It was nearly eight in the morning when Lance Knight was awakened with a phone call; content with being snuggle together with Lila Carpenter, he almost snapped at the person who tried calling him at this hour. Looking at the caller display; his mood immediately changed when it was his niece Frieda Knight calling. Remembering that he had to pick her up so they could head to the hospital to visit her mother and find out the results of her father’s test.
Having to peel himself off of a still sleeping were-tigress he quickly shifted back from being in his fursona and threw on some clothes. He was about to jot down a note when Lila wakes up.
“Leaving so soon,” She blearily speaks.
“I have to pick up my niece Frieda,” Lance kissing Lila; “Then we are heading to the hospital to visit her mother.”
“Oh, then perhaps I get going then,” Lila getting up.
“Or you could stay,” Lance grinning; “we still have the rest of Sunday to further get to know each other.”
Lila ponders that last thought, before grinning at what Lance just suggested. Getting out of bed still in her were-tiger fursona she sashays to the washroom to clean up and perhaps rustle up a breakfast as Lance bolts out the door.
****
“Oh I hope one of those coffees is for me,” Amanda breathing in the intoxicating aroma coming from the tray.
“You’re in luck mother,” Frieda smiling while handing her the latte. She takes the black coffee and places it next to her father Benton; the smell of the coffee jars him awake. Seeing Frieda handing him a coffee, he just stares at her for a few minutes; sipping it he utters a single sentence that rocks her world.
“I saw the dream you had of you giving birth to your daughter.”
It was a tense thirty minutes as Benton describes as best as he could recall the dream for him locked in a cage as Frieda showed him his granddaughter; snarling and snapping as he was clearly feral. The next scene was in a forest; he was being hunted, who he could not tell. But it was the conversation he had with the strange person who he could not place; showing him Frieda giving birth that unhinged him. Not for the worst; but for the better. It was him holding his granddaughter that showed him there was a light at the end of the dark tunnel he currently faces.
Lance whistles; “That’s some freaky shit brother.” Sipping his coffee, “Are you certain with what you saw?”
“You were there,” Benton glaring; “A little bit older but yeah.”
“No,” Lance asking; “I’m referring to the ward of ferals in the hospital sub-basement.”
“Ask doctor Tora if you don’t believe me,” Benton looking genuinely fearful; “He showed me the ward after I asked him if a were could go feral from bi-polar disorder.”
“Frieda,” Amanda finally speaking up; “are you wearing contacts?”
“No,” Frieda answering; “Why?
“Your eyes are green,” Amanda looking worried; “they are supposed to be hazel.”
Frieda smiles; she goes on to explain the second halve of her shared dream with Eric Anderson and Spencer Lawson. About how they too had a conversation with the same stranger person that talk to Benton; he explained how Spencer, Eric and Frieda formed a special bond deeper and intense than that of the bond were-foxes develop with their mates.
“It’s a type of empathy,” Frieda doing her best to explain it; “we can sense each other’s emotions as it were. All I know is that as long as we stay together in both heart and soul, nothing can keep us apart; not even an ocean or a continent.”
“Trippy,” is all Lance says.
“It explains why our eyes are green;” Frieda answering. “Both in and out of our fursonas.”
“It’s a bit much to take in or believe,” Amanda looking skeptical.”
“One other thing this strange man told us,” Frieda looking at everyone; “is that father faces a difficult decision; a choice that only he can make himself. Any attempt to force the decision will end in tragedy.”
“Can we go back to this shared dream you had with Eric and Spencer,” Amanda asking; “The one where you are all in the hospital.”
“Your future granddaughter’s name will be Bethany Anderson-Knight,” Frieda looking serious; “But as for when this happens, I’m guessing roughly ten years from now.”
“Polygamy is illegal in the state of Washington,” Amanda looking serious.
“Look, I don’t have the entire answers mom;” Frieda answering. “The dream did show rings on Eric’s and Spencer’s fingers; mine is bare. But I sense we have an open marriage concept going on.”
“So, you’re still bisexual;” Amanda sighing.
“Must we have this argument again,” Frieda whining.
“Enough,” Benton quietly listening; “Nothing will be resolved with attacking each other. Let’s wait and see what Doctor Tora has to say with my results.”
“Mom keeps bringing it up father,” Frieda huffs; “you’d think by now she would finally accept it.”
“Frieda,” Benton looking at his daughter; “Do you truly love Eric and Spencer?”
“So the bond I just told you the three of us formed, isn’t good enough for you,” Frieda looking exasperated; “of course I love them. It’s clear they both love me. We intend to be together,” Frieda clearly getting tired of this; ”and woe befall on you or anyone else that tries to prevent that.”
Benton looks at his daughter for a good few minutes; seeing the determined look in her green eyes, he knows this will be an unwinnable battle. Sighing he does something that shocks both Amanda and Frieda.
“Frieda please invite them to the next were-panther pride meeting,” Benton says; “It’s this Tuesday. You are to attend as well; since you are the one to turn Eric Anderson into a were-panther, it is your responsibility to present him at the gathering. As well as Spencer Lawson; since she was also present to the event in question from last Tuesday.”