Arcane Mastery Chapter 1
The first chapter of one of my favorite projects. Enjoy!
R&R
/Pain. Hot daggers of it lanced up my legs as I sprinted down the stone tunnel. Each bright flash was timed perfectly with the slapping of my paws against the cool stones. My breathing was even, if not a little ragged, though it was all I could hear. My ears perked straight up as they swiveled around, catching a noise from behind me. 'Oh no.' I strained against the pain, urging my legs to keep me going. 'Almost there, almost there.' I heard the noise from behind me turn into more, and they were getting closer. 'No no no no this can't be happening.' I burst out into the open sunlight from the mouth of the tunnel and skid to a stop. Trees spread out in front of me and the old waterways from near ancient times spread out into the mountain behind me. I made it. Keeping my break to mere seconds, I turned to dash into the woods until I was tackled from behind. 'Shit!' Whoever had been chasing me, they had to be fast to catch a fox at full tilt, even with an injury. They weren't extraordinarily heavy, and they were wearing some sort of artificial scent to mask their own, but I was still able to pick out something vaguely canid. Fox? Wolf? Coyote? Too dry of a scent for a wolf or normal fox, so maybe a swift fox or a fennec, though coyote was a possibility as well. I shifted, still able to move under their weight despite them having me expertly pinned to the ground. Too light for a coyote, I thought. Warm breath on my white ears and I could feel my pursuer's whiskers brush against their edge, sending a shiver down my spine. "None of that, Arctic." I was used to strangers calling me that. Not many arctic foxes in Gnuyere. "I'm not here to hurt you." I felt the pressure on my limbs ease, enough for me to wriggle beneath him. I swiveled my ears again, cupping them back towards the tunnel. More sounds echoed from within and I felt a soft growl ripple through the body atop my own. "But I have a feeling that they are." The pressure was removed entirely and I jumped to my feet, spinning to face my pursuer and backpedalling a few steps in one fluid movement. A swift fox, maybe an inch shorter than me. "Follow me, Arctic. You probably don't want to be here when they are." I cast a long gaze towards the tunnel, remembering the reason that the mob had gathered at the outskirts of the small town on the other side. It hadn't been smart of me to flaunt a little bit of magic, but not many people do such a thing in this modern day and age. What with all the technology running amok, nobody remembers the arcane arts like I do. So they freaked out. Maybe it hadn't been the best idea to do all this for a simpler folk. Maybe I should have kept to myself. Maybe I shouldn't have called their mayor a "cheap whore who would sell her body for a few hours worth of fame." I do sometimes make mistakes. So they organized an angry mob and tried to lynch me right then and there. Almost had me too, but they only got a few good hits on my legs before I was able to take off into the waterways. Now this swift fox had shown up, somehow able to track me better than an entire group (though most of the town didn't have as sharp a sense of smell as us foxes.) I agreed with this strange fox on one matter. I needed to get out of here before the townsfolk show up. He motioned with his head to follow him and then took off with me in hot pursuit this time instead of him. He led me through the trees for what seemed like hours but was really only a few minutes. He jumped a fallen tree, slid to a stop, and motioned over towards a small clearing where a tent, firepit, and picnic table were set up. "Aw, how romantic. You've saved the 'damsel in distress' and take me away to your campsite for your reward, is that it?" I threw in as much sarcasm as I could without letting it fully drip off of every word. "Who the hell are you and why are you tailing me?" The swift fox wore something similar to what I had on, I noticed now that I had a chance to get a good look at him. Jeans, which seemed a bit more suited to him than mine were to me. Very clearly male, like myself, though he wore a tight, dull orange shirt in contrast to my loose black one. He shook his head at my question, and I noticed I had been staring. My ears flicked in vague annoyance, but I used it to see if I could unsettle him instead. "You're welcome, Arctic. I saw your little display from the edge of town and I almost died laughing when you called out the mayor. You could do with a little bit of subtlety. I thought that's what arctics were good at." He motioned to the table as he swept his tail aside to sit. I shook my head, remaining where I was. "You got a name, pal?" I crossed my arms over my chest, tapping a foot impatiently. "Because I know I do, and it's not 'Arctic,' that's for sure. Mind if I call you Swift, if you keep doing that?" I tried to irritate him, but this guy's smile never broke, didn't even falter for a second. "I suppose I should give you to the name of your hero." I snorted in disgust and my tail began flicking about in my aggravation. "My name is Harthan." He left a deliberate pause after my, indicating that he wished to know my name. 'He's good at this game.' My aggravated tail twitching turned into an amused tail sway, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips, but I didn't let that expression through. "Arcile, ironically. Charmed, I'm sure. Bet you've never met a magician before." He laughed, quite loudly in fact. "Oh I can do one better." The fire beside me lit without warning. "Surprised?" I tensed. This was suddenly incredibly dangerous. His eyes held no malice, and I didn't smell any kind of ill intent from his scent, but that didn't mean anything. This guy had remarkable control. "I think you'd be wise to try and lay a little lower. In fact, I have to say you've been far too easy for me to find. If someone wanted you gone, it would only take a day or so to get to you no matter where you were. Not the smartest thing." His grin widened, and the fire grew noticeably. "However, lets get down to business, shall we?"/
And cut. End scene, exit stage left. Absurd, I know, but that's just how that game was played.
Games (Arcile) Have you ever wanted to do something extraordinary? Something that would change the way people talked, acted, or thought? Ever wanted to make a difference in the world? That was my drive. I wanted to be someone, to accomplish something great. I wanted to make the name Arcile Trappen into a name people knew, and respected. I knew how to play to my strengths well, and my English major was evidence of that. I wrote a bit, here and there, but I wasn't the best. I wrote stories, plays, poetry, you name it, but I focused on plays in the spring and summer during my college years the most. Until my third year at least, but I'm getting to that. During my breaks between writing plays, I would act in them. Not usually a major role, but never an extra; I'd always have a few lines. When I wasn't acting /or/ writing, I was playing virtual reality games. Well, not that often, but you get the point. Technology was making them a lot better and I enjoyed the interaction with players on some of the servers. The game I played the most is set in the fantasy world of Gnuyere, where magic and technology exist side by side. Characters that you play are designed off of your looks and they let you set up your stats the way you think they should be. However, the status points and skill caps are based on your physical attributes. Not a bad system, and it all was incredibly realistic. It had a computer based interface too, and I spent a bit of time from that end as well, but I had preferred the full room that they had at the Recreation Center down the road from my old apartment. The game was fun, but it was a now and again kind of thing. On a normal afternoon, after finishing up all of my classes for the day, you'd find me conversing with some of my theatre friends about the upcoming production (which I wrote), or hanging out at a bar with another group of friends (or by myself). Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a bit of a bitch, but me and my friends get along really well. I know how to talk to people to get what I want, but I normally don't guard the truth or cushion my words for anyone. My friends respect me for that, and in return they get to see the slightly kinder side of me. My friends and I would hang around Bartle City College, usually off the campus, and have a few drinks, talk about classes; normal college student junk. We went to classes often enough to be passing, and some of us were even excelling. I can tell you this much, I wasn't one of them. I preferred to be honing my social skills to improve my writing, whether that meant playing my game while my friends were at classes, or going to bars and talking to the patrons there. "Arc," my friends would say to me. "When are you going to finally get serious in your studies? You don't want to flunk out of college, right?" I'd simply shrug and shake my head, ask if they were my mother, then order another beer and return to my personal studies. It was funny to me because they cared more than my mother. I remember how much my friends and I joked about our place in the college. Me and Junie especially. We were the artsy ones, the smart guys, and the social butterflies. Almost as popular as the football team at our small college, and that suited us just fine. Meant I could get just about any kind of company I wanted at the bar.
Yeah, I got drunk more than once and lost track of what I was doing. Sure, I was a bit too forward with some of the vixens and it got me my fair share of cuffed muzzles. Wasn't always girls, and it wasn't always foxes, either. I wasn't too fond of girls, really. The few times that a girl did go for it, I usually ended up ditching them at the bar. One way or another, I wasn't too successful in anything but talking in my drunken escapades, though some might think my intentions were a bit more nefarious. Maybe I wasn't all that focused on talking to people, and instead was just trying to get drunk enough to get a quick lay. Honestly, I couldn't tell you. Or rather, I wouldn't. I could tell you now, for sure, but back then... back then I had no idea what I was getting into. Only issue was, I thought I did.
I stared across the bar at nothing in particular. In my paw, resting on the bar, was the empty bottle of my eighth beer of the night. Everything was a little hazy and my brain was pleasantly buzzing; a nice, warm buzz that kept me lighthearted (and lightheaded). It hadn't been a good week for me. I nearly got kicked out of my off-campus apartment, almost got arrested for public indecency and exposure - though that one was well worth it and a story worth telling in and of itself - and I ended up missing three practice rehearsals with my theatre group. All in all, a shitty week. Tonight though, tonight promised to be a good one. The night was young, I was delightfully drunk, and there was this pretty swift fox sitting in the corner of the room. I was far too inebriated to be able to tell whether it was a vixen or a todd from this distance, in this lighting, but at that moment I couldn't have cared less. The face seemed frustratingly familiar, but in my current state I wouldn't have been able to place a name to it even if I wanted to. Every now and again the swift fox would look over at me, tilt their head curiously, then go back to their drink, whatever it was. I signalled the bartender, a heavyset weasel, and motioned towards the fox in the corner. "You know them?" The weasel nodded. "Sure do, Arctic. Last name King, dunno the first. Careful with him, he's a strange one. Comes here every other night, sits in the same spot, always by himself. Never talks to no one either." So it was a boy. Interesting. Night just got a little better. "Send him another one of whatever he's having and put it on my tab." "Sure thing Arctic." "And don't call me Arctic." "Sure thing Arc-" I glared at the weasel with a spark of anger and he merely chuckled. "And while you're at it, give me another Vert." The weasel popped the top off of a bottle that seemed to appear in his paws and he slid it down to me. "Thanks Trey." I guzzled down a quarter of the new drink, still watching the swift fox out of the sides of my vision. He would glance over at me now and again, but it looked like he was a bit of a loner, like Trey had said. Nobody stopped by his table or even bothered to look at him. Trey delivered the drink I had bought the fox and I saw a brief, animated conversation, which included Trey pointing at me and waving his arms, as well as the swift fox's ears going down and a soft smile spreading over his muzzle. I let my eyes drift partway shut as I grinned. Sometimes, this was far too easy. Of course, I reminded myself, that was the easy part. Trey knew to lead the boy over here, and I feigned boredom, not even turning to watch them approach. Trey slipped back behind the counter and the swift fox slid onto the stool beside me. "Th-thanks for the drink..." The pause was a question for my name, that was more than obvious, even to my cloudy mind. "Arcile Trappen. And what kind of a name goes with a pretty face like yours?" I settled into a lean against the bar after turning to face him. He talked like he'd had quite a few drinks himself. He looked down, then took a sip of his drink. It seemed to give him some measure of confidence, as he lifted his head again and smiled. "Wiley. Wiley King." He didn't act like my name had meant anything, which meant that he was new enough in town not to know many people. I gulped down another fourth of my beer and grinned. "Cute name for a cute guy. What'd you say we ditch the bar. I've got drinks at my place and it's warmer there." I added the last bit in because I could see the swift fox shiver. Bartle City was cold, and this guy's scent reminded me of the desert. "S-sure, that sounds nice." He already had his coat on, I noticed now. Or maybe he had just put it on when he came over. Either way, I could tell he really wasn't used to Bartle City winters. I slipped my own overcoat over my thicker, white fur and my vest, motioning for him to follow me outside. I think I had finished my drink, but it was one of many little details I've forgotten. There wasn't any snow just yet, but I had a feeling we'd be seeing some of it soon, especially with the clouds looking the way they did that night. I slammed the door to the bar shut behind us and stumbled against the side of the building, catching myself and pausing for a brief moment. "You alright?" Wiley asked, reaching out a paw. "Yeah yeah, I'm fine. Lost my balance for a second." I straightened up and started down the road. "This way, it's not far." And true to my word, it wasn't. Maybe five minutes, maybe ten. I lost track of the time, and by lost track of the time I mean it all blurred together. Next thing I knew, I was unlocking the door to my third story apartment and the two of us were tumbling inside, ending up sprawled out on the floor and laughing. I knew we had been talking the whole way over, though about what I had no idea anymore. This Wiley character was getting more relaxed though, and that's exactly what I wanted. In the closer, more private quarters of my apartment I got another strong reminder of the fox's scent. Dry, musky, with a hint of spice, and there was a bit of nervousness in it as well. Definitely from the desert, and definitely shy. Adorable. I scrambled to my feet, then pushed the door closed until I was leaning against it, pressing my cheek against the cool wood. "S-so you said you had some drinks here too?" Wiley asked, and cautiously at that. I grinned. This really was too perfect. "Yeah, lemme grab you one. You okay with Lison?" I was already at the fridge with it open, bent over at the waist with my tail arched above me. I glanced back, noticing him staring over at me. "It's a local brew. They're really good. Heard of it?" I grabbed two from the shelf and turned, kicking the door shut before walking over. He shook his head and took the bottle when I offered it. "I've only been in town a few months, s-since the beginning of the semester." So he was young too, and a college student. Age and occupation, check. I patted his shoulder as I passed him, walking over to relax on my couch against the wall. He joined me, though he sat on the opposite corner from me. "Bit different climate than the southwest, eh?" He nodded, which for some reason made me laugh. "Still getting used to the cold. Games are the same, and school is school wherever you go, though." I noticed him looking at my computer screen as he said it. The screen still showed the same forum page for my game I had left it on earlier that day. Hobbies, check. I curled my tail onto the cushion between us as he had done and leaned back, downing a quick gulp of my drink. "True enough. I mean, Bartle City is easier than Kilverton, and Carver is easier than here, but it's all the same mess." I gestured around the room with my beer. "Apartments, dorms, bar nights, papers... every college has about the same in that way, at least. More eye candy up here though, boys and girls both." Would he take the bait? I hoped so. I didn't know how much he'd had to drink before I had noticed him at the bar, but he was acting at least as drunk as I was, and this was what I did in my spare time. He couldn't possibly see what I was doing, especially if he was always by himself at the bar, like Trey had told me. He stared down into the drink and took another swig from it. "Y-yeah, a lot nicer than the ones back home. Friendlier t-too." Damn it all. He didn't fall for it. I knew he had been staring at my ass when I was getting the drinks, but that could just be the alcohol in him. Oh well, I told myself. Try something else. I scooted closer to him on the couch and laid a paw on his tail. "I've only ever visited the southwest a couple times. What town?" "Farthen, a few miles s-south of Drenington." "I know the place. I was in Drenington a few years back with my family over winter break. Not a bad place. Kinda boring though." I moved a bit closer, shifting my paw to his knee instead of his tail. His ears flicked once, but other than that he didn't respond. Was I being too forward? I was usually a lot more subtle than that, but I also was not usually ten drinks in. "How'd you keep busy down there?" "Oh, you know, school mostly. I hung out with a few friends from s-school on the weekends and sometimes after classes, b-but I didn't know too many people. After I graduated, I moved up here for college. Family thought it was a g-good idea to leave, so I did." Family troubles. Interesting point to bring up. Noted. "Nobody special back in Farthen? No long distance sweetheart to meet you up here?" A bold move, but the drinks were getting to me and my mind was getting foggier by the minute. "N-no, like I said, I didn't really know anyone. Nobody I was interested in, either." So he was looking for something specific in a lover. Also noted. I knew I'd remember most of the conversation, despite how drunk I was. I made it a point to repeat the important bits over and over in my head so that they'd stick. The actions... they definitely suffered because of it though. I don't remember doing it, but suddenly my head was on his leg, and his paw was around me, those soft pads on his fingers rubbing over my shoulder. When had I taken my coat off? The question seemed silly with those wondrous fingers gliding through my fur, parting it to tease the skin beneath with blunted claws. Oh, he was good at this game. A shiver raced up my spine. I tensed up against him and a happy whimper escaped my muzzle before I could stop it. I opened my eyes after realizing that I had them shut, and the world started to spin. Uh oh. Maybe that last beer had been one too many. I closed my eyes again, burying my muzzle against his leg. Well, maybe between them, as I felt a strange warmth against the side of my muzzle. I didn't register what it was at the time, but it wasn't that hard to figure out when he told me about it later. "You alright, Arcile?" That simple question, or more, hearing him say my name brought another shiver charging up my spine. I nodded, turning the motion into a soft nuzzle over his leg. It felt good, laying there. Almost too good in fact. I started to feel the buzz from the alcohol turn into a sleepy daze, and my ears began to droop with my fading consciousness. "Maybe we should get you into your bed." He helped me to my feet, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the bed. I didn't want to let go of him, and I ended up pulling him onto the bed with me, I guess, because that's where he was when I woke up the next morning. Well, he was sitting on the edge of my bed, at least. I raised a paw to block the little patch of sun shining in through the windows and I looked at him. He hadn't realized I was awake for a few brief seconds, but then he turned and looked at me with those pretty green eyes of his. "Good morning, Arctic." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, stretching my arms over my head. The room smelled like it always did: faint traces of beer, a bit of a dusty smell from the cleaning that needed desperately to be done, and my strong vulpine scent. But when I rolled onto my side and opened my eyes again, the swift fox's scent drifted back over to me, just as strong as my own. I let the pleasant smell brush past my muzzle as a smile tugged at the corners of my lips, then winced when he spoke again. "Feeling better?" I realized that shaking my head was a bad idea, so I flicked my tail at him and buried my face in the pillow (which also smelled like him). "Not so loud." I whined at him. "And close the blinds, will yah?" I hadn't gotten the sun in my eyes just yet, but I didn't want to even test how much that would hurt. I've had worse hangovers before and been fine; they're just bothersome. He stifled a laugh at my response and shook his head. I guess he hadn't had as much as I did last night. There went those assumptions. "Maybe you shouldn't drink your problems away, sweets." He stood up and walked over to the blinds, drawing them closed to keep the sun out. The room darkened and he returned to my bed, sitting sideways on it to look at me. "Better now?" "Yeah." Did he just call me "sweets"? And what did he mean by drinking my problems away? What was this guy's deal? I tested his scent, but nothing stood out from it. Still just that dry, tantalizing smell that set my tail wagging. "Thanks, y'know, for staying the night." His ears went down against his head and that shy smile from the bar came back again. "Don't mention it. You were fun last night, even if we were both kinda drunk. Sorta wanted to see what you were like sober, too." I shrugged, as slowly as possible not to aggravate my headache. "Not too terribly different, honestly. I'm a happy drunk, so I'm a bit less cheerful sober, I guess." My headache was getting worse, but I tried not to show it. I might as well have not even tried with how easily he spotted it. "I should probably get going. Being hungover and anti-social isn't a good state to be talking in, yah?" He smiled, more confidently this time though. "I'll catch ya some other day."
I wanted to stand up, something even urged me to give him a hug, but as soon as I sat up in my bed my paws flew to my head and I winced. So instead I just watched him walk out of my apartment, that long, fluffed out tail swaying almost enticingly. As the door swung shut, I wondered when I would get to see him again. One thing was for sure, Trey was right. He was a strange one.
Just Friends (Arcile) There's a few things that everyone needs to know about Bartle City College. For one, the jocks are the lower echelon of the college, save for football. The sports teams are almost always bad and all of the students know it. Theatre groups get a bit more recognition than you'd normally see, and the liberal arts students are higher on the social standings list than any high school I've ever seen. And as far as the Theatre groups went, I was high up there in those as well. So if only just in my college, people knew who I was. If someone mentioned the name "Arcile Trappen" or even just made references to "that scrawny arctic fox," just about everyone would know who they were talking about. Our plays were always sold out, and I'd received numerous scholarships that I didn't start my college career with because of my plays. It almost became a game in and of itself to find the people who didn't know me. Then there's the transfer students. The ones who show up midway through a year, a semester, sometimes even in the middle of class. That's what Wiley was. He came from the southwest and joined our little college community for one reason or another. These students have a difficult time fitting in, acclimating to the change of climate, and learning the pecking order of the college. They almost always come from schools where the sports teams run everything. Welcome to the northeast, hotshots. This is where actors make a name for themselves. And while the actors, artists, and English majors all but run things here, we're still the prime targets for abuse from the only ones higher up than us.
The football team here isn't bad by any stretch of the word. The players are big and most of them can even pass their classes on their own. But that also means they're harder to outwit, harder to get away from. They're the ones I wish didn't know who I was. While my game was to get my name out there, make people respect me, their game was to tear me down every step of the way. I hated them. I had thought that when I looked back I'd think differently, but I still despise them. Funny how that works. Some say that time heals all wounds. Well, other times it only makes them worse.
Finals week before Christmas break. I attended more classes that week alone than I had in the two prior. Tests were no big deal, especially since most of them included essays, which was one of my strong points in my writing career. On the other paw, I was also drunk more nights that week than I had been in the month prior. I didn't see Wiley at all that week, but I also didn't go back to Fulton's - the bar that I'd met him in - almost for just that reason. Something wasn't sitting right with me about that fox. His face was familiar, but just enough to where I knew I'd never met him before. Then again, I knew that for another reason. Most of the foxes around Bartle City were reds; not quite far enough north for more arctics like myself and not far enough south for more fennecs or swifts. So I would definitely remember meeting an out of place swift like him. Problem was that the only out of place foxes I knew up here were myself and my best friend Kris Wicker, a fennec who was born and raised in the northeast. The only possibility was that I had met his character in game the last time I played, as long ago as that was. I took that as my only answer and it helped settle me down, but only a little. I opened up the door to my apartment and saw Kris sitting at my computer, a text document open on the screen. He wasn't my roommate (I didn't share that apartment with anyone, just to have some personal space when I needed it) but he had the only other key and I didn't mind him stopping by unannounced. Most of the time, at least. Kris loved his music, so it was no surprise that he had something playing quietly in the background as he typed. I closed the door and walked over to put my messenger bag on my bed. "What's good, Kris?" I shed the bag, my jacket, and my shirt, being comfortable enough in my fur and jeans. He didn't look away from the computer or even stop typing as he answered. "Boys and beer, Arc." I grinned. Kris was the first guy I met in college, and we quickly became friends. "Smells like you've been enjoying both since the last time I was over. Finally found a guy to keep you busy?" I inhaled, taking in the scents in the room. Wiley's still lingered, but just faintly. More prominent were my own musk and the strong scent of Kris as well. "I only wish. Haven't had any action in weeks." I grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped off the cap with a claw before situating myself on the couch. "How are you and Code doing?" Code was Kris's boyfriend, a short red fox that was the techie in our group of closest friends. His name was Cody, but we gave him a hard time about tech stuff and started calling him Code to tease him. It stuck. "As good as we can be in the aftermath of finals. How about you? Anything interesting in the two weeks I've been absent that I didn't already hear about from Junie?" He still never missed a keystroke as he spoke, even though the answer sounded rushed. Must be working on a story. My mind drifted back to early last week and the swift fox found his way into my thoughts again. I toyed with the idea of telling Kris about him, and decided it couldn't hurt. "Does the name Wiley King mean anything to you?" Now Kris turned from the computer to stare at me. My ears went down and my tail curled up onto my lap. "King? You mean that transfer student from AID?" The Art Institue of Drennington. I didn't know that about him, but I figured there weren't many transfers from that area, so I nodded. "Yeah, he's in my color theory class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What about him?" I brushed a paw through my tail. "Have you ever talked to him?" I figured I might as well forgo subtlety and just go straightforward with this. Kris would have been able to see through it anyway. "Once or twice yeah. He hangs out at Fulton's though, and you know I don't go there." He paused for a split second before a grin stretched over his narrow muzzle. "Oh, you dog. I thought I recognized that scent. How was he? Quite the looker, huh? Is he as good in bed as he is with a brush?" My ears flushed, so I flattened them against my head again. "Nothing happened, Kris. It was last Friday, and I'm sure Junie told you how shitty last week was for me. Way too drunk to do anything, but not for lack of trying." It wasn't really a lie, just an exaggeration. "And you played the whole "get to know you" question game with him, didn't you? Judging by the look you've got, he caught on before you won. Don't tell me. You got..." He started counting on his fingers. "Age, occupation, hobbies, family life, relationship status, and home town." Good ol' Kris. I nodded and his smile only got bigger. "Shut you down on straight or crooked though didn't he?" "Yeah, but I think the alcohol was affecting my performance." I took a swig from my beer for effect. "Bullshit, Arc. Didn't affect your performance in /House of Cards/ last spring. You could barely stand and you still out-acted anyone else on campus." He leaned forward, resting his muzzle in his paws. "Did you find out what he's doing for winter break? Did you ask him to join us for the annual ritual of "get drunk and watch the worst movies ever made?" "On a first date? Kris m'boy, you gotta romance 'em first." Now it was my turn to flash a toothy grin. He laughed. "Oh how could I forget. Get them drunk and sex 'em up, but you have to woo them to invite them over for a few beers and bad movies. How silly of me." He turned back to the computer and resumed typing. "On a related note, Zeke is going to be joining us over break. Didja hear that his parents told him not to come home this year?" "What, seriously? I thought they had made up over the summer." Zeke was a small, soft spoken weasel who was one of the other actors in our group. He's had issues with his family since he got accepted at BCC. His dad wanted him to be a Kilverton student so he could study law. Instead he chose to be an actor and set designer up in the northeast. "Was he quoting Frelia Dray at them as he introduced his starving artist girlfriend or something?" "He didn't say. Just told me he didn't want to go into it when I asked. Besides, he's about as straight as I am. Grab me a beer, would ya?" I got up to get one for him as I responded. "He's a great actor though. He could pull off being straight for a few hours for his parents, I'm sure. I don't blame him for not wanting to for them though, selfish pricks that they are." I set his drink next to the keyboard and stole a glance at the screen. "Whatcha working on?" His tail swayed a few times and I didn't have to look over at him to know that he was smiling. "Wondered when you were going to ask. An online publication showed some interest in my writing and wanted to start publishing short stories. Asked me to be one of their authors. Freelance work, but hey, I'm a published writer now. " "Spiff! Kris, that's amazing!" My tail started wagging as well. "I'll drink to that." We both downed a quick gulp of our drinks. I moved back to the couch and he joined me. "You got any finals left?" He stretched out on the couch, resting his head on my leg. "Nah, I'm all done for the semester. I'm guessing you turned all your essays in already as well, huh?" "Yeah." I rested my empty paw on his chest and we stayed like that for a while, talking about friends and school for most of the evening. A few more beers disappeared and after a few hours of that we put in a movie, though I couldn't tell you what it was. Kris picked it and we barely paid any attention to it as we talked. "You," Kris said after the movie was over, pointing a finger at me for effect. "You should come with me to The Burrow more often. Greg and Stace miss you, y'know." That was a sports bar that Kris loved. That's also where the football team hung out, which is why I hardly went there. "Kris, you know exactly why I'm not there much. Wesley would see me there, he'd probably be wasted, and either I'd end up in the hospital, he'd end up in prison, or both." I sighed, briefly rubbing my paw over his shirt. "Not if Keith is there. You know Keith likes us, right? He's Wesley's number two, I think he's the running back or something on the team. Wes wouldn't hurt you if Keith told him not to." That should have given me a lot more comfort than it did. I've never been around Keith and Wesley at the same time, so I didn't know how they'd react to me as a unit, and I wasn't optimistic about it. "I dunno, maybe. I'll give them another chance eventually, just not tonight. I don't really feel like going back out anymore." Kris only nodded his agreement, which did surprise me a little. I saw his ears go down against his head. His scent changed, ever so slightly, enough to where I almost didn't notice it. It made me think, 'Is his smile genuine?' He was such a good actor I couldn't tell. It almost seemed sad. I knew Kris was prone to mood swings when he was drunk, but I never really saw one that wasn't from happy to hyper or back again. "What, are you staying the night?" He nodded again, I'm guessing not wanting his voice to betray his emotions. Then it dawned on me. I hadn't seen Code around campus for near two weeks. That would do it. Now his rushed answer earlier made sense. I silently berated myself for not noticing it sooner. "Code already... Shit, I'm sorry Foxie. Didn't he have finals to take this week?" This time he did answer with his voice, and it was a bit strained. "His classes had them early, and he turned in the projects that were the substitute for the testing even earlier still. Hasn't been here for a week and a half." His ears flattened further, so I pulled him up into a hug. Wrapping him up in my arms was something he always loved me doing. We never did end up dating; we've always had the worst sense of timing when it came to trying to ask. We'd more or less traded the title of single since we met. When he had broken up with the raccoon he was dating when I met him, I was dating Junie. Then when I had broken up with the arctic hare, he was dating someone else, and so on. By the time I was single this past year, he had found Code, and I wasn't going to ask him to leave the red for me. Not that I didn't think about it, because I did, and quite a lot at that. Sometimes I still think about it, but not as seriously, more of just a wonder of what might have been. Instead, I told myself that unless someone perfect for me came along (more perfect than I thought Kris was) then I would just wait it out and see if Code and Kris lasted. For a desert fox living in the northeast, he was always really warm. Whenever the two of us would go out and about the campus, some of the wittier students would call us Fire and Ice, Desert and Arctic, Summer and Winter. It was downright entertaining, and it normally made me smile. The names fit though. Kris was always warm and accepting, never a harsh word to anyone unless they absolutely needed to hear it, and he was passionate like none other. Meanwhile, I snapped at people and gave out the cold, hard truth with no cushion; only sarcasm and cynicism. Except with Kris. Kris got to hear the jokes, the worries, and everything that I would never let out in public. That softer side of me that only wanted a boy to hold him at the end of the day. That belonged to Kris. Even in my chilly apartment, he was still as warm as ever, pressed up against me, his head resting against my chest. His ear twitched and I felt his arms circle around my back. He slid easily into my lap and I felt his tail go from nervous twitching to contented swaying. I pressed my nose against the ear closest to my muzzle, rubbing along its outer edge. The shudder that answered my action was a pleasant one, and I saw his eyes drift closed to enjoy it. I restrained myself from licking deeper into the ear, though I didn't know how much longer I'd be able to have that much control over myself. It had been a long time since I'd done anything with anyone, even just getting myself off. Plus, I could smell the fennec's arousal, clear as ever with how close he was and it only served to fuel my own. He must not have done anything either since Code left to visit his family. And sweet Fox did I want it. I've always had a minor crush on Kris, and I know he's felt the same about me. But I wasn't going to initiate this, as much as I wanted to. As it turned out, though, I hadn't needed to do anything else. I guess I had forgotten how sensitive Kris's ears were. He flicked them against my muzzle, his own snout tilting so that he could give my cheek a soft kiss. "Arc... c-could you do that a b-bit more?" I wasn't able to tell if it was the beer that was making him stutter or the closeness, but at that point I had stopped caring. I obliged with eagerness that I really couldn't help showing, leaning him over against the arm of the couch as I ran my tongue along the outside of his ear. I pressed my muzzle into the ear then, taking in his dusty musk as I lapped over the soft fur. He squirmed under me and my paws dipped to stroke down his sides. His breathy gasps and squeaks were delightful to listen to, and it made me smile in a way I hadn't for months. Years, maybe. My claws created little furrows on his shirt on their way down his body, stopping at his hips that were barely exposed under the hem of his shirt to circle a few nimble digits around them. He shuddered again, then lifted his arms to press his paws against my chest, catching his fingers up in my thick chest ruff. I paused my licking for a moment, breathing a few words into his ear that brought that smile that I loved seeing so much to his lips. My tail started twitching against the cushions. I leaned in a bit further, stretching over him and pressing him further into the corner of the couch. The warmth between us was eliciting a reaction in both of us and I could feel his pressing up against my thigh. I gave a few more lasting licks to the depths of his ear before I pulled back, looking down into his golden eyes. Gravity, not just of the earth, but of the moment ended up pulling me towards him again until my lips had pressed against his, the two of us losing ourselves in that kiss. God, that was one of the best kisses I've ever had, even to this day. It was fireworks, a show stopper, and a bunch of other metaphors that I don't remember anymore. He dropped one paw down my front, trailing his fingers down through my bare fur to the waist band of my jeans, then down further to run along the stiffness straining against them. My first response was to press more fervently into the kiss, my second was to press more fervently into his paw, and if they both didn't feel wonderful then I don't think anything ever could. But it was so perfect, that moment. I moved my paws from his hips around his waist, then down more, cupping and squeezing his bottom. How many times had I thought of doing just that before? I lost count after the first few with how often it came to mind. But now that I could, I relished every second of it. Feeling the small curve of it and the taught muscles beneath was better than with any boy I'd been with before. I pulled him up against me, at the same time pressing the warmth between my legs into his paw. He answered with firmer strokes along my now more than evident erection, pushing against the fabric with a desire as clear as my own. He was the one who broke our kiss first, leaning his head back down against the arm of the couch, but his paw continued working, making me care less about the lost contact. His unoccupied paw slid down to unbutton the top of my jeans, and then those amazing sensations ceased. Only for a moment, though, as he was working my pants down far enough to pull my already very exposed length out of them. A shiver raced up my spine as I heard myself gasp. I never knew how soft his paws were. His eyes sparkled as he circled one paw around my shaft, resuming his stroking once more. I pulled at and squeezed his rear again, the desire to fit my cock under his tail getting stronger by the second. He must have guessed as much (which honestly wasn't a big surprise) because he pushed me back far enough to scoot up, unfasten his own jeans, and slide them off. I copied his idea, kicking the garment off as soon as it reached my ankles. I pressed back against him at the first opportunity I got, this time paying attention to his warm malehood with one paw while brushing through his tail with the other. His fingers found my arousal again as well and he pulled me closer with his free arm. We lay there for a while, panting and occasionally moaning with the sensations before he stopped and grabbed my wrist, the smile on his muzzle mirrored by the one dancing in his eyes. He knew what I wanted, I could see that very clearly. Slowly, almost as if he were making a show of it, he reached down under the couch and pulled out a small bottle of lube that I kept there, making me pause and give him a curious expression. "How did you know that was there?" My ears flattened against my head with a flush of embarrassment. "Oh Arc, I know you better than you think." He winked at me, then flipped the cap open, squirting some onto his paw. He returned that paw to my shaft, just as slowly rubbing up and down to coat it with the slippery substance. He shifted on the couch as he did it, then moved to rub some under his tail. As he moved, he pulled on my waist again, guiding my lower body to his and situating my tip underneath his tail. I hesitated, and looking back I don't really know why. I think it's because I wanted to be sure that that is what he wanted, though why I was unsure is still unclear to me. After that pause, when I looked back into his brilliant golden eyes, I was as sure as I was ever going to be. So I pushed my hips forward, feeling my tip slide easily into him. I kept going, hearing the soft moan that echoed from his throat, and I pushed until my hips were against his, his warmth squeezing so wonderfully around my shaft. I wanted to stay there forever, to keep that gorgeous fennec in my arms, and I let him adjust to having me inside him while I daydreamed about it for a moment. He shifted underneath me, bringing me back to the present and both of our needs. I wrapped a paw around his shaft as I started thrusting in and out of him, slow but firm, each push sending him back against the arm of the couch. His quiet, breathy moans were music to my ears as I moved together with him. Why had we never done this before? Sweet Fox, it was easily the best sex I've ever had in my life. It felt like we were suspended there in my apartment, two foxes loving each other like they never have in the past. But even as that thought occured to me, I could feel my knot swelling at the base of my shaft, the only telling sign for how close I was. He was close too; I could feel his knot throbbing beneath my paw as I stroked over his erection. Things started moving faster then, and I remember thrusting harder into him, his body arching as I forced my knot into his tight, warm hole. A long, low moan loosed itself from my muzzle as his body clenched around it, driving my bliss-filled mind over the edge. Our climaxes overwhelmed us within seconds of each other. First mine, that wondrous sensation of his body squeezing every last inch of me in all of the best ways. Then his, brought on by the dilligent stroking of my paw and a few well timed squeezes of his knot. He pulled me down against him, neither of us caring about the sticky mess on his belly as our arms wrapped around each other. Kris was the first one to speak, and he voiced the same thought that I had just a few moments earlier. "Good god, Arc. Wh-why have we never done that before?" I smiled, a short laugh escaping before I could stop it. "If I knew, Foxie, I would have convinced myself differently a long time ago." I tugged at my knot, but it was still firmly stuck inside him. "I guess I never knew just how amazing you are." He smiled too, and his big ears cupped back against his head in a flush of embarrassment at the compliment. I leaned in again, brushing my muzzle along his. "Because you are amazing, Kris. This is just one more thing to add to the list of reasons that you are." He smiled wider, and I planted a little kiss on his nose, which led to another deep, muzzle to muzzle tongue dance. Neither of us seemed to want that closeness to end, but every moment must, and soon enough I slid out of him and leaned back. He looked up at me, his eyes gleaming as his paws drifted down my sides. "Join me for a shower?" He grinned. I thought he'd never ask. Then the two of us were in the bathroom kissing again before he pushed me into the shower, warm water already streaming down onto me. I pulled him in after me, wrapping him up in my arms and holding him against my chest. We helped each other clean up, managing to restrain ourselves from teasing each other (too much, at least. There was definitely a lot of groping and stroking.). After toweling ourselves as dry as we could, we scrambled out to the bed. I sat on the edge, looked up at him, then at the tv. "You tired?" I knew I wasn't. I kind of wanted to watch another movie (and maybe actually watch it that time). He shook his head and tilted it, following my gaze. "Want to actually watch a movie this time?" Kris always could tell what I was thinking. Either that, or we just thought that similarly, which wasn't a stretch, because really we did. He knelt down, laying his head on my leg while he rooted around in one of the drawers under my bed. I grinned, rubbing softly up the outside of his ear. "Sometimes it's like you read my mind, Foxie." He shivered, nuzzling along my leg until he poked at my sheath with his nose. "We spend almost every day with each other, sweetie. I know what makes you tick." He leaned back and threw a pair of boxers in my lap. "But it is a cold night, and as warm as you are, half of me would still be cold." He waved another pair in his paw as he got up, walking over to the couch with some very enticing swaying of his hips. Goddamn he knew how to get me worked up, even after earlier. I tugged on the boxers and followed him to the couch, sitting and pulling him into my lap after he had clothed himself as well. Just as I sat down though, my landline rang. The sound made me flinch, and Kris got up again. "Want me to answer that?" I shook my head, motioning towards the tv. "Go ahead and pick out a movie, I'll let the machine get it." I don't really know why I still had a landline. I guess it was easier to sort through people that way, and gave me a decoy number I could ignore easier than my cell phone. It rang a few more times, and Kris had picked out a mindless action movie when the answering machine picked up. "Hey, you've reached Arcile's place. Can't answer, leave a message, blah blah blah." Beeep. Silence. "Arc? It's Junie." 'Why is Junie calling me?' I thought briefly. He continued. "Just wondered what you were doing tonight or tomorrow. I rea-" His voice broke, and he had to clear his throat. "I really would like to see you sometime soon. Gimme a call. Hope to talk to you soon." Click. Kris tilted his head to look at me. "Why would Junie be calling you? Is something wrong?" I shook my head. "I don't think so. Or rather, I can't think of anything that would be wrong. Junie hardly ever calls me, he usually just catches me while I'm on campus to talk." I knew something was up, but I didn't want to have to do anything about it that night. I just wanted to relax with Kris. But, knowing Kris, he wouldn't let it be. "Shouldn't you call him to find out what's up?" He looked up at me from where he was sitting on the floor, his golden eyes shimmering with concern. I sighed. I couldn't say no to that look, and he knew it. "I suppose I should." I got up off the couch and padded over to snatch the phone, pulling up the hare's number before dialing. I returned to my seat as it rang and Kris just watched me from his place on the floor. Junie answered on the third ring. "Hello?" Playing dumb, what an act. I knew he knew it was me. He had caller id on his phone since before I got mine. "Hey June. It's Arc." Kris tilted his head but I ignored his look for now. "What's up?" "Not much, really. How are you?" His voice was still as tight and strained as when he called, which is the only way I could tell he was acting for my benefit. It made me smile to know that even with something wrong, he didn't want me to worry. Not right away at least. It made me smile, yeah, but I didn't want to deal with it. "Cut the act, June. You don't just call for no reason. I'll ask again, what's up?" I could envision his reaction: long ears folding back as his smile faltered. "I got in a fight." Not like him to really go at it with someone. I waited for him to tell me who it was. "With Luke. We both think it'd be a good idea if I wasn't around for the next couple of weeks. And, uh, I don't know anyone else but Kris who has a little extra space, so I was wondering if I could stay with you till the end of winter break." I sighed. I knew it was only a matter of time until one of them got to the other, but I didn't think they'd actually hurt each other. They're both more of talkers than fighters, so if anything I thought they'd argue for a bit, then work something out. "Well, Kris is staying over here tonight, so it'd be a little cramped. But if you're okay with that, I'm sure we could make some room." Kris smirked at me and leaned forward, resting his head on my knee. "Where are you now?" "Right outside of Fulton's. I can make it there in about ten minutes." His voice had returned to it's normal, bouncy tone. "Sure, just buzz me when you get here. Laters." I hit the end call button and set the phone on the arm of the couch. "What am I going to do with him, Kris?" I reached down and idly ran a paw along the edge of one of his big ears. His eyes closed and he shivered with the touch. "You should get back together with him. You two are a great match." I sighed again. "I can't, Foxie. I mean, I love the kid and the sex was great, but there's no spark. It isn't the best, and he's just infatuated with me. That isn't healthy." Kris tilted his head into my paw and looked up at me. "If you say so, sweetheart. Who was it he was fighting with?" He must have heard Junie through the phone. "Luke, his roomie." "The coyote, right?" I nodded. "Ouch. I can't imagine that either of them are feeling too great after that." He pushed himself up to take the seat next to me and nosed my arm around his shoulders. "So he's gonna stay with us for a while?" "Us?" I gave him a grin and a funny look. "So you're staying here for break too?" He nodded. "I was planning on at least crashing here. My dorm is too lonely with everyone gone for break. Plus we aren't allowed in after the end of this week." It really should have bothered me that he assumed that I'd let him stay, but it didn't. Kris could ask me for just about anything and I'd give it to him. Good thing he's such a sweetheart. "Like I told Junie, it'll be a little cramped but you can sleep with me and he can have the couch." I was pretty sure that Junie wouldn't be enthusiastic about not getting to share my bed, but he'd have to deal. I hadn't gotten a chance to be sweet on Kris for a long time (not counting what we had done just thirty minutes ago) so I was going to take advantage of that. Maybe something would happen with Junie, maybe not. I wasn't opposed to it, I just didn't want him to think that I was changing my mind about breaking up with him. Which he probably wouldn't, but I wouldn't put it past him. Kris tilted his head again, just staring up at me. Then he pushed himself up, pressing his muzzle against mine without warning. Not that I was complaining, it just surprised me. He leaned back, resting a paw on my leg and the other on my chest. "Thanks for tonight, hon." He didn't have to say more than that, and warmth blossomed in my chest from his words. I could see in his eyes how much meaning was behind them and it made me smile like I had earlier. It ended up being halfway through the movie that the buzzer went off in my apartment. I walked over to the intercom and smacked the button to talk. "That you, June?" The hare's high, energetic voice came back, only slightly slurred. "Sure ish." I wondered how many drinks he had, and why he had decided to have them before coming over. "I'll be right down." Kris paused the movie and just watched, giving me a smile as I pulled on a pair of jeans before walking out. I had to clomp down two flights of stairs to get to the front door, and to my surprise, Junie wasn't alone on the other side of the door. Not as familiar a face as I would have expected to see at my door, so it took a split second longer than normal to recognize him. "Wiley?" The swift fox had Junie's arm over his shoulder and a gleam in his green eyes. "I have a delivery for one Arcile Trappen." He grinned, and I shook my head at the joke. "He was drinking over at Fulton's and said that he needed to still get over here. Wouldn't tell me why, but I couldn't let him walk it by himself in his condition." I buzzed open the door and Wiley walked the inebriated hare into the entry way, then followed me up the stairs. "Thanks, then. I didn't think he'd be drinking before he came over. He said he'd be here in ten minutes about an hour ago, and I lost track of time." I wanted to say that it was good to see the swift fox again, but at the same time I couldn't bring myself to. "It's no trouble. Haven't seen you around for a week or so. Was meaning to drop by anyway. Just couldn't find the place again." That brought a smile to my muzzle, though I hid it immediately after letting it through. My tail was wagging faster from it, for sure. "You know Wicker?" I could hear him testing the air for scents behind me. Kris's was still hanging around the hallway, and it got stronger the closer we got to my door. "'Course. He's probably my closest friend. Known each other since freshman orientation." He made an interesting noise at that, then Junie spoke up for the first time since he got inside. "Yeah, thatsh when I m-met you too. Fuck, it feelsh like forever ago." I could hear the slurring a bit clearer now, whistling through his teeth as he spoke. I opened the door and ushered them in, locking it behind me. Kris had pants on again, and was sitting on the couch with a beer in paw. He looked as surprised as I had been when he saw Wiley walk in with us. He got up and helped the swift deposit Junie on the couch. Then he shot a sideways glance at me and grinned. The air didn't smell as much like us as it had when I left, and I could only just make out the scent of mine and Kris's earlier activity through the smell of Scent Masker that Kris had used while I was gone. I grinned back, silently thanking him for it. Wiley acknowledged Kris with a nod, who mimicked the gesture. "Wicker." "King." The two exchanged a smile and Kris motioned towards the TV. "Care to join us for a movie and a drink?" "Shouldn't Arcile be the one offering that?" His eyes were playful and his tail was twitching as he said it. I shrugged, walking over to the fridge to grab myself a beer. "Offer from Kris is as good as one from me." I snatched a second bottle for the swift and held it out for him. "Consider it thanks for making sure Junie got over here safe." It was definitely nice to talk to the swift again without being drunk or hungover, but he only stayed for a couple of drinks and to finish the movie we were halfway through. He left, saying he really shouldn't stay the night, that he needed to get back to his own bed. I walked him out, extending an invitation to our movie nights. "So we do this thing where we watch bad movies and have some drinks every year. It's for the people who don't go home over break. So if you're staying we'd love to have you join us. Starts end of next week and lasts till the end of break." He smiled and said, "Sounds fun. Might stop by a couple nights." Then he turned to walk home with a wave over his shoulder. Back upstairs, Junie was passed out on the couch and Kris was sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me. He smiled when I walked in, then motioned me over. I was more than ready to get some sleep at that point, so I joined him without a second thought. I fell asleep quickly, Kris nestled in close against my chest. Waking up next to someone was something that I hadn't done in quite a long time, and I have to say it was a nice change of pace. Warm, not just from the blanket over me but from the body pressed against mine. It's a feeling that I've always loved, and at that point rarely experienced. So I lay there a little while longer to enjoy that feeling. I glanced out the window over Kris's ears and saw that the sun wasn't shining, which meant that it would most likely start snowing before the morning was over. The room was quiet for the most part. I didn't turn on the heater often, so there was no soft droning to cover up the noise outside. Even so, the windows were thick enough to block out the normal morning sounds, so there wasn't much to hear. In a moment though, that perfect serenity was shattered as Junie rolled off the couch, landing in a louder-than-it-should-be thud followed by a string of curses. His outburst woke up Kris, who jerked upright and rubbed at his eyes. I pushed myself into a sitting position as well, staring over at the arctic hare. He glanced up at us, gave a sheepish smile and a muttered apology, then scrambled to his feet. I glanced between Kris and Junie, both of their ears up and eyes just a bit cloudy from just waking up, and grinned. 'Break is going to be good this year,' I thought. 'Or at least, better than usual.'