Midnight with Mama by Yorzis (Patreon)

“Can I help you, sugar?” Megogo asked as she looked out of her bedchamber at the young red panda.

It was warm spring Mercedonius night and Megogo had been up from dusk to dawn, getting a new batch of fledglings ready for their first assessments.

The newbies always had something to prove when they came to try out for the year's new batch of recruits. It hadn’t been long since the red panda, Vega Lyrae, had been one of them. Like the cocksure warriors, mages, and rangers who’d enlisted for a shot to join the illustrious Order, Vega had been eager to prove her worth.

The Master at Arms of the Sacred Order of Raven Knights, it was Megogo’s honor to weed out the wheat from the chaff and find something golden amongst the new year's crop. For nearly ten years she had trained every new generation of hopefuls and in that time had always had an open door policy with her fledglings. They could come to her any time of day for extra instruction, questions, or council. That offer didn’t however extend to her nights, nor did she think it was necessary for fresh faced Raven’s who’d already taken their oaths.

The ailuridae smiled sheepishly, shuffling her feet and looking around. Vega seemed nervous and unsure, but determined. She wanted something, but seemed hesitant to say.

“Out with it, bear-cat, you’re keeping me from some pleasant dreams.” the tall lioness teased, hoping to put the girl at ease. The smile Vega gave when she looked up then, let Megogo know exactly why the junior raven had come a calling so let.

“You wouldn’t be offended if I asked to join you, Master Megogo?” Vega asked formally.

From the way she diddled with her tail and lowered her head, Megogo suspected this to be Vega’s first time seeking a midnight audience with a superior. She had heard the budding blade dancer wasn’t shy about her dalliances. A well known cultural trait of Pandoricans.

The girl had not seemed shy at all when Vega had caught her and her bunkmate, Semele Balaskas, enjoying the finer tastes of each other's womanhood out in the gardens her first year. The girl barely even flinched when discovered and only showed surprise when met with Megogo’s indifference to the scene.

“Well isn’t that a beautiful sight,” she remembered joking, before continuing about her business. The two had never spoken of it, but young Vega had smiled extra brightly at her ever since. As if the two now shared a special secret. Perhaps she wanted to share another.

“I’mma guessing this is your first time trying to court a lioness such as myself?” Megogo asked, standing away from the door. Vega looked away, grinning, but did not deny it.

“Thinking I might send ya packing till you’ve ripened a bit, on account of you being terribly young I’d wager?” insinuated Megogo. Again the younger Knight smiled, but this time she nodded.

“It is seen as presumptuous for one as young as I to approach an older ladykin in my culture. I was hoping that since you always say that you admire boldness, that you would not be offended by my audacity.” beamed Vega. An obvious glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Megogo shook her head stifling a laugh.

“Well, don't they grow up fast.” she teased, stepping back and opening the door wide.

“Shit girl, I ain’t no prig and this ain’t none of that old collections of mountain villages you hale from. You want a piece of old Mama Gigi, you best say it clear and true.” encouraged the Lioness with a hearty laugh.

Vega looked up with an eager grin.

“I find you a beautiful and fascinating ladykin, ma’am. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to share your bed for the night.” she asked rather formally.

Her earnest words, along with her incredibly formal manner brought a big smile to Megogo’s face.

“Ahh, child, don’t get all cordial on me now.” she laughed.

Rolling her eyes, Megogo signaled for Vega to ‘Come on in,’.

“No since in gabbing out in the hallway, waking the sleeping dead.” she reckoned.

Happily, the junior Raven sashayed her way into the bed chamber, waving her long tail behind her. Vega made sure to wrap a bit of it around Megogo as she passed making it quite clear her intentions for the night would not be to sleep.