* * * * *
Author's note:
Starting in this chapter any intimacy between Michael and Benjamin will be separated out into its own section that will accompany the chapter. That way those who enjoy it can read it and those who don't like it can still read the story. Hopefully it's a win-win for everyone. Down the road there will be one, maybe two, necessary plot-centric scenes but not for some time. The appropriate point in the story for the interlude will be marked.
 Also, my editor is on hiatus so things will change slightly when he has a chance to go over it.
* * * * * 
 
Morning was the best part of the day for Daniel Sorstal. In the quiet breath before a new dawn all was at peace and endless possibilities distilled like the dews that clung outside. Under the barest hints of day a few stars still shone above and he looked upwards through the water-streaked car window, letting the concerns held by the papers in his paw fall away. A gray wolf well past middle age but not yet old he was dressed in a tan wool suit, a brown tie and like all other wolves his feral foot paws were bare. Of average build his body spoke of an active life although a slowly expanding waistline indicated a decided lack of exercise. He mourned not for youth though; as patriarch of House Sorstal and therefore its representative in the Consiglio and in the Imperial Court he was satisfied with his life.
The car turned off of Birah's river beltway onto a long drive, breaking him from his reverie. He would soon be at his office. Daniel started to put folders set out on the seat beside him away, hardly noticing the driver's brief stop at a security gate. By the time his official government car braked to a silent stop outside the Consortium he clicked the clasps of his briefcase closed, a couple of papers that he wanted to go over again dangling from his muzzle. Moments later his driver pulled the door open.
Daniel returned the dormouse's smile. "Thank you, James." 
"Always a pleasure, sir. Don't forget that you have a luncheon with the economic development commission today." 
The wolf stopped mid-stride. "Today? Damn, I forgot. What would I ever do without you James?" 
"Just doing my job, sir." 
"Alright, I'll see you about ten thirty then. If I get there early enough maybe they'll grow tired of talking by the time lunch is served and I can actually eat something." 
The dormouse paused as he got back into the car. "I think Mrs. Sorstal would say that you get plenty enough." 
Daniel's voice turned playfully gruff. "I get cranky without a proper lunch." 
Muted laughter came from inside the car as it pulled away. The wolf chuckled as well and with briefcase in one paw he started to walk, re-reading the papers he'd skimmed earlier. 
Despite being one of the most important buildings of the Empire, in terms of governmental function at least, the Consortium wasn't all that big. Circular, sitting like a marble island amidst a vast sea of green lawn its front half was set with widely spaced ground to roof pillars. Midway around the circumference the pillars gave way to a solid wall of marble that curved around the back, checkered with windows for various nobles' offices at the bottom. 
He smiled, one of the windows was already lit up. 
At the top of a short flight of steps that hugged the building's front the wolf strode across the marble porch to where many sets of glass doors covered the wall. A security guard jumped to attention and pulled open a door for him. 
"Good morning Consigliere Sorstal." He paused before quickly continuing. "You don't have to use the public entrance you know." 
Daniel gave the ram a look as he passed by and suppressed a shiver that came not from the cool morning air. "Heaven forbid a time that I don't. And thank you." 
Before the confused man could ask any other questions he had disappeared through the doorway. 
Inside was a large open foyer. The outer wall was lined with slimmer columns interspersed with statues of various heroes of the Empire; quite a few were wolves but a mix of other species were represented as well. Tall narrow windows between the stone shafts added pre-dawn illumination to florescent-lit globes that hung from the ceiling far above on long thin rods. Directly to the back of the foyer were several sets of heavy wooden doors that all led to the Consiglio's chambers, the meeting place of the main body of the Empire's government. To either side of the room grand stairways with polished brass handrails curved upwards to the consiglio chamber's galleries where open sessions could be viewed by the public. On the ground floor two wide curving hallways led from the foyer and joined in the back of the building, giving access to the ring of offices. The centerpiece of the foyer's polished dark gray granite floor was a marble fountain basin. From it an obsidian pillar rose up, its fluted surface glittering in the reflected light from the water below and at the top a star burst made of solid gold shone. Most strikingly of all were three ragged gashes carved across the pillar as if torn by claws and inlaid with gold; representing the fight and sacrifices made to bring Peace, Equality and Freedom to the peoples of the world. 
All of this went unnoticed by Daniel. His bare feet took him to the right, down the hallway. Light from sconces on the walls reflected off of subtle star burst patterns in the grain of the granite tiles under paw; created by cutting the tiles and reassembling the pieces for the desired effect. Reaching a heavy wood door marked with a nameplate for Consigliere Richard Loramir he opened it and stepped through, closing it behind. Beyond was a small waiting room with an empty desk for a secretary not yet arrived and another door. Without even knocking he stepped into the inner office. 
Behind a neatly organized heavy oak desk sat an old gray fox. He wore a dark blue suit with matching tie and looked up through wire rim glasses as the door opened. 
Daniel smiled in greeting. "How fares the empire this morning, old friend?" 
While not frail Richard's seventy one years didn't let him spring up from his comfortable leather chair either. He took the offered paw and shook it, waving his friend into one of the chairs at the front of his desk. "Fairly quiet but it's still early." He caught sight of the documents in Daniel's paw and motioned to them. "There won't be much peace when that gets out to you know who." 
"The Emperor? He wanted this to go through but I don't think he'd..." 
"No, no. Not him." 
"V..." 
The gray fox held a finger up to his muzzle to silence the question. "Shhh, we don't speak her name." 
They shared a chuckle. Although Victoria was a good friend she did tend to let her emotion to overcome sense at times. Especially over issues she was passionate about. Richard tapped his own briefing on the desk. "I'm going to recommend that we table the issue for a year or two." 
"The idea of letting it go for so long doesn't sit right with me. The more delays in setting up the new education infrastructure the less of this current generation will be eligible to take advantage of it." 
"We can't force the provinces who don't want to change to change." 
"In the days of my father we could." 
"This isn't the old days." 
"Don't tell me that you're going to let nit picking policy mongers tell you what can and can't be done." 
The fox's ears flicked once with a touch of genuine anger. "You would do well to remember that these are different times. I was there with your father and Viekas. I fought along side them, I did my duty and I know first hand that conflict is a terrible thing that carries a heavy price. We'll get what we want, just be patient." 
Daniel bowed his head briefly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that as an insult. There's just so much debate about this and it feels like we're sacrificing a generation of our children while we sit here talking about who does and doesn't deserve to be taught." 
"There are two difficulties with this legislation." Richard steepled his fingers. "One, we have the nobles from Jirag, Ebotan and Migillin trying to convince the other representatives there is a possibility of a peasant uprising if the lower classes are given more access to education. The other is the teaching caste, the Tanar themselves. It should come as no surprise that our esteemed colleagues from Jirag, Ebotan and Migillin are working hard on the Tanar to convince them that their entire organization is being threatened with extinction by this bill. That pressure on the Tanar is trickling down to every noble house since every house has traditionally been educated by the Tanar." 
The wolf squinted. "There are clauses to empower the Tanar. They were the first merit-based system to come along, I thought they'd be happy that someone is building on their work." 
"Yes, but the Tanar have always been skittish thanks to the persecution they've received in the past. Being educators, historians, inventors and masters of the arts they have a rather long memory of the purges waged against them." 
Daniel growled. "Purges instigated at the paws of our... No, they really aren't comparable to your house, my house, or any other noble lineage are they? The common vernacular fits those three provinces quite well don't you think? Despicable Despotic Dumbasses is perhaps even being too kind. They are the ones that have persecuted the Tanar, the house of Jirag especially ran red with the caste's blood. Don't the Tanar remember that?" 
"They probably haven't forgotten but they too have been raised in the old ways for so long that the...triple D" Richard found the name somewhat distasteful and spiteful in the present progressive age but he had to admit to himself that it did fit "has been successful at least in part in planting seeds of doubt; the Tanar aren't completely sure that the Emperor has their best interests at heart. They're looking for allies, power to resist a new threat and the nobles are looking like a good option, what with the triple D insisting to the Tanar that they've changed." 
"It boggles the mind that the Tanar could believe that the triple D are going to protect them. Do you think they've changed?" 
Richard shook his head ruefully. "No. I know the Emperor has tried...still is trying to work with the three provinces but I wonder how much longer that will last. The triple D has never let anything stop them from advancing their agenda. Not truth, not decency, not compassion." 
Daniel looked down at his paws. "So how do we neutralize the poison spreading from the triple D this time?" 
A smile. "There's nothing to stop us from implementing the provisions in our own houses. I've set up..." 
The doorknob to the office rattled loudly and the door flew back against the stops. There was a blur of motion as a ball of flaming red furred fury stormed into the room, causing the wolf and fox to cringe. 
"Those imbeciles! Those troglodytes! Those inbred sons of scurvy flea-bitten mongrels!" 
The tree squirrel that had entered halted before Richard's desk, fists balled tightly. She stood quite tall, filling a women's black business suit rather well for being just over sixty. There was a slight sparkle from a thin gold necklace and a pair of pearl earrings. She was also the only squirrel they knew that could growl. 
She stabbed the report on the education bill vote laying on the fox's desk with a pair of fingers. "I'm going to cram that down the throat of every son of a bitch that voted against it." 
Daniel had to smile at the mental image. "Good morning Victoria." 
Richard grimaced. "I hope you realize that I checked the 'for' box." 
"Too bad that I don't know who didn't. Maybe if I feed it to enough of the Consiglio I'll get through to some of them. That..." she banged the papers again "...should never have been a secret ballot. This is major legislation for the greatest good." 
"Emperor Ulven felt that the legislation would be more widely supported if the others didn't know which way they voted. I agree with our Majesty’s assessment. The rejection of this education bill is a sign that the majority isn't ready to move forward." 
Daniel nodded. "As much as I hate to agree perhaps we should back off on this issue for just a bit and come up with a plan to correct the disinformation being spread about it." 
Victoria's gray green eyes flared. "Like hell I will. Pulling rooster teeth would have been easier than getting the budget set up for this, the initial funding, the continuing revenue stream." She spluttered. "That's not even the most important thing, Richard, we have a responsibility to the people. When is the Consiglio going to recognize that?" 
The fox cleared his throat. "The idea of the nobility serving the people isn't even fifty years old, Ms. Radath." 
"If the Consiglio can't see past its own nose then I don't see why we can't petition for the Emperor to override..." 
Richard shook his head. "If you do that you will probably drive people away from our position." 
The fuming mad squirrel was about to launch into another tirade but was silenced by a gray paw being held up. 
"What we need to do is show the others what this program can do for them." The fox continued. "As I was about to say before you came in was: there's nothing stopping us from setting up this legislation within our own houses and provinces. If we take the initiative and show them what it can do I'm sure the rest will come around. At least it won't hurt us like forcing them would." 
Leaning back in his chair the wolf had been listening intently when several ideas suddenly clicked together. 
Victoria's ear tufts twitched in thought, silent as she thought about what Richard had said. 
Richard smiled broadly. "In fact I've already opened half a dozen pilot projects in Loramir. I've visited the schools and it really is wonderful to see how happy the kids are." 
That made the squirrel blink. "You've...already?" 
The gray fox opened a drawer in his desk and withdrew a folder, sliding it across towards Victoria. "The program is even set up to integrate the Tanar into the system infrastructure. So far it's working and they like it. I'm still sovereign within my own borders at this point, so I figured why not." 
Daniel clapped his paws together. "I've got it!" 
Victoria's mind was racing. She hadn't considered the possibilities that Richard had just laid out and still struggled with the urge to drop kick the greater number of nobles on the Consiglio. "Got what?" 
The wolf scooted forward, sitting up. Excitement from the new idea made his tail wag. "Okay. Here's what we can do. We'll have to work out some details, but, haven't most businesses been government chartered?" 
Richard spoke up. "That's right, but what does that have to do with schools?" 
"Well, why can't we draw up a charter for a business who's primary customer is someone who wants to learn?" His eyes twinkled, popping open his briefcase for a pad and pencil. He started to scribble some notes. "Since businesses are eligible for government grants we set up the funding, that the province of Radath so graciously arranged, to be parceled out to these teaching businesses? That way tuition is..." 
The fox's stare turned into a beaming smile. "Is so low that anyone of the lower class can afford it. That means that at least the nobles can't complain about their own pocket books, the provincial funds wouldn't have to make up short falls." 
"And we use the same format that you established in Loramir, Richard. We want the Tanar supporting it don't we? Set them up like you did in each school if we can. Tell them it's only a pilot project too, and mean it. They can back out; if we do it right though I don't think they will. Then we put oversight into a board of trustees that both we and the Tanar can trust. What do you think Victoria? Good enough?" 
Victoria's scowl momentarily lifted, resting chin on a paw in thought. "It...It should work. There's no governmental policy for an educational business so they can't short circuit us through commerce. And..." she bit her bottom lip in thought before brightening "yes, we have enough clout on the economics committees to make sure any negative vote they try there goes to our favor." She snorted. "If we didn't have the majority of the economic committee vote we'd still be bartering like a bunch of cave-beasts if the triple D had their way." 
The wolf made a couple more notes. "We keep this just between ourselves while we work out the details as well. There, problem solved. That wasn't so bad now was it?" 
The squirrel's smile turned grim. "I'm afraid that there's more bad news, gentlemen." 
Daniel's wags through the chair's tail cut-out stopped. He sighed. "What now?" 
Victoria leaned against a bookshelf, folding her arms. "How does a half-breed tax and expanding the Puhdistus Kasin strike you?" 
Richard's expression turned sour. "Jirag, Ebotan and Migillin, isn't it." 
The squirrel pulled out two thick sheafs of folded paper from inside her suit jacket, handing one to each of them. "Ohhhhh you betcha. This was slipped under my door earlier this morning, a copy for each of us." 
Looking down at the front page Daniel saw both the seal of the Imperial Intelligence Service and that of House Radath. He glanced upwards. "Still keeping your fingers in the intelligence community's pie I see." 
"I've never particularly liked surprises, Daniel. Read." 
Unlike edicts from the Empire which tended to use more common language for easier understanding, this particular document was written in dense legalese. Because the old court legal language was typically employed by those wishing to hide their real intentions the emperor heavily discouraged its use but a few still used it and most any politician would keep up on its nuances. Daniel was quite fluent and had little trouble following the twisted logic that ran through the pages. It didn't take long until he felt like growling himself. 
Among other things, the document outlined instructions for how a series of measures could be introduced through different bits of legislation that would add up to a tax being levied on those of mixed species parentage. Offspring between disparate species couplings weren’t very common but they did occur on occasion. The problem was that the survival rates for these hybrids was extremely low. Even those that did survive birth usually had severe health problems requiring constant care, which had gone a long way to create a deeply rooted stigma against hybrids throughout society. This health care issue was being attacked within the legislation, stating that the tax was to ‘relieve the burden from the provinces’. However it went much further than that. The wording could even be interpreted to include the pairings within same species that were of different lineages, such as dogs and wolves. On top of that the tax itself was outright insane; it would leave any but the most well off as mere paupers. Those who refused to pay or couldn't pay would be arrested. 
Perhaps the most outrageous of all there was the section for the Puhdistus Kasin. Billed publicly as ‘The empire’s conscience’ the Puhdistus Kasin was the most hated and feared organization in the Empire. Their common name ‘Puhds’ was an epithet, a vile imprecation by those who spoke it outside of its home provinces of Jirag, Ebotan and Migillin. Established by a secret treaty with the former Kingdom of Ahstad as a condition of its surrender to the Empire the organization had grown into a corrupted, twisted, secret police. They harassed those who didn’t subscribe to the triple D’s belief system and jail those who didn’t conform to the ‘Principles of Morality’ instituted by the late Kingdom’s representatives; namely those in same sex relationships. Now the triple D wanted to greatly expand the scope of the Principles of Morality and the enumerated list of provisions to be included made Daniel’s stomach knot up. 
“This...this is outrageous!” He continued under his breath. “To think that people think the Emperor is in league with these devils.” 
Richard had much the same feeling in the pit of his stomach. His usual demeanor was deeply disturbed by what he had just read. “Treasonous.” 
Veronica did her best but couldn’t keep anger completely from her voice. “Mad yet?” 
"I'm surprised you didn't charge right off to stick a boot up someone's backside. Hell, any younger and I would sorely be tempted to." 
"Come on, I have at least a little sense. These are very sensitive issues and I don't want to give away that someone knows about it." She made a fist accompanied by a wicked smile. "So much better to see their faces when they get crushed down the road." 
Richard grumbled. "The Emperor I imagine would turn all of these potential measures down when they come through?" 
"I would think so, but us three should talk to him at the earliest opportunity. We need to let him know that our houses, our people, won’t stand for any of this. We are his closest allies, if anyone can put him on guard it should be his friends." 
Daniel looked at his watch. "I would say now, except he may not quite be up." 
The squirrel chuckled. "No, not this early. Give him time at least to cart off whichever poor young man he lured into bed." 
A smile played over Richard's muzzle. "I don't know who is worse, him or Seigi." 
Daniel shook his head. "Probably Seigi. That buck gets around. I'm surprised the Puhdistus Kasin hasn't caught him yet." 
Victoria laughed out loud. "Seigi? Don't be absurd. He may be a drunk, gay, sex-crazed stag but he's one of the best covert operatives anyone’s ever seen. Besides, you don't know Viekas like I do." 
“A story that I don’t know about our Liege? I highly doubt it.” 
The wolf chuckled, pausing in making notes on the blasphemous documents. “I’ve heard only a couple from dad, the usual rumors of course as well, but please continue.” 
The squirrel turned her nose up at the old fox behind the desk, playfully winking at Daniel. “No one has heard my story because I haven’t told a soul until now.” 
Richard motioned. “Go on then.” 
Veronica sat on the corner of the desk, fluffy red tail flicking mischievously. “It so happened that about forty years ago I was the attache to my father when he was Patriarch of House Radath. He sent me one afternoon to deliver a briefing to the Minister of the Interior at the Imperial Palace. I’d just gotten out of the meeting when I saw our Emperor and a certain civet in a military uniform hurry into a room. There were a couple reasons why I followed, I wanted to say hello and...” her tail flicked rapidly “...at one time I had quite the crush on him.” 
“Ah, young love.” 
Daniel laughed. “So what happened?” 
The squirrel cleared her throat. “Well, the first thing that I noticed when I arrived at the closed door was that they’d gone into a broom closet. Curious, I put my ear up to the door and imagine my surprise when I could hear the feral sounds of two very passionate men making out. Then came belt buckles being loosened and pants dropping; of course you can imagine what happened next. God they were magnificent! Their grunts and moans still haunt me to this day. I... didn’t want them to be disturbed so I stood watch for them outside.” 
Daniel stared slack jawed.
Richard laughed. “Didn’t people think it was strange seeing you there in the hall like that?” 
Victoria turned away, her cheek skin and fur matching color. “I don’t know how long I was there. All I can remember is that it was three times for them and twice for me.” 
“Wait a minute, a civet, military?” The wolf scratched his chin in thought. “You don’t mean...” 
“Yes, the current Defense Minister was once one of Viekas’s lovers. Maybe he still is. It would certainly explain why the Puhds or triple D haven't gotten many of their hooks into the military, wouldn’t it?” 
While Daniel absorbed that, Richard chuckled. “You're right, I haven't heard that one before."
Daniel rubbed his face. "Just how many men has Viekas had? Is he really that bad?"
"I would agree with my esteemed colleague from Radath that Viekas is rather randy. He did hit on me more than once during the campaigns. As flattering as it was I was happily married so had to politely turn him down.” 
Daniel blinked. He'd only had rumors and what his father had told him to go on before, but here was confirmation. More than anything though it made him curious. “No thoughts about turning him in ever? Before you ask what I mean by that, no, I’m firmly on his side; merely curious.” 
“Hell no!” Victoria faced the wolf. “I may have been disappointed that I’d never get Viekas but there’s no way I would have compromised him. One, the experience was hot as hell; two, I’ve never professed to be a prude and three, he’s done more for the people than any man I know.” 
The wolf locked his notes and the intelligence briefing away in his briefcase. “Well, now we have things he needs to know and we have work to do. I’m going to go think about this education proposal more. I probably have a pile of paperwork waiting already anyway. Give me a call when you two are heading over to talk to him. All I’ve got today so far is a meeting at ten thirty that I can’t miss.” 
Victoria nodded, standing. “You’ll hear from me as soon as I can get it set up.” 
Richard came around the desk and stood with his friends. “We’ll beat all of this, we always have.” The fox turned to the squirrel.” Try not to let it get to you. We stand with Viekas and we stand with you.” 
The wolf smiled broadly. “Just as Richard says.” 
Back in the hallway Victoria waved goodbye to Daniel as they parted, her office was on the other side of the building. Left alone Daniel thought about what he’d learned about the emperor; which really wasn’t anything that he hadn’t already suspected. No, his conscience was clear. Whatever Viekas did on his own time wasn’t any of his business after all. The Puhds and the Despicable Despot Dumbasses though, that was another matter altogether. 
 
* * * * * 
For those of you so inclined, please see Roth Tales 10-1 'What Goes Around Comes Around' for otterfox on huskywolf love. 
* * * * *
 
With daybreak looming Jacob put his fork down, licking syrup off his whiskers. "Thank you honey, that really hit the spot." 
Irene Voden leaned over from her own breakfast to give her husband a syrupy kiss on the muzzle, grinning at the quick additional muzzle licks he gave himself. She got up, taking both their plates to the sink. "I better finish getting the kits' breakfast ready." 
Jacob's eyes followed his wife, sliding easily along her athletic body still dressed in the jogging shorts and tank top she wore most days for her morning run. "Rowr." 
Irene looked over her shoulder at her husband who was shaking out his newspaper. "What was that dear?" 
He replied peeking over the top of the paper as waffle batter was poured into a pair of waffle irons. "Nothing, honey." 
She chuckled, curling her tail. She was about to say something along the lines of how Jacob should behave but was interrupted by a rumbling upstairs. "The herd is on the move!" 
"Isn't a bunch of otters called a romp?" 
She flipped the waffles out of the irons to join a growing pile on a serving plate before turning around. "What?" 
Jacob murmured behind his paper. "Nothing, nothing." 
Irene shook her head. "Good grief dear, it's a good thing that I didn't marry you for your communication skills." 
He lowered his paper. "Just because I served a couple years in the military doesn't make me all that dumb does it? I was learned good in school!" He laughed, smiling at his wife. "What did you marry for again, by the way?" 
All he got in reply was a smile as she licked her whiskers. Just then pawsteps thundered down the stairs then thumped through the livingroom before a pile of otter kits collapsed through the kitchen door. From beneath the two boys there came a loud giggle. 
Jacob laughed. "Good morning kits!" 
Which was followed by a chorus: "Good morning dad!" 
Vanessa pulled herself along the floor, wriggling out from under the two boys. The youngest at seven years old she was dressed in overalls and a pink t-shirt today, wearing a pair of white sneakers. Taking after her mother she could easily be the most rambunctious of the three. "Beat ya!" 
Alex Voden got up next, laughing and playfully punching her in the shoulder. Sleek and athletic the fourteen year old had a runner's body. He was dressed in blue jeans, sneakers and a black T-shirt emblazoned with a lightning bolt, a symbol that a local rock band used. "You tripped me with your tail!" 
"Did not!" 
"Did too!" 
Vanessa jumped up, thumping a furry paw against the much older boy. "Did not not not!" 
While the two were arguing Caleb had gotten up and sat in his chair at the table. Nine years old and although as confident and happy as his siblings he was still quieter than both. He had all the normal river otter markings save for his right paw, which had black fur from his finger tips up to the elbow. Today he was dressed in the same kind of jeans and shoes as his older brother but with a light blue T-shirt. Irene sat a plate of waffles down in front of him before ruffling his headfur. "There you go, kiddo." 
He smiled up at her, pouring syrup all over them and digging in. "Thanks mom!" 
Irene tapped Vanessa on the shoulder. She'd play bitten Alex's arm when he tried to fend her off. "Hey, if you two are through, would you like something to eat?" 
The young girl let go of Alex and the two sheepishly sat in their places already set with breakfast and juice. 
"Honestly, I don't know why you two are so rough on each other." 
Alex and Vanessa smiled, replying together. "Sorry, mom." 
"Anyway, eat up all of you." She leaned against the counter, Jacob turned the page in his newspaper. She was amazed at how calm her husband could be during the morning flurry of kits. "Now, who do I have to take where after school?" 
Alex spoke up first, swallowing his bite of waffle quickly. "Practice is at school today and Benny said his dad would give me a ride home." 
Vanessa bounced in her seat, muzzle dripping with a juice mustache. "You gotta take me to the aquatic center!" 
Irene laughed. "Yes dear, I remember. Still trying to get on the swim team are you?" 
The girl glowered. "Yeah, but they say I'm too young, even though I'm a better swimmer than all of the others; they still won't let me try out." 
"Well honey, while you're one of the best swimmers I've seen, they'll probably let you try out next year like they do with the other cubs and kits." 
"But I want to try out now!" 
Vanessa was about to go on but Irene gave her a look. "Eat." 
"Yes, mom." 
"Caleb?" 
The otter boy shook his head. "I'm going over to Ryan's. Our group has a class presentation to get ready." 
Jacob folded his paper and set it aside. He picked up his coffee mug for a sip. "Oh? Don't forget his hat then. He left it behind the last time he came over." 
Irene nodded. "That will leave me plenty of time for the city council meeting tonight then." 
Mention of the meeting made Jacob's stomach churn. "You're still going? I know how involved you are with the city but..." 
Irene came over and kissed between Jacob's ears. "It's important to me sweetie. It should be important to you too, considering." 
"What if the Puhds show up?" 
"They won't. It's just us from the citizen's committee and the finance board. It's a public vote but we count as the public. The center does need to be built." 
Jacob looked very uncomfortable but he nodded, returning Irene's kiss with one on her cheek. "Just be careful okay." 
Alex who had been looking through the screened kitchen windows pointed. "Hey dad, who's that?" 
Caleb peered where Alex pointed curiously. "Oh, there's a car there." He turned to Jacob. "Did someone move in, dad?" 
Vanessa spoke as Jacob nodded. "Yeah! I got to meet them, there's a kid too and his name is Ben!" 
Irene walked over to the window to look out, remembering what Jacob had said the night before about the new neighbors; half of which she couldn't begin to believe. "Wow, that's a very nice car they have. But a Roth?" 
Jacob took his time, leaning back in his chair. "You don't have to believe me I guess. It's true though." 
His wife gave him an incredulous look. "You're going to keep this up still? One of the Roths?" 
Jacob held up a paw as if taking an oath. "On my honor, I'm not lying this time, he really is a Roth." 
She still looked skeptical. "I don't know about that. You're a tricky otter, honey, and you tell the tallest tales sometimes." 
The door to the neighboring house opened and a tall caramel colored...fox...strode out. At least it looked like a fox at first. Upon the turning around to talk to someone still inside the house all but two of the Vodens blinked. Plain as day the strangely colored fox had an otter tail. 
Irene could scarcely believe her eyes. "My word! He's a hybrid." 
The fox was dressed in a midnight black business suit, with every pleat and fold in the slacks and jacket pressed sharp as a knife edge. The shirt the otterfox wore was spotlessly white, brilliant even in the pre-dawn light contrasting with the mirror black business shoes he wore. The man was followed by another strange sight, a gray and white husky pup carrying a briefcase. He couldn't have been older than Alex and dressed similarly to the fox in a black suit, white shirt and...bare paws. Feral paws that one usually saw on someone with a lupine heritage. Normally digitigrade paws lent a certain spring or lope to their gait but this one's walk seemed to be a bit exxagerated even for a lupine. The both of them had on big goofy grins and talked quickly between themselves as they walked to the car in the driveway. 
Caleb rushed to the window with the other two kits, staring long and hard. "Wow." 
Vanessa had her nose pressed to the screen and waved. "Hi Ben!" 
The husky boy jumped, turning quickly. Seeing the girl and the other otters looking out the window he held up a paw in greeting. "Good morning, Vanessa." 
"Can you come play with us after you get home from school?" 
Benjamin laughed, the sight of all the otters in the window was rather amusing. "I'm afraid I can't today." 
To which there was a chorus of awws from the three kits. There was definitely excitement at the prospect of a new playmate. Not a lot of children lived nearby. 
Jacob who had gotten up and walked over rested a paw on his daughter's head, speaking to the pair. "The offer for dinner still stands you know." 
The husky nodded. "I haven't forgotten. We'll let you know when we get a day free." 
The fox opened the driver's door on the midnight blue car. "I promise we'll get some time off in awhile and say hello properly." 
"Or you could come over any time really." Alex piped up to be friendly. His otter tail was curling back and forth in unison with his siblings'. 
Benjamin grinned as he got into the car. "Count on it!" 
With a final wave from the otterfox the car's engine rumbled to life and backed out of the drive, soon vanishing down the street. 
Caleb nodded. "Yeah, he's a Roth alright." 
Irene glanced over, stunned at the appearance of not one but two hybrids in the neighborhood. "How can you tell for sure?" 
"His hindpaws, they're a wolfs. There's only one husky and wolf that I know of that are famous." 
Jacob made a barking sound. "Hah! Told you!" 
"Who's the other guy?" Alex probed. 
"The managing director of Roth International." Jacob stuck out his tongue at his wife. "There isn't a lot of pictures of the Roth's son on the links but go ahead and look up the fox. There's loads of pictures of him and the Roths. I guarantee you that there isn't a more famous fox." 
Irene harrumphed, still not knowing what to think. 
Alex took his plate and glass to the sink. The wheels in his head were turning. The last people who had lived in the house hadn't been very friendly. Maybe the husky and strange fox that lived there would be nicer. Or...what if they were there to make trouble? "How old is Ben? Is he going to be in my school or Caleb and Vanessa's?" 
Jacob shook his head. "He's not in either school. Apparently Benjamin is going to be heading up one of Roth International's offices here." 
Vanessa's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "How come he doesn't have to go to school?" 
A quick thinker Jacob did his best to explain. "He's probably in one of the tradesmen programs. You know, where you get an apprenticeship and work at the job to get experience." 
That seemed to satisfy the girl and she smiled again. "So that's why he was all dressed up, to fit in with the grown ups." 
"Just like that." He beeped Vanessa's nose with a finger pad. "However I know that there's three otter kits who are still in school. So you guys better hustle to catch the bus." 
Alex tugged on Caleb's tail. "I'll beat you and Vanessa to the bus stop, black-paw." 
The boy who had been unusually quiet perked up his round ears, breaking out in a big smile. Not many people got to call him black-paw but it was a nickname he did't mind as long as it was Alex or Vanessa using it. "I don't think so!" And with that he was off like a shot, the other two in hot pursuit. 
Alone again with her husband Irene cocked an eyebrow. "Maybe he is a Roth. I'll ask around to be sure. I mean, why aren't they living on the east side with the rest of the rich people?" 
"I don't know, but I'm positive I'm right." 
"Let's make this a bet then shall we?" 
"You're on, love. You've been rather difficult to me for telling the truth. If he is a Roth, what do I get?" 
Irene came over and sat on her otter's lap, curling her thick tail sensuously around his waist. She stroked a finger tip down his leg. "Mmmm, I can think of something that always seems to be on your mind." 
Jacob didn't resist the finger that drew a line along his inner thigh. "Heh, you got me there. I'll take all of that I can get." 
"How about me? If I win...well, you know what I want to see." 
The otter felt his cheeks flush red. "Uh...no, not that. I haven't done that for a long time." 
"But it would be so hot." 
He smooched his wife. "Anything but that dear." 
"Fine." She playfully squeezed her tail on his waist. "Alright, how about dishes for a week and a night at that nice hotel in town?" 
Jacob smiled. "Deal." 
"Good man. Though...did you notice that boy was walking funny?" 
The otter shook his head. "I didn't. Besides, maybe he stubbed his toe on something. Wolves can't wear shoes you know." He reluctantly extricated himself from beneath his wife and gave her one last kiss. "I better get going too. I love you, beautiful."  
* * * 
At the bus stop the three otter kits stood in a small circle, their heads close together as the other kits and cubs and pups talked among themselves. 
Alex was whispering quietly. "It's not snooping, it's exploring. We're not going to take anything anyway." 
Caleb shook his head, whispering back. "I don't know Alex, the last people there didn't like it too much whenever we 'explored'." 
Vanessa smiled slyly. "You're not chickening out are you?" 
Caleb rolled his eyes at her. "'Course not, I'm just sayin'." 
Alex rubbed his paws together. "Good, we gotta make sure that whoever those two are that they aren't Puhd spies to get dad and mom into trouble. Do you still have that key you made to the house next door?" 
"I do but when we walked by it looked like that all the locks have been changed." 
Vanessa elbowed her next older sibling. "You can still pick the locks can't you?" 
Caleb flexed his black furred fingers. "Better than Three Fingers MacGee." 
Alex nodded. "Good, we're all set then. We'll do it this weekend."