Love Notes And Death Threats
#1 of Walking Into The Light series
Walking Into The Light: Love Notes And Death Threats.
Chapter Four Plus A Bonus.
A Very Merry Christmas Special
"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse-"
"Mice are idiotic little scurrying creatures."
"God damn it Grim! No one cares!" Came the echoing voices from inside a quaint Christmas cottage. The building was nestled daintily in a large valley, where Christmas trees all decorated and a lit with a warm Christmassy glow dotted the landscape. The sky was dark, a pale full moon, hanging high in the heavens, illuminating the world below as billions of snowflakes fell to the grounds below. However, inside the cottage, the atmosphere was not nearly as calm. The building was filled with the rabble and roars of many different people of varying shapes and sizes, some humans, some furry, some a mix of both and others...well, they were just interesting to say the least.
"I'm just saying, it makes no sense to add mice to a story about Christmas." Came the electronically synthesized voice of a tall male, his face covered by a metallic rendition of a human skull, the eyes glowing red as they computed their surroundings and chemical make-up of the atmosphere in the room. His mask was covered mostly by a dark hood and shroud, falling to about his mid back before turning to tatters and threads. He raised his arms in defense of his statement, his chest and arms bare save a single black t-shirt, a picture of Star with a fox tail on it dotting the center of the shirt. His wrists were covered in white bandages and black studded fighting gloves. Grim was the Sergeants Major of the Dark Star. A Class Five Orbital Destroyer commissioned by the Federation of Galactic Governments. Standing up and throwing his hands up in defeat, Cale walked off, his black and grey camouflaged pants tucked into a pair of steel coated combat boots.
Taking a walk around the room, he passed by another humanoid, His pale skin matching nicely to the snow white vixen that sat beside him. As well as another pair of morphics, two collies, male and female. Passing by them, he encountered a pair of towering beasts, both half dragon and half wolf, their bodies nearly identical in every way shape and form except for the coloring and their wings. He eventually found his seat beside a bust auburn vixen who sat next to the fire place, a faint hint of worry gracing her muzzle as she looked up at her pacing mate. Soon, her feelings were put to rest as he sat down and gave her a gentle kiss.
"Anyways, like I was saying. It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.....ok, The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
"Man...I wish I had a chimney back in the alley way. Us poor people don't have anything like those kids in the book." Came the voice of the pale human. His Once jet black hair was now as spiky as ever and dyed a festive green and red in a streaked pattern from the front of his bangs to the back of his neck. His usual black shirt was now littered with homemade pictures of a snow flake falling down onto a picture of Florida, with the words: Snowflake Hell and an arrow pointing at the state. His was tucked tightly into a pair of baggy black pants, once covered in chains, now covered in decorative little jingle bells. He leaned back in his seat on the couch, draping his arm around the snow white vixen and smiling as he thought back to just a few months ago.
"Oh my god....Cale, jeez we know you were poor and now you're a rising star. Whoopty doo! General Grim is a General for goodness sake. The Lucifuge Twins are the sole embodiment of Good and Evil and I'm an all powerful asshole capable of ending your very existence. Now, all I want is to just have us all here together, family, friends, loved ones, and have a nice Christmas eve together. My god....it is horribly difficult being an author when your own creations keep on pushing the envelope on how far they can take things." The group quickly silenced themselves as they waited for the story to continue.
The group that currently inhabited the cottage, which by the way wouldn't even exist is some unnamed author hadn't created it....you're welcome, was the collaboration of a life time of works and achievements. Each character a different story and each story and different part of one author's life. And tonight, for just one night, all those stories were going to come together and enjoy a moment of piece. In fact, it had absolutely no relation at all to a possible promotion of other stories soon to come to SoFurry.com or anything of the like.
"Ok...so, let's try this again. Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.....ok. The Children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
"Sounds like a bunch of fatties to me, dreamin' 'bout food and sugar. Heck, plums are sweet enough without sugar n' shit." A white elbow nudged the black furred ribs of the dragon wolf, his paw reaching down to rub the spot.
"Brother, let the children enjoy their respite of innocence, for it will not be long before their minds are tainted by the world that we so selflessly protect." The brother of death rolled his eyes, his midnight black fur standing out against the glossy black sheen of his twisted horns that adorned his fore head, curling back behind his skull. The creature was more wolf than dragon, in form at least. His paws were much larger than that of a wolf's and his foot paws were coupled with deathly sharp talons behind them. His claws were sharpened to a point and matched his rows of razor like teeth. His eyes were a deep blood red and seemed to cast a glow against the black fur that surrounded them. He shook his head, raising his paws in self defense, showing off the obsidian scales on his thighs and abdomen as well as on his biceps. As his head shook from side to side, a burning crown that floated above his head, let a shower of embers fall about him in a show of malevolence. He eventually side as he watched everyone glaring at him, even behind that skull mask Grim wore he could have sworn there was a scowl. He flexed his torn and tattered black leathery wings, folding them tightly behind himself and crossing his arms.
"There now, that wasn't so hard now was it brother?" Came the voice of the other twin and brother of life. His form exactly the same as his brother except for being purely white, his black horns and scales being the only form of colors on him except for his claws, talons, lengthy black hair and his deep blue eyes. His black hair rolled down in one smooth flowing length to his mid back, right in between a pair of dove like wings with feathers as white as new fallen snow. His smile was one of kindness and pure love, it would have made heaven jealous to know that it was only fair in comparison to his lovely demeanor and grace. A shining and brilliantly white crown floated above his head, every now and then a prism of colors being reflected off of it. Behind the two brother's sat a set of weapons. An old and wooden scythe with a blade sharper than a razor, behind the brother of death, and a silver sword, gilded with swirls and runic spirals of gold behind the brother of life.
"Ok.....this has got to stop guys. I understand this is your first time hearing this story, but seriously, if we keep on making off the wall comments on every last detail here, we are never going to get finished. Besides, this is something the average American family does every Christmas eve....minus the strange comments. So come on, let's just give this a try. Alright?"
Taking a breath I went back to the seemingly impossible task at hand.
"Now...where did we leave off.....oh screw it. Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds as visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter-"
"In Orlando....we call those people burglars. This story doesn't seem to Christmassy if it is talking about burglars and the like." Came the sweet voice of innocence, spoken by a pure white vixen, her lush mink like tail cradled between her paws as she gently ran her fingers through the fur staring at the author...at me....at...what the fuck ever.
My face was a show of well tempered anger, a vein beginning to bulge on the side of my fore head as my teeth ground back and forth. But with perseverance and enough hydrocodine to numb nearly all of my senses, I eventually brought myself to smile, albeit, it was a smile that made me look I belong next to the joker in Gotham's own Arkum Asylum.
"No my dear little vixen." I struggled to say through clenched teeth.
"This is not a burglar nor a miscreant of malicious intent, but instead a valuable piece to this classical story....K!" I say practically snapping my neck as I twist my head to the side with a greatly forced smile. It was soon beginning to dawn on me that perhaps bringing all of them here was not the best idea that I have ever had. In fact in retrospect, it was a horrible idea. But perhaps, just maybe, something would come of it.
"Ok, let's give this another shot....god please let this work....Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash-"
"You know, if the man is having such a troubled stomach from merely moving at an increased pace, he should probably be seen by medical expert." Came another interrupting voice. This one however, more educated and scientific than innocent. It was the voice of Alania Dr'hak Mundar, more commonly known as Alania. The pilot of the Dark Star, the federations newest and most advanced Class Five Orbital Destroyer, capable of bombarding and ravaging entire planets from a centralized orbit around the victimized planetoid. Despite being a combat strategist, and graduating top in her class in flight school as well as being awarded several medals for her expertise in piloting heavy destroyers and the like, she was not much one for the simple things and found them far more difficult to understand than how to use a graviton burst to create an event horizon to wipe out an entire enemy fleet.
Surely if I had a gun, nay, even if I was powerful enough to life either of the twins' weaponry I would have used it right then and there to put an end to this pain. Never before had trying to read a simple children's Christmas story been so hard. In fact, in all the time I spent eating shit in the U.S. Army, all the brutality I suffered, all the times I got shot at, I would have relived those days if only to give me respite from this....please....someone....anyone.....if you are reading this. Please....dear god.....save me.....I just can't do it anymore....I know suicide is a long term solution to a short term problem...but these guys are killing me.
Biting my lower lip, I choked back the need to viciously strangle every last person in the room. Taking a deep breath I gave a sigh and went on with the story. And to my surprise, it didn't end in me killing everyone.
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winters nap. When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window, I flew like a flash. Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, Gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below. When what to my eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name. "Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!" As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, where they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house top the coursers they flew, with sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the pawing and prancing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot. And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose, like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face, and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know, I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but went straight to his work, he filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, and to his team gave a whistle. And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere her drove out of sight.
"Merry Christmas To All, And To All, A Good Night." I spoke the last words as I looked around the room, slowly closing the book in my hands. A tear nestling in the corner of my eye as I looked at the serene picture of humans and anthros all cuddled together, even the brother of death held a warm smile on his face and the brother of life was wiping his misty eyes. Cale the fighter was holding his sister and love, and General Grim was struggling to keep from losing his composure as he held his mate's paw.
It was then that I realized what Christmas was really about, it wasn't about jolly old men or presents or cookies, it wasn't material. It was something more. It was the feeling of brotherly love that brings man and fur together in this type of harmony, but most importantly, it is the feeling of me giving this gift to you, the readers.
Merry Christmas to you all, and God bless us, everyone!
The Party:
Alright, well, that went relatively nicely, and I didn't have to set myself on fire. Ok, the next thing I want to do, is clear up a few things for our audience. I don't really think they know to many of you, at least not many of them anyways. So let's just go around the room and introduce ourselves. Cale, you go first, they know you the most out of all of us, and I'll go last." Cale cleared his throat before standing up, his white vixen sister standing with him.
"Ok, as everyone who is reading this knows, I am Cale Benziger. Co-Star and one of the main characters of the Walking Into The Light Series." Cale gave a smile before looking over at his partner and giving her palm a gentle squeeze.
"And I am Nichole Benziger, Also a Co-star and a main character of the same series. Also, I'm Cale's only love." After saying this she leaned over, softly kissing Cale on the lips as she held a mistletoe above her head and giggling. The entire group minus the two passionate lovers looking over at me.
"Ok, just because I write about it doesn't mean I practice it, jeez. Grim, you are next." Cale and Nicky took their seats and up next was General Grim.
"Hello to all you readers out there. I know most likely none of you know me. Just as I address my men, I will give you the same courtesy of keeping this short and simple. I am Commanding General of the S.S. Dark Star. Think star wars: death star mixed with star destroyer. Yeah, it's like that. I am part of the Salvation Found Series. Hopefully a series that will debut on SoFurry.com as soon as the Walking Into The Light series does its big bang before dropping down into a not so dramatic series." Standing up after Grim was his lovely pilot and wife.
"Hello, I am Alania Dr'hak Mundar. You may call me Alania. I am the lead pilot of the S.S. Dark Star I am a main character and for the most part a co-star in the Salvation Found Series. I like long walks on the Saturn beaches and trips to the Phoenix Quadrant of the Federation Systems. Also, in between stories, I am accepting work as a personal pilot...or babysitter.....preferably pilot though." The two sat back down and nuzzled against each other as it was the Twins turn.
"I am the Brother of Life, known by friends as Rofolante, but Rofo will do just find. I am the inner guidance of all things good in the world. The feeling you get when wanting to help a sibling, or the desire to make something good happen, is all because of my work. I love to see people smile and love it even more when I know I made them smile. I help and cherish the righteous and punish the wicked. I am not a character of a story series, though if you persuade my creator nicely enough, I just might be one day." As Rofo took his seat, the other brother stood up.
"I am the Brother of Death. I am the feeling you get in the depths of your soul when you are alone in a dark room. That sense of utter dread, the encroaching knowledge that your end is near and that there is little you can do to avoid it. I am the darkness in your soul that urges you to do what you want to do. Why help the needy when you are needy yourself, you should instead just take from them and help yourself. I too love to see you smile, but for a price. I will get you anything you want, anything at all, but in the end, you'll owe me.....oh how will you owe me, muhahahahah! I am also not a part of any story series, however, some day I might be. Then I will be able to haunt your dreams and the internet! Yes!" Finally the friends having all taken their turns it was my turn to introduce myself.
"Well, this is a first. It isn't often I take the opportunity to unveil myself to my audience. I figure it is Christmas so I might as well do something nice. Well, you all know me as the author: IGambledWithDeathOnce. While that is in fact correct it isn't all that personal. My real name is Ethan E. Martell. I am a twenty two year old male who has been writing stories, role playing, and drawing as well as playing video games since I was old enough to pick up a controller. I love fantasy and I am a furry till I die. This is my first story series or any submissions at all on YiffStar, by the time you read this it will be SoFurry.com though. I am an extreme role player, I do it all, from DnD to online MMORPGs like, Ragnarok Online, none of that WoW stuff. My past times, when not filled with the afore mentioned goings on. Include: skateboarding, playing the guitar, paintball, and currently practicing kickboxing. Other than that, I don't do too much unless I am at the mall with friends. I am hoping to get into college soon. I love reading everyone's submissions so please, create many more stories for me to read. I don't sleep much and reading helps to pass the time. Anyway, that is all for me. Thank you all for your comments and your favs, I hope you enjoyed this little Christmas Bonus and the following story. And from the cast of Walking Into The Light and myself:
Merry Christmas To All, And To All A Good Night!"
The dull roar of the multitude of students that filled the hallways of Winter Haven High School went on as consistently as ever. The rabble and babble of different groups always trying to be heard over another nearby group, the effect being a noisy gathering in which everyone had trouble hearing. Many of the students leaned against lockers, pulling out a plethora of electronic devices such as I Pods, Cell Phones and gaming devices. It was just another day for the students of W.H.H.S. With the singular ringing of a bell somewhere off in the distance, the many different humans and morphics began to clear the hall ways and make their ways to the varying class rooms that were scattered throughout the building.
"Alright, so as per hour discussion earlier, we were coming to understand that through the use of the Pythagorean Theorem, that we could begin the process of determining the...." The teacher's voice seemed to drone on and on as Nicky leaned back in her seat. For her, math was the worst class ever. When was she going to have to find the sum of different angles for an obtuse triangle if she was going to be a nurse. It made little to no sense at all that she should be forced to study this nonsense. She let out a soft sigh as she placed pen to paper, soon, simple lines becoming something more as the drawing took shape. A strong looking human male down on his knees, as tough as he looked, his face expressed an air of tenderness as his closed eyes and loving expression could be seen as he busied himself with orally pleasuring a white vixen, his fingers tenderly stroking her folds and pressing against her clitoris as his tongue worked its way inside her, the vixen's head was thrown back in a show of ecstacy, muzzle hanging open as she fondled her breasts and gave one of her nipples a squeeze. After completeing that picture, she moved onto another piece of work, this one took shape in the form of a human laying on his back, his eyes shut tight and mouth open in a moan of utter bliss, one hand squeezing the sheets beneath him and the other holding the hand of a white vixen who stradled him, his cock burried deep in her cunny, her face one of warmth as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze while leaning over him, her hair falling around the two of them. It was a fact that Nicky was an accomplished artist, especially when her work was about something she enjoyed, and thinking of her brother was something she truly enjoyed.
"So Nichole, what do you think the answer is to question fifteen?" Came the voice of her teacher, tearing her away from her day dream. Thinking for a moment, though not once putting down her pen, she tapped her paw on her desk before answering.
"Pass." She simply replied, lowering her head to return to her work. Giving a smile, the vixen imagined thoughts of an idealistic future, of the man making her his bride and the two growing old together. The dream was what she had always wanted. She had dreamed since she was a child, of someone asking for her paw in marriage and the two of them going off to start a life of their own, where her husband would sire two or three kits and she would be able to give them a mother, a real mother, unlike what she had. She knew that Cale was that person, some day, somehow, he would become her husband. The rest of the math period carried on all too slowly as usual. None of her friends were in the same math period, but the fact that they had the next four periods together, including study hall, more than made up for that. It wasn't long until the bell rang, signaling the end of the first period and the beginning of a five minute break before next period.
"Hey Nicky! So, how'd last night go?" A young female skunk asked as she came up behind Nichole. Her question was referring to an event that obviously enough occurred last night. The event in question though, was when the skunk had witnessed Nicky holding a conversation with a strange human male clad in all black, who had told her that he knew who her father was. The skunk had offered to stay with Nicky that night, but her friend declined the offer. After a trip to a local Green Beans coffee shop, the three had gone their separate ways, and she hadn't heard from the vixen since.
"It was....eventful, to say the least Mary. That man you met...that was my, boyfriend." She thought herself awfully clever to say he was her boyfriend instead of her brother. After all, it was a thousand times easier to believe she had a human boyfriend than it was to believe she had a human brother.
"That was your boyfriend? Nicky, he was like in his twenties and you are only sixteen, don't you think that is weird?" Mary asked, giving her friend a worried look. No matter how you looked at it, brother or boyfriend, or both, it was still a little strange. It wasn't often that sixteen year old girls had boyfriends that were eight years older than them. However, in Nicky's defense, it wasn't often that sixteen year old girls were dating their brother, so she figured if anything, she was exempt from the first offense since it was at least someone she knew.
"It's alright Mary, I know like to worry about me and all, but you'll just have to trust me on this one. We really like each other and for once I'm not going out with some hormone driven male who just wants to get with me for the sex. He's different, he's exotic, and caring, there just aren't many people like him in the world anymore." The look that came from the skunk seemed to scream sarcasm.
"Nicky, of course there aren't many guys like him. Humans are a dying species. Listen, you know how society feels about this kind of stuff. It may not be illegal, but it is frowned upon." It was true, humans were a dying breed. Humans were as old as furries were new. The first furry didn't appear until late in the eighteenth century. It was the first documented form of evolution since the human species and it changed the face of science forever. In the beginning, it was illegal for the two species to be together in marriage, it was a crime punishable by death for the two to come together and procreate. Now, it was only looked down upon by certain groups of society. In some circles it was even considered dangerous for humans and morphics to be together. The 'consequences' for the act ending in sometimes life threatening events. But telling Nicky that was like telling all the oceans in the world to dry up at once. It was just not going to happen. The thing about Nichole was that she was a bit of a fairytale girl. She believed that three things ruled over everything, and those were Love, truth and beauty.
"That's not the point, you make it sound like he's a sympathy case. I legitimately like this guy, I really do Mary." Mary finally gave a sigh of defeat.
"Alright Nicky, I want you to be happy, and if that human makes you smile, then I want you to be with him. I just want you to be careful ok Hun." She said, leaning forward and giving her best friend a hug. Mary had always been a bit of a worrier, and she was known for pressing it on others. It wasn't that she was trying to bother people, it was just that she cared greatly for the well being of others. In Nicky's case, she had come to view the vixen like a sister and always made sure that the girl was being careful.
The break was beginning to come to an end as the two females were making their way to their next class. Science was up next and that was where they would Shannon. Shannon was a different sort of feline, a lioness who was known to be as dangerous as they come. Her only goal in life was to look out for herself, to make sure she always got what she wanted. However, despite all of this, Nichole was able to find the good that was hi8dden so deeply inside of her and turned the lioness into her best friend. The girls were just finishing up their conversation as they walked into the science classroom. As usual, the room was filled with students who weren't in the least bit concerned about science. The teacher being late, resulted in the uproar in the classroom. Mary and Nichole took their seats alongside the windows of the classroom. One last seat open on the long black table they performed various tasks and experiments on. That empty seat belonged to Shannon, who currently was at the back of the classroom, sitting on the desk of a group of male collie's their tongues practically hanging out of their muzzles as they gawked at the beautiful feline. Shannon was well known as a man hunter, as well as many other things. Turning her head, she noticed that the rest of her group had entered and were waiting for her.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you boys later. Don't get any cuter while I'm gone." She gave a soft laugh as she slid off their desk, her skirt lifting ever so slightly to reveal a pink thong. Turning her head once more, she gave the collies a wink and went to sit by the other two females. Shannon had a lot planned for today. Ever since she found that note the human male had left. It was just what she needed to take down the only girl in school who people thought was more beautiful than her.
"So Nicky, how did last night go. Did Mr. Mysterious reveal anything." Nichole gave a little laugh.
"Yes, he did in fact reveal quite a bit." 'Oh I bet...' Thought the lioness to herself. The day was going smooth enough thus far. The classes were boring, but that was to be said about any day really. The rest of the period went by smoothly enough. They learned more about the solar system and astrology. It had been Nicky's favorite class this period. She always did find the stars to be so romantic. It was nearing the end of the period when Nicky felt a nudge at her side, looking over to see a smiling lioness. Her toothy grin showing that something was boiling beneath the surface, and it was something that worried Nichole. It was all thanks to the wringing of the bell out in the hallway that Nicky was brought out of her trance. Posters of academic excellence pasted by on the walls, numerous students just relaxing and talking as the vixen walked through the hallways. Her mind refused to let her forget that grin the sheer sight of it chilling her to the bone. She looked over, time seeming to slow down as she noticed a male human teen. His long black hair with red highlights hanging over his head. It was Pyro. A boy named for being the sole proprietor behind twelve different domestic fires, all of which the cops couldn't link to him. The boy was a wizard of the flame and dressed the part. His long black and red trip pants were covered in flame motifs rising up from the bottom as if consuming him from the ground up. His black and red combat boots were emblazoned with a flame mark on the toe of each boot. Deftly, he flipped and twirled a butane lighter in one hand. The object seeming to swirl about his fingers, clad in red fighting gloves, the padding reaching back the middle of his fore arms. His shirt was black with an image of a hell in flames on the front, the words, 'Are We There Yet?' on the front. A pair of DJ head headphones hung around his neck, a hard beat from a new Gorillaz album playing from them.
Nichole turned her head, trying to look away. She knew the boy was bad news. He had ties to a local gang, and even at his young age was already sporting the aptitude of a true businessman when it came to dealing with his abilities. The door to study hall was growing ever closer, and so was Nichole's inner courage, she felt she had to ask Shannon why she was smiling in such a way.
Sitting down at their desks, the girls were already pulling out homework and preparing to get busy on the task at hand. Mary stood up, letting the girls know that she was off to the bathroom.
"Shannon, why were you smiling at me before?" The lioness gave a coy look at first as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled white letter. Pushing it across the table and over the vixen. The feline gave another toothy grin. Slowly, Nichole picked up the letter, looking at it and turning it over in her paws. Carefully she began to read it.
"Dear Sister,
I wanted to tell you how strongly I felt for you, but in trying to do so, I was stricken by fear. I was afraid that I would have to see the rejection in your eyes. At least in doing this, it won't be as painful. I know I am merely human, and you are for more amazing than I could ever hope to be, but I hope that you will accept me for who I am, a pale faced man who makes a living fighting others, and more importantly, who loves you more than anything in the world. I know it is wrong to feel this way about someone so young, even more so about your own sister, but none the less, I am unable to quell these feelings I have for you. I only hope that you will someday feel the same.
Sincerely, Your brother: Cale.
Had she gotten this note from Cale her expression would have been far different from the wide eyed blatant show of horror on her face at the moment. In her lover's arms, it was a gift more precious than air, but in the paws of Shannon, it was nothing short of a nuclear bomb just waiting to go off and vaporize her life completely.
"W-where...did you...." She could barely speak.
"Where did I get it? Your brother accidently dropped it when you startled him. I picked it up, and when I saw what was written on it. I just couldn't turn down the opportunity." The lioness snickered slightly.
"What opportunity? What are you talking about?" Nichole was noticeably hurt now.
"Why, the opportunity to finally destroy your reputation around this school. I am so tired of living in your shadow. I was the most beautiful girl in the school until you showed up, and then you came along and ruined everything. It is always Nichole this and Nicky that. I'm sick of it." The female pounded her paw on the desk.
"Y-you can't do this Shannon. I'll do anything, I promise, I'll leave the school if that is what you want, but I'm begging you, please, please don't tell anyone about this!" Tears were rolling down the vixen's furry cheeks now. This was the worst day Nicky could ever imagine.
"Oh no. I'm not making it that easy on you. You want out of this? Well, you are going to have to suffer." Shannon clasped her paws together in front of her, a devilish look in her eyes. It was a look that ushered forth an audible whimper from Nichole, sending a shiver down her spine.
"What do I have to do?" She asked in a pained voice.
"I want your brother. Now, I know that if I tried to get to greedy and take him all for myself, he would never allow it and I would end up dead in a ditch somewhere. However, you are going to pretend that you aren't as interested in him anymore. Eventually....he will be all mine." Nicky was beginning to imagine that it was very likely that Shannon was the incarnation of the devil. She was really stuck this time. Either way, it seemed she would lose Cale. She tried to hold back the tears, but eventually it all became too much for her. Pushing herself up out of her desk, she bolted out the door and down the hallway. The door to the study hall slowly closed behind her, a human hand pulling it shut. A pair of piercing malevolent eyes gazed at the lioness from behind blood red bangs, his other hands gingerly caressing a lighter as he smiled wickedly, the tigress smiling back at him and giving him a thumbs up.
The bell rang one last time, signaling the end of the school day, students were flooding out of the front entrance and heading to their busses and personal vehicles. One vixen however was walking away from it all around the side of the school building. Letting out a soft sob, she slowly placed one foot paw in front of the other, trying to figure out her life. In a split second she tripped over a root sticking out of the ground, tumbling forward onto her muzzle. Tears were welling up in her eyes now and as she slowly picked herself up she noticed a pair of black combat boots, a flame motif scrawled upon them. Slowly looking up she noticed Pyro standing in front of her. Cracking his knuckles, he pulled off a glove, whipping his fist back and slamming it into the female's fore head. The last thing the poor girl saw was a half black half white star on the back of his hand racing towards her face.
That's it!? Holy betrayals Batman! What will happen now? Why is the S.E.S. involved in all this, what could Nicky have to do with any of it and what will ever become of her crumbling relationship with the human of her dreams. The answers to all this and more in the next submission of Walking Into The Light: A New Star In The South East Sky - Cale's Big Day!