Anywhere other than Moon Lake, one would be greatly concerned to see a werepanthress lying in the forest with a werewolf.
But in this small Washington state town, such situations are common place, as Kenya Adaeze and Ben Twist laid together in a romantic embrace after a sensual session of expressing their love for each other physically.
"You know," began Ben, nuzzling against her, "I never quite noticed before how exotic your eyes are."
"Oh?" asked Kenya. "How so?"
"They're like two deep pools of vibrant green water with dark centers.* So warm and inviting. I'd just like to dive into them," he said, before gently kissing her muzzle.
Kenya eagerly returned the kiss, feeling the passion for the man she loved rise with every moment the lips of their respective muzzles were in contact with each other. She was strongly considering straddling and mounting her eager werewolf again when they both heard a twig snap.
They both grew instantly alert, ready to react at a moment's notice when Ben smelled a familiar scent.
"You guys can come out now," he called.
A moment later, Nate Anderson and Alex Ramsey came out of the bushes.
Two fellow werewolves, the lovers were holding each other's paw and if they weren't in their fursonas at that moment, both would be seriously blushing with embarrassment.
"Sorry about that," said Nate by way of apology. "We were just walking around, having a serious conversation with each other and stumbled upon you two."
"But don't worry. We didn't see anything we shouldn't have. In fact, we were trying to sneak away without you being aware that we were ever here to begin with," added Alex.
"Well, since you're already here..." said Ben, indicating a bare patch of ground at his feet while both he and Kenya sat up.
Soon the four were sitting cross legged on the ground facing each other.
"So, what's up?" asked Ben, while still holding Kenya's paw in his.
"We were just trying to figure out Moon Lake," said Nate.
"Figure what out?" wondered Kenya, looking at Ben's friends with a bit of confusion on her werepanthress muzzle.
"Me and you are both naturally born weres," Alex said to Ben, "but I've never been able to figure out how Moon Lake or whatever is behind it just seems to know some things. Like what a wonderful idea pairing up me and Nate is, or you two getting together."
Ben looked at his girlfriend for a moment before turning to his friends and asking, "Does it matter?"
"Well, you do have to admit, some interesting stuff has happened around here, at least since my family's moved to town," said Nate. "My mom coming to terms with the fact she's bi. Me finding the courage to tell my parents I'm gay, let alone in love with a wonderful man," he added, before kissing Alex on his furry cheek. "Eric not only finally coming out of his shell but finding true love in the process. Alex and I both having the same dream where we're married and adopt a child, although neither of us knew it until we told each other**, and who knows what else?"
Ben lovingly put his furry arm around Kenya and asked, "Like I said. Does it matter? If the world was truly perfect, my biological parents would still be alive. But if they were, then my life would be totally different. While I would of avoided the early days coming to terms with my grief as a young child, I wouldn't of had all of those wonderful years growing up with Samantha and Frances. I might not have met this wonderful woman who I want to spend the rest of my life with," he pointed out, before giving Kenya a peck on her furry cheek. "You can always question the bad stuff, like that rogue werevixen Yvette Smith attacking your father to begin with Nate, but even that worked out in the end. After all, you said yourself that your parents marriage is much better now since your dad became a werefox and established that life/soul mate bond with your mother, and she's happy being a bi-werecat**. They may have had their reservations when Samantha first told them about the Mandatory Were Law***, but things have worked out since. So why question whatever powers may be? Enjoy life!"
Alex and Nate looked at each other.
There was a lot of sense in what Ben said, but still...
Picking up on their hesitation, Ben looked at his friends and asked, "What's really bothering you guys?"
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*I Googled images of real panthers to research this.
**A very brief recap to some of the events that have occurred during the course of this story so far as we approach our 500th episode!
***One member of any new family moving to Moon Lake must become a were so no one betrays the town's secrets.—tmw.