Elysa Haredotir was used to her own environment, even the small disruption caused by the teen fox, that she now knew was called Nick, became just another part of it. Elysa got used to Nick’s mannerisms, she came to even like how her heart spiked and her senses sharpened whenever he was close … it felt like a small thrilling adventure to suddenly be so much more … aware, soon she was appreciating Nick’s visits just as she appreciates a good shot of espresso on the slower days … just another nice part of her quaint little fortress of learning …

  ***

  Elysa Haredotir was an arctic hare, the tundra district was her home for a decade and some change … Her library was there for almost as long …

  In recent times, she even got a security bear, courtesy of Big’s security firm …

  The name of the tycoon that was Fabiano was a hometown one, the impeccably dressed Shrew always offered discounts for residents of the tundra district … His charity galas were quite the events, and always open to the public, though most were cold aligned mammals, because of course the galas had an ice theme to then … and as the philanthrope that Fabiano Big was, he made sure the ‘good old business’ of the district were well secured with even further discounts when contracting their services …

  And as a decade old library, Elysa Haredotir little fortress of learning now had an actual knight in shiny armor protecting it … well, not armor, but a hare can’t help but admire a well-dressed burly bear tasked to make sure everything was safe …

  That’s why it took her a bit longer than she liked to admit for her to notice how the ‘air’ around her library changed over the passing months …

  ***

  It was … louder, livelier … and Elysa was even seeing some of her old clients finally find themselves …

  And today, the ‘not a couple’ finally got their act together and asked each other out after the most frustratingly dragged out romantic comedy Elysa had the pleasure and displeasure of witnessing … The pair was made for each other and it irked Elysa that they kept trying out failing relationships and then going to her library to see each other and talk about why their current companions didn't feel right, and instead of just kissing each other they would blush and keep dragging things out … Elysa had to contain the urge to scream at them to just kiss each other … but she couldn’t help but pull at her ears after that week's breakup episode still didn’t end in then in a relationship …

  Well, that did change and quite suddenly at that, that’s why Elysa finally noticed that something was different about them both … Malayka and Nadia were looking … confident and certain in a way that gave Elysa hope …

  Sure, she understood that the size difference between a Sun-Bear and a Polar one was quite striking, but at this point Elysa was ready to accept anything as long as they moved along … and move they did …

  They both looked at each other with that dopey gaze only people in love could give … and suddenly Elysa was poking them with a broom for them to get a room because her fortress of learning wasn’t a motel and the table wasn’t made for ‘vigorous activities’ … The cheers of the few clients present that knew the ‘not couple’ didn’t help her at all … only her ever dependable sharply-dressed security bear came to the rescue. Ivan was a blessing for her library for making them move, because they didn’t look phased at all … actually, none of her clients looked phased …

  … Not a single one looked away from the couple making a scene … They looked proud …

  … and that was weird because Elysa Haredotir was also proud … but she knew that was weird and not her clients …

  Sure, her heart rate rose with the demonstrations and the affectionate ‘bitting’ did make her fur stand on ends … but her clients were fine, hells, the quiet Michael, that quiet timid Moose that always tried to make himself as small as she was, was now clapping with everyone else … His antlers even bumped a few books off the shelves … and he didn’t even apologize, he just … picked them back up like nothing happened ? … Like he felt it was normal for him to be expansive …

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  … Now that Elysa thought about it, it has been a few weeks since she had this feeling … This feeling like …

  … Like everyone was in on some sort of joke that she wasn’t …

  … What is happening ? …

  As if seeing her confusion, her blessed security bear came back after escorting the new couple out …

  [Ivan] - You look a little tense miss Elysa, the young couple love-bites got to you ? … -

  The burly bear asked with a smile that showed a little too many teeth … just like Nick’s …

  [Elysa] - Alright Safe-Bear, spill it, what is … -

  Elysa didn’t have the right words, so she just dramatically gestured all around …

  [Ivan] - Well, it’s the anniversary of your ‘fortress of learning’, we all thought it would be nice to have a bit of a surprise party for you, Little Nick told us that you looked happier when the library was livelier … So everyone agreed to spice up the water cooler … -

  Elysa blinked, confused for a moment. Why didn’t she …

  [Elysa] - Suka ! Excuse the language, I don’t drink from the cooler, is that why everyone is in on the joke ? Wait, what did you spike my water with, mister ? -

  [Ivan] - Is a new tea blend Mr Big is trying out, quite hard to get it just right, it’s a bit of a fire starter, but I say is perfect to warm up the insides … -

  Elysa looked at the door where the couple were escorted out …

  [Elysa] - … Fire starter indeed … -

  *** *** ***

  Hekari Bogo was an old hand at the police work, close to laying down his badge and finally retiring after long years of service to the community, he had a son to raise, Hodari was already almost out ready for high school and his boy was dead set into taking over for his old man … sometimes Hekari felt that he was blessed for being able to have an heir so late in his life, but he would take all the joys he could get.

  That’s why Hekari Bogo had to recall his calf years and do the breathing exercises taught to all … unless he let his legendary temper get the better of him …

  If there was something Hekari hated was extra paperwork, it slowed everything down, it made his life miserable and most importantly, made him late to dinner … and hell had nothing on the fire his wife would spit on him for another night of overtime …

  [Hekari] - Explain to me, one more time … why do you want a warrant from ME this late into my shift ? … can’t it wait another hour ? -

  Hekari Bogo asked in a small voice that was still thunderous … the look in the Cape Buffalo’s eyes could melt a glacier and it all but screamed for the reception officer Shaun Shéper to have a VERY good reason for this … quite unreasonable request … or else Hekari Bogo would collect some fresh wool to make a new carpet …

  Shaun dry swallowed, genuinely considering who he feared more …

  The Department of Union Assurance or the visibly angry cape buffalo …

  Swallowing dry, Shaun decided that he would rather take his luck with the Police Chief, at least he didn’t mess with his credit score …

  [Shaun] - We just received a very polite but firm request that we send a few officers to some sort of party happening in the tundra district, they are concerned about … excessive … agress … -

  Shaun's voice got lower and lower as the old Chief Bogo got up from his chair and calmly put his reading glasses into his pocket … Police training required that officers ‘unlearned’ quite a few ‘TAME’ practices, some took it better than others and Chief Bogo’s anger was legendary in the precinct because it looked like he became suddenly calm, some called it a family trait … Shaun called it ‘scary boss face’ …

  [Hekari] - Tundra district ? … The safest district we have ? The same district where Fabiano’s Big private security operates, the same security firm that also has our number in case something that actually requires our attention happens … and you’re saying that some … Desk jockey jokester from the goddamn DUA called because of a party ? … -

  [Shaun] - When you put it like that it does sound like … -

  [Hekari] - SHUT. IT … -

  Shaun gulped …

  [Hekari] - You’re a new officer, and also new to the desk … I know the desk isn’t the most glamorous job, after the police academy I constantly get bright eyed recruits ready to take on the world of crime with all that extra energy the training gives you … but your job is important … your job is to make sure only the actually important stuff reaches me … because look at that, look at my desk … -

  Shaun looked at the table, a pile of paper on top of it …

  [Hakari] - See that ? See how my table warps under the weight of so much paper ? See how many reports I have to read and sign ? See how much I have to archive because for some reason the Mayor can’t find the funds this year to refill the administrative personnel that aged out of the job, leaving me as the only authorised person to do it ? … Do you see that officer ? -

  Shaun nodded.

  [Hakari] - I don’t want more of that … Now, I’ll ask you again, do you really need a warranty ? One that I’ll have to sign, justify, investigate and archive … all because of a party that got too loud for DUA’s taste in the safest district we have ? -

  [Shaun] - No sir … -

  [Hakari] - See ? You learned something useful today, officer dismissed … -

  Shaun couldn’t get out of the office any faster …

  *** *** ***

  And for that day, the police didn’t respond to the rowdy festival happening in the tundra district …

  Fabiano’s Big redressing of his old country origins and culture … with a hint of something new, courtesy of a teen fox that wanted to see mammals with a fire lit inside …

  The first ‘fire starter festival’ and the start of the ‘tea branch’ of Big Incorporated …

  ***