Making the rounds of my domain, I noticed that the late autumn storms of the past few days had left the little-traveled dirt road muddy and rutted. My kits would surely delight in tumbling through the puddles. And darling Vickie would certainly have a time cleaning crusted mud from their fur. I had half a mind to step out into the road and test some of those puddles with my own paws when I noticed a couple of people coming my way. I ducked low and observed.

The young woman had dark hair and a wide smile. She wore a dress of pretty blue flowers, and her feet were bare. Her hand snuggled tight against the bottom of her companion, a male a full head taller than her. He had shoes, pants, a coat, and a warm wool scarf, which reminded me of the cold weather soon to come. More than that, something about the scarf called to me. I was almost itching to feel it against my body.

The man and woman conversed as they strolled, their language not something I could understand, but the tone was light, like banter. He had his arm around her, but whether it was at his direction or hers when they stepped from the path and through a gap in the fence I could not ascertain. Cautiously and from a respectful distance, I followed them through the field. From time to time they stopped to kiss, and the kissing lasted long enough that I feared they wouldn’t reach their destination, wherever that might be, by nightfall.

After an especially passionate series of kisses, they ducked down, out of my sight. I hung back and heard their whispers. Then the sounds changed to moans, then gasps, then sighs. Then quiet. The quiet lasted long enough I worried about their well-being and was about to step closer to investigate when abruptly they rose up but a few feet from where I was and hugged heartily. They were naked, their clothes strewn upon the matted bed of grain beneath their bare feet. “That was so good,” the girl said. “The best ever. You made me come so good. I love you. I love you so much.” I wondered what these words meant, but from the tone I deduced a mix of love and happiness and satisfaction. In response the man hummed something and hugged her again, and as attractive as they were, my eyes went greedily to the ground and the discarded apparel. A moment later, arm in arm they stepped slowly through the field, returned to the gap in the fence, and journeyed back up the road from whence they’d come.

I thought to follow them, but my attention was drawn to the clothing. My kits might have such fun with those shoes. I’d take them back to the den and enjoy their delight in nosing in and out and nipping the supple leather until it begged for mercy. From the woman’s blue dress and the man’s pants and coat, my Vickie could fashion a snug nest. The thought of nestling next to her, enfolded in these fine garments and each other, brought me to a state of some arousal, making me eager to get home with my bounty. And then it came to me: where was the scarf? That would have been the prize. Now I remembered. Just before they’d departed, the woman wrapped it about the man’s neck, and using it, pulled him close. Oh, how I wanted that scarf, not just for its warmth, but for something more important, something ineffable. Okay, I’d take what they’d left for me with pleasure and thanks. The scarf ... Well, mustn’t have sour grapes.