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Here is Chapter 6! The story continued!
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Chapter 6: Clear Skies
In the charming, rustic cabin, Deko was just about finished with his refreshing shower. Floral-scented steam filled the bathroom, accompanied by the soothing sound of water splashing against the ceramic tiles. The folf opened the door and revealed Rayne in the adjacent hallway, while he dried his fur with a towel.
“Rayne, would we consider it a success if Lupy opens up?” Deko remarked, as steam escaped the bathroom and into the corridor. He wrapped the towel tighter around his ocean-blue fur. Deko remarked, as steam escaped the bathroom and into the corridor. He wrapped the towel tighter around his ocean-blue fur.
Rayne couldn’t resist smiling. “Yes,” he agreed as the folf walked past him and made his way to his bedroom. “It would,” Rayne muttered, stepping into the empty bathroom with a towel and his toiletries.
Deko walked down the corridor, replaying the images in Snackers’ mouth. It was enough to trigger a fluster across his silky cheeks. He arrived at his bedroom door, twisting the handle and pushing it to open. Much to his astonishment, the room was pitch black. There was no sunlight streaming in, and the usual warm afternoon radiance was missing. With a brief pause at the doorway, he blinked a few times to acclimate his eyes to the surprising darkness. Struggling to find the light switch, Deko eventually located it and switched it on, casting a soft, luminous glow throughout the area. Upon seeing a wall of grey fur blocking the window,
he finally understood why there was no light.
There, Snackers was chilling against the lake house wall. Sporting a sleek back and fancy fur, the Vastelerian raccoon used the structure to stay upright, effectively covering the window. Like sneaky vines, small fur strands slipped inside the cabin.
The spectacle made Deko snicker involuntarily. He walked in, shut the door, and made his way towards the window.
A tap on the glass caught Snackers’ attention. No sooner did the raccoon’s ears twitch and his back withdrew from the house to let some sunshine stream through until a single emerald eye replaced it by peering inside.
Whispering to the arctic wolf snuggled against his thigh, Snackers said, “Wait a sec, Lupy.” He peered inside the window and saw Deko mouthing words, but couldn’t catch their meaning. Snackers tilted his head, concerned, trying to angle his ear to pick up the folf’s voice through the glass.
Deko affectionately called out to his boyfriend, “Hey Snaccy, you’re blocking the sun with that adorable, albeit oversized, face of yours! Could you maybe move up a bit?”
Snackers blinked, trying to understand what his lover had just asked. In a state of embarrassment, he quietly murmured, “Yeah, sure,” and moved his weight, causing vibrations that jostled the furniture inside the lake house. Sliding to the side, he made room for the radiant light of the setting sun to shine into Deko’s bedroom.
As Snackers adjusted his position, he cupped his hand around Lupus and moved him towards his thigh. With a relaxed and grateful expression, the arctic wolf looked up at the raccoon and nuzzled deeper into the raccoon’s thigh.
“Lupy,” Snackers said in his usual affectionate tone, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you.”
Blinking, Lupus raised his head to meet the raccoon’s gleaming eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You opened up to me earlier,” he whispered, running his finger along the wolf’s chest and abdomen. “You asked to ride in my pocket and dive off my finger, didn’t you?”
Surprised, the wolf rested its head on Snackers’ thigh. His ears flicked back as he mumbled, “It was nothing. Anyone could have done it.”
Snackers shook his head, his eyelids widening to reveal more of his grass-coloured irises. “No, it wasn’t just ‘nothing,’” he declared, but his smile offered solace. “You handled it better than most Petritans I’ve worked with.”
Lupus’s protests were silenced by the raccoon’s finger on his lips. “Shush, Lupy. Being proud of yourself is fine.”
“Many of the clients I’ve worked with from Petritans have sought my help in managing their megalopateophobia. They’d freeze at the sight of my paw alone.” As Snackers spoke, his tone dropped while he lifted the wolf off the ground.
Meanwhile, he adjusted his posture, holding the tiny canine in his palm, and lifted one knee while propping his other leg forward. He cupped his palm and lifted Lupus, positioning him in front of his mouth. With a joyful expression, he locked eyes with the playful wolf, a wide smile appearing on his face as he tickled Lupus’ soft belly with his finger.
“My size can intimidate, but I still want to help them overcome their fear.” Snackers added, staring at Lupus with a proud grin. “Lupy, you are the bravest of them all. I haven’t seen a little one adapt to my presence since Deko and Rayne.”
Despite the raccoon’s fuzzy finger covering his mouth, Lupus glanced up at Snackers. “I never thought of it that way.” A surge of warmth and gratitude overcame him as he allowed himself to accept the raccoon’s kind words. “Still, remember, we’ve been talking for a while now, mate. But thank you,” he whispered sincerely.
“You’re welcome, little wolf,” he said, feeling his heart fill with love. “Always remember, I’ll never stop supporting you.” He chuckled, “Even after I know your entire ‘To-Do’ list.”
As Snackers cradled Lupus in his palm, Lupus felt mesmerised by the raccoon’s vast emerald eyes. The raccoon’s eye had the perfect blend of intimidation and comfort, breaking down the wolf’s exterior even more. “I-I’d like to tell you more about that journal. Can we do it later on?”
Snackers’ whiskers moved, his ears perked up. He expressed his affectionate desire, saying, “I’d love that, Lupy. I’d love to hear everything you want to do with the big Vastelerian racc.”
“Alright, I’ll grab it later on-”
The raccoon didn’t hesitate and brought Lupus closer to his chest, embracing him against the soft fur over his heart.
Moved again, Lupus found himself nestled against the raccoon’s chest, held by a soft paw. Hiding behind a fluffy barrier, he can hear the rhythmic drumming of his friend’s heart. Lupus spent most of his time suspended in the air, always mindful that a slight movement from the raccoon could send him sliding down its stomach. And yet, the wolf ran his fingers through Snackers’ chest, feeling the softness of its grass-like fur, and hugged it. It was like sinking into the finest velvet, and he couldn’t resist burying his face into it.
“Hey, are you doing alright, sweetie?” Snackers spoke in a rumble so deep and gentle that the wolf could feel it more than hear it.
Lupus nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered, his voice muffled by the raccoon’s furry coat. “I’m good. Just…enjoying this.”, Beat after beat, his heartbeat fell into the same rhythm as Snackers’ pulse.
Snackers’ grip tightened. “How about we get another coffee?”
Looking up, he met the kind eyes of Snackers. He smiled and said, “That sounds perfect.”
With caution, Snackers made sure Lupus was secure as he brought him down to the porch. Touching the ground with its paws, the wolf raised its head to meet Snackers’ smirking gaze.
“Thank you, Snaccy,” Lupus said, cherishing the lasting warmth of their hug.
“Anytime,” Snackers said, while ruffling the fur on the wolf’s head. Then he reached out to grab his used coffee mug and got up to stretch. “Now go brew yourself a coffee, and I’ll take care of mine,” he said, holding the mug and walking past Lupus, heading over to his large backpack, which was resting by the garage.
Snackers searched the bag, his hands rummaging around before retrieving his scarf and draping it around his neck. Moments later, he produce
d a small bottle of washing liquid and a sachet of cappuccino. “Gotcha!” He barked and headed for the lake.
As he readjusted his weight, he felt the ground beneath him sink as he lowered himself onto one knee, and then onto both. Using one hand, he planted it in the earth, with the other hand holding the mug. Afterwards, he crawled towards the lake.
By the water’s edge, Snackers scooped up the refreshing water with his hand and poured it into his mug. He applied some washing liquid and scrubbed the mug to make it clean. Suds appeared, restoring the mug’s shine in no time. Then, he rinsed it to ensure no soap residue was left behind before pouring its contents onto the grass.
With a sense of satisfaction, he shifted his attention to Lupus. “Done! Time for a nice and cool latte.”
Snackers then crouched and ripped open the sachet, emptying the fine powder into the pristine mug. A delightful mixture of scents, including a rich aroma, wafted through the air alongside the natural smells of the lake and grass. Moving the cup towards the water tank, he opened the tap, causing fresh water to flow into the mug, resulting in a frothy mixture. Using his clawed finger, he stirred it and observed the mixture transform into a refreshing beverage.
“Perfect,” he purred, his maw spreading into a smile. Having a sip, he savoured the flavour before directing his gaze to Lupus in the kitchen. “Lupy, would you like a sip?” Snackers asked, lowering the mug down inches away from the small box pane window.
Holding a fresh brew, Lupus stood by the counter. Right as he was about to take a sip from his mug, a sudden panicked shout from upstairs interrupted him.
“Hey! What the—?!”
Lupus paused, his ears twitching in response. The urgency in Rayne’s voice prompted him to spring into action. “Rayne, what happened?! Is everything okay?”
“What happened to the water?!”
“The water?” As he was about to hurry towards Rayne, the kitchen turned pitch black.
Darkness filled the room as Lupus glanced up and saw Snackers’ gigantic coffee mug hurtling towards the window. It moved with alarming speed. Lupus, gripping the cup handle tightly, looked on in surprise.
He wasted no time putting the cup down and opening the window. “Snackers!” Lupus shouted, projecting his voice beyond the bungalow-sized cup and all the way to the raccoon’s pointy ears.
“Huh?” The raccoon’s instincts kicked in, causing him to swiftly move his big mug away. “Oh, sorry Lupy. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He cooed down.
There was no time for Lupus to respond. Rather, he sprinted up the staircase. When he made it to the top, he could hear Rayne speaking in the bathroom.
Bursting into the bathroom, he found Rayne standing in the middle of the tiled floor, wet and with a towel wrapped around his waist. He felt a laugh bubbling up inside him, but he bit his lips, trying to maintain his composure.
The perplexed look on Rayne’s face made it even more challenging for Lupus to suppress a smile. “Mate, are you okay?” Lupus asked, trying to cover his grinning lips behind a paw.
As Rayne looked at Lupus, his eyes filled with increasing bewilderment. “There’s no water!” he exclaimed, gesturing back toward the showerhead.
The wolf arched an eyebrow, walked over to the bathroom entrance, looked at the empty showerhead, and then at Rayne. “No water at all?” he asked.
In a hurry, Deko entered the hallway with a brand new set of clothes. He spotted Lupus, then saw the wet wolf-shepherd, causing a smile to spread across his snout. “What’s going on?”
“No water is coming out of the shower,” Lupus replied in a calm tone, but his smile remained.
“Do we not have any water?”
Water droplets sprayed out of Rayne’s damp fur as he shook his head. “Not a single drop.”
In a sudden moment of recollection, the arctic wolf’s eyes grew wide as he thought of the scene outside—Snackers and his Vastelerian scale coffee mug. The image stirred his suppressed laughter until he could feel his shoulders shaking with the effort to hold back his laughter.
In confusion, Deko looked at the wolf, and Rayne’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s so funny?” Rayne said with a subtle grunt.
Taking a deep breath, Lupus fought to regain control. “I think I know what happened,” he mumbled. “I think…I think Snackers—”
“What did he do?”
Normally, Lupus speaks straightforwardly, but the concept of Snackers making coffee and interrupting their water supply was too ridiculous to express. Finally, he revealed, “He wanted a latte.”
In disbelief, Rayne gazed at him. “A latte? All that water, just for a latte?”
Lupus nodded. “It may seem far-fetched, but that’s the only explanation I can think of.”
“It’s not just that he used a lot of water. His mug is so large that it caused a sudden drop in pressure, which depleted the plumbing even faster.”
“You think that’s what happened?” While Lupus looked at Deko with fascination, Rayne did not show any hint of amusement.
Deko nodded. “It’s like when multiple faucets in a household are turned on at once. With Snackers filling up his gigantic mug, the water pressure dropped. Everything from the tank and the pipes, leaving nothing for the rest of us, including Rayne’s—”
“Even Rayne’s shower,” Lupus chuckled, almost doubling over as he leaned forward to let out his stifled laughter.
His hand contacted the left shoulder of the wolf-shepherd. “I’ll make sure Snackers is more cautious with the water, okay?”
Rayne sighed. “Please do. It might be a good idea to find him a smaller mug.”
Deko chuckled. “He tried making an espresso from a water tank and he didn’t like it. So that’s not happening either.”
“It won’t matter,” Lupus snickered. “It will still drain the plumbing.”
Rayne sighed in resignation as he ran his hand through his wet hair. “Only around Vastelerians, huh? I guess there’s not much we can do about it now. The water’s gone for the next few hours until it’s refilled.”
With sympathy, Lupus smiled. “Yeah, I’m sorry, Rayne. Snackers didn’t mean to, I’m sure.”
“It’s okay, Lupy. I’ll wait until morning to have a proper. There’s no point stressing over it tonight.”
“You’re probably right.”
Rayne grinned, pulling his dry towel closer around his waist. “I’ll see you back out on the porch when I’m better dressed.”
While Rayne made his way to his bedroom, Lupus couldn’t help but feel a blend of sympathy and amusement watching the scene. The sheer absurdity of it all - their entire water supply was gone because of a Vastelerian raccoon’s coffee. Smirking, he shook his head and turned to Deko, who had been observing from the top of the stairs.
“Come along, Deko,” Lupus called out, turning sharply and striding towards the staircase. “Let’s go back to Snaccy,” the wolf exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he put a paw down on the first step.
“Sure!” Deko retorted, “I’m already heading in that direction,” as he watched the wolf pass him on the staircase before he followed suit.
Each footstep Lupus took on the wooden floor caused a gentle creek to fill the peaceful lake house. Humming a tune, Deko matched the arctic wolf’s pace, following closely behind.
When Lupus reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Deko tilting his head, silently questioning what would come next. “You go outside, I’ll get my coffee,” he said, watching the folf nod and leave for the porch.
In the kitchen, tranquillity reigned, with only the faint rustle of leaves and the gentle ticking of the clock. Lupus approached the counter and discovered his slightly cooler brewed coffee, its rich aroma still wafting through the air.
Clutching the lukewarm mug, he enjoyed the comforting warmth that soaked into his pad. While raising it to his mouth, a sudden yelp shocked him, causing him to pause. His ears twitched, recognising Deko’s voice.
With the mug clasped between its cupped paws, Lupus made its way to the door. With a nudge from his left shoulder, he opened the door and immediately looked around the porch. As it hit sunset and the air turned crisp, Deko was nowhere to be seen.
“Deko?” Lupus called out.
No response, just the faint sound of leaves rustling. He ventured away from the lake house, keeping a watchful eye on the green fields for any sight of the folf.
Out of nowhere, a blur of movement caught his attention from the left corner of his eye. Just as the wolf was about to react, a massive and agile force coiled around him, effortlessly lifting him off the ground.
Attempting to find footing with his paws, he gasped, but found no ground. Turning his head, Lupus glimpsed what had grabbed him.
It was a hand—massive, covered in a green fabric that was textured to resemble reptilian scales. Stitched onto the fingers were tiny fabric claws that protruded from the ends. The grip of the hand tightened, securing him tightly, but with no discomfort. Within the other hand, he witnessed Deko wriggling in the creature’s grasp, both lifted high.
When they were raised higher, they gained a more lucid vision of the situation. Snackers draped an unusual attire - a Godzilla onesie with a long spiked tail and a hood that barely hid the raccoon’s masked face.
“Well, well, look what we’ve got here.” Snackers rumbled in a deep, resonant bass that vibrated through Deko and Lupus’ chest. “Two adorable little ones taking an evening walk, hmm?”
His voice perfectly embodied the playful menace of the costume, as if he were a gigantic, chaotic monster. With the hood slightly off-kilter, his left side was more visible, resulting in a lopsided and silly expression that contradicted his intended portrayal as a fearsome titan. Even in the raccoon’s grip, Lupus couldn’t help but notice the ridiculousness of the predicament.
“S-Snackers, what are you wearing?” Lupus wheezed between giggles. “Is that…?”
Up above, Snackers chuckled at his two captives. He enjoyed the confusion on Lupus’ and Deko’s faces for a moment before deciding to heighten his portrayal of a kaiju-monster.
“A Godzilla onesie, yes. I’m Racc-zilla, rawr!” Despite his exaggerated roar, the raccoon’s sweet and comforting voice gave him away.
Lupus snorted. “Okay, okay, ‘Racc-zilla’.” Aware that the raccoon would play with them instead of obeying, he asked. “But, um, can you please put us down?”
“Now, why would I do that, Lupy?” He chuckled, lifting them higher and holding them up to eye level as he inspected his new playthings. “I wanna show you my kaiju PJs.”
Typically, Lupus would consider it offensive to compare a Vastelerian to Godzilla. However, when I saw Snackers, all thirty-five metres of him, dressed in a kaiju onesie, it didn’t feel as serious. If anything, it striped away the gravitas of the stereotypical comment.
Comfortable to join, Lupus took it a step further. “Run for your lives, everyone! It’s Racc-zilla! He’s come to steal your trash cans!”
Unable to contain himself, Deko burst into laughter, especially when Snackers put a paw on his chest in mock offence. “Steal your trash cans? Me? I would never,” he cooed with a faux grin. “Okay, I might.”
With a flourish, Snackers spun his hips, causing his long spiked tail to twirl around in a serpentine dance. The back fins rustled and flapped, producing a sound similar to that of shaking dry leaves. The oversized hood bobbed along with the motion, adding to the comical effect of his performance.
“Just look at me!” Snackers roared with great exaggeration. “The mighty racc-zilla has returned!”
Snackers carried on with his dramatics, delighting in the chance to flaunt his intricate Godzilla onesie. His tail swished as he spun around with grace, his paws thumping on the grass. “Behold my fearsome raccoon power!” he roared louder than before.
Held aloft, Lupus and Deko exchanged amused glances, finding humour in their awkward situation. They attempted to maintain their composure, but a chuckle slipped out. “Snackers, wait! You’re going to knock something over if you’re not careful!”
The raccoon, absorbed in his own performance, had difficulty hearing Lupus’ caution. He overly focused on showing off to his small audience. Stepping forward with a dramatic flourish, aiming to make a striking ending. Regrettably, his enthusiasm caused him to overlook the importance of watching his step.
“Snackers, WAIT!” Lupus called out in alarm, but the raccoon, unaware, continued his act.
His foot, covered in oversized fabric, crashed with a thud outside the porch. A gentle tremor shook the porch as Rayne emerged from the lake house. Looking up, Rayne blinked in confusion at the wall of green fabric inches in front of him. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Snackers in his full monster regalia.
Not paying attention, Snackers glanced down and was startled by who they almost missed. When he noticed the wolf-shepherd right by his foot, he was startled. “Oh, hey Rayne!” Snackers said, lifting a huge gloved paw to wave. “What do you think? Cool, right?”
Speechless, Rayne blinked in surprise.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just having fun with these two goofballs.”
Struggling to comprehend the situation, Rayne moved away from the gigantic foot dressed in green. “I-I can see that,” he started, his voice steadying.
Snackers flashed a playful grin and peeled his enormous foot off the grass. It stretched the green fabric of his onesie as the foot rose, revealing the imprint left behind—a perfect, massive footprint pressed deep into the soft earth. The edges of the print were clear, with each toe outlined in detail, surrounded by a ring of flattened grass and disturbed soil.
The raccoon wiggled his toes inside the onesie, while he looked back at Rayne with a mischievous twinkle. "Guess I made my mark, huh?"
Rayne shifted his gaze from the compressed earth, he saw the towering figure ahead. The green material bunched at the knees and sagged at the hips, but despite its ill-fitting nature, it moved with Snackers as if it were an extension of himself.
Looking up, the wolf-shepherd saw a few strands of Snackers’ grey fur sticking out of the onesie collar. “Consider being more careful with the costume. You almost stepped on me!”
In embarrassment, Snackers’ cheeks blushed. Snackers peeled his sole off the ground, though it revealed the sight of a circular patch of squashed grass where he almost stepped on Rayne. “Oops... I didn’t even realise,” the raccoon murmured as he set Lupus and Deko on the porch, accompanied by a small, apologetic smile. “I'm so so sorry about that, Rayne.”
A sense of relief washed over both Deko and Lupus as they exchanged glances. The folf chuckled at the wolf-shepherd’s response, but Lupus couldn’t stop thinking about the Vastelerian Compliance Act. A law that existed for moments like this.
The arctic wolf shook, rearranging his fur with a quick ruffle. Lupus’ keen eyes noticed the flattened grass where Snackers’ onesie foot had landed. What if Rayne had been standing just a little closer? The thought made his spine tingle. His gaze shifted back to the raccoon.
However, he noticed the raccoon’s entertained expression transformed into genuine worry. Snackers, with his gigantic eyes, crouched down and stared at Rayne. “I’m sorry, Rayne,” he murmured with guilt. “I didn’t mean to step so close... Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Rayne blinked, still recovering from the shock, but nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m good. Just a close call.”
Snackers’ posture sagged, his shoulder blades sinking, but his emerald eyes remained filled with worry as he inspected Rayne once more, just to confirm. It was not just an apology; it was a routine aspect from his training.
Lupus’ internal conflict was resolved upon observing that. Seeing the affectionate gesture of the Vastelerian raccoon reaffirmed what he had always known: Snackers posed no threat to any Petritan.
The atmosphere remained dense. That close call had left them feeling tense, and Lupus understood the need for something to relieve it. “If this is how your Vastelerian stomping exposure sessions are, Snackers, I’ll skip the next one,” he said, humour in his voice.
Deko used his paw to nudge Lupus. “Come on, Lupus, you know it’s not as terrible as you think. Maybe you’re just not cut out for Snackers—”
Lupus interrupted the folf’s attempt to poke fun at the wolf with a pointed stare and teasing whisper, saying “Snackers size two...one...eight shoes, right, Deko?”
Deko’s ears twitched, and a noticeable blush crept up from the base of his neck to the tips of his sagging ears.
“No, no, no, I meant for his stomping sessions.” He fumbled over his words, but when he tried to collect himself, the raccoon raised his left foot to display in front of Deko.
“Sorry honey, I missed that. Could you say that again?”
“For Snackers’... uh…s-size…two-one-eight shoes…yeah, that’s what I meant,” Deko stammered, his usual confidence evaporating.
“What’s wrong, my lil’ blueberry?” Snackers observed, “You seem a bit red,” as he playfully waved his paw in front of his boyfriend. “I’m confused - why does my blueberry look like a raspberry?”
Trying to rid himself of the embarrassment, Deko shook his head quickly. “I-I’m fine!” he insisted, though his voice was abnormally higher-pitched than usual.. He gave Lupus a side-eye, the blush still very much present on his cyan cheeks. “You just…caught me off guard, that’s all.”
“Are you sure, honey?”
“I’m okay, babe,” Deko stammered, attempting to calm his voice, yet it remained unsteady. It was difficult not to notice his boyfriend’s paw swinging back and forth, especially with the raccoon’s affectionate nickname, ‘blueberry’, still echoing in his mind. He tried to focus on something—anything—else, but the hypnotic sway of the fabric covered paw kept pulling his attention back.
With a low chuckle, Rayne watched as the folf tried to maintain his balance on the raccoon’s tail, shaking his head in amusement. “Looks like Snackers knows how to keep you on your toes,” he remarked. “Or maybe just under his.”
“That’s hilarious, Rayne,” Deko muttered, but the small smile on his lips betrayed him.
Snackers leaned in a little closer, his paw still swaying just inches from his lover’s nose. “Come on, Deko,” he cooed in a tender tone. “You’re too cute when you’re flustered. But seriously, Rayne? It’s not like you haven’t been under my size two hundred and eighteen paws before.”
Deko playfully complained, saying “Yeah, yeah,” but couldn’t help but grin at the arctic wolf. “Next time, it’s Lupy’s turn to get flustered.”
Lupus’s eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Best of luck, Deko. I’d like to see you try.”
Snackers cleared his throat to make his presence known.
In an automatic response, the wolf glanced upwards. Meeting the raccoon’s face so close to his own, Lupus’s smirk faltered briefly.
“Something wrong, Lupy?” Snackers asked, his voice dripping with a facade of innocence. “You appear to be flustred as well.”
“It seems like someone is finally getting a dose of their own medicine,” Deko commented.
Snackers laughed softly, bending down even more. “What’s the matter, Lupy?” He leaned in even closer, speaking softly enough for Lupus to feel the warmth of the raccoon’s breath.
Chuckling softly, Snackers squatted down even lower and remarked, “We still need to go through that ‘To Do List’ of yours, remember?”
Lupus felt burdened by the reminder of his unfinished ‘To Do List’, sighing with melancholy as he recalled the numerous unmet responsibilities. In an attempt to hide it, he mustered a grin, hoping his inner turmoil went unnoticed. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” he muttered, while the group’s laughter swelled around him, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on his notepad upstairs.
Their laughter persisted as they engaged in light-hearted banter, exemplifying a close bond of camaraderie. Lupus quickly realised the gravity of unveiling the full list, as it transported him deep into the intricate labyrinth of his own imagination. He absentmindedly nodded along with their jokes, pretending to be engaged, but his thoughts persistently drifted back to that journal.
The wolf was snapped back to reality by a finger snap from Deko. “Lupus, are you still here? Or are you plotting your revenge already?”
Lupus acknowledged with a nod. But inside, his thoughts were swirling. No matter how intensely he was engrossed in the scenery, he couldn’t overlook the striking dusk colours and the world gradually slowing down as nightfall approached. Nevertheless, the list occupied his mind with unaskable inquiries. What if they found it? What if—
“Hey, Lupus,” Snackers’ delicate voice penetrated the wolf’s spinning thoughts. Before Lupus could respond, he reached out and gently stroked his back with a single, oversized finger.
Upon seeing the femboy’s gesture, Lupus’ focus shifted, and his thoughts became sluggish as he gazed into Snackers’ eyes. “Lupy, are you sure everything is alright?”
A blast of raccoon breath ruffled the arctic wolf’s fur and clothes. He mustered a small, appreciative grin and shook his head, attempting to dispel the remaining concerns. “I’m good. I was just daydreaming, that’s all.”
Offering support, he stated, “You can always talk to me and my tail if you need to,” before redirecting his attention to Deko, who was busy setting up a small campfire.
Lupus struggled internally, torn between revealing or concealing everything. His intention was to protect Snackers and the others from the inner chaos.
Snackers resumed speaking, but this time in a lighter tone. “Deko, why don’t I grab the marshmallows? Let’s roast them over the fire.”
Having said that, Snackers rose to his feet. Extending his arms above his head, his onesie-clad form walked towards the garage near the lake house where his backpack was located. The long spiked fabric tail created a deep ridge as it dragged behind him. He squatted down to recover his backpack and fumbled with the zipper, his fingers covered in fabric sliding against the small metal tab. He hissed in annoyance as he fought with it, but then the zipper finally surrendered and he let out a triumphant puff of air.
After undoing the fly, he sifted through the items and extracted a large, crinkly marshmallow bag. He waved the plastic, the crackling sound echoing through the field. “Here it is! The good stuff!”
However, Snackers didn’t just stop at that point. Once again, he delved into his bag, muttering to himself as he rummaged around. “Where is it…Aha!”
His expression brightened as he revealed a pint-sized bag of mini marshmallows. The tiny bag looked almost comically pinched between his thumb and forefinger, but it still sent Snackers’ tail swaying.
Satisfied, he straightened up, gripping both bags of marshmallows. He held the smaller plastic bag, hidden by the raccoon’s paws, while the humongous one made a loud rustling sound with each step. The trio awaited his return to the campfire.
Despite being large, he took delicate steps, careful not to harm the ground with his onesie shoes. The volume of the plastic bag crinkling increased. Snackers, wearing a green-fabric onesie, approached the group as the campfire’s warm light flickered. The little group sitting by the fire watched him skip towards them, his enthusiastic grin infectious.
He declared, “The marshmallows are on their way,” his eyes shining in the firelight.
At last, Snackers joined the seated trio by the campfire, his imposing presence overshadowing them. A large, warm smile adorned his face, while his eyes shimmered with delight. He crouched down, bridging the gap between them and himself. The fire accentuated his delicate features, revealing smooth, rounded cheeks, a subtle pout, and expressive eyes with long lashes.
The raccoon dropped off a bag of marshmallows near the campfire. Like clouds, puffy white marshmallows pressed against the empty surface. Following that, he placed his friend’s smaller bag next to Deko.
After setting the marshmallows down, Snackers turned his attention to his miniature friends. Flickering shadows from the crackling fire engulfed Snackers’ onesie and the grass around his paws. Sporting a grin, he adjusted his posture and placed one hand on his waist.
“Oh, and another thing: tree branches!” he declared, then took a step forward. He moved, creating an arch with his colossal legs as they swung over.
The raccoon strolled away from the light of the campfire and made their way towards the grass and foliage at the forest’s border. As he reached the trees, he paused and examined the tree branches with a critical eye.
Snackers noticed a solid branch on a nearby tree and reached out a hand towards it. Reaching out, he clutched onto the tree and applied pressure. As he pulled down, his muscles tightened. With a sharp crack, he broke off the branch. Although there was some fine-tuning left.
Noting the smaller finger twigs, he lifted the branch over his left paw. Using his right hand, Snackers pressed his thumb and forefinger together, sliding them along the branch. Swiftly, he cleared away the smaller wayward twigs, watching them fall onto his other open palm.
Once he finished his work, he faced the campfire again. He carried his clean branch back in one hand, carrying his friend’s little twigs in the other.
When Snackers rejoined the group around the campfire, he scattered the tiny, torn branches next to Deko. “And there you have it, my sweethearts!” Sitting next to them, he cooed and reached for his bag of marshmallows.
After settling down, he redirected his attention to the clean branch next to his leg. By pinching the rim, he tore open the plastic bag to retrieve the spongy, snowy white treat. He placed the marshmallow on the top of the branch and extended it over the fire.
Snackers noticed his friends already gripping their branches and marshmallows as he handed it over, leaning forward to hang them over the fire. Everyone was engrossed in their own small universe, savouring the simple joy of toasting a marshmallow. They each watched as the marshmallow turned brown, the heat melting it into a gooey, golden-brown treat.
Snackers’ marshmallow was the first to turn a delicious, caramelised shade, and he slipped it away from the fire to enjoy. A gust of air blew out from his puckered lips, before his maw opened, revealing a row of gleaming teeth.
Lupus diverted his focus from his marshmallow and trailed it to the raccoon’s toasted delicacy. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Snackers, watching as the marshmallow vanished into his mouth, his jaws snapping and creating a satisfying crunch as they broke through the toasted layer, followed by the slow squish of the melting marshmallow.
As he swallowed, Lupus could see the motion of his throat. A sigh escaped him as he smirked at his friend.
“That was perfect,” Snackers exhaled.
In awe of the spectacle, the arctic wolf’s smile grew towards Snackers. “Mate, that looked absolutely delicious,” he agreed, raising his golden-brown marshmallow towards his mouth.
Lupus enjoyed the paradoxical blend of a hard shell and a creamy inside. The other two joined in, taking their own portions of the roasted marshmallows. While they savoured their snacks, the evening grew darker, and the sky shifted from twilight to night.
Evening came. From pinks and oranges, the sky morphed into a deep, velvety black. One after another, the stars revealed themselves, filling the dark canvas with their twinkling brilliance. The forest stirred as a cool breeze swept through, causing the leaves to rustle. The campfire’s warmth blocked the crisp night air from them.
A hush fell over the surroundings, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal birds. The serene atmosphere provided relief for Lupus and his restless mind.
Having observed the transition from day to night, Rayne now turned his attention towards the cloudless sky. “Why don’t we stargaze tonight?” he suggested, looking to the corner of his eyes to meet Lupus. “What do you say?”
The arctic wolf’s gaze disappeared into the vast expanse of lights overhead. Swept away by the deep black ocean of night. He found himself captivated by the tranquil splendour of the night sky, losing himself in its serene beauty for a moment.
After he nodded, Lupus laid back on the soft grass and looked up at the darkening sky. Deko and Rayne positioned themselves on opposite sides of him, quieting their conversation. Briefly, until Snackers sat down and the group laughed at the spectacle.
While looking at the sky, the raccoon blurted out, “That sounds epic! There’s no cloud cover this time.”
Lupus eventually spoke, saying “Yeah. That sounds nice,” He sighed, captivated by the stars growing brighter above, their distant glow pulling him into a calm, almost meditative state.
Snackers smiled and sat down on the cool grass, adjusting his Godzilla tail over his legs. He stretched out a paw, big enough to hold Lupus in a gentle embrace, but for the moment, he let it rest nearby behind the wolf’s back.
Deko shuffled closer to the raccoon’s hand, his fur displaying a kaleidoscope of colours in the starlight, and settled beside the wolf. Resting on the grass, they created a close circle near Snackers’ artificial Godzilla tail and clothed legs.
Breaking the silence, Snackers glanced at the group. Leaning on the grass with his palm supporting his chin, he started, “I’ve always found stars to be comforting. They make everything else seem smaller.”
“Everything here is smaller to you,” Rayne remarked over to the raccoon, trying to hold back his enlarging grin.
Snackers grinned, revealing his sharp teeth that shimmered under the starlight. With a mischievous slurp, the raccoon drawled out his words, “Even you, snack.” It was enough to weaken the wolf-shepherd’s grin for a moment.
“But,” the raccoon went on, pulling back his tongue, “my point is, everything appears less overwhelming.” He insisted and shifted, angling his body so that he had an even better view.
"Actually," Snackers leaned in and got the group’s attention by saying, "Hey guys, would you like a better view of the stars?”
Ignoring the need for a reply, Snackers picked up Deko, Lupus, and Rayne one after another. As Snackers moved them towards his maw and head, they fell silent.
Snackers insisted, “Hold on to my fur, cuties,” as he pressed both palms against the ground to slant back.
Nightfall devoured the daylight.
Silence enveloped the forest.
Just as they turned their attention to the clear night sky, they discovered an expanse dotted with constellations. Using the raccoon’s nose bridge as a backrest, Lupus leaned back between Snackers’ eyes.
Above, shoulder to shoulder, Rayne and Deko sat together, nestled between Snacker’s pointy ears.
With wonder in their eyes, they all marvelled at the Milky Way’s luminous arc, a starry trail that dispelled the darkness.
Serenely silent, they sat together on their towering friends head and snout.
The four friends were so engrossed in their cosmic exploration that they didn’t notice time passing. As the night unfolded, new patterns painted the sky, with the universe revolving around the four friends. Sometimes, a shooting star would shoot across the sky, prompting each person to make a wish.
As time passed, their smiles and postures blended together. With wonder in his eyes, Deko looked down to meet his boyfriend’s gaze.
Below Lupus practised reciting the names of the constellations, showing a luminous star and formation. Rayne rested against the folf, devoting their attention to the wolf’s words.
Deko yawned and stretched on top of Snackers’ head while leaning against Rayne’s shoulder blade. He leaned on the wolf-shepherd’s shoulder, his eyes drifting closed for a moment, a smile of awe still lingering as he admired the night sky.
Lupus guided the group, pointing out constellations as the fire dwindled. He murmured, “That’s Orion,” while gesturing towards the well-known stars in the sky.
“And there’s the Big Dipper… You see it, Rayne? Snackers?”
Rayne’s gaze followed the wolf’s finger, breaking his peaceful daydream. “Yeah, I noticed,” he whispered. “This view is even better than the telescope I gave you.”
Lupus’ pupils shimmered as the stars twinkled, their lights dancing. His faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and with a sigh, he whispered, “It’s perfect.”
When Rayne moved back a bit, he could feel Deko’s head moving along with him. Seeing two closed eyes on the folf, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Looks like someone’s already knocked out for the count,” he said, raising a palm to stroke the folf’s cranium.
Lupus tilted forward and spun around to glimpse Deko, who was sound asleep on the raccoon’s head. “Wait, hang on a second!” he exclaimed, his bushy tail wagging against the side of the raccoon’s snout. “I’m not the first one to fall asleep?!”
Rayne arched an eyebrow as Snackers’ mouth let out a hushed snicker, causing the wolf inside to quiver. “Yes, this time. You’re still the major culprit of snoring on voice calls halfway through the conversations.”
Lupus couldn’t contain his excitement, even after the wolf-shepherd’s comment. “Exactly! I’m always the one who passes out first when I’m trying to keep to your time zone, but not tonight!” He grinned triumphantly, savouring the rare victory.
He sighed and said, “I’ll take the win.” Shifting his weight, he leaned back against Snackers’ nose bridge and enjoyed the soothing sensation of the raccoon’s breath. Each inhale and exhale of the Vastelerian emitted a calming vibration that blended into the peaceful night.
Lupus redirected his gaze to the sky and continued his explanation of the different constellations. His excitement was palpable, especially with that small win on outlasting Deko’s fatigue, as he continued to describe the stars and constellations above.
Rayne nodded while his gaze followed the wolf’s pale fingers to the stars he revealed. As he found tranquillity in his friend’s voice, he also felt calmed by its steady rhythm and the soothing cadence of his words reminiscent of a lullaby. He became so relaxed that he rested against Deko and allowed sleep to overtake him.
Rayne’s shoulder dipped and nudged the folf. Then Deko’s balance faltered. They both teetered—just on the edge of stability. Gravity was about to take hold until…
A gloved paw interrupted them.
“Easy there,” Snackers cooed. “How about you all sleep with me tonight?” he suggested, his voice only a whisper in the breeze.
Although there was no verbal response, their relaxed bodies told the raccoon that they had accepted his offer. He grasped the zipper on his Godzilla onesie, which extended down his chest.
The situation puzzled Lupus, who muttered, “H-Huh?” when he heard the gentle sound of the descending fly.
Snackers hushed with a whisper, saying, “Shh, it’s okay. I’m just going to make sure you’re all nice and warm tonight, okay?”
Using precise movements, the raccoon scooped them up, one when the zipper was undone. He held them against his chest, sensing their small bodies against his soft fur.
While Snackers lifted Deko, the folf stirred, but Deko soon settled back down and rested his head against Snackers’ curled fingers.
Snackers placed all three of his friends inside the open space of his onesie. Combining the costume’s soft fabric and his fluffy chest created a comfortable nest. Snuggled together, Rayne, Lupus, and Deko relaxed in the comforting warmth of their new fluffy and fabric surroundings.
Enclosed in his onesie, Snackers pulled the zipper up, securing them inside. He let out a sigh of contentment and listened to his little friend’s calm breathing sync with his own heartbeat.
Then, he shifted an arm behind him to support his head and closed his eyes to drift off to sleep.
The following sona's featured include:
Snackers - belongs to
Snackers
Deko - belongs to
Deko
Rayne - belongs to
Rayne
Disclosure:
Although this setting is my own, outside Lupus, the following characters included in this story are not my own. This novel does not completely reflect their sona's size or personality, but instead focuses on who we are together as close friends.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
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Chapter 6: Clear Skies
In the charming, rustic cabin, Deko was just about finished with his refreshing shower. Floral-scented steam filled the bathroom, accompanied by the soothing sound of water splashing against the ceramic tiles. The folf opened the door and revealed Rayne in the adjacent hallway, while he dried his fur with a towel.
“Rayne, would we consider it a success if Lupy opens up?” Deko remarked, as steam escaped the bathroom and into the corridor. He wrapped the towel tighter around his ocean-blue fur. Deko remarked, as steam escaped the bathroom and into the corridor. He wrapped the towel tighter around his ocean-blue fur.
Rayne couldn’t resist smiling. “Yes,” he agreed as the folf walked past him and made his way to his bedroom. “It would,” Rayne muttered, stepping into the empty bathroom with a towel and his toiletries.
Deko walked down the corridor, replaying the images in Snackers’ mouth. It was enough to trigger a fluster across his silky cheeks. He arrived at his bedroom door, twisting the handle and pushing it to open. Much to his astonishment, the room was pitch black. There was no sunlight streaming in, and the usual warm afternoon radiance was missing. With a brief pause at the doorway, he blinked a few times to acclimate his eyes to the surprising darkness. Struggling to find the light switch, Deko eventually located it and switched it on, casting a soft, luminous glow throughout the area. Upon seeing a wall of grey fur blocking the window,
he finally understood why there was no light.
There, Snackers was chilling against the lake house wall. Sporting a sleek back and fancy fur, the Vastelerian raccoon used the structure to stay upright, effectively covering the window. Like sneaky vines, small fur strands slipped inside the cabin.
The spectacle made Deko snicker involuntarily. He walked in, shut the door, and made his way towards the window.
A tap on the glass caught Snackers’ attention. No sooner did the raccoon’s ears twitch and his back withdrew from the house to let some sunshine stream through until a single emerald eye replaced it by peering inside.
Whispering to the arctic wolf snuggled against his thigh, Snackers said, “Wait a sec, Lupy.” He peered inside the window and saw Deko mouthing words, but couldn’t catch their meaning. Snackers tilted his head, concerned, trying to angle his ear to pick up the folf’s voice through the glass.
Deko affectionately called out to his boyfriend, “Hey Snaccy, you’re blocking the sun with that adorable, albeit oversized, face of yours! Could you maybe move up a bit?”
Snackers blinked, trying to understand what his lover had just asked. In a state of embarrassment, he quietly murmured, “Yeah, sure,” and moved his weight, causing vibrations that jostled the furniture inside the lake house. Sliding to the side, he made room for the radiant light of the setting sun to shine into Deko’s bedroom.
As Snackers adjusted his position, he cupped his hand around Lupus and moved him towards his thigh. With a relaxed and grateful expression, the arctic wolf looked up at the raccoon and nuzzled deeper into the raccoon’s thigh.
“Lupy,” Snackers said in his usual affectionate tone, “I want you to know that I’m proud of you.”
Blinking, Lupus raised his head to meet the raccoon’s gleaming eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You opened up to me earlier,” he whispered, running his finger along the wolf’s chest and abdomen. “You asked to ride in my pocket and dive off my finger, didn’t you?”
Surprised, the wolf rested its head on Snackers’ thigh. His ears flicked back as he mumbled, “It was nothing. Anyone could have done it.”
Snackers shook his head, his eyelids widening to reveal more of his grass-coloured irises. “No, it wasn’t just ‘nothing,’” he declared, but his smile offered solace. “You handled it better than most Petritans I’ve worked with.”
Lupus’s protests were silenced by the raccoon’s finger on his lips. “Shush, Lupy. Being proud of yourself is fine.”
“Many of the clients I’ve worked with from Petritans have sought my help in managing their megalopateophobia. They’d freeze at the sight of my paw alone.” As Snackers spoke, his tone dropped while he lifted the wolf off the ground.
Meanwhile, he adjusted his posture, holding the tiny canine in his palm, and lifted one knee while propping his other leg forward. He cupped his palm and lifted Lupus, positioning him in front of his mouth. With a joyful expression, he locked eyes with the playful wolf, a wide smile appearing on his face as he tickled Lupus’ soft belly with his finger.
“My size can intimidate, but I still want to help them overcome their fear.” Snackers added, staring at Lupus with a proud grin. “Lupy, you are the bravest of them all. I haven’t seen a little one adapt to my presence since Deko and Rayne.”
Despite the raccoon’s fuzzy finger covering his mouth, Lupus glanced up at Snackers. “I never thought of it that way.” A surge of warmth and gratitude overcame him as he allowed himself to accept the raccoon’s kind words. “Still, remember, we’ve been talking for a while now, mate. But thank you,” he whispered sincerely.
“You’re welcome, little wolf,” he said, feeling his heart fill with love. “Always remember, I’ll never stop supporting you.” He chuckled, “Even after I know your entire ‘To-Do’ list.”
As Snackers cradled Lupus in his palm, Lupus felt mesmerised by the raccoon’s vast emerald eyes. The raccoon’s eye had the perfect blend of intimidation and comfort, breaking down the wolf’s exterior even more. “I-I’d like to tell you more about that journal. Can we do it later on?”
Snackers’ whiskers moved, his ears perked up. He expressed his affectionate desire, saying, “I’d love that, Lupy. I’d love to hear everything you want to do with the big Vastelerian racc.”
“Alright, I’ll grab it later on-”
The raccoon didn’t hesitate and brought Lupus closer to his chest, embracing him against the soft fur over his heart.
Moved again, Lupus found himself nestled against the raccoon’s chest, held by a soft paw. Hiding behind a fluffy barrier, he can hear the rhythmic drumming of his friend’s heart. Lupus spent most of his time suspended in the air, always mindful that a slight movement from the raccoon could send him sliding down its stomach. And yet, the wolf ran his fingers through Snackers’ chest, feeling the softness of its grass-like fur, and hugged it. It was like sinking into the finest velvet, and he couldn’t resist burying his face into it.
“Hey, are you doing alright, sweetie?” Snackers spoke in a rumble so deep and gentle that the wolf could feel it more than hear it.
Lupus nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered, his voice muffled by the raccoon’s furry coat. “I’m good. Just…enjoying this.”, Beat after beat, his heartbeat fell into the same rhythm as Snackers’ pulse.
Snackers’ grip tightened. “How about we get another coffee?”
Looking up, he met the kind eyes of Snackers. He smiled and said, “That sounds perfect.”
With caution, Snackers made sure Lupus was secure as he brought him down to the porch. Touching the ground with its paws, the wolf raised its head to meet Snackers’ smirking gaze.
“Thank you, Snaccy,” Lupus said, cherishing the lasting warmth of their hug.
“Anytime,” Snackers said, while ruffling the fur on the wolf’s head. Then he reached out to grab his used coffee mug and got up to stretch. “Now go brew yourself a coffee, and I’ll take care of mine,” he said, holding the mug and walking past Lupus, heading over to his large backpack, which was resting by the garage.
Snackers searched the bag, his hands rummaging around before retrieving his scarf and draping it around his neck. Moments later, he produce
d a small bottle of washing liquid and a sachet of cappuccino. “Gotcha!” He barked and headed for the lake.
As he readjusted his weight, he felt the ground beneath him sink as he lowered himself onto one knee, and then onto both. Using one hand, he planted it in the earth, with the other hand holding the mug. Afterwards, he crawled towards the lake.
By the water’s edge, Snackers scooped up the refreshing water with his hand and poured it into his mug. He applied some washing liquid and scrubbed the mug to make it clean. Suds appeared, restoring the mug’s shine in no time. Then, he rinsed it to ensure no soap residue was left behind before pouring its contents onto the grass.
With a sense of satisfaction, he shifted his attention to Lupus. “Done! Time for a nice and cool latte.”
Snackers then crouched and ripped open the sachet, emptying the fine powder into the pristine mug. A delightful mixture of scents, including a rich aroma, wafted through the air alongside the natural smells of the lake and grass. Moving the cup towards the water tank, he opened the tap, causing fresh water to flow into the mug, resulting in a frothy mixture. Using his clawed finger, he stirred it and observed the mixture transform into a refreshing beverage.
“Perfect,” he purred, his maw spreading into a smile. Having a sip, he savoured the flavour before directing his gaze to Lupus in the kitchen. “Lupy, would you like a sip?” Snackers asked, lowering the mug down inches away from the small box pane window.
Holding a fresh brew, Lupus stood by the counter. Right as he was about to take a sip from his mug, a sudden panicked shout from upstairs interrupted him.
“Hey! What the—?!”
Lupus paused, his ears twitching in response. The urgency in Rayne’s voice prompted him to spring into action. “Rayne, what happened?! Is everything okay?”
“What happened to the water?!”
“The water?” As he was about to hurry towards Rayne, the kitchen turned pitch black.
Darkness filled the room as Lupus glanced up and saw Snackers’ gigantic coffee mug hurtling towards the window. It moved with alarming speed. Lupus, gripping the cup handle tightly, looked on in surprise.
He wasted no time putting the cup down and opening the window. “Snackers!” Lupus shouted, projecting his voice beyond the bungalow-sized cup and all the way to the raccoon’s pointy ears.
“Huh?” The raccoon’s instincts kicked in, causing him to swiftly move his big mug away. “Oh, sorry Lupy. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He cooed down.
There was no time for Lupus to respond. Rather, he sprinted up the staircase. When he made it to the top, he could hear Rayne speaking in the bathroom.
Bursting into the bathroom, he found Rayne standing in the middle of the tiled floor, wet and with a towel wrapped around his waist. He felt a laugh bubbling up inside him, but he bit his lips, trying to maintain his composure.
The perplexed look on Rayne’s face made it even more challenging for Lupus to suppress a smile. “Mate, are you okay?” Lupus asked, trying to cover his grinning lips behind a paw.
As Rayne looked at Lupus, his eyes filled with increasing bewilderment. “There’s no water!” he exclaimed, gesturing back toward the showerhead.
The wolf arched an eyebrow, walked over to the bathroom entrance, looked at the empty showerhead, and then at Rayne. “No water at all?” he asked.
In a hurry, Deko entered the hallway with a brand new set of clothes. He spotted Lupus, then saw the wet wolf-shepherd, causing a smile to spread across his snout. “What’s going on?”
“No water is coming out of the shower,” Lupus replied in a calm tone, but his smile remained.
“Do we not have any water?”
Water droplets sprayed out of Rayne’s damp fur as he shook his head. “Not a single drop.”
In a sudden moment of recollection, the arctic wolf’s eyes grew wide as he thought of the scene outside—Snackers and his Vastelerian scale coffee mug. The image stirred his suppressed laughter until he could feel his shoulders shaking with the effort to hold back his laughter.
In confusion, Deko looked at the wolf, and Rayne’s forehead wrinkled. “What’s so funny?” Rayne said with a subtle grunt.
Taking a deep breath, Lupus fought to regain control. “I think I know what happened,” he mumbled. “I think…I think Snackers—”
“What did he do?”
Normally, Lupus speaks straightforwardly, but the concept of Snackers making coffee and interrupting their water supply was too ridiculous to express. Finally, he revealed, “He wanted a latte.”
In disbelief, Rayne gazed at him. “A latte? All that water, just for a latte?”
Lupus nodded. “It may seem far-fetched, but that’s the only explanation I can think of.”
“It’s not just that he used a lot of water. His mug is so large that it caused a sudden drop in pressure, which depleted the plumbing even faster.”
“You think that’s what happened?” While Lupus looked at Deko with fascination, Rayne did not show any hint of amusement.
Deko nodded. “It’s like when multiple faucets in a household are turned on at once. With Snackers filling up his gigantic mug, the water pressure dropped. Everything from the tank and the pipes, leaving nothing for the rest of us, including Rayne’s—”
“Even Rayne’s shower,” Lupus chuckled, almost doubling over as he leaned forward to let out his stifled laughter.
His hand contacted the left shoulder of the wolf-shepherd. “I’ll make sure Snackers is more cautious with the water, okay?”
Rayne sighed. “Please do. It might be a good idea to find him a smaller mug.”
Deko chuckled. “He tried making an espresso from a water tank and he didn’t like it. So that’s not happening either.”
“It won’t matter,” Lupus snickered. “It will still drain the plumbing.”
Rayne sighed in resignation as he ran his hand through his wet hair. “Only around Vastelerians, huh? I guess there’s not much we can do about it now. The water’s gone for the next few hours until it’s refilled.”
With sympathy, Lupus smiled. “Yeah, I’m sorry, Rayne. Snackers didn’t mean to, I’m sure.”
“It’s okay, Lupy. I’ll wait until morning to have a proper. There’s no point stressing over it tonight.”
“You’re probably right.”
Rayne grinned, pulling his dry towel closer around his waist. “I’ll see you back out on the porch when I’m better dressed.”
While Rayne made his way to his bedroom, Lupus couldn’t help but feel a blend of sympathy and amusement watching the scene. The sheer absurdity of it all - their entire water supply was gone because of a Vastelerian raccoon’s coffee. Smirking, he shook his head and turned to Deko, who had been observing from the top of the stairs.
“Come along, Deko,” Lupus called out, turning sharply and striding towards the staircase. “Let’s go back to Snaccy,” the wolf exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he put a paw down on the first step.
“Sure!” Deko retorted, “I’m already heading in that direction,” as he watched the wolf pass him on the staircase before he followed suit.
Each footstep Lupus took on the wooden floor caused a gentle creek to fill the peaceful lake house. Humming a tune, Deko matched the arctic wolf’s pace, following closely behind.
When Lupus reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Deko tilting his head, silently questioning what would come next. “You go outside, I’ll get my coffee,” he said, watching the folf nod and leave for the porch.
In the kitchen, tranquillity reigned, with only the faint rustle of leaves and the gentle ticking of the clock. Lupus approached the counter and discovered his slightly cooler brewed coffee, its rich aroma still wafting through the air.
Clutching the lukewarm mug, he enjoyed the comforting warmth that soaked into his pad. While raising it to his mouth, a sudden yelp shocked him, causing him to pause. His ears twitched, recognising Deko’s voice.
With the mug clasped between its cupped paws, Lupus made its way to the door. With a nudge from his left shoulder, he opened the door and immediately looked around the porch. As it hit sunset and the air turned crisp, Deko was nowhere to be seen.
“Deko?” Lupus called out.
No response, just the faint sound of leaves rustling. He ventured away from the lake house, keeping a watchful eye on the green fields for any sight of the folf.
Out of nowhere, a blur of movement caught his attention from the left corner of his eye. Just as the wolf was about to react, a massive and agile force coiled around him, effortlessly lifting him off the ground.
Attempting to find footing with his paws, he gasped, but found no ground. Turning his head, Lupus glimpsed what had grabbed him.
It was a hand—massive, covered in a green fabric that was textured to resemble reptilian scales. Stitched onto the fingers were tiny fabric claws that protruded from the ends. The grip of the hand tightened, securing him tightly, but with no discomfort. Within the other hand, he witnessed Deko wriggling in the creature’s grasp, both lifted high.
When they were raised higher, they gained a more lucid vision of the situation. Snackers draped an unusual attire - a Godzilla onesie with a long spiked tail and a hood that barely hid the raccoon’s masked face.
“Well, well, look what we’ve got here.” Snackers rumbled in a deep, resonant bass that vibrated through Deko and Lupus’ chest. “Two adorable little ones taking an evening walk, hmm?”
His voice perfectly embodied the playful menace of the costume, as if he were a gigantic, chaotic monster. With the hood slightly off-kilter, his left side was more visible, resulting in a lopsided and silly expression that contradicted his intended portrayal as a fearsome titan. Even in the raccoon’s grip, Lupus couldn’t help but notice the ridiculousness of the predicament.
“S-Snackers, what are you wearing?” Lupus wheezed between giggles. “Is that…?”
Up above, Snackers chuckled at his two captives. He enjoyed the confusion on Lupus’ and Deko’s faces for a moment before deciding to heighten his portrayal of a kaiju-monster.
“A Godzilla onesie, yes. I’m Racc-zilla, rawr!” Despite his exaggerated roar, the raccoon’s sweet and comforting voice gave him away.
Lupus snorted. “Okay, okay, ‘Racc-zilla’.” Aware that the raccoon would play with them instead of obeying, he asked. “But, um, can you please put us down?”
“Now, why would I do that, Lupy?” He chuckled, lifting them higher and holding them up to eye level as he inspected his new playthings. “I wanna show you my kaiju PJs.”
Typically, Lupus would consider it offensive to compare a Vastelerian to Godzilla. However, when I saw Snackers, all thirty-five metres of him, dressed in a kaiju onesie, it didn’t feel as serious. If anything, it striped away the gravitas of the stereotypical comment.
Comfortable to join, Lupus took it a step further. “Run for your lives, everyone! It’s Racc-zilla! He’s come to steal your trash cans!”
Unable to contain himself, Deko burst into laughter, especially when Snackers put a paw on his chest in mock offence. “Steal your trash cans? Me? I would never,” he cooed with a faux grin. “Okay, I might.”
With a flourish, Snackers spun his hips, causing his long spiked tail to twirl around in a serpentine dance. The back fins rustled and flapped, producing a sound similar to that of shaking dry leaves. The oversized hood bobbed along with the motion, adding to the comical effect of his performance.
“Just look at me!” Snackers roared with great exaggeration. “The mighty racc-zilla has returned!”
Snackers carried on with his dramatics, delighting in the chance to flaunt his intricate Godzilla onesie. His tail swished as he spun around with grace, his paws thumping on the grass. “Behold my fearsome raccoon power!” he roared louder than before.
Held aloft, Lupus and Deko exchanged amused glances, finding humour in their awkward situation. They attempted to maintain their composure, but a chuckle slipped out. “Snackers, wait! You’re going to knock something over if you’re not careful!”
The raccoon, absorbed in his own performance, had difficulty hearing Lupus’ caution. He overly focused on showing off to his small audience. Stepping forward with a dramatic flourish, aiming to make a striking ending. Regrettably, his enthusiasm caused him to overlook the importance of watching his step.
“Snackers, WAIT!” Lupus called out in alarm, but the raccoon, unaware, continued his act.
His foot, covered in oversized fabric, crashed with a thud outside the porch. A gentle tremor shook the porch as Rayne emerged from the lake house. Looking up, Rayne blinked in confusion at the wall of green fabric inches in front of him. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Snackers in his full monster regalia.
Not paying attention, Snackers glanced down and was startled by who they almost missed. When he noticed the wolf-shepherd right by his foot, he was startled. “Oh, hey Rayne!” Snackers said, lifting a huge gloved paw to wave. “What do you think? Cool, right?”
Speechless, Rayne blinked in surprise.
“I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just having fun with these two goofballs.”
Struggling to comprehend the situation, Rayne moved away from the gigantic foot dressed in green. “I-I can see that,” he started, his voice steadying.
Snackers flashed a playful grin and peeled his enormous foot off the grass. It stretched the green fabric of his onesie as the foot rose, revealing the imprint left behind—a perfect, massive footprint pressed deep into the soft earth. The edges of the print were clear, with each toe outlined in detail, surrounded by a ring of flattened grass and disturbed soil.
The raccoon wiggled his toes inside the onesie, while he looked back at Rayne with a mischievous twinkle. "Guess I made my mark, huh?"
Rayne shifted his gaze from the compressed earth, he saw the towering figure ahead. The green material bunched at the knees and sagged at the hips, but despite its ill-fitting nature, it moved with Snackers as if it were an extension of himself.
Looking up, the wolf-shepherd saw a few strands of Snackers’ grey fur sticking out of the onesie collar. “Consider being more careful with the costume. You almost stepped on me!”
In embarrassment, Snackers’ cheeks blushed. Snackers peeled his sole off the ground, though it revealed the sight of a circular patch of squashed grass where he almost stepped on Rayne. “Oops... I didn’t even realise,” the raccoon murmured as he set Lupus and Deko on the porch, accompanied by a small, apologetic smile. “I'm so so sorry about that, Rayne.”
A sense of relief washed over both Deko and Lupus as they exchanged glances. The folf chuckled at the wolf-shepherd’s response, but Lupus couldn’t stop thinking about the Vastelerian Compliance Act. A law that existed for moments like this.
The arctic wolf shook, rearranging his fur with a quick ruffle. Lupus’ keen eyes noticed the flattened grass where Snackers’ onesie foot had landed. What if Rayne had been standing just a little closer? The thought made his spine tingle. His gaze shifted back to the raccoon.
However, he noticed the raccoon’s entertained expression transformed into genuine worry. Snackers, with his gigantic eyes, crouched down and stared at Rayne. “I’m sorry, Rayne,” he murmured with guilt. “I didn’t mean to step so close... Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Rayne blinked, still recovering from the shock, but nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m good. Just a close call.”
Snackers’ posture sagged, his shoulder blades sinking, but his emerald eyes remained filled with worry as he inspected Rayne once more, just to confirm. It was not just an apology; it was a routine aspect from his training.
Lupus’ internal conflict was resolved upon observing that. Seeing the affectionate gesture of the Vastelerian raccoon reaffirmed what he had always known: Snackers posed no threat to any Petritan.
The atmosphere remained dense. That close call had left them feeling tense, and Lupus understood the need for something to relieve it. “If this is how your Vastelerian stomping exposure sessions are, Snackers, I’ll skip the next one,” he said, humour in his voice.
Deko used his paw to nudge Lupus. “Come on, Lupus, you know it’s not as terrible as you think. Maybe you’re just not cut out for Snackers—”
Lupus interrupted the folf’s attempt to poke fun at the wolf with a pointed stare and teasing whisper, saying “Snackers size two...one...eight shoes, right, Deko?”
Deko’s ears twitched, and a noticeable blush crept up from the base of his neck to the tips of his sagging ears.
“No, no, no, I meant for his stomping sessions.” He fumbled over his words, but when he tried to collect himself, the raccoon raised his left foot to display in front of Deko.
“Sorry honey, I missed that. Could you say that again?”
“For Snackers’... uh…s-size…two-one-eight shoes…yeah, that’s what I meant,” Deko stammered, his usual confidence evaporating.
“What’s wrong, my lil’ blueberry?” Snackers observed, “You seem a bit red,” as he playfully waved his paw in front of his boyfriend. “I’m confused - why does my blueberry look like a raspberry?”
Trying to rid himself of the embarrassment, Deko shook his head quickly. “I-I’m fine!” he insisted, though his voice was abnormally higher-pitched than usual.. He gave Lupus a side-eye, the blush still very much present on his cyan cheeks. “You just…caught me off guard, that’s all.”
“Are you sure, honey?”
“I’m okay, babe,” Deko stammered, attempting to calm his voice, yet it remained unsteady. It was difficult not to notice his boyfriend’s paw swinging back and forth, especially with the raccoon’s affectionate nickname, ‘blueberry’, still echoing in his mind. He tried to focus on something—anything—else, but the hypnotic sway of the fabric covered paw kept pulling his attention back.
With a low chuckle, Rayne watched as the folf tried to maintain his balance on the raccoon’s tail, shaking his head in amusement. “Looks like Snackers knows how to keep you on your toes,” he remarked. “Or maybe just under his.”
“That’s hilarious, Rayne,” Deko muttered, but the small smile on his lips betrayed him.
Snackers leaned in a little closer, his paw still swaying just inches from his lover’s nose. “Come on, Deko,” he cooed in a tender tone. “You’re too cute when you’re flustered. But seriously, Rayne? It’s not like you haven’t been under my size two hundred and eighteen paws before.”
Deko playfully complained, saying “Yeah, yeah,” but couldn’t help but grin at the arctic wolf. “Next time, it’s Lupy’s turn to get flustered.”
Lupus’s eyebrow lifted in surprise. “Best of luck, Deko. I’d like to see you try.”
Snackers cleared his throat to make his presence known.
In an automatic response, the wolf glanced upwards. Meeting the raccoon’s face so close to his own, Lupus’s smirk faltered briefly.
“Something wrong, Lupy?” Snackers asked, his voice dripping with a facade of innocence. “You appear to be flustred as well.”
“It seems like someone is finally getting a dose of their own medicine,” Deko commented.
Snackers laughed softly, bending down even more. “What’s the matter, Lupy?” He leaned in even closer, speaking softly enough for Lupus to feel the warmth of the raccoon’s breath.
Chuckling softly, Snackers squatted down even lower and remarked, “We still need to go through that ‘To Do List’ of yours, remember?”
Lupus felt burdened by the reminder of his unfinished ‘To Do List’, sighing with melancholy as he recalled the numerous unmet responsibilities. In an attempt to hide it, he mustered a grin, hoping his inner turmoil went unnoticed. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” he muttered, while the group’s laughter swelled around him, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on his notepad upstairs.
Their laughter persisted as they engaged in light-hearted banter, exemplifying a close bond of camaraderie. Lupus quickly realised the gravity of unveiling the full list, as it transported him deep into the intricate labyrinth of his own imagination. He absentmindedly nodded along with their jokes, pretending to be engaged, but his thoughts persistently drifted back to that journal.
The wolf was snapped back to reality by a finger snap from Deko. “Lupus, are you still here? Or are you plotting your revenge already?”
Lupus acknowledged with a nod. But inside, his thoughts were swirling. No matter how intensely he was engrossed in the scenery, he couldn’t overlook the striking dusk colours and the world gradually slowing down as nightfall approached. Nevertheless, the list occupied his mind with unaskable inquiries. What if they found it? What if—
“Hey, Lupus,” Snackers’ delicate voice penetrated the wolf’s spinning thoughts. Before Lupus could respond, he reached out and gently stroked his back with a single, oversized finger.
Upon seeing the femboy’s gesture, Lupus’ focus shifted, and his thoughts became sluggish as he gazed into Snackers’ eyes. “Lupy, are you sure everything is alright?”
A blast of raccoon breath ruffled the arctic wolf’s fur and clothes. He mustered a small, appreciative grin and shook his head, attempting to dispel the remaining concerns. “I’m good. I was just daydreaming, that’s all.”
Offering support, he stated, “You can always talk to me and my tail if you need to,” before redirecting his attention to Deko, who was busy setting up a small campfire.
Lupus struggled internally, torn between revealing or concealing everything. His intention was to protect Snackers and the others from the inner chaos.
Snackers resumed speaking, but this time in a lighter tone. “Deko, why don’t I grab the marshmallows? Let’s roast them over the fire.”
Having said that, Snackers rose to his feet. Extending his arms above his head, his onesie-clad form walked towards the garage near the lake house where his backpack was located. The long spiked fabric tail created a deep ridge as it dragged behind him. He squatted down to recover his backpack and fumbled with the zipper, his fingers covered in fabric sliding against the small metal tab. He hissed in annoyance as he fought with it, but then the zipper finally surrendered and he let out a triumphant puff of air.
After undoing the fly, he sifted through the items and extracted a large, crinkly marshmallow bag. He waved the plastic, the crackling sound echoing through the field. “Here it is! The good stuff!”
However, Snackers didn’t just stop at that point. Once again, he delved into his bag, muttering to himself as he rummaged around. “Where is it…Aha!”
His expression brightened as he revealed a pint-sized bag of mini marshmallows. The tiny bag looked almost comically pinched between his thumb and forefinger, but it still sent Snackers’ tail swaying.
Satisfied, he straightened up, gripping both bags of marshmallows. He held the smaller plastic bag, hidden by the raccoon’s paws, while the humongous one made a loud rustling sound with each step. The trio awaited his return to the campfire.
Despite being large, he took delicate steps, careful not to harm the ground with his onesie shoes. The volume of the plastic bag crinkling increased. Snackers, wearing a green-fabric onesie, approached the group as the campfire’s warm light flickered. The little group sitting by the fire watched him skip towards them, his enthusiastic grin infectious.
He declared, “The marshmallows are on their way,” his eyes shining in the firelight.
At last, Snackers joined the seated trio by the campfire, his imposing presence overshadowing them. A large, warm smile adorned his face, while his eyes shimmered with delight. He crouched down, bridging the gap between them and himself. The fire accentuated his delicate features, revealing smooth, rounded cheeks, a subtle pout, and expressive eyes with long lashes.
The raccoon dropped off a bag of marshmallows near the campfire. Like clouds, puffy white marshmallows pressed against the empty surface. Following that, he placed his friend’s smaller bag next to Deko.
After setting the marshmallows down, Snackers turned his attention to his miniature friends. Flickering shadows from the crackling fire engulfed Snackers’ onesie and the grass around his paws. Sporting a grin, he adjusted his posture and placed one hand on his waist.
“Oh, and another thing: tree branches!” he declared, then took a step forward. He moved, creating an arch with his colossal legs as they swung over.
The raccoon strolled away from the light of the campfire and made their way towards the grass and foliage at the forest’s border. As he reached the trees, he paused and examined the tree branches with a critical eye.
Snackers noticed a solid branch on a nearby tree and reached out a hand towards it. Reaching out, he clutched onto the tree and applied pressure. As he pulled down, his muscles tightened. With a sharp crack, he broke off the branch. Although there was some fine-tuning left.
Noting the smaller finger twigs, he lifted the branch over his left paw. Using his right hand, Snackers pressed his thumb and forefinger together, sliding them along the branch. Swiftly, he cleared away the smaller wayward twigs, watching them fall onto his other open palm.
Once he finished his work, he faced the campfire again. He carried his clean branch back in one hand, carrying his friend’s little twigs in the other.
When Snackers rejoined the group around the campfire, he scattered the tiny, torn branches next to Deko. “And there you have it, my sweethearts!” Sitting next to them, he cooed and reached for his bag of marshmallows.
After settling down, he redirected his attention to the clean branch next to his leg. By pinching the rim, he tore open the plastic bag to retrieve the spongy, snowy white treat. He placed the marshmallow on the top of the branch and extended it over the fire.
Snackers noticed his friends already gripping their branches and marshmallows as he handed it over, leaning forward to hang them over the fire. Everyone was engrossed in their own small universe, savouring the simple joy of toasting a marshmallow. They each watched as the marshmallow turned brown, the heat melting it into a gooey, golden-brown treat.
Snackers’ marshmallow was the first to turn a delicious, caramelised shade, and he slipped it away from the fire to enjoy. A gust of air blew out from his puckered lips, before his maw opened, revealing a row of gleaming teeth.
Lupus diverted his focus from his marshmallow and trailed it to the raccoon’s toasted delicacy. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Snackers, watching as the marshmallow vanished into his mouth, his jaws snapping and creating a satisfying crunch as they broke through the toasted layer, followed by the slow squish of the melting marshmallow.
As he swallowed, Lupus could see the motion of his throat. A sigh escaped him as he smirked at his friend.
“That was perfect,” Snackers exhaled.
In awe of the spectacle, the arctic wolf’s smile grew towards Snackers. “Mate, that looked absolutely delicious,” he agreed, raising his golden-brown marshmallow towards his mouth.
Lupus enjoyed the paradoxical blend of a hard shell and a creamy inside. The other two joined in, taking their own portions of the roasted marshmallows. While they savoured their snacks, the evening grew darker, and the sky shifted from twilight to night.
Evening came. From pinks and oranges, the sky morphed into a deep, velvety black. One after another, the stars revealed themselves, filling the dark canvas with their twinkling brilliance. The forest stirred as a cool breeze swept through, causing the leaves to rustle. The campfire’s warmth blocked the crisp night air from them.
A hush fell over the surroundings, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal birds. The serene atmosphere provided relief for Lupus and his restless mind.
Having observed the transition from day to night, Rayne now turned his attention towards the cloudless sky. “Why don’t we stargaze tonight?” he suggested, looking to the corner of his eyes to meet Lupus. “What do you say?”
The arctic wolf’s gaze disappeared into the vast expanse of lights overhead. Swept away by the deep black ocean of night. He found himself captivated by the tranquil splendour of the night sky, losing himself in its serene beauty for a moment.
After he nodded, Lupus laid back on the soft grass and looked up at the darkening sky. Deko and Rayne positioned themselves on opposite sides of him, quieting their conversation. Briefly, until Snackers sat down and the group laughed at the spectacle.
While looking at the sky, the raccoon blurted out, “That sounds epic! There’s no cloud cover this time.”
Lupus eventually spoke, saying “Yeah. That sounds nice,” He sighed, captivated by the stars growing brighter above, their distant glow pulling him into a calm, almost meditative state.
Snackers smiled and sat down on the cool grass, adjusting his Godzilla tail over his legs. He stretched out a paw, big enough to hold Lupus in a gentle embrace, but for the moment, he let it rest nearby behind the wolf’s back.
Deko shuffled closer to the raccoon’s hand, his fur displaying a kaleidoscope of colours in the starlight, and settled beside the wolf. Resting on the grass, they created a close circle near Snackers’ artificial Godzilla tail and clothed legs.
Breaking the silence, Snackers glanced at the group. Leaning on the grass with his palm supporting his chin, he started, “I’ve always found stars to be comforting. They make everything else seem smaller.”
“Everything here is smaller to you,” Rayne remarked over to the raccoon, trying to hold back his enlarging grin.
Snackers grinned, revealing his sharp teeth that shimmered under the starlight. With a mischievous slurp, the raccoon drawled out his words, “Even you, snack.” It was enough to weaken the wolf-shepherd’s grin for a moment.
“But,” the raccoon went on, pulling back his tongue, “my point is, everything appears less overwhelming.” He insisted and shifted, angling his body so that he had an even better view.
"Actually," Snackers leaned in and got the group’s attention by saying, "Hey guys, would you like a better view of the stars?”
Ignoring the need for a reply, Snackers picked up Deko, Lupus, and Rayne one after another. As Snackers moved them towards his maw and head, they fell silent.
Snackers insisted, “Hold on to my fur, cuties,” as he pressed both palms against the ground to slant back.
Nightfall devoured the daylight.
Silence enveloped the forest.
Just as they turned their attention to the clear night sky, they discovered an expanse dotted with constellations. Using the raccoon’s nose bridge as a backrest, Lupus leaned back between Snackers’ eyes.
Above, shoulder to shoulder, Rayne and Deko sat together, nestled between Snacker’s pointy ears.
With wonder in their eyes, they all marvelled at the Milky Way’s luminous arc, a starry trail that dispelled the darkness.
Serenely silent, they sat together on their towering friends head and snout.
The four friends were so engrossed in their cosmic exploration that they didn’t notice time passing. As the night unfolded, new patterns painted the sky, with the universe revolving around the four friends. Sometimes, a shooting star would shoot across the sky, prompting each person to make a wish.
As time passed, their smiles and postures blended together. With wonder in his eyes, Deko looked down to meet his boyfriend’s gaze.
Below Lupus practised reciting the names of the constellations, showing a luminous star and formation. Rayne rested against the folf, devoting their attention to the wolf’s words.
Deko yawned and stretched on top of Snackers’ head while leaning against Rayne’s shoulder blade. He leaned on the wolf-shepherd’s shoulder, his eyes drifting closed for a moment, a smile of awe still lingering as he admired the night sky.
Lupus guided the group, pointing out constellations as the fire dwindled. He murmured, “That’s Orion,” while gesturing towards the well-known stars in the sky.
“And there’s the Big Dipper… You see it, Rayne? Snackers?”
Rayne’s gaze followed the wolf’s finger, breaking his peaceful daydream. “Yeah, I noticed,” he whispered. “This view is even better than the telescope I gave you.”
Lupus’ pupils shimmered as the stars twinkled, their lights dancing. His faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and with a sigh, he whispered, “It’s perfect.”
When Rayne moved back a bit, he could feel Deko’s head moving along with him. Seeing two closed eyes on the folf, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Looks like someone’s already knocked out for the count,” he said, raising a palm to stroke the folf’s cranium.
Lupus tilted forward and spun around to glimpse Deko, who was sound asleep on the raccoon’s head. “Wait, hang on a second!” he exclaimed, his bushy tail wagging against the side of the raccoon’s snout. “I’m not the first one to fall asleep?!”
Rayne arched an eyebrow as Snackers’ mouth let out a hushed snicker, causing the wolf inside to quiver. “Yes, this time. You’re still the major culprit of snoring on voice calls halfway through the conversations.”
Lupus couldn’t contain his excitement, even after the wolf-shepherd’s comment. “Exactly! I’m always the one who passes out first when I’m trying to keep to your time zone, but not tonight!” He grinned triumphantly, savouring the rare victory.
He sighed and said, “I’ll take the win.” Shifting his weight, he leaned back against Snackers’ nose bridge and enjoyed the soothing sensation of the raccoon’s breath. Each inhale and exhale of the Vastelerian emitted a calming vibration that blended into the peaceful night.
Lupus redirected his gaze to the sky and continued his explanation of the different constellations. His excitement was palpable, especially with that small win on outlasting Deko’s fatigue, as he continued to describe the stars and constellations above.
Rayne nodded while his gaze followed the wolf’s pale fingers to the stars he revealed. As he found tranquillity in his friend’s voice, he also felt calmed by its steady rhythm and the soothing cadence of his words reminiscent of a lullaby. He became so relaxed that he rested against Deko and allowed sleep to overtake him.
Rayne’s shoulder dipped and nudged the folf. Then Deko’s balance faltered. They both teetered—just on the edge of stability. Gravity was about to take hold until…
A gloved paw interrupted them.
“Easy there,” Snackers cooed. “How about you all sleep with me tonight?” he suggested, his voice only a whisper in the breeze.
Although there was no verbal response, their relaxed bodies told the raccoon that they had accepted his offer. He grasped the zipper on his Godzilla onesie, which extended down his chest.
The situation puzzled Lupus, who muttered, “H-Huh?” when he heard the gentle sound of the descending fly.
Snackers hushed with a whisper, saying, “Shh, it’s okay. I’m just going to make sure you’re all nice and warm tonight, okay?”
Using precise movements, the raccoon scooped them up, one when the zipper was undone. He held them against his chest, sensing their small bodies against his soft fur.
While Snackers lifted Deko, the folf stirred, but Deko soon settled back down and rested his head against Snackers’ curled fingers.
Snackers placed all three of his friends inside the open space of his onesie. Combining the costume’s soft fabric and his fluffy chest created a comfortable nest. Snuggled together, Rayne, Lupus, and Deko relaxed in the comforting warmth of their new fluffy and fabric surroundings.
Enclosed in his onesie, Snackers pulled the zipper up, securing them inside. He let out a sigh of contentment and listened to his little friend’s calm breathing sync with his own heartbeat.
Then, he shifted an arm behind him to support his head and closed his eyes to drift off to sleep.
The following sona's featured include:
Snackers - belongs to
SnackersDeko - belongs to
DekoRayne - belongs to
RayneDisclosure:
Although this setting is my own, outside Lupus, the following characters included in this story are not my own. This novel does not completely reflect their sona's size or personality, but instead focuses on who we are together as close friends.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Category Story / Macro / Micro
Species Raccoon
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 188.7 kB
Listed in Folders
Its like you're writing a script for a coffee commercial the way you described Snackers preparing his brew XD
Also, he finally got to wear that Godzilla onesie teased in the earlier chapters. Suppose its only fitting that Snackers playing into the role of Kaiju, almost causing the kind of conflict that big lizards are famous for. So sweet to see him return to a more gentle nature when it came to the safety of the little ones.
Also, he finally got to wear that Godzilla onesie teased in the earlier chapters. Suppose its only fitting that Snackers playing into the role of Kaiju, almost causing the kind of conflict that big lizards are famous for. So sweet to see him return to a more gentle nature when it came to the safety of the little ones.
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