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  "description": "Introducing a lynx doctor of psychology, Dr. Estelle Jargal. In a city full of people that have all had to make adjustments to meet the sweeping changes in their lives, this feline therapist will have no shortage of work ahead of her...\n\nNo actual vore in this story, just some reminiscing. ",
  "description_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>Introducing a lynx doctor of psychology, Dr. Estelle Jargal. In a city full of people that have all had to make adjustments to meet the sweeping changes in their lives, this feline therapist will have no shortage of work ahead of her...<br /><br />No actual vore in this story, just some reminiscing. </span>",
  "writing": "     A faint buzz began to sound as the lights switched on in the hallway. Only one figure was on this \nfloor at the moment, the owner of the medical practice that ran out of the large building that \ndominated this block of Leona City's central district. Not far from the hospital, this place served as a \nclinic for the less urgent of medical situations, and many of the hospital's higher-ranking doctors had \ntheir own offices here. The building was old and therefore large, sized to accommodate everyone up \nto the size of a lion. Despite feeling a little smaller than average here, the place was familiar and \ncomfortable. \n     The lights illuminated a coyote woman of pale brown fur and ginger hair that was cut short at the \nback and hung in parted bangs to frame her blue eyes. She wore a yellow top and black pants, both \nwith a tight fit that revealed her shape, and the slight bulge of her abdomen. \n     More footsteps sounded after she had taken only a few steps down the hall, and she turned to \nsee a lynx in a much more professional looking suit, combed back black hair and similarly toned fur. \nA pair of green eyes narrowed as the felid's lips curled into a smile. \n     'Here early, Linda?' The lynx asked, grinning as her gaze fell to the canid's belly. 'And after a good \nnight I see.' \n     'Only thing that would have made it better is if I'd gotten laid first.' Linda replied with a smirk. 'I \nguess I could have tried, but I don't think he would have been into it. I needed to get here early and \nswitch some appointments around. I was meant to see two squirrels and a rabbit this morning, but I \nfigured it might be a bit awkward while I'm visibly digesting what might be a friend or family \nmember.' \n     'Fair enough.' The lynx nodded, still smiling. 'I've had to deal with that myself, it doesn't make for \na productive session. I'll leave you to it then. Have a good day.' \n     'You too Estelle.' Linda replied. The pair headed their separate ways, with Linda heading to the \nfront desk while Estelle made her way to the staircase. There was an elevator, but the lynx preferred \neven the meagre exercise of the second-floor climb over standing in a slow moving box. Once on the \nsecond floor, she stepped into a waiting room. The receptionist, a lioness named Aure, wasn't here \nyet but it didn't matter. There was still half an hour before the clinic's opening hours would begin at \n8am and Aure wouldn't need more than five minutes to be ready. \n     The door at the other end of this room had a distorted glass panel, one that held a separate \nattached plaque that read \"Dr. Estelle Jargal.\" As she stepped through into her office and turned on \nthe ceiling lights, she took a deep breath and let a smile come back to her lips. She'd worked hard to \nmake it here, and the sight of it was worth it every time. As well as her desk, she had three different \nsized couches to accommodate patients of different sizes, two bookshelves that sat either side on \nthe eastern wall and had her numerous certificates and qualifications hanging between them. \n     As well as this, she had accumulated a collection of toys, trinkets and various implements used to \ndistract and provide a measure of comfort during counselling. It wasn't always an easy job, but \nsuccess was always worth the time and effort. A small kitchenette just beside the door allowed her \nto brew coffee or tea for herself or patients should the need arise. \n     About ten minutes passed, during which time she made herself a coffee and Aure had arrived and \ndone the same. When the clock ticked over to eight, Estelle pressed the silent switch on her desk \nthat would alert Aure in the waiting room that she was ready for the first patient. \n     A few moments passed and the door opened. Aure stood in the tall doorway, holding it open for \nanother felid who was just as tall, maybe even slightly taller. A cheetah woman, with short cut black \nhair that hung loose almost to her shoulders and resting on either side of her blue eyes. She was \nwearing loose fitting blue jeans and an equally loose grey shirt top with no patterns or markings. Her \nfeet were bare, not unusual for a cheetah, and she seemed to carry a meek demeanour as she \nstepped into the room. Aure closed the door and the cheetah looked to Estelle with a nervous smile. \n     'Hello.' Estelle lifted a hand in a small wave and lifted a file from the stack Aure had left on her \ndesk the evening before. She opened the file, finding only one sheet of paper inside. 'I take you're a \nnew patient. Have you seen a psychologist before, or is this a new experience for you?' As the \ncheetah took her first few steps into the room, Estelle glanced down and took note of her name. \nDerys Vidalia... \n    'Oh, I've seen one once or twice.' Derys replied. 'My job can be a bit stressful at times? But they \nwere nice enough to supply counselling. That guy's so focused on industry related stress though, so I \nwas hoping to see someone with a more... generalized experience level?' \n     'Well, you came to the right place.' Estelle nodded, rising from her seat and walking around her \ndesk. She stepped up to Derys and offered a hand. 'Would you like to sit down? You can make \nyourself as comfortable as you want.' As she spoke, a feeling began growing in the back of her mind. \nThere was something familiar about Derys, something she couldn't quite place. \n     'Thank you.' The cheetah nodded, taking Estelle's hand and following the lynx to the largest couch \nbefore sitting herself down. She allowed herself to relax a bit more, laying herself down as the \ndoctor rested herself on the second largest couch. 'So, um... How does this work?' \n     'Well...' Estelle began. 'Why don't you start by telling me your name and what you feel you \nneeded to see me for? Take your time. There's nothing to be worried about here.' \n     'Alright. My name is Derys... Vidalia.' The cheetah answered. 'I guess the reason I'm here is \nbecause I'm feeling... things that I never used... to feel.' An uneasy look crossed her face for a \nmoment before she continued. 'I keep thinking back to before Equality, when there were only felids \nliving here, and anyone else you saw was usually a scavenger. Mostly rodents, the odd mustelid \nhiding in alleyways and sewers... and I can't decide whether or not... I prefer it this way?' \n     'I see.' Estelle nodded, thinking for a moment before posing a question. 'So, how often do you get \nthe opportunity to hunt these days? Compared to the old days?' \n     'Not often.' The cheetah replied with a brief look of frustration. 'And it tells, especially given how \noften I need to interact with these... people.' \n     'I see.' Estelle nodded, beginning to understand how the situation Derys was dealing with could \ncause significant problems if left unchecked. Carnivores still felt the instinct to hunt despite how far \nevolution had brought the various races into sapience, and various psychological problems could \narise from this instinct being suppressed for too long. 'So then, when was the last time you \nsuccessfully hunted?' \n     'Oh, two nights ago actually.' Derys replied. 'Found a pair of bunnies running late getting home. \nThe boy tried to lure me away so his girl could get away but...' \n     'Oh... But she was the one running.' Estelle nodded, understanding completely that a moving \ntarget was always the more appealing to a fast-moving hunter like a cheetah. Indeed, most felids in \ngeneral felt their instincts spurred when faced with fleeing prey. It could at times be a difficult thing \nto keep in check. \n     'Exactly.' Derys nodded. 'I ran her down, he caught up. I gave him the opportunity to be as \nchivalrous as he wanted. But I guess when it became a reality? He flaked entirely. She didn't add \nmuch to my figure but she did scratch the itch.' She lifted her shirt and rested a hand on the pale tan \nfur of her belly. With the loose clothing partially out of the way, Estelle could see the faint bulge the \nrabbit girl had left on Derys' lithe feline form. \n     'I see.' Estelle nodded, feeling a slight pang of envy for that feeling, and sparing a fleeting thought \ntowards her own next hunt. 'So, it sounds like everything is fairly normal, is there something specific \nthat you had in mind?'      \n     Derys sighed and nodded once slowly. 'Afterwards, I don't know why, but I just felt so bad for this \nguy. I've hunted in the past and felt nothing in the aftermath. Even when I've split couples or family \nlike this. But this time? I don't know where it came from.' \n     'I see...' Estelle nodded. From her own understanding and experience, the lynx knew that it was \nunusual for a predator to go through something like this. 'It's not usually the case that a predator \nwill feel empathy on this level when so deep in in instinct. So, what did you do next?' \n     'I... carried him back to his apartment building.' Derys confessed. 'It was kind of awkward, had a \nbelly full of his girlfriend the whole way, and she wasn't quiet or still until half an hour after I got \nhome myself. But I wanted to make sure he made it, and I have no idea why I would care.' \n     'This has never happened before?' Estelle asked. \n     'I've hunted couples before.' Derys repeated. 'Usually, I go after the ladies. They're less fattening \nfor the most part and easier to get down. But this is the first time I've ever felt bad for the one that \nwas left over. I can't figure out what would make me feel this way.' \n     'Hmm.' Estelle nodded, giving the matter a few moments of thought. \n     'Has this ever happened to you?' Derys asked suddenly. \n     'Oh...' Estelle was caught off guard by the question. Typically she would try to keep the patient \nfocused on their own thoughts and reflections, and in this moment had to admit she could not recall \nany instances of feeling sorry for her own prey in the past. 'I can't say that it has. But that doesn't \nmean it's a bad thing. Empathy definitely exists between species. It's just unusual that you would \nfeel it while your hunting instinct is essentially peaked.' \n     'Should I track this guy down and finish the job?' Derys asked in a tone that suggested she was \njoking. At least Estelle hoped she was. \n     'No dear, that's illegal.' Estelle laughed. 'Pre-meditated hunting is indistinguishable from murder \nso you'd have to hope nobody questioned the timing. Besides, I don't think that's going to solve this. \nDo you mind if I ask how long it had been since you last hunted? Before this one I mean.' \n     'Uhh...' Derys narrowed her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few moments. 'A week and a half? \nMaybe two, I'm not sure. My... job, makes it difficult to keep track sometimes.' \n     'Do you always hunt this frequently?' The lynx asked, her own eyes also narrowing slightly as she \nbegan to formulate an answer. \n     'Lately, yes.' Derys nodded. 'My schedule makes it difficult to know when the next opportunity \nwill be. So I just take every chance I can.' \n     'I think I see what's happening here.' Estelle nodded. 'A carnivore's instinct is less prominent than \nit used to be back in our less evolved days, but it still pushes itself to the fore of our minds if we try \nto ignore it for too long. I think what's going on here is that your instinct isn't being pushed to its \nlimits often enough. As a result, you become less prone to its other effects. You didn't eat that girl \nbecause you needed to, you ate her because you wanted to.'   \n     Derys seemed to think for a moment, nodding slowly as she sat up and met Estelle's gaze. 'You \nthink that's why I felt bad for the guy? My instinct wasn't really behind it all like it should be?' \n     'Precisely.' Estelle nodded. 'Your hunting instinct wasn't behind your decision to hunt, since you'd \nexercised it so recently. It wasn't hungry enough, so to speak. So it didn't bury your sense of \nempathy when you ate a poor young rabbit's girlfriend? Maybe fiancé or even wife?' \n     'Okay...' Derys nodded again. 'I think I get it now.' \n     'Someone's daughter?' Estelle continued. 'Slowly stewed in your stomach before she ever got the \nchance to be someone's mother?' \n     'Okay, that's enough!' Derys almost growled. \n     'Sorry.' The lynx raised her hands in an apologetic gesture. 'But at least we know your sense of \nempathy is intact.' She stood and returned to her desk, quickly typing something on her computer \nand sending it to Aure. \n     'So is there anything else really to talk about?' Derys asked, sitting up on the couch and looking \nover at Estelle. 'I feel like that pretty much covers what I was worried about.' \n     'It was a rather short session.' Estelle noted. 'But if you think you have enough to go on, we can \ncall it there. However, I would like to see you again sometime after two weeks have passed. Just to \nsee how you're getting on. Would you feel comfortable with that?' \n     'Sure thing...' Derys nodded. 'I'll make an appointment when I can.' \n     Once Estelle had escorted Derys back to the waiting room and bid her a good rest of the day, she \nreturned to her desk and awaited a reply from Aure. It didn't take long before the email was \nreturned, and the lioness herself stepped into the room. \n     'You were right.' Aure nodded. 'It's... I mean, technically it's a felony. Should we...?' \n     Estelle sighed. 'No. I don't think it would stick. Also, not really good publicity for anyone. No, I'll \njust try to coax it out of her in the next session. Even if she is trying to go incognito, Miss Delarys \nVayne is still a person like anyone else, and I'll treat her accordingly whether she uses her real name \nor not.' \n      \n\n\n\n\n\n     \n",
  "writing_bbcode_parsed": "<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A faint buzz began to sound as the lights switched on in the hallway. Only one figure was on this <br />floor at the moment, the owner of the medical practice that ran out of the large building that <br />dominated this block of Leona City&#039;s central district. Not far from the hospital, this place served as a <br />clinic for the less urgent of medical situations, and many of the hospital&#039;s higher-ranking doctors had <br />their own offices here. The building was old and therefore large, sized to accommodate everyone up <br />to the size of a lion. Despite feeling a little smaller than average here, the place was familiar and <br />comfortable. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The lights illuminated a coyote woman of pale brown fur and ginger hair that was cut short at the <br />back and hung in parted bangs to frame her blue eyes. She wore a yellow top and black pants, both <br />with a tight fit that revealed her shape, and the slight bulge of her abdomen. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; More footsteps sounded after she had taken only a few steps down the hall, and she turned to <br />see a lynx in a much more professional looking suit, combed back black hair and similarly toned fur. <br />A pair of green eyes narrowed as the felid&#039;s lips curled into a smile. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Here early, Linda?&#039; The lynx asked, grinning as her gaze fell to the canid&#039;s belly. &#039;And after a good <br />night I see.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Only thing that would have made it better is if I&#039;d gotten laid first.&#039; Linda replied with a smirk. &#039;I <br />guess I could have tried, but I don&#039;t think he would have been into it. I needed to get here early and <br />switch some appointments around. I was meant to see two squirrels and a rabbit this morning, but I <br />figured it might be a bit awkward while I&#039;m visibly digesting what might be a friend or family <br />member.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Fair enough.&#039; The lynx nodded, still smiling. &#039;I&#039;ve had to deal with that myself, it doesn&#039;t make for <br />a productive session. I&#039;ll leave you to it then. Have a good day.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;You too Estelle.&#039; Linda replied. The pair headed their separate ways, with Linda heading to the <br />front desk while Estelle made her way to the staircase. There was an elevator, but the lynx preferred <br />even the meagre exercise of the second-floor climb over standing in a slow moving box. Once on the <br />second floor, she stepped into a waiting room. The receptionist, a lioness named Aure, wasn&#039;t here <br />yet but it didn&#039;t matter. There was still half an hour before the clinic&#039;s opening hours would begin at <br />8am and Aure wouldn&#039;t need more than five minutes to be ready. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The door at the other end of this room had a distorted glass panel, one that held a separate <br />attached plaque that read &quot;Dr. Estelle Jargal.&quot; As she stepped through into her office and turned on <br />the ceiling lights, she took a deep breath and let a smile come back to her lips. She&#039;d worked hard to <br />make it here, and the sight of it was worth it every time. As well as her desk, she had three different <br />sized couches to accommodate patients of different sizes, two bookshelves that sat either side on <br />the eastern wall and had her numerous certificates and qualifications hanging between them. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As well as this, she had accumulated a collection of toys, trinkets and various implements used to <br />distract and provide a measure of comfort during counselling. It wasn&#039;t always an easy job, but <br />success was always worth the time and effort. A small kitchenette just beside the door allowed her <br />to brew coffee or tea for herself or patients should the need arise. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; About ten minutes passed, during which time she made herself a coffee and Aure had arrived and <br />done the same. When the clock ticked over to eight, Estelle pressed the silent switch on her desk <br />that would alert Aure in the waiting room that she was ready for the first patient. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A few moments passed and the door opened. Aure stood in the tall doorway, holding it open for <br />another felid who was just as tall, maybe even slightly taller. A cheetah woman, with short cut black <br />hair that hung loose almost to her shoulders and resting on either side of her blue eyes. She was <br />wearing loose fitting blue jeans and an equally loose grey shirt top with no patterns or markings. Her <br />feet were bare, not unusual for a cheetah, and she seemed to carry a meek demeanour as she <br />stepped into the room. Aure closed the door and the cheetah looked to Estelle with a nervous smile. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Hello.&#039; Estelle lifted a hand in a small wave and lifted a file from the stack Aure had left on her <br />desk the evening before. She opened the file, finding only one sheet of paper inside. &#039;I take you&#039;re a <br />new patient. Have you seen a psychologist before, or is this a new experience for you?&#039; As the <br />cheetah took her first few steps into the room, Estelle glanced down and took note of her name. <br />Derys Vidalia... <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#039;Oh, I&#039;ve seen one once or twice.&#039; Derys replied. &#039;My job can be a bit stressful at times? But they <br />were nice enough to supply counselling. That guy&#039;s so focused on industry related stress though, so I <br />was hoping to see someone with a more... generalized experience level?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Well, you came to the right place.&#039; Estelle nodded, rising from her seat and walking around her <br />desk. She stepped up to Derys and offered a hand. &#039;Would you like to sit down? You can make <br />yourself as comfortable as you want.&#039; As she spoke, a feeling began growing in the back of her mind. <br />There was something familiar about Derys, something she couldn&#039;t quite place. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Thank you.&#039; The cheetah nodded, taking Estelle&#039;s hand and following the lynx to the largest couch <br />before sitting herself down. She allowed herself to relax a bit more, laying herself down as the <br />doctor rested herself on the second largest couch. &#039;So, um... How does this work?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Well...&#039; Estelle began. &#039;Why don&#039;t you start by telling me your name and what you feel you <br />needed to see me for? Take your time. There&#039;s nothing to be worried about here.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Alright. My name is Derys... Vidalia.&#039; The cheetah answered. &#039;I guess the reason I&#039;m here is <br />because I&#039;m feeling... things that I never used... to feel.&#039; An uneasy look crossed her face for a <br />moment before she continued. &#039;I keep thinking back to before Equality, when there were only felids <br />living here, and anyone else you saw was usually a scavenger. Mostly rodents, the odd mustelid <br />hiding in alleyways and sewers... and I can&#039;t decide whether or not... I prefer it this way?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I see.&#039; Estelle nodded, thinking for a moment before posing a question. &#039;So, how often do you get <br />the opportunity to hunt these days? Compared to the old days?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Not often.&#039; The cheetah replied with a brief look of frustration. &#039;And it tells, especially given how <br />often I need to interact with these... people.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I see.&#039; Estelle nodded, beginning to understand how the situation Derys was dealing with could <br />cause significant problems if left unchecked. Carnivores still felt the instinct to hunt despite how far <br />evolution had brought the various races into sapience, and various psychological problems could <br />arise from this instinct being suppressed for too long. &#039;So then, when was the last time you <br />successfully hunted?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Oh, two nights ago actually.&#039; Derys replied. &#039;Found a pair of bunnies running late getting home. <br />The boy tried to lure me away so his girl could get away but...&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Oh... But she was the one running.&#039; Estelle nodded, understanding completely that a moving <br />target was always the more appealing to a fast-moving hunter like a cheetah. Indeed, most felids in <br />general felt their instincts spurred when faced with fleeing prey. It could at times be a difficult thing <br />to keep in check. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Exactly.&#039; Derys nodded. &#039;I ran her down, he caught up. I gave him the opportunity to be as <br />chivalrous as he wanted. But I guess when it became a reality? He flaked entirely. She didn&#039;t add <br />much to my figure but she did scratch the itch.&#039; She lifted her shirt and rested a hand on the pale tan <br />fur of her belly. With the loose clothing partially out of the way, Estelle could see the faint bulge the <br />rabbit girl had left on Derys&#039; lithe feline form. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I see.&#039; Estelle nodded, feeling a slight pang of envy for that feeling, and sparing a fleeting thought <br />towards her own next hunt. &#039;So, it sounds like everything is fairly normal, is there something specific <br />that you had in mind?&#039;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Derys sighed and nodded once slowly. &#039;Afterwards, I don&#039;t know why, but I just felt so bad for this <br />guy. I&#039;ve hunted in the past and felt nothing in the aftermath. Even when I&#039;ve split couples or family <br />like this. But this time? I don&#039;t know where it came from.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I see...&#039; Estelle nodded. From her own understanding and experience, the lynx knew that it was <br />unusual for a predator to go through something like this. &#039;It&#039;s not usually the case that a predator <br />will feel empathy on this level when so deep in in instinct. So, what did you do next?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I... carried him back to his apartment building.&#039; Derys confessed. &#039;It was kind of awkward, had a <br />belly full of his girlfriend the whole way, and she wasn&#039;t quiet or still until half an hour after I got <br />home myself. But I wanted to make sure he made it, and I have no idea why I would care.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;This has never happened before?&#039; Estelle asked. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I&#039;ve hunted couples before.&#039; Derys repeated. &#039;Usually, I go after the ladies. They&#039;re less fattening <br />for the most part and easier to get down. But this is the first time I&#039;ve ever felt bad for the one that <br />was left over. I can&#039;t figure out what would make me feel this way.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Hmm.&#039; Estelle nodded, giving the matter a few moments of thought. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Has this ever happened to you?&#039; Derys asked suddenly. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Oh...&#039; Estelle was caught off guard by the question. Typically she would try to keep the patient <br />focused on their own thoughts and reflections, and in this moment had to admit she could not recall <br />any instances of feeling sorry for her own prey in the past. &#039;I can&#039;t say that it has. But that doesn&#039;t <br />mean it&#039;s a bad thing. Empathy definitely exists between species. It&#039;s just unusual that you would <br />feel it while your hunting instinct is essentially peaked.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Should I track this guy down and finish the job?&#039; Derys asked in a tone that suggested she was <br />joking. At least Estelle hoped she was. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;No dear, that&#039;s illegal.&#039; Estelle laughed. &#039;Pre-meditated hunting is indistinguishable from murder <br />so you&#039;d have to hope nobody questioned the timing. Besides, I don&#039;t think that&#039;s going to solve this. <br />Do you mind if I ask how long it had been since you last hunted? Before this one I mean.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Uhh...&#039; Derys narrowed her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few moments. &#039;A week and a half? <br />Maybe two, I&#039;m not sure. My... job, makes it difficult to keep track sometimes.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Do you always hunt this frequently?&#039; The lynx asked, her own eyes also narrowing slightly as she <br />began to formulate an answer. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Lately, yes.&#039; Derys nodded. &#039;My schedule makes it difficult to know when the next opportunity <br />will be. So I just take every chance I can.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;I think I see what&#039;s happening here.&#039; Estelle nodded. &#039;A carnivore&#039;s instinct is less prominent than <br />it used to be back in our less evolved days, but it still pushes itself to the fore of our minds if we try <br />to ignore it for too long. I think what&#039;s going on here is that your instinct isn&#039;t being pushed to its <br />limits often enough. As a result, you become less prone to its other effects. You didn&#039;t eat that girl <br />because you needed to, you ate her because you wanted to.&#039;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Derys seemed to think for a moment, nodding slowly as she sat up and met Estelle&#039;s gaze. &#039;You <br />think that&#039;s why I felt bad for the guy? My instinct wasn&#039;t really behind it all like it should be?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Precisely.&#039; Estelle nodded. &#039;Your hunting instinct wasn&#039;t behind your decision to hunt, since you&#039;d <br />exercised it so recently. It wasn&#039;t hungry enough, so to speak. So it didn&#039;t bury your sense of <br />empathy when you ate a poor young rabbit&#039;s girlfriend? Maybe fianc&eacute; or even wife?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Okay...&#039; Derys nodded again. &#039;I think I get it now.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Someone&#039;s daughter?&#039; Estelle continued. &#039;Slowly stewed in your stomach before she ever got the <br />chance to be someone&#039;s mother?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Okay, that&#039;s enough!&#039; Derys almost growled. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Sorry.&#039; The lynx raised her hands in an apologetic gesture. &#039;But at least we know your sense of <br />empathy is intact.&#039; She stood and returned to her desk, quickly typing something on her computer <br />and sending it to Aure. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;So is there anything else really to talk about?&#039; Derys asked, sitting up on the couch and looking <br />over at Estelle. &#039;I feel like that pretty much covers what I was worried about.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;It was a rather short session.&#039; Estelle noted. &#039;But if you think you have enough to go on, we can <br />call it there. However, I would like to see you again sometime after two weeks have passed. Just to <br />see how you&#039;re getting on. Would you feel comfortable with that?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;Sure thing...&#039; Derys nodded. &#039;I&#039;ll make an appointment when I can.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once Estelle had escorted Derys back to the waiting room and bid her a good rest of the day, she <br />returned to her desk and awaited a reply from Aure. It didn&#039;t take long before the email was <br />returned, and the lioness herself stepped into the room. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &#039;You were right.&#039; Aure nodded. &#039;It&#039;s... I mean, technically it&#039;s a felony. Should we...?&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Estelle sighed. &#039;No. I don&#039;t think it would stick. Also, not really good publicity for anyone. No, I&#039;ll <br />just try to coax it out of her in the next session. Even if she is trying to go incognito, Miss Delarys <br />Vayne is still a person like anyone else, and I&#039;ll treat her accordingly whether she uses her real name <br />or not.&#039; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /></span>",
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