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As Day Was Ending
A Thursday Prompt Story
©2016 by Walter Reimer
Prompt image: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20841422/
Set in the Spontoon Island universe.
The rented Strnad SUV’s engine growled like some contented beast as it headed south along the Pacific Coast Highway, attentive to the slightest twitch of the driver’s paw on the steering wheel. The dark gray tabby feline and his four friends had rented the vehicle in Portland after getting off the plane from Seathl, determined to make the most of the week off from classes.
The SUV’s radio was playing Bad Mojo’s Yeah I Tappt That, and Darius tapped his paws on the steering wheel in time to the beat. His roommate Jontaveon sat in the front passenger seat, the more slightly-built feline nodding along with the song while his lips moved in time to the lyrics.
The back seat was taken up by a fox, a huge mastiff who was a star of Polytechnic’s rugby team, and a half-wolf whose headfur lay in dreadlocks down to his shoulders. The back of the Strnad was full of luggage and supplies.
“Dude,” Dan said for what seemed like the fifth time, “you need to lighten up.” The big mastiff took advantage of the SUV rolling slightly as it took a corner to slide to his left, practically squishing the smaller fox against the passenger door. “C’mon, Ozzy.” To the big canine’s right, Bob smirked and went back to listening to Magnificent Chihuahua’s latest album on his earphones. “I know it sucks balls that she dumped you – “
“Hey, motheryiffer,” Darius called out, giving Dan the eye in the rear-view mirror, “I told you about trying to tip this thing.” He shook his head as Dan extended a meaty middle finger. “Save it for your woman, man.” The feline went back to watching the road as Dan barked a laugh. “Yo, Bob.”
“Huh?” Bob took one earphone out, and Mariachi Hell briefly fought with Bad Mojo’s Grammy-winning effort. “What, Dar?”
“How much longer?”
The wolf leaned forward, studying road signs as the SUV took another curve through the dense forest. He nodded at one sign. “About another mile, and turn right, okay? Sign’ll say Sand Road.”
“Got it,” and Darius nodded.
Ozzy flicked his ears to catch the conversation, shifted his weight on the seat and went back to watching the scenery flow past. The others had insisted on him coming along to get over his separation from Candice, and Dan was right – it did suck balls.
Especially right after he’d told her.
The fox sighed again as the Strnad turned off the main highway and Bob gave Darius more detailed directions. Jontaveon asked, “Dog, this shit’s way out in the never-never. You sure it’s cool? I’m getting the creeps.”
Bob laughed as he switched off his MP3 player. “It’s cool, Jon. My folks own the house. Dad told me he had the place all stocked up with food.”
“Drinks?” Jontaveon asked hopefully.
“Yeah. Beer, some wine, whisky and all sorts,” Bob assured him. “The beer’s good Seafroth Ale, too,” he added, licking his lips happily.
“Seafroth?” Dan’s ears perked up. “That stuff’s otter piss.”
Bob took up the gauntlet. “Says the guy who drinks American beer.” The wolf and the mastiff glared at each other as the age-old debate was resurrected again. “Hey, Ozzy? Ozzy?”
“Huh?” the fox asked.
“Earth to Ozzy,” Jontaveon chuckled.
“What beer was that stuff I saw you drinking on the plane?” Bob asked.
“Beer? Oh, yeah, the beer . . . um, it was Union Maid.”
Dan cocked an eyebrow. “Spontoonie beer? How’s that?”
“It’s good,” and Ozzy winked. “They filter it by pouring it between a hula dancer’s tits, they say.” He grinned as the others laughed, but his ears stayed down.
The sun was halfway down the sky in the west when they finally stopped at Bob’s folks’ beach house. It was situated on a rocky hill overlooking the Pacific and a nice stretch of sandy beach. The house seemed to hug itself to the landscape, with hedges and ornamental dwarf pines clustering close to the dwelling. The clapboard siding looking considerably weathered from sun and wind, but looks could deceive.
Jon whistled as he got out of the rented SUV, his long tail twitching as he worked the kinks out. “This is nice,” he remarked. A good breeze bore the smell of the ocean and the sounds of surf and gulls. “Can’t wait to hit the beach.”
“Yeah,” Bob said. “Two bedrooms, but the couch folds out. Let me go on in and get the place opened up.”
“You going to help unload this thing?” Dan asked.
Bob gave him the finger. “Of course.” He walked to the front door, taking his keys out of his pocket as he went. The others finished stretching and yawning and started to unload the back of the SUV. Bob came out and grabbed a few suitcases after opening the storm shutters and windows and turning the lights on.
Ozzy carried his fair share of luggage and supplies into the house and put them down with the other stuff in the middle of the living room floor. The room had two recliners and a comfortable-looking sofa along with a full entertainment center. A flat-screen TV sat above the unused fireplace, and two glass doors led out onto a wooden deck. “Think we’ll need a fire, Bob?” the fox asked.
“Nah, Oz. Okay, listen up,” the wolf said to the others. “Living room here, the kitchen and dining room are there,” and he pointed to an archway to the right of the fireplace. “Two bedrooms, and they share the bathroom. The patio’s there, with the grill and the fresh water shower. If you go in the ocean, wash off with that before you track salt and sand all in here.”
“Why?” Darius challenged. “You’ll get mad at us?”
“No, but my Mom will, and you’ve met her.” Bob’s mother was a police sergeant, and the parent that gave him his part-lupine heritage. Darius’ ears went back and his tail started to fluff, and he quickly grabbed his suitcase and headed for the bedrooms as the others laughed.
“Dibs on the couch,” Dan said as he sat down. “We get cable out here?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Fall Basho’s started in Kobe this week,” the mastiff replied. “Might be a new yokozuna by the end of it.” He stared as Jontaveon bent over, his tail up. “Dude! Don’t be mooning me!”
“Huh? Take it easy, man, just getting out the games.” The lighter gray-furred cat held up a DVD case and smiled.
Canine ears perked. “Games?”
“Yeah. I got the new War of Wands.”
Dan grinned almost like a puppy at Christmas. “I heard about that! It’s adult-rated, right?”
“Sure is.” Heads turned to look at Ozzy as the fox added, “I got tipped to beta-test it.” This was greeted by admiring looks and even one awestruck stare. “What? I did a little work on the weekends for Oculus Gaming. My programming professor said it’d be good to get some business experience.”
“I heard it’s all lesbian sex,” Jontaveon said. “They right?”
“I don’t want to give anything away – “
“Aw, c’mon, man,” the feline pleaded.
“Well,” and the fox’s ears went up a little as he grinned and his brush swished. “Let’s just say I needed to wash my paws more than once.”
There was a chorus of “Ews” at that. “I could use a beer,” Ozzy said. “Let me put my stuff up. Hey, Bob, what’s for dinner?”
The wolf shrugged and stepped into the kitchen. “Looks like grilled chicken,” and the others voiced their approval as he yanked out a few packages and started to go through the cupboards for seasonings. “Hey, Ozzy?”
“Yeah?”
“Looks like Jon and Dar already have a room staked out and Dan’s got the couch, so it looks like you and me got the other. Can you put my stuff up?”
“Sure,” and the fox started picking up suitcases as Dan turned the television on and started hunting for a sports channel, while the two felines in the other bedroom could be heard talking about their girlfriends. Jontaveon was a bit of a player.
The fox set the suitcases down on the bed, his ears going flatter against his skull as his tail tucked up between his legs. He sat on the soft mattress and closed his eyes, feeling tears welling up as he thought of Candice – and what had caused her to leave him.
”I’m sorry, Oswald, but the test came back positive.”
The news had hit him like a punch in the stomach and he had felt his hackles lift. Not in anger, but in fear.
He could admit it, even if it hadn’t fully sunk in.
He was terrified.
He’d notified his family immediately, by email, and he hadn’t heard back from them yet.
Then he had texted Candice.
Bob was washing his paws in the sink after getting the chicken prepped when Ozzy came into the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge. “Hey.”
The fox froze and glanced at the half-wolf as he opened the bottle. “Yeah?”
“You going to be okay, um?” Bob was a good friend. Low-key and cool with just about everything.
Ozzy nodded a bit too quickly, his eyes red-rimmed as if he’d been crying. “Yeah. Just need to sort things out.”
“Want to talk about it yet?” Bob pitched his voice a bit lower. “We’re your friends, man, we got your back no matter what.” The fox thought, then shook his head before taking a swig of beer. “Okay, it’s cool,” the wolf said. “We’re here though, when or if you want to tell us.”
Ozzy nodded again and walked into the living room to watch whatever had Dan’s attention.
The chicken had been seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, and Bob angled the grill so that the breeze would bring the aroma into the house and hopefully not much of the smoke. Potato salad and chips rounded out the meal, and all five sat down to eat out on the patio.
Dan almost spit out his beer when Darius walked out dressed only in his fur. “Dar, what the yiff? I’m trying to eat here!”
“It’s nice out here, and we’re relaxing. What’s up, Dan?” the feline laughed. “Afraid the cat’s got more than you do?” The others continued to eat while they watched Dan to see if the mastiff would take up the challenge.
“More than me?” The canine growled. He set his plate aside and stood up, stripping off his shirt and dropping his cargo shorts after unbuttoning the tail gusset. “What do you think of that, huh?” he said as Darius eyed the mastiff’s package.
“Proportionally, you’re hung as well as I am,” the math major said with a grin. “I ain’t here to get into a dick-waving contest, dog. Bob, this chicken’s great,” he said as he sat down. Dan sat back down without getting dressed again, with Darius looking a bit pleased that he’d managed to tweak the mastiff. For a while, there was just the sound of the young men eating and the clink of bottles as they were set down on the wooden deck.
“Hey,” Jontaveon said suddenly, “anyone got any nip?” His tail swished across the planks, but it stopped and his whiskers dipped in disappointment as the others shook their heads. “Damn, I knew I should’ve hooked up before we left Seathl.”
Bob snorted. “Dude, we’re right by the yiffing ocean, right? Last thing I want to do is have you drown from going swimming with a head full of nip.”
“Dude, I can handle myself – “
“Yeah,” Darius said. “Weren’t you the cat they caught taking a dump in the bushes near Haywood Hall last term, talking about ‘litter boxes’ and shit?” The others all laughed, and Ozzy caused everyone, including Jontaveon, to laugh harder when he sat up and meowed. “You getting better, fox?” Dar asked.
Ozzy waggled a paw and gave a sly grin as he stood up, took off his t-shirt and jeans, and sat back down. “I’m feeling a little better, cat. Your folks have a great place here, Bob.”
“Dad had it built,” the half-wolf said. “He always told me and my sister that we needed a place to get away from it all and relax.” He raised his muzzle and sniffed. “Nice warm night. Water might be a bit warm, too.”
“Have to try that out,” Dan remarked as he drained his bottle, “but I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
Jontaveon craned his neck and looked out at the beach. “I don’t see nobody.” He plunked his empty bottle on his plate before standing up and removing his pants. “I’m for a swim, anyone coming with me?” Without waiting for an answer he walked over to the railing and vaulted over it, landing on his feet in the sand and heading for the surf.
“I’m not going in,” Dan said, “but I’m going out on the beach. Hey, Bob, we got enough firewood to build a bonfire?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Bob replied, “but there’s plenty of driftwood if we need it.” He removed his shorts and he and the mastiff took the steps that led from the patio down to the sand, leaving Ozzy and Darius alone.
The silence between the feline and the fox grew a bit uncomfortable. “Hey, Ozzy.”
“Yeah, Dar?”
“I’m heading out to swim. You coming?”
Ozzy looked out at the beach. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
“Cool.” The feline left the fox alone with his thoughts.
After a few moments, Dan came loping up the steps. “Gotta get my ball,” he said as he shook sand from his feet and went inside. He came back out with a rugby ball and headed back out to the beach. After a few moments, the fox followed him down onto the sand.
The two felines were in the water, Jon and Dar trying to race each other by swimming across the waves. Jon stood up and spluttered, blowing his nose as Darius laughed at him. Bob and Dan were throwing the rugby ball back and forth as they trotted along the beach. The sun was nearer the horizon, and the wispy clouds were glowing gold, orange and pink.
Ozzy walked up a small spur of ground overlooking the beach, covered in soft grass, and took a seat. Drawing one leg up to his chest, he looked out at the setting sun and his ears went back again as he started to think.
The fresh sea air seemed to clear his head as he thought. The fear was still there, of course – he didn’t think it’d ever truly leave him - but if he concentrated he found that he could think past it. Yes, the tests had come back positive; it wasn’t the automatic death sentence it had been years ago, provided that it had been caught in time. He hoped that it had.
He and Candice had been dating since they were freshmen at UNP. The vixen got good grades and they had planned on getting engaged after they graduated. That is, before . . .
Oswald felt tears sting his eyes as he faced into the wind and his ears flattened further. He could still hear her as she told him, to his face, that she wouldn’t be seeing him anymore. She wished him the best, and that hurt, but he didn’t know what hurt worse – her empty platitudes, or what one of her girlfriends said as Candice walked away: ”I guess she was in it for the fun, and not for the drama.” The Siamese had then flounced off after the vixen, leaving him standing amid ruins; the shards of his heart and little bits of the future together that they had talked about.
He drew a shuddering breath, then snuffled back the mucus in his nose. The idea that maybe it wasn’t really meant to be strayed across his mind, doubled back and settled down, taunting him. He examined the idea, and found himself forced to agree with it. He hadn’t expected her to be so shallow or to reject him just because he had contracted something.
Sounds from the beach caused an ear to flick and the fox saw that Bob and Dan were now running across the sand, still passing the ball back and forth. Darius was reclining in the water at the surf line, with Jontaveon a little way further out.
His friends. Despite everything, he still had them. They’d been supportive following the news that Candice had left him. Dan had offered to “lend” him one or two of the girls that he usually dated. Bob had persuaded him to drag his sorry brush away from his dorm room to come down to the beach for the week. They were good friends, and he felt that he could count on them.
That’s what friends were for, wasn’t it?
He hadn’t heard back from his parents yet, but they’d support him. He was their son, after all.
Ozzy took another deep breath and stood up. His friends had brought him down here, and they were having fun. It wouldn’t be right to be a wet blanket.
Bob passed the ball to Dan, only to give a startled yip as a red-brown blur shot between him and Dan, snatching the ball from midair. “Ozzy?”
The fox grinned at them, the ball firmly in his paws. “I figured that I’d better get out of my shell before I got too depressed,” he said, and tossed the ball to Dan. He glanced to the west, where the sun was starting to settle into the ocean. “Looks like it’ll be a nice night,” he remarked softly.
“Maybe,” Dan said, passing the ball casually from paw to paw. “You ready to talk about it now?”
The fox looked out at the sunset again. The day was ending.
And a new day would come.
Ozzy squared his shoulders. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I’m ready to tell all of you all about it.”
End.
A Thursday Prompt Story
©2016 by Walter Reimer
Prompt image: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20841422/
Set in the Spontoon Island universe.
The rented Strnad SUV’s engine growled like some contented beast as it headed south along the Pacific Coast Highway, attentive to the slightest twitch of the driver’s paw on the steering wheel. The dark gray tabby feline and his four friends had rented the vehicle in Portland after getting off the plane from Seathl, determined to make the most of the week off from classes.
The SUV’s radio was playing Bad Mojo’s Yeah I Tappt That, and Darius tapped his paws on the steering wheel in time to the beat. His roommate Jontaveon sat in the front passenger seat, the more slightly-built feline nodding along with the song while his lips moved in time to the lyrics.
The back seat was taken up by a fox, a huge mastiff who was a star of Polytechnic’s rugby team, and a half-wolf whose headfur lay in dreadlocks down to his shoulders. The back of the Strnad was full of luggage and supplies.
“Dude,” Dan said for what seemed like the fifth time, “you need to lighten up.” The big mastiff took advantage of the SUV rolling slightly as it took a corner to slide to his left, practically squishing the smaller fox against the passenger door. “C’mon, Ozzy.” To the big canine’s right, Bob smirked and went back to listening to Magnificent Chihuahua’s latest album on his earphones. “I know it sucks balls that she dumped you – “
“Hey, motheryiffer,” Darius called out, giving Dan the eye in the rear-view mirror, “I told you about trying to tip this thing.” He shook his head as Dan extended a meaty middle finger. “Save it for your woman, man.” The feline went back to watching the road as Dan barked a laugh. “Yo, Bob.”
“Huh?” Bob took one earphone out, and Mariachi Hell briefly fought with Bad Mojo’s Grammy-winning effort. “What, Dar?”
“How much longer?”
The wolf leaned forward, studying road signs as the SUV took another curve through the dense forest. He nodded at one sign. “About another mile, and turn right, okay? Sign’ll say Sand Road.”
“Got it,” and Darius nodded.
Ozzy flicked his ears to catch the conversation, shifted his weight on the seat and went back to watching the scenery flow past. The others had insisted on him coming along to get over his separation from Candice, and Dan was right – it did suck balls.
Especially right after he’d told her.
The fox sighed again as the Strnad turned off the main highway and Bob gave Darius more detailed directions. Jontaveon asked, “Dog, this shit’s way out in the never-never. You sure it’s cool? I’m getting the creeps.”
Bob laughed as he switched off his MP3 player. “It’s cool, Jon. My folks own the house. Dad told me he had the place all stocked up with food.”
“Drinks?” Jontaveon asked hopefully.
“Yeah. Beer, some wine, whisky and all sorts,” Bob assured him. “The beer’s good Seafroth Ale, too,” he added, licking his lips happily.
“Seafroth?” Dan’s ears perked up. “That stuff’s otter piss.”
Bob took up the gauntlet. “Says the guy who drinks American beer.” The wolf and the mastiff glared at each other as the age-old debate was resurrected again. “Hey, Ozzy? Ozzy?”
“Huh?” the fox asked.
“Earth to Ozzy,” Jontaveon chuckled.
“What beer was that stuff I saw you drinking on the plane?” Bob asked.
“Beer? Oh, yeah, the beer . . . um, it was Union Maid.”
Dan cocked an eyebrow. “Spontoonie beer? How’s that?”
“It’s good,” and Ozzy winked. “They filter it by pouring it between a hula dancer’s tits, they say.” He grinned as the others laughed, but his ears stayed down.
The sun was halfway down the sky in the west when they finally stopped at Bob’s folks’ beach house. It was situated on a rocky hill overlooking the Pacific and a nice stretch of sandy beach. The house seemed to hug itself to the landscape, with hedges and ornamental dwarf pines clustering close to the dwelling. The clapboard siding looking considerably weathered from sun and wind, but looks could deceive.
Jon whistled as he got out of the rented SUV, his long tail twitching as he worked the kinks out. “This is nice,” he remarked. A good breeze bore the smell of the ocean and the sounds of surf and gulls. “Can’t wait to hit the beach.”
“Yeah,” Bob said. “Two bedrooms, but the couch folds out. Let me go on in and get the place opened up.”
“You going to help unload this thing?” Dan asked.
Bob gave him the finger. “Of course.” He walked to the front door, taking his keys out of his pocket as he went. The others finished stretching and yawning and started to unload the back of the SUV. Bob came out and grabbed a few suitcases after opening the storm shutters and windows and turning the lights on.
Ozzy carried his fair share of luggage and supplies into the house and put them down with the other stuff in the middle of the living room floor. The room had two recliners and a comfortable-looking sofa along with a full entertainment center. A flat-screen TV sat above the unused fireplace, and two glass doors led out onto a wooden deck. “Think we’ll need a fire, Bob?” the fox asked.
“Nah, Oz. Okay, listen up,” the wolf said to the others. “Living room here, the kitchen and dining room are there,” and he pointed to an archway to the right of the fireplace. “Two bedrooms, and they share the bathroom. The patio’s there, with the grill and the fresh water shower. If you go in the ocean, wash off with that before you track salt and sand all in here.”
“Why?” Darius challenged. “You’ll get mad at us?”
“No, but my Mom will, and you’ve met her.” Bob’s mother was a police sergeant, and the parent that gave him his part-lupine heritage. Darius’ ears went back and his tail started to fluff, and he quickly grabbed his suitcase and headed for the bedrooms as the others laughed.
“Dibs on the couch,” Dan said as he sat down. “We get cable out here?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Fall Basho’s started in Kobe this week,” the mastiff replied. “Might be a new yokozuna by the end of it.” He stared as Jontaveon bent over, his tail up. “Dude! Don’t be mooning me!”
“Huh? Take it easy, man, just getting out the games.” The lighter gray-furred cat held up a DVD case and smiled.
Canine ears perked. “Games?”
“Yeah. I got the new War of Wands.”
Dan grinned almost like a puppy at Christmas. “I heard about that! It’s adult-rated, right?”
“Sure is.” Heads turned to look at Ozzy as the fox added, “I got tipped to beta-test it.” This was greeted by admiring looks and even one awestruck stare. “What? I did a little work on the weekends for Oculus Gaming. My programming professor said it’d be good to get some business experience.”
“I heard it’s all lesbian sex,” Jontaveon said. “They right?”
“I don’t want to give anything away – “
“Aw, c’mon, man,” the feline pleaded.
“Well,” and the fox’s ears went up a little as he grinned and his brush swished. “Let’s just say I needed to wash my paws more than once.”
There was a chorus of “Ews” at that. “I could use a beer,” Ozzy said. “Let me put my stuff up. Hey, Bob, what’s for dinner?”
The wolf shrugged and stepped into the kitchen. “Looks like grilled chicken,” and the others voiced their approval as he yanked out a few packages and started to go through the cupboards for seasonings. “Hey, Ozzy?”
“Yeah?”
“Looks like Jon and Dar already have a room staked out and Dan’s got the couch, so it looks like you and me got the other. Can you put my stuff up?”
“Sure,” and the fox started picking up suitcases as Dan turned the television on and started hunting for a sports channel, while the two felines in the other bedroom could be heard talking about their girlfriends. Jontaveon was a bit of a player.
The fox set the suitcases down on the bed, his ears going flatter against his skull as his tail tucked up between his legs. He sat on the soft mattress and closed his eyes, feeling tears welling up as he thought of Candice – and what had caused her to leave him.
”I’m sorry, Oswald, but the test came back positive.”
The news had hit him like a punch in the stomach and he had felt his hackles lift. Not in anger, but in fear.
He could admit it, even if it hadn’t fully sunk in.
He was terrified.
He’d notified his family immediately, by email, and he hadn’t heard back from them yet.
Then he had texted Candice.
Bob was washing his paws in the sink after getting the chicken prepped when Ozzy came into the kitchen and got a beer out of the fridge. “Hey.”
The fox froze and glanced at the half-wolf as he opened the bottle. “Yeah?”
“You going to be okay, um?” Bob was a good friend. Low-key and cool with just about everything.
Ozzy nodded a bit too quickly, his eyes red-rimmed as if he’d been crying. “Yeah. Just need to sort things out.”
“Want to talk about it yet?” Bob pitched his voice a bit lower. “We’re your friends, man, we got your back no matter what.” The fox thought, then shook his head before taking a swig of beer. “Okay, it’s cool,” the wolf said. “We’re here though, when or if you want to tell us.”
Ozzy nodded again and walked into the living room to watch whatever had Dan’s attention.
The chicken had been seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, and Bob angled the grill so that the breeze would bring the aroma into the house and hopefully not much of the smoke. Potato salad and chips rounded out the meal, and all five sat down to eat out on the patio.
Dan almost spit out his beer when Darius walked out dressed only in his fur. “Dar, what the yiff? I’m trying to eat here!”
“It’s nice out here, and we’re relaxing. What’s up, Dan?” the feline laughed. “Afraid the cat’s got more than you do?” The others continued to eat while they watched Dan to see if the mastiff would take up the challenge.
“More than me?” The canine growled. He set his plate aside and stood up, stripping off his shirt and dropping his cargo shorts after unbuttoning the tail gusset. “What do you think of that, huh?” he said as Darius eyed the mastiff’s package.
“Proportionally, you’re hung as well as I am,” the math major said with a grin. “I ain’t here to get into a dick-waving contest, dog. Bob, this chicken’s great,” he said as he sat down. Dan sat back down without getting dressed again, with Darius looking a bit pleased that he’d managed to tweak the mastiff. For a while, there was just the sound of the young men eating and the clink of bottles as they were set down on the wooden deck.
“Hey,” Jontaveon said suddenly, “anyone got any nip?” His tail swished across the planks, but it stopped and his whiskers dipped in disappointment as the others shook their heads. “Damn, I knew I should’ve hooked up before we left Seathl.”
Bob snorted. “Dude, we’re right by the yiffing ocean, right? Last thing I want to do is have you drown from going swimming with a head full of nip.”
“Dude, I can handle myself – “
“Yeah,” Darius said. “Weren’t you the cat they caught taking a dump in the bushes near Haywood Hall last term, talking about ‘litter boxes’ and shit?” The others all laughed, and Ozzy caused everyone, including Jontaveon, to laugh harder when he sat up and meowed. “You getting better, fox?” Dar asked.
Ozzy waggled a paw and gave a sly grin as he stood up, took off his t-shirt and jeans, and sat back down. “I’m feeling a little better, cat. Your folks have a great place here, Bob.”
“Dad had it built,” the half-wolf said. “He always told me and my sister that we needed a place to get away from it all and relax.” He raised his muzzle and sniffed. “Nice warm night. Water might be a bit warm, too.”
“Have to try that out,” Dan remarked as he drained his bottle, “but I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
Jontaveon craned his neck and looked out at the beach. “I don’t see nobody.” He plunked his empty bottle on his plate before standing up and removing his pants. “I’m for a swim, anyone coming with me?” Without waiting for an answer he walked over to the railing and vaulted over it, landing on his feet in the sand and heading for the surf.
“I’m not going in,” Dan said, “but I’m going out on the beach. Hey, Bob, we got enough firewood to build a bonfire?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Bob replied, “but there’s plenty of driftwood if we need it.” He removed his shorts and he and the mastiff took the steps that led from the patio down to the sand, leaving Ozzy and Darius alone.
The silence between the feline and the fox grew a bit uncomfortable. “Hey, Ozzy.”
“Yeah, Dar?”
“I’m heading out to swim. You coming?”
Ozzy looked out at the beach. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
“Cool.” The feline left the fox alone with his thoughts.
After a few moments, Dan came loping up the steps. “Gotta get my ball,” he said as he shook sand from his feet and went inside. He came back out with a rugby ball and headed back out to the beach. After a few moments, the fox followed him down onto the sand.
The two felines were in the water, Jon and Dar trying to race each other by swimming across the waves. Jon stood up and spluttered, blowing his nose as Darius laughed at him. Bob and Dan were throwing the rugby ball back and forth as they trotted along the beach. The sun was nearer the horizon, and the wispy clouds were glowing gold, orange and pink.
Ozzy walked up a small spur of ground overlooking the beach, covered in soft grass, and took a seat. Drawing one leg up to his chest, he looked out at the setting sun and his ears went back again as he started to think.
The fresh sea air seemed to clear his head as he thought. The fear was still there, of course – he didn’t think it’d ever truly leave him - but if he concentrated he found that he could think past it. Yes, the tests had come back positive; it wasn’t the automatic death sentence it had been years ago, provided that it had been caught in time. He hoped that it had.
He and Candice had been dating since they were freshmen at UNP. The vixen got good grades and they had planned on getting engaged after they graduated. That is, before . . .
Oswald felt tears sting his eyes as he faced into the wind and his ears flattened further. He could still hear her as she told him, to his face, that she wouldn’t be seeing him anymore. She wished him the best, and that hurt, but he didn’t know what hurt worse – her empty platitudes, or what one of her girlfriends said as Candice walked away: ”I guess she was in it for the fun, and not for the drama.” The Siamese had then flounced off after the vixen, leaving him standing amid ruins; the shards of his heart and little bits of the future together that they had talked about.
He drew a shuddering breath, then snuffled back the mucus in his nose. The idea that maybe it wasn’t really meant to be strayed across his mind, doubled back and settled down, taunting him. He examined the idea, and found himself forced to agree with it. He hadn’t expected her to be so shallow or to reject him just because he had contracted something.
Sounds from the beach caused an ear to flick and the fox saw that Bob and Dan were now running across the sand, still passing the ball back and forth. Darius was reclining in the water at the surf line, with Jontaveon a little way further out.
His friends. Despite everything, he still had them. They’d been supportive following the news that Candice had left him. Dan had offered to “lend” him one or two of the girls that he usually dated. Bob had persuaded him to drag his sorry brush away from his dorm room to come down to the beach for the week. They were good friends, and he felt that he could count on them.
That’s what friends were for, wasn’t it?
He hadn’t heard back from his parents yet, but they’d support him. He was their son, after all.
Ozzy took another deep breath and stood up. His friends had brought him down here, and they were having fun. It wouldn’t be right to be a wet blanket.
Bob passed the ball to Dan, only to give a startled yip as a red-brown blur shot between him and Dan, snatching the ball from midair. “Ozzy?”
The fox grinned at them, the ball firmly in his paws. “I figured that I’d better get out of my shell before I got too depressed,” he said, and tossed the ball to Dan. He glanced to the west, where the sun was starting to settle into the ocean. “Looks like it’ll be a nice night,” he remarked softly.
“Maybe,” Dan said, passing the ball casually from paw to paw. “You ready to talk about it now?”
The fox looked out at the sunset again. The day was ending.
And a new day would come.
Ozzy squared his shoulders. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I’m ready to tell all of you all about it.”
End.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Vulpine (Other)
Size 98 x 120px
File Size 21.6 kB
Listed in Folders
I noticed that you kept a light touch on the 'cultural references'. I applaud your sense in that. They're like spices. Best to go easy on them.
I like the way you slightly mislead the reader, too. Framing things to make it seem its the break-up that's got him down sets the scene nicely. It also makes the reveal of his real problem later more effective.
Good pacing, too. The way you paint the scenes is nice and relaxed, perfect for the atmosphere of a vacation get-away.
Good stuff!
I like the way you slightly mislead the reader, too. Framing things to make it seem its the break-up that's got him down sets the scene nicely. It also makes the reveal of his real problem later more effective.
Good pacing, too. The way you paint the scenes is nice and relaxed, perfect for the atmosphere of a vacation get-away.
Good stuff!
but what did he contract?!
*chuckles... finally sat to finish with my coffee this morning and was not disappointed. I much enjoyed your story. I could emphasize with Ozzy and it took me back to -'how many times have I been there?' Good for him to snap out of it and good for his friends for sticking with him.
much enjoyed Walt...
V.
*chuckles... finally sat to finish with my coffee this morning and was not disappointed. I much enjoyed your story. I could emphasize with Ozzy and it took me back to -'how many times have I been there?' Good for him to snap out of it and good for his friends for sticking with him.
much enjoyed Walt...
V.
Eh. He's better without people who chicken out when meeting a bigger than usual challenge. And he'll get over it. If he survives his condition, that is.
I don't usually find writing like this entertaining. This work was not an exception. The only thing I found interesting in this one was the fox's struggle. And all the rest is just fluff to me. But, it is incredibly well written, the words and paragraphs flow perfectly even if I found the contents boring. I find the writing easy to follow, the journey through the story was painless even if I found very little that interested me. In some way, I am envious. My own works seem clunky, awkward, and cumbersome in comparison. Healthy amount of self-criticism is good, though, if I thought I was perfect I would cease improving and evolving.
Excellent little piece. I just happened to be the wrong audience. Luckily you also write stories that are completely different from this. But yeah... good work.
I don't usually find writing like this entertaining. This work was not an exception. The only thing I found interesting in this one was the fox's struggle. And all the rest is just fluff to me. But, it is incredibly well written, the words and paragraphs flow perfectly even if I found the contents boring. I find the writing easy to follow, the journey through the story was painless even if I found very little that interested me. In some way, I am envious. My own works seem clunky, awkward, and cumbersome in comparison. Healthy amount of self-criticism is good, though, if I thought I was perfect I would cease improving and evolving.
Excellent little piece. I just happened to be the wrong audience. Luckily you also write stories that are completely different from this. But yeah... good work.
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