Walker
Walker knew it had been a long-standing problem, but he could not stop the search for a white fuzzle while a black one was living under the roof of five - sometimes six - of his seven children.
There was another person he could try.
He picked up the phone in his office, checked the number and dialled. He tapped his pen as he waited for someone to pick up.
"Hello, Xavier's Institute? I was wondering if I could speak to a Marie D'Ancanto..."
Rogue
"Rogue! Phone!"
"Okay!"
Rogue picked up the nearest phone.
"Hello?"
Walker
"Good morning Rogue," Walker smiled, "this is Walker Hanson. I'm calling regarding the fuzzle I sent you."
He tapped his pen again.
"Have you considered breeding at all?"
Rogue
"Breeding?" Rogue repeated. "Actually, muh Liberty has already had children. One of muh, uhh, friends has a fuzzle too and well... what more to be said? Why do you ask?"
Walker
Walker smiled.
"Would you mind telling me the colours of the cubs, Rogue?"
Rogue
"Well, three of them are differnt shade of red. One is magenta, one is pink and one is white," Rogue replied.
She wondered what this was all about.
Walker
Walker breathed shallowly.
"Are you sure it is white?" he asked eventually, "not just a very light pink? White fuzzles are extremely rare."
Rogue
"Are they?" Rogue asked in interest. "Well Ah'm certain that she is white. But Ah could check if you'd like."
She lifted Liberty where she had been sitting on her shoulder.
"Libahty? Would you find Zurinah for me?"
Liberty gave an affirmative cheep and bounced off.
Walker
"Thank you Rogue," Walker smiled.
"I'll presume that means that no one has informed you of the nature of black and white fuzzles?"
Rogue
"No, Ah can't say anyone has," Rogue replied in surprise. "What's so significant about them?"
Walker
"Oh nevermind. You have absolutely nothing to worry about," Walker insisted, tapping his pen on the table again.
"How old are these cubs?"
Rogue
"Hmm, let me see..." Rogue said thoughtfully. "June last year, Ah think."
Zurina and Liberty appeared then.
"Oh there you are! Thank you Libahty," she said.
She picked them up, and put Liberty back on her shoulder. Then she looked closely at Zurina.
"She's definitely white," Rogue affirmed. "And Ah must add that she's certainly the best behaved of the fuzzles, aren'tcha Zurinah?"
Zurina nuzzled her palm affectionately.
Walker
The tapping of Walker's pen suddenly upped in tempo.
"Ok Rogue. I need to ask a very large favour of you. I sincerely hope it does not interfere with your studies should you agree."
He sighed and sat back in his chair.
"Is there a possibility for you to venture here to Tulsa within the next week or so, all expenses covered?"
Rogue
"Ah, ahh," Rogue blinked. "Ah'm sure Ah could arrange something, perhaps over the weekend. What's so important about Zurinah being white?"
This whole phone call has definitely sparked curiousity. It was so... odd. Not that she minded talking about her pets, but still.
Walker
"Your 'Zurinah' is an angel in disguise," Walker smiled, "I have a small job for her. I will of course tell you the full story once you've arrived."
He took a deep breath.
"Could you let me know as soon as possible when we can see both your and your fuzzle?"
Rogue
"Sure," Rogue agreed. "Ah - oh Mr Summers is just here, Ah can ask now... Excuse me, Scott?"
"Yes Rogue?" Scott replied, pausing.
"Could I go to Tulsa this weekend?"
"Tulsa?" Scott frowned. "Why?"
"Mr Hanson is interested in Libahty's cubs."
"Which Mr Hanson?"
Scott wasn't sure he wanted any more of his female students to get pregnant to Zac.
"He's Zac's father."
"Ahh, that one," he considered for a moment. "Well, sure, why not? Most pets get some sort of regular checkup, why not fuzzles. And besides, you're a good student. It's fine by me."
"Thank you."
Rogue decided not to correct Scott on the checkup idea. Mainly because she wasn't even entirely sure why she was being asked over.
"He says it's okay," she said to Walker.
Walker
"Great," Walker smiled again.
"Professor Xavier will hav my address stored privately. If he needs my consent to give it to you, he is free to give me a call regarding it. So I will see you Saturday?"
Rogue
"Sure," Rogue agreed. "See you then."
They soon hung up and Rogue started making arrangements to get to Tulsa.