tabby

Tabby and the Den
A FUC Academy Story
TB Mann


Copyright © 2020, TB Mann
Cover Art © 2020 Dreams2Media
Produced in Canada
An EveL Worlds Production
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This story is a work of fiction and the characters, events and dialogue found within the story are of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is completely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and printing without permission in writing from the author.


Contents
Introduction
Acknowledgments
Acronyms
1. Tabitha
2. Kasim
3. Arin
4. Tabitha
5. Bae
6. Tabitha
7. Kasim
8. Tabitha
9. Arin
10. Tabitha
11. Bae
12. Tabitha
13. Kasim
14. Tabitha
15. Bae
16. Tabitha
17. Tabitha
18. Kasim
19. Bae
20. Tabitha
21. Arin
22. Tabitha
About the Author


Introduction
An Asian moon bear, a black panther, a sloth bear, and a Russian blue feline walk into a stripper bar...
As a domestic cat shifter, computer genius Tabitha knew the closest she would ever get to being a FUC agent was as a tech. Not even bullying taunts would stop her. But a surprise meeting with the director fulfills her greatest wish... and her worst nightmare.
The well-honed team of Bae, Arin, and Kasim are agent idols. Everyone wants to work with them. But the two bears and panther are a closed unit, without room for anyone else. Especially a silver-blue-haired cat who makes them roar and purr.
When Tabitha is kidnapped by the man they’re investigating, the guys discover there’s a fine line between love and hate. To find her, they’re willing to burn the town down. But heaven forbid she’s hurt... because then the claws will come out.
No one touches their Tabby except them.
Does this premise and world seem familiar? That’s because it is based off the Eve Langlais Furry United Coalition. Eve Langlais has invited her author friends to come and play in her world.


Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Lucy Fargo for allowing me to make mention of her Mia. If you haven’t already read Pawsitively Impurrfect, you should.


To Eve Langlais,
I’m so glad we took a chance at the Crazy Horse.
Love ya!


Acronyms
ASS: Avian Soaring Society
ARSHOLE: To the public, the academy is the Animal Rescue Special House of Learning
COC: Complaints on Campus forms used by the communications department at FUCN’A to record and catalogue complaints made by cadets. Specifically used by the Conflict Resolution & De-escalation counsellors
DICC: Data, Imagery, & Communications Collector (a specialized USB that contains a computer hacking program that captures everything stored on a computer)
DIVE: Disclosure of Intent against Vile Enemies (issued by MUFF when they’re attacking a shifter organization)
FAC: Furry Alliance Coalition
FUC: Furry United Coalition
FUCN’A: Furry United Coalition Newbie Academy
MUFF: Merrily United Furry Friends for the unethical treatment of non-sentient animals by shifters
NAKED: Network for Apparel and Kit Express Delivery (like Postmates for naked shifters in need)
PRIC: Private Resourceful Investigative Contractors (Shifter owned and operated in NE USA)
TAINT: Target Accidental Injury Notification and Testimony (A FUC form if the person you’re protecting gets injured in any way)
TURDS: Truthful and Unfettered Reconciliation to Defend our Secrets (a FUC version of an NDA)
WANC: Working and Administrating Networking Core (main building at the Academy)


1
Tabitha
What are they doing here? I stared at the three men on my climbing wall. Two of them dangled from ropes near the top of the hundred-foot wall, swinging back and forth as they talked and pushed each other around. The third one sat on the top in my spot, staring out of the window at the first stars. My favourite. The sight calmed my mind, putting all of my problems into perspective. It was why, on any other Wednesday night, I would be the one sitting there alone, thinking about how the first half of my week went, how different males picked on me, made fun of me, or any of the myriad of other items that tormented my psyche.
The glistening sweat on his black skin gave him a silver glow from the rising moon. He looked lonely, the way I felt despite the students that surrounded my physical body daily. And my heart would have stretched out to him, wanting to comfort him, if he hadn’t been in my spot.
It wasn’t really mine, as it belonged to the gym at the Furry United Coalition Newbie Academy or FUCN’A as it was known, but two times a week without fail, I came here at this time to climb all by my lonesome. Again, not all alone since that wasn’t safe, but Gary didn’t count. As the staff member working those hours, he became my personal spotter, giving me a safe place to think and relax at the top of the wall... alone.
I smoothed back my blue-grey hair, tightening up the elastic on my ponytail. Now what was I going to do? My whole night was messed up. My carefully constructed schedule, the one that kept me calm and sane, disrupted. Sweat beaded on my forehead and underarms. My heart galloped. I wiped my palms on the soft cotton of my gym pants while the toes on my left foot tapped. Holy mice! I can’t lose it now.
A hand clamped onto my shoulder, brushing the skin my tank top left exposed. I jumped. A little shriek left my lips, causing those three faces that I hoped would ignore me to turn around.
“Sorry, Tabitha.” Gary shrugged his shoulders, giving me a wry smile. “I know you like climbing alone, but they came in to climb. Still want me to set up your ropes?”
A glance at the three men on the wall had me