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Cold As Ice

Chapter 1

By Jear 77

A lone old anthro arctic fox kit maybe ten or twelve years old collapsed out of breath into the snow next to a pine tree. Forcing himself to get on his feet, he clutched at his side, clinging to the tree for support. . Even though he was in generally good shape, he was not used to this much running. He thought, I need to rest just a moment, before I go on. The whipping wind carried the howls of the wolves that pursued him. Scanning the forest with ice blue eyes, he saw a path he could take. Trudging through the snow, he ran on.

Sometime later he lost the wolves, though how he knew not. Stumbling forward aimlessly he eventually came to a north-south road. Cars zoomed by him. Turning left paying no attention to him as he started along the side of the road. He stumbled into the road and fell face-down. The last thing he remembered is a grey sedan coming up on him fast, the driver seeing the body in the road, swerved at the last minute to avoid him. Skidding out of control the car ended up in a ditch. Then he passed out.

*=+=*

When he awoke, he was in a hospital bed in a gown. The doctor, an anthro tiger was at his bedside making notes on a medical chart. He was hooked up to a whole assortment of machines. Looking down the doctor said, "Finally, you're awake. Can you talk?"

"Yes," the kit hoarsely replied, swallowing hard, "Water."

Pouring him a glass of water from the carafe sitting on the nightstand next to his bed, the doctor handed him the water saying "I'm Dr. Timothy, and you are?"

Taking the water from the doctor's hand drank it all down. Handing the glass back to the doctor he hung his head and shook his head. "I don't know."

"That's all right," Dr. Timothy said kindly, placing his hand on the kit's headfur and rubbing it gently.

"Maybe it'll come to you in time. Don't stress about it. Do you know where you are?"

"I'm in a hospital. I don't know where."

"You're in Mystery, Montana. Do you know how you got here?"

"The last thing I remember is wandering through the woods and falling down in the road and seeing a car barreling down towards me." The kits eyes got real wide as he remembered, saying "The driver, is he all right? He spun off the road."

"He's fine. In fact, he's the one who brought you here. You're lucky he saw you and was able to stop in time. What possessed you to walk along the side of the road?"

"I knew I had to get to safety, to warmth. I was cold... so cold. I picked a direction and started walking and hoped it would lead me to a town sooner rather than later."

"You're lucky that you didn't freeze to death. It's a good thing that your species fares well in the cold." Pausing for a moment, the doctor asked, "You said you had to get to safety, do you know what you were fleeing from?"

"There were wolves that were chasing me."

"And before that?" the doctor asked. "Why were you in the woods dressed only in a pair of jeans, and a jacket? You didn't even have gloves or a hat."

"I had them, but lost them in the woods as I ran. I think I had put them in my pockets, but they must have fallen out when I fell down. I couldn't tell you where, as I was running from the wolves for a long time."

"That's enough for now," Dr. Timothy said. "Rest now, we'll see if we can't solve more of this mystery another later on. After your ordeal, you need to rest."

Yawning the kit said "You're right." Lying down, the kit was soon asleep.

As the doctor left the room, turning off the lights the doctor thinks_I wonder what the true story is here._

*=+=*

When the kit next awoke, he noticed there was a handsome looking golden eyed anthro male wolf sitting next to him dressed in a sports shirt and jeans. The kit said "Who're you?"

"I'm Jace, the man who saved your life."

"Thank you. Were you hurt?"

Jace smiled, saying "Not bad. I was just more shaken up than anything. The car just ended up in a ditch. The moment the car stopped I ran out of the car to see if you were all right. After I made sure there you had no major injuries that I could take care of, I covered you with a coat and called 9-1-1 and followed the ambulance in my car. I didn't want to move you in case you had internal injuries. Thank you for asking. I'm glad you're all right."

Trying to move, the kit winced, saying "Can I have some help getting to the bathroom? My body's still awful sore from my ordeal."

Jace smiled, saying "Sure I heard all about it from the doctor. Upsy-daisy!" Half supporting-half carrying the kit to the bathroom he asked "Do you need any help? I'll give you privacy if you need it, but can be right outside the door if to help if you need it."

Blushing, the kit said, "Yeah, I could use some help as my legs are still a bit wobbly. I don't want to fall down." Trying to get out of the hospital gown, the kit continued after a minute "I could use some help getting out of this too." Jace helped untie the kit's hospital gown and supported him while he went pee.

"Thanks" the kit said visibly readjusting his dick and balls, as he put them back in his underwear.

Jace said, "No, thank you for trusting me enough to let me do it." As he retied the kit's hospital gown, he brushed against the kit's package accidentally. After Jace brought the kit back to bed, he ruffled his headfur and said "I have to get going now. I'll be back later on. Get well."

Lying back down, the kit yawned and said "I just need... more... sleep."

*=+=*

When the kit next awoke, he had an IV in his arm. Reaching over with some difficulty, he buzzed the nurse's station. Dr. Timothy entered the room. He said "I was beginning to wonder when you'd wake up again; it's been almost three days since you last woke up. I was just doing my rounds when the nurse's station was buzzed. Since I was here already, I thought I'd see if there was anything you needed and if you were feeling any better."

"Much better, thank you," the kit said politely. "I hungry, that's why I buzzed the nurse's station, I wasn't meaning to disturb you."

"It's no disturbance at all. I'll have something sent up." The doctor said, sitting on the bed next to him. "Do you remember anything else yet?"

"No, I can't."

"Ah, well... after your ordeal it's to be expected. It's kind of awkward not having anything to call you. How about we call you 'Ice,' after how he found you, your species, and your amazing eyes? Jace suggested the name for you. After you went to sleep the second time, every spare moment he had, talking to you as you slept. He's at work at the moment but asked to let him know once you woke up. He said if we couldn't find any of your relatives that he'd be willing to adopt you."

"Ice, Ice, Ice" he said, trying the name out a few times, a smile slowly growing on his face. "I like that name. Yeah, call Jace. I feel... safe... comfortable around him."

*=+=*

By the time Jace arrived, Ice had gotten something to eat and was sitting up comfortably. Before Jace went into Ice's room, Dr. Timothy pulled him aside, saying "We did a battery of tests on the kit. Oh, he really liked the name Ice. We can't find anything wrong with him other than his body was just worn out. He may be blocking out what happened because it was just so traumatic for him. Whatever the case may be, he needs support."

Jace nodded, "He's got it from me; you have my word on it."

They both entered Ice's hospital room together. Jace pulled up a chair next to the bed and said "I'm glad to hear you're finally awake and feeling better." Ruffling Ice's headfur he asked, "Ready to go home with me kiddo?"

"Yes. I'll be glad to get out of here."

Dr. Timothy cleared his throat, saying "There are some technicalities before you can do so; paperwork and all."

"Of course," Jace said, rising touching Ice's nose lightly, "I'll see you later on."

The doctor turned and left, leaving Jace to follow him afterwards,

About a half hour later, Jace had filled out all the appropriate paperwork and left the hospital with Ice in tow.

*=+=*

Arriving at Jace's home, he sat down next to the kit saying, "This is your home for the time being. If we can't find where you belong, I'd be more than willing to adopt you, if you'd be amicable to it. I don't make this commitment lightly. You see, before I found you, I was wandering aimlessly through life. I wasn't living; I simply existed. Finding where you belong, or at least giving you a stable, loving home can help do that. If you need to talk to me, no matter the time, don't hesitate to wake me up. I am always willing to listen."

Ice hugged him saying, "Thank you for saving my life."

That night after supper of pizza and fries, Jace tucked him in bed, kissing him goodnight and went to go to sleep on the couch.

About twenty minutes later, Ice woke him up, crying "I can't sleep. Come stay with me in the bed."

"You need to be a big boy and try to sleep by yourself," Jace said kindly. "It just might take some getting used to since it's a new place, that's all."

"Come into the room, please?" Ice begged, giving Jace puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, all right, you scamp," Jace said ruffling Ice's headfur, "But just until you fall asleep. Then I need to get to bed. Even if you have time before you have to be going to school, we still need to get some things done."

Jace followed Ice into his bedroom, and sat next to him on the bed as he lay down, He stroked Ice's head, and soon was fast asleep.

The next morning, Jace woke up Ice, saying "Good morning sleepyhead. How'd you sleep?"

Stretching lazily in the bed Ice rubbed his eyes, blinking and said, "Not well. I tossed and turned after you left me, but I didn't want to disturb you again."

"Why not? Didn't I tell you could talk to me about anything?"

"You did, but after you chided me, I wanted you to think that I was a big boy and could handle it on my own."

"I would have sat with you again if you had needed it. But if you're going to live with me, you're going to need to learn some independence, which is the only reason why I said that."

"Anyways... we have a big day ahead of us. We need to get you some necessities."

Over the next few days Ice regained his strength, becoming more exuberant with each passing day. Jace bought him clothes, toys, and furniture of his own, showing him around town as he did. As they went out, Jace found that Ice was laughed and smiled easily. He had a way to make others at quickly ease with him even though they had never met him before, and so made friends easily. As it was still during the winter holiday break, he had a few weeks before he had to enroll him in school.During this time they got to know each other better.