It had been 2 months since the mountain lion attack.
Skye was landing from the first flight she had taken around town. Chase was standing there waiting.
"Did you have a nice flight?" asked Chase.
"It was great," said Skye. "I know this is really hard for you. But I've proven I'm safe. Rocky has assured you that all of his new safety features are working."
"I know, I know," said Chase. "I'm getting better, I didn't hyperventilate this time."
"I just want to be able to go on missions again," said Skye, "Chase, I want to be useful again."
"What do you mean?" said Chase.
"I mean," said Skye, "Katie cleared me a month ago to go on missions. I've been flying around the Lookout for weeks now. This was the first time you trusted me enough to fly out of your direct line of sight. I want to be cleared for missions."
"Who said you weren't?" asked Chase.
"Seriously?" said Skye, "Ryder said until you cleared me, I would not be allowed on missions."
"Oh," said Chase. "I'm sorry, I guess my lack of focus was worrying him. I'll go speak to him right now."
"Thank you Chase," Skye said, kissing her mate. "You know, I'm pretty sure I'm in heat."
"Oh really?" said Chase. "You still want to try?"
"I don't want to try," laughed Skye, "I want you to step up your game and do what you need to do."
"Ok, ok," laughed Chase. "I'll go speak to Ryder."
"I'll be waiting in the Dorm," said Skye.
***
Gale was at Katie's running the shop. A local pet owner had brought her cat by to have a check up. Gale was finishing up when Marshall walked in.
"Hey Gale," said Marshall, "how's business?"
"A check up, 2 groomings, and a bath at 3," laughed Gale. "I'm exhausted."
"Sounds like it," laughed Marshall. "Any problems with the check up?"
"Other than it being a cat I had to make friends with before it would let me check out it was easy," said Gale, "Callie came in and spoke to the other cat. Once she understood what I was doing she was ok."
"What Callie talked to you?" asked Marshall.
"Not really," laughed Gale, "She spoke to the other cat. I just happened to be there."
"I still haven't heard her speak," said Marshall.
"Would it make you feel better if I said you're a dog, get over yourself," said Callie from a shelf above the wash tubs.
"Really Callie," said Marshall "All this time and that's the first thing you say to me?"
"What you want me to call you a good boy and scratch your ears," laughed Callie, she spoke in a mocking cute voice. "The only reason I put up with you guys is because Wildcat likes all of you. Now if you don't mind I need to take another nap."
Marshall stood there with his mouth hanging open.
Gale burst out laughing, "Katie said she was fairly stuck up about talking."
"I, uh, I'm speechless," laughed Marshall.
"So Katie said she had a case this evening that she had to present to the Professor," explained Gale, "I told her I'd watch the shop and close up later if she didn't make it back."
"Ok, do you need anything?" asked Marshall.
"I ran out of that oatmeal shampoo earlier," said Gale, "but Mr. Porter said he'd drop some off when the next shipment came in later today. So I guess not."
"If you need anything," said Marshall, "I'm a pup tag call away."
"Thanks," said Gale. "Did Cinder say when she was going to be able to come back?"
"She said she really enjoyed talking to you and would try to come more often," laughed Marshall. "So you apparently really liked talking to her as well."
"I love talking to her," said Gale. "She's just so easy to talk to."
"She is," agreed Marshall. "I always feel comforted when she's around."
***
Lizzy was finishing up her rotation and was in the Guardian Office writing up her shift report. Karuna walked in and sat across from her. He put his paws on the desk and was staring at her.
"What?" smiled Lizzy, "Did you need something? You're not on shift today."
"I, uh, I" stammered Karuna.
"Spit it out," said Lizzy, "What do you need me to do? Cover your shift tomorrow?"
"No, no nothing like that," said Karuna.
"Ok, then what?" asked Lizzy.
"Would you like to go to dinner with, uh, me?" asked Karuna.
'I go to dinner with you all the time," laughed Lizzy.
"No, I mean, would you like to go on a date, with uh, me" Karuna whispered the last.
"Oh, uh yes," said Lizzy, "I would love to."
"Great, uh, great," said Karuna. "I'll pick you up at 6."
"Ok, I uh, I'll see you then," said Lizzy.
Karuna left. Lizzy pressed her pup tag, "Uh Mom?"
"Yes Lizzy?" answered Everest, "is something wrong?"
"Well, uh," said Lizzy.
"What is it honey?" asked Everest.
"Uh, Karuna asked me on a date," said Lizzy, "I, uh, what do I do now?"
"Just a second," said Everest, she muted her pup tag. Everest screamed and jumped up and down. She unmuted her tag, "Well, I think you should head to Katie's. She'll get you groomed up for your date."
"Oh, ok," said Lizzy.
Skye and Yeshe had heard Everest scream and came running into the dorm.
"What's wrong?" asked Skye.
"Karuna, just asked Lizzy on a date," said Everest.
"That little sneak," said Yeshe, "He didn't say anything. At least to me."
"Ok, what did you tell her?" asked Skye.
"I told her to go to Katie's and get groomed up," said Everest.
"Ok, so now what?" asked Yeshe.
"We go help," laughed Skye, doing a backflip.
"Let's go girls," said Everest. "We'll can call Sunny, Obi and Mudita on the way."
***
Skye, Everest, and Yeshe walked into Katie's. Gale was sitting at the counter.
"Hello Ladies," said Gale. "Is there something you needed today?"
"Is Katie not here?" asked Skye.
"No, She had a presentation this evening," said Gale, "I'm running the shop tonight. Is something wrong?"
Sunny, Obi, and Mudita walked in.
"Well, I guess it's time for an addition to the tradition," said Skye.
"Something new?" asked Sunny.
"I'm not following," said Gale.
"Ok, I guess you'll find out soon enough," said Skye. "When a girl of the group gets asked on her first date, we all come here and help get them ready for the date."
"But you're all... OH MY DOG!" screamed Gale, "He finally got off his tail and asked Lizzy Out!"
'Uh, yes," said Yeshe, "Wait, did he tell you?"
"He asked me how to ask her," said Gale, "But that was like two weeks ago. I figured he chickened out. Is she on her way?"
As if on cue Lizzy walked in. "Uh, hello everyone," said Lizzy. "Mom, did you tell everyone?"
"Just the girls," laughed Everest.
Everyone helped lead Lizzy to the back and Gale began preparing her bath. Gale walked out and dragged the grooming table and a stool into the larger washroom.
"Ok Lizzy," said Gale, "the tub's ready."
"Uh, is Katie not here?" said Lizzy.
"No, it's a new twist in the tradition," said Skye. "Gale, is going to groom you today."
"I promise," said Gale, "I'll make you look great."
"You know how to groom also?" asked Lizzy.
"I watched a viewtube video," said Gale.
"Uh, Gale?" said Yeshe.
"I'm kidding mom," said Gale, "Yes, I've been helping Katie for a few months now."
The ladies all released the breath they were holding and then looked at each other and laughed.
"You're naughty," said Everest, "I like it."
"Don't encourage her," laughed Yeshe, "She's already bad enough."
After making sure Lizzy had a good bath and was clean, Gale had her get out and jumped on the stool to blow dry her fur. Gale then went over to a drawer marked with her name. She opened it and pulled out a grooming kit made especially for paws.
"Where did you find those?" asked Yeshe.
"Dad made them," said Gale, as she walked around Lizzy looking at her current look.
"Of course he did," laughed Yeshe.
Gale hopped back on the stool and went to work. She brushed and trimmed here and there, then she hopped down and walked around again. She repeated this a few times and finally stepped back.
"What do you think?" asked Gale.
Lizzy turned and looked in the mirror. "Oh mom," gasped Lizzy.
"You look amazing sweetheart," said Everest.
"Wow, Gale," said Skye, "You're really good. I want you to make me up soon."
"Me too," said all the others.
About that time Katie walked in.
"Hey ladies," said Katie, setting her books down on the desk. "What's all the fuss?"
Katie stopped and looked at Lizzy, "OH MY GOODNESS! Gale you did that?"
"Yes ma'am," said Gale.
"I only showed you the basics," said Katie, "You never cease to amaze me. This is wonderful. Oh by the way congrats. I guess he finally got off his tail and asked."
"You too?" asked Yeshe.
"We work in a salon mom," laughed Gale. "Girl talk is about all we have other than medical stuff."
Everyone laughed.
***
"Ok dad," said Karuna, "I asked her. Other than try to not throw up, what do I do now?"
Rocky laughed, "Well that's the first step. Head to the Lookout we'll be waiting for you."
"We?" asked Karuna.
"Well, the girls have their thing," said Rocky. "But the boys have ours."
"Ok, I'm on the way," said Karuna.
Rocky called Zuma, Marshall, and Chase. Then he decided to call Rubble and Kang as well.
"Tell you what," said Kang, "I'll relieve Buster so he can come. Maybe it will help get him off his tail."
Karuna arrived and walked into the Lookout. The boys were all waiting.
"Well at least we don't have to fight you to take a bath," laughed Zuma.
"Yeah, yeah, Ha, ha," said Rocky.
"Y'all are not getting in the shower with me are you?" asked Karuna.
"No, we're not that weird." laughed Chase.
"And other than brushing your fur we don't groom you like the girls do," said Marshall. "Karuna, I'm proud of you."
"Karuna?" asked Rocky, "Did you think to ask her father first?"
"He did," laughed Marshall, "Let's see uh, three weeks ago wasn't it."
"Y-yes sir," said Karuna.
"So why did it take you so long?" asked Zuma.
"It would have taken longer," said Buster as he walked in, "I told him I was going to ask her for him."
"What are you doing here?" asked Karuna. "Aren't you on duty?"
"Dad relieved me so I could come and share in my best friend's big day," said Buster.
Karuna took a good shower and was blow drying his fur. Rocky walked in and started brushing him.
"Big day son," said Rocky, "You know, I've spoken with you about boys and girls. You know your mom and I as well as Marshall and Everest support you both. But I will just say this, don't do anything you haven't thought out completely."
"Dad?" said Karuna, "We aren't going to do that!"
"Well if you haven't at least thought about it," said Rocky, "You're better than most pups your age."
"I never said I haven't thought about it," said Karuna. "Her fur drives me insane, I just am saying I would never ask her before we're ready. I love her too much to push her into anything."
"As long as you think it through," said Rocky. "Remember, It's not always the guy that initiates the actions."
"I know," said Karuna, "I can't guarantee that if she starts it I would say no."
"Just remember," laughed Rocky, "You have to deal with Marshall, but you'd have to face Everest. She can be meaner than a mountain lion."
"Yeah, that thought has occurred to me," laughed Karuna.
"So did Marshall already talk to you?" asked Rocky.
"Yeah, I got the Dad speech already," laughed Karuna. "He wasn't as rough as Uncle Zuma said he would be."
"Yeah, Zuma probably got the roughest and he said it wasn't that bad," said Rocky.
"Yeah, but I bet none of you got threatened with Everest if you hurt your girlfriend," laughed Karuna.
"No, we definitely weren't," laughed Rocky, "That thought would probably scare Kang."
Rocky and Karuna walked out into the main room. Marshall took a picture, "If I didn't take a picture I'd have to deal with a mad momma or possibly mommas."
Everyone laughed.
"Have fun," said Chase.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do?" said Zuma.
Marshall smacked Zuma, "Good lord, don't tell him that."
Everyone laughed.
"I promise," said Karuna, "I'll treat her like the lady she is."
"So are you taking her to Mr. Porter's?" asked Chase.
"No, I made everything myself," said Karuna. "We're going down to the beach to watch the sunset."
Rocky looked at Zuma.
"What? He wanted the best," laughed Zuma, "so he came to the best."
"Wow, way to set the bar," said Marshall.
"Yeah, Thanks," said Buster.
Rocky walked Karuna out to the front doors, "Have fun son, I explained the collar thing. Don't make that mistake, I still hear about it from time to time."
"Thanks dad, I plan on keeping my collar on," laughed Karuna, "Thanks for everything."