"I did my usual stroll along the hillside, feeling the soft summer breeze flowing though my black fur and swimming around in my buttoned green shirt. The sound of the leaves and flowers that hung from the weeping willows around me made an elegant white noise that I easily get lost in. The smell of clean air and leaves filled my senses as my bare feet raking through the soft grass that tickled me between my toes. It was going to be a twilight sunset tonight - one of my favorite sun sets. I needed to see it. It completes me in ways that I find it hard to explain. It brings me untold happiness that couldn't be explained.

Tonight was different. The bench in front of my favorite weeping willow tree, where I sit and watch the sunset, was occupied by someone I never seen before. A white female fox, dressed in a Victorian fashion. From a distance, her dress melted into the bench, almost like she was part of it, like nature wanted her to be there, waiting for me. Her arms were folded upon her lap and her muzzle was pointing where the sun was going to set. Her golden hair moved gently with the calm wind, almost like her hair itself was made out of water and feathers. She remained still, like a beautiful statue in rich family's Victorian garden.

I approached her, my hands hiding within my jacket pockets and a small smile upon my muzzle. I asked her if she was here to see the magnificent view of what gives me calmness and joy, something that could only be seen by this particular bench and under the shade and comfort of the weeping willow tree behind it. She responded that she was here for the sunset view, 'waiting patiently for the sun to display its magnificent colors of soft orange, white and purple that melted across the vast sky. And when the sun sets, it leaves the most beautiful of twinkling stars - stars that were like small jewels upon black silk.' Hearing her say that made my curiosity raise and my love for her grow.

We continued to talk, sharing our common interests with each other without much hesitation. Our eyes never left each other as the sun in the distance began to sink. I could see more beauty in her eyes, much more than what the sun could provide that only happens once every 24 hours. She broke our conversation to concentrate on the sunset. I forgot all about it as my mind was lost within her words. We sat upon my favorite bench behind the comfort of the weeping willow behind us, watching the sunset and the sky slowly turning purple above us. We said nothing. Only the sound of the wind and birds chirping filled our ears. The wind blow against our fur, the grass tickled our toes under us, and our hands rested upon each other. The smell of flowers and perfume filled my nose as I sat next to her. I felt more happiness that night when I first met her, now having someone I can connect with while watching the more beautiful display of nature in front of us.

I invited her for tea later that night, and she never left my side."


artwork done in Prisma marker with PS on top of it for effect.

characters ©  Sorame and his mate.
story by Alex Cockburn.
artwork © 2010 Alex Cockburn.