Shrag follows the instructions in Ella’s package and drives to the surplus store listed. He tells the salesperson what he needs. After being led to the back room, he is fit with a uniform. Shrag leaves the photos of the proper patches and insignias, then is told to return in two hours. With some time to kill, he walks along the city streets, looking at various items in store windows. As he passes some stores, he thinks how nice it would feel to buy things for Captain Ryan. Things like flowers, jewelry, and frilly clothes entertain his mind as he walks. A smile grows across his face and he feels better than he has in a long time. A feeling of optimism grows inside him and his step becomes lighter.

With another hour to wait, Shrag enters a local sports bar. There is a large television in one corner with a wrestling match on, and not the choreographed stuff. A gorilla and lion are grappling with each other, and several of the bar patrons are gathered into groups as they watch. As he allows his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the large room, he surveys the furs within. It seems like a decent bunch. Most are watching the match and cheering on their favorite athlete, while downing beers of various brewers. He walks to the bar, and orders a beer from a local micro-brewery. The barmaid is a rather pretty female jaguar, and Shrag gives her a wink as he pays for his drink, leaving a substantial tip. He sits among a group of three furs and introduces himself as Seth. The others accept him readily, and they begin to comment on the wrestling match. Bets are made, and debts are paid. After about an hour and a half, Shrag excuses himself, claiming an appointment he is already late for.

The salesperson eyes Shrag as he enters the store. "You’re late."

"I was busy, and you are still open. Don’t try to bust my balls. Is my package ready?"

The salesperson places a bundle wrapped in brown paper on the counter. "That’s three thousand dollars."

Shrag stares at him while pulling out his wallet, then counts out the money. "This had better be right, or you will be seeing me very soon. You won’t want to see me if I have to come back." He holds out the bills while staring at the salesperson. Taking the money with a nervous paw, the salesperson says, "It’s all genuine, and all of the stuff you wanted on them is placed in the proper place. It’s all used material, as you requested, so if you have a problem with it passing for real, don’t blame me."

Shrag grins, and says, "Fair enough. Thanks."

Shrag leaves the store and drives back to his apartment. He tries on one of the uniforms, and is pleasantly surprised at how well it fits. They all look somewhat worn, and equally so. He has to admit; the guy really did know his shit. After packing his gear, Shrag takes a taxi to the base’s main gate. After showing his I.D. and transfer orders, and is instructed where to report. His immediate senior is a Sgt. Krile. He turns out to be a large wolf with a domineering attitude. The sergeant looks over his paperwork, then sets it aside. "So, you think you are good enough to join our S.O.R.T.?"

"Yes sergeant."

"Care to tell me why?"

"Certainly. I am highly proficient with most all weapons. I am well trained in unarmed combat and deadly skills without the use of a weapon. I take orders well, and carry them out. S.O.R.T. is a team, and I can work well as a team member."

"Those are expected answers for any team member. What is it that I need to hear from you, private?"

"Loyalty. You will have my loyalty, sergeant."

"Very well. We will see. You will be bunked in barracks B-2. Take your gear and get settled in. You will start your training with the team at 05:00. We run five miles before breakfast every day except Sunday. I’ll see you after breakfast, then I’ll evaluate you." Shrag salutes, then exits the sergeant’s office.

The barracks are as expected, perfectly clean and organized. There are only a couple of S.O.R.T. members present, and Shrag introduces himself. He finds an empty bunk and stows his gear in the footlocker. Having done this, he walks about the base. He already has a basic idea of the layout from his observations of the other day. The officer's quarters are not far from his own barracks, and he knows well which one is Captain Ryan’s. The final mess call has long since past, but Shrag is not hungry anyway. He returns to his bunk, and is soon asleep.

The next morning proves to be interesting. The rigors and routine feel good. He hadn’t realized how much he had missed it. Shrag trains diligently as is expected of a S.O.R.T. member. To do less would dishonor not only his self, but the team as well. Shrag will not be a weak link. With Shrag's background, he merely goes through the motions of the training. This is all old stuff to him. His entire motivation is to be able to get close to Captain Ryan.

During live fire training with the MP10, submachine gun, Shrag catches a glimpse of Finola in the distance while she is out jogging. The sight of her causes Shrag to loose concentration and his next burst goes wide.

"Damn," Shrag curses out loud.

Sgt. Krile comes over and chews Shrag out. "What the hell you thinking of private!"

"Sorry sir. It won’t happen again."

Shrag hopes it won’t happen again anyway. Although he is an excellent shot, the katana is his weapon of choice. Just the thought of Finola was enough to distract him, yet he has to find a way to see her. The problem is, she lives in officers country. The rest of the training continues without incident. Maybe tonight, Shrag thinks.

Finola says to Tai, "I think we can trust Eryia. She's a good mouse." Finola purrs and says "Is there anything else we can find out here?" She twitches her whiskers and thinks to herself. 'I remember that night when I was almost killed in an assassination attempt. I wonder if he has anything to do with Rifter, or if he's totally unconnected. Finola wonders whatever happened to this unknown assassin that didn’t kill her. She somehow feels close after their meeting. For some reason he didn't kill her.' "OK then, dismissed." After Tai leaves, Finola sits and thinks. Do I want him to return?

Shrag monitors Captain Ryan’s movements and tendencies for a week. She seems to be fairly predictable, but not always. 'This should really take at least two more weeks of reconnoitering', he thinks. However, Shrag is not behaving like a soldier now. He is impassioned with desire, for the first time in his life.

That night, Shrag vanishes from his barracks shortly after lights out. He slips between shadows as he makes his way to the object of his desire. He believes she will be staying on base this night from her earlier pattern. Of course, this could be in error. It is too soon to know for sure, about anything. Shrag approaches Captain Ryan’s quarters and detects movement within. He listens with his feline ears, and can only detect one being in the room. Shrag finds his original hole in the window frame, and wonders why it has not been repaired. Throwing the latch as before, he opens the window. Finola has obviously just finished with a shower. She is clothed in a long cotton robe. The robe clings to parts of her wet body, and gives a delightful hint of the beautiful body underneath. Shrag does not wish to be a voyeur with the person he loves, so he speaks out. "Captain Ryan, don’t be alarmed. It’s Shrag." Finola is taken aback by the sudden presence of someone not supposed to be there. "What? Why-- oh, it’s you. I hope you haven’t changed your mind and come back to finish the job".

"I just had to see you. I’ve been on the base for a week now, with S.O.R.T. I joined so that I could be near you. I’ve got to know. Do you care for me? If not, I will disappear. I can do it now if you wish. I will be gone, and you will never hear from me again. I think I have loved you since that night I first saw you. You changed my life in ways you don’t understand, and I don't really understand myself. You are the only target I was assigned to that lived. Please say something. One way or the other."

Finola is silent, as she feels naked and helpless in only her bathrobe, with her hair down and no weapon. She has never allowed anyone, especially a male, to see her this way. She looks at him, and after an awkward silence, finally speaks. "Shrag... I-- I don't know. After all, our short history is rather complicated, and I don't usually get unannounced visitors at this hour." She sits down on the bed and simply stares at him, seemingly delicate and deceptively vulnerable. It is hard to tell that she is a military woman from her current appearance. Finola can feel herself react to Shrag physically. She had never been married, but is still an adult mountain lioness. She watches the jaguar as he observes her. Finally she says, "The military officer in me tells me to be careful, but the female in me doesn't know what to say, or do." She smiles slightly at him, then turns away.

Shrag knows Finola is feeling vulnerable and senses her apprehension, yet he has to know. Even if she rejects him, he has to know if she cares for him. The thought of her turning away makes Shrag’s insides twist with anxiety. Shrag slowly approaches Finola as she sits on her bed. Reaching out, he takes her paw in his. "Please, look at me for a minute. I need to tell you something. I know I’m a little ragged round the edges, but you have touched me. I think I love you Captain Ryan. Just tell me whether I should go or stay". Finola is silent as she sits on her bed, and looks at Shrag with incomprehensible eyes. Shrag releases her paw, and starts to turn away when Finola reaches out and touches his arm. He freezes. Shrag looks again at Finola and sees a different look on her face. She seems to be asking Shrag not to leave; yet no words are spoken. He leans closer towards Finola and whispers, "I have to know, should I stay?" Shrag almost jumps when Finola raises her arm and strokes her paw across his face. He turns his head towards her affection, and closes his eyes as he feels her touch. Shrag feels as though he is in a dream. His mind drifts momentarily with the sweet touch of his beloved. With a start, Shrag is jolted from his nearly hypnotic state. His breathing and heart rate become elevated. "I-- I mean, does this mean? Do you? Damn! Captain Ryan, I love you. Do you care for me?"

Finola says nothing, but her smile relays a very strong message. "Call me Finola, please."

She does care, and wants him to stay. Shrag places his paw in hers as she draws him towards her. He leans closer and kisses her lightly. Finola responds favorably. Shrag’s senses are so heightened now, he can hear her heart beating, her rhythm nearly matching his own. He holds her as they both lie back on the bed, and Finola begins to remove Shrag’s clothing. At first he feels like a kitten, but then something comes over him, and his excitement begins to grow until he is on the edge of loosing control. She paws his body as they lie together. Shrag rubs his body against her as he opens her robe to reveal her naked body. They reach an unspoken understanding, and hold each other as they began to make love. Finola is still slightly damp from her shower, and the scent of damp fur is wonderfully enticing. Shrag begins to relax as their bodies move together. He isn’t sure whether Finola is experienced or just naturally talented, but she seems to know exactly what she's doing. Maybe it’s that she loves him, and expresses it well physically. Shrag has never experienced sex like this before, and becomes lost in the shear joy of it.

After they are physically spent, they lie on the bed panting and smiling at one another. The morning run will be coming up soon, and Shrag has to leave now or risk being caught. He kisses Finola once more and gets dressed. "Can I see you again, Finola?" She doesn’t answer, but smiles devilishly. "I’ll take that as a yes", Shrag says as he lets himself out the way he came in.

Shrag makes his way back to his barracks with time to spare. He gets into his bunk without anyone noticing and pretends to sleep. Sleep does not come to Shrag, however. Thoughts of Finola are the only thing occupying his mind. He hopes he hasn’t just made a huge mistake. She is an officer and is career military. Shrag can only imagine what the consequences would be if it becomes known what has happened. The love he feels for her is like a double-edged sword. To be with her is his greatest desire, yet the danger of ruining her life makes Shrag worry greatly. 'Maybe I can send her a letter secretly and-- No, that is risky in the military', he thinks. 'This is getting complicated.'

Reveille is called, and Shrag prepares himself for what he expects to be a long day. 'Maybe the morning run before breakfast may help me focus', he thinks. He has to get his mind on training soon or someone could get hurt. 'Maybe later I can think of a way to make this all work.'

Finola gets dressed, and puts on her jogging clothes. Putting her hair up in a ponytail, she starts her run along the perimeter of the base. As a mountain lioness, the men easily respected her, but it is always a battle to keep that respect. Her experience with Shrag makes her think that when she is alone is the only time she ever shows her feminine side. There is never any time to just be her self. She always has to maintain her military discipline. She thinks it might be nice to just let her hair down for once. As she jogs along the path made for that purpose, she isn't paying attention where she is going, and bumps into Shrag on his own morning run. Finola stands there speechless, once she realizes who it is. Finola stands there and holds her tail between her legs for a moment, showing off her timid feline body language.

Shrag is surprised, to put it mildly. "Uh, Captain". Shrag snaps to attention and salutes Finola. She returns his salute with a small smile on her face. "My apologies ma’am. I didn't see you". Shrag stands motionless and silent for almost a full minute. Finally he works up the nerve to speak with her in view of the base. He whispers, "I uh, I've been thinking of you a lot lately. I guess that's why I wasn't paying attention when we kind of bumped into each other. I really want to see you again. Maybe off base this time. I could rent a cabin somewhere away from military eyes". Shrag remains at attention, hoping any onlookers will just think the Captain is dressing down a subordinate. It’s hard not to smile.

Finola smiles at Shrag and says "If you'd like.. you can swing by my house later tonight. I don't feel like staying on base tonight." She whispers her address quietly, and ushers him to follow her. "What do you have scheduled for today? Standard training?" She waves her tail and purrs, and for a moment looks away, letting him get a glimpse of her neck. "Do you think its fate that we.. uh... ran into each other?" Finola smiles at him again and sighs. "At least I won't have to pretend when I'm at home. All this, just to keep the respect of the men on the base. I bet half of them are mentally undressing me, even if I do have their respect."

Shrag grins. "Yes Ma’am!" After saluting, Shrag continues his run with newfound energy. He can't believe what he has just heard.

Later that day he arranges for a 24-hour pass to leave the base. He takes a taxi to the apartment he keeps mainly to store some of his things. Quickly changing into some civilian clothes, he goes to his garage, fires up his car, and takes off. It is time to do some shopping before meeting his beautiful superior officer. The first stop is the florist, where he buys a dozen long-stemmed red roses. Next he goes to a jewelry store and buys a silver necklace with two rubies in a silver setting. This he wraps around the stems of the roses.

Shrag feels ready, but nervous as he approaches Finola's house. He parks the car and walks up to the door. As he reaches for the doorbell, the door opens and Finola is standing there. "Hello Finola. I brought these for you".

Finola lets Shrag in and blushes. As she takes the flowers, she notices the necklace, then really looks down in surprise. "You didn't have to do this." She lets him put the necklace around her neck as she holds her hair up. Letting her hair down, now out of its usual ponytail, she shakes her head, letting it fall loosely over her shoulders. She has a blue blouse and dark blue pants on, which contrasts beautifully with the roses she holds. Finola puts the flowers in water and sits down in her living room, which has a beautiful picture window overlooking the beach. Purring, she eyes Shrag happily, and motions him to a sit with her. "Don't get me wrong. I mean-- you don't know me that well. I wasn't expecting flowers; and this necklace is gorgeous." The mountain lioness giggles as she puts his paw in hers. Shrag starts to blush, and knows it. This just makes things more awkward for him.

"I'm glad you like the necklace. The rubies are there to remind you of us. Two dazzling red jewels, bound together". Shrag realizes how corny he must have just sounded and blushes even more. He begins to fidget as his tail twitches nervously, yet Finola remains cool and composed. Shrag works up his confidence and leans over towards Finola, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Thanks for having me over. It feels good to get off the base for a while. Especially when the company is as beautiful and friendly as you are." Shrag lightly squeezes Finola's paw, feeling much better now. At least not blushing anymore.

Finola smiles at him, not quite feeling the calm feline she portrays. "You know, we should probably try doing something other than sitting her blushing. It's so rare that I get a chance to relax and not be so rigid around someone." She purrs and twitches her whiskers as she smiles at him for a moment, and then goes into the kitchen. She comes back a moment later with some entrees and sodas, and puts on some soft piano music, trying to be casual. After handing him a glass of soda, she eyes the necklace once again. "I hope you didn't go into debt for this. I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble." She looks down, and then as her eyes meet his, she asks, "do you regret what we did last night?"

"Regret it? It was the most incredible time I've had in my life." Shrag kisses her luscious lips and smiles. "No, I have no regrets at all."

Finola grins seductively as she leads Shrag into her bedroom. It seems quaint and inviting, a very nice place for a military officer. She has a few family pictures adorning the walls, but little else hanging anywhere. There are beautiful windows showing off the beach, and a large king sized bed. She turns on the light and sits down on it, lying back, letting out a big sigh as she stretches from the tensions of a rather busy day. "Wanna join me? It's quite soft, I assure you. I've just had so many things to do on base today."

Shrag joins Finola on the bed, hoping he interprets her correctly, but it is not hard to do with the signals she is giving him. Stroking her head and ears, he says, "You’re right, it is quite soft." Shrag lies next to Finola, props his head up on his arm and smiles at her. "I love your outfit. Do military women ever wear dresses?" He chuckles and moves his paw over Finola’s breasts . He begins to rub her as he begins to purr. Shrag decides to be a bit bolder, and begins to unfasten her blouse and pants. Such a pretty color of blue. Did she know it was his favorite color?, he wonders. He holds the necklace from around her elegant neck and looks at the two rubies. Finola is now dressed only in her bra and panties. "This trinket pales in the presence of your beauty Finola. I still hope you like it though." He kisses her deeply and passionately. His own clothes are soon discarded on the floor. He unfastens her bra and gently slides her panties over her long furry legs. Shrag never really noticed how firm and strong her legs are, and it adds to his growing excitement. With the light touch of claw, he runs his paw along the length of her leg. She is so beautiful, he thinks. Shrag stops and thinks for a few seconds. "Finola, dear. I hate condoms, but if you would like, I will be glad to wear one."

"Well, we've done this before, so it won't really matter now, will it?" The mountain lioness looks over at the male jaguar and purrs softly to. She relaxes on the softness of the bed and lets out a deep sigh. She offers herself to him, and kisses him passionately, letting her tongue explore his mouth. Her raspy feline tongue meets his, and she gasps for air when they break for air. Her hair drapes over her chest, and she plays with it a little in a teasing way. Finola so rarely ever got to be herself. She always had to maintain discipline, but not tonight. She makes love to Shrag and feels her body react as the two meet, holding each other, and feeling his fur against her own. They hold each other long after they are spent, and through the night.

The next morning, Finola moans with pleasure as she covers herself with the blanket. She puts her paw on Shrag's chest and says, "Good morning. We don't have to return to base for another few hours. Do you want to stay with me?"

Shrag smiles and says, "I'm still on a 24 hour pass. Of course I'd love to stay with you." He turns towards Finola and holds her close, kissing her so tight he nicks his lip on one of her sharp teeth. Their feline tongues seek each other’s as they began to become aroused. Shrag is refreshed after his sleep and feeling frisky. They make love again; this time with the light of day coming through Finola's large window. Shrag prefers this and hopes Finola does too. 'It is so nice to see the one you love', he thinks. When they finish, they lie intertwined in each other’s legs and arms. "I don't ever want to leave you Finola." Of course this is something which can not be, but it feels so good to think this way for a little while. "I know I have to leave soon, and I will miss you. I must find a way to see you again soon. I just don't want either of us to get into trouble. Especially you". Shrag kisses Finola again and lies with her as long as possible.

Finola gets up and puts on her undergarments. She smiles at Shrag as she puts on a dark blue dress, and walks into the kitchen. A fully dressed Shrag follows her a few moments later, and she grins, walking around in her bare furry feet. She makes some breakfast and hears the satisfying clink of plates being set on the counter. Coming around the counter, she sits on the stool close to Shrag. "So, that felt really good. Almost makes me regret my career choice." She plays with her hair and does it up in a ponytail again, then eats some of the food she made. The mountain lioness smiles awkwardly at him and blushes, wondering how she'll ever be able to maintain her professionalism around him on the base. "You know, eventually we'll get caught if we keep doing this." She holds her paw on his, and looks down nervously. "I can't stop though, it's like a drug." She smiles at him, then looks down nervously as her expression changes.

Shrag looks at Finola with concern. "Are you feeling all right?" He puts a paw to her face. "You seem a little warm. Maybe you shouldn't go back to the base today." Finola simply nods her head. Shrag has the impression she would have gone to the base even if she was much sicker, if it were not for him being there. He bet she hasn't missed a day in years. She is obviously very dedicated.

Finola calls her superior and explains. It does not take long and is probably not a big deal, he thinks. Shrag is happy he can spend more time with the one he loves, but hopes she is not feeling too bad. "Why don't we go into the living room. You can lie on the couch, and I'll make you feel much better. Nice dress, by the way. You've got great legs." Finola lies supine on the couch. Shrag kneels next to her and begins to rub her temples and ears. This produces a smile on her face, which causes him to smile as well. It obviously feels very good to her. "There you go. Just relax and let Shrag make it all better." Shrag moves to her arms and massages them firmly. Finola is becoming very relaxed now. After the arms, come the legs. Shrag is glad Finola decided to wear a dress. Paws on fur work so much better than on clothes. Shrag finishes at Finola's feet. When he looks up, Finola is sound asleep. "Maybe she is really sick, or maybe she's just tired from the morning exercises," he says to himself. 'She looks cute sleeping there like that', he thinks. Shrag gently scrunches up next to her on the couch. She stirs gently, but doesn't wake. He holds her gently as he listens to her quiet breathing. Shrag smiles and lies with Finola, feeling very content.

Finola sleeps soundly for two hours. She wakes slowly and realizes where she is, and whom she is with. She seems slightly startled, but quickly relaxes again. Shrag kisses her lightly on the cheek. "Good morning, again." Shrag chuckles. "Or should I say good noon. You look much better than you did earlier. I hope I made you feel better." Finola hugs Shrag and meows softly. "I’ll take that as a yes. I’m sorry I wrinkled your dress. I thought it better than disturbing you by taking it off." Shrag sits up to allow Finola some room to stretch. She extends her body into a long cat stretch and smiles, then sits up next to Shrag and scratches him behind his ear. Shrag just seems to melt. Finola has found one of his weaknesses. He closes his eyes and purrs deeply. 'This is truly Heaven, even if it must end in a few hours', he thinks.

Finola smiles at Shrag and giggles. "I bet you'd like it if you had taken my dress off." The mountain lioness gives him a smirk and gets up. "Well, we can't go anywhere with only this short time left. We'd probably be seen, and my career would be over. Fraternizing with a subordinate you know." Finola holds herself as she pauses, and then turns back to the jaguar. "I don't regret it, though. I enjoy your company." She tries to think of something they can do, so they won't waste their precious time together. Especially since it is so hard to get any time alone. Finola is enjoying being intimate and feminine; something she almost never gets to do. After another short period of dreaming of what could be, she comes back to Shrag. "Now what should we do?"

"I was thinking, Finola. I've got a laptop back at the barracks. You have a computer here don't you? We could at least keep in touch through email. We could even encrypt our messages so they wouldn't be read by unwanted eyes." Shrag looks at Finola as she thinks about what he said. He can tell she is thinking of all the possible dangers and benefits this idea represented. There will be risks in anything they do, but isn't much of life a risk in one way or another? Especially for military personnel. "Say, Finola. Why don't we take a walk. Your house is kinda secluded, and there are wooded areas about. I think it would be safe to take a stroll through the woods together." Shrag places his arm around Finola's shoulders as he looks with longing in his eyes. He wants so badly to just be with Finola and do simple things together.

Finola smiles pleasantly, and leads him outside where they walk through the woods together. She feels very at home here in the trees, not far from the beach. "Shrag, I'd love to email you. Any way we can stay in contact." She puts her paw in his and holds on to him. "After all, it's the safest way for us to keep in contact without raising suspicion." The mountain lioness kisses Shrag, and walks along the forest, eyeing the wildlife and other beauties of nature. "It feels so nice to feel the grass beneath my feet, rather than my boots. Who would have ever thought this could be so nice, just to be..." She holds herself and gets misty eyed. "When I joined the military, I had so many dreams. Now all this is conflicting with that. Now I just want to be your lioness in my nice house, with a pretty garden and a boat out on the lake." Finola looks down and frowns. "I probably shouldn't even think like this."

Shrag feels happier than he has ever felt, but worries about his Love. This beautiful lioness really seems to love him. He already knows he loves her, and will do anything to protect her. "I think I understand how you feel. I hope I'm not throwing too big a wrench into your works."

With a small grin, Finola looks at Shrag and kisses him lightly on the lips. "My works are just fine. Let's just enjoy ourselves right now."

They walk for a mile or so, paw in paw. Finola's happiness seems to radiate from her in a nearly visible spectrum. Shrag has never seen her like this and it makes his own happiness even greater. After a while, Shrag stops and turns to face Finola. He takes her other paw in his as he looks into her eyes. "I love you Finola." He kisses her once and draws back. "I think the email idea will work out. Let's agree to encrypt our messages though. It's a bit of a hassle, but better safe than sorry." Wrapping his arms around Finola, he hugs her tight. "I wish life were simpler." The familiar scents of the woods stimulate Shrag almost as much as the beautiful lioness he holds in his paws. He wants her, here and now. Shrag moves a paw inside her dress from behind her back. Even her back feels sexy. Slowly he moves his paw down to the base of her tail and starts scratching there. Finola responds immediately, and her body tenses as she closes her eyes. Shrag withdraws his paw and firmly grabs Finola by her buttocks under her dress with both paws. He slits her panties on either side with his claws, and they fall away. He lifts her up as she wraps her long legs around his waist. It is difficult to drop his pants in this position, but he manages it. They both growl with passion and lightly claw at each other as they make love in this position. The sounds they both make are as wild and beautiful as their surroundings. Fortunately, there is no one around for miles to hear.

Finola smiles after they have consummated their love again. She lies down on the grass, panting heavily. "Now I have to go get some more underwear." She sits up and giggles, her dress nearly covering her furry legs. "If only I didn't have to be so cautious about our relationship, around other people I mean. We only met a few days ago, and before that you were assigned to kill me." Finola holds Shrag and purrs. The mountain lioness brushes her paw through her hair as it blows in the wind, and looks like a painting in the sunlight. "I love you too, or at least I think I do." She holds him close and smiles. "You should get your pants on so we can walk back to the house." The lioness twitches her whiskers and leads the way after he has dressed, and sneaks him back inside her house.

As they enter her house Finola says, "How long have you got left on that 24 hour pass of yours? Want something to eat?"

Shrag grins and says, "I'd love an order of lioness, but I've only got about an hour before I have to leave. The time we spent together today will be a cherished memory for the rest of my life. I have never been so happy as today. I know we had a strange start to our relationship, but sometimes things just work out that way." Shrag looks at Finola with much concern in his eyes, worrying much more about her than himself. She has so much to loose, whereas Shrag can pull up and move anywhere at a moment's notice. Finola is a career officer. Maybe she will be willing to give it all up for him, but he will never ask her to do so. It all seems like an enigma. "You know Finola, if we were married?"

Finola smiles at Shrag and says, "You know we can't do that, not while we work for the same organization. They wouldn't allow it." Finola frowns unconvincingly and kisses him for a brief moment before letting him go. "We have to be discreet for now. You'd better get going before you get in trouble. The best way to keep out of the spotlight is to not attract it in the first place." Finola shoos him out, and watches as he leaves. A tear falls from her eye, as she knows this love is forbidden, but somehow she has to pursue it.

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