resistant to authority or control, or, easily irritated or annoyed, or, unpredictably difficult in operation; likely to be troublesome.. If you are either of those three, you’ll be frustrating to either me or your poor mum, so go to sleep both of you.” Aslan and the white cub laughed merrily at the meerkat’s words.
“Thanks Kalahari,” Aslan said. The meerkat smiled at the male lion cub.
Big trouble!
Aslan woke in the late morning. Feeling someone large lying beside him, he opened his eyes to find Tigger lying on the carpet. The tiger had obviously wanted to settle down to sleep in the living room rather than in his usual place. Seeing Tigger brought back the memory of the tiger’s tears as Tigger realised what he’d miss out on. Aslan touched Tigger’s huge right forepaw, the tiger stirring and turning his head towards him.
“Aslan?” Tigger asked.
“yes Tigger,” Aslan replied, “It’s me my friend.” Tigger couldn’t see anything any more, no light, no shadows, nothing. He felt Aslan’s paw take hold of his and begin to stroke it.
“I’m grateful to you Tigger,” Aslan said. Tigger gulped hard:
“I did nothing,” the tiger choked, “I was the weak one yesterday.”
“No Tigger,” Aslan replied, “you weren’t weak at all. You have a right to cry, for you have lost much.”
“I shouldn’t have shown my feelings in front of you cubs though,” Tigger mewed, “it’s not right, not right at all.”
“Nonsense Tiggie,” Aslan said, “you do so much for us, and we rarely think of what losing your sight meant for you personally.” Tigger began to cry, his tears splashing onto the carpet.
“What did I say?” Aslan asked.
“It’s nothing, nothing,” Tigger sobbed.
“But I must have said something really bad to upset you so much,” Aslan said, feeling dreadful.
“No, not really,” Tigger sniffed, “it’s, it’s me being a silly old tiger, that’s all.”
“No you’re not,” Aslan replied, “what’s wrong? What did I say?”
“You don’t know the full story of my life,” Tigger said, “it wasn’t just me having lost my sight which caused me to lose it yesterday, there was, was something else! It was something Tembi said, about you cubs playing in the water. It made me think of my own cubs.”
“You had cubs?” Aslan asked, “but you’re only two or three years old aren’t you?”
“No, nearer five,” Tigger said, “and yes I had cubs, a mate too. They’re all dead now. Dead, because, because I couldn’t save them! Hunters came one day, and we fled for our lives. My mate was shot, I heard that. The hunters then went for my cubs, and I couldn’t help them. You know why that was?” Aslan knew well enough, and it made him feel sick.
“You couldn’t see enough to rescue them,” he said softly. Tigger whimpered with misery, a sound of pure pain.
“I’m sorry,” Aslan said, “Tigger, there’s one more thing, why did you get all upset when I called you Tiggie, for that’s the only thing I can think of that I said differently.”
“can’t you guess,” Tigger sniffed.
“Tiggie was what your mate and cubs used to call you?” Aslan asked, “a kind of pet name they had for you?” Tigger nodded.
“It gets me every time,” Tigger sobbed.
“I won’t call you Tiggie again,” Aslan said gently. Tigger sniffed and rubbed his eyes with clenched paws.
“I don’t mind,” he sniffed, “I quite like it, it just makes me remember sometimes, the way, that, that,,,”
“I’m sorry,” Aslan mewed, “I’ll never call you Tiggie again, I promise.
“I’m not making much sense,” Tigger said, “I’m sounding silly!”
“no Tigger you’re not,” Aslan replied.
“I’m a silly old tiger who hangs onto the past with both paws,” Tigger sobbed. Aslan hugged Tigger tightly, the tiger letting the lion cub hug him for as long as he wished. Tigger held the lion cub with both paws, releasing him when Aslan moved away slightly. Tigger felt isolated, and Aslan knew it.
“Isn’t there anything we can do to help?” He asked. Tigger shook his head.
“I wish there was,” he replied, “I can’t seem to get on with anyone other than when I’m working. Then it’s all massage and that’s all well and good n’all, but when it’s over, it’s over, and I’m alone again. Getting a mate is out of the question, because whenever I stroke the paws of other animals they seem to get upset, as if I will run off with every animal who’s paws I stroke, no matter who they are. That’s just madness!”
“So you’re lonely?” Aslan asked, feeling his question to be rather a silly one.
“Yes, I suppose I am,” Tigger replied, “my mates have all died or left me, and now I don’t know why I bother looking for another mate, as they’ll only object to my line of work. What other job could I do? My jobs need to be paws on, for how else am I going to work?”
“I understand better than most Tigger,” Aslan replied.
“I know you do little cub, I know,” Tigger mewed, “and ordinarily I wouldn’t go on about it like this, but these last few days, it’s hit home to me how my life’s changed. I can’t touch another animal without people getting the wrong idea!”
“I know what they’re catching on to,” Aslan said, “you’re too personal with everyone, as if their massage is the only thing which matters to you. Some animals don’t like it, they want to be bathed and go, not to have an all over body massage. All right, a proper bath necessitates it, but I think they feel something in your touch which frightens them.”
“How can I frighten anyone!” Tigger mewed, now very upset, “I mean them no harm!”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that,” Aslan replied, “There’s something in your touch, something which frightens them beyond reason. It’s as if your paws are exploring their inner being, as if you can tell things by just touching their paws.”
“Well, I can,” Tigger replied, “I can tell if they’re nervous, anxious, relaxed of mind, tense, frightened, all that, and more. I can often tell, if a female is in cub that is, whether the cubs are stressed or not.”
“I was certainly stressed when I was born,” Aslan mewed, I got my paws wet the second I was born! It was horrible!”
“I know,” Tigger mewed, “I was there, not that Theo or Tembi knew it. I listened to everything, just in case your mum needed help.” Aslan stared at Tigger.
“do mum and Theo know about this?” He asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Tigger mewed, “you see, I knew Tembi was in cub, I could feel it. She was nervous, jumpy, hiding something. Of course, I’m not going to crawl up to her and ask her straight out if she’s in cub, because that’s not my way. When she ran for the back door, I disappeared out the front, crawled round to the side gate into the wood and through that to the track into the garden, I hid in a thicket there, and waited. Tembi gave birth to you on the track, her labour too advanced for her to walk any further. She lay down and had you on the track, with Theo helping you into the world by pulling when Tembi pushed. Tembi wasn’t very strong you see, and if Theo hadn’t helped her, you might not be here now. You were a big cub Aslan, and she had difficulty giving birth to you.”
“Mum never told me this,” Aslan mewed.
“She won’t, not until you’re older anyway,” Tigger replied.
“It’s all true Aslan dear,” Tembi said, crawling up to her cub, “you were a big cub, and I had a hard job birthing you. Theo did what he could, but I was exhausted and very weak by the time you were born. As for Tigger listening in, I don’t know if I’m angry or not. Why Tigger? Why did you do it?”
“I was concerned,” Tigger mewed.
“Well, next time, take your concern somewhere else!” Tembi yelled, smacking Tigger across the mouth with her paw! Tigger whimpered with pain.
“do you know anything about how to care for a lioness in labour?” Tembi asked crossly, hoping to trip Tigger up.
“I know a little,” Tigger replied, “about as much as Theo knew when he helped you. I know how to pull a cub who’s stuck or to deliver a breach cub if that’s what you mean. I also know about massage and how that can help. So what more do you want?”
“All right, all right!” Tembi snapped, “it’s just that, well, we wanted it to be private, and I now find that it wasn’t.”
“Aslan was your first cub!” Tigger mewed, “what if anything dreadful had happened, Theo would have had to go for help, and where would you be then?” Tembi knew the tiger was right.
“How long before Aslan was born did you know I was in cub?” Tembi asked Tigger.
“about three weeks before his birth,” Tigger replied, “ever since you came to me for that paw massage. I felt tension within you, a secret you were desperately keeping under wraps, and that could only mean one thing.” Tembi stamped her paw in anger!
“All right you stripy overgrown mind reader, what can you tell by stroking my paw this time!” She angrily thrust her paw at Tigger, who took it.
“You’re not angry with me,” he said, “rather you’re scared of me. Also, you want more cubs.” Tembi stared into Tigger’s sightless eyes.
“there’s no point in pretending,” she said, “no wonder most of the household are terrified of you!” Tembi began to shake from nose to tail!
“Is anything sacred!” She yelled.
“Everything’s safe with me Tembi,” Tigger mewed, “I won’t tell anyone other than yourself. For who, other than you needs to know? You will tell anyone anything you want them to know.” Tembi dug her toes into the carpet.
“No wonder you don’t have a mate!” She yelled, “Tigger, you’re the scariest animal in this place!”
“Now that’s not fair mum!” Aslan yelled.
“Oh it is, it’s fair when you find that some bloody great tiger knew you were in cub just by stroking your paws Aslan! Tigger is dangerous!” Tembi yelled. Aslan watched Tigger crawl away from them, the tiger’s body language telling him he was very upset.
“Look mum,” Aslan said, “leave poor Tigger alone!”
“You reduced that tiger to tears yourself Aslan, so don’t give me the innocent cub look!” Tembi snapped.
“I said something to him which triggered off memories of his former mate and cubs, that’s all I did, and I apologised,” Aslan replied.
“Tigger’s weird Aslan, I don’t want you associating with him, and I’ll tell Theo this too!” Tembi exploded.
“Tigger’s not strange,” Theo said, “he’s intuitive, switched on and a very clever and knowledgeable tiger.”
“I’ll bet you’ve had your paws stroked by that striped misfit!” Tembi yelled, “what has he told you?”
“He’s told me many things about my early life, helping me cope,” Theo said, “I’ve had my paws stroked by Tigger, and it was very pleasurable indeed.” Tembi rounded on her mate, walloping him with all her force! Theo whimpered as if he’d been injured, which he felt he had. He’d never been hit by his mate before, and the fact of Tembi walloping him hurt more than did the physical blow.
“Tigger’s a sorcerer!” Tembi yelled.
“he’s not! He’s not!” The white cub mewed, jumping up and down with anger, ”he’s a very nice tiger!”
“Shut up!” Tembi snapped, “what would you know anyway, you’re just a cub!” The white cub ran from the room, and they heard her paws scuffing and scrabbling as she fought to negotiate the stairs. Tembi ran after her, but Theo stopped her.
“Let her go,” he said.
“No!” Tembi yelled, “she might drum up support for this, this misfit here!” Tembi ran up to Tigger and belted him across the face with her paw, the tiger screeching with fear and pain and curling into a miserable heap.
“Mum,” Aslan said, “why did you hit Tigger? You know he can’t fight back!”
“That was it I think,” Theo said, “he can’t fight back, so Tembi hits him, just to show him who’s really boss here.” Theo’s voice was calm, but his eyes were sad and angry.
“Why hit a defenceless tiger who’s done you no harm Tembi?” he asked.
“Tigger scares me!” Tembi mewed, “he’s weird!”
Meanwhile, the white cub struggled up the stairs, her face hot with emotion and wet with tears. She didn’t believe for one second Tigger was a sorcerer, whatever one of those was. It sounded bad, and Tigger wasn’t a bad tiger. She wanted to get into the room where Kodiak, the large brown bear lived. he’d been kind to her, and he might know Tigger too, and be able to confirm or change her impressions of the Bengal tiger. Stumbling along the landing, almost tripping over her own paws, the white cub made it to the room where the quilt was.
“I need help!” the poor cub mewed, “or rather Tigger does. Well, we both do. Mum’s trying to get Tigger thrown out of the house because, because he knew she was in cub with Aslan, even though she never told noone!” Stifftail snorted:
“Will these cubs ever learn to speak English properly!” He snapped, “it’s didn’t tell anyone you disgusting white scrap! Not, ?”never told noone!” The cub ignored the snow leopard.
“Can anyone help me and Tigger?” She asked, “mum’s calling him a saucer, whatever one of those is, it sounds bad!”
“I think you mean sorcerer little one,” Kodiak replied, trying not to show how much her little mistake amused him, ”Tigger’s no sorcerer,” Kodiak said, the sound of his voice giving the white cub hope, “he’s just in tune with the inner feelings of animals. I know, he rescued me from the wood. He seemed to me to be a very kind and caring tiger, so I threw my lot in with him, and he was and is very kind and caring. He took me in and washed my face, fur and paws. I’ve never forgotten that. NO little one, Tembi can’t say those things.”
“She hit Tigger too!” the white cub mewed, “Tigger’s curled in a heap on the floor! Before I left, I felt one of his paws, it was hot, and shaking. I don’t think he’s very well.” Kodiak knew what the cub had felt, the beginnings of shock induced by fear.
“Who will help me resolve this!” Kodiak called out to the room in general.
“Tigger’s always been a kind and gentle tiger,” Amber said, “I’ll help.”
“So will me and Blanche,” Whitie said. Stifftail snorted once more.
“More bad English!” he snapped.
“Shut it!” Amber commanded. Arki also joined the growing group of Tigger’s supporters.
They trooped downstairs as one, the tiny white lion cub riding on Amber’s back.
Once downstairs they met Clarence, who’d overpowered Tembi single pawed, or so it seemed. Tembi was shaking in one corner of the room, Tigger in Clarence’s paws, the lion hugging him tenderly.
“I thought it would be a case of fisty paws!” Kodiak said, obviously regretting the loss of the chance to give Tembi a hiding for beating up Tigger.
“No,” Clarence said, stroking Tigger’s back with a forepaw, “Tembi forgot something. She forgot that Tigger saved my sanity when I was caged during my journey here. Now I’ve repaid his kindness in some small measure. I’m sorry my own cub was involved. Tembi should have known better than to hit Tigger. Now it’s all sorted, Tembi knows she’s done wrong, and that she isn’t to infer, or accuse Tigger of being a sorcerer or anything of that sort. She will not trouble him again, leaving him to do his own thing. It’s not his fault he can see into the minds of other animals. That was indeed how he found me, then I was a distressed and confused lion. Tigger picked me up and carried me through everything. Now I get the chance to repay him in some small way for what he did for me.” Theo looked at the white cub.
“You marshalled these animals little one?” He asked.
“I did,” the white cub replied, “I asked them to help Tigger, and they came with me.” Theo didn’t know whether to be proud of his cub for her initiative, or angry at her for running off.
“All’s sorted now though,” Theo said, “now can we get back to something like normality?”
“NO we can’t!” Tembi mewed, “this place isn’t normal, especially with magicians and sorcerers all over the place!”
“don’t talk about Tigger like that!” The white cub mewed, jumping up and down with rage.
“Keep your paws on the floor little white one and stop jumping about like a spoilt cub!” Tembi snapped.
“We haven’t thought of a name for you yet little cub,” Clarence said. The white cub turned an ear in his direction.
“No,” she replied, “I haven’t got a name yet.”
“How about the name Petra,” Tigger suggested.
“Shut your mouth Tigger!” Tembi snapped.
“Right, I’m leaving,” Tigger said, shaking himself free of Clarence’s embrace and crawling towards the back door. Clarence watched him go, knowing it would be futile to try and reason with the Bengal tiger.
“Now look what you’ve done!” Clarence yelled at Tembi, “Tigger’s lost it totally!”
“I don’t care,” Tembi replied, “he can crawl into the woods and die as far as I’m concerned. He’s a misfit, even more of one than Stifftail is. Tigger’s pretending to be nice to us, then when he has us all under his paw, he’ll pick us off one by one. I’m glad he’s gone.”
“I think he’s a nice tiger,” Petra mewed. Clarence crawled to the back window and looked out of it. He could see Tigger’s tail disappearing into the wood. Clarence gripped the window sill with both forepaws, fighting an urge to weep.
“I’m going with him!” Clarence yelled, crawling quickly after Tigger.
Clarence caught up with the Bengal tiger in the wood. Tigger had collapsed onto the track, sobbing bitterly. Tigger hardly noticed Clarence’s arrival. He only registered the lion’s presence when Clarence took his paw and began to stroke it. Tigger clung to Clarence’s paw with the strength of desperation.
“I’m not going back there Clarence,” Tigger sobbed, “never ever again! They don’t want me. Aslan will do well with Theo helping him, so will Petra. I’m no use to anyone any more. I’m branded a sorcerer and a misfit because I can see into the minds of animals. That’s just what I do. Maybe I shouldn’t have listened during Aslan’s birth, maybe I should have let things take whatever course they might have taken, but I couldn’t! With the knowledge I had of how large Aslan was, and how difficult the birth could be for Tembi, I couldn’t let her and Theo face that alone!”
“You are the best of tigers Tigger,” Clarence said, “and the best of friends too. You were right to listen in, to make sure everything was okay. Tembi’s just frightened of you because she doesn’t understand you.”
“The worst of it is,” Tigger sniffed, “she won’t make the effort to understand me. All I wanted to do was help her Clarence!”
“I know that, and so do Theo and Aslan,” Clarence replied, “but you won’t convince Tembi of that.”
“I’m leaving here,” Tigger sniffed, “I don’t want anything to do with that house any more.”
“If you must go,” Clarence said, “I won’t stop you Tigger. What I will ask is that you let me come with you if you’re bent on leaving.” Tigger sighed deeply.
“I don’t want anyone to know where I’m going,” he said, “I want to disappear forever.” Clarence looked into the tiger’s face.
“Where would you run to?” he asked.
“Away, to a place where noone knows me, where I can disappear into oblivion. My life is crap Clarence,” Tigger said, “I have no home, no security any more. You’re the only real friend I have left in the whole world, and I can’t let you come with me. You need to look after Petra. It’s over for me here Clarence.” Clarence looked into Tigger’s eyes. The tiger was close to breaking point.
“I’ll go,” Clarence said, “but Tigger, I’ll never forget what you did for me all those years ago. I can’t help now, much as I’d like to, as I can’t convince Tembi to let you have another chance. She could just leave you alone, but she won’t, she’s my cub and I know her too well. If she hates someone, she’ll let them know until they run away.” Tigger mewed with misery, the sound tearing at Clarence.
“I’m coming with you,” the lion sobbed, “I don’t care what you say Tigger, I’m with you.” Tigger held Clarence’s paw in his, gripping it tightly.
“You are the truest and best friend I’ve ever had,” Tigger said, “If you will come with me Clarence, then I’d be glad of your company.” Clarence hugged Tigger tightly, the Tiger sobbing into his fur.
“Let’s go from here,” Clarence said, “we need to get away quickly.” The two friends crawled along the track, their paws soon covered in mud and leaves. Soon they reached the road, and paralleled it until they reached a place where they could cross. Crossing the road as quickly as a soft toy tiger and lion can, they made their way into the nearby town.
Clarence’s and Tigger’s paws quickly became sore, as they weren’t used to walking on hard ground. The two big cats became more and more miserable as their journey continued. In the early afternoon, it began to rain. Soon wet through, the two friends made their way into a dark alleyway where Clarence saw an awning under which to shelter from the weather.
Meanwhile, back in the house, the realisation that Clarence had left with Tigger was sinking in. Elsa was furious with him for leaving her and their cubs, branding Clarence a deserter. Leo was immensely sad, trying not to cry when he heard of the goings on earlier that day. He and snowy had been out of the house in conference with the local representatives of the woodlanders. Tib had spoken for the feral cats, as she still had connections in that community. The conference had gone well, though it overran by an hour or so. This meant that when snowy and Leo returned, Clarence and Tigger were long gone, the drama was long over with.
“So you say that Tembi insulted Tigger in such a way that he left the house, and so did Clarence?” Leo asked Salty, who’d relayed everything to the community leaders.
“yes,” Salty replied, “Tembi assaulted Tigger, and that was when he decided to leave. He crawled out the back door and though we searched for him in the woods, both he and Clarence have disappeared!” Leo looked at snowy.
“What is to be done about this?” he asked, “Tembi should be punished for her actions, but while that’s happening, two of our family are roaming the country. Who knows what might happen to them!”
“We can’t go looking for them,” Snowy replied, “we’re not worldly wise, not like Amber or Elsa. We need either to hope they return, or send those animals we know have some street know-how to find out what they can about the last known movements of Tigger and Clarence. If we don’t send search parties, we’d be neglecting our friends.
Aslan was very upset by Tigger’s disappearance. For days he didn’t sleep and hardly ate anything. Petra was inconsolable with grief, giving Tigger up for dead after four days, for she had no concept of time, and a day was a long time for her. Petra’s mood affected Aslan, who’s mood grew darker still. Tembi was thrown into the wardrobe for an indefinite period, her crimes too grave for Leo or snowy to put a tariff on her release. The community said Tembi had almost certainly sent Tigger and Clarence to their deaths, and therefore, should be punished accordingly.
Back in the town, Clarence took Tigger’s paw and led the blind tiger into shelter. There he saw the awning’s purpose, to keep the rain off prospective customers of a tiny, down trodden establishment which sold soft toy animals. This shop was like nothing they’d ever seen before, and it reminded them of what they truly were, soft toys. Clarence could hardly bring himself to look into the window. The soft toy animals looked so lonely and depressed. There were polar bears, dogs, rabbits, and even one extremely sad looking lion. Clarence’s eye fell on him, and he couldn’t stand the look in the poor creature’s eyes. He looked so unhappy, so fearful that Clarence couldn’t make eye contact with the lion, so ashamed was he of leaving his home. He’d been looking for better places to live, not places like this. Clarence was about to turn and tell Tigger to leave when the lion banged on the window with his paw.
“What’s that?” Tigger asked.
“it’s nothing,” Clarence lied, hating himself for it, “let’s go Tigger.” The banging continued, and Clarence was forced to look up at the lion, who was now scratching at the window with the toes of one paw.
“Let’s go!” Clarence yelled, but his paws seemed stuck to the wet concrete, he couldn’t move, his eyes glued to that poor lion, still scrabbling at the glass with his paw.
“Please, let us out of here!” the lion yelled. Tigger then knew what was happening.
“More soft toys?” he asked. Clarence swore viciously.
“It’s my fault,” he said, “now we’re committed. We have to go in.”
“Into where?” Tigger asked.
“there’s a shop full of soft toy animals,” Clarence replied, “many animals, and one of them is a lion, who’s been banging on and scratching at the glass window with his paw. It was he who yelled at us. We have to go in.” they entered the shop through a back door. The place was disused, the previous owners having just upped and left the stock as it was, their business having gone bust. The remaining soft toy animals had been proud of their looks once, but now were dusty, dirty and dispirited. The lion, named Simba after a Disney character, leapt off the shelf he was sitting on when Clarence and Tigger entered.
“You two look dreadful,” he said.
“Not as bad as you look,” Clarence thought, but said nothing.
“We’re homeless,” Tigger said. Simba looked at him.
“You look well fed to be homeless,” he said, “have you just been thrown out?”
“No,” Clarence replied, “We left. Tigger here was getting fierce abuse from a lioness in the house we were living in, and he decided to leave. We have been friends for ages, so I went with him.”
“And what’s your name?” Simba asked.
“Clarence,” Clarence replied.
“Well I’m Simba,” the lion said, “we live here because we have nowhere else to go. It seems you two don’t either now. This place is all we have, take it or leave it.” Clarence looked into the lion’s face. He no longer looked depressed, but it was still there, under the surface.
“What is your story Simba?” Tigger asked.
“My story is none of your business tiger!” Simba snapped.
“It’s Tigger,” Tigger said softly.
“You have no right to ask me my story when you’re a newcomer to this place!” Simba yelled, lashing out at Tigger! The blind Bengal tiger didn’t see Simba’s paw coming, and Clarence wasn’t quick enough to deflect the stinging slap. Tigger flinched, raising a paw to rub his jaw where the lion’s paw had connected.
“You blind or something Tigger?” Simba asked.
“I am,” Tigger replied.
“Oh wonderful!” Simba spat, “a blind tiger, how fantastic! No wonder you were thrown out of your old home. You’re probably no use to anyone!”
“I had a good job,” Tigger mewed, “I used to,,,” Clarence stopped Tigger from saying more by resting his paw on the tiger’s.
“NO Clarence, don’t shelter him,” Simba said, “let Tigger tell us what his job was.” Clarence knew he couldn’t talk Simba round to ignoring Tigger’s job.
“I used to help other animals clean their fur and paws,” Tigger said, “I was in charge of the bath.” Simba spat at Tigger.
“You did what?” he laughed, “you were in charge of the, what was that you said? A bath?”
“yes,” Tigger replied, now unable to stop himself, “I massaged the paws of the other animals too.” Clarence knew this revelation could get them both into a lot of trouble.
“Paw massage?” Simba asked, “what’s that? It sounds very cubbish, very silly!”
“It’s something we did at our old home,” Clarence replied, “we won’t do it here.”
“We?” Simba asked, “you did it too? You, um, massaged the paws of other animals too?” Clarence knew he was trapped.
“yes,” Clarence admitted, staring at his paws, “I did, I used to stroke the paws of a polar bear who had poor circulation in his paws.” Simba turned to the other animals in the room.
“We have a couple of pansies here,” he said, “two animals who like stroking the paws of other animals, including each others paws I don’t doubt!” Simba turned savagely on Clarence.
“Go on, show us!” he demanded.
“What?” Tigger asked.
“it’s pardon,” Simba snapped, “and look at me when I’m talking to you you insolent cub! Oh, I forgot,” he sniggered, “you’re as blind as a bat!”
“Oi!” someone near the ceiling yelled, “that’s quite enough of that!”
“Oh, that’s Boris,” Simba said, “he’s a bat, and probably as blind as you are Tigger. Anyway, how does this paw massage thing work? Show me!”
“Well, if you’d like to give me your paw, I will,” Tigger replied.
“NO, not you!” Simba snapped, “I’m not giving my paw to a blind tiger, yuck! No, I meant, as you’re such good friends, you could show us by massaging each other’s paws. Clarence looked at Tigger.
“I don’t like this!” Tigger whispered.
“I heard that!” Simba yelled, clouting Tigger across his nose! Tigger, his eyes watering, whimpered with fear, and went to wipe his eyes with a dirty forepaw. Simba slapped at his raised paw, making Tigger place it on the ground for support as the lion had very nearly knocked him over.
“No,” Simba said, “I want you two to stroke and massage each other’s paws. Noone here is going to submit themselves to such treatment. And as you are such good friends, such very good friends, if you know what I mean,” here he was playing to the rest of the animals in the shop, “you would go in for stroking each other’s paws quite a bit, as a form of love play maybe?” Clarence had heard enough. Snarling, he attacked Simba, throwing him to the floor!
“We’re just good friends,” Tigger mewed, “there’s nothing more to it. And no, we will not stroke each other’s paws for your pleasure. We do massage each other’s paws, but for our own pleasure, not for public spectacle!”
“Well, if you come to live here, you’ll be doing a lot of that, for that’s all there is to do here,” Simba spat, “and if you refuse to do as I assk, we will force you to. For I know Tigger’s blind, and that I can overpower him. I will break his paws if you don’t do as I tell you. Go on, stroke each other’s paws you horrid animals!”
“Let’s go!” Clarence yelled, turning and running for the door, dragging Tigger with him. The door was suddenly barred by a huge polar bear, who raised a massive paw and smashed it down on Clarence’s head! Clarence fell without a sound, the huge polar bear bundling Tigger onto one of the shelves, then quite literally throwing Clarence on top of him! Clarence began to wake up, feeling dreadful. Tigger, with his friend’s entire weight on top of him, could hardly breathe.
“Clarence, please!” Tigger begged. Clarence shifted, then lost his balance and fell four feet to the floor! Clarence hit the rough wooden floorboards and lay winded and helpless.
“Welcome to our world,” the polar bear said, kicking Clarence in the belly. Clarence moaned with pain.
“We call this place hotel California,” the polar bear said, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” This was obviously an old joke, but the animals all laughed dutifully.
“You came to the wrong place. Simba did his thing, and now you’re here, with no hope of rescue, as noone knows where you are. Clarence realised he couldn’t remember the way home, and how he wanted to go home! Even Tigger, now disorientated and frightened beyond anything he’d ever experienced, was wishing to go back to the house.
“Let us go!” Tigger pleaded.
“No blind one, you ain’t going nowhere,” the polar bear snarled.
“What will happen to us?” Clarence asked.
“I don’t know,” the polar bear replied, “but you must do what we tell you, remember what you have to do? A little tantrum isn’t going to relieve you of that obligation. Go on Tigger,” he said to the tiger, tugging at his paw, “come down here and stroke the paws of your injured friend, I’m sure he’d like that.” Tigger heard the polar bear’s mocking tone, and knew it was useless trying to explain the benefits and pleasures of paw massage.
“Get up off that shelf and do your job!” The polar bear commanded. Tigger, now completely broken in spirit, crawled off the shelf hind paws first. When the polar bear caught sight of the pads on the sole of Tigger’s right hind paw, he brought the toes of his own forepaw smashing down on them. Tigger screamed!
“Quickly now you insignificant piece of scum!” The bear yelled at Tigger. Crying, Tigger dropped to the floor, crawling over to Clarence, who lay blearily watching proceedings. When he saw Tigger, he made a quick move to hug the tiger, which was misconstrued by the polar bear and earned Clarence a beating. The bear laid into him with his paws, slapping and stamping on Clarence until the lion was out for the count. Tigger had to listen to his friend getting filled in, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Leave him alone!” Tigger mewed.
“Shut it, or you’ll be getting it too!” Simba yelled. Clarence, now badly hurt, surfaced for a second time, his whole body aching.
“You won’t make sudden moves again lion,” the polar bear snarled, “just make nice slow movements. Oh by the way, what were you about to do when I stopped you?”
“I was, was going to hug Tigger,” Clarence said thickly, for his lips were badly bruised.
“Well now,” the polar bear said, “Tigger will massage your paws, just as he’s been told to. Then you’ll feel a lot better won’t you.” Tigger started massaging Clarence’s left forepaw, the lion fighting not to pull his paw away, as his pads were bruised. Tigger tried to go gently, but he could sense how much the ;lightest touch hurt Clarence.
“So that’s how it’s done,” Simba said, “he takes a paw in both of his and strokes the pads and toes of that paw.”
“You have done well Tigger,” The polar bear said, “now Clarence will massage your paws.”
“Clarence is too injured to do that,” Tigger said. He soon realised he’d made a wrong move. The polar bear’s paw smashed into his shoulder.
“Clarence will do as we tell him,” the polar bear snarled, and so will you!” Clarence suddenly screamed at the top of his voice:
“Let us go! We’ve done nothing to you, and you’re torturing us!”
“We don’t like your sort,” Simba said, “we don’t like those who massage the paws of other animals. It’s not the done thing. Clarence, your blind tiger friend has caused you all this pain, just by opening his mouth. If he’d shut up when I asked him about his job, he would have been fine, and so would you. Now you are not, for we hate people like you!”
“We, know, how, to, deal, with, your, sort!” The polar bear yelled, slapping Tigger!
“As a matter of fact, so do we!” someone yelled. Clarence heard a crash and then someone screaming! It wasn’t Tigger, it was the polar bear! Clarence raised his eyes to see Leo dragging the polar bear out of the shop by his hind paws! Then someone Else ran in and grabbed hold of Tigger’s forepaws, Clarence saw it was Kodiak, one of the brown bears! Dragging the sobbing tiger out of the shop, Kodiak dumped him beside Salty, who guarded him carefully. Meanwhile, Simba fled to the back of the shop, hotly pursued by Aslan, who bowled the larger lion over and winded him! Leo then came for Clarence, dragging the injured lion out into the daylight! The shop was cleared within ten minutes, all the animals who resided in that place having either fled or been captured.
“What now!” Matilda asked, for it was she who’d broken down the door, which the polar bear had locked just before attacking Clarence for the first time.
“We give these two troublemakers what for when we get back into the garden,” Leo said. Clarence lay, his paws aching and whole body throbbing with pain.
“I can’t, can’t crawl,” Clarence sobbed. Leo looked down at the injured lion.
“I’m sorry Clarence, but you’ll have to walk, we haven’t got any means of transport. When we found you here, we weren’t expecting a fight, until we saw what was going on of course.”
“That polar bear just laid into you!” Aslan mewed. Clarence looked at the lion cub.
“How the hell did you get involved in a job like this?” he asked.
“I asked if I could go along and rescue you two, and I was included, just like that!” Aslan said.
“Theo didn’t want him to go,” Matilda said, “but he was insistent, and in the end, Theo agreed, as long as Aslan didn’t get into trouble, he could come along.”
“and he ends up chasing down Simba,” Tigger mewed, “if that’s not getting into trouble I don’t know what is.”
“Aslan did a courageous thing,” Matilda said, “now, let’s get home and deal with these two reprobates.” Mile by painful mile, the rescue party made their way back to the house, their captives stumbling along with one paw tied to that of a larger animal, such as a snow leopard or another polar bear. Isaac dragged Simba’s enforcer along by his left forepaw, the huge polar bear now very subdued. He realised he wasn’t going to get an easy time of it from these quiet people. Their lack of violence unnerved him, how quiet they were also terrified him. It was the huge lion he feared the most, for he was scary in the extreme.
Once they were back in the garden, the rescue party split up, leaving Leo, snowy, who’d joined him on his return, Salty, Aslan and Matilda, as well as Clarence and Tigger, to deal with the small lion and somewhat larger polar bear. Isaac aimed a kick at the captured polar bear’s belly, winding him.
“You will learn what it is to be punished!” Isaac Yelled, “you bring my species into disrepute!” the polar bear gasped and moaned with pain.
“right!” Leo snarled, “you will all tell your tale, leave nothing out, for we saw most of it! Tell on, first you Clarence.” Clarence told his tale, then Tigger told his, then Simba his. There was no point in indulging in fabrication, for the rescue party had seen most of it anyway, or rather Tib had, through a skylight. She’d relayed everything to the others, and only gave the go ahead when she thought Simba and his polar friend were most off their guard.
Now Simba and the polar bear, who’s name was Bruno, were getting punishment community style.
“Why did you beat Tigger and Clarence up?” Snowy asked.
“Don’t say anything!” Simba warned Bruno, but the polar bear, now remorseful, and realising what Simba had tricked him into doing, spilt the beans.
“We were happy once,” the polar bear said, “we used to be as loved in our place as you are here, but then the place closed down, and we were left. Simba assumed command, he’s clever you see, I’m not. He told me that we should enliven our lives by enticing other soft toy animals into our homes, that way we could grow our community. We were lonely, for the rabbits and other animals weren’t much fun. Simba would watch out for a likely candidate and do his best to lure them in. Once they were in, we wouldn’t let them go. We called the shop Hotel California for that very reason.”
“Hotel California?” Aslan asked, not understanding.
“It’s a song, a very depressing song if you ask me,” Bruno said, “so when the tiger and the lion came into our home, we imprisoned them.”
“Their names are Clarence and Tigger,” Snowy snapped, “we use names here Bruno, hence why we asked you what yours was.”
“My job was to keep those we let in to the shop in at all costs,” Bruno said, “so when Clarence tried to get out, I let him have it. Then things got very out of paw. I did things which I now regret. I am sorry for what I did to Tigger and Clarence, truly I am.”
Clarence snarled at the polar bear.
“You could have attacked Simba,” he said.
“I’m sorry,” Bruno whimpered, “I know I could have, but I didn’t think I had the courage to, I’m not a brave bear, not really.”
“Despite your remorse, you should be punished for what you did,” Leo said. Bruno buried his face in his paws.
“I’m sorry!” he whimpered, “I’ll never do anything like that again!”
“I know Simba’s the instigator of all this, what with his misunderstanding of the ways of our community members. We are a very tactile family, always touching each other’s paws, whether for reassurance or for pleasure. It’s not strange to us to massage each other’s paws,” Leo said. Bruno looked at Tigger, who’d stayed behind to listen to his and Simba’s justification for what they did to himself and Clarence.
“I hate all that paw massage stuff!” Simba wined, “it’s all wrong, all so strange to me!”
“You’ve never experienced it,” Leo said, “so how do you know what it’s like? You, who think it’s unnatural and dangerous should try it for yourself. I dare you to try it, and then see if you still hate it.”
“Who will be massaging our paws?” Bruno asked.
“Tigger of course,” Leo replied, “he’s the expert. Of course we could ask Kodiak to do it, but he’s better with the smaller animals you know. Tigger’s great at his job. As he said, he had, and still has a good job here. Now he can return to his work. Tembi’s still incarcerated, and will be so for some time to come yet, as her crimes are of such gravity. We will make one adjustment to her conditions though, that Simba joins her in the wardrobe, as he has committed the worst crimes of all. Bruno, while you were stupid and naive, you also could have said no to Simba’s orders. For you I will proscribe a paws on punishment. This will be to work with Tigger and learn his trade. You will have to get your paws dirty then, but in a good cause. Simba won’t have this luxury, he’ll be imprisoned with Tembi for as long as we see fit, and then he will be booted from our community. You Bruno, because of your remorse, will be allowed to continue on here as long as you keep our laws and respect everyone, from the eldest member of the community, right down to the youngest cub. I don’t know why I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself, but with Tigger and Clarence’s blessing I will do so. Clarence knew the polar bear had only waded in when he and Tigger had tried to run, and that he’d taken his cue from Simba. Simba painting such a terrible picture of paw massage that it had horrified Bruno into reacting to anything the lion dreamt up. Bruno was paid in food to do a job of brute strength, and he’d done it.
Bruno looked into Tigger’s sightless eyes.
“I’m sorry for hitting you,” the polar bear said, touching Tigger’s paw. Tigger took Bruno’s paw in his and held it.
“Say that again,” Tigger said. Bruno realised what the tiger was doing.
“I’m sorry Tigger,” Bruno said, hoping the Bengal tiger could feel how wretched he now was.
“Is he sincere?” Clarence asked.
“Bruno’s sincere Clarence,” Tigger replied. Bruno did something then which he’d not done since he was a cub. Overcome with emotions he never knew he had, he hugged Tigger and wept into the tiger’s thick fur. Tigger held the weeping polar bear close until Bruno’s tears dried.
“Now for you Clarence,” Bruno said, his eyes downcast. He knew he’d done the lion a lot of harm.
“Can you ever forgive me for what I did to you and your friend?” Bruno asked Clarence.
“in time, maybe,” Clarence replied, “but not being a brave bear is no defence against taking responsibility for your actions Bruno. You hit me, you stamped on me, you beat Tigger up. You could have stopped, but you didn’t. It is only because Leo sees some good in you that Tigger and I do not tear your throat out now. It is only because we will give second chances to those who show true remorse, that you are still alive today. Simba might have been strong, but he was overpowered by a tiny cub. A cub who had the backing of the whole community who reside within these walls. Aslan took Simba down and cut him to size, the size of the cub he is. Aslan, the cub who did the right thing when duty called, took down your most feared master. Now Simba’s shown for what he is, a snivelling, wining, scrap! You could have done this yourself, but you chose not to. You could see Tigger was no threat to you or Simba. You could see that Bruno, but you attacked him! I might forgive you for what you did to me, but not for what you did to Tigger. I can’t let that go! You beat up an innocent, lost and lonely tiger, who would have given you everything he had if you’d asked. Now you’ve possibly lost him, definitely lost me, and are on probation with Leo and the rest of us. You need to start building bridges, but right now, you haven’t even got the manual to build one, let alone the materials. You need to forge links with some of the animals here, though they will all know what you did. Your saving grace will be that it will be known that you were paid to do a job. Of course, it will be known that you beat Tigger up, and that you also beat me up. Now I will finish here.” Tigger felt Clarence take hold of his paw.
“let it go Clarence, please,” Tigger mewed. Clarence tried to suppress a sob.
“But, but he attacked you!” the lion cried.
“I know he did,” Tigger replied, “but if you harbour that forever, he’s won. His poison is inside you, eating at you forever.” Clarence threw his paws round Tigger’s neck and buried his head in the tiger’s shoulder.
“you are right Tigger,” Clarence sobbed. Tigger worked his paws into Clarence’s mane, the lion calming considerably as he felt the tiger’s touch.
“Let it all go,” Tigger said gently, stroking Clarence’s neck. Clarence breathed deeply, feeling the tension flowing from his body.
The question as to how the members of the community had found Tigger and Clarence hadn’t yet been asked. Everyone was waiting for the situation to settle down before answering Tigger and Clarence’s questions.
Bruno and Simba went to their respective places of residence, Simba to the wardrobe, Bruno to a place in the living room. Bruno, determined to better himself, couldn’t wait for the first day of his training with Tigger. Before Bruno could start his training, there was one question he wanted to ask, in fact the whole community wanted to ask the question. How did the rescue party find the shop where Tigger and Clarence were imprisoned.
The whole community gathered in the living room to hear how the rescue attempt had been executed. All bar two were there, the two excluded from the meeting were Simba and Tembi.
While Tembi was in the prison, she was quite literally milked to feed Petra. The white cub got used to lapping from a small bowl, but Tembi never got used to being milked like a bovine. Complaining bitterly, Tembi ended up more often than not screaming at Ringo, who was detailed to take the milk. Once he’d got all the milk for Petra he wanted, Tembi booted him out of the room where the wardrobe was. Ringo fled with the milk for Petra, who drank it thirstily.
Back in the living room, the meeting began, Petra having drank her fill of milk.
“Right!” snowy said, “I know you are all desperate to find out how we found Clarence and Tigger. Well, it’s all down to one animal, Tib. Tib was able to track their movements. She found them within ten minutes of being called out. Tib made sure the animals in the shop weren’t going to move her friends, then she reported back to the house. Leo and Salty planned the rescue mission, using the various abilities of the larger animals to help them. Matilda was detailed to take the door in, for Tib had tested the door, which had been locked by Bruno only a minute before. Tib pressed against the door and found it gave under pressure from her paw. She found the door to be half rotten, and of poor construction. Easy for a kangaroo to break down. Returning to the community, Tib made her report to her leaders. Once they knew the construction of the door, the planners put their plan into action, moving to the shop with all claws ready. Matilda put the door in on Tib’s command and the rest is history.
Tigger settled down comfortably, knowing he was secure and that Tembi and Simba wouldn’t be bothering him for a long time. Bruno settled down beside Tigger and took the tiger’s paw in his, massaging Tigger’s paw with those same paws Bruno had used to beat the tiger up only hours before.
A polar bear named Nanuq.
The animals settled down for the night, but Bruno could not sleep. After he’d stroked Tigger’s paws, the tiger had returned the favour, causing Bruno to experience emotions which he’d never felt before, or if he had, it had been in the very distant past. Warmth spread all over his body, starting from the paw Tigger was massaging. Bruno found he became pleasurably sleepy, Tigger seeming to make no attempt to stop him from drifting away. Bruno drifted, but due to his internal worries, could not fully go to sleep. Now the massage was over, the polar bear was fully awake, and sleep was a distant memory. Bruno’s paws still remembered the massage, but his mind didn’t. Bruno shifted uncomfortably. It wasn’t the soft rug he was lying on which made him feel dreadful, it was his mental state. All the other animals, excepting Simba and Tembi, were sleeping peacefully, and Bruno could get no sleep. Getting to his paws, he padded out of the room and up the stairs. He saw light coming from the main bedroom, and heard voices. The door was closed, but he approached it, tapping gently on it with the flat of his paw. The voices fell silent, and there were sounds of scuffling paws, heavy paws too. The door opened slightly, and Bruno saw an eye watching him.
“Who are you?” Amber asked. Bruno explained who he was. Amber opened the door wider so she could get a good look at the polar bear.
“You try any tricks,” she said, “There’s an even larger polar bear than yourself standing behind you, who will do you much harm.” Bruno heard the pad, pad, pad, of heavy paws behind him and quickly glanced over his shoulder. The snow leopard was right! This bear was huge!”
“That’s the furball,” Amber purred, “He’s a good chap really, but he hates those who betray our trust.” The furball raised one huge paw and showed it to Bruno, who decided not to mess with the massive bear.
“What can we do for you?” The furball asked. Bruno, his mouth now dry with fear, couldn’t reply at first.
“I’m, I’m unable to sleep,” he gabbled, “so, so, I, I thought I’d take a look round. I heard voices, and saw light coming from this room, and, and I knocked on the door, and this snow leopard answered, then you came, and now I don’t know if I’ve done the right thing or not!”
“come in,” Amber said, “we’ll welcome you here. For we know you, we’ve heard of you. We know you’re trying to better yourself after your unfortunate career choice.” Bruno looked at the furball for confirmation that he would not lay paws on him if he went with the snow leopard.
“No worries,” the furball said, waving a huge paw, “go in there.” Bruno padded into the large room, the strong light making him blink.
“You coming too?” Amber asked the furball, who padded in after Bruno.
Bruno entered a warm room with a carpeted floor which felt nice on the paws. Looking round him, he saw a large assortment of animals, polar bears, both adults and cubs, snow leopards, again adults and cubs, brown bears, there were two of those, two seal pups, a Labrador bitch, a Bengal tiger cub, and two snow tiger cubs. One female polar bear caught Bruno’s eye, waved her paw and smiled at him.
“Come,” she said, beckoning with the paw she’d just waved. Bruno, expecting hostility, was surprised at the welcome he got. Padding across to the large female polar bear, he found her inspecting him from ears to paws. He saw she had brown eyes as well as clean white fur and paws. in fact all the animals in the place all seemed to have the smartest fur, and cleanest paws Bruno had ever seen. This female polar bear had large soft paws, as Bruno found out when she thrust out her right forepaw, which he took. It was soft and warm.
“Settle down here,” she invited, patting the quilt with her paw, a quilt which Bruno had stepped up onto almost as soon as he’d entered the room. Bruno settled down, his paws sinking into the quilt, the material enveloping them in its warm embrace. Allie watched Bruno settling down, and when he was settled, she introduced herself and, to Bruno’s complete astonishment, also introduced the two seal pups.
“I’m Allie,” the female polar bear said, “and these are Sandy and Sasha, my, um, pups.” The two seals grinned.
“What, I mean, how? Why?” Bruno stammered, “start again,” he said, “why Allie, do you call those seal pups your pups. Polar bears eat seal pups, they don’t care for them, adopt them, or anything like that!”
“Ah, there you are wrong,” Allie replied, “I lost my own cub, and in my depression went to the beach where the seal mothers were pupping. When I saw that two of the mothers had quite obviously died giving birth to their pups and that the pups were still alive, I decided I would try and help Them.”
“But, but, Allie, we eat seal pups, we don’t mother them!” Bruno protested.
“You might eat seal pups,” Allie said, “I don’t. At least not any more. Before I met Sandy and Sasha then yes, I ate seal pups, grown seals too, but not now.” Bruno looked at Allie’s face, and the tenderness in her eyes when she spoke of her pups surprised him.
“You really do love those pups don’t you,” he said. Allie smiled:
“I do Bruno, I really do,” she said. Bruno looked Allie over from nose to tail. He liked what he saw. She was a large polar bear, with brown eyes, a mouth that was quick to smile, a strong body and legs, and the largest set of paws he’d ever seen on a female polar bear. Allie was lying with her hind legs stretched out behind her, and Bruno could see the sole of one of Allie’s hind paws, Like her fore, her hind paw looked strong, with three large black pads and large strong toes complete with a set of well shaped claws. This was one polar bear who really looked after herself. Allie noticed Bruno appraising her, and smiled with pleasure.
“You like me I see,” she said.
“You’re, well, beautiful,” Bruno said, surprised he was so overt with his admiration.
“Arki’s coat and paws are in a similar condition to mine,” Allie said, “we keep our coats and paws in good shape here, it’s almost a requirement, though self imposed. Bruno looked at his own paws, they were scuffed, the pads rough and pitted, his claws in a dreadful state.
“As we’re soft toy animals,” Allie said, “we can’t do much about the integral condition of our paws or coats, they are as they are, and we keep them as we have always had them, or as close to as we can. If an animal is too injured to do so, we maintain their coats and paws as best we and they can. We look after each other here, as you will see, as I believe you are working with Tigger?” Bruno nodded.
“You will learn a lot with him,” Kodiak said, “Tigger’s the best there is at cleaning fur and paws.” Bruno wondered if Tigger could do anything about the shocking state of his own coat and paws, which looked as if they’d not been groomed or washed in ages.
Bruno couldn’t take his eyes off Allie. She was beautiful to his eyes, and he was glad, that despite knowing his past deeds, she hadn’t brushed him off. Bruno wanted some of what these animals had, to have clean fur and paws, what a treat that would be! For an animal to come up to him and put their paws round his neck and hug him would be a great thing too, but Bruno didn’t think this would happen soon. He looked at Allie, and the female polar bear seemed to be watching him.
“I know what you are thinking,” she said, “you’re having the same thoughts as I did when I first came here. Thoughts about whether you’d be accepted, wanting to be embraced by other animals, wanting your fur and paws washed and groomed?” Bruno no longer felt it an intrusion to be told what his thoughts were, he quite liked the feeling that these animals understood his torment, and wanted to help.
“Yes Allie,” Bruno said, “you’re right, I was thinking all those things. Is it really that obvious to you?”
“It is,” she replied, “now let me grant you one of those wishes. Come here and I will hug you.” Bruno looked down at his dirty paws, his dull, dusty, matted coat, and his broken claws.
“You surely don’t want to hug me when I’m like this?” He protested, waving a paw, “my paws are dreadfully dirty, so’s my coat!”
“I can see that,” Allie replied, “come, let me hug you.”
“Allie, are you sure?” Bruno asked.
“come here before I get angry!” Allie said smiling. Bruno loved Allie’s smile, it was so natural, so genuine.
“All right,” he said, going to Allie. The female polar bear asked Bruno to lie down, and when he was comfortable, she took him in her paws and embraced him. Bruno, now as close to Allie as he’d ever get, breathed in her scent, her warm, sweet scent. She had soft warm fur and paws, and Bruno didn’t want the hug to end. Snuggling up to her, he closed his eyes, forgetting where he was for a few minutes. Allie felt Bruno relax, and smiled to herself.
“Bruno’s not a bad bear really,” she thought, “misguided yes, but not bad, not like Simba, now he’s a bad lion, through and through.”
Bruno must have slept, for when he woke, one of the polar bear cubs was lying beside him, examining him closely.
“Hello little one,” he said softly, sensing Allie was asleep.
“Hi,” the polar bear cub whispered, “oh, by the way, my name’s Candy. I already know your name.” Bruno looked at the polar bear cub.
“Tell me,” he said, “is Allie your mum?”
“No,” Candy replied, “Arki is,” She waved a paw at another female polar bear who lay on the enormous quilt, “I’ll take you to meet her if you like.”
“I’d like that,” Bruno said, gently getting to his paws so he didn’t wake Allie, who’d let go of him, but who’s paw was still resting on his. Feeling him move, Allie lifted her paw off Bruno’s and Bruno was free. Crawling over to Arki, Candy and Bruno saw that Arki’s right forepaw was in that of a large brown bear.
“Who’s that?” Bruno asked candy, waving at the brown bear.
“That’s Kodiak,” Candy replied, “ He’s lovely too.”
“I remember seeing a brown bear dragging Tigger out of the shop, was that him?” Bruno asked.
“that was,” candy replied, “of course I wasn’t allowed to go on that job, Aslan was, the scheming cub! He’s the one who got all the glory for chasing down Simba, but I could have done the same thing. He lied to Leo and Theo about not wanting to get involved, and now he’s being praised for his actions! I think that sends the wrong signal to a cub you know.”
“Candy,” Arki said, “I’m sure Bruno doesn’t want to hear about that.”
“but Aslan’s a little liar!” Candy yelled, waking Allie.
“Thanks Candy,” Allie grunted, “you saw I was asleep I don’t doubt, and still make your mouth.” Candy barely glanced at Allie, before carrying on with her demolition of Aslan’s character, which the female polar bear noticed. Getting to her paws, Allie whacked Candy hard on the paw with one of her own well padded forepaws. Candy wailed with pain and crawled away sulking.
“Aslan might have wangled his way into the job,” Allie said to Candy, “but he knew what he was doing.”
“He’s a cub!” Candy wined.
“Not under all that fur,” Allie replied, for she’d spoken to Aslan at length and found the two month old lion cub to be articulate and very switched on.
“I still think he’s a scheming cub!” Candy yelled, banging the quilt with her paw.
Meanwhile, Theo and Leo were trying to decide whether Aslan disobeying orders had contributed to the victory over Simba, or whether if Aslan had obeyed the order not to get into trouble, the day would have been won. Theo was furious with his cub, but proud too. The young lion’s conflicting emotions resulted in Theo first cuffing Aslan for disobedience, then hugging him for his brave actions. Aslan felt his sire’s confusion and didn’t know how to help him resolve it.
Meanwhile, Simba and Tembi were confined to the wardrobe and the room beyond. They could not venture beyond the door into the room, and when other animals passed the door, they were required to turn their backs on that animal, so they got no eye contact.
Simba was furious with the community for dumping him in such a dreadful place. The room felt unlived in, and was freezing cold. Both Tembi and Simba knew their imprisonment wasn’t by any lock or key, but was by the mutual agreement of those animals who’d imprisoned them. Tembi knew she’d done wrong in thumping Tigger, and accepted her punishment, knowing that if she was found outside the room at any time other than recreation periods, she’d be soundly beaten and thrown back into the spare room. Simba however, wanted to be free, and was willing to risk a thrashing. He didn’t like the community he’d been incarcerated by. They were too quiet for his liking, too gentle too. It frightened him to think that these strange animals could get on together, polar bears with snow leopards, squirrels with dogs, tigers with lions. Indeed, Simba was sure the white tigress and the leader of the community, were more than just leader and vice leader. He’d seen the tigress touching the lion’s paw during the story telling session, and the touch was unmistakably loving. So even a tigress could love a lion in this strange house of freaks. The tigress was also fat and didn’t look very mobile at all. She looked unwell, and Simba wondered if she might die soon. He decided to ask Tembi about her.
“That tigress?” Tembi asked, unable to hide her own feelings for Snowy, “she’s lovely Simba. Really gentle she is. She’s comforted me many a time when I was upset or ill.”
“Comforted you?” Simba asked, “by stroking your paws?”
“Well, yes,” Tembi replied. Simba’s face told Tembi what he thought of that form of comfort and she quickly tried to distance herself from him.
“Simba, you’re in here because you were the mastermind of a plot to imprison two of our community members. I’m in here for insulting and beating up Tigger. It is you who will be thrown out of the community when you’re released, I won’t be. Anyway, I’m thinking of apologising to Tigger, for I’ve been thinking hard about why I did what I did. I’ve been stupid over this whole thing. What difference does it really make if Tigger knew I was in cub? As it was I was wishing for some back up if things went wrong during Aslan’s birth. It was hard work bringing him into the world, and there were times when I didn’t think either of us would make it. Thanks to Theo, and to Tigger too, we made it, and now I’m being a stupid cub stamping my paws and slapping at Tigger for no reason other than I can’t understand him. I shouldn’t fear him, for he is gentle, as you and Bruno found out. He wouldn’t, and probably couldn’t hurt a fly! He’s badly incapacitated now, and I regret slapping him about. I love his massages, I’ve had them any times, and they’ve always been helpful as well as comforting.” Tembi closed her eyes, remembering the touch of the tiger’s paws on her own as well as the feel of his paws working their magic all over her body. A sharp smack to her paw from Simba brought her back to reality!
“Youch!” Tembi mewed, “what was that for!”
“You were dreaming about that bloody tiger stroking your paws!” Simba yelled, “it’s disgusting!”
“No it’s not!” Tembi whimpered, feeling her eyes fill with tears, “it’s natural, and lovely, and I want to see Tigger more than ever now!” She was beginning to see what kind of an animal Simba was and didn’t like what she saw.
“I’m going to talk to Tigger!” Tembi yelled. Simba tried to stop her, but Tembi was furious with him as well as upset and angry with herself. She fought him, throwing him aside and running for the door!
Tembi exploded into the hallway, nearly crashing into the furball! The huge polar bear, on lookout duty, raised a huge paw to push her back into the room, but lowered it when he saw how distressed she was.
“I know I’m not meant to do any more than keep you in that room,” the huge polar bear said, his voice deep and words slow, giving him a slightly silly air, “but I couldn’t help overhearing your talk, and I think I might let you go and talk to Leo about what you feel. For you are sincere in your remorse, or so I think. If a polar bear can be said to have an opinion of course.” Tembi looked into the furball’s eyes. Despite his previous form, the huge polar bear had learned his lessons, and now didn’t go after Arki any more. He now dedicated his life to keeping the peace.
“I don’t want to raise a paw in anger,” he would say to anyone who asked about his job, “but I will if I think I need to. Then I might push someone out of the way, I never hit anyone unless they need it. The furball had made his peace with Candy and Arki some time ago, the huge polar bear prostrating himself weeping in front of Arki and Candy, begging them to do with him what they wished, as he’d said unforgivable things to Arki about candy. Arki, seeing the huge polar bear’s remorse, and realising he’d come to her of his own free will, decided to forgive the furball and give him another chance. The furball had then taken first Arki, then Candy in both his huge paws and hugged them, weeping into their fur. Arki and her cub returned the furball’s hug as best they could.
Now Tembi looked into the furball’s eyes, and wondered if the furball was a very nice name for him. He was a shaggy furred polar bear, with rather gentle eyes and huge soft paws. Tembi looked into the bear’s deep brown eyes.
“I want to go home,” she said, almost sobbing. The furball, sensing Tembi’s distress and that she wanted to make amends for what she’d said and done, took her in his huge paws. Tembi snuggled into the polar bear’s hug.
“Take me home!” she pleaded. The furball escorted Tembi down the stairs, and motioned to Leo that she wanted to speak with him. Leo patted the carpet with his paw.
“Come,” he said, “lie down here and say your piece.” Tembi crawled over the carpet, and collapsed beside her leader.
“I’ve had enough,” she mewed, “I want to go home, to be with Aslan and Theo once more! I’ll do anything, because I’ve realised I’m in the wrong. I was talking to Simba, and while talking to him, I realised I liked Tigger, for I knew hatred while talking to Simba. He hates me and Tigger! I don’t hate Tigger, I cant hate a tiger like him. I was stupid, I’ve acted like a cub over all this, listening to my fears. I shouldn’t fear a tiger like Tigger, for he’s a gentle tiger. All he wants to do is help everyone! Including me when I was in labour on the track. I want to talk to Tigger, if you’ll let me, and Tigger will also. I want, want to say I’m sorry and make amends as best I can. For I know now that all the problems, and Simba’s arrival here was caused by me and my stupidity!” Leo knew the little lioness’s remorse was genuine, and hoped Tigger would let her talk with him.
Leo had a habit of lying with his eyes closed when on his rug, professing that this relaxed him, so the first he knew of another animal’s presence was the sound of purring, then the feel of a paw clumsily taking his. The paw was familiar to Leo, and as the toes of the paw strongly gripped his, Leo opened his eyes and looked at the paw’s owner.
“Hello Tigger,” Leo yawned. The tiger rubbed noses with Leo, the lion smiling and nuzzling the Bengal tiger’s cheek.
“I will talk with Tembi,” Tigger mewed, “alone though, and in private.” Leo patted the paw which held his own, Tigger smiling. Releasing Leo’s paw, Tigger crawled away, taking Tembi’s paw in his and guiding her to the bathroom. There he ran a bath and switched on the whirlpool machine. Keeping the setting to its lowest, Tigger picked Tembi up in his paws and gently lowered her into the water. This gentle action made Tembi want to cry. Feeling the water washing over her entire body, Tembi began to relax finally.
“Now what did you want to say to me?” Tigger asked, dangling one of his huge paws in the water. Tembi took the submerged paw in both of hers and held it tightly.
“What I wanted to say was, was that I’m very sorry for saying what I said and doing you harm. I know now you’re no sorcerer. I would have been glad of your help during Aslan’s birth, as it was frightening, difficult and painful work.” Tigger, his head bent low towards Tembi’s, his eyes almost, but not quite looking into her own, with his paw in hers beneath the water, soothed Tembi’s mind. Tigger was a handsome tiger, and gentility flowed from him in everything he did, from the slightest touch, to the massage he was famed for.
“I knew Aslan’s birth was difficult Tembi,” Tigger said softly, “If I could have, I would have massaged your paws during the hardest times, while Theo helped by pulling Aslan free while you pushed. I helped my mate give birth to our cubs, and though she held onto and crushed my paws during her labour, she said my presence helped, and I wouldn’t have let her go through it alone, or missed it for the world. That time brought us closer than ever.”
“Now your mate is dead, your cubs too,” Tembi mewed. She felt Tigger’s body jerk, his paw clench as the memory of his mate and their cubs surfaced.
“They are all dead,” Tigger said sadly. Tembi saw the way just talking about his mate and cubs affected Tigger. She wanted to throw her paws round his neck and hug him, but didn’t know if this was the right thing to do, or whether he’d resent it.
“Next time I have cubs,” Tembi said, “I want you there Tigger. Theo would too I’m sure. In fact he nearly said he’d go and find you when things got difficult and painful during Aslan’s birth, but I stopped him. Now I wish I hadn’t.” Tigger lowered his head and licked Tembi’s ear.
“I would be glad to help in any way I could,” Tigger said softly. Tembi threw her paws round Tigger’s neck and hugged him. The bath was big enough to allow two grown animals to get in together, so Tigger stepped into the water, lying down beside Tembi and letting her hug him properly. Tigger, the hug over, flicked water at Tembi. This degenerated into a water fight, the two cats flicking water at each other, tickling each other’s paws, and generally playing like over grown cubs.
Bruno padded in, saw what was going on and stood in silence, watching intently, his mouth wide with surprise. He’d never seen a tiger playing with a lioness before, and it fascinated him that two vastly different animals could play together in harmony.
“Want to join us?” Tigger asked. Bruno knew he couldn’t fit into the bathtub with the two cats, so Tembi got out, allowing him to get in. Bruno, in a bath for the first time, stepped into the water, the warm water washing over and under his paws. Stretching out full length, Bruno let Tigger stroke him from nose to tail. The sensation was a strange one to Bruno, but not unpleasant. Soon his whole body tingled from his nose to his toes. Tigger was very thorough in his work and obviously knew his stuff. Tigger and Bruno were just getting down to real work, Tigger teaching the polar bear how to stroke a paw when there was a scream, then a thud, then a series of thuds, followed by an almighty crash! Bruno leapt up, shedding water like rain.
“What the hell was that!” he demanded.
Leo padded into the bathroom looking very serious.
“I think, think you’d all better come into the living room,” he said, “we’ve had a bit of a disaster here.” Tigger, fearing the worst, followed Leo and Bruno into the living room. the furball stood over Simba, the latter quite obviously dead.
“He attacked me,” the furball whimpered, “I, I tried to defend myself, that was all! I pushed him away, and he fell, and now, he’s like This!” The poor polar bear waved a paw at Simba’s broken body.
“He looks like he fell down the stairs,” Tembi remarked.
“I think he did,” Leo confirmed.
“I pushed him down the stairs Leo,” The furball sniffed, “I didn’t mean to, I just pushed him away, and he fell!”
“it was none of your doing my friend,” Leo said. “Simba was an argumentative sort, who wanted to pick a fight. You did your job, it is he who put himself in danger, not you. If he picked a fight with you, then you have a right to defend yourself.” The furball buried his face in his paws.
“I’m going to be thrown out for this!” he moaned.
“No you’re not,” Leo replied, “it was an accident.” The furball wept pitifully:
“The thing is, I really hated Simba,” he sobbed, “I felt real rage towards him, but I didn’t want to kill him, not ever!” The furball looked desperately round the room, searching for angry faces, he found none.
“Simba picked a fight with the wrong person,” Leo said, “that was all. He started the fight I’m sure.”
“How can you be sure Simba started the fight?” Tarker asked, “that overgrown fur-fest hasn’t been exactly whiter than white in his past.”
“No Tarker, this is true,” Leo said, “but I have spoken at length to him, a consequence of which was him going to Arki and patching things up with her and Candy. Now he has changed. Our furball is no longer the brute he was when he came here. He’s a gentle and kind creature. Once we have dealt with Simba’s body, we will have more joyful things to attend to, as our furball has no name. the furball as we used to know him, is not a good name for a polar bear. Let the badgers bury Simba, then we will name this polar bear.
The badgers took Simba’s body outside. They cleaned him up, for there was blood on his fur from a head injury during the fall, but it wasn’t this that killed him, He’d broken his neck on the way down the stairs. Burying the disgraced lion, they returned to the house, where the other animals waited. The furball looked exhausted, his paws shaking with fatigue and fear.
“You have nothing to fear now my friend,” Leo replied, “nothing at all.” The furball wiped his eyes with a shaking paw.
“Please,” he sobbed, “Let me go upstairs and go to sleep.” Leo hugged the furball tightly.
“Listen my friend,” Leo purred, “let me first give you a proper name.”
“What’s that?” The furball asked.
“I name you Nanuq,” Leo replied. The furball, now renamed Nanuq, looked up at the assembled animals.
“here is the newest member of our community!” Leo proclaimed, “You might know him under a different name, but now he’s a different bear, a reformed bear, and should be known by a proper name. His name is Nanuq, and Nanuq means polar bear in the Inuit language.” Nanuq got to his paws, knowing he was still part of the community, still valued and had the protection of his fellow community members.
“I will do my best to be a peaceful member of the community,” Nanuq said.
Petra’s challenge.
Months past, and Petra opened her eyes. If this wasn’t a great milestone in itself, it was also time for Petra to start being weaned off Tembi’s milk. Petra was keen to eat solid food, but when she tried the fish veg mix she found she didn’t like it. Spitting out the fish, she separated the vegetables from the fish and ate those. Tembi watched her anxiously.
“You don’t like fish?” She asked. Petra winced:
“No I don’t!” She replied, “it’s disgusting!”
“How about trying lamb or pork?” Theo asked. Petra knew she wouldn’t like that either, but went through the course. Days passed, where Theo and Tembi tried Petra on several kinds of meat. Petra wouldn’t eat any of the meat, screwing up her face with disgust and spitting it out. When this happened She avoided her parent’s eyes, as if she’d done something wrong. Theo was coming to the conclusion something was up with Petra, but Tembi lost it completely. Frustrated, Tembi ended up screaming at Petra, walloping her and telling her she must eat meat or else! Petra forced the tuna down, but half an hour later, ran for the back door. Reaching the garden she was violently sick. Tembi watched her cub’s distress as Petra got rid of the meat she’d just eaten. Tembi realised that this was the first time Petra had actually eaten fish alone. She decided to try her on vegetables alone for a few days and see what happened.
To noone’s real surprise, Petra had no reaction to the veg. Tembi then suggested she and Theo try a rather gruesome experiment to see once and for all if Petra was making fools of them to get her own way so she could eat veg all day. Tembi suggested to Theo that they force feed Petra the meat, Tembi holding Petra’s mouth open while Theo threw the meat to the back of the cub’s mouth. Tembi said she would then let Petra close her mouth, then hold Petra’s mouth shut until the white cub was forced to swallow., Theo protested, but Tembi overruled his objections, telling him Petra was a spoilt little cub and was probably playing games with them, and this would find out for sure. The experiment was performed, Tembi doing her bit with firm paws, Theo reluctantly playing his part, conscious of Petra’s distress at being forced to eat meat. Once Petra had consumed, under duress, a quantity of meat, Tembi and Theo waited to see what would happen. Petra was fine for about ten minutes, apart from complaining bitterly about the force feeding. Then suddenly she got up and sprinted for the back door! Tembi and Theo knew this wasn’t acting, their cub was in real distress! Petra just about made it into the garden before she was violently sick. Theo watched his cub with concern, for he knew she’d not eaten grass to make herself sick, this was a genuine reaction to meat. Was it something to do with leucism? Theo thought not.
Days passed, in which Petra would only eat veg, and she was happy with this. Tembi was anxious, as veg gave Petra very few of the nutrients she needed. With help from Matilda, who knew about these things, Petra’s diet was supplemented with rice, beans, sweet corn, and other delights found in and raided from nearby gardens. Petra also ate eggs, which she persuaded some local hens to give to her. The hens were scared of the little cub at first, but when they realised she meant them no harm, and that she needed their eggs, rather than just wanting them like the humans did, they relented and let her have as many as they could comfortably lay. The community thought getting milk would be a problem, though it wasn’t. The boss always kept a bottle in the fridge, which Leo could open. the boss, being a serious milk drinker, always had a lot of the stuff, so Petra drinking a pint here and there went unnoticed, and even if it had been missed, the community were always ready to back Petra to the hilt if she got into trouble for drinking it. The general understanding was that the animals could have what they wanted, as long as they didn’t go crazy and eat the boss out of house and home. That said, the boss always made sure there was plenty of tuna, which it was said he hated with a passion, and vegetables for the basic mix which the animals ate. It was also noticed that more milk suddenly appeared. Was the boss watching over them?
Petra’s strange eating habits made the other animals fear her even more than they already did. Petra thrived on her vegetarian diet. The boss even helped by getting in cereals. Petra’s morning bowl of cornflakes was at first a great source of amusement for the soft toy animal community, but the amusement wore off when they were all into it.
Now Petra’s food supply was sorted, there was much fun to be had mixing up the vegetables and cereals into weird and wonderful creations which, as long as they had the right balance of nutrients, vitamins and roughage in them, could be as diverse as cornflakes with milk and apples, often with an egg thrown in for good measure, or just plain cornflakes with milk, depending on what Petra wished. The other animals started getting to like the things the strange white cub liked, and before they knew it, they were all into veg and other unlikely things. Carnivores most of them might have been, but there was often times when a polar bear could be seen slurping down the last of the milk from their bowl of cornflakes, or a lion deftly cracking an egg and sucking out its contents. This often made a horrid slurping sound which put a lot of other animals off their food, and any “slurpies,” as Kalahari dubbed them, were requested to carry out their disgusting activity outside.
Petra’s reaction to meat was so extreme she couldn’t even go near meat, it made her feel dreadfully unwell. Nanuq took a shine to Petra, who soon grew to love the huge polar bear. This was quite comical, as Nanuq and Petra had very similar coats, one as fluffy and white as the other. Nanuq took Petra in paw and looked after her, and they could often be seen playing together. It was a curious sight, a huge polar bear playing with a cub which was no bigger than the span of both his forepaws. Nanuq loved Petra like she was his own cub, and Petra grew close to Nanuq, the polar bear letting her snuggle up to him as and when she wished, though not pressuring her to spend time with him.
Petra’s diet was soon unremarkable to the other animals, they just had to keep meat away from her to stop her being violently ill.
Bruno’s sessions with Tigger continued, the tiger showing the polar bear all he knew about getting an animal’s fur clean, as well as how to stroke paws properly. Bruno learned quickly, actually looking forward to, and enjoying his time with Tigger.
Things were not going so well for Petra however. Her allergy to meat meant she had to have more veg and other non meat products than the other animals. This “special treatment,” as Tarker called it, began to annoy the otter cub, and by extension, the capybara, who as a group were always looking to pick a fight with other members of the community. They decided to teach Petra a lesson. For they saw her vegetarianism as attention seeking behaviour, and not the serious challenge for her that it truly was.
One day, Tarker, who was being taught the otter’s trade of food sourcing and preparation, mixed fish oil with Petra’s food. The fish oil was well mixed in, with herbs and spices to disguise the taste. Tarker hoped the white cub would be so hungry after her games with Aslan and Nanuq, that she’d just eat the food and not think any more about it. Tarker was taking a gamble on fish oil being the agent which made Petra sick. If it wasn’t that, then the prank wouldn’t work. That night, Petra ate her meal as normal, settling down to sleep. That night she had the most violent reaction of all, the details of which are too grim to retell, except to say that Petra spent the night in the garden, her stomach racked by cramp. Her reaction to the food was so extreme she couldn’t settle down to sleep at all, for her body kept wanting to get rid of what she’d eaten, when there was nothing more to get rid of. Theo and Tembi stayed up all night with their cub, realising that poor Petra was rapidly dehydrating. Any fluid she drank just came straight back up again. When dawn came, Petra was thoroughly miserable and totally exhausted. Now it was even an effort to raise her head from the grass. Petra was dreadfully ill, and noone could work out why. This is the story of the night that had just passed.
Theo watched as Petra, with all four paws clenched, fought to vomit, when there was nothing to get rid of. He could do nothing for her. After each bout, the white cub would lie shivering and twitching while sobbing with fear and misery. Theo touched Petra’s paw, it was so hot it nearly burnt his.
“You are dreadfully unwell little cub,” Theo thought, struggling not to weep. Petra became delirious, hallucinating about giant fish that were about to eat her, lashing out with her paws at nothing, pawing feebly at air and grass. Her terrors were real, to her at least, and Theo knew to tell her to shut it and pull herself together was a crazy thing to do, so he didn’t. Tembi did though, once walloping Petra when the white cub started raving about a snake that was about to strangle her. Tembi lost it, smacking Petra with all her force! This didn’t seem at all to phase Petra, who was too far gone in her own world to notice Tembi’s anger, let alone feel her paw smacking her. Theo dragged Tembi away to yell at her.
“Look Tembi,” he snarled, “Petra’s dangerously ill! She doesn’t know where she is or what’s happening to her! I don’t know what’s caused this, but you losing your temper and hitting her isn’t going to solve Petra’s problems! Just leave her alone, don’t shout at her, and keep your bloody paws off her! If you can’t use your paws to soothe Petra, don’t touch her! That’s an order!” Tembi mewed that she was as scared as Theo, but Theo wasn’t listening:
“You are scared?” He asked, “no you’re not! You’re angry with Petra, that’s all! Tembi, just get out of my sight! If I find you anywhere, anywhere near Petra ever again, I’ll, I’ll really hurt you!” Tembi was knocked sideways by Theo’s aggression towards her. He’d always been so calm, so kind, now he was anything but.
Tembi’s reading of the situation was inaccurate. Theo was only trying to protect Petra from Tembi’s temper, and matching Tembi’s anger with threats of his own was the only way he knew of doing so. Theo spent hours with Petra, holding the cub in his paws, supporting her while her body took its revenge on her, soothing her when she had terrible visions of mutant fish and pigs. When she began to lash out with her paws, all Theo could do was hold Petra tightly, trying to soothe her by stroking her fur and talking to her.
From the onset of Petra’s illness till dawn was about twelve hours or so, but it seemed longer to Theo. The young lion was worn out, but he kept going by thinking of Petra and the hell she was still going through. Tigger came up with the idea of making Petra drink charcoal, as he’d heard it soaked up poisons. It wasn’t very nice, or so he said, but it would hopefully help. Theo was willing to try anything. In one of Petra’s more lucid moments, Tigger told her to drink as much of the charcoal water mix as she could. It was clear the mixture tasted dreadful, but Petra, sensing in her confused way that this might do her good, forced the mixture down. Exhausted from taking on board so much fluid, she lay down and closed her eyes. Theo thought she looked better already, but then gave himself a mental slapping for thinking that.”
One hour at a time Theo,” he told himself sternly. Petra slept for a long time, and there were no hallucinations this time. Waking in the late evening of the following day, Petra opened her eyes and looked round her. She saw the devastated grass, and knew what had taken place upon it. Turning her head, she saw Theo lying beside her.
“Hello Petra my cub,” he mewed. Petra buried her head in Theo’s shoulder.
“Hold me, don’t let me go back into that horrible place!” she pleaded. Theo held the white cub tightly.
“You won’t go back there,” he whispered.
“Promise me?” She pleaded.
“I promise you that Petra my dear sweet cub, for I won’t let you go back there ever again.” Petra clung to Theo with desperation, her paws buried in his fur, gripping his mane fiercely with her toes, which Theo couldn’t blame her for.
“Now you are on the mend,” Theo said, “I will investigate who poisoned you, and with what.” Petra wasn’t sure if Theo would find out anything, but she said nothing of her concerns.
Theo hugged his cub tightly, Petra snuggling close.
“Thank you for staying with me Theo,” Petra whispered, “for even in my most terrible dreams, I knew you were there beside me, holding my paw, giving me the strength to fight. I know that if you’d left me, I would have died. Don’t ask me how I know this.” Theo wept into Petra’s thick fur.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d make it,” he sobbed, “it’s not me you should thank, it’s Tigger, for it was he who came up with trying to make you drink charcoal. He saved your life.”
“He did the physical things,” Petra replied, “you supported me spiritually. I knew you’d never leave me, even if all else failed and I died, you’d be there till the very end.” Theo buried his face in Petra’s fur, breathing in her scent, trying to convince himself she was alive, for he still wasn’t quite sure. Petra felt Theo’s turmoil.
“I’m here,” she said, “I’m getting well now thanks to you and Tigger.” Theo relaxed for the first time in the best part of twenty four hours.
“I love you Petra my cub,” Theo purred. Petra touched Theo’s paw with hers, then took gentle hold of it.
“I love you too Theo, my sire.” Petra had never referred to Theo in these terms before, and it made his eyes fill with tears.
“I would die for you little cub,” he sobbed, “if it came to it, I’d lie down my life for you and Aslan.” Petra knew Theo loved her as if she was born his cub, and she was deeply moved by Theo’s words. Petra worked her paws free from Theo’s mane, Theo sensing she wanted to get to her feet. He moved away slightly, only for Petra to throw her paws round his neck and hug him tightly. Theo purred with utter contentment.
“We are all glad you are back on your paws again,” a familiar voice said. Petra looked round to see Aslan watching her and Theo. Now she was torn between hugging her sire and running to her brother to hug him. Theo, sensing his cub’s dilemma, gently disengaged himself from her hug and pushed her away with one paw.
“go and be with your brother,” he said, “for he’s been worried about you too.” Petra went to Aslan, who threw his paws round her neck and hugged her as fiercely as Theo had.
Tembi was in the doghouse, if a lioness can be said to be in such a place. Word had gone round about her reactions to Petra’s illness, and nearly all the animals were furious with her. Leo told whomever would listen that he thought Tembi’s conduct disgraceful.
“How dare she hit her own cub when the cub’s done nothing wrong!” he would yell, almost weeping. Snowy tried to comfort him, but nothing really worked. Tembi strode into the room, spitting with fury!
“Theo accused me of neglecting my cub!” She yelled.
“You weren’t exactly kind to her,” Snowy mewed.
“You hit her!” Leo yelled, “plus you made her eat meat which she can’t eat!”
“We were finding out if she was playing games with us, cub’s do that kind of thing Leo!” Tembi screamed.
“The force feeding was your idea Tembi, it’s not a very nice one!” Leo yelled.
“Theo joined me in carrying that out!” Tembi screamed, trying to shift blame.
“He didn’t want to do it,” Leo replied, “he cried bitterly afterwards. He wanted to believe his cub.”
“I had to coerce him into it, that’s true,” Tembi said, “but we got the result we wanted. Petra was not playing games with us after all.”
“What I want to know is,” Leo said, “if this happens again with another cub of yours Tembi, will you subject them to the same force feeding?”
“I would,” Tembi snapped, “dam right I would!” Leo buried his face in his paws.
“I don’t like this,” he mewed.
“You don’t have to,” Tembi snapped, “it’s not you who’s getting force fed.”
What I really want to know,” Snowy said, “is who poisoned Petra. She was on the way out before Tigger suggested trying her on charcoal to soak up the poison in her system.”
“I’d like to know that too,” Tembi snarled, “who would dare do such a thing to a lion cub!”
“Who’d do such a thing to any cub?” Leo asked.
Theo wanted to know the answers to the same questions Leo did, and lay down to consider what he already knew. He knew it was the otters who prepared the meals, so it was very likely to be one of their number who’d devised the method and provided the means of poisoning Petra. Theo then thought hard about the individual otters. Winifred, would she do such a thing? Theo thought not. Then there was her cub, Tarker. He was a totally different matter. He would do such a thing, or so Theo thought, for the cub had been responsible for a lot of low level trouble within the community. Could he have raised his game to poisoning Petra?
Theo stared at his paws, flexing his toes while extending and retracting his claws. Turning his paws over, he examined the soles of his paws, watching his pads bunch and stretch as he flexed his toes. Deep in thought, Theo felt someone settling down beside him. Looking to his right, he saw Nanuq lying beside him, the polar bear supporting his chin on his massive forepaws.
“Hello Nanuq,” Theo said. The polar bear looked troubled.
“Petra, is she going to be okay?” he asked calmly, his eyes betraying his true emotions, which were far from calm.
“You really care for my cub don’t you Nanuq,” Theo said. Nanuq, his true feelings uncovered, rubbed his eyes with his huge paws.
“I would be sad forever if she came to harm,” he said. Theo knew the huge polar bear was close to tears.
“I saw her in the garden,” the polar bear went on, “Petra looking so miserable. It breaks my heart to see her like that.”
“Well you can see me now I’m better,” Petra said, curling up beside Nanuq. The polar bear looked over at her, to see Aslan walking away to lie down on the rug, leaving Petra lying beside her polar bear friend. Nanuq gently touched Petra’s paw with his, the cub gripping the toes of his paw with her own.
“I’m here, alive and well,” Petra said. Nanuq let tears, which he’d been holding back for so long, run down his nose and splash onto the carpet. Petra did something then which she’d wanted to do for a long time. Rubbing noses with the weeping polar bear, Petra raised a paw and tried to dry his tears.
“I love you Petra,” Nanuq choked. Petra let the huge polar bear take her in his paws and hug her.
“You’re not just my cub Petra,” Theo said, “your Nanuq’s too I think.”
“I can be yours and his cub Theo, that’s if you want me to be. I love both of you dearly.” Theo and Nanuq each took one of Petra’s paws.
“Let’s both look after Petra Nanuq,” Theo said, looking into the soft brown eyes of the huge polar bear.
“yes let’s do that,” Nanuq replied. The lion and the polar bear rubbed noses, then, letting go of Petra’s paws, they hugged each other.
Tarker spat with disgust at this display of affection.
“How can two male animals give a cub a good upbringing!” He snapped, “it’s disgusting.
“When her birth mother leaves her, and her adopted mother’s two sandwiches short of a picnic, then there’s only the male members of the family to take charge,” Kalahari said. It was the first time anyone had directly accused Tembi of being less than with it.
“What I want to know,” Nanuq said, releasing Theo, “is who poisoned Petra. For if I find them, I will rip their throat out!”
“Look at the otters,” someone said. Everyone looked round, to see Tigger cradling Petra in his paws.
“Look towards the otters,” Tigger repeated, stroking Petra’s fur.
“I was coming to that conclusion myself,” Theo said, “but whom among them would do such a thing? And how?”
“I think you have already worked out the first one Theo my friend,” Tigger said, “for your mind works like mine, we can see into the minds of animals you and I. You don’t know you can do it yet, but you can, for you are hyper sensitive to the moods and feelings of animals. I think you know who did it, if only you’d believe what you see in front of you. Use the mind’s eye, use the senses which nature has given us to detect wrong doing. You know very well Theo who’s responsible for this.” Theo was about to ask a question, when Tigger held up his paw to stop him, as if he could see Theo opening his mouth to reply.
“Don’t say anything,” Tigger mewed, “just believe in what you see, and everything will be all right in the end.” Theo closed his eyes and tried to think hard, hoping Tigger would catch his thoughts.
“You don’t need to try hard to communicate with me Theo,” Tigger said, “I know you are correct in your assumption. Theo opened his eyes and looked into the Bengal tiger’s sightless ones.
“I will do what I have to,” Theo said, “and Tigger, if this otter lies, will you tell me?” Tigger shook his head.
“You will know Theo, you will know,” the tiger replied.
Theo looked round the room, checking the faces of all the otters. His eye settled on Tarker, who looked away. Theo had a strong sense Tarker was the instigator of all this, the one who’d nearly killed Petra.
“Come here Tarker,” Theo said. Tarker dug in his toes, refusing to go to Theo, for he knew he’d been found out. Theo padded across to Tarker and tried to lift him up by the scruff of his neck. Tarker curled his toes into the carpet, digging his claws into the pile, hanging on with all the strength he had. Theo pulled hard, dragging Tarker’s paws free one by one, his claws doing a lot of damage to the carpet, but Theo didn’t care! The otter’s toes were curled hard into the pile and there was a ripping sound as Tarker’s paws were torn free of the carpet. Tarker realised he was really for it now! Theo carried the cub back to his place, strands of carpet still caught between the otter’s toes, as Tarker stupidly would not relax his paws, even though keeping his toes curled would serve no purpose what so ever. Theo’s paws were also clogged with carpet, for he’d dug in his toes to give him leverage to pick the otter cub up from the floor. Snarling with anger, Theo dumped Tarker beside Nanuq, the huge polar bear covering the cub with his body, making sure Tarker could not escape.
“So you get others to hold down your prey Theo?” Tarker yinnied, “you can’t hold it down yourself? You’re too weak, that’s it isn’t it!” Theo picked Tarker up and shook him! Tarker’s teeth nearly rattled in his head!
“I can hold my own prey Tarker,” Theo snarled round a mouthful of fur, “I will show you shall I?” then he threw Tarker into the air! Tarker flew up to the ceiling, somersaulting and tumbling. On his way down, Tarker was horrified to see he was heading head first towards the carpet! Screaming, he landed in Theo’s paws, the lion taking a fresh hold on the scruff of the otter’s neck, while Tarker thrashed and kicked.
“It was you who poisoned Petra!” Nanuq growled. Tarker, now realising he couldn’t lie his way out of trouble, confessed all.
“I did, I did!” he spat, “I did it because I think Petra’s an attention seeking little scrap! I thought her reaction to fish was a way of avoiding eating meat, so I put fish oil, well seasoned so she couldn’t taste it, in her vegetables. She ate it, and then got very ill! I didn’t think it would nearly kill her!” Theo dropped Tarker, the otter cub collapsing in a heap.
“Petra is no attention seeker,” Theo snarled, “she’s a cub with a meat intolerance. Meat can kill her, and nearly did!”
“You should be punished for your stupidity and foolishness!” Leo yelled, “In fact, we need to make sure you never, ever do this kind of thing again Tarker! I think it’s down to those affected by your stupidity to punish you. I think it’s down to Petra to decide what should be done to punish you Tarker.”
“I’m not being punished on the whim of a jumped up cub!” Tarker yelled, “especially one which is white, white from her nose to her toes!” Tarker began to laugh and jab his paw at Petra. He began to sing:
“Petra’s white from her nose to her toes! A cub who is white from her nose to her toes! From her nose to her toes, from her nose to her toes! Petra’s white from her nose to her toes!” Theo became rigid with fury!
“You sing that song again, I’ll, I’ll strangle you Tarker!” Theo yelled.
“I thought it was quite inventive,” Petra mewed, “though the words are not quite correct. I have a black nose, Blue eyes, and black pads on the soles of all four of my paws. So I’m not quite white from my nose to my toes.” Tarker raised his head and sang:
“Petra’s not quite white from her nose to her toes! From her nose to her toes, from her nose to her toes! Petra’s not quite white from her nose to her toes!” Theo clenched his paws, digging his own tawny toes into the carpet to suppress his fury towards Tarker.
“No, that doesn’t work as well as the first version,” Petra mewed. In a desperate attempt to lighten the mood, Petra suddenly ran to the kitchen, dragged a bag of flour from the cupboard and ripped into it. She then leapt into the bath to soak her fur and paws, jumped out and rolled in the mess of flour on the floor. Petra went back to the bathtub to set the flour, making sure she got her paws wet so flour would stick to the soles of her paws and she could put the finishing touches to her new costume by gently brushing the pads of one paw over the black tip of her nose to make it white.
“Now I’m white from my nose to my toes, look!” Petra whooped, remembering just in time to retract her claws, which despite her best efforts, were still black. Petra’s actions were so comical that everyone started to laugh, including Theo, who had experienced as harder time as Petra all things considered.
“You lovely, crazy cub!” Nanuq laughed, hugging Petra tightly. Petra rubbed floury paws into Nanuq’s fur, the polar bear laughing helplessly.
“Now we’ve had that laugh,” Leo said, grinning from ear to ear, “how are we going to clear the flour up?” In the end, Tarker, as part of his punishment, was given a dustpan and brush and made to clear the flour up. He was also made to get into the bath with Petra and wash her fur and paws, something which he particularly hated.
“I don’t want to touch that dam cub!” He yinnied, slamming a paw into the water. Petra rolled onto her back and, taking careful aim, used all four paws to flick water at Tarker until the otter cub was furious enough with her to wash her fur and paws to get the job over with. Storming from the bathroom, he left Petra alone. Petra levered herself from the water, shook herself vigorously, then padded into the living room.
“I’m hungry!” She announced.
“I’ll get you some veg,” Winifred said. She presented Petra with a huge bowl of vegetables. Petra ate her fill, enjoying every mouthful. She drank a pint of milk, then of water, before settling down on the rug, curling up to sleep.
The truth about Tembi.
Petra slept for a long time, waking with the dawn. Getting to her paws, she padded round the room with her eyes half closed, concentrating on the feel
of the carpet beneath her paws. The carpet caressed each of her paws as she placed them down, enveloping her paws in soft warmth. Petra loved this pass
time. She was still doing this when she noticed Theo watching her.
“Oh Theo!” She mewed, shaking herself and hoping she didn’t look too silly.
“yes my cub?” Theo asked, smiling broadly.
“Nothing,” Petra lied, “it’s nothing, you frightened me that’s all.” Theo knew what his cub was really thinking.
“You were in your own world,” Theo said, “rubbing your paws on the carpet.”
“Yes,” Petra mewed, now ashamed, “I’m sorry Theo, it won’t happen again, I promise.” Smiling at his cub, Theo rubbed his left forepaw on the carpet.
“Nice feeling isn’t it,” he said. Petra realised Theo knew what she’d been doing all along, and that he too enjoyed the feel of the carpet on his
paws.
“don’t laugh,” Petra said, now eager to tell Theo exactly what she’d been doing,“ I was concentrating on the feel of the carpet under my paws and
between my toes, it felt wonderful!”
“I know,” Theo purred.
“You mean you like it too?” Petra asked hopefully.
“I do,” Theo replied, “I wish more animals would learn to use their paws properly. Learn to explore the world through their paws as well as their
eyes, Then we’d have a better time all round.”
“So it’s not wrong to enjoy paw massage?” Petra asked.
“No, of course it’s not wrong to enjoy that,” Theo said, “If I was told I could not have my paws stroked, why, I’d go crazy!” Petra snuggled up to
Theo.
“would you stroke my paws, please?” She asked. Theo enveloped one of Petra’s tiny forepaws in one of his massive ones.
“How’s that?” He asked, stroking her pads with his. Petra purred contentedly, her mind soothed by the paw massage. Theo’s paws were large, and
some said fat too. Theo preferred his paws to be described as well padded rather than fat. Theo stroked all four of Petra’s paws, the white cub cuddling
close to him. When he’d finished the massage, Petra looked into Theo’s face.
“Theo,” she said, “I wonder, could I stroke your paws? I’ve never done it, not seriously. I want, I mean I’d like to.” Theo looked into his cub’s
face.
“I would love it,” he said, “physical contact with my cubs is always a wonderful thing.” Petra picked up Theo’s left forepaw, it was almost too
heavy for her to lift, for he’d relaxed, his huge paw now a dead weight in both her smaller ones. Theo saw the struggle Petra was having to hold his paw.
“If we go to the bathtub, there the water will help you by lifting my paws,” Theo suggested. Petra agreed, and they adjourned to the bathtub. Tigger
met them there, he hardly left his post.
“Petra wants to stroke my paws Tigger,” Theo said, “would you help her?”
“I will,” Tigger replied, “that is if you want her to stroke your paws of course.” Theo smiled and nodded.
“Very much,” he replied, “it’s just that she’s not strong enough to pick up my paw when I’m relaxed, my paws are too heavy for her to lift. I thought
the water might help.”
“Indeed it will,” Tigger replied, “get in the tub both of you, and I’ll talk you Petra through how to stroke Theo’s paws properly.”
Petra got into the water, the warm water caressing her paws. Theo joined his cub, and lay down in the water.
“Now take Theo’s right forepaw Petra,” Tigger said, “take it gently and hold it in both of yours.” Petra did, finding the water helped her lift Theo’s
paw. Tigger threw in some oils and things which made the water smell of coconut. Petra knew these oils were only used on special occasions, so she and
Theo were having a rare treat.
“Now massage Theo’s pads with the pads of one of your paws Petra,” Tigger instructed, “gently rub his pads with yours, then curl your toes round
his and massage them gently. Petra did her best to envelope the toes of her sire’s right forepaw in hers, but her paw was just too small to do the job
properly.
“My paws are too small to do it right!” she mewed, getting angry at herself.
“Don’t get angry Petra,” Tigger said, “you’re meant to be soothing Theo.”
“I know!” Petra snapped, “but I can’t do that if my paws are too small to do it properly!”
“Do the best you can little cub,” Tigger mewed, “that’s all I expect of you. If you can only massage two toes at a time, then that’s all you can
do. Just don’t get mad at yourself, for it won’t help you and it certainly won’t help Theo. Now come on, concentrate your whole mind on Theo, and on
making his paw massage the best you can. Try to enjoy your work, after all, it was you who wanted to stroke Theo’s paws. Now he’s letting you and you’re
mewing and spitting with anger at yourself. Just do what you can, and if you can’t do something, just stroke Theo’s pads with yours. Stroke his paw in
the way you know that soothes him, for you do know how to do it Petra. Just let your paws guide you.” Petra relaxed, and the massage techniques came
more easily to her. It was true her paws weren’t large enough to stroke Theo’s paw in the conventional way, but she found her own way, and Theo was soon
comatose with pleasure.
“Now for Theo’s other forepaw,” Tigger mewed. Petra picked up her sire’s other paw. Theo wiggled his toes, letting Petra know he was enjoying her
ministrations.
Once Petra finished massaging his paws, Theo hugged Petra in both forepaws, embracing her tightly. Petra felt her sire’s large well padded paws embracing
her, and it felt wonderful! Mewing softly to his cub, Theo licked Petra’s ear. Theo and Petra left the water. Petra watched Theo padding towards the
towels set out for their use. She saw the wet paw prints Theo’s huge paws left as he walked. Her own paws were much smaller, and made much smaller prints.
Reaching the towels, Theo gripped the edge of a towel in his mouth and lay down on his side, Petra lying down beside him. Anchoring the towel between
his teeth, Theo used his paws to rub Petra down with the towel. Of course, this took a bit of time, but it didn’t bother either of them, the more time
Theo took, the more time he had with his cub. The best bit of the rub down for Petra was of course when Theo rubbed the pads of her paws. Something which
she asked him to do twice over, even though her paws were dry. Theo, knowing how much his cub liked her paws stroked, complied, for he liked contact with
his cubs too. Then it was time for Petra to dry Theo off. She took her time. In fact she had no choice but to, as she was considerably smaller than
her sire, and didn’t have the coordination to get four paws doing two things at once as Theo had. For he’d used his hind paws to dry hers, and his fore
to dry her forepaws. Petra knew then that she’d like to learn how to dry animals off like Theo had done for her. Petra rubbed his belly and back, and
down all four legs. She even threw the towel over Theo’s head and dried his mane, ears and face as best she could, Theo purring throughout. Theo smiled
when he realised Petra had left his paws until last.
“Don’t forget to dry my paws little cub,” he mewed, waving his paw.
“but they’re dry already,” Petra replied.
“That’s not the point,” Tigger said.
“I know,” Petra replied, “come on Theo, give me that paw.” But Theo decided he’d play the part of the uncooperative cub, refusing to let Petra
take hold of his paws, wriggling, rolling and mewing pitifully to be left alone. Theo, realising how silly he sounded and must have looked, began to laugh
helplessly, his act going to pieces. Petra found Theo’s display hilarious and could not stop laughing long enough to think of how to tackle the problem.
Petra’s laughter was infectious, and Theo soon forgot all about acting and hugged his cub.
“It was silly wasn’t it,” he said, thrusting a paw towards Petra, “let’s get these paws dry.” Petra rubbed Theo’s paws with the towel, vigorously
rubbing the fur on the backs of his paws, then rubbing his pads and toes, working methodically to make sure his paws were completely dry.
“Don’t forget to dry between his toes too,” Tigger advised, “Theo will have sore paws if you don’t. Petra did as Tigger asked, and soon Theo was
dry from nose to tail.
“That was fun!” Petra mewed.
“yes it was,” Theo purred.
Tigger put the towels in the washer, and Theo took Petra’s paw, guiding her into the living room. They found Leo standing over Tembi, whom he’d floored
and now stood over, growling menacingly.
“What has she done now?” Theo asked wearily. He was getting tired of his mate’s antics.
“I am trying to decide what to do with this, this worthless,” Leo snarled, words failing him at the last moment. Leo kicked Tembi with disgust.
Tembi moaned as Leo’s paw, claws sheathed, thudded into her body.
“You force fed your cub, and then used your paws to bring harm to her when she was at the mercy of a dreadful poison!” Leo yelled. Tembi mewed her
protests, but Leo wasn’t listening.
“You will be banished to the concrete shed!” Leo snarled, “to be kept there until you learn to appreciate your cubs and mate! Or maybe by the time
you are let out of there, Theo, Aslan and Petra will have disowned you forever!” Tembi squealed with pain.
“But I love Theo, and Aslan, and Petra!” Tembi wined.
“It’s a pity you don’t show your love for them. If you really love them that is Tembi!” Leo snarled, “Your love for them seems to be in words alone!
If it is, you are the worst kind of lioness, one with no heart and no pity for anyone or anything! You are a disgrace to the community!” Tembi spat
at Leo, Leo bringing his paw down on the lioness’s tail.
“You will be thrown into the concrete shed!” Leo roared, “Salty, help me get her into the shed!” Snowy muzzled Tembi, then Salty and Tigger took
one of Tembi’s forepaws each, Leo and Nanuq a hind each, and Tembi was dragged out of the house and thrown into the shed, where the muzzle was removed
and Tembi was left to her own devices. Theo watched Tembi as she tried to get comfortable on the concrete floor.
“You need to think hard on what you really feel about me and your cubs, for you know we can cope without your help, as we’ve demonstrated this over
the last few weeks. Nanuq and I will look after Aslan and Petra. Meanwhile, you will reside here, to think of where your life is going and whether you
truly love me and your cubs,” Theo said. He then turned and walked away, his paws as heavy as lead. Tembi lay in the concrete shed. This was worse
than the wardrobe, for there was a concrete floor and concrete walls. The door was made of metal, which grated and banged as it was opened or closed.
The shed was cold, very cold, and Tembi’s paws were soon freezing and becoming stiff. She lay Shivering, her coat not designed to withstand the cold.
Miserably, Tembi tried to sleep, but the cold kept her awake. Her paws ached with cold, and soon she couldn’t feel her toes. Tembi had never been so
cold. She felt cold outside and inside. Tembi knew why she’d hit Petra when she was ill, it was because she didn’t understand her. Tembi realised that
she’d gone from being a kind, thoughtful and gentle cub, to a demanding and unobservant adult. Tembi wept as she remembered what she’d done to Petra.
Force feeding the cub was nearly the worst thing she’d ever done in her entire life. The worst was clobbering Petra when she was so dangerously ill.
Tembi buried her face in her cold paws.
“I didn’t take the time to understand you Petra, I’m sorry,” she sobbed. Though Tembi knew just saying she was sorry wouldn’t do much to restore
things. Then there was the question of Theo and what he thought of her. he seemed able to connect with others on a different level to herself, a deeper,
more spiritual and intimate level than she could manage. Theo seemed to connect with others in a way which reassured them, even though it was alien to
most. Tembi admitted to herself she’d been scared of Theo’s inner sight from the moment she’d met him. If he could see into her mind, then why couldn’t
he see she was just a frightened cub when it came to matters which she didn’t understand, that things she didn’t understand frightened her.? Maybe it
was not like that at all.
“Maybe Theo sees I’m scared. He knows how frightened I am, but wants me to conquer my fear. I can’t do that! I can’t believe what I see, what I
feel. It’s not my way, and it’s not the way others round here think either. Theo seems to be able to divine whether animals are telling the truth, is
he that intuitive? Or was the unmasking of Tarker a lucky guess?” Tembi thought.
“Look into my eyes Tembi,” someone said gently. Tembi opened her eyes and saw Theo looking into her face.
“Look into my eyes little cub,” Theo said. In any other setting, Tembi would have torn the paws off anyone who referred to her as “little cub,”
but not here, for she indeed was a cub when it came to Theo and understanding him.
“That’s better,” Theo said gently, “now Tembi, tell me. Do you feel you know all there is to know to rejoin your family and your community? Do
you feel you know everything there is to know?”
“I used to feel that way,” Tembi replied, “I didn’t listen, more like wouldn’t listen really. I refused to listen to you or Petra. I heard your
words, but they were just words to me, meaning nothing, for I thought I knew best.” Tembi suddenly felt her belly tighten as she remembered force feeding
Petra the meat and how upset Theo had been.
“I’m sorry Theo,” she mewed, “Sorry for making you force feed your cub.”
“My cub?” Theo asked softly, “Petra’s not your cub also?”
“No,” Tembi sniffed, “because, because I did things to her which no mother would do! I deliberately made her sick!” Tembi sobbed. Tembi shook
and trembled with emotion.
“I don’t deserve cubs. It’s easy to give birth to cubs, but then you must understand them, and I don’t! I nearly did what my mother wanted. Theo,
I nearly killed Petra!”
“What do you mean you nearly killed Petra?” Theo asked.
“Just that,” Tembi mewed, “after force feeding Petra the meat, I was so furious with her, that, that when I heard Tarker’s plans to put fish oil
in Petra’s food, I helped him do it. Tasting the food to make sure the fish couldn’t be detected. An otters taste is different to a lion’s. So I helped
him! Then when Petra was ill, I ran out with you to be with her, but it wasn’t to comfort her, it was to see if she would die!”
“I felt there was something wrong,” Theo mewed, “but my love for you was so strong that I dismissed my inner feelings as terrible fantasy. Now I
know I should have listened to my own mind. You hit Petra out of frustration with her for not dying, not as a misguided outlet for your fear.” Theo clenched
his paws, digging his toes into the concrete.
“How long have you hated Petra?” Theo asked.
“Ever since she was born,” Tembi admitted, “I only let her nurse because my instincts kicked in. As soon as she refused my milk, then I began to
hate her anew. I can’t help how I feel. Like Elsa, I don’t like white cubs.”
“I can’t let you go anywhere near Petra or Aslan ever again!” Theo growled, “you are a danger to them!”
“I suppose I am,” Tembi replied.
“I can see you are,” Theo said, “I cannot let you stay here any more. Leave now, or I will have to make sure you’re never able to cause any more
harm. You are saying that if you hadn’t helped Tarker with the preparation of the poisonous mix, he’d have failed to get Petra to eat the tainted vegetables?”
Theo asked.
I am saying that,” Tembi replied, “for an otter can’t tell if a lion can taste fish oil. Tarker was all for leaving the fish oil barely seasoned,
but I sent him back to do it again and again until the oil could not be tasted.”
“You are an accessory to attempted murder then,” Theo said.
“There’s no point in trying to cover my back,” Tembi replied, “you know the answer to all that. You’ve known all along what happened Theo! Why
did you not act sooner?”
“Can’t you guess?” Theo asked, his eyes full of tears.
“Your love for me was so great that you hoped I’d reform?” Tembi asked.
“I didn’t know of your collusion with Tarker,” Theo said, “when I saw your anger at Petra, I truly believed it was fear. Then, when Tarker’s involvement
came to light, I began to think, and though I could see Tarker being spiteful enough to carry out such a plan, he could not have carried it out alone,
for ever since Petra’s been eating solid food, it’s been either me or you who have given her meals to her. No otter has ever given Petra a meal, even
though they may have prepared it. That day, you gave Petra her meal, and I thought nothing of it. I knew you were angry with Petra for being a silly
cub, as you saw it, but not to the point of murdering her! I didn’t know what you were doing in the kitchen. If I had, I would have tried to stop you.
Our relationship aside Tembi, why try to kill a defenceless cub? She’s done you no wrong! Petra’s never harmed, nor said anything against you in her
life, and you do this to her. You abuse her trust, her love! I can’t put into words what I feel about you. I’ve failed too Tembi, failed because I didn’t
listen to my instincts where you were concerned. I denied the evidence of my own feelings, and it nearly cost me my cub! I have learned a lesson here,
one which thanks to others I can put into practise. You though, like your mother are murderous lioness’s! You don’t care for cubs that are different
to the norm, you will kill them, but do it in the most horrid way possible, making them and everyone around them suffer! I’ve been in denial, all because
I loved a lioness, who, if she’d loved me, would have left our cub to live in peace.”
“I will leave now then,” Tembi said, “and you’d better get rid of Elsa too!” Indeed Elsa had walked out of the house behind Theo, knowing he’d worked
her out too.
“Both of you will leave now!” Theo yelled. Theo snarled, then roared, chasing Elsa and Tembi from the garden, into the wood and away from the community.
Theo then returned, went sadly into the house and slammed the door. He met Leo in the living room.
“Tembi and Elsa are no longer here Leo,” Theo said, “I have banished them from the community. Leo looked at his brother.
“You Theo have no right to do that!” Leo snarled, “it’s my job! I’m leader here!”
“Leo, Leo, Leo!” Snowy said, “listen to me. You who do not have spiritual connection do not know why we who have it do what we do. Tembi and Elsa
would have murdered Petra for sure if they had the chance, and for what reason, for the fact Petra was a white cub. They don’t love a cub for who they
are, they love them for what they look like. I believe it was only thanks to Aslan’s eyes opening when they did that his life was saved.”
“You mean Tembi would have killed him if she could have?” Leo asked.
“I think she would have done so,” Snowy replied.
“Now we can try and live our lives in peace.”
“so you had to throw them out,” Leo said to his brother, referring to Tembi and Elsa.
“yes Leo, for the safety of my cubs, I did. I’m just, just sorry I didn’t listen to my instincts sooner!”
“You are a young lion with little experience of such things,” someone said. Theo looked round to find Tigger crawling into the room.
“You need to get used to your inner voice and trust it Theo,” Tigger said. Theo looked at the Bengal tiger.
“so what do we do now?” he asked.
“you need to go to Petra and Aslan and lie down with them, play with them, be with them Theo,” Snowy replied.
Theo leaps in with all four paws.
Theo returned to the rug where he and Tembi had spent so many happy hours together. Now Tembi was no longer there, Theo had to put away his feelings towards her. The feelings he could not put away were those of guilt that he, Theo, had not listened to his instincts sooner. Feeling very unhappy, Theo lay down, resting his head on his forepaws. Feeling two cubs lying down next to him, one on either side of him, Theo looked round and saw Petra and Aslan lying beside him. They each took one of Theo’s paws and began to stroke it. Theo felt like telling them he was not worthy of their respect, let alone their love, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to tell them.
“I have something to say to you both,” Theo said hoarsely, “Tembi’s gone from here for good. I sent her away my cubs, she did, horrid, awful things, and I didn’t see what she was doing until it was nearly too late!”
“What things?” Petra asked.
“Oh Petra my dear cub, I can’t tell you those things, for they’re too horrible to tell anyone, let alone a cub. I can’t, can’t say anything, because, it’s too horrible to think of.” Aslan sighed heavily.
“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to Theo,” he said, “for there are some things that no cub should know.”
“Especially what I know,” Theo mewed.
“I’m interested now,” Petra said, still sensing no danger.
“Please Petra, please my cub, don’t ask,” Theo mewed.
“what could Tembi do that could be so horrible as all that?” Aslan asked, “she wasn’t all that bad, a bit misguided yes, but not all that bad.”
“You are her cub Aslan, so you will love her no matter what. But I can’t, not any more. For, she, she did dreadful things, and would have done more dreadful things if Leo and I had not stopped her.”
“What did she do?” Petra asked, come on Theo, it’s surely not that dreadful.”
“Petra my dear, dear cub, it is, it’s the worst thing in the world. Tembi is the most horrible and did the most dreadful things a lioness could ever do. I can’t speak of those things.” Aslan suddenly remembered the upset over Elsa leaving Petra to fend for herself.
“She didn’t throw out a cub she’d given birth to did she?” he asked.
“No,” Theo replied, “look Aslan, Petra, I will tell you both, as you’re so interested, but I wish you hadn’t asked. I wish you’d leave the subject alone! I had to tell you Tembi had been expelled from the community and that she’d done bad things, but I didn’t want to elaborate on those things. You two trust me don’t you?” Petra and Aslan nodded.
“Of course we do,” Petra said, “but we’re interested in what Tembi did to be thrown out. We’re a tolerant community here. Whatever it is, it must be very bad.”
“It’s so bad that neither of you would guess what she did, because your mind wouldn’t let you think of the things Tembi actually was attempting,” Theo replied.
“She didn’t, didn’t try to kill someone did she?” Aslan asked.
“yes Aslan my cub she did,” Theo replied.
“I hope whomever she tried to have killed is okay now,” Petra said. Theo touched her paw.
“She is, but it nearly wasn’t the case,” Theo said.
“Who would Tembi wish to kill here?” Aslan asked.
“I didn’t want to believe it myself,” Theo sniffed, “but, but, she wanted to kill a cub, a cub who did her no wrong.”
“Who’s cub?” Aslan asked.
“Her own,” Theo sobbed, “Her own cub Aslan.”
“You’re saying she wanted to kill Aslan?” Petra asked.
“I don’t know,” Theo replied, “but I think so. She nearly killed another of her cubs though.”
“The only other cub she had was me,” Petra replied, “but I’m not her cub, not really.”
“Yes Petra love,” Theo replied, “Tembi wanted to kill you my cub.” Petra stared at her sire.
“How?” She asked, completely stunned.
“It’s a long story,” Theo sniffed, “when you were very young, Elsa threw you out of her family. Noone wanted you, but after Aslan persuaded Tembi to let you have some of her milk Tembi took you on. what I didn’t know was that she hated you Petra, from the very start she couldn’t stand the sight of you. It was Aslan who talked her round to accepting you. Then when you drank her milk, Tembi’s instincts kicked in and she mothered you. When you refused her milk, as all cubs do in the end, Tembi began to hate you again little cub. Your fish allergy only made things worse, and force feeding you the fish was a way of Tembi punishing you, not making sure you really had an allergy to fish. She knew you did, she was just playing a horrid game. Then you were poisoned little cub. Tarker was the main instigator in this, but it wasn’t just him involved.”
“There were two capybara too,” Aslan said, his mind blank.
“Add to that Tembi, who offered her services as taster for the fish oil to make sure you couldn’t taste it Petra. Tembi knew what Tarker was doing, and aided him in doing it. Tarker wanted to play a very mean practical joke, Tembi wanted to kill. She knew what the fish oil would do to you Petra. When she came running out with me when you were being sick in the garden, it wasn’t out of concern for you, it was to see if you would die. When she hit you too my cub, that wasn’t out of fear, it was out of frustrated rage that someone cared for you enough to stay with you and help you.”
“How awful!” Aslan mewed, “so neither Elsa, nor Tembi wanted Petra?”
“No,” Theo sobbed. The worst of it is, is that I felt there was something wrong, the minute Tembi force fed Petra, and then hit her when she was ill, I thought there was something wrong. I’ve been as bad as Tembi, in that I let my love for her override my instinct. I’ve been negligent in the care of my own cubs! I saw Tarker’s involvement in the poisoning of Petra’s food, but I didn’t look to those closest to me. I’ve failed you both, for I didn’t do my job. I didn’t listen to my inner feelings, and now, now I’ve lost those who are most dear to me.”
“you mean you suspected there was something wrong with what Tembi was doing, but you denied what you were seeing?” Aslan asked.
“Yes Aslan, I did,” Theo cried, “I denied it all, until it was almost too late! Tembi told me what she’d done, as she knew Tigger had all but shown me how to read the minds of animals. She told me she tried to kill Petra! I’ve been blinded by my own love for that horrid lioness!” Theo sobbed.
“so what are we going to do now?” Aslan asked.
“I will leave you two, to, to make your own lives,” Theo said, “for I’m no role model for cubs. I failed to protect my cubs from their worst enemy, and I can’t forgive myself for that.”
“It’s very rare for mothers to kill their cubs,” Aslan said, “so you weren’t expecting it. You saw the best in Tembi Theo, it’s not your fault.”
“I could have seen it coming, if I’d listened to my instinct,” Theo said, “I nearly messed things up, and Petra was nearly killed because I didn’t listen!”
“Theo,” Petra said, “Aslan and I won’t leave you. You’ve been our rock, our friend, the only parent we both have ever really known. We all make mistakes, we all get things wrong. You weren’t watching Tembi in case she started killing her cubs because mother’s don’t usually do that. You can’t be blamed for what happened. I know you intimately Theo, and you are not a bad lion. You are young, and have special abilities which you don’t understand yet. You are only tearing yourself apart now because you know of those abilities and are sorry you didn’t know how to use them, you know now that what they were telling you was the truth, but you didn’t know then. Because of circumstances, you can learn, and I know you have. You are a very special lion Theo, and Aslan and I will stick by you. You don’t need to think of this any more. Come, hug me, hug Aslan, take our paws in yours, stroke them, tickle them. Do what you’ve wanted to do for a long time. Play with us, your cubs.” Aslan and Petra worked their paws beneath Theo’s. Theo’s paws were relaxed, as he’d got no strength left to clench them in fear or rage. Aslan and Petra curled Theo’s toes around their own, so his paws held theirs.
“Come on Theo,” Aslan said, “we want you to play with us.” Theo looked into the eyes of his two cubs.
“I love you both,” he choked. Aslan and Petra nuzzled Theo’s ears, the two cubs snuggling closer to him.
“I want to hug you both, but I don’t deserve to,” Theo sniffed.
“You can hug us, we want you to,” Petra replied.
“Yes Theo,” Aslan said, “Hold us tightly, stroke our ears, caress our paws, hug us forever.” Theo looked at his two cubs.
“Come to me if you want,” he said. Both Petra and Aslan went to Theo, and he embraced each of them.
“Let me take your paw Theo,” Petra said, taking one of his large fat forepaws in both of her tiny ones.
“Let’s both massage his paws Aslan,” Petra mewed. Aslan smiled, licked Theo on the nose, and tickled the pads of the paw he held, making Theo laugh despite his mood.
“time to tickle your paws!” Petra laughed, tickling Theo’s paw until he rolled over, laughing and pedalling the air with his hind paws. Aslan and Petra stroked and massaged Theo’s forepaws.
“You have lovely paws Theo,” Petra said, “lovely, fat, soft, warm, very strokable paws!”
“Agreed,” Aslan said, “in fact, the whole of Theo is pretty much that way.
“I’m not fat!” Theo mewed. Aslan and Petra laughed merrily, stroking the young lion’s paws. Theo purred contentedly, enjoying the loving attention of his cubs. Theo rolled over and embraced his cubs tightly.
“I love you both,” he said, hugging Aslan and Petra tightly.
“More hugs from those fat paws Petra,” Aslan mewed. Petra laughed, throwing her paws round Theo’s neck and hugging him.
“When you hug us,” Petra said to Theo, “Aslan and I can feel the love you have for us in the way your paws caress us Theo.” Theo wiped his eyes with one of the fat paws under discussion.
“I love you both very much,” he said, “I’d go mad if anything happened to you.” Aslan and Petra each took one of Theo’s paws in both of theirs and began to stroke it.
“How’s that?” Aslan asked.
“that’s lovely,” Theo purred, “both of you do a wonderful paw massage.”
“Will you stroke our paws Theo?” Petra asked.
“I will Petra my cub, I will,” Theo mewed. Aslan and Petra tickled Theo’s paws, Theo laughing helplessly.
“I love it!” He whooped.
Theo caught hold of Aslan’s left forepaw with the toes of his hind, the cub surprised at how strong Theo’s hind paws were.
Their play was halted by frantic banging on the front door of the house. Aslan patted the pads of Theo’s paw and his sire released him.
“Let’s see who’s there,” Aslan mewed, running for the door. Leo joined him, and they put the door chain on and opened the door as far as the chain would allow.
Standing on the doorstep was a fat lioness. She was huge! Though Leo knew this was due to her being in cub. She looked at them with desperate eyes.
“Can we help?” Leo asked, now very concerned.
“I don’t know if you’ll want to,” the lioness mewed, easing her weight uncomfortably from paw to paw, “I’m in cub, I think I’m about to give birth, and, and, well. I was pointed here by a lioness who’d just been thrown out of your community, her name was Elsa I believe. It so happens she and I have the same name, for Elsa’s a very popular name among lioness’s. I won’t eat my cubs, I promise you that! I’m just looking, looking for a place, secure place, to have them!” The poor lioness suddenly squatted on her haunches, closed her eyes and sat there, her teeth clenched with pain.
“What’s happening?” Aslan asked. The lioness named Elsa was now gripping the raised step with her forepaws, panting and gasping, while digging her toes into the concrete as she fought to control the birth of her cubs.
“Aslan looked at Leo, who’s face was stony cold.”
“We can’t help her,” Leo said, “I won’t have another lioness with that name in this house, do you hear Aslan!” Aslan drew himself up to his full height, which wasn’t much, and stared Leo down.
“We can’t let her have her cubs out there, not now she’s begged our help!” Aslan yelled, “this poor lioness can’t help her mother’s choice of name, nor can she help the conduct of the lioness whom we’ve just thrown out. We need to help her, for, in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s close to having her cubs!” Leo banged the carpet with his paw!
“I’m not, not not! Letting that dammed lioness in here!” he roared, “she can have her disgusting cubs in the garden! Escort her round there!”
“She won’t be able to make it Leo,” Theo said, for he’d followed Aslan and his leader out into the hallway.
“How would you know!” Leo snapped, “those lioness’s can cross their hind legs if they want to, she can cope!” The poor lioness was panting and pawing at the concrete in an attempt to distract herself from the increasing pain and need to give birth to her cubs. Claws extended, she scrabbled at the raised concrete step with both paws.
“I can’t watch this!” Leo yelled, “do what you have to, just don’t bring her into the house!” Theo snarled at his brother, angry with him for the first time in years.
“You horrid creature Leo!” he growled, “how dare you turn away an animal in distress!” Now Elsa’s distress was acute, she could feel her cubs coming, and she knew that if she didn’t get somewhere safe soon, she’d have her cub on the path outside the house.
Leo turned to Theo and glared at him.
“You deal with this!” he snapped, “if I hear anything, anything! I will rip your paws off, as well as the lioness’s, and those of her born cubs! Do you understand?” Theo wasn’t listening. Pushing past Leo, he took the lioness’s paw and guided her into the house, Leo and Aslan making way for them, Leo giving Theo angry looks the whole time.
“Can I come and help?” Aslan asked.
“No Aslan, I’d rather you didn’t,” Theo purred, “I will tell you when you can come upstairs. Theo led Elsa into the house, the lioness finding walking difficult. Panting and gasping, Elsa stumbled along the hallway and mounted the stairs.
“My cubs are very close!” She panted, “I don’t know if I can make it up the stairs! What if I have a cub on the stairs!”
“I will follow you up,” Theo said gently, “that way I can catch the cub if it arrives.” Elsa couldn’t help laughing at this, despite the pain.
“Now Elsa,” Theo purred, “one step at a time, take it easy, lift one paw, then another, then another until you are up the stairs. If you need to brace yourself against the stairs and push, you do that, don’t worry about anything. It doesn’t matter if you have your cubs here, or in the cubbing den, just take your time.” Elsa started up the stairs, and now she felt calmer, her labour seemed to ease a little, making her climb easier. Once she was up the stairs, Elsa crawled the rest of the way. Theo didn’t walk beside her, he got down and crawled like she was doing, so he was nose to nose, paw to paw with Elsa, giving her support the whole way. Elsa realised this lion must have done this kind of thing before, or if he hadn’t, he must have learned from talking to other animals. They crawled along, Theo keeping an eye on Elsa the whole time. When she stopped to allow a contraction to spend itself, so did Theo. When she curled her toes into the carpet and clenched her teeth, so did he, encouraging her all the way.
“You’re all but having a cub there,” Elsa panted. Theo smiled.
“I’ve done this before,” he said, “the cub you saw by the front door is my cub. I helped my mate have her cubs, that’s how I know about all this.” Elsa took Theo’s paw and held it. While she was doing this, a savage contraction gripped her, forcing her to crush Theo’s paw in hers!
“Go on, squeeze away!” Theo encouraged as Elsa groaned her way through the contraction. Once it was over, she and Theo began crawling towards the cubbing den, which had been moved into a disused large broom cupboard since Elsa’s cubs had been born. Theo and Clarence had kept a permanent set up there, just in case. Now it was going to be put to good use.
“I’m sorry for putting you through all this,” Elsa mewed between contractions.
“that’s okay,” Theo replied, gently stroking her paw. “Please promise me this Elsa,” Theo continued, “promise me you won’t worry about me during the birth of your cubs. You can crush my paws, stamp your paws, mew, yell, bang the carpet with your paws, kick the wall, even kick me if I get on your nerves. Just do what you feel like doing while you’re having your cubs, don’t worry about me.” Elsa hugged Theo, her movement triggering another contraction which she spent clinging to Theo, her face buried in his mane, mewing and crying. Theo returned Elsa’s hug, the touch of his well padded paws comforting the labouring lioness. Elsa panted and mewed as she came down from the contraction.
“I tried, tried not to screech with pain,” Elsa said, “as my mouth was inches from your ear Theo.” Theo patted Elsa’s paw.
“Let’s get into the cubbing den,” he suggested, leading Elsa into the den by guiding her by one of her sweat soaked forepaws. Elsa padded in, her whole body soaked with sweat, and the labour wasn’t even at its peak yet.
“I’ve always been a wimp when it comes to cubbing,” Elsa said, “I’m not good with pain Theo.” Theo licked her ear.
“I will help, or not, whatever you want,” he replied. Elsa lay down, settling herself as comfortably as she could.
“I will stay here for as long as you want me,” Theo said, “if you want me to leave you to have your cubs alone, I will do that if you want.”
“|No,” Elsa mewed, “let’s get through this together. I’ve barged into your home, and feel bad enough about that. You can stay while I have my cubs Theo.” Theo stroked Elsa’s paw, it was hot, her pads damp with sweat.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Theo said gently, “just do what you want to do.” Elsa closed her eyes as another contraction tore through her.
“It’s time to start pushing!” She yelled, “I want to, want to push Theo!” Theo held Elsa’s paw as she bore down against her cubs, all the while groaning and lashing out with desperate paws. Theo felt her claws gripping his fur.
“It’s nearly over Elsa,” Theo mewed, “just a bit more!” Elsa mewed and pawed at Theo, retracting her claws as she came down from her expulsive effort.
“it’s going to be like this all the way now,” Theo said to Elsa, who, in reply, mewed with fear and pain.
“I think I might know something that could help,” Theo said.
“Try anything, Anything!” Elsa gasped. Theo began to massage Elsa’s paw, Elsa immediately relaxing as her pain was dulled by the massage.
“this is good!” Elsa mewed, “but I must push again!” Theo felt Elsa’s paw clench in anticipation of dreadful pain as the contraction built in her. When she realised the pain wasn’t as bad, Elsa closed her eyes, took a deep breath and pressed down harder than she’d ever done before, bullying the cub into the world! Elsa yelled with triumph as she felt the cub really begin to move.
“that’s it!” she panted, “more like that, and the cubs will be born soon! I want to push like that again!”
“You can,” Theo replied, still calm, still massaging Elsa’s paw. Elsa suddenly became tense:
“I can hear someone coming up the stairs!” she mewed, panting with anxiety. Then there was fierce banging on the door!
“I told you to keep that bloody noise down!” Leo yelled. Theo ignored his brother.
“I warned you Theo, keep that bloody lioness quiet! Muzzle her if you have to!” Leo bellowed. Elsa began to mew with fear, her anxiety bringing on a strong contraction, which she couldn’t control! Screeching with pain, she crushed Theo’s paw, the young lion holding her close with his free forepaw, while Elsa buried her head in his mane in an attempt to muffle her cries of pain.
“Tell him to go away!” she pleaded when she could speak.
“I don’t want to hear any more!” Leo yelled, banging on the door with the flat of his paw.
“Well shove off downstairs and you won’t have to will you!” Theo replied, now furious with his brother.
“You and that bloody lioness will pay dearly for disobeying my orders!” Leo roared.
“My first cub isn’t even born yet, and this happens,” Elsa mewed, her whole body shaking with fear.
“Nothing will happen to you Elsa my dear,” Theo replied calmly, “Leo hates cubbing, he won’t come in here.” Leo suddenly tore the door open! Elsa screamed with fear and tried to curl into a ball on the soft rug. This brought on contractions which had Elsa stretched out full length, screaming with fear and pain, pedalling the air and clawing at the rug with all four paws. Leo looked into the cubbing den, his anger at Theo and Elsa peaking. He strode in and stood over Theo.
“You keep that bloody lioness quiet!” he roared, the sound of Leo’s voice and Elsa’s screaming and clawing paws filling the small space. Theo looked up at his brother, seemingly unconcerned by his outburst.
“You don’t understand do you Leo,” Theo sighed,, acting as if Elsa wasn’t there beside him, struggling to have her cubs, “you will never understand what cubbing is. It’s painful, hard, strenuous work, and a lioness is going to make a lot of noise while she has her cubs.” Elsa watched the two lions, her observation cut short by another crushing pain. Squealing with agony, Elsa closed her eyes and groped with her forepaws for the first paw she could find. Leo yelled with anger and surprise as Elsa’s forepaws closed over one of his, gripping and crushing it! Elsa moaned and wriggled, for her first cub was close to being born and she was now more uncomfortable than ever. ~Leo tugged at his paw, eager to get away, but Elsa’s paws gripped his with vice like strength.
“Let go of my paw!” Leo snarled, beating and clawing at Elsa’s paws with his free one. Elsa was in a world of her own, a world of pain and fear.
“I can see the cub’s forepaws Elsa!” Theo mewed softly, stroking the lioness’s left hind paw. Elsa no longer cared about the fact she had Leo’s forepaw gripped in hers, Theo massaging her hind paw and making sure she kept pushing hard to deliver her cubs were all that mattered to her. Leo’s paw was a good anchor, and Elsa held on with desperate strength.
“That’s it,” Theo soothed as Elsa clenched and relaxed the paw he held, her toes scratching his pads, “you are doing very well Elsa. Now let that cub come, don’t push, let it come gently, gently, gently. Elsa panted, feeling the cub slide into the world. Theo watched, ignoring Leo, who had closed his eyes and thrust his free paw into his mouth to stop himself being physically sick.
“the cub’s body’s nearly out now,” Theo purred, stroking Elsa’s hind paw as she panted and mewed with pain and fear.
“I want to push Theo, I must!” Elsa panted.
“Just a little push then,” Theo said softly, “that’s it, good one Elsa.” Elsa felt the first cub slide completely free.
“One cub Elsa dear,” Theo said gently. Elsa mewed a reply, but she was consumed with the urge to deliver more cubs. Theo knew he had to clean the cub up, but Elsa needed him. Looking at Leo, he said:
“Leo, take the toes of that paw out of your mouth and help me clean this cub up will you?” Leo shook his head violently.
“Elsa,” Theo said, “before you have that second cub, please, release my brother’s paw, I think he wants to leave now.” Elsa took a deep breath and let go of Leo’s paw, the huge lion turning tail and bolting in a blind panic.
“That’s got rid of him,” Theo purred, making Elsa laugh. Theo set to work cleaning Elsa’s first cub up, while Elsa concentrated on controlling her urge to birth another cub. Once the tiny newborn cub was drinking busily from Elsa’s milk supply, Theo returned to Elsa, took one of her forepaws and began to stroke it, while the lioness got on with birthing another cub. With help from Theo’s paw massage, Elsa gave birth to another cub. She found that now she wasn’t frightened any more, the labour didn’t hurt as much, and she could obey her body’s will without fear.
“Come on Elsa!” Theo urged, “just one more push, make it a big one!” Elsa settled her paws, one of which was in Theo’s, took a deep breath and bore down hard! The cub slowly emerged into the world, for it was a large one. Elsa kept pushing, bracing her paws against Theo’s and the rug, willing her cub to be born. Theo saw that Elsa’s cub was too big for her to give birth to unaided. All her effort had only brought the cub’s forepaws and legs into the open. when Elsa exerted herself to her maximum, Theo could see the cub’s nose, but it would always slip back when she relaxed. Elsa was now thinking the same thing as Theo. She’d had one litter of cubs before, and knew by the feel of things that she had a large cub.”
“I’m going to pull the cub while you push,” Theo said softly to Elsa, who waved a weary paw in assent. Theo dried the cub’s slippery paws on a corner of the rug and then grabbed hold of its paws.
“They’re large like mine,” he thought as he felt the cub’s paws in his.
“Now Elsa, when you push, I’ll pull gently,” Theo said. Elsa mewed a reply, then pushed hard! Theo pulled gently, Elsa’s hind paws scrabbling at his fur throughout, finally finding purchase on the rug with the toes of one hind paw and holding on to it with them for dear life, which indeed it was. Theo pulled gently on the cub’s paws, then, when its head and part of it’s body emerged and he could grasp the cub’s body, Theo did, guiding the cub into the world while Elsa, with clenched teeth and the toes of all four paws curled into the rug, fought to have her cub.
Meanwhile, Elsa’s other cub had finished his drink and was eagerly listening to the goings on, fascinated by what was happening. Lion cubs are blind at birth, so the cub couldn’t see anything, but he could hear, and could feel too. Exploring with his tiny paws, he found Elsa’s left hind paw, the toes of which were curled into the rug. Feeling something touching her paw, Elsa looked round, to find one of her cubs exploring the pads of her paw with his. Elsa mewed to the cub to leave her paw alone, as he might get hurt. The cub patted the pads of Elsa’s paw, as if he understood her and crawled towards Theo, who was teasing the larger cub’s hind legs into the world under pressure from Elsa. The cub’s legs came free, and then, with one final mewing, hissing, spitting effort from Elsa, so did the cub’s hind paws. Elsa lay back, Exhausted and relieved while Theo cleaned up the second cub. Elsa’s first cub crawled to her head and touched her nose with his paw. Elsa smiled, licked the cub’s nose and took him in her paws, hugging him. Theo was fighting with the larger of the two cubs, who objected to his attempt at grooming her, pawing at his nose and spitting at him when she felt his tongue on her fur. Theo managed to clean the cub up, and she angrily spat at him and crawled over to Elsa, smacking her paw and mewing that she might have been born only a few minutes, but she knew one thing for sure, and that was that she absolutely hated the lion who’d licked her dry.
“don’t say things like that,” Elsa pleaded, “it’s not nice, and anyway, that lion’s the one who saved your life little one.”
“yeah sister, so stop complaining,” the first cub snarled, whacking his larger sibling with one tiny forepaw. The female cub angrily drank her milk, Elsa looking over at Theo with a pained expression.
“I’ll go find you a drink Elsa dear,” Theo said. Elsa stopped him with a raised paw.
“Theo,” she said, “come here,” Theo went to her and Elsa hugged him tightly.
“Thank you Theo,” she mewed, nuzzling his ear and stroking his paws, “I couldn’t have done it without you here. You are the best of lions, not just knowing your stuff like you do, but caring, caring so deeply for me and my cubs.” Theo, now knowing everything would be okay, let the emotion of the last few hours take over, and wept into Elsa’s fur. Elsa and Theo cried together for a few minutes.
“That’s lovely to see,” Someone said. Everyone, including Elsa’s newborn cubs, turned at the sound of the voice. Theo saw a white paw waving at him from a high shelf at the back of the cupboard. Recognising the paw, Theo yelled:
“Petra, what the hell are you doing here!”
“As soon as |I saw what was happening at the front door, I knew you wouldn’t turn the lioness away, so I ran up here and hid. I knew you’d both come up here, so I stayed and watched everything!”
“Come down here!” Theo snarled, though his heart wasn’t in it. He knew Petra had wanted to see a cubbing for a long time, and now she’d seen one.
“It’s a pity Aslan didn’t just take the chance and come up here too,” Petra said, leaping down from her hiding place.
“There you are wrong little sister,” Aslan mewed, emerging from a pile of rugs at the back of the broom cupboard.
“both of you?” Theo asked.
“Um, yeah, looks like it,” Aslan mewed, making Petra and Elsa laugh helplessly.
“I don’t know whether to cuff you both for disobeying my request not to come up here, or to be glad to see you,” Theo mewed.
“I’d take the second option,” Elsa said.
“Our Theo’s the best in the world when it comes to helping lioness’s give birth to their cubs,” Petra announced, as if Elsa didn’t already know. Elsa smiled at the way Petra spoke.
“It’s as if he’s the only parent you have,” she said, “where’s your mum?” Petra looked upset:
“That was why Leo got furious with you downstairs,” she mewed Sadly, “my mum abandoned me and Aslan.” Theo didn’t correct Petra’s misreading of events, for she was basically right, as far as she was concerned anyway. He didn’t wish to tell why Tembi had been thrown out yet.
“that aside,” Aslan said, “being here while you had your cubs Elsa was wonderful! Elsa smiled, remembering how Theo helped her through it all.
“Your sire,” she said, “is the most wonderful lion I’ve ever met.
“We think so too!” Petra and Aslan mewed in unison, falling about with laughter when they realised what they’d done.
Meanwhile, down in the living room, Leo was furious!
“How dare they make noise like that!” he blustered to snowy, who ignored him.
“Are you listening snowy?” Leo asked, shaking the snow tigress, who’d relaxed, letting her entire body go limp. Snowy’s head lolled and her paws were flaccid as Leo touched her. Now terrified, Leo began whacking Snowy and yelling at her.
“Snowy! Snowy!” While he was at this, Snowy suddenly whipped round and sank her teeth into his paw! Leo screamed with pain and fear!
“Your ranting about Theo and Elsa infuriates me!” Snowy yelled, “You make me want to die of boredom Leo! Theo’s right, you’re wrong! Who cares whether the lioness has the same name as one we’ve just expelled? She needed help, and Theo gave her help! You are a horrid creature Leo!”
“That lioness got hold of my paw and crushed it during her labour!” Leo whimpered.
“And why was that?” Snowy asked, “because you interfered with what she and Theo were doing Leo! I wish you’d left well alone!”
“Where are Petra and Aslan?” Nanuq asked.
“Up with Elsa and Theo,” Hop along replied, “I saw them run up to the cubbing den just before Theo and Elsa got there.”
“I hope they hid well, or Theo’s going to be furious!” Leo snarled.
“I don’t think he will be as angry as all that,” snowy replied, “he loves his cubs dearly, and won’t mind them seeing him doing what he does best. He might be a little put out, but not unduly so.” Leo looked down at his paws, now realising he’d put his paw in it with Snowy. Maybe he wasn’t the leader he thought he was. Maybe, just maybe, Theo was the one who should lead the community. For he’d had the most sense in this matter.
Meanwhile, Elsa, Theo and their cubs were playing together, Elsa’s female cub having forgotten her dislike of Theo, and found him playful, rather like an overgrown cub really. She rolled on the rugs with him, batting at his whiskers and tickling his huge paws, which everyone had a go at, as noone, not even Elsa, could resist the temptation to tickle the young lion’s fat paws. A temptation which Theo was delighted to indulge, letting them tickle his paws until he was weak with laughter.
“Now we’ve exhausted Theo,” Petra said, “let’s start on Elsa!” The four cubs launched an assault on Elsa’s paws, tickling her until she was worn out.
Tired from play, the cubs snuggled down close to Theo and Elsa, feeling equally close to both of them. Elsa and Theo caressed the paws of whichever cubs were closest to them, neither minding if they were stroking the other’s cubs. Theo slept with his paws holding those of Petra and Elsa’s male cub, Elsa sleeping with her paws caressing those of Aslan and her own female cub. During their sleep, Tigger crept into the cupboard and removed all the dirty bedding from where Theo had rolled it up near the door before replacing it with fresh from the pile in which Aslan had hidden. Tigger knew what had gone on, and paused briefly beside Theo after completing his task, touching the young lion’s paw with his.
“Well done Theo my friend,” Tigger whispered. Tigger left on silent paws, closing the door behind him.
The leadership contest.
Elsa woke in the early morning. Looking round her, she could see Theo and his two cubs, as well as her own two cubs.
“It seems strange that only yesterday, I was struggling to walk through a wood, my cubs soon to be born, and now, now my cubs are here, I’ve been given the most wonderful care by a lion whom I’ve never met before, and I’ve even met his two cubs. I am more grateful to Theo than I can put into words,” Elsa thought. Elsa heard other animals stirring and moving about in the rest of the house. Elsa could hear some were animals with small paws, others with large paws moving about the house. Suddenly the door opened a crack and an ear was put to the gap. Elsa was surprised to see the ear belonged to a tiger! Mewing with fear, she curled up in a frightened heap on the floor. Hearing her mew, Tigger whispered:
“Elsa, Elsa my dear, it’s all right, I won’t harm you or your cubs.” Elsa heard the tiger’s voice, and it was gentle. It didn’t mean its owner was though, and Elsa remained curled tight.
“I wondered if anyone wanted a bath, that was all,” the tiger purred.
“Who are you?” Elsa whispered faintly.
“My name’s Tigger,” the tiger replied.
“Tigger?” Elsa asked, “Why, I was told about you, Tembi, another lioness with the one who told me about this place told me about a tiger of that name.”
“That’s me,” Tigger purred.
“She said you were the gentlest tiger anyone could meet, with the softest paws and most gentle manner of any animal here. Though how anyone can be more gentle than Theo I don’t know,” Elsa said.
“Ah, Theo,” Tigger purred, the lion’s name seemingly spoken with a kind of reverence, “you have a good friend there Elsa my brave lioness, a very good friend. He will stick by you through everything.”
“I felt he would,” she mewed, now tearful, “|I felt it the minute he took my paw in the hallway to lead me up here.”
“I know him,” Tigger mewed, “Theo’s wonderful.”
“And so say all of us,” Petra mewed. She got to her paws and opened the door, to Elsa’s great alarm!
“No Petra, no!” she growled, “that Tiger’s,,,”
“That Tiger?” Petra replied, “watch this!” With that she went up to Tigger and tickled his left forepaw. Tigger smiled, rolled onto his back and caressed Petra in his paws.
“That’s who you’re scared of,” Petra said. Elsa got to her paws and examined the tiger. Tigger was magnificent to look at, but there was something wrong. He never looked at her, not once.
“Tigger’s blind,” Petra mewed, realising what Elsa was confused about.
“Oh,” Elsa said, “now wondering how she was going to approach Tigger. He’d seemed so confident when talking to her earlier.
“Come here Elsa my dear,” Tigger said. Elsa went to the blind tiger and Tigger released Petra, before Enveloping Elsa in a huge tiger sized hug. Elsa found herself cuddling into the tiger’s soft warm fur. She recognised a sudden feeling she had, which was the same security as with Theo, the same love for her. This, like Theo’s, wasn’t contrived, it was genuine. Tigger felt, like Theo, that Elsa was the only one who mattered to him that moment. He gave his all to her.
“You two are wonderful,” Elsa mewed, “such safe warm paws, I feel so safe!”
“That’s because you are Elsa my pet,” Tigger mewed. This brought tears to Elsa’s eyes, and when Tigger nuzzled her cheek, Elsa let the tears flow, for she now knew what it was to be safe, safe in the paws of the huge tiger.
“You are safe here Elsa,” Theo mewed, “Tigger and I will keep you and your cubs safe.” Elsa buried her face in Tigger’s fur, breathing in his scent.
“I’m one lucky lioness,” she sniffed.
“We love you for being yourself,” Theo purred. Elsa looked at Theo.
“thank you again for helping me yesterday Theo,” she said. Theo crawled up to Elsa, touched her nose with his, then licked it. Elsa returned his gesture.
“Now I will have to deal with Leo,” Theo spat, “that bloody lion!”
“Leo’s, um, your brother?” Elsa asked, “the same one who’s paw I caught hold of during my labour yesterday?”
“the same,” Aslan said, “he’s a bully, a proper bully!”
“He was badly upset by the lioness called Elsa whom you met in the woods, and projected his anger onto you as you have the same name as her,” Petra mewed, “it’s awful!”
“I’m not her!” Elsa wailed, “I’m not her!”
“We know that,” Tigger said gently, “but Leo’s a stupid idiot. He’s too out of touch, too remote. He won’t even give a cub the time of day any more. Now some of us will roll on the carpet with the cubs and play with them.”
“Theo for example!” ~Elsa’s female cub mewed, “we tickled his paws until he was weak from laughing yesterday Tigger.” Tigger smiled.
“That’s wonderful,” he purred.
“What was that you came in here to ask us about?” Elsa asked.
“Oh yes,” Tigger replied, “the bath. Anyone want one?”
“What’s, um, a bath?” Elsa asked.
“It’s a large pool of water, and it massages your paws,” Tigger mewed. Elsa smiled:
“Massages your paws?” She asked, “like Theo does?”
“um, not as well as he does, but yes,” Tigger mewed. Theo grinned and playfully swiped at Tigger’s paw with his.
“You pay me too bigger complement Tiggie,” Theo mewed. Tigger smiled:
“so who wants a bath?” He asked. Both Elsa’s cubs leapt at the chance, so did Petra and Aslan. They all turned to Elsa, who thought for a minute, then nodded.
“Can we bath newborn cubs though?” Petra asked.
“You were when you were only a few days old,” Tigger replied, “I will take it gently though, dry the cubs off thoroughly, that kind of thing.”
Where is the bathroom in this house?” Elsa asked.
“Downstairs, through the living room, and kitchen, and it’s there,” Tigger mewed.
“Is, that, that horrid huge lion going to be anywhere near us when we go there?” Elsa asked.
“Leo will be there,” Tigger replied, “but not in the bathroom, as he’s never had a bath in his life. He’ll be in the living room no doubt.” Elsa looked at Theo.
“Don’t worry Elsa my dear,” Theo purred, “I’ll tell him that if he says anything, anything! I will rip his paws off.”
“That’s what he said to you while I was struggling up the stairs before the birth of my cubs,” Elsa mewed.
“Exactly,” Theo said.
Elsa, Theo, Tigger and the four cubs trooped down the stairs, their paws making a scuffling swishing sound as they crawled. Reaching the living room, Theo fixed Leo with a, “don’t say anything,” look as the huge lion caught sight of them. Leo, still shaken by his experience in the cubbing den, averted his eyes from Elsa, who refused to look at him.
“It’s a long way to the bathroom,” Elsa’s largest cub said. Her smallest cub, a male cub, cuffed his sister and told her not to be such a big cub over it. This made everyone laugh, including Leo.
“We’ve got a jester in the household, and he’s only a few hours old,” Salty mewed. Elsa’s male cub turned an ear towards Salty. He could sense the size of the snow leopard, and that he meant noone any harm. By now the procession had reached the bathroom, and Theo marshalled Elsa and the cubs round him, while Tigger sorted the bathtub. They’d recently had a new tub installed, with a proper whirlpool come massage facility. The tub was massive! Large enough for two adult cats, or one polar bear and a cub or two to bathe together. Many animals said it was installed so that Tigger could bath animals faster, and that this would lead to a drop in the service quality, but it didn’t seem to have happened that way. Tigger turned the taps on with one paw, the taps having long handles on them. It was said that these handles helped humans with poor grip or arthritis to turn the taps on, but Tigger knew nothing about these things. All he knew was that he could operate the taps and everything else with one paw, which was much better for him. Once he’d mixed the water flowing from the tap to a warm temperature by first running the cold tap, then adding hot until he was satisfied, , Tigger pressed down on the plug with one hind paw, for he’d got into the bath to turn the taps. Tigger leapt out of the bath and mischievously placed a wet forepaw on the nose of Elsa’s youngest cub, who squealed with surprise and batted at his paw.
“Hey!” She mewed. Tigger embraced her in his huge paws, the lion cub snuggling into his hug. Elsa watched the water filling the bath. It looked invitingly warm. The sound of huge paws coming nearer made Elsa and the cubs turn to see who was approaching. The largest polar bear any of them had ever seen came into the bathroom. Elsa was about to defend her cubs from it, when the bear raised a huge paw to stop her.
“It’s okay, I’m not a threat!” The bear said.
“Ah Nanuq,” Tigger mewed, “it’s good to see you my friend.”
“I’m sorry Tigger,” Nanuq said, “but have I walked in on something?”
“You know there was a kafuffle about a lioness in labour yesterday afternoon?” Tigger asked.
“Well, Yes,” Nanuq replied, now very concerned, “how is she? Did she have her cubs in the end? Are they all right? Is she okay? “I, I saw Leo go storming upstairs, and I heard mewing, yelling, and crying. Not to mention banging and scrabbling. Leo came down looking very frightened. Please Tigger, Tell me everything’s all right!”
Elsa realised this polar bear was really concerned, almost frantic with worry.
“Tigger had nothing to do with the actual birth of the lioness’s cubs,” Aslan said, “Theo did.”
“Theo?” Nanuq asked, “but, but, he’s scared of cubbing, he wouldn’t get involved with that, would he?”
“Yes I would,” Theo purred, “I got involved with Elsa’s labour, and the birth of her cubs. As to whether she and her cubs are all right, take a look for yourself. The lioness who challenged you when you came in here is the very one whom you saw struggling up the stairs and whom you heard yelling and mewing.” Nanuq looked into Elsa’s face. Elsa now saw the genuine concern the huge polar bear had for her and her cubs.
“I’m fine now sir,” Elsa said, all defensiveness gone. She found she couldn’t meet the polar bear’s gaze, ending up looking down at the floor, focusing on the paws of her youngest cub.
“You don’t need to be frightened of him Elsa dear,” Tigger said, turning off the taps. Tigger then dipped a paw into a barrel and scooped up a huge pawful of bath oils and salts which he threw into the water. Turning on the whirlpool and massage function, he let the water do the work of mixing in the salts and oil. He was glad he didn’t have to do this himself any more.
“Nearly done,” Tigger said.
“A real operation you’ve got here,” Theo remarked to Tigger.
“yes Theo, you’re right there,” Tigger replied, “but it’s how I’ve always wished it to be.”
“Nanuq,” Elsa said, “I’m okay, honestly. Theo was wonderful, helping me bring my cubs into the world. He was so gentle.” Nanuq looked at Theo.
“Well done Theo,” he said. Then, turning to the room in general:
“Anyone want a drink?” Everyone accepted Nanuq’s offer, and the polar bear soon returned with water for the cubs and milk for the adult animals. Elsa drank deeply, realising she was thirsty and hungry.
“What do we do for food here?” she asked.
“it’s fish and veg mix usually,” Nanuq replied, “though Petra here only has vegetables. She’s got a meat allergy.”
“Meat allergy?” Elsa asked, “how can a lion cub have a meat allergy?”
“I do,” Petra replied, “though I don’t know how I got it. Any kind of meat makes me violently sick.” Elsa looked round the assembled lions. She stopped when her eye fell on Petra, the cub was white all over!
“I’ve only just noticed this,” she said, “but Petra, you’re white all over!” Petra smiled.
“that I am,” she replied.
“how,” Elsa asked.
“It’s a condition called leucism,” Petra replied.
“Like Albinism?” Elsa asked.
“No,” Petra replied.
“here comes the science bit, concentrate,” Theo mewed, making Tigger, Elsa and Nanuq laugh.
“Albinism means that there’s no pigment in the skin, fur, paw pads, lips or eyes of an animal, also albinism can affect an animals sight in certain ways. Leucism is a lack of pigment in the skin and fur, though the pads of the paws, lips and eyes still have correct colouration,” Petra said.
“You memorised that,” Aslan mewed.
“Kalahari told me,” Petra replied, “I can’t read yet.” Elsa was fascinated.
“Petra, please, would you let me look at the sole of one of your paws?” Petra obligingly lifted her right forepaw from the floor and turned it to let Elsa look at it. Elsa saw Petra’s pads were black, and when the cub extended her claws, that they were black too.”
“It’s a misconception to say animals with leucism are white from their nose to their toes,” Theo said, “for they’re not.” Elsa patted the pads of Petra’s paw.
“now time for a bath,” Tigger said, turning to the assembled animals, “who will go first?” Elsa held up her paw.
“I will,” she said. Tigger knew why the lioness had volunteered.
“Okay,” he said, “but it’s perfectly safe Elsa.” Elsa nodded.
“I know,” she said, “you have all been so good to me and my cubs, I know it’s safe, but it’s instinctive to be wary of a new thing.” Tigger nodded.
“come,” he said, beckoning her over to him, “one paw at a time, take it gently.” Elsa placed her left forepaw into the bath first, then her right, then her left hind, then her right. The water massaged her paws, and this felt wonderful to Elsa.
“Why not lie down in the water,” Tigger suggested.
“Oh yes, yes please!” Elsa mewed, getting down as low in the water as she could, so that her nose was the only thing above the surface of the water. Elsa felt the water massaging her from her ears to the pads of her paws, it felt wonderful! Elsa suddenly took a deep breath and plunged her head beneath the water. The water roared in her ears, and was as strange to her as it had been to Aslan the first time he’d tried it.
Tigger waited for Elsa to come up for air, then said:
“Now I’m going to try something on you. I’m going to shampoo your fur. Elsa hadn’t had this done before, but accepted it, as she now felt these animals had her and her cubs best interests at heart. Tigger used a pump action dispenser to squirt a special kind of fur shampoo into his paw. He used this shampoo so that if any got into the animal’s eyes, it wouldn’t hurt so much, even though Tigger was very careful. Tigger began to massage the shampoo into Elsa’s fur, the sensation of Tigger’s paws working the shampoo in was very pleasurable to the lioness. Purring, Elsa relaxed as Tigger worked the shampoo into her fur from just above her eyes, which she’d closed,, to the end of her tail, and down her legs to the soles of her paws. Elsa felt Tigger take all four of her paws, one by one, in his and work the shampoo between her pads and toes. It felt fantastic! Once Every part of her was shampooed, Tigger washed the shampoo off with as much care as he’d taken when applying it. This was also as pleasurable to Elsa as the initial shampooing had been. Tigger worked his toes into the fur on Elsa’s back, belly, legs and paws, working gently but firmly to get rid of all the shampoo. The water was warm, Tigger’s paws were gentle but thorough, and Elsa felt at peace. Elsa’s bath finished much too soon, even though she’d been in it for about an hour, Tigger giving her the full treatment. Now it was time for her largest cub to be bathed in a similar manner. Elsa stood flat footed and uneasy when Tigger told her she should go into the kitchen and wait there to be dried off.
“I’d rather not,” she said, “for I would like to keep an eye on my cubs.” Tigger banged the side of the tub with one paw in frustration at himself, frightening Elsa’s youngest cub, who was standing in the water. Tigger had forgotten how young Elsa’s cubs were, they were only a few hours old, and she was very protective over them.
“I’m sorry Elsa,” Tigger said, “I’m being a total idiot over this. I forgot for an instant how young your cubs are.” Elsa, still slightly fearful, growled a reply, but Theo laid his paw gently on hers, soothing the lioness’s mind.
“I will dry you off here,” Theo said, picking up a towel and quite without thinking, throwing it over Elsa’s head to dry her neck, ears and face. Elsa, her vision now obscured by the towel, screamed and lashed out at Theo in a blind panic! Theo felt her paws scrabbling at his face as he tried to dry her off.
“Let me out of here!” Elsa begged, thrashing and kicking. Theo received the full benefit of Elsa’s fear driven strength as the panic stricken lioness lashed out with one of her forepaws, her paw smashing into his nose! Theo recoiled, dropping the towel which fell from Elsa’s face, the lioness ripping it to shreds in her fear.
“Elsa, Elsa!” Theo pleaded. Elsa looked at him, her eyes full of fear and terror.
“My cubs, my cubs!” she gasped, “where are my cubs! What have you done with them!” Theo then realised the mistake he’d made.
“Elsa, I’m so, so sorry,” he said, “your cubs are fine, but I shouldn’t have thrown the towel over your head without warning you first. I’m not doing very well here. Elsa was about to snap at Theo, to tell him he was a bonehead and an idiot for not realising this, when she calmed down at the sight of her cubs, which were now both in the bath, Tigger having put the smaller male cub in with his sister, as they wanted to be together. Tigger had then clambered in with them, and was washing them while they did their best to splash him in play.
“You never throw a towel over the head of a new mother!” Tigger remonstrated with Theo, “she will want full sight of her cubs at all times.” Theo dragged away the destroyed towel and binned it. He then told Kalahari what had taken place, so the meerkat could chalk up a reminder to the boss to get a new towel as one had been destroyed by an irate lioness. The boss was used to such reminders, and often used something called the internet to order things for the house.
Kalahari and the other animals cared little for this internet however, as it didn’t concern them.
Back in the bathroom, Theo, after being advised by Tigger on how to dry Elsa’s head and neck. The advice being, “let her do it,” Theo managed to dry the rest of the lioness’s body off. Throughout this, Theo couldn’t help feeling that Elsa’s mood had changed, from carefree enjoyment, to wary watchfulness. It hurt Theo a great deal to know he might be the cause of this.
“Elsa,” he said gently while drying her paws, “I’m sorry for throwing the towel over your head, I didn’t realise it would upset you so much.” Elsa was about to snap at him for a second time, then took hold of herself and gave herself a mental slapping.
“I get angry whenever I think of those few seconds,” she said, “but I shouldn’t, for in my rational mind I know you meant no harm to me or my cubs, but my instinct says differently, and that’s uppermost.” Elsa looked into Theo’s eyes, seeing the young lion was near to tears.
“Oh Theo, Theo, don’t cry,” Elsa said gently, taking the young lion in her paws and drawing him close, “it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t snap, but my instinct tells me to protect my cubs at all cost. I don’t want to be hard on you my friend.” Theo buried his head in Elsa’s shoulder.
“I don’t want to upset you!” he sobbed, “that’s the last thing I want to do Elsa!” Elsa stroked Theo’s mane and paws, trying to calm the distressed young lion.
“I know Theo my love, I know,” she purred. Theo could hardly believe his ears.
“What did you call me?” he asked. Elsa, realising what she’d said, blushed to the tips of her ears.
“I, I shouldn’t have,” she mewed, “I know what I called you, but it’s wrong, I can’t ask that of you.” Theo smiled at Elsa.
“Love me, love my cubs,” he said. Elsa looked over at Aslan and Petra with as much love in her eyes as she had when looking at her own cubs.
“Done,” Elsa replied. What Theo didn’t know was that the previous night, Elsa let Petra and Aslan drink milk from her once her own cubs were asleep. She knew Tembi had weaned her cubs far too early, and that they might still have a taste for milk, so, knowing her own cubs would not go short, Elsa offered Theo’s cubs some of her milk, which they gratefully accepted.
“Theo,” Elsa said, “Tembi weaned your cubs far too early didn’t she.” Theo wondered how Elsa knew.
“yes, she did,” Theo replied, “Aslan at two months and Petra at three. I know they usually drink milk full time until three months and then on and off for at least another six. How did you work that one out?”
“I could tell,” Elsa said, “let’s leave it at that. So, I did something last night which might seem strange to you. I let them drink milk from my own supply. I know a lioness only has enough resources to rear two cubs, but I wanted to give your two a token of my affection towards them, so I let them drink milk. My cubs won’t go short, now neither will yours. Aslan and Petra know why I did what I did.” Theo hugged Elsa tightly.
“You are so kind,” he mewed, “so generous to me and my cubs. How can I ever repay you.”
“You don’t need to,” Elsa purred, ”I love you, and I hope you love me, for I feel you do.”
“I do Elsa, I do!” Theo mewed. Elsa licked his nose, planting a lioness’s kiss on it.
“I love your cubs as if I gave birth to them yesterday Theo,” Elsa said, “and that’s the truth.” Theo choked back tears.
“Oh Elsa, Elsa!” he sobbed, “I love you with all my heart. I know we’ve not been long known to each other, but, but, I feel it so deeply Elsa dear, deeper than I ever did with Tembi, I can’t explain how.”
“I knew I wanted to meet the sire of the cub who’d argued for me to be taken in and helped when I was close to having my cubs,” Elsa replied, “and when I met you, and we went through the birth of my cubs together, I just knew I could love a lion like you. Then, when I felt our closeness, and how you seemed to become one with me during my labour, I knew then Theo, I knew something was there. I know you are a caring and considerate lion, but you went the extra mile with and for me.” Theo nodded, “you seemed to know what I liked, what would give me relief, how to encourage me to deliver my cubs. I hope I’m not mistaking professionalism for love for me,” Elsa said.
“No,” Theo mewed, “for I wouldn’t usually then spend the night with the lioness who’s cubs I’d helped deliver. I’d walk away and spend the night with my own cubs, for a lioness doesn’t need a male lion to nurture cubs.”
“This one does,” Elsa purred, “our cubs felt it too,” Elsa continued, “for did you notice that one of my cubs spent the night with me and one with you. On the same token, one of your cubs spent the night with me and one with you. So even our cubs accept our relationship, and feel comfortable with either of us.”
“I was so exhausted, I didn’t realise it,” Theo mewed.
Meanwhile, Tigger had bathed Aslan and Petra, as well as Elsa’s two cubs, while all listened to Theo and Elsa’s conversation.
“isn’t this wonderful!” Elsa’s female cub mewed. Petra laughed delightedly, hugging her tightly.
“it is,” she purred. Elsa’s youngest cub tickled the pads of Petra’s paw, the white cub laughing helplessly.
“How shall we name your two cubs Elsa?” Theo asked, watching the antics of Petra and Elsa’s cub’s.
“I think we should name my youngest cub Leona, latten for lion, and my eldest cub Simba, Swahili for lion,” Elsa replied.
“Okay,” Theo replied.
“there might be a problem when your male cub’s name is known,” Nanuq said, “you see, we had problems with a lion of that name who is now dead. I know your cub isn’t that lion, but others may not be so accommodating.”
“some had problems with a lioness named Elsa coming into the house,” Theo replied, “I don’t think we’ll change the names just because certain members of the community have a disliking for a certain lion named Simba who’s now six feet under. No Elsa, ignore all that, we will name them Leona and Simba.”
You dam well will not do such a thing Theodore!” Leo yelled, making Elsa leap to her paws and turn to protect all four of her cubs.
“I wondered when you’d turn up and put your oar in things,” Theo snarled, leaping to his feet, Elsa’s growling and snarling becoming more threatening as Leo approached.
“Leave us alone!” Elsa snarled.
“I can take your life and those of your cubs with one paw Elsa! You insignificant bag of fur!” Leo yelled.
“He’s going to kill us mum!” Leona mewed.
“You don’t know when you’re beaten do you Leo,” Theo mewed. Leo spat at his brother.
“I’ve been listening from the doorway into the kitchen,” Leo snarled, “I heard everything! Nanuq won’t harm me, he hasn’t got the guts to try it! So that lioness is mine, and so’s her disgusting male cub!”
“Elsa and Simba are not the Elsa and Simba who did us harm!” Theo mewed, “you saw Simba being born, he’s not the same cub!”
“You disgust me Theo!” Leo yelled. Suddenly Leo screamed with fear and terror as Nanuq strode up to and stood over him!
“I will attack you Leo,” Nanuq said calmly, “for I happen to be concerned about Elsa, for she loves Theo, Theo loves her, and they have adopted each other’s cubs. Theo happens to be my friend, and by extension, so does Elsa. You dare to mess with them now?”
“Nanuq, don’t!” Elsa pleaded.
“No,” Nanuq replied, “I won’t, Theo will!”
“Theo couldn’t, he’s not strong enough!” Leo yelled. Then, jabbing his paw at his brother, Leo yelled:
“come on then you fat massage loving loser!” Theo lost it, the same way he had with Tarker! Charging at Leo, Theo leapt into the air, his claws extended. Theo’s claws ripped into Leo’s face, the larger lion screaming with fear as he realised he’d pushed his brother too far!
“Now you will pay!” Theo snarled, tearing at and biting his older brother’s nose. Leo tried to bring his paws up to protect his face, but Nanuq, now furious, brought his paw crashing down on the lion’s, Leo screaming as his paw smashed down onto the hard lino floor.
“Get out of here Elsa!” Theo yelled, “take our cubs and go to the cubbing Den! Run for your lives all of you!” Elsa, Petra, Simba, and Leona fled for the door and the stairs. Theo and Nanuq held Leo down until they heard the slam of the door into the cubbing den.
“Salty!” Theo shouted, “get here now!” Salty ran in, eager to do what he could.
“Get upstairs and guard the door into the cubbing den,” Theo commanded, ”get otters to take food up to those inside, don’t let anyone in apart from Winifred and Emily, Is that clear!” Salty nodded and fled!
Nanuq and Theo pummelled Leo until the lion was semi conscious.
Meanwhile, Tigger had leapt into the bathtub, covering his ears with his paws in fear. He’d always feared this might happen, that Leo would go ballistic one day, and it had happened. Tigger now lay there, mewing like a frightened cub, wishing he was in the cubbing den with the others.
“Clarence,” he thought miserably, “please, if you love me at all please help me now!”
Clarence, walking in the wood on routine patrol, making sure neither Elsa nor Tembi returned to the house, suddenly felt uneasy. He knew what this meant, and sprinted for the house! Busting in through the gate, he sprinted for the bathroom window to look in. he saw Tigger miserably huddled in a now empty bathtub, and his friend looked dreadfully upset. Clarence knew the back door was locked, it always was. Banging on the window with his paw, Clarence attracted Tigger’s attention. The tiger opened the window:
“Clarence,” Tigger panted, “thank god you’re here! It’s all gone very wrong! Come in through the window, don’t go round the front, please my friend, trust me on this!” Clarence clambered into the bathroom through the window, which Tigger slammed shut behind him.
“What the hell’s going on!” Clarence demanded.
“Leo’s gone crazy, long story,” Tigger panted, “no going back from here, got big trouble!”
“Calm down Tigger my friend,” Clarence mewed, “you’re safe now. Tell me all about it.”
“I think it’s like this,” Tigger replied, telling Clarence all he knew.
“Oh dear,” Clarence said, whistling through his teeth, “it’s a bad one and no mistake.” Clarence had been on a two day patrol with Amber and Stifftail, and knew nothing of Elsa’s arrival and Theo’s involvement with her and her cubs.”
“So Theo’s fallen in love with this lioness named Elsa, and Leo doesn’t like her name, nor that of one of her cubs, so he goes ballistic,” Clarence summed up.
“yeah,” Tigger mewed, “it’s horrible!”
Meanwhile, Theo and Nanuq dragged Leo, now offering no resistance, into the concrete shed, banging the door shut on him.
“How could he be like that!” Nanuq asked Theo, who was beginning to realise what had just taken place.
“I’ve just overthrown my own brother!” he mewed.
“Yes Theo, you have,” Nanuq replied.
“so what do I do now?” Theo asked, frightened for the first time since the defence of his mate and cubs began.
“You go to the community and tell all,” Nanuq replied, “though everyone, right down to the smallest cub knows what’s been going on. Leo’s finished as leader. Snowy’s more furious with him than she can put into words, and Matilda ended up giving Leo a right hook for what he’d said to Elsa. He’s finished for sure now Theo. You need to sort the community out, though first thing’s first, go upstairs and be with your mate and cubs, eat some food, then decide what to do.” Theo took the polar bear’s advice and went upstairs to the cubbing den. There he found Elsa and their cubs, Elsa trying to comfort the cubs while in a dreadful state herself.
“Theo, oh Theo!” she sobbed when he came through the door. Throwing her paws round his neck, Elsa hugged Theo tightly. Then he was set upon by four very relieved cubs.
“Leo’s no, no longer leader,” Theo panted, “he’s in the concrete shed. It looks like I’m leader now, or so Nanuq says.”
“But the rest of the community won’t take it will they?” Elsa mewed, “they don’t’ know about all this!”
“Nanuq says they do, and he should know,” Theo gasped, his heart and brain still going at a thousand miles a minute. Salty tapped gently on the door and when Theo opened it, the male snow leopard put his head in and said:
“I know the community are fed up with Leo. He’s been getting on their nerves for a long time, not clamping down on Tarker’s antics etc. he left it to you Theo. Now he’s gone as leader, and a good thing too! His irrational thinking over Elsa and Simba is no way for a leader to think. He would have been the deaths of Elsa and her cub. I know it, I’ve seen it in Leo’s face when he heard the names Elsa and Simba.” Elsa clung to Theo throughout Salty’s speech.
“Are our cubs safe now?” Elsa asked.
“Yes Elsa my love,” Theo mewed.
Theo submitted happily to the probing exploration by his four cubs of his head, neck and paws, Letting them touch him with their tiny paws and nuzzle his fur with their soft noses. Once they were reassured he was alive and uninjured, they left him alone. Winifred came in with a bowl of vegetables for Petra, and fish and veg mix for Theo, Elsa and Aslan, which they went outside to eat, so not to make Petra sick. Once all had eaten their food and drank deeply from water bowls, they returned to the cubbing den to rest and discuss what was going to happen next.
“You need to consolidate your hold on the leadership now Theo,” Elsa said, “you can’t leave that for too long.
“I wasn’t trying to overthrow my brother, even though that’s what happened,” Theo said, “I was protecting you and our cubs Elsa.” Elsa took his paw and began to stroke it.
“I know that,” she replied, “but you overthrew your brother, no matter which way you look at it. So you need to do something now. Snowy’s okay as a deputy leader for a while, but you need to appoint deputies of your own.”
“Let snowy do it,” Theo replied, “I didn’t want any of this to happen Elsa!” Theo mewed, “Leo forced me to defend those who are most precious to me.” Elsa patted Theo’s paw.
“Let’s all sleep a while, and then we’ll sort the rest of this mess,” she suggested. The lions settled down, Elsa, and every cub, making sure they had a paw touching Theo. Theo felt more secure than he had in years.
“I love you all,” Theo mewed, his family showing their love for him by patting his paws and nuzzling his fur.
Building bridges.
Theo, Elsa and their cubs slept deeply. In the morning, Theo and Elsa were still exhausted by the events of the previous two days. Their cubs however
were full of beans. Leona and Simba drank Elsa’s milk, and then wanted to go with Aslan and Petra to explore the house. Elsa, still semi conscious, sleepily
told them they couldn’t go. Aslan took her paw in his and Elsa woke properly as she felt the same grip from Aslan’s paw as she did when Theo held her
paw. Aslan was a confident cub, and Elsa could feel it.
“Petra and I will look after our younger brother and sister,” he said, “you need not fear for their safety.” Elsa looked blearily into Aslan’s face.
“you’re only a cub,” Elsa mewed, “I can’t give responsibility for the safety of my cubs to you, much as I’d like to.”
“He’s no cub Elsa my dear,” someone said. Elsa looked round, to see a strange lion lying in the doorway to the cubbing den. He looked very gentle,
but sad too.
“Who are you? What is your name?” Elsa asked, her fur standing on end with fear.
“My name’s Clarence,” the lion replied, “I’m, was, the first Elsa’s mate. I vouch for Aslan’s character and steadfastness. He’s no cub Elsa.”
Elsa felt uneasy. She’d heard some of the other animals say that the first Elsa was a cub killer, and that her mate, Clarence, had taken her back to be
his mate after she’d got in cub with another male. Was Clarence a danger to her cubs?
“I would rather you left now Clarence,” Elsa said sharply, “you are not wanted here!” Clarence shuffled away.
“You needn’t have done that mum!” Aslan mewed. Elsa caught her breath as the lion cub’s words sank in.
“I’m not your mum,” she said, “I’d like to be, but I’m not, not really.”
“We think of you as our mum, me and Petra do,” Aslan replied, “now, listen to me. Clarence is no threat to you or us. I know what was going through
your head mum, and you’re wrong! Clarence had nothing to do with abandoning Petra, nothing to do with Tembi poisoning her! Clarence was there when Petra
was born, and he did everything to save her! Tembi was Clarence’s cub, and now he’s feeling dreadful because of that. Clarence is a gentle, loveable
lion!”
“He is,” Theo replied, having woken when Aslan started yelling at Elsa.
“how could he not know what was happening to Petra!” Elsa yelled.
“I didn’t know, and I was the one looking after her full time,” Theo mewed, “Clarence only put her onto Tembi and me.”
“Clarence’s upset,” Petra mewed.
“Wouldn’t you be if your cub had nearly murdered her own cub?” Theo asked, forgetting for a minute whom he was speaking to.
“Theo,” Petra said miserably, “I think I know more about that than anyone here!”
“I’m sorry Petra!” Theo mewed, “I forgot for a minute who I was speaking to.”
“How can you forget!” Petra sobbed. Theo took the weeping cub in his paws and hugged her, near to tears himself now.
“Petra love,” he sniffed, “I didn’t mean to say what I did. I’m tired, confused and scared little cub. I’m in a spin about this leadership thing,
and I spoke without thinking. I didn’t mean to upset you little cub. Petra clung to her sire with desperate paws.
“I thought you’d forgotten about that,” she sobbed, “when you were with me n’all.” Theo hugged her tightly.
“No Petra no,” he mewed, “I haven’t forgotten.” Petra used Theo’s mane to dry her eyes.
“We want to go exploring,” Leona mewed.
“What part of no don’t you understand!” Elsa snapped, cuffing her cub. Leona yowled with shock and pain.
“Aslan’s a cub, and Petra’s even more of a cub than Aslan is, so I’m not letting him take charge of either of you, let alone both!” Elsa yelled.
“Aslan’s no cub!” Petra mewed, stamping her paws with anger, “he’s a brave lion, a very brave lion!”
“from what I’ve seen, all he likes to do is roll over and have his paws tickled!” Elsa yelled, “you call that behaviour brave? Another thing, the
next time you stamp your paws at me Petra, I will slap your pads so hard you won’t be able to walk for a week!”
“Now this is just stupid!” Theo snarled, “We all like that here Elsa, touching paws, or paw massage, as well as tickling of the paws is what we call
play here. That’s all Aslan’s doing! He can be very mature when he wants to be. Please Elsa, let our cubs go exploring. Noone will hurt them.”
“Aslan’s still a cub!” Elsa yelled, “I won’t have Petra stamping her paws at me again either!”
“go and have a look round, all four of you,” Theo purred. Aslan and Petra marshalled the two younger cubs and led them out of the cubbing den.
When the sound of their tiny paws was out of earshot, Elsa fell into an uneasy sleep.
Meanwhile, Aslan and the other cubs had reached the main bedroom, to be confronted with a large brown bear who was just returning to the quilt on which
he lived. The bear spotted the four cubs and crawled over to meet them, throwing his paws round Petra’s neck with a cry of joy and embracing her tightly.
Petra snuggled into Kodiak’s hug, Aslan smiling at his sister.
“I’m so glad to see you,” Kodiak said, “to see all four of you that is. Tell me Petra, where did you and Aslan find the other two cubs?”
“We saw them born Kodiak,” Aslan mewed.
“Well I never!” Kodiak said incredulously, “how did you get to see something as wonderful as that?” Petra told the bear everything, and by the end
of the tale, Kodiak was laughing with delight.
“So you two really saw the sight of a lifetime!” he whooped.
“We did,” Aslan mewed, “it was wonderful!”
“I’m sorry Leo felt he had to put his paws where they weren’t wanted though, that’s a bad business that is,” Kodiak said soberly, “I hope Theo knows
what he’s doing with that lion, for Leo’s dangerous.”
“I don’t think he does know what to do with him Kodiak,” Petra said, “Theo’s terrified of the consequences of what he did. He’s no leader, not yet
anyway. Theo’s just a big softy!”
“He is,” Leona replied, “for I should know, I fought Theo while he was drying me off after my birth, and I clawed at him big time, but he didn’t
smack me with those huge paws of his.” Simba hugged his younger sister tightly.
“It’s cold here,” he mewed.
“Are you cold little one?” Arki asked. Simba turned his head towards the sound of her voice.
“Who’s that?” he asked.
“Oh, that’s Arki,” Aslan replied, “she’s a polar bear.”
“She’s a what? What’s a polar bear?” Simba enquired.
“I’m a polar bear,” Arki replied, crawling over to the lion cub and taking him in her huge paws, “I have white fur from my nose to the pads of my
paws.”
“You have soft paws too!” Simba mewed, snuggling instinctively into the polar bear’s hug. Simba worked his paws deep into the polar bear’s thick
fur.
“Nice warm paws Simba?” Arki asked. Simba faintly mewed a reply, for he was rapidly falling asleep, as very young cubs will when hugged by anything
as warm and inviting as the paws of a huge and very friendly polar bear. Simba snuggled closer to Arki.
“sleep well little cub,” Arki said gently.
Meanwhile, Aslan and Kodiak played together, the cub tickling the brown bear’s paws as if his life depended on it. Kodiak was soon too weak to fight back,
lying as if dead. Aslan hugged the bear as best he could.
“You cubs are so funny!” Kodiak said. Aslan touched the bear’s nose with his, Kodiak playfully licking the lion cub’s nose.
“Can I join in the fun?” Petra asked.
“Let’s both tickle Petra’s paws Kodiak!” Aslan mewed. Petra squealed with surprise as she was bowled over by Aslan, then Kodiak and the lion cub
tickled her paws. Petra squealed loudly with laughter, the sound waking Elsa and bringing her tearing into the room!
“What the hell’s going on!” She demanded.
“Ko, Kodiak and Aslan,” Petra mewed breathlessly, “they were, were tickling my paws! It was wonderful!” Elsa, furious with worry, stormed back
to the cubbing den.
“tickling paws, what are these cubs on!” She thought angrily. Slamming the door to the cubbing den, Elsa flopped on the rug as if exhausted.
“Tickling each other’s paws?” Theo asked smiling.
“Yup,” Elsa mewed, “I don’t know what those cubs get out of that pass time Theo.”
“I could show you,” he invited.
“I don’t know,” Elsa replied, “I love my paws stroked n’all that, but tickled? Are you sure it’s safe?”
“they say laughter is the best form of medicine,” Theo purred, touching Elsa’s paw.
“Oh all right, give it a try,” she mewed. Theo did, tickling the pads of her paw with the toes of his. Elsa whipped her paw away, laughing helplessly!
“You big cub!” She mewed, her eyes shining with delight.
“You want more?” Theo asked. Elsa nodded.
“more of the same, but supplied in king size portions!” Theo whooped, tickling Elsa’s hind paws this time. Elsa rolled and twisted, but Theo kept
at least one of his paws in contact with one of hers at all times. Elsa realised Theo was a true professional at this game, and she’d never be able to
beat him.
“Even crawling away wont’ work, because you’ll tickle the pads of my hind paws!” Elsa laughed. Theo smiled:
“that I will,” he replied, hugging her. suddenly the door burst open, and Aslan burst in with the three other cubs, all of them setting upon Theo!
Aslan and Petra pinned him down, while Leona and Simba began tickling his hind paws! Theo mewed and wriggled, but couldn’t free his hind paws from the
military assault on them.
“Please,” Theo gasped, “could you all leave my paws alone!” he was now so weak from laughing he’d given up tickling Elsa’s hind paws. The cubs
stopped tickling Theo’s paws, and began to rub his pads instead.
“Saved by my own cubs,” Elsa purred, “Theo’s merciless when he gets hold of a paw you know.” The cubs laughed.
“I was set upon by Aslan and Kodiak,” Petra mewed theatrically, “think how I felt! My paws are still tingling now!”
“come here, and I’ll rub them better,” Elsa mewed, though she too could feel her paws tingling from Theo’s assault on them. Elsa longed to tickle
Theo’s paws, just as his cubs had.
Mewing, Elsa slipped her paw beneath Theo’s and picked it up in preparation for stroking it. Theo relaxed, but not for long. Elsa stroked his paw for
a while, then tickled the pads! Theo mewed with surprise and whipped his paw away!
“You big bully!” he mewed, swiping at Elsa playfully with the paw she’d just tickled.
Meanwhile, Leo lay in his prison cell, thinking about his lot. He knew he’d lost the leadership, for he’d heard Nanuq say so. Miserably, Leo thought about
why he’d lost it totally at the lioness named Elsa. He buried his face in his paws, the pads of which were freezing cold.
“I’ve been so stupid, so stupid!” he sobbed, “I’ve lost my status in the community, but worst of all, I’ve lost my brother! I forced my own brother
to defend his mate and cubs against me! What kind of a lion am I? I’m a loser, Theo isn’t! I love you Theo, I love you my brother,” Leo said aloud,
“I wan’a go home!” he cried.
Suddenly, with desperate strength, Leo leapt up at the metal door, battering at it with his paws and using his considerable weight against it! Snarling,
Leo tore at the metal door, but his claws skidded off the metal. In frustrated rage he began to bang the metal door with both forepaws and scream hysterically.
“Theo heard the commotion from the cubbing den and, gently putting an end to the rub down his cubs were giving him, they all trooped out to see what was
happening by looking out of the back window. They saw the door to the concrete shed shaking with Leo’s attempts to get free, and heard the lion’s screaming
entreaties to be set free. Theo had an idea, one that would bring Leo back into the community but let him make reparations too. Theo was in tune with
Leo, he knew what the lion was thinking.
“I’m going downstairs to let Leo go free,” Theo said to Elsa, who gripped his paw with such force she nearly broke it.
“No Theo, no!” she pleaded, “he’s a terror, he’ll kill our cubs!”
“I don’t think so,” Theo mewed, “I have spiritual connection with my brother in the same way I have with you Elsa, I can see his mood and read his
thoughts. I couldn’t do so when he was mad, because he wouldn’t let me. Now I know what he wants to do, and killing you or your cubs is not on his list.
I will let him go, and let him talk to me. Believe me Elsa, this won’t be easy for him. In fact it will be harder for him than being locked up for the
rest of his life. Leo will have to articulate what he feels, for I know what he feels, but he must say it, to you, to me, to everyone! I will make him
talk to us. Meanwhile, you and our cubs can rest easy.”
Theo walked downstairs, into the open air, and approached the concrete shed. Leo, now exhausted, lay on his back on the other side of the metal door to
Theo. Leo heard someone padding up to the door, drawing the bolt and then opening the door. Leo opened his eyes to see Theo looking down at him.
“Leo,” Theo said, “I believe you want to talk to me?” Leo stared at his brother.
“I have so much to say to you Theo, so much to say to Elsa, so much to say to everyone,” Leo mewed, “I’m like a cub in your presence, for I have
made myself so. Take me in your paws Theo, please, hug me, touch my paws! I’m yours, take me, take my life!” Theo felt Leo’s paw, the lion was sincere
in his remorse.
“come,” Theo said, “let’s go indoors, you have a drink, then we’ll talk together.” Leo rolled onto his paws and followed Theo into the house. On
the way to the spare room, they saw Elsa standing watching for Theo. When she saw Leo, Elsa growled and spat at him.
“let me explain, please!” Leo begged. Elsa looked at Theo.
“Leo’s one mixed up lion,” Theo said, “he doesn’t understand what’s happened to him.”
“I attacked my brother’s mate and cubs!” Leo sobbed.
“the question is why did you do that?” Elsa asked.
“My irrational mind made me fear anyone with the same name as those who’d done the community harm,” Leo wept, “I am so sorry Elsa! I can see you’re
not the Elsa who plotted to kill Petra, nor is your cub Simba the lion who tricked Clarence and Tigger into the disused shop. I don’t know why I thought
the way I did, maybe it was because of not properly dealing with the cub killer thing with Elsa, and the anger I felt towards the grown lion Simba. Elsa,
please, let me say this,” Leo begged, “I am not usually a violent lion, I have my own cub, Portia, she’s a wonderful cub, and the worst of this is I’ve
probably done horrendous damage to her by my stupid actions. I don’t like cubbing, but I wish I could turn back the clock so we didn’t have to start off
things like this. I shouldn’t have said what I did, let alone banned you from the house when you were in such pain and distress. Theo is a wonderful
lion, and he, along with Aslan his cub, were the best of lions that day. I was the worst of lions, ranting and raving at you for things you couldn’t help,
blaming you for another lioness’s actions, and in the end, threatening you and your cub with death. I don’t know how to explain what happened to me other
than to say that I, like my brother, am a very trusting lion, but unlike him, I hadn’t dealt with the realisation that others could deceive us, that they
could plan to destroy our lives in ways we’d never contemplate. Theo said he failed to protect his cubs from Tembi. He thought he’d failed when he hadn’t
really done so. The problem is, I have failed, failed to deal with my fear of that lion and lioness who caused us so much trouble. I don’t deserve your
pity Elsa, for you have nothing to pity me for. I am the one who caused all this, not you, not your cub. I’m glad you had your cubs safely, I’m glad
you’re with Theo now, for he will look after you with all he has. Please Elsa, promise me this. Please, look after Theo too.” Elsa knew Leo had done
his best to articulate his problems, and knew the lion was sincere in his remorse and apology to her.
“Now for you Theo,” Leo said, “what I’ve done to you by threatening your cubs and mate is completely inexcusable. I was stupid to do what I did,
whether I thought your Elsa was the cub killer or not. I have lost you forever! I don’t deserve anyone like you Theo, you have been the best of lions,
my rock, my playmate when we were young, my friend. Now this is how I repay your loyalty and love. I cannot undo what I did yesterday, though I would
give my whole life to do so now.” Leo looked into Theo’s eyes, the young lion looking back at him with gentility in his expression.
“Leo,” Theo said, “I know you are very traumatised by what happened. You can’t work out how anyone could do such a thing to their cub. This is
the root of your problem, you compounded it by not seeing sense when faced with an unknown lioness in labour, and again when she named her cub Simba.
That is your failing. Attacking me was a dreadful thing to do, attacking Elsa and her cub was worse. For your sake, because we all know you are a kind
lion at heart, I, Elsa, and our cubs will forgive you your actions and words.” Leo looked at Elsa, who nodded at him.
“You have done your best,” she said, “to describe to us what you feel now, felt then, and why you are sorry for what you’ve done. I will forgive
you Leo. Leo wept into his paws, feeling his explanation had been totally inadequate to the amount of guilt and remorse he felt.
“I want to go home, I want to go home!” Leo sobbed.
“But you are home,” Petra mewed. The cubs had been hiding behind the sofa throughout Leo’s interview with their parents.
“What Leo means is he wants to be taken in a lion’s paws and hugged,” Theo replied. Leo felt empty without a pride, without a “home” as he called
it.
“I’m so confused Theo,” Leo sobbed, “I can’t cope!”
“Leo,” Theo said, “forget that now.” Leo felt his brother take his paw and begin to stroke it.
“I can’t forget, not after what I did!” Leo protested.
“for now you can,” Petra said, snuggling up to Leo, bringing tears to the huge lion’s eyes.
“Petra, oh Petra!” he sobbed. Petra hugged Leo as best she could.
“Give me your paw Leo,” Elsa said. Leo gave her his paw, hardly believing his eyes as she began to stroke it.
“Why are you all doing this for me?” Leo sobbed, “I caused you so much harm and pain, and now, now you are all hugging me and stroking my paws!”
“Because we know you are truly a kind lion who was misguided by fear and misunderstanding,” Leona said. Leo looked at her.
“You are one of Elsa’s cubs,” he said, “one of her beautiful gentle cubs.”
“Here is my brother, Simba,” Leona said, tugging at the paw of a reluctant male cub who peeped from behind the sofa. Leo looked at Simba, his eyes
taking in the cub from his nose to his tiny paws.
“Theo and Elsa, please let go of my paws,” Leo said gently. Once his paws were free, Leo looked at Simba and beckoned to him.
“Come to me little one,” Leo purred. Simba looked at Elsa, who nodded. Simba went to Leo, and the lion hugged the tiny cub tenderly
“I’m sorry Simba,” Leo said gently. Simba snuggled into Leo’s fur.
“What about the leadership of the community?” Salty asked.
“I wondered when you’d ask that,” Theo groaned, staring miserably at his paws.
“I’m no longer fit to lead the community,” Leo mewed.
“I’ll take over for the time being,” Snowy said, “for it’s not every day that within twenty four hours Theo gets a new family, and the community
leader disgraces himself. I think it’s high time Theo got on with what is obviously most important to him, strengthening links with Elsa and his cubs.
As for you Leo, you need to build bridges between you, your brother, his mate and cubs.” Leo looked at Theo.
“I’m so sorry Theo,” he mewed. Theo mewed to Simba to go back to Elsa, and when the cub was well out of the way, Theo went to Leo and embraced
him.
“What can I do to mend things between us? Tell me Theo, and I’ll try, I’ll do anything!” Leo mewed.
“You could come into the cubbing den and help us and yourself by learning to play with cubs again,” Theo mewed.
“I’d like that,” Leo said, “I’ll try Theo, I really will!”
“Can you cope when a cub without warning, takes your paw and begins to stroke or tickle it?” Theo asked.
“I don’t know,” Leo replied, “but don’t I have a say as to whether the cubs can take hold of my paws? They’re mine after all!”
“They will ask, or the older ones will most likely,” Elsa replied, “the younger ones though, they sometimes don’t.” Leo looked uneasy.
“My paws are a private thing!” Leo yelled, “mine to do with, and give to whomever I want! It’s not right for some cub to just come up and tickle
my paws!” he mewed, knowing he sounded weak.
“Your paws are about as private as is the carpet we feel beneath our paws,” Theo said, “yes you can withdraw your paws from adult animals, but not
from tiny cubs. They mean you no harm Leo. Anyway, you rarely let anyone examine your paws for damage, let alone touch them, stroke them, or tickle them.”
“You make me sound like the worst lion in the world,” Leo mewed.
“we don’t mean it to sound that way,” Elsa replied, “but we would like you to try and unbend a little Leo.”
“Tell you what I’ll do,” Theo said to his brother, “why don’t we try it for a while Leo, you and me, playing together like we used to.”
“But we’re adult lions now,” Leo mewed, “we can’t play like cubs, not now!”
“Wan’a bet?” Aslan mewed, “Theo’s the biggest cub in the whole place Leo. He’ll play tag and tickle paws with the best of the cubs. He’s the one
who mostly starts the games too!” Leo looked at Theo’s face for confirmation.
“Yeah,” Theo replied, “unphased by having his cover blown, “I do.”
“Theo’s got lovely, fat, soft, warm paws Leo,” Leona mewed, “when you take one in yours, I’ll bet you you won’t want to let go of it.” Leo took
Theo’s left forepaw in his, gently stroking the lion’s pads and caressing Theo’s paw in his. Theo’s paw was soft, warm and well padded. Where as Leo
had thin paws, Theo’s paws were fat, like a cub’s. he was known as the big cub when he was young. Leo used to tease Theo about his paws, while stroking
them of course. Theo and Leo had often curled up together during the cold nights, and now Leo wished he could do so again. The weather forecast was set
for cold weather all week long, and Leo knew a bit about that, as he’d been in the concrete shed for a good few hours. His paws were only just beginning
to thaw out. Theo’s paw was like a mini heater, warming Leo’s pads. Leo looked into his brother’s face, Theo smiling at him and licking his nose. Leo
smiled at his younger brother.
“Do you remember when we used to curl up together Leo?” Theo asked. Leo nodded:
“I do,” he purred, “Theo my brother, I remember that so well.”
“Rough and tumble games in the den, with the victorious cub tickling the other’s paws until the vanquished cub was exhausted?” Theo added. Leo smiled:
“Those too,” he said, “those too Theo.”
“I remember that, because you had less fur on your paws, you’d tuck them into the space between us when we slept to keep them warm,” Theo continued:
“If there was any space,” Leo purred, “for sometimes we were curled so tightly together that there wasn’t any. Then we used to bury our forepaws
in each other’s manes and try to tuck our hind beneath some bedding so they didn’t get cold.”
“How can two male lions curl up together?” Tarker asked, “it’s disgusting!”
“I think it’s rather sweet,” Leona purred, “now you wouldn’t say that about two sisters curling up together for warmth would you otter?” Tarker
mewed with fear, for he’d managed to anger a three day old cub, and he knew Aslan was her brother, and he was dangerous!”
“I’d love to see that,” Elsa mewed, “to see Leo and Theo curled together like they used to.” Leo remembered curling up with Theo in the travelling
crate they shared during the journey to the place they were now in. there hadn’t been much choice but to curl up together due to the lack of space for
them, but it had also been comforting too. Leo decided to try it for old times sake.
Leo curled himself round Theo, the younger lion’s body fitting snugly into the curve of his own. Theo rested his paws and head on Leo’s shoulder, Leo taking
Theo in his paws like he’d used to do. Leo felt the old feeling of security coming back, Theo’s body acting like the warmest most comforting blanket Leo
could wish for. Theo, feeling his brother’s huge paws enveloping him, purred contentedly, working his paws into Leo’s mane. Leo looked sideways at Theo,
and was astonished to see he’d closed his eyes and was almost asleep, his paws relaxed. Leo realised Theo had only needed the right trigger to spark off
old behaviours, which they had used to protect each other in the pride den. Leo felt tears pricking the backs of his eyes as he looked at his brother
cuddled up as if he was the tiny fat cub of old.
“I suppose we never lose that instinct to find somewhere warm and safe,” Leo thought, gently stroking Theo’s shoulder with one huge paw, “how is
it that Theo can just switch into relaxed mode like that?” he asked himself, “I couldn’t, or is it more like I won’t let myself do it. I’m too much the
modern, unattached lion, though I never used to be. No Leo, once, long long ago, you could be moved to tears by the touch of Theo’s paw. He knew when
you were upset, and would touch your paw, causing you to break down completely and tell all. Theo would hug you tenderly, holding you until you’d calmed
down,” Leo thought, sighing heavily with regret that these days could not be revisited.
“Theo probably can no longer make me feel safe just by touching my paw with his,” Leo thought sadly, “I’m too advanced for that now.” Suddenly Leo
felt a paw take his, a warm, soft paw, which he knew well.
“How’s that?” someone purred. Leo, his whole world focused through that one paw, tried to open his eyes, but he couldn’t.
“What’s happening to me!” Leo mewed.
“Go with your paw,” Theo said gently, “what is your paw telling you little cub?” Leo panted harshly, partly from fear, partly from shocked realisation
that his wish had come true.
“Believe in what your paw tells you Leo my brother,” Theo purred.
“I want to so much!” Leo whispered, “but I can’t Theo, I can’t! There are too many things going on around us, too many dangers, and we’re not cubs
any more, and this is wrong!”
“It’s not wrong to feel safe Leo my brother cub,” Theo mewed, “there’s nothing wrong, noone can harm you, believe it Leo, take the warmth, and wrap
yourself in it. Take deep breaths, and let the warmth spread from your paw to the rest of your body. Ready? One, two, three, four, five. Leo felt his
tension and stress flowing in a torrent from the soles of his paws. He felt liberated, alive, and most of all, at peace. Feeling Theo’s paws enveloping
him, Leo snuggled close to his brother cub, just like he’d done when they were younger, resting his head on Theo’s shoulder.
“let it all go Leo, let it all go,” Theo purred. Leo wept, breathing in Theo’s scent, and burying his paws in his brother’s fur.
“They look so peaceful,” Elsa purred. Elsa looked down at Leo and Theo, touching them gently with her paw. Then, dropping to her knees, She planted
a lioness’s kiss on Leo and Theo’s noses.
“I never thought I’d see that,” Aslan said, “you feared Leo only a day ago mum.”
“I now know the real Leo,” Elsa replied. Elsa got to her paws and looked down at Leo, who’s eyes were on her.
“I’m sorry for everything Elsa,” he mewed. Elsa took Leo’s paw in hers.
“Now we’re at peace,” Elsa said. Leo gulped back tears.
“yes Elsa, thank you,” he choked. Elsa looked up at Theo, who was half asleep.
“There’re two more cubs here tonight,” Petra mewed. Leo laughed softly, conscious his brother was half asleep. Leo took Theo’s paw, massaging the
younger lion’s soft warm paw.
Feeling his older brother’s touch, Theo yawned and stretched.
“Was I asleep?” He asked. Leo smiled:
“You were,” he said, “though I thought you were half asleep, for your eyes were half closed, but you were well gone.” Theo patted his brother’s
paw and gently extricated himself from his embrace. Getting to his paws, Theo shook himself, looking round him.
“Elsa,” Leo asked softly, “can, can I hug you, then hug your cubs?” Elsa padded towards Leo, and lay down beside him.
“here I am,” Elsa mewed, touching Leo’s nose with hers. Leo wrapped his paws round Elsa and embraced her tightly. Elsa touched Leo’s nose with
one paw, Leo feeling Elsa’s paw touching him, it was soft and warm, her scent warm and comforting. Leo sighed contentedly, relaxing into the lioness’s
hug. Theo wasn’t jealous, he was just relieved Leo now accepted Elsa.
“Let’s go to the cubbing den,” Elsa said, “there you can meet my cubs, and become part of our family.” Leo mewed his ascent to Elsa’s idea and
she released him. Elsa got to her paws, then touched Leo, keeping her paw on him until he was on his own paws and was walking out of the door. Theo and
their cubs followed Elsa and Leo up the stairs and into the cubbing den, where there was fresh bedding, large drinking bowls full of milk and water, as
well as bowls of cereal and vegetables. Elsa lifted the bowl of cereal in her paws and tipped some of it into the milk, stirring the mix with her paw.
“You now have wet paws mum!” Leona laughed. Elsa washed her paws in a bowl provided for this purpose, smiling at her cubs. Once her paws were washed
and dried, She settled down beside her cubs, who’d all but finished the veg and cereals.
“You could have left some for us!” Elsa mewed. The cubs smiled, knowing they’d squirreled some away for their parents and Leo.
“Look behind the rugs,” Aslan mewed, “there you will find veg, milk and cereals.” Elsa did, and there was plenty left for her and the two other
adult lions.
“let’s eat!” Elsa mewed.
They finished their food, and Leo settled down with Elsa and Theo.
Once they’d rested, the cubs approached Leo and took his paws in theirs.
Leo soon found himself drifting away as the tiny paws did their work. Aslan and Petra directed operations, Leona and Simba not having much of an idea how
to massage a paw without tickling it.
Leo drifted in a soft warm place. He knew what was happening, so he didn’t panic. Anyway, this was Theo’s world, and he wanted to be part of it.
The paw massage over all too soon, Leo lay, resting quietly. Suddenly, Leo found himself thinking of Theo and he as cubs, and of what they used to do together.
Playing tag, rolling in the grass, prodding each other with their paws until one would roll the other over in a mock attack, tickling their paws for all
they were worth.
“Take me back there, I wan’a go back there!” Leo thought, not realising he was speaking in a whisper.
“Take you where Leo?” Theo asked, though he thought he already knew.
“nowhere Theo, nowhere,” Leo replied.
“Leo,” Theo said gently, “you don’t need to hide from me my brother cub, I know what you were thinking.” Leo choked back tears.
“I was remembering the games we used to play,” he sniffed, “and I want to go back there Theo! We used to be in tune with each other, you and I,
and now, thanks to me trying to be a,” Leo put on a fake deep voice, ““big hard modern lion,”” who doesn’t need to be in touch with anyone, I lost everything
Theo, for I lost my brother, I lost you.” Theo touched Leo’s paw, and this broke Leo’s control on his emotions. Hugging Theo tightly, he burst into tears.
“It’s okay Leo, it’s okay!” Theo purred, stroking his brother’s paw, “We’re together now. You’re here now, so am I. We’ve had our differences,
now let’s try and get along.”
“I’ve never forgiven myself for what I said to you when we first got here,” Leo sniffed, “having a go at you because you were frightened! How stupid
of me! Of course we were in a new place, of course it was scary. I was terrified myself, but I masked it, taking some of my fear out on you when you
asked me where we were and whether we were safe! What kind of a brother to you was I being then? Not a very good one. I beat you up to mask my own fear,
and for that I’m very sorry.” Theo hugged Leo tenderly.
“That’s all in the past now Leo,” he said, “it’s all over, all done with.”
“Hold me Theo, don’t let me go!” Leo cried. Theo held Leo tightly, gently stroking the larger lion’s fur.
Elsa and the cubs watched Theo and Leo’s interaction and listened to their talk. Elsa didn’t properly understand the bond Theo and Leo had, but she knew
Theo had a strong bond with her and her cubs, so why not an even stronger bond with his own brother. Leo became calm, just lying on the soft flooring,
his paws flaccid.
“how are you feeling Leo?” Elsa whispered. Leo looked at her.
“I’m okay, I think. Though I have a lot to learn,” Leo replied. Leona began to stroke one of Leo’s forepaws with hers. Leo watched her, gently
turning over his paw and letting her touch his pads.
“Does that feel good?” she asked. Leo, purring like an enthusiastic outboard motor, mewed that it felt wonderful. Leo then did something which
made Elsa’s fur bristle with fear. Leo took Leona in his paws and began to groom her methodically from nose to tail.
“Get your paws off my cub!” Elsa snarled threateningly, she knew she sounded terrified.
“Leo’s lonely,” Theo said, “he’s missing his own cub, who doesn’t want to know him any more, and wants contact with cubs. He won’t harm Leona, let
him groom her Elsa.” Elsa growled in protest, but made no move to rescue her cub. Leona was enjoying being groomed by Leo, his huge paws gently held
her, while he worked over her fur with his tongue, just like a lioness would. Leona mewed at Leo, the huge lion stroking her with his paws, Leona loving
every minute. Elsa watched uneasily, certain that any moment her cub would be crushed in the paws of this huge male lion. But Leo was gentle, and no
harm came to Leona. Patting her paw, Leo sent the cub away without a word to her, though his ministrations had spoken volumes.
Elsa grabbed Leona between her paws and began frantically to explore her body by sight and touch. Leona mewed that she was fine and that Leo had done her
no harm at all. Elsa however was dreadfully upset and kept on fussing over her cub, prodding her with her paws and nose, until Leona, thoroughly fed up
with the whole business, bit her mother’s paw. Elsa spat at her cub and cuffed her sharply.
“that hurt!” Leona mewed.
“I was making sure you were in one piece Leona!” Elsa snapped.
“I’m leaving,” Leo mewed, “I’m not wanted here, I can see that.” Theo held up a paw to stop him.
“No Leo, no!” He begged, “just, please, stay here a minute, and I’ll explain.” Leo stopped, his protest only half genuine.
“Elsa’s a new mum, her cubs are only a few days old, she’s going to be protective!” Theo mewed, “don’t take it hard Leo, please.” Leo lay down again,
Elsa watching him.
“I’m sorry Leo,” she mewed, “it’s wrong of me to snap at you. I know you don’t mean my cubs any harm, I just can’t get used to you handling them.
Theo yes, because he was there from the beginning, but you hated me Leo! I can’t forget that quickly.”
“I don’t hate you now,” Leo said, “let me prove it, let me stroke your paws Elsa, please, then I will prove it to you!” Elsa looked down at her
paws, imagining them in those of the huge lion.
“Please Elsa, do it for me,” Theo purred, “Leo’s really gentle.” Elsa hesitated:
“He won’t, won’t harm me?” She asked, regretting her words the minute they were out.
“No Elsa love,” Theo mewed, “Leo’s my brother, I think I know him better than that.”
“Okay,” Elsa mewed faintly, “I will.” She rolled over onto her back.
“Here,” she said, waving a paw, “Leo, here are my paws.” Leo approached, and gently took her left forepaw in his.
“I don’t like this, I don’t like this at all!” Elsa mewed. Leo dropped her paw.
“I won’t stroke your paw unless you really want me to,” he said. Elsa lay on her back, knowing Theo was furious with her.
“I’m sorry,” she said to the room in general, “I’ll try, try really hard, as hard as I did when having my cubs!” Elsa waved her paw at Leo.
“Don’t let go of my paw this time,” she said, “just, just hang on whatever happens!” Leo tentatively took the offered paw, it was delicate, well
shaped, with nicely kept claws. Realising her claws were on view, Elsa retracted them hurriedly.
“Extended claws give the wrong impression, put them away Elsa!” she thought. Leo saw Elsa’s claws disappear into her paw, and patted her paw reassuringly.
Despite her fears, the paw massage soothed Elsa’s mind. Leo looked into Elsa’s face the whole time he was stroking her paw, wondering why he’d not recognised
she was a different lioness to the one named Elsa who’d caused the community so much harm. He mentally kicked himself for mistreating this lioness. He
remembered her struggling to have her cubs in the cubbing den where they now were. Leo wished he’d had the courage to dry Simba off when Theo offered
the chance. Leo knew why Theo had done what he had. It was to get rid of him, and Leo knew it only too well. The sight of Elsa’s sweat soaked body,
and her cries of pain as she delivered her cubs haunted Leo, and for a few seconds, it was as if they were back in the cubbing den, with Elsa trying to
deliver her cubs. Leo could hear her mewing and panting as she pushed against her cubs. This time, Leo wanted to throw his paws round Elsa and give her
a hug. This he did. Leo’s vision cleared, and he was in the cubbing den, his paws round Elsa, hugging her as he’d wished to, with Elsa looking at him
in bewilderment, Theo with understanding.
“What the hell’s going on Leo!” Elsa mewed, “it, it was, was as if well, you were talking to me as if I was having cubs! Saying it would soon be
over and not to worry n’all that. What the hell are you on!”
“But, you were having cubs Elsa,” Leo mewed.
“No I wasn’t!” Elsa replied, “you were stroking my paw, and I was frightened, so I mewed to you to be careful what you did.
“You were panting and mewing, just like when you had Simba and Leona,” Leo said.
“You were panting with fear Elsa,” Theo said, “you were mewing to Leo too.”
“Maybe I was,” Elsa replied, “but I wasn’t having cubs!”
“I know what happened,” Theo mewed, “now Elsa, this is a strange concept to grasp, but try and take it in both paws as best you can. Sometimes reality
and past events get mixed. It happened to me once when I stroked Leo’s cub Portia. I’d seen Portia born, and I was in such a state once that my mind
told me she was a few hours old and that I had to protect her. Portia was at this time about a year old, but as we soft toy animals can never grow in
stature, she looked, and still looks like a cub. I began grooming her frantically, desperately fighting for this cub’s life. I only surfaced when Portia
hit me, and she wouldn’t have done that had Tarker not spat at her in disgust when he realised what I was doing.”
“Grooming a cub isn’t disgusting,” Elsa replied, “why would that otter think it was?”
“He’s strange like that,” Leo replied.
“So,” Theo continued, “that’s what happened to Leo. He was probably thinking how awful he’d been to you during your cubbing, and thinking of the
scenes he witnessed. During this, you mewed and panted with fear, but he took those sounds as mewing and panting with pain, as he was reliving what he’d
seen, hence his comments.”
“it’s a strange concept,” Elsa mewed, “but I think I’ve got it now.” Leo looked into Elsa’s eyes, the lion’s expression startling her.
“You look desperate Leo!” She mewed, now frightened, “you, you look wild, hunted, and, and very unhappy.”
Elsa was a kind hearted lioness, and despite her own fears, she could see Leo needed someone to hug him. Not Theo, for he was assured of his brother’s
support, but from someone else, someone outside his turmoil, but who was part of it all the same. Elsa swallowed her fear, and, getting to her feet, padded
closer to Leo, and, wrapping her paws round his neck as far as she could, hugged him tightly. She felt Leo’s paws take hold of her, and Elsa knew by their
touch that the lion was as miserable as she’d been when she’d arrived in pain and terrified. Elsa buried her face in Leo’s thick mane, breathing in his
scent, while Leo wept into her fur.
“You are beautiful Elsa,” Leo sobbed, “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you and your cubs, really I am. The lion who threatened to kill you
and your cubs, that wasn’t me, that was a different lion, he’s dead. I’ll tell you something else too. Something which also fuelled my anger, but it
wasn’t anger in the true sense, for it was grief. For Elsa, you remind me of someone I used to know. Someone whom I deeply loved and cared for.” Theo
choked back tears, Leo was right, now Theo knew why he’d felt such affinity with Elsa when he’d first seen her.
“of whom do I remind you?” Elsa asked.
“You, you remind me of my mate Allie,” Leo sobbed. Elsa touched Leo’s nose with her paw.
“Allie was my mum,” Elsa mewed, “before she got captured and sent to the zoo, she had one litter of cubs, and I was one of that litter.” Leo gave
a heart rending cry of despair.
“What happened to her?” Elsa asked gently, though she knew the news was of the worst kind.
“Allie died giving birth to my cubs,” Leo sobbed, “she was my mate, me and Theo, from another pride, were thrown in with Allie at the zoo, and she
and I got close. We mated, and she had cubs while I was at the vets having a check up. By the time I got back to the cage, Allie was dead, and Portia
was the only surviving cub. Theo helped Allie as best he could, but she couldn’t be saved.” Elsa nuzzled Leo’s cheek.
“thank you for telling me,” she mewed, reaching up with a paw to wipe away Leo’s tears, “I know it’s hard for you to talk about Allie.” Leo gulped
hard, fighting to remain in some kind of control.
“now I know who you really are Elsa,” Theo mewed.
“yes,” Elsa replied, “and as to how I got in cub, and then ended up with you, well, that’s another tale. All tied up with a lion in a zoo, for I
was rounded up when I was two years old. He got me pregnant, and I ran away when the zoo was raided by animal rights extremists. They liberated the animals
in the zoo by opening the cages. Now I know that’s a stupid thing to do, for there were lions, rhinos and other dangerous animals let loose into the surrounding
town, but it gave me an opportunity to escape, which I did, hiding from everyone during the day and travelling at night. Of course, when I came to you
it was early morning. I’d been suffering with increasing contractions for about five hours then, and when I spoke to the two lionesses, I knew things
were getting critical. I arrived at your home with more time to spare than I thought, thanks to you Theo. I think I would have had my cubs very soon
indeed had you not calmed me down. As it was, we were together for about four hours before anything started happening in earnest. Now I’m safe, my cubs
are too, and I’ve met some wonderful people.”
“I must go and talk to Clarence now,” Theo mewed, “he needs my help as much as Leo did.” Elsa looked at her mate:
“Clarence was that lion whom I sent away from here wasn’t he?” She asked.
“Yes Elsa,” Theo replied, “Aslan’s mother was Tembi, who was Clarence’s cub. He’s as torn apart by what Tembi did as Leo is. The thing is, everyone
forgets poor Clarence as he all but divorced himself from Elsa and Tembi when one abandoned and the other attacked Petra. Now he’s lost his cub and his
mate, and needs a helping paw as much as Leo.” Elsa nodded.
“Go to him Theo,” she said, “and tell him I’m sorry for driving him away. In fact, no, I’ll come with you, Leo can look after our cubs, if he will.”
Leo smiled at Elsa, and releasing her, took her paw and held it.
“I will look after your cubs Elsa dear,” he said, “and I will guard them with my life.”
With the cubs in Leo’s care, “Elsa and Theo went downstairs to talk to Clarence.
Finding the lion lying on the sofa, Theo approached him. Clarence watched him with empty eyes.
“Clarence?” Theo asked gently. Clarence didn’t respond. Theo touched his paw, Clarence withdrawing it.
“It’s all gone,” Clarence mewed, “my mate’s a cub killer, and worse still, so is my cub!” I tried to save Petra, but the lioness to whom I gave
her to also wanted her dead! I’ve been in a hellish place these last few days Theo! Now, now I hear Leo’s tried to attack and kill a lioness and her
cub, Will the carnage ever end? Do more cubs need to be put at risk?”
“Clarence,” Theo said gently, “the lioness and Leo worked things out between them, “no cubs were killed. The lioness had two cubs and they’re fine,
Petra’s fine, and is loved by everyone. Don’t you remember you came to the cubbing den? There you spoke to a lioness, the same one whom Leo threatened
to kill. She was scared then, but very much alive. Now she’s here, look round you Clarence, and you will see.” Clarence looked at Elsa, and she at him.
“You, you’re okay?” he asked her.
“I’m fine Clarence,” Elsa replied, “and so are my cubs, all four of them.”
“four of them?” Clarence asked, “I heard you only had two.”
“I only gave birth to two,” Elsa replied, “but I’ve adopted Petra and Aslan.”
“thank you Elsa, thank you,” Clarence sobbed. Elsa touched Clarence’s nose with hers:
“Don’t worry about them any more Clarence,” she whispered, “they are safe, I promise.”
“My paws are freezing!” Clarence mewed, “I’ve been in a world of ice these last few days. I’m tired of being cold!” Theo knew what the lion meant.
“Can I help?” Elsa asked, feeling she was the one who’s help Clarence needed.
“yes, if you will,” Clarence replied, “hold me, and tell me again what you told me earlier.”
“About me adopting Petra?” Elsa asked.
“yes Elsa,” Clarence replied. So Elsa did as Clarence asked, holding him in her paws, and telling him over again that she’d adopted the white cub.
“Thank you Elsa,” Clarence mewed, “now, now I can sleep in peace. Tigger needs your help now Theo, and yours too Elsa. Take Leo and the cubs with
you on this one, for Tigger doesn’t know anything other than Leo attacking you Elsa. He will need a lot of reassurance. More than me I’m sure.” Theo
and Elsa went back up stairs to get Leo and the cubs.
Dangerous liaisons.
Deep in the wood at the back of the house, Perdy and Tigger were lying together, Perdy in a lot of pain. A few hours after the fight with Leo, Perdy had come to Tigger in great pain and distress. Tigger knew what was happening, Perdy was having their cub.
Tigger, after splitting up with Portia some months back, had become close to Perdy. One night, they’d talked for a long time. Finding they liked each other, they’d spent more and more time together, rapidly growing closer and closer. One night, they mated, and now, ten weeks later, Tigger and Perdy were hiding in the wood, for Perdy was in labour about to give birth to their cub. Tigger was excited about the cub’s imminent arrival, but was frightened all the same. He listened as Perdy panted and ground her teeth with pain.
“It’s, it’s getting worse!” she mewed. Tigger rubbed Perdy’s sweat soaked left forepaw reassuringly, hearing her panting and mewing with fear and pain.
“Is there anything more I can do?” Tigger asked for the thousandth time.
“No!” Perdy panted, “just, just, stay here! Stay with me! Oh, Tigger, it’s, the cub’s, the cub’s coming!” Perdy yelled, breathing hard through clenched teeth, fighting her urge to push against the cub.
“I must push!” She yelled, digging her paws into the woodland floor and bracing them firmly. Tigger heard his mate’s groaning, panting struggle to birth their cub.
“Must push some more!” Perdy yelled, scrabbling for Tigger’s paw and crushing it in hers.
Meanwhile, Elsa, Theo, Leo and the cubs looked all over the house for Tigger.
“Where is he?” Elsa mewed, “I thought he never left his bathtub!”
“I don’t know,” Theo replied, “it seems very strange though, that he should just up and go like that.”
“Maybe we should look for him in the garden?” Leona suggested.
Suddenly Tib came racing into the living room.
“I’ve just found Tigger,” she purred, “he’s deep in the woods with Perdy, and there’s something else too, Perdy’s in cub, having the cub as we speak!”
“What?” Theo asked, “how?”
Like I did, or very similar to me anyway,” Elsa mewed.
“I know that!” Theo mewed, “but how can she be in cub? Who’s cub is it?”
“I think I can guess,” Tib purred, “I think it’s Tigger’s. He’s been seeing Perdy for a long time now, and I believe it’s his cub she’s giving birth to right at this moment. I can get you close so you can watch, but I don’t want to get involved with this.”
“You won’t Tib,” Elsa mewed, “take us to Tigger.”
Meanwhile, back in the wood, Perdy was in a lot of pain, pacing and pawing at the ground. Every now and then, mewing pitifully, she’d stop, squat and, with eyes closed and teeth clenched, press down hard against her cub, before lying down exhausted on the track. Then all too soon she’d be roused by another crushing, squeezing pain, which would have her repeating the whole performance again. Tigger did what he could, but he could only rub the pads of Perdy’s paws when she was lying down, and now all she wanted to do was squat while straining to deliver her cub. Perdy was in terrible pain, and knew her cub was a large one. It had been close to being born for some time now, but Perdy couldn’t get things moving, no matter how hard she pushed at the cub, wriggled, panted and stamped her paws, or raised and lowered herself on tiptoe to try and shake the cub free. Tigger, having felt the large forepaws of their newborn cub as Perdy pushed against it, knew something was dreadfully wrong. He listened to Perdy’s efforts, but dared not run for help, in case he couldn’t find her in the wood once he’d found help. Tigger wished he’d confided in someone about the secret mating and the fact they now had a cub on the way. He talked to Perdy reassuringly, while the female snow leopard squatted, tail outstretched, hind legs splayed, and bore down hard against her cub, feeling its nose come into the world, then its body jam tight like before. When she relaxed, utterly worn out from the effort of pushing the cub’s nose into the world, the cub would slip back, so only its paws showed under Perdy’s tail. Perdy knew something was seriously wrong. Perdy stamped her paws, weeping with pain and fear:
“We’ve tried everything!” She mewed, “me lying down with you stroking my paws, me sitting, squatting, even rolling on the floor while pushing at my cub, but nothing has worked! We need to do something Tigger! If not, then, then my cub will die, and so will I! I must, must push again!” Perdy bore down hard against her cub, feeling the same result. She panted desperately as the contraction spent itself.
“I can’t go on!” she mewed, “I must lie down!” Perdy lay down, mewing and sobbing with pain and fear for herself and her cub. Tigger took her paw and began to stroke it.
“Why doesn’t it work for me the way it works for Theo?” Tigger asked himself, “Theo helped Elsa birth her cubs, and paw massage worked for them, so why not for me?” What Tigger had forgotten in his distress at Perdy’s condition was Theo helped Elsa by pulling a cub while she pushed. That way Leona had been born. Tigger heard Perdy’s moan of pain as she bore down against her cub once more.
“I don’t know what to do Perdy!” Tigger sobbed. Tigger kicked himself, for he knew all the tricks to help when it was some other animal having cubs, but now it was Perdy cubbing, they deserted him. He could only remember the paw massage, that was it, nothing else. Tigger went to Perdy’s tail and felt the cub move as she pushed against it.
“I’m going for help,” Tigger sobbed. Perdy, consumed by pain and fatigue, waved her paw apathetically.
Theo and the others had reached the wood some time before this, and observed with growing alarm the goings on in the small clearing. It was clear Perdy was in trouble, and every animal in that place down to the smallest cub knew it, even though they’d only been there a few minutes.
“I must go and help!” Elsa mewed softly.
“Can you pull a cub?” Theo asked, for that’s what’s needed.
“I know I wanted to experience a cubbing,” Leo remarked, “but not like this!”
“Perdy’s in pain mum,” Leona mewed.
“yes she is Leona dear,” Elsa replied, “but Theo’s going to help her.”
“I’ll go now,” Theo mewed, leaving the bush they were concealed behind.
“”Please help me!” Perdy wailed miserably to anyone who would listen. Perdy’s pained plea brought tears to Leo’s eyes.
“I’m here now,” Theo purred. Tigger, stroking Perdy’s left hind paw, started at the sound of the young lion’s voice.
“Theo!” he mewed, “we’re in trouble here, big trouble!”
“I know,” Theo purred, “stand back Tigger. Oh, and by the way, what I’m about to do was something you advocated for Aslan when Tembi had problems. I’m about to pull a cub.” Tigger’s mind cleared suddenly! Though he still felt anxious, and now very stupid.
“right Perdy,” Theo said gently, “in your own time, push as much as you can, I’ll pull while you push, and stop pulling when you relax.” Perdy, utterly worn out from over five hours struggling to give birth to her cub, whimpered with misery.
“I can’t do any more!” she wailed.
“just relax then,” Theo mewed, “now this isn’t going to be very nice, but it will save you and save your cub.” With that Theo placed his paws over Perdy’s swollen belly, closed his eyes, and thought deeply about Perdy’s cub emerging into the world, breaking down the process into stages. Perdy suddenly squealed with pain, arched her back and clenched her paws, groaning and panting.
“I’ve got’a push!” She yelled suddenly, heaving convulsively. Theo quickly grabbed the cub’s paws and began pulling while Perdy, her fur and paws soaked with sweat, bore down repeatedly against her cub! Perdy realised that until then, she’d been doing what she thought she could do, not what she actually could. With Theo’s help, Perdy and Tigger’s cub emerged into the open. with one final effort from Perdy, the cub was born. Theo, exhausted but triumphant, lay down to dry the cub off.
The cub was huge!
“No wonder poor Perdy had problems having you,” Theo thought. Theo dried the cub off, the rest of the group breaking cover to watch. Theo let Elsa tend to Perdy, while Tigger lay, face buried in paws, knowing he’d been stupid not to tell anyone about the impending birth of his and Perdy’s cub.
What a strange cub this was too! Theo had hardly lain down when the cub coughed, sneezed, then began to paw frantically at him with all four of its huge paws. The cub was female, and enormous for a newborn cub. Theo thought this might be due to the cross breeding of a snow leopard and tiger, though he wasn’t sure. He looked into the cub’s face. She looked confused, and well she might. Theo licked her fur, the cub evidently enjoying his ministrations. The young lion missed no part of the cub’s body, licking her from nose to tail like a lioness would do. Theo and the newborn cub were now surrounded by Theo’s four inquisitive cubs and Leo.
“she does look strange,” Aslan said.
“She has a dirty greyish brown coat of unusually thick fur with stripes on it like a tiger’s,” Leo replied, “her face has stripes, but her nose has some leopard spots on it. Her tail is long, and that has banded stripes on it like a raccoon’s! She’s got huge paws, with spots on them. Her Belly’s also spotted! What have we here?”
“I don’t know,” Petra said, “but she’s beautiful!”
“No it’s not!” Perdy yelled, striding over to the little group. Theo, grunting with surprise, looked up at her.
“What do you mean?” He asked, “your cub’s lovely!”
“No it’s not!” Perdy yelled, “who can love a thing like that! It’s, oh, no! it’s horrible!”
“What’s going on?” Tigger asked, padding across to Perdy.
“I gave birth to a freak of nature!” Perdy yelled, “it’s horrible!”
“Your cub’s female, and it’s she, not it,” Theo snarled, now deeply worried.
“that cub! Yuck!” Perdy yelled, ”It’s disgusting!”
“Let me hold her, please Theo?” Tigger asked. Theo let go of the struggling cub, whom he’d been protecting from Perdy, and Tigger took her in his paws. The huge cub immediately snuggled into his fur. Tigger, on feeling the soft warmth of the cub’s thick fur, hugged her and burst into tears of joy.
“I love you little one!” he sobbed, “no matter what, you’re safe here, I promise!”
“I’m hungry,” the cub mewed.
“Well you’ll have to starve won’t you!” Perdy snapped, “I hate you, and guess what? I’ve got the milk you huge great freak of nature, and you ain’t having none of it!” Theo heard Tigger’s cry of pain.
“You will feed your cub Perdy,” Theo said calmly, “if you don’t, I’ll make sure you are punished severely! I will make sure you are milked like Tembi was! You will not! Not! Not! Deprive your cub of milk!”
“I will!” Perdy yelled, “who could feed a thing like that?” She asked, waving a mocking paw at the oversized cub, “It’s horrid! It’s too big! Too big to be born naturally! I struggled and strained hard for hours to have my cub, and now this is what I get! A horrid patchwork! It’s not a tiger, nor a snow leopard! It’s, oh yuck! I don’t know what it is!”
“She’s your cub, and you should love her,” Leo said.
“Love it?” Perdy asked, laughing scornfully, “no, no Leo, I can’t love that!”
“I’m hungry,” the cub mewed, not understanding a word her mother was saying.
“Go to hell!” Perdy yelled.
“Right!” Leo yelled, “time for gold standard retribution!” Theo knew what this meant. Leo leapt upon Perdy, pinning her to the floor!”
come little one,” Leo said, “come and drink now.” The huge cub crawled over to Leo, and he pointed her in the direction of Perdy’s milk. The cub drank thirstily, while Perdy, totally immobilised by Leo lying across her back and pinning her head and forepaws, spat and snarled while the cub had her fill. Once Perdy’s cub had drunk all she wanted, Leo made sure the huge cub was back with Elsa before he released Perdy.
Elsa looked at the strange cub. She had fallen head over paws in love with her the minute she’d seen her.
“I’m heavily in milk for my two cubs at the moment,” Elsa thought, “if only I could persuade Tigger to let me help him look after his cub. I’d love to help her if I can.”
Tigger and Perdy’s cub lay close to Elsa, her head resting on large paws. Elsa groomed the cub thoroughly from nose to tail. Theo watched her, knowing what she was Thinking.
“I think your cub’s found a mother Tigger,” Theo purred. Tigger, still crying, twitched an ear in his direction.
“What’s that?” He asked miserably.
“Your cub’s found a mother,” Theo repeated.
“How can she have?” Tigger sobbed, “Perdy doesn’t want her!”
“No Tigger,” Elsa purred, going to the Bengal tiger and hugging him, “but I do want her. I love your cub Tiggie.” Tigger took Elsa’s paw in his.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“I love your cub Tiggie,” Elsa repeated. Tigger relaxed, for he knew she was sincere.
“Thank you Elsa,” Tigger sobbed. Elsa gathered Tigger to her, hugging the weeping tiger.
“Come,” she said, “let’s give that cub a real loving home.” Tigger wiped his eyes with one paw.
“If Perdy won’t feed her,” he said, “then how can you Elsa?”
“My cubs are still drinking milk,” Elsa replied, “our cub can have some of that, there’s plenty to go round.” Tigger buried his head in Elsa’s shoulder.
“Oh Elsa, Elsa thank you!” he cried.
Simba and Leona were closely examining the newborn cub with their paws when their mother returned.
“She’s beautiful mum,” Simba purred. Elsa knew this cub wasn’t much to look at, she didn’t look very aesthetically pleasing at all, with her dirty coloured fur and strange markings, but she was beautiful in her own way.”
“I love her,” Elsa purred, “she’s lovely from her head, to the end of her long tail and the soles of her paws.” ?Elsa picked up the cub’s huge left forepaw and examined the sole. It had black pads, but the fur between her pads, instead of being a uniform colour, was spotted, just like that on the visible surfaces of her paws when she was lying on her chest.
“Isn’t that lovely!” Elsa mewed, “The soles of her paws are spotted too!” Perdy spat that the cub wasn’t lovely, that the miserable scrap was horrible and should be drowned. Simba gently touched the cub with his paw.
“We will look after you little one,” he mewed. The fat cross bred cub took hold of Simba’s paw in both of hers and held it tightly.
“I’m cold!” she mewed. Simba hugged the cub to him, doing his best to keep her warm.
Meanwhile, Theo was dealing with Perdy, who flatly refused to feed or even look at her cub.
“I won’t look after that!” She yelled.
“Right!” Theo roared, “you will be thrown into the concrete shed, and then we will milk you like a common cow!” Perdy knew she had no choice, that Theo, even with Elsa’s generous offer of milk, would make her suffer the indignity of being milked as punishment for not looking after her cub.
Tigger and Elsa took the large fat cub to the cubbing den, which was a large place. The cub shivered with pleasure as she entered the warmth of the house.
“My paws are freezing!” she mewed. She felt someone take hold of one of her forepaws, the paw was soft and warm, and then the cub heard purring. Snowy had seen the cub and crawled over to investigate. The cub snuggled up to Snowy, the snow tigress giving the cub the benefit of her body heat. The cub snuggled down beside Snowy, working her huge paws into the tigress’s thick warm fur.
“You have gorgeous thick warm fur little one,” snowy purred. The cub curled up and fell asleep.
“What happened?” snowy asked. Tigger told all.
“Poor Perdy,” snowy mewed, “I know what she went through, for one of my cubs was a big one, and I had similar trouble.”
“Yeah,” Tigger mewed, “but there’s one crucial difference snowy. You looked after your cubs once they were born, Perdy hasn’t. snowy touched the cub’s head with one huge paw, the cub purring as she slept.
“I recognise that look in Snowy’s eyes,” Theo said smiling, “I think she wants to adopt a cub.” Elsa padded up to Snowy and lay down beside the snow tigress. Purring, Elsa took Snowy’s paw in hers and began to stroke it.
“We can look after the cub together,” Elsa mewed. Snowy smiled:
“I’d like that,” she said. The cub suddenly woke, and crawling towards Elsa, tried to throw her paws round the lioness’s neck. Elsa lowered her head to enable the cub to hug her. Then, when the cub’s paws were hugging her, Elsa took the cub in her paws and touched noses with her. The cub laughed delightedly.
“Hug me more!” she pleaded. Elsa held her tightly, mischievously tickling the pads of one spotted paw, the cub shrieking with laughter.
“tickle my paw again, do it again!” she begged. Elsa did it again, and the female cub was soon rolling on the carpet, trying to have all four paws tickled simultaneously. Snowy laughed helplessly at Elsa’s and the cub’s antics.
“I’ve never seen anything so funny!” she whooped. Tigger crawled up to the cub and joined in on her side, tickling Elsa’s paws until the lioness was weak from laughing.
“You bullies!” Elsa mewed theatrically, conscious neither of the animals tickling her paws could see her and needed to know her words weren’t seriously meant. Tigger and his cub tickled Elsa’s paws some more, the lioness mewing pitifully for help from the others.
“No way!” Snowy said smiling, “I’m not getting involved with that cub, she’ll tickle my paws too!” the cub, snarling in mock fury, crawled quickly over to snowy and set to tickling her paws with singular concentration. Snowy Half-Tail laughed until she cried.
“I love you little cub!” she whooped, while the cub did her best to tickle Snowy’s forepaws and belly. Snowy wriggled and mewed, pretending she didn’t like having her paws tickled, but the cub knew differently and acted on it. Snowy was soon exhausted.
“No more little one,” she said to the cub, hugging her with tingling paws. The cub snuggled up to snowy for a wile, then went to drink from Elsa’s milk supply. Her hunger satisfied, the cub crawled Towards Tigger.
“Now Tiggie,” Elsa said gently, “I want to do something for you. You remember colours don’t you?” Tigger nodded:
“I do Elsa, I do,” he replied.
“Well,” Elsa said, “If you’d like it, I will guide your paws over your cub’s body and tell you what she looks like.” Tigger caught his breath:
“would you?” he asked, “oh thank you Elsa!” Elsa hugged Tigger tenderly.
“Now settle down little one,” Elsa said to the cub, “Tigger’s going to put his paws on you and I will tell him what you look like.” The cub settled down on her side, hoping she’d be given a rub down, or even better a paw massage. Elsa placed Tigger’s paw on his cub’s head, the cub flicking out her tongue to lick his paw. Tigger smiled as her rough tongue rasped his pads.
“Your cub has dirty greyish brown fur, rather like the colour of the water in a muddy river,” Elsa said, “her head is covered with irregular stripes, her nose has spots on it.” Elsa took Tigger’s paw and guided it gently as he traced the cub’s body with it. The cub laughed as Tigger’s paw tickled her. “Her back has brown stripes like yours, with her belly having spots on it like the spots on her face.” Tigger touched the relevant parts of his cub’s body as Elsa talked, “her legs have stripes on them, and her tail’s banded like a raccoon’s,” Elsa said. Tigger purred as a picture of his cub began to form in his mind’s eye.
“Your cub’s paws are large, thickly padded and thickly furred,” Elsa said.
“This is the best part,” the cub mewed, giving Tigger each one of her paws in turn and pressing them into his.”
“All you really wanted was a paw massage wasn’t it little’n,” Tigger laughed. The cub mewed:
“yeah, love those paw massages.” Tigger smiled delightedly.
“Your cubs paws are massive, and are spotted on the upper parts of them, and strangely,” here Elsa gently got the cub to turn her paw onto its side, “the soles of her paws have spots on the fur between her pads, which are black.” The cub curled her toes round Tigger’s with surprising strength, holding his paw against hers.
“of course, her eyes haven’t opened yet,” Elsa said, “so I can’t tell you about those.”
“I love her even more now,” Tigger purred, “thank you Elsa!” Then, tears filling his eyes, Tigger embraced the cub tightly.
“I love you little one!” he cried, “I won’t leave you, I promise I won’t leave you!” The cub tried to dry Tigger’s eyes with her paw, a loving gesture which made Tigger cry even more.”
“I love you Tigger,” the cub mewed. Tigger buried his face in the large cub’s thick fur and cried for a long time.
Meanwhile, Petra and Aslan had milked Perdy for everything she had. The snow leopard furious with the two cubs, who seemed to be able to pin her down and get the job done quickly. Carrying the handles of the buckets in their mouths, the two cubs brought the milk to Perdy’s cub, who instinctively began to lap from the bowl into which Elsa had poured the milk. When she was replete with milk, the cub curled up beside Tigger, who laid his paw protectively on hers.
“Tigger,” Theo asked, “why didn’t you let anyone know about Perdy being in cub?”
“It was such a shock to both of us,” Tigger said, “that, that I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone, hoping that the cubbing would go well. It didn’t, and it’s only thanks to you that Perdy got the help she needed. Now she’s abandoned the cub, and we’re looking after Perdy’s cub.
Meanwhile, Perdy lay in the concrete shed feeling more miserable than she’d been in her whole life. She still felt sore from her cub’s birth, and wondered if she’d ever be able to have another cub. Shifting uncomfortably, Perdy cursed the concrete, Theo, Leo and everyone else, including her cub.
“Dam you you horrid patchwork misfit!” Perdy yelled into the darkness, banging the ground with her paws. Perdy felt dreadful. Aslan and Petra had come to her and milked her for all she could give them, and then left her, taking her milk to her patchwork cub. Perdy remembered the pain and effort she’d had to endure and put in to have the cub. The cub was well an truly stuck until Theo came along and weaved his spell over her cub. Now Perdy’s cub was born, and she was in the prison cell. Perdy looked down at her paws. She’d loved Tigger before the birth of their cub, still did in fact, but she couldn’t love that cub. As it was, Perdy realised with a jolt that Tigger might hate her after what she refused to do for their cub. Perdy was beginning to hate herself.
“Why did I throw my cub out like she was an unwanted plaything,” Perdy thought. She tried to visualise her cub from all angles, as well as imagine what her fur would feel like, even down to what the pads on the sole of one of her huge paws would look and feel like as she stroked them. Perdy’s paws ached to be wrapped round a cub who would snuggle up to her, but her own cub wouldn’t be that cub, for she, Perdy, couldn’t stand the sight of her own cub. Perdy knew she’d never forget the effort she’d had to make to deliver her cub. Miserably, she listened to the swish thud of paws on the concrete outside the shed. They were big paws, and there were eight of them, belonging to two four footed animals. For of them might be Leo’s paws, but to whom would the other four belong. Then Perdy caught a scent which filled her eyes with tears.
“Who’s there?” Perdy mewed almost choking on her tears. The swish, scuff sound of the large paws on the concrete came closer, and closer. Then she heard someone scrabbling at the door with one paw and then, the door opened. Leo stood on the threshold with Perdy’s cub.”
“What are you doing here little one?” Perdy asked.
“I heard you saying bad things about me,” the cub mewed. Leo wanted to come out and give you a hiding, and I said I’d come with him to see if I could talk sense into you.” Perdy remembered ranting about her cub.
“The question is,” Leo said, “do you really hate your cub?”
“Let me look at you, please!” Perdy begged of her cub. The cub rolled onto her back and waved her paws in the air, something which had Leo and Perdy laughing helplessly. Then Perdy looked at her cub, examining her from her nose, to the tip of her tail, from her ears, to the pads and toes of all four massive paws.
“I’m so sorry!” she cried, her tears wetting the cub’s fur as she examined her closely with her eyes and gentle paws, “I don’t know what I’ve lost! I’m a stupid cub myself, not realising a cub was the best thing which ever happened to me. Another life, another being, worthy of protecting with my life!” Perdy’s tears wet the cub’s paws as she stroked them.
“You’re crying mum,” the cub mewed. Perdy hugged her cub, mewing and crying with emotional pain.
“I’m not worthy of looking after this cub,” Perdy wept, “I did such horrid things to her, such dreadful things, that, that I’m no mother to her.”
“You can be,” Leo replied, “take her in your paws Perdy,” he suggested. Perdy did so, and didn’t want to let the cub go.
“I want to feed her, and groom her, stroke her, play with her, tickle her paws, rub her belly, everything!” Perdy mewed.
“Do it then,” Leo purred.
Perdy lay down, and the large cub crawled up to her. Perdy noticed the strange markings on her cub, from the spots on her face, to the markings on the soles of her hind paws while she was crawling, for they had large black pads and spotted fur on them. The cub found Perdy with her forepaws, found the milk supply and began to drink, gently kneading Perdy’s belly with her paws to obtain more milk. Perdy felt wonderful! Her cub’s warm body beside her was comforting, and she knew she was doing what she was meant to, and wanted to do.
“Good milk this,” the cub mewed, making Perdy smile. The cub finished her drink and lay down on her back with her paws in the air.
“You do look so funny!” Perdy mewed, taking one of her cub’s paws in her own and holding it. The paw was soft and warm, the pads unhardened by tough times. Perdy examined the paw she held. It was everything she’d imagined, in fact her cub was everything she’d imagined. Now she could hug her cub. Perdy bent her head and kissed her cub on the nose. The cub smiled and rubbed back against her mother’s whiskers. Perdy then looked back at the paw she held, and gently kissed her cub’s paw.
“You are lovely little one,” She whispered. The cub began to purr, and this sound made Perdy want to cry. Perdy tickled the pads of her cub’s paw and smiled as the cub playfully swiped at her with her free forepaw. The cub curled up and was soon asleep, Perdy’s paw now in that of her cub. Perdy felt the cub’s large warm paw holding her own, and it felt wonderful!
“I think we’d better name you little cub,” Perdy whispered. Tigger touched Perdy’s shoulder, and looking up, she smiled at him.
“I believe you’ve rethought your views on our cub,” Tigger said.
“I have Tigger,” Perdy purred, “and I’m more sorry to you and our cub than I can say.”
“We know that,” Tigger purred, “that was why Leo and our cub came out into the garden, I could feel you’d changed your mind, and our cub was restless too, asking if she could go out to see you. Elsa was not very happy with the idea, but I begged her to let me make the choice as to whether our cub went out or not. Now she’s here, and I can see you two are getting on splendidly.” Perdy looked down at her cub with genuine affection.
“I love her Tigger,” Perdy mewed. When she said this, the cub snuggled closer, as if she’d heard, or maybe she’d felt how sincere her mother was, just like her sire was able to.
“We should really name our cub,” Tigger said.
“Yes,” Perdy replied, “we aught to do that soon.”
“I don’t know what to name our cub,” Tigger said, “for I’ve looked in books for female tiger names, but can’t find anything! I know we could give her a name which meant snow leopard or tiger, but she’s neither, in that she’s both a snow leopard and a tiger.”
“I don’t mind what you call me,” the cub mewed sleepily, “as long as it’s nothing bad.”
“Let’s call her Fleur.” Perdy suggested.
“Why Fleur Perdy?” Tigger asked.
“I don’t know, I like the name,” she replied. The huge cub looked up into Tigger’s sightless eyes.
“I like that name too,” she mewed, “now let’s get on with more fun things, like playing! With that she grabbed Tigger’s left forepaw and tickled it. Tigger rolled onto his back and batted playfully at his cub’s paw with his free one. Fleur tickled Tigger’s paws, the tiger snarling with mock aggression.
“Let’s all go indoors and settle down,” Tigger said, rolling onto his paws and hugging his cub. Fleur hugged Tigger, and then turned her attention to Perdy, trying to roll her over to tickle her paws. Perdy lifted a cold paw from the concrete and let her cub hold it. Perdy breathed in sharply as her paw warmed up and circulation was restored.
“Let’s go indoors mum,” fleur said.
The first person they met was Elsa, the lioness running to fleur and hugging her. Then she walked to Perdy and took her paw.
“come and help all of us to raise and nurture this cub Perdy,” she said. Perdy smiled:
“Fleur, my cub, loves all who helped me and her to survive Elsa,” she said. Elsa hugged Perdy tightly.
“I will never turn my cub away again Elsa,” Perdy sobbed. Elsa stroked the snow leopard’s paw.
“Come,” she said, “let’s go up to the cubbing den and settle in there.” Fleur followed her mother and Elsa to the cubbing den where she met up with Elsa and Theo’s cubs.
The cubs rolled Fleur over and began tickling her belly and paws. Fleur laughed helplessly, while trying to catch the paws of her assaulters and put an end to the tickling. Leo put an end to the rather one sided game by clapping his paws together, much as Theo had. The cubs all stopped their game, and Leo said:
“Let’s not tickle Fleur’s paws any longer. Now she’s safe, let’s curl up round her and take time to talk to her, stroke, not tickle her paws, and enjoy her company.” The others were in agreement with that.
“To think you weren’t born this morning, but now you’re here fleur,” Petra said, “that’s rather amazing. Fleur felt Petra’s paws enveloping her in a huge hug and snuggled into her fur.
“I’ve had so much happen today,” Fleur mewed, “and it’s only day one of my life.” Theo, Tigger, Leo, Perdy and Elsa laughed merrily at the cub’s words.
Meeting real power.
Fleur woke slowly. She at first wondered where she was, but then, as the touch of several paws on her body made itself felt, she remembered. She could feel paws holding both her forepaws, then there were two paws on her tail, and even one tiny one resting on her left hind paw. Fleur wondered if all these paws were there to hold her down, had she thrashed about in the night? Fleur then remembered her birth, and how difficult that had been.
“If I did thrash about,” she thought, “it’s not surprising. Fleur explored the sensation of the paws on her body, they were warm, and all had retracted claws. She tried moving a paw, picking up her left fore. The paw holding hers suddenly tightened its grip! Fleur instantly felt fear, mewing with terror! She fought to free her paw, waking the whole cubbing den, as it seemed everyone had their paw, or tail, or whiskers in contact with her.
“ay? What?” Leo grunted, “is something wrong?” Fleur was terrified and angry.
“I wanted to move my paw,” she mewed, “and the owner of the paw holding mine didn’t want me to move it, so they held on tighter! I got scared, fought them, and now this has happened! Don’t you want me to move? Am I to stay in the same place all the time?” Perdy, who’s paw it was that had tightened on Fleur’s, embraced her frightened cub.
“I’m sorry,” she mewed, “it was my fault. I felt your paw move, and instinctively held onto you as I thought you were having a nightmare. I won’t do that again.”
“How did I end up waking the whole den?” fleur asked.
“Well,” Theo replied, “Leo had his paw on your tail, so did I. Leona rested her paw on one of your hind paws, Elsa and Perdy’s whiskers, and Perdy’s paw were touching your forepaws and face, and Tigger’s paw was on your right forepaw. Other cubs had their paws or whiskers touching you.”
“I don’t know whether to be glad I had so many looking out for me or upset that you think I would ever think of running away,” Fleur mewed, “where could I go? Nowhere!”
“We’re all sorry if we made you feel trapped,” Elsa mewed, touching Fleur’s cheek gently with one paw, “but we all love you dearly fleur, and we didn’t want you to come to harm.” Fleur knew of the goings on surrounding her birth in the wood, and knew there were many animals who witnessed it.
“I do feel very safe here,” Fleur mewed, “but I would rather not be pinned down by paws in the future.”
“You are so precious to us,” Theo said, “not just to your mum and Tigger, but to all of us. We all love you dearly fleur,” Petra said. Leo smiled at Petra and patted her paw.
“If loving me means pinning me down, I don’t want it!” fleur mewed.
“No, it doesn’t mean that!” Perdy replied, much hurt by her cub’s words, “we don’t mean to restrict your liberty, but we don’t want you to get into trouble, so we put our paws on you to reassure us you were still there, and to reassure you we were there too Fleur!” Fleur knew she’d upset her mother with her words.
“I’m sorry,” Fleur said, “I know you love me, and I would go mad without the love and protection of all of you, and I love you all very much. This is awful! I didn’t mean to say it like that! It’s, well, that I don’t want paws holding me down, and I thought you were saying that was what loving me was. I know it’s not just that.”
“This conversation is too deep for me this early in the morning,” Aslan yawned.
“I didn’t mean to upset anyone!” Fleur mewed, now close to tears.
“We know,” Perdy replied, “but you don’t know what you were saying when you said what you did. It hurt us fleur!”
“for heaven’s sake!” Elsa yelled, “wait a minute, take three deep breaths and calm down everyone! Fleur’s only a day old! If you woke to find paws on you, and you didn’t like it, but were told that these paws were there because the owners of those paws loved you, wouldn’t you associate the word love with restraining paws? If you didn’t like paws holding you down, you would say you didn’t like what the owners of those paws called love, for that was the reason for them holding you down, and being held down was what you hated. So you would hate this love thing, no matter what the real feelings were behind the whole thing.”
“and I’ll bet you tightened your grip on Fleur’s paw when she tried to struggle Elsa!” Perdy snapped.
“No, no Perdy, Elsa didn’t,” Theo mewed, “she woke and looked round to see where fleur was, but she took her paw off the cub’s. Elsa knew her cub wasn’t going anywhere where she’d be in danger.” Perdy looked at Elsa.
“thank you Elsa, for explaining that to us, great scholar!” She spat. Elsa’s paw landed with a smack across Perdy’s face!
“Now you’re getting tiresome!” Elsa Snarled. Perdy whimpered with shock. Even though Elsa’s paw was safe, which meant her claws were retracted and could do Perdy little harm, the slap still stung.
“Now Elsa, please!” Theo pleaded, “Perdy’s a new mother, and doesn’t understand these things. We have to teach her, and slapping her with your paws won’t achieve anything!”
“I explained it as best I could,” Elsa mewed, “and Perdy tore into me for trying to help her! she’s being dreadful again!”
“This is going to be a rough ride,” Petra thought, sighing heavily, “Elsa and Perdy are on a collision course.”
“That was a big sigh Petra?” Theo said.
“It’s nothing,” Petra replied airily, though her heart was heavy with worry, “nothing at all Theo.” Theo saw the concern in Petra’s eyes, she might be able to disguise it in the way she spoke, but her eyes never lied.
“It’s a little local difficulty,” Theo said gently to Petra, “your mum and Perdy are having a bit of trouble understanding each other.”
“A bit of trouble?” Perdy asked, “and what would you know about that Theo? Why is it you’re talking to your cub about a problem which concerns me and Elsa only! That’s our business, not hers or yours!”
“Petra is perceptive,” Theo replied, “she knows and understands more than you give her credit for. She’s worried about what will happen to fleur if you and Elsa come to blows.”
“come to blows?” Perdy snapped, “I’ll rip Elsa’s head off! She’s interfering in my cub’s life!”
“I told you this would happen,” Petra mewed pitifully, curling her toes into the rug for support, “Perdy’s going to explode!” Perdy leapt to her paws and screamed at Petra!
“Will you bloody well shut up!” She snarled, “my cub is mine alone to do with what I wish!” Tigger roused himself, getting to his paws.
“Fleur’s my cub too Perdy,” he reminded her, “and I say you will treat her, and anyone who cares for her with respect!”
“You can shut up too!” Perdy yelled, “I’m not taking orders from a blind tiger! You are so clever when it comes to others cubbing, telling them what to do, but when it’s me, oh no, you let me go through hell! You know how to pull a cub, I saw it in your face when Theo mentioned it! You wanted me to suffer! Saying you didn’t know what to do when I was fighting for mine and the cub’s life, that was rubbish! You knew Tigger, oh yes, you knew, but you weren’t telling, why was that? Because you wanted me dead!” Tigger flung himself down on the rug, burying his face in his paws.
“How can you say that!” he sobbed.
“You made no attempt to pull the cub!” Perdy yelled, “that’s how I know it!”
“My mind was full of other things,” Tigger wept, “I couldn’t remember a thing about how to help during a cubbing!”
“Tigger’s mind was confused Perdy,” Theo said, “it’s not his fault.”
“How the hell would you know!” Perdy yelled, “the cubbing was hell, and this, this useless tiger did nothing to help!”
Petra, sensing Fleur’s distress, padded over to her, took her paw and then, because she could see the huge cub was in need of stronger reassurance, dropped Fleur’s paw and hugged her.
“I’m scared Petra,” fleur mewed. Petra patted Fleur’s paw:
“We will leave here and find some other animals to talk to,” she said.
“But, but I’m hungry, and my mum and Elsa, the two who have given me milk, are close to tearing each other up!” Fleur sobbed.
“I will make sure they don’t,” Petra mewed, “now, get a drink, and then we’ll leave here.” Fleur approached Perdy, who pushed her away with her paw. Elsa saw Fleur’s distress, and let her drink from her milk. Once she’d drunk enough, fleur grabbed Petra’s paw and almost dragged her from the den.
“I know I will soon want to sleep,” Fleur mewed, “but I don’t want to sleep in the den, anywhere but there!” Petra and fleur fled, their paws scuffing and thudding down the stairs to where snowy lay.
“Snowy’s gone!” Petra mewed pitifully. Indeed, the rug where Snowy usually lay was empty. Fleur began to shake with fear.
“Has something happened to her?” the cub asked. Petra didn’t want to share her fears. Snowy was very unwell, and might have crawled away to die. Petra and fleur ran all over the house, finally finding snowy half-tail on the quilt. She looked dreadful. Her breathing was laboured, and the look in her eyes told Petra she was in great distress. The other animals who lived on the quilt were cowering in fear.
“Snowy!” Petra mewed. Snowy looked at her with terrified eyes.
“I’m not too good today Petra love,” she said, “I’m, I’m finished, this is the end for me. Give my love to Fleur if you see her. I love you all.” Petra then noticed two tiny snow leopard cubs, Whitie and Blanche cuddled close to snowy, touching her with their paws. Petra didn’t know the story behind their love for the snow tigress, but she could guess at it from seeing how Snowy adopted Fleur.
“What’s happening?” Fleur asked. Now Petra was torn between sending Fleur back to the cubbing den into a situation which she didn’t like, or Fleur staying with her and witnessing whatever might happen to Snowy. Suddenly Snowy’s breathing slowed, and the two snow leopard cubs snuggled close to her, weeping pitifully.
“We love you Snowy,” Whitie mewed, her tears wetting the tigress’s fur. snowy didn’t reply, for she couldn’t. Suddenly Snowy’s body trembled, and she cried out with fear, a desperate, heart rending sound, which brought the occupants of the cubbing den flying into the room! Most of them were too late, for Snowy’s paws briefly reached for Whitie, the snow leopard cub cuddling close to the tigress. All too soon, Snowy’s body relaxed and lay still. Snowy half tail was dead.
“What the hell’s going on!” Leo yelled.
“Snowy’s dead Leo!” Petra sobbed. Leo fought his way through the crush of animals, which was growing as those downstairs reacted to the sound of Snowy’s dying cry. Leo stood over snowy, looking down at her lifeless form.
“Snowy, snowy!” Leo cried. Elsa held Leo’s paw as the huge lion wept into Snowy half tail’s coat.
“What’s happening!” fleur asked.
“Snowy’s dead,” Aslan said gently. Fleur became still, remembering the snow Tigress’s soft paws, and the way she’d laughed when fleur tickled her paws. Fleur then realised it had been Snowy who’s paw had taken hers when she first entered the cubbing den. Fleur could still feel the tigress’s huge fat, warm paw enveloping her own. Fleur found herself weeping for a tigress whom she’d hardly known, but had taken her in her paws without reservation to love and protect her. Whitie and Blanche held Snowy’s paws, greatly upset by the death of their foster mother.
“Rest in peace snowy,” Whitie sobbed. The two snow leopard cubs kissed Snowy on her nose, before crawling away together, paw in paw. Leo watched them go, knowing Snowy was loved by almost everyone in the community.
Theo didn’t know what to do. Things had changed so dramatically in half an hour. Noone knew the seriousness of Snowy’s condition, or did they? Why wasn’t he warned she was gravely ill. These questions had to be faced, but not now. Theo’s mind thought of his responsibilities as leader, but also he was dreadfully upset. He remembered being stroked by snowy in the early days of Leo’s and her relationship, when she’d introduced Leo to paw massage and Leo had asked her if he might bring his brother for a paw massage. Snowy had agreed, and Theo got his massage. Now Theo was trying not to cry, but inside his heart was torn in two by the death of the snow tigress. The community had always known Snowy’s medical condition could kill her at any time, but as with all things like that, they’d pushed it to the back of their collective mind and carried on. This was partly why Snowy’s death was such a shock to all. Despite knowing he should take charge, Theo couldn’t. Instead, no longer thinking of the community, but only of the gentle snow tigress who’d helped him all that time ago, Theo buried his face in his paws and burst into tears.
“You should be leading us!” Tarker snapped, whacking Theo with his paw. Theo, furious with grief, turned on Tarker and attacked him!
“No Theo No!” Elsa pleaded, leaping at Theo and trying to restrain him!
“This otter needs to be taught a dam good lesson Elsa!” Theo sobbed, “and as my first act as Leader, I’m going to bloody well teach him it!” Theo clawed and ripped at Tarker, the otter screaming with fear and pain!
“No Theo no! Leave him!” Leo begged, but he knew Tarker was for it. Theo drove Tarker out of the room, along the landing and to the top of the stairs.
“No Theo!” Winifred yinnied, as she realised what the young lion was about to do, “don’t, don’t do it!”
“This Tarker,” Theo snarled, “is for Aslan, for Petra, for Leo, and mostly for Snowy!” With that he picked Tarker up in his mouth, shook him, and with a screaming yell of rage and pain, threw the otter cub hard down the stairs! Tarker’s body smashed into the wall, then slid down the stairs, gaining speed, until it became airborne, and he tumbled the rest of the way, his body landing with a thud at the bottom. Theo stood and watched, numb from his nose to his toes.
“You killed him!” Winifred yinnied.
“I don’t care,” Theo snarled, “that otter cub had it coming to him!”
“But you can’t just murder at will!” Elsa mewed, racing to Theo’s side, “you can’t do that Theo!”
“Elsa, my dear sweet lioness,” Theo growled, still pent up with fury, “you don’t know what that cub has done to the community. You have no idea my sweetheart, no idea at all. One day I will tell you, but now, now, let’s,” and with this Theo’s anger subsided until he was crying, “let’s go and deal with poor snowy.” Elsa took Theo’s paw, it was shaking, and she saw Theo’s whole body was trembling so much he could hardly stand. Theo cried out with pain, his grief acute and tearing him apart.
“come,” Elsa said gently, “you must be strong for the community Theo, I know you don’t’ want to be strong, but you must.” Theo hugged Elsa tightly, his tears wetting her fur.
“I loved that Tigress Elsa,” he sobbed, “she was so gentle to me.” Elsa stroked Theo’s paw:
“Now do what you can for her,” Elsa said gently, “take her and bury her in the wood with all the ceremony which befits a great cat.” Theo hugged Elsa desperately, then released her, padding back into the bedroom, where the animals had mostly left to go back downstairs to allow Theo and whomever would help him to do their thing.”
“Fleur, and you Petra,” Theo said, “go back to the cubbing den. Perdy won’t harm either of you.” The two cubs left quickly.
“What are you going to do with snowy?” Whitie sobbed.
“I will bury her in the wood,” Theo said gently to the snow leopard cub, “you can help choose the place if you like, for I know you and Snowy were very close.” Whitie wiped her eyes with her paw. Whitie and blanche’s eyes had opened, but they were still blind, their eyes not forming properly.
“I can’t choose a place to bury Snowy yet!” Whitie sobbed, “she’s only been dead half an hour! Oh Theo, I can’t do it! Not yet! Blanche and I have just lost our mum, and I can’t consider where to bury Snowy yet, please, let me do it in my own time!” Whitie pleaded. Amber spat at her cub.
“How can you say that Whitie!” She demanded, “I am your mother, snowy wasn’t!”
“You gave birth to us,” Blanche snapped, “any snow leopard can do that! Snowy picked us up when You had to leave us, and cared for us for a long time. Then, then, when you found us, you hated snowy so much you did horrid things to her, and, and now, now she’s dead, and you’re asking why we’re saying things like this? Snowy never hated you Amber, but you, you not only hated her, you did horrid things to her!”
“I won’t have you talking like this Blanche! Do you hear me you disgusting cub!” Amber yelled.
“No, “no I won’t stop talking like this!” Blanche sobbed, “because it’s true, it’s all true I tell you!” Amber crawled over to Blanche and walloped her with all her force! Blanche cried even more, which angered Amber further.
“I think you’d better leave Amber,” Theo said firmly, “go!” Amber shuffled away, Blanche snuggling into Theo’s fur for protection.
“She’ll not trouble you again,” Theo growled. Blanche and Whitie hugged each other tightly. Theo next went to Leo, the huge lion still crying into Snowy’s coat.
“She’s still warm,” Leo choked, “Snowy’s not dead! She can’t be dead!”
“Leo,” Theo said softly, “she’s gone, it’s just her fur keeping her body warm now. She’s left us my brother cub.” Leo mewed with misery, holding desperately onto Snowy’s paw.
“I never, never got to say sorry to her for how I’d been over the Elsa and Simba thing either,” Leo cried, “she was furious with me for my stupidity, and I never got to apologise! It will live with me forever Theo! I never made things right between us, and now I can’t, and it’s not fair! Why does a tigress who’s done nothing to harm anyone have to die before her time? I used to believe in a higher power, but now it can go stuff itself! If this higher power is meant to be benevolent, it wouldn’t take good kind beings before their time, like it’s just taken snowy!” Theo held his brother’s clenched paw, Leo furious with grief.
“I can’t go on any more!” Leo sobbed, “knowing that I didn’t make amends with Snowy for what I said. She said my rantings made her want to die of boredom, and then she wasn’t serious. Now though, now she’s really dead, and I didn’t apologise to her for what I’d said about Elsa and Simba!”
“Maybe if you went into the wood and settled down in a clearing, closed your eyes and thought about Snowy, you might be able to, even now, let her know how you feel,” Theo said to his brother.
“I can’t!” Leo sobbed, “for that would mean coming into contact with a force whom I don’t believe in!” Theo smiled.
“Ah Leo my brother cub,” he said, “but you do believe in that higher power.”
“No I don’t, I don’t!” Leo yelled.
“go into the woods,” Theo said, “lie down, close your eyes, and see who comes to you my brother. Don’t be afraid of what you might see, for nothing and noone will hurt you. You are between the paws of the higher power, but you don’t know it.”
“You’re going crazy Theo!” Leo sobbed, “I can’t do anything like that! Our mother told me and you about Eohippus, the dawn horse, who was said to be the mother of all creatures, even those who would kill her own kind. This horse was so open hearted she understood why millions of her own kind had to die to feed the lions and other carnivorous animals she’d created, and gave her own kind swiftness of foot and a gentle spirit so they might show the lions and carnivores how to behave properly. The story went that the carnivores would eat the horses and other prey animals, but there would be a time when we will all be eating plants and things, leaving the prey animals in peace. Until that time, the prey animals would have the gentility and spirit to forgive us carnivores for our so called natural instincts.”
“You don’t realise what’s going on do you Leo, you can’t see it can you my brother cub,” Theo replied.
“If you’re so clever, you tell me!” Leo snarled.
“Go into the wood,” Theo said, “there you will learn all. As I’ve said, you’ve been between the paws of a higher power already. She doesn’t look like much at the moment, but she’s here, and she’s adhering to the laws Eohippus set down at the dawn of time when she roamed the planet. Go to the wood my brother cub, go and see what you learn there.”
Leo left the room, Theo watching him go. Going downstairs, Leo left the house and ventured into the wood. Lying down in the same clearing as fleur was born, he closed his eyes and thought hard. Leo, after a lot of thought, could get nowhere. He was about to give up when he saw something coming through the trees, a tiny white mare. Leo’s instinct suddenly kicked in, and he wanted to bring the mare down and eat her, but when he looked into her eyes, his belly became full, and he no longer wanted to eat the mare.
“Leo, Leo?” The mare nickered softly, a sound so sweet it brought tears to the lion’s eyes, “do you know me?” Leo stretched out his paws to embrace the mare, for he suddenly felt he wanted to hug her. This mare was only a few feet tall, if that.
“You’re Eohippus,” Leo sniffed, for he was crying now.
“I am,” the mare replied.
“I thought, thought you were fictional,” Leo sobbed.
“No,” Eohippus replied, “I lived at the dawn of time, but was only given form when life on earth got to a level where I could assume the form of an animal who has the bravery to join battle, and the intelligence to understand why others more uneducated than itself may want to do it harm. I am an animal who will help humans, but will also put my life on the line for another animal. I am a horse.”
But, but you’re not real!” Leo sobbed, you’re not here!” The mare walked closer, and Leo could hear her hooves on the grass. Then she lay down beside him, and touched his whiskers with her soft muzzle.
“I’m here,” she said, “and now, now I will give my life to you Leo, you can eat me as you wished to when I first appeared through the trees.”
“I can’t eat you Eohippus, I can’t!” Leo sobbed, “I was hungry, and my instinct told me to make you as food for me, but I can’t do it!”
“You can’t do it, because you asked yourself in those few seconds if you really could kill and eat a horse. You decided you could not live with yourself if you did that. I saw this, and made your belly full so you would no longer feel hunger. You will be hungry again, but for a different food. Now I have something to say to you. I believe you’ve been having some problems recently,” Eohippus said.
“yes,” Leo replied, “the community have had some problems,,” he stopped for the mare had raised her hoof.
“Not the community, you Leo,” she said.
“Yes, I have,” Leo said miserably.
“I believe you have also lost someone dear to your heart too,” the mare continued. Leo hesitated, fighting with an urge to weep for snowy, for he’d been weeping with fear at what was happening to him until then. The mention of his dead mate’s name tore Leo apart.
“You can cry for Snowy, it’s not wrong to do so Leo,” The mare said. Leo rested his head against the mare’s neck and cried for snowy. Suddenly he felt the mane against his face changing, it became fur, soft warm white fur! Leo suddenly felt paws holding him. Wiping his eyes, he looked, and there, holding him in her paws, lay snowy half tail!
“Snowy?” he asked softly.
“Yes Leo,” snowy replied.
“Please, I wanted to say how sorry I am for what I said about and tried to do to Elsa and Simba. I know it hurt you a lot.” Snowy’s spirit hugged Leo tenderly.
“Now,” Snowy said, “you will have to help those members of the community who need it most,” the tigress said, “You don’t know this yet, but Eohippus lives here on earth, even as we speak. You know the stories of Eohippus don’t you Leo.”
“yes,” Leo replied.
“Tell them to me,” snowy purred. Leo did, and when he was finished, snowy touched his nose with hers and said softly:
“does Eohippus remind you of anyone currently living in your community?”
“No,” Leo replied, “Brydy maybe, because she’s a horse,,,” Snowy raised a well padded paw to stop him.
“No,” the tigress replied, “the similarity is less obvious. Do you know anyone who looks like, even lives like Eohippus did?”
“You mean a white animal?” Leo asked.
“yes,” Snowy said, “a white animal indeed.”
“it was said that Eohippus was white from her nose to her tail,” Leo replied, “but there are no animals who are like that in our community.”
“None at all?” Snowy asked, “are you sure about that?”
“There’s Petra,” Leo said, “but she’s got a black nose, and black pads on her paws, I’ve seen them, I’ve tickled her paws! Her pads are not white.”
“Tell me about Petra,” snowy enquired.
“You know her, you’ve hugged her Snowy.”
“even so, tell me about her,” snowy replied. Leo, knowing he had no choice, thought for a minute.
“She’s a female lion cub, almost a lioness sometimes,” Leo said, “got white fur from her nose to her toes pretty much. Petra’s got a black nose, blue eyes, and black pads on the soles of all four paws. Her paws are soft, and very strokable. In fact, the whole of her is. She loves being stroked does Petra. Petra loves having her paws tickled too.” Snowy’s spirit smiled:
“Anything else?” She asked.
“Petra’s got a meat intolerance, she has to eat vegetables the whole time,” Leo replied.
“Now,” snowy said, “what’s similar about the two animals, don’t get put off by the fact Petra’s a lion cub.”
“Nothing!” Leo replied, beginning to think Snowy’s spirit had lost her way, “there’s nothing similar about them, one’s a horse who lived thousands of years ago, and the other’s a lion cub who lives in the house!”
“What’s similar about them?” snowy asked again, infuriating Leo.
“Nothing!” he roared, “nothing at all! Look, if I knew I was going to get the grand interrogation here, I’d not have come!” Now I’ve apologised to you Snowy, I’m off!”
“No you’re not!” Snowy snarled, extending her claws and pricking Leo with them, “you will stay here until I’ve said what I have to say. Now, I want you to tell me the similarities between Petra and Eohippus.”
“They both eat vegetables or plants, and both have white hair or fur.” Leo replied, “They both are white from their noses to their tails, from their ears to the soles of their feet.”
“Good,” Snowy said, “now tell me this one last thing. What did Theo say to you before you left the room where my earthly body died?”
“He said that I should not be so sceptical about a higher power, for I’d already been between the higher power’s paws,” Leo replied,” it all sounded very strange, I thought he was going mad after Snowy’s, I mean your death.”
“My death?” Snowy asked, “if I died, I’d not be here now. Anyway, we’ll let that pass for the moment.”
“Theo isn’t talking about himself is he?” Leo asked, “about himself being the incarnation of a higher power?”
“Not himself,” snowy replied, “though he’s the only one to realise who the white cub really is. He treats her no differently from any other of his cubs, but he knows who she is.”
“The white cub,” Leo replied, “but that’s what we used to call Petra before she had a proper name.”
“yes,” snowy replied, “the stories of Eohippus told that every now and again, the equine who gave life to every non human animal would have a representative born to a member of a community, without warning. This representative of Eohippus wouldn’t be eohippus herself, but as close to her as possible without necessarily being a horse. Petra doesn’t know how to read the thoughts of other animals yet, but Theo will teach her. Petra is eohippuses representative living among you. She doesn’t know her station yet, but she will learn it. She already knows to seek beauty within, for it was Petra who first said Fleur was beautiful while the rest of you were wondering if she was or not. You were looking at her fur, not at her inner self. Petra saw Fleur’s beauty, which wasn’t in her fur, but in her mind. Petra and Theo will grow together. For it is they who will lead the community now. Elsa will nurture Petra, but it will be the white cub, along with her sire, who will lead the community.”
“What if the others don’t agree?” Leo asked, “Petra’s not liked by all.”
“No,” snowy replied, “those who do not like her hate her because they don’t know her. I know these animals, and there are two. Amber is one, and Stifftail the other. There were three, but Theo lost his temper and killed Tarker. The otter cub met his destiny, for he was poisoned in the mind, as Theo said to Aslan once. Theo’s only young, about three years old. He will learn to lead the community well. Petra will learn too, but she will be a mother to all cubs, the protector of all lost creatures.” Leo’s eyes filled with fresh tears.
“Like, like you were,” he sniffed.
“Yes Leo my love,” Snowy purred, “now I must leave you forever.”
“No Snowy, no!” Leo begged, “take me with you!”
“Where I am going, you cannot yet follow,” Snowy replied.
“but I want to!” Leo sobbed.
“You cannot follow me to the other side,” snowy replied, “not yet Leo.”
“but please!” Leo cried as Snowy got up to leave him, “let me talk with you again! I must talk with you again!”
“I will be with you always,” Snowy replied, “if you want to see me, come to the clearing at midnight. We can talk then for about half an hour. Now I must go, but I have one last thing to say to you. If you see a white tigress, please help her.” With that Leo watched Snowy’s spirit walk into the trees, her short tail being the last he saw of her. Leo lay on the forest floor weeping for his mate.
“I want to hold you in my paws again snowy!” Leo cried, “I want to love you like I used to, stroke your fur, massage your paws! Now I can’t do any of that, and I so want to! I’m lonely snowy!”
“I would love to be back with you Leo my love,” snowy purred in Leo’s ear, “but I can’t be with you in your world any longer, and it breaks my heart to say it.” With that, Leo knew for certain snowy had left him. Leo cried for a long time. His tears dried eventually, and with heavy paws, he made his way back to the house.
Meanwhile, Theo was trying to arrange Snowy’s funeral. Tarker’s body was buried by Winifred, who didn’t want the lions to help her in any way.
Theo told the rest of the household what had taken place, and the question about the leadership soon arose.
“I think Theo and Petra aught to take over,” Leo said straight off.
“Theo yes,” Amber replied, “but why Petra? She’s a cub!”
“I can’t say why,” Leo replied, “but I think she should be the one who helps Theo out.”
“I can’t think of anyone else for deputy leader,” Kalahari said.
“Anyone got any objections?” Leo asked. The animals all looked at their paws.
“right,” Leo said, Theo and Petra it is then.” Theo looked at his cub.
“I’ll have to start treating you like my second in command now Petra love,” he said.
“the day you stop playing with me and tickling my paws I’ll be most annoyed Theo,” Petra replied. Theo hugged her.
“Before we get to that, we have to bury poor snowy,” Theo mewed sadly. Petra squeezed her sire’s paw.
“Why would you want to bury me?” someone asked. Theo looked up sharply, straight into the bright eyes of a young snow tigress!
“We’re not burying you, we’re burying Snowy,” he said, “she’s, she died earlier today.”
“Did I?” Snowy asked, “well, I’m not dead now, and I feel better than I have for years.”
“it’s just like what Snowy’s spirit said in the wood!” Leo mewed, “she said that if I was to see a snow tigress, I should help her!”
“I don’t understand this!” Theo mewed, “how can snowy come back from the dead!”
“I told you she was not dead Theo!” Leo mewed, “I told you!”
“how can you come back from the dead!” Theo yelled at Snowy.
“I think I went into a deep coma, my body shut down until I was barely breathing, and my heart barely beating. Something happened to me during the time I was under this spell, and when I woke, I felt alive, and full of cubbish energy!” snowy said. She reared onto her hind legs and clapped her forepaws together, making Leo laugh helplessly.
“but my dream,” he mewed, “if that was a dream. Well, Snowy came to me in it, she told me that I could not go where she was, not yet.”
“I was very nearly dead,” snowy mewed, “but not quite. My body had shut down to such an extent I was all but dead.”
“But if you knew this,” Theo asked, “why all the dying words bit, and that horrid desperate cry you made before you passed out?”
“I didn’t know then that I wasn’t dying,” snowy mewed, “it was only later, when I woke on the quilt that I guessed what had happened. Now I am here, and I’m in cub too!”
“How can you be in cub?” Theo asked.
“My sister was killed by hunters,” Snowy replied, “and the powers that be gave me her unborn cub to look after. I will be cubbing in a few weeks Leo.” Leo looked at his mate.
“How did this happen!” he asked, running to Snowy and throwing his paws round her neck. Snowy snuggled up to Leo, purring enthusiastically, with no hint of the respiratory problems she used to suffer from.
“You sound like a young cub!” Leo mewed. Snowy mewed like a cub, rolled over and let Leo tickle her belly and paws. This display had all the other animals, except Amber and Stifftail, laughing fit to bust.
Amber was scared. How could Snowy have not died? She was desperately ill, and Arki, who’d woken to find the tigress sprawled panting for breath and mewing with fear on the quilt, had confirmed her illness. It was only when snowy was dying that Arki retired, letting fear overtake her, and leaving Snowy’s care to her cubs.
“I can’t believe you’re alive snowy!” Amber snarled, “I hate you! I want you dead! You were dead!”
“You want me dead?” Snowy asked, Why Amber? What have I ever done to you?” Amber spat at the tigress.
“You stole my cubs!” Amber snarled.
“she did not steal us!” Whitie sobbed, “snowy looked after us, and to whomever’s playing such a horrid trick on Leo, stop it! For you’re playing it on me and blanch too, and we can’t see you, and we’re grieving for a tigress who’s voice sounds just like yours! Don’t do this to us!”
“Grieving for a tigress who sounds like me?” Snowy asked, rolling onto her paws and padding across to Whitie, all trace of her previous immobility now gone, “come, touch me, smell me, feel my whiskers, touch my paws Whitie cub,” Snowy said. Whitie’s nostrils were suddenly full of her foster mum’s scent, though it was not quite hers. It was the scent of a younger tigress, maybe a scent that Snowy had when she was young. Whitie, mewing like a cub, snuggled up to snowy half tail. Snowy took the now weeping snow leopard cub in her paws and embraced her.
“I love you Whitie cub,” Snowy mewed, “now, do this for me little cub, bring your dear sister cub to me.” Whitie called:
“Blanche, Blanche! Come here! It’s okay! Snowy’s here! She’s come back to us!” snowy then heard a sound she truly loved, the scuffling and swishing of tiny paws on carpet. Then Blanche was with her, cautiously touching her with one tiny paw.
“Mum?” Blanche asked,” Snowy touched blanche with one paw, Whitie with another and began to purr as the two snow leopard cubs rested their heads against hers. Amber spat at her cubs, angry they’d gone back to snowy.
“Are you real?” Blanche asked, for she’d sometimes thought she’d felt animals touch her in her dreams, an wondered if this was such a time.
“I’m real Blanche,” Snowy purred, “here, take my paw, touch it, stroke it, tickle it.” Blanche took the offered paw, it was soft and warm.
“I’ve got something else to show you both,” Snowy said, rolling onto her side.
“What’s that?” Whitie asked.
“Give me your paw Whitie,” Snowy said. Whitie gave the snow tigress her paw, and Snowy placed it flat on her belly. Whitie’s sightless eyes widened as she felt something kick against her pads.
“You, you’re in cub!” Whitie mewed, “You’re in cub snowy!”
“yes Whitie cub I am,” Snowy purred, “I have been given charge of my sister’s unborn cub, as she was killed by hunters during my sleep. The higher power gave me my sister’s cub so it could be born into the world.”
“You are the protector of all lost cubs Snowy,” Petra mewed, “for I cannot for fill that role. You can, and I am glad of it.” Snowy purred as Blanche took her turn to feel the cub kicking inside her.
“I’m looking forward to having this cub,” Snowy purred, “for I love cubs, and it would be the best thing I could do for my sister since she couldn’t birth the cub herself.”
“We will help you when you give birth to the cub snowy,” Whitie mewed. Snowy purred contentedly.
“You know Tarker’s dead don’t you snowy?” Theo asked, now taking Snowy’s appearance on the scene in his stride.
“I know that, and I’m not sorry,” Snowy mewed, “for he was a danger to us all.”
“I can’t believe you’re in cub Snowy!” Leo mewed, padding to his mate and hugging her. Snowy moved position and worked her paws into Leo’s mane.
“I am,” she purred, “want to feel it kick?” She asked.
“Only if you’re sure,” Leo mewed. Snowy took his paw, and placed it on her belly, her cub reacting to the lion’s touch by kicking at Snowy’s belly with it’s tiny paws.
“It’s due in a few weeks,” Snowy purred. Leo’s eyes filled with tears as he thought of this new cub.
“I’ll be there when you have the cub Snowy,” Leo sobbed. Snowy hugged him tightly.
Fleur crawled quickly up to snowy, her huge paws making a swish scuff sound as she crawled. Snowy saw her, released Leo, and threw her paws round the large cross bred cub.
“Fleur, my dear fleur, my dear cub!” Snowy sobbed. Fleur buried her face in Snowy’s thick warm fur, weeping for joy at Snowy’s return. Then, purring like an enthusiastic motor, fleur worked herself closer to snowy, the snow tigress’s thick warm fur enveloping her.
“I’m so glad to see you Snowy!” Fleur said. Snowy hugged her.
“I’m glad to see you too little cub,” snowy purred.
Fleur’s challenge.
It was about six weeks later, and Fleur, her eyes now open, was into everything that went on in the house, be it day or night. Not wanting to miss a minute of this amazing world, Fleur would range all over the house at all hours of the day and night, causing her mother and her adopted parents much distress and worry. Fleur however was always very careful, but, at the same time very curious. Fleur, like Theo, Elsa and their cubs, had learned how to use her paws, both for investigation of her surroundings, as well as to give pleasure to others, and of course to receive pleasure in the form of having her paws either stroked or tickled. Fleur loved her home, and was glad she’d found loving animals whom she could play with.
One night, Fleur waited for the household to settle down, then, about one in the morning, she ventured out of the cubbing den. She knew Snowy’s cub was due soon, and wanted to visit her before the cub arrived. Fleur had been interested in the cub’s imminent arrival, and had asked many questions about cubbing, what happened during a cubbing, as well as what she’d see and hear. Fleur wondered if she’d see Snowy’s cub born, and secretly hoped she would. Fleur padded through the house, her large padded paws making no sound on the carpets. Nearing the bathroom, Fleur pricked her ears at the sound of a mewing sob, followed by heavy panting and slight splashing. Her curiosity aroused, Fleur ventured to the bathroom door, and cautiously pushed it open with one huge paw.
Fleur looked into the bathroom, and saw Snowy lying in the bathtub. Fleur trotted into the bathroom, to find Snowy paddling gently with all four of her huge white paws. As Fleur watched, Snowy suddenly stopped paddling, curled the toes of all four paws, squeezed her eyes shut and breathed hard through clenched teeth, whimpering with pain and distress.
“Snowy?” Fleur asked gently. The snow tigress looked up at the cub.
“Fleur!” Snowy gasped, “I’m having my cub Fleur!” Fleur’s excitement, kindled by her night roaming grew, for her wish to see Snowy have her cub was coming true!
“Is There anything I can do Snowy?” Fleur asked softly. Snowy suddenly wailed with agony and beat the water into a froth with her paws.
“Stay with me Fleur!” she begged. Tigger ran in at the sound of Snowy’s scream.
“what the hell’s going on!” he yelled, “I’m trying to sleep! Stop your screaming!”
“I’m having my cub!” Snowy sobbed. Tigger cursed violently.
“Not in here you’re not!” he snapped, “in here is for baths, not for tigress’s to have water births! To top it all, it’s one in the morning!”
“I can’t help it!” Snowy mewed, gripping the rim of the bathtub with both forepaws, “Oh Fleur, another pain’s coming!” Snowy growled and snarled as she was torn apart by the contraction.
“This is horrible!” Snowy yelled, “It’s going to be a big cub I think!” Fleur leapt into the water to be with Snowy.
“I’m here now Snowy dear,” Fleur said, “just relax.” Snowy smiled at the cub.
“You are so good to me little cub,” she panted, “now you can witness the birth of my cub right with me, touch my paws, even watch and feel the cub emerging if you like!.” Snowy ignored Tigger’s yelling. She was concentrating on Fleur, as well as having her cub.
“Now Fleur,” Snowy mewed, “look beneath my tail as I push, can you see anything?” Snowy waited for another contraction to build, then heaved! Fleur looked down at Snowy’s tail, and saw the paws of a cub emerging into the world, but they disappeared as soon as Snowy relaxed.
“I can see two paws!” Fleur yelled, “Snowy, They came out when you pushed, if you can, push again!” Snowy breathed hard, Tigger listening with anger born of fear to Snowy’s increasing efforts to have her cub.
“How’s that!” Snowy yelled, bearing down with all her might.
“the cub’s head’s out now!” Fleur replied breathlessly, “Just one more push like that Snowy, and the cub’s body will be coming into the world!” Snowy thrashed with all four paws, panting and splashing with everything she had!
“That’s it!” Fleur encouraged, “now Snowy, when I say, I want to hear a big tigress sized snarl and want you to splash with all your might! Go! Go! Go!” Snowy gave vent to a screaming yell which expressed all the last hour’s pain and fear, then, panting hard, she set to attacking the water, kicking up a hell of a spray with her paws! Snowy’s panting and splashing eased the cub’s body into the water,, and Fleur caught it in both her massive paws.
“I’ve got the cub now Snowy,” Fleur said, “come on, nearly there dear Snowy, push, push!” Snowy braced her paws, and, grunting with pain and the increasing effort she had to make, bore down against her cub! Fleur caught the cub as it shot fourth, Snowy thrashing and kicking at the water, her huge paws splashing everything and everyone! Fleur laughed delightedly as she felt the cub wriggling to get free of her huge paws.
“this is so wonderful, so wonderful!” Fleur shouted, her joy at witnessing the birth of Snowy’s cub, and of knowing the cub was safely born overwhelming any thoughts of trouble she might be in for helping Snowy.
Tigger stood in the bathroom, drenched with water from the bath. He was not impressed by Snowy’s choice of cubbing den!
“You Snowy, are the most inconsiderate animal in this house!” Tigger yelled.
“Tigger, shut up!” Fleur snarled, washing Snowy’s newborn cub with care, “it wasn’t Snowy’s fault her labour started while she was having a bath. You were there when I was born, and you know how hellish labour can be.” Tigger padded over to Fleur, his fire dying at her words.
“Fleur, oh Fleur,” Tigger sobbed, “I know I shouldn’t be angry at Snowy, but some don’t like to see a cubbing in a public place, and this is! Snowy should have had her cub in the cubbing den.”
“Tigger,” Snowy said, “you used to be such a kind, gentle, understanding animal. Why are you now ripping through that?” Tigger cocked an ear at Snowy.
“I’m sorry,” he sobbed, “it’s, just, just, that when I heard you having your cub, and heard Fleur helping you, it reminded me of everything I didn’t do for Perdy, because I couldn’t remember a thing! You are not inconsiderate Snowy, you are the best of tigress’s, and Fleur is the best of cubs for helping you, and I’m glad you’ve had your cub safely.”
Fleur dried Snowy’s cub off with a towel provided by Tigger. Snowy lay in the bath, panting and trying to relax. Her labour had come on quickly, and within an hour and a half the cub had been born. Snowy levered herself out of the water and padded across to Fleur, who was trying to keep an excited newborn tiger cub under control.
“You are so funny!” Fleur laughed as the cub rolled onto her back an waved her tiny paws in the air. Snowy looked down at her cub, smiling broadly at the little creature’s antics.
“I am so grateful to you Fleur,” Snowy said. Fleur paused in her rapid towelling of the cub’s paws.
“I’m honoured that you’d let me stay with you when you were having your cub,” Fleur replied, “that was wonderful Snowy,,,” Fleur’s eyes filled with tears, “absolutely fantastic!” she sobbed. Snowy hugged Fleur tenderly.
“We worked as a team,” Snowy purred. Fleur hugged Snowy fiercely, “Let’s both look after this cub,” the tigress continued, “you and me Fleur.” Fleur looked down at Snowy’s tiny cub, her vision blurred with tears.
“She’s wonderful!” Fleur whispered.
Tigger cleaned up the bathroom, then returned to his bed. He knew what had most likely happened to Snowy. Snowy, having felt pain from the first contractions, had run herself a bath and the cubbing having progressed so quickly, Snowy could do little else but have the cub in the bathtub. Tigger knew his anger at Snowy was born of his fear of cubbing after his experience at Fleur’s birth.
“Now where do we go?” Fleur asked.
“You Fleur are coming with me and my cub to our place,” Snowy purred, “after your support this morning, to take you home and let you curl up with me and my cub is the least I can do.” Fleur stroked the tiny tiger cub’s paws, the cub gripping the toes of one of Fleur’s massive spotted paws with both her tiny forepaws.
“I would love to spend time with you and your cub Snowy,” Fleur purred. Snowy picked her tiny newborn cub up in her mouth by the scruff of its neck and carried it to the rug where she lived. Once there, Snowy laid her newborn cub on the rug and settled down beside her.
“come Fleur my dear cub,” Snowy mewed, patting the rug with her huge left forepaw. Fleur curled up beside the snow tigress.
“Thank you Snowy,” Fleur sniffed, “I, I wished to see your cub born, and you made that wish come true!” Snowy touched Fleur’s paw, the weeping cross bred cub looking through her tears at the tiny bundle of fur she’d help Snowy bring into the world.
“I love your cub Snowy,” Fleur sobbed. Snowy let her cub suckle from her milk supply, then looked at Fleur.
“You want some milk?” She asked.
“I can’t take your cub’s milk!” Fleur protested, “that would be wrong.”
“come on Fleur,” the tiny cub mewed, “just have a little milk.” Fleur laughed delightedly at the tiny cub’s words and accepted Snowy’s offer. After her drink, Fleur wiped her mouth on the back of her paw and looked at the tiny female tiger cub.
“You are lovely from your nose,” Fleur said touching the cub’s nose with her paw, “to the toes on your tiny paws little cub,” she continued, touching the toes on one of the tiger cub’s tiny paws. The tiger cub smiled at Fleur and reached up WITH A TINY PAW to touch her nose.
“Can I touch your nose and toes too?” The cub asked. Fleur smiled and guided the cub’s paw to her nose.
“Now you find my toes,” Fleur said softly to the cub, “you know what your paws feel like, so we’ll play a game if you like. See if you can find my toes. Oh, and here’s a clue, my toes are on my paws, and I, like you, have four paws, and my paws are very big, so you won’t have much of a problem finding them.” The newborn cub, up for a challenge, touched Fleur’s nose with her paw, then felt her own tiny left forepaw with her right, then her right forepaw with her left, getting used to the feel of one paw held in another. Then she felt her hind paws with both forepaws as best she could.
“Now you know what your paws feel like,” Fleur said, “try finding my paws little cub.” The cub soon found one of Fleur’s paws, for she could hardly miss them they were so large. Fleur lifted her paw as she felt the cub trying to lift it, matching her lift with the upward pressure of the cub’s paw, so the tiny tiger cub thought she was able to lift Fleur’s huge paw.
“Well done little one,” Fleur purred, “now, do you want to know the rules to another game I play?” For answer the cub looked up eagerly into Fleur’s face.
“It’s a game where we tickle your mum’s paws until she’s laughing so much she rolls over with all four of her huge paws in the air,” Fleur said gently. Snowy grinned at Fleur.
“but what is tickling a paw?” the cub asked. Fleur showed her, the cub laughing helplessly.
“That’s wonderful!” the tiny cub whooped.
“Right,” Fleur said, “now you try tickling my paw. I showed you how.” The female tiger cub tried tickling the pads of Fleur’s paw, and at first didn’t manage it, but soon tried again when she’d practised tickling one of her hind paws with the toes of one of her fore. Satisfied she’d got the technique right, she tried it a few times on all four of Fleur’s massive and very soft paws, before both of them settled down to plan their assault on Snowy’s paws.
Snowy lay half asleep, worn out by the effort she’d had to make during the somewhat sudden birth of her cub. Once Fleur and Snowy’s cub had finished their preparations for tickling Snowy’s paws, Fleur looked over at Snowy and shook her head at the cub.
“We can’t tickle Snowy’s paws,” Fleur mewed, “ your mum’s half asleep, she looks tired.” The cub smiled at Fleur.
“You’re right,” she said, “we can’t tickle her paws at the moment, it would be wrong.”
“we can stroke them though,” Fleur said, “come, I’ll show you how.” Fleur crawled over to Snowy, leading the newborn cub by one tiny paw.
“Now,” Fleur said, stopping at Snowy’s side, “do you remember how it felt when I towelled your paws dry?” The cub nodded.
“That was nice,” the cub mewed, “are we going to towel my mum’s paws dry?”
“Touch her paws little one,” Fleur said, “but do it gently.” The cub took Snowy’s huge left forepaw in both her tiny ones.
“My mum’s paw is dry Fleur,” the cub said, “but it’s shaking. Fleur looked into Snowy’s face, the snow tigress was struggling to hold back tears.
“What’s the matter Snowy dear?” Fleur asked gently.
“It’s nothing,” Snowy sniffed, “It’s, just, just you and my cub, playing together like you were, it looked so sweet! Soppy mother syndrome I’m afraid. The tiny female cub, while not understanding her mother’s words, understood she was upset. Padding forward, the cub reared onto her hind legs, and attempted to comfort Snowy by embracing her with her tiny paws. Snowy, feeling the cub trying to put her paws round her neck, gathered the tiny cub in her huge forepaws and hugged her, her tears wetting the cub’s fur.
“Thank you little one!” Snowy wept. Fleur, seeing the cub’s loving gesture, became quiet, thinking of the past few hours. She realised she loved this tiny tiger cub with all her heart.
Dawn was coming in now, and Fleur was about to leave for the cubbing den so her parents didn’t realise she’d been away, when Elsa padded into the room. Elsa looked anxious with worry, her eyes full of fear!
“There you are Fleur!” She yelled, “where the hell have you been!”
“Don’t be angry at her Elsa,” Snowy mewed, “for she did a very brave thing last night.”
“What did Fleur do!” Elsa snapped. For answer, Snowy drew back, showing Elsa the tiny cub she’d been protecting with her huge paws.
“Fleur helped you, was with you when you were, I mean, when you gave birth to your cub Snowy?” Elsa asked.
“yes,” Snowy replied, “she was on one of her night time patrols when she heard me mewing and splashing in the latter first stages of labour. Fleur got into the bathtub with me and helped me give birth to my cub.” Elsa looked at Fleur for confirmation of this.
“I did,” Fleur purred, “Snowy was very brave, and to see her cub born and be with her during the cub’s birth was wonderful!”
“I’m surprised I never heard anything,” Elsa mewed, “I am a very heavy sleeper anyway, so it’s not surprising.”
“Fleur was very gentle,” Snowy purred, “and also, she does a good line in ideas for amusing and educating cubs. My cub already knows how to stroke and tickle paws, and where her nose and toes are. No doubt Fleur will teach her a lot more soon.” Elsa smiled at Fleur.
“I would love to see those games,” she mewed, “to see Fleur playing with your tiny cub.” The cub turned her head towards Fleur.
“I’m tired,” she said, “I want to sleep.”
“I need to go find food,” Snowy mewed, “how about if you stay with Fleur little one? Then I can find food, and you can sleep.” The cub obediently crawled to Fleur’s side, the large cross bred cub taking her in her large soft warm paws.
“I could sleep too,” Fleur mewed. Elsa smiled as she watched Fleur curling herself round the tiny newborn cub to keep her warm.
Snowy’s cub was a Bengal tiger cub in physical appearance , apart from the under colour of her coat, usually golden orange in Bengal tigers, being a washed out orange insanity’s cub’s case. The cub’s stripes were more pronounced because of this.
Fleur purred as she felt the cub take hold of the toes of one of her forepaws with her tiny paw.
“Hold my paw tightly little one,” Fleur whispered, feeling the cub’s grip tighten on her paw. The cub closed her eyes, snuggling closer to Fleur. Fleur held the cub close with her free paw, purring gently as the cub relaxed into her warm thick fur. Snowy watched in slight alarm as her cub all but disappeared into Fleur’s all enveloping fur. Fleur had long fur, long, soft, thick warm fur. Fleur’s paws were huge, and totally engulfed the Female Bengal tiger cub’s paw.
Snowy crept away, eating her meal within sight of the two vastly different cubs. Finishing her meal, she drank deeply, then returned to her rug. Snowy purred as she lay down, touching Fleur with her paw.
“I love these two cubs,” Snowy thought, “Fleur was so brave to help me during cubbing, and for that I’m very grateful. The cub she helped into the world has swept hers and my heart away.”
Fleur and Snowy’s newborn cub slept for a long time. When they woke, The tiger cub drank thirstily, then wanted to play with Fleur.
“would you stroke my paws?” The cub asked Fleur, who, for answer, playfully rolled the tiny cub over and began to massage her paws. The cub purred contentedly.
“Now will you tickle my paws please?” the cub asked, Fleur doing just as the tiger cub asked.
“Now let’s play another game,” Fleur said when the cub had tickled her paws twice over.
“What’s that?” the cub asked.
“I want to carry on showing you parts of our bodies and seeing if you can remember their names,” Fleur replied. The cub was up for this.
“”Let’s do that,” she said. Fleur raised a paw and touched the cub’s nose.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“You’re touching my nose,” the cub replied. Then Fleur took hold of the cub’s tiny left forepaw and touched her toes.
“What are these?” She asked.
“My toes,” the cub replied. Fleur hugged her.
“and do you know what this is?” Fleur asked guiding the cub’s paw to the end of her long tail. The cub took Fleur’s tail in both paws and held it gently.
“I don’t know,” she said, “what is this?”
“You are holding my tail,” Fleur replied, “you have a tail too little one, but it’s not as long as mine. Finally, what are these?” Fleur asked, touching the cub’s ear with one paw.
“Those are my ears!” she said laughing delightedly as Fleur tickled behind them with the toes of one paw.
“I know where your paws are,” the cub suddenly said, making a grab for Fleur’s right forepaw. Fleur laughed and gave the cub her paw.
“Stroke it gently little one,” Snowy purred, “stroke the pads of Fleur’s paw very gently.”
“What are the pads of Fleur’s paw?” the cub asked, “where are they?” Snowy showed the cub, using her own huge paws for demonstration purposes.
“here,” Snowy said, guiding her cub’s paw to the pads of one of her forepaws, “are the pads of my paws. They are like yours little cub, very sensitive and having them stroked is one of the most pleasurable things.” Snowy let her cub examine her left forepaw with both her tiny forepaws.
“Your paws are huge!” the cub mewed, “no wonder you were able to make a lot of splash with them in the bathtub. Snowy wiggled her toes as the cub touched them.
“You’re moving your toes!” the cub exclaimed.
“that’s called wiggling my toes little cub,” Snowy said gently. She then curled her toes round the cub’s, holding the pads of her tiny paw against her larger ones.
“I’ve now curled my toes round yours,” Snowy purred. The cub, quite unable to move her paw, tugged and worried at it for a while.
“Are you going to let me go?” the cub asked. Snowy let her cub’s paw go, and she began to stroke Snowy’s pads. Snowy purred with contentment as her cub stroked her paw.
“Snowy likes that,” Fleur purred, “now little one, the sole of Snowy’s paw has three pads on it, and one on each of her toes.”
“I can feel those,” the cub replied, “they’re rough, and slightly harder than yours.”
“Yes,” Fleur replied, “they will be, because Snowy’s older than me little cub. Now, the pad directly opposite Snowy’s toes is her heel pad, okay?” The cub nodded, still stroking away.
“I get it,” she said, touching first Snowy’s toes, then her heel with each paw.
“these are my mum’s toes,” the cub said, touching Snowy’s toes, “and this is her heel,” she concluded, touching Snowy’s heel pad.
“And the whole thing, from Snowy’s toes to her heels is called the sole of a paw,” Fleur said. The cub was enjoying this, for she was learning a great deal, and could feel her mother was enjoying having her paws stroked. The cub suddenly began anxiously examining the toes of Snowy’s left forepaw with her own.
“Mum’s got none of those hard pointed things I have on the ends of all my toes!” The cub said suddenly.
“she has got them,” Fleur said, “but Snowy’s retracted her claws, made them go into her toes. You haven’t learned that trick yet little cub.”
“but I want to learn it!” the cub mewed, “for I sometimes feel the carpet taking hold of my toes by the pointy things and holding them! I hate it, for I sometimes can’t move my paw!”
“Those pointy things are called claws little cub,” Snowy purred, “and mine are here,” she said, extending her claws to prick the pads of her cub’s left forepaw.
“can I make my claws go away mum?” the cub asked. Snowy smiled, though her cub couldn’t see it.
“You can little cub,” she replied, “just not right now. Snarling with frustration, the cub banged one of her offending paws on the carpet and mewed pitifully:
“but I want to!” she whimpered, “I want to make my paws as soft as yours mum!” Snowy took the mewing, spitting fury in her paws, which had until then been her playful cub.
“You will be able to make your paws soft one day little one, I promise,” Snowy said gently.
“But, but I want to do it now!” The cub sobbed, “my toes are always getting trapped in the carpet, and it’s all because of my claws! I wake up, try to move my paws, and can’t! I feel with my whiskers, and find that my toes are tied up in the carpet because of my claws!” The cub spat. She wriggled and struggled against Snowy’s restraining paws, beating her tiny paws against her mothers much larger ones. Snowy tried to soothe her cub by licking her nose tenderly,, but she wasn’t comforted.
“I hate my claws!” the cub mewed, “the rest of my body I like, but my claws I can’t stand! I! Don’t! Like! My! Claws!” The cub cried pitifully into her mother’s fur, “My toes get trapped in the carpet almost every day, and I don’t like it!” she sobbed.
“You won’t like paw massage then,” Salty mewed, “for that means giving your paw to another animal to stroke.”
“I don’t mind that,” the cub mewed, “for I can move my paws and toes, but when the carpet has my claws, I can’t move my paws, let alone my toes!” Elsa watched and listened to all this.
“You will be able to soften your paws in a few weeks little one,” she purred.
“But I want to do it now!” The cub mewed.
“Will someone please shut that bloody noise up!” Rocky foster snapped irritably, “I’m trying to sleep!”
“NO, No I won’t shut up!” the newborn cub sobbed, “I won’t, wont! Won’t shut up!”
“here little one,” Fleur said gently, “Here, take my paws in yours, feel my paws.” the cub took Fleur’s left forepaw in both of hers, and Fleur remembered just in time to extend her claws before the cub felt no claws on her toes.
“My claws are like yours little one,” Fleur said, “I get them trapped in the carpet too.” The cub seemed to have forgotten she’d stroked Fleur’s paws when there were no claws to feel. Now she was just happy not to be alone in her predicament. Elsa motioned to Fleur to go with her.
“You’ll end up with blunted claws if you do that!” Elsa mewed.
“but the tiger cub feels alone,” Fleur replied, “if I keep my claws extended, I can also get my toes trapped in the carpet, just like the little cub is doing. That way, she won’t feel like she’s going through it alone. Elsa remembered her own cubhood, getting her own claws caught in various roots and things, as well as her own cubs struggles with the carpet verses their claws. Leona was always getting her paws trapped, and would struggle for some time before calling for help.
“I know you are trying to help her,” Elsa said gently, “and I’m proud of you for that Fleur.” Fleur smiled at her mum.
“I want to help that cub,” she said. Elsa smiled lovingly at Fleur.
“So you’re going to crawl about like a cub for the next few weeks then?” She asked.
“until the little one finds her feet yes,” Fleur replied, “it must be hell being the only cub among so many large cubs and adults. I will help her mum.” Elsa touched Fleur’s paw.
“Good luck,” she said. Fleur mewed like a cub, rolling over onto her back to have her belly rubbed. Elsa laughed helplessly at Fleur’s display.
“Go away little cub,” she laughed, gently massaging Fleur’s belly, the large cub catching Elsa’s paw in the toes of one of her huge forepaws and holding them tightly.
“Let me go!” Elsa mewed, Herself sounding like a cub. Fleur let go of Elsa’s paw and, rolling onto all fours again, began to crawl away like the female tiger cub did. Elsa watched her cub with interest. First Fleur reached forward with her left forepaw, bracing the sole of her paw flat against the carpet, leaning hard on that paw, so she could bring her left hind paw to her, until her heel was almost under the root of her long tail. Then Fleur would reach forward with her right forepaw and repeat the same procedure with her right hind paw as for her left hind. Elsa watched, amazed by the strength of her cub’s love for the tiger cub. Elsa knew she loved everything about fleur. Fleur kept slogging away at her new style of locomotion, the art of crawling coming back to her with every passing second. Fleur kept going, her nose close to the carpet. Elsa watched Fleur, noticing her cub’s long tail dragging behind her like a rather ornate rope, the spotted soles of her hind feet visible as she crawled, her pads and toes briefly bunching together and relaxing as she made her way slowly over the carpet. Elsa noticed little details like this, fixing them in her mind, loving everything about her cubs, from the way they crawled and played when they were young, to the way they conducted themselves when adults.
Fleur crawled back to the tiger cub, Snowy watching her come closer. She noticed Fleur’s claws were unsheathed, and that she was crawling like a newborn cub.
“Fleur’s back little one,” Snowy purred. The tiny cub, now forgetting her fury at having non retractable claws, crawled over to Fleur. As she was slowly making progress towards the larger cross bred cub, the tiny tiger cub heard Fleur mew in sudden panic, then a thud, then Fleur rolling and struggling to free herself from something!
Fleur’s mewing became muffled and more desperate as she rolled and twisted, fighting to free herself from the rug in which the toes of one of her forepaws, and both hind were trapped! During her journey, Fleur had dug her toes into the rug whilst crawling, her extended claws catching in its thick pile. During the struggle to free her paws, Fleur had got thoroughly tangled up in the rug, and was now fighting to free not only her paws, but her entire body from captivity! Fleur realised, as the rug closed in on her from all sides, that she was not only struggling to free her four errant paws with their ever attendant and very disobedient claws, but also free herself! Fleur realised she could not retract her claws to free her paws as her claws were firmly imbedded in the rug.
The tiger cub crawled up to the struggling mass of rug, listening to the piteous mewing coming from deep within its all enveloping folds, and wondering what had become of her large cub friend.
Meanwhile, Theo had arrived to watch Fleur playing with the newborn tiger cub. Elsa told him what Fleur was doing for the cub, and her tale touched him deeply. Now he was just in time to see Fleur disappearing whole sale into the midst of a huge rug laid on the carpet to protect it. He’d seen her crawling, claws extended towards Snowy and her newborn cub. Then seen the claws of Fleur’s right forepaw get caught in the weave of the huge rug. During her fight to free that paw, both Fleur’s hind paws had been trapped in a similar manner by the dreadful rug. Mewing with fear, Fleur had rolled onto her back, kicking furiously with all four paws in an attempt to rid herself of the rug. This failed, and she was soon tangled up in the rug, all four paws trapped, and completely helpless. This was how the tiny cub found Fleur, or rather the mass of rug which contained her. The cub paced round the rug, prodding it with a paw, uncertain as to what to make of the struggling mass of material. She’d heard something going on, but hadn’t connected it with her large cub friend. Now her nose told her Fleur was inside the rug.
“What’s wrong Fleur?” The cub mewed.
“This rug has trapped my paws, and now me!” She snarled.
“How can you get trapped in a rug?” The cub asked.
“My claws!” Fleur mewed pitifully, “they got caught in the rug, and when I tried to free my paws, I got tangled up with the rug, and now, now I’m in here!”
“What can I do?” Snowy’s cub asked. Snowy looked at the rug. Fleur had completely disappeared into its furry depths.
“You need to help her somehow,” Snowy said to her cub.
“Can’t you help Fleur mum?” the cub asked.
“I might be able to,” Snowy replied, “but I don’t know what to do. How do we free her?” The tiny female tiger cub suddenly shook herself and said:
“Fleur’s been good enough to crawl around with extended claws so I didn’t feel I was the only one, now, because of her kindness to me, she’s trapped, so it’s up to me to rescue her!” Turning to the rug, the cub asked:
“Can you move your paws at all Fleur?” for answer there was the sound of panting, snarling sobs coming from the depths of the rug, followed by an exhausted silence. Then fleur said:
“all four of My paws are trapped! I can’t believe I managed to trap all four of them!” Fleur whimpered, “Wait a minute, I’ll try and bite the rug holding the claws of my forepaws and see where I get.” There was more mewing and fearful sobbing, accompanied by ripping sounds as Fleur tried desperately to free her paws.
“Nearly there, just a bit more!” she could be heard saying, while plainly tugging at her paw, and ripping the fibres with her teeth.
“done it!” Fleur yelled, “one paw’s free!, Now for the other forepaw!” More ripping, mewing and panting sounds issued from the rug as Fleur fought to free her trapped paw. Soon both Fleur’s forepaws were free, but Fleur wasn’t any closer to freedom, her hind paws were still trapped, and the realisation soon dawned, after several attempts to reach the toes of her hind paws with her teeth, that she couldn’t free them on her own.
“If you crawl inside the rug with Fleur,” Snowy suggested to her cub, then you might be able to free her.” the cub felt her way to an open end of the rug, which had materialised during Fleur’s struggles to free her forepaws. Feeling with both tiny paws, and being careful not to become a casualty herself, the cub burrowed into the rug, until she felt the end of Fleur’s tail under one of her paws. Fleur twitched the end of her tail to let her rescuer know she was still, quite literally hanging on. The cub crawled towards Fleur’s hind paws, her left forepaw coming into contact with the heel of Fleur’s right hind. Fleur felt tiny paws exploring her own larger one, the paw working its way towards her toes, and knew who’d come to rescue her.
“Well done little cub,” Fleur said, “can, can you feel my claws?”
“yes, yes Fleur I can, I can!” The female tiger cub replied breathlessly, now much excited by the situation. Here she was, a few hours old, helping a large cub out of trouble.
“You’ll have to use your teeth to bite through the rug holding my paw by its claws little cub,” Fleur said, “can you do that for me?” The cub heard Fleur’s rising panic.
“I can do that,” the tiger cub replied gently, “no problem. She gently stroked the pads of Fleur’s paw to reassure her.
Meanwhile, Theo watched, now anxious about his cub.
“We could just rip that thing apart and free Fleur!” He mewed, for now to him this was no longer a game, but deadly serious, “Fleur’s trapped in the middle of that horrid rug, and she can’t free herself!”
“If my cub can’t free her, then we’ll go in,” Snowy replied, “I know what Fleur was trying to do for my cub, and she’s got herself tangled up in things in a more spectacular way than she could ever have imagined.”
“If your cub doesn’t manage to make headway with rescuing Fleur within five minutes, I’m going in!” Theo snarled, “I don’t know what all this is about, but it’s sounding stupid!”
Meanwhile, Fleur an the tiny tiger cub lay in the folds of the rug. The tiger cub preparing to bite the strands of material holding her large friend’s right hind paw. Slipping her tiny paw between the pads of Fleur’s paw and the rug, the tiger cub tried to ease Fleur’s paw back a little so she could get in and bite the rug with her teeth. Fleur felt the cub’s pads on her own and tried to keep her paw still. Then she heard ripping and tearing as the tiger cub bit through the material holding her paw to the rug. Fleur felt her paw give, then come completely free! Fleur cried out with elation!
“One of my hind paws is free!”
“thank Eohippus for that!” Theo breathed. Fleur went to move the freed paw, but the tiger cub cupped the heel of Fleur’s paw gently in her tiny paw, gently stroking her pads, soothing her.
“If you move your paw too much, you’ll kick me Fleur,” the cub mewed, “It’s very tight in here.” Fleur breathed deeply, trying to keep her paw still, when all she wanted to do was fight for freedom! She fought to concentrate on the feel of the cub’s inexpert, but very pleasurable paw massage.
“I’m calm now,” Fleur mewed softly.
“time for your left hind paw then Fleur,” the Bengal tiger cub mewed, stroking her freed hind paw with infinite tenderness.
“Now,” the cub mewed, “hold Still Fleur.” Fleur did as she asked, holding her paw as still as she could, while the cub’s whiskers tickled her pads. Fleur couldn’t help laughing out loud as the tiger cub’s whiskers tickled her paw.
“that tickles!” she mewed. The cub didn’t reply, and Soon, Fleur heard the sound of ripping and tearing material as the cub used her teeth against the rug. Fleur bit her tongue trying not to laugh helplessly as the cub’s whiskers tickled the sole of her paw while she worked to free her. Suddenly Fleur felt her paw give, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The tiger cub patted Fleur’s hot paw as she finished her work.
“All done,” she mewed. Fleur felt with her hind paw for the tiny cub’s forepaw and curled her toes round those of the tiny creature.
“thank you little one,” Fleur whispered. The female tiger cub patted the pads of Fleur’s paw, deliberately tickling her paw with her whiskers.
Hey, don’t tickle my paw!” Fleur mewed, trying not to kick the cub as she rubbed her paw against the rug, while making sure she didn’t catch her claws in it once more. The cub patted the pads of Fleur’s left hind paw.
“Let’s get you out of here now,” the tiger cub purred, “Now, can you see any way out forwards?” Fleur tested the rug in front of her forepaws, finding it impenetrable.
“No go this way,” Fleur said, panic rising again, “how are we going to get out of here!”
Theo heard his cub’s panic stricken cry and, seeing Snowy’s face, curled his toes into the carpet to stop himself from running to her aid.
“Let my cub rescue Fleur,” Snowy said, “she can do it, have faith in her Theo.” Theo looked round the room, wondering what the other animals thought of this approach.
“We’re friends,” Fleur said to the cub, “so I trust you little one, lead me out whichever way you feel is safe.”
“Come out backwards,” the cub advised. Shuffle your paws backwards, Try curling your toes to keep those claws out of the way of the rug, and shuffle backwards on your heels and curled toes. Fleur did what the cub suggested. Having to keep her toes tightly curled was uncomfortable and impractical, but she shuffled first her left hind paw, then her right, towards the entrance through which her cub friend had come to her. Fleur felt the cub’s paws on each of her own as she concentrated on keeping her toes curled, and shuffling backwards, bit by bit, moving her forepaws in the same fashion as her hind. In this manner, they got a little way out, until Fleur’s paws began to ache with the effort of keeping her toes curled to keep her claws out of the way of the rug.
“I can’t carry on like this little one,” Fleur gasped, “my paws are aching so much! Curling my toes to keep my claws out of the way was a good idea, but not the most comfortable for me, now, now I can’t carry on like this any more!”
“Okay,” the cub mewed, patting her left hind paw reassuringly, “I will help you using the other way I thought of. I’ll come to each of your four paws in turn and try to cover your claws with my paws, so that you can move your paws without catching the rug with your claws, okay?” Fleur breathed deeply with relief, grateful she could finally relax her paws.
“Thank you my friend,” she said. “now, let me start relaxing my paws.” Fleur did so.
“that’s better,” she sighed as she uncurled the toes of all four paws one paw at a time.” The tiger cub, as good as her word, protected Fleur’s paws with her own as best she could, while Fleur shuffled her paws, and her entire body into the open. Feeling her left hind paw come free from the rug, Fleur yelled in triumph.
“One paw free, one paw free little cub! Oh thank you!” The tiny tiger cub, knowing her job wasn’t over yet, reached for Fleur’s right hind paw, and tugged encouragingly at it, goading Fleur to more wriggling and twisting to bring her body further into the open. She soon felt her other forepaw come free.
“That’s it,” Fleur panted, “that’s my other hind paw! You’re marvellous little cub!” The tiny tiger cub, now sensing victory and beginning to warm to her task, enthusiastically patted Fleur’s belly fur.
“Now it’s time to free your forepaws,” the cub mewed, “gently now Fleur, very gently, wriggle your body until your forepaws are nearly in the open, that’s it, gently now,” the cub encouraged. Fleur concentrated on freeing herself, closing her eyes to concentrate better. Fleur felt her left forepaw come free, then her right, and before she could take this in properly, with a final wriggle and twist, she was free!
“thank you little cub!” Fleur mewed, rolling onto her paws and embracing the cub tightly. The tiny tiger cub stroked Fleur’s paws, the large cub almost weeping with relief at being free.
“We could have freed her in half the time!” Theo snapped.
“but Theo,” Snowy said, “my cub wanted to free Fleur. She wanted to help her friend.”
“Fleur,” the tiny cub mewed, “please, listen to me. Fleur bent her head down to listen to the cub’s tiny voice.
“Yes my friend?” Fleur purred.
“Please,” the cub begged, “please, put your claws away. I know why you wanted to keep them extended, and for that I’m very grateful, more grateful than I can put into words. But please,” and here with Fleur’s help she lifted one of her massive forepaws, “Promise me you won’t go after the rugs again. I was scared for you when you got yourself trapped. I helped you the same way you helped me and my mum in the bathtub. We would have been stuck without you.”
“and me without you little cub,” Fleur choked, “I love you little one!” Fleur sobbed, lying down on her side and gathering the tiny bundle of fur close to her.
“I love you too Fleur,” the cub whispered, “now, please, put your claws away, and I mean right away, so you have soft paws, like you did when you helped me and my mum in the bathtub.”
“There,” Fleur said, retracting her claws, “there, feel my paws now, feel my toes, I have no claws now little cub.”
Fleur,” the cub replied, “feel my paws, for I too have no claws either.” Fleur did as the cub asked, and it was true! She’d retracted her claws for the very first time.
“this is meant to happen a few weeks from now!” Snowy mewed.
“Maybe the demands put on your cub by the task she wanted to perform made her advance faster in coordination skills,” Salty mewed, “it’s wonderful as well as being a major step for one so young.”
“Can you extend your claws little cub?” Snowy asked. The cub complied. Then retracted them once more, before extending them a second time.
“making my claws appear and disappear is easy!” the cub mewed, I can now make my paws as soft as my mum’s and Fleur’s!” Fleur, now in tears, hugged the cub tenderly.
“I vote we both rip the rug into tiny bits Fleur!” the cub purred. Fleur smiled.
“Let’s do that,” she said.
Fleur and the cub ripped at the rug with their claws and teeth, throwing pieces of the rug all over the room. They even had tug of war games with some of the larger bits. Theo watched them, glad they’d decided to rip the rug to bits.
“One good turn deserves another,” he said, “and now your cub and Fleur have called it quits.”
“They love each other dearly,” snowy replied, tears welling in her eyes.
“I know,” Theo purred, taking Snowy’s paw in his, “they are two lovely cubs snowy.” Snowy sniffed slightly, rubbing her eyes with one huge paw.
“I didn’t know my cub felt so much for Fleur,” she sobbed, “it’s, it’s lovely Theo!”
Once the rug was in bits, fleur and the tiny tiger cub padded back to Snowy’s non fibre producing rug and lay down together, snowy and Theo joining them.
“Now we have to rid our paws of the rug pile again!” the tiger cub mewed, “it’s all stuck between my toes and the pads of my paws, it feels horrible!” fleur gently took hold of one of the cub’s forepaws in hers and very gently, using her tongue, rasped the cub’s pads so the rug’s pile brushed off them. Fleur then used her teeth to clear strands of the rug’s stitching from between the cub’s tiny toes, just like snowy would do. The tiger cub lay, paws relaxed, letting Fleur do her work. Fleur worked by touch, using her whiskers and tongue to explore and rasp the cub’s paw, then her teeth to wiggle bits of fluff from hard to reach places between the cub’s pads and toes, for she couldn’t always see the fibres she was trying to get hold of, but could feel them. Soon, the tiger cub’s paws were free of fluff and strands of stitching from the rug. her paws now clear of all traces of the rug, the cub worked on Fleur’s paws in the same way the large cub had hers, finding the toes of her right hind paw tangled up in some stitching from the rug. It wasn’t tight, but the cub bit through the stitching, removing it from around Fleur’s toes. Feeling this, fleur smiled.
“You are so gentle my friend,” she purred. the cub patted her hind paw gently.
“I think we should give you a name now,” Snowy said to her cub.
“And what would that be?” the cub asked, still concentrating on freeing Fleur’s paws from the remains of the rug.
“I thought of the name Bianca,” snowy said.
“Why Bianca,” Theo asked.
“I had a cub friend by that name,” Snowy said sadly, “she was the most loyal companion I ever had as a cub, but she was shot during my coma.” Theo then knew whom this cub friend really was.
“Bianca it is then,” he mewed softly.
The newly named Bengal tiger cub finished her work and snowy hugged her.
“Well done Bianca my gentle, brave and loyal cub,” she mewed. The tiny cub snuggled up to her mother.
“I remember that name from somewhere,” the cub mewed, “but I can’t remember where.” Snowy then knew her newborn cub had some recollection of her cub sister, even though she’d been unborn at the time.
“yes little Bianca,” Snowy purred, “one day little cub, I’ll tell you of my sister cub, and of your journey here, but not now, for it’s been a long day, and you look tired little one,” Snowy said softly, gently stroking Bianca’s ears and paws. “you are a brave little cub,” snowy said, “please Bianca, don’t forget what you did today. Be true to those whom you hold dearest, and never shy away from helping those in need little cub.” Bianca snuggled closer to her mum.
“I’m not your cub, am I snowy?” she asked.
“Not really little one,” Snowy replied, “but I’m looking after you now.”
“My mum died before she could give birth to me, so you helped her by giving birth to me instead,” Bianca said suddenly. Snowy nearly choked on a sudden rush of tears.
“yes little one, yes,” she cried.
“thank you mum,” Bianca purred. Snowy hugged her cub tightly.
“Your name is that of my cub sister,” Snowy sobbed, “she was the most loyal and true cub I ever knew Bianca.”
“Don’t judge your cub by your sister’s standards snowy,” Theo said.
“I won’t, for Bianca’s my birth cub, and is not my sister cub. My cub is her own person, but I hope she grows up to be as loving and gentle as my sister cub was Theo.” Snowy purred. Theo nodded.
“so do I snowy, so do I,” he said. Bianca crawled away to curl up with Fleur, the two cubs snuggling up together.
“Welcome home Bianca,” Fleur whispered, gently taking the cub’s tiny paw in her larger one.
“Hold me fleur,” Bianca mewed. Fleur wrapped her huge paws round Bianca, hugging her tenderly.
“Sleep well little cub,” Fleur whispered. Bianca soon slept deeply. Fleur soon settled down too, falling asleep herself.
Bianca brings families together.
Bianca woke slowly, she felt warm and safe, her paws buried in Fleur’s fur. Bianca examined her paws with her whiskers, making sure her claws were retracted, they were. Bianca burying her paws back in Fleur’s soft warm fur woke the large cross bred cub, who opened her eyes and looked at the newborn female tiger cub.
“Morning Bianca,” Fleur yawned.
“I’m really happy fleur,” Bianca said. Fleur smiled and touched the cub’s tiny paw.
“I’m glad you are Bianca my dear,” she said.
“I want to meet more animals today,” Bianca yawned, stretching her paws.
“You will,” Fleur replied.
The destroyed rug had been cleared away, and fleur was glad to see the back of it. Now she lay, her paws still sore from curling her toes as hard as she did the day before during her rescue from the nasty rug.
Fleur got up, and so did Bianca, as her warm comforter had decided to get to her huge paws and walk away. Fleur ate some of the fish veg mix and then drank from a water bowl. Bianca drank some of Snowy’s milk, snowy herself only half awake.
“I’m going with Fleur,” Bianca whispered to her mum, snowy mumbling something indistinct in reply. Bianca knew that her mum would be very upset if she woke properly to find her gone, so she decided to wake Snowy properly by gently patting her paw.
“Ay? What?” Snowy mewed.
“I’m going with fleur mum,” Bianca mewed. Snowy opened her eyes, shook herself and looked at her cub.
“Where is fleur going?” Snowy asked.
“I don’t really know,” Bianca admitted truthfully, “I suppose she’s going to the cubbing den, where Tigger said you were meant to give birth to me.”
“All right,” snowy replied, looking round her blearily, “I see Theo’s gone, upstairs no doubt.”
“Let’s go Bianca,” Fleur said. Padding up the stairs, they quietly entered the cubbing den, Fleur leading Bianca by one of her tiny forepaws. Bianca padded along, her tiny padded paws making hardly a sound now her claws were retracted. Fleur guided the tiny tiger cub through the group of half drowsy and sleeping lions and they settled beside Theo, who, feeling something large settle beside him, looked up blearily.
“Oh it’s you Fleur,” he mewed, “and you’ve got, um, what’s her name again?”
“My name’s Bianca,” the tiger cub mewed. Theo reached over to where Bianca lay between Fleur’s forepaws and took one of the cub’s tiny paws in his huge fat one. Bianca felt her paw taken by one that was soft, warm and gentle.
“I like the feel of your paw Theo,” Bianca purred. Theo smiled, curling his toes round Bianca’s paw.
“This is lovely,” Bianca mewed. Fleur smiled at Theo and said:
“Shall I let you into a little secret Bianca?”
“Okay,” Bianca said. Theo looked down at the rug, he knew what was coming.
“Theo loves having his paws stroked,” Fleur said. Bianca shook the paw Theo held and he released it. Bianca quickly crawled up to Theo and, her whiskers tickling him, she kissed Theo on his nose. The lion’s eyes filled with tears.
“Oh Bianca sweetheart,” Theo choked, embracing the tiny cub in both well padded forepaws, “I, I love you little one!” Bianca snuggled up to Theo, the young lion openly crying into her fur.
“You know I wanted to help fleur yesterday Theo,” Bianca said, “I wanted to rescue her, and I did. I know Fleur’s your cub, but I got her into the situation where she could trap her paws, so I felt I should get her out.” Fleur listened to this and was greatly moved.
“You did a wonderful job yesterday Bianca,” fleur whispered. Bianca wanted to hug Theo and Fleur at the same time, so she laid one tiny paw on Theo’s, and one on Fleur’s. Theo wiped his eyes with his free paw.
“Theo’s a very handsome lion Bianca,” Fleur said, “he’s a young lion, about three years old. He looks like his body has never really grown up, for he’s not a cub, but then he still is a cub, especially in the paw department. Big fat paws, fatter than his legs, whereas his brother Leo’s paws are in proportion to his legs, Theo’s aren’t.” Bianca felt Theo’s paw, fleur was right. Theo had the slender legs of an adult lion, with the large fat paws of a cub.
“Oh yes,” Fleur added, “Theo’s easily moved to tears too, as you found out.” Theo looked at Fleur.
“Why all this description of me?” He asked.
“I thought Bianca might want to know what kind of lion it was who’d hugged her,” Fleur said.
“I can tell you love Theo a great deal,” Bianca said.
“I do, in fact all the animals bar amber and Stifftail do,” Fleur replied. Bianca heard Theo sniff hard as he tried to control his all too sensitive emotions.
“Can I hug you and stroke your paws Bianca?” Theo asked. Bianca rolled onto her back and waved a forepaw at Theo.
“My paws are yours,” she said smiling. Theo took Bianca’s left forepaw in both of his huge fat paws and began to stroke it. Bianca wiggled her toes, just like Snowy had done, and Theo patted her pads.
“Would you stroke my toes?” Bianca asked.
“Just your toes? What about the rest of your paw?” Theo enquired.
“It’s all right Theo,” Fleur said laughing slightly, “Bianca’s been learning about her paws, and she wants to feel what having her toes stroked is like. I’m sure you’ll get to the rest of her paw in a bit.” Theo did as the tiny cub asked, stroking and massaging her tiny toes. Bianca smiled at Theo and said:
“Now would you massage the rest of my paw, but leave my toes alone?”
“If you like little one,” Theo said, smiling at her. as Theo stroked Bianca’s paw, he felt the toes of his left forepaw gripped by Bianca’s tiny ones.
“I like that Theo,” Bianca purred. Theo examined the tiger cub’s paws as he stroked them. They were beautiful paws, in fact the whole of Bianca was beautiful, even though she was half Bengal tiger and half white tiger. Theo would always refer to her as a Bengal tiger, for that was what Bianca most resembled, but her white tiger heritage was there to see, if anyone cared to look for it.
“Can I stroke your paws Theo?” Bianca asked. Theo, stroking the pads of her left hind paw, and beginning to relax, smiled and patted her paw, accidentally touching Bianca’s toes. The cub instantly reacted with explosive fury!
“don’t touch my toes!” She snarled, curling her toes round Theo’s in an attempt to trap them, while rolling quickly onto her paws, releasing Theo’s paw at the last moment and flying at him, her mouth open in a snarl of anger! Theo, grunting with surprise and fear, withdrew hurriedly!
“I’m sorry!” he mewed throwing up his paws to protect his face from the ferocious attack he knew was coming! Bianca tore Theo’s paws from his face, and then threw her own paws round his neck and hugged him tightly, nuzzling his ear and purring loudly. Theo, realising the tiger cub was waiting for him to make this mistake so she could spring a mock attack on him, and therefore get an excuse to hug him, lay, shaking with fear.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that!” he panted, shaking from nose to tail. Bianca realised then how much her mock attack had upset the young lion.
“I’m sorry,” she mewed, “I thought you knew it was a joke!”
“No little cub,” Theo said, beginning to cry, “I thought I’d really upset you.”
“No,” Bianca purred, “I love having my paws and toes stroked. But I know I’ve upset you Theo, and for that I’m very sorry.”
“I might have seen your true intentions in your eyes if they’d been open,” Theo mewed, “but your eyes haven’t opened yet!” Bianca knew she’d really upset Theo, and felt dreadful.
“What can I do to reassure you I didn’t mean you any harm!” she begged.
“Think about it Bianca,” fleur said, “what does Theo like most.”
“Could I stroke you Theo?” Bianca asked. Theo, still sobbing, patted her shoulder with his paw. Bianca began to stroke Theo’s nose with one paw, and bit by bit, worked her way over the young lion’s body, not missing an inch. Theo, feeling Bianca’s tiny paws working over his body, began to relax, his tears drying.
“Work your toes into his fur Bianca,” Fleur suggested, but do it Gently, as if you’re rubbing in oil.”
“How do I do that?” Bianca whispered.
“Like this,” Fleur said, taking hold of Bianca’s tiny paws in her huge ones and showing her how to massage Theo’s skin with the tips of her toes. Once Bianca had practised on Fleur, Theo watching her all the time, she returned to Theo and began his massage all over again, something which the young lion wasn’t about to argue with. Theo drifted in a pleasant haze, his fear over Bianca’s mock attack on him forgotten.
“Theo’s falling asleep,” Bianca mewed, stroking his belly. Fleur touched the pads of Theo’s right forepaw, feeling the slow pulse of a sleeping lion.
“He’s almost there,” Fleur mewed, “good work Bianca.” Bianca embraced Theo’s fat warm left forepaw in both of hers.
“I didn’t mean to scare you Theo,” Bianca mewed. Theo opened his eyes and looked at the tiger cub.
“I touched your toes accidentally Bianca,” Theo said, “and for that I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be,” Bianca replied, “for there’s no need. I am the one who should be apologising. For I had a plan that if you were to touch my toes again when I’d told you not to, I’d launch a mock attack on you as a joke. I wanted to hug you Theo, but couldn’t work out how to ask if I could. I thought you would have seen by my retracted claws that I meant you no harm,” Bianca replied.
“All I saw was a snarling cub leaping at me,” Theo said, “plus you curled your toes round mine so I couldn’t move my paw!”
“Well I’m sorry for what I did, and I’m always up for having my paws touched, stroked or tickled,” Bianca said, “any time you feel like playing those games, come to me, I’m up for it!”
“Same here,” fleur said. Theo touched Fleur’s paw.
“You are so kind to Bianca fleur,” Theo said, “I’m glad she’s found you.” Fleur smiled, slipping her paw into Theo’s.
“Would you stroke my paw Theo?” She asked. Theo stroked Fleur’s paw, and while he was doing this, he felt the cross bred cub’s thick padded toes under his paw. This made him remember the rescue mission launched by Bianca. Theo drummed his toes on Fleur’s pads, fleur describing what he was doing so Bianca could follow everything. Bianca smiled when fleur said:
“Theo’s now drumming his toes on the pads of my left forepaw.” Bianca asked:
“How do you do that Theo?” For answer, Theo took hold of her paw with his left forepaw, and drummed her pads with the toes of his right, Bianca laughing merrily.
“This feels wonderful!” she mewed.
“How did you rescue fleur?” Theo asked.
“How about if we show him fleur?” Bianca asked. Fleur looked scared:
“I’m not getting my paws tangled in a rug just so Theo can see how you got me out of there,” she said, “anyway, he wouldn’t see anything.”
“No, I didn’t mean that,” Bianca mewed, “what I meant was that you and I could show him how we got ourselves out of that one.”
“I’d like to know how it was done too,” Elsa mewed.
“Well, okay,” Fleur replied.
“Right Theo,” Bianca said, “roll onto your back please.” Theo, startled, looked at Fleur.
“What?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.
“I know what she’s doing,” fleur said smiling, “Bianca’s going to get you to lie like I was, and then show you how she rescued me Theo!” Theo rolled onto his back and Bianca checked his position with her paws, then said:
“right Theo, curl your toes slightly, oh yes, and extend your claws, please and thank you.” Snowy padded in then, saw what was going on and was about to ask, when Elsa waved at her to sit and watch.
“Bianca’s showing Theo how she rescued Fleur,” Elsa whispered.
Theo extended his claws and lay there, his toes slightly curled as if his paws were trapped.
“Now what?” Theo asked.
“You can try and free your forepaws if you’d like,” Fleur replied, “or let Bianca do it.” Theo knew what the cubs wanted, and bent his head towards his left forepaw, feeling with his whiskers to find his toes. Finding them he applied his teeth to his claws, trying to imagine freeing his paw from a thick rug. Once he thought he’d torn enough imaginary fabric, Theo wiggled the toes of his paw and then attacked his right forepaw in a similar manner.
“Okay,” he said, panting slightly, “they’re free.”
“Now try and free your hind paws,” Fleur mewed, knowing full well Theo couldn’t. Theo tried hard to reach his hind paws, arching his back and stretching the toes of both hind paws, trying to get them close to his teeth so he could do battle with the rug, but he failed. Giving up, Theo lay back, almost sobbing with frustration.
“I never knew how difficult getting to my hind paws was until today,” he gasped. Bianca then crawled up to Theo and touched his tail.
“I’ll try and help,” she mewed. Theo looked at her.
“I’ll do anything!” he said, “just get me out of here!” Bianca felt with her tiny paw for Theo’s large hind paw, her toes brushing his pads. Theo wanted to laugh and thrash about, but just about remembered he was meant to be trapped in a rug.
“Can you free my paws?” Theo asked.
“I think I can,” Bianca mewed, exploring Theo’s left hind paw with her whiskers, as her paws, sensitive as they were, didn’t give the detailed information her whiskers did. Theo clenched his teeth to stop himself from laughing as Bianca explored his paw.
“This tickles!” he mewed, trying hard not to laugh.
“I know,” Fleur replied smiling.
“Here goes,” Bianca said, “hold still now Theo.” Theo felt Bianca’s paws grip his left hind paw to steady it, her teeth gently rasping the pads of his toes, as she had no rug to bite through. After a little time, she let go of his paw with one of hers, letting Theo move his paw slightly.
“Nearly there little cub,” Theo mewed, “just a little more!” Bianca worked some more at the imaginary rug, then let go of Theo’s paw. He flexed his toes, and moved his paw, sighing with relief.
“That’s one paw done,” he mewed, “now, now for the other hind, “the rug’s really tight round my toes too! It’s horrible!” Bianca worked on Theo’s right hind paw in the same manner as she had his left, and soon that was free.
“Now Theo,” Bianca said, “Fleur and I tried freeing her by having her curl her toes to stop her claws digging in the rug while she was wriggling backwards on her back. Try that, try curling your toes really hard for about five minutes.” Theo tried, closing his eyes and curling the toes of all four paws as hard as he could. Within a minute his paws were aching.
“that’s really uncomfortable isn’t it,” Fleur said to Theo. Theo, struggling now to keep his toes curled, mewed that it was, and could he please be allowed to relax his paws? Bianca smiled and patted the heel of Theo’s right hind paw, Theo breathing a sigh of relief as he relaxed each paw in turn.
“Thank you Bianca,” Theo mewed.
“Your paws are becoming hot Theo,” Bianca purred. Theo smiled at her.
“I’m sure we can sort that later little cub,” he mewed, “I fancy a bath, yes, that sounds very good indeed!” Theo turned to Fleur and asked.
“You didn’t retract your claws at all during all this?”
“No,” Fleur replied, “it never entered my head to do so.”
“fleur wanted to crawl about like a cub with her claws extended while Bianca was unable to walk or retract her claws,” Elsa said. Theo’s eyes told Elsa he wanted to know why Fleur had done this, but she waved her paw, telling him she’d explain later.
“You’re still trapped Theo,” Elsa said, remember that.” Theo mewed pitifully.
“Now I’m going to cup my paws over your toes,” Bianca said, and guide your paws out that way.” Theo saw the method now, and smiled at the cub, reaching over to pat her paw.
“Well done Bianca,” he said, “now, can I ask you fleur, why crawl about like a newborn cub? What’s the point in that!”
“It’s all my fault,” Bianca mewed, “I complained my claws were getting caught in the carpets and that when this happened, I couldn’t move my toes, which I hate. So Fleur thought she’d help me by crawling about with her own claws extended until I learned to walk and retract my claws. I can’t walk yet, but I can now retract my claws. I told Fleur never to keep her claws extended again, as she’d only get them caught up in rugs.” Theo looked at Fleur with tear filled eyes.
“You are the best of cubs Fleur,” he mewed, fighting desperately not to cry, “to do that for Bianca and put yourself in that position.”
“So I had to help her,” Bianca said, “because I knew she’d done this for me. You see, Fleur thinks I forgot I’d ever touched her paws when she had her claws sheathed, but I hadn’t, I knew what she was doing for me. As soon as I could, I told her not to.”
“I enjoyed it,” Fleur replied, “until I got my paws trapped of course.”
“You just love crawling about like a cub,” Elsa mewed, “in fact, here’s another secret of Theo’s, he does too.” Theo snarled at Elsa in mock fury.
“So what if I do,” he mewed.
“go on, show us!” Bianca pleaded. Theo rolled onto his paws and got down on all fours, crawling like a cub.
“It’s the only way I can play with my youngest cubs,” he mewed in defence.
“It’s lovely,” Elsa replied, crawling up to Theo and hugging him.
“Mum does it too!” Leona mewed, clapping her paws together with delight. Leona and Simba’s eyes had been open for a few weeks now, and they could see everything. Fleur looked at them.
“though my eyes have been open for some weeks now,” Fleur said, “I still think nothing can beat finding out about someone by using your paws. I love finding things out with my paws.”
“You learn a lot more about someone that way,” Elsa agreed, “the voice can lie, but the paws can’t. I know when Theo’s relaxed and when he’s anxious just by touching him.”
“I love working with my paws,” Petra mewed, “it’s the best way.” Petra reached over and touched the pads of Fleur’s left hind paw, the cross bred cub curling her toes round Petra’s.
“Fleur loves her paws too,” Petra mewed. Fleur smiled.
“I must admit that I do,” she purred. Petra tugged playfully at her paw which was caught in Fleur’s, the large cub holding onto the lion cub’s white toes with her large spotted toes.
”Fleur likes my toes too,” Petra mewed pitifully, “she won’t let go of them!” Fleur released Petra’s paw, turned to her and hugged her tightly.
“my whiskers and paws are the most sensitive parts of my body and I love using them to find out things,,” fleur purred.
Petra snuggled into Fleur’s hug.
“You can take hold of my paws any time you like,” Petra purred, “for your paws are some of the softest, warmest and most gentle paws I’ve ever known fleur.” Fleur buried her face in Petra’s shoulder.
“I love you Petra,” fleur whispered. Petra purred in her ear.
“You are beautiful Fleur,” Petra mewed.
“Some don’t think so,” Fleur replied.
“Not everyone will,” Petra mewed, “but those who matter think you’re wonderful.”
“I wonder if Bianca will think so when she finally sees me,” Fleur mewed, “I look a proper mess, and it’s not my fault!”
“You don’t fleur, you don’t!” Petra said gently, “Please believe me dear Fleur, you look lovely!”
“Petra, do you seriously think that dirty coloured fur, washed out stripes, a banded tail, plus a spotted face, and paws with spots on the soles of all four of them is lovely?” Fleur asked.
“Now listen to me!” Bianca mewed, crawling up to Fleur and taking her paw, “I don’t care what you look like! I love you for who you are Fleur, and always will!” Fleur threw her huge paws round Bianca and cried into her fur.
“We all love you here Fleur,” Petra mewed, “don’t talk like that please!” Fleur dried her eyes.
“I know my mum’s said she’s sorry,” Fleur sobbed, “but I’ll never forget what happened when I was first born. I was hated from the minute I was born Petra! You don’t know how it feels unless you’ve been there!”
“Ah Fleur my dear,” Petra said gently, “I have been there.”
“How?” Fleur asked. Petra and fleur lay down, and Petra told her at length what happened. By the end of Petra’s tale, Fleur was crying.
“Noone could be like that! Not now, not here?” fleur sobbed.
“yes Fleur, I was poisoned by my own adopted mother.” Petra replied.
“But, but why?” Fleur asked.
“Because she hated me, that’s all,” Petra replied.
“But you’re lovely!” Fleur sobbed, “you’re a wonderful natured young lioness, you’re gentle, you’ve got the most beautiful white fur, blue eyes, and,” here she picked up one of Petra’s paws, “the most beautiful paws I’ve ever seen!” Petra smiled at fleur and hugged her.
“but not everyone thinks like that,” she mewed, “some fear me because of how I look, but I don’t let them worry me.”
“but we’re not all strong like you Petra, I can’t let some comments go over my head like you can,” fleur mewed.
“Please Fleur, dear, sweet cub, listen to me,” Petra said, “shall I tell you what is beautiful? Beautiful people do things like help a snow tigress have her cub, and then when that cub is safely born they stand by that cub and her mother through everything. Beautiful people who are grown up and past crawling about, choose to crawl about like a cub so another cub doesn’t feel isolated, and beautiful people do things like educate a cub as to where her nose, her toes and her tail are. That is what beautiful people do. What makes them even more beautiful is the reasons why they do what they do. Why did you help Snowy have her cub Fleur?”
“I don’t know,” Fleur replied, “I was interested to hear about the cub’s arrival, so I learned about cubbing, and was fortunate to see snowy have her cub and she was good enough to let me help her.”
“but you stayed,” Petra said, “even when Snowy was screaming with pain and kicking the water you stayed with her. Even when Tigger came screaming in and demanded to know what was happening, you told him to leave you alone, not in those terms maybe, but you did. Your concern was all for Snowy and her cub. You helped Snowy by telling her she was doing well and encouraging her to push down against her cub, you helped her by cleaning the cub when it was born and looking after it while Snowy recovered from labour. What you did that day and in the following hours tells more about yourself than does any coat of fur. Why did a cub, who had never met you before, come to your rescue only fifteen hours after you’d first met? Why did she crawl into a dark place and work so hard to save you Fleur?”
“I don’t know,” Fleur replied, “it’s Bianca you need to ask about that.”
“She can’t put it into words yet, for she doesn’t know the words to express herself properly. She may say that she loves you, and this is true, but what she can’t say is what she really feels for you. Bianca shows her love for you in what she does when you’re around. She knows a beautiful person when she finds one, and she’s found one fleur. Bianca won’t care how you look when she sees you. I’m sure she will say something like, “I love you from your spotted nose, to your spotted toes my dear friend.”” Fleur listened to this, knowing Petra spoke truth.
“I do love you with all my heart Fleur,” Bianca said, “and I know that when I finally do see you, I will love your spotted nose and paws, and your dirty brown fur, and your washed out stripes, and your banded tail, because they are part of you, my cub friend, fleur, the one who was brave enough to guide me into the world while my mum struggled to give birth to me in the bathtub. The one who towelled me down, the one who shouted and wept for joy when she saw me. Fleur, the one who tickled my paws, and didn’t stop tickling them until I was bored of it, you, who let me curl up beside you, and finally, fleur, it was you who crawled about with extended claws because I had complained I’d got mine caught in the carpet and hated it. You fleur, you were willing to do that for me, just so I didn’t feel I was the only cub going through this.”
“Oh, um, maybe Bianca can tell you how she feels, even at such a young age,” Petra mewed.
“I can,” Bianca said, “for I really feel this, and I needed to tell fleur in a language she can understand.”
“No Bianca my dear friend,” Fleur replied, “you were already telling me, but I wasn’t listening. You were telling me every minute of every hour I was with you, and though I knew you loved me, I didn’t realise how much until you came and rescued me from that rug. Now Bianca little cub, please, come here, and if you will, let me hug you.” Bianca crawled to Fleur and she embraced her tightly.
“My mum and I love you dearly Fleur,” Bianca mewed, “so do Petra, Theo, Elsa, Tigger, and in her own way, Perdy. Shall I tell you what tells me you love me more than anything else Fleur? It’s when you take me in your paws and hug me, when you touch my paws, when you wrap your tail around me to keep me safe, and when you let me, without question of my ability to do the job, nibble away the rug which bound your paws. That is what love is to me.” Fleur was crying again, indeed so were Elsa, Theo and Petra.
“thank you Bianca,” fleur sobbed, embracing the tiger cub tightly.
Snowy poked her head round the door, looking dishevelled, and rather guilty.
“there you are Bianca,” she said, “it’s now midday, and you left me at five in the morning! You must be hungry little one! I must confess, I’ve been asleep all that time! I’ve only just woken up!”
“I am hungry,” Bianca replied, “but until you mentioned it mum, I hadn’t realised I was. So much has happened here! It’s been lovely, and sad, and happy, and funny and everything!” snowy smiled at her cub, not fully realising what had taken place.
“I’m sure it was,” she said gently.
“but mum, you don’t understand!” Bianca mewed, stamping her paws for emphasis, something which had snowy growling deep in her throat, “it’s not just been an ordinary morning!”
“Don’t stamp your paws at me!” snowy snarled.
“No Snowy!” Elsa snapped, “now you listen! Bianca’s right, things haven’t been usual here at all today. It would take too long to explain, but we’ve been having some deep discussions here, around various topics. Theo will tell you more I think.” Theo patted the rug with his paw for Snowy to lie down, which she did. Once she was comfortable, Bianca drank her milk, and Theo began his account of the morning’s events.
When he’d finished, Snowy was thoughtful.
“Bianca,” Snowy said gently to her cub, who was curled between Fleur’s paws while she listened to their talk, “I’m sorry, sorry for yelling at you my dear cub. I know you were only stamping your paws for affect, to make me listen, for what you talked to fleur and Theo about was very important indeed. I’m sorry Bianca. Bianca crawled over to her mother and took her paw.
“It’s okay mum,” Bianca said, “we can’t all understand everything all the time.” Snowy gulped hard at her cub’s words.
“You’re just like my sister cub was when she was young,” Snowy sniffed, “Bianca, your real mum was just like you when she was a cub, very advanced for her age. Though I was the only one kicked out of the family group, Bianca, my sister cub would have come with me if she’d been allowed to. She was really too young then to leave our mother, so she couldn’t go with me, but I remember her bitter tears the night I said goodbye. Her paws clinging to my paws, her tears of grief wetting my fur. now, now I see the same personality in my birth cub, and it moves me to tears of joy to know my sister cub’s cub is going to be as gentle and kind as she was.” Bianca touched Snowy’s paw.
“I will try to be kind to others,” she said, “but it’s because I’ve been shown kindness and love by others that I know how to show it.” Snowy choked on her tears.
“I miss you Bianca, I miss you so much my sister cub!” Snowy sobbed, “I want you to know your cub is safe, and she’s loved by all here, and that she’ll be loved forever! Dear Bianca, I hope you can hear me, can you see your cub? Do you watch over her?”
“snowy, snowy my dear sister,” Petra said in Snowy’s sister cub’s voice, “I watch over your birth cub, I watch her every day, I play with her every day. I know her from her nose, to her tiny toes.”
“You know her from her nose, to her toes?” Snowy asked, tears running down her face, “but, but, Petra, you’re talking with my sister cub’s voice, and that’s not your phrase, that’s Fleur’s, she says that!”
“I use those words to illustrate the love the cub who’s phrase that is has for your cub, “ Petra said in Snowy’s sister cub’s voice. “Fleur loves your cub, loves her as I loved you my sister cub. Fleur will do anything for little Bianca, just like you’d do anything for me and I for you. Fleur will make sure your cub is loved by all. Fleur might not look much, but she’s loyal, brave, fearless, and best of all, she can roll and play like a cub, even when she’s no longer one herself. Fleur has proven that to you and little Bianca, and she has my greatest gratitude and thanks for what she does, though I know she doesn’t need or want praise for what she does. Let everyone hear my words, everyone Snowy! That it is better to live life with closed eyes and an open mind, than it is to live with open eyes and a closed mind. Let Fleur use her paws, let her touch every one of you, let her protect those who need protection, let her heal those who through fear of the unknown hate and ridicule others. Fleur will play with a cub, help a new mother give birth, and comfort the dying. Those who hated her at birth did so because they were of closed mind. Those who hated on sight were few, but significant all the same. One was her own mother, the other two, who don’t even know her, weren’t present at her birth, but hate and fear her all the same, are Amber and Stifftail. Fleur’s mother is trying not to hate her cub, but she still feels wronged by the manner of Fleur’s birth. Fleur’s birth was hard, very hard on her mother, but the birth was not impossible, as those who witnessed it found. Perdy needs to find the strength to love her cub as easily as fleur can love a newborn Bengal tiger cub. Perdy needs to push her fears away as hard, and with as much determination as she pushed to deliver fleur into the world. Perdy will make it, but, for Perdy, to truly love her cub, will be a struggle as hard and painful for her as Fleur’s birth was. It needn’t be this way, but if Perdy fears her cub, then it will be a long and painful process. Now I will go snowy my dear sister cub, for here is not my place. Fleur is little Bianca’s good friend, and you must do your best to love them both.”
“I love them both my sister cub, I love them both with all my heart!” snowy mewed.
“I know you do snowy, I know you do,” Petra, using Snowy’s sister cub’s voice said, “now I really must go. Good bye for now snowy my dear sweet sister cub, and goodbye Bianca, mine and Snowy’s darling gentle birth cub.” With that Petra fell silent.
“what on earth was that!” Elsa asked.
“I don’t know,” Petra replied, “I just had an urge to say those things, and said them. I don’t know what it means.” Theo looked at Petra.
“you spoke in a strange voice, not your own Petra,” he said, “but you were deadly serious.”
“I’ll bet she was just playing a horrid trick!” Perdy snapped, bursting into the room, “I heard all that! What a load of rubbish about fleur and Bianca!”
“If it was a trick,” Elsa said, “then I command you Petra to admit it was. If you mimicked Snowy’s sister cub’s voice then, you can do it now, do it now! Show us!” Petra looked straight at Elsa.
“I can’t do it mum,” she said, I can’t mimic Snowy’s sister cub’s voice.” Elsa dropped her gaze, for she knew Petra was telling the truth.
“No Perdy,” Theo said, “Petra was not playing tricks. She, like me, has special abilities to communicate with the other side. Maybe Snowy’s sister cub’s voice came to us through Petra.” Perdy stared hard at Theo, spat with contempt, whirled on her heel and stormed out of the den.
“Disgusting manners she has,” Bianca mewed. Fleur looked into Petra’s face.
“Petra, I can’t, can’t do all this stuff!” she mewed, “I’m just a cub!”
“But you are doing it already fleur,” Petra replied, “all that was said boils down to you being yourself. Loving Bianca here, loving other cubs and adult animals, and also, loving yourself. ?Before you can make peace with others, you need to make it with yourself. For if you are not peaceful inside, others cannot be at peace with you. Please Fleur, listen to me now. This might sound very strange, but I feel you are already at peace with who you are. You might not think you are, but if you look deeply, you will find you are. You know that you are a source of comfort and love for at least two of us here, and while knowing this, you do not want or seek credit for that. You get on with your life, because what you do is natural behaviour for you. Fleur, please, love your coat, love your paws, love your tail. Lie down beside Theo Fleur, and place your forepaws on his left forepaw. Now, for a brief moment, I will make Theo a mirror image of yourself. You will be able to feel your paws as others do, see your fur as others do, feel the love you give as others feel it. Then maybe you’ll realise you are a lovely creature.”
Fleur settled down beside Theo and placed both her forepaws on his left forepaw. Noone other than Fleur saw or felt anything unusual. But Fleur soon saw Theo’s body changing into that of a large, rather fat Bengal tiger snow leopard cross cub. The cub had a long banded tail like a raccoon’s, Bleu eyes, dirty brown fur all over its body, as well as ill defined stripes on its body, head and legs. black spots covered its face, belly and paws. Fleur could also see that this cub had spots on the soles of its paws.
“so that’s what I look like,” she thought. Fleur felt no revulsion, just an overwhelming need to protect the cub she saw before her. The need was so strong she threw her paws round the cub’s neck and hugged it tightly. The cub began to purr, a sweet sounding purr, and its fur was so warm, so soft, so beautifully silky that fleur didn’t want to let go. Then the cub took fleur in its paws, and Fleur, when she felt the paws envelope her, burst into tears of joy at meeting this cub. The cub curled round fleur, tucking its tail round her hind paws. So the cub’s thickly furred body and long, equally thickly furred tail acted like the most glorious and warm comforter. Fleur’s body and paws felt warmer than they had in ages. Snuggling down into the cub’s thick fur, she worked her forepaws into the fur, and then curled the toes of both hind paws round the cub’s tail, burying her toes in the thick warm fur, so the pads and soles of her paws were directly in contact with the warm fur of the cub’s long tail.
“why not press your paws into my fur Fleur,” the cub purred. Fleur pushed gently with her hind paws, and the fur seemed to envelope them. The same happened for her forepaws.
“You don’t mind this little cub?” fleur asked. The cub shook its head, still purring and embracing her with its warm paws.
“rest your head on the cub’s shoulder now fleur,” Petra said, “go on, you won’t be harmed.” Fleur did as Petra said, and she felt as warm and safe as she did with Theo or Elsa.
“I love you little cub,” the strange new cub purred. fleur then knew for sure how others saw her.
“I must go now Fleur my dear cub,” the strange cub said. Fleur found herself clinging to the cub’s fur with all four paws and begging it not to leave her alone.
“I will never leave you alone,” the cub purred, “all you have to do is look after other cubs and I’ll be here, for I am you fleur. I am showing you how you are towards others. Now, if you are to continue being the loving, gentle cub the community know, I must leave you.” Weeping with sudden grief, Fleur kissed the cub on its spotted nose before releasing her hold on its fur. fleur watched the cub as it gently pushed her away with it’s huge warm spotted paws.
“Goodbye little one,” Fleur sobbed as the cub disappeared. Fleur blinked, and Theo was lying in the same position in which he’d been for the last few hours.
Fleur looked at Theo, her eyes still searching for the cub who’d taken her in its paws.
“Where’s that cub!” Fleur mewed, “I want to hug it forever!”
“You are that cub fleur,” Theo purred, “now you know who you really are, and that your coat is not the total sum of who you are, I think you know what to do.” Fleur hugged Theo tenderly.
“I will do my best to love and protect those whom I’ve been sent here to help,” fleur purred.
Theo looked round at the sound of heavy paws entering the room, and smiled as he saw Leo settling down beside him.
“Hello Leo my brother cub,” Theo purred, touching the lion’s paw with his, “how are you?” Leo looked at his brother.
“I heard you wanted a bath,” Leo purred, “I wondered, if, if, well,,,” the huge lion’s voice trailed away, and he looked down at his paws, unable to continue his request.
“You want to bathe him Leo? Like you did when you were cubs?” fleur asked.
“How, how did you know about that?” Leo asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Fleur replied, “now do you want to help bathe your brother or not?”
“I’d like to,” Leo choked, “to, to try and make amends for what I did to you Theo, to try to mend our relationship,,” Theo knew how upset his older brother cub was.
“I remember you washing my fur and paws when we were in the family den,” Theo purred, “after a day’s play, our paws and fur would be covered with mud and leaves. We would spend many hours grooming each other, and they were very happy hours Leo.” Leo looked at his brother, tears rolling down his face.
“take me back there Theo, please!” Leo sobbed. Theo embraced Leo in his huge, fat warm paws, Leo snuggling closer to his brother cub. Leo breathed in Theo’s scent, the scent made stronger by the stress of Theo’s recent struggle to free himself from his imaginary physical prison. Leo knew this scent, for Theo’s scent always became stronger when he was emotionally or physically stressed.
“What’s wrong Theo my brother?” Leo asked, stroking Theo’s paw with his.
“Nothing,” Theo replied, “nothing at all Leo my brother cub.”
“But your fur is holding your scent more strongly than usual,” Leo said, “are you really okay?” Theo then remembered the demonstration Bianca and Fleur had directed him in.
“Let me tell you a story brother cub Leo,” Theo said. Leo and Theo curled up together as they’d done when cubs, Theo burying his paws in Leo’s mane, and both settling comfortably so Theo could tell his tale.
Fleur had never seen Theo and Leo curled up together like this, and the sight brought tears to her eyes.
Theo told his tale, and when he’d finished, Leo was thoughtful.
“So fleur saw snowy give birth to her cub?” Leo asked, “that’s wonderful! What’s even more wonderful is that Fleur and Bianca have stayed close.”
“As close as two sister cubs Leo,” Bianca purred. Leo looked round sharply at the sound of Bianca’s voice.
“Where are you?” He asked, “little cub, show yourself!” Bianca extricated herself from the warm embrace of Fleur’s fur, where Fleur and she lay curled together not too far from Theo and Leo. Leo stared as a tiny Bengal tiger cub crawled towards him, one so young her eyes hadn’t even opened yet. Leo caught his breath as he noticed the cub curling the toes of both forepaws into the carpet to pull herself along, for she was still crawling, not yet able to walk. Leo then noticed something about her paws. This cub’s claws were retracted, but Leo knew, like lion cubs, indeed like he and Theo when they were very young, tiger cubs usually couldn’t retract their claws until they were about twelve weeks old. This cub wasn’t even two weeks old, and her claws were retracted. Leo felt a rush of emotion which he recognised, as he’d felt it when he’d first seen Portia. He wanted to love and protect this cub as if she were his own birth cub.
“Here I am,” Bianca mewed. Leo reached out with one huge paw to touch the tiny cub’s paw.
“I’m glad to meet you little one,” Leo mewed.
“My name’s Bianca,” the cub said straight out. Bianca took Leo’s paw in hers, the lion’s paw dwarfing her own.
“You have big paws Leo,” Bianca said, “you must be a big lion to have such huge paws.” Leo withdrew his paw gradually, Bianca crawling towards him, as she obviously didn’t want to let go of his paw.
“You are huge Leo!” Bianca mewed, “even bigger than fleur!” Leo purred contentedly, his purr deep and comforting. Bianca was about to ask if she could touch Leo’s nose with her paw when the huge lion leant forward and, his whiskers tickling her cheek, kissed her nose. Bianca felt warm breath, and a gentle touch. Theo, his paws and head resting on his brother’s shoulder, watched as Leo took Bianca in his paws, engulfing her in a lion sized hug.
“You are so gentle for such a huge lion,” Bianca purred as she felt Leo’s huge, warm, and very soft paws enveloping her.
“I watched when fleur was born,” Leo purred, “Bianca, let me tell you this my dear sweet cub. Apart from my own brother, Fleur is one of the most gentle cubs I’ve ever known. I know who you are, and where you came from. Snowy is my mate, and I love her dearly. Now little cub, would you allow me to love you as my cub?” Bianca could feel Leo’s pulse beating gently in the huge paw she held between her tiny ones.
“You want to love a cub don’t you Leo,” Bianca said, “you and snowy have wanted a cub, but it didn’t happen because she used to be so unwell, that you were too worried about the affects on her health to consider her carrying and giving birth to the cub. Now the higher power has made it so she could give birth to me safely, am I not your cub as well as Snowy’s and my real mother’s cub? I can be loved by many, and for those who do truly love me, and whom I truly love, I am their cub, even if they didn’t actually witness my birth. As you are Snowy’s mate, I am also your cub.” ~snowy gulped hard, trying not to cry.
“You sound just like my sister cub Bianca!” she sobbed, giving up the struggle with her emotions.
“I love you very much Bianca little cub,” Leo purred.
“Are we going to have a bath?” Bianca asked. Theo smiled and patted Leo reassuringly:
“We will all go down there now, you, me, Leo, fleur, Elsa, Petra and Snowy,” Theo said.
Fleur went to leave the room, turning so her nose pointed towards the door. Theo quickly moved away from Leo, watching Fleur’s tail and hind paws. When they were within range, he reached over with his left forepaw and tickled the sole of Fleur’s right hind paw. Fleur squealed with surprise and tried to stop the tickling by trapping Theo’s toes in hers.
“You bully!” Fleur laughed. Theo rubbed the pads of Fleur’s paw with his, her attempt to trap his paw failing. Fleur turned to Theo and hugged him.
“time for your bath Theo,” she purred, “then, would, would you massage me from my nose to my toes?” Theo smiled and raised his paw.
“From your nose,” he said touching her nose with his raised paw, “to your toes little cub,” he said, touching the toes of Fleur’s right hind paw. Fleur wiggled her toes as a symbol of her love for the young lion. Theo smiled, tracing round Fleur’s pads with his paw, Fleur grinning happily as she felt his touch.
Downstairs, Tigger listened to what Leo and the others had planned.
“The bath isn’t big enough for all of us to get into,” he mewed, “but I have a secret place, come.” With that they followed him through the back door, into the garden, and round to the back of the house. there Tigger opened a door into another room. the animals felt soft flooring, which seemed to cling to the pads of their paws, something which Theo didn’t like much.
“This stuff’s horrid Tigger!” he mewed, “it’s clinging to my paws!”
“You wouldn’t want to slip over and hurt yourself would you Theo?” Tigger asked. Theo mumbled that he wouldn’t wish to do that, but he still hated the feel of the flooring under his paws. Theo noticed that even though the floor felt like it was clinging to his paws, there was no resistance when he lifted his paw, only if he tried to slide it along the floor.
The procession of animals made their way into the main part of the room, but it wasn’t a room, it was massive! There was a huge bath, but it wasn’t a bath, it was a pool!
“What is this place Tigger?” Leo asked, his eyes wide with amazement.
“It’s a place the boss built for us,” Tigger purred, “It’s a wonderful place, very secret, well, not so secret now. Explore, have an adventure! Here you can have fun, um, as long as you like water of course.
Unusual bath time.
Tigger padded towards the pool, Theo, Simba, Elsa, Aslan, Leona and Snowy following with Leo trailing uncertainly behind, Petra doing her best to reassure the nervous lion.
Meanwhile, Fleur and Bianca went the other way, Fleur leading Bianca up a slope, through a door, and into a spiral corridor with a sloping floor.
“Where are we?” Bianca asked. Fleur looked up the corridor, which twisted away out of sight.
“I don’t know,” she said, “but I can hear a rushing sound, like water. Let’s make for that.”
“I’m scared!” Bianca mewed, “it’s, it’s strange in here!” Fleur patted her paw reassuringly.
“I know this place,” she said, hoping her friend didn’t realise she was being untruthful. Fleur hated to lie to Bianca, but knew that if she gave way to her own fear, nothing would be discovered about this new place.
“Okay,” Bianca said, “I trust you Fleur.”
“You wouldn’t if you knew the truth,” Fleur thought miserably, angry at herself for deceiving her friend.
“Bianca,” Fleur said, “I’m sorry, I lied to you. I don’t know these places, and I’m as scared as you are.”
“Do you want to leave?” Bianca asked.
“No,” Fleur replied.
“neither do I Fleur,” Bianca said, “and Fleur, please, don’t lie to me again. If you don’t know something, tell me, and if you’re scared, tell me too, promise?” Fleur felt dreadful.
“Yes Bianca,” she replied, “I promise.”
“So do we go on then?” Bianca asked.
“We do,” Fleur replied. They padded up to the top of the slope, the corridor twisting all the time. When they reached the top, the sound of rushing water was close, and rounding a bend, Fleur saw the source of the sound.
It looked like a hole in the wall directly opposite them, with water running into it. Fleur turned to Bianca and had to shout to make herself heard over the noise of the water.
“It’s a hole in the wall with water going into it!” she yelled.
“What’s in the hole?” Bianca yelled in reply.
“Nothing!” Fleur shouted, “it’s just a hole!”
“Let’s take a look!” Bianca yelled.
“Careful though,” Fleur said. They padded forward, stepping down into a small half box made of plastic. The soles of Their paws soon became damp from the water flowing past their legs, the noise of the water becoming louder as they were quite close to the hole now. Fleur padded forward, Bianca still keeping in contact with her by touching her with one paw. the pull of the water flowing past their paws was becoming stronger the closer they got to the hole. Suddenly Fleur’s right forepaw slipped! Fleur fought to regain her balance but couldn’t, ending up being carried into the hole! Bianca, feeling Fleur slip, tore her paw free of the larger cub’s! Fleur screamed as she shot into the hole!
“Bianca! I can’t grip with anything! I’m done for! Bianca heard her friend’s screams of fear as she was carried away from her.”
“Fleur!” Bianca yelled, The sound of Fleur’s screams and banging paws becoming more distant. Bianca felt alone for the first time in her life, and she hated it. Still unable to see what her friend had vanished into, Bianca thought about exploring with her paws, but remembered Fleur had been taken away quite easily, and she was much larger than herself. Bianca crawled away from the hole, the sound of the water reseeding a little every time she pulled herself forward with her forepaws or pushed with her hind. Crying hysterically, Bianca dragged her body down the twisting passage, her face hot with emotion and wet with tears. About half way down, Bianca gave up the struggle and collapsed onto the soft flooring. Fear overwhelming her the tiger cub screamed with fear,! it was a dreadful sound, full of fear for her lost friend and for herself.
Snowy, having splashed about in the pool with Tigger and the others, had just got out and shaken herself dry when she heard Bianca’s yell of terror. Streaking up the corridor, she found her cub lying sobbing on the soft flooring.
“Where’s Fleur?” Snowy gasped, “dam that cub! Where’s Fleur Bianca?” Bianca, crying inconsolably, waved her hind paw, paw indicating fleur was further up the passage.
“She, she went down the hole!” Bianca sobbed.
“What hole?” Snowy asked, now terrified.
“I don’t know what hole!” Bianca sobbed, “there’s a hole up there, with water running into it, and Fleur slipped and fell into it! She’s gone!” Snowy was frantic with worry!
“We’re going to find Tigger!” Snowy yelled, dragging poor Bianca onto all fours, then, taking the cub’s paw, she dragged Bianca along, Bianca still crying as she crawled beside her mother.
Bursting into the pool area, they found Fleur, who was lying on the floor, sobbing and shaking, with Elsa and Theo trying to comfort her.
“What the hell’s this!” snowy snapped.
“Don’t make me go back into that hole!” Fleur sobbed.
“what hole?” Theo asked. Tigger, standing nearby, his paws sweating with fear, toes curled into the floor, took a deep breath and replied.
“It, it’s a, a water slide. I know how to use it, but it needs to be supervised at all times! I thought I’d closed the gate to the passage, turned the water off, all that!”
“What on earth is a water slide?” Snowy asked.
“It’s a tube,” Tigger replied, now shaking as much as Fleur, “it has water running in it, and, and you get into it, and slide down it with the water aiding you. It can be pretty quick, the one I have here can be. I don’t know why the boss installed it. It came with the package, or so it was said. The boss showed me how to use the thing, but, but he said there should be strict adherence to the lights and bell, whatever that means.
“the boss didn’t tell you what he meant by the lights and bell?” Theo asked, now ready to clout Tigger.
“he did, but, but I can’t remember what he said!” Tigger mewed pitifully.
“Take me to the hole!” Theo snarled, “I’m not afraid of this!”
“Okay, okay Theo,” Tigger sniffed, now close to tears, “I will, come on.” Theo padded after Tigger, the Bengal tiger dragging his paws.
“It’s up here,” Tigger sniffed.
“I don’t see any gate on this bit,” Theo said, mounting the slope, his fat paws leaving wet paw prints.
“No, not here,” Tigger replied, “up at the top of the slope.” The lion and tiger padded closer to the top, the sound of water rushing down the tube getting closer. When they reached the top, Theo looked round him. He saw a white plastic tray in front of him, which had in front of that a tube lying on it’s side, which disappeared into the wall in front of him. The tube wasn’t quite flush with the wall, having been chopped off at an angle to allow the tray to fit into the bottom of it. There was a light, but it was red at the time they arrived. As Theo watched, it turned green, and a bell sounded. Theo guessed what must have happened to Fleur.
“It looks like poor Fleur stepped into the tray and her paws got carried away by the water, ending in her hurtling down the slide,” Theo said, “Tigger, where does the slide end up?”
“It ends in a tray, much like this one, but a bit flatter, the water is reused, pumped up here and back down the slide it goes. The end of the slide is a little way from the rest of the pool, it’s by the door into the house. there’s another way into here from the house you see.” Theo looked into the hole.
“When you mentioned supervision,” Theo asked, “does that mean this is dangerous?”
“No, not in itself Theo,” Tigger replied quickly, “it’s to stop people from going before the light’s green. If they do, you can run into one another, and there are other safety issues, such as there being too many people on the slide at once. The boss was very insistent on this, “obey the bell Tigger,” he said, “if noone goes down the slide the instant the bell goes off, then wait for the system to sound the bell again.” That’s what he said.”
“Who are you training to use this?” Theo asked.
“I know how to,” Tigger mewed, “or I do now I think of it.” Tigger was still shaking with fear.
“Anyone else?” Theo asked.
“Arki, Nanuq too,” Tigger replied.
“Right,” Theo said, “now show me the gate you were meant to close.” Tigger walked back to the top of the slope and pulled at a handle in the wall. A trellis type gate slid across the passage, blocking access to the steep slope.
“It was this I was meant to close,” Tigger mewed, “now I’m for it!”
“Open the gate,” Theo snapped, “now show me where this slide ends.” Tigger opened the gate, then padded across to a door set into the right hand wall at right angles to the tube which Theo hadn’t noticed before.
“through here,” Tigger said, “it’s a service entrance, for staff.” Theo padded through the door, which was made of reinforced glass. They found themselves in a room with stairs and what looked like a set of double doors set into the wall.
“That’s a lift for wheelchair users,” Tigger said, waving at the double door set into the wall, “the stairs are a fire escape, but also lead directly down to the end of the slide. In fact so does the lift.”
“What on earth’s a lift?” Theo asked, his curiosity aroused. Tigger crawled over to the double doors and pressed a button on the wall. The doors opened, and Theo looked in.
“it’s just a room,” Theo said, but it’s made of metal. He stepped closer, and there was a high pitched wine.
“what’s that!” Theo yelled, leaping backwards.
“that means the doors won’t close on you,” Tigger replied, “it’s safety again.”
“Yes, safety which you ignored by not closing that dammed gate!” Theo snarled.
“I’m sorry!” Tigger mewed.
“Try saying that when someone gets injured!” Theo snapped. Tigger mewed piteously.
“show me the end of the slide,” Theo mewed.
“Get in the lift then,” Tigger said. Theo stepped in, doing his best to ignore the high pitched noise as he stepped through the beam of infrared light which stopped the doors from closing. Tigger joined Theo, and pressed a button inside the lift. The door closed, and Theo instantly wanted to get out!
“let me out, let me out!” He yelled, banging the doors with his paws.
“the lift will start downwards in a minute,” Tigger said. Theo hated this lift thing.
“Just get it over with!” Theo snarled. Tigger pushed down on a lever, and the lift descended slowly.
“can’t this go any faster?” Theo asked.
“No,” Tigger said, accidentally taking his paw off the lever, the lift stopping as it was meant to do. Theo, realising what he’d been seeing moving past him was actually part of the lift shaft, freaked out, screaming and hammering on the reinforced glass doors.
“I hate this!” Theo yelled, “take me down!” Tigger pressed the lever and the lift continued its journey. Theo sighed with relief when he saw the electric light of the floor below. The lift came to a sudden stop, and Tigger took his paw off the lever. The door opened, and Theo was straight out.
“don’t ever, ever! Put me in one of those things again!” Theo yelled. Tigger followed him out into the passage and along to the pool area where the end of the slide was. Theo looked at the slide, then stepped into the tray, feeling the water wetting his paws.
“Right,” Theo said, “now, I want you to do something for me.”
“What’s that?” Tigger asked.
“Go up the stairs , and come down the slide, that’s all,” Theo said. Tigger mewed in protest, but Theo squeezed his paw.
“Stop mewing little cub,” he said, “for you’ve done enough damage as it is. Do what I tell you!” Tigger made his way up the service stairs with Theo following and watching him. When he got to the top of the slide, Tigger stepped down into the tray ready to lie down and push off. Theo looked up at the lights, they were showing red. Even though he knew noone was on the slide, he still respected the rules and waited for green and the bell. The bell went, and Tigger pushed off, disappearing with alarming speed! Theo watched him go, then ran down the stairs to the bottom of the slide, just in time to see Tigger come flying out of the slide and into the tray at the bottom. The tiger looked terrified!
“I’ve never ridden that before!” he yelled.
“Nor had Fleur,” Theo snarled, “maybe that will be a lesson to you!” Tigger got off the slide, his paws shaking.
“Right, I vote we go back to Fleur and find out whether she’s suffered any lasting damage,” Theo said. The sound of heavy paws made them turn. fleur came round the end of the slide and headed towards them.
“I know what happened,” she mewed, “Leo told me.” Theo could feel his brother was close, and now knew why.
“Have you forgiven Tigger fleur?” Theo asked.
“I have,” she said, “for it wasn’t just his fault, it was mine. I know he should have closed the gate, but I shouldn’t have gone anywhere near the hole.”
“It’s a water slide,” Tigger mewed.
“Whatever it is,” fleur said, “Bianca’s eager to have a ride.”
“No!” Theo snapped, “no fleur no!” there was a sudden scream of delight and then a whoosh as Bianca came down the last part of the slide.
“It’s too late to stop her I fear,” Fleur said. Theo looked at the bedraggled tiger cub, while Tigger helped her from the bottom of the slide.
“the bell’s just gone off again,” Tigger said, and sure enough, snowy came barrelling down the slide screaming with delight the whole way! She arrived much quicker than her cub, as she was heavier. Snowy and Bianca came down hind paws first, whereas Fleur had gone head first, something she didn’t want to repeat.
“It’s wonderful!” Bianca mewed.
“It’s hell,” fleur spat.
“What a ride!” Snowy laughed, “coming for another run Bianca?” her cub was up for it.
“yeah, let’s,” Bianca said. She looked round at the rest of the animals, making eye contact with each.
“Oh, um, Snowy,” Theo said, “um, Bianca’s, Bianca’s eyes, they’re open, and, and she’s looking at me! She’s only three days old!”
“I know,” snowy said, seemingly unruffled by this unusual event for a cub so young, “my sister cub Bianca was the same. Wonderful isn’t it!”
“So nothing surprises you?” fleur asked.
“I’m glad for Bianca, but not surprised at anything,” snowy purred, “for Bianca’s already done amazing things for her age.”
“We came here for a bath Tigger,” Bianca said, “when are we going to get that?”
“Um, as soon as you and your mum have had one more go on the slide,” Tigger mewed.
Theo, fleur and Tigger followed Snowy and her cub up to the top of the slide. There first Snowy, then Bianca slid down. Once they’d gone, Theo looked at Fleur and Tigger.
“what are you two going to do?” he asked, “for I’m not going down that!”
“Oh yes you are,” Fleur said, smiling, “we all have.”
“You said you didn’t want to go down it again!” Theo mewed.
“I will if you do,” Fleur replied. Theo lay down in the tray, ready to push off. Making sure his claws were retracted, he waited for the bell. When it went off, Theo pushed with his hind paws and pulled with his fore, shooting down the tube! Theo then realised why Bianca’s eyes had opened, they’d got the best washing they’d ever get! He couldn’t see a thing because of the amount of spray! Theo then realised he was speeding down the slide head first! Screaming, he hurtled down the slide, and it was almost straight down! Theo felt the slide flatten out, his speed dropping rapidly, and then paws were helping him, dripping and weak, onto dry land. Leo, Elsa and the cubs had joined them, having wondered where they’d got to.
“I don’t like the look of that thing Theo,” Leo said.
“The lift is worse,” Theo mewed.
“What is a lift?” Petra asked. Theo jerked his head at the lift’s smoked glass doors. Petra walked across to the lift, pressed the button, and walked in. The doors promptly shut behind her, and there was the sound of banging and yelling to be let out.
“It’s a trap!” Petra mewed, hammering on the door with clenched paws. Theo walked over and pressed the button to let his cub out.
“I can see why you don’t like that thing,” Petra mewed.
They returned to see Bianca and Snowy examining Fleur’s paws.
“Her pads are all wrinkled up!” Bianca said of Fleur’s paw pads.
“that’s because we’ve been in water for a long time,” Leo said, “once we are back on dry land Fleur’s paws will go back to normal.”
“I think it’s a pity noone but us knows of this place,” Petra mewed.
“Well,” Tigger said, “the horses wouldn’t like to come here, nor would the badgers. The polar bears and brown bears might, and so would the otters and capybara.
“Talking of otters, “I heard that Winifred was dating with Tarquil. Tarquil was one of only two male otters in the house.
“Maybe if they have a cub, it won’t be as disagreeable as Tarker was,” Leo grunted.
“I’m up for getting my paws even more wrinkled than they already are!” Bianca mewed, “where’s that bath you promised us Tigger?”
“come on then,” Tigger replied, “let’s go for that bath.” They walked away, but Elsa lingered, looking with interest at the slide. She’d been interested, but nervous. Dipping a paw into the shallow water which ran into drainage ducts, she closed her eyes and thought about hurtling down the slide, could she bring herself to do it?”
“Come on Elsa love,” Theo said.
“I’m feeling a bit of a wimp,” she mewed, not going on the slide. I should have gone to the top with you.”
“come Elsa love,” Theo said, “we’ll go up together.” With that he took her paw and led her up the stairs to the top of the slide. Elsa looked into the hole, sniffing at the water. She lay down, and Theo patted her paw reassuringly.
“the soles of your hind paws are wrinkled up Elsa!” Theo said laughing, tracing the pads of Elsa’s paw with the toes of one of his forepaws, in turn making her laugh.
“I’ll bet yours are too Theo love,” she replied.
“Undoubtedly they are,” Theo mewed, “though, as I found out in the cubbing den, I can’t see my hind paws.” Elsa curled the toes of her right hind paw round those of Theo’s right fore, as he was standing directly behind her, holding her back by placing his paw on hers, his toes curled into hers.
“When I let go of your toes, just relax,” Theo mewed. Elsa mewed a reply, for her fear was back with her. Theo could feel it in her trembling paw.
“It’s going to be okay Elsa love,” Theo purred.
“If something does happen to me,” Elsa said, “I want you to know that I love you Theo.” Give my love to Simba, Aslan, Petra, Fleur, Bianca and Leona.” Theo knew nothing would go wrong, but Elsa’s words still tore at him.
“I will,” he said, “I love you Elsa.” Elsa closed her eyes, waiting for the bell. When it rang, Elsa felt Theo release her toes from his, and she was off down the slide. Elsa kept her paws over her face the whole way. When she got to the bottom of the slide, she felt fat paws take hold of hers and squeeze them. It was Theo.
“come Elsa my love,” Theo purred, “let’s go and get a proper bath.”
Elsa padded after her mate, both of them meeting Tigger in the main pool area, where he led the group towards another part of the building, in which they found a bath with a whirlpool. This whirlpool bath was large, large enough for all the animals to get into. The cubs and adult animals padded into the bathtub.
“Now I add herbs and oils, and we all get in and massage each other, a huge free for all, okay?” Tigger purred. Elsa mewed her assent, and everyone else showed their agreement by getting on with things.
Tigger first stroked Leona’s paws, the soles of the female lion cub’s paws as wrinkled as his own. Leona laughed as Tigger tickled her forepaws before he massaged them.
“Right! She mewed, “I get to tickle your paws now!” Tigger smiled:
“Of course you will, in time,” he said. Suddenly Tigger wriggled and twisted, squealing with surprise!
“Something’s got my right hind paw!” he yelled. Leona began to laugh as she saw who’d got the tiger’s paw in theirs. Simba let go of Tigger’s paw once he’d tickled it, and rose to the surface like an emerging sea monster, growling and snarling theatrically. Tigger, terrified, tried to grab Simba to duck him for frightening him, but the cub was too quick for him.
“that’s not fair on Tigger Simba, and you know it!” Leona mewed. Simba prodded Tigger and swam away, the blind tiger striking out with his paws at nothing.
“That’s bloody unfair!” Tigger mewed. Simba teased Tigger, until Aslan saw what was happening, grabbed hold of Simba and let the Bengal tiger have his revenge, which wasn’t to tickle Simba’s paws, but to cuff the cub with considerable force! Simba yowled with pain, slinking from the pool and going back to the house.
“bloody cub!” Aslan mewed, “I know tickling your paw was a game, but that last bit wasn’t! he was teasing you Tigger, and that’s what I can’t stand! I hope he doesn’t have to go through what you do every day!”
“Calm down Aslan my dear cub,” Theo mewed.
“You know how I feel about things like this!” Aslan sniffed, his eyes filling with tears, “I can’t stand it Theo, and I won’t!” Theo stopped stroking Petra’s right hind paw and paddled over to his upset cub.
“Aslan my dear sweet cub,” he mewed, “come here please.” Aslan let Theo take him in his paws.
“it’s so wrong, so bloody wrong!” Aslan wept.
“I know Aslan, I know,” Theo purred.
“I know you’re being kind Theo, but you don’t know what it’s like, you can’t know what it’s like! I hope you never will either. It’s so crap!”
“Hey! Don’t use that language!” snowy snapped.
“Aslan my dear cub,” Theo said gently, “I don’t truly know what it’s like for Tigger, that’s correct, but please, try and let it go over your head sometimes.”
“I can’t Theo, I can’t!” Aslan snarled, “it’s wrong what Simba does, bloody wrong!”
“Right!” snowy snapped, “we’re leaving Bianca! If that cub can’t keep his language down, I’m never letting you associate with that family ever again!”
“No Snowy, don’t go,” Petra said. Snowy turned to Petra, intent on telling her to mind her own business, when the look in the white cub’s eyes stopped her.
“Aslan knows more than you will ever comprehend,” Petra’s eyes said.
“Oh, well, yes,” snowy grumbled, still furious at Aslan for using bad language.
“I don’t really blame Aslan,” Leo said, “he’s had it tough, and he could be a lot worse. It’s only this kind of thing which gets him really fired up.”
“Come on Aslan,” Theo mewed, hugging the weeping shivering cub close, “it’s not worth getting this upset about Simba’s actions.”
“Tigger doesn’t need it Theo,” Aslan mewed, “he really doesn’t need that. Simba should have let Tigger take his revenge on him in a playful manner, which Tigger would have done. But no, Simba teases Tigger, making it near on impossible for him to get his own back. It’s wrong, and I won’t stand for it!”
“I’m going to Tigger mum,” Bianca said. Snowy waved her paw at her. Bianca swam across to Tigger, who took her in his paws.
“Hello little one,” Tigger purred, stroking Bianca’s back with one paw while holding her suspended in the water with his free paw. Bianca let her paws dangle in the water.
“I thought I’d come over and see you Tigger,” Bianca said. Tigger, usually not one for reacting to turns of phrase, gulped hard, tears rolling down his nose.
“I’m sorry Tigger!” Bianca said, almost crying herself now, “you usually don’t mind us using words like that.”
No, not usually,” Tigger sobbed, “but what with Simba’s behaviour, and your talking about coming to see me, and you having just opened your eyes n’all, well, I’m glad you can see me Bianca, for it’s a wonderful world.” Bianca, now realising fully what connections her words had made for Tigger, hugged him as tightly as she knew how, holding him close in both tiny paws.
“Oh Tigger, Tigger!” she sobbed, “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay, it’s not your fault little one,” Tigger sobbed, “just sometimes though, sometimes I feel so useless, so lost, that I don’t know what to do!”
“You aren’t useless,” Bianca said, “you are loved, and respected.”
“Respected?” Tigger sobbed, “how can I be respected when I storm in to the bathroom and scream at a labouring tigress? How can I be loved when I put Fleur in danger due to my negligence in not closing a gate! No Bianca, I’m not worthy of your respect.” Tigger soon found Elsa, Theo, Petra, and Fleur round him, every one of them touching him with their paws.
“Let Simba be dealt with by someone in the house,” Bianca purred, “you have others to think of Tigger, Fleur for one. She’s your cub, and I’m sure she wants a paw massage. Tigger felt Fleur swim up to him and place her paw in his.
“My paws are yours, my tail’s yours, my belly’s yours, my body’s yours to massage Tigger,” she purred. Tigger felt the cross bred cub’s thick warm fur against his, and this brought tears to his eyes.
“I love you fleur!” Tigger sobbed. Fleur touched Tigger’s nose with hers.
“forget what happened today Tigger,” she said, “I want you to show me where my heel pads and toes are.” Tigger realised what she was saying.
“back to basics?” He asked, “stroking your paws like you stroked Bianca’s?” fleur smiled and replied:
“Yes please.” Tigger smiled and took Fleur’s paw, stroking it gently.
Tigger massaged Fleur’s paws for a long time, while the other animals took turns to stroke each other as the mood took them.
Once they’d finished, the soles of their paws were as shrivelled as prunes, and when Bianca challenged everyone else to a, “how prunish are the soles of your paws?” contest, there was no contest, as they all had wrinkled pads. This type of antics made snowy and Elsa laugh with merriment.
“Let’s all go into the house and get dry,” Elsa suggested. With everyone in agreement, they all trooped into the house via in indoor route, one which they’d not taken before. This one led past racks of towels, which were liberally used by all.
“Don’t forget to dry behind your ears and between your toes,” Tigger reminded everyone, promptly forgetting to practise what he preached, Fleur reminding him by catching his paw and rubbing it vigorously with her towel.
“thanks Fleur love,” Tigger mewed, at which he was promptly set upon by Theo, Elsa and Aslan, all baring towels, and all taking a paw each. They dried Tigger’s paws, while Bianca and Petra dried his ears.
“Fancy forgetting to dry between your toes and behind your ears Tigger,” Fleur said playfully, “you are a silly Tigger tiger.” Her little slip had everyone laughing uproariously. Fleur, suddenly realising what she’d said, hid her face behind one huge spotted paw.
“Let’s go home fleur,” Tigger purred, hugging his cub.
Time to paws by the pool.
Tigger and the pool party settled back into the house, the other animals keen to find out where they’d been. Theo and Snowy recounted what they knew of the day’s events, Fleur and Bianca filling in the rest. Winifred whistled through her teeth as she listened.
“A water slide?” She asked, “like a bank down which us otters would slide for fun?”
“Um, yes,” Snowy replied, for she knew a little about this, “it’s like that, but better. Winifred rubbed her paws together with excitement!
“Bring it on!” she yinnied.
“We can’t go there for a few days,” Tigger mewed, “I’m having a new slide fitted, it’s one that goes into the main pool instead of having its own contained run out.”
“Let’s go as soon as possible!” Winifred yinnied, almost dancing with excitement.
“I forgot how excitable otters are,” Hop along said.
“Won’t you join us when we go there Hop along?” Winifred asked.
“Me?” Hop along asked, “um, no. water slides aren’t for me Winifred. I couldn’t walk up the stairs to get to the top anyway.”
“there’s a lift,” Theo mewed, “it’s a room that will lift you up to the top of the slide, then it’s a short, but level walk to the top. Hop along knew what a lift was, he’d been in one at his former place, and wasn’t frightened by the prospect of going in another.
“Okay,” he said, “but the other bit, the pool, what good would that do me?”
“the world of good Hop along,” Tigger mewed, “hydrotherapy may help your leg grow stronger.”
“Hydro what?” The huge Bengal tiger asked.
“Hydrotherapy Hop along. Swimming in other words,” Snowy purred.
“would it involve paw massage?” Hop along asked.
“Yes, it can,” Snowy purred, knowing it was most likely to be she who would be administering hop along’s treatment.
“All right,” Hop along said, “where is it, and when can we start?”
“The work on the new slide will be completed within a couple of days,” Tigger mewed, “we’ll go then.
Word spread about Tigger’s swimming pool. Everyone wanted to take a look, everyone except Kalahari the meerkat, the Shetland ponies Brydy and Domino, and Brock and Constance the two badgers. Rosie, Brydy’s foal was up for a swim in the pool, and was very annoyed when she was told she couldn’t go on the slides.
“That’s not fair!” she whinnied.
“Sorry,” Tigger mewed, “but only bears, big cats and those other animals that can retract their claws and tuck their paws either beneath their bodies, or hold them out in front and out behind them can ride.”
“Rosie could wear some rubber shoes,” snowy mewed, “but then she’d have to go down the slide on her chest, and no horse can do that without serious injury.” Rosie snorted with disgust and pronounced herself out of the game.
“You miserable lot!” she yelled, “you paws are a really inconsiderate bunch! I hate you!”
“I would help if I could,” Tigger mewed, now very upset.
“No you wouldn’t!” Rosie squealed, running out of the house and back to the stables.]
Arki and Nanuq were especially glad to hear of the new slide, but not very happy to hear the manner of Fleur’s first encounter with one.
“Tigger is a silly tiger,” Arki said, “not to have closed that gate. Well, no harm done I suppose.”
“I’ll bet he’ll close those gates religiously from now on though Arki,” Kodiak said.
“He will,” Nanuq replied, “he’d better anyway.”
The day dawned when Tigger got the go ahead from the boss to use the new slide. The boss had taught Tigger how to use the new slide. There was a crucial difference between this new slide and the old tube, in that the slide was of open design, rather than being a closed tube. The lights and bell system still applied. This slide was a long one, but emptied into the main pool. One could get up to terrific speeds on it, which was the whole idea. Tigger, as part of his training, had to ride the slide. This he did, finding the slide entered the water in a very strange manner. Instead of dumping the rider into the water, the bottom section of the slide ended beneath the water so cubs didn’t fall out of the end of the slide and fall into the water.
Tigger rode the slide twice during his training. It curled round gently to the left, then to the right, and then angled sharply downwards. This bit was the worst for him, as Tigger lost all sense of direction! All he knew was he was heading hind paws first down a steep slide, the water spraying up from the disturbance caused by his hind paws, and running into his mouth. Spitting and mewing with terror, Tigger finished his first run, the slide carrying him ever faster, until with a tremendous splash, Tigger found himself in the pool, his hind paws sinking rapidly. Swimming, Tigger made it to the side of the pool and scrambled out.
Tigger’s training took place during the morning of the day after the work was completed on the new slide. So by the beginning of the afternoon, he was ready to show the other animals the delights of his watery domain.
Tigger gathered all the animals who were interested in the pool and it’s other delights. All the polar and brown bears were present with their cubs, along with the otters and tigers, including Hop along, and of course the lions, including Clarence, with their cubs. Snowy brought Bianca, and wherever Bianca went, fleur followed. Amber arrived last with her cubs Whitie and Blanche.
Trooping out into the main part of the pool complex, the animals stared round them in wonder. This place was huge! Tigger took them to the main pool, where he left Clarence in charge of the main body of animals, while Tigger himself took two animals at a time to see the slides. The first two animals to go to the top of the tower were Kodiak and Brunetta. Tigger took them up to the top of the slides and let them look down the tube, and down the open slide.
“Do you want to slide down them?” Tigger asked the bears. While he was doing this, Simba crept up the slope, slunk round Tigger and the two huge brown bears, sometimes just inches from their paws, and then made a dash for the tube slide!
“You are too slow Tigger, you stupid blind idiot!” Simba yelled, throwing himself down the slide. Fleur came panting up the slope seconds after the lion cub had disappeared down the slide!
“Where’s Simba?” Fleur gasped.
“he’s just gone down that tube thing!” Kodiak replied, waving his paw at the tube slide. Fleur swore viciously.
“that cub’s a real pain!” she mewed, “I look away for one second and he’s gone! I’m going down after him!” Fleur yelled.
“I’d take the stairs or the lift Fleur,” Tigger mewed, wondering if things could get any worse.
“Right, where’s the stairs!” Fleur yelled. Tigger waved his paw at the door, and Fleur disappeared through it. Fleur’s paws skidded as she took the corner at a run, fury driving her on down the stairs! She exploded into the open, racing towards the bottom of the slide! Suddenly she was falling! Fleur hit the floor with considerable force!
“You won’t catch me!” Simba taunted, disappearing down the corridor towards the main part of the pool. Fleur lay winded and disorientated on the floor. Her legs ached, her left forepaw was sore, and her head thumped with the most tremendous headache she’d ever had. Mewing with pain, Fleur dragged herself to the bottom of the slide and rested her paws on the raised lip of the side of the slide, resting her head on them and giving up the struggle, dissolving into tears of rage and pain. Fleur felt like the cub she really was, and wanted to be taken in Theo’s paws and hugged. Fleur was woken by water hitting her in the face. Then she saw Brunetta struggling from the bottom of the slide. Brunetta was so caught up with the excitement of the whole thing she nearly whacked Fleur with one huge forepaw before she realised the cross bred cub was there.
“Oh Fleur!” Brunetta exclaimed.
“Get out of the slide!” Fleur mewed, “quickly Brunetta!” Brunetta scrambled from the slide and got down beside Fleur.
“What’s wrong Fleur?” She asked.
“Simba tripped me,” Fleur sobbed, “and, and now I’m hurt, I think I am anyway! My left paw hurts, so does my head!” Brunetta checked Fleur over very gently, looking at her head first. Finding nothing amiss, she then checked the rest of her, from her nose to her toes. When the brown bear came to Fleur’s left forepaw, Brunetta saw her toes were badly bruised. Simba was a heavy cub, and stamping on Fleur’s paws would have done them a lot of damage. Fleur whimpered with pain as Brunetta gently examined her injured paw.
“I give up,” Fleur whimpered. By now Theo, Tigger, Elsa, Bianca and Snowy had arrived, along with Leo, who was furious and ready to rip Simba to shreds!
“I’ll tear that cub apart if I get my paws on him!” Leo yelled. Elsa, like all mothers, at first made calming motions to Leo with her paw, until she saw Fleur’s distressed state. Then she slammed her paw on the floor, digging her toes into the flooring to control her fury!
“I’ll join you Leo!” She yelled, nearly weeping.
“I’d like to see you try!” Simba yelled, waving his paw at the group. Bianca spotted him in the doorway of the lift and, snarling with anger, ran at full speed towards him! Bianca got to the lift just as the doors were closing, Simba frantically banging the door close button in an attempt to shut Bianca out! Without thought for her own safety, Bianca jammed her tiny paw between the closing doors, Simba laughing manically as he imagined the doors crushing the cub’s paw. Instead, to Simba’s surprise and horror, the doors shot open, Bianca barrelling in and slamming Simba into the back wall of the lift, the tiger cub’s momentum smashing his head hard against the wall! Simba crumpled and lay unconscious on the floor of the lift, Bianca standing over him, wondering what she’d done.
“Oh no!” she mewed, “he’s, he’s on the floor!” Bianca looked helplessly down at Simba.
“What have I done!” she sobbed. Bianca heard the wining of the door sensor, but didn’t know what it was. she was brought out of her shock by Fleur touching her paw.
“It’s okay,” Fleur whispered, “Bianca my dear cub, it’s okay!” Bianca looked at Fleur, seeing dreadful pain in her eyes.
“Thank you Bianca,” Fleur said. Bianca threw her paws round Fleur, and gently hugged her.
“I wan’a go home!” Bianca sobbed. Fleur hugged the weeping tiger cub as tightly as her bruised body would allow.
“now do you really want to go home Bianca sweet cub?” Fleur asked.
“No,” Bianca sobbed, “but I want to stay with you!”
“You can Bianca dear,” Fleur replied. Bianca touched Fleur’s nose with her paw.
“You need a paw massage Fleur,” Bianca said. Fleur nuzzled the pads of Bianca’s paw.
“I’ll be okay,” Fleur replied. Bianca looked Fleur over from her nose to the pads on the soles of her huge spotted paws.
“You look injured,” Bianca mewed.
“I am,” Fleur replied, “but I’ll survive. Now let’s get out of here, and deal with Simba. Elsa and Theo watched the two cubs, knowing Bianca had done the most natural thing in the world, defending her friend from harm.
Fleur led Bianca from the lift, holding her tiny paw gently in the toes of her bruised left forepaw. Bianca heard Fleur’s toes crack as she curled them, and heard her gasp with the sharp pain of realigning bones.
“Let’s go to the top of the slide and ride the new slide,” Fleur said to Bianca, trying desperately to make the situation as normal as possible.
Fleur limped with Bianca to the bottom of the ramp to the slide. Then she crawled like a cub. Bianca decided she would lead, then Fleur could follow her. Bianca crawled up the slope, Fleur keeping in constant touch with her by keeping one forepaw on the sole of one of Bianca’s hind paws. This way, they got to the top of the slides. Tigger and Kodiak were nowhere to be seen, having gone down the slide long before they arrived. Bianca could feel Fleur’s pain in the touch of her forepaw on the pads of her hind, and it distressed her.
“If you can’t go down the slide Fleur, I won’t,” Bianca said, trying not to cry. Fleur patted the pads of Bianca’s left hind paw and gently squeezed the tiger cub’s toes in reassurance. Bianca wiggled her toes, telling Fleur she understood.
“Let’s go then,” Fleur said. Bianca crawled over to the open slide, Fleur following her.
“I’ll go first,” Bianca said, Fleur releasing her right hind paw. Fleur watched as the tiny cub clambered into the slide’s tray and disappeared from view. Fleur raised her head and watched Bianca disappearing down the slide. Then, painfully, Fleur scrambled over the lip, crawled towards the edge of the slide, then turned onto her back and felt with her hind paws, until her heels angled downwards and touched the slippery bed of the slide. Fleur wriggled, twisted, and then felt her body taken by the water. She shot down the slide, the water disturbed by her huge hind paws shooting up and over her toes, landing on her belly and sloshing into her mouth. Fleur gave up looking between her hind paws to see where she was going, as she couldn’t see anything due to the spray. Fleur felt her body twisting and turning as the slide gently curled right then left. Then, suddenly, Fleur was shooting downwards! Fleur’s body shot hind paws first down the slide, until she landed in the water with a huge splash! Fleur paddled painfully towards the side of the pool, feeling a tiny paw take hers half way and pull her along as best it could.
“Swim Fleur, swim!” Bianca gasped, “push with those hind paws! Come on!” Fleur felt drained, weak and useless.
“I must, must keep going!” she thought. The two cubs struggled towards the side of the pool, snowy and Theo ready to leap in at the first sign of real trouble, for Bianca had insisted on going in alone to rescue her friend. Bianca’s hind paws touched the side of the pool and she turned side on, dragging Fleur towards the side, snowy and Theo helping the large cub out onto the side of the pool. Bianca turned and scrambled out unaided.
Meanwhile, Leo and Elsa were dealing with Simba. Leo dragged the disgraced lion cub from the lift, Simba now semi conscious.
“How dare you injure Fleur!” Leo yelled at Simba, whacking him with his paw.
“She’s a stupid cub!” Simba mewed.
“Fleur’s gentle and kind,” Elsa mewed, “and she’s not stupid!”
“I hope she dies!” Simba yelled.
“Now that’s totally outrageous!” Leo yelled.
“Oh, “outrageous” is it Leo? Well it’s my view and I won’t change it!” Simba snapped.
“It’s true I can’t force you to change your views,” Leo mewed, “but I can shut you up!” With that he clobbered Simba across his nose! Simba howled with pain as Leo’s paw nearly broke his nose!
“You, you horrid creature!” Simba cried.
“I will do much worse to you if you don’t keep your paws to yourself!” Leo snarled. Elsa looked at Leo’s face, and saw the lion was murderous.
“Leo, please,” she begged, “don’t!” Leo began to cry.
“Fleur’s only a cub!” Leo sobbed, “she doesn’t need this!”
“We forget she is because of her size,” Elsa mewed, “I think we’re all guilty of that.”
“Bianca did a very brave thing chasing Simba down like she did,” Leo sobbed, “that’s the mark of a true friend that is. May she and Fleur be friends forever!”
“Bianca’s horrid too!” Simba spat, “she’s a horrid scrap, who thinks she’s so advanced because she can wash her face and extend her claws!”
“shut up!” Leo screamed.
“this visit to the pool’s not going too well I see,” salty mewed, padding up to the three lions. Elsa glanced at him.
“It’s a total mess!” Elsa replied, “what happened to us having a good time?”
Simba ruined that by attacking Fleur,” Leo snarled.
Salty snarled and kicked Simba, the cub groaning with pain.
“We’d better go back to Tigger,” Salty said, “he wants to see us.”
“We haven’t exactly had a good time here Salty,” Elsa mewed. Salty padded back to the main part of the pool, Elsa following the snow leopard with Simba dangling from her mouth by the scruff of his neck.
When they reached the main pool, Elsa dumped Simba on the rubber flooring.
“We came here for some fun!” Tigger snapped, “now certain individuals have ruined it for everyone else!”
“It’s not my fault!” Candy whimpered.
“Be quiet!” Tigger yelled.
“Now, if certain animals find it difficult to behave, we’ll end up losing this place, the boss won’t allow us in here any more!”
“I think there’s been more trouble than just the episode with Simba,” Leo mewed, “Tigger wouldn’t get angry like this just over what he did. I think there’s more to it.”
Indeed there was. Tigger had arrived in the pool area after returning there from showing some of the other animals the slide, just in time to find Candy and, Vagus, one of the cubs from Snowy’s first family, fighting. The polar bear and snow tiger were going at it hammer and tongs! Tigger was about to break it up when Candy threw Vagus into the pool!
“You Candy are the worst!” Tigger snapped, “how dare you use your weight against a snow tiger cub!”
“Vagus was saying horrid things about Sam!” Candy snarled, speaking of her sire, who’d stayed behind at the house. Tigger had told them both to leave it at that.
Now with everyone present, things were flaring up again.
“Your sire’s a dreadful creature candy,” Vagus snarled.
“Right!” Candy yelled, now you’re for it!” She ran over to Vagus and hurled him into the pool once more! Tigger grabbed Candy as she sprinted past him!
Now Candy, you listen to me!” He growled, “you have put your paw in it big time! You will get out of this place, and go back to your living space! Now get out!” Tigger pushed Candy away roughly, the polar bear cub losing her footing and falling into the pool with a tremendous splash.
“Clarence,” Tigger commanded, make sure Candy leaves here, and come back to me to tell me she’s where I want her!”
“Isn’t disciplining the cubs Theo’s job?” Clarence asked.
“Dam Theodore!” Tigger snapped, “it’s not his place this, it’s mine! I make the rules here!” Theo growled deep in his throat.
“Watch it Tigger,” he snarled, “you might know this place, but I can just as easily take it from you.” Tigger realised what he’d said and fell silent.
“Just get Candy upstairs,” Theo said softly. Tigger, his paws clenched, suddenly exploded!
“You think you’re all so dam powerful Theo!” Tigger yelled, “well here you aren’t! This is my place, my domain, governed by my rules! You have no power here!” Theo crawled up to Tigger and stood nose to nose with him.
“You would do well to keep your mouth shut,” Theo said softly, “for I am your leader by election. You might know about the water, about the slide, about the lift, but I know the community, and I know you Tigger. You are nothing but a cub when compared to someone like Fleur. You know nothing! You have all the technical knowledge, but it deserts you when the time is needed for you to use it. You forget how to birth a cub safely, you get angry with a snow tigress when she’s in labour. You also leave doors essential to the safety of others open! You do not know as much as you like to think.” Tigger began to shake with fear
“I’m, so, so, sorry Theo!” Tigger stammered.
“You are here because you are loved and respected,” Theo said, “now I don’t mind disagreement with my views, but what I won’t have is people insulting me for no reason at all!”
“Who’s going to bathe the cubs and other animals if Tigger’s sacked?” Snowy asked.
“Can’t you guess?” Leo asked.
“Not, not Fleur?” Elsa said, “surely not her Leo?”
“Why not?” Leo asked, “she and Bianca, what a team those two would make.” Tigger didn’t like this kind of talk.
“I think maybe you shouldn’t talk about those things,” he said finally.
“And why not?” Elsa asked, “for you’ve made some dreadful mistakes Tigger. You might be knowledgeable, you might be gentle, you might have the long service behind you on which to fall back upon. But you can be, and are increasingly out of touch, set in your ways, ill at ease during cubbings, all that. Tigger, you are the closest we have to a medical professional here, and if you can’t cope with a cubbing then that’s pretty poor beans.” Tigger felt his paws become damp with sweat, he knew he was nearly beaten!
“You Don’t know about the herbs, about the oils, about the remedies for stress and for healing sore paws!” Tigger mewed at Theo.
“I can learn quickly though,” Theo mewed, “anyway, “who said it would be me who would take your job? I think the job may go to a younger animal than yourself. One whom has shown since time out of mind how kind and compassionate she is. An animal with the softest paws, the gentlest hug, the most beautiful soft fur, and one of the sweetest natures of any cub here today. One who can inspire a cub, and gain the loyalty and respect of the youngest cub or the oldest adult animal here. It should be she who governs this place. Tigger, you know many things, but you do not know the new knowledge, the new spiritual connection.”
“I could learn, I could try!” Tigger mewed, now desperate.
“You can’t learn spiritual things until you learn practical ones, and you can’t even yet master closing a door,” Theo replied, “so how are you going to open other doors?” Tigger howled with misery.
“that was one mistake, one mistake!” he yelled, “and you want to sack me for it!”
“That one mistake could have cost Fleur her life!” Theo growled, “how would you have liked that on your conscience! No Tigger, you have shown you are intolerant of the needs of others, easily angered, and would push a cub around like she was a plaything!” Tigger mewed piteously, knowing his time as warden of the water was up. He knew he aught to study cubbing and foaling, as well as the herbs and other potions of his trade, but the cubbing and foaling study never got done. This was because he hated the thought of cubbing and foaling. Tigger learned the Theory, but not the emergency intervention bit, like how to pull a cub or foal. Tigger had never pulled a cub or foal, had never got his paws dirty in that way. Theo had, and so had Fleur. Tigger knew one feared cubbing with good reason, but helped anyway, and the other had only just learned about it, but still helped when needed. Tigger lay down, feeling suddenly weak and useless.
“You have taken a job from a blind tiger Theo!” Clarence yelled, returning from dropping Candy off at the house, “how dare you!”
“during my reasons for sacking him, I said nothing about his disability Clarence,” Theo replied. Clarence spat at Theo.
“You are horrid!” he yelled.
“I am not horrid,” Theo replied, “Tigger just couldn’t hack the job he was given. Clarence, he never studied foaling or cubbing, he doesn’t know how to pull a cub or foal. He doesn’t know how to cope with a breach cub or foal. Fleur knows both those skills, as well as good communication and interpersonal skills. Fleur would pull a cub or foal with the best of them.” Clarence snarled his anger, but could do nothing.”
“All this spiritual stuff is totally unproven! It’s stupid cubs stuff!” Clarence growled, looking pointedly at Theo, “what happened to a good cuffing for some of these stupid cubs is what I’d like to know!” Suddenly Elsa’s paw landed with a smack across Clarence’s face!
“Nothing happened to a good cuffing!” Elsa snarled. Clarence whimpered with shock and pain, he’d never been hit by a lioness before!
“You disrespectful wench!” Clarence yelled, “Elsa, you are not allowed to hit a lion!”
“Oh lord Clarence,” Elsa mewed in mock submission, “I kneel down before you and kiss your paws!” Clarence knew she was mocking him and worse, that the others found the situation hilariously funny. Clarence raised a paw to hit Elsa, but before he could, a huge paw grabbed his and squeezed it with enough force to make him lower his paw, but not quite enough to cause him pain. Leo growled into Clarence’s ear:
“Listen my friend, you don’t want to be saying, or doing things like that.” Clarence whimpered with fear.
“What did I say? What did I do?” he asked.
“When you spoke of spiritual things and of cubs getting a good cuffing, you looked at my brother,” Leo snarled, “I saw you Clarence!” Clarence couldn’t deny it.
“You are the cub round here!” Elsa snapped at Clarence, “that’s why I hit you!”
Meanwhile, Winifred and her mate Tarquil ran up to the top of the open topped slide, and whistling with excitement, slid down the slide. Tarquil and Winifred made a chain, Tarquil holding onto Winifred’s hind paws with his forepaws. They watched for the lights, then, when they went green, Winifred dropped to her belly, paddling with her forepaws to allow Tarquil to get hold of her hind paws before she slid down the slide. Winifred felt Tarquil grip her heels with the toes of his forepaws, and she pressed the pads of the toes of both her hind paws into the heels of Tarquil’s forepaws, trying not to dig in her claws. Tarquil locked his paws on Winifred’s, and the two otters slid down the slide nose to tail. Both of them screamed with delight as they shot down the slide, their combined weight adding speed in value added portions! Tarquil hung onto Winifred’s paws while his mate tried to keep most of her own paws off the slide to increase their collective speed by making sure as little of her paw was in contact with the slide. Tarquil did the same by curling the toes of both his hind paws in an attempt to stop them dragging on the slide. The otters splashed round the two bends in the open slide, then Tarquil felt the soles of his mate’s paws angle upwards, he knew they were going straight down, and were in for a hell of a ride! Shooting down the slide, Tarquil realised he would land smack on top of Winifred if he didn’t do something soon! Winifred hit the water, and dove to the bottom of the pool, Tarquil slamming into the water half a second after her.
Fleur heard the splashing of the two otters as they hit the water, and instantly knew they’d broken safety rules. Realising she had the chance to prove her credentials for the potential new job, she sprinted towards the pool where the slide emptied as fast as her bruised body and sore paw would allow. She arrived at the pool edge to find the two otters clambering out.
“You two, get over here now!” She snarled. Winifred and Tarquil padded over to Fleur, knowing what she wanted.
“Don’t ever go down the slide in a chain!” Fleur yelled, raising a paw to emphasise her point, “you nearly ended up landing on top of Winifred didn’t you Tarquil!” The two otters looked at each other, knowing something was up, for Fleur was only a cub, and from what they’d heard of her, wasn’t known for treading on others territory with her huge paws.
“yes Fleur, that’s right,” Tarquil replied, “may I ask why you are suddenly stamping your paw prints all over this place?”
“I’m not!” Fleur mewed, sounding like the cub she was, “It, it’s, well, just that I saw what was going on and knew it was dangerous!”
“No Fleur, there’s more to it than that,” Winifred said, “something’s happened hasn’t it.”
“Tigger’s been a bit stupid,” Fleur admitted, “so has Clarence. Tigger’s lost his job because Theo realised he was incompetent at many things, not just running this place, but other things too, like cubbings and foalings. He’d not read a manual in years, and didn’t know how to pull a cub or foal, or to help at a breach cubbing or foaling!”
“Do you know how to?” Winifred asked.
“yes!” Fleur mewed, “I know all that, and I’ve only just started learning!”
“Good,” Winifred replied, “for my cubs are due soon.”
“Your cubs?” Fleur asked, “you’re having cubs?”
“yes,” Winifred replied.
“Well then!” Fleur snapped, now more angry than ever, “you shouldn’t endanger them by making chains down water slides should you!” Winifred looked down at her paws. Fleur turned and walked away, the end of her long thick tail angrily twitching.
“She’s right Winifred,” Tarquil mewed, “we shouldn’t have done that.” Winifred felt her cubs moving inside her.
“I know,” she replied.
Fleur padded back to the main group, where Tigger was still getting the worst of it. He soon slunk away, weeping pitifully and cursing his lot.
Clarence was also feeling the worse for wear, having been given a proper tongue lashing by Elsa, and death stares from Theo over his comments about the spiritual dimension of life. His paws feeling hot and uncomfortable, Clarence padded to the pool to cool them. Fleur arrived, saw Clarence and slipped into the pool with the grace of an otter. Swimming towards the lion, she drew level with him, taking his paw in hers. The instant the cub’s well padded paw closed over his, Clarence wanted to cry.
“You could learn so much,” Fleur purred, “Clarence, it’s not difficult to learn.”
“Why was Tigger sacked?” Clarence asked.
“he thought he knew everything, and refused to learn new things,” Fleur mewed, “Tigger wouldn’t learn new things, as he thought he knew it all. That was why he lost his job Clarence, it had nothing to do with him being blind.” Clarence knew the cub was speaking the truth.
“I’m sorry for what I said about the spiritual side,” Clarence mewed, “I shouldn’t comment on things I know nothing about.”
“Tigger can better himself,” Fleur replied, “and so can you Clarence. It’s just, that, well, we can’t let Tigger carry on losing his cool at cubs. Candy is a sensitive cub, and he forgot that. She doesn’t need slapping with hard paws to make her see sense. Tarker now, he did, for a gentle solution wasn’t applicable to him in any shape or form.”
“Fleur,” Clarence said, “could, could I stroke your paw? Please?” Fleur paddled to the side of the pool where there was a set of steps built into the wall. Settling her hind paws, she gave Clarence her right forepaw to stroke, the lion gently taking it in his. Fleur’s paw was soft and warm to Clarence’s touch, who felt the cub’s soft undamaged pads against his rougher life hardened ones. Clarence looked down at the muddy brown fur of Fleur’s paw, and the black spots which adorned it. He then turned her paw onto its side and looked at the sole, noticing black spots between Fleur’s pads. Fleur curled her toes, making the spots disappear in the folds of fur and pad as she curled her toes and clenched her pads.
“How could anyone hate you Fleur?” Clarence whispered, looking into her face.
“Easily if you look on the surface,” Fleur replied.
“No,” Clarence mewed, “no Fleur, you’re beautiful! Your fur is perfect, your spots are perfect, your stripes are exquisite, your eyes are gentle, your face is kind, your tail’s lovely, your paws are gorgeous!”
“You really do think that don’t you Clarence,” Fleur said.
“I’ve never been more sincere in my life,” Clarence mewed. Fleur knew it.
“thank you Clarence,” she said, kissing his nose, making Clarence catch his breath.
“Oh Fleur,” he sniffed, “oh sweet cub!” He threw his paws round Fleur and hugged her fiercely. Fleur let go of the step with her hind paws and let herself drift, the air in her fur acting like that caught in an otter’s fur, making her float on the water. There was so much air, that even Clarence floated, his weight supported by the water and by Fleur’s ready made floatation aid. Clarence gently kicked with his hind paws, feeling his toes brush Fleur’s, the cub curling her toes round his and briefly holding them.
“What do you feel little cub?” Clarence asked.
“A frightened lion Clarence,” she replied. Clarence nuzzled Fleur’s whiskers, feeling her tail curl round him. Clarence felt his hind paws pressed flat against Fleur’s, his toes and pads flat against the cub’s. Fleur gently curled her toes round the lion’s, so they were both unable to paddle with their hind paws.
“How are we staying afloat?” Clarence asked.
“my fur is water resistant, and I can trap air in it,” Fleur replied, “that’s how we’re staying afloat. Clarence realised he was totally relaxed, despite the strangeness of his situation.
“Let yourself drift,” Fleur said. Clarence released Fleur and she hugged him so she held Clarence by his hind paws and had her forepaws wrapped round him. Clarence let himself drift in a dream, trusting to Fleur’s air filled fur’s capability to hold both their heads above water.
“You can learn about the spiritual side Clarence,” Fleur mewed, “for I know your comments were just ill advised, not serious.” Clarence suddenly wanted contact with this cub as if she were his own. He felt as close to Fleur as he did to Petra.
“forgive me Fleur!” Clarence sobbed, “I am a stupid cub, really I am!”
“Have the curiosity of a cub always,” Fleur said, “but let your mind grow Clarence, let your paws and whiskers find the way, let the cub in you guide your mind to greater understanding.”
“I will Fleur, “I will!” Clarence mewed. He touched her nose with his paw, Fleur nuzzling his pads.
You are so gentle Fleur,” Clarence mewed. Fleur smiled.
“I try to be,” she replied.
Clarence tickled Fleur’s ears, the cub laughing helplessly and raising her paw to playfully swipe at his paw.
“tickling my ears now Clarence?” Are my paws not good enough?” Fleur asked. Clarence smiled and touched her nose with his.
“I forgot how much you trust your paws,” he said, you know what Fleur? I’ve never tried just trusting my paws.” Fleur let go of Clarence, and swam to the edge of the pool, Clarence following. Clarence watched as Fleur scrambled out of the pool, pretending she couldn’t lift herself out of the water. Struggling feebly to leave the water, Fleur mewed to Clarence for help. Clarence lifted Fleur’s body up, the cub scrabbling with her forepaws, until her hind paws were almost level with the side of the pool. Smiling, Fleur wiggled her toes, encouraging Clarence to tickle her paw, which to her delight, he did. Fleur laughed helplessly.
“Let’s go Clarence,” she mewed. Clarence followed her from the water, crawling along beside Fleur. Tigger met them, padded up to Clarence, and touched his paw.
“coming for a ride on the slide?” Tigger asked.
“I’m not invited?” Fleur mewed. Bianca crawled up to Fleur and hugged her.
“I’ll go with you to the slide,” she mewed, taking Fleur’s huge paw in her tiny one. Fleur crawled away, Clarence watching her go.
“I love that cub,” Clarence mewed.
“Which one?” Tigger asked, knowing the answer.
“Fleur, Bianca, both of them,” Clarence replied.
“Fleur’s very good at swimming, that’s for sure,” Tigger mewed, having seen his cub swimming in the main pool, her huge paws aiding her in blasting through the water with hardly a ripple.
“I wouldn’t know about her swimming ability,” Clarence said, “but she’s got a neat trick she does with her fur, it’s so thick and traps so much air, that she can float on the water. She even took my hind paws in hers, and wrapped her forepaws round my neck to show me that it would hold both of us up. It’s amazing!”
“I’ve not seen that,” Tigger mewed. Joyous yelling, followed by a huge splash announced Fleur’s arrival in the pool after a ride on the open slide. The huge cub swam to the edge of the pool, resting one huge paw on the side and looking up at her sire and his friend.
“come on in,” she said.
“You know this part of the pool isn’t’ for general swimming,” Tigger mewed, “and you think you’re taking my job Fleur?”
“I knew that,” she said, “just testing you.” Then she was gone, swimming towards the shallow end of the pool, where Arki stood in the shallow water, enjoying the sensation of running water against the pads of her paw as she propped it against one of the filter outlets. Fleur swam down, and crept along the bottom of the pool, until she could reach the pads of Arki’s paw. Fleur tickled Arki’s pads, the polar bear screaming with surprise and fear!
“What’s that!” She yelled, whipping her paw away.
“What’s what?” Kodiak asked, catching sight of Fleur, but playing the cub’s game all the same.
“Something, something tickled my paw!” Arki yelled.
“It was the sea monster I told you about I’ll bet,” Kodiak said, Arki screaming and leaving the water as fast as she could. Fleur drifted away, not wanting to be associated with the assault on Arki’s paw. Fleur cruised the water, like the world’s most ungainly submarine, looking for victims with ticklish paws. She had to be careful not to let her long tail give her away, so she curled it round one hind leg, catching the end between the toes of her right hind paw. This kept it out of the way, all right it was a bit difficult for Fleur to swim with the toes of one hind paw curled round the end of her extremely long tail, but she managed it, somehow. Fleur took her cue from the otters, only raising her nose above the surface to take on air, rather than putting her whole head out into the open. Then she would dive, check her tail was securely held in the toes of her right hind paw, then paddle away. Fleur had to be extra careful not to get her long tail trodden on by unsuspecting paws. This was not only painful, but dangerous, as she might drown if she wasn’t quick enough to extricate herself. Cruising the pool underwater, Fleur saw four golden brown legs adorned with stripes in the water, and glancing down, saw the legs ended in huge, fat, tiger sized paws. Fleur knew these paws, and their owner well. Hop along, having had therapy from Snowy for his injured paw for years, either in the house or now in the pool, waited for someone to come and help him. Looking sleepily into the water, he was surprised to feel two paws take hold of his left forepaw, the toes of which he was resting on a ledge, and begin to stroke it. The stroking continued, then stopped. Hop along was wondering what on earth could have done this, when Fleur surfaced beside him. Hop along stared at her and then shook his head.
“who are you?” Hop along asked the cub who was now looking at him.
“My name’s Fleur,” Fleur replied.
“and it was you who was just stroking my paw?” Hop along asked.
“Well, yes,” Fleur admitted.
“I have a very special way in which my paws are stroked!” Hop along snapped, ”it’s not to be attempted by cubs, especially ones with dirty brown fur and spotted paws! Ugh yuck! What the hell are you? You’re, oh, I can’t think, a Bengal tiger and snow leopard cross bred cub! How horrid! Who’s offspring are you!?”
“I’m sorry?” Fleur asked, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Who are your mother and father you disgusting cub!” Hop along snapped, swiping at Fleur with his paw.
“Hey!” Fleur mewed, “that’s not fair!”
“You shouldn’t have stroked my paw without asking then should you!” Hop along snarled, lunging at Fleur with bared teeth.
“Okay, I’m sorry, so sorry!” Fleur mewed. Hop along swore at her, telling her where she could stick her fat spotty paws.
“Hop along!” Snowy snapped, “stop saying that!” Hop along whirled round on the snow tigress.
“Why?” He asked, “do you know this horrid animal?”
“I do, and she’s not horrid,” Snowy mewed, “her name’s Fleur, and I saw what she did. Fleur’s a lovely creature, her nature is the sweetest, her paws are the softest, her tail’s the longest, her fur’s the most cuddly fur. Granted Fleur might have done well to have asked you before she stroked your paw, but she’s a cub, and cub’s sometimes don’t ask!”
“I hate her!” Hop along mewed.
“Why?” snowy asked.
“She’s, she’s horrid! She’s got fat paws, and dirty fur, and her paws look as if they’ve not been washed for ages!”
“Fleur,” Snowy mewed, “please, come over here will you?” Fleur, now very upset, paddled up to snowy.
“Give me your paw dear Fleur,” snowy purred. Fleur gave Snowy her paw, and Snowy showed it to the large Bengal tiger.
“Here’s Fleur’s paw,” snowy mewed, “it’s one of your so called dirty paws, which you accuse Fleur of having. I will now rub at her paw.” Snowy dipped Fleur’s paw in the water and gently rubbed her pads and toes with her own paw.
“here, look,” snowy mewed, showing Hop along the sole of Fleur’s paw. Nothing had changed. Hop along smashed his paw down into the water!
“I hate that cub!” he yelled. Fleur mewed with fear, angering Hop along further.
“Will you shut that thing up Snowy!” he yelled, splashing fleur so much she choked on the water.
“Fleur’s only a cub!” Snowy mewed, trying to shelter Fleur from any further attack.
“Who would give birth to an oversized misfit like that!” Hop along yelled, “it’s horrible!”
“Fleur’s lovely in her own way Hop along,” Bianca mewed.
“Ay?” Hop along asked, “you don’t like that, that fat lump do you Bianca?”
“Now listen to me!” Bianca snarled, “you say one more word against Fleur, and, I’ll, I’ll rip your paws off, then your tail, then your head!” Hop along spat at Bianca.
“So, that horrid bundle of dirty, stripy, spotty fur has got a friend,” the tiger scoffed, “how sweet, how very sweet!” Then he made a grab for fleur! Hop along had big paws, and one shot out to scoop fleur towards the enraged and disgusted Bengal tiger.
“I will save your parents the trouble of putting you out of your misery fleur!” Hop along snarled. Fleur, large though she was, could not compete with Hop along’s huge stature and massive paws! Snowy, scared for her own cub, but also for Fleur, screamed for help! Hop along dragged Fleur towards him, the large cub now blinded and choked by the water.
“I’m going to break your neck!” Hop along yelled. Fleur suddenly looped her tail over her back, throwing it round Hop along’s mouth and nose, clamping his mouth shut, his teeth biting down on his tongue! The tiger, surprised by this, threw up his paws to tear at her tail with his claws! Hop along’s tongue was bitten half through, and he wanted to scream with pain, but couldn’t because Fleur’s tail still clamped his mouth shut! Fleur then quickly clawed her way up Hop along’s shoulder, digging her claws into his fur until she was lying on his back. Hop along now floundering in the water, Fleur began with clenched paws to smash down on his neck! Hop along wriggled and twisted, but couldn’t throw her off!” Now Leo, Theo and the bears were closing in, and Hop along’s time was nearly up. Theo and Leo bowled the Bengal tiger over, Sending Fleur tumbling into the water, where, reclaiming her tail, she sank away like a shadow, not wanting to meet the enraged tiger any more. Fleur crawled along the bottom of the pool, weaving her way between the legs of the other lions and tigers. She touched Hop along’s right hind paw during this, and the tiger, feeling her touch, curled his toes, then relaxed his paw. Those who could see Hop along’s face, saw his eyes grow wet, and the tiger begin to cry.
“What’s going on down there!” Bianca asked. Hop along was now weeping uncontrollably.
“something’s stroking my paw, and it’s lovely!” he sobbed. Suddenly Fleur popped up beside Hop along’s tail, took a breath and then dove back down to stroke his hind paws once more. Hop along, still crying, pressed his paws against Fleur’s, the cub rubbing and stroking as best she could while holding her breath.
“the animal with the paws who can move me to tears must be a great healer,” Hop along mewed, “for my pain is totally gone!”
“that animal with the paws is the same one whom you were insulting five minutes ago,” Theo said to Hop along.
“Not, not that dirty brown thing?” Hop along asked.
“the same,” Theo mewed, “the trouble was Hop along, you went on what she looked like and the fact she touched your paw without asking. Fleur shouldn’t have touched your paw, but now she’s won you over by touching your paw, so I won’t punish her.” Hop along sobbed pitifully.
“I’m sorry Fleur!” Hop along mewed. Fleur felt the tiger’s mood in the pulse flowing through his paw, and surfaced by his head.
“Here I am,” she mewed, holding out her paw. Hop along licked Fleur’s nose and kissed her paw.
“I’m sorry, so Sorry Fleur!” he sobbed.
“This paw, the same one you told me was a dirty paw was the one which soothed your pain Hop along,” fleur mewed. Hop along shook his head, gulped, then looked at fleur.
“Please,” he said, “when we leave here Fleur, would you look at and stroke my [paws?, then, then, could I look at yours and maybe stroke them too?” Fleur touched Hop along’s left forepaw.
“Why the sudden change in attitude?” she asked, “you hated me, tried to choke me with water, insulted me, and now this.”
“I saw what love the others had for you in the way they reacted to your situation,” Hop along mewed, “and then, then when I felt that paw, that paw, stroking the pads of my hind paw, I knew, knew I was wrong about you. For no matter what I did to you, you would still carry on trying to stroke my paws. There must be only one or two reasons for you to keep at this, and one is you want to give me pain relief. My paws are yours Fleur,” Hop along mewed.
“the other reason might be that I know that deep down you long not to hate me,” fleur said. Hop along choked on his tears.
“I don’t want to hate you!” he sobbed, “it’s, just, just that I was scared by you, and when I’m scared, I get angry, and I’ve been so stupid!” the tiger wept. Fleur held Hop along’s paw until he was quite calm.
“Let’s go into the large bathtub,” fleur suggested, there you can lie comfortably, and I can get to your paws.” Hop along followed fleur to the main bathtub in the complex, the same one where Simba had taunted Tigger. Hop along lay down in the luxuriously warm water.
“My paws are yours dear Fleur, all yours,” he mewed.
Fleur carefully examined Hop along, from his nose to his toes. She saw old injuries, as well as wear and tear on his coat and paws. Fleur noticed Hop along watching her, as, lying on his side as he was, he did in comfort.
“I don’t think examining my face or my eyes has anything to do with massaging my paws,” Hop along yawned.
“No,” Fleur replied, “but I like to really get to know those who give me permission to handle their paws. Hop along stretched his toes, the claws quickly extending and then retracting just as quickly as he relaxed his paws. Fleur took a look at Hop along’s forepaws, then his hind, noticing he had different numbers of toes on his fore and hind paws. He had five toes on his forepaws, and four on his hind. Fleur realised she didn’t know how many toes she had, a fact which she felt she really aught to know, as she relied so much on her paws. Fleur stroked her fat spotted left forepaw along Hop along’s belly, the tiger making a grunting, whistling sound deep in his throat, which Fleur knew well from when snowy was feeling pleasure. She knew she was doing the right thing for the Bengal tiger.
“Is that okay?” She asked, stroking the tiger’s left forepaw. Hop along, his eyes half closed, purred that it was very much okay.
“You are badly injured Hop along,” fleur said gently. The tiger seemed to catch his breath, his whole body jerking as he did so.
“I am,” he said, tears welling in his eyes, “I am injured, and it will never heal, not really.” Fleur hugged the weeping Bengal tiger as best she could.
“Oh Hop along, dear Hop along, what’s the matter?” fleur asked.
“I sometimes get really upset, when the pain’s at its worst, like today, and I took it out on you little cub!” Hop along sobbed.
“but I stroked your paw without asking you, you were right to be angry,” Fleur replied.
“No, fleur, no sweet cub, Not like that!” the tiger choked, “I splashed you, tried to drown you, I wanted to kill you! Why kill a defenceless cub? Why even consider it? Because my pain was so great I was ready to lash out at anything and rip it to shreds! Now though, now,” Hop along mewed, clasping his forepaws together, his toes so tightly clasped they were white, his tears splashing into the warm water, “now, now I’m so, so sorry! Please forgive me Fleur!” the tiger shouted, his voice full of years of pain, “for I can’t help myself sometimes, I go crazy! This constant pain drives me mad, and it’s not my doing! Most of the time I’m okay,” Hop along whispered, the torrent now unstoppable, “most of the time I’m an amiable, even gentle tiger, but when the pain hits me I become a raging menace! I don’t want to be like this fleur, believe me little cub, if I could have even a day without this constant pain, I’d give anything for it.” Fleur stroked the tiger’s forepaws and examined his pads while listening to him.
“I was handsome once,” Hop along mewed, “then I was lord of all I knew. Those days were too short, for then I got thrown into a place, where I was made to stand permanently, no sitting, no lying down. I think that’s what did for my right hind paw, I can’t move that paw without pain now.”
“Can you curl and flex your toes?” Fleur asked.
“yes,” Hop along mewed, “but moving the paw as in flexing the joint is very painful. It didn’t set right, and it is this which causes me the pain which drives me insane! It was the pain you stopped by rubbing the sole of my paw with yours earlier today,” Hop along whispered, “take me back there fleur!” the tiger begged. Fleur held Hop along while he cried into her fur.
the other animals watched in disbelief. Hop along had never reacted to a massage like this, not with so much ranting and pleading. Snowy was concerned the near wild tiger might injure Fleur, but fleur herself didn’t seem concerned. Maybe she knew something Snowy didn’t.
Once Hop along’s tears had dried, he released fleur, and she started work on his hind paws. Stroking his pads and counting his toes by touch, something which seemed to upset him.
“What’s up Hop along?” Fleur asked, while some of the other animals were getting rather fed up with the tiger’s tearful outbursts.
“Let’s leave him to it!” Amber spat, “that dam cub and stupid tiger can carry on their stupid game without us!”
“that’s the most horrid thing I’ve heard all day!” Arki snapped whacking Amber hard with her paw, “you don’t know what Hop along’s life has been, and maybe Fleur, without knowing it, is triggering memories from his cubhood.” Leo and Theo held each other’s paws, for Arki’s words rang true with them. Many a night went by with each stroking the other’s paws, and games of tag as well as paw massage would invariably reduce one or the other, or both to tears of longing for the old carefree days. Unlike the lions, Hop along and Tigger were solitary animals, and though this was how they were brought up to be, Theo detected a need in both Tigger and Hop along to be loved, to be touched, and hugged. Snowy demonstrated her need quite openly, but that was how she’d always been.
Fleur counted the toes on Hop along’s hind paws, taking each paw in her large ones and counting his toes, checking them for damage, which there was a lot. Hop along sobbed quietly, conscious fleur might be tired of his whimpering. He felt wretched, and in need of someone to love. For Hop along was sure that if he had someone to love, it would take his mind off his aching paw, and maybe he’d weep for another reason entirely, because, without prompting, a fat cub, with a dirty brown coat and spots on her paws took his paw and stroked it with genuine love in her heart. Hop along felt Fleur take hold of his other hind paw, and this made him want to cry even more. She was so gentle, so gentle after all he’d done to her, she still treated him with kindness and gentleness. Hop along knew snowy had probably described him to Fleur, so the cub probably knew his paws and their problems as well as Snowy did, even before they’d met. Hop along wasn’t concerned about that however.
“You have very worn paws Hop along dear,” Fleur mewed. Hop along sniffed hard, trying to control his emotions.
“I do Fleur, I do,” he sniffed, “I’m sorry!” he sobbed. Fleur stroked the tiger’s war worn right hind paw, the one which she’d touched earlier that day and given him pain relief. Hop along felt his pain vanishing as the cross bred cub’s paw massaged his pads and toes. Hop along relaxed, and Fleur knew she was doing a good job.
“Fleur,” Hop along said, “please, listen to me dear cub,” fleur cocked an ear towards Hop along, but still stroked his paw.
“Would, would you, please, please, would you, I, mean, I’d like,,,”
“You want me to be your cub?” Fleur asked gently. Hop along’s reply was to curl his toes round Fleur’s and hold hers tight against his bunched pads. Fleur knew what this meant, and she was deeply moved.
“You could love a cub,” Fleur said to Hop along, “I can feel it.” The tiger, sobbing again, nodded.
“I will be your cub Hop along,” fleur whispered. Suddenly there was a splash and a rush of golden fur and desperate reaching paws, and Fleur found herself clasped in the forepaws of a huge Bengal tiger as Hop along embraced her, weeping anew into her fur.
“Show me peace Fleur, please!” Hop along begged. Fleur touched Hop along’s nose with her paw.
“You can be at peace if you’d let yourself go there,” Fleur mewed, “I can help, but it will have to be you who opens that particular door.” Hop along cried into Fleur’s thick dirty brown fur.
“I need you little cub,” Hop along sobbed, “show me the way home fleur, please! I know I said I need a cub to love, but then a cub needs love, even if she has many loving cubs and adults looking out for her, one more surely can’t hurt? I will love you like my own cub,” Hop along mewed, “if you could find it in your heart to love me, then that would be truly wonderful fleur, but I can’t ask it of you.”
“Love is endless and there are many different kinds of love,” Fleur replied, “I already love you Hop along, and I think you know it. For if you couldn’t feel it, why ask me to be your adopted cub?” Hop along clung to Fleur, holding her close, his tears wetting her fur.
“now Hop along my dear tiger,” Fleur said gently, “please, let me finish my work, and then maybe you can learn more about me too, for I like paw massages too you know, and you know what I say about paws.”
“Follow your paws and whiskers because they’ll show you the way?” Hop along asked.
“yes,” Fleur replied.
“I know you cubs will sometimes touch each other’s paws for no other reason than it feels the right thing to do,” Hop along mewed, “is that an okay thing to do? Just touch another animal’s fore or hind paw without warning?”
“It’s okay if you’re in a place where everyone is comfortable expressing themselves in that manner,” Fleur replied, “for each knows the others feelings when their pads touch. It’s all in the touch you see. Sometimes, for instance, Petra will touch the toes or pads of one or other of my hind paws with her forepaw, and I will curl my toes round hers, and not realise I’ve done it. It’s an unconscious reaction, but no less meaningful for all that.”
“So I could be lying on the floor with my head resting on my forepaws, my hind outstretched behind me, and you could place your forepaw on the pads of one of my hind paws, and I’d curl my toes round yours, just like that?” Hop along asked.
“yes,” fleur replied, “and I’ll bet you, if you truly love me, your toes will curl round mine and hold my paw without you making a conscious choice.
“Now I know why you played with Bianca so naturally!” Hop along said, “you knew you both loved one another!”
“Yup,” Bianca said, running to Fleur and splashing into the water before hugging her. this display of affection made hop along want to cry buckets.
“that’s wonderful to see,” he mewed.
“I thought you already had cubs Hop along?” Theo asked.
“Well,” the tiger snorted, “I suppose I do, in that they carry my genes. Tinka had the cubs, we didn’t. She wanted me for sex and that was that. I tried to talk her round to letting me have contact with my cubs, but she wouldn’t have it, and was adamant I wasn’t near her during their birth.” Hop along suddenly looked very sad, “I wish I could have seen my cubs born,” he said softly.
“Pippa is one of your cubs though, isn’t she?” Leo asked.
“She is,” Hop along mewed, his mood brightening a little, “but the others don’t want to know me.”
“That’s terrible,” Theo mewed.
“Never a day goes past when I don’t think of my cubs,” Hop along mewed, trying desperately not to cry, “I wan’a hug ‘em so much!” he sobbed. Fleur hugged Hop along, and this was a really big hug. Hop along held her close, stroking her head and paws.
“My dear Fleur, my sweet cub!” he sobbed. Fleur mewed like a newborn cub, and this had Hop along weeping for joy.
“Why did Fleur go so far as to mew like a newborn cub?” Tigger asked Clarence.
“to Hop along, she’s just that,” Clarence said, wiping his eyes with a paw, “she’s newborn to Hop along Tigger.” Tigger didn’t notice Clarence’s state, but Elsa did, and hugged the lion tenderly.
“You are so soppy sometimes Clarence,” Elsa mewed, licking his ear.
Hop along and fleur left the large bath, and all the animals left the swimming pool building, drying their fur and paws thoroughly before entering the house.
Cementing relationships.
Hop along lay down on the carpet in his sheltered corner of the living room, fleur settling down beside him. Hop along was one massive tiger, his tail on it’s own being two feet long. Fleur looked into the tiger’s rather gentle brown eyes, and could not imagine them with a murderous expression, but they’d had one for a few terrifying minutes. Hop along looked fleur over, from her nose, to the toes of all four muddy brown black spotted paws.
“I love you Fleur,” Hop along mewed. Fleur touched his huge left forepaw with hers.
“I love you Hop along,” she replied.
“Who are you talking to Hop along?” Tinka asked. Hop along realised Tinka had never seen Fleur, as the large cross bred cub was usually upstairs in the cubbing den.
“Oh, Tinka,” Hop along replied, “I’m talking to Fleur, she’s Tigger and Perdy’s cub.” Tinka leapt down from the easy chair on which she slept and stared at Fleur.
“This, this is, um, Tigger and Perdy’s cub?” she asked.
“Yes, my name is Fleur, and yes I am Tigger and Perdy’s cub,” Fleur replied. Tinka stared at her as if surprised she could talk.
“Right,” the tigress replied, “but, aren’t you, um, a, a little large? For a cub I mean?”
“I was born large,” fleur replied, now recognising the pattern and keen to put a swift end to it, “I have dirty brown fur, black spotted paws, and a banded tail, so you need not tell me that.” Tinka snorted with disgust.
“Impudent little cub isn’t she?” She remarked to Hop along, who was quick to defend fleur.
“She’s so used to being seen as a dirty cub by so many,” he said, “she’s defending herself.”
“You don’t know how I am going to react to your markings fleur, so you can’t just assume what I think!” Tinka spat.
“Look, Tinka, I’m sorry,” Fleur said, “I’m, so, so used to others looking at me and writing me off that I thought you’d do the same.”
“Did Hop along write you off, as you put it? It doesn’t look like he did,” Tinka said.
“Well, Tinka, I must admit that I did, at first,” Hop along admitted. He briefly told the story of his and Fleur’s first meeting.
“I would have flogged her for stroking my paws without my permission,” Tinka said.
“I nearly killed her though Tinka,” Hop along mewed.
“Yes,” Tinka said heavily, “You made that one quite clear. All because you didn’t like the look of her?”
“Well, yes, at first,” Hop along admitted, “but, but then something happened that made it all change.” Hop along told Tinka the rest of his tale, the tigress’s eyes growing wider by the minute.
“So you quite literally stroked your way out of danger,” Tinka said to Fleur.
“I suppose I did,” she replied.
“Now,” Tinka said, “Fleur, please, let me look at you. Will you show me your paws? Your tail?” Fleur, eager for a rub down, rolled onto her back and waved her large fat spotted paws in the air. Tinka laughed merrily, caught hold of one of Fleur’s forepaws and tickled it. Fleur mewed and wriggled, her eyes showing how much she was enjoying Tinka’s attention. Tinka’s paws were large, and she managed to tickle all four of Fleur’s paws, and if she was not tickling her paws, she was tickling the cub’s belly, much to Fleur’s amusement. Fleur wriggled and mewed, partly from the affects of Tinka’s tickling paws, and partly urging Tinka to carry on tickling her. Tinka Tickled all over Fleur’s paws, singling out her pads and toes for special attention. Fleur curled her toes round Tinka’s, holding the tigress’s toes in hers.
“You are a little Tinka aren’t you,” fleur laughed. Tinka grinned and made a play of struggling to free her forepaws.
“Quick, Hop along, get hold of Tinka’s hind paws, and let’s give her as good as she gave me!” Fleur panted. Tinka mewed, Fleur released her paws, and she rolled over, letting Fleur Stroke and tickle her paws. Tinka, after mewing and wriggling like Fleur had while the cub tickled her, put an end to Fleur’s tickling of her paws in the same way the cub had when Tinka had tickled hers, by curling her toes round Fleur’s. fleur took the hint, and began to stroke Tinka’s pads. Tinka wiggled her toes, inviting Fleur to envelope them in her huge paws, which the cub did. Tinka pressed her pads against Fleur’s, enjoying the feel of the cub’s thick fur on the soles of her paws. Fleur showed Tinka what she’d shown Hop along in the pool. Tinka sighed with pleasure, making the same sound as snowy and Hop along made when feeling immense pleasure, a sort of whistling grunting growl. Closing her eyes, Tinka breathed deeply, concentrating on what her paws were telling her.
“This is wonderful, wonderful!” Tinka mewed, gently curling her toes round Fleur’s, feeling the cub’s warm pads against her own. Tinka released Fleur’s forepaws, taking the cub in her own forepaws.
“Hug me Tinka, please,” Fleur pleaded. Tinka embraced the cub in her huge warm paws.
“How’s this?” Tinka purred. fleur nuzzled the tigress’s ear.
“That’s lovely, lovely!” Fleur mewed, working her forepaws into Tinka’s fur. Tinka nuzzled Fleur’s whiskers, the cub licking her nose. Tinka licked Fleur’s nose, planting a tigress’s kiss on it. Fleur felt tears pricking the backs of her eyes.
“Let me curl round you fleur, please,” Tinka purred. fleur buried her face in Tinka’s fur.
“I don’t mind,” Fleur whispered, “just, just hold me, please!” Tinka worked the toes of her forepaws into Fleur’s fur, massaging the cub as gently as she could.
Hop along watched this, wishing Tinka would be as affectionate towards him as she was towards fleur. Tinka looked at Hop along, seeing the expression in his eyes.
“Hop along,” Tinka said, “I, I love Fleur very much.” Hop along smiled:
“So do I,” he replied.
“We need to talk,” Tinka mewed, “Hop along, I’m, I’m sorry for excluding you from the birth of our cubs. Maybe, maybe we could try again, please?” Hop along still loved Tinka, despite everything that had gone before.
“Tinka,” Hop along said, “I, I have been hurt by you not letting me help you bring up our cubs. I can understand you not wanting me at their birth, but afterwards,,,”
“No Hop along, I was wrong,” Tinka mewed, “Pippa’s birth was painful and difficult, and I wished you were there. I cursed myself for telling you to leave. Maybe, maybe we can get together, I’ll admit I’ve been a stupid and thoughtless tigress. I’ve been so silly over our cubs, and it’s nearly torn you apart!” Hop along looked into Tinka’s face.
“It has nearly done that Tinka,” he replied. Tinka gently released Fleur and padded across to Hop along, giving him her paw. Hop along held Tinka’s paw in his, feeling her well padded paw soft and warm in his larger war worn one.
“Can we make a new start Hop along?” Tinka asked. Hop along enveloped Tinka in his huge forepaws and kissed her on her nose. Tinka’s eyes filled with tears as his whiskers brushed hers.
“Thank you Hop along, thank you!” she wept. Fleur watched this, smiling to herself.
“I’d like to see them have a cub of their own,” she thought, “that would be lovely to see.”
Tinka massaged Hop along’s paws, something which the large male Bengal tiger seemed very comfortable with. Tinka looked at Fleur, still lying beside Hop along. Tinka found she was beginning to feel something for the cub with the muddy brown fur. The soles of Tinka’s paws still tingled from when fleur had tickled them, and she kind of liked that feeling. Later she’d describe that feeling as “Fleur’s magic,.” While she was thinking about Fleur, Tinka felt the toes of a well padded paw touch one of her hind paws. Tinka found her toes curling to envelope the toes of the paw that had touched hers. Looking down, Tinka found she’d caught the toes of Fleur’s left forepaw in those of her own left hind paw. Seeing her looking at her, Fleur smiled and tried to wiggle her toes, still held in Tinka’s. Tinka felt the cub’s soft, warm pads against her own, and knew she loved Fleur with everything she had.
“Let’s all stroke each other’s paws,” Fleur suggested. Hop along smiled at her.
“I’ve been looking forward to stroking your paws Fleur,” he said. Fleur theatrically tugged at her paw, the toes of which were still held in Tinka’s. Tinka smiled and released Fleur’s paw, the cub crawling to Hop along, the huge Bengal tiger hugging her in both forepaws.
Hop along’s and Fleur’s combined purring nearly rattled the windows.
“Can we go to the pool fleur?” Tinka asked. Fleur raised her head, which she’d been resting on Hop along’s shoulder, as he had curled round her.
“We can,” she purred, “at least I think we can, I’ll have to get permission from Theo, as I don’t know if I’ve got the job or not.” Hearing the scuff of paws, Hop along raised his head, looking towards the door into the hallway. Theo crawled into the room. Fleur crawled over to the young lion and embraced him with her paws. Theo purred with contentment as he felt the cub’s warm paws hugging him and set to licking Fleur’s ear and nuzzling her whiskers.
“You have a job in the pool,” Theo mewed, “Fleur, you are warden of the water now.” Fleur buried her head in Theo’s shoulder, breathing in his scent, and admitted to herself she was closer to this lion and his mate than she was to either of her natural parents.
“Let’s go to the pool then,” Fleur mewed.
Fleur got to her paws, the sensation of standing on her pads strange after a few days of crawling about.
“it’s not easy for others to touch my paws now,” she mewed, unsure if walking on her paws was preferable to crawling. Fleur knew now that she was committed to using her paws for more than just walking. She wanted to touch everything with both her fore and hind paws, exploring things with her pads and toes, touching the world with her paws and whiskers, letting the world touch her paws.
Fleur, Theo, Elsa, Hop along and Tinka made their way to the pool complex.
Reaching it, they found Tigger already there, staring sightlessly into the large pool.
“I know I’ve been sacked Theo,” Tigger said straight out, “but isn’t there anything I can do? I understand why I’m not attending cubbings and foalings any more, but the other stuff, the baths and massage, is there anything I can do to remedy the harm I’ve done?” Theo looked at Tigger.
“You can do something,” he said, “work with Fleur. She’s in charge of you, but you can work with her, for it is she who has the touch to heal and soothe.” Hop along smiled at Theo’s words:
“Since she touched the pads of my injured paw, I haven’t had a twinge from that leg, and that’s over twelve hours now,” he said, “I haven’t felt so good in ages!” Fleur smiled and lovingly touched Hop along’s paw, bringing tears to the Bengal tiger’s eyes. Hop along wiped his eyes with a huge forepaw, unashamed at showing his feelings.
“Fleur’s a wonderful cub,” Tigger said, smiling with pleasure. Hop along reached out and took Fleur’s paw in his. Fleur purred as she felt Hop along’s paw enfold her own. This sound made Hop along gulp hard, tears rolling down his nose.
“I love you little cub,” the tiger choked. Tinka looked at Fleur, her feelings towards her similar to hop along’s.
“Let’s go to the slide,” she said, “all of us, including Tigger.”
The animals padded towards the slide, heading for the slope leading up to the top of the slide. Elsa twitched an ear.
“I think we’ve got company,” she mewed. Suddenly Bianca crawled through the house door, and made her way as quickly as she could, digging her toes into the floor and crawling for all she was worth.
“Ah Bianca!” Fleur mewed, running to the little cub and clasping her with both paws. Bianca’s purr could be heard from ten feet away.
“I’ve been looking for you Fleur,” Bianca purred, “mum said I could go with you to the pool! She’s letting me stay with you, and she’s not coming with me, she’s letting me have some freedom!” fleur purred and hugged the tiger cub.
“Let’s enjoy that freedom then,” she said, taking Bianca’s paw and guiding her towards the other animals. Hop along watched them coming, and on an impulse, hugged fleur as soon as she let go of Bianca’s paw. Tigger, realising what was going on, growled at Hop along and swiped at him with his paw.
“That’s unfair Tigger!” Bianca mewed.
“Mind your own dam business!” Tigger snapped, “and as for you Hop along, get your filthy, scuffed, horrid paws off my cub!” Tinka snarled at Tigger, and shoved him into the pool! Tigger screamed as he fell into the water!
“You do not swipe at Hop along!” Tinka yelled, leaping into the water and ducking Tigger! Tigger coughed and spluttered as Tinka’s attack hit its mark!
“You horrid bitch!” Tigger mewed, “get your paws off me! Leave me alone!” Tinka snarled and growled, slapping and clawing at Tigger’s fur.
“Leave, my, mate, alone!” Tinka yelled, punctuating her words with slaps from her forepaws. Tigger began to cry.
“Fleur’s my cub, she’s my cub!” he sobbed, “You can’t steal her!”
“Fleur’s a lost cub!” Tinka mewed, “she has been given love by many animals, lions, tigers and polar bears. She’s everyone’s cub, not just yours!” Tigger yowled with pain:
“She’s my cub, because, because it was Perdy and I who made her!” He yelled, “I was there when she was born, Hop along wasn’t, and neither were you Tinka!”
“Anyone can give birth to a cub Tigger,” Tinka mewed, “the trick is to know how to look after that cub once it’s born.”
“I want to look after my cub!” Tigger mewed, “but, but, Elsa and Theo have taken over her care, and now I’m out of a job, so what do I have left!”
“fleur might have been looked after by many animals,” Tinka replied, “but she’s still your cub Tigger. You just need to learn that others can love her with as much passion as you or Perdy could. Fleur’s giving Hop along and myself a reason to carry on! I know We’re trying for a cub, but if it doesn’t happen, and even if it does, we have Fleur, she has us, and we’re together! Now you would do well to keep your bloody paws to yourself!” Tigger mewed and swam away, Tinka letting him go. Tigger scrambled from the water, Tinka following.
“Fleur’s my cub!” Tigger sobbed, “noone else’s cub!”
“You don’t own me Tigger,” Fleur mewed, “you might be part of me, but I don’t really know you. I would like to get to know you, but all I see is a bad tempered animal! I know you held me in your paws when I was very young, but then you left my care to others.”
“I was busy!” Tigger mewed.
“So you think you can care for fleur when you have the time to do so do you?” Hop along spat, “that’s horrible Tigger!”
“I didn’t mean that!” Tigger mewed, “Look, all of you, “I was caught up in my work, so Theo and Elsa took Fleur on, as did snowy. She’s made her own friends, her own connections, and brought people together.
“Fleur hasn’t managed to do it for her parents though has she,” Bianca mewed, “I know she hasn’t, I heard Perdy talking to Matilda.” Tigger nearly walloped Bianca!
“You horrid, thoughtless scrap!” Tigger yelled, “you don’t talk about our problems in public, no matter what you hear!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Bianca mewed, “Perdy’s been telling everyone she hates you Tigger. She hates you because you lied to her, you said you know about cubbing when you knew absolutely nothing!” Tigger began to growl with anger, but Bianca ploughed on. “You endangered her life, so she’s not going to like you much is she!” Tigger screamed at Bianca!
“You horrid cub! You bloody sod! You disgusting animal! I hate you, I hate you! I hate you!”
Then he ran at Bianca! Bianca saw the enraged tiger coming towards her, turned and fled!
“Run Bianca, run!” Fleur yelled. Bianca crawled as quickly as her legs would carry her, and Fleur realised the cub could not hope to outrun the tiger. Sprinting to get alongside Tigger, fleur crashed into the Bengal tiger, making him swerve towards the pool. Fleur pressed Tigger hard, turning him towards the pool, then, when his nose was pointing more or less towards the pool, Fleur suddenly ran beneath Tigger’s belly and bucked, thrusting up into Tigger’s belly with her hind quarters! Tigger grunted with pain, swore, then tried to kick fleur. Fleur, now dragged sideways, butted Tigger’s stomach with her head, again and again, trying to slow the tiger. Suddenly she felt Tigger’s left forepaw strike out into nothing! Guessing what had happened, Fleur braced her forepaws, lowered her head, and thrust upwards with her hind quarters, springing off the toes of her hind paws with all her strength! Tigger screamed! Then, very slowly, his paws scrabbling for purchase, Tigger tried to fight back, one paw in mid air, the other three now fighting to hold his weight and fight Fleur! Fleur suddenly felt Tigger lifted and thrown off her! She heard him land in the water with a crashing splash!
“Sod this!” Tinka mewed, “Tigger’s heavy!” Tigger, stunned, floundered in the water, not fully realising what had happened.
“Thanks Tinka,” Fleur mewed, “I was nearly done for!”
“You go and find Bianca,” Tinka said to Fleur, “I’ll deal with Tigger.
“Fleur found Bianca cowering in the bottom of the closed tube slide.
“Bianca?” Fleur asked gently. There was a mewing sob of:
“yes,” from the bottom of the slide. Fleur got into the bottom of the slide with Bianca, guiding the tiny cub out onto dry tiles. The cub was weeping uncontrollably.
“I know I shouldn’t have said what I did,” Bianca sobbed, “I realise now Tigger didn’t know Perdy had been saying these things. I don’t know if it would have come out in the end, but I’m sorry!”
“You shouldn’t repeat what you overhear,” Fleur mewed, “it’s not good to do that.”
“I know that now,” Bianca sniffed, “I’m really sorry Fleur!” Fleur showed Bianca the claws of one huge forepaw.
“Your claws are scuffed!” Bianca mewed.
“I did that while fighting Tigger,” Fleur mewed, “it became rather desperate.” Bianca didn’t understand.
“Why did he scuff your claws?” She asked. Tinka padded up to Fleur and touched her paw.
“I think I can explain,” she mewed.
“Are we safe?” Fleur asked.
“Tigger’s angry, but securely contained,” Tinka mewed.
“I know I shouldn’t have told Tigger what I told him,” Bianca mewed.
“No,” Tinka replied, “but we learn Bianca dear, and you won’t forget that lesson will you?” Bianca shook her head.
“I’ve angered Tigger though Tinka!” the cub mewed.
“I know,” Tinka replied, “but he’ll calm down soon, for he knows he shouldn’t have left Perdy to fight to deliver her cub, he should have gone for help.” Tigger suddenly padded up to Tinka, he looked dreadful!
“Theo told me my fortune!” the Bengal tiger whimpered, “I, I’m, I’m finished, if, if I don’t, don’t make amends with Bianca, for, for what she says, it’s all true! Perdy hates me, and I can’t blame her for it either! I’m busted, finished!”
“Not if you open your mind Tigger,” Fleur replied, “open your mind, stretch out your paw, touch your cub.” Tigger touched Fleur’s paw, and the feel of the cub’s fur beneath his pads moved him to tears.
“I’ve been so stupid!” Tigger wept, “I’ve been too quick to judge, too fast to lose my temper! I’m sorry, so sorry, Fleur, Tinka, Bianca, Hop along!” Hop along touched Tigger’s paw, having arrived shortly after Tinka.
“You need to learn how to play with your cub,” he mewed, “Tinka and I have done so. We’ve stroked her paws, and she’s stroked ours.” Tigger began to shake with sudden rage!
“How can Fleur have done that when she hardly knows you!” he yelled, knowing Hop along wasn’t talking of professional paw massage when he spoke of “stroking paws.”
“Because we love her and she loves us,” Hop along replied.
“You’re angry with us Tigger,” fleur said.
“Oh, you don’t say!” Tigger snapped, “of course I’m bloody angry! How can you let two, two strangers stroke and tickle your paws fleur? It’s so wrong! That’s intimate stuff!”
“I got to know Hop along and Tinka very quickly,” Fleur replied, “they’re open animals, and very honest with their emotions. What you see is what you get.” Tigger turned to Bianca.
“As for you little Bianca,” he said, “you have learned a vital lesson I believe?” Bianca looked down at her paws.
“Yes Tigger I have,” she mewed.
“Because of what you said,” Tigger said, “Theo spoke to me, and what you say is all true.”
“Even so,” Bianca said, “I know I shouldn’t have said what I did to you.” Tigger knew his paw was feeding vital signals to Fleur, and she knew whether he was stressed or calm.
“I can’t change the past,” Tigger said, “but I can try, try to make the future better for myself and my cub.” Fleur kissed Tigger on his nose.
“Let’s go on from here then,” she said. Bianca looked down at Fleur’s paw, seeing her scuffed claws.
“how did you scuff your claws?” She asked.
“You owe Fleur a thank you I think Bianca,” Tigger mewed.
“I owe Fleur a lot,” Bianca replied, “more than I can repay her, but what did she do for me this time?” Tinka explained what had taken place as best she could.
“Oh,” Bianca mewed, “Fleur, I, I am thankful to you, very thankful… this, this is too much! I put my best friend into a position of danger because of my big mouth!”
“You won’t do it again then will you Bianca,” Hop along mewed.
“No Hop along, I won’t!” Bianca replied, “and if, if I sound like I’m doing so, slap my paws!” Hop along padded forward and, lying down, gathered Bianca in his forepaws.
“I believe you won’t need to have your paws slapped,” Hop along mewed, “I know how much you love Fleur, so you’ll never forget what she did for you.” Bianca looked into Hop along’s eyes. She’d often done this during his sessions with snowy, and had seen a pain filled animal, one for whom the paw massage was only temporary relief. Now though, there was another look in the tiger’s eyes. Hop along looked at peace.
“Did my mum find a way of curing your paw or something?” Bianca asked.
“No Bianca,” Hop along mewed, “it wasn’t your mum who seems to have done that.” Bianca saw Hop along’s eyes drift towards Fleur.
“Fleur did?” Bianca asked, “but, but mum’s trained in paw massage, Fleur isn’t! Fleur does it for fun! She can’t have cured you!” Tinka looked at Bianca, and the tiger cub lowered her eyes:
“Can she cure you? Did she?” Bianca asked.
“I don’t know,” Hop along mewed, “but she seems to have done so much.”
“If you get any pain from that paw, tell me,” Fleur said to the huge Bengal tiger.
“I will Fleur, I will,” Hop along mewed. He released Bianca and, getting to his paws, stood on tiptoe, raising and lowering his entire weight on his toes. Then he bounced on his toes, trying to do something that in the past would aggravate his old injury, but no matter what he did, there was no pain. Hop along stood with the soles of his paws flat on the tiles and raised his right hind paw from the ground, flexing it, as well as curling his toes and holding them tightly curled for a minute or so before relaxing them with not a hint of pain anywhere.
“You’ve cured me fleur!” Hop along mewed.
“I believe she has,” snowy said, padding up to the group.
“I don’t know,” Fleur replied, “I think it might be long acting, but you might get some pain in a day or so.”
“Don’t say that Fleur, don’t say that!” Hop along pleaded.
“I’m not going to pretend it’s a total cure,” Fleur mewed, “that would be wrong.”
“But, but,” Hop along replied, almost weeping, “what you did can be done during normal play, during family time, during normal paw massage, like you and Tinka did. My treatment’s nothing special any more, though, though at the same time, it‘s the most special thing in the world Fleur!” Fleur padded round Hop along, so she stood behind him. Raising a paw, she touched the pads of his raised hind paw with her own. Hop along curled his toes slightly, so they touched the heel of Fleur’s right forepaw.
“You, you do a wonderful job Fleur,” Hop along mewed. Fleur drummed her toes on Hop along’s heel pad, making the Bengal tiger laugh delightedly. Hop along tried returning the gesture, but only managed to move all four toes at once, and his attempt wasn’t so much drumming as thumping her heel with his toes. Fleur smiled:
“You uncoordinated lump,” she laughed, patting Hop along’s pads. The tiger purred contentedly.
“my leg’s getting stiff,” he said, “I don’t want this paw contact to end, but please, may I put my paw on the ground?” Fleur removed her paw from Hop along’s, and the tiger placed it on the ground. Before she left his hind quarters, Fleur played briefly with the end of Hop along’s tail, the tiger spinning round on her in mock anger and playfully biting her ear. Fleur snarled in mock aggression and, releasing his tail, swiped at Hop along’s whiskers with her paw, the tiger rolling onto his back and waving his paws in the air! Fleur laughed as she watched him.
“Hop along, dear Hop along!” she laughed, “you are so lovely!”
“I don’t know who’s the bigger cub!” Tinka said smiling.
“I want my paws stroked!” Hop along mewed, waving his paws more frantically than ever.
“Oh dear,” Snowy said laughing, “he’s well and truly going back to his cubhood!.” Fleur caught Hop along’s left forepaw and began to stroke his pads. Hop along smiled with genuine pleasure and, rolling onto his side, pressed his paw into Fleur’s.
“Don’t do that Hop along,” fleur mewed, “don’t press your paw into mine.” Hop along relaxed his paw, making the whistling growl deep in his throat which Fleur knew so well.
“That’s the sound of pleasure,” Snowy said smiling. Fleur stroked Hop along’s paw with both her forepaws, enveloping it in her paws and gently massaging his pads and toes. By the end of five minutes Hop along couldn’t keep his eyes open.
“I want to sleep,” he murmured, but, but it would be wrong, so wrong.”
“You can’t sleep here!” Elsa mewed, “it’s hard tiles!”
“I’ve slept in worse places Elsa,” Hop along said.
“Let’s not sleep now,” Fleur said, gently stroking Hop along’s paw the wrong way, making the tiger wake suddenly, as it was uncomfortable.
“You really know how to wake someone up don’t you!” He snapped, “that hurt!”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, just to wake you,” Fleur mewed. Hop along removed his paw from Fleur’s and got to his feet.
“I don’t know whether to be angry or not!” Hop along mewed, “that was horrid Fleur!”
“I’m sorry!” Fleur mewed, “but that was the only way I could think of waking you up.”
“Well don’t!” Hop along yelled, “it was horrid!”
“Have you ever had the fur on the sole of your paw rubbed the wrong way?” Snowy asked, “it hurts Fleur.” Fleur mewed an apology to Hop along, then padded away. Hop along suddenly felt dreadful. He knew he shouldn’t have snapped at Fleur, that she was only trying to wake him. Padding after the cross bred cub, Hop along caught Fleur up near the top of the slide slope. It had been a hard walk up the slope and Hop along was panting slightly as he reached Fleur.
“Look, fleur, I’m so sorry,” Hop along mewed, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you, it’s wrong of me! I know the urge to sleep was brought on by the massage, and that you had to reverse it. Come, please, fleur, let, let me hug you, please?” Fleur paused at the top of the slide, the pads of her fat brown, black spotted left forepaw resting on the edge of the step, her toes just over the edge of the step, and looked at him. Hop along noticed this detail, and was surprised by it. He’d not noticed this before, maybe he was observing his cub more closely, as he’d heard Elsa did. Elsa had once described Fleur crawling away from her, and she’d missed no detail, right down to the way the pads on the soles of the large cub’s paws and toes had bunched and relaxed as she crawled. Now Hop along was noticing similar details, not just what her eyes were telling him, registering fleur as confused and slightly upset, but also what her paws were doing, what the state and position of her paw told him of her mindset. She wasn’t tense, for if she was, her paw would have been rigid, and her toes weren’t curled, her paw not held stiffly. Fleur felt no fear, and Hop along was grateful and relieved about that.
“You want to hug me?” Fleur asked.
“I’d, I’d like to, Please Fleur.” Fleur,” Hop along mewed, looking down at his paws, which told him he was anxious, as his toes were slightly curled. Fleur turned and padded back to Hop along, reared onto her hind legs, and, leaning on him for support, embraced him with her forepaws. Hop along mewed to Fleur, Fleur answering him by rubbing her cheek against his.
“I love you fleur,” Hop along mewed. Fleur nuzzled the Bengal tiger’s whiskers.
“You are safe with me,” Hop along whispered. Fleur dropped onto all four paws, then raised a paw to touch Hop along’s nose. Hop along nuzzled the pads of Fleur’s paw, the cub smiling and laughing slightly as the tiger’s whiskers tickled her.
“Hug me Hop along, please,” Fleur pleaded. Hop along lay down, and fleur let him take her in his huge, fat, warm paws.
“You are so Beautiful and gentle Fleur,” Hop along mewed, “from your nose, he said touching her nose lightly with one paw, to the end of your long tail,” he continued, reaching over to touch Fleur’s tail, the cub curling it so he could touch the end of her tail. “From your ears,” Hop along said, to the tips of your lovely, fat, brown furred black spotted toes.” When she felt Hop along’s toes touch the pads on the toes of her left forepaw, Fleur curled her toes round his and gently held them.
“Let’s both go down the slide,” fleur mewed, “first me, then, when I’m at the bottom and ready to catch you, you come down.” Hop along smiled as he thought of Fleur catching him.
“let’s do that,” he mewed, “though I don’t know about you catching me Fleur, you’re too small!” Grinning, Fleur released Hop along’s paw, the tiger mewing pitifully and gently pawing at Fleur’s pads with the toes she’d just released. Fleur smiled and hugged Hop along tenderly. Releasing him, Fleur got to her paws and walked towards the slide, Hop along following her. fleur stepped down into the tray and lay down on her chest so her hind paws were straight out behind her, her fore crossed in front and tucked beneath her chin. Fleur wiggled the toes of both hind paws, and Hop along gently stroked her pads.
“have a good ride little cub,” he mewed. Fleur gently caught the toes of Hop along’s paw in hers, then, when the light went green, released him and pushed off. Hop along watched his cub disappear down the slide.
“I love you Fleur,” he whispered. Hop along got down into the slide himself, and waited for the bell. When it went, he pushed off with his forepaws and then crossed them under his chin like his cub had. Hop along shot round the first bend in the slide, then his head angled downwards, and he was racing towards the bottom of the slide. Reaching it, Hop along got out of the slide, to see Fleur watching him.
“Good ride?” She asked. Hop along shook his head to clear his vision.
“It was amazing,” he said, but Fleur knew Hop along didn’t much like the slide.
“You didn’t like it at all did you,” she mewed.
“it wasn’t the most pleasurable experience today,” Hop along admitted. Fleur knew which one he’d pick for the best experience of the day, and so would she, a totally spontaneous and very intimate time at the top of the slide, where a cross bred cub had hugged a Bengal tiger, and he’d hugged her. All the paw contact was lovely too. Fleur holding Hop along’s toes in hers, and Hop along holding the cub’s toes in his, as well as stroking each other’s pads had been a wonderful thing. Fleur saw Hop along was thinking, and touched his paw with hers.
“Follow your paws and whiskers,” she mewed. Hop along smiled.
“We did plenty of that,” he said, covering her free forepaw with his free one.
“I love you Hop along,” Fleur mewed.
“I love you too Fleur my dear sweet cub,” Hop along replied. Fleur gulped hard, trying to hold back tears, for she knew how sincere Hop along was.
“Whisker to whisker, paw in paw we go from here,” she choked. Hop along freed his paw from Fleur’s and was suddenly hugging her tightly.
“Paw in paw Fleur,” he said, licking her ear and nuzzling her cheek. Fleur kissed Hop along on his nose, then, as the tiger was now able to take his weight on all four paws, she took his left forepaw in hers and held it.
Let’s go to the pool,” Fleur mewed. Hop along wiggled the toes of his paw held in Fleur’s. Fleur smiled, squeezed his paw and then let go of it. Hop along felt his paw tingling as if he’d been given a new energy.
“More of Fleur’s magic,” he thought, padding after his cub.
Tinka watched all, her love for Hop along growing with every passing minute. She hated herself for what she’d done to him in the past, in fact Tinka had cried long and bitterly in the past, mourning the loss of her mate. She knew she’d been the cause of their estrangement, that Hop along would have been present at the birth of their cubs, and would have helped look after them. Pippa had been born two years ago, and was now almost a fully grown tigress. Tinka’s other cub had died shortly after birth, which had torn her apart. Pippa now lay curled in the sheltering warmth of Tinka’s body almost every night, the pair of them terrified of losing each other. Tinka knew she wanted cubs with Hop along, also wanted him to be there when they were born, and afterwards to help her look after them. Tinka believed in Eohippus, and wondered if the dawn horse, by letting one of her cubs die, was telling her she shouldn’t have sent Hop along away. Now Tinka was determined to love Hop along with all she had. Tinka had watched Hop along and Fleur’s interaction, and remembered the feel of Fleur’s paws held gently in her own, and also remembered the feel of her paws in Fleur’s. Fleur’s paws had been soft and warm, and not only that, there had been something special there, something other than the touch of paw pad against paw pad. Fleur’s touch had been more than just a touch, the grip of her paw on Tinka’s more than just a soft, warm enfolding of one paw in another. There had been commitment, concern, warmth, care, and a lot of love expressed in the cub’s touch. Tinka closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of the tiles beneath her paws.
“Whisker to Whisker, paw in paw fleur,” Tinka thought, “I’m with you my dear cub.” Tinka was brought out of her thoughts by a paw touching hers. Opening her eyes, she saw Theo standing beside her.
“I know what you were thinking,” Theo said, “I know what you were feeling too Tinka. You need not fear the past any more. Go to Fleur and Hop along, and roll with them in the water of the big bath. Fleur will help you with paw massage. There, get to know your cub and your mate. They will also be able to get to know you too.”
Tinka padded towards the large bathtub, finding Fleur and Hop along already in the water. snowy and Bianca were in the main pool, swimming about and occasionally ducking each other in play.
Theo watched them for a while, then left the pool in search of Tigger, who’d vanished soon after his conversation with Bianca. Elsa followed him from the pool complex. Theo had to talk to Tigger about a few things.
Tinka padded over the tiles to the main bath, where she slipped into the water. Hop along and fleur, who’d been playing together at the other end of the bath pool, swam lazily over to Tinka and took a forepaw each, guiding her towards the middle of the pool where they signalled to her to lie down on a ledge. There they began to stroke her from her ears to her paws. This silent orderly massage surprised Tinka. Once it was over, Tinka’s mate and cub settled down beside her, each holding one of her forepaws.
“How was that?” Hop along asked.
“It was wonderful,” Tinka mewed, tears rolling down her face.
“What did you feel?” Fleur asked.
“Surprise at first that neither of you spoke to me,” Tinka replied, “then, well, when I realised silence was part of the package so to speak, I then thought about what you two were doing, concentrating on the feel of your individual paws, sometimes the feel of you working on me with your toes rather than the pads of your paws. It was wonderful!”
“You have the loveliest eyes, and the most strokable paws Tinka.” Fleur mewed. Tinka caught her breath as the cub’s words sank in.
“I, I love you Fleur,” she wept. Fleur hugged Tinka tightly. Tinka’s tears dried, and fleur released her.
“Now,” Tinka said, “I want, would like, to, to take a look at both of you, from your noses to your tails, from your ears to the soles of all four of your paws. Would you let me do this?” Fleur and Hop along looked at each other, apparently undecided as to whether to allow Tinka to do what she asked.
“Shall we?” Hop along asked fleur. Fleur examined Tinka’s right forepaw, the one which she’d been stroking, and seemed to be undecided.
“Look at Tinka’s left forepaw,” Fleur said to Hop along, “would you want to be stroked by it?” Tinka began to feel slightly uneasy, even a little upset.
“Let me look,” Hop along said, picking up Tinka’s left forepaw and examining it minutely.
“Um, ah, yes okay,” he said. Tinka then realised she’d been tricked into thinking her mate and cub were having a serious discussion as to whether they’d let her stroke them. She realised she should have just stroked one or the other of them without asking and gone with how she felt, for now she came to think of it, they’d all but invited her to take their paws in hers.
“Who’s more anxious that I stroke their paws?” She asked. For answer both Hop along and fleur thrust their forepaws into hers.
“both of you, oh dear,” Tinka mewed, “I can’t stroke eight paws at once, four maybe, but not eight!” She looked desperately at her mate and cub.
“We can stroke Fleur’s paws together,” Hop along mewed, “then you and Fleur can stroke mine. How’s that?” Tinka, now greatly relieved, nodded.
Hop along and Tinka stroked fleur from her spotted nose, to the end of her banded tail, missing nothing, while Fleur purred and tried to catch their paws in hers and hold them whenever she could. Tinka and Hop along laughed merrily every time Fleur caught their paws in hers. Fleur’s paw massage ended up as a free for all, the Bengal tigers and Fleur splashing and ducking each other. Tinka used her massive forepaws to disturb the water so it turned white. Tinka suddenly ran from the bath, sprinted across the tiles towards the pool, judged her distances, and then leapt into the air! Tucking in her paws, tucking her chin into her chest as far as she could and arching her back, Tinka bombed into the pool! The splash was tremendous! She soaked Snowy, Bianca, and even managed to spray Hop along, who’d followed her into the pool!
Fleur, hearing enraged shouts, quickly splashed from the bathtub to be confronted with the sight of Snowy standing on the side of the pool, screaming at Tinka one paw raised as if to hit the Bengal tigress!
“You stupid idiot!” snowy yelled, “that’s dangerous!” Fleur cantered over to the two tigress’s.
“Um, Tinka,” Fleur said, did you read the signs?” She waved a paw at a sign on the wall, it read “no bombing into the pool.” Tinka mewed an apology, but Snowy was furious!”
“You’re meant to be setting an example to the cubs!” she yelled.
“At the moment it’s a bad one,” Hop along mewed.
“Oh shut up, shut up!” Tinka wined, “I know I did wrong, now can we drop it?”
“I think in the current context, talk of dropping things is not very wise,” Bianca mewed. Fleur laughed helplessly.
“I think your apology bombed with snowy Tinka,” she said. \.
“It’s not Me you should be apologising to Tinka,” snowy snapped, “it’s Fleur! She’s in charge here!” Tinka looked at Fleur.
“I didn’t see the sign!” she mewed.
“Right,” Fleur said, “no harm done this time, but next time, you’ll be banned from the pool, okay?” Tinka looked down at her paws, showing acute emotional discomfort.
“subject closed, okay snowy?” fleur said, snowy realising Fleur wasn’t asking her if the subject was closed, she was telling her.
“We’re going home Bianca!” Snowy snapped, “I’m not being pushed around by a cub!” Bianca stood up to her mother for the first time in her life, her fur bristling with anger!
“You can, but I’m staying right here!” She yelled, “and Fleur’s not a cub! She’s young, but she’s very gentle and right now, she’s responsible for us!” Snowy stamped her paws in sudden rage!
“Don’t stamp your paws at me!” Bianca snapped, sounding just like snowy once did when she told her off in the cubbing den. Snowy, hearing her own words echoed back to her, slunk off to sulk in private.
“Now what?” Bianca asked.
“How about if we all get into the pool and have a relaxing swim?” Tinka suggested. Hop along looked at his mate.
“You’ll be tickling my paws before I’m in the pool,” he said smiling, “not that I mind it, I love it.” Tinka raised her left forepaw, and Hop along touched her pads with his right forepaw. Tinka smiled and rubbed back against his touch, Hop along taking Tinka’s paw in his.
“That’s lovely to see,” Fleur mewed.
The tigers and fleur entered the pool and began the job of serious play.
While they were playing, the sound of scuffing paws announced the arrival of Theo, who’d left them for a while to return with Tigger to the cubbing den. Now he was back, with serious news concerning Simba.
“Fleur,” Theo said, “come here please.” Fleur went to Theo and he indicated to her that he wanted her out of the pool. Fleur waded from the pool, then looked at Theo for more direction.
“Tigger has badly beaten Simba up for attacking you Fleur,” Theo said, “he, Simba, well, he’s almost dead. Tigger’s temper exploded when the cub once more called him a stupid blind tiger.” Fleur looked down at her paws.
“Simba had it coming to him,” she mewed, “more so when he calls Tigger things like that.” Theo growled menacingly.
“Tigger bloody deserved to have a go at Simba!” Theo yelled, stamping his paws with rage, “I know it’s not very leader like of me to say this, but Tigger’s in the right this time! How, how dare Simba say that about Tigger, or about anyone! I hate that bloody cub! Elsa knows it too, and, and, she’s not very happy with me for it, but I don’t care! I don’t care, because Simba doesn’t care! Why should I care about him when he can’t be bothered to care about anyone else Fleur? I can’t stand him!”
“Hey Theo, Theo!” Fleur mewed, “it’s all right, Simba will learn.”
“No he won’t,” Theo sniffed, almost crying, “Simba won’t learn Fleur, “I know he won’t, I know him, he’s as bad, as bad, no, worse than that lion who enticed Tigger and Clarence into the shop. Simba’s a horrid cub!” Fleur didn’t know the first Simba, but she’d heard the story.
“Where are they now, Tigger and Simba?” Fleur asked.
“Tigger’s in the cubbing den,” Theo mewed, Elsa’s looking after him. I don’t know where Simba is.”
Suddenly there was a yell of:
“You can’t catch me mum, you stupid bitch!” And Simba ran into the pool area, Elsa hot on his heels. Theo snarled and gave chase! Fleur watched a lion and a lioness chase down and catch their prey, and worse!
Theo helped Elsa bring her cub down, but then he left Elsa to deal with him, and the lioness ran to the water, dragging Simba with her. It was plain what she was about to do, and Fleur shrieked with fear!
“Don’t do it Elsa!” She yelled. Elsa snarled in reply, an angry sound, born of wild fury! Then she threw Simba into the water, before leaping in, landing on top of her cub! Elsa drove Simba under the water, and held him there, until he stopped struggling. When Elsa left off, Simba was dead!
Elsa left the water, dragging her cub’s limp body as if it was an antelope she’d just brought down.
“Why Elsa?” Theo asked, crying inconsolably, “why kill your cub?”
“You don’t know what Simba and Amber did to Tigger when you left us after seeing Tigger nearly beat Simba senseless do you Theo?” Elsa replied, “my dear lion, you should be crying for Tigger, not for Simba, for I don’t know if Tigger will live long. Amber got onto a shelf in the cubbing den where the boss stored some old sound boxes and waited until Tigger was close, before pushing a heavy sound box off the shelf. It landed on Tigger, injuring him. Now, now he’s badly hurt, he says he can’t feel his paws, I’m worried Theo, bloody worried!” There was the sound of scuffing paws, followed by a very loud, very Tigger like curse. His words were so ripe they can’t be printed here. Theo looked round at him.
“You’re, you’re injured!” he mewed.
“Not so injured I can’t do justice to Amber and that bloody cub!” Tigger yelled.
“Tigger, oh Tigger!” Fleur yelled, running to him and throwing her paws round him. Despite his bruises and a cracked rib, Tigger snuggled into his cub’s hug, and returned it as firmly as he could without causing himself agonising pain.
“You can’t do justice to, “the bloody cub,” as you call him,” fleur mewed, “for Elsa’s done it already, Simba’s dead!” Tigger mewed pitifully with pain.
“I’m in pain from the damage caused by Amber and Simba’s attack, and now I can’t get satisfaction!” Tigger mewed, “I want to cause that cub as much pain as he caused me!”
“No Tigger,” Fleur mewed, “it’s not going to solve anything my sire, It won’t solve a thing!”
“I want to hurt that cub!” Tigger mewed. Elsa padded over, and laid Simba’s body close to Tigger. The sight of the cub’s body moved Fleur to fresh tears.
“He need not have died,” She wept, “but he had it coming to him. I’m not weeping for what Simba was, I’m weeping for what he could have been.” Tigger reached over with a paw and touched Simba’s dead body.
“I’m sorry you died little cub,” Tigger sobbed, “but you were warned, and you ignored that warning, worse, you tried to have others kill me. I’m sorry you sank to that level Simba.” Elsa picked up Simba’s body and dragged it out of the pool complex to bury it privately. Theo didn’t follow her, for he knew she wanted to be alone.
Elsa buried Simba’s body in the wood, covering it with earth and stamping the earth down with considerable force, as if making sure the cub’s spirit was well and truly imprisoned.
“You need not do that Elsa,” Petra said gently, making Elsa turn sharply, growling and snarling with fear and anger at being disturbed.
“believe me Elsa,” Petra said, “you need not worry about his spirit causing us any more trouble.” Elsa, still snarling and growling, looked into Petra’s eyes.
“How can you know this?” Elsa asked.
“I can’t explain how I know, but I do,” Petra replied.
Elsa suddenly looked very sad.
“I’ve failed,” she mewed, “I’m the worst mother in the world! I don’t know where I went wrong with Simba, then, then, instead of cuffing him for his misdeeds, I kill him! No mother should kill her own cub! I don’t know why I did it Petra!” Petra knew Simba’s spirit was a bad one, and that he would have been an evil creature even in adulthood. Though this in itself didn’t mean he should be killed. Petra realised that Elsa, Theo too, had been driven beyond reasoned thought by Simba’s actions and words, resulting in them protecting the rest of their family in the only way they felt was left to them. Elsa, tears now rolling down her face, suddenly threw herself at Petra’s feet, clasping one of the young lioness’s white forepaws in both of hers. Petra sat down, guessing what the lioness before her was about to tell her.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Elsa whispered, “I was running after Simba, then, then Theo joined me and helped me bring the cub down, then, then I drove Simba into the water and held him under until he drowned!”
“You aren’t to blame for what you did,” Petra mewed, “ others are to blame for that. Amber is the one who made Simba’s horrid plan to attack Tigger possible. Once Tigger had given Simba a beating for calling him a silly blind tiger, all it took was for amber to see what was going on and then she’d be up there on that shelf, ready to push the sound box off the shelf onto Tigger when the tiger settled down to rest on a rug in the cubbing den. Amber was there as a second wave of attack should Simba’s attack fail. I don’t know how it happened, or how Amber got involved, but that’s to be found out later. What we know is Simba provoked Tigger into attacking him, and Amber pushed a sound box off a shelf, which fell onto Tigger. I don’t know why Amber did this or what’s become of her now.
Elsa, her mind still numb from what she’d done to Simba, released Petra’s paw and followed her into the pool complex. They met up with Tigger and Theo, the latter stroking the formers paws. Petra ran over to Tigger, and joined Fleur and another lion cub, who Petra at first didn’t recognise. It was only when the male lion cub threw his paws round Petra’s neck and hugged her that Petra realised who he was. he was her brother cub, born a minute after herself. The male lion cub snuggled up to her, nuzzling her whiskers and embracing her with his paws. Petra mewed to her brother cub, who cuddled close to her.
“I’m glad I’ve found you Petra my dear Sister cub,” the male lion cub purred. Petra licked his ear, feeling his good intentions. Theo recognised the male cub, and left off stroking Tigger’s paws to crawl over to him and hug him. Tigger, feeling fleur, Petra and Petra’s brother wanted to be alone, crawled back to the house.
On the way, Tigger met Amber, and when she saw the tiger, Amber spat at him, Tigger ignoring her outburst.
“You should be dead!” Amber yelled.
“You are dead!” Salty yelled, leaping on top of Amber and belting her round the head with his paw! Amber collapsed onto the carpet, letting Tigger carry on to his lie up unmolested. Amber groaned with pain as she regained consciousness from Salty’s attack. Amber knew she was a marked leopard, and couldn’t take her safety for granted any more.
Salty, furious with Amber after hearing what she’d done to Tigger, vowed to get even with her on the tiger’s behalf. He didn’t know the reason for amber’s disgusting conduct, only that she and Tigger had been close some time ago. Salty guided Tigger back to his lie up, the tiger grateful to the male snow leopard for protecting him.
Meanwhile, Fleur, Petra and Petra’s natural brother cub stood close together in the pool area, Theo watching them.
“What’s your name?” Petra asked her younger brother.
“I haven’t been given a name yet,” the male cub replied, “my mother didn’t get round to naming me before she left, and after I heard what she’d done, I kept my head down and didn’t bother with silly things like a name, for I wanted to disappear. It’s only now that I’ve had the courage to show myself to you Petra, as I hope that now my mother’s been gone from here some four months or so, that I can maybe be seen as a cub in my own right, rather than just being labelled as the cub of the late Elsa.” Petra felt the male cub’s paws on her fur, his toes curled into it, gripping her fur with something like desperation. She took pity on the cub and touched his nose with her paw.
“how about if we name you Jespah?” Petra asked, “it’s a name from the Meru tribe in Africa which means “god set free,” Which given your somewhat troubled start in life, I believe is a very good name for you.” The cub looked at his sister.
“I suppose I am set free by the higher power,” the cub said, “so Jespah is my name from now on then.”
Jespah snuggled into Petra’s hug.
“Let’s go to the slide and cool off a bit,” Fleur suggested. Jespah looked at her.
“Are you in charge here?” He asked, sensing her confidence.
“I am,” Fleur replied, not betraying misgivings about her own suitability for the job.
“You’re only a cub!” Jespah mewed, “younger than me I’ll bet too!”
“I am a cub,” Fleur replied, “but I’m also well versed in the ways of the water.” Jespah took Petra’s paw and they walked together to the top of the slide, Jespah looking down the slide with undisguised fear.
“I’ve, I’ve never been on one of these before,” he mewed, dipping a paw cautiously into the running water.
“It’s okay Jespah my brother cub,” Petra mewed. Jespah, suddenly overcome with emotion, turned to his sister and hugged her. Petra pulled Jespah from the water slide so he didn’t slip and take them both down, then returned his hug.
“I’m glad we’ve found each other again,” Jespah mewed. Petra nuzzled the cub’s whiskers.
“I am too,” she purred.
“Now, now, please Petra, tell me honestly,” Jespah pleaded, “are these slides safe?” out of the corner of her eye, Petra saw Fleur padding up the slope towards her.
“Please Fleur,” Petra said, “would you answer Jespah’s questions?” fleur smiled at the young male lion cub.
“What questions have you for me Jespah?” Fleur asked, taking his paw in hers and stroking it.
“Well,” Jespah replied, now hesitant, “I was wondering, well, if those slide things are safe? I know they probably are, but I’d like to hear it from you.” Fleur looked into Jespah’s eyes.
“They are as safe as we can make them,” Fleur replied, “nothing is totally safe my dear Jespah.”
“I, I don’t understand,” the lion cub mewed, “what do you mean by as safe as you can make them?”
“They are made to be safe,” Fleur replied, “but if you do silly things while riding them, oh, I don’t know, making chains for example, then you could get hurt. It wouldn’t be the fault of the slide or of its operators though if you disobeyed the rules.
“What are the rules?” Jespah asked, looking round him, “I can’t see any written here.”
“No chaining, go down the slide only when the light’s green, no pushing or shoving at the top of the slide, common sense things really Jespah,” fleur replied.
“Thank you,” Jespah said. Fleur released his paw and hugged him.
“Have a good ride Jespah,~” she mewed. Jespah looked down the slide, his apprehension still visible.
“I don’t know if I can go down that!” he mewed, his distress mounting.
“You don’t have to Jespah dear,” Petra mewed.
“I feel I must,” the lion cub wailed, “I must go down the slide, because, because, well, it’s silly to be scared, and I’m a male lion, the king of beasts, and here I am, trembling from ears to paws over going down a slide!” Jespah looked desperately at Fleur and Petra in turn.
“Get hold of me both of you,” he suddenly said, “don’t let me go, throw me down that slide if you have to!” fleur and Petra each took one of Jespah’s forepaws and guided the lion cub towards the open slide.
“This one will be easier on you I think,” fleur mewed. Jespah nodded, having already closed his eyes.
“Open your eyes Jespah dear,” Petra mewed, “nothing’s going to harm you.” Jespah, now so frightened his paws were damp and he was breathing rapidly, mewed in an agony of fear.
“We won’t make you go down the slide,” Fleur said gently, patting Jespah’s paw. The male lion cub, now close to tears, gulped hard and clenched his teeth in an attempt to keep control of his rising panic.
“I want to go down that slide!” he yelled, “but it’s so scary, so fast, so uncontrollable!” Petra wondered how without either her or fleur going down with Jespah in a chain, they could reassure him.
“We can’t go down in a chain fleur,” Petra said, “though that’s the only way I can think of that either of us could ride with Jespah.” Fleur suddenly remembered something Tigger had told her. He’d said the slides were designed to be ridden in two ways, either by the rider getting into the slide and riding it in the conventional way, or secondly, there were some inflatable double rafts which could be used on either of the slides. The problem being that on the open slide, the riders had to hang on, or they’d be chucked off the raft as soon as it hit the water in the pool.
“I think I might have a solution!” fleur yelled, running for the staff cupboard. Dragging at the door, she realised it was locked. Fleur ran down the slope and found a large key. This was similar to a radar key carried by disabled humans to gain access to toilets. Fleur ran back up the slope with the key in her mouth. Fumbling the key into the lock, fleur turned the key with both her huge paws on the turning piece. The key turned easily enough, and the door swung open. Fleur looked into the store, and saw what she was looking for. Careful to sheath her claws, fleur dragged at the topmost of the four rafts she found in the store. They were too heavy for her alone to shift, so Petra joined in, and they got the topmost raft off the pile and across to the slide.
Jespah watched Petra and Fleur’s efforts to drag the raft with growing alarm.
“What are you going to do with that?” he asked.
“Ride on it of course,” Petra mewed.
“You ride more in these than on them Petra,” Fleur replied, “they have a bottom to the individual sections so the paws of the riders don’t drag on the slide.”
“so you sit in them then,” Petra corrected herself.
“yeah,” Fleur replied, “now, now help me lift the front of this thing.” Petra and fleur worked the raft into position, then fleur leant her entire weight on the back of the raft, stopping it from disappearing down the open slide.
“Now Petra,” Fleur mewed, “put Jespah in the front of the raft, and you get into the back.” Petra shovelled Jespah into the front of the raft, the male lion so scared he couldn’t control his shaking paws any longer. Trembling from nose to tail, Jespah meekly submitted to Petra almost throwing him into the front of the raft, letting her go so far as arranging his hind and forepaws in the raft, making sure he was sitting properly.
“Now hold onto the handles on the front of the raft with your forepaws,” Petra mewed to Jespah, who, sweating profusely and with paws shaking, did as she asked, “ now settle your hind paws,” Petra said, “don’t dig in your claws though.” Jespah mewed pitifully, for dig in his claws was indeed what he wished to do. Breathing hard, Jespah stared at his clenched forepaws, the toes white with tension.
“If you feel insecure, press down with the pads and toes of your paws, don’t dig in your claws,” Petra mewed. Jespah mewed with fear, his paws slipping on the handles as they became damp with sweat.
“Right, get in the raft Petra!” Fleur commanded. Petra leapt into the raft behind Jespah and settled herself. Jespah began to cry with fear.
“It’s going to be okay,” Petra mewed. Suddenly Fleur looked up at the lights, they went green, and she braced her hind paws and shoved hard with her fore, the raft drifting into the current. Jespah mewed and spat with fear as the raft gathered speed, bending round to the right, then to the left, then, with clenched paws, His toes dug into the rubber raft, and forgetting Petra was behind him, Jespah screamed hysterically as the raft angled downwards, gathering speed! Petra screamed with excitement as the raft hurtled down the slide! Suddenly Jespah felt the raft jerk to an abrupt halt as it hit the water! Jespah tumbled out of the raft, and Petra followed behind, both cubs splashing into the water, the raft bobbing away on the surf. Jespah floundered in the water, Petra catching him and helping him to the side of the pool. Jespah’s paws were shaking so much, he couldn’t clamber out of the pool, fleur and Petra having to pull the now panic stricken male cub out of the pool.
“never again Petra, never again!” Jespah mewed.
“Ah well,” Fleur said, “not everyone likes water slides.”
Jespah suddenly looked very unhappy. Looking into Petra’s eyes, he suddenly asked:
“Petra, my dear sister cub, please tell me, do you really love me?”
“Why ask something like that?” Fleur asked.
“No fleur,” Petra replied, “I know why he asks, but Jespah has no need to ask questions like this.” Petra looked into her brother cub’s eyes.
“Does it look like I do not love you my brother cub?” Petra asked, giving him her paw.
“No,” Jespah replied miserably, “I shouldn’t have asked it Petra, I really shouldn’t have asked that!”
“But why ask it in the first place?” Fleur asked.
“I thought, thought that because I’d been favoured by our mother, that Petra would hate me forever,” Jespah replied.
“And why ask it now? Why out of the blue like this?” Fleur asked.
“Fleur,” Petra replied, “you know why he asks these things. Think of your own life, and how uncertain you have been over who loves you, and sometimes whether anyone loves you.” Fleur suddenly realised how Jespah was feeling, and the realisation moved her to tears.
“I forgot for a minute how it was to be in doubt that anyone loved me,” Fleur sobbed, “I know security is a great thing, but some don’t have it, and, and Jespah is one such.”
“Was one such,” Petra replied, “for he is loved, I know it.”
“Loved by whom though?” Jespah asked, “my mother’s gone, Clarence has no reason to feel anything for me, and by rights, neither do you Petra.”
“What our mother did was not your fault Jespah,” Petra mewed, “it was she who rejected me, not you.”
“I, I would have come back to you sooner Petra!” Jespah sobbed, “but, but I didn’t know what kind of a reception I’d get from the other animals, what with the new leadership and everything else. I just kept myself to myself, and now, now I don’t know where I’m going!” Petra looked into her brother cub’s eyes.
“You are loved,” she said, “believe it Jespah, I love you, and so does fleur.” Jespah looked at the cross bred cub.
“yes Jespah my dear,” fleur said, throwing her paws round him and hugging him, “I love you very much.” Jespah felt Fleur’s paws warm against his fur, and her touch gave him fresh hope.
“Come,” Petra said, “let’s go from here and return to the main pool.
“What are we going to do with the raft?” Jespah asked.
“let’s pull it out of the water and send it up in the lift,” fleur mewed.
“I’m not going up in that thing,” Petra mewed, “you can do it fleur, but count me out!”
“Noone needs to go up in the lift,” Fleur replied, “load the raft into the lift, flick the switch on the lever, push the lever upwards, and then leave the lift. The doors will close, and the lift will go to the top without stopping.”
“Let’s get that thing up top then,” Petra mewed. Fleur, Petra and Jespah dragged and pushed the raft over to the lift. Petra spat at the doors as she remembered being shut in the moving box. Fleur pressed the button, and they waited for the lift to arrive. When the doors opened, they shovelled the raft into the lift, fleur then pushed the switch up and pressed the lever upwards, while Petra kept her paw in the door, so the sensor kept the doors open. Once all was done, Fleur left the lift, and rejoined her friends.
Padding round to the main pool, Jespah, Fleur and Petra met Bianca who’d been playing with Theo, Leona and Elsa. Elsa was still distraught about her run in with Simba, Theo and Leona trying to keep her mind from thinking too much about the manner of Simba’s death. Leona embraced Elsa with her tiny paws, the lioness purring contentedly despite her inner turmoil. Theo stroked his mate’s forepaw while Leona stroked her mother’s neck and nuzzled her whiskers. Elsa began to purr afresh, the note becoming deep and contented, telling her mate and cub that she was finding peace in her own mind.
“Don’t worry Elsa dear,” Theo pur
Growing closer.
Tinka and Hop along lay curled together in the warmth of the living room. The house had very efficient heating, and it was always warm in the house, no matter how cold the weather got outside. Rain had started to fall about an hour ago, but the two tigers paid no attention to it. Hop along wondered how long he’d be pain free, for Fleur’s paw massage had been over a day ago. Unknown to the two tigers, fleur watched them from the comfort of the sofa. She was uninterested in their love making, but keen to see if her massage skills were still keeping Hop along pain free. It seemed they were, though Fleur was concerned that the affects might wear off during the night. She cautiously approached Hop along, the tiger sensing her coming and raising his head to watch her.
“What’s going on?” Tinka asked drowsily.
“Fleur’s coming near,” Hop along mewed. Tinka roused herself to shout at Fleur.
“This is private time!” She yelled, “can’t we get any peace?” fleur turned and left hurriedly.
“Dam cubs!” Tinka spat.
“Tinka,” Hop along mewed, “I have a feeling she wasn’t wishing to intrude. I think Fleur wanted to see if my paw was still pain free.” Tinka snarled menacingly.
“She can come close to check your paw over, but when she’s done, she’s out of here!” Tinka spat, “doesn’t she know any manners?”
“Tinka,” Hop along mewed, “if I don’t get my paw seen to, I won’t know manners either.”
“I don’t believe in all this healing stuff,” Tinka mewed, “Fleur’s a lovely cub n’all that, but all this about her being able to cure your paw! It’s a load of rubbish! You just want her to massage your pads, that’s it isn’t it Hop along?” Hop along shook his head.
“I can’t really show you any proof that Fleur’s paw massage works,” Hop along mewed, “other than the fact I am pain free.” Tinka was sceptical.
“I don’t believe in her powers,” Tinka mewed.
“I thought, thought you loved her,” Hop along said.
“Love her I do,” Tinka replied, “believe in her power I most certainly don’t.”
“Ah well,” fleur mewed, “you don’t have to believe in my power Tinka.”
“Just get it over with fleur,” Tinka snapped, “I don’t want you here!” fleur set to work on Hop along’s right hind paw, stroking his pads and massaging his toes. The huge Bengal tiger looked troubled, but it wasn’t on account of his paw becoming sore. He knew his mate was furious!
“All done,” fleur mewed, patting the pads of Hop along’s right hind paw. Hop along briefly curled his toes round Fleur’s as a signal of thanks, fleur grinning up at him.
“Now leave!” Tinka snapped.
“I believe you’ll be glad of her powers one day Tinka,” Petra mewed, “so I wouldn’t treat Fleur like this. Fleur doesn’t mean to intrude, now she’ll leave you alone, but she could feel Hop along’s pain relief failing him and had to treat his paw before it became painful.” Tinka spat on the carpet.
“You talk rubbish white one!” Tinka yelled at Petra.
“I never talk rubbish,” Petra mewed, “It’s not my way. I say again to you Tinka, don’t underestimate Fleur’s power.” Tinka looked scornfully at the dirty brown cub.
“How can she have power?” Tinka asked, “Petra, Fleur’s only a cub!”
“Cub or not,” Petra mewed, “Fleur’s still got power.”
“You talk about me as if I’m not here Tinka,” fleur mewed.
“I wish you’d just push off!” Tinka snapped, “Hop along and I were wanting some quality time together, and now you’re ruining it!” fleur crawled away, feeling very miserable. Petra touched the cub’s paw as she passed her.
“Thanks Petra,” fleur mewed.
“I wish you’d leave fleur alone,” Hop along mewed to Tinka, it’s not very nice to hear you say things like that to her. She was only responding to the knowledge my pain relief was failing a little and she knew she needed to top it up. Now all’s fine, and we’ll be left alone from now on.” Tinka looked into her mate’s face, and saw how much her dismissal of Fleur had hurt him.
“I know you’re close to Fleur,” Tinka said, “I am too! It’s just that she was there when we settled down, and I thought we wanted quality time without cubs round us.”
“As I told you before,” Hop along mewed, “that quality time would have been short lived if Fleur hadn’t done what she did. For I would have been in terrible pain again, and would have been little company for you Tinka.”
“I suppose I don’t know what Fleur feels when she sees you, so maybe she knows more about you than I do,” Tinka said. Hop along embraced his mate in both paws.
“Fleur only wants the best for us,” he mewed, “and keeping me pain free makes the best happen. She knows we want a cub of our own you know Tinka,” he continued, “I’ll bet she can even tell when you’re in cub too Tinka.” Tinka remembered the births of her previous cubs, and wondered if fleur would weave her magic during the birth of any cubs she and Hop along might have in the future.
“I wonder if she’ll help me give birth to our cubs,” Tinka mewed.
“Wait a minute,” Petra said, “Tinka, first you’re telling Fleur to get out of your life, now you want her to help during the birth of your cubs? What do you want?”
“I want Hop along to be happy,” Tinka mewed.
“Well,” Petra replied, “Hop along loves you and loves Fleur in different ways, so let fleur do her thing. For Hop along would like you to let Fleur do her own thing without harassment. Fleur’s naturally considerate to others, and would not have approached Hop along had she not felt his pain relief was about to fail him. Now, let’s all settle down to some real relaxation shall we?” With that, she crawled over to where Fleur lay curled in a miserable heap on the sofa and took her paw.
“Don’t worry Fleur my dear,” Petra mewed, it will be okay in the end.” Fleur looked up at the young white lioness.
“I hope so,” she mewed.
Meanwhile, Jespah, lying in the cubbing den with Theo, Elsa, Leona and Aslan, lay awake, thinking of fleur. Jespah hadn’t seen anyone so beautiful before. His mind was full of her when he was awake, his dreams were full of her when he slept. Jespah had seen Fleur many times, though she knew nothing of his presence. He’d seen her playing with Bianca when the tiger cub was newborn, he’d seen fleur working with Hop along in the large bath pool, Jespah had even seen Fleur walking in the wood with Theo. Jespah was about seven months old now, and fleur around five. Jespah couldn’t put his paw on what attracted him to fleur, but he reasoned he must like the contrast of black spots and ill defined stripes against muddy brown fur. Anyway, Jespah knew he liked Fleur from the first time he’d seen her. Fleur was also large, not just in stature, but fat with it too, a reel fat cub. Jespah knew now that her large appearance was mostly due to the layer of fur she had. Fleur’s fur was thick, really thick, and this, now he’d touched it, drew Jespah even closer to Fleur. Jespah wondered if Fleur knew he liked her. he’d heard she was connected with the spirit world, could she read his thoughts? If she could, what was she thinking at that moment?
Theo watched Jespah, knowing what the cub was thinking.
“Fleur is lovely isn’t she,” Theo mewed, making Jespah look round sharply.
“How, how did you know I was, was,” the cub stammered.
“I can read thoughts too,” Theo mewed.
“Oh, oh no!” Jespah mewed, “I, I’m sorry Theo! I, I shouldn’t be thinking of a cub younger than me, it’s wrong!”
“She’s not that much younger than you,” Theo mewed, “and your thoughts and deeds have been totally honourable. I know you’ve been watching Fleur for a long time now, though you’ve only just met her properly. You will not harm her, nor ask her to do anything that’s dishonourable.”
“No Theo, no, never,” Jespah mewed, staring at his paws, “I won’t even speak to her if she doesn’t want me to. I, I just can’t get her out of my mind! I love everything about her, from her spotted face, to her banded tail, everything about Fleur is so lovely!” Theo touched Jespah’s paw with his.
“Look who’s just come through the outer door,” he whispered. Jespah looked, and there she was, fleur, padding towards him. Jespah made eye contact with the cross bred cub, fleur increasing her pace to a trot and flopping down beside him.
“Hello fleur,” Jespah mewed. Her nose resting on her fat black spotted paws, Fleur looked at the male lion cub.
“You like me I see,” she mewed. Jespah looked away, embarrassed she’d found out.
“I, I’m sorry,” the cub mewed, “I shouldn’t, but, but, I do, yes. I’ve been watching you fleur, for months now, and, and I think you’re the most beautiful thing on four paws! I’m not just saying this, I believe it with all my being!” fleur knew Jespah loved her. She’d known for some time, but had never approached him about it.
“You like dirty brown fur then?” Aslan asked Jespah.
“I do, well, Fleur’s anyway,” Jespah blurted. Aslan smiled at fleur.
“He’s quite taken with you I think,” he said to her, fleur smiling broadly. When Jespah saw her smile, he impulsively threw his paws round fleur, gathering her to him in a huge hug.
“Jespah!” Elsa snapped, “you don’t do that without asking!”
“I think he knows he doesn’t have to ask,” fleur purred. Elsa covered her face with her paw.
“Oh no!” she mewed, “I’ve herd of first loves, but this is a bit early for that! You two are only a few months old!”
“Just good friends then,” fleur mewed, but deep down, she knew this was more than just good friends.
Meanwhile, back in the living room, Hop along and Tinka lay together, tired but happy after making slow and passionate love. This wasn’t just mating, it was deeper, much, much deeper. When Tinka and Hop along mated, it wasn’t just a tiger mating with a tigress, it was Tinka and Hop along making a commitment to each other and to any cubs that might be born because of their union. Now they lay together, each knowing the other more intimately than they could ever do just by stroking each other with their paws. This was a meeting of minds as well as of two bodies.
Meanwhile, up in the cubbing den, fleur and Jespah held each other’s paws and wondered what on earth was happening to them.
“I think we need to talk this over,” fleur said to Jespah, who nodded.
“?This surely can’t be serious, not at your ages,” Elsa mewed.
“That’s what we are trying to find out,” fleur replied.
“it’s not serious!” Elsa mewed, “it can’t be! You’re barely out of newborn cubhood and you’re talking of love and everything else!”
“We never mentioned love, nor anything else,” Jespah said, “all I said was that I couldn’t get Fleur out of my head, and that I liked everything about her. I never said I loved her in the way you are thinking, and nor did she say that she loved me in any other way than one cub to another. We will have to talk this over, in private too.”
“Let’s go to the large bath pool,” Fleur mewed, “there we can talk in peace.” Elsa, her face now buried in her paws, mewed that it would be dangerous for Jespah and fleur to go to the pool without a responsible adult. Theo’s answer to which was to clout Elsa hard! Elsa mewed pitifully.
“remember what job Fleur has,” Theo said, “she’s warden of the water, she’s a responsible creature, maybe no adult, but very knowledgeable all the same.” Elsa rubbed her paw where Theo’s had connected with it.
“if anything, anything! Happens to those two, I’ll hold you personally responsible!” Elsa snapped. Fleur and Jespah left the cubbing den and went to the main pool complex.
Once in the large bath pool, Jespah took Fleur’s paw and told her his story.
“When my mother was thrown out of the community,” Jespah said, ?”I went to ground. When I saw Perdy and Tigger in the wood, Perdy struggling to give birth to a cub, I watched her, and in so doing, saw you born. It was a hell of a fight for everyone that day, and I was worried for the fat newborn cub with the strange markings. So I watched you as best I could without entering the house. I saw you crawling round inside the living room, and witnessed you getting tangled in the rug. I even saw you helping Snowy give birth to Bianca. I knew I liked you, and wanted to protect you. Now desperate to meet you, I waited until I could come out of hiding, but all the time, I was watching you.” Fleur felt Jespah’s paw on hers, and knew he wanted to protect her. Taking his free paw, she gazed into his eyes.
“Jespah,” she said, “please, would you hug me?” Jespah kissed Fleur on her nose, bringing tears to her eyes.
“You, you really do want to protect me don’t you,” fleur mewed. Jespah squeezed Fleur’s paw.
“Yes Fleur my dear, dear sweet Fleur.” Fleur looked into Jespah’s eyes.
“why look out for a cub with dirty brown fur though Jespah?” Fleur asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied, “I felt attracted to you, as if I wanted to throw my paws round you fleur. It was all I could do not to run into the group supervising your birth and hug you. You reminded me of my own sister, of Petra, for she had much the same start in life. She is now safe, but I couldn’t see those who’d taken Petra in their paws embracing you too, fortunately they did, but I was scared fleur, really scared for you. Now, now I see you’re safe, and you’re happy.”
“I’d be happiest,,,” Fleur started to say, but stopped herself.
“happiest if what fleur?” Jespah asked.
“Nothing,” Fleur replied, “I can’t ask it of you.”
“Try me,” Jespah replied.
“I’d like to be able to play like a cub,” fleur mewed, “carefree play, silly play, like, oh I don’t know, like having my paws tickled until I can laugh no more, and then some. Rough and tumble games, games of tag, and then more paw stroking and tickling. It’s always been me who’s structured the games I play, an while they’re great games, I’ve never been given the chance to be a cub, not really.”
“You want me to help you be a cub?” Jespah asked, knowing exactly what fleur was driving at.
“I would love it if you could,” fleur replied, “roll me over, ambush me, grab my paws and tickle them, all that and more. Roll together from one place to another, touch each other’s noses with our paws, tickle each other’s paws with our whiskers, all that! Even catch each other’s tails!” Jespah hugged fleur tenderly.
“You love me for being a cub,” fleur sobbed, “Jespah, to you I’m not a fat bundle of brown fur, I’m just a cub, who needs to be taught how to play again, I can feel it!” Jespah held fleur tightly, loving her for being what she wanted to be, and was meant to be, a young, playful cub.
“I tickle your paw,” Jespah said, picking up Fleur’s left forepaw and tickling her pads, Fleur laughing helplessly. Fleur mewed and struggled to free her paw from Jespah’s, both cubs rolling off the ledge they were sitting on and falling into the water. Splitting up, Jespah and Fleur chased each other’s tails, the game involving each chasing the other’s tail, swimming with their paws not breaking the surface of the water. Suddenly Fleur grabbed Jespah’s hind paws in both her forepaws and he paddled with his forepaws, while fleur kicked with her hind, trying to keep themselves moving.
“Under water now?” Jespah asked. Fleur squeezed the toes of his left hind paw, and Jespah got out of the water, Fleur keeping contact with his hind paws with her fore, both cubs crawling over the tiles towards the main pool, where they slipped into the pool, Jespah tucking his hind paws into the warm, soft embrace of Fleur’s fore, then diving to the bottom of the pool, fleur following. They cruised the waters, then surfaced and splashed each other enthusiastically.
“Time for a ride on the slide!” Jespah mewed.
“You don’t like the slide Jespah,” Fleur reminded the male cub.
“I will try anything now you’re with me Fleur,” he mewed, “come on.” They got the raft from the lift where it had been stored for the last few days, and shovelled it into the tube slide. Leaping in, the cubs ignored the lights as they knew noone else was on the slide, pushing off. Jespah and Fleur raced down the tube slide and ground to a halt at the bottom. Getting out of the raft, the two cubs sent it up in the lift, then left the pool complex.
Returning to the house, Fleur and Jespah curled up together on a rug, Fleur letting Jespah use her fur and paws like a warm blanket., fleur curled her body round Jespah’s, letting him work his paws into her fur, or even better, fleur would take his paws in hers, her paws acting like the warmest gloves ever. Jespah felt the warm pressure of Fleur’s pads on his, and they felt wonderful.
“This is what cubs do,” fleur mewed, “curl up together, warm each other’s paws, keep each other safe.” Leo watched them, a huge lump in his throat.
“Your paws are so warm and soft,” Jespah mewed, “fleur, how could anyone hate you!”
“Some do hate me, just for how I look,” she mewed.
“But, but, it doesn’t matter how you look!” Jespah mewed, now very distressed, “it’s, it’s how you are towards others, how you treat them! I love you Fleur, my sister cub, and I don’t care who knows it!” Jespah yelled, his eyes full of tears.
“I love you too my brother cub,” fleur choked, squeezing his paws gently in hers.
“I want to stay here forever!” Jespah mewed.
“You will stay here forever,” Fleur replied. Jespah snuggled closer to fleur, pressing his body and paws into hers.
“Can I massage your paws Fleur?” Jespah asked. Fleur rolled onto her side, releasing Jespah’s paws.
“Here are my paws,” Fleur replied, looping her tail and tickling the pads of Jespah’s right hind paw with the tip. Jespah laughed merrily.
Jespah examined Fleur’s paws, seeing the spots showing between the pads on the soles of her paws.
“You’ve got spots on the soles of your paws fleur!” Jespah mewed, “that’s so lovely!” He watched as Fleur curled her toes, her pads bunching together and hiding the spots from view. Jespah gently stroked the clenched pads, massaging them until fleur relaxed her paw and the spots reappeared. Fleur curled the toes of all four paws, Jespah stroking her pads until she relaxed her paw, something which both of them enjoyed. Then Fleur did the same for Jespah as he’d done for her, the two cubs getting to know each other by touch, which was the way they wanted things to be.
Fleur and Jespah ended the game by falling asleep curled up together, the soles and pads of their paws tingling from the communal massage.
Meanwhile, the other animals were torn between watching the growing love between Tinka and Hop along, or the emerging cub love between fleur and Jespah.
Fleur and Jespah woke in the early morning, finding they’d taken each other’s paws during the night. They lay together, paw in paw, whisker to whisker.
“I love this way of communication,” Jespah mewed, “the touch of paw pad against paw pad, the tickle of a whisker against my nose, all that says a lot more than words do.” Jespah smiled as Fleur’s paw tightened on his.
“that paw massage was wonderful last night,” fleur mewed.
“Going foreword together,” fleur said.
“Whisker to Whisker,” Jespah mewed.
“Paw in paw,” Fleur purred, finishing the motto. Leo listened to them, smiling quietly to himself as he observed the behaviour of the two cubs.
Panda and pony problems.
Deep in the wood at the back of the house, three pandas and a Shetland pony rested after a long trek. The Shetland pony, named Josh, stumbled across the pandas who’d escaped from a local zoo, which in recent times had fallen victim to successful escape attempts by the animals who existed there. This zoo wasn’t one that adhered to the modern principals and practises of the modern well run zoo, it was a horrid place, concrete cages, no vegetation, nothing to stimulate the animals minds or keep them entertained. This was why one polar bear cub, a pregnant lioness and now three pandas had escaped in the space of six months. It was said that the proprietors of the zoo weren’t going to attempt to catch up with the escaped animals and recapture them, for it was too expensive, and they just couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of doing all that. Josh, himself having escaped from a petting zoo after years of job dissatisfaction, had been flagged down by the large male panda, Who’d asked him if he could help them get to a safe place. Josh, himself lost and looking for a home, at first wondered what he’d do with two adult Pandas and their cub, but, reasoning that the pandas must be as desperate as he was to find a home to be out in a wood in the middle of nowhere, he decided to throw in his lot with them.
Now it was four days later, and they were all exhausted. Yi Jie, the adult female panda, in an effort to protect Shuang her newborn cub, had sheltered beneath Josh’s body while he stood over them, the Shetland pony’s body giving pitiful shelter. Kuin-Yin, Yi jie’s mate stood miserable and terrified beside Josh, the Shetland pony nuzzling the male panda’s ear from time to time as a form of reassurance, though Josh had no idea if they’d get anywhere warm soon, let alone safe. Yi Jie often wept with fear for Shuang’s life. The cub was so tiny, and so vulnerable to the elements, that whenever it rained, the cub would shiver uncontrollably with cold.
“It’s getting Desperate here Josh,” Yi Jie said, clasping Shuang close to her.
“I doesn’t know what I can suggest,” the pony replied, hating himself for not having a solution. Josh knew he was fine, he being a Shetland pony, he was used to harsh weather. But as he kept reminding himself, the pandas weren’t at all used to this.
The rain started up again, and Shuang snuggled into Yi jie’s fur once more, shivering and weeping with cold, complaining her paws were freezing. Kuin-Yin looked away when his mate tried to make eye contact with him, ashamed he couldn’t help.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that Kuin-Yin!” Yi Jie snapped, “I know you feel ashamed about our situation, but looking away from me isn’t going to solve anything!”
“I feel so useless!” Kuin-Yin replied, “I don’t know what to do!”
“Please, give me eye contact,” Yi Jie pleaded, “look at me, look at Shuang,
your cub. For I don’t know if she’ll be here for much longer. Food isn’t a problem here, but shelter is. I’m getting weaker, and less able to fight the cold, I don’t know how our cub really feels, she complains when her paws hurt from the cold, but that’s it.”
“We must, must! Find somewhere tonight,” Kuin-Yin said, “if we don’t, then, well.”
“I can run through the wood and sees if I can find something that might ‘elp us,” Josh suggested.
“Dear Josh,” Yi Jie replied, “you’re the best friend we’ve ever had and if you’re going looking, so are we.” With renewed hope, Yi Jie clambered onto Josh’s back, and Kuin-Yin helped Shuang up, sitting the cub on Josh’s back in front of her mother.
“Makes dam sure you ‘old on tight, both of you,” Josh said, feeling Shuang’s tiny paws gripping his mane, curling her tiny toes into his coat and holding on with everything she had. Josh reflected that the adult pandas hardly ever took the trouble to hold on properly, and Kuan-Yin was the worst for it, having nearly fallen off four times already. Josh had gone gently, not galloping, and trying to measure his stride, but the adult male panda had still managed to unbalance himself. Josh reflected that it was a miracle he’d not fallen off.
Josh walked through the wood, Kuan-Yin following at his heels. Shuang and Yi jie held on with all four paws, trying not to dig their toes too hard into the Shetland pony’s shaggy coat. Josh didn’t mind the slight pricking sensation of the bear’s claws. Walking down the track Josh and the pandas rounded a bend to be confronted by the sight of a huge lion walking towards them. Panicking, Kuan-yin tried to scramble on board josh’s back, while Yi Jie banged her paws on the pony’s back, in a fear stricken plea to turn and run! Josh lost his temper with the pandas, and, whinnying loudly, ordered them all off his back. He regretted this when he heard Shuang land with a thud on the forest floor.
Leo watched this display in utter astonishment. It seems that an orderly riding party had just become very disorderly indeed.
“Did I disturb anyone?” Leo asked. Josh faced the huge lion.
“yeah, that you did,” the pony replied, “you sees, it ain’t that often that we’s seen a lion, I ‘as, but them pandas now, them ain’t seen one at all, or if them as, then they’s ‘ad bad experiences with one. Now I’s asking you questions. What on earth is a lion doing ‘ere anyway? What’s your name? and does you know anywhere we can spends the night?” Leo smiled at the pony’s dialect.
“Well, my name’s Leo,” he replied, “I’m here because I was walking in the woods by my house. I live here, in the house I mean, and the woods are owned by the boss of the house. Now I’d like to know your names, and whether you come in peace.”
“We do come in peace, we do!” Yi Jie said, stepping forward. Josh was about to block Leo’s line when the huge lion looked straight at him, shaking his head.
“Let her come to me,” he purred, “I will not hurt any of you.”
Yi jie padded forward and Leo took her in his huge paws and hugged her. Surprised, Yi jie stiffened, but when she felt no threat from the huge paws, and that the claws were retracted, she relaxed a little.
“What’s your name?” Leo asked the female panda.
“My name is Yi jie, she replied.
“Yi Jie, not an English name I think,” Leo purred.
“No, no sir, it’s Chinese,” Yi Jie replied, “my cub’s name is Shuang, and my mate’s is Kuan-Yin. Now, now, I wonder, please sir, could you tell us where we can spend the night?” Leo looked over at Shuang.
“Your cub is exhausted and suffering from the cold,” he mewed, “I think I will prevail upon my brother to allow you all into the house, or as many of you as will come.”
“I ain’t going in no ‘ouse,” Josh snorted, “I’s an ‘orse I is, and ‘ouses ain’t my thing.” Leo looked at the Shetland pony.
“We have stables out the back,” he mewed, “you can stay there. The pandas though, they can come indoors if they will, and there we will take them in our paws and welcome them.” Yi Jie felt Leo’s huge paws holding her, and wondered what the other animals he spoke of were like. She warmed to this huge lion, was his brother as kind and gentle as he was?”
“Hey! Leo, Leo!” Theo yelled, trotting down the track towards his brother. Leo looked at his brother, then back at the female panda cradled in his paws.
“these um, four want a home?” Theo asked, waving a paw at the three pandas and one pony.
“It looks like they do,” Leo mewed, “of course, it’s your call now Theo, you’re leader here.” Theo looked at Yi jie, the panda looking fearfully back at him.
“come with us,” Theo mewed, walking away. Leo, Josh and the three pandas followed.
Once in the garden, Josh left for the stables, while Yi Jie and her family headed for the house.
Crawling into the house, the pandas found themselves surrounded by animals of all descriptions. Yi jie felt her paw taken in that of a large cub, who began to stroke it. Yi jie looked over at the cub, seeing a cat like creature with dirty brown fur and black spots on her face and paws.
“Who are you?” Yi jie asked.
“My name’s fleur,” fleur replied, still stroking her paw. Yi Jie looked into the strange cub’s eyes, her initial reservations vanishing.
“You are a beautiful cub fleur,” Yi jie said, as the paw massage had it’s age old affect. The female panda stretched out on her side, leaving her paws in Fleur’s care. Fleur stroked Yi Jie’s paws, Yi Jie’s cub and mate watching her.
“You are so gentle Fleur,” Shuang said. Fleur smiled at the panda cub.
“Is it normal here for a cub to take hold of a stranger’s paw without warning?” Kuan-Yin asked.
“We said we’d take you in our paws,” Theo mewed, “here we are very tactile, preferring to touch each other to find out mood.”
“So it all turns on how one animal picks up another animal’s paw?” Shuang asked.
“it does,” Fleur mewed, “try it Shuang, go up to, um,” she looked round her, spotted Theo and waved her paw at him.
“Go over to him and pick up his paw,” Fleur purred.
“But, but he’s the leader, I can’t do that!” Shuang protested.
“Do it with consideration and good intentions, and you will be able to take that lion’s paw in yours and stroke it as easily as I did your mum’s,” Fleur replied. Shuang padded across to Theo, and, taking a deep breath, slipped her tiny paw under his left forepaw and lifted it, cupping it in her tiny paws. Theo, seemingly ignoring this, was actually judging the panda cub’s real mood, whether he was safe with her or not. Shuang’s paws told him she was nervous, understandable in the circumstances, but genuinely gentle. Theo curled his toes round the cub’s, holding her paw pads against his.
“Stroke my paws Little cub,” Theo purred, “stroke all four of them. Shuang looked at Theo:
“Are you sure you want me to?” She asked.
“yes,” Theo purred, “you want to make peace with those around you, why not start with the community leader?” Shuang looked at Theo while she stroked his paws, instantly liking the young lion.
“What’s your name?” Shuang asked.
“Theo,” the lion replied, rapidly falling asleep. Shuang noticed Theo’s paws relaxing in her own. Kuan-Yin watched his cub anxiously, fearful that the huge lion, who’s paws she was stroking with sudden familiarity, would turn on her and rip her apart. Kuan-Yin was furious with Yi Jie for falling asleep, for giving in to the strange muddy brown furred cub’s charms so easily. Stamping his paws with rage, he stormed up the stairs to the cubbing den door, bursting in on Elsa and her family.
“What the hell is that!” Leona mewed, waving her paw at Kuan-yin.
“I don’t know for sure,” Elsa replied, “but I think he’s a panda.” Kuan-Yin growled at the lioness and her cubs, furious with fear!
“My mate and cub are down there with your leader and a cat cub with funny fur!” The panda yelled, waving his paw down the stairs, “My cub’s stroking the leader’s paws, and the cub with the funny fur is stroking my mate’s paws! I want you to stop them! It’s wrong!”
“No it’s not,” Jespah mewed, “you don’t know Fleur, she’s lovely!”
“Lovely or not,” Kuan-yin yelled, “she took hold of my mate’s paw as soon as she saw her, and Yi Jie had no choice but to let her have her paw!”
“It might have looked like she had no choice,” Jespah mewed, “but your mate had every opportunity to take her paw from Fleur’s, she chose not to though. I know Fleur’s touch, it’s non invasive, non threatening, and totally lovely.” Kuan-Yin stamped his paw in rage!
“I don’t hold with all this!” He yelled.
“You can always leave,” Elsa mewed, stretching her paws, which unnerved the panda even more.
“no, no, no!” Kuan-Yin protested.
“Then you’ll have to get used to our ways,” won’t you,” Petra mewed. Kuan-Yin turned and fled!
Meanwhile, Brydy, Domino and Rosie were talking to Josh.
“So where have you come from?” Domino asked Josh.
“I’s come from a petting zoo a long way from ‘ere,” Josh replied, “’twas a long walk from ‘ere.”
“What are you saying?” Domino snapped, “Josh, speak English will you!”
“Course I’s speaking English,” Josh whinnied, “you can understands me perfect if you tries.”
“I can, and I’m only a foal,” Rosie said.
“I wish you wouldn’t insist on everyone speaking the queen’s English Domino,” Brydy whinnied, “it would be so boring if we all spoke alike.”
“We’d be able to understand each other a lot easier though!” Domino yelled.
“Na,” Josh replied, “that ain’t right miss, I’s easy to understand, at least I thinks I is.” Rosie rolled on the floor laughing at this.
“You are so funny,” Rosie whinnied.
“I doesn’t think I is,” Josh whinnied, stamping his feet theatrically, playing up to Rosie, who roared with laughter at his antics.
“We’ve got a clown here too,” Domino said wearily.
Meanwhile, Yi Jie had surfaced from her massage induced sleep, feeling totally relaxed from her nose to the toes of all four rather fat paws. She looked at the cub who’d massaged her paws. The muddy brown cub’s paws were chunky, like her own in many ways. Yi Jie reached over and took the cub’s paw in hers, she’d been told the cub’s name, but couldn’t remember it, something to do with flowers she thought, but wasn’t entirely sure. Yi Jie taking her paw woke Fleur, who looked into the female panda’s eyes.
“you do stroke paws well,” Yi Jie said softly, fleur smiling at her words.
“I thought you might like it,” she said, “I could tell it would be of benefit to you.”
“My cub, Shuang,” Yi Jie said, “I don’t know if she might enjoy the same thing, you see, when we were cold in the wood, I tried to warm her paws, but it didn’t work very well.”
“Your cub?” Fleur asked, looking round for the tiny panda cub she’d seen crawling into the house hours before, “she’s only newborn isn’t she?” Yi Jie nodded:
“I was, am still frightened something might happen to her,” the female panda replied, “I don’t know where she is!” Fleur could see Shuang, the cub was asleep in Theo’s paws.
“Your cub is totally safe,” Fleur said, “she’s with my friend, our leader.” Yi Jie followed Fleur’s gaze. She saw her cub in the paws of a young lion.
“He looks as if he loves my cub as much as Kuan-yin does,” Yi Jie said, “is it possible for a lion to love a panda cub as much as her own sire does?”
“Theo is no ordinary lion Yi Jie,” Fleur replied, “while everyone is special in their own way, he’s extra special, in that he’s got abilities noone here understands properly. He can see into the minds of animals. There are one or two here who have that gift. I am not one of them.”
“Don’t do yourself down though Fleur,” Hop along said, “you have healing power.”
“That I might have,” Fleur replied, “but I don’t really know how that works either.”
“Your paws do the healing,” Hop along mewed, “that’s all you need to know.”
“You have the touch, that’s for sure,” Yi Jie said.
Kuan-Yin came stamping into the room. Seeing his mate holding the paw of the cub with the muddy brown fur, he demanded to know what was going on!
“This cub’s, well, helping me,” Yi Jie said. She looked helplessly at fleur, begging her silently to remind her of her name.
“This cub?” Kuan-Yin asked, “Fleur’s nothing but a sorceress! I’ve heard of her powers!” fleur growled at the panda, which alerted ~Theo and Leo, who both fixed him with hostile stares.
“Don’t you dare talk of sorcery,” Leo snarled.
“Why not!” Kuan-Yin yelled, “she’s horrid, with huge fat paws, and she made my mate go to sleep! Now, now I come down from a hostile talk with a lioness and her many cubs, to be confronted by the sight of my mate holding the paw of this, this funny furred cat cub!”
“Fleur’s lovely,” Yi Jie said. Kuan-Yin suddenly ran round and kicked Fleur hard! Fleur grunted with pain, curling into a tight ball to protect herself. Suddenly Kuan-Yin found himself on his back on the floor, a huge lion on top of him! Leo belted the panda across his nose with one huge paw!
“Now you will pay for that!” Leo snarled, “you dare to assault one of our cubs! You will now learn what happens if you get on the wrong side of us!” Yi Jie didn’t bother pleading for mercy for her mate, for she knew he wouldn’t get any from this community, and privately, she felt he deserved none at all. Yi Jie had long ago realised the community was gentle to those who needed help, and would give everything they had to help anyone, but attack any of their number, including fat cubs with muddy brown fur, there would be trouble.
Kuan-Yin began to cry, for the lion’s paw was hard. Leo had smacked the panda with his paw open, toes spread so the pads were hard and unyielding. Couple this with the strength of an angry lion in the prime of his life, and there was really no contest the panda could offer.
Yi Jie wondered what she could do, when she realised Fleur was still beside her, curled in a miserable mewing heap on the floor. The female panda, realising her own cub was safe, transferred her attentions to fleur, stroking, licking and nuzzling the cross bred cub until fleur relaxed enough to let her take a look for any possible injury. Yi Jie found Fleur was only bruised, but still she tended to the cub, stroking and massaging her from her nose to the end of her long tail. Shuang saw what her mother was doing, and, crawling over to fleur, began to help Yi Jie out, working on Fleur’s hind paws with her tiny forepaws. Fleur curled her toes round Shuang’s as the tiny panda cub stroked her pads and toes.
“You are so gentle little one,” fleur whispered. Shuang smiled and patted the pads of Fleur’s right hind paw. Yi Jie looked at her cub.
“Are your paws warm now little cub?” She asked. Shuang smiled and nodded. Kuan-Yin saw his mate and cub stroking the funny furred cat cub, and snarled with anger! Clenching his paws, the male panda battered at Leo’s head, the lion casually opening his mouth and clamping the Panda’s head in his jaws. Kuan-Yin stopped struggling, now scared as well as disgusted at what the lion had done. Feeling the panda relax, Leo released his head.
“That was horrible!” Kuan-Yin yelled, wiping his face with his paw, “that’s disgusting!”
“That’s the lion’s death hold Kuan-Yin,” Theo mewed.
“You, you wanted to kill me?” the male panda asked.
“I don’t know,” Leo growled, “I am very loyal to fleur, and after your behaviour today, I might just murder you! You do not kick our cubs!”
“I hate that scruffy brown furred thing!” Kuan-yin yelled.
“Well, you can leave then!” Shuang shouted. Yi Jie looked at her cub.
“You can’t say that to your sire!” she remonstrated.
“Oh yes I can!” Shuang snapped, “especially when he meant to do Fleur harm. Fleur’s a lovely cub, and Kuan-Yin was horrid to her, and I hate him for it, and there was no need for him to be horrid to her, and he’s upset me and Fleur!” Yi Jie couldn’t deny the severity of Kuan-Yin’s actions.
“I will spare you as you have a cub,” Leo snarled, “but mark my words, if you do anything like this again Kuan-Yin, you’ll be hunted down and eaten! I promise you that!” Theo looked at his brother, shocked at his words.
“Leo, no!” he protested.
“I’ve never eaten panda before,” Leo snarled, “but I will if this panda puts a paw out of line!” Then Leo opened his mouth and roared! The sound reverberated around the room, and Yi Jie hugged her cub as the sound seemed to shake the ground beneath her paws.
Leo’s roar brought Elsa and her cubs down from the cubbing den, Elsa terrified and her cubs excited by the sound.
“Lock the panda up!” Bruin yelled.
“Agreed,” Elsa mewed, “I know Leo wouldn’t pounce on the panda unless he had very good reason.”
“He kicked fleur! He kicked Fleur!” Shuang sobbed, now terrified.
“What!” Elsa asked, her fur bristling with anger, “is this true?”
“yes, it’s true, it’s all true!” Shuang yelled. Elsa felt the cub’s words to be truthful, but looked at Theo for confirmation. The lion nodded at her.
“Now I will take revenge on Fleur’s behalf!” Elsa yelled, leaping at Kuan-Yin. Leo rolled off the panda, letting Elsa take his place in pinning the panda to the floor. Kuan-Yin realised he was in real trouble now. Not only was he pinned down by a member of an enraged community, the mother of the cub he’d attacked was the one pinning him down!
Josh watched the goings on in the house from his stable, which had a window looking into the house. He hadn’t heard what had gone on in the house, but he knew things must be bad if the lions were taking their revenge on Kuan-Yin. Josh yanked on a rope beside the window and the window raised itself. Josh could now put his head into the living room and let the pandas stroke him. Raising the window, Josh was able to hear the yelling and screaming coming from the enraged lions and terrified panda.
“Shut up all of you!” Josh whinnied. The noise switched itself off as everyone stared at the Shetland pony, or as much of him as they could see.
“You lot are making one ‘ell of a racket!” the pony squealed.
“Oh sorry, sorry, sorry,” Leo spat, he hated the horses.
“You doesn’t need to make such a bloody noise though does you?” Josh whinnied.
“You keep your long nose out of this!” Leo snarled, leaping to his feet and rushing at the window. Josh recoiled, yanking the rope to close the window, the window crashing down on Leo’s paws! Leo screamed and fought to free himself. Josh hauled on the rope, crushing Leo’s paws as hard as he could with the weight of the window and his pressure on the rope. Leo couldn’t free himself, and began to cry with pain. Josh leant back, the rope in his mouth. Leo, his nose inches from the glass screamed and screamed with pain!
“Quick!” fleur mewed, “let’s all get onto the rope on our side, we might be able to pull against the horse!” While Fleur and the other cubs sprinted for the rope which opened the window on their side, Theo and Salty ran round to the stables from the outside, and, bursting in, attacked Josh! The horse, seeing the enraged animals coming for him, dropped the rope, enabling the cubs to pull the rope and free Leo! Leo fell to the carpet, crying with fear and pain. Fleur, Aslan and Petra dragged Leo away, while the other adult animals, except Elsa who still pinned down Kuan-Yin, streamed outside to deal with Josh. Josh, seeing polar bears, otters, leopards and other animals coming for him, turned and kicked his way out of the stables! Charging for the wood, Josh fled!
Meanwhile, Leo lay on the carpet, while fleur and her group of cubs, numbering all the cubs in the household, did their best to comfort and soothe him. Leo felt tiny paws stroking him from all angles, and it felt wonderful. Some of the cubs even attempted to stroke his crushed paws, Leo gently putting a stop to this with soft, firm growling and withdrawal of his paws, , as paw massage hurt him too much.
Meanwhile, three snow leopards, one lion, and uncountable bears of varying description chased Josh into the wood, baying for his blood.
Josh ran for his life, Theo snapping at his tail!
Meanwhile, back in the living room, Leo and the cubs settled down together, Leo marshalling the cubs round him, realising the value of each one of the tiny creatures. The cubs might have been marshalled by fleur, and shown by her what they should do to soothe Leo’s pain, but after that, they’d improvised, stroking, massaging, and sometimes tickling Leo to make him forget his painful paws. It had worked wonders for the lion, who now lay contentedly on the floor. Leo’s paws were checked over by Fleur, who gently examined them with her paws. She found dislocated toes and bruising, but other than that, very little damage. This was probably down to the draught excluders on the windows, which prevented the hard metal frames from crushing and injuring Leo’s paws further. Fleur looked up at Leo, the lion’s eyes showing her plainly he was in pain.
“the sooner we do this, the better it will be,” Fleur said, “I’m going to relocate your toes Leo.” Leo mewed pitifully, but gave her his paw.
“Now curl your toes Leo, curl them really hard!” Fleur said. Leo did as she asked, but the pain was too much, and he couldn’t get them to the point where they would relocate to their proper places. So fleur grabbed Leo’s paw and curled his toes for him, the lion roaring and screaming with pain! Fleur quickly made sure the toes on Leo’s left forepaw were back in place, then worked on his right forepaw. Leo, crying with pain and fear, swore at Fleur, telling her she was a bitch, a sod, a swine, and many other things which can’t be printed here. Fleur ignored him, getting on with her work of relocating his toes. With a final scrunch, the last of Leo’s toes were repositioned, and his pain was reduced to a dull ache. Leo, when he realised fleur had cured his pain, began weeping with joy, not anger. He threw his paws round the cub, hugging her and kissing her on her nose. Fleur laughed merrily and playfully batted at Leo’s whiskers throughout all his attentions.
Theo and the others returned soon after this, Theo expecting to have to perform major first aid on Leo. When he saw his brother not only putting weight on his once injured paws, but letting cubs stroke and tickle them, he could hardly believe his eyes.
“But I saw you fall on the floor Leo!” Theo said straight off, “you couldn’t walk on those paws, let alone let cubs touch them!”
“It’s all thanks to these cubs, Fleur in particular,” Leo said, briefly telling his brother the story. Theo looked at Fleur.
“We all owe you a lot fleur,” Theo said, “thank you.” Fleur hid her face behind one huge spotted paw, embarrassed by Theo’s words.
Meanwhile, Josh hid in the wood, realising slamming the window on Leo’s paws was a bad enough mistake, attempting to crush his paws with the window was worse!
Josh knew Theo would kill him if he got the chance, so he kept an eye out for the lion.
What Josh didn’t realise was that another lion, one who he’d not met or even seen yet was prowling the wood. Clarence knew from Tib of Josh’s arrival, and of his attack on Leo. Now Clarence saw Leo’s attacker, and the horse was very aware it seemed. Clarence knew Theo had chased Josh from the house, so maybe the horse wasn’t looking for any other lions to appear. Clarence turned his paws on their sides, and crawled towards the horse. When he was within ten feet, Clarence got to his feet and charged! Josh had no time to react! He heard the drumming of paws on leaves, then felt a huge weight slam into him! Josh lashed out, but the thing was on top of him, and bringing him down! Josh hit the floor with a crash! Clarence stood over the prostrate horse.
“You ill prepared nag!” Clarence yelled at Josh, who shook from nose to tail when he saw who’d brought him down.
“You ain’t gonna do nothing to me is you?” Josh panted.
“I don’t know,” Clarence replied, “I can’t really trap your hooves in the window like you did Leo’s paws, for that wouldn’t be practical, nor would it hurt you in any way.” Josh saw the lion’s huge paws and angry eyes.
“I’s leaving anyway,” Josh whinnied, “I doesn’t like the other animals in this place, them’s too weird! I was attacked by leopards and bears! ‘ow does them gets together like that! This community is un’ealthy! I saw a panda stroking the paws of a snow leopard tiger type cub. That ain’t right! Nor is lions comforting panda cubs, but that’s what I saw ‘appen!” Clarence wasn’t surprised by Josh’s account.
“We are a very gentle and tolerant community,” Clarence said.
“Oh yeah, I’s nearly forgetting,” Josh whinnied, “a bleedin’ great lioness ‘as got Kuan-Yin pinned down under ‘er body. ‘e attacked ‘er cub or something.” Clarence knew who Kuan-Yin was, and also knew who the lioness was too.
“Elsa must be pretty mad to attack a panda,” Clarence said, “what did Kuan-Yin do?”
“’e kicked the cub with the muddy fur I thinks,” Josh replied.
“You don’t get away with kicking Elsa’s cubs,” Clarence mewed.
“no,” Josh replied, the weight of the lion’s presence beginning to tell now, “I can sees that. Look, would you let me go? I’ll go, I’ll never trouble you again!” Clarence lifted himself off Josh, keeping one paw in contact with the horse until he could leap out of range of the dangerous hooves.
“Now,” Clarence said, “leave here Josh! If you come back here, then I will tear you to bits!” Josh got to his feet and shuffled away, much relieved, but also grateful to the lion for doing no more than knocking him down. That lion could have torn him to bits, but he didn’t even hint at it. He’d discussed the possibility of harming Josh, but hadn’t done so. Josh was more grateful to the lion than he could put into words.
Clarence watched Josh leave. He knew Theo probably wouldn’t approve of his soft pawed approach to the horse who’d caused Leo so much pain, but Clarence hoped that the threat of retribution if Josh came back to the community would be enough.
Clarence returned to the house, to find Elsa still pinning Kuan-Yin down. The panda looked terrified, having been on his back now for close on an hour and a half with Elsa almost sitting smack on top of him.
“Let me go!” the male panda begged.
“Only if you apologise to fleur, and promise her and the rest of my cubs that you’ll leave them alone!” Elsa yelled into Kuan-Yin’s face. Kuan-Yin replied that all he wanted to do was to leave this dreadful place, taking his cub and mate with him.
“We’re not leaving,” Yi Jie said to her mate.
“this is no place for pandas!” Kuan-Yin yelled.
“It’s the place for me,” Shuang replied dreamily, for Fleur was now stroking her paws.
“Me too,” Yi Jie replied, Theo stroking her paws. Kuan-Yin could not see where his mate and cub were, nor who was stroking them, but he could tell they were being stroked by other animals.
“If you let me get up, I will talk to Fleur and to the rest of your cubs,” Kuan-Yin said to Elsa. Elsa levered herself off of the panda, and he got to his feet.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” Kuan-Yin yelled as he caught sight of his mate and cub in the paws of the community leader and funny furred cub respectively.
“We can tell we are loved here,” Yi Jie said.
“Yes,” Shuang replied, “I know we are loved here.” Kuan-Yin stamped out of the house, furious with the whole setup.
“All this touching of noses, whiskers and paws,” he grumbled, “it’s unnatural behaviour! Especially when there are predators hugging potential prey animals!” Theo listened to his ranting, but ignored it, concentrating on stroking and massaging Yi Jie’s paws.
Kuan-Yin slept in the stable that night, unable to cope with the community’s behaviour.
Smile, you’re on camera!
Kuan-Yin slept fitfully on the straw in the stall which Josh had stood in only an hour previously. The panda was uneasy about his mate’s whole sale adoption of the tactile ways of the community, for this was not how pandas usually did things, they were from a very paws off culture. Yi Jie however had let the community take her and her cub quite literally in their paws and embrace them. Kuan-Yin was sure Yi Jie had given those who stroked and massaged her paws permission to do so in some form or other. Kuan-Yin knew his mate and cub were happier than they’d been for a long time, and they had all the delights of the house and its many facilities to explore and enjoy. He knew Yi Jie and Shuang would take the opportunities offered by their new friends in both paws and give back to the community as much as they received. Kuan-Yin however, felt he could not give the community anything. he hated the sight of strange animals, such as the muddy brown cat cub, which the other animals, including his mate and cub seemed to accept without question. Kuan-Yin felt he must leave the community as soon as possible. He felt he did not belong in such an open, tactile environment.
Kuan-Yin left the stable after dark, vowing never to return to the community. He didn’t want long goodbyes, they would only upset Yi Jie and Shuang, and lead to awkward questions. Also, Kuan-Yin admitted to himself that he could not face the sight of the funny furred cat cub again. Just to look at her made him feel sick. Kuan-Yin left the garden and met up with Josh, who was still hiding in the wood.
“I’ve left the community,” Kuan-Yin said to Josh, who touched the panda’s ear with his muzzle.
“I’s not surprised you ‘as,” the Shetland pony said, “I’s not wanted there either.”
“No,” Kuan-Yin replied, “it’s not that I’m not wanted, it’s just that I can’t stand their way of life. It’s too informal, too tactile, too friendly. They have little to no restraint! They’re always touching each other’s paws, hugging and stroking each other, and tickling each other’s paws! That’s strange behaviour! Also, it’s not one bear stroking another bear’s paws, it’s a tiger stroking a bear’s paws, or a bear stroking an otters, or a lion hugging a snow leopard! It’s too much for me Josh!” Josh let the male panda get onto his back, and, making sure he held on tight, cantered away from the house.
Tib watched Kuan-Yin and Josh leaving, telling Yi Jie and Shuang what was happening. Yi Jie was sad to see her mate go, but she knew the community wouldn’t stand for Kuan-Yin’s attitude. Yi Jie felt sure that, sooner or later, another panda would turn up wanting a home. Yi Jie turned away from the window, her heart heavy, but knowing deep down Kuan-Yin wouldn’t survive in the community.
Padding away from the window, Yi Jie and her cub settled down together, Shuang curling up in the curve of her mother’s body. Yi Jie closed her eyes, taking her cub’s paw in hers. Shuang kissed her mother on her nose.
“Sleep well mum,” Shuang whispered.
Theo looked at the two pandas. They were so beautiful, he could hardly take his eyes off them. Theo, wanting to be close to these two bears, curled up beside them, taking Shuang’s free forepaw in both of his, the cub working her tiny paw into his large fat ones.
“I could sleep here,” Theo thought, closing his eyes and resting his head on the carpet. Theo and the pandas slept for a long time, and when they woke, Yi Jie looked at Theo and smiled warmly.
“You comforted my cub Theo,” she said.
“I think we both did that,” Theo mewed. Shuang looked at Theo, touching his nose with her tiny paw.
“I love you Theo,” she said softly, her words bringing tears to the lion’s eyes. Theo embraced Shuang as tightly as he dared, the cub snuggling hard into his fur. Yi Jie saw Shuang’s reaction to Theo and knew it was genuine.
“She loves you dearly,” the female giant panda said. Theo nuzzled Shuang’s ear, the cub burying her head in his mane.
“I love her too,” Theo said, “I love both of you.” Yi Jie crawled over to Theo and kissed him on his nose.
“How about if we take it in turns to hug Theo?” Shuang asked. So the two pandas did just that, each embracing Theo tightly, the lion returning their hugs as firmly as he dared.
“Hug me tighter! Go on Theo!” Shuang urged, Theo terrified he’d crush the cub. He did as she asked, and realised Shuang was quite tough. The cub pressed herself hard into Theo’s fur, Theo still reluctant to hug her as tightly as he would Elsa, or one of his own cubs, in case he hurt her.
Shuang relaxed, her body warmed by the lion’s fur.
“Now you have adopted my cub Theo,” Yi Jie said. Theo smiled:
“I think she adopted me,” he purred.
Elsa took Yi Jie in her paws and hugged her, the female panda snuggling up to her.
“I can tell why your cubs helped Leo so well now,” Yi Jie said, “both of you are so gentle it rubs off on your cubs.” Elsa smiled and nuzzled her ear.
“We are a kind, tolerant, generous and gentle community,” she purred, “but anger us, and we will defend our own.” Yi Jie knew this very well. She’d had both sides of the community demonstrated to her with fantastic affect on her mate and their pony friend, as well as had her own paws and those of her cub stroked by various community members.
Yi Jie examined Elsa from nose to tail. The lioness had gentle eyes, and now was relaxed, whereas she’d been very upset only a short time ago. Yi Jie looked at Elsa’s left forepaw, the pads of which she could see for the lioness’s paw was resting on its side on the carpet. The fur on the sole of Elsa’s paw was golden brown, the pads black, her toes looking rather delicate and not very powerful. Yi Jie knew this was deceptive, and reminded herself never to give Elsa reason to be angry with her.
Elsa noticed the panda examining her and flexed her paws, extending and retracting her claws for display purposes. Yi Jie remembered Kuan-Yin screaming something about a raging lioness threatening to attack him. She realised the lioness must have been Elsa, but didn’t think she could possibly have threatened him. Elsa seemed too gentle to harm anyone.
Fleur watched all this, knowing it would be she who taught Shuang to swim. Rolling onto her back, fleur set to closely inspecting her paws. Seeing her doing this, Shuang trotted over and took hold of Fleur’s left forepaw.
“May I?” She asked, gently taking Fleur’s paw and stroking her pads. The cross bred cub smiled up at the panda cub.
“I like that,” she purred. Shuang continued stroking Fleur’s paws. Yi Jie watched her cub. Yi Jie knew she was at peace with this community, that she and her cub were now part of it. Fleur put an end to Shuang’s paw stroking and rolled onto her paws.
“How about if you, your mum and I go to the pool?” fleur asked Shuang, who hadn’t got a clue what a pool was.
“I don’t know,” the cub said, “what is a pool? Is it safe?”
“I know what a pool is,” Yi Jie said, “and it’s totally safe. I think we’ll go with fleur and see what this pool has to offer.” Jespah and Aslan padded into the room at the mention of the pool.
“You two want to come to the pool as well?” Fleur asked.
“I think, well, Bianca does too,” Jespah replied.
“Who are these cubs?” Yi Jie asked.
“I know them,” Shuang said quickly, though she’d hardly met the lion cubs, nor had she really met Bianca.
“What are their names then?” Yi Jie asked her cub.
“Um, er, Aslan ,and , and Jespah,” Shuang replied, but her mother wasn’t convinced she knew the cubs at all, and, striding up to her, whacked her with her paw for telling lies.
“Ouch!” Shuang yelled, “what was that for?”
“Telling lies!” Yi Jie snapped, “I won’t have you pretending to know these cubs when you don’t!”
“Don’t worry Yi Jie,” Fleur said, trying not to laugh, “Aslan and Jespah are my brother cubs, they won’t hurt you or Shuang.” Yi Jie looked Aslan and Jespah over, seeing Aslan as a confident cub, the look in his eyes one of quiet power, Jespah as a slightly insecure individual, but seemingly as gentle as Fleur herself.
Hop along padded over to the pandas and looked down at them. Seeing him, Yi Jie sprang at Shuang and lay across her body to protect her.
“why is a tiger showing interest in us?” She whimpered.
“That’s hop along, he’s gentle, he won’t harm you,” Fleur mewed. Hop along raised a huge paw and touched Yi Jie’s back with his pads. The panda wailed with fear.
“I won’t harm you,” Hop along purred. Shuang wriggled until she got free of Yi Jie’s embrace, much to her mother’s fury, and looked up at Hop along. His eyes were gentle, and the paw now resting lightly on the carpet looked powerful, but non threatening. Fleur then had an idea, and signalled to Hop along with her paw, glancing at his right hind paw. Hop along guessed what she meant and, lying down, let Fleur go up to him, take his right hind paw in both of her forepaws and begin to stroke it. Yi Jie watched in astonishment.
“How, how can you just order a tiger to lie down like that so you can stroke his paws? It’s not natural!” She said. Hop along, his eyes now closed, mewed that for him, having his paws massaged was the most natural thing in the world. Fleur finished stroking Hop along’s pads and toes, and gently patted his paw to tell him she’d finished her work.
“I’d like to get to know fleur even more now I know she can make a tiger roll over and give her his paws,” Shuang thought.
By the time they got to the pool, Fleur’s party numbered several animals, Tinka and Hop along, Theo, Elsa, Two pandas, three lion cubs, Petra having joined Jespah and Aslan, two snow leopard cubs, Whitie and Blanche, and one Bengal tiger cub, Bianca.
They all trooped off to the pool, Fleur careful to marshal everyone before heading for the pool.
“I really should have another responsible set of paws to help me keep a check on you lot,” she said, glancing at Petra. The white cub padded to Fleur’s side. Bianca looked at Fleur, but Fleur shook her head at her.
“You’re not old enough yet my friend,” fleur said softly, Bianca reading her lips.
“But you’ll give the job to Petra though won’t you!” Blanche snapped, spitting at fleur.
“Petra’s large and can get herself out of trouble if need be,” Fleur mewed, “Bianca’s not large enough to pull herself out of trouble, let alone someone else.”
“I thought you two were quite close,” blanche said, “why not give Bianca a job, you know, cronyism n’all that.” Whitie raised her paw and hit her sister hard!
“That’s wrong!” She snapped, “Fleur’s right, Bianca is too small! I’ve hugged Bianca and she’s not very strong! If she can’t save herself, how is she going to rescue others?”
“Shut up!” Blanche spat, “you would rather we all just let those with the bigger paws walk all over us Whitie!” blanche yelled, slapping her older sister, “Well I won’t! I demand jobs for those who deserve them, not for those who are favourites of a disgusting dirty cub!” Fleur bristled with anger.
“Dirty cub?” She asked, squaring up to blanche, “come over here and say that if you’re cat enough!” Blanche realised she’d screwed up. She’d never spoken to fleur, let alone touched her, and didn’t know the cub with the funny fur. Whitie on the other hand had touched Fleur, stroked her paws, and been hugged by her, so knew the large cross bred cub’s dimensions. Needless to say, Whitie was concerned for her sister cub, but reasoned Blanche was old enough to make her own mistakes, and this was a big one.
“Ok I will!” Blanche snarled, striding up to fleur, getting far too close for Whitie’s comfort. She knew you shouldn’t get too close to an enemy, and blanche had.
“You are a disgusting, fat, brown, spotty cub Fleur!” Blanche yelled. Fleur’s paw caught Blanche on the side of her face with shattering force! Blanche screamed as she felt Fleur’s toes dragging down her face! Fleur deliberately hadn’t extended her claws, making her threat that bit more potent.
“You thought I wasn’t so large as all that didn’t you Blanche,” Fleur said calmly, “Well blanche, my dear, dear, cub, feel me, feel from my nose, to the end of my tail, feel my ears, feel my paws, feel my claws!” Saying this Fleur pricked Blanche with the claws of the paw she’d hit her with. Blanche whimpered and withdrew hurriedly.
“You won’t do that again will you,” Whitie said to her sister.
“You, you knew didn’t you Whitie!” Blanche said, “you knew fleur was huge, you knew her paws were vast!”
“I knew, for I’d hugged her and been hugged by her,” Whitie mewed. Blanche swore at her sister.
“I hate you!” She mewed, “why didn’t you warn me!”
“You had already said inexcusable things to Fleur,” Whitie said, “anyway, you’re mature enough to know your own mind now, and if you say these things and truly believe them, you must take whatever consequences arise from airing your views. It’s not my fault you haven’t hugged Fleur.”
I don’t go in for that,” Blanche spat, “all this paw stroking stuff! Ugh! I only let you stroke my paws because you’re my sister and that’s what we’ve always done. I won’t stroke Fleur’s paws though, oh no!”
“Bianca will be given a job in time,” Petra said, “but she’s a cub at the moment, and so is Fleur, though Fleur’s hardly been allowed to have a cubhood. Today she will have to be a cub thinking like an adult, but very soon, I hope, Jespah will show her how to be a cub again. You and Whitie have been fortunate to have a loving cubhood, Fleur has been less fortunate.”
Petra’s words silenced Blanche, who padded away, stopping every few paces to raise a paw and massage her aching jaw where Fleur’s open pawed slap had connected with it.
“Now,” fleur said, “let’s all go to the pool proper, and remember, no running or bombing!” The animals trooped into the pool, Blanche still very subdued.
Whitie did her best to raise her sister’s spirits, but Blanche was not to be consoled. She’d been thumped by a cub younger than herself, and this greatly upset her.
Petra stayed in the pool with the majority of the animals, while Fleur, Yi Jie, Shuang and Jespah went to the top of the slides. Shuang stood in the tray at the top of the tube slide and looked into it.
“So you just lie down and let the water carry you into the tube?” the panda cub asked. Fleur nodded.
“that you do,” she replied. Yi Jie looked at Fleur.
“Is this safe?” She asked.
“yes,” Fleur said.
“That’s not what you said to me,” Jespah mewed.
“you mean it’s not safe?” Yi Jie asked.
“I told Jespah it was as safe as we could make it,” Fleur replied, “of course things aren’t safe if you misuse them.” The bell went off, making the pandas look round in fear.
“it’s only the safety systems telling you it’s okay to go down the slide,” Jespah said, “there’s a light too, look.” He waved his paw at the wall above the slide. The light was green. Seeing this, Shuang threw herself hind paws first down the slide. Yi Jie screamed and ran to the top of the slide, but it was too late.
“How can we rescue her!” Yi Jie yelled. Fleur looked at a box on the wall, it had a screen on it, a microphone, and a big green button. Fleur, having seen all these things before, apart from the button, pressed the button to see what happened. She immediately saw the bottom of the slide in colour, Shuang sitting in the bottom of the slide looking bewildered.
“My cub’s all right, thank heavens for that!” Yi Jie said, happy to see her cub, and not at all phased by the technology. Fleur picked up the Microphone and a red light glowed. Tapping the top of the Microphone with her paw, she heard a faint tapping sound.
“What is it?” Jespah asked. Petra suddenly ran up the slope.
“What the hell’s going on up here!” she yelled, “there’s a banging sound!”
“I think I’ve got it!” fleur yelled, her voice broadcast throughout the complex. Petra, fearing the thing fleur held in her paw, grabbed it and shoved it back in the hole which it had come from. The silence was restored, but Yi Jie was glad fleur had grabbed the thing, as Fleur’s voice had frightened Shuang into getting out of the slide.
“It, it spoke!” Jespah mewed, now shaking with fear.
“it didn’t, I did!” fleur said, her eyes sparkling with delight, “it’s a system like the boss uses, it makes my voice louder, so everyone can hear it down in the main slide area and all over the building. The picture you’re seeing is of the bottom of the two slides, see? The screen is split, one side shows this tube slide, the other shows the other open slide. Fleur was nearly dancing on her toes with excitement.
“I don’t like it,” Petra mewed, “it’s as dangerous as that lift thing!”
“No it’s not!” fleur yelled, “look, I’ll show you. We can see Hop along walking past the camera, that’s what is watching him, a camera, well, forget that, we can see him, and if I pick up the Microphone and talk into it, I can communicate with him too, though he can’t with us. Watch!” Fleur picked up the Microphone and said:
“Hop along, this is fleur, please stop walking.” Yi Jie and the others saw Hop along stop walking, and stare straight into the camera lens, an expression of total astonishment on his face.
“Hop along,” fleur said, “please, would you raise your left forepaw?” Hop along looked slightly confused but complied. By this time, all the adult animals and the other cubs left in the main part of the pool were crowding round Hop along, some of them obviously thinking he’d lost his mind.
“You’re talking to him through that thing!” Petra mewed.
“Hop along can hear me, and so can all the others,” Fleur replied. Petra raised her paw to wave at the other animals, much to Fleur’s amusement.
“NO Petra dear,” she said, trying not to laugh, “they can’t see you.” Petra looked downcast.
“Why not?” She asked.
“the cameras giving the pictures you’re seeing are only downstairs, they aren’t here. There are cameras here, but That’s another control room that is.”
“You mean we’re being watched?” Jespah asked.
“yes,” Fleur replied, “there are cameras all over this place. They’re there, for, um, safety. We’re being listened to as well.”
“Why?” Petra asked, “isn’t it a bit intrusive?”
“I don’t know,” Fleur replied, “I was told by Tigger that there are cameras and microphones everywhere.”
“There certainly are,” a voice said, seeming to come from nowhere.
“Tigger?” Fleur asked, “where are you”
“I’m in the main control room with Snowy, oh, and by the way Hop along, you can put your paw on the ground now.” Hop along, the relief on his face plain for all to see, placed his paw on the ground.
“this is more interesting than the slide!” fleur yelled.
“Even more so when you get up here and see what I can,” Snowy said. Fleur nearly threw herself down the slide with excitement.
“Where do we meet you?” she asked.
“fleur,” Tigger said, “your duty is to get Yi Jie and Jespah safely down the slide, do that, and then wait for instructions.” Fleur felt strange. She’d never been commanded like this. Carefully, in case she should anger the voice, she let Jespah climb into the tube slide, and watched as he left her. Watching on the screen, Fleur saw Jespah emerge from the tube at the bottom, and then get out. Yi Jie then clambered into the tube slide, fleur letting her go when the bell rang. Fleur could feel her paws becoming damp, her heart racing as her excitement at the new technology increased.
“Now they’re all down the slide,” Fleur said, wiping her damp paws on a towel she’d found by the consol.
“go to the top of the spiral slope and close the gate,” Tigger said. Fleur did so, “Now lock the gate with the handle by pulling it down,” Tigger said. Fleur did as she was asked, hearing the lift arrive on the other side of the glass door. She waited for more instructions. Fleur heard the door open, then:
“Turn round Fleur.” Fleur turned, and nearly fell over with shock! Tigger stood there, wearing the most ridiculous grin and sporting something in his left ear. The tiger purred, the sound reverberating all over the complex. Tigger reached up with one paw and did something to the thing in his ear.
“Now,” Tigger said, “I will take you to the control room. The boss monitors this place. You wouldn’t know it though, for he’s careful not to be seen by any of us. He’s not up there now.” Fleur waved a paw at Tigger’s ear, forgetting he couldn’t see her.
“Tigger can’t see you Fleur,” a voice, obviously Snowy’s said. Fleur’s paws nearly left the floor!
“Oh, um, yes,” she mewed, “um, Tigger, that thing in your ear, what is it?”
“it’s an advanced type of two way radio,” Tigger replied, “it isn’t usually broadcast throughout the complex, but we can do so if needed. This means that if something goes wrong in one part of the complex and we need to alert the whole place, we can by calling the control room and then they can relay it to the whole place. My radio’s turned off at the moment, but it can easily be turned on again. Fleur took Tigger’s paw.
“come,” Tigger said, “let’s go upstairs and see where we control this whole place.”
They took the lift up one floor, Tigger putting his paw against a screen inside the lift and pressing the lever upwards.
“Why are you putting your paw against that screen,” Fleur asked.
“Paw print recognition,” Tigger replied, “it makes sure those who are not allowed up here don’t get up here. Yours will be scanned into the system later on, as you have this job now. Mine will be taken off the system,” Tigger added miserably.
“Not if I don’t want it to be,” Fleur replied.
“Suppose not,” Tigger mewed, still furious with himself.
“anyway,” Tigger said, “it’s a way of keeping undesirable animals out. We don’t want animals like Amber or a mischievous cub getting into the control room, if they did, they could cause all kinds of trouble.” By now Fleur and Tigger had reached the floor they wanted, and Tigger led the way into the control room, which was paw print protected, just as the lift had been. Inside, fleur felt deep carpet beneath her paws, and there was the lingering smell of coffee, a smell which excited Fleur, as she often enjoyed a cup or two. A cup which she’d steal from the boss’s coffee pot once he’d finished with it, for he rarely drank all the coffee in the pot. The drink put Fleur on a high, made her more alert, and woke her of a morning. The two animals padded into the control room, where fleur saw lots of screens similar to the one she’d seen by the slide downstairs, and lots of swivel chairs, in one of which sat snowy intent on one of the screens, which showed a view of the main pool, where Petra, Shuang and Yi Jie were playing.
“Neat isn’t it,” snowy mewed, not taking her eyes from the screen. Then Fleur saw why she hadn’t taken her eyes off the screen, she was watching her and Tigger on a second screen she’d brought up on her main monitor.
“We can look almost anywhere with the cameras, and it’s all recorded on a huge hard drive and backups are taken every day,” Snowy said. Fleur watched as Snowy reached out a paw and moved a lever. The view of the control room vanished from the screen, to be replaced with one of a back view of Hop along staring into the water of the main pool. They could also hear everything that was going on wherever the main operator pointed the camera. The other cameras monitored parts of the complex, but the sound from them wasn’t audible until Snowy selected it.
“Now let me show you how detailed a shot from one of the cameras can be,” snowy said, almost rubbing her paws together with delight at the technology she had at her command.
“Hop along,” Snowy said gently, “this is snowy. Hop along turned and stared into the camera.
“Where are you?” he asked the wall in front of him, but Snowy heard him.
“I’m up in the control room,” snowy replied, “There’s nothing to worry about. Hop along, you are on camera.” Snowy zoomed in on Hop along’s face, Hop along’s face filling the screen, the whites of the tiger’s eyes clearly visible. Hop along, hearing he was on camera, stuck his tongue out at the watchers, making Fleur laugh helplessly.
“I’ll grab you a radio set,” Tigger said, cantering over to a set of drawers. Opening one, he dipped a paw in and came out with a small device identical to the one he wore.
“Put this in your ear,” Tigger said to Fleur, clipping it over her ear so the earpiece settled on the soft inner fur of Fleur’s ear. Fleur glanced over at Tigger’s set, then pressed the button on her own set, and adjusted the volume, then switched the radio off. Once she was comfortable with this, she looked at Tigger.
“So we can talk privately with this, or we can talk to the whole place?” She asked. Tigger nodded.
“I don’t know if all this is a good thing,” Fleur said, “I don’t think I like being watched, or listened to for that matter.”
“We’re watched every day,” snowy said, “listened to too I don’t’ doubt.
“yes,” Fleur snapped, “well I don’t like it! Watched yes, because we need to be kept safe, but listened to? Where undesirable people can hear our every word and private thought? You lot must have had a field day when Tinka and Hop along were in the bathtub! You saw everything and heard every dam word!” Snowy grimaced, hitting a button on the panel in front of her. They saw Hop along’s anger on the screen, and realised he’d heard enough. Leaping up at the wall, he tried to claw at the camera, though he couldn’t reach it! He was seen and heard screaming some disgusting words at snowy and her technology.
Fleur looked at Tigger.
“Can he get up here?” She asked. Snowy pressed a button on the consol in front of her.
“Now he can’t,” she mewed. Fleur swore under her breath.
“Why all this security!” She yelled.
“the security is to keep members of the public out, not to keep us in,” Snowy mewed, It might seen harsh, but up here we can do a lot of things, lock down the whole centre, call the emergency services, stop the slides, even slam the doors if needed. The minute the fire alarm goes off, the doors close for safety.” Fleur’s toes curled as she watched Hop along’s attempts to get to the camera. Then he ran to the left, snowy following him with her camera. She quickly worked the levers in her paws, controlling the cameras, almost lovingly coaxing the cameras to do their work.
“He’s coming up here!” she mewed.
“I thought you said this place was locked down!” Fleur yelled, “how the hell can Hop along get up here!” Then they heard scuffing paws, and Hop along burst into the control room!
“I thought you said this place was locked down!” Tigger yelled as the enraged tiger pounded towards him!
“Hop along knows the fire escape!” Snowy mewed. Hop along leapt at the consol, slapping and screaming at it!
“You watched and listened to me and Tinka when we were together in the main pool!” Hop along yelled, Beating his paws on the console, the screens going berserk, “I can’t believe that!”
“Calm down, please!” Snowy yelled. Hop along turned on her, shoving her off her chair and leaping upon her! snowy and Hop along fought madly!
“You bitch, you bloody bitch!” Hop along snarled, whacking Snowy about her head and stamping on her paws!
“Stop it Hop along, stop it!” Fleur yelled, leaping in and separating her two friends.
“Get off me Hop along!” snowy yelled, clouting Hop along with her paw. Fleur ran for the consol, turning the cameras in the room onto the scrapping tigers. Seeing her watching them, Snowy and Hop along stopped fighting.
“Stop watching us!” Snowy yelled. Hop along stood flat pawed on the carpet, looking round him at the mess, seeing torn out white and golden brown fur.
“This is stupid!” fleur yelled.
“I will not have my personal affairs broadcast to the world!” Hop along yelled, stamping his paws.
“It’s okay,” Snowy said, there are no cameras in the house, only on the outside of the house and in here.” Hop along looked up at the screen, then stiffened. With the sound turned down he couldn’t hear what was going on, but he could see right enough.
“Turn the sound on, quick!” he yelled. Snowy leapt to her paws and pounced on the consol, hitting the button. Their world was filled with screaming and yelling and the sight of Petra and Blanche fighting. The two cats were obviously furious with each other, each fighting tooth and claw for the upper paw. It looked like Blanche was winning! Suddenly Theo barrelled in and separated the two feuding cats, Elsa dragging Petra off, Theo clobbering blanche. Whitie could be seen with her head in her paws, obviously terrified and maybe injured too.
“What do we do?” Fleur asked, “this, this is horrid! Not being there, not able to do anything bar watch and listen! Oh, turn it off!” snowy pressed buttons and the scene died in front of them.
“Now it’s worse,” Hop along said, “we can’t see what’s going on.” He looked down at his war worn paws.
“I don’t know if surveillance is such a bad thing,” he said, “we could have prevented that, if only we’d seen and heard it unfolding.”
“We did see you and Tinka in the bath pool,” snowy said to Hop along, “but it’s none of my business what you two do, as long as it’s not criminal, or dangerous, or inconveniencing others.” Hop along felt his outburst had been harsh, that was clear to all.
“Let’s go downstairs and sort this,” he said, “can we get down from here, or is it all locked?”
“the doors are locked from the outside but not the inside, Snowy replied, “we can get out, but they can’t get in.
“How are we to get back in if the doors are locked?” Hop along asked.
“You won’t be able to,” snowy purred, “but fleur will, as soon as she scans the sole of her left forepaw into the system.” Snowy waved her left paw at a plate on an angled surface.
“Place the sole of your paw flat on that Fleur,” she said. Fleur walked over and placed her paw on the glass. Snowy punched a few keys, the screen flickered, and a confirmation screen appeared. Snowy looked at Fleur.
“Now you’re security cleared to come up here,” she said. “you can also enter the pool complex just by pressing the sole of your left forepaw against the plate by the door. The system doesn’t use the pads of your paw as recognition, it uses blood flow through your paw. So if you’ve damaged your pads, it won’t affect it. The path of blood flow through your paw is a constant thing, it doesn’t change with age. This means that Bianca could have her paw scanned now, and she’d be able to access this place in five years time as easily as she could now. Same with you.” Fleur was impressed.
“why all this?” She asked.
“I don’t know,” snowy purred, “the boss is a technophile, or so I’ve heard. Well, so am I.”
fleur and Hop along left the control room, snowy and Tigger saying They’d have to remain on duty there. Fleur wanted to learn about the cameras as soon as she could, but then, if she learned about them, how could she continue her work with the other animals, massaging their paws and bathing them? Fleur knew her calling wasn’t with the cameras, it was paws on work she liked. Fleur took Hop along down in the lift, realising she didn’t have to scan her paw to go down in the lift, only to come up to the control room. Once down on the ground floor, the two cats made their way to the main pool, where Whitie was still lying, mewing to herself.
“Whitie?” Fleur asked gently. Whitie, sobbing with pain, hardly responded.
“What happened?” Hop along asked, hoping the Closed circuit television got it all on disc.
“blanche attacked me,” Whitie mewed, “for, for, for sticking up for you Fleur, for questioning her, for defending Petra’s right to look after us. Blanche went mad!”
“We saw Petra scrapping with Blanche,” Hop along said.
“that was because she waded in and distracted Blanche long enough to let me crawl away,” Whitie sniffed, “it’s all my fault,” she sobbed, “if I’d kept my bloody mouth shut, none of this would have happened!”
“You defended me Whitie, and for that I’m very grateful,” Fleur said, gently hugging the snow leopard cub. Whitie sniffed and gulped hard.
“I shouldn’t have challenged her views,” Whitie said, “they’re only words, only hot air! Now, now this!”
“If we don’t challenge those kind of views Whitie, we’re as bad as those who hold those views,” Hop along said.
“yes,” Whitie sniffed, “you’re right.”
“but why attack you Whitie?” fleur asked, “Why did Blanche attack her own sister?”
Can’t you guess,” Hop along mewed. Whitie choked on her tears as the full enormity of blanche’s decision hit home.
“Blanche, angry at me, but unable to get to me, decided she’d take things out on Petra. This wasn’t a good idea, as Petra was larger than Blanche herself. Realising this, blanche took her revenge on those who’d spoken up for me,” Fleur said, hating every word.
“Yes,” Whitie mewed, “I was coming to that realisation too, but I didn’t want to think it, not blanche, not my sister cub! I’m as disabled as she is, and I know her problems, but she attacked me, she sort to injure me, or worse! I can’t cope with that! I can’t cope with it!” Whitie loved her sister cub, but Blanche didn’t love her. She’d taken Whitie’s tactile nature as the norm, because that was how it had always been, but she had hated it, and hated Whitie. Now Blanche was getting her revenge.
“I can’t believe that of Blanche, I can’t!” Hop along mewed.
“It’s all true,” Snowy’s voice said from the control room, “I’ve just reviewed the information captured on camera, we got it all, it was true. Blanche has a habit of talking out loud when she’s thinking, and we’ve got it all on hard disc, and it’s being backed up as we speak. I made a special backup as soon as we’d found the evidence of blanche’s crimes against Whitie. It’s all true. Blanche went for the path of least resistance when it came to attacking apologists for Fleur, and one of Fleur’s supporters happened to be blanche’s own sister cub.”
“There’s no proof!” Whitie mewed, “none at all!”
“Whitie my dear sweet cub,” Snowy said gently, the gentility in her voice surviving the speaker’s demolition job, “there is proof, lots of it, all here, all viewable, all incontrovertible. We will nail blanche for this my dear cub.” Hearing Snowy’s words and hearing her say them in that tone which she knew so well, calmed Whitie a good deal.
“Now,” Fleur said gently to the snow leopard cub, “let’s go home.”
The sound of tiny paws coming towards them made Fleur and Hop along look round. Shuang crawled towards Whitie, and, reaching her, threw her tiny paws round the snow leopard cub’s neck and hugged her.
“Are you all right Whitie?” The tiny cub asked, Whitie’s tears renewed as she felt the panda cub’s paws embracing her.
“yes,” she replied, “I’m fine Shuang, thank you for all you did little one!”
“You helped Whitie Shuang?” Fleur asked.
“I was with her when Blanche hit her,” Shuang said, “I tried to defend Whitie, but blanche knocked me about a bit, and Whitie told me to go, so I did. I can’t compete against that Blanche snow leopard cub, but I would have kept at it until I was dead if Whitie hadn’t told me to leave it.” Whitie wept into Shuang’s fur, hugging the cub tightly.
“We will look at what the cameras saw,” Fleur said.
Are you all sitting comfortably?
Whitie struggled to her paws and limped out of the pool complex, Shuang doing her best to quite literally support her. fleur saw now how badly beaten up Whitie was. Blanche had gone for her in a big way. Blanche had obviously trampled on Whitie’s paws, for those were what she used to express herself. Blanche had also bruised Whitie’s face and possibly cracked a rib or two.
Meanwhile, Snowy was following Whitie’s painful progress on the main cameras. She could see Whitie’s pain written in her movements and in her face. Snowy made a point of zooming in on Whitie, tracking her agonised expression, stiff movement and stumbling paws, Anger at what she’d seen Blanche doing to the little cub making snowy go to town on making the video to show the community what Blanche had done. Snowy was planning still shots, as well as planning her evidential video. She knew what shots she wanted freeze framed, and one such shot presented itself as she watched. Whitie’s face was turned full on to the camera, and the look of pained devastation in the snow leopard’s eyes nearly moved Snowy to tears. She glanced up at the time stamp in the corner of her screen and mentioned it to Tigger, who banged away at a keyboard specially made for huge paws to type on. Tigger was making notes as Snowy worked her machines. The video ended as Whitie and her party walked out of sight of the camera. Snowy knew she could chop and change things, while not altering the evidence. She was going to make the video to blast Blanche out of the water once and for all! Snowy didn’t know if making a video would solve anything, maybe, just maybe showing the CCTV images would show what happened adequately, but snowy had seen the fight, had seen Blanche clawing and slapping at Whitie, had heard Whitie’s pleas for her to stop walloping her, and had seen Shuang fighting for her friend. A tiny panda cub against the strength of a mature snow leopard. Snowy was angry, upset and full of the lust for revenge. She hated the thought she was building a case against one of the cubs she’d nurtured for so long, but then snowy thought of how Blanche had forfeited the right to be protected by attacking her sister. Now Snowy, with all her knowledge, was going to break Blanche in as bigger way as the cub had done to Whitie.
Within an hour, for Snowy had saved the footage she wanted in a separate file from the main CCTV files, the tigers had all the damming evidence arranged and dumped to DVD. Snowy hoped, as she watched the counter on the DVD burner counting down to the end of the task, that she’d not have to make such a distressing movie again. She knew that she would have to let the community see the original CCTV capture to authenticate the footage on the DVD, but once that was established, then that was Blanche busted. Tigger heard the whirring of the DVD writer and, padding over, waited for it to finish, before taking the disc out of the tray and shredding it. Snowy, shocked at his actions, just stared at him.
“What the hell are you playing at!” She demanded.
“Snowy, dear Snowy,” Tigger said, “we don’t need to burn things to DVD any more. The television in the house is linked to this place. We can watch the video from there, as long as one of us is up here, though, come to think of it, a backup of the finished article wouldn’t have gone amiss.” Tigger laid a paw miserably on the shredder through which he’d just pushed the DVD.
“Um, I’ve just shredded a perfectly good back up copy.” Snowy laughed, she couldn’t help herself.
“You silly old bugger,” she mewed, hugging Tigger, a hug which he found very pleasurable. Another DVD of the finished movie was burnt, and Snowy backed up the movie into the archive. She then created another directory with the process of work in it, detailing what she’d done from taking the original footage from the CCTV camera, to editing it, and making the final presentation. This was an essential trail of evidence which the community would see during the viewing which would bring Blanche down. Snowy backed everything up, and created short cuts on her pc to everything she needed, throwing it all into one directory which she password and paw print protected. Noone was getting into that directory. Snowy finished her work by executing a clean all command, which scrubbed all evidence of her activity on the pc, all trails to her recent online and editing activity were erased, so noone could prove where she’d been, or what she’d done on the pc. Only she knew where the directory was, and only she, due to the paw print, could access its damming contents. The DVD backup was kept in a locked place, in case the computers failed. If the security system went down, the complex could be opened by keys, the whereabouts of which were only known to a few, the boss and Snowy being two such. Tigger padded over to the sideboard and operated the coffee machine with practised ease. He knew how snowy took her coffee, and made her a stiff one. Grateful to him, snowy drank the brew when it was still hot, feeling the burn as it scorched its way into her system.
“Now,” Snowy said, “let us go and nail Blanche for good.”
The two tigers padded down the corridor, Tigger locking each door as they went through. Snowy and Tigger made their way to the main house, then through to the main living room. There they found fleur tending to Whitie’s bruises and crushed paws, the snow leopard cub trying not to cry with pain.
“I’ve nailed Blanche Whitie,” snowy whispered to her cub, Whitie hardly noticing her. snowy then realised how much pain her poor cub was really in.
“I can’t stand to see this,” snowy thought, “Whitie, my dear, poor, sweet cub.” Blanche was nowhere to be seen, but that didn’t surprise Snowy, for the snow leopard knew that if her foster mother got hold of her, she’d be torn apart in seconds.
“You look murderous snowy,” Leo mewed.
“You don’t know what I’ve seen!” snowy mewed, almost weeping, “but you soon will, oh yes, you soon will see!” Leo realised Snowy was dreadfully upset.
“What happened to Whitie?” he asked her.
“No Leo, not now,” Snowy said, “you will see soon enough.”
Leo had to be content with that, though he could see Whitie was dreadfully knocked about.
“Okay,” snowy said, “you will learn something today, something about one of our most dearly loved community members. I want everyone in here by five pm this evening. Then I will show you the video of Blanche’s crimes. She forgot about the CCTV, and now she’s going to pay for what she did to Whitie.”
“CCTV?” Leo asked, “where do we have that here?”
“In the main pool complex,” snowy replied, “Leo, you were on camera all the time you were in there, all the episode with Simba was caught on camera, as was what happened to him in the end. Now, now you will see, and hear the power of this new technology. I won’t be here tonight, for I will be in the control room with Fleur and Tigger as we show you what Blanche did. We will show you evidence of how we made the presentation, and of course the finished article. You will see everything!”
Leo was greatly disturbed.
“You say, say that you can prove Blanche assaulted Whitie?” He asked, “how is this?”
“Cameras Leo,” Fleur replied. Leo looked uneasy.
“You’re telling me that, that you’re spying on people now?”
“Um, no, not quite,” Snowy mewed, “there are signs up telling you you’re on camera.”
The clock chimed four pm, and fleur glanced at Snowy.
“Only an hour to go before we show them the video,” she said. Snowy touched her paw.
“Everything will be okay,” the snow tigress replied.
Blanche walked into the room, scented her sister, spat at her, then walked off.
“Lovely that is!” Salty snapped, “it’s disgusting behaviour!” Fleur’s paws were becoming damp, Snowy could feel it as she held the cub’s paw.
“You’re more nervous than an expectant mother Fleur,” Snowy said. Fleur chewed her tongue to work saliva into her mouth.
“I, I’m scared Snowy,” Fleur said, sounding like the cub which in reality she still was.
“We’ll get her good and proper,” snowy mewed, “I will promise that.” Fleur felt the pads of her paws getting damp, and she tried to control her rising panic.
“I saw only a little of what Blanche did to Whitie,” fleur sobbed, “it looked dreadful, and I want her stopped! But, but, well, I don’t know if they’ll believe us Snowy!” Snowy gently squeezed Fleur’s paw, feeling how anxious she was.
Shuang crawled up to Fleur and wrapped her tiny paws round her. Fleur, close to tears, wept into the cub’s fur. fleur had seen too much of Blanche’s violence, and wondered if Snowy’s movie was going to be enough to convict Blanche of her crimes. Fleur had also treated Whitie’s injuries, and knew how much pain the poor snow leopard cub was in. Shuang stroked Fleur’s paws, the cross bred cub almost choking on her tears.
“Blanche will be stopped by your video,” Shuang said to Fleur, hugging the cross bred cub as best she could. Fleur took a deep breath, struggling to control her emotions.
“ Thank you Shuang,” she sniffed. Snowy looked at the clock. It was now five to five and she knew she’d have to get up to the control room soon. Touching Fleur’s paw, snowy indicated to her they should be leaving. Fleur embraced Shuang tightly one last time, and then released her. Fleur padded away with snowy, her paws feeling as heavy as lead.
Reaching the door of the swimming pool, they met Jespah, who, when he saw her, ran to Fleur and hugged her.
“Good luck fleur,” Jespah mewed, Fleur’s mood lightening as the male lion cub’s paws embraced her. fleur returned Jespah’s hug, her huge paws holding the lion cub tightly.
Fleur placed her paw flat on the paw print reader and there was a click as the electronic door opened. Pushing through, fleur and Snowy left Jespah watching them go. At the last moment, Jespah pushed through the door, snowy rounding on him!
“What are you doing!” she yelled.
“I need, um, want to be with Fleur!” Jespah mewed.
“Not now you lovesick cub,” snowy snapped, “go back to the main living room and view the movie with the rest of the community!” Jespah’s eyes screamed at Snowy, and when Jespah saw fleur had stopped, and half turned to him, one forepaw slightly raised from the ground, he nearly cried. She looked so beautiful, that he wanted to take her in his paws and embrace her until the world ended.
“let him come with us Snowy,” fleur said, Jespah won’t divulge where the control room is. He’s quite safe on that one.” Snowy stared at Fleur.
“You two are cubs!” She yelled, sounding like Elsa, “you shouldn’t be doing this!” Fleur ran to Jespah and hugged him in both paws. Snowy looked away, furious with them.
“Don’t be angry at them Snowy,” Elsa said. Snowy looked up into the camera.
“Who’s up there with you?” she asked.
“Theo and Tigger,” Elsa replied, “Theo’s paw was scanned into the system when he became leader. I’ve viewed the movie, so’s Theo, and Blanche is nailed. We’ve broadcast the movie to the house while you and those cubs have been downstairs. It’s only about ten minutes long all in.
“the movie was pass words and paw protected!” Snowy yelled.
“Theo’s got a master key, or should it be a master paw,” Elsa replied. Snowy screamed and stamped her paws!
“What about the passwords!” She screamed.
“Two animals have to use their paws to override the system,” Theo said, “I have one of those paws, and Petra has the other.
“It’s not fair!” Snowy yelled.
“Why not?” Petra asked.
“You’re a bloody cub!” snowy yelled, “how the hell can you be responsible for so much security!”
“Fleur’s responsible for the pool, and you don’t talk about her being a cub,” Petra said.
“Why usurp my authority though?” Snowy asked.
“We didn’t know you’d made this movie,” Theo said, I was showing Elsa the control room when salty rang up to tell us that all the animals were ready for the movie. I asked what movie and he told me, so we searched for it on the computer, and overrode your password and paw protection to air the movie on time.” Snowy realised she’d been longer admonishing the cubs than she’d first thought. Snowy went up to the control room, Theo meeting her by the lift.
Realising snowy was distracted, Jespah and Fleur escaped and Fled to a place where Fleur had said there were soft rugs and a warm heater. Finding these in one of the administration rooms, they curled up together.
Elsa watched them on the monitor, tracking them to the room, and inside it too, watching them curl up together.
“Two gorgeous cubs,” Elsa purred. Theo smiled:
“Two cubs very much in love with each other I think,” he mewed. Elsa grinned as she watched Fleur and Jespah wave to them, fleur knew she was on camera. Even so, they were still affectionate towards each other, touching noses, holding each other’s paws, massaging and tickling each other’s paws and bellies, all this cub stuff, but Elsa could see there was more to it than just cubbish play. These two knew their mind, and they were deeply in love with each other.
Meanwhile, back in the main house, the movie shown by Elsa and Theo had shocked most of the animals so much they’d stood in silence for five seconds, then pounced on blanch! Pinned under Leo’s heavy body, with other animals holding her down, Blanch felt kicks and punches raining in on her. The animals were furious with her for what she’d done to Whitie! When the enraged animals left off, Blanche was badly bruised and beaten, her paws crushed. She felt dreadful, and knew the others didn’t care one bit for how she felt.
Whitie, hearing the commotion from where she lay curled and shaking in another room, wished she could just walk away. She hated her sister, hated the way she’d set upon her for liking Fleur. Whitie closed her eyes, longing for Fleur’s soft, warm paws to embrace her. Whitie crawled out of the room she was lying in and made her way slowly to the main pool complex. Finding the door locked, she banged on it with the flat of one paw.
Snowy, fleur and Jespah, watching the garden from the control room, saw Whitie banging on the door. Snowy pressed a button which opened the door, and the snow leopard cub padded in, the door closing behind her. Now the cub was inside the building, Snowy could talk to Whitie.
“Hello Whitie my dear,” Snowy purred. Whitie looked miserable on the screen.
“I want a hug,” the poor cub mewed. Fleur volunteered to go to Whitie, and Jespah asked if he could tag along, just as fleur knew he would.
“She’d love you to, and so would I,” Fleur mewed. So the two cubs went down in the lift and found Whitie, fleur almost scooping the tiny snow leopard cub up in her paws while she hugged her. Whitie snuggled into Fleur’s hug, the huge cross bred cub using her paws and thick fur as a warm comforter for Whitie.
“Hold me Fleur!” Whitie wept. Fleur did as Whitie asked, enveloping her in a huge fleur sized hug. Fleur was huge now, and her paws were enormous! She nuzzled Whitie’s fur, stroking her with her huge paws. Whitie loved fleur so much, the huge cub had been very kind to her from the first time they’d met when fleur was newborn. It was fleur who’d listened to Whitie when the snow leopard cub felt upset about something or other, it was Fleur who stroked and tickled Whitie’s paws in play, Whitie returning her gesture with as much enthusiasm as she’d felt from the cross bred cub. Whitie loved Fleur, not only for her nature and playfulness, but for what she was, a huge, fat, huggable cub with huge paws, thick fur and a long very mobile tail. Whitie loved nothing more than when fleur wrapped her tail round her and tickled her paws with the tip. Whitie returned Fleur’s hug, stroking her fur and paws. Fleur loved all this, for she could feel Whitie’s true intentions, and they were good ones.
Whitie and Fleur embraced each other tightly, the female snow leopard cub holding Fleur as tightly as she could in her tiny paws.
Fleur purred deeply, Whitie sniffing slightly, tears not to far away. Fleur took Whitie’s paw and guided her into the spar pool, where she began to stroke the snow leopard cub from her nose to the end of her tail. Whitie snuggled up to Fleur as the huge cub massaged her. fleur worked on Whitie with her huge paws, the snow leopard cub purring contentedly. Once the massage was over, Fleur guided Whitie out of the water and Jespah towelled her dry, working with gentle care over Whitie’s entire body, from her nose, to the tips of the toes of all four of her tiny paws. Jespah forgot nothing, even drying between Whitie’s toes and pads as Theo had taught him to. Whitie, now very warm, mewed to and purred at Jespah. Snowy watched Whitie and Jespah, smiling to herself as she watched the lion cub towelling off the snow leopard cub.
“you’re so gentle Jespah,” Whitie mewed. Jespah smiled and stroked her right forepaw, feeling her thickly furred pads against his lesser furred ones.
“You are beautiful Whitie,” Jespah mewed. Whitie embraced him in both paws, Jespah snuggling up to her. Fleur watched, smiling broadly as she saw the two cubs embrace each other.
“I want a hug too!” she mewed. Whitie and Jespah got to their paws and padded over to Fleur, embracing her with their paws. Fleur purred at the two cubs, touching their noses with hers and touching their paws with her paws. Nuzzling and touching of paws with paws, noses with noses ensued, the three cubs bonding.
Snowy grabbed the lever with one paw and moved the camera onto the cubs, zooming in on them.
“They’re lovely aren’t they,” she said, Theo and Elsa smiling as they watched their cubs.
Meanwhile, blanche, having been thrown into the concrete shed, lay freezing and miserable on the concrete floor. She hated Fleur, and by extension anyone who associated with her, which included her sister Whitie. Blanche could imagine Whitie playing with fleur, and the thought made her sick. The thought of the dirty brown cub stroking her sister’s paws made Blanche want to vomit. She hated fleur so very much! Blanche had never seen Fleur, but from the tales told of her by Amber, blanche knew she hated the cross bred cub. Fleur seemed not to be able to put a paw wrong in the eyes of the other animals, she was always helping out, always there for animals in distress, always ready to play and be played with by other cubs, and adults sometimes too. Blanche hated the thought of Fleur’s huge paws touching hers.
Fleur suddenly felt someone thinking about her, knowing the thoughts were unpleasant ones, she hesitated to investigate further, but somehow knew she must. Patting Whitie’s and Jespah’s paws one last time, she ran off in the direction of the outside world, leaving Whitie in Jespah’s care, telling him to take her up to the control room, and tell Snowy she’d given her permission to be there. Of course Elsa, Snowy and Theo saw and heard everything, and readily admitted Whitie into the control room.
Fleur made her way to the concrete prison, Opening the door and walking in. She saw Blanche lying on the concrete, her eyes closed, and vibes worse than ever. Fleur knew she’d win in an outright scrap, so she wasn’t concerned.
“Blanche?” Fleur asked. Blanche spat at her!
“What are you doing here!” The snow leopard cub snapped, “I hate you!”
“Maybe you hate what you’ve heard about me,” Fleur replied, “Amber can lie you know, she’s not an angel herself.” Blanche curled into the corner of the shed, mewing pitifully, telling Fleur not to touch her.
“You really don’t know what you’re missing,” Petra said, padding up to fleur and resting her paw on the cross bred cub’s. fleur purred and hugged Petra tightly, Petra purring as she felt Fleur’s paws embrace her. Blanche heard the purring of two cubs, and her inbred need for warmth and security welled in her, bringing tears to her eyes.
“You need to apologise to Fleur, and Whitie for what you have done to them, and mean it too Blanche,” Petra said, reading the snow leopard cub’s thoughts.
“I don’t know if I can apologise to fleur and Whitie!” Blanche mewed.
Life and death.
Petra looked at Blanche.
“Why can’t you apologise to them?” She asked, “you don’t have to like Whitie or fleur, you just have to admit what you did was wrong, uncalled for and totally disgusting. If you believe this, you should apologise to them.” Blanche was crying now.
“How can such a horrid cub overpower my sister!” She sobbed, “how can Fleur do this!”
“Overpower Whitie?” Fleur asked, now very confused and upset, “I can’t, I haven’t!”
“Whitie came to Fleur of her own free will,” Petra said, “Fleur didn’t force herself upon your sister Blanche. Another question, why hate Fleur so much? What has she done to you other than that which you thoroughly deserved. Has she hit you, has she abused you, either physically or verbally? Has she done you any wrong at all?” Blanche shook her head.
“None of those,” she replied, “it’s just, just that I’ve heard things, things which make me fear Fleur. The way she bonded with Bianca was strange, the way Bianca seemed to give herself totally to Fleur and fleur to Bianca, going so far as fleur crawling about like a cub, when she clearly wasn’t a cub!”
“Fleur would have done that for any cub, not just Bianca,” Petra said.
“You would say that!” Blanche yelled, “you’re her friend!”
“you could be too if you let her take you in her paws,” Petra replied. Blanche looked as if she was about to be physically sick.
“What did you just suggest I do?” She asked.
“Let Fleur take you in her paws, it’s not difficult,” Petra mewed.
“Let, that, that thing take me in its paws?” Blanche whimpered, “I, I’d rather suffocate!” Fleur looked away, dreadfully upset now.
“How would it be Blanche if I told you I know why you hate Fleur?” Petra asked. Blanche’s eyes opened wide with shock!
“How can you know anything!” she yelled, “what do you know?” Petra suddenly grabbed Blanche and shook her! Petra was quite a bit larger than the snow leopard cub and her paws were strong. Blanche yelled with pain and fear!
“I know who poisoned your mind!” Petra said, “I know who is feeding you crap about Fleur! You are not stupid Blanche, you’ve just let your fears overtake you. You’ve let misinformation be your guide, you’ve not, as Whitie has, let your paws be your guide.” Blanch mewed pitifully.
“Amber’s been telling me about Fleur, dreadful things, like, like how she was born, how she pawed at Theo when she was newborn, and enchanted him.”
“No Blanche,” Petra mewed, “Fleur didn’t enchant Theo in that way, she did it with her gentle personality and soft touch. You could be enchanted too, if only you’d let yourself be.” Blanche wriggled free of Petra’s grasp and crept from the concrete shed, her huge paws scuffing on the concrete. Suddenly something enveloped blanche in a huge warm hug. Blanche mewed and pawed at the paws holding her.
“Who’s got me!” she mewed.
“the fat brown cub,” someone purred. Blanche felt the warm paws holding her, and without realising it, she was holding the paws holding her.
“Let fleur hold you Blanche,” Petra mewed. Blanche began to cry, her body racked by sobs.
“fleur, hug me!” Blanche pleaded. Fleur kissed Blanche’s nose, then the pads of one of her forepaws, Blanche’s tears falling onto Fleur’s fur.
“Let your paws be your guide blanche,” fleur purred. Blanche, still crying, traced Fleur’s face, whiskers, large body, short legs, long tail and huge paws with her tiny paws.
Whitie listened to all this, glad her sister had bonded with Fleur, but hating Blanch for what she’d done.
“Fleur might be able to forgive you blanche, but I cannot!” Whitie snarled.
“That’s understandable Whitie,” Petra mewed.
“So Amber’s been spreading all these bad things about Fleur?” Whitie asked, “why?” Then it dawned on her.
“Amber hates Snowy! The common link between us is Snowy! Snowy looked after me and Blanche, Amber hated that, wanting her cubs to be hers alone. Snowy took Fleur’s paw when she first entered the cubbing den, giving fleur the first real paw of friendship, apart from Theo’s, that she’d known. Fleur also helped snowy give birth to, then played with Snowy’s cub, the three becoming inseparable.” Whitie began to cry, “and blanche, then there’s me, the tactile one, the one who accepted fleur for who she was, the one who loved Snowy through everything, you attacked me because of who I loved, because of who loved me!”
“I don’t love you Whitie, you horrid creature!” Blanche yelled.
“I know that now,” Whitie Mewed, “it’s Horrid, and awful, but I will cope, I will cope because I have loving animals round me. I know you can’t choose your family, but, but I gave you everything I had blanche! I helped you when we were first made homeless, I caught beetles and things for you when you were too weak to do it for yourself, I guided you through those dangerous days, and, and stroked your paws when you were upset and cold. Now, now I know you hated me throughout! You did a good job of masking it, a better job than Amber did. Now, now I’m torn apart by your words, and bruised by your paws. I’m glad you’ve made amends with Fleur, that you no longer think her dreadful, but now I’m in pain, for I gave you love, and you’ve thrown it back at me, not just that, you hated me from the start Blanche! I’m torn to bits by your words today!”
“Be torn apart by them then,” Blanche spat, “I don’t care! It was always you Whitie, always you who had the fun, always you who got the best adventures, but I was the first to tickle the paws of another cat, so it’s me who started the whole paw massage and tickling thing off, I claim credit for that! My influence and legacy lives on, and what do you have to show for your two miserable years here, nothing, absolutely sod all!”
“Being able to tickle paws is surely a great thing,” Petra replied, “but it’s not if the animal who’s paws you are tickling turns on you and rips you apart Blanche.
Fleur’s paws suddenly tightened on blanche, almost suffocating the cub!
“I see you are evil now!” Fleur yelled.
“Let, let me go!” Blanche screamed.
“No, no I won’t, I won’t!” Fleur yelled, her anger and grief at Blanche’s actions and true feelings boiling over.
“You’re poison, your mind is a cesspit! You were poisoned by Amber’s words,! But you also knew your own mind! I know you might have been taken in by Amber’s words, but you did to Whitie things that no cub should do, that no cub, no matter how they hated their sister should ever do! You beat your own sister up so much she could hardly stand, and now, now the community could do the same to you, just to show you!” The sound of heavy paws padding up behind them registered itself with Fleur, then there was a scream and a crash as Amber, coming to the aid of her youngest cub, was floored by Petra, then leapt upon by Salty! There was a thud as Salty’s paw smashed into Amber’s head. The blow killed her instantly. Fleur, feeling her world falling apart, held the disgraced snow leopard cub in her paws.
“Your mother is dead!” Fleur yelled, “now Blanche, you could go the same way! Do you want to be with the one who beat up Snowy for no reason? Do you want to be with her? Well, I can arrange that, for you could have meant as much to me as Whitie and Snowy do! You could have been embraced by these paws, but now you’re not going to be! I know you cried when I hugged you and apologised to me, but an apology to me is not good enough when you will not renounce your chosen path of destroying the lives of others! You should be put in the place where you deserve to be put! You wanted to kill Whitie, and would have done if others, including a tiny panda cub hadn’t fought bravely for her. Now, now you could be killed! Don’t be surprised if you have your throat torn out!”
Snowy, watching on the CCTV monitors, cried inconsolably as she heard all this. She knew it was true, that Blanche was a poisoned creature, but to hear it, to know others knew, and were about to put an end to Blanche, upset her greatly. Snowy, kind hearted tigress that she was, could not at first see why Blanche would have to die, but when the realisation dawned that Blanche could turn out to be as poisonous as Amber, and in fact had become so when she’d attacked Whitie with the intention of killing her, snowy knew there was no other way to resolve this. Switching off the monitor, Snowy flung herself on the control room carpet and burst into tears. Elsa and Theo didn’t try to stop her, or even to comfort her. For what comfort could they possibly give her at this time. They just watched on other cameras, fascinated, but horrified at the prospect of what might happen next.
Fleur belted Blanche hard across her nose! Blanche began to cry, then, almost crying herself, Fleur said to her:
“I’m sorry my dear cub.” Whitie, realising what was about to happen to Blanche, turned and fled! Blanche knew she was about to die, and begged Fleur to make it quick. Fleur looked down at blanche, realising she couldn’t go through with it.
“I can’t kill you little cub,” Fleur sniffed, giving up her tough act.
“If you don’t kill her, I will!” Salty yelled, leaping at blanche and fleur! Salty tore blanche from Fleur’s paws and with gruesome and practised ease, broke her neck! Petra’s and Salty’s eyes met, and Salty looked down at His paws. The large snow leopard had been obeying his instinct, but didn’t know if he’d been right to do what he did.
“You are too soft fleur!” Salty yelled.
“Fleur’s job on this earth is not to take life,” Petra mewed, “she’s a healer, she can’t take life.” Deep down Salty knew this, but ignored it for the moment.
“You’re a woose!” He yelled at fleur, who hid her face in her huge muddy brown paws.
“I’m not violent!” Fleur mewed, “I can’t kill anything, it’s not my nature!”
“Well miss,” Salty snarled, “you’re going to have to learn how aren’t you!”
“I don’t want to, I don’t want to!” Fleur wept.
“fleur doesn’t have to learn how to kill anything,” Petra said, “I don’t know how to, and I’m doing ok.”
“You’re a bleedin’ vegetarian, you’re a weird one Petra! You don’t count!” Salty yelled.
“I don’t count?” Petra asked, “try saying that when you’ve been badly beaten up! I won’t kill, but I can fight!” With that Petra launched herself at Salty and clouted him across his nose! Salty screamed and threw up his paws to protect his face! Petra’s claws raked down his nose, Salty screaming hysterically! Petra threw herself at Salty, the cub’s considerable weight slamming into his body!
“Blanche’s life could have been saved,” Petra said, “but it would have taken time. Blanche wasn’t all bad, but she needed time, time which she wasn’t prepared to put in. She’s gone now, but she could have meant so much to so many.” Salty looked down at Blanche’s body.
“I’m sorry for her,” he said, “I overstepped the mark with all four paws, I didn’t give her time to reform.” Petra looked into Salty’s face, and Salty saw in her eyes what Blanche could have been. Salty wept for the dead snow leopard cub, realising she was redeemable, that if he’d given her time and space, she might have turned over a new leaf.
“I should have kept my paws to myself!” he mewed, “I’m sorry, I’m so, so Sorry! I saw what I thought was an evil cub, and destroyed that evil! I’m sorry, oh, what have I done? What have I done!”
“You’ve obeyed your instincts,” Petra replied, “you can’t be punished for that.”
The scuffing of tiny paws announced Whitie’s arrival, and fleur went to her.
“Amber and Blanche are dead aren’t they,” Whitie mewed.
“Yes Whitie my dear, they are dead,” Fleur mewed. Whitie clung to fleur.
“I didn’t want her to die,” Whitie sobbed, “blanche didn’t have to like me. I couldn’t forgive her for what she did to me, but as long as she kept her paws off me, I would have been happy! Now, now there’s so much death, so much carnage! Why Fleur? Why all this mess!”
“It’s noone’s fault,” Fleur replied, “noone that is apart from Blanche and Amber’s. They were poisoned in their own minds, and would have destroyed the community. Salty was obeying his instinct, but knows now that maybe that wasn’t the best thing to do, given the community’s way of doing things. The normal way of punishment for this kind of offence is death, but we as a community have made our own rules, using imprisonment and physical hardship to punish those who do wrong. Now Salty’s taken it back to basics, but I don’t think he’ll do it again. The case of Blanche and Amber was a special one. Now, now we can move on, rebuild our lives, give love to those who really need it. Whitie, you did nothing to deserve any of this, nor did Tigger or I for that matter. We need, need to put our best paws forward from now on. I know this might seem like I’m dealing with blanche’s and Amber’s deaths a little quickly, but I think that’s the way to do it, for they would have given little thought to your own death.”
“Amber didn’t like me,” Whitie mewed, “she viewed me and Blanche as her cubs at first, but then we became her playthings, to be manipulated for her own ends. Snowy might have made mistakes, but she didn’t manipulate the cubs in her care! Fleur, please, tell me, was that why Eohippus made Snowy well again and gave her Bianca? Was it in recognition of her efforts to reform?” fleur shook her head.
“I can’t answer those questions my dear cub,” she replied. Whitie took Fleur’s paw in hers.
“I love you Fleur,” Whitie said, “I love you, and Snowy, and Petra, Jespah, and Tigger, and everyone here!”
“I and they all love you Whitie dear cub,” fleur mewed, hugging Whitie tightly.
“Now let’s all go to the spar pool,” Petra said, “there we might be able to relearn what it is to be a family, what it is to be loved.”
Up in the control Room, snowy, Elsa, Theo and Tigger looked at each other.
“We should punish Salty!” snowy yelled.
“No Snowy,” Elsa mewed, “that would serve no purpose other than personal revenge. You know as well as any of us who Petra is, I’m sure she would have dealt out punishment if it were needed.”
“What do you say Theo?” Snowy asked.
“Let Salty learn from his mistake,” Theo said, “he’s done no wrong, he was protecting a cub, there’s no crime in that.”
Snowy switched on her monitor and watched her cubs walking into the pool complex and submerging themselves in the water of the spar pool.
Tinka and Hop along were already there, Tinka now pregnant with their cub. Tinka and Hop along were pleased to be together once more, both of them eagerly anticipating the birth of their cub.
Tinka was quite fat now, giving her an even more roly poley image than she already had. Before she was in cub, Tinka was a rather fat tigress, with a medium length tail and fat paws, and now she was pregnant, she looked even more fat and roly poley than ever. Hop along loved her from her nose to the toes of her fat paws, and expressed his love for her with loving embraces and kind words. Tinka wanted him to be with her throughout her pregnancy and labour, and to be there to embrace her and her cubs from the minute the cubs were born. Hop along loved his Tinka, his beautiful fat pawed tigress.
Now in the pool, Hop along and Tinka lay in the warm water, Hop along massaging Tinka’s paws. Tinka felt her cubs moving, or was it just one large cub? She didn’t know. All she knew was the cub reacted to the levels of stress or pleasure chemicals in her bloodstream. Now for example, it was kicking against her belly with its tiny paws and wriggling with pleasure. This feeling made Tinka relax, knowing her cub was safe. She imagined the cub inside her, wondering what it would look like, whether it would be male or female, what its eye colour and fur colouration would be like, and finally, whether it would like having its paws stroked or tickled. Tinka hoped her own love for physical contact would be transferred to her cub.
Hop along examined Tinka from her nose to the toes of all four of her fat, rather cubbish paws. He loved every inch of her. Hop along tickled the pads of Tinka’s left forepaw, the tigress laughing merrily, her cub kicking vigorously against its mother’s belly, reacting to her mood.
“our cub likes the paw massage as much as I do,” Tinka laughed. Tinka rubbed her belly hard with her free forepaw, trying to stimulate her cub to kick against her belly, which it did, kicking and wriggling enthusiastically against the pressure from her paw. Tinka placed Hop along’s paws on her belly.
“Rub my belly,” Tinka said to Hop along. Hop along did as Tinka asked, feeling her cub kicking against his pads. Hop along’s eyes filled with tears.
“I want to meet our cub!” he sobbed. Tinka suddenly clenched her paws, moaned softly and panted hard. Hop along looked at her face, and realised she was playing with him.
“You bugger!” he mewed. Tinka touched his nose with her paw.
“my labour will be for real very soon,” she mewed. Hop along drummed the toes of both his forepaws on Tinka’s belly, their cub reacting by pressing its paws against her belly, Tinka smiling as she felt her cub moving. “this must be the earliest anyone’s played with their cub,” she mewed. Hop along grinned and drummed some more, Tinka laughing delightedly as her mate and their unborn cub started a drumming contest with her belly as the drum skin. Tinka wriggled much as her cub was doing, laughing helplessly at their antics.
“I love this!” she whooped, touching Hop along’s nose with her paw and stroking his ears. Hop along smiled, and, pausing in his gentle drumming, steadied himself with one paw resting on the raised ledge on which Tinka lay, and leant down to kiss her on her nose. Tinka nuzzled Hop along’s whiskers when they came within range.
“I love you so much!” she mewed. Hop along smiled and stroked her paw with his.
“I love you too Tinka, my sweet, gentle tigress,” Hop along replied. Tinka purred deeply, the sound one of utter contentment.
“I can’t wait for this cub to be born,” she said, “I can just imagine you and our cub drumming on each other’s paw pads. I think that’s what you were doing today. You were drumming on the cub’s pads with your toes, and the cub was using its toes to drum on yours.” Hop along laughed merrily at this prospect.
“Do you really think that’s what was happening?” he asked, “how wonderful would that be!” Tinka smiled.
“How about if we play that game during the first stages of my labour?” She asked, “I don’t know, you drum on the pads of my paws in a certain rhythm, and I try to copy you, and then we reverse it. That would pass the time between contractions, and also keep us entertained. Hop along had often heard of birthing attendants playing games with the mothers to be to take their minds off the labour, and thought this a good idea.
“Okay,” he said, “but when you really go into labour, all games stop, and we concentrate on having the cub. Okay?” Tinka smiled.
“I won’t have much choice Hop along dear,” she replied. Hop along took her paw in his, curling his toes around those of Tinka’s fat warm left forepaw.
“how involved do you want to be with the birth of our cub?” Tinka asked her mate.
“As involved as you want me to be,” he replied, “I’ll keep paws off, or get my paws dirty, whatever you want.”
“I know what I’d like,” Tinka said, “I’d like you to feel the cub coming into the world, really experience the birth as much as you can. I want us to be in it together. The question is, do you want to be that paws on?” Hop along’s eyes shone with delight.
“could I?” he asked, “would you let me guide our cub into the world?”
“I’d be delighted to,” Tinka said. Hop along hugged her tightly, weeping into her fur.
“thank you Tinka, thank you!” he sobbed. Tinka smiled.
“On one condition though,” she said, holding up her paw and trying to look serious.
“What’s that?” Hop along asked.
“that you and the cub don’t’ start playing drumming games until the cub’s properly born!” Tinka replied smiling. Hop along laughed merrily.
“We won’t,” he said, stroking Tinka’s pads with his toes, “I promise that.”
Tinka’s cub’s birth and the return of Kuan-Yin.
While all the merriment went on in the pool complex, Salty and the badgers buried the bodies of blanche and Amber. Tib presided, making sure the job was done properly.
Once the snow leopard’s bodies were buried, Tib led the way back to the house. There she left Salty and the badgers to go their separate ways. Salty padded back to his bed and stretched out on it, thoroughly exhausted. While he was settling down, Tinka and Hop along arrived and flopped down on their rug. They looked very happy indeed with something, but Salty didn’t know what. Had they found the cream? Salty watched the happy couple as they settled down, Tinka now most definitely in cub, maybe it was this which they were so happy about. Salty smiled as he watched Tinka and Hop along stroking each other’s paws, then with more interest as Hop along drummed with the toes of his paws on Tinka’s belly, obviously getting reaction from her unborn cub.
Tinka smiled at Hop along, laughing as he tickled her belly and the pads of her paws.
“I hope our cub feels some of this,” she mewed. Hop along drummed gently on Tinka’s belly and when he felt the cub’s paw pressed hard against his, he tickled Tinka’s belly where he thought the pads of the cub’s paw were. Tinka laughed, and the cub kicked enthusiastically. Tinka pressed her paws into Hop along’s as he stroked her, wishing for a speedy labour so they could meet their new cub.
Tinka’s labour started late one afternoon, a few weeks later. Hop along lay beside Tinka, stroking her paws and belly while talking gently to her and their unborn cub. Even though he talked to the cub, Hop along knew the cub was more concerned with what was happening to it, as they all were. Hop along and Tinka played the paw drumming game, but soon even that was too much for Tinka as her contractions became more frequent and powerful. Soon Tinka was crushing Hop along’s paws, not patting them.
“Just do what you feel like doing,” Hop along said gently to his mate.
Fleur watched from a short distance away, keeping an eye on developments, but not interfering, as she’d told hop along all she knew. the one thing fleur had not done was ask someone like Snowy to re-enact a cubbing, which now she wished she’d done. That way, Hop along could see how his mate might act during different stages of her labour without any fear of problems.
Tinka clenched her teeth, gripping the carpet with the toes of her hind paws, and Hop along’s left forepaw with both her forepaws. Then, taking a firm hold on carpet and paw, braced herself as she bore down against her cub. Fleur heard Tinka’s efforts, and then, saw the cub’s forepaws. Tinka bore down against her cub, and its head and forelegs emerged. Tinka, realising her cub was now very much on its way, pushed harder than ever, the cub’s shoulders giving some resistance as it was a large cub, but then, as Tinka exerted maximum pressure, the cub shot forth, Tinka mewing and pawing at the carpet and Hop along. Tinka knew her cub was almost born, and panting, watched as it slid into the world. One final effort from Tinka brought the cub fully into the light of day, and Tinka lay exhausted on the carpet. Tinka’s labour had been swift, the transition from light contractions into heavy labour lasting only twenty minutes, the cub being born ten minutes after that. Tinka had got her fast labour, but it had been strenuous work. The speed of Tinka’s labour meant she’d had her cub on the living room floor, in full public view. While Hop along had done his best to shield events from the world, it was quite obvious what was going on. Tinka now lay, her strength spent. Her cub, who’d begun crawling about soon after her birth, was soon drinking busily. Tinka, her eyes closed, reached out with both paws and touched her cub, who briefly paused in her drinking to nuzzle her pads. Hop along laughed with relief.
“it’s a lovely cub Tinka,” Hop along mewed. The cub, her belly now full of milk, crawled to Tinka’s head, where she touched her nose with her fat paws, Tinka finding the cub with her own huge paws. The cub worked her way between Tinka’s well padded paws, wriggling so Tinka’s pads traced all over her body, from her nose to the pads of all four of her large fat paws. Hop along stared at the scene in front of him in shocked horror!
“What the hell’s our cub up to?” He asked. Fleur, seeing what the cub was up to, couldn’t stop laughing long enough to answer him.
“It, it, it’s so lovely,” she said, “but looks so funny too! The cub’s showing Tinka what her fur feels like when she touches her. The cub obviously thinks Tinka’s unable to see her, so she’s making sure Tinka gets a good tactile image of her.
“Do you like how I feel?” The cub asked, wiggling the toes of her left hind paw so they drummed on the pads of Tinka’s forepaws, which still held the cub’s tiny paw.
“I do, I do!” Tinka mewed, opening her eyes and looking straight into her newborn female cub’s face for the first time. As well as having soft fur, fat paws and a long thick tail, she was a beautiful cub. Tinka gathered the large cub to her, the cub snuggling into her mother’s hug. Hop along watched his mate and their cub, seeing similarities between them.
“She’s got your tail Hop along,” Tinka purred.
“And your paws,” Hop along replied, “look at them! They’re massive!” The female cub let Tinka take hold of her right forepaw, only to curl her fat little toes round Tinka’s and hold her mother’s paw tightly.
“You taught me to touch,” the cub mewed. Tinka kissed the cub on her nose.
“We both love you,” Tinka mewed. The cub felt a huge form looming over her, then felt a nose brushing her ear, whiskers tickling her as Hop along kissed her. Hop along lay down and the cub let him take her in his huge paws, snuggling up to him and burying her face in his fur. the cub began to tap the pads of Hop along’s right forepaw with the toes of both her forepaws, and Hop along returned her gesture, the cub smiling and enveloping his paws in hers.
“You are lovely little one,” Hop along mewed, “lovely from your nose, to the end of your long tail and the tips of the toes of all your four paws.”
“I like my paws,” the cub said, “I can find out so much with them!” Hop along smiled and touched the pads of his cub’s fat left forepaw. The cub gripped Hop along’s paw in both of her fat ones, holding it tightly. Tinka watched all this, smiling at her cub and mate’s antics.
“I want my paws stroked too!” She mewed. Hop along and their cub crawled towards Tinka, stopping beside her. Fleur crawled up behind Hop along and began to stroke the pads of his left hind paw, Hop along wiggling his toes in thanks to her. Once fleur had finished her work, she walked away.
“Fleur’s wonderful,” Tinka mewed. Hop along grinned and touched her paw.
“Who’s fleur?” the cub asked.
“Fleur’s one of the most gentle cubs we know,” Tinka mewed, “she’s got the softest paws, the gentlest nature, and the most wonderful touch.”
“Does she like her paws stroked?” The cub asked.
“She does,” Hop along replied.
“I love having my paws stroked,” the cub mewed. The sound of large paws coming near made the cub turn an ear towards the sound.
“I do like having my paws stroked little one,” Fleur purred, taking the cub’s paw in hers. The tiger cub mewed with surprise at how warm Fleur’s paws were.
“Could, could I stroke you fleur?” The cub asked. Fleur rolled over onto her side and gathered the cub to her.
“Find my nose little cub, then find my toes,” Fleur said. The cub touched Fleur’s nose, then traced over her body with her paws, until she came to the pads of Fleur’s own paws. Fleur curled her toes gently round the large cub’s as she stroked her pads.
“I like your fur and paws,” The cub mewed, “Fleur, do you like your fur and paws?” Fleur smiled and held the cub’s left forepaw with her right hind.
“I do little cub, I do,” she mewed. The tiny tiger cub traced round Fleur’s pads with the toes of one paw, then drummed on Fleur’s pads. Fleur rolled onto her chest, curled the toes of her left forepaw round those of the cub’s right forepaw and crawled away, guiding the cub to her rug, where she released the cub’s paw, rolled over and embraced her. Tinka and Hop along’s cub snuggled into Fleur’s hug.
“I love you little one,” Fleur mewed. The large cub snuggled as close to Fleur as she could, working her paws into her fur. fleur drummed gently on the pads of the cub’s left forepaw, the cub returning her gesture with practised ease.
“I like that game,” she mewed. Fleur smiled, knowing why. Fleur held the female tiger cub tightly, the cub snuggling hard into her thick fur.
“You have lovely thick fur Fleur,” the cub said. She picked up one of Fleur’s huge forepaws and explored it with hers.
“Your paws are huge too!” she mewed. Fleur purred as she felt the affects of the paw massage.
“Keep stroking Fleur’s paws little one,” Tinka mewed, “she likes that.” The newborn cub smiled and kept stroking Fleur’s pads. Fleur curled her toes round the newborn cub’s, realising she and the cub had much in common, both having fat paws and a long tail. Fleur wrapped her tail round the cub, tickling the pads of her left hind paw with the tip. The cub laughed, holding tightly onto Fleur’s left forepaw with both of hers.
“Can I stroke your hind paws Fleur?” The cub asked. Fleur shook her left forepaw free of the large cub’s and guided her paws to the pads of her left hind paw. The cub began to stroke Fleur’s pads, the huge cross bred cub curling her toes round the cub’s.
“We both have fat paws!” The cub whooped. Fleur smiled, drumming on the cub’s toes with hers.
“We do,” Fleur purred. The cub explored Fleur’s right hind paw with her forepaws, examining pads and toes with infinite care. Fleur had retracted her claws, so she didn’t inadvertently injure Tinka and Hop along’s newborn cub. Fleur pressed her pads against the cub’s, the tiny creature laughing as she felt Fleur’s pressure.
“Those two really have hit it off haven’t they,” Tinka mewed. Hop along smiled as he watched his cub tickling Fleur’s right hind paw, Fleur laughing helplessly.
“That’s enough little one!” fleur said, gently withdrawing her paw, The cub throwing her paws round Fleur’s neck and hugging her. Fleur purred in the cub’s ear, the cub settling down, basking in the warmth of Fleur’s thick fur.
“Can I hug my cubs?” Tinka asked, struggling to her paws. Fleur saw how exhausted Tinka still was.
“Come,” Fleur said, “I’m sorry Tinka.” Tinka hugged her newborn cub and then hugged fleur.
“you are my cub too Fleur,” Tinka mewed, nuzzling her cheek and licking her ear. Fleur purred contentedly, letting Tinka stroke her left forepaw.
“You and my newborn cub do have a lot in common,” Tinka said, stroking Fleur’s paw, “fat, well padded paws, soft fur, long tails, and a love of physical contact.” Fleur and Tinka’s newborn cub tried to hug her simultaneously, Tinka laughing merrily and doing her best to embrace both of them.
“Shall we go to the pool?” Tinka asked. Fleur looked at Tinka and Hop along’s large cub.
“Let’s all go to the pool,” she said, “There we can have a lot of fun.” Tinka went to pick her cub up by the scruff of her neck, but the cub shook her off.
“I want to crawl like Fleur does,” the cub mewed. Tinka looked concerned:
“You’re not old enough for that yet,” she said.
“Can I try? Please?” The cub asked. Tinka looked at Hop along, who smiled at her.
“Let her try,” he said, “that way, if she can crawl all’s well, and if she can’t, all’s well too.” Tinka helped her cub onto all fours, and then Fleur supported her while she tried to crawl. The cub managed a little crawling, but soon her strength gave out and she collapsed onto the carpet in an undignified heap of mewing, spitting fury.
?”Crawling’s not for you yet little one,” fleur purred, “why not let your mum carry you?”
“I don’t want mum to carry me!” the cub protested, “I want to crawl like you do fleur!” Fleur helped the cub up onto all fours again, and she set off once more, managing this time to get her fore and hind legs working in some kind of rhythm.
“Take it Gently,” Fleur advised. The cub, so happy at being able to crawl, overdid things and ended up in a heap once more. This time though, she rolled onto her back and waved her paws in the air for joy, much to the amusement of Fleur and her parents. Fleur laughed, caught hold of the cub’s left forepaw with hers, and tickled her pads, the cub playfully nibbling at her paw.
“Let’s go,” fleur mewed, helping the newborn cub up onto all fours once more. The cub stayed on all fours this time, and Fleur took her gently through the process of crawling. Once the cub got the hang of it, she was off, racing fleur, who easily caught her and bowled her over, tickling her belly and the pads of all four paws. The newborn cub loved this, and begged for more. Fleur obliged, tickling the cub’s hind paws until she could take no more.
“Okay, okay!” the cub said, laughing helplessly, “You can stop now! Please stop!” fleur stopped tickling the cub’s pads and hugged her tenderly.
“My paws are tingling!” the cub mewed. Fleur rubbed her pads, and very soon the tingling vanished. The large cub pressed her paws into Fleur’s, enjoying her attention.
“I know another cub who reacts to a paw massage like that,” Hop along mewed. Fleur smiled at him. The female tiger cub suddenly rolled onto her paws and tickled Fleur’s pads until she laughed as much as she had only a few minutes before. Putting an end to the assault on Fleur’s paws, the large female tiger cub crawled away, fleur following. Whitie, who’d been lying a short way off listening to all the goings on, mewed with surprise as one of the large female tiger cub’s forepaws landed smack on one of her own.
“I’m so sorry,” The tiger cub mewed. Whitie, her paw still beneath that of the tiger cub, sniffed slightly. The fat newborn cub’s touch had brought on a rush of emotion which Whitie couldn’t explain.
“Did I hurt you?” the fat female tiger cub asked.
“No,” Whitie sniffed, struggling to hold back tears, “no, you didn’t hurt me.” On an impulse, the female tiger cub felt her way over Whitie’s body, until she got a good idea of how large the snow leopard was, Then, very gently, she hugged Whitie. Whitie’s control on her emotions snapped and she cried into the tiger cub’s fur.
“What’s wrong?” The tiger cub asked. Whitie, still crying, wiped her eyes with her free forepaw.
“I don’t know,” she sobbed. The tiger cub stroked Whitie with both her huge fat forepaws, running them from Whitie’s nose, to the end of her tail, as well as rubbing her pads and toes, anything to calm the weeping snow leopard.
“Your paws are so soft and warm little one,” Whitie choked. She picked up one of the female tiger cub’s forepaws and stroked it with hers.
“You have big paws, with fat toes and thick warm pads, just like mine and Fleur’s,” Whitie mewed. The cub curled her toes round Whitie’s, the snow leopard kissing her on her nose, then kissing the paw holding hers.
“I don’t know your name,” the tiger cub said, “but I think you could do with a hug.” Dropping Whitie’s paw, the female tiger cub enveloped her in the biggest hug she could manage. Whitie felt the cub’s well padded paws enveloping her, the cub’s fat toes curling gently into her fur and holding her firmly. Whitie wrapped her own paws round the tiger cub in an effort to match her hug.
“You do need a hug don’t you,” the female tiger cub purred. Whitie couldn’t answer, for tears nearly choked her.
“Hold me, please!” Whitie pleaded. The large female cub held Whitie tightly, while trying not to dig in her claws. Whitie’s tears dried after a short while, and she released the tiger cub.
“What’s your name?” Whitie asked the cub.
“I don’t have one yet,” The tiger cub replied, “I’m not yet a day old.”
“I thought I heard something going on down here,” Whitie said, “so I came down to see what was going on, and by the time I’d made it, things had calmed down.”
“What you heard Whitie, would have been me giving birth to my cub,” Tinka said.
“It was a pain filled sound,” Whitie mewed.
“That would be it then,” Tinka replied, “I’m a wimp when it comes to labour.”
“This cub is lovely though Tinka,” Whitie mewed.
“I wouldn’t have changed a thing about her birth Whitie dear,” Tinka said.
“What shall we name you?” Hop along asked his cub.
“I don’t know,” the cub replied, “it’s not for me to choose a name for myself.”
“how about the name Pakshalika,” Whitie suggested, “it means “on The Right Path, and is another name for the Goddess Lakshmi.” The cub smiled at Whitie.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to say that,” she said, “but I’ll have a go.”
“Just take it slowly,” Whitie advised, “break the name down into parts, Pak, sha, lika. Now you try:
“Pak, sha, lika?” The cub asked.
“Yup, now run the whole word together,” Whitie replied.
“Pakshalika,” the cub said. Whitie almost leapt for joy!
“You’ve got it!” she whooped. Pakshalika hugged Whitie tightly.
“I love my name,” the cub mewed, snuggling up to Whitie and burying her face in the snow leopard’s thick fur.
“Let’s go to the pool,” Fleur suggested. Pakshalika, Fleur and the two adult tigers padded out of the house and round to the main doors of the pool complex. Placing her paw on the paw print reader, Fleur waited for the doors to unlock. they did, and Fleur led the way into the pool complex. Crawling in, Pakshalika felt the soft non slip flooring beneath her paws, and paused to bounce on her toes as best she could in her current position to feel the springy surface beneath her pads. Tinka watched her cub’s antics, and decided she’d join in, bouncing on her toes and playing up to the others. While she was at this, she saw a large panda padding into the complex, and suddenly she thought she recognised him.
“Kuan-Yin?” Tinka asked, “what on earth are you doing back here? I thought you didn’t like this place!”
“I can’t stand being alone!” Kuan-Yin sobbed, “I’ve been watching your cub’s birth, and then her interaction with you, Hop-along and fleur, I realised I wanted some of that, I wanted my paws stroked, my belly rubbed, all that. Being out in the wood, cold and alone is not my idea of fun. I want to be hugged Tinka! Please!” Tinka hugged Kuan-Yin tightly.
“You will find Yi Jie and Shuang will be very glad to see you back with them.” As she spoke, the scuffing of paws announced the arrival of Yi Jie and her cub. Kuan-Yin turned, saw his mate and cub and ran to them, weeping and throwing his paws round first his cub, then his mate.
“Take me home!” he sobbed. Yi Jie massaged Kuan-Yin’s paws, then guided him to the bath pool, and to Fleur, who, when she saw the male panda, stopped stroking Whitie’s paws, turned and hugged him.
“I feel you are ready to accept our way of life?” fleur asked. Kuan-Yin replied that he was, totally and completely. Fleur stroked the male Panda’s belly and the pads of his paws, Kuan-Yin genuinely enjoying every minute. Fleur worked on the male panda for a few minutes, then turned her attention away, as Whitie had begun to stroke Kuan-Yin’s paws. Fleur turned her attention to Pakshalika, who had swum up beside her. Drawing the cub near, fleur settled her on a ledge and began to massage her belly and paws. Pakshalika held Fleur’s paws briefly in hers while the large cross bred cub massaged her. Pakshalika particularly enjoyed catching hold of the toes of Fleur’s forepaws with those of her hind paws, holding the cross bred cub’s paw as tightly as she could. The female tiger cub also took great delight in kicking hard against the water with her hind paws while they were not being massaged, as well as lashing the water into white foam with her long thick tail. Fleur, choking on the water, put an end to the cub’s attempts to make a mini tsunami by gently placing the toes of one of her forepaws on the end of the cub’s tail, while using the other to tickle the pads of one of her hind paws. This put an end to Pakshalika’s tail lashing all right, for the cub couldn’t stop laughing long enough to lash the water, let alone kick at it.
Got you!” Fleur laughed. Pakshalika suddenly wriggled like an eel and freed herself, sweeping round in a tight arc to embrace Fleur with both forepaws. Fleur rolled onto her side and held the newborn cub against her chest with both her huge fat forepaws.
“I love all this,” Pakshalika mewed, “I don’t want it to end Fleur.” Fleur knew what the cub meant.
“Shall we go on an adventure?” Fleur asked the tiny cub. Pakshalika playfully batted at Fleur’s whiskers with her paw.
“Where shall we go?” The cub asked.
“We could go to the waterslide,” fleur mewed. Pakshalika, now interested, gently took hold of Fleur’s paw and stroked it.
“What’s one of those?” She asked.
“It’s a hill with water running down it,” fleur mewed, “we go down it very fast, and then water catches us at the bottom.” Pakshalika smiled and tickled Fleur’s pads.
“I’d like that,” she mewed. Fleur gently pushed Pakshalika away, rolling onto her paws and letting the cub take hold of her long tail so she could guide her from the water. Once they were on dry land, Tinka approached them and told Pakshalika she needed to eat sometime soon. Pakshalika mewed that she was about to go on an adventure with Fleur.
“An adventure to where?” Tinka asked, suspecting she already knew.
“To ride on something called a waterslide,” Pakshalika replied. Tinka gripped the tiles with her toes to stop herself from flying at fleur.
“No fleur no!” She yelled, “Pakshalika’s too young for that!”
“She’ll be safe, I promise,” fleur mewed.
“No, no, and no again!” Tinka yelled, “Is she my cub or yours?”
“She’s your cub Tinka,” fleur mewed.
“Then what I say goes!” Tinka yelled, “Pakshalika’s too young and too small!”
“but mum,” Pakshalika mewed, “I want to go on this adventure!”
“No no no!” Tinka screamed, stamping her paws! Pakshalika hid her face behind her paw, obviously frightened.
“My anger isn’t at you Pakshalika,” Tinka said gently, it’s at this stupid cub!” Tinka tried to cuff fleur, the cross bred cub dodging her swiping paw with practised ease. Tinka lowered her paw and glared at Fleur.
“Don’t hit her!” Snowy snapped, her voice coming sharp and clear over the loud speakers. Tinka looked up into the camera, which had swivelled to focus on her.
“I hate you!” She yelled, stamping her paws in fury!
“The cameras can see into the slides,” snowy said, “we can keep an eye on your cub as she travels down the slide. Pakshalika will be safe with fleur.” Tinka spat at the camera.
“That’s disgusting,” Snowy said, “that kind of behaviour is beneath you Tinka.” Tinka stormed off.
“You can look after the bloody cub!” she snarled.
“Now that’s horrible,” Theo mewed, “Pakshalika isn’t responsible for this, and nor is Fleur. Fleur is warden of the water, and will look after your cub as if she’d born her herself.” Tinka spun round on Fleur.
“If anything, anything! Happens to Pakshalika Fleur, I’ll rip your paws off, then tear off your tail, then bite off your head!” a sudden roar of rage rent the air, and Theo came bounding into the main pool area, heading straight for Tinka!
“How dare you threaten my cub!” He yelled. Tinka turned and fled, leaping into the pool to escape Theo’s fury! Theo leapt into the pool, swimming fast after Tinka, who splashed across the pool, Theo’s teeth inches from her tail! Scrambling out of the pool, ?Tinka started running for her only escape route, up the sloping passage to the slides. Theo, now snarling and wuffing, increased his speed, snapping at Tinka’s tail! Tinka mewed and cried for mercy, throwing herself down the slide in a final effort to escape Theo’s teeth! Tinka, screaming and yelling, shot down the slide, Theo’s roaring echoing down the tube. Theo left off, satisfied he’d warned Tinka off. Hop along ran up behind Theo.
“I thought Tinka trusted Fleur!” Hop along panted.
“I thought she did too, but it doesn’t seem that way,” Theo replied.
“Tinka’s now left the building,” snowy said, “I’ve locked her out.”
“What about my cub’s food!” Hop along mewed, “I can’t feed her, only Tinka can!”
“Hop along,” Elsa purred, “you need not worry about Pakshalika being fed, for it is not just Tinka who has milk for her cub.”
“What on earth are you on about?” Hop along asked, “surely you aren’t saying others are in milk too? Who’s had a cub recently?”
“Watch the screen in front of you,” Elsa mewed, “what do you see?”
“Snowy, it’s Snowy half tail! What the hell’s she doing in milk! It’s ages since Bianca was born, oh, oh no! There’s going to be a war, a war over the care of a cub! I can see it now! Snowy and Tinka fighting, it’s going to be horrid!” Hop along whimpered.
“Snowy won’t fight Tinka for Pakshalika’s affections,” Elsa purred, “that’s not her way. Snowy will give Pakshalika the same love she gave to fleur, to Whitie, to blanche and Tembi when they were lost cubs. She’s the great protector.”
“This is all too much!” Hop along mewed.
“You’ve heard of the community sticking by its own I hope,” Tigger mewed.
“Well, yes Tigger, I have, but not like this! Does this mean that snowy is in milk whenever new cubs are born to a member of the community?”
“Yes,” Snowy mewed, touching Hop along’s paw. Hop along whipped round, snowy having crept up on him using every trick she knew.
“You little,,, I didn’t hear you padding up behind me!” Hop along growled. Snowy smiled at Hop along and held out her paw to him. Hop along took her paw, feeling her warm soft paw in his. Snowy’s paw was soft, warm and thickly furred.
“I can’t believe you ever had cold paws snowy,” Hop along mewed.
“I had bad circulation in my paws,” Snowy mewed, “but now, now I get regular paw massages, I have no problems with poor circulation to my paws. Hop along kissed Snowy’s paw, snowy smiling at him.
“If Tinka feels too stressed to feed Pakshalika, I will feed her until Tinka feels like she can feed her again,” Snowy said. Hop along kissed Snowy on her nose, Snowy nuzzling his whiskers, purring contentedly.
“You really don’t mind who’s cubs you look after do you snowy,” Hop along mewed, his eyes filling with tears, “you just want to protect all cubs, take them all in your paws and embrace them, comfort them, even love them with all you have.” Snowy smiled.
“I will love your cub as if she’s mine, and so Will fleur,” snowy purred. Hop along buried his face in Snowy’s fur.
Tinka, realising she’d been locked out of the complex, banged on the door with the flat of her paw for some time before giving up. She realised she’d overreacted to the situations she’d been put into, and that now snowy and the others with the technological know-how were having their revenge on her. Tinka knew Pakshalika would be safe, that no harm would come to her, and that if the cub was hungry, someone would find milk to feed her. Tinka knew of Snowy’s loving and protective nature, and reasoned that this could stretch to providing milk for needy cubs. In this she was correct, but to assume others would look after her cub was a grave mistake.
Theo read Tinka’s thoughts, and didn’t like what he saw. If she was so confident in the community’s care for her cub, then why did she go off the handle at fleur when fleur suggested going on the slide? Theo didn’t know the answer to this question, but he was determined to find out.
“Tinka,” Theo said, padding up behind her, Having ran down the fire escape. Tinka turned to see the young lion padding towards her.
“Is my cub all right?” Tinka asked.
“She is,” Theo mewed, “but I know what you were thinking, you knew others would find food for your cub, if you hadn’t known this, you wouldn’t have left the building. You would have fought tooth and claw to stay with your cub, and you didn’t. Tinka, you didn’t fight for your cub, but you were quite prepared to do fleur physical harm if she injured your cub. So it’s all right for you to abandon your cub, knowing others will most likely take her on, but it’s not ok for someone like Fleur to take your cub on a slide, with all the knowledge and cameras in the world to ensure her safety? You freaked out at the prospect of a two minute slide ride, but are prepared to leave your cub in the paws of others?”
“You locked me out!” Tinka mewed, “I walked out to think! You’d just chased me down that bloody slide! How else was I meant to feel, other than frightened?”
“You threatened my cub,” Theo mewed, “I think that deserves retribution, don’t you?” Tinka looked down at her paws.
“Look,” she said, “I’m sorry, “I think of fleur as a cub, for she is to me, and to Hop along too. Though he thinks of her as older than I think of her. Hop along, well, he knows things, feels Fleur’s true age in the way she tends to his injured paw, knows her wisdom, knows her better than anyone but you, Petra, Elsa and possibly Tigger.”
“Believe me when I say this Tinka,” Theo said, “fleur will let no harm come to Pakshalika. None at all.”
“yes,” Tinka mewed, “I see that now.
“Come back in then, and let’s find your cub,” Theo mewed.
Meanwhile, Kuan-Yin, Shuang and Yi Jie were playing easily in the main pool. Kuan-Yin had been accepted whole heartedly by his cub and mate, both glad he’d come to his senses and realised that the wood was no place for him to be. Now he was being massaged from the tip of his nose to the pads of his paws by Yi Jie and Shuang, and loving every minute of it.
Tinka padded into the pool complex and went immediately to Fleur who glanced at her, then turned her back on her.
“fleur, please,” Tinka mewed, “I know I was wrong, I know you wouldn’t put Pakshalika in any danger. I was stupid, ignorant of everything, noticing nothing of anything. Worse, I ignored what my eyes, paws and senses told me. I knew you’d taken Bianca on the slide when she was young, I knew Jespah had ridden it safely too. I shouldn’t have tried to hit you, or threatened you with harm. What was I thinking! I’m sorry fleur, really I’m sorry!” Fleur knew Tinka’s words to be truthful, her remorse genuine.
“I love your cub as if she’s my own,” fleur mewed, “I wouldn’t hurt her, or put her in dangerous situations!”
“I know, I know!” Tinka mewed, staring down at her paws, “I was dreadful to you fleur, and Theo made me pay for my behaviour! He chased me down the slide!” Fleur looked at Tinka.
“You know Theo wouldn’t hurt you if he got hold of you,” she said, “he’s not like that, but then again, he might, depending. Anyone threatening to tear the tail off his cub won’t endear themselves to Theo.” Tinka miserably rounded up Pakshalika and walked away, leaving Fleur alone. Whitie crawled up to fleur, fleur hugging her tightly.
“From one cub with thickly furred paws to another,” Fleur mewed. Whitie snuggled close to fleur, pressing her face into the cross bred cub’s fur.
“Everything’s okay Whitie,” fleur mewed. Whitie breathed deeply, trying not to cry.
“When, when Pakshalika touched my paw, for, for a moment, it felt like blanche’s paw when she was newborn and used, for a brief time, to love me, I know it sounds strange, but, but there was pure love in her touch, and she even hugged me, and she didn’t know me! It was lovely fleur, that’s what upset me.”
“Pakshalika has a lot of love to give to those who want and deserve her love,” she mewed.
“I can feel that,” Whitie said.
Fleur and Jespah grow closer.
Fleur entered the bathroom to survey her domain. Tigger had told her about the oils he’d used during his time in the massage job. Now it was Fleur’s turn, and she rested her paws on the bathtub, reading the legends on the bottles of oils. There were some for the relief of stress, others to invigorate, others for pain relief, as well as yet more for softening paw pads and soothing stiff joints. Fleur decided she’d give some of the oils a try herself, to see what happened. Filling the bathtub with warm to hot water, Fleur clambered in and added some of the oils. Fleur then rubbed herself down with a special bar of soap which rested on the side of the tub. The soap left her pads soft and as smooth as they’d been when she was newborn. Fleur rubbed the soap into the pads, fur and toes of her hind paws, enjoying the experience hugely. When Jespah wandered in to see what was going on, and found fleur massaging the soap into her paws, he helped her, rubbing the soap all over her body, just as he’d do for any other animal. Fleur realised how good this soap was, and when Jespah added yet more oils, Fleur was soon as relaxed as she could possibly get. Fleur wiggled her toes, enjoying the sensation of the warm water on her pads. Jespah smiled as he worked on fleur, feeling his love for Fleur growing with every passing minute. Jespah, instead of asking Fleur to roll over onto her back so he could massage her belly and her left fore and hind paws, got into the water with her and waded round to her other side to do the job, much to Fleur’s delight and amusement.
“Come,” she said rolling onto her side in the water, “here is my belly, and here are my paws.” Jespah threw his paws round Fleur and hugged her as tightly as he could. Fleur, now in the one place she wanted to be more than anywhere else in the world, kissed Jespah on the nose, reaching up with one wet forepaw to touch his whiskers. Jespah held Fleur tenderly, the water massaging their bodies.
“This is lovely,” Fleur mewed, stroking the lion cub’s emerging mane.
“I want this to last forever,” Jespah mewed, kissing Fleur on her nose and tracing the pads of her left forepaw with the toes of his right.
“Isn’t that lovely,” Bianca said, padding into the bathroom. Fleur and Jespah didn’t mind the young tiger cub seeing them together. Jespah smiled at Bianca and said:
“Now you let all the others know of this, of our love for each other.” Bianca knew some disagreed with Fleur and Jespah’s emerging relationship, and was only too willing to educate those who disagreed by spreading the good news. Turning tail, she left the bathroom, dancing on her toes with delight.
“She’s a lovely cub,” Fleur mewed. Jespah smiled and stroked Fleur’s ears.
“Bianca is that,” he said, running his paw down Fleur’s back. Fleur curled her long tail round Jespah, tickling the sole of his right hind paw with it. Jespah laughed, gripping Fleur’s tail with his toes.
“You’re beautiful Fleur,” Jespah whispered, “beautiful from your spotted nose to the spotted soles of your paws.” Fleur hugged Jespah tightly, working the toes of her fat forepaws into his fur.
“I love you so much Jespah,” she mewed, “from your pinkish nose, to the pinkish pads of your paws.” She kissed Jespah’s nose, then kissed the pads of his right forepaw.
“Your paws have pinkie black pads, your nose is pinkie black too,” Jespah mewed. Fleur held him tightly. The two cubs stroked each other from nose to tail once more, then left the bathtub.
Padding over to the towels, Jespah and Fleur rubbed each other down, enjoying this almost as much as the bath time. The two cubs rubbed each other down thoroughly, pausing from time to time to embrace each other with their paws. The other animals watched them, knowing fleur and Jespah were inseparable.
“I told you it was lovely!” Bianca mewed to Leo. Leo hugged Bianca tightly.
“I don’t know if this is right or not,” Clarence mewed, “I know fleur and Jespah are good friends, but this is not just friendship, it’s deeper!”
“I think it’s rather sweet,” Shuang said. Clarence looked at her.
“You are only a cub, so you wouldn’t know how strange this all is,” he mewed, “I am all for fleur and Jespah being friendly, but not this!”
“Maybe you don’t know the full story,” Salty mewed, “It’s a long one, starting from when Jespah, hiding in the wood after his mother’s expulsion from the community, saw Perdy struggling to give birth to fleur. He watched her birth, then wanted to be with her, but could not be with her. When he finally was able to be with her, Jespah took fleur in his paws and promised he’d never leave her. they love each other from noses to paw pads, and will never let each other go.” Clarence looked at Jespah, who was now stroking Fleur’s left hind paw, the cross bred cub lying relaxed and almost asleep. Jespah examined Fleur from her nose to the toes of the paw he was holding in his. Fleur’s head, with pinkie black nose and black whiskers rested on the rug on which she lay, her eyes closed in sleep. Her forepaws, both large, fat spotted paws, rested on their sides, relaxed with claws well tucked away. Fleur’s left forepaw rested, the back of her paw touching her chin, as if she was resting her head on it. Jespah looked at Fleur’s paw pads, they were pinkie black, and large, her toes fat and entire paw very cub like. Jespah Kissed Fleur’s nose, then kissed the brown fur of her right forepaw, fleur shifting slightly as she felt his touch. Jespah examined fleur from nose to tail, missing nothing and loving every part of her. Lastly, Jespah examined the paw he held, stroking Fleur’s paw so she relaxed her toes, showing the black spots against the brown background of her fur on the sole of her paw. Jespah loved Fleur’s fur, especially her spotted paws. Jespah gently stroked Fleur’s paw until the cross bred cub slightly curled her toes, the spots disappearing as her pads bunched together. Jespah let go of Fleur’s paw and ran his own paws over her body, missing nothing, while fleur, now semi conscious, pressed herself hard into his paws, loving every minute of his attentions.
“I felt you kiss my nose and paw,” Fleur mewed, “you then set to examining my paws. I know you like my paws.” Jespah smiled:
“I love all of you, from your pinkish nose and muddy brown fur, to the bands on your long tail and the pinkish black pads on your spotted paws fleur.” Jespah took hold of Fleur’s right hind paw, and she curled her toes hard round his.
“I love you Fleur,” Jespah mewed, tenderly stroking her paw. Fleur released Jespah’s paw, and then got up, shook herself and lay down again, Jespah watching her all the time.
“Now I’m going to examine you,” fleur said, “to touch you with my whiskers and paws is what I most desire.”
“There, I told you!” Clarence mewed, burying his face in his paws in frustration, “those two are in deep love, and it’s too soon for that!”
“Oh give up will you Clarence!” Salty mewed, “they have a lovely relationship.”
“now let me stroke you Jespah,” Fleur mewed, taking his paw in hers and then touching the lion cub’s nose with hers and kissing it. Jespah purred contentedly as Fleur worked her paws over his body, from his head to the tassel on the end of his tail. Jespah did just as Pakshalika had when she was newborn, working his paws into Fleur’s as her own paws found them. Fleur’s and Jespah’s combined purring vibrated the air, and it was quite obvious what both cubs felt towards each other.
Fleur examined Jespah minutely, from his pinkish nose, to the pinkish pads of his four expressive paws. She found he had tawny fur, a dark brown mane, gentle golden eyes, a brown tassel on the end of his tail, a strong body, short legs and large soft paws with pinkish pads on the soles. Fleur found Jespah loved having his belly and paws stroked and tickled, as much as she did. Soon Jespah was laughing helplessly as Fleur tickled his paws and belly, both cubs rolling on the carpet, trying to bat at each other’s whiskers and tickle each other’s paws all at once. Matilda laughed helplessly as she watched the two cubs playing. She’d never held any particular view on whether Fleur and Jespah’s blossoming love was a good or bad thing, she was just glad to see noone fighting for a change.
Hop along and Tinka were ecstatic at the growing friendship between the two cubs, as were Elsa, Theo and their cubs.
Once Jespah and Fleur had made sure their bodies and paws tingled nicely, they broke off their rough and tumble game and walked on light paws to the pool complex where they dragged out a raft and shot down the open slide in it, Jespah consenting to this, as he knew Fleur wouldn’t put him in any danger at all. Once they’d ridden the slide on the raft three times they left the raft in storage and swum about in the main pool for a while, each trying to catch the other’s tail. It would be fair to say that Jespah would have won this game, as Fleur had so much tail for him to get hold of, had She not made up for her disadvantage in the game by looping her tail whenever Jespah got hold of it, so her body came round so she could get her forepaws within range of the pads on the soles of his hind paws to tickle them until Jespah could hardly swim. This Fleur did, settling the game as a draw. Once they tired of this game, the two cubs left the pool, not forgetting to pause and wave up at the camera as they passed it. Snowy, up in the control room that day, smiled as she watched fleur and Jespah’s play.
Making lynx in the community.
Fleur and Jespah made their way back to the house, leaving the pool complex through a back door which led into the wood. Padding through the wood, Jespah and Fleur realised the weather had changed for the worse, rain and wind as well as freezing temperatures having taken a firm hold. Shivering, the two cubs wondered why they’d even considered venturing outside in such weather; they weren’t to regret their decision for long though.
Heading onto the track, Fleur and Jespah padded along, their paws hardly making a sound on the cold hard earth. Fleur, scanning the way ahead with her superb sight, noticed something huddled beneath a bush. Calling a pause in the brisk walk, Fleur held her paw up to Jespah in a silent call for absolute quiet. Fleur pointed to him, to the ground, then to herself, then at the bush, and Jespah got the message. She wanted him to stay behind, while she ventured forward to see what was beneath the bush. Jespah, though hating the prospect of his friend going into a dangerous situation without him at her side, somehow felt it would be useless to argue with Fleur.
Fleur crawled away, Jespah watching her hind paws and long tail disappearing towards the bush, his mouth becoming dry with fear.
Fleur approached the bush, and when she was almost on top of it, checked her progress, pausing to take one last look.
“It, it’s okay, I’m safe, friendly, non lethal,” someone said. Fleur realised the voice came from what she could now see was a very furry animal of some sort curled tightly beneath the bush, which was almost too small to hide it properly.
“Who and what are you?” Fleur whispered, in case the animal took fright.
“I am, or was, a mate to a beautiful female lynx, and she was in cub with our cub, now though, I’m lost, alone, frightened, hungry and homeless.”
“I take it you’re a lynx then,” fleur said. The animal laughed slightly:
“I am,” he said, “but I’m a lonely lynx.” He sniffed slightly.
“I often wonder what happened to Ellie. Did she have our cub, is it alive, and is she alive? I loved her so much, I’d just like to know, and that’s all.”
“My name’s Fleur,” Fleur said, “Can I crawl up to you? You won’t hurt me will you?”
“No, NO I won’t, I promise, I promise!” The poor lynx mewed pitifully.
“All right,” Fleur said, “here, I’m crawling towards you.” The lynx watched fleur come towards him. He wasn’t scared by her markings, or revolted by them, he just wanted to take her in his paws and hug her.
“You, you’re a cub,” the lynx mewed, “fleur, you’re large, but you’re a cub!”
“Well, yes I am,” Fleur said, “why, didn’t you guess I was a cub by the sound of my voice?”
“No, well, not really, for you don’t sound like a cub, you sound, grown up, as if rolling about on the grass and waving your paws in the air was a distant and little thought of part of your life.”
“I can roll over with the best of them, want to see?” Fleur asked, always up for playing the cub she wanted to be.
“Come closer, please,” the lynx begged. When Jespah heard this, and saw Fleur moving closer to the lynx, so she was almost touching him, he sprang forward with an angry snarl, only to be checked by Fleur, who raised a paw to stop him.
“No Jespah, no!” Fleur snapped, Jespah instantly obeying her, for her tone demanded it, “he’s safe. He won’t hurt me.” Indeed, the lynx was weeping uncontrollably, then, suddenly, he grabbed Fleur’s paw and held it with such desperation that she was unsure of what to make of things.
“Can I hug you fleur, please?” The lynx pleaded. Fleur, feeling this was all a bit strange and hardly understanding what was going on, consented, and as the lynx enveloped her in his huge paws, she realised what he was about. He was weak, thin, and very unwell.
“I’m sorry,” the lynx sobbed, “but, but you might be the only cub I will ever hug. I’m dying, I know it, and, and I want to hug my own cub, but I can’t, so, please, let me hug you in my cub’s place.” Fleur knew then that this lynx had endured many horrors in his life, and that she might possibly be the last one to see him alive.
“You keep your mangy paws off my friend!” Jespah yelled.
“Now that’s unfair!” Fleur snapped, “he can’t help how life’s treated him, and anyway, he’s not mangy, he’s unkempt yes, thin too, and unwell also, but not mangy!”
“Do you know where Ellie is?” The lynx asked, stroking Fleur’s paws, “have you seen her?”
“What kind of question is that?” Jespah asked, “Are you completely bonkers?”
“Come home my friend,” Fleur mewed, looking into the lynx’s face.
“Come, come home? What do you mean? You are well fed, well looked after, you wouldn’t want me living with you fleur. No my dear cub, go from here, let me die knowing I’ve hugged you, and, and loved you with all I had to give my cub, for a few minutes at least.”
“Look here!” Jespah snapped, “You talk silly words, now let go of my friend before I bite your paws!”
“No Jespah,” fleur mewed, “don’t talk like that. It’s not this poor lynx’s fault he was dealt a bad hand in life. Is it not our duty and our privilege to help others less fortunate than us? We have a wonderful life, a wonderful home, with a beautiful and kind community behind us. This lynx has nothing to look forward to in life, though he has everything, if only he knew it. We must show him kindness, gentility, and warmth.”
“What do I have to look forward to Fleur,” the lynx mewed, “my mate is gone, my cub is dead, and so’s my mate for all I know, I’m ill, I’m cold, hungry and homeless. All I have is you, and you’re worth more than the world to me now, but soon you will be gone, and then, then, all I have is death, for I will not survive the night.”
“Come home,” Fleur said again. The lynx crawled from beneath his bush, and Jespah waited for him to get to his paws, but it was soon plain that he could not do so. So, with Fleur’s help, the lynx crawled like a cub towards the house.
Once there, fleur asked one of the otters to show her where the food was stored so she could get the lynx a meal. The otter, Winifred, yinnied that she had responsibility for the food, and fleur was most definitely not setting paw in her kitchen. Fleur smiled at the she otter, and Winifred soon had a good meal for the newcomer. The lynx ate little, and then settled down.
“I will eat more in a bit,” he said, “lovely food though it is, I can’t manage much.” Fleur understood. Jespah, still thinking his friend was completely barmy for bringing a stray lynx into their midst, stood guard, watching for the lynx to do anything unusual. The lynx now warm and with his fur drying out, but by no means clean, slept the sleep of the exhausted. Fleur watched over him all the time he was asleep, Jespah watching both of them.
Theo and Elsa soon learned of the newcomer’s arrival, and paid fleur a visit. Theo looked down at the lynx, who had eaten and slept some more, and now lay helpless and mewing with fear at the sight of the huge young lion.
“You need not be frightened of me,” Theo Purred, “I will not harm you.”
“Oh, thank you,” the lynx mewed. Theo then did something which made Jespah turn away in disgust. Theo leant over and kissed the male lynx on his nose.
“That’s wrong!” Jespah yelled, “That’s disgusting behaviour Theo!”
“Don’t you notice anything?” Fleur snapped, “That’s Theo’s way of showing he accepts someone. I’ve kissed Bianca’s nose and paw, that’s the way we do things!”
“I’m wondering about you Theo!” Jespah yelled, “What will Elsa have to say about this little revelation!”
“Absolutely nothing,” Elsa said, deliberately stepping on Jespah’s tail to shut him up, “I know why Theo does what he does, and it comes as part of his tactile nature. It’s a way of showing the depth of love he has for those less fortunate than himself when hugging them, as we would usually do, might not be the best thing to do, as the animal might be injured. Now leave Theo alone!” Theo’s kiss to his nose brought tears to the eyes of the bedraggled lynx, who knew then that he was among a friendly people, a tactile people, who showed their emotions in a manner used before speech communication, who showed their feelings in a different, more concrete way than mere words could ever express. Elsa took her paw off of Jespah’s tail, Jespah flexing it angrily.
“You really don’t get it do you Jespah,” Petra mewed, “the spiritual way is the way we do things here, we touch with our paws, noses and whiskers to show our love for each other. You and Fleur do it, so do Leo and Theo, Salty and Tigger, Clarence and Tigger, Bianca and Shuang, all of them, all of us, all together, as one community. The lynx listened to all this with closed eyes. The sound of padding paws made him open his eyes, and look straight into the eyes of a female lynx, into the eyes of his beloved mate. The male lynx gulped hard, and then blinked, just in case his mate disappeared. Then, when he saw she wasn’t going anywhere, he threw his paws round her, weeping and kissing her nose, ears and paws. Ellie smiled at her mate and then ushered forward a lynx cub, a cub with open eyes, but plainly blind. The male lynx wrapped his paws round the cub, holding him tightly.
“My cub,” he mewed, licking his nose. Pipin smiled and raised a paw to bat at his sire’s whiskers.
“Be careful Pipin,” Ellie mewed, “Nick’s not very well.”
“Why do you call him Nick?” Theo asked.
“It’s all tied up with Saint Nick, when he came into my life, I thought all my Christmas’s had come at once. He’s lovely.” Nick smiled at Ellie, released Pipin and took her in his huge fat paws.
“I love you; I never thought I’d see you again!” Nick wept. Ellie stroked his cheek with her paw.
“Well, here I am, and here’s your cub.” Nick took a deep breath.
“I will get better; I will not let you see me like this!”
“You let Fleur do her work, and you’ll get on very well,” Ellie mewed.
“That you will,” Pipin mewed, “Fleur’s soft and gentle.” Nick looked over at Fleur and smiled.
“You are right pipin my cub,” he purred, “Fleur’s a gentle cub, a real gentle cub. When, when I thought I was dying, Fleur let me hug her, and it, it was lovely!”
“I love fleur very much,” Pipin mewed. Fleur smiled and patted Pipin’s paw.
“So, I think I’d better let fleur do her thing,” Nick mewed. Fleur led Nick to the bathtub and ran a deep warm bath for him. She first showered Nick down, all the mud and filth coming out of his fur and from between the pads and toes of all four of his fat paws. The shower was warm, but Nick was attracted to the bathtub by the scent of the oils which fleur had chucked in by the pawful. Conscious of Nick’s wish to get into the bath, Fleur hosed him down with the shower and then he stepped out onto the tiles, his paws now looking larger as the rest of his fur was plastered to his body. Fleur helped Nick into the water, and the large lynx settled down gratefully into the water’s warm embrace.
“Now Nick,” Fleur said, “you are free to swim about, unstiffened your joints, thrash the water into a foam, all this and more. Nick looked up into her face.
“Fleur, dear sweet Fleur, would you join me in the water?” Nick asked, “Could I hug you once more? For you saved me, you brought me and my mate and cub together, and Fleur, I love you like I do my own cub.” Fleur stepped into the water; wading round to Nick’s other side, where the large lynx enveloped her in a huge hug. Fleur purred, knowing this huge cat really loved and understood her. Jespah watched, feeling wretched about his outburst towards Theo. Elsa had given him a tongue lashing for his comments, and had cuffed him for good measure. Petra had also given him a strange look, and told him she’d like to talk with him alone sometime soon. Jespah knew Petra wasn’t to be messed with, and though the white lioness was as gentle as fleur, she had more tricks in her armoury than a barrel full of monkeys. Jespah knew he was out of this one, that Fleur would cope with bathing Nick on her own, so he sort out Petra so he could get her little chat over with. After five minutes with Petra, Jespah began to wish he’d never even thought what he had.
Petra made Jespah lie down, and gently she took him through the lives of Leo, Theo, fleur, Elsa, and the others who actively used touch to express their deepest feelings. She even told her own tale, and this was the one which had Jespah in tears.
“Do you now know why we are as we are?” Petra asked. Jespah, sniffing and sobbing, mewed that he did, and that he felt worse, as he was her brother, and had ignored Petra entirely.
“It’s not just me you’re ignoring; it’s the love of your life, Fleur. She’s got a special touch, you know it, but you refuse to let her show you. Nick knows the touch of a true and honest creature as Fleur. He knows he’s safe, that noone can harm him when he has the love of a community and the individuals in that community. Shuang knows the love, Pakshalika knows it too, Pipin knows the love, and Bianca knows it too. Everyone does! Now Jespah, let me take you in my paws, and just let yourself drift. Let your mind go, feel my paws holding you, and just drift. Petra embraced her brother, and Jespah found himself crying anew.
Fleur and Nick watched this, Nick holding Fleur’s paw.
“Do you still love him?” Nick asked Fleur.
“I do,” fleur replied, “and so do Elsa and Theo. We love Jespah because he isn’t a bad cub, he’s just misguided. We will put him on the right path.” Nick knew he was on the right path from the moment he’d met fleur. Fleur Knew Jespah was changed by his talk with Petra. Jespah padded miserably into the house, Petra herself looking exhausted by the whole episode.
Jespah padded past Fleur and Nick, glancing briefly at his long time friend before leaving the room with his tail and head drooping miserably.
“One very upset lion cub,” Nick commented.
“Yeah, he’s that,” Fleur mewed. Nick shook himself, obviously feeling a lot better than he had only a day previously. He was by no means as well fed as a lynx should be, but he was a changed lynx from the thin, weak thing that had crawled through the door a day ago.
Nick looked at Fleur. It was plain to her he loved her as much as he loved his own cub.
“I shouldn’t feel so attached to this cub,” Nick thought, his thoughts plain to fleur through the expression in his eyes.
“Why not?” The touch of Fleur’s paw asked as she rubbed his paw with hers.
“Fleur, I want to love you like I do Pipin, but I can’t, it’s wrong, so wrong of me to think like this!” Nick said, his voice cracking.
“It’s okay to love Fleur,” Theo said, wandering into the room, “she’s everyone’s cub, not just mine.” Nick impulsively hugged Fleur. Fleur purred contentedly as she felt Nick’s huge warm paws envelope her.
“Fleur never lies,” Theo mewed. Fleur snuggled into Nick’s hug, the huge lynx holding her tightly. She felt his toes gripping her fur, his pads rough but gentle.
“Nick’s a lovely creature,” Ellie mewed, gazing upon her mate with the never ending deep warm love she’d always felt for him.
“I love you from your ear tufts to the pads of your paws Nick,” Ellie mewed. Nick purred as he stroked Fleur’s paws. Ellie smiled at him as she watched him stroking fleur.
“Big softy,” she said to nick, swiping playfully at him with her paw.
“Let’s both tickle Ellie’s paws!” Fleur mewed. Nick sprang upon Ellie and held her down, Ellie mewing with surprise while fleur tickled her paws! Ellie wriggled and twisted, laughing helplessly.
“Leave my paws alone!” She mewed, but her eyes told fleur and Nick she was enjoying every minute.
“I, I’ll, I’ll get you both for this!” Ellie mewed, while Nick tickled the pads and toes of her left forepaw, Fleur assaulting her right hind in much the same manner. Nick and Fleur were up for this, but wondered how Ellie would manage to tickle the paws of two animals at once. They’d forgotten about Pipin, who listened a short way away and was ready to help his mother out in any way he could.
Ellie put an end to the assault on her paws and belly, Nick and Fleur letting her recover.
“I think it’s now time I paid both of you back for that,” Ellie mewed, her eyes shining with merriment, “Pipin, help me tickle the paws of these two until they’re as helpless as I was.” Pipin went for fleur, bowling her over, as he was a large cub, and tickling her paws, Fleur laughing and letting him get on with his work. Ellie tackled Nick, the huge lynx rolling over and letting her stroke and tickle his large fat paws.
Meanwhile, Fleur and Pipin were having a fine time, each tickling the other’s paws and belly until they were exhausted.
Pipin found Fleur had large, fat, thickly furred paws.
Embracing her, he buried his face in her thick, warm coat.
“You have soft fur Fleur,” Pipin mewed. Fleur smiled and kissed his nose. Pipin purred softly while Fleur held him tightly.
Nick looked at the two cubs.
“Pipin’s fallen for Fleur I think,” he mewed.
“I think we all have Nick dear,” Ellie replied, “the community changed for the better the day she was born.” Hearing this made fleur want to die of embarrassment. She’d never thought of herself in these terms. She knew what others thought of her, or she’d done so ever since she’d met the strange cub which looked, or so she supposed, like she herself did. Fleur was just the way she was, and that was that.
Nick settled into the routine of the household, enjoying all it had to offer, making friends with everyone. Arki and Allie loved Nick on sight and they would often be seen playing together. Nick reserved most of his time for his mate and cubs, and He, along with Ellie, Pipin and Fleur, could often be seen playing together in the pool.
Arki and Kodiak have a cub.
Arki and Kodiak lay together beneath the quilt. The weather outside was freezing, and Allie, who’d ventured outside, reported that her paws had almost frozen solid, which told the other animals that the weather was unacceptably cold, even for the snow patrol.
Arki and Kodiak, warm beneath their quilt, held each other’s paws, and dreamt about the cub they were soon to have. Arki’s adopted cub, Candy had been overjoyed at the news her foster mum was going to have a cub of her own, but other than Candy and Kodiak, no animal knew of the impending birth of Arki’s cub. Arki knew she’d have to tell Fleur about the coming birth of the cub, as she didn’t want a repetition of the events surrounding Fleur’s birth, events which she’d been told about in graphic detail by Aslan. Arki wondered what her cub would be like, being a cross between the brown and polar bear. Would it be a brown bear with thick fur? Or would it be a polar bear with brown ears and brown patches? She didn’t know. Kodiak stroked Arki’s paw with his, the touch of his warm paw relaxing her into sleep. Kodiak knew brown bears and polar bears could breed successfully, for he’d heard of it from Allie, who’d known such a pairing between brown bear and polar bear adults, who’d had three cubs.
Despite Kodiak and Arki keeping a lid on the impending birth of their cub, the news somehow got out, Candy having let the news slip to Whitie. Whitie, though usually trustworthy, had been so excited about the coming arrival of the new cub she’d let it be known to all. Arki at first was furious, but then, as she realised the community weren’t bothered at all by the prospect of interbreeding, relaxed and began to enjoy the attention lavished on her by the community.
Arki woke slowly the next day, feeling her cub more active inside her than ever. She knew her time was near, and that she’d better find Fleur. Looking over to her right, she saw Fleur looking at her.
“I felt your cub’s need to be born,” the strange cross bred cub said. Arki smiled, feeling safe with this large cat. Kodiak, hearing Fleur’s voice, woke and looked at Arki.
“It’s time I think,” Arki said. Arki knew labour hadn’t yet started, but soon it would start. Arki wriggled free of the quilt and crawled with Fleur and Kodiak to the bathtub, Arki wanting a water birth. Fleur reflected that it had only been two weeks since Pakshalika’s birth, and that maybe Arki’s cub and the tiger cub would get on well together. Nick, now settled in the community after four weeks, and well recovered from his ordeal in the outside world, watched the two bears and Fleur padding towards the bathtub. Arki crawling uncomfortably as her labour had started suddenly.
“Good luck Arki,” Nick thought. Arki’s labour continued as Fleur filled the bathtub. Kodiak stroked his mate’s paws as she panted and groaned with pain. Fleur quickly got the bath ready, but for Arki it seemed like ages before she could be helped into the warm water. Splashing and pawing at Kodiak who lay beside her in the water, Arki coped as best she could with the birth of her cub. Fleur, watching over proceedings, rested her paw on Arki’s sweat soaked right forepaw.
“Now just let things take their course,” Fleur said, “Kodiak, you concentrate on Arki. Don’t worry about the cub, its safe.” Arki breathed hard.
“I want to push!” She moaned.
“Go on then,” Fleur said gently, Feeling Arki’s paw clench beneath hers as the female polar bear bore down against her cub.
“Does that feel better?” Fleur asked, stroking the fur of Arki’s paw as she pushed.
“Yes, oh yes!” Arki gasped. Kodiak looked sick with fear.
“Everything’s okay,” Fleur mewed to him, Kodiak burying his face in Arki’s shoulder.
“You’re not much good are you?” Leona mewed, padding into the bathroom, “Kodiak, what good are you to Arki if you’re terrified out of your fur by the sight of her in labour?” “Go away!” Fleur snarled. Leona, feeling she could stand up to Fleur, as she’d been brought up with her, stood her ground.
“No I won’t!” The female lion cub snarled back. Fleur extended her claws, showing them to Leona as Arki wailed with pain and bore down against her cub once more.
“That’s it Arki!” Kodiak encouraged, “push, Arki, push!” Arki screamed with fear and pain as the cub progressed towards the outside. Fleur cursed Leona as the female lion cub distracted her from her work.
“Get out of my sight!” Fleur snarled.
“You can’t remove me!” Leona snapped.
“Go back to work Fleur,” Nick said, striding in and dragging Leona from the room.
“Thanks,” Fleur replied, leaping into the bathtub to catch Arki’s cub as the female polar bear pushed it into the world. Arki felt Fleur touch her right hind paw, and wiggled her toes to acknowledge her.
“Right Arki, push hard, I’ll catch your cub,” Fleur said. Arki heaved, Fleur catching the cub in her large fat paws. Arki clenched her teeth and all four paws, bearing down against her cub for the last time.
“Done it, I’ve done it!” Arki yelled. Kodiak smiled with relief.
“I’m only sorry you nearly missed the whole thing,” Arki said to Fleur. Fleur, cleaning up the newborn bear cub looked briefly at Arki; her eyes telling her Leona would have a lot to answer for.
Arki and Kodiak looked with interest at their newborn cub. It was white with a black nose and black paw pads. Eyes tightly shut, it hardly struggled as Fleur cleaned it up, the cub sensing the owner of the paws holding it was gentle and meant it no harm. Once the cub was cleaned from nose to paws, Fleur let it go, the cub swimming towards Arki, instinctively knowing how to swim, finding out where she was by scent. Kodiak knew bear cubs didn’t usually learn to swim until they were at least three months old, but this one seemed to be highly developed for a newborn cub.
“I don’t know what we eat here,” Kodiak remarked, “but it leads to some well developed cubs.” Pakshalika, hearing of the fight between Leona and Fleur, rushed in to see if Fleur was okay, and caught sight of the newborn bear cub.
“Everything’s fine here Pakshalika,” Fleur said. The tiger cub smiled and looked at Arki.
“Come on,” Arki said to the tiger cub, “come and meet my cub.” Pakshalika padded over to the bathtub, and Arki gave her her cub to look after while she got out of the water. Pakshalika rolled onto her side and took the cub in her paws, hugging it tenderly.
“What are you doing!” Kodiak asked Arki, “you’ve just, I can’t believe what you’ve just done! Giving the care of our cub over to, to a tiger? What the hell are you on Arki!”
“Pakshalika won’t hurt our cub,” Arki replied, “she’s as gentle as Fleur.” Kodiak slapped his mate, the first time he’d ever done so. Arki snarled and bared her teeth at him.
“Don’t ever hit me again!” She snapped. Kodiak stared down at his paws, regretting his actions the minute they were performed.
“I’m just scared for the safety of our cub,” he mumbled, “you have a wonderful cub, and then, then you go and do something like this!”
“Your cub’s asleep Arki,” Pakshalika said, gazing down at the cub held in her paws. Her eyes having been open only for a few days, Pakshalika was taking every opportunity she had to look at everything, as well as touch things with her fore and hind paws.
“My cub will be hungry I’ll bet,” Arki said, gently picking the sleeping cub up in her mouth and carrying it back to the cubbing den, now vacated by Theo and his family. Kodiak followed his mate, giving Pakshalika a filthy look as he passed her. The female tiger cub, very upset by the bear’s apparent disgust at her actions, looked at Fleur for reassurance. Fleur smiled at her, waving her paw to indicate the cub should wait a minute. When Kodiak was out of sight, Fleur pulled the plug on the bathtub and got into the shower, putting another plug into the outlet and filling the shallow tray with water, before turning on the shower proper and rubbing shampoo into her fur. Pakshalika watched Fleur, wanting to be with her, wanting her to wash her fur in a similar way to the way Fleur was washing her own fur. Indeed, Pakshalika, while having been in the large pool in the complex, had never yet been washed properly by Fleur. Hosing herself down with the shower, Fleur read the tiger cub’s thoughts.
“In a minute Pakshalika,” Fleur said gently, thumping the button to turn off the shower with the heel of her right hind paw.
“Just let me finish cleaning up here,” Fleur said, stepping out of the shower. Pakshalika watched Fleur clean the bath, and then when the huge cross bred cub had washed her paws once more, she padded up to her.
“What did I do wrong?” Pakshalika asked.
“You did nothing wrong dear Pakshalika,” Fleur mewed, “Kodiak didn’t like you hugging his cub, that’s all.”
“But, but I didn’t take his cub, Arki gave me it to hug!” Pakshalika mewed pitifully.
“I know, I know! What happened is not your fault,” Fleur said gently. Pakshalika snuggled up to Fleur, wanting her to give her a hug. Fleur hugged Pakshalika tightly.
“Would you help me shampoo my fur?” Pakshalika asked. Fleur smiled, remembering how the female tiger cub had watched her.
“Let’s run a bath and I’ll help you wash your fur and paws,” Fleur mewed. Pakshalika watched as Fleur ran warm water into the bath. When all was ready, the cross bred cub helped Pakshalika into the water.
“Now let’s wash each other’s face, paws and fur,” Fleur said, “so we can see how it’s done.” Pakshalika was up for this. Fleur first showed the female tiger cub how to wash her face and paws without soap, then with. Pakshalika loved this, but took careful heed of Fleur’s warning not to get soap in her eyes and mouth.
“Get it in your eyes, it stings, and in your mouth it tastes horrid,” Fleur said to the cub, who smiled at her.
“this is fun!” Pakshalika mewed. Fleur showed the tiger cub how to wash her fore and hind paws, which Pakshalika loved, as she got a paw massage. Fleur knew the tiger cub would enjoy this bit, so she took her time, stroking the two week old cub’s pads and toes with infinite gentleness and care, and once this was over, tickling the pads of her paws until Pakshalika was laughing fit to bust.
“This is wonderful!” the cub mewed, when all was over. Fleur hugged her.
“Now, now, do I get to tickle your paws Fleur?” Pakshalika asked.
“All in good time,” Fleur purred, “you wash them first, like you saw me wash yours,” Fleur replied. Pakshalika took each of Fleur’s huge paws in her tiny ones as best she could and rubbed the soap over and between Fleur’s toes and pads, Fleur trying not to show the cub how much she was tickling her. Pakshalika wasn’t so much rubbing Fleur’s pads as lightly brushing them, causing a tickling sensation which eventually had Fleur laughing helplessly.
“You’re tickling me!” she whooped. Pakshalika knew she was doing wrong, as Fleur hadn’t tickled her pads or toes when she’d washed her paws.
“You need to be firmer, don’t rub too hard, but be firm, don’t tickle the pads of my paws with yours, for that won’t clean my paws at all,” Fleur said, “be firm, I’ll tell you if you’re in any danger of hurting me Pakshalika, don’t worry.” Pakshalika tried again rubbing Fleur’s paw furiously with hers.
“that’s it!” Fleur encouraged. Pakshalika worked on all four of Fleur’s huge paws, being extra careful not to tickle her.
“Nearly done,” Pakshalika said, working on Fleur’s right hind paw. Fleur smiled as the tiger cub finished her work.
“Well done Pakshalika dear,” Fleur said, “now we wash face and fur.” In this way, by mimicry, Pakshalika learned how to wash her face, paws and body fur. Fleur and the female tiger cub finished their bath and dried each other off with the towels provided.
Leaving the bathroom, Fleur and Pakshalika met Kodiak and Arki in the living room with their cub. The bear cub, scenting Pakshalika, crawled towards her, and Kodiak could do nothing about it.
“her name’s Bramble,” Arki said. Pakshalika smiled:
“I like that name, Bramble, what a nice name!” Bramble crawled up to Pakshalika, the tiger cub enveloping the bear cub in her large, fat, warm paws. Arki smiled as she saw her cub’s reaction to Pakshalika’s hug.
“I love you little one,” Pakshalika mewed, nuzzling the cub’s ear. Bramble buried her head in Pakshalika’s fur.
“I’m cold,” the bear cub whimpered. Pakshalika smiled and passed the cub over to Fleur, whose thick warm fur soon had the cub warm and comfortable.
“our cub couldn’t be in safer paws,” Arki said to Kodiak, who was regretting walloping Arki for letting Pakshalika look after their cub.
“Look, Arki, and you Pakshalika,” Kodiak said, “I, I’m sorry, sorry for hitting you Arki and for doubting you Pakshalika. I now see you were right Arki, Pakshalika is no danger to our cub.” Pakshalika and bramble played together, each catching the other’s paws and holding them. Fleur watched this, enjoying every minute of the antics of the two cubs. Arki rolled onto her back and waved her paws in the air, Kodiak laughing helplessly at her.
“You do look funny Arki,” Kodiak said. Arki caught the toes of Kodiak’s right forepaw in those of one of her hind paws and briefly held them.
“I have learned to use my paws to examine the world around me,” Arki said, “I know I wasn’t good at it to begin with, but now I’m trying to learn.” Fleur padded over to Arki, who rolled onto her side and enveloped her in a polar bear sized embrace, Fleur snuggling into the bear’s thick fur. Fleur took Arki’s left forepaw in hers and began to gently stroke it. Arki worked her paw into Fleur’s, pressing her pads against those of the cross bred cub.
“You have soft, warm, gentle paws Fleur,” Arki said dreamily, “I could get used to having my paws stroked like this.” Fleur purred as she continued stroking Arki’s paw. Bramble, having quickly become exhausted from playing with Pakshalika, had curled up in the warmth afforded by the tiger cub’s body heat and soft fur. Arki watched Pakshalika as she stroked the tiny cross bred bear cub’s head and paws.
“We are so lucky to have a community like the one we have here,” Arki said, “where else could a polar bear cub lie down with a tiger cub in complete safety, knowing the tiger cub wouldn’t think of attacking the bear cub.”
“I know Arki, I know,” Kodiak replied, feeling worse than ever about hitting his mate. Fleur released Arki, and Kuan-Yin, keen to see what was going on, crawled up to Arki and touched her paw with his. Arki looked at the panda and smiled at him.
“You have had a cub I see,” Kuan-Yin said. Arki’s smile grew wider at his words.
“You are right,” she said, stroking the paw holding her own. Arki looked Kuan-Yin over, from his nose, to the brown patch of fur on the soles of each one of his fat paws. Arki hadn’t seen this brown patch of fur on the soles of the paws of any other panda in the house, the soles of their paws being the same colour as the rest of the paw. Arki turned over Kuan-Yin’s forepaw, and found the same colouration on the sole.
“I know the soles of my paws are brown,” Kuan-Yin said, curling the toes of the paw Arki held, making his pads bunch together, “I like my paws.” Arki kissed Kuan-Yin’s nose, and then the black fur on the top of his left forepaw. Kodiak watched her, glad she’d found a friend in the large panda. Kuan-Yin licked Arki’s ear. Yi Jie watched him, wondering if he was falling for Arki. Kuan-Yin gazed into Arki’s eyes, his own expression one of total bliss as he looked into her own. Kodiak thought this had gone too far! Crawling up to the panda, Kodiak whacked him across his nose with his paw with an open pawed slap! Kuan-Yin howled with pain and threw up one of his paws to protect his nose, Kodiak slapping the pads of the panda’s raised paw! Arki shouted at Kodiak!
“No Kodiak, no! Don’t hit him!”
“He was making advances towards you Arki, and you’re my mate!” Kodiak yelled.
“We were looking into each other’s eyes yes,” Arki admitted, “Kuan-Yin was enjoying the experience maybe too, but there was nothing else to it!”
““I will go, I’m sorry,” Kuan-Yin gabbled, now shaking violently from his black nose to the brown soles of his fat and very strokable paws. Arki was disturbed by the sight of the large panda crawling away, Kuan-Yin looked dreadfully upset.
“He meant nothing by what he did!” Arki yelled at Kodiak.
“Bloody pandas!” Kodiak yelled, “They should be banned from here!”
“Do you want some of what you dealt out to my sire?” Shuang asked Kodiak, who spun round at the sound of her voice.
“Are you threatening me?” Kodiak asked. For answer Shuang raised her paw and cuffed Kodiak hard across his nose! Kodiak squealed with pain, burying his nose in his paws!
“That hurt, that hurt!” He wailed.
“I do not speak empty words,” Shuang said. Arki looked at the panda cub.
“But you’re only a cub!” She said, “You, you can’t just hit those whom you don’t like!”
“An eye for an eye Arki,” Shuang replied, “we pandas believe very strongly in that.”
“But, but that’s the law of the jungle, not the laws we abide by here!” Arki protested.
“Oh yes it is the law you abide by here,” the panda cub replied, “you stroke me, I’ll stroke you, you hit me, I’ll hit you. You see?”
“Well, yes,” Arki replied. Shuang padded forward and Arki hugged her.
“Wow!” Tinka mewed, “you n’alf gave Kodiak something to think about Shuang.” Yi Jie rubbed her nose with her paw to hide her smile of satisfaction at her cub’s actions.
“Plucky little cub isn’t she,” Clarence mewed. Shuang strode up to Clarence and stared into the lion’s eyes.
“You call me a plucky cub again, and you’ll get a paw across your nose, just like Kodiak did, okay?” Shuang said softly. Clarence snorted with disgust.
“Impudent little sod!” He snapped, swiping at Shuang with his paw, which paw was slapped by the panda cub. Clarence’s paw stung horribly after this.
“You, you horrid little, oh, I can’t think of words bad enough to describe you Shuang!” Yi Jie made quite sure her face was straight before she faced Clarence.
“All Shuang’s asking is that you never refer to her as a plucky cub again,” Yi Jie said. Clarence rubbed his paw, thankful the panda cub hadn’t gone for his nose as she had with Kodiak. Kodiak shook his head, trying to dispel the tingling feeling in his nose.
“I’ll smash that bloody cub into the earth!” He yelled. Suddenly Yi Jie was on top of him, her paw crashing down on his nose! Screaming and yelling, Kodiak crumpled totally! Arki watched this, knowing intervening would be stupid.
“What happened to a bit of back up!” Kodiak moaned as Yi jie left off.
“You deserved that,” Arki replied, “especially when you threaten to hit a cub.” Kodiak sniffed and rubbed his nose with his paw, it was still tingling.
“I’ll get you for this Yi Jie!” Kodiak snapped.
“Not while I’m here you won’t,” Theo said. Kodiak looked at him, and then stared at his own paws, defeated.
“You win,” he whimpered, crawling away. Kuan-Yin looked at his mate.
“You two don’t need my protection,” he said, “I’m superfluous to requirements here!”
“No you’re not,” Shuang said, snuggling up to her sire. Kuan-Yin hugged his cub tightly. Kodiak slunk away, leaving Arki and their cub Bramble alone with Pakshalika and Fleur, the other animals watching him go.
A loving touch.
Arki looked at Kuan-Yin. He was a handsome panda, and she knew his fur was soft and strokable, as were his paws. Arki touched Kuan-Yin’s nose with hers, then took his paw, curling her toes round his. Kuan-Yin smiled with genuine pleasure as he felt Arki’s toes grip his.
“This is lovely,” Kuan-Yin said. Arki, being a tactile sort, embraced Kuan-Yin tightly, the panda responding with positive vibes, stroking her free paw and kissing her nose. Arki rubbed Kuan-Yin down from his nose to the toes of his large fat paws.
“This feels so wonderful, but so wrong too!” Kuan-Yin said.
“Enjoy it Kuan-Yin,” Yi Jie said, “for I know you are faithful to me, so just enjoy yourself as much as Arki is.” Kuan-Yin pressed his paws into Arki’s as she worked on him, the panda enjoying the polar bear’s attention. Kuan-Yin began to explore the sensations his body was feeding to his brain. Everything was pleasurable, but the touch of Arki’s paws on the pads of his own paws was the best pleasure of all. Arki’s paws were larger than Kuan-Yin’s, and enveloped his in a warm, soft embrace. Kuan-Yin watched Arki through half closed eyes, the female polar bear’s paw massage making him drift pleasurably on the edge of sleep, though he knew that to fall asleep would be a crime.
Arki, having forgotten about Kodiak for the moment, and knowing her cub was well fed and safe in Fleur’s care, concentrated on massaging and stroking Kuan-Yin, the huge panda stretched full length in front of her. Arki worked on Kuan-Yin with everything she had, stroking the panda’s belly, as well as the pads and toes of his large fat fore and hind paws. Arki also examined him with her eyes, taking in everything from his black nose, to the brown patch of fur surrounding the pads on the soles of his paws. Yi Jie watched this; glad another bear liked Kuan-Yin as much as she did. When Arki had finished stroking Kuan-Yin, she turned her attention to Yi Jie and Shuang.
“Do you two want to be stroked too?” Arki asked. Yi Jie was up for it, and so was her cub. Arki glanced at Fleur, who was stroking Bramble’s paws and belly. Fleur shook her head at Arki.
“I know you like what you’re doing,” Fleur said, “but your responsibilities are here with your cub Arki. I will carry on the paw massage for Yi Jie and Shuang. Arki, furious with Fleur for telling her what to do crawled over and was about to lash out at her when the look in the cross bred cat’s eyes stopped her.
“You know I’m right,” the eyes said, and Arki, thinking clearly, realised Fleur was correct, her duty was to look after her own cub. Fleur crawled away, Yi Jie smiling at her and enveloping her in her paws.
“So it’s you who have come to stroke our paws and work your magic on us,” Yi Jie said, nuzzling Fleur’s ear. Fleur took Yi Jie’s fat left forepaw in both her own fat paws. Yi Jie nuzzled Fleur’s paw, the cub laughing merrily.
“You’re so sweet,” Fleur mewed. Fleur examined Yi Jie’s paw with hers, stroking her pads and toes, the sow panda snuggling up to her. Meanwhile, Kuan-Yin drifted in a dream, his paws still remembering Arki’s touch. Shuang wanted some of what her mother had, and padded up to Fleur.
“Wait your turn little one,” Kuan-Yin said. Shuang turned to her sire and looked at him.
“Would you stroke my paws?” She asked. Kuan-Yin smiled and, rolling onto his side, took Shuang in his paws and hugged her. He then rubbed his cub down with his large paws from her nose to the pads on the soles of her tiny paws, Shuang loving every minute of her sire’s attention.
Meanwhile, Fleur and Yi Jie were stroking each other’s paws; the sow giant panda returning Fleur’s paw massage and rub down. Yi Jie loved everything about Fleur, from her nose to the end of her long tail, from her ears to the soles of her fat, and well padded paws. Fleur knew of Yi Jie’s love for her, and for her part, found the female panda most beautiful, and rubbing her down a real pleasure. Fleur loved every animal in the place, whether they were an otter or a bear or whatever they may be.
Fleur and Yi Jie finished massaging each other and turned their attention to Kuan-Yin and Shuang, who’d fallen asleep.
“Don’t Kuan-Yin and Shuang look peaceful,” Yi Jie remarked to Fleur.
“Yeah, they do,” Fleur replied. Shuang stirred, stretched and settled back to sleep, Kuan-Yin shifting slightly as he felt Shuang getting comfortable.
When they woke, Shuang stretched and got to her tiny paws.
“That was a wonderful sleep,” she said. Kuan-Yin hugged her tenderly.
Meanwhile, Kodiak sulked in a corner of the living room, being ignored by all. He’d seen everything which had taken place, and hated the thought of his mate stroking Kuan-Yin. His paws clenched with anger, Kodiak watched the scene in front of him, his anger at his mate growing steadily.
“Are you in love with that panda Arki?” He asked when Arki’s stroking of Yi Jie’s paws had been ended by fleur.
“No,” Arki replied, “there was nothing to it, other than Kuan-Yin enjoying a rub down.”
“You were enjoying it a bit too much too I thought,” Kodiak snapped, “You were looking into that panda’s eyes as if he was the best thing since seal meat!”
“That’s not true!” Arki yelled, “I don’t love Kuan-Yin at all!”
“You can’t treat Arki like she’s your plaything Kodiak,” Bruin said. Kodiak spun round on the brown bear.
“You can’t talk!” He yelled, “After the way you treated Brunetta, that kind of talk’s not for you Bruin!” Bruin sprang at Kodiak! The two bears fought madly for a few minutes, and then Nick waded in to break up the fight. He laid down the law with his huge fat paws, smacking the two bears about their noses and paw pads, Kodiak and Bruin so surprised that they broke off their scrap.
“Mister fat-paws enforcing the law I see,” fleur said playfully. Nick, realising the two brown bears weren’t going to restart their fight, turned and ran to fleur, picking up one of her own forepaws.
“Mister Fat-paws? Nick asked, “What are you on about fleur? You have fat paws too! If I’m mister Fat-paws, you’re miss fat-paws!” Fleur laughed merrily and hugged Nick with her large fat forepaws.
Bruin and Kodiak looked at each other.
“We are so stupid, fighting like this,” Bruin said to Kodiak, “Nick and Fleur have it just right. We both have enjoyed a rub down and paw massage in the past, so why not now?” Kodiak looked down at his own paws.
“It’s crazy isn’t it,” he said. Bruin took Kodiak’s left forepaw in his and began to stroke it, the male brown bear reacting instantly to the massage. Soon Kodiak was enjoying the massage hugely, lying relaxed on the carpet. Bruin worked on Kodiak’s fore and hind paws, Kodiak breathing deeply and trying not to fall asleep. Feeling Bruin’s paws working on his own hind paws, Kodiak tried to press his toes against Bruin’s pads, but he didn’t have the strength to do much. He just about managed to rub Bruin’s pads with his toes, but this was enough to tell Bruin how he felt. Bruin patted, and then stroked Kodiak’s paw pads in response to the male brown bear’s touch.
“From fighting to stroking each other’s paws in five minutes,” fleur said softly, “this is wonderful news.” Kodiak knew it was proper to return Bruin’s massage, but he was so spaced out he couldn’t lift his own paw, let alone stroke the paws of others.
Nick smiled at the two bears, realising why Kodiak wasn’t responding well.
“I wonder,” Fleur said, “would mister fat paws care to give miss fat paws a hug?” Nick laughed uproariously at Fleur’s phraseology and enveloped her in a lynx sized hug.
“I love you my cub,” Nick purred. Fleur snuggled into Nick’s warm fur, enjoying the feel of his paws round her.
“I can’t believe anyone would hate you for even one second,” Nick said to fleur.
“That’s in the past now Nick,” fleur mewed. Nick nuzzled Fleur’s ear and whiskers. Fleur’s deep reassuring purr told Nick she was feeling contented and secure.
Meanwhile, Kodiak stroked Bruin’s paws, having woken from his massage induced sleep. Now it was Bruin’s turn to fall asleep, though he tried hard not to.
A huge husky dog padded into the room, looked at the scene and grinned at Fleur.
“You are so sweet,” he barked. Fleur looked at him, smiling with genuine pleasure.
“Dear sweet Buck,” fleur said. The husky dog smiled and looked down at his paws, embarrassed by her words.
“Do you love him fleur?” Clarence asked.
“No,” we’re just friends,” Fleur said, “but Buck’s asked me to take him to the swimming pool. Buck looked up at fleur, his eyes full of genuine affection for her.
“We are creatures of the arctic snows you and I,” he said, “that lion, he knows nothing.” Fleur grinned at Buck, while Clarence growled menacingly.
“Let’s go to the pool,” fleur said, releasing her reluctantly from Nick’s embrace and waving a huge muddy brown spotted paw at buck, who padded after the cross bred cub. Nick followed them, as did Ellie and Pipin. Hop along, seeing his cub disappearing towards the pool, ran after her, as did Bianca. The thudding and scuffling of large and tiny paws and the clicking of Buck’s claws on the lino floor of the back entrance was the only sound made by the animals that ran after fleur. Hop along could run quite easily on his damaged paw thanks to Fleur’s treatment, and kept up well with the fitter animals. A quick scan of the sole of Fleur’s paw let the animals into the pool, where Fleur ran for the slides, Buck following her. Hop along watched them go, smiling to himself. Every time he set eyes on fleur, he was reminded of how much he loved the cross bred cub. Fleur spotted Hop Along out of the corner of her eye, turned and walked back to him, then threw her paws round his neck, hugging him tightly.
Hop along purred as he felt Fleur’s large fat paws embrace him.
“Let’s go to the slide,” fleur mewed. Releasing Hop along, fleur took his paw and guided him to the slide, Buck following discreetly. When Fleur had seen Hop along down the slide, she turned to buck, who, thinking he couldn’t be seen, hugged Fleur tightly.
“Keep your paws off my friend!” Someone yelled. Fleur looked up into the camera on the wall, and knew what had happened. Suddenly Jespah exploded from the corridor to the lift, throwing himself at Buck! The lion and husky rolled together in a tangle of slapping paws and frothy insults.
“Okay okay!” Fleur yelled, “Stop it now! Both of you stop it!” Jespah snarled at Fleur.
“This, this mangy dog, he put his filthy paws round you and hugged you in a manner inappropriate to friendship! He meant more than that; he wanted you for his mate!” Fleur looked at Buck and realised Jespah was correct.
“No Buck, I love Jespah,” she said. Buck looked miserably at his paws.
“Let him go Jespah,” Fleur said. When Buck had gone, Hop along, who’d come up the slope just in time to see the end of the fight between Buck and Jespah, looked at fleur and asked:
“What the hell was all that about?”
“That dirty hound put his paws all over Fleur!” Jespah yelled.
“Buck hugged me, that was all,” Fleur said, “but yes, he did it in such a way that there was no doubt about his real intentions.” Hop along smiled at the two cubs.
“Fleur loves you, and you alone Jespah,” he said. Jespah nodded.
“I know,” the lion cub replied, “it’s just so hard, when, when I see her hugging other animals as if they’re the only thing in her life.”
~”But that’s what Fleur does,” Hop along said, “it’s her job. She’s a healer, and you know how close some get to their fellow creatures here. While fleur might let other animal’s stroke and tickle her paws, and they let her stroke theirs, her heart is always with you Jespah. Believe me my friend, if you restrict Fleur, you’ll lose her.” Jespah looked at the muddy brown cub with her spotted face and paws, and new then for sure that he loved everything about her body and mind. Jespah reached out with his paw and touched Fleur’s, the cross bred cub’s paw warm under his. Fleur loved it when he touched her paws and most of all when he touched her pads. Fleur smiled as she felt Jespah’s paw on hers.
“You love my paws don’t you Jespah,” fleur mewed. Jespah smiled.
“I love everything about you fleur, I really do my sweetheart!” Fleur turned and embraced Jespah tightly. She then rolled onto her back and waved her paws in the air, inviting Jespah to catch them in his. Jespah watched Fleur’s paws waving, then caught her right forepaw in his and held it, examining her pads and toes. Fleur curled her toes hard round Jespah’s, the lion cub smiling as he felt the pressure of her toes on his.
“I love that,” she mewed, massaging Jespah’s toes with hers, Jespah smiling broadly.
“You have a beautiful face, lovely whiskers and gorgeous paws,” Jespah mewed. Fleur returned Jespah’s affection, kissing his nose and whiskers. Hop along watched this, smiling at the antics of the two cubs.
Jespah tickled Fleur’s paws, the cross bred cub laughing helplessly while wriggling and twisting, but at first not withdrawing her paws from him, offering Jespah the opportunity to tickle the pads and toes of whichever of her paws he wished. Jespah did so, Fleur’s eyes telling him she was loving every minute of his attention. Hop along was enjoying himself almost as much as the two cubs, enjoying seeing them playing together.
When the soles of Fleur’s paws had been tickled five times over, Jespah left off, as his own paws were beginning to ache. Even so, he’d loved every minute of their play, for fleur had at first let him have free reign with her paws, but then had withdrawn them, making him chase her paws. Fleur had rolled and twisted, and even tucked her paws under her, so Jespah had to push her over onto her side to get at her paws. In fact Fleur did everything she could think of to frustrate Jespah’s attempt to tickle her paws, other than leaping to her paws and running away. Jespah loved the challenge as much as fleur, and now both were exhausted. Fleur crawled away, Jespah following her, keeping in constant touch with her by touching the pads of one or other of her hind paws with either one of his forepaws as they crawled. Now and again, fleur would grip the heel of whichever of Jespah’s forepaws was in contact with her own hind paw by curling her toes so they held the heel of his forepaw, Jespah responding by gripping the heel of her hind paw with the toes of his fore, so the cubs once more had brief contact using their paws,, something they both loved. In this manner, they made their slow but enjoyable way down to the main pool area. Hop along followed them, watching Jespah and Fleur all the time, enjoying the fact of their friendship as much as they enjoyed each other’s company.
When they reached the bottom of the slope, Jespah rubbed the pads of Fleur’s hind paws with his fore, fleur bracing her paws against his pressure.
“You are gorgeous Fleur,” Jespah mewed. Fleur smiled and curled her long tail over Jespah’s back, Jespah smiling broadly. Jespah drummed with the toes of one forepaw on the pads of Fleur’s right hind paw, the cross bred cub laughing merrily and twisting slightly so she lay half on her side, curling her body so she could see her mate. Fleur pressed her paw against Jespah’s, her pads pressing hard against his. Jespah knew he wanted to hug Fleur forever.
Fleur felt Jespah’s paws holding her own, and it felt wonderful. The feel of his large strong paw pads on her own thrilled her from the end of her nose, to her tail tip, and from her ears, to the tips of her toes. Jespah released Fleur’s paws reluctantly, as he could feel she wanted him to let go of her paws, but that she also enjoyed his touch.
“I love you fleur,” Jespah said, “from your nose, right down to the spotted soles of your large padded paws,” Jespah traced round her pinkie black pads with the toes of his paw, stirring spotted fur between Fleur’s pads. Fleur curled her toes, making the spots disappear and catching the toes of Jespah’s paw in hers.
“Come,” Fleur said, releasing Jespah’s paw to his evident disappointment, “let’s go somewhere private.” They padded away, buck totally forgotten.
Fleur took Jespah to a secluded place, where there was a warm rug. Jespah waited until fleur was settled down before he asked her about the struggle between her, Bianca and a similar rug. Fleur told him all about it. Jespah stroked Fleur’s paws, the same paws which were trapped in the rug featured in Fleur’s tale. Jespah stroked and massaged Fleur’s paws during her tale, then, wanting to ask her a question, he held up his paw.
“Fleur, dear sweet fleur,” he said, “I know this is changing the subject radically, but, but, well, I wonder, what I want to ask, is, well, cubs, do you want cubs? With me I mean?” Fleur looked at him.
“Not yet Jespah, not yet please,” fleur mewed, touching his nose with her paw, “please, let me have time. I don’t want, want to go through it, just in case, in case that, well.” Jespah nodded, nuzzling the pads of the paw which had touched his nose.
“I understand,” he purred, “I was hesitant in asking you, I didn’t want to, but, but I knew you’d be careful.” Fleur hugged Jespah.
“Can we play like we do now?” She asked, “I love that, and, and, well, if there are abandoned cubs, we could adopt them.” Jespah smiled.
“We can play,” he said, and we could adopt abandoned cubs.” Fleur smiled, relief coursing through her.
“I love you from your nose to your toes Jespah,” she mewed, touching his nose with hers, then the toes of all four of his paws with the toes of all four of her own paws.
“Thank you for being so understanding,” fleur mewed. Jespah kissed her nose, and then the toes of her left forepaw.
“I saw your birth,” he said, “I knew you’d be hesitant to give birth to cubs.” Fleur curled herself round Jespah, enveloping his forepaws in her own huge fat paws.
“Is it all right if I cuddle up to you fleur?” Jespah asked. Fleur cuddled closer to Jespah,
“Come on,” she said, “press yourself close to me, press your paws into mine, and bury your face in my fur, all that and more.” Jespah wriggled until his body was curled tightly into the curve of Fleur’s. He then felt her tail wrap round him, the end of it tickling the pads of one of his hind paws. Jespah gripped the end of Fleur’s tail with the toes of the paw it had tickled, fleur smiling and kissing him on his nose.
“I love your face, your body, and your paws Jespah,” fleur mewed. She picked up one of his forepaws and examined it, from the tawny fur on the top of his paw, to his powerful toes, and then, turning the paw over, she examined his pads, which were pinkish black, and the fur between them, which was tawny like that on the top of his paw.
“Sorry I have no spots on the soles of my paws,” Jespah said. Fleur kissed the pads of the paw she held.
“I don’t mind,” she mewed, “I love your paws just as they are.” Jespah purred as he felt Fleur’s paw touch his.
The two young cats fell asleep curled tightly together, paw in paw. When they woke, they knew for sure they were in love with each other, and that tickling and stroking of paws, as well as paw massage and general play was the method of their love making.
Jespah knew Fleur liked being rubbed down and massaged. He wondered if she would like to be shampooed from nose to paws by him. Fleur, reading her mate’s thoughts, smiled to herself at the thought of him shampooing her fur and paws.
“That would be a lovely experience,” she thought.
“Fleur, could I bathe you, like you do for the other animals?” Jespah asked. Fleur smiled.
“I’d like that,” she mewed, “one condition though, take your time, and don’t miss anything, especially my paw pads and toes, I love being shampooed.” Jespah smiled at his mate.
“I won’t forget a thing,” he said, “especially your paw pads and toes.” Fleur hugged him tightly.
“Now where would you like to be bathed,” Jespah asked. Fleur smiled.
“How about in the bathroom, where noone can disturb us if we lock the door,” she suggested. Jespah rubbed and massaged her paw while he pretended to take his time considering her suggestion, though fleur knew he was really just enjoying stroking her paw, something which she loved too, so his pregnant pause was more than fine by her. Fleur and Jespah padded from the room where they’d slept and made their way to the bathroom. Jespah and fleur filled the bath and then clambered in. They splashed about, and then Jespah grabbed the shampoo, rubbing some into his paws, before massaging Fleur with the shampoo, rubbing the shampoo all over her body, from just behind her ears, to the soles of her paws, not forgetting to rub her pads and toes. The bathtub was filled with water to a depth of a few inches, so they could scoop water into their paws and wet their fur. Jespah massaged the shampoo into Fleur’s paws, fleur enjoying every minute. Jespah massaged the pads and toes of each one of Fleur’s large fat paws several times over, fleur purring loudly throughout. Jespah shampooed his mate’s fur thoroughly, and then massaged the shampoo in vigorously. Once Fleur was covered with shampoo from ears to paws, she did for Jespah what he’d done for her, until they were both snow white. Once this was over, both animals got into the large double shower, pressing the start buttons with the heels of their soapy hind paws. The water cascaded down and from two sides, allowing them to shower off properly. Though Jespah could have washed himself down, fleur asked him to roll onto his back, where she took each one of his paws in hers and rubbed it until the soap was rinsed out. She did this for all four of his paws, and then attended to his belly, back and tail. She then got some special shampoo which didn’t irritate the eyes, asked Jespah to close his eyes and then rubbed it into his facial fur. In the process of Hosing Jespah down, the shampoo on Fleur’s body and paws got washed off; even so, Jespah still massaged her as if she still had soap in her fur. Then he washed her face as fleur had done for him. In this way, they made sure their fur and paws were free from soap, twice over in fact. Once would have been adequate, but checking ears, body fur, bellies, paw pads and toes as well as tails twice over felt better to them. Once each was sure the other had no soap on any part of their body, they reluctantly left the shower and left the bathroom for the drying room. There they found warm towels and rolled each other up in them, leaving enough to rub pads and toes dry. Fleur and Jespah dried each other, which involved more than just rubbing each other dry; there was a lot of paw massage too. This over, the two cats, paw in paw, made their way into the living room where Elsa met them. Smiling, the lioness hugged each of them.
“I’m glad you two are in love,” she mewed. Jespah kissed Fleur’s nose:
“So are we,” fleur mewed. Elsa saw the entwined paws of the two young animals, and the evident love felt by each for the other. Fleur guided Jespah to her private place, where she settled down, Jespah settling down beside her. He drank her in from her spotted nose to the pinkish pads and black spots on the soles of her paws. Fleur looked at Jespah as he examined her.
“You can’t get enough of me can you,” she mewed.
“I love you fleur,” Jespah mewed, almost crying. Fleur hugged him.
“I love everything about you too Jespah love and I don’t mind if you want to stroke me all day, every day. For that’s the way I’ve always communicated, through touch, using my paws, and hoping you will use yours to communicate with me through, through tickling, stroking, massaging and touching me from my spotted nose to the tips of my spotted toes,” Fleur replied. Jespah took hold of one of Fleur’s forepaws, and examined it carefully.
“I love you fleur, from your nose to your toes, and deep into your mind!” Jespah sobbed. Fleur touched his nose with her paw and then hugged him.
“I love you too Jespah dear,” she mewed, “from your nose to your toes and back again. I love your mind too Jespah.”
“I want you to stroke me from my nose to my paw pads!” Jespah mewed. Fleur embraced him tightly.
“I will do so,” she said.
Fleur was as good as her word, stroking and massaging her mate from his nose to his paw pads. Loving Jespah was easy for fleur, for she felt something deeper for him than just simple attraction to a male big cat.
Meanwhile, Perdy, desperate for love after Tigger had dumped her after she’d disowned Fleur, something for which the Bengal tiger could not forgive her, even when she’d repented, had got in with Tommy trip, the roaming lion wanting to do what male lions do. Elsa wasn’t receptive to Tommy’s advances, nor was Portia, the young lioness warning him off with bared teeth and extended claws. So Tommy and an increasingly desperate Perdy got together. Now Perdy was in cub, having forgotten about the struggle she’d had to give birth to fleur.
Peppered.
Perdy had a problem. She was close to her cubbing date, and knew that the only animals qualified to help her during cubbing were Theo or Fleur. Perdy couldn’t see either wanting to help her, though she thought she might be able to appeal to the professional duty of either animal to look after her during her hours of confinement. Now very much in cub, and fearing it would be another large one, Perdy padded towards Fleur’s domain, her paws heavy and the realisation dawning that she’d made a huge mistake in letting Tommy Trip have his way with her.
Fleur looked up as Perdy entered the room.
“I know you’re in cub again,” Fleur said, “and quite frankly, I wonder why, after my birth, you did it again! Though Perdy, I understand you forget these things, the pain and struggle of my birth, as well as your disgust at how I looked. You will insist on cross breeding with other cats.” Fleur had spoken to her mother in a bored tone, as if she was tired of her messing about. Perdy’s eyes pleaded with fleur for her help.
“Look Perdy,” Fleur said, “I will help you have your cub, but after that, I tell you now, if you do anything to harm that cub, I’m taking it off you, by force if needed, and you’ll have no contact with it ever again!” Perdy saw the intent in her birth cub’s face.
“You can’t tell her that!” Jespah snapped.
“Jespah,” Perdy said, “Fleur can, and she’s got every right to tell me that too.” Jespah dug his claws into the rug.
“I can’t believe you’d do that!” He mewed, referring to Perdy getting in cub once more.
“I was, was desperate,” Perdy mewed.
“That’s no excuse!” Jespah yelled.
“I know, I know!” Perdy replied, shifting uncomfortably as her cub moved inside her.
“You’ll have to have the cub and then see what happens,” Fleur said.”
“I know now I don’t want the cub,” Perdy mewed. Jespah banged the rug with his paw!
“You should be spayed Perdy!” He yelled.
“It looks like we’ll have a cub up for adoption,” Fleur mewed. Jespah looked at her.
“I wish she hadn’t done that,” Jespah said, “but yes, we’ll have a cub soon.”
Perdy turned and walked away, her paws even heavier than before. She knew her cub was due soon, and that she’d be shunned by the rest of the community after the cub was born.
Perdy’s labour started one dark night. Feeling the first small contractions, Perdy got up from where she’d been lying and began to pace about, breathing hard and pawing at the carpet when the contractions got harsher.
“Fleur! Fleur!” Perdy yelled, almost shrieking with pain as her cub made its presence felt. Stamping her paws, Perdy gave up all pretence of calm, screaming and crying with fear and pain. Fleur heard Perdy’s yell of pain and raced into the room to find Perdy lying on her back wriggling and twisting, waving clenched paws in the air and screeching with pain and terror. Fleur managed to make her heard above Perdy’s screaming and crying, telling her she would be okay, and that she wasn’t to worry about a thing. Perdy wailed with pain, and then fleur saw something emerging beneath her tail, two large paws! Perdy, feeling something happening at last, bore down against her cub, groaning with effort.
“Roll onto your side Perdy,” Fleur said gently, still unable to reach the labouring snow leopard on account of her thrashing paws. Perdy, whimpering now, wriggled and heaved as the cub’s head emerged. Collapsing onto her side, Perdy moaned and yowled with pain, lashing out with all four paws as she felt strong crushing contractions moving her cub into the world. Closing her eyes and pushing down hard, Perdy felt her cub’s body come free. Another straining heave and the cub’s hind paws were free. Perdy felt the cub’s long tail slide free, and knew the cub was a large one. Fleur caught the cub, examining it with her eyes and paws.
Perdy’s newborn cub was a strange looking cub, not quite as large as Fleur when she was newborn, but large all the same, with long fur, really long fur in fact, with a shorter under coat, short legs, large paws and a long tail. This long hair was consistent with that which makes up a lion’s mane, with shorter, thicker snow leopard like fur beneath, the hair covering the cub from just above its eyes, to the end of its long tail. The cub’s paws sported this mane like hair on the tops of its paws, the pads and soles thickly furred, just like Perdy’s. The cub’s eyes were tightly shut. Fleur noticed something strange about the cub’s fur. It was dirty white, with black spots from its nose to the end of its tail, and even the tops and soles of its paws had black spots!
Fleur licked the cub dry, its own mother too exhausted to help.
“You are a lovely cub little one,” fleur mewed. Perdy looked round, saw her cub and spat at it.
“What the hell’s that?” She asked.
“It’s your cub,” Fleur said. Just then, Theo arrived, saw Perdy’s cub and looked at Perdy herself.
“I know what happened,” the community leader said, “I know also that this cub is fleur and Jespah’s.”
“They can look after it,” Perdy said, “I don’t want it.” Fleur examined the cub from nose to tail. The cub was female, and to Fleur’s eyes, one of the most beautiful cubs she’d ever seen.
“She’s lovely!” Someone exclaimed. Fleur smiled at Petra, who padded up to the cub and hugged it tenderly.
“I know your tale little one,” Petra mewed, “don’t worry, we’ll look after you.”
“I’m hungry,” the cub mewed. Fleur led the cub by its large paw to Perdy’s milk, and Perdy was good enough to let her drink her fill. Then the cub returned to Fleur’s side, fleur embracing the cub in her huge warm paws.
Later that day, Theo and Petra talked over the matter of the cub’s welfare. “What are we going to do about feeding the cub?” Petra asked.
“That was my worry,” Theo said, “I know Perdy doesn’t want the cub, and fleur, though able to look after her, can’t give her milk, good and honourable though her intentions are.”
“We’ll just have to ask Perdy if she’ll provide milk for the little one until we can think of a more permanent and agreeable solution,” Petra said, “after all, the cub is Perdy’s, and she has a duty to look after it to some degree, at least until we can think of another plan.”
This was put to Perdy, who grudgingly agreed to feed her cub.
“I’ll feed her, but that’s it, okay?” Perdy snapped, furious she’d landed herself in trouble once more. Theo nodded and looked sternly at her.
“You make sure you do,” he mewed, “or I’ll milk you like a cow!” Perdy shrank back from her leader, remembering how Aslan and Petra had milked her before. That had been terrible, and now the two who’d done the deed then were no longer cubs, but strong adult cats.
So the spotted long haired cross bred cub was fed by Perdy, fleur and the others taking over all aspects of the cub’s care.
Fleur named the spotted cub Pepper, as she looked as if she’d been sprinkled all over with black peppercorns.
Pepper’s education in the ways of the community started with a good rub down from fleur, something which she thoroughly enjoyed, and gave Fleur time to examine her properly with her paws. Pepper would work herself as close to fleur as she could during these rub downs, of which there was at least one a day, curling her body into the curve of her foster mother’s. During these times, Jespah would watch them both, his eyes showing as much love for Pepper as if she was his and Fleur’s natural cub. Jespah would also join in the rub downs, something which Fleur and Pepper encouraged him to do, but at first Jespah was reluctant to do. Once he’d learned he could be as paws on with pepper as Fleur was, Jespah began to relax and enjoy being with his cub. Pepper had her first bath at two days old, Fleur running her a warm relaxing one. Pepper stepped carefully into the bath, her curiosity overcoming her fear. Fleur was already in the bath, Jespah having stayed out to help their cub into the water, but he soon joined them. Splashing about in the warm water, which to Pepper seemed alive, as Fleur had turned the spar feature on, Pepper felt the water massaging her body, legs and the soles of her paws, something witch delighted her hugely. It was during one of these sessions that Pepper spoke for the first time.
“Lovely this,” she mewed, trying to swim against the bubbling water. Fleur and Jespah stayed close by their cub, but Pepper was a good swimmer seeming to have an innate knowledge of how to swim.
The majority other animals treated Pepper with curtsy, but some were reserved, the capybara and badgers weren’t too keen on her, being of the view she was illegitimate and therefore slightly abnormal. Brock and Constance, the two badgers, were a conservative couple, who held to, “values of the old school,” as Brock put it, and didn’t take too well to the news Tommy had caused another female cat to fall pregnant, only to abandon her with the cub. On the other hand, Aslan and Petra took to the spotted cub, as did Nick, who when he first saw her, ran to Pepper and threw his huge paws round her in a huge hug. Pepper, used now to being hugged with huge warm paws, snuggled up to him, accepting Nick as a friend.
“That’s nick Pepper,” fleur said, “or more affectionately known as “mister Fat paws.”” Nick laughed merrily at this.
“Mister Fat paws?” Pepper asked, “But why is this?” Nick gave her his left forepaw, the cub measuring it against her own by placing her pads on his.
“Both of us have fat paws!” She whooped, “and so does my mum, so that’s really great isn’t it!” Nick smiled and kissed Pepper on her nose.
“It is Pepper, it is,” he purred.
Pepper was now two weeks old, her eyes had opened, and she could crawl about. Fleur would often join her cub in crawling from place to place, so she didn’t feel so isolated. Of course, Pepper had the same problems Bianca and Pakshalika had when they were her age. In that her claws which she could not retract at that time sometimes caught in carpets, rugs and the like the strands of the rug catching her claws and toes, greatly frustrating the large spotted cross bred cub. Fleur took to observing everything Pepper did, much as Elsa did before her. She noticed the way her cub crawled, the way the long fur on her paws dragged on the carpet when she crawled. Sometimes the long hair surrounding the shorter fur and pads on the soles of her paws would tickle her pads making Pepper laugh helplessly. When this happened, Pepper would look round for the animal who was tickling the soles of her paws, but see noone.
“It’s your long hair little one,” fleur would say gently, before padding up and rubbing the pads which had just been tickled by the cub’s long top coat. Pepper’s appearance had changed in the last two weeks. Her eyes were golden blue, her long top coat of mane like hair tawny brown with black spots showing beneath it, with the black spotted, greyish, thicker fur beneath. Pepper’s nose and paw pads were pinkie black, just like Fleur’s, and it was these very pads which were tickled by Pepper’s tawny topcoat.
To anyone from outside the community, Pepper looked strange, but Jespah and Fleur, along with most of the community adored her more with every passing day. Pepper’s face was one of the most interesting things about her, the long topcoat covering it from her chin and around her ears, leaving her nose and the rest of her face covered by the thick undercoat of shorter greyish black spotted fur. The tops of Pepper’s paws were also covered with the tawny hair, the cub’s belly and the soles of her paws covered by the same greyish black spotted fur covering her belly and most of her face.
Snowy first saw Pepper when fleur brought her to the pool complex for her first encounter with a water slide. Snowy had heard of Pepper, indeed, there was noone in the community who hadn’t heard of the long haired cub, but she’d never seen her until that day. When she saw fleur walking into the complex, closely followed by, what looked to snowy like a tawny bundle of fur on short legs crawling in after her. Snowy wondered briefly what this thing was. It was only when she heard fleur address the bundle by the name Pepper that bells began to ring in Snowy’s mind. Snowy zoomed in on pepper with her camera, examining the cub closely. Snowy could see the cub’s greyish black spotted undercoat beneath her tawny topcoat, and even managed to catch a glimpse of the greyish spotted fur on the sole of one of the cub’s large hind paws as she turned to go up the slope leading to the water slide. Snowy caught her breath, and had to fight down an urge to run downstairs and throw her paws around the cub. Snowy wanted desperately to hug the cub, and mewed softly as was her way when feeling protective towards cubs. Snowy didn’t know then that she’d left the microphone open on public address system.
Fleur heard Snowy’s mew through the loud speaker system, soft though the sound was. Smiling, she touched Pepper’s paw.
“One go on the slide Pepper dear,” Fleur mewed, “and then we’ll go and meet a dear friend of mine.” Pepper, eager to meet everyone, asked.
“Where is your friend?”
“Up in a very secret place,” Fleur said. Pepper smiled.
“Will you show me this place?” She asked.
“Yes I will,” fleur replied.
“Let’s go now!” Pepper said eagerly, tugging at Fleur’s paw. Fleur grinned, looked up at the camera and a voice, seemingly from nowhere said:
“Bring her up here fleur.” Fleur new Snowy was about to be added to Pepper’s extended family, just as she’d been added to her own when she was young.
Fleur took Pepper’s paw and guided her towards the lift. Opening the door, fleur led her ever trusting cub into the lift. Placing her paw on the paw print scanner, fleur pushed the switch upwards to tell the lift to go to the floor which led to the control room. The lift ascended, and fleur saw Pepper dig the toes of her three free paws into the lift floor for support. Fleur gently stroked her cub’s paw, and this calmed her enough to reach the upper floor without Pepper freaking out. Padding along the corridor, fleur was acutely aware that she and her cub were being watched by Snowy. This was further confirmed when they were admitted to the control room without fleur scanning her paw. Snowy was again watching them via a split screen monitor, just as she’d done when fleur herself had entered the control room that first time. Smiling snowy pushed back from the desk with one white forepaw, at the same time spinning her chair to face the two newcomers, completing her display by leaping off the chair in one fluid movement. Padding quickly and noiselessly over to Pepper, snowy took the startled cub’s paw in hers.
“Welcome my dear,” snowy purred; looking at Pepper with the same gentle expression fleur first encountered three hours after her birth. Pepper relaxed on seeing the look in Snowy’s eyes, realising this huge tigress was no threat to her, and never could be.
Snowy hugged Pepper tenderly; the tigresses touch bringing tears to the cub’s eyes.
“I know Pepper my dear,” Fleur said gently. Pepper sniffed.
“I’m sorry,” the cub sobbed, “I don’t know why I’m crying.” Snowy and fleur knew well enough. Snowy knew the affect she had on cubs. Pepper calmed down after a while, and was even able to return Snowy’s hug. Snowy examined the cub from nose to tail, even examining her paws.
“Your long hair must tickle your paws Pepper,” Snowy observed, looking down at her right hind paw, the sole of Pepper’s paw facing the ceiling as the cub was still crawling on all fours, and could not yet stand on her paws. Pepper smiled:
“My pads and toes are tickled by my hair all the time,” she replied, “sometimes I think someone’s tickling my paws while I’m crawling, when they’re not at all. It’s my long hair tickling me!” Snowy laughed merrily, as she could see the cub was amused by her own situation.
“Your hair is so long that when you finally do walk, you’ll look like you are floating across the carpet little one,” snowy mewed. Pepper didn’t understand what the snow tigress was saying, but fleur did, and smiled lovingly at her.
“I like it when my paws are stroked,” Pepper purred. Snowy, smiling, gently stroked the pads of Pepper’s left hind paw with the toes of her own left fore, Pepper catching Snowy’s toes in her own and briefly holding them.
“I love that,” Pepper mewed. Snowy tugged playfully at her now trapped paw, Pepper wiggling the toes holding Snowy’s so they massaged them. Snowy laughed merrily, Pepper letting go of her paw.
“Your paws are spotted like your mum’s,” Snowy said. Pepper looked at fleur, smiling at her.
“I know they are,” she mewed, “the soles of mum’s paws are muddy brown though, mine are grey. We both have black spots on our paws though, and that’s lovely.” Fleur hugged her cub tightly, kissing Pepper on her nose and the toes of her shaggy left forepaw. Pepper smiled, kissing Fleur’s nose and left forepaw in return. Fleur embraced her cub tightly, rubbing her down with her huge paws.
“I love this,” Pepper mewed, cuddling up to her foster mum and working her huge, soft, hairy paws into Fleur’s as she reached them during Pepper’s rub down, fleur embracing each of Pepper’s huge warm thickly furred, hairy paws in hers. Fleur massaged and embraced each of Pepper’s paws in turn with infinite care and consideration.
“I love having my paws stroked and tickled,” Pepper said dreamily. Fleur finished Pepper’s all over rub down with a warm hug. Pepper loved every minute of this, especially the paw massage and hug. Snowy watched fleur and Pepper, knowing fleur would never leave her adopted cub to face the world alone.
“Have you taught Pepper here how to find her nose and her toes like you did Bianca?” Snowy asked fleur. Fleur smiled at the memory of the games she and Bianca played.
“Pepper has picked it up as she’s gone along,” fleur said, “what with her hair tickling the soles of her paws all the time, Pepper’s learned quickly about her paws. We also play quite a bit, and that helps to identify our noses, tails, toes, bellies, paw pads etc, so Pepper’s doing fine.” While fleur was saying this, Snowy had lain down on the control room carpet, Pepper taking hold of the snow tigress’s left forepaw. Pepper was soon engaged in taking a hard look at Snowy’s paw. Pepper examined the white fur on Snowy’s paw, as well as her toes, before turning her paw over and looking at her pads. Pepper displayed all of Fleur’s gentleness while touching Snowy’s pads and toes, and performing her visual check. Pepper seemed totally absorbed in her work.
“Pepper’s totally focused on my paw,” snowy remarked.
“Yes,” Fleur said, “she should have asked you first, but I’ll let her off as I’ve been rather slack in enforcing that. You see, neither me, Nick, nor anyone else Pepper’s met minds her examining them from noses to paw pads while they’re around us. In fact I know they quite like it when she does it, but I really must instil in her that she must ask first.”
“Maybe she just knew I wouldn’t mind,” Snowy mewed, “I really don’t mind at all fleur.” Fleur smiled at snowy, who was rapidly becoming as absorbed by Pepper’s thorough inspection of her paw as the cub herself was.
It was about then Pepper remembered someone owned the paw she was stroking. Looking up into the tigress’s face, Pepper met Snowy’s gaze, which was kind and inquisitive.
“What have you found Pepper?” Snowy asked.
“You’ve got five toes on your forepaws, and,” she glanced at Snowy’s left hind paw, the toes of which were just visible from where she lay, “four on your hind,” Pepper replied. Snowy wiggled the toes of the hind paw in question, Pepper smiling at her.
“I noticed you examining my paws,” snowy purred, “want a closer look at my other forepaw, and how about my hind paws too?” Pepper, realising she’d been found out, looked at fleur, ashamed at her curiosity.
“Snowy likes her paws touched and examined just like you do,” Fleur replied, “just remember to ask first next time Pepper.” Pepper looked at snowy to see if the huge tigress was angry with her.
“Please,” snowy said gently, “Pepper, would you look at all four of my paws?” Pepper smiled and patted the forepaw she held in both of hers.”
“When I’ve done that, would you look at my paws Snowy?” Pepper asked. Snowy smiled.
“Of course I will,” she purred, “but promise me you’ll take a look at mine first and I’d like it if you’d stroke them too, for I really like that a lot.” Pepper smiled at snowy.
“I will, I promise I will,” she purred. Snowy curled the toes of the paw Pepper was stroking around the cub’s, Pepper smiling as she felt Snowy’s touch.
“Your paws are massive!” Pepper exclaimed as she examined Snowy’s right forepaw, “are you related to mister Fat Paws?”
“Mister Fat paws?” Snowy asked, confused.
“She means Nick,” fleur said laughing, Pepper heard him referred to as mister Fat paws, and thinks that’s his name.” This amused snowy greatly, and she laughed for some time.
“No,” she said when she’d recovered, “I’m not related to Nick, or “mister fat paws” as you call him, “though I might as well be, seeing the size of my paws. Then again, looking at yours Pepper, you could be related to him too, look at these paws! They’re huge paws for a two week old cub!” Snowy grabbed one of Pepper’s forepaws and held it up for inspection by her and Fleur.
“I know I’ve got huge paws!” Pepper said, laughing as snowy tickled her pads. Snowy rubbed Pepper’s paw to soothe her. Smiling, Pepper kissed snowy on her nose, just as she did Fleur’s when expressing affection for her. Snowy’s eyes filled with tears at this, and she dropped Pepper’s paw, the cub thinking for an instant she’d offended snowy, but then, Pepper found herself enveloped in the huge paws of a snow tigress who wanted to embrace and protect a young cub. Snowy’s paws were large and soft, her embrace firm and welcoming, one which made pepper want to snuggle up forever, much as Fleur’s did.
“Go on Pepper,” fleur said, sensing her cub’s mood, “cuddle up to snowy.” Pepper snuggled up to the snow tigress and buried her face in Snowy’s thick fur, working her paws into it too, and ending up curled against Snowy’s body, the huge tigress holding her as close as Fleur did when she hugged her.
Pepper purred contentedly as she fell rapidly into a deep sleep.
Fleur watched her cub sleeping embraced by the paws of a tigress that she felt almost as close to as she did Elsa. Snowy, still lying on the carpet, embraced Pepper with all the love and care of a mother for her cub. Fleur settled down beside Snowy, the images of the pool complex ever changing on the screens around them, but forgotten by the big cats as they enjoyed each other’s company.
The phone rang, startling snowy out of sleep. Scrambling to her paws, she woke Pepper, who looked at her, stretched and scrambled onto all fours. Snowy grabbed the handset of the phone in one huge white paw and listened.
“Leo?” She asked, “What’s the matter?” There was a pause and then snowy again:
“A panda you say? Where?” Snowy whacked a button on the consol with her free paw, Leo’s voice coming clearly over the loud speakers.
“A panda in the garden focus that bloody camera on it, and then you might see it!” Leo yelled his ambivalence to Snowy’s pet project clear to all.
“Right,” Snowy said, pressing yet another button and dumping the handset on the cradle, going paws free, “let me see, ah yes, a panda, enjoying his lunch by the look of it.” Leo stared out of the window in the living room, snowy watching him and the panda simultaneously on a split screen.
“I don’t know why you’re looking so flustered Leo,” snowy mewed, “it’s not your responsibility any more to worry about whether another panda joins our community.” Leo looked confused, and then angry.
“Snowy,” he asked quietly, “You haven’t installed cameras in this house have you? Tell me you haven’t done that!”
“Not me,” snowy mewed, “the boss did it.”
“I can’t stand this!” Leo yelled slamming down the phone.
“Oh dear,” Pepper mewed, realising something was wrong with the lion on the screen.
“That’s Leo, he’s not very technologically minded,” Snowy mewed, waving her paw at the angry lion on the screen, who was now leaping about and screaming with silent rage.
“I don’t know if I want to meet him,” Pepper mewed.
“Leo’s a lovely lion,” Fleur said, “He just doesn’t like being watched.” Snowy watched the panda on the screen. The panda was now pacing about the garden, still chewing nervously on his bamboo shoot.
“Poor thing,” fleur mewed, meaning the panda, “Let’s let him in here.”
“Okay,” Snowy said, “but be it on your head if he is unfriendly.”
“Wait!” Pepper said, holding up a huge hairy paw, “the panda’s been seen by Theo, at least I think its Theo.” Fleur nodded at her cub as she watched Theo and the panda’s meeting. Snowy pressed a button on the control panel, giving audio feedback from the camera watching the garden.
Theo held a paw up to stop the bamboo crunching panda’s pacing, who, when he saw the lion, nearly fled!
“Stop chewing on that bamboo shoot for one second will you?” Theo asked. The panda looked at him.
“But you’re a lion,” the panda whimpered, tearing more furiously at the bamboo shoot held in one paw.
“Give me that!” Theo snapped, snatching the bamboo shoot and crushing it under his paw.
“Now look at me!” Theo said, thoroughly exasperated by the panda’s behaviour.
“I, I am,” the panda stammered, “you’re large, that’s for sure.” Theo obviously couldn’t understand why this bear was so scared of him, noone previously, who hadn’t got good reason, had ever been scared of him.
“I won’t harm you,” Theo mewed. The panda stared at the crushed bamboo shoot under Theo’s well padded paw.
“Don’t, don’t hurt me, please!” The panda begged, almost prostrating himself at Theo’s feet. Theo lay down and caught the Panda in his paws, holding the shivering bear tightly.
“I won’t harm you, Calm down will you!” Theo mewed, “I promise you I won’t harm you!” The panda shook from his nose to his toes.
“My name’s Shen,” he gasped, “I’m, I’m lost, alone, and now in the paws of a huge lion!”
“If you think I’m large, you wait until you see Leo,” Theo thought.
Snowy, fleur and Pepper listened to the conversation taking place between the panda and the lion.
“We are a gentle community here,” Theo purred, “We don’t mean anyone any harm. We will look after you Shen until you want to leave here, or, you can stay if you’d like.” Shen stared at Theo.
“I’m homeless,” he said, “I have nowhere else to go.” Theo looked into Shen’s face, then, very gently, kissed the panda on his nose. This gesture brought tears to Shen’s eyes, for he knew then what he’d suspected from the look in Theo’s own eyes. The lion loved him as if he was his cub. Now Shen didn’t mind the fact Theo had crushed his bamboo shoot under paw, nor did he mind the fact he was between the paws of this huge lion, in fact he wanted to stay where he was forever.
“We’ll find you bamboo shoots to eat,” Theo mewed, “we have other pandas here you know, and they will welcome you into their midst I’m sure.” Shuang was at that very moment watching Shen with interest. The panda cub padded out into the garden, touched Theo’s shoulder with her paw and, when the lion turned his head and his eyes met hers, she asked:
“Can I?” Theo, realising what the cub meant, smiled and nodded: “As you can see,” Theo said to the panda cub, “I’ve crushed his bamboo shoot beneath my paw. Would you be so good as to find him another one?” Shuang smiled and nodded, taking Shen’s paw and leading him towards the house.
Shuang led Shen into the living room, the other animals watching him with interest.
Meanwhile, Pepper and fleur left the control room, but not before Pepper and snowy had hugged each other one last time. Fleur saw snowy had fallen head over paws in love with her cub and she was glad of it.
Leaving the control room, Pepper and Fleur descended using the lift, knowing snowy was watching their every move. Leaving the complex, they met Theo, who was trying to stop Leo from leaping up to destroy the CCTV camera on the wall of the house.
“You might be glad of those camera one day Leo,” Fleur said, brushing past him. Leo rounded on her.
“What good could these cameras do?” He snapped.
“if you are in trouble, Snowy or someone else could see you and direct help to you,” fleur mewed, “snowy can also talk to you through speakers placed all over the place, reassuring you until help arrives.” Leo snarled and growled his protest, but said nothing more, and strangely, stopped trying to destroy the camera.
“Now we have a nice calm lion, rather than a raging fury,” Pepper remarked. Leo stared at her.
“What is that?” He asked, waving a paw at Pepper, who didn’t seem in the least phased by him.
“Who I think you mean,” Fleur replied, “her name’s Pepper, and she’s my cub,”
“Your, your cub?” Leo asked, interrupting fleur, “you didn’t have a cub did you fleur? No, you couldn’t have!”
“Perdy did,” Fleur replied, “Tommy Trip was the father of her cub. I now look after Pepper, as Perdy wants nothing more to do with her cub. Pepper knows this and regards me as her mum, as I regard her as my birth cub. Leo looked at Pepper, at her strange long tawny topcoat, rather like his own mane in texture and appearance, and the thick spotted snow leopard like fur of her face and belly.
“You are a strange looking cub,” Leo said, “but I know that with Fleur looking after you, you will be safe here.”
“Are you saying there are some who would harm me if mum wasn’t looking after me?” Pepper asked.
“Um, well, some might,” Leo replied.
“Who might harm Pepper?” Theo asked.
“the capybara might cause problems for her, though they are less of a problem now Tarker’s dead,” Leo replied, “also, there’s Stifftail, he hates anything which looks strange, Fleur, Petra and now Pepper., I heard him sounding off to Perdy about how horrid her cub looked, and Perdy agreed with him.” Theo growled deep in his throat:
“Not another problem brewing,” he snarled, “Stifftail should have been killed with his vindictive mate!”
“Oh yes, there’s a snow leopard in the front hall too, she’s heavy with cub, and due to have her cub any day.” Theo dashed into the house, meeting Yi Jie coming fast the other way. Colliding, the lion and panda tripped over each other’s paws, ending up sprawled in a tawny and piebald heap of fur on the floor of the passage. Apologising profusely to each other, Theo and Yi Jie picked themselves up, checked each other over for injuries, and then Yi Jie told Theo why she’d been running.
“That female snow leopard is having her cub in the cubbing den,” she said. Theo yelled to Fleur, who, overhearing the conversation ran with him to the cubbing den, Pepper following at her heels.
The sound of a snow leopard in labour issued from the cubbing den. Mewing and crying, as well as the desperate scrabbling of paws searching for purchase to brace against anything greeted fleur and Pepper as they arrived. Theo let Fleur do her work, while he kept an eye on Pepper. The female snow Leopard lying on the rug glanced up as fleur entered, then she was seized by another contraction. Wriggling, closing her eyes and Opening her mouth in a scream of pain, the female snow leopard scrabbled for Fleur’s paw. Gripping it in both her forepaws, she squeezed Fleur’s paw hard! Fleur felt the snow leopard’s grip relax as the contraction spent itself.
“What’s happening?” Pepper asked.
“The female Snow leopard’s giving birth to her cub,” Theo replied.
“Can I watch?” Pepper asked, “I’m interested.
“You’d better ask the snow leopard mum first,” Theo replied.
“It’s okay,” the poor snow leopard replied, “she, she can watch.” Pepper padded round to the female snow leopard’s tail, touching her left fore and hind paws as she passed.
“Now give it your all when you feel the urge to push,” fleur said. Pepper watched as the female snow leopard tensed, scrabbled for purchase on something with all four paws, the toes of one hind paw gripping those of Pepper’s right forepaw, and heaved! Pepper saw the tiny paws and head of a cub emerging from beneath the labouring mother’s tail. Panting and screaming, the mother to be piled on the pressure, her cub shooting fourth, its mum yowling with pain and gripping the toes of Pepper’s paw with all her strength.
“Go on, push against your cub!” Pepper mewed, taking her lead from Fleur, who grinned at her cub.
“Stroke the pads of the snow leopard’s paw holding yours with your free forepaw Pepper,” Fleur said. Pepper tried it, and the female snow leopard pressed her pads against Pepper’s paw during the lull in contractions.
“One more push should do it,” Fleur said to the exhausted mother to be, “come on, squeeze Pepper’s toes with yours, take a deep breath, and push as hard as you can!” The snow leopard did as Fleur asked, and her cub slid completely into the world. Feeling the labour was over, the new mother released Pepper’s paw, opened her eyes and turned her head to find Pepper, who’d guessed what needed to happen next, dragging the newborn cub towards her head. The female snow leopard stared at her cub and at the strange cub doing her best to drag her newborn cub.
“Let me help,” she mewed, taking her tiny cub in her paws and hugging it.
“That was wonderful!” Pepper mewed. The female snow leopard smiled with genuine pleasure.
“I think those were your toes I curled mine round,” she mewed.
“They were, and here’s the paw to which those toes belong,” Pepper replied, holding out her paw. The female snow leopard kissed Pepper’s offered paw.
“Thank you both,” she mewed to fleur and Pepper, who hugged her in turn.
“You did a fantastic job Pepper,” Fleur mewed, embracing her cub.
“I enjoyed it,” Pepper replied. She turned to the new mother.
“Thank you for letting me is a part in the birth of your cub,” Pepper mewed. The female snow leopard smiled and replied softly:
“Its okay, Thanks for being there.” Pepper touched the newborn cub’s tiny paw with her large one.
“Welcome to the community little one,” Pepper mewed. Theo laughed slightly.
“You can’t really say that Pepper,” he mewed, “you’re not leader, I am.” Pepper looked down at her paws, greatly ashamed.
“Sorry,” she mewed. Theo then did something he’d been longing to do ever since Pepper had been born, take her in his paws. Theo enveloped Pepper in a huge hug. Pepper cuddled up to Theo, who purred contentedly.
Meanwhile, the female snow leopard cleaned up and fed her cub.
“We’re safe here,” she mewed to her cub, which cuddled close to her.
Holly.
After the snow leopard mother and her cub had slept for some hours and woken refreshed, Fleur took a good look at the female snow leopard, noticing she was bathed in sweat from her nose to the pads of all four large paws.
“You did very well during cubbing,” she purred. The female snow leopard smiled:
“I couldn’t have had my cub without you and your cub’s help,” she mewed. Fleur looked at Pepper, who smiled at her.
“What is your name?” Pepper asked.
“My name’s Holly and I’ve named my cub Panja, which is Hindi for pounce.” Holly replied. Fleur and Pepper laughed as Panja lived up to his name, leaping upon Pepper’s left forepaw and holding it in his tiny ones.
“Let me tickle your paw Pepper!” He mewed. Pepper grinned, rolling onto her back and taking Panja in her huge paws. Panja fought madly, but Pepper knew the tiny cub’s heart wasn’t in it, only four hours old, the cub already knew when Pepper was playing with him and when she was serious. Panja worked his tiny paws into Pepper’s huge fat hairy ones.
“I love you Pepper,” the male snow leopard cub mewed. Pepper kissed the tiny cub on his nose.
“I love you too little Panja,” she replied. Panja ran his tiny paws all over Pepper’s body, from her nose, to the end of her long tail and from her ears, right down to the toes of all four huge paws. Pepper laughed as the tiny leopard’s paw pads tickled her own:
“I love that!” She mewed. Panja gently tried tickling Pepper’s pads, the cross bred cub squealing with laughter and curling her toes round those of the tiny cub, being careful not to crush them.
“Yippee!” Panja whooped, “I tickled Pepper’s paw!” Holly watched anxiously.
“He’s too small to play with you Pepper,” she said to the tawny coated cub, “Panja’s paws aren’t half the size of yours!”
“Pepper will be gentle with Panja,” fleur said, “and so will Panja be gentle with Pepper. They are already firm friends I see.” Panja examined Pepper’s large fat left forepaw, running his tiny paws over the sole from toes to heel, feeling her pads and toes, before feeling his way over the longer hair covering the top of her paw.
“This long hair looks like it tickles the pads of your paw Pepper,” he observed.
“My hind paws always get tickled by the long hair around my paw pads,” Pepper mewed, “I think it’s funny!” Panja felt his way to one of Pepper’s hind paws and found that she was right, her long topcoat brushed the pads of her hind paws, and when Pepper got onto all fours, Panja found the problem worse, with quite a bit of hair at the back of Pepper’s heel which would get trapped beneath, or trail behind her paw when she learned to walk and put her full weight on it. Because Pepper was still unable to walk and therefore crawling, the long tawny hair dangled down almost covering the entire sole of her paw, brushing her pads whenever she crawled. Panja even saw that a couple of strands reached her toes, tickling them also. Panja gently stirred the long hair by blowing on it, making Pepper laugh helplessly and curl her toes in an effort to stop the hair from moving. Panja rubbed the large cub’s pads with his tiny paw, and this soothed Pepper.
“You little bully!” Pepper mewed, but Panja knew she loved what he’d just done, for her toes now caressed his, and the feeling was wonderful. Fleur laughed helplessly as she watched the antics of the two cubs.
“You two are so funny!” She whooped, “You little devil Panja, tickling pepper’s paw like that!”
“I love it mum,” Pepper replied, gently massaging Panja’s tiny toes with her own larger ones. Fleur smiled at her cub and took Pepper’s left forepaw in her own paws, leaving Pepper’s hind paws free for Panja to stroke and tickle, and stroke them he did, much to Pepper’s delight. Pepper released his toes, and Panja stroked her hind paws.
“I want to stay with you Pepper,” Panja mewed. Pepper gently wiggled her toes free of Panja’s grasp and turned to him.
“You can come and visit me, but you need to be with your mother now,” she said gently. Panja held desperately onto her left forepaw.
“Please Pepper, please let me stay!” He begged.
“I would love to let you stay with me forever Panja my friend, but you need to be with your mum for a long time before you can be with me for a while. Come little one; do this for me, please?” Pepper pleaded. Panja squeezed Pepper’s paw hard, and then kissed her nose and the toes of the huge paw he held in his tiny ones.
“I love you,” he mewed. Holly looked at fleur.
“This isn’t right!” Her eyes screamed.
“Let them love each other,” fleur mewed, “please Holly, and let’s see how it goes.” Holly looked into Fleur’s eyes, and was intrigued at what she found there.
“Trust me please,” the strange cat’s eyes said.
“I will, and do trust you,” Holly mewed.
Pepper kissed Panja’s nose and the toes of his tiny left forepaw.
“I’ll see you later Panja,” she whispered, hugging him. Panja mewed with such distress that Pepper was moved to tears.
“Please don’t get upset little one!” She pleaded. Panja began to cry, his tears squeezing out from his shut eye lids.
“I want to stay with you, please!” The tiny cub sobbed, “I love you Pepper!” Pepper held Panja in her paws, kissing his nose, belly and the pads of his tiny paws. Panja rubbed his closed eyes with clenched paws, his face hot and red with emotion.
“Oh, let him go!” Holly snapped, “My cub’s exasperating!” Fleur looked concerned.
“Aren’t you going to feed him?” She asked.
“Let him drink, but then get him out of my sight!” She snapped. Panja drank until he was full, and then crawled towards Pepper, who guided him out of the cubbing den by taking hold of his tiny left forepaw, Holly watching him go.
“That cub’s not mine,” she mewed, “not mine by choice anyway. I was taken advantage of. I was left in cub, needed a home, and something told me to come here, to a place where I’d be helped.” Fleur wondered how Holly had found the house, had she known of the house’s existence before she’d set eyes on it.
“How did you know this place was here?” Fleur asked. Holly shook her head.
“I don’t know,” she mewed, “I just felt I should come here.”
“Maybe Panja feels he’s destined to be with Pepper?” Fleur mewed.
“At five hours old?” Holly asked, “He hardly knows his own mind!”
“Who knows what will happen,” Fleur mewed, “Holly, let them play, let their paws and whiskers be their guides.”
“You talk strange words Fleur,” Holly mewed, “how anyone can let their paws and whiskers guide them I don’t know!”
“Touch and you will find,” fleur mewed.
“I don’t believe in any of this, but I’ll give it a go,” Holly said. Taking a deep breath, Holly touched Fleur’s paw with hers.
“I want to hug you fleur!” Holly mewed, her eyes half scared at what she was feeling, and “I must hug you!” Fleur let Holly embrace her, the female snow leopard enveloping her in a huge hug.
“Back to basics Holly,” fleur mewed, brushing the snow leopard’s whiskers with hers, “back to the old ways, ways of touch, of stroking, of peace.” Holly nuzzled Fleur’s ear.
“Is Pepper like you fleur?” Holly asked, “If she is, then my Panja will be safe, please, please! Tell me she’s like you! As gentle as you, as loving as you are?”
“What do you think Pepper is?” Fleur asked, “How has she treated you? How did she treat you during cubbing?”
“She was gentle to me, and to Panja,” Holly mewed.
“There you go,” fleur replied, “gentle, and do you think I’m gentle?”
“You are, you are!” Holly exclaimed.
“Then, that makes two of us gentle, me and my cub,” Fleur replied.
“Yes,” Holly said faintly.
“The question is Holly,” Fleur said, “Do you want your cub?” Holly looked at the large cat.
“As I said, I was taken advantage of,” Holly mewed, “I wasn’t planning on having a cub if that’s what you mean. I didn’t want one, but now, now Panja’s here,,,” she sighed heavily, “I don’t know Fleur, I don’t know if I love him or not!”
“When you look at Panja, could you give your life for him if you had to?” Fleur asked. Holly shuddered at the thought.
“I don’t know,” she mewed, “Panja’s a handsome cub, but, but I didn’t want a cub, and deep down still don’t, but I couldn’t kill him, not now. Of course, before he was born, then if I’d had a way of doing so, I would have terminated the pregnancy.” Fleur looked sharply at Holly.
“We don’t do that here,” she mewed, “it’s not that I don’t know how to do it, I do, but we don’t do it here, it’s not the way of things here.” Holly suddenly felt as if she’d trodden on dangerous ground.
“I’m sorry for mentioning it,” she replied, “I didn’t know you had such strong objections!”
“Nature takes its course here,” fleur replied, “we will help nature take its course, be it helping a mother have her cub by massaging the pads of her paws as pain relief, and we’ll help with soothing baths and general body massage, and help her if the cub is lost naturally, but we will never terminate a pregnancy here.”
“What if the mother’s life was in danger, or she knew she was to give birth to a disabled cub?” Holly asked. Fleur’s eyes filled with tears. Holly knew then she’d not just trodden on sensitive ground, she’d stamped on it.
“But fleur,” Holly whimpered, “it is your job to know about these things!”
“I know,” fleur sniffed, “but, you, you really have no idea! You don’t know what you’ve just said Holly, you really don’t! I’m not angry with you,” fleur buried her face in her large fat paws, unable to continue.
“What did I say?” Holly asked.
“It’s a long story,” someone said. Holly turned to see a huge lion standing in the doorway of the cubbing den.
“Fleur’s mother was, still is a loose female snow leopard,” Leo said, “she got in with one of our Bengal tigers and fleur was the result. Fleur’s birth nearly cost fleur and her mother their lives. We had ways and means of helping both to survive and they did. Now you know why Fleur’s so upset.”
“What about disabled cubs?” Holly asked, “Surely you must get rid of blind cubs and the like, they’d never survive here!”
“Get rid of blind cubs?” Nick asked, striding in to the cubbing den. Holly knew then she’d really put her paw in it.
“So you have blind cubs here?” She asked.
“We do,” Nick replied, “my cub is blind, and so is Whitie, she’s another snow leopard cub. Panja will meet her I’m sure.” Holly felt her paws becoming damp with sweat; she’d wrecked her standing with these people for sure.
“Be careful what you say, and to whom you say things,” Leo warned, “we are tolerant, but make sure you know to whom you are speaking before you ask questions like this.” He touched Fleur’s paw with his.
“Come on fleur,” Leo said, lying down on his side and gathering the still weeping cross bred cub to him and hugging her tightly, “it wasn’t Holly’s intention to be insensitive.”
“I know,” Fleur sniffed, “but, but it’s sometimes hard, when I know how close I was to losing my life, to be asked about these things.”
“I know,” Leo purred, kissing fleur on her nose, “go with Nick and find Pepper and Panja. I will talk with Holly, alone.” Holly knew then she was in for a real roasting.
“I will go,” Fleur said, wiping her eyes with her huge left forepaw, “I need to be around cubs, my own tawny cross bred cub in particular.” Fleur got shakily to her paws and left with Nick to find Pepper and her new-found friend.
Fleur found Pepper and Panja playing with Shuang and Bianca, the cubs having a mass rough and tumble game, which looked to fleur as if three cubs were ganging up on the fourth, the fourth cub being Pepper, who’d got pinned down by the other three, and who’s paws were being thoroughly tickled. Pepper’s eyes, though half obscured by a mass of tawny mane, told fleur that though she mewed and complained on the surface, she really loved every minute.
“Leave my paws alone!” She mewed, trying to catch the toes tickling her pads in her own, while her eyes told everyone she was enjoying the contact and challenge of the game. Fleur’s arrival caused the cubs to stop their game, and gather round Fleur, all of them at once trying to touch her paws and hug her. Fleur hugged each cub in turn, the cub being hugged snuggling into her warm thick fur. Then it was Nick’s turn to be accosted, and he dealt with the cubs in a similar manner to Fleur.
“You’ve been crying mum,” Pepper mewed. Fleur hesitated before replying, not knowing if she should tell her cub the cause of her tears.
“someone said something to me which upset me Pepper,” Fleur admitted, “but it’s all done now, all sorted. Pepper saw her mum’s reaction to her observation, and knew the tears weren’t far away.
“Mum,” pepper said, “I know, I know you are a cross bred cat, like me. I know you were large at birth, I know what happened. Jespah told me, for I asked him about our similarities, the large paws, strange markings and all that. He was open about it all, and told me what Perdy is like. I know who we are, and I know what reaction you got when you were born.” Fleur was crying openly now, and Pepper threw her huge paws round her mum’s neck.
“Others may have hurt you, but I will try not to,” pepper mewed, kissing her foster mum’s nose. Fleur clung to her adopted cub.
“I love you more than I can tell you Pepper!” Fleur sobbed. Pepper Kissed Fleur’s nose and the pads of one fat forepaw. Fleur looked at her cub through her tears.
“You’re a beautiful cub, and don’t you ever forget it Pepper,” Fleur sobbed. Pepper licked her mum’s ear. Panja and Bianca watched Fleur’s disintegration with growing concern.
“Are you all right Fleur?” Panja asked, touching Fleur’s shoulder with his tiny paw.
“Oh Panja, Panja!” Fleur sobbed, letting go of Pepper and embracing the tiny cub in her huge paws. Panja purred as he felt her paws envelope him.
Leo arrived with Holly, putting an end to the general atmosphere of calm.
“You look dreadful Holly,” Pepper remarked.
“I never knew, or could have guessed any of this!” Holly mewed, very distressed.
“Guessed or known what?” Fleur asked, thinking she already had a very good idea.
“About you Fleur, and about Pepper, and Theo, and everyone here. Leo’s been telling me all he knows, and he knows a lot.” Holly’s paws shook and she looked miserable.
“I’m sorry Fleur, Leo told me how you were helped into the world, and, and no wonder you were upset when I mentioned it.” “it” being the subject of pregnancy termination, “I’m so, so sorry!” fleur nodded:
“It’s all over now,” she mewed, “let’s go on from here.”
Panja and Pepper played together on the carpet of the living room, the larger cub being careful not to be too rough with the smaller. Panja tickled Pepper’s pads and toes as he knew this would incapacitate the larger cub faster than anything else he could do, While Pepper laughed helplessly throughout.
“I love this!” she whooped, as Panja tickled the pads and toes of her right hind paw with the toes of both his forepaws. Pepper put an end to his paw tickling by suddenly whipping her paw away from Panja, turning and catching the cub between her huge hairy forepaws. Panja loved contact with pepper, be it when he tickled her paws, she tickled his, or they hugged each other, so Pepper ending the game didn’t in the least upset the tiny cub. Pepper began to groom Panja from nose to tail, Holly watching her with angry eyes.
“What the hell are you doing!” Holly demanded.
“don’t be angry with her Holly,” fleur mewed, “that’s what happens here, and we groom cubs all the time. It’s not just the cub’s mother who grooms her cub.” Holly watched as Pepper finished grooming Panja and embraced him in her huge paws once more.
“that’s lovely to see,” Fleur mewed. Holly stamped her paws, angry at Pepper, though still wondering deep down if she wanted her cub.
“You are safe with me Panja dear,” Pepper mewed.
“Well you can have him Pepper, I don’t want him!” Holly yelled, “Panja can go and live with his hairy misfit friend!” Fleur snarled at Holly, and then Holly suddenly leapt at Pepper, her claws extended for the kill! As she was leaping into the air, Salty leapt upon Holly and brought her to the carpet, smacking her across her nose, before knocking her out with a well aimed smack from his huge left forepaw! Salty looked down at the prostrate snow leopard.
“What a horrid animal,” he mewed, “Tawny misfit indeed, who the hell does she think she is!” Salty walked up to Pepper and kissed her on her nose.
“Salty and Pepper!” buck barked, ha-ha! How funny is that?”
“shut it dog!” Salty snarled, “unless you want to go the same way as Holly?” Buck danced in front of Salty, much as Tarker had done a year or so previously. Salty’s paw smashed into the side of buck’s head! The husky was lifted off his paws and sent flying through the air, until he hit the wall with a crash and slid down it to the carpet, knocked unconscious.
“that’s what I think of you dog!” Salty snarled. Fleur looked troubled.
“here we don’t do that!” she mewed.
“Fleur, dear sweet gentle Fleur,” Salty said, “sometimes we need to do that, for some animals just don’t listen, won’t listen to reason, to someone’s wishes. They need to be told in other ways, some of which are violent.”
“But, but you, you hit Holly so hard, so hard! That, that she’s, she’s nearly dead Salty! All she said was Pepper’s a misfit; they are words, only words! She didn’t deserve what you did to her!”
“Holly wants Pepper dead Fleur,” Salty mewed, “she hates your cub. Ever since she heard of her cross breeding, she’s hated Pepper. I saw what happened when Leo and Holly talked; I saw Holly’s hatred for what she called “unclean cubs,” that is to say those who are cross bred cubs. Holly thinks animals should be pure in body as well as spirit, and this so called impurity on Pepper’s part, caused Holly to hate her. Holly was glad of Pepper’s help during Panja’s birth that was until Panja told her he loved Pepper and wanted to spend his life with her. Holly then began to hate Pepper, for in her eyes, noone of pure breeding, such as Panja, could possibly love a cross bred cub like Pepper. Leo was dreadfully upset by her sentiments, but Holly stuck by them, all but denouncing you for taking Pepper in your paws and looking after her. She said she was sorry for what she’d said to you about aborting cross bred cubs, but that apology was dragged from her for Leo had threatened her with harm if she didn’t apologise to you. Now, now Holly has disowned Panja, what else has she to stop her from doing both he and Pepper harm? Nothing! You saw the look in her eyes, she wanted Pepper dead Fleur!” fleur began to cry.
“It’s not Pepper’s, or my fault we’re cross bred! We didn’t choose to be as we are! We, Salty, Have as much right to life as you so called pure bred animals!” Salty tried to touch Fleur’s paw, but she shook him off, lashing out at him with the paw he’d tried to touch.
“Get your paws off me!” Fleur yelled.
“fleur, Dear Fleur, Please stop this!” Theo pleaded. Fleur looked at him, and the pain in Theo’s face made her ashamed at her fury towards Salty.
“come here,” Theo said to fleur. Fleur knew this was a command, though Theo had never raised his voice once. Fleur, her paws suddenly very heavy, padded over to the lion.
“Salty was only telling you how Holly felt,” Theo said, “he’s the messenger, not the aggressor. Though he may speak the views of those who cannot or will not speak for themselves, Salty does not hold the views he expresses.”
“I know, I mean, when I’m not upset I know,” Fleur replied, “but to hear that cross bred cubs aren’t respected is terrible!”
“Cross bred cubs are not respected?” Theo asked, “did Salty say that?”
“He said Pepper and I were hated because we were cross bred cubs, and Panja was hated because he, as a pure bred cub, chose to love a cross bred cub,” Fleur replied.
“But by whom are these cubs hated?” Theo asked.
“By Holly, but you know that Theo!” Fleur yelled.
“Salty is not Holly, and was it not Salty who brought Holly down when she tried to attack Pepper? Surely if Salty meant Pepper any harm or disrespected her in any way, he’d have let Holly’s attack go ahead. I think he did not do this.” Fleur looked down at her paws, unable to meet Theo’s gaze.
“Please look at me Fleur,” Theo said. Fleur dragged her eyes from staring at her paws, and looked straight into Theo’s. The look in the lion’s eyes filled her own with tears.
“Salty did what was needed,” Fleur choked, “to Holly, I, I told him, told him that here we don’t do things like what he did. Now though, now, Theo, I, I see Salty was right. Holly wanted to murder a cub for a perceived offence that was nothing more than being cross bred. This cannot happen. Salty has it right, I don’t. I’m sorry for everything.” Fleur looked down at her paws, still very ashamed.
“go back to your cubs fleur,” Theo said to fleur, “let your focus be on Pepper and on Panja, for he needs a mother more than ever now.” Fleur then realised what had truly happened to Holly.
“Don’t say a word,” Theo mewed, “but yes fleur, Panja needs you and Pepper more than ever now, for you’re all he’s got left in the world.” Fleur looked at Panja, who lay snuggled up to Pepper.
“How are we going to feed him?” She asked.
“Perdy offered her services, as she only had one cub, and can feed two. She will leave everything else to you and Pepper though Fleur,” Theo Replied. Fleur knew the depth of love Panja and Pepper felt for each other, and knew Pepper would look after the snow leopard cub.
The arrival of a lost cub.
Tigger was having the same dreadful dream, his mate and cubs were being chased all over the forest by the hunters, and he was running for his own life,
terrified and mewing pitifully. When the killing was over, Tigger looked for his cubs, finding two dead in the grass. Tigger knew this dream well, but
could not stop the video when it started running. Now he was weeping bitterly over the bodies of his dead cubs, knowing his mate’s body had been carted
off by the hunters. In his terror, Tigger Knew however that he’d had three cubs, and one was missing. This third cub, named Raja, was a fat cub with fat
paws and a jolly manner. A real happy cub he’d been, but now he was lost. Tigger’s nightmare ended as it always did, in floods of tears, Tigger waking,
weeping inconsolably for his mate and lost cubs. Tigger remembered the scents of the nightmare. The scent of forest, the smell of fear and blood, the
scent of the human hunters, and last of all, the scent of the missing third cub. This scent was one which moved him to tears faster than the memories
of his mate and dead cubs, for Tigger didn’t know where the owner of the scent was, or whether he was alive or dead. Tigger, waking finally, found the
scent of his missing cub was still present, driving him mad. Tigger mewed with anxiety and pain.
“This is too much, too much! I can’t cope!” He suddenly felt huge paws enveloping him, and they smelt of his lost cub!
“This is a dreadful trick!” Tigger yelled, batting at the fat paws with his own.
“Hey Tiggie, my sire, stop hitting me!” Someone pleaded.
“Raja?” Tigger asked. Tigger felt the paws tighten on him, huge fat paws, belonging to a fat tiger.
“I am Raja, your lost cub,” The tiger mewed. Tigger wept into the fur of the newcomer, while Raja held him tenderly.
“I’ve found you now Tigger, I know what happened to you, and that you cannot see me any more. Please, run your paws over my body; feel me from nose
to tail. Get to know your one remaining cub. Tigger touched Raja’s nose with his paw, then traced over the large tiger’s body, from his nose to the toes
of his fat paws. Raja purred contentedly as his sire’s paws worked over his body.
“I’m so glad to see you again Tigger,” Raja mewed. Raja kissed Tigger’s nose, tasting his sire’s salty tears. Tigger caught his breath as he touched
his cub, but this was no longer a cub, but a grown tiger, still fat, and as gentle as he’d always been.
“Raja, dear cub,” Tigger mewed, embracing him tightly. Raja breathed deeply, enjoying his sire’s attention.
“I don’t know how I found you,” Raja mewed, “I just knew you were here, something told me Tigger. I came in here, and found you sleeping. You were
thrashing about, mewing and begging for mercy from someone. I put my paws round you, and that was when you woke. Now, now we’re here, together, and I’m
safe, really safe!” Tigger wanted to take Raja in his paws as he’d done when he was a cub, but couldn’t. Raja, sensing his sire’s wishes, curled up tightly,
so Tigger could hug him. Tigger gathered his cub to him as he’d done when Raja was young, Raja’s eyes filling with tears as he felt his sire’s touch.
Fleur arrived, saw Raja was awake and waved cheerfully at him.
“There’s my rescuer,” Raja mewed. Tigger smiled at his cub.
“She’s wonderful,” he purred, “Fleur’s a lovely cub.”
“I agree,” Raja replied, “when I was dirty and sore from weeks outdoors, it was Fleur who helped me get clean again.” Raja wriggled free of Tigger’s
hug and padded over to fleur to hug her, Fleur embracing him tightly. Pepper, standing just behind Fleur, also got a hug from Raja, and, so did Panja.
Panja snuggled up to Raja, enjoying the fat tiger’s hug.
“So we’re half brother and sister?” Fleur asked Raja, who smiled at her.
“We are,” he mewed, “I could tell the minute we met.”
“I do like you Raja,” Pepper mewed. Raja smiled and took pepper’s paw.
“I like you too Pepper,” he purred.
“Where have you been since, well, since we were separated?” Tigger asked his cub.
“Please Tigger,” Raja pleaded, “Let me eat and sleep, then I’ll tell you.”
Once Raja had rested and eaten his fill of tuna veg mix, He told Tigger where he’d been since the hunters had killed his mother and sisters.
“I got captured by a human,” Raja said, “They kept me in a cage in a city. The humans thought of me as their plaything, forcing me to react by poking
me from the safety of the other side of the bars of my cage. Of course, I reacted angrily at first, but when I realised fierce reaction to their stick
was what they wanted, I stopped reacting with anger, and just lay lethargically in my cage. I wondered every day what had become of you Tigger. I knew
your sight was failing, and wondered if you were safe, or if you’d been thrown into a prison like cage, or if you were dead. Then, about two years later,
I heard of a place, a place where animals could go if they were unhappy or mistreated, or just needed a home. A lioness told me of this place, and I knew
from then on that I wanted to be there. I played dead, and when I was thrown out of the cage, I escaped and ran for my life! I found this place, and
spent ages hiding in the woods. Fleur found me a few hours later. Fleur washed my face, body fur and paws, and told me about the community, and the rest
is history. Tigger stroked Raja’s paws, the fat tiger purring contentedly.
“Welcome home Raja,” Theo mewed, padding into the room where Tigger slept. Raja looked at the lion with eyes full of fear.
“Lions and tigers don’t mix,” he mewed, trying to bury his head in Tigger’s shoulder.
“Believe me,” Fleur said, “mix with this lion and you’ll not regret it Raja.” Raja looked at Theo.
“Come here Raja, please,” Theo purred. Raja padded across to Theo, his legs shaking so much he could hardly stand.
“Um, ah, yes, sir?” Raja stammered. Theo looked into the fat tiger’s terrified face.
“My name’s Theo,” Theo said, “I am leader here, and I come in peace, as do we all here Raja. Now if you will, please, lie down,” Theo said gently,
“lie down here.” He patted the carpet with his paw. Raja found himself complying, and when he was lying on his side, he suddenly panicked! Screaming
with fear, Raja lashed out with all four paws! Theo calmly laid his huge left forepaw on Raja’s shoulder, just touching the tiger’s fur.
“Peace my friend,” Theo mewed. Raja’s paws scrabbled at Theo, his eyes screaming their message.
“Fear is natural,” Theo purred, “but I think you’ll find it is misplaced here Raja my dear friend.” Raja lay, exhausted from battering Theo with
all four paws. Theo gathered the tiger to him, hugging Raja with the same gentleness and love he felt for all the community. Raja, mewing and crying
with fear, let Theo hug him. Raja suddenly felt warm and safe, as if the paws holding him were not those of a male lion, but those of a benevolent and
protective force. Raja’s breathing slowed, and he began to relax.
“I won’t hurt you Raja,” Theo Mewed. Raja, his paws now buried in Theo’s thick mane, snuggled up to the young lion.
“That’s better,” Theo purred, stroking Raja’s right forepaw. Raja felt the pads and toes of Theo’s paw massaging his own, and decided then and there
that he wanted to be part of this community.
“Paw massage,” Raja purred, “What a lovely thing that is.” Theo smiled and kissed Raja on his nose.
“You like it?” He asked. Raja, moved to tears by Theo’s gesture, buried his face in the lion’s mane.
“I love paw massage, I love all that, and being rubbed down, and having my paws tickled, and everything! I’m like Tigger, I love contact with others.
Please, tell me this Theo. Do you, as a community, touch and stroke each other? I ask, as I used to do so when I was young, touch and stroke my fellow
cubs, and they stroked me,” Raja asked. Theo smiled.
“Of course we do,” he purred, “we love it here. It’s how we do things. We touch noses, stroke bellies and massage and tickle paws.
“Raja smiled and took Theo’s paw in his, stroking it. Theo wiggled the toes of the paw Raja held, the tiger smiling at his signal.
“Thank you for letting me stroke your paw Theo,” Raja mewed. Theo smiled with genuine pleasure.
“Thank you for stroking my paw Raja,” Theo mewed.
Theo rubbed Raja’s paw with his free one, Raja grinning at the lion.
“Now what are we going to do?” Panja asked.
“Why don’t we show Raja round a bit?” Pepper suggested.
“Um, yeah, why not,” Panja replied, “I’ve not seen much of this place either.” Tigger smiled:
“I haven’t seen much of the place either,” he mewed. Theo laughed uproariously at his words, while fleur, embarrassed, mewed pitifully.
“That’s not funny!” She mewed.
“I thought it was quite good,” Tigger whimpered. Fleur hid her head.
“It’s a terrible joke!” She mewed, “how can you joke about something like that?” Aslan padded into the room and laid a comforting paw on Fleur’s.
“It’s okay,” he mewed, “if we don’t joke about these things, we’d go mad.” Fleur looked at Aslan, and then remembered his history.
“I’m sorry Aslan,” she mewed.
“Let’s go,” Tigger said, taking Raja’s paw and leading him to the pool complex.
There they met Leo, Salty and Snowy, the three large cats playing Together. At the moment fleur and her party entered, Salty was getting his paws soundly
tickled by the other two. The military operation to tickle Salty’s paws stopped, much to his relief when Snowy saw Fleur and ran to her to hug her. Leo
was soon bowled over by Salty, and the snow leopard got him back by tickling his paws, Leo laughing helplessly. Raja leapt into the pool and came to Leo’s
aid, tickling Salty’s hind paws, the Snow leopard laughing as much as Leo.
“Hey!” He yelled, “Leave my paws alone!” All the while curling his toes round Raja’s, showing the tiger he was enjoying his touch. Raja grinned
at Salty, his toes in those of the snow leopard. Salty released Raja, the latter patting the leopard’s paw pads.
“You don’t know him Raja!” Tigger mewed.
“I thought it was rather funny,” Salty said, stopping the assault on Leo’s paws to turn and hug Raja in his huge furry forepaws. Raja purred contentedly
as he felt Salty’s huge paws envelope him.
“Dear sweet Raja,” Fleur purred, making Tigger and Raja smile.
“Of course!” Leo mewed, “you were the first to find Raja, and it was you who cleaned him up before any of us knew he was here!”
“Yes,” Fleur mewed, “and now he’s clean, I can see he’s got more brightly coloured fur than I at first thought he had.” Raja splashed over to Fleur
and hugged her. Fleur snuggled into her older brother’s hug.
“Now Fleur,” Raja mewed, “show me your domain.” Fleur squeezed his paw.
“Come,” she said, “let me show you.” With that Raja released her and Fleur led him up the slope to the top of the water slide. Raja looked down the
slide, then back at fleur.
“What do you do with this?” He asked. Fleur explained, and Raja looked wary.
“So you are taken down the slope on water?” He asked, still not quite understanding.
“You are,” fleur mewed. Raja dipped a paw into the fast flowing water.
“Will you come down with me?” He asked. Fleur smiled, touched his paw and ran to the store room for a raft. Dragging it across to the slide, she
positioned it and indicated to Raja that he should get in the front. Clambering in, Raja settled himself.
“Now hold on with your forepaws,” Fleur said, “but if you feel the urge to cling to the raft with your hind paws, please grip with your toes, not your
claws.” Raja nodded, taking a firm hold of the plastic handles with his forepaws and settling his hind paws into the bottom of the raft. Gripping with
his toes, Raja waited for Fleur to push off, which she did, leaping into the rear portion of the raft. The raft gathered speed, and then turned to the
right, then the left, and then angled straight down! Raja screamed as the raft hurtled towards the water! The raft hit the water, Fleur and Raja thrown
clear by the impact. Swimming, Raja regained firm ground, gripping the tiles with desperately scrabbling toes, his whole body trembling violently.
“Never again fleur, never again!” He mewed, coughing and gasping.
“Sorry,” Fleur replied, padding over and resting her wet paw on Raja’s.
“I don’t mind swimming,” Raja mewed, “but going down that slide, oh no! Never again!” Fleur hugged her brother tightly.
“Let’s go get you dry,” she mewed. Raja padded after his sister, smiling as he watched her padding over the tiles. Raja, after hearing of his younger
half sister’s traumatic start in life, wanted to throw his paws round her and protect her. He loved fleur so much, and he’d only known her two days.
In a flash he was by Fleur’s side, taking her paw in his and making her stop walking.
“Raja?” She asked. Then, feeling his fear, Fleur turned to him and hugged him.
“I’m safe now,” Fleur mewed, “I know what you’re thinking.” She kissed his nose, “dear sweet Raja,” Fleur purred, “you need not worry about me like
you do.”
“But I heard about your birth, and everything, and it was horrid, and I don’t know how anyone could do that to you fleur, and I want, I want to protect
you my dear sister!” Raja sobbed. Fleur hugged him tightly.
“I’m safe here,” she mewed, “and so are you. So come, let’s go and get dried off. Tell me Raja,” Fleur said, “have you ever been asked by another
animal if they could massage you just because they like you?” Raja shook his head.
“Well Tigger did, but he’s the only one who has,” he replied.
“Could I massage you from your nose to the pads of your paws?” Fleur asked. Raja’s eyes lit up at this.
“yes, please,” he mewed, I’d love you to.” Fleur smiled.
“This is what we do all the time here,” she said, “then Raja, would you massage me from my nose to my paws?” Raja smiled.
“Could, could we play like cubs?” He asked. Fleur grinned.
“Last one to tickle all four of the other’s paws is silly?” She said playfully. Raja grinned and stroked Fleur’s paw.
“Let’s do all that, as if we were cubs again,” he mewed. Fleur smiled and hugged her brother cub.
“Rough and tumble?” She asked.
“As long as there’s plenty of tickling of paws then yes, all right,” Raja replied.
“Like this?” Fleur asked, tickling the pads and toes of Raja’s left forepaw.
“Yes, like that!” Raja laughed, curling his toes round Fleur’s. Fleur smiled and rubbed Raja’s paw with hers.
“Come on then,” she mewed.
Raja and Fleur used their paws to explore each other’s bodies and paws. Both had fat paws, the toes of which were soon entwined, each holding onto the
other’s toes with theirs, pressing their paw pads together and massaging each other’s toes. This over with, Fleur and Raja stroked each other from tips
of noses to paw pads, before curling up together, the rough and tumble game forgotten. Raja and fleur examined the other by touch and sight, each enjoying
the touch of the other’s paws, basking in the warmth of thick fur and gentle caressing paws.
“This is wonderful,” Raja mewed.
“It is,” Fleur purred.
Elsa crept in and settled down to watch the two cats, one older in years than the other, one having experienced as much of life as the other. Elsa wanted
to purr with contentment, but stopped herself, in case she woke the sleeping cats.
Raja woke first, saw Elsa and smiled at her.
“You are mother to Fleur I see,” he mewed. Raja’s words made Elsa hide her face behind one of her huge forepaws in sudden shyness.
“I’m, well, yes,” she mewed.
“Fleur needs a mum you know,” Raja purred. Elsa padded over to the large tiger and looked closely at him.
“You are handsome Raja,” she mewed. Raja felt like hiding his face with his paw.
“I’m, well, handsome, yes, if you like me that is.”
“I like the look of you,” Elsa mewed, “From your nose to the pads of your paws Raja my dear.” She kissed him on his nose, Raja catching his breath
as he felt the lioness’s warm touch. Fleur woke in time to see Raja’s reaction to Elsa’s touch, and smiled at him.
“Why not hug him mum,” she mewed, “Raja might like that, for his own mum’s dead now.” Elsa looked at Raja smiled at the tiger and touched his paw
with hers.
“Come here my cub,” Elsa mewed. Raja felt a rush of tears threaten to overcome him.
“Elsa,” he choked, “please, oh, I’m going all silly now!” Raja wiped his eyes with the back of one huge white soled forepaw and sniffed, “I’m sorry,”
he sobbed. Elsa threw her paws round Raja, hugging him tightly. Raja cried into Elsa’s fur, finally able to grieve for his long dead mother. Elsa cradled
the Bengal tiger as he wept, not attempting to stem the flow of tears.
“You’re safe now Raja my dear cub,” Elsa mewed, patting Raja’s shoulder with her huge paw.
Raja felt more contented than he had for years, feeling safe in the paws of this strange lioness.
Fleur watched her older brother relax totally in Elsa’s care.
Shuang padded up to Fleur, settling down beside her, fleur embracing the panda cub in her warm paws. Raja stared at the cub in Fleur’s paws.
“She’s beautiful,” he mewed, reaching out with a huge paw to touch Shuang’s nose. Shuang, having never had to fear any tiger before, let Raja touch
her, even going so far as to nuzzle the pads of the paw which ever so gently touched her nose.
“What are you little one?” Raja asked.
“I’m a panda cub,” Shuang replied.
“A panda cub,” Raja said thoughtfully, as if fixing the name in his head, “and what is your name?”
“Shuang sir,” Shuang replied, “why, what’s your name?”
“My name’s Raja,” the tiger replied.
“Naja?” Shuang asked.
“No no no!” Elsa laughed, “Raja, as in tiger. Naja’s a snake!” Raja literally rolled on the floor laughing, pedalling the air with his huge paws!
“Sorry Shuang, but that was so good!” He mewed, thrashing the air with vigour. Shuang smiled, seeing the funny side to her mistake.
“Those paws look strokable,” she said, reaching out with a tiny paw and catching hold of Raja’s left forepaw as best she could. Raja let the panda
cub take his paw in both of hers and stroke it, something which he enjoyed hugely. Elsa smiled at Raja’s reaction to Shuang’s slip up. Shuang found Raja
had huge soft paws, which became even more inviting when he curled his toes round hers, holding her paw in his.
“Now you’ve met a tiger,” Raja mewed. Kuan-Yin crawled up to Raja and touched his paw.
“Now you’ve met the sire of the cub who’s stroking your paw,” he said, stroking Raja’s free forepaw.
Raja looked into Kuan-Yin’s face. The male panda’s smiled back at him, his paw gentle to Raja’s. Yi Jie watched her mate and cub with the huge tiger,
and was not surprised they got along. Secretly she wanted Raja to take her in his huge paws and embrace her, but she dared not ask it of him.
“I think someone is desperate for a hug,” Raja suddenly said. Kuan-yin looked at his mate, and Yi Jie turned her face away.
“My mate would love a hug from you, though she can’t bring herself to ask you Raja,” he said. Raja shook his paws free of those of Kuan-Yin and Shuang,
got up, and padded across to Yi Jie. Lying down he enveloped the sow panda in a tiger sized hug.
“This is lovely,” Yi Jie said, snuggling into Raja’s hug. She then realised how similar Raja’s and Fleur’s hugs were. Burying her face in Raja’s
shoulder, Yi Jie breathed deeply, relaxing totally.
“Are you related to Fleur Raja?” Yi Jie asked sleepily. Raja replied that he and Fleur were brother and sister, their common link being their sire
Tigger. Yi Jie then had it confirmed; this was why the two animals were so much alike in temperament and physical characteristics.
“It’s lovely Fleur’s managed to find her brother,” Yi Jie said.
Releasing Yi Jie, Raja and fleur left the living room. They met Jespah in the corridor, and the lion looked confused.
“Tigger tells me he’s found his lost cub?” He asked fleur. Fleur looked at Raja.
“He certainly has,” she mewed. Jespah looked at Raja.
“I can see the similarity,” he mewed. Jespah smiled at Raja, the tiger smiling back at the lion. Fleur’s paw found Raja’s and squeezed it. Scuffing
paws announced Pepper’s arrival, and Jespah broke off his examination of Raja to hug Fleur’s cub. Pepper’s purring almost rattled the windows as Jespah’s
paws enveloped her.
“You’re a gorgeous cub Pepper,” Jespah mewed. Pepper smiled shyly.
“He’s taken her to his heart,” Raja said.
Pepper snuggled up to Jespah, the lion smiling broadly.
“She’s a beautiful cub Fleur,” he mewed, speaking as if Fleur herself had given birth to Pepper. Fleur smiled at Jespah, touching his and Pepper’s
paw in turn.
“Let’s go to the pool,” Pepper suggested.
A thorny problem.
Raja and Theo, on night patrol, were padding noiselessly through the wood when their keen hearing caught the sound of something moving through the wood. In fact, had Theo and Raja been half deaf, they felt they might still have been able to track the progress of this thing. It sounded heavy, and rattled slightly as it moved. The cats could hear the thing had four feet, and the soles of the creature’s feet were naked of hair, for Theo could hear the slight patter of pad on forest floor, which was absent in animals who had paws with furred soles.
“What’s that?” Raja mewed.
“Surely I don’t know,” Theo replied, “sounds like a yard broom on legs to me, but that’s impossible!”
“I can hear you!” The thing yelled, “I know who you are too! Tiger and lion! Evil enemies of my people!” Theo trotted towards the sound of the voice, Raja following. Suddenly Theo threw himself backwards, bowling Raja over and landing smack on top of him! Theo clung to Raja with desperate paws, almost weeping into the tiger’s fur.
“What the hell are you doing?” Raja demanded when he’d got his breath back.
“Oh, oh, that, that was lucky, porcupine, a bloody great porcupine!” Theo gasped.
“What did it do?” Raja asked. For answer he got a slap in the face from a hard paw.
“I’ve always wanted to wallop a tiger,” the porcupine said. Raja threw up his paw to protect his face.
“But we did nothing to harm you; we haven’t raised a paw in anger!” Theo pleaded, still sprawled across Raja.
“See if I care,” the porcupine spat, “you lions want me for your dinner! I’m not becoming a meal for a lion, or for that matter a meal for a soft tiger! I know you Raja!” The porcupine jeered, slapping at Raja, “you are that sappy excuse for a tiger who played dead at the zoo, well, so did I. Remember me? You’re an idiot!”
“Oh, it’s you, Pickles, I might have known you’d turn up,” Raja mewed, looking decidedly unhappy.
“Who is this?” Theo asked.
“Pickles is a jumped up know it all from the zoo who kept me prisoner for two years,” Raja replied, “She’s a real pain in the backside!”
“I can see that,” Theo mewed, viewing the spines in the porcupine’s tail and on her back, “you now know why I leapt back when I saw her, she had her back to me!”
“Defensive action I call it,” Pickles said, “you lions never learn!”
“Look Pickles,” Raja mewed, “we come in peace! We want no war, no bloodshed!”
“I know who you are,” Pickles said, waving her paw at Raja, “but who are you lion? What’s your name?”
“My name’s Theo,” Theo replied. Pickles’s expression changed, and she seemed to collapse totally.
“Oh, um, oh dear. She mumbled, all aggression gone, “I’m so, so sorry, I should have known, Tembi told me of you. She said you were leader. I’ve just, um, well, I’ve just threatened the leader of the community I wish to join, how silly of me.”
Who’s the idiot now?” Raja mewed.
“Oh shut up!” Pickles snapped, furious at herself rather than Raja.
“I know what you are,” Theo mewed, “so, like a well trained lion, I kept out of your firing line, especially when you turned that horrid tail to me!” Theo snarled.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” Pickles replied, almost begging now, “Please, please, I don’t mean you harm, I’ll retract all I said about Raja too!”
“You’d better,” someone said softly. Pickles turned round to be confronted by a huge cross bred cat! Pickles had never seen anything like this before in her life! It was a tiger, but not a tiger, a snow leopard but not a snow leopard. Now you may ask how a porcupine knew of so many animals, but the answer to that is simple, she had lived in a zoo most of her life, and knew these and more.
“What the hell’s that!” She yelled, waving a paw at fleur.
“Trust me,” Raja mewed, “you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her!”
“Look you animated yard brush,” Fleur snapped, what the hell do you think you’re playing at?”
“Don’t, don’t hit me!” Pickles pleaded, all thoughts of using her quills vanishing from her mind, “I’m no threat to you or, or your family.”
“Well done spiky one,” Salty mewed, “you’ve only managed to anger the community leader, his cub, and that cub’s brother cub. I know your sort, you are dangerous, but roll you over, and there’s a good meal there.” Pickles squealed like a wounded thing!
“No, no! I beg you, don’t hurt me, I was, was, I mean I wanted, would like, oh, where’re my manners? I mean I’d like to join you, live with your people, but, as you can see, I’m not doing too well. Please, don’t hurt me.” Pickles tried to look submissive, but found it difficult with the world’s supply of spines and quills at the ready. She made a conscious effort to lower her spines, keep her head down and her feet flat on the floor. Pickles found herself looking into the eyes of the strange cross bred cat, and she couldn’t take her eyes from the cats.
“You might have the world’s most dangerous spines on your back Pickles,” the eyes said, “but you don’t know real power.” Pickles whimpered with fear and shame.
“I’m sorry!” She said, “I didn’t know, I didn’t know!” Fleur let her gaze drop to the forest floor, releasing Pickles from her torment.
“Come,” Theo said, levering himself gently off Raja, “let’s go into the house. Fleur, you know what to do.” Fleur nodded, waving her paw at Pickles telling her to follow her.
Fleur led Pickles into the bathroom, where she filled the bath, the female porcupine watching her with huge interest.
“HI mum, who have we here?” Pepper asked, padding into the bathroom to help fleur.
“Her name’s Pickles, she’s a porcupine,” Fleur mewed. Pepper looked at Pickles, and Pickles looked at Pepper.
“Another, um, cross bred cub?” Pickles asked, trying not to sound too surprised.
“Yeah, I am,” Pepper replied. The young cat no longer resented her biological mother’s actions.
“Pickles is a porcupine Pepper,” fleur said. Pepper looked Pickles over, noticing the sharp quills and spines covering her back and tail.
“No wonder mum’s taking care when bathing her,” Pepper thought, making a mental note not to get on the wrong side of this particular animal.
“So who found you?” Pepper asked. Pickles looked embarrassed.
“I, well, I heard of this place from a lioness who’d lived here once,” Pickles began, “she said I’d be safe here, so I made my way here, but, then, well,,” Pickles paused, “I, well, I kind of messed things up. Forgetting what Tembi had told me, I treated the lion and tiger that I saw wandering through the wood as natural enemies and spoke to them as such. I knew the tiger, Raja; he was once imprisoned in the same hellhole I had just escaped from.” Pickles told Pepper what had taken place in the wood, the tawny cross bred cub looking more and more concerned as the tale progressed.
“You really shouldn’t have threatened Theo,” Pepper mewed, “he’s gentler than you could ever imagine. He wouldn’t eat you for lunch, even if you asked it of him.”
“I know that now,” Pickles replied, “and I’m feeling more foolish than I have words to describe, but now, now I’m trying to make reparations for my stupidity. I mean, approaching a situation like the one I was in in the manner in which I did would be quite proper and understandable, if it hadn’t been for the fact I knew where I was, and within a guess or two, would have guessed the name of the lion facing me. I’m not a violent animal, despite what my quills and spines say about me.”
“I wouldn’t like to cross you Pickles,” Pepper mewed.
“Oh dear,” Pickles whimpered, “I’m not doing too well here.” Pepper grinned and held out her paw to the female porcupine, who took it in hers.
“You’ve got the softest, warmest paws I’ve ever known!” Pickles exclaimed. Pepper smiled.
“Me and my mum have both got warm paws,” she mewed. Pickles could feel Fleur’s warm paws working over her body, and they felt wonderful.
“How can I apologise enough to all of you for what I said and threatened to do?” The female porcupine asked.
“Just show us you mean no harm to us, and you will be fine,” Leo said. Pickles stared at him!
“What other animals have we here!” Pickles yelled.
“Lions, tigers, kangaroos, pandas, brown bears, polar bears, otters, horses, and even a racoon!” Leo replied. Pickles stared at him.
“Don’t forget us!” Someone yelled, and two mongooses ambushed Leo, bowling him over and tickling his paws, much to Leo’s surprise and everyone else’s amusement!
“Those bloody animals!” Leo yelled, making a play of struggling to free his paws from those of the mischievous mongooses.
“Oh, Leo!” Fleur laughed, losing it totally, “I can’t believe what I just saw! Where did those two come from?” Leo mewed, though they could tell the huge lion was half enjoying the mongoose’s attentions.
“Leave my paws alone!” Leo whimpered, blatantly giving the older of the two mongooses his left forepaw to tickle.
“I can see you love it really Leo,” fleur mewed, Leo grinned at her.
“What are your names?” Pepper asked the two mongooses. The older mongoose broke off briefly from tickling Leo’s left forepaw and looked at her.
“Ricky,” he replied.
“Predictable really,” the younger Mongoose, and obviously Ricky’s sister said, “My name’s Jinny. I don’t know where that comes from.” Ricky smiled at Leo, tickling his whiskers while Jinny tickled Leo’s right forepaw.
“Get off me you two!” Leo mewed, but his eyes told a different tale. The mongoose left off, and Leo got to his feet, his whiskers and paw pads tingling from the attentions of the two young creatures. Fleur finished off bathing Pickles and turned her attention to Ricky and Jinny.
“Now you two troublemakers,” Fleur said, “get into the tub.” Ricky and Jinny looked at each other then at Fleur.
“Do we have to?” Jinny asked.
“Yes, now get in there!” Fleur replied, waving her paw at the bath.
Leo left Fleur and the two mongooses alone. Approaching Theo, he lay down beside him. Theo glanced up at Leo, Leo smiling at him.
“Pickles is a real character isn’t she,” Leo mewed. Theo looked away.
“I’m still kicking myself at my reaction to seeing a porcupine,” Theo mewed, “they’re lethal to us lions though, and our mother drummed that into us as cubs. Raja’s been great about the whole thing, even though I knocked him down, squashed him almost flat, and then clung to him with all four paws, while almost weeping, he’s been wonderful.” Leo smiled at his brother.
“I’ve never met Raja,” he mewed. A huge paw suddenly enveloped Leo’s left forepaw making the huge lion look down at it. The paw covering his was orange brown with black stripes and a hint of white under fur. Leo then looked at the owner of the paw.
“Raja?” Leo asked. For answer, Raja briefly brushed Leo’s nose with his. This gesture brought tears to Leo’s eyes.
“Leo’s a big hard lion, or so I’ve heard,” Raja mewed.
“Not me,” Leo replied, wiping his eyes with his free paw, “I might look it, but I’m not, not any more.” Raja asked nothing more, not wishing to pry; though feeling he already knew something from his talk with the lioness he’d met on his journey to the house. She’d told him of Leo, but could not tell him of anything which happened after her expulsion from the community. Raja guessed Leo had made dreadful mistakes, and was haunted by them every day. Raja, sensing Leo’s distress, gently squeezed his paw, this only seeming to distress the lion further.
“Hug him Raja,” Theo mewed. Raja took Leo in his paws as best he could and hugged him, the lion weeping into the tiger’s fur.
“You made mistakes I see,” Raja mewed, “mistakes born of a need in yourself to believe that noone could do to cubs what Elsa and Tembi did to their own cubs. You projected your fear onto another lioness of the same name as had the lioness who abandoned her white cub, even going so far as to attack her when she unknowing of the previous history of the names she gave her cubs, named her cubs after those who’d caused so much trouble. I know what happened, for Elsa and Tembi told me.” Leo wailed with pain, clinging to Raja with desperate paws, just as Theo had in the wood.
“It haunts me every day!” The poor lion sobbed, “I can’t stand it! Theo says it’s all over now, but it isn’t! Not for me, it will never be over for me!” Raja felt his fur getting wet, and could only guess at the torment Leo was experiencing. Glancing over at Theo, Raja saw the young lion was dreadfully upset by his brother’s disintegration.
“I fought my own brother, and I wanted to destroy his mate and her cubs,” Leo sobbed.
“That’s all over now Leo,” Theo mewed, knowing his words probably wouldn’t make any difference to the way Leo saw things. Leo looked at his brother.
“Theo,” he said, “I can never forget what I did, it was stupid, and I nearly lost you. The thought of that tears me apart!” Theo padded over to Leo and touched his paw. Raja released Leo, the large lion reluctantly letting go of the tiger, and Theo rested his head on Leo’s shoulder, taking his brother’s left forepaw in both of his.
“Please Leo,” Theo mewed, “let it go now, or it will eat you inside, torture you forever. I don’t want that, we knew what happened, and you’ve made amends. Now let it go my brother, and never think of it again.” Leo looked into Theo’s face, the young lion’s eyes looking into his with a gentility Leo felt he could never achieve. Theo was able to do the most amazing things, even calm a terrified panda into letting him stroke and hug it after only talking to it for a few minutes. Leo knew then in all honesty that he looked up to his younger brother. He wanted to be like Theo in so many ways, but he knew he could not be. Where Theo was content to let cubs and adult animals play with him and him play with them, Leo knew he could not do so. He could not let himself feel the same things he knew Theo did. Theo could tune into an animal’s mood and react to it, where Leo knew he could not do so. Theo massaged Leo’s paw, the older lion relaxing as the massage took affect. Eyes half closed, Leo breathed deeply, his paw feeding pleasure to his brain, soothing him from his nose to his tail.
“That’s it Leo,” Theo mewed, massaging his brother’s paw, “let it all go.” Leo smiled sleepily, all tension gone. Theo felt Leo’s paw relax in his own, the lion’s toes resting lightly in Theo’s fat paws.
Meanwhile, fleur and Pepper settled down with Pickles to talk to the porcupine. Pepper had the first question for Pickles.
“Why are you named Pickles?” The porcupine smiled.
“I was named Pickles because I am constantly letting my mouth get me into a real pickle.” Fleur laughed at this”
You certainly ended up in a pickle,” she mewed.
“You two,” Pickles said, “you two are cross bred cats?” Fleur and Pepper smiled and took each other’s paws.
“We are,” Fleur mewed, “me, I’m a Bengal tiger snow leopard cross, and Pepper here’s a snow leopard lion cross.” Pepper smiled.
“We both have fat spotted paws,” Pepper mewed. Pickles smiled at the cub.
“Look, fleur, and you Pepper,” she said, “I’m sorry I caused such a drama, can I please talk with Theo and Raja?” Fleur nodded, telling Pickles where she could find them. Pepper watched the porcupine leave, and then turned to her mum, who hugged her tightly.
“Mum,” Pepper mewed, “would you stroke my body and paws?” Fleur kissed her cub on the nose.
“Of course I will,” she replied. Fleur rubbed Pepper down from nose to tail, her huge spotted paws working their way over the fat cub’s body, parting the tawny fur, her toes working gently over Pepper’s spotted under fur. Pepper began to purr softly as she felt her mum’s paws working over her body.
“I love this,” Pepper mewed.
“So do I Pepper love,” Fleur said gently. Pepper cuddled closer to fleur, basking in the sensation of the massage. Soon fleur came to Pepper’s paws, and began stroking them with more care, if this was at all possible, than she’d taken when stroking the cub’s body. Fleur’s paws worked over Pepper’s with infinite care, the cub pressing her paw pads against her mum’s, though she knew this wasn’t the done thing.
“Relax those paws pepper,” fleur mewed, “or they’ll become tired.” Pepper relaxed her paws, letting her mum’s massage do its work.
“I love this,” Pepper purred. Once Fleur had massaged all four of Pepper’s fat well padded paws, she gathered the tawny cub to her and hugged her tenderly, Pepper snuggling up and falling asleep in the warm embrace of Fleur’s paws.
Meanwhile, Leo calmed down, drying his eyes on Theo’s fur. Theo cradled the huge lion until Leo was calm. Pickles arrival didn’t do much to improve the situation, Raja spitting at the porcupine when he saw her.
“Get out of my sight!” Raja yelled.
“Okay okay!” Pickles replied, holding up a paw, “keep your fur on!”
“How dare you tell me to keep my fur on you disgusting animal!” Raja yelled. Pickles watched as Leo, Theo and Raja got to their feet. Realising what they were about to do, she turned and fled!
“I wouldn’t be sad if I never saw her ever again!” Raja mewed.
“That’s a little harsh I think,” Theo replied. Raja turned his eyes on Theo, and the community leader wished he’d never spoken.
“You have no idea,” Raja said, “the torment she gave me over my efforts to find Tigger was almost beyond coping with. Just because she thought I was making the whole hunt thing up, she mocked me when I told other animals about the events leading to me running away. Pickles isn’t just a dozy sort, she’s vindictive too. She’ll be very surprised when she meets Tigger and finds my tale is true.”
Indeed, Pickles had found Tigger in the bathroom while she was wandering about the house, the Bengal tiger having a bath. After ascertaining who he was, Pickles demanded to know what was going on with Raja, and why he’d snapped at her. Tigger stretched out languidly in the bathtub, the massage feature full on and the water set to hot.
“He got angry because he knows the story about the hunt and the deaths of his mother and family is true.” Tigger replied. Pickles wondered why Tigger wasn’t looking at her while he spoke to her. Then, when she saw him groping for a bottle with his paw and knock it into the water, she realised why he wasn’t looking at her. Screaming, she fled from the bathroom and pounded from the house, her flight causing the whole community to gather at windows to watch her go.
“What’s going on!” Tigger called out to whoever was nearby. Pepper ran in and leapt into the bathtub with Tigger before grabbing his paw.
“It’s okay,” she panted, “it’s just Pickles overreacting to something.”
“I only knocked the shampoo into the water!” Tigger mewed.
“It’s okay,” Pepper mewed, hugging the Bengal tiger tightly. Tigger felt Pepper’s fat paws embracing him and wondered what caused Pickles to leave the house so quickly. Then he had it. Mewing pitifully, almost crying, Tigger buried his face in Pepper’s fur. Pepper stroked Tigger’s paws and kissed his nose, trying to emulate what she knew relaxed her when fleur massaged her. Tigger clung to the tawny coated cub, embracing her in both huge forepaws.
“It’s okay Tigger,” Pepper mewed, “Fleur, Raja and I love you.” Tigger released Pepper and both scrambled from the bathtub. Pepper picked up a towel and made a move to rub Tigger down, much to Tigger’s surprise.
“Can I?” Pepper asked. Tigger lay down, letting pepper towel him dry. Pepper rubbed Tigger down from nose to tail, missing nothing, and making sure she carefully dried his paws.
“You are so gentle Pepper,” Tigger mewed, kissing her on the nose. Pepper smiled at the Bengal tiger, then remembering he couldn’t see her, she kissed his nose. Tigger smiled and licked her ear.
“You are so much like your mum,” he mewed. Now Pepper could have taken offence at this, but she knew what Tigger meant, her mum being Fleur, her mother being Perdy. Pepper snuggled close to Tigger, the huge tiger rolling onto his side and gathering her close to him. Fleur found them like this five minutes later.
“Pickles has gone from here for good,” Fleur mewed, “Theo and Raja won’t let her back in here again."
HI all. Due to the tightening of the limit of characters in board posts, which rule I have no problem with, I can no longer post my diary entries here. please visit the webpage www.martin-wilsher.co.uk/diaryentries.htm for more entries.
I have written another diary entry, find it from my website or livejournal.com details of both locations can be found from my profile here.
another diary entry added. find it at www.martin-wilsher.co.uk or in my live journal.
I have written another diary entry, find it from my website or livejournal.com details of both locations can be found from my profile here. thanks.
there have been so many entries in the diary of a four pawed community since the last post here that I will give the web addresses to visit to check the entries out, but will lt you know whenone is posted. the latest one is called "deadly plots and a ate arrival" and was posted few days ago. other entries are being written all the time,so please check back often.
the web urls are.
www.martin-wilsher..uk
or www.dobbinzookeeper.livejoural.com
thanks.
another entry has been added to the four pawed community diary. it's called ordanary goings on for once. visit www.dobbinzookeeper.livejournal.com or www.martin-wilsr.co.uk to read it.
another entry has been added to the diary of a four pawed community, it's called arrivals and departures. read this at live journal, looking for the username dobbinzookeeper or look for it on www.martin-wilsher.co.uk.
two new entries, one entitled love for Leo and trouble for tigger, the other entitled Tigger's Namrah. all at the same locations as the others listed above enjoy.
I have two new entries for you, one entitled a big shake up, the other entitled Nuru. they are at the usual places.
i have a long entry for you. this one is entitled the circle of life.
there is an even longer entry for you, it's called life, death and a transfer of power, it's fourty six pages long. a lot of stuff goes on there, please read it at www.martin-wilsher.co.uk or http://dobbinzookeeper.livejournal.com/ thanks.
right, after a long time of not posting to this board, and a lot of wrting, here is the latest. a lot has gone on with the four pawed community, and here I am wriring still after nearly a yaer of not posting to this board. the links to the diary entries and the direct link to the current entry are below.
link to current entry:
http://www.martin-wilsher.com/Communitytroublesandspiritualinterventions.htm
and o the main diary entries page is:
http://www.martin-wilsher.com/diaryentries.htm
enoy.