FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2018 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission. Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Angie Rockwell, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew, and Jerry Kitt © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE. Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios. Gabrielle Ryder and Jean LeBrun © Aslaug, from her Transitions stories. See them at her site, The Axe Shed, available from the links page. Aramis Dagaz is© his player and appears here with his permission.
Author’s Note: Lewiston, Maine’s airport, identifier KLEW, is actually uncontrolled. That is, it has no control tower. Poetic license was used for this story, so Alex and company talk with a control tower whilst aviating there.
Chapter 124
Party!
“Alex O’Whitt, this was your single life!”
Alex sat, looking a bit uncertain as Billy played Master of Ceremonies for his bachelor party. He’d realized earlier that day that, other than knowing when and where to show up, he had no idea what was going on. It was not a situation he had been in very often. The femmes around him had been whispering together for the last two weeks. He wasn’t very comfortable about it, even with knowing Penny’s philosophy. Now he sat in the center of the group of males who were attending his party. It was a mix of Kentiger crews, Air Force friends, Church friends, and even Izzy Quai and Tyler Davidson. James Sheppard was there too, as Zig was at Corrie’s bachelorette party. Billy had put a plastic ball and chain on his ankle and made him sit, as apparently a Power Point presentation was involved.
“Alex, as a single fur, you came and went as you pleased,” Billy began. The first slide showed a comically gloomy white tiger holding a phone away from his ear as a stream of queries and instructions flew past.
“Now, Yes Dear is the phrase you’ll use most often. When you were single, you dressed as you pleased, but now.”
The slide changed to a comic lioness picking out clothing for a white tiger who looked suitably perplexed that the old stained sweatshirt and ragged jeans he wore weren’t okay.
“Now, Yes I do look better in this is how you’ll choose your wardrobe. When you were single, work around the house meant something outdoors. Now, the Honey-do list will be your best friend.”
Everyone had burst out laughing as the slide changed to a very perplexed tiger and the list in his paws that rolled out across the floor and off-screen.
“When you were single, your girlfriend looked like this for you.”
A chorus of whistles and kaht-calls rang out as the slide changed to one of a shapely comic lioness in a tight sweater and tight jeans, her hair and makeup perfect and a saucy look on her face.
“But now, she’ll lovingly greet you like this.”
The slide changed to one of a bedraggled-looking lioness in curlers with fur care mask on her face, wearing baggy sweats and looking like she was about to fall asleep. The group laughed uproariously. Billy had one last pair of slides.
“When you were single, you had all the money you needed, but now, wave bye-bye to the moolah!”
The first slide showed the comic white tiger with cash in paw and lots of toys like airplanes and cars and off-road four-wheelers in the background. The second showed the lioness carrying a small shopping bag, while the tiger following her was loaded down with bags and boxes with his pockets turned out. Alex grinned earnestly. He knew it was all in teasing fun, and Corrie didn’t fit any of those stereotypes any more than he did.
The party had been a raucous mix of jest, camaraderie, and stories. Bart Higgins and Jon Foertch were there, representing the Air Force. Tasha was over at Corrie’s party and Alex was actually a little concerned with her and Zig Zag in the same place to tease his lioness.
“Hey Ice!” Jedi called. “Be sure and give us a good PIREP of how married life really is!”
“Mostly sunny, chance of chaos, if it’s like usual,” Alex quipped in return. A loud round of laughter rang out again. Then a large cake was wheeled into the room by two burley furs in work clothes. Alex didn’t recognize them and looked dubiously at Billy. The tiger shrugged. He had no idea who or where it came from, as he hadn’t ordered it. From somewhere, a drum roll sounded, and the lights dimmed. Everyone wondered what would happen next.
Suddenly a spotlight illuminated the top of the cake, which folded open and back to reveal Cherri McCool. She was dressed in a tight sequined red dress, cut up to here and down the there. She was holding a banner that read, “Wedding Bound.” She had on a headset microphone and began a slow, sexy, jazzy rendition of an old John Denver song.
“Lady, are you cryin’?
Do the tears belong to me?
Do you think our time together,
Is all gone?”
Her voice was full, low, and sultry, but the words were sung earnestly. Alex found himself nearly in tears thinking of Corrie. There were no kaht-calls, no whistles or yells, as the lioness held their rapt attention. Her movements were slow and sensual, accentuating the song. She kept every stitch of her clothing in place, but it felt like she was baring her soul in each line. As she finished, the two males who’d wheeled in the cake lifted her gracefully down from the cake. She sauntered up to Alex, placed the banner on him, and presented him with a single red rose.
“Conrats, Sugar. Zig sends her best, and hopes tomorrow is as wonderful as can be for you both.”
The lioness leaned down and kissed him gently on the cheek, and then turned and walked out one hip at a time. The lights came back up and all the males started breathing again. Billy looked around and shrugged, and then stated into the mic he’d been using.
“Well, nothing I can do could top that. Alex, you want to say anything?”
Alex removed the faux ball-and-chain from his ankle and stood, taking the mic from Billy.
“Gentlefurs, thank you for a wonderful party. I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow when I marry the most wonderful femme I know. Goodnight and safe travel all!”
Alex turned off the mic and gave it back to Billy. The males all stood up and applauded and then lined up to shake paws before they departed. Finally, it was just Billy and Alex. As they made to walk out of Rip’s, Billy looked at his friend levelly.
“Alex, I have no doubt, but I’d be amiss as your Best Fur if I didn’t ask. Are you ready, and are you certain?”
Alex smiled. After all the time and all the things that had happened, he looked both very certain and very content.
“Yes I am, Billy. Yes I am.”
# # #
“Okay Corrie, what’s this?” Penny teased as Zig Zag held her muzzle to keep from laughing.
Corrie had allowed herself to be blindfolded, and now she sat in a chair as Penny had been putting various things into her paws. Kitchen utensils, household items, and articles of clothing. Zig Zag had provided a lacy bra and panty set, but out of deference to Corrie had foregone some of the more risqué items she could have provided. The lioness took the item from Penny in her paws and began to get a feel of what it might be.
“It’s…long and, um, round, and a little heavy, and the surface…”
The lioness stopped and began to blush crimson to the tips of her ears as she held the item in a rather suggestive way.
“Zig! You didn’t!”
“What? No! That’s not mine. My contribution was the bra and panty set, new for you from my clothing line. Penny brought that!” The skunkette exclaimed.
By now most everyone was dying from keeping their laughter down, Penny included. Corrie then pulled off the blindfold to reveal…
A baker’s silicone-covered rolling pin. Corrie took one look and burst out laughing, which released everyone else’s laughter. After a couple moments everyone was able to get their breath again.
“Oh Crikey! You dudded me propah on that one. I thought for certain that was a b.o.b. Sorry Zig. Shame on you, Penny.”
“Me?” Penny exclaimed, attempting innocence and failing miserably behind her grin. “That was all you, you saucy thing you.”
Corrie looked aghast for a second, but then laughed again.
“Yeah, I suppose. Was that it, then?”
“Yep,” Penny stated. “That was the last item. Now Corrie, keep your seat right there. We’re going to compare your single life with your upcoming married life.”
Corrie rolled her eyes, but then waved a paw for the ti-fox to go on. The lights went down and a power point slide show began on a screen that had silently slid down.
“Corrie, when you were single, you did what you wanted.”
The slide showed a comical lioness skipping through flowers. Corrie stuck her tongue out at Penny.
“Now that you’re married, you’ll have a husband tagging along.”
The slide changed to one showing the same lioness with a comic white tiger right beside her, mirroring her every step and then pulling her along into a sporting goods shop.
“When you were single, you dressed how you wanted.”
The slide showed the lioness well dressed wearing low heels, jeans, and a comfortable top.
“Now, your husband will have a say.”
The slide showed the white tiger with a thought bubble full of sexy outfits with stilettoes and lingerie while the lioness dreamed of her comfortable sweats and jeans.
“When you were single, you did what you wanted with your money.”
The slide showed the lioness buying shoes and purses and clothes.”
“Now you have to stay on budget.”
The slide showed the lioness looking at bills for home, food, and utilities while the tiger bought a new truck.
“When you were single, your male met you like this.”
The slide showed a handsome comic white tiger, well dressed in a suit and bearing flowers and candy.
“Now that you’re married, this is the norm”
The new slide showed the same tiger in a stained A-line shirt sitting in a recliner with beer and remote in paw. Corrie laughed, knowing that she and Alex didn’t fit those stereotypes. Penny brought out a maid’s hat, rubber gloves and a scrub brush. She put these on Corrie and named her.
“To Queen Corrie! Domestic engineer and Household Heroine!”
“Here Here!” everyone called. In addition to Penny and Zig Zag, Jenna, Patti, Joanne, the Angels from Helipro, even Terri and her girlfriend and Natasha Shannon were there. Angela Onca had driven down to be there as well. Tia had chosen to forego the event, in case Zig or anyone chose to get a little too adult in their teasing of Corrie. The three Helipro pilots had temporarily stolen the spotlight earlier when they told of the two new pilots being hired. They would be starting the week Corrie returned from her honeymoon. Again, it had worked out that both were femmes. Destiny Pontoin was a tall snow leopardess, blue-eyed and blonde. Harmony Kwan was a petite, dark-haired, green-eyed Siamese. Both were in their late twenties, and both had learned to fly choppers in the Air Force.
There was a slight pause, and suddenly the lights were dimmed. Corrie looked over at Penny questioningly. Patti was her Maid of Honor, but Penny had volunteered to organize the Bachelorette Party. Penny shrugged.
“I have no idea, this wasn’t part of my plans.”
A large cake was rolled out. Corrie now looked at Zig Zag.
“Zig, what did you do?”
“Nothing,” the striped skunk replied, attempting to look innocent and totally failing. Spotlights suddenly illuminated the cake, and the top folded open and down.
Alexi stood there wearing tight black jeans and a white shirt open to show off his chest. There were a couple of whistles, but it became completely silent for a brief second before the music began. Alexi, holding a cordless microphone, began to sing.
“Oh, my Love, my Darling,
I’ve hungered for your touch,
A long, lonely time…”
The Husky’s voice was strong, yet soft. He continued to sing through the song, and the ladies would later admit that Unchained Melody never sounded better. The male was putting everything into the song, making each one feel the longing and passion there. Corrie thought of Alex, smiling as tears wisped in the corner of her eyes. Alexi didn’t remove any clothing, but by the end of the song, the ladies felt as though they’d seen all that he was. Very gracefully for a male, he stepped down out of the cake and walked up to Corrie. He gave a courtly bow and presented her with a single red rose.
“Congratulations Miss Corrie. Zig and James wish you a most wonderful wedding day and a happy and content marriage.”
He gave her the flower and took her paw. He did not kiss it, but gently brought it to his nose and then forehead. Releasing it, he stood, turned, and did a slow saunter away and out of the room. As the lights came back up, a huge cheer broke out as the ladies found they could breathe again.
Patti stood and took the mic from Penny. “Well, what can I say after that? Corrie, you and Alex are a great couple. May your marriage be wonderful and blessed. Would you like to say something?”
Corrie stood, a bit reluctantly, and took the mic. Speeches were not her thing.
“Thank you all, for everything. This has been a long time coming for both Alex and I, but we believe God has brought us togethah. Have a safe drive home, and we’ll see you all tomorrow.”
She gave the mic back to Patti, who passed it on to Penny, who put it away. Everyone took a turn hugging Corrie before they left. Angela had a tear in her eye as she exclaimed, “I’m so happy you two worked out. You deserve someone who makes you happy.”
When Natasha Shannon’s turn came, she hugged the lioness close and whispered in her ear, “You won’t find a more special guy. Take good care of him.”
Then it was down to the wedding planners and Corrie. Penny started an impromptu meeting.
“Patti! Maid of Honor, all set for tomorrow?”
“Yeppers,” Patti responded. “Corrie’s dress is in my car, and I have my makeup case and other supplies ready.”
Corrie looked at the Dalmatian sidelong as Penny continued.
“Good, Joanne?”
“Yes,” the Maned Wolf replied. “The church and the hall are decorated, the aisle runner is in place beside the doors so Jack and James can grab it, and I’ll set the guys to work at ten a.m. parking cars.”
“Great, Jenna?” Penny continued.
“The caterers are all set. Two B’s will start setting up in the Fellowship Hall at ten also.”
“Check, Terri?” the ti-fox asked.
“The photographer is set, confirmed this morning. Also, I have twenty single use cameras to give out to get candid shots of the reception.”
Penny smiled at the felid’s response and then went on. “Excellent. Brother Ronnie went through a rehearsal with the wedding party this afternoon. Alex’s other groomsfur made it in, so that’s set. Last but not least, Zig Zag?”
“I surprised Alex with a cake, too. And relax, Corrie, just like Alexi, Cherri didn’t remove any clothing either. As for my part, all the wedding night and honeymoon arrangements are done and double-check confirmed. Their bags are packed and ready to go as well.”
“Great, that’s the whole checklist,” Penny concluded. Corrie was looking askance at Zig Zag. The skunk femme had requested clothing and sundries from both the lioness and Alex, but the rest was a mystery. The only clue was that she had asked them both if they had passports and then told them to bring them. Zig showed no inclination to reveal more, so the small meeting ended. Another round of hugs and everyone headed home. Patti was going to stay with Corrie to help her stay calm and keep her company tonight.
“No need to be nervous,” Corrie muttered to herself. “I’m only getting married tomorrow.”
# # #
Jefferson Mastifson was sitting at home, keeping a glass of scotch company. It was Friday night, but he had no plans to go anywhere. Not tonight, or on through the weekend. Something he’d seen in a newspaper had made him decide that there would be no more practice. He’d been waiting to talk with the local Delta Connection terminal chief, looking at a newspaper someone had left in the outer office. He’d been surprised to see a picture of O’Whitt and his lioness on the Local page. It had announced their engagement and gave a date and venue over in Winchester for their wedding. That date was tomorrow. The pair looked so happy it made him a little sick. He’d been divorced by his little lapine wife, indirectly because of O’Whitt. Now the tiger was marrying a very beautiful lioness, while he was one-night-standing it. Not that he wanted to be tied down again, but it was just one more thing on the list of reasons he wanted the tiger dead.
“No matter,” he muttered to himself. Soon enough. Mastifson planned to lay low until after the tiger returned from his honeymoon. Then, oh, the plans he had! The tiger would never see it coming.
There were a couple of loose ends that nagged at the back of his mind. The AFOSI agent, Andy Denver, had seemed hot after the Rottweiler, but he hadn’t heard anything more since his contact in Denver had alerted him to the agent’s activities. Most likely, after not finding anything, the fur had given up and moved on.
He also couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being tracked or followed. Never anything concrete, but a feeling. Like catching something in your peripheral vision just as it disappears around a corner.
Shaking that off, he stood and retrieved a topographical map he’d purchased. The map showed the area O’Whitt lived in. Comparing it to what he’d seen driving through the area, he carefully plotted a course from well over a mile away from the tiger’s driveway. Crossing a field along a fenceline, he recalled that the fence went near a house and barn. He’d have to keep the fence on his right until he reached the treeline. He could follow that line to O’Whitt’s back door, as it followed the ridge the tiger’s house was on.
He frowned to himself. It would be a difficult hike at night or if there’d been rain. There was also the problem of animals. Running into a cow or horse or being barked at by a farm kali would end his approach. He’d have to carefully think the whole route to the tiger’s house over again.
“No matter,” he said to himself again. O’Whitt was getting married tomorrow. The Rottweiler had plenty of time to work it out. Then he’d be ready for his final hunt.
# # #
Corrie was dreaming. She was sure she was dreaming, because what she was envisioning Alex doing with her would not happen for at least another day. He was loving, and tender, and she felt wonderful. Then, halfway through, or so she thought, everything suddenly changed. She was in the clearing again. She couldn’t move. She waited for the hated voice to start. It had been some time since she’d had the nightmare. It now seemed an interminable time while she waited for the terrible vision to continue its normal course. She could see the trees, smell the water.
Then things began to grow indistinct. What seemed to be fog thickened, slowly blotting out the clearing, the trees and water, everything but what was right under her feet. She didn’t feel as though she was moving, but before long there was a lightening. The fog was thinning. The lioness began to walk, searching for a way out. She felt as though she’d walked for a long time when a sound caused her to turn and look behind her.
She was certain she screamed. She was absolutely sure of it. Only thing was, she heard no sound. There before her stood Alex. He was torn and bloody from his ears to his feet. Deep, open gouges oozed blood. His paws were at his side. Incongruently, the expression on his face was calm, even welcoming. His face, his nose bore testimony to the claws that had raked across them. Horrified, she looked down. Her claws held bloody shreds of white and black fur. She looked back up and straight into the bloody tiger’s eyes. Instead of hurt or hate, she saw love and acceptance. He was now smiling. She could not speak, but Alex blinked and gave her a nod.
“I forgive you,” he said gently.
The lioness fell to her knees, finally able to cry. Forgiveness. The word echoed in her mind. Then she heard another voice calling her name.
She opened her eyes and sat straight up. Her cheeks were wet and her nose running. She looked directly into the concerned eyes of Patti Delancey.
“Corrie, hey, wake up, it’s me.”
The lioness suddenly held her paws up before her eyes. When all she saw was her normal fingers and claws, she fell back, crying again. Patti put her arms around her friend and rocked her, murmuring reassurances. Then she got some tissues and gave them to the lioness. Corrie snuffled into one and then wiped her eyes with another. Finally, Patti spoke.
“Better now?”
The lioness took a deep breath and answered.
“Yeah, sorry. Bad dream.”
“The usual?” Patti asked tentatively.
“Sorta. Alex ended up in it, but I think that might have been pre-wedding jitters,” Corrie answered, a little stronger.
“Wanna talk?”
Corrie looked at Patti’s concerned expression and had to smile. Her friend might be a live wire, but she was always there when she was needed.
“Yeah, for a bit. Just to calm back down so we can go to sleep. Not about the nightmare. The less said about that the bettah.”
The two talked for about an hour and then laid back down. Sleep was slow to come, and not just because of wedding nerves.
End of Chapter 124