Dancing In the Shadows

-Original Fiction-

Chickie (2)

by Shuuki

The cool breeze blew pink petals from the trees and into the rushing current of the Elk River. The tall reeds at its bank shivered against the wind, small patterns of pink dots forming where their stems emerged from the water. Naturally stealthy feet padded silently down the road that edged the small waterway. Unlikely cousins walked in silence together, a softly smiling fox and his glaring wolf friend. Onkitaro glanced at the soft smile with the suspicion he was being laughed at. Somehow he'd been roped into lugging a heavy basket, laden with contents he was forbidden to look at. The smell was driving him crazy and his companion knew it. As if reading his thoughts the fox piped up, "Almost there Kita." He turned his smile fully onto the wolf as he walked. The noonday sun shone in his hair, lighting it like a flame.

Onkitaro fought to keep his frown against the sight, and turned his gaze back to the road as he lost. "'Bout time," he growled through a hidden smile. Enkala suppressed a giggle and danced lightly down the road, hands clasped behind his back. His movements were graceful and effortless. Onkitaro watched his lithe form skip down the banks, his fox tail waving behind him. He felt a growl shiver up through him and his cheeks grow warm. "Damn fox," he smiled to himself.

"Kiiiitaa!" Enkala called his nickname, waving from the shade of a plum tree. Onkitaro sighed as he trudged down the grass toward him. Apparently this was their mysterious destination.

"Finally. Good; I'm starving." Onkitaro's tail wagged a bit as he caught another whiff from the basket. He picked at the cloth concealing its treasures. "Kala always makes delicious things," he thought to himself. Enkala was standing by the water with his back to the wolf. Onkitaro dropped the cloth from his fingers with a jolt as Enkala's voice shot at him.

"Kita, I told you no peeking."

The silver wolf shuffled under the tree and sat by the trunk with a thump. He grumbled to himself as he stuffed his hands in his sleeves. "So get over here already." He sat impatiently, scowling at Enkala's back. The sound of rushing water filled the space between them as Enkala remained where he was. Onkitaro issued a harsh little sigh. "Oi, damn fox. C'mon already." The fox did not flinch. Even his tail did not twitch. "Oi." The little wolf grew concerned. His knitted brow began to loosen and he sat up straight. The continuing silence pushed him to his feet and he walked over to the fox. "...Kala?" He reached out and laid his hand gently on Enkala's shoulder. Enkala jumped and the wolf grasped his shoulders with instinctual speed. "Kala?!" He swung the fox around and gazed at his face with alarm. Enkala blinked up at his silver cousin for a moment before putting on his sly smile.

"Kita," he purred, "Were you worried about me?" It was the wolf's turn to blink. Kala chuckled low in his throat. "I was stalking a fish." Onkitaro's face grew warm again and he couldn't decide if he wanted to hit or hug the smiling fox. Enkala wanted to chuckle again but he kept himself in check. Instead he closed his eyes and smiled more fully. "Thank you, Kita." Onkitaro watched Enkala's smooth lips spread over his tanned face and his own face grew warmer. His urge to throttle his friend fluttered away as he leaned forward to capture those lips with his own.

Plum blossoms scattered and caught in their hair as their mouths met. Onkitaro brought his fingers to Enkala's cheek and brushed it tenderly. The fox-boy's lips were so soft against his own. They yielded easily as he pushed his tongue past them.

His ear twitched despite the delicious distraction his cousin provided him... a plaintive sound somewhere behind him. He tried to ignore it as he kissed with his fox. But Enkala's ears twitched as well and he stirred from the embrace. "What's that sound?"

"Dunno," Onkitaro murmured against Enkala's lips. Enkala pulled away a bit and flexed his ears.

"There it is again... It's coming from the water."

Enkala tugged the wolf with him toward the reeds where the small cries were coming from. They parted the reeds together, Enkala shushing the complaining wolf. Enkala gasped as he caught sight of a small chick, wet and struggling pitifully in the tangled brush. It looked up at him and peeped urgently as he picked the greenery away from its small body. The fox scooped the chick carefully from the water, petting him and murmuring reassurances.

"There, there..." Enkala murmured as he sat down under the plum tree. He pulled the cloth from their basket and rubbed the chick's feathers dry. The chick squirmed and peeped but didn't try to hop away. Onkitaro flopped down beside them, smiling as he watched his cousin fawn over the helpless little creature. He couldn't help but melt at the sight of the sweet pair. He poked a finger at the birdie and it nibbled a bit at the tip. "He's hungry." He tried to sound harsh again. "And so am I for that matter! Let's eat already."

Enkala smiled his fox smile. "Alright."

The trio ate their fill of Enkala's delectable lunch, the late afternoon sun hanging bright and low in the sky. Onkitaro sat with his back against the tree trunk, picking his teeth with his long nails. Enkala leaned against him stroking the sleeping chick on his stomach. He looked up at his cousin and sighed contentedly. Onkitaro's eyes were already beginning to droop. Enkala chuckled and wriggled against him, closing his own eyes. He too slipped into an afternoon drowse, though no dream he dreamed could match the perfect sweetness of their afternoon by Elk River.

~The End~