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Chapter

1New

Year's Day           I had a dream, a really quiet, yet

wonderful dream. I felt a soft bed underneath me, a warm fire nearby in the

corner of me room, and the smell of a hot meal on me lap stung me muzzle like a

slap from a nun. The food was a glass of milk, a roll of bread, and several

grapes. Feeling heavenly, I lifted me paw toward the tray, mouth watering like

the Hudson, and muzzle twitching like a dead rat. I was so hungry, that I pounced at it.Unfortunately though, me eyes opened. Instead

of peace and quiet, I heard the music of New York. Instead of feeling the

warmth of a roaring fireplace, I got frost in me fur and tail. And the cozy bed

I dreamed got replaced with the large, overturned barrel I laid in. I groaned. "Bugga," the cracks of sunlight were

getting in me eyes anyway. "Can't I ever get meself a break?"I slowly crawled me way outta the wooden barrel

and stepped onto the cold and wet alleyway. I pushed me paws to the ground and

stretched meself, and wiped off the frost on me tail, fur, and clothes. I was

just glad the barrel didn't roll away from me last night, and I got meself a

place to sleep.I checked to make sure me father's pocket

watch still rested deep in me trousers, and it did. Fitting in the palm of me

paw, it shined a clear silver color, and held a small photograph of a wolf cub

inside, right next to the ever-ticking clock. I didn't check the time, because

from the looks of the sun behind the clouds, it had to be around 8 o' clock. But suddenly, as I placed the watch back into

me trousers, a low growl inside me stomach was heard. Gotta get meself some breakfast, it rumbled again, this time

louder, before me stomach starts to eat

me.  I reached into the barrel for me cap and

coat, placing the cap in between me perked ears. I strolled outta the alley

with me sleeves wrapped together; I hated winter so much. The streets of the

city still hadn't changed, not in winter, not with many faces and species, and

the sky still held a gray color that matched me eyes. Even with me coat and black cap, the chills

and smells of downtown kept sending shivers up me frozen tail. I noticed how

the streets were already alive with the shuffling chatter of people, the

rattling of folks in horse carriages. Me right footpaw felt a little broken

glass, and I grimaced to suck it up. Luckily, the shops of downtown were already

opening, and the smoke of their chimneys was a pump of their heart. Ahead of me

were butchers, barbers, craftsmen, pie makers, steel workers, and a couple of haberdashers

I could see. But one shop caught me eyes like that of a

pretty vixen.The local bakery; Joseph Kinnick's bakery to

be exact. Resting at the corner leading to Henry Street, the bakery's smells

could be caught a mile away, and even in the damn snow, I still read 'Bakery'

above its inviting doors. And lastly, Bromley, the 8 year-old Shepherd

newsie, did his job exclaiming the news. "E-Extra! Extra! R-Read all about it!"

he shouted with glee and shivering. "Brooklyn becomes part of New York! Extra!

Extra!" I waved a cold paw. "Morning, Bromley!" I

greeted with a flick of me tail. "How's the paper going?" The kid perked his black ears up, looking at

me with a smile. "Peter!" he laughed with a wagging tail. "G-Glad to see you

still live." He shivered as a gust of wind hit. "Thought you'd have d-died in

last night's storm."I shook his icy paw. "I ain't dead yet,

Bromley," I replied with a grin. "You could send Mother Nature herself and I'd

still be jittering like a dancer." I clicked me footpaws together a couple

times. Bromley chuckled, then went into newsie mode

as a gentleman fox went by. "Want a paper, good sir?" he asked. "Only a cent."

The fox shook his head. Bromley turned to a badger couple walking by. "Want a

paper for the madam to read?"The female badger looked at her husband,

knelt down, and grabbed a paper. "Sure thing kid, I'll have one," she handed

the lad a nickel. "Thank you."The kid smiled. "Extra! Extra! Read all about

it!" he continued shouting at the streets. "Extra! Extra!" A group of friends

came up and bought a couple, Bromley's eyes lit up in surprise as they handed

him quarters. I shook me head in a chuckle at the sight. "Well,

you have a nice day, me friend," I tapped me cap to him, and strolled into the

bakery as he waved back.  As soon as I stepped inside, the smell of

bread and pastries fed me hunger even more. The baker wasn't in the room, so it

took all me strength not to nab a piece or two of the guy's bread. It was just

sitting there, on the counter, the smell tickling me muzzle. Just then, as me paw nearly betrayed me, a

door behind the counter opened, and out came a scruffy old wolf in baker's

clothes. Not seeing me, the wolf turned and placed freshly baked muffins into

baskets. With fur white and dirty as the snow outside, and a bulk as big as the

door, Joseph was intimidating.But I knew better. "'ello Joseph," I waved.

"How ya doing?"Joseph lifted his head up, turning his tail

to me with a smile. "Well, if it isn't Peter Gray!" he laughed with joy. "I

thought I'd see you dead as dust today." I ignored that. Why did everyone doubt me? "Lovely

weather out there," I said, taking a seat by the table nearby. "You got

anything for a fellow wolf to eat?"Joseph chuckled. "Sure thing," he said. "You

care for a fresh muffin me lad? Hot out of the oven." He grabbed a muffin and

tossed it to me, its warmth burning me paw to me delight. But just as I had the

thing to me watering muzzle, the old wolf shouted, "That'll be a nickel out of

you though."I pause with me maw open. "Can't ya gimme

another tab today?" I asked in a pleading voice. "I'm turning into a skeleton

here, and times is hard, ya know?""Hey," Joseph pointed a finger at me while he

pounded flour, "you've already got a tab of fifty-two cents, and I need the

money for me family, Gray.""Oh come on," I begged with ears folded.

"Please?" The old wolf crossed his arms, and stared at me with a crossed look.

I sighed. "Fine!" I poked into me other pocket and pulled a nickel out. "Give it here," Joseph said. I threw it to

him, and he formed a smirked smile. "God bless you, Mr. Gray." Me eyes watched

the old wolf place it into his purse. "Defeated, I bit into the delicious muffin,

making me tail wag wildly against the wooden floor. "Call yourself a good

Christian, me arse," I mumbled between me teeth."What was that?"I nearly stumbled outta me leaning chair. "Uh...how's

the wife, ya good Christian?" I smiled innocently.Joseph smirked again as he pounded the flour

again. "That's what I thought you said," he chuckled. Again, he pounded hard. "Well,

the family's fine, if you want to know.""Was Johnny born yet?" I asked. "Is he

alright?""Oh, fine as a baby cub can be, Peter," he

said with glee. He pounded the flour more. "Rosie is still recovering from

childbirth, but she's alright.""Can't blame her," I bit into the muffin

again. "I heard that childbirth is really painful." Joseph scoffed. "Don't get old just yet,

kid," he pounded the flour into the board, softening it up. "'Live life in the

now,' me mum used to say.""Amen to that," I bit down again, and nodded

at its exquisite taste. "Still got the talent, Joseph. Probably the best of the

best here. In fact, I think I should go and tell every single gent I see about

how wonderful of a cook ya are all across

New York. Don't ya agree?"Joseph just scoffed. "If you're trying to get

that tab removed, think again," he said, prompting me to laugh. "Still, that's

a pretty nice try."A couple minutes later, a beautiful she-wolf

came down the stairs. "Uncle, do you need any supplies or anything?" she asked.

She looked to be a bit older than me, and a pretty one at that. "Actually, I do, Edith" he clapped his paws. "Please

get me a basket of flour down by Alan's Place on Market Street. But be really

careful! Don't go into any alleyways or talk to strangers or nothing!""Alright, Uncle Joe. I will," she answered

back. When the she-wolf named Edith turned to me, I rapidly stood up

straighter, and wiped off any showing crumbs on me cheeks. "And who's this

little fellow?" I got to me footpaws quickly and tipped me

cap. "The name's Peter, ma'am," I greeted like a gentleman. I tried to act

formal. "Peter Gray." I looked at her and to the old wolf staring at me. "Say,

ya look like you're not from around here. Is that right?"Joseph spoke up. "Me niece is visiting from

Philadelphia for the next two months," he explained. "That reminds me; Edith, I

also need ya to get me some raisins and butter while you're at it, will you?" "Sure thing," As she started to go, me mind got an idea. "You

know the streets of New York are very difficult

to follow," I spoke quickly, then offered a paw out. "Mind if I accompany the

fine lady, Joseph? I know where Alan's Place is." I smiled at the old wolf, and

that set him off."Oh no you don't, you little bugger," he leaned

over the counter and pointed a claw at me. "You're not gonna bring me niece

anywhere. I'll be-""Uncle, please," Edith interrupted while

putting a coat on. She glanced down at me with a smile, and turned to Joseph "I

think you need to give the boy here a chance. After all, I really don't know

that much of the city." Joseph narrowed his eyes at me, and I could

feel the breath even from across the room. For a full minute, silence engulfed

the place as Joseph made his mind up on me proposal. I couldn't blame him,

considering I was a mere charmer among the women of New York.  Maybe he's jealous, I thought. I used

all me power not to laugh at that."Fine then," Joseph said, just as several

customers came in. "But come back soon," he got the customer's orders, "or I'll

skin your hide, kid! I mean it!""I'll take that into consideration, Joseph!"

I shouted over the swift chatter. Edith next to me fought a chuckle, and I

offered her me paw again. "Ready, milady?" She gave me a warm smile, took hold

of me paw, and we walked into the cold.On the road to our destination, me and the

pretty she-wolf kept quiet. All that was said were the echoes all around us.

From the little cubs and kids running past us to the gruff thugs that ran the

alleyways, the noise of New York carried on. It was just strange for me, even

if I've heard it too many times.Edith spoke up. "Can this weather get any worse?"

she asked over the city's voice. "I mean, Philadelphia is cold, but this is a

damn blizzard."I chuckled as we turned a corner. "Should

have been here in the Blizzard of '85. Couldn't go through town like the plague

hit," I said. I faked a shiver. "So scary!"Edith raised an eyebrow at me, and flicked me

tail away from me. "From the looks of it," she pointed at me, "you weren't born before '85."I looked at her with me charmer's smile.

"So?" I asked, me tail a wagging along the snowy road. "Who says I don't look

older?"Edith replied when we got through a crowd of

gents. "You do not. You look more like a little school kid," I folded me ears

to that while she laughed at it. "Oh speaking of which," she looked at me, "do

you go to school, Peter?"Before I could answer to that, a familiar

raccoon beat me to it. "Peter!" I felt someone hug me from behind, and pushed

him aside to see Lance, smiling from behind his fancy winter coat."'ello Lance," I greeted. "What's up?"          Lance and a couple of his brothers

pointed to a nearby house. "Peter, you wanna come and sled with us?" he asked

gleefully. "Bobby got a new sled from Santa Clause."          "Yeah, it's got red paint and

everything!" one of the twins said.          Unfortunately, I answered them with a

shake of me muzzle. "Sorry," I apologized. "I gotta escort this lady here to

help pay off a tab."          At first, Lance didn't get it, but then

gave me a grin along with a wink. "Oh, alright," he replied, turning away with

his brothers. "Have fun!"          "I got first ride!" one shouted in a

fit.          The other replied with, "No I do!"          As the scamps scurried off, Edith

chuckled shortly at their remarkable innocence as did I. "You must be pretty

popular in the neighborhood," she said to me.          "Lady, you don't know the half of it,"                    Me and Edith came to the street with

Alan's shop nearby. Squished in between several apartments, and smelling of a

mix of candle wax, foreign musks, and the feces of vermin, was Alan's Place.

Resting in front of a small building similar to the bakery, a large awning

stretched over a kiosk of sweets, with the snowfall nearly snapping the awning

poles.          "I'll just be a moment," Edith

gestured for me to wait.           While the lady got the stuff she

needed, me eyes fell upon the person helping her. It was Alan himself, a six-foot

tall mouse with black fur and a face of grit and muscle. I knew the guy, and

happened to have stolen a bit of cheese from him in me lost days, when I ran

away. I prayed the mouse didn't recognize me.          Suddenly, me mind ran back to the

orphanage, back to the days when me life was a living 'ell. I remembered the

other kids. Oh how I was so alone, afraid, hurt, destroyed...          No!

Forget about it, Peter! Now!          Me nerves finally came back."Thank you so much, sir," Edith finally gave

the big mouse the money. "Peter? You ready?" Giving a quick smile to her, and

wagging me tail a bit, I gently took hold of the she-wolf's paw, and strolled

away from the kiosk.           On the way back, I decided to pass the

time (and forget about how nervous I was back there) by talking to her a bit.

"So Edith," I started off. "Tell me about yourself."          Edith straightened her tight on the

basket of food. "What would you like to know, Peter?" she asked with a

skeptical voice.          I looked down at me footpaws. "Well,"

I asked, "I do wonder how beautiful you are, for example." Even while not

looking up, I knew she gave me a stare. "But on a serious note," I saved meself,

"what do you like?"          Edith slowly formed a small smile on

her muzzle. "In that case," she started herself. "I happen to love baking,

mostly pies and bread and such. I also really love to go to school, and I want

to be a teacher when I go off to Harvard." She kept going, and going, and

going.          The entire time, I just nodded like an

idiot.Pretty soon, a gust of wind forced us to

hurry down the street. Damn how cold it was! I really wanted to just talk to

Mother Nature herself and give a piece of me mind. Snow kept kissing me cheek

like that of Death, and the wind didn't help much either. We turned a corner, and Edith suddenly lost

her balance. "Oh no!" she lost hold of the basket, and it nearly dropped before

I grabbed both it, and Edith's arm to support herself. I told her to thank me

later, and handed her the basket as we cut through to Joseph's.I kept thinking to meself, When will this blasted winter end?!At last, we came to the bakery's welcoming

door, and slammed it shut. "So," Joseph spoke up in the empty shop, "how'd

it go, Edith?" Edith shook all the snow off her head and

coat. "Splendid, Uncle Joe," she chortled. "Peter did a really wonderful job

helping out.""Is that so?" he came from across the counter

and stared down at me, his paws to his side and me ears once again folded.

"You're late, so I get to skin your hide and use it to wash the clothes, Gray.""'Oh no!'" I faked me voice. "'Me tail is

quivering in utter and undeniable fear!' What are you gonna do after that?

Raise me as your own and pay off me tab? Oh the horror!"To me surprise, even Joseph himself laughed

at me insult, and even slapped me shoulder. "You're lucky I haven't gone to the

police for kidnapping me niece, are you?" Edith gasped. "Uncle!" Joseph chuckled. "I'm just kidding, honey..."

he flicked his tail at me before standing behind his counter. "Anyways, I do

owe you one, Peter, so I'll take a couple quarters off your tab?"Me ears flicked up, believing what I heard to

be a dream. "You're kidding again, Joseph?" I asked in glee. He nodded in

reluctance, and I responded with a, "Yes!" and a cup of laughter. The old wolf shrugged. "The least I can do for

protecting me niece," he said. "It keeps getting worse out there by the day. I can't even go out into the street

without the fear of dangers out there.""Amen to that too," I agreed to that so much.

I checked the time on me pocket watch, and gained a surprise to see it was

actually five minutes after noon. "Oh, I gotta go. Friends to talk to and

places to go and such!" I grabbed me cap and proceeded to go. Wait!" Edith turned me to face her and knelt

down. "I uh...never got to thank you for helping me out today." She shook her head. "You were very sweet."I put as paw behind me head, a wee bit

blushing. "It's uh...no problem-"Suddenly, I felt her lips on me cheek, and

blacked out with a massive grin.The original line art goes to Piranha Petting Zoo Productions.Yeah I'm a good writer but a terrible artist...