The Safari

An Alleycat Crew Short

Calynn’s thumb brushed the back of his hand as she held his left hand against her thigh. His right arm rested around her shoulders as they stared out the tour bus window, both sitting partially sideways in their seats so they could face the glass. Calynn had her right hand pressed against it, either grinning ear to ear or staring in open-mouthed wonder, depending on which creatures were visible at the time.

Kash had read about dinosaurs and seen old movies depicting them, but seeing this planet’s version of the real thing was… breathtaking.

The tour bus was heavily armored, with gun turrets mounted at both ends in case of attack. The lower half housed an absurd number of defensive measures designed to keep the passengers alive—spikes, battering rams, flamethrowers, and massive ground screws that could anchor the vehicle if something big tried to knock it over. The upper half held two levels of observation decks, along with the turrets.

Kash and Calynn sat on the upper deck, nearly eight meters off the ground. Even so, some of the animals still towered over the bus.

Everything here was huge.

The humans were four meters tall. The trees stretched more than two hundred meters into the sky. Blades of grass were as thick as his leg and nearly as tall as he was. And the insects were…

Terrifying.

But the real reason they were here was the Flurion pride.

Flurions looked like six-legged lions with gray and brown fur, standing nearly six meters tall at the shoulder. The males had longer fur beneath their chins, almost like beards, and both sexes sported a long tuft of fur that ran from their ears halfway down their backs. Their faces resembled oversized house cats, somehow managing to be both majestic and painfully adorable.

A dozen Flurions lounged beneath a massive tree in the open plains. The tour bus slowed as it approached, coming to a stop beside a reinforced pod sunk deep into the ground.

Two guides exited the bus.

The man was tall—even by this planet’s standards—broad-shouldered despite his lanky frame. The woman beside him moved with the same calm confidence. Together, they crossed the pod and opened the large outer gate.

Tails flicked and ears perked as the two humans approached the pride. The woman called out in a soft, pleasant voice.

A female Flurion lifted her head, watching.

The woman waited, then called again, her tone calm but firm.

Only then did the great cat rise and pad toward them.

A collective gasp rippled through the bus as the massive creature closed the distance.

She bumped her head gently against the man’s chest and flopped onto her back, paws in the air, exposing her belly.

The woman laughed softly and dropped to her knees, hugging the enormous cat and rubbing her belly. The man scratched under her chin before continuing on to the rest of the pride, offering calm attention and steady presence while the woman guided the female Flurion into the pod.

Once inside, the outer door sealed shut. The woman coaxed the Flurion to lie down again before retrieving a large slab of meat and tossing it into the enclosure. The Flurion purred as she devoured the treat, tail flicking lazily while the woman stroked her fur.

When the meal was finished, the guide approached the bus.

“Where are my six that paid for the pod experience?” she asked.

Calynn’s head snapped toward Kash, her eyes wide and imploring.

“Come on,” Kash said with a smile, offering his hand. “We’re first.”

He felt her excitement as her hand trembled in his while they made their way toward the exit.

“Who has one and two?” the guide asked.

“I do,” Kash replied, holding up the tickets.

“One last warning,” she said calmly. “No sudden movements. No loud noises. If she stands, you step back. If I say out, you leave. No exceptions.”

They both nodded.

The guide opened the inner hatch.

Warm, dry air washed over them, carrying an earthy, mint-tinged scent. The grass crunched beneath their boots as they stepped into the pod.

“Saussie,” the woman said gently. “Who’s a good girl?”

Saussie rolled onto her back, paws in the air, purring loudly.

Kash and Calynn approached slowly. The guide nodded her approval as she rubbed the Flurion’s chin.

Calynn dropped to her knees without hesitation, burying her hands in Saussie’s impossibly soft fur. Her smile consumed her face.

One of Saussie’s middle legs stretched toward Kash, pawing at him playfully. He took the massive paw in both hands and rubbed the thick fur along her leg.

Calynn leaned forward until her face disappeared into the fur.

Saussie purred louder, using two more paws to gently pull Kash closer.

“She really likes you two,” the guide said with a smile.

Kash knelt beside Calynn, soon finding himself stretched out against Saussie’s belly with her. He gazed at Calynn’s brilliant smile through the fur, lifting a hand to her cheek. Her fingers found his.

Her eyes closed as she snuggled closer—into Saussie, into his hand.

A faint glow shimmered beneath her skin, soft and warm, like joy trying to escape.

He had never seen her so happy.

Worth every credit.