FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I'm not really sure how you'll react to this short story. It is my hope that you'll enjoy it in some way. This is not my first story written, but it is the first posted here. If you like it say so, if you don't say so. Names used were randomly thought up and in no way reflect actual people, places or events. No actual werefoxes or werewolves were harmed in the making of this story.

Nick - Wild

Birds chirped and squirrels rustled about in the fallen leaves searching for nuts or someplace to bury their snack for a later date. A whitetail buck lazed just inside a thicket of blackberry after feasting on the sweet treat. Down wind a doe was nibbling her way up the thicket while her yearling stayed somewhat near by. The doe stopped eating and looked up, ears swiveling to locate sound moments before squirrels moved from the ground to trees hearing the faint thrashing of dry leaves. Birds still sang although on higher limbs while a few wood rabbits made a dash for safety. The doe stood her ground, head locked in the direction of the sound until the report of rapid fire gun shots sent her fleeing, tail flagged as an alert. The buck stayed hunker a while longer until he too followed suit.

Seconds ticked by as the thrashing of leaves and the sound of snapping twigs grew louder until a human, wearing a pair of kaki cargo pants, a white shirt and a green jacket burst into the relative clear space next to the blackberry bramble. Stopping only to re-shoulder a rifle and fire a few bursts of bullets back to more approaching crashes then running again. The human changed magazines on the fly. Running as fast and hard as adrenaline would grant him towards the edge of the woods and his truck. A few seconds after the human left the minor clear spot next to the blackberry bush wolves, big ones arrived stopping only long enough to sniff the ground where the human stood before heading after it. They never howled or growled, only pursued with a hunter's intent.

Nick broke clean of the wood line and clambered up the side of a large loose earthen mound. Falling and partly rolling down the other side the human scrambled back to his feet, grabbing a few lost items before running towards a waiting SUV. Fumbling with his keys while straining to hear over his own gasping breath and hammering heart for the crashing of five, no eight large mean looking wolf monsters. Unlocking his door and tossing his rifle and a few other things inside before climbing in. Jamming the ignition key and twisting the engine spun only a few times before catching. Pressing the clutch awkwardly as he jammed the gear lever into second gear, pressing the gas hard and dumping the clutch. The SUV lurched with spinning tires just as the first wolf crested the dirt mound. Fishtailing wildly the SUV rocked side to side tires crying for grip as more power was pressed forth from the engine. A frantic look back the human saw the wolf beasts charging with un-natural speed after him, one even managed to grab hold of the rear bumper and partly climb on while a second cut off his escape route only to meet nearly three tons of steel barreling along at forty-five miles per hour. The impact was jarring but the wolf held on, clawing for a hand hold using the bull-bars on the front to keep from rolling under the fleeing SUV. A pass through a sand of two year old tree shook the wolf on the front loose while the one climbing up the back took a bit more side to side lurching before it fell off and rolled to a stop in the billowing dust of the logging road.

Both wolves made their way back to the worksite clearing, ignoring the logging equipment, although both did stop long enough at a water trailer to get a drink, turning the water off and picking leaves and pine straw from each other's coats the two returned to base of the dirt mound to meet the rest of the small pack that was examining the items dropped by the fleeing human. Huffing slowly as the eight looked at each other then chuckled softly, standing up to two legs when they heard the rest of the pack beginning to arrive.

"Alpha, does this mean we'll have to leave again?" one of the wolves that helped in the chase asked their leader who was still getting pebbles and dust out of his coat.

"No, this is our land on the other side of that mound, we own it free and clear all the way tot eh highway there." The alpha said while pointing to a distant bridge ten miles away. "Then to the port and all the way to the coast, it belongs to us."

"But what about these loggers, won't they cut down our forest too like they did here?" another asked while looking at a bulldozer.

"No, because you see those marks on the trees, those are property markers. If they go outside of those markers then their company will lose their logging contract and ability to work." The Alpha said grabbing the few gathered items to look at.

"Who was that guy anyway Alpha?" the first wolf asked.

"I'm not sure, but chances are we'll find out soon enough." The alpha said looking at one piece of paper in particular that had written on it 'Nick Downstar - Freelance photography, weddings, crime, houses, etc. Contact: Phone, Email or walk-in.' Alpha grinned as he read the phone number, email address and most of all, a physical address of a building somewhere in town. "Come along, let's get back to the party, it's not often our omega gets his drivers license." The alpha smiled herding his pack back into the woods.

On the road Nick slumped back into the seat, and wiped his forehead. Rolling down a window for the rest of the trip back into town, Nick was glad his cameras and most valuable of all their memory cards full of werewolf pictures. Laughing as he beat on his steering wheel, it had been hard and people thought he was crazy. But he had proof now, actual proof of clear pictures of a pack of twenty werewolves. Although they were much closer than was comfortable, he still had the proof and with any luck, the world would see it soon. Nick turned his cell-phone on then began listening to voice mails about other jobs, that would actually pay money instead of empty promises, and as much as he wanted to prove that werewolves existed, proof didn't pay the bills. Returning one urgent call, Nick waited for the line to pick up while threading his 4runner into a gas station to gas up. Popping in his Bluetooth set then stepping out, Nick began speaking with a woman that was frantic about getting her child's birthday party photographed and was willing to pay double if he could be there in half an hour. Nick held an arm up then pumped his fist but didn't cheer since it would be money enough to not have to eat ramen for dinner again tonight. Spending fifteen dollars for gas, two dollars for two drinks and a bag of salted honey peanuts; Nick then changed shirts an covertly hid his less than legally acquired full-auto SIG556 in the back of his SUV. A quick change of memory cards and camera batteries, nick was ready to take pictures of kids in funny hats. Maybe sneak a few slices of cake, a bowl of ice-cream and any other snacks he could manage.

Nick arrived at a nice three story house, a collection of higher end luxury cars and SUV's made his twelve year old ride look like a zebra among thoroughbreds. A quick knock on the front doors and Nick was created by a nice lady wearing an apron who then showed him to the kitchen then the backyard. The smell of cooking hamburgers and hotdogs made Nick's stomach tighten in memory of the last hamburger he ate earlier that week when a reporter bought him lunch. The mother that called him showed him around and Nick snapped picture after picture. Thinking about his fee, one hundred dollars for birthdays for the first two hours, then twenty five dollars an hour there after, pictures are twenty five cents each for any number under sixty, then that price goes down to ten cents each after that. Checking his picture counter, Nick chuckled at having nearly two-hundred pictures snapped already; of course his prices were on his website and in his voicemail message so she had to know. Nick kept right on taking pictures that the mother pointed out. He wasn't the cheapest, but as far as his competition, he was the best only because they required a week notice and a deposit that was non-refundable and only worked for two hours, nothing beyond that. Secretly Nick got his hands on a few of their cameras and laughed at the resolution quality being just slightly better than what a normal person could get from a discount store.

At the end of the party, six hours later, Nick was only too glad to take home a small cooler stuffed with uneaten hotdogs and hamburger, unopened packages of hotdogs and hamburgers, six bags of potato chips, three gallons of ice-cream and half a sheet of triple layer cake. Plus his check for services rendered would be waiting for him to bring the pictures back. Driving back his photo shop that also doubled as home and parking garage, Nick was tingling with anticipation of a nice payday. Packing his food away and gorging on two grilled hotdogs Nick settled down to begin counting off pictures from the party to know for sure how much to charge and to know if he'd need to find any more photo-paper. He had the ink, that wasn't an issue since a month before a break-in and vandalism had occurred at one of his rival's. Nick smirked since he photographed the scene for the police, commenting that it was a shame that they were out hundreds if not thousands of dollars in ink and paper alone. He had been real helpful there. But they had insurance and the police investigated Nick and cleared him, a few days after that Nick got a package delivered and inside a pile of ink cartridges all for his printer from some stranger who apparently broke in, stole just the needed ink, trashed the place to cover the theft and sent it to him, all very conveniently arranged.

Nick loaded the memory cards, one after another into his computer, careful to not mix business with pleasure as he counted the birthday party pictures. One thousand twenty pictures, at ten cents each, Nick figured the math out to be a hundred and two dollars worth of just pictures in a standard four by six, however the mom wanted not only the standard prints, she wanted all of them as ten by twelve's as well. At least three sets of ten by twelve's and three sets of four by six. Ten by twelve's were two dollars each flat any amount. More math and Nick whistled at the figure. He though about figuring a discounted price just incase she balked at the first price tag. Arranging the pictures he spent a few hours cropping out shades and red eye, clearing an odd blur now and then before the first batch was ready to begin printing. Setting the printer for the big prints before bringing another printer on-line to take the second batch as the first one worked. Nick spent he better part of the evening plying his craft to the pictures, and restocking paper and ink as it ran out. Finally at nearly three in the morning he sent the last batch to the printer. Flipping the pages to make sure none of the papers stuck together was it time to trim. Stacks of twenty at a time and a specialty press shear made trimming an easy process.

Just about five in the morning Nick lay down to sleep, too tired to consider looking at any more pictures. The last of the pictures could be trimmed later, and then delivered the following afternoon. Nick had a thought about not offering a discount at all because of the work involved, besides they shook on double the fee if he would be there in such short notice, she even signed the contract on it. Although for now, sleep was Nick's highest priority. Several minutes after turning off the lights Nick was out cold on his bed, never thinking for a minute about what he left behind from his spill down the dirt embankment. But someone else was thinking about the handful of business cards, three pieces of chewing gum, a pen, three rubber bands and a notepad with various doodles and general notations and appointments with notes about the people involved in the appointments. Alpha particularly liked the note about the hardware store smelling like kerosene soaked horse droppings and rancid milk while the people were probably all related to the same sheep or goat. Flipping the notebook closed Alpha drove slowly down the street, checking house numbers until he came across a converted corner service station. No vehicle outside meant it was likely inside one of the bays but the address was right. Even had a sign reading 'Freelance Photography - You point, I shoot'. Checking his watch Alpha grunted at the time, nearly two in the morning, he was tired and the pack was probably sleeping at his house because of the earlier intruder had them on edge.

Driving away, Alpha left the still toiling photographer working on a seemingly endless amount of pictures from someone's son's birthday party. Just form the short time alpha spent watching, the amount of pictures being processed was in the hundreds if not low thousands of pictures which would appear to be a near all night job. Alpha decided that he found the photographer and a visit could wait until tomorrow, it was also very late and he was on his way home from work. The short drive got Alpha to think about that morning again, it had been going so well. Then during the festivities two of juveniles began to fight over a rabbit; which the rest of the pack didn't exactly encourage but didn't stop either since the young ones would have to figure out their places. Lots of snarling and nips, scratching and dust churning before the boys were too tired to keep fighting. Only then did he flash of light from across the clearing draw his attention but not precisely what made the flash until the human stood up and started to run. So began the chase at first just to find out who it was and take the camera. Then the shooting, and three of his better subordinates being clipped by bullets while they pursued and it became a hunt and a drive to get revenge. Alpha figured in hours of hindsight it became clear that inexperience with a gun and just spraying bullets was probably done out of fear more than actual malice, but that was hindsight and not actual stress of the moment. Parking in his driveway, Alpha shut his car off, grabbed his briefcase and went inside the house. Crashed out on his living room floor was the birthday boy omega, just got his drivers license at the age of twenty three, so no more bumming rides. A few other ranking pack members slept peacefully in chairs, on the floor or draped on his couch. Mindful to not step on anyone, Alpha cleared the minefield of sprawled arms and legs, to climb the stairs. The guest bedroom door was partly open and the guest bathroom light was on, shrugging he went into the master bedroom to find his bitch sprawled on the bed, mouth agape and drooling slightly.

"Hunny bunches." Alpha said gently as he gave his wife a gentle nudge on the shoulder. "You're taking up the whole bed move over before I push you onto the floor."

"mmmmurrphimelhem." The sleeping alpha bitch grumbled before rolling more to her side, leaving a nice drool stain on his pillow.

"Thanks." Alpha said with a still soft sarcastic tone, before changing pillows from one side to the other.

Undressing to look at him self in the mirror, flexing his arms and chest Alpha smirked, he was still impressive and got more than a few women giving him looks still when he went out without his wife. In the hall the creak of bathroom door hinges, the click of a light switch and a tired yawn preceded a bipedal coyote. Watching in the mirror Alpha saw a coyote pause to lean against his doorsill then speak in a low near purring voice.

"Thank you again for giving me a place to crash for the night. I'll be out of your territory hopefully tomorrow." The coyote said before dipping his head to the alpha.

"It has been no problem having you here these past few days Max you'll get your wanderlust worked out sooner or later and settle down; until then it good that you're making record of were-people friendly territories. That's always been a travel nightmare." Alpha said while walking over to give the coyote a friendly shake.

"Heh, you know what they said about coyote back in the old days, that we were the wandering wolves of the prairie." Max smiled as his tail swayed slowly.

"They also called you guys trickster and fire bringer." Alpha said with a chuckle. "But anyway, if you find yourself back here in the future, give us a ring alright. Safe travels incase I don't see you in the morning before you head off."

"Will do, I'll keep in touch for sure, was thinking about heading overseas. Check out those rumors over there about a remote were-community; see if they'll welcome an American wandering 'yote." Max said shaking hands with his were-lupine host.

"Please do, because the wife has been biting me to go take one of those cruise tours over there." Alpha said as he grinned to his snoring wife.

"Can and will do, oh hey. What are you going to do about that guy from earlier today?" Max asked a bit curious since the chatter among some of the subordinates was of tracking and hunting the human in the woods.

"Not sure, maybe just catch and question, take the pictures and be more careful in the future. Not like the old days anymore you know." Alpha said with a low sigh." Anyway, that's best for tomorrow, and besides, no one believes werewolves or for that matter any werebeings exist and with any luck the pictures will be thought of as excellent photographic fakes."

"Yea, hopefully." The coyote answered. "Sleep well, got a few hours of night left before sun rise." Bowing his head then turning to head to the guest bedroom and closing the door.

"The pack is going to go nuts when they find out he's just a few blocks away." Alpha whispered to himself before crawling into bed to sleep.

Nick woke with a start from a nightmare of werewolves chasing and clawing him apart no matter how much he fought or ran they still caught him. Crawling from under his covers to the bathroom Nick grunted at the vision in his mirror. Hair matted and needing to be brushed out, he whispered a mild explative as he saw his curse staring back in the mirror. A curse he got years earlier that drove him away from his comfortable lifestyle, his family and everything that was familiar. Bracing his black furred hands on the sink Nick leaned forward to press his head to the mirror remembering that night of drinking in celebration of finally graduating collage. The future was bright and wide open, he even had a career lined up as a photographer, travel the world taking pictures and getting his work seen by thousands or millions of people. His pictures displayed in galleries and used as computer backgrounds, but that stupid thing he hit driving back home did this to him. It made him a freak. Gritting his teeth then looking at him self again in the mirror, beady golden iris around vertical black slits in his eyes eyes. His freakish orange-red fur over white, twin black edged ears and a black nose Nick hated how he looked, he never asked to become a stupid werefox. He just wanted to be normal, not some beast trying to be human. Those werewolves the day before acted like all the others chased him and had death in their eyes. Grabbing a razor blade Nick cut his forearm until he could focus enough on the pain to change back to normal. Keeping a hand firmly over his cut to stop the bleeding, Nick checked the calendar for lunar cycle. Cursing under his breath while fur receded and his features creaked painfully back to human, the moon was going to be at its most full tonight. Nick learned that his changes into his accursed fox shape became harder to fight the closer to the full moon every month. Even now he could feel it starting to come back. He had to get his check and find a safe place to run and hide at for the next seventy-two hours.

Gritting his teeth on a piece of tinfoil knowing it would give him a splitting headache, but it would keep the monster in him at bay for a while longer. Nick bandaged his arm, and proceeded to finish his trimming of the pictures for his client. Now and then Nick would feel himself slipping, usually a stab with a hobby knife or a barefoot kick against a table leg would make enough pain to force the shift back. Pulling his jacket on to cover his arms and the cuts, Nick climbed into his truck then opened the garage door via remote. Driving away Nick never gave a glance to a nicely restored nineteen seventy-nine Dodge magnum parked across the street. Nick never looked into his rear-view mirrors as the occupant of the car exited and walked towards the former service station converted to a house with a garage door remote in hand. Nick was focused only on two things, not changing into a savage fox monster and getting his check.

Alpha watched as nick drove away since it is his job as alpha to check any possible threats to the pack and deal with them. Clicking the remote for the door, alpha waited for the door to rise and grant access inside. Looking around alpha was struck by the very curious mixture of smells inside the building. Exhaust mixed with various inks, the smell of piled garbage and mold permeated the main work space. Closing the garage door behind, Alpha passed through a door into a nearer living space. Sniffing the air here however brought a new musk it was also tainted with blood. The bedding reeked of sweat and grunge and this musk, but it was the hairs that brought the biggest surprise. Taking a few hairs to look at in better lighting, Alpha had flush of relief and elation that it wasn't a werehunter like the pack had been muttering. It was a fellow were, and from the smell and hairs, a werefox. Looking around more Alpha spotted a few drops of blood and a bloody hobby knife, the blood was fresh, same with the bathroom sink. Fresh drops of blood and older stains, a bloody razor blade on the sink edge an a few in the trash were concerning that maybe he was fighting his shifting and resorted to mutilation to help, Alpha knew werefoxes are rare, very rare. So rare in fact another werebeing may go their entire lives and maybe meet one or hear about one somewhere that was still alive. Alpha found it to be sad because werefoxes are so neat to have around, they are smart and usually very artistic, but they don't have the support of a community because of their traditionally loner lifestyles. Alpha looked at the computers and pictures, nodding mainly to him self that this guy Nick has the talented touch to catch life in an image rather than just something that doesn't quite give all the detail. Scrolling through the pictures of his pack, Alpha found one that would be excellent for a group shot. Printing it off to take with him and deciding to also take the flash drives as insurance, Alpha left a note written on the back of a business card that was recovered at the conclusion of the chase the day before that read:

'I have your flash drives. We need to speak. Meet at the logging clearing. Tonght.'

Nick was in agony when he got back home hours later, the beast inside him was no longer being kept at bay. It was fighting to get out and be free of its confinement again. Falling out of his truck as the garage door shut, Nick groaned with ache. Fighting his clothes to strip before he ruined another set of pants he only just managed to strip nude as the searing ache of bones shifting and muscles tearing forced him to black out from the pain of the transformation. Since he was never taught to focus and guide the shift, he resisted and was in agony. Teeth were forced from his gums, tearing nerves and flesh in the process while his chest partly collapsed then realigned. His shoulders rotated, breaking his collarbone only for it to re attach in a new shape. His head pounded as his skull fractured and pulled out at the jaws and pressed down on the forehead. Flattening and lengthening into a classically vulpine shape. His hips folded with a louder snap and narrowed slightly while his feet folded in odd ways, each growing longer while other leg bones shortened to keep his overall height the same. Finally his tail, the one thing that would be his pillow for the next white and nights burst forth, at first only as a skinless strip of bone and sinew, Nick cried out in pain. Bleeding while skin began growing down its length, the rest of Nick's body burned like fire as the orange-red fur that would protect him from the chill of night filled into place along with his white underbelly. His hands and toes curled as claws pushed out, forcing finger and toe nails from their beds while coal black hairs added further pain by covering the more sensitive places of the human body.

Along he balls of his feet and toes rough pads swelled to be the surface he would walk on for the next seventy-two hours. While his hands formed slightly smoother pads along his palms and fingers. Panting as he couldn't stay asleep due to the burning and painful effort to resist the change. The end of his nose burned as his nose reformed and whiskers pushed out. While his tail thickened considerably with a large thick soft brush of fur Nick clawed at his eyes as both felt like they were being pierced by hundreds of red hot needles while his iris went from round to vertical slits. Shuddering as he lay on the floor, nerves still tingling from the painful change, and new sensations flooding in to his brain, Nick just laid there wanting to die. Four times already he actually had a pistol under his chin post change, silver bullet loaded ready to end his misery. But couldn't commit suicide, although this time he just might since the pain of the change wasn't getting any less, only worse. Looking at the clock Nick saw that it was just a quarter past two in the afternoon. Four hours before the sun would start to go down, five before it would be dark enough to go hide somewhere other than his house. Rolling over Nick grunted then readjusted his tail before getting up, having solace in that the only good part about a daylight change, was the beast didn't like the sun at all. Using his truck tire to help stand, Nick stepped slowly, relearning how to balance on his toes all over again and walk with awkwardly bent legs and what felt like his knees bent backwards although they were just his ankles. Slumping down into his desk chair, sniffing the air at the odd scent still hanging about; Nick looked around but didn't focus on anything until he spotted a business card taped to the screen of his photo computer. Partly squinting at the card before grabbing it, it was an old design from before he changed it to not include his address. Turning it over Nick's eyes widened at the note, looking quickly to the card reader which was empty, although his print job folder showed a single image had been printed four hours earlier. Recovering the printed image of the entire pack of werewolves, nick shuddered again. Feeling cold despite his fur, they found him they broke in and found him.

Looking back at the clock, trapped by his appearance and desire to hide, Nick could only contemplate what he was going to do. Thinking he could run again, but to where, his truck only had a quarter tank of gas and he couldn't exactly go get anymore to flee properly at the moment. He couldn't stay here because they knew where he lived and would come after him, since they knew what he looked like at least as human, staying wasn't an option either. Nick began to make a low nervous chirping whine as he thought about what he could do until his stomach decided for him. Going to his fridge Nick began to heat up burgers from the day before and eat, deciding that if he was going to be killed. He could at least have the decency to not die hungry. Eating until his stomach felt hard full, smiling in a bit of self pride at having easily eaten more than the current world record for hotdogs and hamburgers. Looking to the clock for a time check, Nick splayed his ears with two hours before he could even think about leaving and not being seen by someone. A little TV to kill time, and digest the food in his belly, Nick felt depressed acceptance of the only choice he had. Two hours of learning about how various things were made was broken only by snacking on ice-cream, licking he spoon clean after downing a half gallon of the best tasting vanilla ice-cream he ever tasted, then getting depressed again since it would be the last time he enjoyed ice-cream he thought.

Alpha found a v-log that Nick kept on a flash drive he and his ranking pack members had spent the last several hours watching the v-logs that Nick had made. They were only a few minutes each but they highlighted a spiraling depression of having no one. His first was two nights before he was infected, the boy was so happy, about to graduate, the next was the night after being bitten, it was the longest and most painful to watch. Alpha, his mate and a few of the ranking pack members all watched as a young man changed into a stunningly handsome werefox before their eyes. They saw his pain and struggle to resist, then the fear, confusion, rage and depression that filled the golden eyes. Nick made only trilling chirps and guttural growls until finding his voice again. They listened to him describe the pain and beg forgiveness for whatever he did to deserve it. Alpha gritted his teeth while his mate clutched his hand as they watched Nick cut his arms and to fight back the change before resorting to shaving the fur away. The fear in his voice of not knowing if he hurt anyone for the days he couldn't remember, only that he would wake up somewhere with a taste of blood in his mouth. Then the suicide attempts, forced action, Alpha stopped the play back having seen more than enough.

"Alpha, he's unstable. Are you sure brining him here would be good?"

"Unstable or not, I have a duty just like you do, Bruce, to protect those within our territory from a dangerous were being." Alpha said looking at the frozen image of a werefox holding a revolver under his throat. "Right now that dangerous werebeing is him self, he's resisted and fought his change for so long he's in conflict."

"I know, ever since you called me to ask about werefoxes I've looked around and they just don't have the social support that others have. Even coyotes like Max have better support via the wolf packs, but werefoxes... They have no one but each other and unless it was a vixen that turned him, he'll have to go it alone." Bruce said with a sigh. "That's the roughest part about this whole thing solitary male werefoxes have the highest chance of suicide than any werebeing anywhere."

"But we still have to do something." The alpha bitch said with a soft but firm tone. "Even if it means just brining him here and sitting on him so he can't hurt himself. We are a strong pack and we've always prided our tradition of helping guide those that needed it and protecting those that begged shelter."

"He's not begging shelter or asking for help." Bruce's mate stated in objection "It's only a werefox, it's not like they have an actual place or anything or pay attention to the social order." Looking at the alphas and the other subordinates, she stood up to make her point further. "They can't cross with anything but each other, they don't respect boundaries or do they help the community. Hell they don't even support each other, so why should we support them?"

"Because it is our duty, Elane" Alpha said calmly. "If you and Bruce do not wish to help, fine. Do not help, I will meet him this evening and do everything I am able to convince him that we are not going to hurt him."

"Like hell." Elane grumbled just under her breath.

"What as that?" Alpha asked directly. "You wish to add your objection to my ruling?"

"I said like hell I won't hurt him." Elane snapped, feeling her shift coursing through her body until she felt Alpha's hand grab her throat and begin to squeeze.

"Elane, I tolerate you in my pack because Bruce is my trusted right hand. However, need I remind you that you are not alpha and your own heritage is at best, spotty and feral until the pack tamed you enough to function among humans." Alpha growled deeply, curling his lips back to expose his teeth. "Now, until you are Alpha, you will not disrespect my wishes and you will know your place." Alpha dropped Elane to the ground. "Bruce, get your bitch out of my sight."

"Stop making a mockery of the Alpha's words Elane." Bruce said pulling his mate from the room to be out of ear shot. Waiting until hey were sure they wouldn't be seen or heard, Bruce whispered to Elane's ear "This is our chance my bitch, while Alpha is out retrieving that filth, we can usurp him. He's grown weak and misguided, we wolves are leaders and it is high time we established that fact. When we are Alpha, I think we should take over the point from those misfits that he likes allowing on our land when it floods, then we take the land from the crowfoot clan, they are old and weak and their alpha is just as foolish as our Alpha is now." Bruce whispered while stroking his mate along her body.

Nick sighed as he thumbed back the hammer on his reproduction new army revolver. Closing his eyes and breathing calmly be placed the barrel in the hollow between his jaw and throat. Closed his eye and squeezed the trigger. The sharp 'CLICK' echoed in his ears for a moment. Three minutes past before Nick opened his eyes then looked at his revolver, to try again. Another resounding click made his ears twitch a third brought a growl of frustration, the fourth fifth and sixth only desperation and tears but no bang. Cocking the hammer to half cock then swinging the loading gate and rotating the cylinder, six silver bullets dropped free of the chambers, each with a firm indentation on the primer. Looking at the bullets as a tiny voice in his head mocked him, saying he was an ugly failure and couldn't even kill him self properly. Sighing again, Nick just loaded the bullets back in to their respective chambers. Leaving the hammer at first cock safe, he placed it back into its case before placing it on the passenger seat of his truck. Looking out his windows along the top of the garage door, it was easily dark enough to not worry about being seen driving. Breathing deep and steady Nick got into his truck and headed towards the cleared logging landing, stopping at his favorite gas station to top off on gas, using the flickering lights of the station to his advantage Nick filled the tank and paid without being seen. The drive back to the unpaved access road then another turn onto a logging road afforded Nick time to think. He could make them think he was going to kill them so they cold kill him that would work.

Nick listened to the crunch of gravel under his tires, while his highbeams and hellas lit the road in front of him. Ahead two deer crossed, spooked by the sound of his approaching truck. A quick spin around the cleared landing area showing a pile of tops and limbs, a few stubs from cut logs piled up but nothing else. Whispering to himself that the company must have taken it equipment off, he parked. The sun was still just barely above the horizon from Nick's point of view at this higher elevation. Killing his engine then piling a few slab pieces and limbs then giving a generous splash of gasoline Nick started a fire. It was a small fire, but welcoming and reminded him of camping as a boy, being so scared of monsters that he would stay awake all night huddled close to the fire. Nick put more wood on the fire to watch it blacken and catch fire, imaging the wood being like his dreams for the future. Turning his ears to the near ghost like pad of feet on hard dusty earth, Nick stayed sitting. Facing away from the approaching sound of foot steps, a tear rolled down his cheek, before he sniffed. Wiping the side of his muzzle and cheek, resisting the urge to flee as his inner beast was urging.

"Will you get it over with already, I'm sick and fucking tired of being like this." Nick said in a voice that was mildly irritated at being made to wait for his sweet release of death.

"What do you want to happen?" Came a voice, from just behind him and much over his head, it was deep, somewhat rumbling and fit the power Nick could also taste in the air,

"You know what, break my neck. Bite my head off, rip me apart, whatever you and your pack decided. I've already tried shooting myself, poisoning, hanging, drowning, even being hit by a truck. Gun refuses to fire, poison just makes me puke and feel sick for hours, hanging gives me a sore neck or the rope breaks, it's hard to willingly drown and being hit by a truck only hurts. So since you obviously called me here to kill me for taking those pictures to show the world that you monsters exist, just get it over with." Nick said narrowing his eyes, actually getting angry that this thing wasn't acting fast enough.

"Kill you, why would I want to kill you?" the voice said again as it got closer.

"Because isn't that what you wolves do to foxes? Kill them?" Nick said as the tension across chest was making it hard to breath.

"In the wild perhaps that is true, but this is not the wild is it?" the voice asked with infuriating calmness.

"No difference at all." Nick sniffed then rubbed his nose, curling himself tighter to hug his tail to his chest. "It's not fair; I didn't want this I didn't ask to be turned into this mockery of a human being. I just wanted to get home that night, but some wild animal just jumped in front of me and I hit it, when I got out of my truck to check if it was ok, it attacked me then it ran away. After that I turned into this." Nick said feeling tears welling up. "So please, I shouldn't have tried to run. I should have stayed and let you kill me." Nick felt his emotions break down moments before a hand gently touched him on the head and stroked down his neck.

"I don't want to hurt you. I want to help you." The voice said, inches from his right ear. "My name is Alpha and I am glad to finally meet you Nick Downstar. You are the first werefox we have ever had in the area and the only werfox I've ever seen."

"I'm a fucking monster" Nick croaked.

"Doubtful you are a monster." Alpha said while looking at Nick's form. "Have you killed anyone before?"

"I can't remember." Nick said trying to not look at the imposing gray and black wolf next to him.

"You would remember if you killed a human. Animals not so much, but a human you would." Alpha said in a low voice "I know this because I have killed humans before, for my country."

"You what" Nick asked giving a look to the one calling him self Alpha all the sudden while fear and excitement swelled within him.

"Yes, I was a soldier during Vietnam and the wars since before I returned home to assume leadership of my pack. I remember the people I killed. I remember their smells of fear, hate, anger, sadness. All of these smells." Alpha said as his eyes had a far off look. "I'm tired of killing and I even more tired of seeing waste."

"What?" Nick asked confused.

"I've seen your pictures Nick Downstar, you have excellent talent. It is said all werefoxes have this artistic talent for creation of not only beauty but of function to benefit everyone. It is sad though that so much is wasted when the spark of true talent is extinguished before it is seen for the fullest potential."

"Wait a minute... You saw my stuff?" Nick said feeling defensive of his property.

"Yes, I did, although only a small fraction I am guessing. I would enjoy seeing more if you would show me." Alpha said offering a gentle kindly smile.

"Yea but why me, anyone can take pictures." Nick said while perking his ears a bit at the complement and request to actually show his portfolio to someone.

"True, but did you know you can tell if a werefox took a picture, or painted, even designed something as opposed to someone else. It's all in the detail ad artistic functional beauty of the piece that is coupled with its aesthetic enrapturing." Alpha said nodding to the fire. "See right there, you thought you just piled sticks and stuff together, but see how as the fire burns as it self feeds?"

"What are you talking about, I just put the..." Nick trailed off as he looked at the fire and how the wood bits would collapse into it self rather than leave the footprint of the pile. "It's just a pile of sticks, I, I just piled them and wasn't thinking about it." Nick said looking at the fire burn.

"That is typical to werefoxes from what I understand. All of you just have a gift that no one else seems to be able to grasp. That and you're also rumored to think much faster about anything than others are capable of." Alpha said looking at Nick brightened up. "Give me a chance to help you, and if it doesn't work, I promise to help you kill yourself."

"So this will be a win, win for you huh?" Nick asked still a bit apprehensive about accepting help so readily.

"For me, no, it would be more win lose. That is not to say that there are not still many who live by the old ways of if you or anyone else is not compatible or of at least equal physically. You or anyone else would be unfit and should die out. I believe otherwise and even when I was chasing you and held onto the front of your truck, I could feel that you would do me a great service and help me when I needed it." Alpha said offering his hand to Nick.

"Sorry about that, blind panic and all." Nick coughed as he avoided looking Alpha in the eyes.

"My, my, Alpha, you and this pathetic thing... Is it a rodent perhaps? No, it's just a fox; a grimy little good for nothing werefox" said a voice from the darkness, a cocky voice that was more than familiar to Alpha, but alien to Nick except for the condescending tone.

"Bruce..." Alpha began only to be stopped by a loud crack of a rifle and a solid slap of a large caliber against muscle. "grrrr fuck.." Alpha grunted holding his shoulder.

"What was that? You want to fuck your fox toy, I'm not sure my bitch will approve of such a relationship." Bruce said again stepping closer, racking the action of a lever action to aim and shoot again. Alpha lurched and howled angrily as his other shoulder was struck. "Don't move fox, I need you unharmed enough to commit suicide after you killed Alpha before I could stop you."

"Run... Nick." Alpha grunted lunging towards Bruce only to be shot again.

Nick leapt into a dash, his shifted body much faster than his human. Diving headlong into darkness, keeping the blaze of the fire between him and Bruce Nick was enveloped in the darkness granted by the cloud cover blocking out the full moon. Bruce fired several wild shots where he thought Nick may have been at, though only one struck home. Nick YELPED as a thirty caliber soft pointed bullet punched diagonally across his chest, punching a hole through one lung and his liver before it exited. Coughing Nick's run slowed considerably but he still had darkness on his side and Alpha was still mobile, although with one arm out of action and the other limited with a shot through his thigh also being a hindrance, Alpha wouldn't be much help.

"Whoops... Looks like I got your little fuck toy Alpha." Bruce taunted. "You know me and a couple of the others were thinking you were getting soft, like maybe you lost your ability to be leader. So we voted, and guess who was nominated?" Bruce said kicking a kneeling Alpha in the chest before starting to reload the rifle. "It's a shame really. You would have made a good omega, but no." Bruce said taking careful aim at Alpha's forehead.

Alpha moved his head at the last moment which made the bullet blast a small crater in the packed clay earth. Bruce only smirked and worked the lever again. In the darkness Nick limped, clutching his side, wheezing for breath, he could feel his life slipping away with every heartbeat. In collage he took an anatomy course and remembered that with a liver puncture an adult male would bleed out in about four to eight minutes, death in about seven to ten without treatment. The beast inside him was frantic to live and it drove him onward to the one salvation available. His truck and the first-aid kit inside, and the revolver on the passenger seat. Fumbling with the door which got another shot from Bruce, this time the bullet hit his hip through the door, Nick slumped but bore the weight on his chest and good leg. In the darkness he groped for the revolver in it zippered case.

"Not going to try and drive away this time eh foxie fox. Can't have you doing that unless it to lose control and end up crashing in flames down the hill somewhere." Bruce called into the darkness.

"Fu.. Fuck.. Fuck you." Nick wheezed back, no longer able to hear Alpha because of Bruce pressing his booted foot on Alpha's throat.

"No... I think I might fuck you before you die... Always heard that the best fuck foxes give is right when they die." Bruce snickered. "You'd like that wouldn't you, you little faggy fox."

Nick began seeing his world in slow motion; pulling the zippered case closer. Nick peeled the zipper back to expose the highly polished nickel finish of his revolver. He thumbed the hammer to set the single action, while his good leg began to buckle beneath him. Nick felt himself sliding down to a virtual seated position, his head resting against the tube step, the revolver in his hand seeming to glow in the reflected flicker from the fire. Nick raised and squared the sights on Bruce's chest.

"You fucking killed me." Nick croaked, spitting a bit of foamy blood as he felt his strength rapidly running out.

Pulling the trigger Nick watched the hammer fall. The firing pin slammed hard into an already dimpled primer again, this time with enough force to ignite the priming charge which ignited the powder behind a three hundred grain silver bullet. The heavy revolver rocked in Nick's hand while the bullet traveled at close to nine-hundred feet per second. Bruce felt the solid thud of the hard bullet square over his heart. Bruce rocked on his heels then staggered back, dropping the rifle before touching his chest to feel the hole and blood leaking. Nick grinned then slumped fully to the ground. Bruce dropped to his knees with the most surprised look on his face. Bruce looked at the fox that shot him as the clouds parted and the glow of a bright full moon lit the clearing looking to Alpha, Bruce mouthed something before falling forward dead. Alpha rested in the glow of the moon until he heard a distant call of his mate, then the pack. Alpha was carried to a waiting van for transport. Nick was ignored as he lay in the dust.

Alpha awoke at just past three in the morning. Grunting in pain as he sat up, his pack was there watching him as he turned and slipped out of bed to stand on his feet. Breathing deep Alpha told what had happened. That Nick shot Bruce and that Bruce tried to kill them both to take control of the pack, although Bruce had not named his coconspirators, Alpha would find them. A few nervous glances around were cast before alpha demanded to be taken to see Nick's body. Together the trip back to the clearing as somber, the fire Nick started hours before was little more than a bed of coals, Nick's truck sat quiet and abandoned looking, passenger door wide open. But nowhere to be seen was the werefox's body.

"Where is his body at Jim, he deserves a proper burial." Alpha said to his new second in command.

"That's just it sir, when we loaded you into the van we turned to look and all we found was his gun. There was a blood trail leading to the woods, but it disappeared. With you injured we didn't want to look." Jim answered back, looking to a few of the searchers that stayed behind to look but came back to Alpha's house empty handed.

"Search more in the morning, hopefully we can find him before the buzzards and crows." Alpha said looking around the clearing once more.

On the way back Alpha listed as he was told that Bruce had been using silver bullets which was why Alpha had been in such bad shape. He was also told that Nick had also used them, and that the remaining five bullets in his revolver all showed marks of having attempted to be fired once already. Alpha absorbed the knowledge and thought about the werefox that crawled off to die alone in the dark. Resting his eyes against his hand Alpha thought about the last words he told Nick, that he'd help him to kill himself, and that somehow Nick had been happy to hear that. The rest of the night was very long for Alpha while the pack reorganized positions since Elane was chased from the pack and with Bruce no longer alive to defend his post. Scuffles broke out for dominance until the hierarchy was once again restored. Alpha was back to full strength by the break of dawn and easily put down a challenge for his position.

Alpha had been searching the woods with his pack for two days without success, finally he had to face a simple truth Nick had crawled somewhere and was hidden. Alpha moved on and in the following days fell back into a routine of work and seeing to pack duties while sniffing out challengers. Weeks later Alpha went back to the clearing and found that it was, clear. Nick's truck was gone but there was no glass on the ground so it couldn't have been stolen. Looking to where he last saw Nick, Alpha apologized for not being strong enough to help. Driving back home Alpha passed by the converted service station hoping to see Nick there, but felt disheartened by a for-sale sign posted and nearly everything Nick had left was piled by the road as trash. Alpha had cleaned out Nick's computers and equipment and spent hours looking through the pictures Nick had taken, but the one that stuck with him the most was a self portrait. Nick was sitting on a rock, in full werefox form it was the middle of the day. He was looking out at the ocean, a touch of sadness in his bright eyes. The labeled of the picture was 'Alone in the wild'. For the first time since being but a pup, Alpha cried at the loss that the world never knew and forgot so easily.