It had been about a month since the talk between Anya, Kichaa, and Todd. Kichaa seemed happy with her new romantic interest Joshua. Sure he was a little cold to the touch, but that's to be expected with his species. He treated her like a princess and she loved him dearly. Anya wasn't quite sure what to do now, knowing she wasn't truly at fault for what she did. But for now she was needing her sugar fix and was going to the local bakery to get her favorite sweets: Cinnamon buns.
A treat she hadn't been able to enjoy properly in quite some time. Upon arrival she was greeted by the head baker Riley Cook, a rather chubby, yet quite handsome wolf. His apron resting upon his plump middle, the whole room smelling of frosting and vanilla.
Riley: "Good morning gorgeous, what can I hook you up with? Cookies, cakes, pie, me on a Friday night?" He said to the heavy ursine beauty.
Anya: "My goodness, if the cinnamon buns are as fresh as you are I'll take a dozen of them." Rather than being upset, she actually found his straightforwardness to be a positive trait.
Riley: "Just so happens the latest batch just cooled for packing. Coming right up Ms. it is Ms. isn't it?"
Anya: "Yes it is Ms. you should know that. I dated your friend Todd long enough to where you know me. And thank you." He got her buns, a bit more than a dozen packed up for her.
Riley: "Right, sorry things happened the way they did. You two looked pretty cute together, even if he only came up to your knees."
She then paid for her sweet treats.
Anya: "Thank you Riley, I appreciate you still being nice to me." Riley: "No problem teddy bear."
Each morning for the next two weeks she would return to the bakery, mainly for the sugar-laden sweets but she was starting to develop feelings for Riley of all people. And even back when his best friend was dating Anya he thought she was one of, if not THE prettiest young woman in town. Finally after the two were comfortable chatting every morning, Riley decided now was as good a time as any to ask: "So Anya, are you busy Saturday night? If you are free I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner with me at the Crimson Orchid?" She was more than a little surprised, not having been asked out in over a year now. Anya: "О боже мой, да!!* That is, yes I would be delighted to accompany you to dinner Saturday evening."
Riley: "Awesome, I was thinking we could maybe see a movie too? If you want to I mean." Anya: "I have been wanting to see that new monster movie, but I couldn't get my sister to go with me. Sure!" She gave him a big excited bear hug and they then exchanged numbers and parted company, eager to see each other on Saturday. The two would go on to have a marvelous courtship.

Meanwhile all this time Todd being the loyal dog he is, was still waiting to hear back from either of the ladies. His Doberman roommate came to check on him, noticing how quiet it was in his room. Darlene: "Kleiner mann, geht es dir gut?" Todd: "Yeah, I'm good come on in if you want to." She then opened the door and saw him painting a small sculpture.
Darlene: "So what are you up to?" Todd: "Not much, just fooling around. Can I ask you something Darlene, as a woman I mean."
Darlene: "Sure, ask away kleiner man." Todd: "Kichaa and Anya, neither of them are going to call me back are they?"
Darlene stood there a little dazed for a moment before saying: "You are still waiting for them? Todd, I think those ships have sailed already. I didn't want to say anything, but I saw Anya out with your old friend Riley last Friday. I'm so sorry."
Todd sat there a moment staring out his window before he went back to his painting. Todd: "I hope they will be very happy together. They both deserve a sweetheart that will treat them well. T-they should make for a good pair right?" As his voice broke a bit. "Riley is a good guy, not the brightest but he'll treat her well. And Anya she's..." As a tear rolled down his cheek and into his paint bottle. Darlene: "Want me to stay in here with you, or do you want some time alone?"
Todd: "I'm okay, but would you mind giving me just a minute?" She understood and left him to calm down. While he knew they would be quite happy together, it still pained his heart. Just as he knew Kichaa was better off with Joshua than she ever was with him. After a few minutes of crying he said to himself: "I was crazy trying to make it work with either of them. Women that beautiful were WAY out of my league anyway. Guess I'll just throw myself back into my work, not like I have many romantic options left here..."
After exiting his room and returning to her own Darlene was worried about him, he didn't seem quite right. Like something broke inside of him. He didn't have that spark of joy in his eyes that she was so used to seeing. Something bad was going to happen, but she didn't know what it might be just yet.

(Joshua is owned by  Joshua-the-dragon

*(Oh my goodness yes!!)