{"sf1_id":979557,"sf2_id":"XekAjb0n","title":"Belonging Chapter 26","author":"Gnosis","words":1027,"posted_at":"2016-03-25T19:31:00.000Z","tags":["Fox","German Shepherd","Snow Leopard","Wolf"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/979557-belonging-chapter-26","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/XekAjb0n","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/bc/86/bc86c857-071c-4416-adcb-b3f713e28461","description":"","content":" **Chapter 26**\n\n**Meelo**\n\n**Day 28**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So what you're saying is that not all of the traders are dead,\" Grix said aloud for Seq to hear him.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sera sat at her desk, holding her head with her arm as she intently listened. Meanwhile, I sat on the floor next to Seq, as he sat upright in his bed and was eclipsed by Grix's shadow, while the wolf stood overhead.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes,\" Seq muttered. I didn't notice it before, but, now that I was close enough, I could see that Seq's cheeks were swelling. \"I think it was the one on the ship with Night, but I could be wrong,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grix sighed and scratched the side of his muzzle. \"Tell me what happened one more time,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Seq had been through enough for day. He almost got killed and had to put up with whatever crap he argued about with Rye. I decided to speak up and suggest that Seq needed some sleep, but, before I could, Seq began to tell his story for the second time.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Rye and I had an...argument. I told him to come back to camp and to leave me alone. He didn't want to at first,\" Seq paused for a while and I looked at him. He was in deep thought about the memory.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The fox continued. \"He left, though. I walked for a while, trying to find some prey, but none seemed to be out. When I bent over to see if any rabbits were hiding in a bush, something hit me on the back of my head. While I was on the ground, I saw that it was one of those traders. He started punching me in the face. I tried to shove him off me, but he was really heavy. Somehow, I managed to get my knife, but he grabbed my wrist and twisted it until I dropped it. He threw it off to the side and started clawing at me. I tried harder to push him off. Everything I tried seemed pointless, though. Just when I thought he was done, the trader bent down and started to bite me all over my shoulders. And then, when I thought I was going to die, he socked me in the head and I blacked out,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Once Seq was finished telling the exact same story that he told a moment ago, I looked up at Grix to see if the wolf was finally satisfied.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grix kept staring at Seq and I could see in his eyes how much he was going over my boyfriend's story. After a few moments of awkward silence, the wolf turned around and now focused his attention on Sera. \"How serious is his condition?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sera lifted her head off of her hand and let her arm drop down on her desk. \"Well, he _did_ get his head bashed in,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"But you checked to see if it was serious, right?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sera nodded. \"Yeah. I'm pretty sure its nothing serious,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"All right,\" Grix said, seeming pleased as he turned around and focused on Seq again. \"If you remember anything else, Seq, let me know. Okay?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Seq gave a warm smile. \"Of course,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Grix left us alone in Sera's hut and walked out into sunlight.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Now that Grix was finally gone, I edged closer to Seq and put my hand in his. \"Get some sleep, okay?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A smile grew on Seq's face. \"Why? So you can finally leave?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My eyes widened at the very thought of Seq thinking that.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He only gave a small chuckle. \"I'm kidding, Meelo. Don't worry so much. Sera's taking care of me,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's not that,\" I sighed. \"That trader back on the ship, I should have killed him. I was just so happy to find Night that I-\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"You didn't do this,\" Seq pointed to his swollen face. \"He did. And, you weren't the only one there that night. Isabel and I didn't think of killing him, either. We all messed up, Meelo. It could have been worse, though. At least I'm still breathing,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We stared at each other in silence for a moment.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; His forehead wrinkled as he tried to pretend to be sad. \"No kiss?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I grinned. With great care, I leaned over and gave Seq a tender kiss on the lips. After our quick tongue-less kiss, I leaned back and we both smiled at each other. In that moment, I realized just how grateful I was to be able to kiss him again. This morning could have been the last time I kissed him or even the last time I hugged him. Sure, it could have been the last time he went down on me, too, but I never liked doing that as much as kissing. Kissing and hugging had an emotional closeness about them. Not that I didn't enjoy Seq using his mouth down there. There's just something special about cuddling and kissing someone you love.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Do you two need some time alone?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I turned my head and looked over my shoulder to see Sera, still sitting at her desk.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Uh,\" I said, a little startled when I remembered that she was still there with us. \"No. I was just leaving,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I turned back to face Seq. \"Goodbye, Seq,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; My fox smiled and snuggled deep into the bed beneath him. \"Thanks, Meelo. I love you,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I love you, too,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After Seq rolled over onto his side and began trying to fall asleep, I stood up. Then, I headed for the door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Bye Meelo,\" Sera said to me. \"You have guard duty now, right?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I stopped, just before reaching the door and spoke with the shepherd. \"Yeah. And then I have to go back at nightfall,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Oh,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hey, thanks for taking care of him,\" I said, bumping my head towards Seq. \"I really appreciate it,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sera smiled and shrugged. \"No problem. It's what I do,\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Still,\" I said, just before making my way out the door. \"I appreciate it,\"\n\n  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/979547-belonging-chapter-25.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/979572-belonging-chapter-27.json"}