Off the Beaten Path by Rukis

Author:Rukis [Rukis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781614501930
Publisher: FurPlanet Productions
Published: 2014-07-04T05:00:00+00:00

I wasn’t going to thank him for his interference. I could have handled the fox on my own. In fact if anything, I was a bit annoyed by yet another patronizing gesture and felt the need to say so.

“I could have done that without your assistance,” I muttered, heading back over to the bar.

If my lack of gratitude bothered the man, he didn’t show it. Instead he followed me towards my chair and, unlike the fox, gave me at least two body-widths of space, so I couldn’t even complain and ask him to leave. He leaned on the bar, that mild smile still there, begging me to follow the curve of his muzzle up towards his eyes again. I resisted, but only because I still had milk and stew waiting for me.

“Apologies then,” he said, his voice still that smooth, confident tone from before. “I misunderstood the situation.”

I gave a noncommital “Mnh,” digging my spoon into the thick stew of meat, potatoes, and carrots. Puck and Ransom had been right…it was pretty amazing.

“I’m sorry; I haven’t introduced myself,” he said, running a hand through the fur along his neck.

“No one asked you to,” I mumbled, not certain why I wanted the man gone so badly, but I did. His grasp of the Katuk language was admirable; he even lacked the twang Ransom had, and he seemed polite and clearly wanted to talk to me, for whatever reason.

But he’d hurt my pride. I hadn’t asked for his help in dealing with the fox.

“Ah…alright…” the man paused, that confidence drooping for all of a second or so before he actually pulled up the chair and sat, clearing his throat and donning that easy smile again. “Listen, we got off on the wrong foot. My name is Grant. Grant Wickham.”

I regarded him for a few moments, placing my now empty glass down. That smile was still tugging at the corners of his muzzle, and it annoyed me for some reason…like he found something amusing about me.

But honestly he was being nothing but polite. I’d have to be a pretty cold woman not to at least engage him, when he was trying so hard and being so respectful.

“ Shivah,” I said at length. It was the first time I’d ever introduced myself with the name, and it felt odd, but I supposed I’d have to get used to that.

“Katuk names…strange but beautiful,” the canine murmured thoughtfully.

“If you say so,” I muttered, trying to give him a hard stare to let him know I was no one to be trifled with. “Now what do you want?”

For whatever reason, that amusement was still evident in the canine’s eyes, and the harder I leveled my stare, the more it grew until he visibly had to cover his muzzle a moment before murmuring, “Ah…you may wish to…here.”

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