July 30th, 2009

Everything was going according to plan for Belle. It seemed like everything she had ever desired had come to her in the space of only a couple of months, from the good fortune she'd yearned for over so many years to the skunk she had fallen so desperately in love with, Mikhail, and there was nothing that would halt her winning streak now as long as she could help it. When they met, Mikhail leapt into her arms, the two skunks nuzzled into each other's snouts between their joyous greetings, before she put him down and began their walk. This was to be their first date, and the place Belle had in mind for him was one they shared a love for - a seafood restaurant named The Flying Shellfish that was situated on the Eastern shoreline.

They arrived there a mere ten minutes later, and much to their delight, they had found that the restaurant had been offering a week long special for couples, meaning they would be allowed to eat for half price. With a graceful entrance into the crowded restaurant, they picked out a table that stood beside the window facing the sea, the high tide and the full moon beaming over to them and bestowing upon them a beautiful magnification of their passion for each other. As deep as the sea outside was their love, and it wasn't long before, in the midst of their conversation, they began to exchange flirting and expressions of delight, not halted at all when their orders arrived soon after.

Between their meal their conversation continued, and between each bite they found themselves yearning for more than just their meals. Even though they attracted several long glances from the other diners, they understood just what was racing through their minds and their hearts. By the time they finished, they could contain themselves for not much longer; reaching over the table, they shared a short and tender kiss, before they held hand paws and stared deeply into each other's eyes, hopelessly in love with each other as the night went by.

"Sharpie," smiled Mikhail, using his pet name for her for the first time, "that was a great meal. I don't know how to thank you for this."

"I think I have an idea, Mickey." crooned Belle, to which Mikhail giggled.

"Me too." simpered Mikhail, before he reached over the table and caught her in a cuddle, and then whispered into her ear, "And maybe we could meet up again tomorrow?"

"There's nothing I'd like more, Mickey." smiled Belle. "Maybe we could go for a stroll along the beach? The tide is starting to lower."

"Yeah, why not?" crooned Mikhail. "Nothing like walking in the moonlight...with the girl I love." These last five words shocked Belle to the core, even though she'd heard them before, and this made her even more willing to proceed. And when the time came to pay their bill, she knew that she would have one of the best nights she had ever been treated to ahead of her, to be inscribed into her memory forever.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetie."


This beautiful piece of work comes from my dear friend  Shorzie, who shows my two most prominent skunk characters enjoying a romantic evening together. I love the effect of the moonlight, and also that of the water - it's very hard to do, but he's managed to pull it off! Don't they look darling here? ^_^

Both characters belong to me.