FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hey thar everyone! After a weekend of frenzied writing and editing, here is Chapter 2 of "Tales of an Injured Soul." If you didn't catch chapter 1, I would highly recommend reading that first ;P

As always, the following contains explicit content, etc etc, X-rated, etc. you get the drill.

Enjoy!

* * *

Ryan snorted and squirmed quietly as his eyes fluttered open. For a moment he had no idea where he was, or what he had been doing before drifting off. Vague memories of a passion and fire skirted through his memory, but his mind was still struggling to sift through the cobwebs of sleep. Slowly, more vivid imagery came back to him; he saw the small body of the fox squirming in agonized pleasure, heard their unrestrained cries of pleasure filling the room, smelt the rich scent of their shared arousal.

With a start, he registered the body curled up against his, and he looked down to see Zack still sleeping quietly against his side. They were also both still fully clothed, and save for a spot of pre seeping through Ryan's shorts, there was no evidence of his vivid memories. It had all seemed so real, so vivid and inescapable, but there was no denying the inevitable conclusion.

It had all been a dream.

Ryan sighed, a pall descending on his heart as he came to that conclusion. His heart had wanted this so badly; it had needed to pour out its affection for the little fox. But this was still not the time. There was no denying, as Zack slept peacefully on Ryan's slowly rising chest, that they had finally found in each other much-needed support. But there was even less denying that their lives were still haunted by demons of the past.

They still had storms to weather.

* * *

Ryan let Zack sleep peacefully for a while before waking him. He took the time to run his hands gently through the other's fur, smiling as the small body reacted unconsciously to the long-forgotten feel of another animal's touch. Occasionally, the fox would mutter something under his breath and shift in the wolf's lap, but otherwise he remained blissfully asleep.

Finally, after drifting aimlessly for what seemed like hours, he gently shook the fox awake.

"Hey there, foxy," he said with a tender smile as Zack's eyes slowly split. For his part, the vulpine didn't seem to be fighting the same mental battle as Ryan. He simply yawned and smiled broadly as he looked up into those amber eyes.

"Morning, wolfy," he replied with a groggy but playful tone, taking another deep yawn and slowly stretching out from his long-held fetal position. He felt a few joints pop, and he groaned happily as his head settled back into the lupine's lap. "What time is it?" He asked innocently, still staring up at the wolf.

"Oh, about 6 in the morning." He replied with a laugh. "You slept like a log."

Ryan's bubbly smile, however, hid a frightened mind. He could recognize the look on the fox's face; he could read the shy smile that curled those lips gently towards his ears. The fox was falling for him, and as much as the wolf wanted it, he knew deep in his heart that this love was tainted. Zack wasn't ready to feel this way again, and he knew that in his heart. It was not truly love that played across the fox's face; it was the desperate need to connect, to be loved. The fox may not have known it, but he remained too empty to truly feel such passion again. The wolf, however, had seen it before. He had seen the pitiable begging written on otherwise expressionless faces, the cruel and insidious scar of an uncaring world. He had even been fooled by it before.

And he wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Zack closed his eyes contentedly as he heard the wolf's voice, breathing in the subtle and delicate scent of the other fur. For the first time in months, he felt truly and utterly secure, as if the weight of a thousand worlds had been lifted mercifully from his shoulder. He was, for a moment, at peace.

"You haven't slept well in a while." The wolf's voice interrupted the vulpine's thoughtless meditation. It was not a question, however, but a statement of fact, and its confident tone brought a glaze of confusion to Zack's eyes.

"No," he responded absently, "I haven't. I...I haven't felt his way in...a long time." Although pleasantly amused, the fox's voice was hesitant, as if he were fighting to recover words from a long-lost vocabulary. "I'm...happy."

The final word had an almost-questioning tone to it, as if he hadn't expected the phrase to issue forth from his lips. He even blinked in mild confusion as he spoke, surprised more than anything else at the fact that this wolf could draw such confessions so easily from a mere acquaintance.

Ryan, for his part, simply sighed; he had worried that this would happen.

"I've...always been good at making people happy, it seems." The wolf's voice was distant, and it was clear that his mind was lost in another place and time. "It's been a blessing sometimes..." He let the phrase trail off, the implied bitter end diffusing silently into the otherwise warm room. His heart wanted so desperately to open up again, to bleed out his silent tortures onto another soul. But he couldn't bring himself to do this to someone whose own heart was so wounded. He would be content to continue his suffering, content to lend his strength to those who needed it more.

His heart would remain his for now. Maybe, just maybe he could bring himself to see past Zack's pour, injured soul. Perhaps, given time, there was still a way for him to love the little fox with his mind just as much as with his heart. It just might be possible, even after gazing into the void of his emotions, that he could once again be the infatuated wolf sitting in the corner, gazing across the room at the vulpine enigma.

And the shred of hope brought a smile once more to his face.

"You know," Zack said aimlessly into the thick silence, "you're the first one to really understand me. I..."

"Shhh," the wolf interrupted him; he knew what was supposed to follow that hesitation. "Truth be told, Zack, it's my job."

Saying those sterile words drove daggers into his heart, but he knew it was necessary. The fox may be hurt at the revelation, but it was for the better. Plus, the wolf consoled himself, feeling anything was improvement for the small animal. Sure enough, Zack's eyes lost some of their sparkle as the statement sunk in, but his playful smile remained.

"Don't lie," he said with a wry grin tugging at his lips. "I remember what you said about being fond of me."

Ryan opened his mouth to reply, but held his tongue for a moment. He had indeed said this in a moment of weakness, and he now cursed himself for his lack of restraint. Getting so close so fast never worked in the end, let alone in these situations. Had his training not taught him never to get involved with clients?! But then, he reminded himself, Zack wasn't really a client, was he?

"I did," the wolf finally said with utmost caution, "and I am." He sighed. "As one wretched soul reaching out to another. But...you're not in love with me. And...I..." He looked away, fighting back the tears which threatened to wet his eyes. "I can't love you...not now...not like this."

The fox's brows furrowed, and Ryan could see a misty covering forming in his eyes. With a sorrowed gasp, Zack sat upright, his lips quivering in a mixture of fright and sadness.

"What? But...what you said in the coffee shop...the way..."

Ryan placed a gentle finger on his lips, and Zack stopped obediently.

"That was before I knew, foxy."

Tears were streaming down the fox's face now, and the sight sent a plummeting feeling into Ryan's stomach. He should have expected this; he had seen it so many times before.

"Why should that make any difference?!" he sobbed, his voice almost begging for the wolf's words to be taken back. "We've connected! You saved me on that bridge!" Ryan put up a hand in protest, but the anguished fox continued unabated. "You cared for me then, why can't you care for me now, Michael?!"

He stopped when that name left his lips, and he realized with a gasping moan what he had said. Then, and only then, did it register in his stress-torn brain what had happened to him. For a fleeting moment, reason tore through the veil of grief.

"I'm sorry," the fox said with downturned eyes. "I...just haven't felt like this since..."

"Since it happened," Ryan interceded, mercifully preventing the fox from having to say it himself. "Believe it or not, I understand," he added, placing a warm paw on the fox's shoulder. "I...used to be a counselor. You can trust me."

Zack raised his eyes to look back at the wolf, a teary smile breaking across his face. "You...are?" he asked hesitantly, part of him knowing that he had somehow found exactly what he needed in the lupine figure.

"Was," Ryan corrected him. "I was. I...I had to give that up."

Zack nodded, but resisted the urge to ask the obvious question. He could tell this was an unpleasant subject for the other fur. Silence descended once more on the room, and Ryan let his paw slip slowly away from the smaller animal's shoulder.

"But I'm not about to refuse someone in need," Ryan finally said in reassuring tones, "and foxy, you need it." His tone was ever so slightly playful, almost in an attempt to soften the stark nature of what he said. "Now, I'm not going to let you be alone right now. So I want you to stay here today and tonight, ok?"

Zack slowly nodded at the suggestion. He felt entirely awkward accepting the offer, but he knew deep down that he needed it. The simple presence of another fur was itself relaxing.

"Yeah, ok," he answered in a weakly trembling voice.

The wolf smiled. "Good. Now I'm gonna go make us some breakfast."

* * *

The rest of the day was uneventful, though the patrons at the coffee shop did indeed notice the absence of both Ryan and Zack. Raya, for her part, wore a smirk the entire day, her naive mind immediately assuming the two had "bonded" in more than one way. Back at the wolf's apartment, however, Zack spent most of the day curled up on the couch or engaged in whatever activity Ryan used to keep his mind occupied. Thankfully, it was soon night, and after saying their good-nights, the lupine settled Zack onto the spare bed before retiring to his own room.

"God," he sighed quietly as he closed the door, "I forgot how exhausting this could be."

Despite his words, he didn't begrudge the fox the attention; indeed he relished the chance to spend so much time close to a fox whom - against his will - he still found very attractive. And as much as his mind retained the barest necessary distance, his body still ached for the small vulpine. He had still noticed the way the fox's body rippled and shivered at every touch, and the intoxicating scent of submission had left him aroused for the past few hours. By some cruel twist of fate, his boxers were soaked with his own slick pre by the time he shed his clothes and slipped onto the bed.

He sighed happily as he felt the air of the room wrap around his erection; he had been blue-balled for too long to simply ignore it. With a shuddering gasp, he placed one paw on his slick shaft, his back arcing a little as the cock trembled in his grasp. This wasn't going to take long.

Trying his best to prevent the images of the dream from returning, he slowly began stroking himself gently, cupping and massaging his balls with his free hand. He moaned quietly, his body quivering as a spurt of pre oozed out over his hand. As close as he already was, though, he was determined to enjoy this release. He gradually slowed his rubbing and began to stroke the underside of the shaft with a single finger.

"Oooh..." he breathed into the silent room as he felt himself teeter on the edge. His body began to shake, and he felt his hair rise as his cock twitched. At the last moment, he pulled even the solitary finger away, letting the member shake in midair, its movements in time with his pulse. The approaching climax receded, leaving his legs twitching in unrelenting anticipation. A smile etched across his face as he felt another bit of pre land on his belly fur, begging him to return attention to his throbbing wolfhood.

He moaned aloud as his paw returned once more to its work, his lips working back in a silent snarl as his orgasm threatened again to overthrow him. His conscious mind was slowly relaxing, swimming in the sea of pleasure flowing from his crotch. Suddenly, his mind jumped to an image of Zack, and his cock quivered once more against his will. With a groan, he picked up his pace, a corner of his rationality feeling guilty that he was pawing off to the fox sleeping only a few feet away.

His vision began to go white, and he growled quietly as he felt his climax tear through his system. With another guttural moan, he let his animal instincts take over. He stroked once more, then let go again, snarling as his shaft glistened eagerly. He was close.

Without warning, a sound came from his doorway, barely managing to catch the wolf's attention. With a gasp, he looked over to see Zack, completely naked and entirely immersed in his own pleasurable session of pawing. How long had he been there?!

"Zack, what the hell?!" the wolf asked half-angrily and half in shock. He rushed to cover himself, fighting to tear his eyes away from the fox's own pulsing cock.

The fox, however, wore an expression of animal lust. With whimpering groans, he walked slowly to the bed, his eyes glazed over with desire.

"Zack, you can't...muh...mhhr..."

Without warning, the fox leapt onto the bed, his arms landing on the wolf's and pushing them against the bed. At the same time, his muzzle landed roughly on Ryan's, his tongue aggressively forcing its way into the wolf's mouth. For a moment, the lupine struggled against the fox's surprising strength, but he had been too far consumed by his own pleasure. With a throaty moan, his own tongue lapped at Zack's, tasting for the first time the rich, salty saliva of the fox. His paws broke free, taking instead a spot behind the fox's back as he pulled both of them close together.

Zack yipped happily at the wolf's assertiveness, his tongue departing Ryan's muzzle to journey over the wolf's bare chest. He nibbled a bit at the hard nipples, eliciting a lusty growl and a series of desperately ground claw marks. Still half-fighting to regain control, Ryan suddenly pushed gently against the fox, but his efforts were in vain. The vulpine paws wrapped around the wolf, pulling them together and grinding their rock-hard erections against each other.

Both animals moaned in sync as the motion sent shivers of pleasure across their body, and Ryan gave up all semblance of control. With a moan, he pulled their mouths back together, savoring the fox's scent as he panted roughly. Zack responded by digging his claws into the wolf's back, earning a stifled moan as their tongues intertwined in wet motions. They were both panting when they finally pulled apart. The sharp smell of musk hung heavy on the room, utterly silencing any concerns the animals might have for their actions.

"Mmmm..." Zack moaned, grinding his crotch once more against Ryan's and sending a shiver across their writhing bodies. His claws dug deep into the wolf's fur, his grip pulsing with every motion of their now-thrusting hips. "Take me," he panted roughly, the pre coating their fur as evidence that he wasn't joking.

"Zack, I don't," Ryan tried to protest, but he was interrupted as Zack placed a paw on their members. The wolf's head fell back against the pillow as the fox began to stroke them both, a quiet moan escaping his lips as splinters of bliss shivered down his spine.

"On me or in me," the fox said in an uncharacteristically rough voice, accentuating his demand with a squeeze that made the wolf groan loudly. There wasn't going to be much time to make this decision at this rate. After a brief moment's thought, Ryan grabbed the fox roughly, flipping him onto his back with a growl. The vulpine yipped happily at the rough treatment, letting his head fall back in eager anticipation.

With another dominant growl, Ryan lined up his cock quickly, letting the copious pre slick up the waiting hole. With one swift motion, he slid his head in and leaned down to kiss Zack once more. The smaller fur groaned and writhed as he felt the shaft enter him, but his amorous protests were stifled by the embrace. His arms snaked around the wolf's body as the lupine's limbs took a hold on his shoulders.

With a shuddering moan, Ryan slid the rest of his member in, hilting the squirming body beneath him in one rough motion. Zack's arms tightened around him in response to the brief pain, but he quickly nodded in encouragement. For his part, the wolf was too far gone to see the sign. With the barest amount of lingering control, he pulled out quickly before thrusting roughly.

"Ooh...mmmmnnnnn" Zack moaned, breaking the kiss to gasp in pleasure as Ryan thrust into him once more. "Oh gawd."

The sound drove Ryan's hips to an even faster speed, and as the kiss broke, his jaws clasped gently around the fox's neck. The vulpine writhed and whimpered in response to the mating bite, his claws now digging into the wolf's back with each thrust. Ryan's balls were tensing, and he could feel his body starting to shake once more as his orgasm approached for a third time. His knot slapped noisily against the fox's hole, and each movement of his thrusting hips was met with a loud moan from the fox's gaping mouth.

"Oh gawd...tie...me...OH YESSSS!" Zack yelled as he felt the knot slip into him with a loud pop. Ryan's hips moved roughly and at a frantic pace, and he chewed at the vulpine's neck with unrestrained and animalistic passion. His ears pulled back against his head, and his tail went straight out as the first wave of his orgasm swept over his body. His vision started to blur, and he released the fox's neck to howl as a string of hot cum spewed into Zack's body. His entire body shook in pleasure, and Zack moaned below him as the shaft quivered, coating his gut with sticky seed.

"Mnnn...mmnnn...ungh..." Zack moaned and whimpered as the cock spasmed within him, nearly shaking his body with its force. The long-unfelt heat drove him quickly to the edge, and he squirmed and whimpered loudly as his own climax flooded his senses with euphoria. His foxhood spasmed heavily, shooting his own cum across their fur. One, two, three strings coated their bellies, the warmth soaking quickly into the panting bodies.

With a thump, Ryan's spent body fell onto Zack, rolling the still-tied couple onto their sides. Their moans and yips filled the room, their bodies' control lost entirely to the white-hot pleasure coursing through their veins. With a lick, Zack pulled up tight to the dominant wolf, breathing in the rich scents as both animals slowly drifted to sleep.

* * *

The wolf groaned as he returned to the waking world, clasping his eyes tightly shut against the incriminating sunlight. With a quiet moan, he raised his arms above his head, having once more forgotten the fox's presence. Zack, however, stirred at the motion, and Ryan's memory came crashing back with a sickening jolt. With a startled yip, he surveyed their naked, cum-stained bodies, remembering all at once the wild, unrestrained passion of the night before.

But this time, it was real. There was no dream, and Zack's warm, unclothed body pressed against his, a stark reminder that the wolf has once more failed to restrain himself. With a whimper, Ryan slid out of the bed, wrapping a blanket around his form as he stared back at the fox with a mixture of terror and disgust.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

The sudden departure of the warm body managed to stir Zack from his sleep, and he yawned loudly as his own body stretched out the kinks of their awkward sleeping position. He licked his lips a few times, his hands seeking in vain for the wolf's soft fur. When he didn't find it, he finally opened his eyes, whimpering quizzically when he saw Ryan panting nervously in the corner.

"What's wrong? Was it that bad?" he asked jokingly, his mind still not registering the pain upon the wolf's face.

"You...you..." Ryan panted, panic entering his voice with tense urgency, "...what the hell, Zack?!"

It was all he could muster out of his screaming mind. He almost felt violated now; the fox had taken advantage of his raw pleasure. Worse, he still couldn't sort out his feelings; there was no denying how wonderful the night had been, but at what cost?

"What the hell?!" he repeated, a little more calmly, but with fresh anger in his voice.

The fox whimpered in response to the outburst, his ears pressing flat against his head in sadness, and tears threatening his eyes once more.

"I...I thought you wanted it. You didn't seem so unwilling last night..."

Ryan closed his eyes at the undeniably true assertion. He had gone along with it, and now he cursed himself for his weakness. It was all happening again.

"I...just...it..." he stammered, struggling to force his train of thoughts into intelligible words. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!" he finally yelled, struggling to fight back his own tears. He had once more brought this calamity on himself. Once again, he had let his own animal desires rule his actions.

"But...I thought you loved me..." Zack's voice was pitifully weak, sobs threatening to break through the fragile surface. Already, his lips were quivering, and it was clear that his broken mind was on the brink of shattering. His entire body shook, and the sight managed to force all anger out of Ryan's mind. He could not make the fox suffer for his own weakness.

"Zack," the wolf's voice came with sudden calm. His tone was warm and gentle, once more the quiet timbre of the caring counselor. "Zack, I like you. I want this." He sighed. "But we've known each other a day. Love can't happen like that."

Zack looked back with a pouting expression, blissfully unaware that Ryan was speaking with experience.

"I know what I feel," he asserted confidently, his stern gaze saying quite plainly that he was not about to change his mind.

"No," the wolf shot back, "you don't. You think you do. But I'm not Michael."

The fox reeled back at the comment, a deathly silence suddenly filling the room. His eyes were wet with hot, angry tears, and his lips pulled back in a snarl. Ryan, for his part, stared back passively, saddened that he had had to rebuff him this way.

"You son of a bitch," Zack spat, nearly leaping out of the bed and squaring off angrily, "don't even think you know how I feel." He stormed out of the room, turning to hide the stream of wetness matting the fur on his face.

"Zack, I didn't mean..."

"Shut up," the fox yelled behind him, "you know perfectly well what you meant. I never meant anything to you!" Part of him knew the lie in what he said, but his anger was too consuming to allow for any reason right now.

As quickly as he could, the fox dressed himself, ignoring the wolf, who now stood in his boxers in the hallway. Ryan wore an expression of utter desolation on his face, and he opened his mouth a few times to try and console the smaller animal. But he had nothing to say to soften the words they had already exchanged. A venom hung in the air, and shadows of their tragic pasts lurked in the corners.

"Zack, please don't go yet," he finally said pleadingly, his eyes shining with earnest concern.

"Go to hell," the fox spat in reply, taking one last angry look at the wolf before storming out of the apartment. For once, Ryan's rational mind took hold, and he simply sighed. Zack would need to sort through these emotions on his own; there was nothing else to be done now. In the meantime, though, Ryan had an old friend he needed to see.

His demon called.

* * *

The drive to the mental ward was a short one for the wolf, though the weight of what he was about to do seemed to stretch it into an eternity. He sighed heavily as he stepped out of the car and looked up at the sordid building. This conversation had been too long in happening. With heavy footsteps, he walked into the lobby and to the front desk. His face was still familiar from long ago, and the nurse smiled up at him in recognition.

"Hi," he began, "is Luke seeing visitors right now?"

* * *

Storm clouds were gathering as Zack plodded along the familiar sidewalk. He no longer bothered to hide the sobs, and he ignored as best he could the concerned stares coming as he walked. Distantly, he could feel slow, mournful drips leave his face, and he took an occasional moment to wipe his wet nose with the inside of his sleeve. He didn't need to look up as he walked; although he had long ago forgone this part of his life, he could never forget the tree-lined streets or the familiar feel of the pavement on his paws.

So much had happened here, so many emotions had soaked into the unfeeling sidewalk. Long ago, it seemed, laughs and whispers of sweet nothings had echoed off the unspeaking buildings. But, like all things, they had passed by the wayside. Silent tears had replaced them, hidden though they were behind happy smiles and gleaming eyes. Then stoic silence had come, the unyielding refusal to allow grief a home; but even the strongest can have only so much power. Silence had given way to heart-wrenching tears, anthems of a forgotten happiness. Now, the barren streets echoed once more with sobs as the fox walked paths he had sworn long ago to abandon.

How had it come to this? What had he done wrong? Where now was the mirthful joy of childhood, the hopes that had long ago been dashed upon the rocks of hard reality? His innocence was lost in this place, yet he found a bizarre sort of peace here where his heart had once dwelt. Here he felt at one with existence, somehow able to sort through the maddening sea of emotions coursing through his veins.

His eyes surveyed the ground as he walked, his head hung in shame at what he had done. He had betrayed himself, betrayed his love. But how could he? Michael was gone, even though he still held Zack's heart. It was that part that still lived with him, he told himself, and it was that kernel of life that kept the grief-torn fox walking towards his inevitable destination. The time had come for the past to die; Zack had lived in a forgotten memory for too long, and it was slowly killing him. It had taken Ryan to show him that.

A new wave of sobs shook him as his thoughts dwelled on the wolf. What was it that they had? Had he simply clasped onto the first soul to show him pity, or was it something deeper? Could this be love, when Zack's love still rested in a dead memory? He could not deny that he had felt a spark when he was in that apartment, but he still couldn't fight the feeling that this was not the spark of love. It didn't feel the same; it was as if he had merely felt a beam of sunlight as he crawled slowly from the darkness.

But could that beam be what he needed?

His thoughts were interrupted as he came to a gate, and his eyes traveled upwards for the first time to read the sign. A sigh issued from his lips as he read once more those terrible words.

New Haven Cemetery

He didn't want to be here; he needed to be here. He had for too long refused to let the past rest in peace. He had been selfish long enough.

He walked slowly through the rows of unfeeling headstones, his eyes not bothering to dart to the pathway guides. He knew where to go, and it was not long before his feet ground to a stop at that wretched place. With a deep breath, and with his body shaking in fear and sadness, he looked up to read the simple marble stone.

Michael David Abstrom

1985-2008

He fell to his knees on the soft grass, salty tears falling despondently onto the lush green. His hand slowly traced the stone letters, lingering ever so slightly on his love's name. The time for peace was here.

"Oh Michael, can you forgive me?" he asked quietly, stifling his sobs to force the question out. His head dropped against his chest, and he closed his eyes to shut out the unwelcome world. In spite of his despair, he felt an energy here, the undying pulse of an eternal flame.

Suddenly, a wind began to blow gently, ruffling his fur with the cool breeze. He looked up, confusion furrowing his brow. There was a scent on that breeze, one he had not smelled in ages. Perhaps it was all in his mind, but it was in that mind that the struggle was playing itself out.

"Michael?" he asked the wind plaintively, and almost in response, it picked up in strength. He closed his eyes as the air wrapped around him, almost caressing his fur as his love once had. It seemed to wrap around and through him, lifting his soul as it slowly worked its way to the heavens. A wet smile was written on his face when he finally opened his eyes once more.

When he looked down, he saw simply a stone. It was nothing more.

"Thank you," he said in broken words, leaning down to place one final kiss on the cold marker. The wind died slowly down, and he breathed in deeply. He was a free fox once more.

"You know," a voice said from behind him, "he would want you to have that."

Zack turned slowly to see Ryan standing a few feet away, a gentle smile on his caring face. Something had changed about him; he no longer carried himself with the agony of someone still haunted by their actions. He too had somehow found some fleeting resolution. For the time, their demons slept.

The fox laughed in reply, but it lacked the bitter tone it had once held. It was free and happy, a true laugh of joy.

"I know...somehow..." he paused. "Somehow, I've always known. But I wouldn't have it."

The wolf nodded slowly. "You will always love him. I don't begrudge you the fact. It's how he will stay alive." He sighed, but it was not a sound of resignation. It was a breath of strength. He knew now what would lie ahead of them. "But you will learn to love again. And...I will be there when you do," he added as he stepped towards the fox. "Now, what do you say we do this the right way?" he asked playfully as he extended a paw. "Join me for coffee?" His eyes twinkled with affection and genuine concern. This may not be love, but it was something.

And that was a damned good start.

Zack's smile broadened, and he nodded as he took the outstretched paw. With a gentle tug, the wolf pulled him to his feet, and they began slowly walking back to the gate. No words were exchanged, and more was said in that silence that could have been said in a thousand speeches.

They had found each other in the darkness. For a moment, they had found peace.

The storms rested, and the earth was still.