Summer was reaching its end, the Fall now arriving. The natural effect was the slowly shortening days, though the temperatures remained high though both wind and ocean currents that distributed the heat from the Sun around the planet, as well as the heat soaked into the ground that radiated away.
The other was that this was a time of year that certain species would enter their Heat Cycle, the time when they could produce offspring and their bodies adjusted to both permit and encourage it. Not all of them. May through August being the time for Long-Day Breeders such as Horses. But for the Short-Day Breeding Species, their time of Heat was closing in.
And Clara was reading the reports concerning this.
“Clara?” Robbie queried seeing her focused, yet concerned expression.
“Yes?” Clara paused her work to face him.
“Sorry, but you looked rather concerned there, is something the matter?”
“Possibly.” Clara admitted as she leaned back in her chair.
Like everything else in the room, it had all been designed with her similar-yet-different shape and build in mind, larger handles for the desk and file drawers, as well as the doors for example. Not to mentioned generally being of a tougher build to handle her greater strength without taking damage.
“Some might think that with the Fall arriving, that means this will be the time of year when we all go into Heat. But that isn’t really the case.” Clara started her explanation of her concerns to her more-than-close friend. “Not all will experience that Heat at the same time. I know from before my ‘uplifting’ that I would only enter it during the Winter Months.”
“And, what is the concern?” Robbie wondered what point she was trying to get to.
“Generally these ‘Mating Seasons’ would only apply to the ‘un-lifted’ species, and then only if they were Seasonal Breeders.” Clara realised a worried sigh. “Others are so-called Opportunistic Breeders, entering Heat any time conditions allow it, while some are perpetual with their fertility.”
“And the problem is with these, differing cycles?”
“In part yes, but there’s more to it. Those Cycles, assume living In the Wild, so to speak. Outside of that, where food and safety is more assured, like here, what I’ve been finding out about it, suggests it can affect this.” Clara now had her sight set squarely on Robbie. “Earlier start, later end, generally a longer period.”
“The Animalia Edict does state no Public Mating, does it not?” Robbie pointed out to her.
“It does, and that’s what these reports,” She waved a hand over the small pile on her desk. “are about. Requests for assurances that the Edict will be adhered to during such times, concerns about and from those experiencing Heat Cycles right now. It seems, I think we’re about to see a major Test of the Edicts.”
“Perhaps, but this is the main reason I came.” Robbie produced a two-page piece for Clara to read. “It comes from a Ms Shelly Williams. She’s suggesting that with the Season for herself, as a mare, approaching its end, that those who still seek offspring, be permitted to do so inside her own residence, at the end of this week. It’s a bit away from the others homes, being farmland, so she’s hoping that allows for it to happen without being a nuisance to others.”
“And why would she send something like that to me?” Clara wondered. “I can’t see why she’d feel the need to.”
“I think, it’s more for the sake of clarity, and since there could be a sizable number there, things, could get, a little out of hand.” Robbie gave his best guess.
“That, is probably the case.” Clara accepted after some thought.
Though it did leave a possible dilemma for the uplifted Puma. If she gave it, and things went wrong, it would leave her ultimately responsible for it. Denying it? And then if her fears came to pass? Equally unpalatable. Finally, after one more scan of the reports and several minutes staring out the window, she had her answer.
[+]
Meanwhile, at the farm in question, Shelly Williams had just finished her lunch. As an uplifted mare and (to her own surprise as much as anyone else’s) inheritor of the farmlands, she’d had some initial confusion and difficulty adapting to some of the Human Norms such as modesty, but long Summer Dresses - as they liked to call these ones - were something she’d come to grow comfortable with. The thick cotton able to hide what they didn’t like seeing in public well while still being able to ‘breathe’ easy to keep her comfortable. Matching wide-brimmed hat adapted to let her ears poke through them. And right now she had on a tougher set of dungarees with a more basic wide-brim hat for working in the fields.
A sort of light-beige was her primary fur colour, though the long mane and tail were a cream-blonde, with a darker muzzle and other…areas…which the short fur couldn’t hide.
But right now, with her Heat Cycle still on, comfort was something that eluded her and after too much rubbing and grating over her crotch, she’d seriously considered taking off the denim so she could focus more on her meal, only deciding against it as she’d have to resume wearing it before stepping back outside.