After a much needed breakfast and a lovely conversation with Melody, Dawn was directed to the living room to meet with her new co-worker. The place was pretty big, so it was nice to have some help, and a little guidance. As she entered, the vixen noticed a figure in the same maid's uniform sweeping the floor. She was another Guflor, a white tailed deer to be exact. Her fur pattern was what you'd expect. Light brown fur and a white from the neck down on the front side. She had a pair of gold studded earrings, and a golden, diamond studded choker. Her hair was white as snow, short and thin, parted to one side, with a small pair of horns sticking out slightly. Her eyes were separate colors, one blue and one green. She noticed Dawn and immediately stopped what she was doing.

"Hello! You must be Dawn," she said ecstatically, "I'm Autumn. Nice to meet you. I hope you're ready to get started."

"Y-yes, I suppose," Dawn replied.

"Wonderful!" the fawn giggled. Suddenly her expression changed, and she leaned in very close, making the fennec a little uncomfortable. "You're actually a boy, aren't you?"

Dawn's face turned red hot at the deer's observation. "H-how could you possibly know that?"

A smile and chuckle escaped from Autumn, amused by the vixen's embarrassment. "Because I'm just like you. You think I wouldn't know a fellow trap when I see one?" She chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her neck. It was a little comforting knowing she wasn't the only crossdresser in the manor, but also awkward in a way. Dawn was suddenly grabbed in a tight hug. "I can already tell we're gonna be the best of friends." She chuckled nervously as she tried to pushy the bouncey fawn away, but to no avail. Eventually she was released. "Well, let's get to work. I have everything we need."

Dawn spent the next few hours cleaning alongside her new acquaintance, Autumn. The work was simple, but tiring. She swept, mopped, dusted, and wiped down anything that needed attention. It was close to noon by the time they finish the bottom floor. Autumn was able to keep the work interesting for her with a little conversation. They decided to break for lunch. Melody served them both a bowl of curry. The smell was simply divine, and the taste was even better.

"Hope you like pork, Dawn," the goat said.

"I love it, thank you," the fennec replied gleefully.

"So how are you liking your new position?" Autumn said as she took a bite of her curry.

"It's not bad. Exhausting, but at least it gives me something to do."

"And the benefits are great, too," the fawn cheered, "You won't have anything to worry about under Master Riku's care. But I'm sure Melody here has already told you that." She giggled and blushed at the mention of the jackal's name. Dawn took note of this.

"Speaking of Riku," the vixen added, "how did you meet him? And end up here?"

Autumn stopped eating and got quiet all of a sudden, glancing at Melody, who smiled and nodded, looking back at Dawn with a sigh. "I don't usually like to talk about it. It brings back painful memories of my childhood..."

"I grew up in a small town in the Aflia nation. It was mostly farmland. My family owned a tailor workshop, and I was always expected to take over the business. But I had no interest in stitching and sewing. I had dreamed of moving to the city and starting a new life. Maybe start my own business. I wasn't sure then."

"Why don't you like to talk about it, though?" Dawn asked.

"Well... My parents, my father especially, weren't very supportive of me. And when I started crossdressing, they practically shunned me. I was so desperate to get out of there."

"Why didn't you just run away?"

"I wanted to... But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Even if I did, what then? I had no money, and no real work experience. All I could do is stay and hope that maybe something good would come out of it. Then one day, Riku came to our town. That's when things began to change..."



One year ago from the present day…

A young fawn had just managed to slip away from the tailor shop, and her parents judgement. She went to the tavern to try to relax and forget her troubles. She entered wearing a one piece, white silk dress featuring a short, knee high kilt and a wrap around on the breast area, leaving everything between the chest and pelvic area, and much of the back exposed, tied together at the lower back by a small gold hoop. She had a pair of golden bracelets and anklets, a golden diamond studded choker held together by a silver heart shaped buckle, and a pair of gold stud earrings. Some of the customers and staff looked at her for a moment, giving her an awkward feeling, though it quickly went away when they returned to their business. She sighed and took a seat at one of the tables, ordering a glass of juice, since she was too young to drink mead. She took a sip and gave a deep, depressing sigh.

At the bar sat Riku, having a mug of ale before he went on a hunt for a shade that had been causing a disturbance. But as he paid the bartender and was getting ready to leave, he saw the lone deer. Taking note of her distress, he decided to introduce himself and approached her. "Is this seat taken?"

Her heart skipped a beat in surprise as her ears perked up and looked at the jackal. "N..no, but," she stuttered, "who are you?"

"I'm Riku," he answered as he sat down. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"A.. Autumn, sir. " She looked away, not wanting to make eye contact. "Why do you want to sit with me?"

"Well, you seem down, and I thought you might like some company," he said with a warm smile.

"Oh, well thank you," she smiled back. "It's... just been a long day."

"Do you want to talk about it?" The canine took the seat across from her.

"W-well, if you're willing to listen to me ramble." The fawn twiddled her thumbs on the table as she looked down steadily.

"I'm all ears." Riku gave a reassuring smile and a friendly paw on the shoulder.

She took a drink and took a deep breath, looking the canine in the eye as she began to speak. "It's my parents. They want me to be exactly like them. They want me to follow in their footsteps and take over the family business. It doesn't matter what I want or how I feel because my dreams are just nonsense to them. My dad is especially bad. And they really hate my crossdressing."

Riku's ears perked at that last word. "So you're actually a boy then?"

She blushed. "Y..yeah. Sorry to disappoint you."

"I never said I was disappointed."

Autumn's face turned bright red at his response. She couldn't help but look away from the jackal's gaze. "O..oh. I see."

He held her paw with both hands and continued, "But that's not important now. Tell me. What is it that YOU want?"

"To get away from this place, and my parents. I want to move to the city and start over. Maybe even start a business of my own."

Riku listened carefully. And as Autumn told him her heart's desire, an idea came to mind. "If that's truly what you want, then you should do it. Don't let anyone else tell you what you can or can't do."

"W..well, maybe, but I..." She stared down blankly. He could clearly see the fear resonating from her.

"I could even help you get started, if you trust me."

Her face seed to light up almost instantly. "You could? How?"

"I come from the Vorprysian capital city of Sirencester. I'm currently here on certain.. business. If you're interested, you could perhaps join me when I return home. I could offer you a job and a place to stay."

"Really?" Her eyes widened up with joy, but just as quickly fell into their depressing state, "It sounds wonderful, but... My parents would never approve."

"Maybe they will, maybe the won't," the canine proclaimed, "But even so, you can't allow your fear to stop you."

"What makes you think I'm afraid?"

"It's.. very obvious, my dear. I can see it in your eyes." Her ears tucked back. "And you seem desperate to get away from home the first opportunity you get. I could help you, but not if you're unwilling to help yourself."

Autumn thought about it long and hard, eventually coming to a conclusion, "Y..you're right. I'm an adult now. I don't have to listen to them anymore. I should be free to make my own decisions."

"And what decision are you making?" Riku smiled.

"I'm going to leave this dump, and follow my heart no matter what my family thinks." She suddenly hugged and kissed the jackal's cheek. "Thank you, Riku."

"It's my pleasure. Is there anything else I can help with?"

She shook her head, "Not right now. I just want to go home and pack. Your.. offer still stands, doesn't it?"

"Of course. Just tell me when you want to leave."

"Tomorrow morning. Maybe even tonight if possible."

He frowned. "Afraid not, Autumn. I have business to take care of here tonight."

"Oh..." She gave a disappointing sigh, "then tomorrow it is I guess." 

"I'll be waiting outside the village entrance. Don't keep me waiting." He took her paw and kissed it gently, making her cheeks turn rosey, "I look forward to getting to know more about you, my dear."

Autumn giggled, "As do I, Riku." She stood up from the table and thanked him again for his time as she left for home, feeling a mixture of excitement and fear coming over her.

"So you were that desperate to get away?" Dawn asked.

"Yes," answered Autumn, "I know it seems sudden. I couldn't explain why, but even though I had just met him, I trusted Riku. Maybe I was a little naive about it, but after what I've been through, I'd rather risk my chances with a total stranger than stay at home."

"I take it your parents didn't like that one bit?"

The fawn shook her head, "Nope. Father was especially bad. He was determined to make me stay. I almost did. But the more I thought about what Riku said, the more encouraged I was to get out. I'll never forget that night..."


Autumn managed to slip inside her home without her folks noticing. She was all too eager to get started on packing. She only packed what she thought she really needed, mainly clothes, perfume and makeup, and some hygienic products. She thought about leaving a note, but then thought to herself 'why should I?' She didn't think her parents deserved a notice. Well as it turned out, she didn't have to when she heard the sound of angry hooves approaching, which made her heart skip a beat or two, and her stomach churn.

"Austin!" an infuriated voice spoke. She knew right away who it was and flinched at the sound of her birth name. Behind her was a much taller buck, a white tailed deer like herself, with blue eyes and a twelve pointed rack atop his head. His physique made the femboy look like a twig compared to her rather petite figure. She shivered at the sight of him.

"Y-yes, papa?"

"Where have you been? You were suppose to close shop today," he said with an irritable look.

She turned away, trying to avoid his gaze so she could keep packing. "I-I was in town."

She could feel him approaching, and was forced to face him again when he turned her sharply. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, boy." The stag quickly took note of her attire, and the fact that some of her things were sitting out in the open. "I thought I told you to get rid of that ridiculous outfit! And what are you even doing in here?"

"W..well..." She struggled to get the words out, and gave a gulp as she worked up the courage to speak up to her father. "I.. met someone at the tavern. He said I could move to the city with him and even gave me a job offer. I'm leaving in the morning." Autumn held her breath as she finished.

"You're what?" He snorted and grabbed her by the small horn, tugging harshly. "Like hell you are! What makes you think you can just up and leave? You have responsibilities here!"

The fawn struggled for a bit, finally managing to escape his grasp and push herself away. "No, you have responsibilities! I don't want to spend the rest of my life stitching fabrics! You can't make me!" He gave a cold stare, which made her heart sink and lose it's rhythm for a moment.

"So you're gonna run off with someone you just met at the tavern? Are you really that stupid?"

"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not," she snapped. "But the kindness and compassion he's shown me in the past few minutes is more than you have in my entire life! Even if it's dangerous, it still beats staying here with you!"

The large male had to summon all of his will power just to keep from hitting her with an angry paw, only waving an aggregated finger at her. "Now listen to me you little faggot," he scolded, "you're going to stay here, stop this crazy talk, and your crossdressing nonsense, and your gonna take over the family business. Now unpack your things and tell your 'friend' that you've had a change of plans." He huffed as he turned around and left her, and just before leaving the room, he glared back at her. "I am so sick of your bullshit. Why couldn't I just have a normal son like everyone else?" With his final words, he disappeared. Autumn began to sob and tried hard to hold back her tears, but to no avail. At the end of the day, she ended up falling asleep crying as her father's harsh words sank in.

"Ouch..." Dawn's own heart sank as Autumn got into detail about her past. The thought of her the fawn's father sent shivers down the vixen's spine.

"Yeah..," the deer stuttered, "and that's just one night. You can only imagine an entire lifetime of it." She seemed to be sobbing a bit, a tear rolling down her cheek as she turned away and wiped it off. "And it wasn't always verbal, either. I can't tell you how much make up I've used over the years to hide the marks he's left on me.

"Well, I hope the old man got what was coming to him." Dawn replied.

"Oh, you have no idea," Melody giggled as she picked up the dishes and gave them refills.

"Yes, the last time he laid his hand on me... WAS the last time... And also the time the nightmare finally ended..."