Shorts: The Furry Years (8 page)

“I didn’t know we were your friends,” Jeff said. “That guy was huge. He could have killed us.”

“Well I don’t know if he could have killed you, but a hospital would have been in your future.”

“Well, thanks. Thanks for stopping him.” He smiled and shook my hand, “George and I owe you.”

I grinned, “Don’t worry about it.”

They nodded, and left, not bothering to have their drink, skirting the still unconscious body out the front door.

“Somebody better call a cop or something for that guy. If he lies there all night I don’t think he’ll wake up in the morning.”

Jane nodded and went to call the local constables, while Bill started looking me over as if I had suddenly grown wings. The others didn't seem to be at all fazed, though I noticed Harvey was getting that dreamy look. Felt kind of good though, fighting always got my blood going.

About ten minutes later the local peace officer showed up and gave us a nod, then toted the Lion off. The crowd got a little smaller after that, but most of the regulars seemed determined to make a full night of it. I guess they wanted to savor the 'win'. Even my small band stayed a bit later then usual, and seemed a lot more interested in me for a change, though I dodged most of the questions. I wasn't really interested in talking about myself, but I did learn that yes George and Jeff were a couple, had been for years. So were Nick and Jill. They were mostly native's, Jeff was from the next city over according to
Harvey
, but that was about it. And mostly they lived nice easy going lives in nice steady jobs. I smiled as I drank it all in, nice folk’s every last one of them.

It was about
two a.m.
when they all left, and the bar started clearing out. All except for
Harvey
of course, he was sitting at the bar obviously trying to think of something to say, and caught between fear and want. It was pretty cute, and I stopped to give him a good look over myself when he wasn't looking.

He was trim, and had a nice shape, no doubt about that. The twin white stripes running down his body and then up over his plush tail were definite eye catchers, and the pride he obviously took in caring for his fur was evident too. From the earlier conversation it was pretty apparent where his tastes lie, and he had dropped a hint in a moment of boldness that he was available.

I smiled to myself and walked down the bar until I stood across from him, "Wanna go grab a bite?"

He jumped and stared for maybe half a second, but that was about all the hesitation he had. "Sure! How much longer till you get off?"

I turned to Jane, "Could you close for me tonight? I could use something to clear my head."

She looked at
Harvey
then winked at me and then nodded, "Sure, I'll close up."

I turned to
Harvey
and took off the apron, "Now I guess," and smiled at him.

He grinned like a kid with a new toy, and I followed him out the door. The way he was walking made it clear what he wanted, and having his tail hiked that high did show that he had a very cute butt. I had to grin myself.

I caught up to him outside and we headed off to a late night dinner that catered to the swing shift. I ordered a sandwich, he just got a soda, and we chatted a bit.

"You know, I have a lot of questions," he started off.

"I'm sure you do," I chuckled "but let’s leave the really deep ones till later, okay?"

"How much later?" he asked looking coy.

"Oh, how about till morning?" I smirked at him.

"Finish your damn sandwich and lets go then!" he giggled.

I ate quickly.

"So how did you end up in
Longview
?"
Harvey
asked as we stopped outside my door and I worked the lock.

"Chance mostly, I'd never been here before," I smiled and brought him inside. I left the lights off, and literally dragged him off to my bedroom. He giggled a bit at that following me through the dimly lit hall until I pushed him back on the bed. He smiled up at me and opened his arms with a smile as I slipped out of my shorts.

"I would never have expected this..." he churred softly.

"Life is full of surprises," I purred back and slipped into bed and his embrace.

We started off slowly, I took my time and explored his firm young body. His responses and own behavior made it clear that he was an experienced lover as well, and when I finally took him, his moans were of desire and need as much as mine. We made love several times that night before falling asleep, and I discovered he had quite a few talents.

The next morning I woke up and smiled at the vision and sensations my new lover was giving me. "Insatiable are we?" I said and giggled at his rude hand gesture, his muzzle being rather occupied. Then my own rumbling purrs got the better of my desire for vocal communication.

Later, we got out of bed and I followed him into my shower, and then out to the kitchen. We got about as far as the living room when he stopped and just stared. I looked up at the walls, and the pictures on them, and the few odd momento's on the shelves and such as he took it all in.

 He took a step back and bumped into me. "Those all of you?"

"Yup."

"Wow, well I guess that explains a lot then."

I shrugged, "I went in at seventeen, I was a problem kid so it was service or jail."

He turned and grinned, "Well it looks like you made the right choice, you don't seem to have any problems
now
!"

I grabbed his butt and dragged him close against me grinning "Well, not anymore," and kissed him.

"So why'd you come here?"

I grinned, "Well I had to go somewhere, and after twenty years of Special Forces and combat in three separate theaters, I thought quiet might be a nice career change."

He nodded and ran his paws over my chest.

"Boy, George and Jeff are going to be -soooo- jealous!" He giggled.

"Think so?"

"Oh yeah, they thought you were cute, but straight."

"Well I guess, they'll find out Monday at the bar then." I grinned.

"You kidding?" He giggled and picked up his cell phone, "I'm inviting them out to lunch to meet my new boyfriend."

"Oh? And what makes you so sure I want something serious?" I tried to glare at him.

"Shall I remind you of just what you were whispering between the growls of pleasure and the moans of lust?" he smirked at me for a change.

"Ummm, you want butter on your pancakes?" I blushed; my ear's flicking in embarrassment.

He snickered and dialed as I went to make Breakfast.

"Hello Jeff? You two have just got to meet me for lunch...." I heard him begin as I walked into the kitchen.

Well I did come here with the hopes of a more normal life; I sighed to myself and then grinned.

And things were starting to get a little dull on my off hours anyway...

Fox Hunt

by John Van Stry

Jacob sprinted down the uneven slope of the hill, stumbling over the ruts in the uneven sod. Fortunately he was able to catch himself before he fell.

"That wouldn't do now!" he thought to himself with a grin as he reached the bottom and started splashing down the stream. Hopefully any pursuers left on his trail would figure on his going upstream in this latest attempt at breaking his scent trail.

Jacob figured he had a good lead now, he could still hear the occasional bark and bay of the pursuit, but he was gaining on them. Had been since the initial minutes of his flight in fact. But he was not totally familiar with the area he was in and was getting pretty winded. Last night's celebrations were no doubt the reason, but there was no use in making excuses or laying blame.

Escape was all that mattered now.

He left the stream when he came to a low hanging branch from an old Oak Tree. A land mark he vaguely recalled from his past. Being careful not to touch it, it was an obvious place to leave one's scent after all; he scrambled up the bank trying to leave as little trace as possible. Then started off towards the west.

"I'll be able to see Marissa and the kids before the sun sets!" He though happily to himself slowing down to a walk and catching his breath. He listened carefully for the hounds and was rewarded several moments later with their confused baying as they reached the stream bed.

He could also hear the sound of the others way off in the distance. He had split the group each time he had broken his trail and now there were very few at that bed. It sounded like only three or four, the rest would take a few minutes to catch up, and by then he'd be too far away.

Jacob picked up his pace looking for another way to confuse the trail, doubling back twice just for good measure and crossing his own trail three times.

There was a possibility that they'd split again and half would still be close to him, but he'd been sly so far, going upstream at each of the little water routes he had taken. His pursuers were not terribly bright and would expect him to repeat himself a third time. Not wanting to split their numbers anymore then they already had. After all, they were strangers here! Not him, though as he looked around he had to admit that he wasn't terribly familiar with this part of the forest anymore. He mentally cursed the accident of fate that had sent him south instead of west this morning.

Who'd have though that damn Shepherd would have been over there?

"Oh well" He breathed quietly to himself, "What's done is done!"

Slowing down again to take another break on his tired legs he listened closely for any remaining pursuers, and was rewarded with the sound of rustling leaves not too far away!

"Damn!" He swore quietly and started off again, panting hard now. All of that doubling and trail re-crossing took time and energy; he was tired and needed a break. But the sound of pursuit was close, closer than he could believe! He sprinted across an open meadow and started to make a straight run for an outcrop of rocks that he remembered vaguely from years gone by. Just as he cleared the meadow he thought he heard a grunt behind him, but no barks or baying.

"That's one thing about the Hounds," He thought to himself, "They always bay when they sight you!"

Figuring himself to still have a good lead on his pursuit he broke straight for the rock pile, dashing up it an off to the side. The hounds would circle it, most likely to the right, and he'd gain a few more seconds on the ones behind him.

Panting harder now he ran straight ahead for a series of brambles dead ahead. They'd tear his clothes up bad, but they'd slow the hounds down as well.

Then he heard it, a panting louder and deeper then his! Redoubling his speed he put everything he had into it, running full out, his legs aching and lungs burning!

"Just a little more!" He begged, "Just another yard ...."

With a growl the dog was upon him, knocking him down, tumbling him end over end! Exhausted he rolled tangled up in a ball of fur and limbs, coming to a rest under the dog's bulk just inches from the shelter of the brush.

Tired from the running since dawn, tired from the panicked dash, downfallen at being caught so close to freedom, Jacob collapsed totally. Eyes closed gasping for breath. Caught.

"Hey you okay?"  Harold growled down at the Fox sprawled semi-conscious beneath him. "I didn't mean to hurt you, but I knew if you made the bushes there I'd never get you!" He panted.

Jacob opened an eye to see who had caught him, then started in surprise! "You're ... You're the German Shepherd that I bumped into this morning! What are -you- doing here?"

"Oh," He grinned, "My Company sent me over here to work with our foreign office, and when I heard that my local co-workers were going on a Fox hunt, well, I just couldn't resist."

"But only Hounds can catch a Fox ..." Jacob started, and then paused.

"Oh?" Harold laughed, "And how many have caught you?"

"None in the last six years of my working here at the games," He chuckled. "But to be caught by a non-hound, how embarrassing!"

"Oh? Really? Why's that?" Harold asked a little upset.

"Oh not for me!" Jacob reassured him, "It's embarrassing for me to be caught by anybody. But your co-workers! They'll be teased for weeks round the game circuit! Though I suspect you're going to be quite popular."

Harold reached down and offered the Fox a hand, helping him to his feet. Looking down at Jacob as he winced a little.

"You okay?"

"I think I twisted my ankle a little in that fall there."  Jacob looked up at the shepherd, noticing just how large he really was. "Damn you're a big one! How'd you keep up? Oh, and I'm forgetting my manners, aren't I? I'm Jacob."

"Oh, I'm Harold. As for keeping up, well you never did run a straight course, but I did."

"Then how on earth did you follow me?" Jacob grumbled.

"Oh that was easy. I cheated."

Jacob looked shocked! "You cheated? How on earth did you do that?"

Harold laughed, "Oh, I asked somebody which way you liked to run, then just put myself between you and it. You just kept coming back to me."

"Damn, I'm getting predictable in my age!" Jacob grumped.

"I believe the Fox buys the first round?" He asked.

"Yes, but the winner usually buys the next one," Jacob sighed mellowing.

Harold chuckled and gave Jacob a pat, as they headed back to the club, deftly removing the tracking device he had planted when they had bumped earlier that morning before the hunt began. Who said that
only
foxes knew how to be crafty?