No subject

retrieved the long, slim, black velvet bag and headed up several stories to=20
the library. Just as Muri had promised, it was still open. Cutter almost=20
always had something special going for the kids. This year he had staked out=
=20
a prime spot in the center library lounge and was reading to a rather large=20
group of children. Their joyous laughter indicated how much they were=20
enjoying both his tale and the antics of his impromptu acting. Whatever the=20
story the sword fight was from, of which he was performing both sides, she=20
couldn't make out over the giggling and howling laughter.=20

Kayla turned around and went off down one of the aisles in search of=20
someplace a little quieter, a little more private. The spot that she found=20
was in one corner, near a smaller group of children. They were ringed around=
=20
a young woman, probably their governess, on a stool who was reading them Yul=
e=20
tales from a thick tome on her knees. Kayla found a spot in a padded chair=20
just beyond the small group and curled her lush tail over her knees before=20
leaning back and listening to some of them. They were the same ones that she=
=20
recalled from her own childhood=20

She was lost in the narration of Beggar's Rhyme, recalling hearing it perche=
d=20
upon her grandfather's knee, when she felt the hand on her shoulder. Looking=
=20
up was almost like looking into a mirror, yet the differences between the=20
face looking down at her and her own were stark.=20

His eyes were the most arresting feature upon his animalistic visage, though=
=20
there was nothing about them that was different than any of the other=20
animorphs at Metamor. =C2=A0They had become dark with his change, losing dis=
tinct=20
iris and cornea that Kayla herself yet retained in her pale blue eyes. =C2=
=A0It=20
was the intensity within those eyes, the way they seemed to make the person=20
they fell upon feel as if they were his only consideration. =C2=A0He smiled=20=
down=20
at her, never once glancing toward the storyteller and her coterie of=20
giggling children. =C2=A0His muzzle, as well, was more animalistic than her=20=
own. =C2=A0=20
Her face was not truly human by far, but there was a mobility and=20
expressiveness to it that gave those she met the impression that there was=20
still a woman under the black and white fur of her muzzle. =C2=A0Muri's face=
,=20
though, was almost entirely that of a skunk. =C2=A0Tapered, triangular, and=20=
quite=20
chiseled in appearance under the short fur.=20

She, like any other animorph, had whiskers, but they were short and straight=
,=20
almost feline in nature whereas his were much longer, drooping slightly=20
toward the tips. =C2=A0They twitched, angling about to a degree hers were un=
able=20
to copy as his emotions played themselves out across his muzzle. =C2=A0His e=
ars=20
were much like her own, though, not overly large and rounded, positioned hig=
h=20
upon his head. =C2=A0At the moment they were pricked alertly toward her as h=
is=20
whiskers angled back, the corners of his muzzle pulled back in a warm smile.=
=20
=C2=A0=20
Those ears, she had noticed, were much like his eyes. =C2=A0Only the occasio=
nal=20
swivel from one or the other revealed that his senses were alert to things=20
occurring beyond the attentive regard given by his eyes.=20

"I'm glad you came," the male skunk said, his voice a rolling churr trapped=20
half way between man and animal, but still easily understandable. =C2=A0His=20=
strong=20
hand tightened slightly upon her shoulder as his smile deepened, whiskers=20
angling forward slightly. "How about we go someplace a little more private?"=
=20
he inquired quietly, one twitch of his ear pointing her attention back to th=
e=20
story circle. =C2=A0Kayla smiled back, chuckling softly, as she had almost t=
otally=20
forgotten them.=20

She stood, Muri's hand falling away from her shoulder, and brushed the light=
=20
fabric of her dress smooth. "Okay, Muri, I'll follow you," she said, her=20
voice almost as perfectly smooth as it had ever been before her own change.=20=
=C2=A0=20
Her voice had not changed a great deal, for which she had been grateful in=20
the earliest days afterwards. =C2=A0Her voice and eyes had saved her sanity=20=
back=20
in those dark and traumatic days, telling her each time she spoke or looked=20
in a mirror that there as still a human in the animal she had become. Muri=20
turned slightly and moved down one of the narrow aisles between tall shelves=
=20
of books. Kayla picked up the black case from beside her chair and moved to=20
follow him. =C2=A0He was wearing the same white silk that he had shown her i=
n the=20
Long House, but she could tell by the way his split cloak stirred the dust=20
that this was the reality rather than the illusion she had seen earlier.=20=
=C2=A0=20
Against that unrelieved white his tail seemed like a skulking shadow hoverin=
g=20
along behind him.=20

Their tails held the greatest similarity between them, being of almost the=20
same length and mobility, though they carried them differently. =C2=A0Kayla=20
carried hers up close to her back, the upper curve brushing the back of her=20
shoulders half the time. =C2=A0Not only was that the instinctive pose that h=
ad=20
come with her change, it was also a protective way of holding it. =C2=A0Door=
s,=20
feet, and passers-by tended to cause problems if she carried her tail the wa=
y=20
Muri did. =C2=A0His was also arched upward, but only slightly, its use for h=
im=20
obviously one of balance as he held it more directly out behind him.=20

She had already seen that he was far more nimble than she with his tail that=
=20
way, but she had to know that he'd gotten it trapped in doors more than a fe=
w=20
times. =C2=A0Chuckling to herself as they made their way down the shadowed a=
isle=20
of books, she found her eyes examining his physique. =C2=A0His physique was=20=
not=20
nearly as human as her own had become, his shoulders not nearly as square as=
=20
Rick's. =C2=A0He seemed more animal than human, sometimes, in his appearance=
. =C2=A0=20
Kayla knew skunks, by nature, were plantigrade just as she was, but Muri's=20
legs were digitgrade, and sharply so, like many of the other animorphs of=20
Metamor. =C2=A0How that had come about she had no idea, and she rather suspe=
cted=20
that Muri did not know either. =C2=A0For all that he had the long shanks and=
=20
narrow footprint of long digitgrade legs, he was a good hand shorter than=20
she, though much broader.=20

She had to smile as he led her down first one aisle then up a flight of=20
stairs, down another isle, to the far end of the library proper. Here, where=
=20
the sunlight from the open center of the library had a difficult time=20
reaching, mage lights set into the ceiling provided the illumination=20
necessary to keep from kicking unseen objects and for reading the titles of=20
the innumerable tomes. The also eliminated the potential fire hazard of=20
burning candles, which would be a disaster in a place like this.=20

After a few quiet moments walking through the silence of the library, though=
,=20
dim gray sunlight once more began to return, filtering down the narrow aisle=
s=20
as he led her out into a small solarium set with several vacant chairs and=20
empty tables. =C2=A0She had seen these very windows from the outside before,=
 but=20
had never had the chance to witness the marvelous view the provided from the=
=20
inside. =C2=A0There was a narrow parapet beyond the sealed, smooth glass win=
dows,=20
which looked down upon Laracin's courtyard. =C2=A0The intelligent tree was n=
aught=20
more than towering bundle of twigs with the winter, his branches covered wit=
h=20
a heavy blanket of snow.=20

A cold wind whistled beyond those windows, the hint of much worse weather to=
=20
come. =C2=A0The last waning light of the day cast a muted, gray glow about t=
he=20
solarium as Muri moved over and touched each of the glass panels for a brief=
=20
moment. =C2=A0Soon after he did the chill radiating in through that glass fa=
ded,=20
allowing the soothing warmth of the library to reach their far, private=20
corner.=20

Smiling, Kayla moved over to sit in one of the large, padded armchairs and=20
sat down. =C2=A0The chair, by its look, had been built decades before the ch=
ange=20
had come to Metamor, but had been modified at some point since to have a=20
tailhole. =C2=A0The modification ruined the handsome lines of the aged chair=
, but=20
made it a great deal more comfortable to sit in. =C2=A0Muri, on the other ha=
nd,=20
did not sit in the other chair. =C2=A0He stood by the windows, staring down=20=
at=20
Laracin for a few silent moments.=20

"So are you going to wish me a happy holidays, Muri?" she finally asked=20
brightly as she laid her package upon the small round table between the=20
chairs. =C2=A0A couple of thin, ancient books were laid on the table as well=
,=20
detailing various subjects their absent owners had been interested in. =C2=
=A0Muri=20
turned from the windows and nodded with a warm smile, though his eyes seemed=
=20
oddly distracted.=20

"Oh," he chuckled with a small shake of his head. "I'm sorry. Happy Holidays=
=20
Kayla." He sketched a bow. "It's just been so long --"=20

"I understand."=20


"-- since I've had anyone to celebrate this with... =C2=A0Now, all of a sudd=
en, I=20
have you and Rick, Dream, Charles, and Lady Kimberly, and=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=
=A6 so many to share=20
the time with." He ran a hand across his head, his ears folding back briefly=
.=20
"And Llyn as well." He sighed, shrugging one shoulder. "I wish she liked you=
=20
better, Kayla. She's really a good person."=20

Kayla held up a hand, forestalling any further explanation. "I know, Muri, I=
=20
know. You don't have to make excuses for her. If she has a problem with us=20
being together, even for this small celebration, you should talk to her abou=
t=20
it."=20

Muri nodded with a small, seemingly frustrated laugh. "I have, believe me,=20
many times." He raised his eyes to meet Kayla's own blue gaze. "She's just=20
jealous, Kay, because you're a skunk, and she thinks you are far more=20
beautiful than she is."=20

"What?" Kayla gasped, her jaw hanging open a moment. =C2=A0Muri merely nodde=
d as=20
he moved over to stand behind the other chair.=20

"Yes, you come across with a far more feminine beauty than she does, at leas=
t=20
in her own opinion." His attention wandered for a moment. "Though perhaps=20
what I do for her today will change a few things." His distant thoughts=20
focussed once more as his eyes came back to Kayla. "I, though, find both of=20
you beautiful, regardless." He bowed his head slightly to her with a smile.=20
"But that is neither here nor there."=20

Kayla was momentarily taken aback by that admission, for she had never reall=
y=20
considered herself beautiful since the change, despite all that Rickkter kep=
t=20
telling her she was. Before the change she had been, though, and was courted=
=20
by many suitors for that beauty. =C2=A0What she had become since, a skunk, a=
=20
social anathema, had cost her what vanity she had once possessed. Only the=20
recent attentions of Rick, and Muri, had allowed her to begin feeling=C3=A2=
=E2=82=AC=C2=A6=20
truly=20
a woman once more, and less a ghost. =C2=A0"Thank you." was all she could sa=
y for=20
a moment as Muri watched her with his dark, arresting gaze.=20

"That aside, though, I daresay=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=A6 with so many things occu=
rring, and so many=20
to=20
celebrate with, I am quite wonderfully overwhelmed." He moved around to sit=20
on the arm of his chair, his tail curving loosely around his hips to drape=20
down across the front of the chair. =C2=A0"Speaking of other loves, where is=
 that=20
raccoon of yours?"=20

Kayla's bright laughter echoed into the silence of the stacks as she smiled.=
=20
"Oh, he's still back at Misha's big party." She chortled. "I thought it woul=
d=20
be a good time to escape when they started the hedgehog bowling." She winced=
=20
slightly at the idea, one ear folding over. "You left before that started?"=20
"Long before, I'm afraid. =C2=A0Llyn is still preparing for Hough's mass, an=
d=20
despite how good the evening was, I did feel a little crowded."=20

"Still?" Kayla asked, bringing a soft chuckle from Muri.=20

"New dress and all=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=A6 she does not want me to see it until=
 she's ready."=20

Kayla nodded with a smile, self consciously smoothing out her own dress.=20=
=C2=A0It=20
was not new, but she had only had perhaps one or two other opportunities to=20
wear it in the past. =C2=A0"Ah, I would like to see how she looks in somethi=
ng=20
other than leather leggings with a sword on her hip." She said as she shifte=
d=20
slightly in the deep embrace of her chair. "So, shall we do this now, before=
=20
she summons you?"=20

Muri glanced down at the long velvet case laid across the table with a=20
sheepish smile, "Well, uh, yes." His voice dropped an octave as he glanced=20
back up, whiskers angled back against his muzzle. "Who goes first?"=20

"I guess I will," the skunkette volunteered after favoring the socially=20
ungainly male skunk with a cheerful laugh. =C2=A0She picked up the velvet ca=
se and=20
turned it in her hands, offering him the end. =C2=A0He took it gingerly with=
 one=20
hand, his eyebrows raising as he felt the shifting of the contents. Once he=20
had a good grip on it, he felt around the long, slender lengths within the=20
heavy fabric for a few moments, as if trying to discover what it was before=20
opening the drawstrings at the end of the case. =C2=A0"You can open it." Kay=
la=20
giggled warmly, causing Muri's fur to rise and fall at the collar of his=20
shirt, his ears flattening back in a brief moment of embarrassment.=20

The knotted end of the case was a simple task for his nimble fingers. =C2=
=A0Kayla=20
idly noticed that he had trimmed his claws at some point, and had them=20
polished to a high gloss. =C2=A0He raised the velvet and let one of the slen=
der=20
shafts within slip out into his hand. =C2=A0She suppressed a giggle at the w=
ay his=20
eye ridges shot up his forehead, his ears coming up as he drew the separate=20
shafts into the light.=20

End part 8a

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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=3D2>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>=C2=A0Part 8a - winter assault=20
<BR>
<BR>When Misha's voice had rung out over the hall, it had snapped Kayla out=20=
of=20
<BR>her absorption in the discussion of a small group of female scouts. They=
 had=20
<BR>all been laughing and giggling over their visiting families and all the=20=
crazy=20
<BR>antics that went on this time of year. Kayla managed to distract them lo=
ng=20
<BR>enough to say she had to leave them to get a new drink. Laura, Carol, Li=
sa=20
<BR>and a few others bid her well before she left, quickly making her way to=
 the=20
<BR>exit to Long Hall. Whatever Misha was setting up over near the far wall=20=
was=20
<BR>drawing a crowd and no one noticed her slipping out.=20
<BR>
<BR>From the Long House it was only a quick walk to her room. There, she=20
<BR>retrieved the long, slim, black velvet bag and headed up several stories=
 to=20
<BR>the library. Just as Muri had promised, it was still open. Cutter almost=
=20
<BR>always had something special going for the kids. This year he had staked=
 out=20
<BR>a prime spot in the center library lounge and was reading to a rather la=
rge=20
<BR>group of children. Their joyous laughter indicated how much they were=20
<BR>enjoying both his tale and the antics of his impromptu acting. Whatever=20=
the=20
<BR>story the sword fight was from, of which he was performing both sides, s=
he=20
<BR>couldn't make out over the giggling and howling laughter.=20
<BR>
<BR>Kayla turned around and went off down one of the aisles in search of=20
<BR>someplace a little quieter, a little more private. The spot that she fou=
nd=20
<BR>was in one corner, near a smaller group of children. They were ringed ar=
ound=20
<BR>a young woman, probably their governess, on a stool who was reading them=
 Yule=20
<BR>tales from a thick tome on her knees. Kayla found a spot in a padded cha=
ir=20
<BR>just beyond the small group and curled her lush tail over her knees befo=
re=20
<BR>leaning back and listening to some of them. They were the same ones that=
 she=20
<BR>recalled from her own childhood=20
<BR>
<BR>She was lost in the narration of Beggar's Rhyme, recalling hearing it pe=
rched=20
<BR>upon her grandfather's knee, when she felt the hand on her shoulder. Loo=
king=20
<BR>up was almost like looking into a mirror, yet the differences between th=
e=20
<BR>face looking down at her and her own were stark.=20
<BR>
<BR>His eyes were the most arresting feature upon his animalistic visage, th=
ough=20
<BR>there was nothing about them that was different than any of the other=20
<BR>animorphs at Metamor. =C2=A0They had become dark with his change, losing=
 distinct=20
<BR>iris and cornea that Kayla herself yet retained in her pale blue eyes.=20=
=C2=A0It=20
<BR>was the intensity within those eyes, the way they seemed to make the per=
son=20
<BR>they fell upon feel as if they were his only consideration. =C2=A0He smi=
led down=20
<BR>at her, never once glancing toward the storyteller and her coterie of=20
<BR>giggling children. =C2=A0His muzzle, as well, was more animalistic than=20=
her own. =C2=A0=20
<BR>Her face was not truly human by far, but there was a mobility and=20
<BR>expressiveness to it that gave those she met the impression that there w=
as=20
<BR>still a woman under the black and white fur of her muzzle. =C2=A0Muri's=20=
face,=20
<BR>though, was almost entirely that of a skunk. =C2=A0Tapered, triangular,=20=
and quite=20
<BR>chiseled in appearance under the short fur.=20
<BR>
<BR>She, like any other animorph, had whiskers, but they were short and stra=
ight,=20
<BR>almost feline in nature whereas his were much longer, drooping slightly=20
<BR>toward the tips. =C2=A0They twitched, angling about to a degree hers wer=
e unable=20
<BR>to copy as his emotions played themselves out across his muzzle. =C2=A0H=
is ears=20
<BR>were much like her own, though, not overly large and rounded, positioned=
 high=20
<BR>upon his head. =C2=A0At the moment they were pricked alertly toward her=20=
as his=20
<BR>whiskers angled back, the corners of his muzzle pulled back in a warm sm=
ile.=20
<BR>=C2=A0=20
<BR>Those ears, she had noticed, were much like his eyes. =C2=A0Only the occ=
asional=20
<BR>swivel from one or the other revealed that his senses were alert to thin=
gs=20
<BR>occurring beyond the attentive regard given by his eyes.=20
<BR>
<BR>"I'm glad you came," the male skunk said, his voice a rolling churr trap=
ped=20
<BR>half way between man and animal, but still easily understandable. =C2=
=A0His strong=20
<BR>hand tightened slightly upon her shoulder as his smile deepened, whisker=
s=20
<BR>angling forward slightly. "How about we go someplace a little more priva=
te?"=20
<BR>he inquired quietly, one twitch of his ear pointing her attention back t=
o the=20
<BR>story circle. =C2=A0Kayla smiled back, chuckling softly, as she had almo=
st totally=20
<BR>forgotten them.=20
<BR>
<BR>She stood, Muri's hand falling away from her shoulder, and brushed the l=
ight=20
<BR>fabric of her dress smooth. "Okay, Muri, I'll follow you," she said, her=
=20
<BR>voice almost as perfectly smooth as it had ever been before her own chan=
ge. =C2=A0=20
<BR>Her voice had not changed a great deal, for which she had been grateful=20=
in=20
<BR>the earliest days afterwards. =C2=A0Her voice and eyes had saved her san=
ity back=20
<BR>in those dark and traumatic days, telling her each time she spoke or loo=
ked=20
<BR>in a mirror that there as still a human in the animal she had become. Mu=
ri=20
<BR>turned slightly and moved down one of the narrow aisles between tall she=
lves=20
<BR>of books. Kayla picked up the black case from beside her chair and moved=
 to=20
<BR>follow him. =C2=A0He was wearing the same white silk that he had shown h=
er in the=20
<BR>Long House, but she could tell by the way his split cloak stirred the du=
st=20
<BR>that this was the reality rather than the illusion she had seen earlier.=
 =C2=A0=20
<BR>Against that unrelieved white his tail seemed like a skulking shadow hov=
ering=20
<BR>along behind him.=20
<BR>
<BR>Their tails held the greatest similarity between them, being of almost t=
he=20
<BR>same length and mobility, though they carried them differently. =C2=A0Ka=
yla=20
<BR>carried hers up close to her back, the upper curve brushing the back of=20=
her=20
<BR>shoulders half the time. =C2=A0Not only was that the instinctive pose th=
at had=20
<BR>come with her change, it was also a protective way of holding it. =C2=
=A0Doors,=20
<BR>feet, and passers-by tended to cause problems if she carried her tail th=
e way=20
<BR>Muri did. =C2=A0His was also arched upward, but only slightly, its use f=
or him=20
<BR>obviously one of balance as he held it more directly out behind him.=20
<BR>
<BR>She had already seen that he was far more nimble than she with his tail=20=
that=20
<BR>way, but she had to know that he'd gotten it trapped in doors more than=20=
a few=20
<BR>times. =C2=A0Chuckling to herself as they made their way down the shadow=
ed aisle=20
<BR>of books, she found her eyes examining his physique. =C2=A0His physique=20=
was not=20
<BR>nearly as human as her own had become, his shoulders not nearly as squar=
e as=20
<BR>Rick's. =C2=A0He seemed more animal than human, sometimes, in his appear=
ance. =C2=A0=20
<BR>Kayla knew skunks, by nature, were plantigrade just as she was, but Muri=
's=20
<BR>legs were digitgrade, and sharply so, like many of the other animorphs o=
f=20
<BR>Metamor. =C2=A0How that had come about she had no idea, and she rather s=
uspected=20
<BR>that Muri did not know either. =C2=A0For all that he had the long shanks=
 and=20
<BR>narrow footprint of long digitgrade legs, he was a good hand shorter tha=
n=20
<BR>she, though much broader.=20
<BR>
<BR>She had to smile as he led her down first one aisle then up a flight of=20
<BR>stairs, down another isle, to the far end of the library proper. Here, w=
here=20
<BR>the sunlight from the open center of the library had a difficult time=20
<BR>reaching, mage lights set into the ceiling provided the illumination=20
<BR>necessary to keep from kicking unseen objects and for reading the titles=
 of=20
<BR>the innumerable tomes. The also eliminated the potential fire hazard of=20
<BR>burning candles, which would be a disaster in a place like this.=20
<BR>
<BR>After a few quiet moments walking through the silence of the library, th=
ough,=20
<BR>dim gray sunlight once more began to return, filtering down the narrow a=
isles=20
<BR>as he led her out into a small solarium set with several vacant chairs a=
nd=20
<BR>empty tables. =C2=A0She had seen these very windows from the outside bef=
ore, but=20
<BR>had never had the chance to witness the marvelous view the provided from=
 the=20
<BR>inside. =C2=A0There was a narrow parapet beyond the sealed, smooth glass=
 windows,=20
<BR>which looked down upon Laracin's courtyard. =C2=A0The intelligent tree w=
as naught=20
<BR>more than towering bundle of twigs with the winter, his branches covered=
 with=20
<BR>a heavy blanket of snow.=20
<BR>
<BR>A cold wind whistled beyond those windows, the hint of much worse weathe=
r to=20
<BR>come. =C2=A0The last waning light of the day cast a muted, gray glow abo=
ut the=20
<BR>solarium as Muri moved over and touched each of the glass panels for a b=
rief=20
<BR>moment. =C2=A0Soon after he did the chill radiating in through that glas=
s faded,=20
<BR>allowing the soothing warmth of the library to reach their far, private=20
<BR>corner.=20
<BR>
<BR>Smiling, Kayla moved over to sit in one of the large, padded armchairs a=
nd=20
<BR>sat down. =C2=A0The chair, by its look, had been built decades before th=
e change=20
<BR>had come to Metamor, but had been modified at some point since to have a=
=20
<BR>tailhole. =C2=A0The modification ruined the handsome lines of the aged c=
hair, but=20
<BR>made it a great deal more comfortable to sit in. =C2=A0Muri, on the othe=
r hand,=20
<BR>did not sit in the other chair. =C2=A0He stood by the windows, staring d=
own at=20
<BR>Laracin for a few silent moments.=20
<BR>
<BR>"So are you going to wish me a happy holidays, Muri?" she finally asked=20
<BR>brightly as she laid her package upon the small round table between the=20
<BR>chairs. =C2=A0A couple of thin, ancient books were laid on the table as=20=
well,=20
<BR>detailing various subjects their absent owners had been interested in.=20=
=C2=A0Muri=20
<BR>turned from the windows and nodded with a warm smile, though his eyes se=
emed=20
<BR>oddly distracted.=20
<BR>
<BR>"Oh," he chuckled with a small shake of his head. "I'm sorry. Happy Holi=
days=20
<BR>Kayla." He sketched a bow. "It's just been so long --"=20
<BR>
<BR>"I understand."=20
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>"-- since I've had anyone to celebrate this with... =C2=A0Now, all of a=20=
sudden, I=20
<BR>have you and Rick, Dream, Charles, and Lady Kimberly, and=C3=A2=E2=82=
=AC=C2=A6 so many to share=20
<BR>the time with." He ran a hand across his head, his ears folding back bri=
efly.=20
<BR>"And Llyn as well." He sighed, shrugging one shoulder. "I wish she liked=
 you=20
<BR>better, Kayla. She's really a good person."=20
<BR>
<BR>Kayla held up a hand, forestalling any further explanation. "I know, Mur=
i, I=20
<BR>know. You don't have to make excuses for her. If she has a problem with=20=
us=20
<BR>being together, even for this small celebration, you should talk to her=20=
about=20
<BR>it."=20
<BR>
<BR>Muri nodded with a small, seemingly frustrated laugh. "I have, believe m=
e,=20
<BR>many times." He raised his eyes to meet Kayla's own blue gaze. "She's ju=
st=20
<BR>jealous, Kay, because you're a skunk, and she thinks you are far more=20
<BR>beautiful than she is."=20
<BR>
<BR>"What?" Kayla gasped, her jaw hanging open a moment. =C2=A0Muri merely n=
odded as=20
<BR>he moved over to stand behind the other chair.=20
<BR>
<BR>"Yes, you come across with a far more feminine beauty than she does, at=20=
least=20
<BR>in her own opinion." His attention wandered for a moment. "Though perhap=
s=20
<BR>what I do for her today will change a few things." His distant thoughts=20
<BR>focussed once more as his eyes came back to Kayla. "I, though, find both=
 of=20
<BR>you beautiful, regardless." He bowed his head slightly to her with a smi=
le.=20
<BR>"But that is neither here nor there."=20
<BR>
<BR>Kayla was momentarily taken aback by that admission, for she had never r=
eally=20
<BR>considered herself beautiful since the change, despite all that Rickkter=
 kept=20
<BR>telling her she was. Before the change she had been, though, and was cou=
rted=20
<BR>by many suitors for that beauty. =C2=A0What she had become since, a skun=
k, a=20
<BR>social anathema, had cost her what vanity she had once possessed. Only t=
he=20
<BR>recent attentions of Rick, and Muri, had allowed her to begin feeling=
=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=A6=20
<BR>truly=20
<BR>a woman once more, and less a ghost. =C2=A0"Thank you." was all she coul=
d say for=20
<BR>a moment as Muri watched her with his dark, arresting gaze.=20
<BR>
<BR>"That aside, though, I daresay=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=A6 with so many things=20=
occurring, and so many=20
<BR>to=20
<BR>celebrate with, I am quite wonderfully overwhelmed." He moved around to=20=
sit=20
<BR>on the arm of his chair, his tail curving loosely around his hips to dra=
pe=20
<BR>down across the front of the chair. =C2=A0"Speaking of other loves, wher=
e is that=20
<BR>raccoon of yours?"=20
<BR>
<BR>Kayla's bright laughter echoed into the silence of the stacks as she smi=
led.=20
<BR>"Oh, he's still back at Misha's big party." She chortled. "I thought it=20=
would=20
<BR>be a good time to escape when they started the hedgehog bowling." She wi=
nced=20
<BR>slightly at the idea, one ear folding over. "You left before that starte=
d?"=20
<BR>"Long before, I'm afraid. =C2=A0Llyn is still preparing for Hough's mass=
, and=20
<BR>despite how good the evening was, I did feel a little crowded."=20
<BR>
<BR>"Still?" Kayla asked, bringing a soft chuckle from Muri.=20
<BR>
<BR>"New dress and all=C3=A2=E2=82=AC=C2=A6 she does not want me to see it u=
ntil she's ready."=20
<BR>
<BR>Kayla nodded with a smile, self consciously smoothing out her own dress.=
 =C2=A0It=20
<BR>was not new, but she had only had perhaps one or two other opportunities=
 to=20
<BR>wear it in the past. =C2=A0"Ah, I would like to see how she looks in som=
ething=20
<BR>other than leather leggings with a sword on her hip." She said as she sh=
ifted=20
<BR>slightly in the deep embrace of her chair. "So, shall we do this now, be=
fore=20
<BR>she summons you?"=20
<BR>
<BR>Muri glanced down at the long velvet case laid across the table with a=20
<BR>sheepish smile, "Well, uh, yes." His voice dropped an octave as he glanc=
ed=20
<BR>back up, whiskers angled back against his muzzle. "Who goes first?"=20
<BR>
<BR>"I guess I will," the skunkette volunteered after favoring the socially=20
<BR>ungainly male skunk with a cheerful laugh. =C2=A0She picked up the velve=
t case and=20
<BR>turned it in her hands, offering him the end. =C2=A0He took it gingerly=20=
with one=20
<BR>hand, his eyebrows raising as he felt the shifting of the contents. Once=
 he=20
<BR>had a good grip on it, he felt around the long, slender lengths within t=
he=20
<BR>heavy fabric for a few moments, as if trying to discover what it was bef=
ore=20
<BR>opening the drawstrings at the end of the case. =C2=A0"You can open it."=
 Kayla=20
<BR>giggled warmly, causing Muri's fur to rise and fall at the collar of his=
=20
<BR>shirt, his ears flattening back in a brief moment of embarrassment.=20
<BR>
<BR>The knotted end of the case was a simple task for his nimble fingers.=20=
=C2=A0Kayla=20
<BR>idly noticed that he had trimmed his claws at some point, and had them=20
<BR>polished to a high gloss. =C2=A0He raised the velvet and let one of the=20=
slender=20
<BR>shafts within slip out into his hand. =C2=A0She suppressed a giggle at t=
he way his=20
<BR>eye ridges shot up his forehead, his ears coming up as he drew the separ=
ate=20
<BR>shafts into the light.=20
<BR>
<BR>End part 8a</FONT></HTML>

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