Predation. Chapter Five.
Story by Roofles on SoFurry
Predation Chapter Five By Roofles It was a cold morning as the buses came into the station downtown. The ground was covered in a small thin layer of snow. Snow that drifted lazily down all around the coyote who was trying not to shiver his balls off. Travis wasn't made for this kind of weather, literally. His fur coat grew in thicker and thicker every year with how long he lived in the north. It still didn't help much. He wore a heavy jacket, a scarf and wore gloves. His scrawny pants made him look good but did absolutely nothing to keep his boys from turning into frozen grapes. Finally, bus 42 pulled in and the coyote perked up. His ears lifted, tail fanning out as Travis stood a little taller trying to see over the crowd. He spotted the sheep and regretted it. "The hell is that?" Travis regretted not paying attention to their previous conversation as he met the sheep outside the downtown bus stop. Yet, the corner of his muzzle pulled up in a smile and his tail wagged all the same when he saw Shaun coming towards him. The coyote didn't want to have Shaun walking through the city streets alone and arrived early to surprise him. Travis already hated knowing that Shaun had to walk from the bus stop to the PC caf every Friday, alone, at night. It wasn't far. It still irked the coyote who was trying to figure out if he could take his break around the same time to meet Shaun. If he ran to the bus stop, then the two could walk back at a leisure pace. The sheep would be none the wiser. The coyote gleefully thought as his ears curled into horns thinking of the polite deed as something wicked. "Travis!" Shaun's voice brought Travis back and the coyote pretended not to be conspiring against the sheep. Shaun had been ecstatic, skipping on over to join him seeing the coyote surprise him like this. His hooves made a pleasant sound over the pavement as the two toed sheep trotted over. Shaun waved at him, smiling at the coyote as if Travis was the only one there at the busy bus station. The sheep was carrying a large bag with him as if he'd gone shopping in advance, swinging it back and forth. "What are you doing here?" Shaun hugged him. Tightly. The coyote's ears splaying out at the PDA. He patted Shaun on the back, tail wagging as the sheep pulled back and rummaged around in his bag. Travis trying to play the affectionate display off even as his tail wagged quickly from the unfamiliar gesture. "Wanted to meet you. Figured I was nearby. Might as well." Travis gruffly said, shrugging his shoulders and looked around as if bored with the conversation. "What do you got there?" He asked, nosing at the bag the coyote's interests painfully obvious despite trying to play it off. That was when Shaun revealed the wool sweater inside, plummeting Travis's interests into the ground. The coyote's jaw slacked, staring at the sweater. "Shaun? What is that?" Travis nervously asked, his mind instantly going to ugly holiday sweaters. "It's a gift, for you! What we were talking about the other night." The sheep looked so damn happy to give him something that Travis would've taken broken glass from Shaun to make him stay that happy. The coyote didn't know what to say or what to do as Shaun handed it to him. Travis took it, utterly confused as he looked the plain sweater over. Then he sniffed it, more out of habit than anything else. It smelled like Shaun and the coyote looked at it with a newfound appreciation as his eyes drifted back to the sheep who looked ready to explode with happiness. "I made you it!" Shaun gleefully told him. The sheep pushed up his cheeks, looking up at the larger coyote with a look that could've melted the coldest of hearts. "I wanted to surprise you! So, surprise! I mentioned it last night but I'm glad you didn't figure it out what I had been planning." Shaun giggled and it was like bells. "You made me... this?" Travis looked back at the white wooled sweater. It was a classic fishline wool sweater, expertly done. The wool was as white as powdered snow and Travis found himself pushing his nose against it, breathing it in as Shaun continued to talk. It smelled wonderful. Vanilla essence mixed with some kind of grass and Shaun's distinct male musk. Which was light. Washed beforehand but still lingered. Faintly and Travis loved it. He wanted to force the sheep to wear it all day, get Shaun worked up and sweaty before stealing the sweater back. Travis pushed the perverted thoughts away as he snorted the sweater up. "I made it but didn't like make it." Shaun giggled softly, stubby tail wagging as he looked at the coyote with absolute joy. "I suppose you could say I grew it?" Shaun thought that over. Thinking of the technical aspect of it. "I mean my body produced the wool and..." "Shaun." Travis said, snapping his fingers, and the sheep came back, continuing his explaining as if he hadn't zoned out there at the end. "It's kind of normal for us to produce a lot of wool! We can sell it to the community and then they sell it for, you know, church affairs. We get a small monthly stipend. It's not much but..." Shaun smiled, clearly using the funds from it for this outing. "We have to be careful with who we sell it to, or it could be used for nefarious purposes..." Then Shaun frowned and that, making Travis snort a laugh, he tried to cover with a cough. "Now that I say that out loud, I think it's just a means of keeping the market under control." The sheep tapped a foot on the ground, thinking it over deeply. "There are probably some darker reasons why. Sheep used to be kept locked up and used for our wool and then slaughtered for our meat, and-," "Shaun!" Travis laughed, lowering the sweater down to look at him. "You were saying." The coyote motioned with a hand for Shaun to continue. "Right!" Shaun chuckled, blushing as his tail continued to wag happily. The sight of it made the coyote wag. "I produced a whole bunch of wool. Instead of selling it, I've been saving it... It's a thing we do; I'll tell you later. I took it and had it woven into yarn! I collected the best yarns and brought it to one of my family members. Distant great grandmother. I told it was for a special person..." Shaun blushed, rocking back on his feet as he looked down sheepishly, still pushing his cheeks up adorably. "She helped me make it. She didn't even question the size!" "I was going to say," Travis chuckled looking at the large wool sweater. He couldn't fully take his eyes off it. Shaun had gotten him a gift. He had made it! Sort of... Still, the thought was behind it. That was what mattered. It was a present from someone he liked. The first present from someone he liked. Travis hadn't expected that to affect him as much as it did. It was like a hammer to his heart and Travis tried not to let it show what kind of impact Shaun had made with the gift. And it smelled like Shaun. "She probably thought I was trying to make it for a lady, heh." Shaun tapped his hoofed fingers together, his ears practically curling with his tiny horns. "Little did she suspect that it was for another man. A predator. A predaman!" The sheep laughed before looking up at Travis with those large triangular pupil eyes. Then his eyes widened for a completely different reason. "Travis!" Shaun's entire black furred face turned as red as it could get as the coyote began undressing right in front of him. And Shaun hated how his eyes looked Travis's naked torso hungrily as if he wanted to sink his teeth in the tawny furred canine and chew him like cud. That did not sound as sexy as Shaun meant it to as his blush made his neck feel hot and stuffy in his wool. Right outside the bus station, in the central part of the city, the coyote stripped off his jacket and his shirt. He handed them over to Shaun, who remained speechless as he looked over the strong lithe build of the coyote. The coyote's fur was a tawny color. A mix of browns, blacks and whites that ran over his trimmed sides and over his strong chest. The extra fur under his arms and on his soft stomach made him look delicious. Shaun eyes followed that happy trail that ran into Travis's pants; pants that hung loose on those thin hips. Leading to brighter pastures the sheep could only dream of. Something Shaun was trying not to follow with his eyes, or drool over. Travis swung the sweater over head and let gravity help bring it down. It was itchy and smelled of the sheep. Travis loved it as he sniffed it as Shaun picked up his jaw from the ground. Travis loved how warm he felt wearing Shaun's wool. It was also unexpectedly arousing, and the coyote shifted his hips to the side, adjusting himself subtly. "If I knew you'd get this, I would've worn something to go along with it." Travis looked down at the nicest pair of jeans he owned. They were the least ripped of the bunch. "How do I look?" The coyote turned around, wiggling his butt at Shaun who was still gawking, slack jawed. "Good..." Shaun muttered, blinking several times. "Wait! No, that's not the issue." "No, I don't look good?" Travis asked, ears perking up as he looked back at the startled sheep. "Yes, you look good!" Shaun's ears folded back as he averted his eyes. "Good." Travis smirked, tail wagging as he saw Shaun go from loving to hating what he had done. "It's not good!" Shaun tried to complain. "I don't look good in it?" Travis ears folded back as he whined and the look he gave Shaun went straight into the sheep's poor heart. "You look great in it! You always look good. In anything. Or nothing at all!" Shaun said loudly and Travis had to hide his smile at how embarrassing he got after saying that in public. "That's not the problem," Shaun pulled on his ears, letting out a very sheepish sound. Travis smirked, teasing the sheep and loving every second of it. "I can't believe you undressed in public... and you're going to wear it for our... for..." Shaun blushed so hot that Travis swore steam was coming off the sheep's head as the snow continued to fall around them. He placed a hand on Shaun's head and gave it a gentle shake, rebooting the sheep who had overheated. "It's fine. Only perverts would look!" Travis said loudly, shooting a snarl at a few busy bodies watching them. They quickly hurried on their way after getting caught. "And yeah, I'm going to wear your gift during our date." Travis grinned down at Shaun who began to wag happily at his words. The sheep couldn't directly look at him after that. Travis said it so earnestly, with such pride that Shaun might melt on the spot. "I just wanted you to have something special... from me." Shaun muttered, shifting his weight side to side. "It's perfect, Shaun." Travis wagged and the sheep perked up, blushing up at him. Travis tried not to drool from the cute face Shaun made. "We're matching." "What? No," Shaun looked down at himself. He was wearing a nice sweater vest. It was something he normally wore to church. It was one of the nicer things he owned and there was something special to a sheep about wearing wool. While some saw it as odd or even disgusting for a sheep to wear wool, there was an entire history behind it. It was a sign that even during the harshest of times for them, they could survive thanks to their wool. They took pride in it. Sheep made several friends with other species thanks to their unique capabilities of producing wool. They would eventually monopolize the trade of it later on in history and now was remarkably one of the top richest species because of their clothing lines. Shaun tried not to think of the greedy corporate aspect of it all. "I'm wearing some things from church." Shaun said. He didn't even see Travis take a step closer. The coyote lifted up the sweater vest and Shaun's entire face reheated. The coyote poked his wool covered body with a finger, watching it spring back in return. "See. You are wearing the same," Travis smugly said as his tail wagged. "This is fun. Poke. Poke. Poke." Shaun swatted his hand away, quickly pushing his vest back down. "Oh, my Harvest! I can't believe you," Shaun glared at the snickering coyote. Travis smiled down at Shaun. Standing so close, Shaun had to look directly up at the smirking coyote. Shaun knew that Travis did that on purpose. And Travis knew that Shaun knew that he knew that. "Here," Travis took his jacket back and slung it over Shaun's shoulders. Draping the heavy thing on the sheep. "Now you have something to wear of mine." Shaun froze as the coyote helped him into it. Travis even rolled up the sleeves. "Much better." "I'm going to die if you keep this up." Shaun glared, threatening to headbutt the coyote who laughed and took a careful step back. "You still want to go on a date?" Travis asked and the sheep gave him a punch in the arm for that. Followed by an attempted headbutt that the coyote carefully dodged. "You're paying after all this." Shaun said, more as a tease. Shaun had no plans to let Travis back out after all the work Shaun put into setting things up for this date. He had to lie to his parents, save up the cash and even had his siblings help cover for him while he left early to go spend time with the coyote. Shaun spent so long in front of the mirror this morning he was beginning to hate his reflection. "Of course," Travis replied with. Not about to have a date of his pay for their meal. "It's only fair." This way Travis didn't need to argue about it with Shaun later that evening. They could just enjoy their time together while Travis covered the expenses that came up. Travis's hand brushed against Shaun's and the sheep didn't pull away. The coyote's tail wagged as his fingers teased Shaun's further. A large, clawed hand brushed a smaller hoofed hand. Teasing, playing with each other as they walked. A game in itself. One Travis refused to lose. Interlacing and entwining his fingers with Shaun's as they walked. Holding the sheep's hand loose, yet tight enough, Shaun couldn't accidentally slip away. "Are we heading to the theater first?" Shaun asked as the two began walking down the street. The coyote got several looks. From the wool sweater to holding another male's hand and to that of a prey species. It was hard to tell which one of those things was the worst thing in their eyes. It made Shaun feel nervous. His anxiety growing. But he found himself holding Travis tighter, instead of wanting to let him go. Travis didn't even seem to notice their stares. Eyes watching as a predator walked down the street with prey, wearing the prey's wool. Holding their hands. Talking to them as if they were equals. Males. There were so many things that some people even walked into parking meters. While a social taboo, it wasn't illegal and Travis growled at anyone whose eyes lingered too long on them. Other predators seemed far more interested in the two. Or rather, in Shaun. Seeing the sheep walk with a predator sent their fur on end. Most prey species looked at them with disgust or fear; but there was something alluring to a hunter, when the prey walked willingly by their side and Travis kept Shaun close as to prevent any other predator from stealing his lamb. "We're not going to the movies first. Tickets aren't until five, babe." Travis said casually. He was so cool and the sheep was getting starstruck looking at the coyote, despite Travis wearing the sweater. "We'll grab some of that boba stuff you like. I was thinking we get a light lunch and then we'll go to dinner after the movie. When we're ready. No rush." Travis shrugged and Shaun felt second hand cool from it. The sheep might've been romanticizing the moment, but it only added to his joy as his cares slipped away and the two could just hang out together. Shaun had never done this before and there was something so fantastic about that. Going on a date with someone. For the first time. Someone he liked! It made his heartbeat quickly as his palms grew clammy. His nerves bouncing back and forth from excitement and worry. To dream of this moment and to finally do it was worth it. The risk. The cost. Everything! The experience alone was life changing. To put those thoughts and feelings into a moment, into the act. Even something so simple as holding hands, made Shaun trot happily along. "That sounds... perfect." Shaun agreed with and Travis smirked. The sheep kept stealing glances at the coyote and Travis didn't mind one bit. He liked that Shaun only had eyes for him. It made the coyote feel special. That he wasn't some scavenger, but a top predator to be noticed. That he had been the one to catch and steal the sheep away from his flock, not a wolf or lion or other stereotypical top predator. Travis wanted to keep that. To keep that look, that attention focused on him. If only for a little longer, a single moment more to enjoy. To make a simple moment last as long as possible. That was why this day was so important to the two. For who knew what tomorrow would bring, but today, they were together. Travis turned suddenly and Shaun didn't miss a step, turning with him as they headed down the road. Travis said something, Shaun replied. When Travis laughed or smiled, Shaun was right there doing it alongside him. The coyote led and the sheep followed. It was a strangely thrilling experience. To have the sheep's undivided focus and attention like this. For Shaun to trust him like this. Agreeing with Travis's plans without putting up a fight or a fuss. Happily going to the restaurant Travis picked out. Even the movie. Shaun didn't question him. The sheep might've wanted to know the finer details, but never once did Shaun ever say no to what Travis had planned out. Travis could've easily abused this power of control he had over the sheep. The coyote figured it was a sheep thing. They were prone to follow. It was in their nature. He was mindful to keep it in mind the entire day. Travis had made sure to check with Shaun first about what he liked to eat, what movies he was interested in seeing long before picking anything out for the two. The coyote kept the restaurant a surprise, wanting to know some plans that Shaun didn't. They still needed some mystery early on. Travis was looking forward to seeing Shaun's reaction when they got there. It was thrilling. Exciting as the two walked and talked like they'd been friends their entire lives. It had been ages since Travis felt this way as he bumped into Shaun's side playfully. The sheep held his ground surprisingly well and Shaun threatened the coyote with "hitting" him back and Travis was the one to concede as the sheep stomped a foot down, revving himself up to head butt the coyote down the street. "You win," Travis folded, tail tucking in and Shaun laughed at that. "Good! Better get used to it. Can't push a sheep around without them knocking a few heads together." Shaun teased and Travis rolled his eyes. "Look here," Travis was about to start up on that when an ear perked up. Travis placed an arm around Shaun, helped the sheep to the side as a large moose pushed their way down the sidewalk forcing everyone else out of the way. Travis growled at them, but Shaun pulled his arm, pointing towards a cute little store they had been pushed up against. Travis using his body to shield the sheep just in case. The sheep hadn't even seemed to notice or mind the moose as if aware to move in advanced. "Can we go in here?" Shaun asked and the coyote forgot about his anger. "Sure. We got time." Travis nodded and Shaun was already heading inside the independently owned game store. The coyote followed behind, keeping his shoulders slouched as he stuffed both hands into his jean pockets keeping an eye out. The coyote still felt a little on edge after that, but the sheep had forgotten all about it. "Look at this! Whoa, I didn't know they made this. These posters are cool. Is that game music?" Shaun was in such a great mood it was hard to stay worried about anything else. Or care about anything or anyone else. Travis kept an ear up as Shaun dragged him around the store. Pointing and talking about the things on the wall, the items in the display cases and what was behind lock and key. The tension in the coyote's shoulders eased up as he noticed what Shaun was doing. Shaun thought he was being sneaky about it, but the sheep was as sneaky as a bull in a China shop. It was obvious what Shaun was up to. The sheep was pointing out all the cute little trinkets and figurines that Travis wasn't allowed to talk about or buy. As a predator, it was looked down on for Travis to like something that could be perceived as cute. It was an insult to his masculinity or some bullshit like that; Travis's dad had beat that into it. At least that's what a majority of the predator population pushed and chose to believe. That wolves and lions weren't allowed to like cute things or pink things or fuzzy things. It prevented Travis from buying anything like these cute charms or plush toys in public. While, on the other side, Shaun wasn't allowed to enjoy extremely violent games, music or artworks. It was a strange stereotype that limited predators and prey alike. Forcing them into these specific molds that society tried to push on them as if it was hard, or uncomfortable, to have a predator walking around in an anime store buying magical girl figurines. Or a prey species walking around in black clothing, skulls and talking about the latest gorefest movies. "Which one do you want?" Shaun whispered, glancing at the cashier. "I got enough saved up for a few things today." Shaun proudly boasted and Travis smirked at the idea. The coyote had several times the amount Shaun had saved up. There was a reason why Travis had been working all these extra shifts. Something he neglected to mention to Shaun. The coyote was worn out and tired but still forced down a pot of coffee this morning to make sure he had the energy for today. "Which one do you want?" Travis asked. Shaun didn't even play the back-and-forth game. Instantly, the sheep pointed at the wall. Pointing at the large poster of the hell spelunkers diving into the demon planet guns blazing, smoking cigars and chewing bubblegum. But they were all out of bubblegum. "Okay, let me rephrase that. Which thing do you want that your parents would let you actually keep?" Travis laughed, glad that Shaun didn't hide his likes around the coyote despite the two having very different tastes in things. "Oh!" Shaun blushed, smiling at the coyote. He looked back down at the figures, trinkets and baubles. They were all brightly colored and cute. Shaun didn't like cute. He wanted to put a poster of a battalion of ex-convicts on death row fighting space demons on a planet that connected to the gates of hell on his wall. "I suppose that one." Shaun said, forced to pick something. "Why that one?" Travis glanced at the bracelet, then at the sheep. The bracelet had stars and a magic wand and looked absolutely hideously sweet and cute. "I don't know. It's neat?" Shaun shrugged and the coyote patted his wool hair with a hand. "No. We are not getting something that's just neat. You will buy it, waste money and toss it in a drawer and forget about it." Travis gently pushed the sheep further into the store. Shaun complained but didn't physically try to stop him. "Find something small and neat that you like and that you'd actually want to keep." "My parents won't let me have any of the stuff I want, Travis. You know that." Shaun grumbled looking at all the bloody spikes and skulls from various video games and media. The price alone made Shaun frown. Travis was right, it cost a lot of money. Money that he might as well throw away as his parents would throw away any of the cool stuff he brought home. "You'd think they'd support me blasting the demons of hell." Travis snorted, smiling as he moved his way through the racks of clothing. He glanced over a couple of them. Some of the softer color shirts had cute animal pathing designs to them. The coyote's ears perked up, tail wagging as he thought about wearing one of those. Then he thought how others would react if a coyote wore something like that. People gave him a hard enough time as it was for being a coyote. A scavenger. Travis didn't need to add onto that. "Travis!" Shaun squeed making the coyote look over at Shaun. The sheep was headfirst into a rack of clothing. "It's Lambs to the Slaughter!" Shaun pointed at the death metal band of sheep. It was a black shirt with skulls and flames and blood dripping everywhere. Even the coyote found it over the top as he chuckled at Shaun's reaction. Travis had only seen the band after Shaun had introduced him to it. They were an over-the top try hard band as far as Travis could tell. It was clear they were trying to make several political points all at once. Subverting the norm by being sheep into death metal. It wasn't Travis's thing. He liked video game music and animated show openings. Things that were easier to listen to and didn't get the coyote too worked up. The predator had to be mindful of his emotions. Especially in public with people watching his every action. "It's so neat!" Shaun eyes sparkled as he looked over the different styles of shirts. "Do you think they'd let me buy any of these? Or do you think my parents would toss them the second they crossed the threshold into the house?" "They'd make you toss them even before you reached the front door." Travis chuckled, looking more at Shaun than at the shirts. Shaun grumbled, knowing Travis was right. There was a reason why all of Shaun's clothing were made by those of the church. Even his bedding had been sown using wool from his ancestors. Shaun was getting tired of wearing it himself. He liked the idea of Travis wearing his wool. Not wanting to wear wool himself. Not anymore. Shaun couldn't take pride in his legacy and ancestors with what his parents had become. It ruined it for him and the sheep wanted to pull away from that side of his life, not embrace it. "You know..." Travis thought about it as Shaun kept flipping through a couple of the shirts. "What if...?" Travis took the shirt from Shaun's hands making the sheep look at him. "Hey, cashier dude, do you have a dressing room?" Travis called over to the cashier who pointed at the back. The lemur didn't even look up at the two. They had so many piercings on their face Shaun couldn't tell what they were until he saw their tail. "Come on," Travis grabbed Shaun's hand and brought him into a dressing room. "Wait. I can't buy that. Wait. Are you coming in here with me? Wait!" Shaun blushed as he was pushed into the small dressing room with Travis forcing his way inside with him. "Arms up." Travis ordered and Shaun did. He lifted his arms straight up. It made it easy to take off the ugly, gaudy sweater vest the sheep had been wearing this entire time. Travis wanted to tear it apart with his teeth. That shirt wasn't Shaun. This shirt was. Travis's fingers grabbed the bottom of it and began shimmying it up off the sheep. Shaun's wool-covered body made it a little difficult, but Travis managed. He was more surprised that Shaun didn't put up a fuss or a fight. The sheep had his eyes closed, clearly embarrassed as the coyote stripped his shirt off. "There, now..." Travis slipped the other shirt on Shaun. "Nope." Travis stopped. "Wait here." He said and Shaun did as the coyote stepped outside the changing room to go grab a larger size. "Do you have this in... what about this? Okay, we'll take those three... yeah. It'll be on a card." And soon enough, the coyote was back inside the dressing room with him. Shaun didn't get a chance to speak before Travis put one of the shirts he bought over the sheep's head and pulled it down roughly. Shaun felt the heat rise to his face as Travis smoothed it out. The coyote turned Shaun around, smoothing down his back. "You're lucky." Travis said. "Why?" Shaun blushed as he was turned back around by the coyote's large hands man handling him. Shaun hated how many he enjoyed it. "Your wool doesn't shed like my fur does. Makes it look rather nice. Wearing a black shirt with white wool." Travis smirked, looking Shaun over. The sheep glanced in the mirror and his face lit up at what he saw. The church clothing was removed and replaced with a picture of his favorite band. He turned around and looked over a shoulder. His small tail wagged quickly at what he saw. The shirt had been designed with a sheep's wool in mind and didn't cling uncomfortably to his body. "How do I look?" Shaun asked. "You look great." Travis smiled and wagged his tail. "I do, don't I?" Shaun grinned looking at himself. Feeling pride swell in his chest. "Okay. Now I need to complete the set!" Travis wasn't sure what that meant until fifteen minutes later. Shaun was outside with Travis, laughing about it. On his wrists, clipped to his ears and hanging around his neck were several silver pieces of jewelry. All of which had skulls and upside-down crosses. The Harvest Cross was a symbol of the church, but the band used an upside-down version to be edgy. Shaun loved it even if Travis thought the entire thing was silly. The two had agreed that Shaun would keep these things at Travis's place. It was a small subtle way the coyote planned to use to get Shaun to come over sometime. To hang out, maybe watch movies, cuddling on his sofa-bed and maybe blowjobs. Maybe a lot of blowjobs. "You know what I always wanted to do?" Shaun said and Travis listened. "I wanted to wear mascara!" "Like the makeup?" Travis snorted, tail wagging as Shaun told him these things. It was clear the sheep never had anyone else to really talk about. To share his wants and likes, outside his online group of friends. As much as Shaun loved his friends online, it was different seeing and talking to someone in person. It was more personal, more vulnerable and something about that made it feel all the more real. "Well, eye liner. Yeah! The band wears it all the time." Shaun paused to look in a store's mirror. With his black fur, it would've been pointless for him to use eyeliner. "Oh..." He said as if only remembering this fact. Travis snorted a laugh at that. "I think you've done enough for today. You look good." Travis placed a hand on Shaun's shoulder. The sheep looked at him. Reading over Travis's face for something that wasn't there, then smiled. "Thanks..." Shaun blushed, tail wagging. "I know this might not be how you wanted today to go, but it meant a lot to me. I never get a chance to express myself like this. To shop and buy what I actually want!" "I think it's been a lot of fun." Travis shrugged when Shaun looked at him. "We still have the rest of the day, Shaun." Travis reminded the sheep who nodded quickly. Travis took Shaun's hand again and the sheep stepped closer. The two walking down the street as a social taboo in more ways than one as they spent the entire afternoon together. Travis bought the popcorn and drink at the theater, hours later. Shaun didn't even notice that the sneaky coyote only got one soda for them to share, with a single straw, as the sheep's eyes widened at the size of the popcorn container. "Is this a maw?" Shaun asked looking at the stylized popcorn bucket. "That's kind of dark, isn't it?" "It's from Kaiju smash city." "The one with the giant radioactive reptile?" "No, that's Kaiju smashes city." Travis took a second. "No, wait, that's a porno..." The coyote chuckled. He'd gotten high with his roommates and watched a guy in a suit crush a city. Sexually? Travis still, to this day, wasn't sure what they were thinking. Shaun laughed though, making it worth the slip up. "Better than the last one." Travis chuckled recalling the last one shaped like someone's paw. "The theater is kind of desperate. These containers used to cost extra. They have such a surplus of them now that they just give them away as normal containers now for the XL sized popcorn." Shaun was picking out a few pieces to chew on. The sheep clearly enjoying the popcorn immensely. "Can you eat this?" Shaun asked around a mouthful and the coyote almost didn't have the heart to have any. "Yes, Shaun." The coyote chuckled. "Most coyotes are omnivores. I can't eat like strict vegetarian or anything like that. I can have some things here and there. It gives me a bit of... trouble, but I manage fine." Travis didn't go into the graphic details as he shrugged it off. "Think of it like someone who is lactose intolerant but eats cheese anyways. It's kind of similar." "Huh," Shaun thought that over for a little too long. "Does that mean," the sheep turned to look at him. Travis was already steering the conversation away before the sheep could ask that. This was a first date! Travis was not about to talk about that kind of thing. "We're at the top seats. Keep up." Travis made his way up the steps quickly. He turned around, panting slightly from running away from the conversation. His ears perked up seeing Shaun right behind him, not a step behind. The coyote had a couple feet on the sheep, and it was Travis struggling to keep up. "How...?" "I'm a sheep?" Shaun said, confused what the issue was. The sheep walked up the next several steps with a soft bouncing trot. "I can even walk up sixty-degree angles. If we get a chance, I'll show you! Rock climbing is a hobby of ours." Shaun chuckled as he made his way up the steps quickly. "I thought that was only goats..." Travis shook his head, following Shaun up the rest of the way. The coyote blamed the fact he was holding both the XL drink and popcorn for his slow ascent to the top of the theater. Needing to save some of his pride in front of his date. "Goats are far better than sheep are, but a few of my distant cousins climb mountains for fun. Like they just scale up a side of a mountain. It's crazy! We're just made for it." Shaun shrugged, stopping to wait for Travis to catch up. "Which one is our seat?" "Far corner." Travis pointed out and Shaun stepped over to take a seat on the outside. Travis motioned and Shaun scooted to the corner. Travis liked that more. It felt right. That Shaun was safely tucked against the wall while the coyote could act as a wall between Shaun and anyone else. "Corner seat, huh?" "Is that a problem?" Travis's ear flicked. "Nope! Just curious. When we get seats we're always stuck in the middle." Shaun said, munching merrily on popcorn. "We?" Travis asked, feeling jealous for some reason. "My family." "Ah." Travis nodded at that, instantly feeling better. "Why? Who did you think it was with?" "No one! Shut up, the commercials are starting." Travis evasively said, blushing faintly. He liked this seat better anyways. "I like this seat better anyways." Shaun said Travis's thoughts aloud and the coyote instantly felt better as he took Shaun's hand in his. It was a nasty habit Travis had. To sit down with his back to a wall, one ear up and both eyes sharp. A survival instinct that he needed far too many times in his life. Groups of prey species often picked on a lone predator and larger predators tended to do something similar. Like trying to push the coyote out of their territory. Several other species like the coyote had to suffer similar things. It gave him a bit of an inferiority complex that Shaun's presence was helping with. "You're quick on your feet. Good to know." Travis said, changing the subject. "You won't need to worry about me keeping up. Promise." Shaun gladly took the popcorn Travis handed to him. The coyote relaxed a bit, seeing the sheep happily munch on several pieces. "Here I was worried that we skipped lunch," Travis rested back. He kicked up his feet on the empty seat in front of him and leaned back. "We spent so much time shopping that I was worried we'd miss the commercials." "You like the commercials?" "Not really." "Why did you worry then?" Shaun asked and Travis pointed a finger down the rows. At the bottom of the stairs came in the heavier set customers. Elephants, hippos, cows and even several horses. They all took the first several rows of seat. Those seats were larger than these seats were. The seats down near the bottom were designed for their size in mind. The rows contained far less seats than the ones at the top where the two sat. The larger customers pushed or stepped on anything or anyone in their way as they piled in. "Oh, that would've been tricky." Shaun said before chuckling. "Sheep travel in flocks so I guess I never notice. Good thing you didn't have to handle that." "What?" The coyote's ear flicked, glancing over at Shaun. "Your flock isn't here to protect you, wool boy." Travis teased and Shaun smirked. "It would've been tricky for you, anyways." Shaun said with that sparkle in his eye again, holding something over the coyote. "Yeah? Hah, and how would you have gotten by?" Travis asked. Shaun pointed at the wall next to the stairs. "What am I looking at?" "The wall." "You going to tell me you can climb that? You secretly a gecko?" The coyote chuckled. "What? No! Hah, I was saying that I'd just have jumped off it." The sheep boasted proudly. "Jump off the wall? Like in Luigi?" Travis was trying to picture Shaun jumping off walls, collecting coins and making silly sounds while doing so. If the main character was a sheep like Shaun, Travis would love to play that game so much that his nails dug into the armrest. "Something like that!" Shaun laughed, blushing. "If it's easier for you to understand. Sure. I'd jump and bounce and get up here Lickety split!" The sheep giggled softly. "I can even walk on the railing," he motioned the divider between the stairs and the other seats. "Jump up there and walk all the way up here like a boss bitch." Shaun snapped. "Heh, sorry. Alice taught me that..." "I thought sheep were clumsy." Travis chuckled, resting back a little further. He rested his arm behind Shaun's seat, and the sheep didn't even seem to notice that the drink holder between the two had been lifted up. Travis bumped his thigh against Shaun's and the sheep pushed back in turn. Travis liked that. How playful Shaun could be with him. Moving closer, pushing back. Never pulling away from his touch. Something so simple meant so much to him. "No!" Shaun said, getting worked up as he explained quickly. He turned to face Travis. Telling him how things actually were. Their legs bumped and Shaun leaned in closer. Travis didn't even mind getting told off if this was the end result. "It's just because of those old shows." "Old shows?" "You know, those old black and white cartoons. Of the sheep being clumsy and the wolf trying to steal them away." Shaun grumbled, thinking of a childhood show his parents forced him to watch. His parents made him watch it as a warning against predators. "Birds, foxes, wolves... all these predators were trying to sneak into the flock and steal sheep away. They tried to make it comedic, for children. It only made everyone think sheep are stupid..." "I think I recall that one." Travis said, thinking it over. "The wolf actor was such a DILF." Travis chuckled. "It got popular online, later on. Sorry if I upset you..." Travis added, looking over at the sheep who was sulking. "It's not your fault... just how society sees us. We have a very strong herd instinct. A lot of grazing species do! There was an incident, years and years ago. Where one sheep panicked and it forced the rest of the flock to panic with them. They ended up causing a huge accident because of it. A lot of people tease us sheep because of it." Shaun sighed, frowning at the incident. Travis recalled hearing about it on the news. There were always incidents like that from herding species. Those in groups. It was a psychological phenomenon. When in a group, an individual's intelligence would greatly diminish, and they would be more likely to go along with a group. Be it a panic response, or a cultish mindset. Sheep would act like... sheep. There was even a large group of cows last year that had ended up falling for a pyramid scheme, losing everything. There was even a pride of lions who nearly starved to death when they all collectively chose to only eat tofu. It was one nice thing about being a lone predator. Travis didn't have to worry about peer pressure. Peer pressure that could ruin lives or even cost them. The wolf pack back in high school was so uncomfortably close that when one of them caught an STD all the others ended up getting it shortly after. Travis and the other predators had laughed for weeks after seeing the entire pack wear cones around their necks. "Fuckin' wolves..." Travis grumbled. "Huh?" Shaun asked, missing the tone Travis had used. "Want to see something interesting?" Travis pulled out his phone. He swiped away another text from his roommate. They'd been bothering him all day and he wasn't in the mood to deal with that, not wanting her involved in his relationship. "Sure." Shaun scooted closer, resting against Travis's side as the coyote turned the phone for the two to view together. Travis let his arm fall around Shaun's neck, pulling him closer. The video started up and Shaun gasped. "No way, is that...?" "Yup!" Travis chuckled. "Wolfington the third, also known as Brick Wolfhouser." Travis rolled his eyes at the name. "He was the actor that played that DILF wolf in that old black and white cartoon, right? Look at him now!" "Is that Merry-Go with him?" Shaun's jaw dropped, giggling as he covered his mouth as he continued to watch the sheep and wolf cuddle up and kiss. "Yup." Travis nodded, tail wagging as the two looked at the sheep with her husband. "Brick became a huge activist after the show. The bad rep the sheep earned in the show bothered him. He said it wasn't fair that the ram was the only one shown in a positive light." "Ram Tram Kablam," Shaun groaned at the horrible name they gave the ram character. "He was the main character. Of course they made him look good! All the sheep were females as well, if you notice. Don't get me started on that! The predators didn't fare much better than the sheep when it came to stereotyping." "Exactly." Travis nodded. "Ram Tram ended up becoming a drunk that lost his career. He blamed the predators and went on a bunch of conspiracy theory channels. Brick Wolfhouser ended up helping the actresses get into other positive roles and even fell in love with Merry-Go!" Travis wagged his tail looking at the two. The video showed an older graying furred wolf helping a sheep out of the car. The two were clearly in love, arm and arm as they walked into a restaurant again as the camera recorded them. "Why is the sound off?" Shaun asked. "We're in a theater." Travis lied. Lied about the reason why the sound was off. The video was saying what an abomination it was for the two actors to get together. That Merry-Go actress should've dated the alcoholic ram instead of the healthy wolf. Travis used a thumb to hide the thumbnail from view before putting the phone away. "See. Isn't that funny?" "The two were in love!" Shaun giggled, blushing at the warm thought. "I never knew! A secret romance. How romantic." The sheep swooned, thinking about it. "I need to let Alice know." "Alice?" Travis's ear flicked, frowning. "Who?" It was the second time Travis heard that name tonight. He suspected who it was, just needed confirmation. "She's one of my crew, or squad members. Depending on which term you prefer," Shaun chuckled. "She's one of my online friends." "At the PC cafe?" Travis snorted, shaking his head as he rested back. He turned slightly towards Shaun despite being in the corner seat as the movie started up. "Yup! She's a lot. They all are, in their own ways but... if it wasn't for them, then this never would've happened." Shaun glanced at Travis, before looking away. He was blushing again and it made Travis want to chew on one of the sheep's ears. "I promise not to get jealous when you hang out with them. Sounds like I need to thank her... them, for what they did." Travis nosed closer, sniffing Shaun when the sheep wasn't paying attention. The coyote pulled back when Shaun looked back at him. "Why would you get jealous?" Shaun chuckled, seemingly not worried about it. "You were there with me when I was gaming last month." "Right. Last month," Travis blushed, ears folding back as he recalled what they had done. "Let's focus on the movie. It's starting up." The coyote pulled Shaun closer and the sheep nuzzled against his side. It sent a pleasant warmth throughout Travis as he remained slightly twisted during the entire movie so he could hug Shaun while trying to watch the animated movie the two had agreed on seeing. Hours later, Travis's back was killing him as they made their way out of the theater. "Worth," he whimpered. "I liked the first one more, but it was still super cute. Good characters, plot and, overall, rather humorous." Shaun said as Travis rubbed his lower back. "I can't believe the company is selling out to AI. Such a joke." "I like this one more." Travis agreed. "I think they should've kissed." "They didn't need to kiss. The subtext was all right there. It'll give them a reason to write a third movie. That and how much money it has made." Travis popped his back, feeling better after realigning his spine. "I still think they should've kissed. It was right there! Perfect set up and everything." "That wasn't the point of the movie," Travis laughed. He didn't realize how much the sheep was into the romance angle. For a guy who liked FPS games and listening to death metal it was funny to hear how invested Shaun was in fictional characters relationships. Travis's phone buzzed again and he pulled it out. Frowning at the text, the coyote quickly sent out a message. "What?" Shaun asked picking up on the coyote's discomfort. "It's nothing for you to worry about. I'll be dealing with it. Later." Travis silenced his phone and ignored the call that followed. "I swear, she's worse than my mom." "Who?" "My roommate." "Is she harassing you?" Shaun asked, worried. "Yes, but it's nothing to worry about. She just gets a bit... invested in my dating life." Travis waved it off as he led Shaun towards the restaurant. "I really think you'll be looking forward to this." The coyote wagged, focusing his attention back on Shaun. "It's a restaurant I really enjoy going to. The prices are decent, but it has a really great atmosphere for privacy." "That'll be nice. Did you reserve seats already? It looks like there's a line forming." Shaun pointed out. "There shouldn't be a line..." Travis looked up and the coyote's ears quickly folded back as his eyes widen. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" The canine's hackles rose up, teeth bared as he let go of Shaun's hand and marched towards the front of the restaurant. Out front stood two lynxes as if the felines were standing in line. One, the female, was looking at her phone while the other talked to her about something. The male lynx perked up seeing the coyote marching towards them, fuming mad. The male poked the female several times, ending up pushing her forward. "Alicia, he's here." The lynx said, stepping aside. "Finally!" Alicia tossed her hands in the air and turned just in time for Travis to push his snout against her much shorter one. "Travis, darling. It's so good to see you!" She smiled sweetly in turn, looking as if she were on top of the world as her eyes drifted past the coyote to the sheep standing behind them. "And you must be-," she tried to move past Travis who blocked her. "Alicia, what are you doing here?" Travis tried to keep his voice down, but the building growl could be heard by anyone walking past. Travis leaned over the lynx. It would've been intimidating to anyone else, but the lynx waved him off, laughing about it. "What are you talking about? We came for our double date." Alicia said, grabbing the male lynx's arm and pulling him closer. Travis stumbled at that, looking between the two. The coyote was utterly confused, a look of shock and disgust crossing his face. "What? Double date? With Liam...?" Travis gave them a very concerned, worried look. "Sorry." Liam said with a half wave. "Hi, I'm Liam by the way." The male lynx said as Shaun came over to see what the issue was. "Hi... Travis, is everything alright?" Shaun asked. The three predators easily picked up on the nervous energy coming off Shaun. It was like an aphrodisiac the three struggled not to enjoy. Travis backed away from Alicia, smoothing out his hackles quickly with both hands. "Yeah. It's just a coincidence, is all, to run into them." Travis tried to come up with a perfect excuse. Something Alicia wasn't about to let him have. Taking initiative, Alicia stepped forward and offered a hand to Shaun. "Hi. I'm Travis's roommate. You can call me Alicia. Or Alice, if you like." She said. The name went straight over Shaun's head as the sheep politely greeted her in return with a warm friendly smile. "Shaun. I'm Travis's..." The sheep couldn't finish his sentence. He blushed and rubbed a hoof against the concrete sidewalk, unsure what to describe what the twos relationship were with each other. Alicia watched the sight with an ever-growing interest as her feline instincts were abuzzed with delight. The lynx was practically purring as she watched the flustered, embarrassed sheep try to figure it out. Her eyes dilated, turning into catlike slits as her nails poked out of each of her fingers. She reached for Shaun, only for Liam to pull her back roughly. "What my... date, is trying to say." Liam spoke up for her. "Is that we were meeting you for our double date with you and Travis." Liam said, looking at the coyote. "Is that true?" Shaun asked the coyote with such trustful innocence that Travis didn't have it in his heart to lie any further than he already had. "Yes...?" Travis bit his tongue, grinding his teeth as he shot the two lynxes death stares. Liam raised his hands with bored interest as Alicia looked over the moon. She was ignoring the canine. Her entire focus on Shaun. "Come on Shaun, I'll show you the place. We come here ALL the time." She added, winking at the coyote as she stole Travis's date away from under his nose. "Sometimes, Travis makes it too easy." "Too easy?" Shaun asked, blissfully unaware that Travis's roommate did this to fuck with him. And to see Shaun in person. "Dude. Why the fuck are you here?" Travis asked Liam as they watched her guide Shaun inside the restaurant. "I owe Alicia." Liam shrugged. "And it's fucking hilarious seeing you like this. I didn't realize Shaun was, well, you know..." The lynx rolled a hand, and Travis had to resist the urge to punch him in the face. "You know you should head in before my sister does something we'll all regret." "This isn't over." Travis warned the lynx before chasing after Alicia and Shaun. "Shaun! Don't look directly into her eyes!" "That kitty is going to eat him alive." Liam chuckled following inside as he counted the cash that Alicia had paid him to pretend to be her date. Liam would've done it for free to fuck with Travis, but this was a far more profitable option as he followed the other three in and to their table. To enjoy their extremely uncomfortable dinner together.