Snowbound
Chapter One – A Friend In Need.
© Cederwyn Whitefurr (aka: Anthony Wain)
January, 2007.
All Rights Reserved.

 Beep…beep…beep…beep buzzed the alarm clock, sitting on the beside table. From under a mound of thick blankets, a black paw, then a grey forearm crept out and fumbled its way across the bed towards the annoying clock.  Its furred fingers stumbled, then paused and found the clock, feeling over its surface before with a click, they depressed a button and the alarm fell mercifully quiet. For a few moments more, the amorphous shape beneath the warm, comforting blankets didn’t move again, and then a low, soft groan came from beneath the covers.  Two black paws gripped the top of the blanket, then slowly pulled them away, revealing the grey fur of a creature beneath – soon revealing itself as a racoon.  Its telltale black mask over the eyes giving it away, before it’s eyelids cracked open, then squeezed shut against the early morning sunlight that bathed the room.

 “Caleb honey? Time to get up!” Came a feminine voice from the other side of its closed bedroom door.

 Caleb yawned, then rubbed his dark paws against his black eyes and stretched, then yawned again and blinked owlishly as he threw back the covers and sat up.  Yawning again, he scratched his sides through the thick pyjama’s he wore and tried to find the energy to drag himself out of bed.  His fur stood in disarray, and as he stood up and wobbled uncertainly, tired muscles reluctantly awakening, he looked back over his shoulder at his brush of a tail, the black and grey rings blurring and wavering, as Caleb yawned again, this time – it felt as if he’d dislocate his jaw and his eyes watered.  Stumbling across magazines, dirty clothes and other assorted odds and ends that littered his bedroom floor, Caleb muttered and bumped into his bedroom door. Rubbing his nose, he blinked then chuckled to himself, before pulling open the door and staggering towards the bathroom for his morning shower.

*

 Twenty minutes later, he stood staring out the kitchen window, which was tinted with the foggy look that only come from one thing – snow!  He leaned his nose closer, and then peered out, as his mother continued to clatter around, preparing breakfast.

 “Wow – “ Caleb muttered.

 “Yep, it swept in about midnight they said – a real dumper!” His mother chuckled, and then playfully ruffled the human-like hair between his ears. “So, you know what that means!”

 As he turned away from the window, tempted by the smell of hot waffles dripping in maple syrup, his mouth began to salivate and he dropped into his chair.  “School’s closed?”




 “Sure is – looks like you kids struck it lucky – last day of school, and it’s a snow-day!” His mother rolled her eyes, and tried to look stern, and then burst into gentle laughter.  “So, go on – eat! You’ve got a whole two weeks of holidays waiting for you, and I don’t want you under my foot paws mister!”

Joyously, Caleb tore into his breakfast, devouring waffles and syrup with record pace, before he finished and placed his dishes in the sink.  As he began to slink away, a paw grabbed his tail and he stopped, then giggled and turned his head over his shoulder to look at his mother, who stood tapping a black furred foot on the floor.

 “If you’re going out – don’t forget your boots, gloves and the rest of it mister – I don’t want you getting a cold, like last winter!”

 Caleb rolled his eyes at her, then chuckled and headed for the hallway closet, where his inclement weather gear was stored.  Already, he could feel the crunch of the snow under his boots, and the brisk chill as he and his friends sledded down the nearby hill, daring each other to go higher and faster than they had ever done before.  Caleb held the record for last year – and had very nearly broke his neck in the process, but the weeks spent in a neck brace had been worth it, for the honour and glory he got from his friends made it all the more sweeter.

 He pulled on the specially made snow-boots and tightened the fasteners around his ankles, before pulling a green beanie onto his head and wrapping a matching scarf around his neck.  Shrugging into a warm, yet light snow jacket, he rummaged through the box and found the faux-fur gloves.  Feeling foolish, even though his pelt had thickened in the past few months, he presented himself before his mother for her critical examination and acceptance, before he kissed her cheek and fled out the door.

*

 Outside, he saw humans and furs, of all ages and sexes, likewise rugged up against the biting cold, but just enjoying the first day of holidays.  A snowball whizzed past his head, barely missing, and he giggled and rolled one of his own, then heaved it back. The young rabbit who had thrown the first one was caught off guard, and the snowball flew true, and exploded on his chest with a flump sound.

 “I’m going to get you for that Caleb!” Yelled the rabbit, and then got sidetracked as a wolf snuck up behind him and crash tackled him into a thick snow bank.  Caleb laughed, watching the rabbit thrash and squirm as the female wolf pinned him down and began tickling him helplessly.

 Walking down the salted footpath, waving to friends as he went, he moved with purpose towards his best friend’s house.  His breath coming in short, frosty pants, Caleb knocked politely on the door, and then stood rubbing his gloved hands together.  After a few minutes, the door opened, and Caleb smiled up at the lanky young Whitetail buck that stood looking down at him.

 “Hey Danny!” Caleb grinned and looked up into the Whitetail’s eyes.


 With a deep blush, his inner ears reddening, Danny flattened his ears and stood aside, then gestured to Caleb to come in. Caleb come in, then sat on the chair just inside the door and began stripping off his snow boots and gloves.

 “It’s a snow day, so you know what that means!” Caleb squealed joyously.

 Danny, or Dan as he preferred to be called, nodded – his furred lips curving up into a sweet, innocent and naive looking smile, the black nose stripe wrinkling as his gossamer like whiskers twitched.

 “I do indeed,” Dan replied his voice soft and gentle, almost feminine in its quiet timbre.

 “So – are you coming out, or going to stay indoors all winter?” Caleb playfully teased him.

 “Well – “ Dan pondered, stroking his furred chin thoughtfully with his two fingers and thumb, the hooflet’s on the tips gleaming.

 “Arrrgh – come on!” Caleb rolled his eyes, then took his friends slender paw in his own.

 At first, Dan resisted, then he felt Caleb’s enthusiasm and he nodded.  Pulling on his own gloves and snow-clothes, he zipped up his thick jacket and pulled a heavy woollen cap over his ears – almost down to his eyebrows.  As Caleb pulled him out the door, Dan hesitated, and then with a soft giggle followed his friend out into the grey, overcast morning.

*

 They spend the day with their friends, involved in snowball fort fights – which Caleb’s team won, then sledding down the hill behind their homes, yet all through these typical boyish endeavours, especially the sledding, Dan held himself apart from it.  Whenever someone playfully teased him, he would merely chuckle quietly, but Caleb noticed how Dan’s eyes would water and he’d unconsciously flinch, as if their gentle jibes and taunts were physical blows.  Dan made an effort to ‘fit in’ with the other boys, but wether it was due to his natural shyness and skittish nature, or something was troubling him, Caleb did not know – but promised he would find out.

*

 As the late afternoon swept them by, and twilight crept across the land, Caleb rested a gloved paw on Dan’s forearm.  Dan yelped and jumped; his teardrop shaped tail frizzling in alarm, before he giggled nervously and turned to look down at Caleb.

 “Would you, I mean…” Dan rasped, then hung his head and blushed, before shyly peeking through his long eyelashes at his best friend.  “Like to come over tonight – spend the weekend at my place?”


 Caleb blinked, as it was not often that Dan would make such an offer, and knowing his parents – their overprotective ways and mannerisms, Caleb bit his lower lip and frowned.

 “What about your parents – I mean, I’m surprised they let you out of the house today!”

 Dan scuffed at the snow with a cloven hoof, and then favoured Caleb with that shy, nervous smile.  “They’re going away for the weekend, and finally – think I’m ‘responsible’ enough to stay home by myself.”

 “Responsible?” Caleb boggled.  “Dan, you’re…what – sixteen winters now?”

 “Fifteen – “ Dan blushed again.

 “Well – if you…you know – if they didn’t know and…Dan, I love you like a brother, you’re my best friend – but at times, I swear, I could brain you!”

 Dan giggled shyly, and then hung his head.  “They won’t be back all weekend, and probably, not until late Monday afternoon, sooo…”

 A mischievous twinkle was in Dan’s eyes, which Caleb had never seen before.

 “Well – If – you’re sure, I mean – your parents can be real…you know…”

 Dan sighed and gazed skywards, as if he’d find the answers to his friend’s questions written on the grey, fluffy clouds overhead.

 “I just…don’t want to be alone…please?” Dan asked, looking back down at Caleb, and taking both paws in his, squeezing them gently.

 “Well – I’ll have to check with my mother first, but…you know – she’s pretty cool!”

 With a sad, shy smile, Dan nodded and let go of Caleb’s paws, then with downcast head, slowly walked off, heading home.  Confused by his friend’s emotional state, Caleb shook his head and wandered off in the other direction.

*

 About 7:30pm, he got the call from Dan, who said it was ok for him to come over.  Picking up his rucksack with his pillow, blanket and heaps of assorted junk food, Caleb rugged himself up against the chill wind that whistled and blew down the quiet street.  He saw a few cars carefully driving along the road, and as they passed, he waved a gloved paw, and then felt his eyes watering as the headlights dazzled him – before the car swished past, rear lights gleaming like scarlet eyes in the dimness.  As he paused outside Dan’s house, he walked carefully up the stairs and knocked.




  Dan opened it quickly, then ushered him inside and closed, then locked the door behind him.  Compared to Caleb’s house, Dan’s house felt almost explosively hot.  He gasped and began pulling his heavy snow clothing off, feeling sweat beading on his forehead.

 “Holy…it’s like an oven in here!” Caleb gasped, fanning his muzzle with a paw.

 Dan giggled shyly, then nodded and walked over, turning the thermostat back to a more normal level.  “Dad…likes it hot, I don’t know why – I mean, it’s not like our winter coats don’t grow and thicken as the season turns colder.”

 Walking through the house, Dan opened a few windows, to let the oppressive heat out of the house, then settled down before the roaring fireplace and loosened his shirt collar that he felt was strangling him.  Caleb sat, placing his rucksack against one well padded chair, then likewise lay back and loosened his own clothing – except in his case, it was almost clinging to his sweating body.

 “Caleb – I…” Dan began, then bit a furred knuckle with a low whimper, then glanced at him.  “Would you like a shower – a bath maybe?”

 Caleb thought about it, tempted, and then he shook his head and sat down, before taking Dan’s left paw in his own and squeezing it.

 “I want, to talk to you first my friend – something’s wrong, I could see it all day in your eyes. What's the matter? Someone been giving you a hard time at school? Parents being…too strict?”

 Flinching, Dan fought the urge to snatch his paw away, as he sniffled, then suddenly burst into tears and clutched his friendly tightly.  Caleb had no idea what triggered this emotional outburst, but he wrapped his furred arms around the crying whitetail and hugged him tightly.

 “They…wouldn’t understand!” Dan wailed heartbrokenly.  “None of them would!”

 “Hey, easy my friend – who wouldn’t, understand what?”

 “I…I’m not like…others!” Dan’s voice broke into uncontrollable sobs.

 Caleb frowned, then gently pushed backwards and stroked his sobbing friend’s muzzle.  “Well, no – you’re a beautiful, friendly, playful whitetail who – “

 “NO!” Dan squealed, then brushed away Caleb and stood, his body shaking with the emotions that ravaged his slender cervine form.  “You…you hadn’t noticed – had you? No, you hadn’t noticed, how I’d…linger in the showers, how I’d shyly glance at the others…”





 Realisation slowly spread across Caleb’s masked face, and his eyes widened.  He gasped, and Dan spun away, and then clutched his paws to his muzzle as fresh sobbing began tearing him apart.

 “You hate me – “

 Caleb blinked, then stood and rested a trembling paw on Dan’s shaking shoulder.  Dan flinched and pulled away, but Caleb sighed, then grasped the slender form of the Whitetail and turned him about, lifting his chin and then using his thumbs to wipe away the bitters tears from Dan’s muzzle.

 “I…do not hate you, my friend…” 

Dan breathed out, as he caressed Dan’s muzzle.  Disbelief flashed in Dan’s eyes, before confusion replaced it, then bewilderment.  Caleb smiled weakly at him, continuing to gently stroke his best friend’s wet muzzle, running a fingertip lightly along the black nose stripe.  Without fear, he climbed onto his tip-toes, and before Dan could pull his muzzle away, Caleb’s furred lips brushed against his own – with only the barest of touches, like the kiss from some ghostly creature.  Dan’s eyes widened until the white sclera showed, and Caleb turned away, feeling the hot flush of embarrassment and shame steal over him.

 Dan quivered, then reached out and turned Caleb around, before as Caleb had done with him, lifting his muzzle up to look into the racoon’s eyes, in the corners of which, unshed tears welled.  As Dan opened his muzzle to speak, Caleb’s trembling paw reached up and closed it, before he hung his head and trembled, summoning his courage.

 “If you love me – the way I think you do,” Caleb rasped, his voice choked with emotion.  “Then…love me…”

 Dan swallowed the lump in his throat, before taking his friends paws in his and gently squeezing them, before leading him towards the staircase.

To Be Continued.
