{"submission_id":"2003671","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"6752","keyword_name":"blue jay","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"595"},{"keyword_id":"123","keyword_name":"female","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"616719"},{"keyword_id":"33","keyword_name":"fox","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"156535"},{"keyword_id":"165","keyword_name":"male","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"738033"},{"keyword_id":"186","keyword_name":"rabbit","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"75437"},{"keyword_id":"1971","keyword_name":"rottweiler","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1296"},{"keyword_id":"947","keyword_name":"tribal","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"3165"},{"keyword_id":"12935","keyword_name":"warthog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"212"},{"keyword_id":"164","keyword_name":"wolf","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"125934"}],"hidden":"f","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"2","create_datetime":"2019-10-25 18:07:07.863923+02","create_datetime_usertime":"25 Oct 2019 18:07 CEST","last_file_update_datetime":"2019-10-25 18:02:44.841802+02","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"25 Oct 2019 18:02 CEST","username":"Commando672","user_id":"252991","user_icon_file_name":"178003_Commando672_zach_head_icon_.png","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/178/178003_Commando672_zach_head_icon_.png","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/178/178003_Commando672_zach_head_icon_.png","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/178/178003_Commando672_zach_head_icon_.png","file_name":"2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.jpg","thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.jpg","thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover_noncustom.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover_noncustom.jpg","thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"51","thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","thumb_large_noncustom_y":"85","thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"128","files":[{"file_id":"2892097","file_name":"2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.png","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.jpg","mimetype":"image/png","submission_id":"2003671","user_id":"252991","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":"2888","full_size_y":"1228","screen_size_x":"920","screen_size_y":"391","preview_size_x":"300","preview_size_y":"128","initial_file_md5":"e49f59843e052ce315745656c4bc1bcc","full_file_md5":"7e7017a9d1621ca5159b89bef394071a","large_file_md5":"c7f80e0b62aff46c9ee36bd285fc86d6","small_file_md5":"6304e84fb21c15d6a9a578363cc381b7","thumbnail_md5":"93812771dd7859a613da7ab9c360d65a","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2019-10-25 18:02:44.841802+02","create_datetime_usertime":"25 Oct 2019 18:02 CEST","thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover.jpg","thumbnail_url_large_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover_noncustom.jpg","thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/2892/2892097_Commando672_tribal_furs_cover_noncustom.jpg","thumb_medium_noncustom_x":"120","thumb_medium_noncustom_y":"51","thumb_large_noncustom_x":"200","thumb_large_noncustom_y":"85","thumb_huge_noncustom_x":"300","thumb_huge_noncustom_y":"128"}],"pools":[],"description":"sorry if this was slow to be published, but I have not been feeling passionate or inspired by the story too much. I may go on hiatus for Tribal Furs, unless people offer their ideas of what would happen next. ","description_bbcode_parsed":"<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>sorry if this was slow to be published, but I have not been feeling passionate or inspired by the story too much. I may go on hiatus for Tribal Furs, unless people offer their ideas of what would happen next. </span>","writing":"The group sits in the grove of cocoanapple trees, snacking on the hard fruit as they chat and laugh. They cease their conversation when the orange fox appears with the grey rabbit alongside him. \n“Hey, guys,” Zach says. “How’s it going?” \n“Who’s the girl?” asks Cole. “She a new friend of yours.”\n“Sh,” Sally commands. “Don’t say anything.” She turns to Zach. “Please, Zach. Introduce us to your new friend.” Emmy and Amina agree.\nZach continues. “Uh… This is Melissa… She is from the Ring of Rabbits. I met her at the lake…” Melissa shyly waves. “She’s got a beautiful singing voice and lovely personality.”\n“Beautiful singing voice, eh?” repeats Niji. “How well can she sing? Better than the parjays that fly around the jungle?” He chuckles as he tosses away his cocoanapple. As the hardened fruit crashes into the shrubs nearby, a loud “ow” shouts, alerting the gang. “What was that?!” Everyone creeps up to the bush with caution. Amina and Sally have their weapons drawn in preparation for defense. Zach and Emmy part the leaves to reveal the source of the sudden sound: a blue jay with long navy hair and a female build. Her top and loincloth are colored in tan, contrasted with the maroon tribal paint on her belly, top, and face. She grips at her right wing as she remains sitting on the ground, then becomes shocked to see the gang. \n“A blue jay?” Melissa adds. \n“P-please,” the blue jay begins. “Don’t hurt me… I don’t have anything to give you…”\n“We’re not thieves,” Sally tells her. “And we certainly don’t mean any harm. Are you a spy?”\n“Spy?” repeats the blue jay. “No! I’m not spying, I swear! I didn’t even know you were here.”\nAmina takes notice of the girl clutching her wing. “What’s wrong with your wing? Are you hurt?” She motions toward the bird, but the blue jay flinches. “Relax. I just want to see your wing.” The avian relaxes, allowing the red fox to examine her wing, seeing it covered in bruises from the shoulder to the outer vane. “Looks pretty bad. How did you hurt your wing?” \n“I…” The blue jay concentrates on the events that led up to now. “I was flying in a bad storm. I had stopped to seek shelter when lightning struck a tree branch, causing it to fall on me. I managed to get free, but not without a broken wing. I couldn’t fly back to my village, so I tried walking. I didn’t know where I was; I became lost. I’ve been settling in this area until I got better.”\nAmina turns around. “Zach, Emmy, see if you two can get me ruso herbs and blutark berries.” The two nod and wander off as ordered. “Sally, I need the fibers from the bako tree to make bandages. Can you find them?” Sally heads away to search the area. Amina, the wolves, and Melissa remain with the blue jay to keep her company. “Don’t worry. We’re going to help you get better.” \nMelissa scans the bird up and down. “Say, aren’t you with the Band of Birds tribe?” The blue jay nods. “Does anyone know you’re out here?”\n“I… don’t know…”\n“How long has it been since you’ve been out here?”\n“Um… two days, I think…” \n“You’ve been in the jungle for two days without anyone knowing you’re out here?” asks Amina. “That isn’t good.” The three animals return with the herbs, berries, and fibers needed. “Thanks, you three.” Amina gets to work with the bird’s wing. She takes the berries and squishes them all over the blue jay’s arm. The avian tenses up as a stinging sensation travels from her wing. “I know, it burns. Just relax.” The red fox then takes the herbs and rubs them up and down the injured wing, spreading the berry juice while dragging the herbs against the feathers. Lastly, she picks up the fibers and wraps them around the bird’s wing. “There. That should allow your wing to heal faster.”\n“Um, thanks,” says the blue jay. “But, now I can’t fly. How will I find my way back to my village?”\n“We’ll help you get back,” Zach states. “We can escort you to the settlement. Where is your village?” \nThe bird shakes her head. “I can’t remember… I’ve been out here for some time, and the storm threw me off; I can’t find where I came from.”\n“Maybe you’re better off waiting until your wing is better,” suggests Emmy. “We’ll help you in any way we can. We’ll provide you with shelter, food, water, and other essentials.”\n“I appreciate you kind animals… For a second, I thought you were going to hurt me, or worse. Who are you strangers, anyway?” Everyone goes around and introduces themselves. “What nice names. I’m Navy. Where are we going?”\n“We can’t take you to any of our villages,” Cole tells her. “And we can’t let them know we’re caring for you. We’re going to have to shelter you in some cave or something.”\n“Speaking of which,” utters Sally. She points to the dark grey clouds floating towards the friends. “We may want to find shelter from the rain, and quick. And from the look of those clouds, I’d say it’s a big storm.” \n“I know where to go.” Navy leads her new posse to the cave she stayed in for the second night. The mouth is giant, and the inside is big enough to fit an entire village of forty people. Once the gang makes it inside, the flash of lightning and crack of thunder begin to sound. \n“I’m going to get wood for a fire before the rain soaks it.” Amina goes out, leaving the friends inside. Cold air whistles through the opening, hitting the animals’ bodies, bringing their temperatures down. Melissa, sitting by the mouth, crosses her arms in defense from the wind. \nZach ambles to her. “You cold?” \n“Y-yes,” says the rabbit. “I don’t like it when it’s chilly.” He sits next to her and puts one arm around her body, bringing her close to him. “W-what are you doing?”\n“I’m using my body to give you warmth. You don’t like it?”\n“No… no, it’s okay. I’m just not used to a predator being very close with me.”\nZach then turns his attention to Emmy, noticing her arms crossed as well. “Do you need warmth as well?”\n“I’m good,” Emmy tells him. “Melissa needs it more than me.” She cracks a smile. \n“I’ve got you, Emmy.” Cole places himself next to the warthog, imitating the fox’s move on the rabbit. “Better?”\n“Thank you, Cole.” \nAmina returns after a couple of minutes with a pile of sticks and stones. She drops them in the center of the cave and prepares setting up a small fire. Sally goes to help her. “Oh, thanks, Sally.” The two girls get the campfire prepared before igniting a small flame, which then grows to encompass the wood within the circled stones. As the fire crackles on the wood, the clouds release their load of water heavily outside. “Looks like we won’t be traveling in this weather. We need to stay inside until the storm passes.”\n“So,” starts Navy. “I want to know: why are you guys all together? Aren’t the Fox Faction, Canine Clan, Warthog Warriors, and Ring of Rabbits enemies?”\n“Yes,” Sally tells her. “But, they don’t know we’re all friends. Zach and Amina are the only kind souls of the fox tribe.”\n“Yeah,” Amina says. “However, we wouldn’t all be together if it weren’t for Zach.”\nNavy faces the orange fox. “You?” Zach nods. “What makes you different from all the other foxes?”\nMelissa looks at him. “I was wondering as well.” \nZach sighs, then recounts his story. “When I was a little boy, my mother told me that making enemies doesn’t get you anywhere. She said it’s better to be polite, and you shall be rewarded greatly. She disappeared from the village, Gods know what happened to her… I’ve been left with my dad, and he wasn’t very good to me; always would push me away, ignore me, and even belittle me. All because I was born with this… curse…”\nEmmy inches closer. “As I said before, it isn’t a curse. You are just born differently.”\nZach continues, staring into the flames. “Because of everything my father’s done, I never listen to him. I’ve always focused on everything my mother had taught me. I met Emmy when I found her trapped in the jungle. I helped her, and nursed her back to health from an injured leg. We became friends after we talked, sharing our insecurities and having so much in common.”\n“I remember you telling that story when we caught you,” utters Sally. Attention is drawn onto her. “Guess I’ll finish the story? I will admit, I felt some sympathy for Zach, and decided to release him. I didn’t expect him to give a gift out of kindness as a thank you. My two wolf friends and I became friends after playing a game of hoopstones.”\n“I love that game,” Navy comments. “Quite a popular one throughout the region.” \n“Perhaps when you are all better, we can play a little game,” Niji tells her. “But… I’m quite tired from the day.”\nAmina looks out the cave at the dark-shrouded jungle being sprinkled by rain. “Well, guess we can sleep here tonight. From what it seems, the storm’s not going to pass until morning.” Everyone takes spots to lie in and heads to sleep, except for Zach and Melissa. Emmy props herself next to the orange fox and closes her eyes. Zach moves his tail onto her so she can be warm.\n“I take a liking to your kindness, Zach,” Melissa says. “I’m so sorry about your father and the village.”\nZach faces her. “Thanks, Melissa.”\n“Aren’t you worried the village will banish you for befriending people who are not your kind? Amina and Emmy, as well?” Upon hearing her name, Amina opens one eye to see the conversation. Sally pretends to snore low, but listens carefully.\n“Honestly, I don’t care,” Zach tells her. “I’ve received dirt for my whole life from my father and the village. It wouldn’t be a surprise to me if I was banished. I’m not sure about Amina, but I would be a bit happy if she was banished with me. She’s a good friend and she’s been there since my mother left. Emmy’s got the same life as I do, and if she was banished from her village, Amina and I would take care of her.”\n“If that happens, I’d like to come along to.” Zach turns to her. “I’m like you and Emmy; my dad does not care for my well-being. He doesn’t even acknowledge to the tribe that I am his daughter. He’s been the mud in my path for my whole life. If they banish me for being friends with a kind-hearted fox, so be it! I don’t want to fight. I want to live, and love. Back when times were peaceful.”\n“If we’re together, we wouldn’t have that issue,” says Zach. “If we’re all banished, we can strive together. We’d have our own little village and we’d be living in paradise; no one to tell us what to do. We would be happy.”\n“I want to share that dream with you. And I want to share it while we sleep. But, I am cold…” \n“Don’t worry, Melissa. I’ve got you.” Zach keeps his arm around her as she huddles close to him. The rabbit closes her eyes and drifts into a slumber. Zach lies back against the rocky wall of the cave, cuddling Emmy and Melissa as they sleep. Then, he looks out at the rainy weather, watching the droplets crash onto the trees and ground. Amina and Sally smile before returning to their siesta.  \n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"<span style='word-wrap: break-word;'>The group sits in the grove of cocoanapple trees, snacking on the hard fruit as they chat and laugh. They cease their conversation when the orange fox appears with the grey rabbit alongside him. <br />&ldquo;Hey, guys,&rdquo; Zach says. &ldquo;How&rsquo;s it going?&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;Who&rsquo;s the girl?&rdquo; asks Cole. &ldquo;She a new friend of yours.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Sh,&rdquo; Sally commands. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t say anything.&rdquo; She turns to Zach. &ldquo;Please, Zach. Introduce us to your new friend.&rdquo; Emmy and Amina agree.<br />Zach continues. &ldquo;Uh&hellip; This is Melissa&hellip; She is from the Ring of Rabbits. I met her at the lake&hellip;&rdquo; Melissa shyly waves. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s got a beautiful singing voice and lovely personality.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Beautiful singing voice, eh?&rdquo; repeats Niji. &ldquo;How well can she sing? Better than the parjays that fly around the jungle?&rdquo; He chuckles as he tosses away his cocoanapple. As the hardened fruit crashes into the shrubs nearby, a loud &ldquo;ow&rdquo; shouts, alerting the gang. &ldquo;What was that?!&rdquo; Everyone creeps up to the bush with caution. Amina and Sally have their weapons drawn in preparation for defense. Zach and Emmy part the leaves to reveal the source of the sudden sound: a blue jay with long navy hair and a female build. Her top and loincloth are colored in tan, contrasted with the maroon tribal paint on her belly, top, and face. She grips at her right wing as she remains sitting on the ground, then becomes shocked to see the gang. <br />&ldquo;A blue jay?&rdquo; Melissa adds. <br />&ldquo;P-please,&rdquo; the blue jay begins. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t hurt me&hellip; I don&rsquo;t have anything to give you&hellip;&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not thieves,&rdquo; Sally tells her. &ldquo;And we certainly don&rsquo;t mean any harm. Are you a spy?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Spy?&rdquo; repeats the blue jay. &ldquo;No! I&rsquo;m not spying, I swear! I didn&rsquo;t even know you were here.&rdquo;<br />Amina takes notice of the girl clutching her wing. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s wrong with your wing? Are you hurt?&rdquo; She motions toward the bird, but the blue jay flinches. &ldquo;Relax. I just want to see your wing.&rdquo; The avian relaxes, allowing the red fox to examine her wing, seeing it covered in bruises from the shoulder to the outer vane. &ldquo;Looks pretty bad. How did you hurt your wing?&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;I&hellip;&rdquo; The blue jay concentrates on the events that led up to now. &ldquo;I was flying in a bad storm. I had stopped to seek shelter when lightning struck a tree branch, causing it to fall on me. I managed to get free, but not without a broken wing. I couldn&rsquo;t fly back to my village, so I tried walking. I didn&rsquo;t know where I was; I became lost. I&rsquo;ve been settling in this area until I got better.&rdquo;<br />Amina turns around. &ldquo;Zach, Emmy, see if you two can get me ruso herbs and blutark berries.&rdquo; The two nod and wander off as ordered. &ldquo;Sally, I need the fibers from the bako tree to make bandages. Can you find them?&rdquo; Sally heads away to search the area. Amina, the wolves, and Melissa remain with the blue jay to keep her company. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry. We&rsquo;re going to help you get better.&rdquo; <br />Melissa scans the bird up and down. &ldquo;Say, aren&rsquo;t you with the Band of Birds tribe?&rdquo; The blue jay nods. &ldquo;Does anyone know you&rsquo;re out here?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I&hellip; don&rsquo;t know&hellip;&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;How long has it been since you&rsquo;ve been out here?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Um&hellip; two days, I think&hellip;&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;You&rsquo;ve been in the jungle for two days without anyone knowing you&rsquo;re out here?&rdquo; asks Amina. &ldquo;That isn&rsquo;t good.&rdquo; The three animals return with the herbs, berries, and fibers needed. &ldquo;Thanks, you three.&rdquo; Amina gets to work with the bird&rsquo;s wing. She takes the berries and squishes them all over the blue jay&rsquo;s arm. The avian tenses up as a stinging sensation travels from her wing. &ldquo;I know, it burns. Just relax.&rdquo; The red fox then takes the herbs and rubs them up and down the injured wing, spreading the berry juice while dragging the herbs against the feathers. Lastly, she picks up the fibers and wraps them around the bird&rsquo;s wing. &ldquo;There. That should allow your wing to heal faster.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Um, thanks,&rdquo; says the blue jay. &ldquo;But, now I can&rsquo;t fly. How will I find my way back to my village?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll help you get back,&rdquo; Zach states. &ldquo;We can escort you to the settlement. Where is your village?&rdquo; <br />The bird shakes her head. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t remember&hellip; I&rsquo;ve been out here for some time, and the storm threw me off; I can&rsquo;t find where I came from.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Maybe you&rsquo;re better off waiting until your wing is better,&rdquo; suggests Emmy. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll help you in any way we can. We&rsquo;ll provide you with shelter, food, water, and other essentials.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I appreciate you kind animals&hellip; For a second, I thought you were going to hurt me, or worse. Who are you strangers, anyway?&rdquo; Everyone goes around and introduces themselves. &ldquo;What nice names. I&rsquo;m Navy. Where are we going?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t take you to any of our villages,&rdquo; Cole tells her. &ldquo;And we can&rsquo;t let them know we&rsquo;re caring for you. We&rsquo;re going to have to shelter you in some cave or something.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Speaking of which,&rdquo; utters Sally. She points to the dark grey clouds floating towards the friends. &ldquo;We may want to find shelter from the rain, and quick. And from the look of those clouds, I&rsquo;d say it&rsquo;s a big storm.&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;I know where to go.&rdquo; Navy leads her new posse to the cave she stayed in for the second night. The mouth is giant, and the inside is big enough to fit an entire village of forty people. Once the gang makes it inside, the flash of lightning and crack of thunder begin to sound. <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to get wood for a fire before the rain soaks it.&rdquo; Amina goes out, leaving the friends inside. Cold air whistles through the opening, hitting the animals&rsquo; bodies, bringing their temperatures down. Melissa, sitting by the mouth, crosses her arms in defense from the wind. <br />Zach ambles to her. &ldquo;You cold?&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;Y-yes,&rdquo; says the rabbit. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like it when it&rsquo;s chilly.&rdquo; He sits next to her and puts one arm around her body, bringing her close to him. &ldquo;W-what are you doing?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m using my body to give you warmth. You don&rsquo;t like it?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;No&hellip; no, it&rsquo;s okay. I&rsquo;m just not used to a predator being very close with me.&rdquo;<br />Zach then turns his attention to Emmy, noticing her arms crossed as well. &ldquo;Do you need warmth as well?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m good,&rdquo; Emmy tells him. &ldquo;Melissa needs it more than me.&rdquo; She cracks a smile. <br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got you, Emmy.&rdquo; Cole places himself next to the warthog, imitating the fox&rsquo;s move on the rabbit. &ldquo;Better?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Thank you, Cole.&rdquo; <br />Amina returns after a couple of minutes with a pile of sticks and stones. She drops them in the center of the cave and prepares setting up a small fire. Sally goes to help her. &ldquo;Oh, thanks, Sally.&rdquo; The two girls get the campfire prepared before igniting a small flame, which then grows to encompass the wood within the circled stones. As the fire crackles on the wood, the clouds release their load of water heavily outside. &ldquo;Looks like we won&rsquo;t be traveling in this weather. We need to stay inside until the storm passes.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;So,&rdquo; starts Navy. &ldquo;I want to know: why are you guys all together? Aren&rsquo;t the Fox Faction, Canine Clan, Warthog Warriors, and Ring of Rabbits enemies?&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; Sally tells her. &ldquo;But, they don&rsquo;t know we&rsquo;re all friends. Zach and Amina are the only kind souls of the fox tribe.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Yeah,&rdquo; Amina says. &ldquo;However, we wouldn&rsquo;t all be together if it weren&rsquo;t for Zach.&rdquo;<br />Navy faces the orange fox. &ldquo;You?&rdquo; Zach nods. &ldquo;What makes you different from all the other foxes?&rdquo;<br />Melissa looks at him. &ldquo;I was wondering as well.&rdquo; <br />Zach sighs, then recounts his story. &ldquo;When I was a little boy, my mother told me that making enemies doesn&rsquo;t get you anywhere. She said it&rsquo;s better to be polite, and you shall be rewarded greatly. She disappeared from the village, Gods know what happened to her&hellip; I&rsquo;ve been left with my dad, and he wasn&rsquo;t very good to me; always would push me away, ignore me, and even belittle me. All because I was born with this&hellip; curse&hellip;&rdquo;<br />Emmy inches closer. &ldquo;As I said before, it isn&rsquo;t a curse. You are just born differently.&rdquo;<br />Zach continues, staring into the flames. &ldquo;Because of everything my father&rsquo;s done, I never listen to him. I&rsquo;ve always focused on everything my mother had taught me. I met Emmy when I found her trapped in the jungle. I helped her, and nursed her back to health from an injured leg. We became friends after we talked, sharing our insecurities and having so much in common.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I remember you telling that story when we caught you,&rdquo; utters Sally. Attention is drawn onto her. &ldquo;Guess I&rsquo;ll finish the story? I will admit, I felt some sympathy for Zach, and decided to release him. I didn&rsquo;t expect him to give a gift out of kindness as a thank you. My two wolf friends and I became friends after playing a game of hoopstones.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I love that game,&rdquo; Navy comments. &ldquo;Quite a popular one throughout the region.&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;Perhaps when you are all better, we can play a little game,&rdquo; Niji tells her. &ldquo;But&hellip; I&rsquo;m quite tired from the day.&rdquo;<br />Amina looks out the cave at the dark-shrouded jungle being sprinkled by rain. &ldquo;Well, guess we can sleep here tonight. From what it seems, the storm&rsquo;s not going to pass until morning.&rdquo; Everyone takes spots to lie in and heads to sleep, except for Zach and Melissa. Emmy props herself next to the orange fox and closes her eyes. Zach moves his tail onto her so she can be warm.<br />&ldquo;I take a liking to your kindness, Zach,&rdquo; Melissa says. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so sorry about your father and the village.&rdquo;<br />Zach faces her. &ldquo;Thanks, Melissa.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;Aren&rsquo;t you worried the village will banish you for befriending people who are not your kind? Amina and Emmy, as well?&rdquo; Upon hearing her name, Amina opens one eye to see the conversation. Sally pretends to snore low, but listens carefully.<br />&ldquo;Honestly, I don&rsquo;t care,&rdquo; Zach tells her. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve received dirt for my whole life from my father and the village. It wouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise to me if I was banished. I&rsquo;m not sure about Amina, but I would be a bit happy if she was banished with me. She&rsquo;s a good friend and she&rsquo;s been there since my mother left. Emmy&rsquo;s got the same life as I do, and if she was banished from her village, Amina and I would take care of her.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;If that happens, I&rsquo;d like to come along to.&rdquo; Zach turns to her. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m like you and Emmy; my dad does not care for my well-being. He doesn&rsquo;t even acknowledge to the tribe that I am his daughter. He&rsquo;s been the mud in my path for my whole life. If they banish me for being friends with a kind-hearted fox, so be it! I don&rsquo;t want to fight. I want to live, and love. Back when times were peaceful.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;If we&rsquo;re together, we wouldn&rsquo;t have that issue,&rdquo; says Zach. &ldquo;If we&rsquo;re all banished, we can strive together. We&rsquo;d have our own little village and we&rsquo;d be living in paradise; no one to tell us what to do. We would be happy.&rdquo;<br />&ldquo;I want to share that dream with you. And I want to share it while we sleep. But, I am cold&hellip;&rdquo; <br />&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry, Melissa. I&rsquo;ve got you.&rdquo; Zach keeps his arm around her as she huddles close to him. The rabbit closes her eyes and drifts into a slumber. Zach lies back against the rocky wall of the cave, cuddling Emmy and Melissa as they sleep. Then, he looks out at the rainy weather, watching the droplets crash onto the trees and ground. Amina and Sally smile before returning to their siesta.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></span>","pools_count":0,"title":"Tribal Furs Episode 6: All Together","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"image/png","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"0","rating_name":"General","ratings":[],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"f","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"0","views":"11","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}