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WARNING\cf0 : This story contains sexually explicit material involving adolescent children and incest. This story also contains mild violence and profanity. If such content is illegal to view in your area or you are not of legal age to view such content, close your RTF reader now.\
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.\
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\f1\b\fs36 \cf0 Masala Chai
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\fs28 by IndigoNeko and TaintedThylacine
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\f1\b\fs28 \cf0 Chapter 13
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\f1\b Monday, April 18th, 2016
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The now-familiar green-scaled lizard with headphones and a fur-lined coat was sitting behind the desk at the front office of Scott Carpenter Middle School, as usual, when Alex walked inside. \'93Hello, dear... Alex, was it?\'94 the anole lizard asked, pulling off her headphones. \'93How can I help you?\'94\
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\'93Umm... A friend of mine said I should ask about gymnastics or cheerleading...\'94 the young tigress said, hesitantly. \
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The lizard squinted her dark eyes at the tiger cub. \'93Hmm. We don\'92t have a gymnastics team, but we 
\f2\i do
\f0\i0  have a small cheerleading squad. Tryouts for next year\'92s team will start in two weeks. You\'92ll need to get a sports physical signed by your pediatrician,\'94 she said, bending to one side and pulling a sheet of paper from a drawer, setting it atop the front desk. \'93And you\'92ll need an informed consent form signed by your parents, and you\'92ll need to fill out the tryout application,\'94 she added, adding two more sheets.\
\
\'93Okay. Thank you!\'94 Alex said, grabbing the sheets of paper before turning to rejoin the mass of students heading through the hallways on their way to first period class, pulling out hir phone to text hir mom about getting an appointment with hir doctor.\
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Now that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, the flagstone courtyard in front of the Dojo was a riot of pink and magenta. Beyond the courtyard wall, the evergreen forest that covered the surrounding hills and the clear skies above painted a vivid green and blue backdrop. The Dojo itself, with dark brown natural timber walls, gray-blue tiled roof, and rice-paper shoji doors and windows, was a magnificent sight.\
\
Unfortunately, it was starting to grow dark and the seven o\'92clock class would be starting soon. Alex sighed with disappointment as shi stepped back inside the dojo. Apparently Ravi wasn\'92t going to show up for the Monday class; maybe he had something else going on right now and couldn\'92t make it. The young tigress straightened hir black karate gi and tugged on the green belt around hir waist to make sure it wasn\'92t loose, then walked across the polished wood floor and past the dark brown support pillars to the edge of the beige gym mats.\
\
After bowing, Alex walked across the mat to face the left wall where the Dojo-Kun tapestry hung on the wall between two murals, one with the Shotokan Tiger emblem in white on a red circle and the other with the kanji for Karate in black on a red circle. The rest of the walls inside the dojo were hung with dozens, maybe hundreds, of martial arts weapons, all of which had been zip-tied to prevent them from being taken down easily. The young tigress knelt on the mat, perhaps ten feet from the edge, facing the left wall. \
\
While shi didn\'92t turn upon hearing the other students heading up the stairs behind hir, on the far side of the dojo, hir ears swivelled backwards, listening as they walked across the polished wooden flooring and paused, their clothes rustling as they bowed before walking onto the mat and walking over to join hir. While standing in the courtyard, shi had watched them trickle in one-by-one, but hadn\'92t kept count. There were actually more than shi had expected, with easily a half dozen students besides hirself and hir dad.\
\
\'93Excuse me, senpai,\'94 a voice came from just behind hir.\
\
Alex jerked, startled; shi hadn\'92t heard so much as a whisper to indicate someone was so close. The black panther shi remembered seeing from Friday evening stood to hir right, wearing a brand new black gi with the Shotokan symbol on the breast and a white belt tied around his waist.\
\
\'93Do you know if Raenne-sensei begins her sessions with a period of mokuso meditation? Or should I plan on performing that myself if I wish to?\'94 the panther asked quietly.\
\
\'93Uh... We begin with a short period of meditation. Then a warm up, stretching, kihon, kata, kumite, then some strength exercises, and finish up with the Dojo-Kun,\'94 Alex explained, thinking that it felt a bit odd to be considered \'91senpai\'92 by someone easily thirty years hir senior.\
\
\'93Thank you,\'94 the panther said, smoothly kneeling on the floor a few feet to hir right and bowing in hir direction. \'93Forgive the interruption.\'94\
\
\'93Daijoubu desu. It\'92s okay,\'94 Alex replied, smiling at the older gentleman, noticing the notch in one of his ears. As he turned to face the tapestry, shi did the same. Listening as people behind them approached. Most of them sat to hir right, while hir father sat to hir left, lining up in order of rank. A moment later, hir mom walked in front of them, walking over to the tapestry and kneeling in front of it to light a stick of incense and put it in the small carved incense holder.\
\
The older tigress stood again, turning to face them. \'93As you all probably remember, I\'92m the instructor, Raenne Andreyev. During class, you can call me Raenne-sensei. My husband, David, will be assisting me. You can call him David-senpai,\'94 she explained.\
\
\'93Shotokan karate classes usually begin by kneeling, which is called \'91seiza\'92, in a line in order of rank, with highest ranking students to the left. Generally I start the class with a period of meditation, called \'91mokuso\'92, and end it by calling \'91mokusu yame\'92, which means \'91stop meditation\'92. After that we bow three times...\'94\
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Once kumite started, Alex and hir father quickly jogged off the mat, pausing for a quick bow, before reaching the duffel bags that held their sparring gear. They both quickly strapped on pads and pulled out the pair of sai they\'92d been practicing with for the past few weeks. The polished steel multi-pronged weapons had quite a bit of heft, but the black leather-wrapped handles finally felt familiar in hir paw after weeks of practice. Shi double-checked to make sure the orange safety caps were secure on the tips while walking back, then bowed and stepped back onto the beige vinyl mat, followed a moment later by hir father.\
\
They both walked over to the nearest sparring ring, painted in black on the mat, taking positions at the two black strips in the center, facing each other, then bowed. Alex took a standard fighting stance with one leg forward while twirling the sai in hir hand from the guard position along hir arm to point them towards hir dad. Neither of them were advanced enough yet to spar at full speed, so they\'92d agreed to go at half speed on attacks to give each other time to block, parry, or dodge more easily. \
\
As hir dad lunged at hir with one of them, Alex stepped to one side bringing hir own up to sweep it away, rather than using the hilts to block; even with the safety caps, and pads they were wearing, getting hit with one of the prongs would hurt. The steel clanged loudly as shi thrust with the sai in hir other hand, going for hir dad\'92s chest. Somehow he managed to bring his own sai down in time, twirling it point down in his hand and stabbing at hir wrist.\
\
The main prong, the monouchi, barely missed hir, though the smaller prong on the hilt hit the pad on hir forearm, just as the tip of hir own sai hit his chest-pad. \'93Yuko,\'94 shi called dancing backwards. Hir dad nodded, circling to hir left. Shi stopped and hopped forward, bringing hir leg up in a feint, as if to kick. David spun the sai so the monouchi ran along his arm, and brought his arm down to block the kick. As he bent to block the feint, Alex lunged with both sai, points aimed at his upper chest, careful not to go full speed or force. The larger white tiger managed to catch one of them with his off-hand, but was too slow to bring his other arm up after trying to block the feint. The impact of their sai rang across the dojo as the young tigress danced back again, having landed another point. \'93Yuko,\'94 shi called again.\
\
On their third round, David lunged, attacking Alex from the side and front. Alex took a risk, trying to catch one of his sai with a hilt, while deflecting the other sai with a sweeping block. As the hilts clanged together, shi twisted hir wrist, spinning the point in a circle before flicking the tip up. Hir dad\'92s sai flipped out of his hand, spinning through the air and landing point-down in the mat ten feet away before falling over. If not for the orange safety tip, it probably would have punctured the mat. As David turned to see where the weapon had gone, Alex smirked, and poked hir dad with the tip of hir sai. \'93Yuko,\'94 shi said with a smirk, earning an exasperated sigh from him before he jogged over to retrieve the weapon.\
\
As the sparring continued, the two tigers danced around each other, periodically lunging, feinting, and blocking. The steel in their hands rang loudly with each impact, making their palms sting by the time that Raenne called an end to Kumite. Alex and David had traded wins for the first two matches, with Alex coming slightly ahead in points when their final match ended. \
\
The two tigers quickly jogged off the mat again, putting the weapons away in their bags and stripping the pads off while the other students did some strength training exercises including pushups and squats. Alex rubbed at a few sore spots on hir arms as shi jogged across the mat. The foam pads they had were fine for fists and staves, but not for sai. Unfortunately the hard-suit armor that Mom had ordered wouldn\'92t be here until later in the week. That was both good and bad, since the armor would take easily twice as long to get in and out of as pads did.\
\
Alex and David were by far the last to reach the line of students, and Raenne started the Dojo-Kun the moment they stepped into place, wrapping up the class for the day.\
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\f1\b \cf0 Wednesday, April 20th, 2016
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Kalu sighed as he relaxed into the oversized computer chair his parents had purchased to replace the cheap IKEA armchair that had collapsed earlier that month. This one was certified to hold up to five hundred pounds and could comfortably hold even his dad. He rolled forward across the thick plastic mat they\'92d put down to protect the floor, sliding up to the brand new computer desk. \
\
After a moment the elephant picked up his cell phone and flipped it open. He was bored and wanted to talk... or at least tell someone about his new furniture. He opened up the contacts list and paused for a second. The very first name on the list was one that he hadn\'92t talked to in over a month. Frowning, he hit the call button, waiting for a few seconds as the call connected and rang, waiting for the tiger cub on the other line to pick up. The call connected just a moment before he was tempted to hang up; he didn\'92t really like leaving voicemail messages. \
\
\'93Kal?\'94 the tigress on the other line asked, panting.\
\
\'93The one and only. Just realized I hadn\'92t talked to you in a while,\'94 Kalu replied, listening to the tiger cub\'92s harsh breathing with concern. \'93You doin\'92 alright? You sound out of breath.\'94\
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\'93Sorry. I\'92m practicing handsprings and roundoffs,\'94 Alex explained. \'93I almost didn\'92t hear the phone ringing.\'94\
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\'93Wait. You mean, like, gymnastics and shit?\'94\
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\'93Yeah, exactly,\'94 the tigress confirmed. \'93Ravi\'92s teaching me.\'94\
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\'93So you finally got a hold of Ravi, did you?\'94 Kalu asked, remembering he\'92d asked a few of the lower-class kids that he knew about the tiger boy that Alex had mentioned a while back.\
\
\'93Yeah. Ravi came across Mom\'92s Dojo while on a jog and decided to check it out. I don\'92t blame him; it\'92s pretty awesome. Like one of those big temples in Japan or somethin\'92.\'94\
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The elephant blinked. He knew about Japanese temples, but had no idea what shi was talking about. He\'92d never seen anything like that here in the states. \'93What Dojo?\'94\
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\'93Uhhh... it\'92s my mom\'92s martial arts, uh, school, errr, gym,\'94 the tiger cub said, not quite sure how to describe it to someone who didn\'92t know what a dojo was. \'93Mom teaches Karate. Only, we don\'92t have anyone taking lessons from six to seven right now and it\'92s empty. So Ravi\'92s been teaching me some gymnastics moves before the seven o\'92clock class starts.\'94\
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\'93That\'92s pretty cool,\'94 Kalu said, actually meaning it for once. Gymnastics and karate were something he was far too big and slow to be any good at, but it still sounded pretty awesome. He\'92d been considering boxing at some point, since he could hit like a truck, but he was slow and couldn\'92t dodge for shit. \'93Is this dojo-thing out here in Prairie Flats?\'94\
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\'93Nah. It\'92s on the road that leads northeast out of Winter Creek.\'94\
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\'93Oh,\'94 the elephant said, a bit disappointed. That was a good forty minute drive, and there was no way in Hell his parents would be willing to drive him that far to see something, much less go there for lessons. \'93Could you send me a picture of it?\'94 he asked, using his trunk to pick up the pencil on his desk and writing a note to look up boxing lessons.\
\
\'93Sure!\'94 the tigress said, brightly. \'93I just took a bunch of pictures of it earlier, since the cherry trees in the courtyard are blooming and the petals look like pink snow, drifting in the wind. It looks like something out of one of those anime cartoons or something. I dunno if you\'92ve watched anime before.\'94\
\
Kalu smiled; knowing exactly what shi was talking about. He\'92d never admit it to anyone, even a cub like Alex, but he had a thing for anime, especially the really cute and funny ones, like \'91Azumanga Daioh\'92, \'91Nichijou - My Ordinary Life\'92, and \'91Daily Lives of High School Boys\'92. Lately he\'92d been watching \'91Himouto! Umaru-chan\'92 on his computer, making absolutely certain his door was locked and using headphones so his dad wouldn\'92t know about it. His dad would beat him black and blue for watching \'91weeb shit\'92 if he found out. \'93Nah. Sounds cool though...\'94\
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\f1\b \cf0 Friday, April 22nd, 2016
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Prairie Flats General Hospital was starting to feel way too familiar for Alex\'92s tastes; shi\'92d already memorized the layout of the emergency and maternity wards and was pretty familiar with the pediatric ward that they were heading into now. The automatic doors slid open with a hiss and Alex stepped across the metal grating, feeling the warm air coming from below ruffle hir fur. Shi took the left turn and headed down the hallway a bit until they reached the reception area. \
\
While Raenne walked up to the desk to sign them in, Alex took a seat on one of the vinyl benches. The reception area was surprisingly empty. Then again, school was still in session and the flu season was pretty much over now. Missing Art and Theater class was a small price to pay for a chance to get a sports physical taken care of. This time, Alex had remembered to take hir Nintendo DS with hir, so shi quickly pulled it out to play some games while they waited.\
\
\'93Did you remember to bring the Sports Physical form?\'94 Raenne asked as she sat down next to her daughter.\
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Alex looked up at hir mom, the fur on the back of hir neck standing straight up as shi realized that shi didn\'92t have it. Last shi\'92d seen it, it was on the kitchen island at home... \'93I- I...\'94\
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Raenne smirked and pulled the form out of her purse, handing it over to her daughter. \'93I thought not.\'94\
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The young tigress let out a breath of relief as shi accepted the sheet of paper from hir mother. \'93Thanks.\'94 \
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\'93One of these days I won\'92t remember something for you,\'94 the older tigress warned, \'93and it might be something important.\'94\
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Alex didn\'92t say anything, but hir ears went flat against hir head. \
\
\'93Speaking of remembering things... Did you invite Ravi and his family to come over for the barbeque tomorrow?\'94\
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\'93Yes. He said his grandmother may or may not be up for it,\'94 the younger tigress said. \'93But the rest of them will, for sure.\'94\
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\'93And his parents are okay with them staying afterwards for a sleepover?\'94\
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\'93Uh-huh,\'94 Alex confirmed.\
\
Just then the door opened and a calico cat in green medical scrubs stepped out. \'93Alexandrea?\'94\
\
Both tigers stood, with Raenne following her daughter across the reception room and through the door that the nurse held open for them. \'93First door on the right,\'94 the calico cat said. \'93Go ahead and step on the scale there so we can get your weight.\'94\
\
A minute later, the nurse undid the blood pressure cuff around Alex\'92s arm. \'93Excellent. If you wouldn\'92t mind sitting on the exam table, the doctor will be here shortly,\'94 the calico cat said, putting the cuff away and stepping outside of the examination room.\
\
The two tigers didn\'92t have to wait long before a knock sounded on the door, followed by a dark-skinned warthog in a medical frock stepping into the room.\
\
\'93Hello again, Alex, Raenne,\'94 the doctor said with an Ethiopian accent, nodding to the two tigers. The unruly mop of hair atop the warthog\'92s head floated oddly out of sync with his movements. \'93So, you\'92ve decided to take up sports, little one?\'94 Dr. Abebe asked the young tigress.\
\
Alex nodded, not trusting hirself to say anything. The warthog wasn\'92t as scary as shi remembered from the first time they\'92d met, now that shi knew part of the reason for hir aversion was his lack of fur on bare skin. The longer shi stared at him, the less creepy it seemed... though it was still off-putting. For some reason reptile scales didn\'92t bother hir like hairless skin did, even though they were kind of the same thing. Maybe if shi just thought of it like lizard-skin...\
\
\'93Yes, Dr. Negasi,\'94 Raenne said, sighing as her daughter went silent again. \'93Shi wants to try out for the cheerleading team, apparently.\'94 \
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The warthog looked over at the older tigress and nodded. \'93Very well,\'94 he said, walking over to the rolling stool and sliding it over to a small computer desk in the corner. \'93Let me pull up hir medical records. I remember from the last time I saw you that shi had a broken rib and some lacerations on the arms. Are those fully healed, little one? No problems with pain in your chest when breathing or from your arms?\'94\
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\'93No.\'94 Alex shook hir head again, then paused for a moment. There was something different about the warthog than shi remembered. \'93Weren\'92t your tusks... longer?\'94\
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The doctor smiled. \'93Yes. I periodically have to cut them back. They are always growing, like the hair on my head. So, have you had any injuries in the past three months?\'94 he asked, while typing at the computer keyboard.\
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The young tigress frowned. \'93Not that I can think of. Not since January.\'94\
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\'93What happened in January?\'94 he asked, having finally pulled up the child\'92s records and seeing a list of hospital records from that same month.\
\
\'93Well... uh... I was, uhhh, kidnapped... and flown out to Philadelphia,\'94 Alex explained, hating to use the word \'91kidnap\'92, even though it was true. \'93One of the guys my grandparents sent to get me was a brute, and he threw me against a car door and gave me a concussion. One of my eyes was dilated for a few weeks. It\'92s called \'91Anisocoria\'92, if I remember right.\'94\
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The doctor raised one eyebrow, looking up at the younger tigress for a moment and then over at hir mother, who nodded. Between that and the notes he\'92d just pulled up on the computer about a post-rape trauma examination, multiple STD tests, and getting an IUD, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was a sensitive topic. He felt his jaw clench with anger that a child had gone through such a thing. \
\
\'93Very well,\'94 he said, noting that was the end of the file up until today\'92s visit. \'93I know that you\'92re on spironolactone to balance out your hormones, and you\'92ve got an IUD.\'94 The warthog stood up and pulled out a small flashlight as he walked over to the young tigress. \'93Look up at my eyes, would you?\'94 he asked, quickly checking hir pupil's response. \'93Are you still having regular monthly periods?\'94\
\
Alex nodded. \'93Yeah, my last one ended a week ago. It sucks having to wear pads,\'94 shi said with a sigh. \'93I\'92ve gotta cut \'91em or fold \'91em in half, cause they don\'92t fit right for hermaphrodites...\'94\
\
The doctor sighed with relief that the child must have had no lingering issues from whatever had happened in January. \'93Have you tried tampons?\'94 Dr. Abebe asked. \'93I assume you don\'92t have a hymen to worry about since you have an IUD.\'94\
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The young tigress shook hir head. \'93Mom said they\'92re less comfortable.\'94\
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The warthog glanced at the older tigress for a moment, then back at the cub on the examination table. \'93You may find that they\'92re actually 
\f2\i more
\f0\i0  comfortable in your case, as they\'92ll stay in place better and you won\'92t have to fold or cut them to fit. Do you know how to use them?\'94\
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Alex nodded, shifting slightly on the exam table and making the white paper crinkle underneath hir. \'93Mom showed me a video of how to use them.\'94\
\
\'93In that case, I\'92d suggest you get one of them, just to try it out, and see if it suits you better,\'94 the doctor said. \'93Just remember to change them every eight hours, little one. They can make you 
\f2\i very
\f0\i0  sick if you leave them in for too long.\'94\
\
Alex nodded again, and Dr. Abebe pulled out a small rubber hammer with which to check hir knee-jerk reflex, which only took a few seconds. He followed that up by putting in his stethoscope and checking hir breathing and pulse. With the exam complete, he asked \'93Now, have you had 
\f2\i any
\f0\i0  other issues at all over the past three months?\'94\
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The younger tigress shook hir head.\
\
\'93Excellent. In that case, little one, if you\'92ve got any forms for me to fill out, I\'92ll be glad to certify you as sports-worthy.\'94\
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\f1\b \cf0 Saturday, April 23rd, 2016
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The Bassi family\'92s green Acura MDX pulled up to the A-frame house sitting atop a 3-car garage with a deck that ran around the front and left side of the main floor. A staircase next to the garage led up to the covered part of the deck along the left side of the house. The front of the house was a nearly solid wall of glass that went from floor to ceiling, interrupted only by a few thin support beams and a pair of glass doors that led to the open deck overhanging the garage. \
\
\'93Well, this is the right address,\'94 Ravi said, pointing at the brass numbers hanging on the wall to the left of the garage.\
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Atman pulled the car into the driveway next to the black and white Nissan SUVs, coming to a stop and putting the car in park before turning the engine off. \'93It\'92s going to be nice to get to meet Alex\'92s family,\'94 the portly tiger said, smiling back at his son and daughter. \'93I\'92m happy that you all became friends so quickly,\'94 he added as he opened his door.\
\
\'93Just remember the rules,\'94 Sevita said as they all climbed out of the car.\
\
\'93We will,\'94 Ravi said, adjusting the bag he had slung over his shoulder, heading up the stairs to the porch that Alex had mentioned and knocking on the side door.\
\
\'93Yes ma\'92am,\'94 Aruna said, practically bouncing around as they all made their way up the stairs and waited for someone to open the door.\
\
A few moments later, a tall, muscular white tiger wearing a pair of khakis and a black polo shirt opened the door. \'93Hello everyone,\'94 he said, holding his paw out. \'93I\'92m David. It\'92s a pleasure to finally meet you all.\'94\
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\'93Thank you,\'94 Atman said with a nod, shaking the other tiger\'92s paw. \'93It\'92s nice to meet you too.\'94\
\
\'93Raenne and the cubs are already out back. We\'92re all going to be out in the backyard, so don\'92t bother taking your shoes off.,\'94 David said as he saw them pause, glancing at the shoe rack next to the door. \'93Unless you prefer going barefoot. Alex does. Anyway, just continue down the deck here, there\'92s a short set of stairs.\'94\
\
\'93Thank you,\'94 Atman said, turning to continue down the deck while the kids took off their shoes.\
\
\'93Mr. David, where can we put our bags?\'94 Aruna asked, looking up to the other white tiger, smiling warmly.\
\
\'93You can set them here for the moment. Or you can take them upstairs to Alex\'92s room,\'94 David said, stepping back to let them inside. \'93At the top of the stairs, turn left, and it\'92s the second door on the left, just past the bathroom.\'94\
\
\'93I\'92ll take them up,\'94 Ravi said, taking his little sister\'92s bag as she ran down the deck to the backyard, happily calling out Alex\'92s name. \'93Thank you, sir.\'94 The young white tiger nodded to David and stepped inside, going up the stairs to Alex\'92s room to set the bags in her room before heading back down to join the others.\
\
David closed the side door, then walked down the porch deck, following Aruna and her parents. The backyard wasn\'92t fenced in since their house was the last one on this leg of the suburb, at the edge of the residential zone. They didn\'92t use the yard much anyway, since the great room in the front of the house was enormous and the glass walls at the front of the house just enhanced the illusion of space. \
\
Out in the backyard, Alex was standing on a short stool in front of their grill, wearing an apron over her usual clothes, plus a silly-looking chef\'92s hat that shi had insisted on buying when they\'92d gone shopping for the barbeque on Friday afternoon. Shi was in the process of flipping the burgers over when Aruna and the Bassi parents stepped into the yard. Alex gave Aruna a hug as the younger tigress ran over to the grill.\
\
\'93Hello,\'94 Alex\'92s mother called out as Atman and Sevita appeared, standing up from the chair she\'92d been sitting in, next to a lawn table. A few feet from the chair were a pair of baby rockers that were still swaying. \'93I\'92m Raenne,\'94 the athletic-looking tigress said, straightening her sleeveless black dress as she walked over to the two Bassi parents, holding her hand out.\
\
\'93It\'92s nice to meet you. I\'92m Atman,\'94 the stout tiger said, taking Raenne\'92s paw and giving it a shake. \'93This is my wife Sevita,\'94 he added, motioning to the slender white tigress that was with him.\
\
\'93A pleasure,\'94 Sevita said, smiling as she shook Raenne\'92s paw. \'93It\'92s nice to finally meet you two. It\'92s been nice having Alex around, I know that Ravi and Aruna have enjoyed it.\'94 She turned towards the baby swings, smiling at the two infants. \'93Oh my! Such little cuties.\'94\
\
\'93Katherine and Nicholas,\'94 Raenne pointed at the two infant tiger cubs. The first was a light-grey, the other a muddy orange. \'93They\'92re three and a half months old now.\'94 Both of the tiny balls of fluff were sound asleep, lulled by the gentle rocking motion of the rockers they were in.\
\
\'93Getting to the point that they sleep through the night?\'94 Sevita asked, straightening up as her husband came over and wrapped an arm around her.\
\
\'93Yes, thank God,\'94 Raenne replied. \'93They started sleeping soundly only a few weeks ago. It was driving Alex absolutely nuts for the first three months.\'94\
\
\'93Don\'92t remind me,\'94 Alex piped up, setting the spatula down on the grill and walking over to them along with Aruna. \'93Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Bassi.\'94\
\
\'93Afternoon Alex,\'94 Atman said smiling.\
\
\'93I like your hat, Alex,\'94 Aruna said happily, following Alex over to where the adults were standing around the baby rockers. She cooed at the little kittens happily. \'93Mooooom, can I have a little brother or sister?\'94\
\
\'93Ask your mother,\'94 Atman replied, blandly, throwing the proverbial ball in Sevita\'92s court. \
\
Sevita cut a glance at her husband before she looked down at her nine-year-old daughter. \'93I don\'92t know about all that, sweetie. I\'92m getting a little old to be caring for cubs.\'94\
\
\'93Hey Alex,\'94 Ravi said, following David into the yard. \'93Hello, Ms. Reanne,\'94 he said, nodding to the older tigress.\
\
\'93But Mooom... I would help take care of it and be a good big sister,\'94 Aruna said looking up to her mother with the tiger equivalent of puppy-dog eyes.\
\
\'93We\'92ll talk about it later, okay?\'94 Sevita said, hoping her daughter would forget to bring it up later.\
\
\'93So, before we sit down and start chatting, I\'92ve got to ask... Does anyone have any food allergies?\'94 David asked.\
\
\'93None on our end,\'94 Atman replied. \'93The only thing to worry about is keeping an eye on this one.\'94 He said, reaching out and ruffling Aruna\'92s head-fur. \'93Make sure she doesn\'92t get hurt or anything, due to her CIP.\'94\
\
\'93Alex mentioned that,\'94 David said. \'93So, no roughhousing of any kind. The backyard here isn\'92t exactly smooth terrain, and there\'92s rocks all over the place. Once we\'92ve got time, we\'92ll dig up the topsoil and lay down fresh turf, but until then, no running either. Okay?\'94\
\
\'93Okay, Dad,\'94 Alex agreed.\
\
\'93Why don\'92t you let me take over the grilling, so you can keep Ravi and Aruna entertained,\'94 he added quietly, speaking to his daughter.\
\
\'93Okay,\'94 the young tigress said, taking hir hat and apron off, and handing them to hir dad. \'93Just don\'92t burn them.\'94\
\
David sighed, shaking his head, and walked over to the grill, picking up the spatula.\
\
\'93So Alex. That\'92s quite the hat,\'94 Ravi said, smiling. \'93Do you wear it every time you cook?\'94 he asked with a little snicker as he sat down at the table. Aruna and their parents joined him, sitting around the large lawn table which had paper plates, bags of hamburger buns, condiments, and two trays with various cheeses and vegetables for toppings.\
\
Alex blushed. \'93Nooo, only when I\'92m cooking for friends,\'94 shi said, joining them at the table. The young tigress snagged a paper plate and a hamburger bun as shi sat down.\
\
\'93I like it. I think we need one for when Mom and Ravioli are cooking,\'94 Aruna said giggling happily, following Alex\'92s lead.\
\
\'93I think that Ravi would look dashing in something like that. He just needs a white shirt and black pants,\'94 Sevita agreed. \'93Like your father back in the day.\'94\
\
\'93Were you a chef, Mr. Bassi?\'94 Alex asked, squeezing some mayonnaise and barbeque sauce on hir hamburger bun.\
\
\'93Years and years ago... way back before Ravi was born, or even thought of.\'94 Atman smiled. \'93It\'92s how I met my wife,\'94 the tiger said, putting an arm around her.\
\
\'93Oh honey, no,\'94 Sevita said, nudging him a little.\
\
\'93Sevita used to work at a medical laboratory near my restaurant, and regularly came in for lunch. One day, one of my waiters came back, saying something about this woman complaining about the food. Me being young and full of myself, I had to go prove her wrong. So I remade her order and took it out to her. We got to comparing recipes, and the rest is history.\'94 Atman laughed, taking a paper plate of his own and preparing a hamburger bun as he told the tale.\
\
\'93Wow... You were a real chef then,\'94 Alex said. \'93Was it 
\f2\i your
\f0\i0  restaurant? Or did you just work there?\'94 shi asked, reaching over to grab a piece of smoked provolone, some lettuce, and tomato slices.\
\
\'93It was mine,\'94 Atman confirmed, nodding. \'93I worked there as the head chef for a while and ended up buying and taking over it when the owner wanted to retire. I became more of a manager for a while. Of course, that was all before we moved here. I\'92ve gone from line cook to regional manager, and Sevita has gone from lab assistant to genetics researcher. We both work down in Prairie Flats, and Lanka keeps an eye on the kids while we\'92re away.\'94\
\
\'93Was this when you were still in India?\'94 Raenne asked, also taking out a plate and a hamburger bun of her own. \'93Ravi said you lived near New Delhi.\'94\
\
\'93Yes. We moved here when Ravi was five or six. Seven years ago, maybe?\'94 Atman said, frowning. \'93Aruna was a toddler when we moved here. I don\'92t think she remembers India at all. We keep meaning to plan a trip back some time.\'94\
\
\'93Well, we can all go back there when I get married,\'94 Aruna said proudly, reaching across the table to get her own plate, and accepting a hamburger bun that Sevita handed her.\
\
\'93That\'92s quite a few years from now, I\'92d think,\'94 David said from near the grill. \'93Your parents might want to go back before then. I\'92m sure they have friends and family over there that miss them. Seven years is an awfully long time to be away from home. Unless you all consider this to be home, now?\'94 the white tiger asked, glancing over at Atman and Sevita.\
\
\'93Well, I do think of this as home now,\'94 Atman answered while pouring some Heinz 57 sauce on his bun, \'93but, like you said, there are family and friends back in India that I\'92m sure we would all like to see.\'94\
\
\'93And if everything works out right, we will be going back, hopefully at the end of the year,\'94 Sevita said, looking at Alex. \'93I hope you don\'92t mind us taking Ravi and Aruna with us. We\'92ll make sure to bring them back in one piece,\'94 she said smiling as she used a bit of mayonnaise and Heinz 57 on her hamburger bun like her husband.\
\
\'93Don\'92t worry, Alex. I\'92ll make sure that big brother and I bring you something back. Or maybe we could sneak you on...\'94 Aruna suggested, smothering her hamburger bun with ketchup. \'93We just need a really big cat crate...\'94\
\
Alex looked a little alarmed at that. \'93I, uh, think I\'92ll pass. I\'92m not sure I\'92d really want to go to India,\'94 shi said.\
\
\'93Oh, it\'92s not bad,\'94 Raenne said, getting her own plate and bun. \'93You\'92d probably like it there. Lots of different people, delicious food, and most people there speak English anyway, or at least a bit of it. Most people there speak three or four languages, sometimes more.\'94\
\
\'93You sound like you have been there, Raenne,\'94 Sevita said, smiling while piling her bun with shredded lettuce. \
\
\'93I have,\'94 Raenne nodded. \'93I\'92ve been to many places. All over South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. That was a long time ago now though, back when I was in the army,\'94 she said, topping her bun with mayonnaise, mustard, and barbeque sauce.\
\
\'93You are full of surprises,\'94 Atman said, clearly impressed, putting some lettuce and tomato on his bun.\
\
\'93Indeed,\'94 Sevita agreed. \'93And your mother\'92s right, Alex, the worst part of the trip would be the flight. I\'92m sure we could take you with us, without needing a cat crate.\'94 The slender white tigress said, laughing lightly. \'93Ravi and Aruna would be there, and Ravi can translate if need be.\'94\
\
\'93You know, we could take you all along with us.\'94 Atman suggested. \'93You\'92ll have several months to think it over before we go on vacation.\'94\
\
\'93It would be good to go back to India. I should still have a few friends out there,\'94 Raenne said, giving the baby rockers a nudge. \'93Would you like to go see India, Love?\'94\
\
David frowned. \'93I guess I\'92d be okay with going. I\'92ve never been outside the States.\'94\
\
\'93Well, this could be your chance,\'94 Atman pointed out. \'93Getting passports and such isn\'92t that hard, and I\'92m sure that there would be a lot for you to enjoy. The food is amazing; trust me.\'94\
\
\'93Hmm... I do like Indian cuisine,\'94 David said, nodding. \'93Oh, speaking of...\'94 The white tiger quickly turned back to the grill, testing the burgers with a spatula. \'93These are almost ready.\'94\
\
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Alex led Ravi and Aruna back inside the house, heading upstairs; they\'92d gotten tired of the adults\'92 constant chatter after finishing their hamburgers. Shi wanted to make sure they\'92d be comfortable staying the night before Atman and Sevita left for the evening. Once they reached the top of the stairs, Alex walked down the short hallway and stepped into hir bedroom, spotting a pair of backpacks just inside. \'93Watch your step coming in, there\'92s a small bump there,\'94 shi warned the other two tigers, pointing at the edge of the carpet where the extra padding started. With the overhead lights off, the only illumination was from the color-shifting fairy lights that ran around the edge of the ceiling, an idea that shi had shamelessly stolen from Azalea.\
\
The room was dominated by a fairly new queen-sized bed, but it still had plenty of room for the two nightstands, bookshelves, leather lounge chair, and computer desk. The bookshelf was mostly occupied with various little-league sports trophies, sports equipment, crystals, arts supplies, and various puzzles and brain-teasers. A black and orange snowboard stood against the wall in the corner behind the lounge chair. A sizable flatscreen television hung on the wall above the computer desk, which had a small silver MacBook and a shiny black gaming PC with lights that cycled through all the colors in the rainbow, like the fairy lights overhead. The walls had a few posters from bands like OneRepublic, Smash Mouth, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, and The Weeknd.\
\
\'93My bed\'92s got another one underneath; it\'92s a trundle,\'94 Alex added, walking over to the nightstand and turning on the lava lamp before flopping onto the soft Vellux blankets on the bed, making the pillows near the headboard bounce. \'93We\'92ll have to move the nightstand to get it out though. The sectional in the guest bedroom across the hall has a pullout bed as well.\'94\
\
\'93Oooh, your room\'92s cool,\'94 Aruna said, looking around the room, checking out the collection of drawing supplies and sketchbooks on the desk before stopping in the middle of the room. \'93The floor is really soft. Is it \'91cause you trip a lot?\'94 she asked before walking over to the bookshelf to look at the sports gear and arts and craft stuff on the shelves.\
\
\'93No,\'94 Alex replied. \'93I just wanted it really soft, so dad put a couple of extra pads underneath the carpet.\'94\
\
\'93Suuuuuure,\'94 Aruna snarked, turning and poking her tongue out at Alex. \'93It\'92s okay to be a clutz.\'94 She giggled as she pulled a small RC car off the bookshelf.\
\
\'93Aruna, do I need to start telling stories about you and the battle with doors?\'94 Ravi asked as he took a seat on the chair. \'93Soooo, do you want to play a game or something?\'94\
\
\'93Sure. All our movies and video games are in the guest bedroom,\'94 shi said, pointing over at the door. \'93The board games and all our books are on the bookshelves out in the upstairs landing and reading nook.\'94\
\
\'93Let's see what we can find,\'94 Ravi said as he got up and walked across the hallway to the guest bedroom, followed by Aruna and Alex.\
\
\'93Ooooooh,\'94 Aruna said, looking at the huge flatscreen TV in the guest bedroom, across from the leather sectional and bean bag chairs. \'93Can I hook up a MP3 player to this?\'94\
\
\'93Yeah,\'94 Alex said, pointing to the small black box on the console below the television, next to an Xbox One and PlayStation 4. \'93The little black box there is the stereo system. There\'92s a few connector cords in the center drawer there, along with the game controllers. Movies are in the left drawer and games are in the right,\'94 shi said, sitting down on the plush leather sectional across from the television as Ravi pulled open the game drawer.\
\
\'93Yay!\'94 Aruna rushed over to her bag in Alex\'92s room, bending over to dig through it, tail twitching excitedly. A moment later she returned, hooking up an MP3 player and turning on the stereo system. \'93Do you like traditional music?\'94 she asked as she went through her music.\
\
Alex looked puzzled. \'93What do you mean by traditional? You mean like classical music?\'94\
\
\'93No, silly,\'94 Aruna said as she pressed a button, causing the speakers to start playing Indian music. \'93This kind. Traditional.\'94 She set the MP3 player down and started dancing around a little.\
\
The tigress sitting on the couch had never heard the kind of music that was playing through the speakers on the wall; it was completely, totally alien. But the white tigress in the middle of the room seemed to like it, her hips swaying gently as she began to gyrate. \
\
Stopping dead still, Aruna let out a huff of irritation. \'93I should have brought my dancing clothes,\'94 she said, looking down at her long skirt and t-shirt. \'93Oooooh... I know.\'94 The young tigress pulled off her shirt and tossed it onto the sofa, leaving only a training bra covering her chest. She started dancing again, this time getting more into the sway of the music, hips rolling and twisting as she did. It quickly became obvious how Aruna managed to keep a flat tummy without playing sports.\
\
Alex raised an eyebrow, watching Aruna\'92s entire body twisting and turning in time with the music. At first, shi\'92d thought shi wouldn\'92t like Indian music at all, with the strange tonality and crooning voices, but watching Aruna dancing in time to it made it much, much more pleasant.\
\
\'93Oh, Aruna,\'94 Ravi sighed, shaking his head a little. \'93Just be careful,\'94 he warned his sister.\
\
\'93Awww\'85 Come join me, Ravi,\'94 Aruna pleaded, turning in time with the music and motioning for her brother to join her.\
\
\'93Oh, okay,\'94 Ravi relented, setting down the game that he\'92d picked out before taking off his shirt and tossing it to the side with Aruna\'92s. \'93Alex, want to learn how to dance with us some time?\'94 he asked, dancing in sync with his sister.\
\
Alex was about to stand up, before realizing that watching Aruna had given hir a stiffy. \'93I, uh, yes, but not right now. Maybe later,\'94 shi said, casually resting one hand over hir zipper, hoping hir erection wasn\'92t too obvious. \'93I\'92m a bit sore from karate,\'94 shi said, which was true, but not the real reason.\
\
\'93Don\'92t worry, we\'92ll have lots of time to teach you,\'94 Aruna said, as the two siblings got more into the rhythm of the music. Their hips and bodies twisted and writhed as if they were practically made of liquid.\
\
Alex watched, hir mouth hanging open slightly as the two white tiger cubs began gyrating around each other in a sinuous, fluid dance. There was something sensual and erotic about it, despite the fact that they weren\'92t doing anything sexual at all. Alex found hirself breathing heavily just from watching them. Both Ravi and Aruna looked absolutely amazing. They were really good dancers, too.\
\
Soon the music slowed down and came to a stop, the two tigers holding paws and bowing to Alex. \'93Okay, I think that\'92s enough for now,\'94 Ravi said, smiling a little.\
\
\'93Wow\'85 You\'92ve gotta show me how to do that later,\'94 Alex said, trying not to be obvious about how aroused shi\'92d become just watching the two of them dancing. Shi was going to have to change hir underwear if they did anything else like that.\
\
\'93Well, I can show you the basics,\'94 Aruna said, rushing over and holding her paw out to Alex. \'93Ravi can sit this one out and watch,\'94 she said, smiling as her brother sat down on the sofa after putting his shirt back on.\
\
\'93Try not to kill hir,\'94 Ravi said with a little snicker. \'93You know how sore us normies can get after dancing.\'94\
\
\'93Wait, wait. Don\'92t- I... shoot,\'94 Alex said as Aruna pulled hir off the couch, still covering hir groin, trying to keep the two white tigers from noticing that shi\'92d gotten an erection. Only now it was totally obvious that shi was hiding something, and the tigress flushed scarlet under hir fur, absolutely mortified that shi\'92d gotten an erection in front of Ravi.\
\
\'93Alex, did our dancing give you a 
\f2\i boner
\f0\i0 ?\'94 Aruna asked, with a smirk. \
\
\'93Aruna,\'94 Ravi chastised, simultaneously blushing and looking around the room.\
\
The youngest tigress suddenly remembered Ravi\'92s injunction not to embarass Alex. \'93I\'92m sorry... We didn\'92t mean to.\'94\
\
The tiger cub knelt in the middle of the room, covering hir face with hir paws. \'93Oh God, I\'92m so sorry. I must look a total pervert,\'94 Alex cried, wrapping hir tail around hirself, trying not to cry from embarrassment.\
\
\'93Not really,\'94 Ravi said, blushing a little. \'93I mean, we were up here dancing around without our shirts on. Ahhh... if it makes you feel better, I used to get them when we first started dancing.\'94\
\
\'93There\'92s nothing wrong with it, Alex,\'94 Aruna said, looking at the other tiger with folded down ears. \'93Ravi really did used to get them when we started dancing.\'94\
\
\'93I know there\'92s nothing wrong with it, but there 
\f2\i is
\f0\i0 ,\'94 Alex said, on the verge of bawling. \'93I\'92m 
\f2\i sorry
\f0\i0 ,\'94 shi said, gasping. \'93I\'92m sorry, I\'92m sorry, I\'92m sorry\'85\'94 shi started repeating.\
\
\'93Alex, don\'92t be!\'94 Aruna insisted, looking down at the tigress. \'93It\'92s not your fault. You didn\'92t upset us or anything. Please don\'92t be sad,\'94 the young tigress begged, holding her paw out.\
\
\'93You don\'92t think I\'92m a freak, or anything?\'94 Alex asked, wiping a tear from hir muzzle. Shi glanced at Aruna and before staring at Ravi, craving some kind of reassurance from the older tiger.\
\
\'93No,\'94 Aruna said, shaking her head. \'93I don\'92t. I think that you\'92re cool,\'94 she said, kneeling down to hug the other tigress.\
\
\'93I don\'92t think that you\'92re a freak or anything, and it doesn\'92t bother us,\'94 Ravi tried to reassure the younger tigress. \'93You know that I have a crush on you, right?\'94 he asked, smiling bashfully.\
\
\'93It doesn\'92t bother you? Honest?\'94 Alex asked Ravi again, hoping he was telling the truth. Shi\'92d never dated a real boy before and was terrified he\'92d be grossed out by the fact that shi had a penis. The incident with Robert had left hir kind of afraid of boys, and their reactions to finding out that shi wasn\'92t a girl. With Azalea, shi hadn\'92t been afraid at all, mostly because Azalea was in all respects other than her actual sex, a girl.\
\
\'93I\'92m telling the truth, Honest,\'94 Ravi insisted, smiling at hir. \'93It doesn\'92t bother me that you have both parts.\'94 He took a deep breath, firmly and calmly adding, \'93Alex, you know that I like you. I\'92d never do anything to hurt you.\'94\
\
Alex took a deep breath, going quiet again as Aruna squeezed hir shoulders. Shi let hir breath back out, sighing with relief. Somehow it felt like something deep inside, some strange fear or tension had eased a bit, like an injury that shi hadn\'92t known was there suddenly stopped hurting. \'93Thanks. That means a lot to me,\'94 the tigress said, wiping hir eyes with the back of hir paw. Shi sat there for a few more seconds, then hugged Aruna back. \'93I\'92m sorry. I didn\'92t mean to break down like that.\'94\
\
\'93It\'92s okay,\'94 Ravi said softly. \'93It happens sometimes. I hope that you feel a little better now.\'94 \
\
\'93Don\'92t worry, Alex,\'94 Aruna added. \'93We know that stuff happens. We just want you to feel better. We\'92re friends, and friends are always there for each other.\'94\
\
\'93Thanks,\'94 Alex said with a relieved smile. Shi took a deep breath. \'93So... How do you do that dance, anyway?\'94\
\
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\'93You have a colorful room. It just screams \'91you\'92,\'94 Atman said, looking at the color-shifting fairy lights around Alex\'92s bedroom. He frowned. \'93Hmm, I think that\'92s the right phrase.\'94\
\
\'93Thanks! Oh, and watch the step there,\'94 Alex said, pointing to the entrance to the bedroom where the extra-cushioned carpet started, before Atman and Sevita stepped inside.\
\
\'93You know, sweetie, it would be a good idea to do something like this for Aruna\'92s room,\'94 Sevita said after stepping onto the carpet while following her husband. \'93I can see why you and Ravi get along. He has someone to be sporty with,\'94 she said, looking at the sports equipment on the shelves.\
\
\'93Alex is 
\f2\i very
\f0\i0  sporty,\'94 Ravi agreed, leaning back in the lounge chair in the corner of the room. \
\
\'93Ravi\'92s been talking constantly about the things that he\'92s been learning at the karate classes, and about the gymnastics lessons that he\'92s been giving you,\'94 Atman said with a laugh.\
\
\'93Yeah,\'94 Alex said, sitting down on hir bed next to Aruna. \'93We\'92ve been sort of teaching each other stuff even before he started karate lessons, like flips and kip-ups. It\'92s a lot of fun. I wish Aruna could do it too. She said she\'92d start teaching me dancing, though. She and Ravi showed me one a few minutes ago. It\'92s really cool.\'94\
\
\'93That will give you two something to do! Dancing and singing are her favorite things,\'94 Sevita said, smiling at the two young tigers sitting on the bed.\
\
\'93Indeed. Next time you stay with us, you can take over the living room and Ravi, Sevita, and I will play music for you two to dance to,\'94 Atman suggested. \'93What do you say?\'94\
\
\'93I don\'92t know if I\'92ll learn it that fast,\'94 Alex replied, \'93but it does sound fun.\'94\
\
\'93We can call it practice,\'94 Atman said, smiling and winking at the young tigress.\
\
\'93It\'92s been nice getting to meet your lovely family,\'94 Sevita said, smiling at Alex, \'93but I think that it\'92s time to head back home. You two behave, you know the rules.\'94 The white tigress cut a glance at her children.\
\
\'93That\'92s right,\'94 Atman confirmed, turning to Alex. \'93It\'92s been nice getting to meet your family. You kids have fun.\'94 The Bassi parents waved as they turned to leave the room.\
\
\'93Goodnight,\'94 Alex called after Ravi and Aruna\'92s parents. The tigress walked over to hir door for a moment, watching as Atman and Sevita walked downstairs. Shi quietly closed the door, before turning to look over at Ravi. \'93What did she mean by rules? Is there something we shouldn\'92t do?\'94\
\
\'93Brush our teeth, clean up after ourselves, make sure that Aruna doesn\'92t get hurt, follow the house rules, and be respectful,\'94 Ravi said. \'93Things like that.\'94\
\
\'93Alex?\'94 Aruna spoke up. \'93Can I lay on your bed? It looks comfy,\'94 she asked, running her paws across the blankets on it.\
\
\'93Of course,\'94 Alex replied, walking over to sit down next to Aruna again.\
\
Aruna smiled as she flopped backwards on the bed. \'93Oooooooh,\'94 she said, wiggling around. \'93I\'92m stealing Alex\'92s bed,\'94 she said, rolling over to look at the tigress.\
\
\'93You can sleep wherever you like,\'94 Alex said with a smile. \'93On the bed, the trundle, the sofa in the guest bedroom, the pullout bed, or even the bean bag chairs.\'94\
\
\'93Bean bag chairs are awesome. Aruna sleeps in one more than her bed,\'94 Ravi said, smiling.\
\
\'93Well... What if I wanted you to sleep on the bed with me?\'94 Aruna asked with a shy smile.\
\
Alex blinked, flushing with embarrassment.\
\
\'93Don\'92t mind her, she\'92s a goof,\'94 Ravi said, smiling. \'93I can sleep on the couch. Aruna can have the trundle. At least then she won\'92t have to worry about rolling off the bed,\'94 he said with a snicker. \'93Unless you 
\f2\i want
\f0\i0  for her to sleep with you. She might cling to you, thinking you\'92re one of her plushies,\'94 he teased.\
\
\'93Oh!\'94 Alex exclaimed, jumping off the bed and walking over to the closet. \'93I forgot... I put most of my plushies up last time I cleaned my room and forgot to take them down,\'94 shi said, pulling the closet door open. \'93Here, catch,\'94 shi said, taking down plushie after plushie and throwing them across the room to Aruna. Most were of the two foot-tall variety, and shi had a half dozen of them, including two tigers, a pig, snow leopard, lynx, and parrot. \
\
Ravi smiled as he watched the plushies flying across the room, his sister catching them and piling them up. The younger tigress quickly set up all of the plushies against the head of the bed.\
\
Alex walked back out of the closet, holding one last plushie, stepping over to the bed where Aruna was. \'93So... That\'92s Viktor and Dina, that\'92s Harold, Jordan, Douglas, and Mrs. Oliviera,\'94 shi started reciting their names, before holding up the pristine white stoat plush with a black tail tip. \'93And this one\'92s Elizabeth,\'94 shi said, sitting down on the bed. \'93\'91Named after my best friend in Oregon.\'94\
\
Aruna nodded as she listened to Alex naming them all off, smiling. \'93She\'92s really pretty,\'94 she said, looking at the stoat plushie. \'93I should bring over some of my plushies sometimes.\'94\
\
\'93Long as it\'92s not the really big one.\'94 Ravi said, shaking his head. \'93It was tough for me and dad to get that into the house, much less into your room.\'94\
\
\'93Elizabeth is definitely pretty,\'94 Alex confirmed, setting the plush down next to Aruna and walking over to the computer desk. Shi picked up a framed drawing sitting next to the computer and held the picture out to Aruna. \'93That\'92s a picture I drew of Lizzy,\'94 shi said.\
\
Aruna leaned over to look at the drawing, nodding. \'93Oooooh, she 
\f2\i is
\f0\i0  really pretty,\'94 she agreed. \'93I would like to meet her sometime. I bet she\'92s cool like you,\'94 she said looking up at  Alex.\
\
\'93She\'92s shy and delicate. She\'92s got aplastic anemia, meaning she doesn\'92t make enough blood. She\'92s really sweet. I don\'92t think she\'92s got a mean bone in her entire body,\'94 Alex said. \'93She lived a few minutes away from where we lived in Oregon, and we\'92ve been best friends since we were about five years old. I haven\'92t seen her since Christmas though,\'94 Alex said, sadly.\
\
\'93Awww, that sucks,\'94 Aruna said. \'93I don\'92t know what it\'92s like to have something like that happen.\'94 She went quiet for a moment. \'93You know, 
\f2\i I
\f0\i0  don\'92t have any mean bones.\'94 \
\
Alex laughed. \'93Except when you were teasing me and Ravi about kissing,\'94 shi pointed out, walking back over to the computer desk and setting the picture back down.\
\
\'93I\'92m sorry,\'94 Aruna said, folding her ears down. \'93I can\'92t help it. You get all blushy and it\'92s cute.\'94\
\
\'93You know, I\'92m starting to think that you have a crush on Alex,\'94 Ravi said, glancing at his sister and laughing.\
\
\'93That\'92d be only fair; I\'92ve got a crush on Aruna,\'94 Alex said, softly. \'93Both of you, actually,\'94 shi cautiously admitted, unsure if that was something shi should even admit; it might make them get upset, since shi was pretty sure that shi could only date one person at a time.\
\
\'93You do!?\'94 Aruna said, blushing and squirming as she picked up the stoat plush and set it on her lap. \'93That... I might have a crush on you...\'94 she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.\
\
\'93Alex?\'94 Ravi asked, looking at the older tigress. \'93I know she\'92s cute and all, but it\'92s a trap.\'94 He said, trying not to smile at his sister\'92s antics.\
\
Alex sat down at the computer chair, glancing at Ravi, then turned and squinted at Aruna, peering at her suspiciously. \'93What\'92s a trap? Are you trying to trick me, Aruna?\'94\
\
\'93I\'92m not!\'94 Aruna protested. \'93I mean, I might try and trap you for snuggles or something... like a big plushie,\'94 the younger white tigress said, burying her face in the white-furred plush she was holding.\
\
\'93I like snuggles,\'94 Alex said cautiously, not exactly wanting to commit to anything with Aruna, especially if it meant sacrificing a relationship with Ravi. \'93Lizzy and I used to snuggle a lot. I really miss it.\'94\
\
\'93You\'92re falling for her trap,\'94 Ravi pointed out. \'93If you let her start snuggling with you, she\'92s going to do it all the time,\'94 he warned. \'93I can\'92t tell you how many times that she\'92s ended up in my bed \'91cause she couldn\'92t sleep or something.\'94\
\
\'93But... What if I 
\f2\i want
\f0\i0  to snuggle all the time?\'94 Alex said, looking back over at Ravi.\
\
\'93I can help with that!\'94 Aruna said, ears perking up while still hiding her face behind the plushie. \'93I would like that a lot.\'94\
\
\'93Maybe... would you snuggle with me too, Ravi?\'94 shi asked with a whisper, blushing slightly. \'93I\'92d like to snuggle with you too, sometime.\'94\
\
\'93If you wanted me to, I guess I would,\'94 Ravi agreed, looking around the room, trying to hide the blush that he had.\
\
\'93So, ummm, Alex?\'94 Aruna asked softly. \'93Do you really have a crush on me too?\'94\
\
Seeing as shi had pretty much admitted as much to Ravi, shi might as well tell the truth. \'93Uh-huh,\'94 Alex confirmed. \'93Both of you. You\'92re really pretty, and nice, and cool...\'94\
\
Aruna\'92s ears perked up happily as she heard Alex calling her cool, but soon folded down. \'93If... If you have a crush on both of us... Would that mean you would want to date both of us?\'94 she asked, holding the plushie tighter.\
\
\'93Is that- I mean... Can you date two people?\'94 Alex asked, both confused and hopeful. \'93I thought you could only date one person.\'94\
\
\'93Well, I think it\'92s called polyamory,\'94 Ravi said, \'93when more than two people are in a relationship.\'94 The teenaged tiger took a deep breath, remembering the cheerleaders joking with him about it, suggesting he take all of them out on a group date after he refused to pick one of them to go out with. He\'92d gently, but firmly turned them all down, knowing his parents wanted him to eventually settle down with another tiger, if possible... and Alex was the first he\'92d ever met outside his own family.\
\
Alex went silent, absorbing the idea. \'93Is polyamory bad? Or illegal?\'94 shi asked, cautiously.\
\
\'93I don\'92t know. But, I mean, I don\'92t 
\f2\i think
\f0\i0  it\'92s against the law,\'94 Ravi mused, taking another deep breath. \'93If the people in the relationship are okay with it, I don\'92t see it as being bad.\'94\
\
\'93But if all three of us are dating, then you two would be dating, and that would be incest,\'94 Alex pointed out, cautiously testing the waters, \'93and incest is illegal.\'94\
\
\'93But, you said you didn\'92t think incest was wrong, when we were talking last week,\'94 Aruna said, looking over at Alex. \'93If you don\'92t think that it\'92s wrong, then it can't be 
\f2\i that
\f0\i0  bad.\'94 \
\
Ravi raised an eyebrow; he didn\'92t remember talking about this last week at all. Maybe it had been while he\'92d been in the shower. He was pretty sure he\'92d overheard something lewd before knocking on Aruna\'92s door after getting out of the bathroom.\
\
\'93Well, it can be,\'94 Alex said, shaking hir head. \'93Remember I said if people who are related have babies, they can have problems? Also, parents can take advantage of their children... or hurt them. That\'92s called abuse, and it\'92s illegal too.\'94\
\
\'93Well, I know Ravi would never hurt me,\'94 Aruna said, looking back at her brother. \'93And as for not having cubs... We can use those condom-things that you told me about.\'94\
\
Ravi\'92s eyebrows both shot up at that; he must have missed one heck of a conversation. It sounded like Alex had practically given Aruna a sex-ed class... and now he was certain that he\'92d overheard Aruna having an orgasm. \'93I would never do anything to hurt my sister,\'94 he confirmed. \'93I\'92ve gotten into more trouble over sticking up for her than anything. But... I\'92ve 
\f2\i never 
\f0\i0 thought about doing anything like that with her.\'94 He shifted uncomfortably in the lounge chair. \'93I mean she\'92s cute, and I love her to death, but...\'94\
\
\'93Really? Never?\'94 Alex asked, tilting hir head slightly as shi looked over at him, crossing hir legs in the computer chair and leaning forward towards him. \'93Not even when she\'92s dancing?\'94\
\
Ravi blushed, his ears going flat against his head. \'93Okay,\'94 he admitted, hiding his face in his paws. \'93Maybe when she\'92s dancing, and I... I might have overheard you two last week, with Aruna saying she felt \'91all tingly and stuff\'92, and I might have had some thoughts since then...\'94 He paused, peeking through his fingers. \'93You made her cum, didn\'92t you?\'94\
\
Practically every last bit of fur on Alex\'92s entire body stood on end at hearing that he\'92d overheard them. Shi stared at him, realizing just how bad this could be if he told on them. Hir mouth dropped open, completely speechless. \
\
\'93I stopped at the door to knock and I kinda heard you two making sounds and, well, I didn\'92t want to interrupt...\'94 he said, blushing and covering his face again with one paw, resting the other in his lap.\
\
\'93What... what did you hear us talking about?\'94 Alex asked, fur still puffed out like shi\'92d stuck a finger in a light socket.\
\
\'93Just Aruna saying something felt really good, and warm, and tingly, and asking you not to stop,\'94 Ravi said, blushing and fidgeting in his seat, covering his pants with one paw. He hid his face again behind his other paw as he realized he\'92d admitted to perving on them. \'93I\'92m so sorry. You must think that I\'92m a creep or something.\'94\
\
Alex simply stared at him, starting to relax a little. He hadn\'92t told his parents or anything, and it was pretty obvious he hadn\'92t objected or he\'92d have said something about it. \'93You... you..\'94 shi stuttered, then swallowed, staring at him. \'93What did you think we were doing?\'94 the herm whispered.\
\
\'93Well, I\'92m guessing you were touching Aruna,\'94 he said quietly, still blushing at the thoughts running through his head. \'93Whatever you two were doing it sounded cute... and hot.\'94 He made a strange noise, almost a whimper, as he looked back at his sister, whose muzzle was wide open. He turned back to Alex \'93You\'92re not mad?\'94\
\
Alex swallowed again; shi could hardly believe that he hadn\'92t said anything about it to their parents. For a moment shi debated whether or not to tell him. He\'92d been pretty relaxed and open about things, and he hadn\'92t seemed upset that they\'92d done something lewd... Taking a deep breath, shi decided to tell him, hoping he wouldn\'92t flip out and tell their parents. Shi\'92d definitely done something naughty, doing sexy stuff without telling them, but... well, the worst they\'92d do was ground hir and forbid them from playing together for a while. Telling the truth was more important than anything else.\
\
\'93No! I was worried that 
\f2\i you
\f0\i0  might be mad,\'94 Alex explained. \'93So... Aruna was changing into her jammies, and I saw her panties,\'94 shi said, watching to see what his reaction would be. \'93And, well, I got a stiffy... an erection. I mean, she\'92s 
\f2\i really
\f0\i0  pretty...\'94 \
\
Aruna had been blushing practically this entire conversation, and it was getting to be too much. \'93Ummm, Alex?\'94 the youngest tiger interrupted. \'93When you were walking up the steps and you fell, was that cause you could see under my dress?\'94\
\
Alex blushed and covered hir face with one paw like Ravi was. \'93Yes,\'94 shi squeaked, thoroughly embarrassed.\
\
\'93I\'92m sorry I made you trip,\'94 Aruna apologized, sheepishly.\
\
\'93Let me guess,\'94 Ravi said, getting back to the previous topic. \'93As Aruna was changing, you got an erection and Aruna wanted to see it...\'94 he said, sighing. His sister had asked to see his before too, but he\'92d adamantly refused.\
\
Alex continued to cover hir face, but nodded.\
\
\'93And then that led to you two doing things.\'94 Ravi blushed. \'93Ahhh... By the Gods, Aruna...\'94\
\
\'93I couldn\'92t help it,\'94 Aruna piped up. \'93I wanted to see what a boner looked like, and Alex is really pretty... and even more pretty when she\'92s naked,\'94 Aruna said, still hiding behind the little stoat plushie that she was squeezing.\
\
Alex was silent, glancing back and forth between Ravi and Aruna.\
\
\'93I... Ahh....\'94 Ravi said, sucking in a deep breath. \'93Okay. I think that it\'92s really hot,\'94 he admitted, wiggling in place a little. \'93There, I said it. I think it\'92s hot.\'94\
\
The little tiger herm relaxed, then continued with the story. \'93Anyway, she asked to see it, and I didn\'92t think it\'92d be bad if it was just looking, so I let her see it... and my flower too. Then she asked-\'94\
\
\'93If I could touch it and stuff,\'94 Aruna spoke up. \'93I couldn\'92t help it,\'94 she said, wiggling. \'93It felt really hard and stuff.\'94\
\
\'93I shouldn\'92t have let you touch it; Mom and Dad made me promise to ask before I do sexy stuff with anyone,\'94 Alex admitted. \'93Please don\'92t tell Mom and Dad,\'94 shi begged, \'93they\'92d ground me for like a month.\'94\
\
\'93You don\'92t have to worry about anything like that,\'94 Aruna said, shaking her head. \'93I didn\'92t tell anyone, and I don\'92t want you to get into trouble or anything.\'94\
\
\'93And I don\'92t want you to get in trouble either,\'94 Ravi added. \'93So don\'92t worry.\'94\
\
\'93We will make sure to do everything right next time... that is, if you want to.\'94 Aruna said, clearly hoping that was the case.\
\
\'93Okay,\'94 Alex said with a sigh of relief. \'93Anyway... so Aruna started touching me and licking me until it made me squirt. Then she wanted to see what licking felt like after that, so I licked her until she had an orgasm. It was only fair,\'94 shi said, looking at Ravi defensively.\
\
\'93Oh, Gods.\'94 Ravi said softly, realizing they\'92d done a lot more than just touch each other. \'93I...\'94\
\
\'93It felt really good too. I wouldn\'92t mind getting to do it again... and maybe some other things,\'94 Aruna added, muttering into the plushie. \'93I mean if you want to... with Ravi too.\'94 Her voice was nearly inaudible.\
\
\'93Ahhh, well, if you\'92d like to...\'94 Ravi murmured, squirming at the thought of Alex doing \'91sexy stuff\'92 with the squirrel he remembered from the arcade. \'93Alex, I wouldn\'92t, ahhhh, object...\'94\
\
\'93Bro-ther has a booo-ner,\'94 Aruna sang, giggling.\
\
\'93Shush,\'94 Ravi said, trying to act like he didn\'92t have one. \'93But... if it\'92s okay with you Alex, I would like to do stuff too.\'94\
\
Alex blushed. \'93I really, really want to do stuff with both of you. But I\'92ve gotta ask Mom and Dad first. Sorry,\'94 Alex said quietly, looking apologetically at Aruna, \'93but I promised. But they let me do sexy stuff with Azalea when I asked, so it should be fine.\'94\
\
\'93Ahhhh, I would get up and join you, but... I\'92m a little, ahh, stiff,\'94 Ravi said, blushing.\
\
\'93I can go with you Alex,\'94 Aruna said, smiling and poking her tongue out at her brother.\
\
\'93Mom and Dad won\'92t care if you\'92ve got a boner,\'94 Alex said, \'93I promise. And I think they might say \'91No\'92 if you aren\'92t there. Dad\'92s, ummm, kind of old-fashioned that way, I guess.\'94\
\
Taking a deep breath, Ravi got to his feet. \'93Okay,\'94 he said, using his paws to try to hide the bulge in his pants. \'93Then I will go.\'94\
\
\'93Wow...\'94 Aruna said, eyes going wide. \'93I think that\'92s bigger than Alex\'92s,\'94 she said blushing. The younger tigress set the white plush down to one side and slid off the bed.\
\
Alex got up a few seconds after Ravi stood up. Luckily, shi had been too embarrassed at getting caught doing stuff with Aruna to have an erection of hir own. The tigress padded across the soft carpet and pulled the door open, glancing out into the hallway. The guest bedroom, right across from hirs, was open, and the room was empty. \'93Watch the step,\'94 shi said, pointing down at the threshold to the room as shi walked past the bathroom and headed downstairs, holding onto the railing.\
\
\'93This time, you don\'92t have Aruna to distract you... so at least you won\'92t trip,\'94 Ravi said with a snicker, still using one paw still trying to hide his arousal.\
\
\'93I can\'92t help it; I\'92m just that cute,\'94 Aruna said with a giggle as she followed the other two tigers downstairs.\
\
Alex huffed, continuing down to the great room where hir parents were sitting in the living area, in front of the fireplace. \'93Mom?\'94 shi asked.\
\
Raenne was sitting on the sectional with Nicholas currently latched onto her chest, as she nursed the infant cub. David was sitting next to her, holding Katherine with one arm while the other was draped over his wife\'92s shoulders. Both of them looked up.\
\
\'93What\'92s up, kiddo?\'94 Raenne asked, glancing up as Alex made hir way down the stairs. \'93I\'92m nursing,\'94 she added as the other two tiger cubs came into view.\
\
\'93I noticed,\'94 Alex said, walking over and sitting on the opposite leg of the sectional sofa closest to them. \'93So, umm...\'94 shi trailed off as Ravi and Aruna stopped nervously at the foot of the stairs.\
\
\'93Mrs. Raenne, Mr. David, we had a question,\'94 Ravi spoke up, one paw over his eyes as he stood there, having heard something about her nursing. \'93And, ahhh, I\'92m not sure how to phrase it...\'94\
\
\'93Can we all, um, do sexy stuff?\'94 Aruna asked point blank, as only a nine-year-old could.\
\
Raenne blinked, taken completely off guard. Uncertain what to say, she turned to her husband David, who was looking across the room at Ravi with one raised eyebrow, having realized why the teenaged boy had one paw over his eyes and the other covering the front of his pants.}