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Thank you so very much to everyone's continued love for this series and especially to all my Patrons/Supporters/Subscribers etc that helped make this possible!\n\nApologies for the title picture being just a crop of an older art of Caleb and River, but you all have waited long enough and due to recent events in the last month I hadn't had the time to make a new cover for this. Will likely update it later with a unique pic, but for now enjoy the newest installment of RitR!\n\nBig thanks to my editor @Thaddeus for helping me polish this <3\n\n", "description_bbcode_parsed": "The prequel to Ripples in the Rain is now complete! Thank you so very much to everyone's continued love for this series and especially to all my Patrons/Supporters/Subscribers etc that helped make this possible!

Apologies for the title picture being just a crop of an older art of Caleb and River, but you all have waited long enough and due to recent events in the last month I hadn't had the time to make a new cover for this. Will likely update it later with a unique pic, but for now enjoy the newest installment of RitR!

Big thanks to my editor \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThaddeus\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThaddeus\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
for helping me polish this <3

", "writing": "[t][b][center][u]Ripples in the Rain[/u]\nSunshower[/center][/b][/t]\n\n“Gah, fuck!” Caleb yelled as the bouncer tossed him from the doorway of the bar, down onto the cold concrete of the sidewalk.\n\n“Get lost, buddy! I don’t care how drunk yeh are, this is a bar, not a stripclub. Go get some tail elsewhere!” The bouncer snarled as he slammed the door behind him. \n\nCaleb wiped the blood from his nose from the impact with the ground, giving the bouncer a sneer as he left.\n\n“Asshole. How was I s-supposed... *hic* ...ta know she was the manager, when she was dressed like a stripper?” Caleb grumbled, spitting a bloody wad at the door in spite. \n\nThe young wolf got to his feet with a bit of effort, the alcohol making the world spin around him. He trudged down the sidewalk, not giving two shits about the onlookers who watched him get thrown on his ass. Some snickered. Some tried to avoid eye contact with him entirely. Luckily, the wolf knew his way home even while completely wasted. \n\nThe nightlife around him swirled faster the longer he walked. It made him dizzy. Caleb groaned, realizing that maybe that last drink was one too many. That feeling welling in his gut finally caught up to him. He ducked into an alleyway, practically crashing into the dumpster that he used to hold himself up as he vomited up the liquor in his stomach. He gasped and coughed, spitting out the taste and gritting his teeth.\n\n“Urrgh… Burns just as bad as it did going down…” He grumbled, backing up against the opposite wall and slumping down to the cold ground. A puddle beside him caught his reflection, and he leaned down to the wolf staring back at him from the water.\n\n“Look at you… What a lowlife… *hic* Bloody nose. Puke on your mouth. An ugly ass scar over your eye… Bet your reeeeal proud of yourself, huh?” Caleb scoffed drunkenly at his reflection. “Who would ever give a single fuck about you? Tch…”\n\nThe wolf leaned back, resting his head against the brick wall as he turned his gaze from the pathetic looking man judging him in the puddle. He stared up at the dark and stormy clouds gathering overhead as a low rumble of thunder echoed within the roiling mass. It was definitely going to storm soon. Caleb let out a sigh, watching the shifting clouds above him swirl about. Or maybe that was just the booze… \n\n“...What the hell is wrong with me…?” Caleb muttered under his breath. His eyes were heavy and even though he knew he was so close to home, he didn’t care to move. What time was it…? It felt like hours since he had been thrown out of the bar. Probably getting close to morning… He finally let himself lose consciousness just as the first few droplets of cool rain fell on his face. \n\n----------------------------------------\n\n“What a loser!” The older boy’s voice echoed. \n\n“Teach him his place, guys!” Another boy’s voice echoed, sneering and malicious.\n\nCaleb’s eyes snapped open, his heart racing as the situation set in. The group of older and much bulkier boys stood over him, the biggest in the center holding him up by his collar. His feet were off the ground, kicking helplessly as he struggled to get free of the boy’s grasp.\n\n“Let me go! Please!! LET ME GO!” Caleb cried, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I didn’t mean it! I’ll never do it again!”\n\n“Shut up, twerp! You shoulda kept your mouth shut and just let us have our way with your friend. Now we gotta make an example of why you don’t stick your nose where it don’t belong!” One of the surrounding boys snapped, shutting Caleb up into a fit of whimpers and sobs.\n\nA sharp yelp escaped his lips as the bully holding him threw him back, the back of his head colliding with the rocky ground sending his vision reeling. He felt the warmth of something trickling down the back of his head... The world went hazy, the boys in front of him becoming blurry silhouettes. The middle silhouette reached down and picked up something large. It looked jagged and sharp. \n\n“No… p-please… please…” Caleb sobbed with what little energy he could muster, trembling as the silhouette loomed closer.\n\n“Where’s your friend to save YOU, huh? Nowhere. And now you’re gonna take the punishment for him, with interest!” The main boy’s cruel voice echoed above him.\n\nThe other boy’s voices became garbled. Muffled. Caleb could only make out that one of the other bullies was cheering the boy with the sharp object on, while another seemed to be trying to tell him that what they were going too far, only to be silenced with a snap from the leader.\n\nThe silhouette above him loomed until it was all he could see, the jagged object dangerously close to his face near his right eye.\n\n“No…! No, please! Stop! Leave me alone! Someone help me!!” Caleb cried, struggling with every ounce of his strength as the arm reached back with the object, prepared to strike.\n\n“STOOOOOOOOOOP!!!” \n\n----------------------------------------\n\n“GAAAH!” Caleb shouted out as he snapped back to consciousness, his heart pounding a mile a minute. He was soaking wet, the overnight rainstorm having drenched him thoroughly. He brought his hand to his right eye, touching the scar gashed across it. \n\n“What was that!?” A hushed child’s voice exclaimed, making Caleb’s ear twitch to attention. \n\nCaleb looked at his surroundings, finding himself in the alley leading to his backyard. The wolf winced as the throbbing pain of the hangover finally kicked in. He brought a hand up to his aching head with a groan. Did he just imagine that voice? More importantly… Did he really just sleep outside all night in the rain? Truly this had to be rock bottom...\n\n “Stop! Leave me alone! Someone help me!! Please!!” A younger voice cried out.\n\n“Shut up, kid! Or I’ll make you! Now gimme any money you got for lunch, I know you have some!” A different boy’s voice this time.\n\nCaleb was now certain he didn’t imagine that. Who the hell was in his backyard!? Whatever it was didn’t sound good. The wolf struggled as he used a loose brick jutting from the wall to get to his feet. Stumbling, he made his way down the alley towards the sounds of the struggle. He turned the corner and he saw what was going on. There in the middle of his backyard was a small pomeranian boy dressed in an all yellow raincoat. The kid was cornered against the old rusted playset by a pair of older boys; a chunky looking black bear boy and a skinny looking skunk that clearly were not friends with the small boy.\n\nJust as one of the young bullies reared his leg back, ready to kick the young puppy, Caleb dashed around the corner into the yard with anger in his eyes.\n\n“Hey!! You little shits get the fuck away from him!” Caleb shouted, making all three boys jump. The two would-be bullies turned instantly as the wolf ran towards them, fear in their eyes.\n\n“Oh shit! Run! RUN!” The bear shouted as he started to sprint, tripping over his own two feet as he scrambled to get away. The skunk boy was paralyzed with fear for a moment like a deer in the headlights, until his body finally reacted and took off with his cohort.\n\n“Get the fuck out and if I ever see you shits in my yard again you’re DEAD! YOU HEAR ME!?” Caleb yelled at the top of his lungs, sending the two hooligans sprinting for their lives.\n\nWith a snarl and gritted teeth Caleb watched them take off through a hole in the fence on the other side of his backyard. The wolf immediately made a mental note that he had to cover that hole in the very near future. However, his attention turned to the more pressing matter as he stepped over to the cowering young pup who had taken the opportunity to hide beneath the playset. \n\nCaleb knelt down, placing a hand on the playset as he peered beneath the metal slide. The little boy in the yellow raincoat ducked in further, a whimper escaping him. Caleb’s ears flattened to his head, afraid he may have scared the kid. He had to think of something to help the situation. \n\n“Hey… You can come out, little guy. I’m not gonna hurt you.” Caleb said as calmly as he could despite his adrenaline still racing at the outburst. “I promise you’re safe now. Come on out.”\n\nOne tan trembling paw slowly came into view, then one small floppy ear, followed by a pair of timid blue eyes with tear-stained cheeks beneath a yellow hood. \n\n“That’s it, bud. Don’t worry, I don’t bite, heh.” Caleb spoke softly, careful to try and make himself seem as unthreatening as possible.\n\nCaleb watched the boy slowly poke his head out and look around, looking around for any sign of the bullies that attacked him. Seeing they were gone, he turned his attention to Caleb. The pup stepped out from under the playset into view. He looked okay at least, no bruises or cuts, though maybe a bit shaken.\n\n“There ya go, see? I- UFF!” Caleb choked as the blonde pup hugged tight around his neck. Quite hard actually. “W-woah! Hey now, buddy. It's all right…”\n\n“T-thank you! I… I was s-s-so scared…” The pup whimpered through trembling breaths, clutching tighter to his savior.\n\nCaleb hesitated to put his arms around the child, but he slowly did. His paws came to rest on the slick rubber of the yellow raincoat as he hugged the boy. It was a strange feeling, hugging. He couldn’t remember the last time he gave anyone, or anything, a hug for that matter. It felt strange but... pleasant.\n\nThe wolf snapped back to reality and slowly tried to pry the boy’s arms from around his neck before the kid choked him to death. He eventually released Caleb, who stayed kneeling for the moment as he rubbed his neck.\n\n“Sheesh, don’t kill me now, kid! What’s your name? How old are you even?” Caleb asked.\n\n“...R-River. I-I’m seven.” He said, wiping his nose with his sleeve.\n\n“Shouldn’t you be at school?” \n\n“I… I was going... but those bigger boys started chasing me and… and..”\n\nCaleb furrowed his brow at that. Memories came flooding back of his own time as a young boy, bullied every day. Not to mention his previous nightmare… Nobody in the world to care about his well being. The wolf wasn’t sure the boy was exactly uncared about. His hair was neat if just a little wet, and his clothes didn’t exactly look like they came from a poor family. Honestly… the boy was kind of cute. Though, to bullies he knew that the smaller, and more innocent looking, the easier the target. Caleb couldn’t stand the thought of it.\n\n“Where is your school?” Caleb asked.\n\n“I-It’s only down the street, b-but I’m probably late now… A-and what if those two are still out there?”\n\nCaleb thought long and hard for a moment. Did he really want to get involved in this? Who was this kid to him even? But those thoughts didn’t seem to matter; the more he thought of the little pom getting hurt or taken advantage of, the more pissed off it made him. Something in his gut told him he couldn’t let such a young boy get hurt like that. \n\nAfter all, it was the act of bullies that took their games a step too far that made Caleb into what he was now, and it absolutely sickened him to his stomach.\n\n“Hmm… Well, come on then.” Caleb said standing up.\n\n“H-huh?” River squeaked, wiping his eyes as he looked up to the wolf.\n\nCaleb smiled and turned towards the alleyway. He held his paw down to River.\n\n“Let’s get you to school. I’ll make sure those jerks don’t bother you.”\n\nRiver’s young eyes widened. He hesitated before taking the adults paw, but the moment he did, the boy smiled for the first time in front of Caleb. The wolf’s heart leapt in his chest in a way he couldn’t explain seeing the kid smiling for something he was doing. Clearing his throat, Caleb started to lead the pup by the hand down the alleyway, before turning onto the sidewalk.\n\nIt didn’t take terribly long for them to reach the boy’s school. They stepped inside the front door of the building and he let go of little River’s hand. River watched as the wolf went to the counter.\n\n“Uh… Hey. I think this kid needs to get to class?” Caleb asked awkwardly, knowing full well he didn’t look like River’s parent. In fact he probably looked like shit, some shady scarred wolf with a bloody nose bring in some kid. The lady behind the counter raised an eyebrow and looked over the desk.\n\n“Oh, yes, he’s one of our students. You can go to class, River.”\n\n“T-thank you!” River squeaked as he nodded quickly and took off down the hallway.\n\nCaleb watched River take off, smiling a bit as the boy turned halfway and waved frantically. Somehow, Caleb had the feeling that ‘Thank you.’ wasn’t for the lady behind the desk.\n\n“And who are you?” She asked, her eyebrows still raised suspiciously.\n\n“Oh… Doesn’t matter. The kid was chased into my backyard by some bigger kids and they were bullying him. I scared them off and just wanted to get the little guy back to school safely…” Caleb said averting his eyes from the suspicious look he was getting.\n\nInstead, the front desk lady’s eyes changed to surprise. \n\n“He was being bullied? I see… Well, that’s very kind of you, sir. I’ll make sure to let his teacher know to excuse his tardiness. I know River is a good boy and was wondering why Attendance said he was absent.”\n\n“Oh, well… Good. I guess. Haha… Great!” Caleb said, not knowing what else he could say. He wasn't much of a talker. Hell, the dried blood on his nose from the previous night could attest to that. He was at least happy that the little pup wasn’t going to be in trouble. Regardless he had done his job, so he turned to face the door.\n\n“Well, have a good one, miss.” \n\n“Hold on a moment.”\n\n‘Ah shit, here we go...’ Caleb thought, expecting to be berated or told off for being some kinda creep or some shit… again.\n\n “I want you to know that what you did was very sweet.” The lady said with a smile.\n\nCaleb stopped. Did he hear that right?\n\n“H-huh?”\n\n“Not many adults would go out of their way to help a child in need to such an extent. The fact you prevented a situation that could have escalated to who knows what is commendable. Bullying is a very serious issue, after all.”\n\nCaleb was quiet for a moment as he held the door open to leave. He turned with a solemn look on his face as he looked at the lady from the corner of his scarred eye.\n\n“I know…” He muttered as he went out the door.\n\n----------------------------------------\n\n“What a way to start a week…” Caleb sighed as he opened the door leading to his backyard. The wolf rubbed his forehead, nursing the last remnants of his hangover as he inspected the holes in his fence that the boys from before escaped through. \n\n“Time for some new fencing I guess. ” Caleb sighed as he grabbed a tape measure and went to work. He looked over to the rusted playset, a broken down memory of his childhood. Ever since he inherited his mother’s house, he never did anything with it.\n\n“Hmm. Maybe it’s time to get rid of that thing too… First thing’s first though.”\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nDays passed. Monday to Friday he worked on the old rusted fence, replacing segments of broken chain links with new rolls he purchased from the local hardware store. Thankfully the weather held up all week, staying sunny while he worked. It was nice enough even for a few cold ones during the day, though perhaps having a few too many at night. Nobody ever said he was good at learning from his mistakes after all.\n\nFinally Saturday arrived. He stepped out into the yard and admired his week’s work, reveling in a rare sense of accomplishment in the morning sun. He looked at the rusty playset again.\n\n“Guess that’s the next project…” Caleb said to himself as he grabbed a wrench.\n\nJust then he caught a glimpse of something by the alleyway, just as it ducked out of view. Maybe he imagined it, but it looked very familiar. Just as he was about to turn back to the playset he saw it peek out once more. Staring back at him was a familiar young pomeranian pup with blonde hair and floppy little ears, hiding behind the wall rather poorly. \n\n“Ya can come out, kid. I see you over there.” Caleb called, making the boy duck back for only a moment, only to slowly step out into view. He was dressed for the sunny weather, a pair of low cut boyish shorts he was probably outgrowing and a colorful t-shirt with a cartoon printed across the front that Caleb didn’t recognize.\n\n“A-are you gonna get rid of the jungle gym?” River squeaked.\n\n“Hm? Yeah. It’s old and rusty. I honestly shoulda taken it down years ago, someone could get seriously hurt on this thing.”\n\n“B-but I like it!” The pup protested, looking quite sad.\n\n“Huh? What do you mean? It’s not like you’ve been on it before.”\n\n“Well I…” River started, looking down at the ground with his hands behind his back as if he did something wrong. “This is where I go to play… a-and hide from the mean kids.”\n\n“Hm? You mean all this time you’ve been hiding and playing around in my backyard?” Caleb asked in confusion, wondering how he never noticed the pup in his backyard before.\n\n“I-I only found it a few weeks ago! I thought it was just a playground nobody went to any more. I’m sorry!” River said frantically.\n\n“Hey! Hey! It’s alright! I’m not mad or anything. Relax!” Caleb said quickly before the kid started to cry or have a panic attack.\n\nHe took a long look at the old decrepit gym and back to the young pup he had saved, thinking back to his own childhood where places to hide and play and just be a kid were practically nonexistent, save for this playset. Memories of times he spent alone on the now broken swing, or hiding under the slide after the fleeting moments of play on the set lost his interest. Maybe he could do something to make this place mean something to someone else, just as it used to when he was little. \n\n“Hmm… Well I can’t let you play on this thing… It’s dangerous. I mean you could get hurt on some of this stuff.”\n\n“B-but-!”\n\n“Lemme finish.” Caleb said with a soft smile. “Now what if instead I fixed it up? Then you can come by and play on it whenever you like.”\n\nRiver looked stunned, his sky blue eyes wide and his curly little tail started to wag.\n\n“R-really!?” He yipped excitedly. \n\n“Heh... Yeah, kid~ I got nothin’ better to do anyway.” He chuckled, tussling the pup’s hair. \n\nIt was true. The wolf didn’t really have much better to do. He didn’t have a job yet as he was mostly spending his inheritance from his mother’s passing on rent, food, and booze. This seemed like a better use of time than going out and getting wasted every weekend, especially if it gave this kid a place where he could feel safe like he never could when he was his age.\n\n“Yaaaay! Thank you!” River cheered as he flung himself forward and hugged the man around his waist, nearly knocking him over.\n\nThere it was again, that warmth as the boy hugged him for the second time now. What was this? This strange feeling of butterflies in the pit of his stomach. He looked down at the boy nuzzling his hip, and placed a hesitant hand on his blonde head with a nervous laugh.\n\n“H-hey, easy bud!” Caleb chuckled. \n\n“I can’t wait! Heeeee!” River cheered, practically bouncing with excitement.\n\nEventually Caleb managed to pry the pup off of him, though he didn’t exactly fight too hard.\n\n“Tell ya what, you come back next weekend and it should be ready for you, all right?” Caleb smiled at the cub.\n\n“Promise?” River said with his tail wagging a mile a minute.\n\n“Haha, promise.” \n\n----------------------------------------\n\nAs he watched River finally disappear back down the alleyway and return home, he turned back to the playset with wrench in hand.\n\n“Well… Looks like I’ve got some work to do.” Caleb laughed as he brought the wrench to a single loose bolt and began to tighten it. As he started to work he realized something, a tightness in his jeans. He looked down, a bulge formed at the front of the pants.\n\n“What the…?” Caleb muttered, staring at it for a few moments. His thoughts drifted back to River and the warmth he felt as the boy had hugged him. He felt his cheeks redden, and the feeling made his hair stand on end. He shook the thought from his head quickly. \n\n“N-no. Must be just a random one…” He said to himself, trying to ignore the tightness as he went back to work on the old jungle gym.\n\nEvery day for the next week, just as he had done with the fence, he spent fixing up the playset. Every loose bolt tightened. Every bent bar set back into place or straightened as best he could. All the rust and sharp pieces sanded down and painted over to be safe again. He didn’t want to just get a new playset, he wanted to restore the playground that was his backyard to at least a fraction of its former glory. Even the swingset had been fixed, as well as a few minor additions thrown in like a set of old tires with their rims still in as stepping blocks in the places where the ground was uneven and would pool when it rained. Caleb didn’t even drink as he worked. In fact, he realized he hadn’t drank a single beer or touched a drop of liquor in the week he spent working on the area.\n\nFinally, it was Saturday once again. \n\nCaleb stood outside his door, admiring the product of his labor. There it was, the backyard haven he had grown up with. It wasn’t perfect, but it was at least safe and looked damn good if he said so himself. He smiled, leaning back in his chair. However that smile turned to disappointment as he stared up at the grey clouds above. They seemed to be closing in, but for now, the last beam of sunlight shining through highlighted the playground in all its glory.\n\nCaleb stared at the alleyway, expecting River to come around that corner at any moment. However, half an hour passed without sign of the boy. The wolf sighed, realizing that River may have forgotten, or just couldn’t come out with the coming rain.\n\nIt was then Caleb’s ears perked up, as curiously peering around the corner he watched River, dressed in yellow raincoat and boots appeared. It seemed rain or shine, the pup wasn’t going to miss it for the world. River’s eyes were wide with awe and his mouth hung in a happy open mouthed smiled seeing the newly repaired playground. Caleb smiled, the boy’s reaction worth every painstaking moment he spent in that last week and more.\n\nRiver ran up to the playset, eyes glittering in uncontainable childish joy. Caleb stood up, walking over to the playset as the excited puppy climbed up and began exploring every inch of the jungle gym. The boy laughed as he spun the captain’s wheel inside, climbed a rope to the next level, slid down the newly installed slide and hopped across the tires. Caleb could only sit back in the grass and watch as the pup played for what felt like ages, silent as River did what he never felt he truly could…\n\nSimply be a kid.\n\n----------------------------------------\n\nSoon enough, the last rays of sunlight faded, and with them came the rain. Drops started to fall one by one, until it began to pour. Caleb had moved into the jungle gym, sitting under the plastic cover above to get away from the rain. River sat beside him, tuckered out and giggling with glee. The wolf smiled, reaching over and tussling the little pup’s slightly damp hair softly.\n\n“I take it you like it, heheh~” Caleb grinned.\n\n“Mhm!” River grinned, showing a missing tooth. \n\n“Heh, cute.” Caleb said smiling, at least until he realized what he said. The comment felt out of character for him. He couldn’t even imagine why he had said it. The wolf didn’t have time to dwell however as he felt a pair of thin arms around his neck and a wagging little tail battering his forearm.\n\nRiver hugged Caleb once again, shifting to the man’s front. Caleb’s eyes widened, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks as the small boy’s chest met his in the embrace. He couldn’t explain why his arms reacted the way they did in that moment, embracing the kid in a full bodied hug. His heart pounded in his chest, faster and faster.\n\n“I love it so much, hehee!” River said happily into the adult wolf’s ear. “Did you mean it? Can I really come back anytime I want?”\n\nCaleb struggled to even find the words to respond for a split second, nearly paralyzed in the boy’s arms.\n\n“O-of course, little guy! It’s why I did all this after all.” Caleb could hear the boy’s ecstatic giggling right in his ear. It must have been like christmas to him.\n\nHe gently rubbed up and down the pup’s back, the warm embrace was so comforting… Neither of them pulled away, not even River who seemed to have nestled in quite comfortably, turning the simple hug into a cuddle. Caleb couldn’t tell if his heart was going to burst or melt. The kid was cute he had to admit, and unreasonably cuddly. It was then he felt it… that tightness in his jeans that grew more and more uncomfortable with every second. He let out a shaky breath, finding his rubbing paw had drifted slightly lower down to the small of the pup’s back.\n\n‘What the hell am I doing…? He’s just a kid! I can’t have these feelings for him, it’s… not right!’ Caleb’s thoughts screamed, but his body and his heart had their own plans as he found himself unable to stop from further lowering his hand. His fingers trembled as slowly… slowly they lowered, until they passed the boy’s tail and rubbed across one round cheek of River’s rear. Every alarm in his head rang out the moment he felt his paw cup the boy’s bottom, and yet he couldn’t pull away.\n\nRiver didn’t seem to even react to the touch, but he was certain the boy could feel his heartbeat with how hard it pounded in his chest. It was nearly deafening as he heard it in his ears. His paw rubbed there softly, and River started to wiggle, giggling at the tickly feeling on his bottom. Caleb’s hand went even further. Giving the small globe a gentle squeeze. This made River yip in surprise, making the boy release his hug and spin around, falling back first across the wolf's lap in a laughing fit.\n\n\"Heheehahaha! That tickles mister! Sto-ho-hooop~!\" River laughed, wiggling in Caleb's lap making the tightness in his jeans no better. His little butt must have been extremely ticklish to have warranted such a reaction.\n\n\"H-heh, s-sorry, lil guy…\" Caleb nervously chuckled, the beating in his ears nearly able to drown out the sound of the rain pattering against the plastic roof above them. His paw came to rest again, now on River's belly as it began to rub once more. That curly tail began to wag between the boys legs from the belly rubs. He looked down to see those happy blue eyes piercing through his soul, like little crystal pools of water glistening with childish admiration and innocence. He didn't even notice as his fingers slowly unbuttoned the boy's raincoat one button at a time. \n\nEach came free easily, until the yellow rubber garment lay splayed open showing the familiar cartoonish t-shirt underneath. His fingers traced up and down the puppy's young belly, messing up the little shirt as he gently scratched the soft tummy underneath with his fingertips. River seemed to melt in the man's grip, his tail wagging faster. His small leg kicked a bit, which Caleb couldn't help but snicker at.\n\n\"That feels reeeally good, mister… Rrrf… M-mmm…\" River mewled, closing his eyes.\n\nWatching the pup melt under his touch only urged his hand on. Bravely as he scritched the boy's belly he snuck his paw down, his fingers tugging up the bottom of the small shirt. He dragged the garment up, revealing the creamy tan belly fur beneath. Caleb ran his fingers through the thin, silky fluff, shuddering as the warmth of River's bare stomach met his fingertips.\n\nRiver only seemed to slump further, his tail wagging miles faster with the large paw stroking his naked belly. Caleb couldn't believe he wasn’t even remotely freaking out. Perhaps his parents never taught him about stranger danger… Or maybe the kid just was enjoying the feeling too much to care. Maybe… Just maybe he could press his luck…\n\nCaleb's right hand slid down River's belly, venturing lower and lower. The wolf couldn't keep his hands from trembling as his fingertips met the clasp holding the buttoned shorts on the pup's waist. His left hand distracted the boy with gentle belly rubs as he took the biggest risk of his life and did what he knew he would never be able to take back… \n\nThe little button snapped free, making River stop as he looked down to see the paw that just unfastened his shorts. Caleb tensed up expecting River to freak out or run away at any moment, and the next he'd be in jail…\n\n\"Mister…? Why did you unbutton my shorts?\" River asked, peeking up at the wolf.\n\nCaleb didn't even have an answer, he knew what he was doing was wrong by moral standards. He couldn't think. He had to say something! Finally, resigning himself to his fate, he decided that he had to show the boy how he felt, and whatever the consequences of his actions came later he would gladly accept them…\n\n\"I… I wanna show you something… Something special. Is… Is this okay…?\" Caleb asked him.\n\n\"I… I dunno… Mama said that I shouldn't let people touch me around there...\" River said, shifting nervously.\n\n\"Y-yeah… You shouldn't if you aren't comfortable…\" The wolf said, using every ounce of willpower he had to not continue with his hand so close to the kid's crotch.\n\n\"Well… I…\" River shifted, his young cheeks blushing softly. He nervously fiddled with his fingers, indecisive.\n\nCaleb bit his lip. The strain in his jeans was unbearable, but deep down, he knew he wouldn't be able to go through with this if the pup said he wasn't comfortable. He decided to let the final decision be up to the River. \n\n\"Do you trust me…?\" Caleb whispered, gently taking the boy's zipper.\n\nRiver stared down at the large fingers gripping the little metal zipper. Caleb's left hand could feel the pup's heartbeat with how close it lay across his young chest. It was racing nearly as fast as his… \n\nThere was a moment of silence, deafening the rain, the pulse of his heart, everything as if time was standing still… until River gave one definitive nod in answer, and Caleb felt every inch of the fur on his neck stand on end. He smiled nervously, giving the young puppy a few gentle strokes along his naked chest beneath the shirt.\n\n\"Okay… Just relax for me then, little guy…\" Caleb cooed softly, holding the boy carefully to his chest as he finally drew down the tiny zipper. “If you want me to stop, just tell me…”\n\nThe front of the shorts came open as they unzipped. With a gentle tug he nudged the shorts loose from River's waist, and felt his member throb in his pants seeing the adorably colorful kid's cartoon printed undies come into view. He drew the shorts down only to the boy's knees, keeping them only just out of the way. For a moment he admired the boy's body, shirt pulled up and shorts pulled down, naked tummy and thighs exposed to the cool damp air. The cute and colorful briefs contrasted the dark grey of the rainy playground, hugging his young crotch tight enough he could see the small bump at the front that hid River's boyhood.\n\nCaleb’s paw moved between the pup's legs, making River gasp and blush as the large paw cupped his much smaller package. Gently he groped, feeling the boy's bits just beneath the fabric. He couldn't believe what he was doing or how it could have possibly led to this, but here he was… molesting some kid he had only met a week prior. No… Molesting felt too hostile… What he felt was different. Selfless. Deep down he didn’t even care about himself in this situation, that much he realized… It was River’s happiness was the only thing that mattered. \n\nHis thumb hooked the waistband of the small garment. Caleb held his breath, his heart practically in his throat as he tugged the boy’s underwear from his hips. His breath wavered, watching the pup’s creamy tan colored privates come into view, solidifying the boy’s fur was the same color throughout, save for his light blonde hair. His penis rested flaccid atop his round fuzzy scrotum. River tensed up, his cheeks a rosey pink now that he was exposed from the waist down. \n\n“Still okay, buddy?” Caleb spoke softly, letting his hand rest just on River’s lower belly, caressing the soft thin fur as comfortingly as he could.\n\n“Uh… Uh-huh…” River confirmed nervously.\n\n“All right. Now like I said, just relax for me, buddy…”\n\n“O-okay…” \n\nCaleb held the boy tight to his chest, one hand softly rubbing his young chest in a comforting fashion, as ever so slowly his other hand lowered, fingers gently dragging through his tummy fur. The wolf’s fingers made their way across his pubic mound, and finally, his fingertips met the boy’s private area. Caleb let out a trembling breath as his hand now held River’s naked penis and balls, to which River squirmed slightly out of timid shyness. River bravely opened his legs, though only slightly with the shorts around his knees keeping them from spreading very far. What little space Caleb got at that moment was plenty, as he began to tenderly fondle and play with the small member.\n\nInspecting the boy’s penis in his fingers, he gently rubbed the tight foreskin, tugging and kneading it playfully between his fingertips. Caleb kept his eyes on River’s reactions, in case he was getting skittish or uncomfortable. However, River’s eyes seemed to be focused on the paw fondling him, wide with timid curiosity. He started to rub the soft skin up and down, and within moments he could feel it beginning to stiffen, to which River gasped. The young rod swelled little by little in his large paw, until it finally stood straight up from River’s groin.\n\n“W-why’s it all pokey like that?” River gasped, plainly never having seen his penis erect before.\n\n“Huh…? O-oh. Well…” Caleb’s face was burning now. “It’s… what your thing does when you… uh... like something.” He explained, though he had to admit that was probably the most vague answer he could have come up with.\n\n“Is it… supposed to do that?” River asked meekly, holding out a finger and poking an exposed area of his erection, which Caleb adjusted his fingers to allow.\n\n“Heh. Yeah don’t worry… It’s perfectly normal. See? Mine’s like that too…” Caleb whispered as he shifted his hips under the pup, grinding the rock hard bulge slightly against his young rear. River blushed, feeling the mound under him throb.\n\n“D-does that mean you like me, mister?” River squeaked, those beautiful blue eyes meeting his beneath that little head of sunny blond hair.\n\nCaleb felt his heart skip a beat. His face was so very close to River’s own. He leaned in, feeling as if he could kiss the boy in that moment. However, he quickly reminded himself of his situation, and placed a kiss atop the boy’s head instead.\n\n“Mhm… I like you a lot, River…” Caleb smiled as he slowly began to stroke the stiff little rod in his paw.\n\nRiver let out a soft gasp, his toes curling within his yellow rain boots as the tickly feeling of the rubbing sent new sensations through his body. Caleb nuzzled the boy’s cheek, the paw on the boy’s chest finding one small nub beneath his chest fur and beginning to tease and circle the little nipple. He closed his hand around the warm erection, hiding it completely as he started to pump his balled fist up and down around it. The boy trembled in his grip watching his penis being stroked, and soon enough Caleb heard a soft whimper of pleasure escape River’s lips.\n\nRiver’s eyes were half lidded, his soft breathing escalating the longer he watched Caleb’s paw jerk his cubhood. The little rod twitched in his hand, reacting to the natural instinctive feeling of something tight and warm sliding up and down. He picked up the pace, teasing River’s nipple and stroking him off faster and faster with every passing minute. After nearly five minutes, he could feel River’s hips starting to shift, obviously wanting to naturally thrust, but his naive little body was unable to grasp the concept yet. He could feel the boy’s foreskin slipping over the pink little glans in his palm, each time it went further, making River shudder and whimper more.\n\nBefore long, River was panting and whining quietly, eyes closed as his balled fist pumped faster and faster. The little rod pulsed in his palm desperately, and the boy’s squirming was becoming erratic. Caleb knew what was coming as he held the whimpering pup tighter, pinching his other nipple and building his strokes to a firm rhythm. \n\n“Uh…! Hnnn… M-mister…! I-It feels funny! I think I... g-gotta go pee!” River panted hotly, his breath appearing in the cold air.\n\n“Don’t worry… It’s alright. Trust me, lil guy… Just let it out.” Caleb whispered, reveling in the child’s reactions to the all new feelings of pleasure. He felt something inside him welling up as well, biting his lip as the pup’s squirming bottom rubbed the front of his pants. \n\n‘Oh god… Can’t take it… I think… I’m gonna…!’ Caleb thought to himself as the pressure mounted to the very edge.\n\n“I… I…! Nnnnnnnhh!!!” River mewled, his hips pushing up into the man’s paw in desperation.\n\nIt was then River let out a yip of surprise, followed by a series of high pitched boyish whines and mewls, his small hips spasming suddenly as it happened. Caleb could feel it in his hand as River writhed in his arms as his very first orgasm wracked his young body. The pup’s boyhood throbbed and pulsed frantically in his large paw as his stroking came to a halt against the boy’s mound, tugging the tight foreskin over his underdeveloped glans. Caleb couldn’t take it any longer, the feeling of sending River over the edge in turn sent him over too. \n\nCaleb moaned into River’s ear, grinding his clothed erection against the boy’s naked rear as his orgasm took over, coating the inside of his underwear in thick spurts of warm cum. His paw tightened in reaction, in turn making the pup shudder heavily as the tightness on his young twitching erection made the pleasure of his climax even more intense. The two moaned out into the pouring rain, their bodies rubbing against one another until their climaxes eventually subsided, leaving the wolf and young pup gasping for breath, the heat of the air escaping their muzzles leaving wisps of mist in their wake.\n\nMinutes passed in silence. Caleb lay with his eyes closed, simply holding the boy in his arms in a hug. River was small enough to feel like a teddy bear in comparison to him, and he nuzzled softly into the boy’s hair without thinking, simply acting due to being lost in the afterglow. He breathed in deeply, taking in the pup’s scent. His hands gently returned to loving rubs across the boy’s belly and chest. For the first time in years, Caleb felt an emotion he long since thought he had lost… love. Of course, as all things in his life, all good things must come to an end…\n\nCaleb reached down and grabbed River’s underwear that lay drawn down around his thighs, and gently pulled them up snug over his once naked crotch, snugly covering his bits. He did the same with River’s shorts, his fingers beginning to tremble for a different reason as he zipped and buttoned them back up as well as tugged the boy’s shirt down leaving the young pomsky fully dressed. The wolf sighed somberly, feeling tears welling up as he held River. He knew what he had done, and was fully willing to accept the consequences. \n\nAs if on queue, there they were… The sirens of authorities coming down the street, wailing a cry he only knew was a matter of time before they came after him for doing something he would regret. Perhaps someone heard them or saw them… It was over for him. He was certain of it. But at least he was able to spend his last minutes of freedom with the boy he had only met last week, the first person he ever felt even a twinge of affection for… Closer, closer… The sirens were in his ears, and he grit his teeth.\n\n“M-Mister?” River suddenly spoke up, breaking the wolf out of his state just as the sirens passed them, continuing down the street. Caleb’s heart was pounding a mile a minute even as he heard the siren grew quieter with every passing second. \n\nHe looked down to the blonde puppy, his little crystal blue eyes filled with concern.\n\n“What’s wrong, mister…? Why are you crying?” River asked worriedly.\n\nCaleb wiped his eyes, still in disbelief as the sirens faded to silence, leaving only the soft patter of raindrops on metal and plastic around them.\n\n“It’s… It’s nothing… Nothing at all…” Caleb said quietly as he looked down at the concerned pup.\n\n“I… Um… T-that felt really really funny, mister! What just happened? Why did my thing get like that? Can we do it again!? Can we-” \n\n“R-River! Just… hang on for a second, okay?” Caleb stopped the boy before he was drowned in a sea of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.\n\n“Oh… K-kay.” River squeaked, piping down obediently.\n\nCaleb took a moment to collect his thoughts, taking a deep breath.\n\n“How about we save the questions for later? I promise to answer them all, just… not right now.” Caleb said, hoping this would give him some time to think.\n\n“Um. Okays… Can I come back tomorrow, mister?”\n\nCaleb took a breath, then swallowed, and then finally smiled softly at the little Pomeranian boy who now held his heart captive. River deserved to know all the answers to the questions his act had put in the boy’s head.\n\n“...I did say you could come here anytime you wanted, didn’t I? Heh…” Caleb smiled, patting River’s head affectionately.\n\nRiver’s face lit up in a big smile, giggling as his curly tail began to wag once more.\n\n“Okay! Um… What’s your name mister wuff?” River asked, his eyes wide and curious.\n\n“Er… Let’s not worry about that… I think ‘Mister Wuff’ will do just fine, for now, eheheh.” Caleb said, wanting to keep some form of anonymity in case the boy let something slip. “Look, buddy. What we did just now… I could get in a lot of trouble if anyone finds out we did that. Can you keep a secret? I’ll tell you why as well… some other time, all right?”\n\nRiver looked confused, plainly not fully understanding. Regardless, the pup nodded in agreement.\n\n“Okay, I promise!” River smiled.\n\nSuddenly the young puppy hopped up on his knees, threw his little arms around the adult wolf’s neck, and even placed a little kiss on his cheek. Caleb’s face went crimson in an instant, and he swore his pulse stopped for half a second. River hopped up to his feet, his paws behind his back as he looked down at the still sitting Caleb with a bashfully shy smile. He turned, running at the slide and laughing gleefully as he slid down the wet metal sheet, splashing into a puddle at the bottom. River turned, his legs soaking wet, waving a big full swinging wave only a cub like him could look so adorable doing.\n\n“Bye bye, Mister Wuff! I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” River called at the opening of the alley.\n\nCaleb finally broke free of his paralysis, looking at River waving at him. God he was so cute… Dressed up and smiling bright like a little sunshine in the falling rain.\n\n“Yeah… Promise~” Caleb finally smiled, waving back.\n\nWith a last cheerful grin, River took off down the path.\n\nCaleb took a long heavy breath, and stood. The wolf made his way to his back door and went inside. He realized he had left the television on earlier judging from the sounds of the local weather report on the news playing from the living room.\n\n“-and now for our weekly forecast! Local pressure systems will be moving in over the course of the week, with a high chance of thunderstorms this coming weekend. Be sure to bring your umbrellas this week and keep dry! Temperatures will be in the hi-...”\n\n“Thunderstorms, huh? Lovely.” Caleb said to himself as he grabbed the very last cold beer from the door of the mini-fridge beside his couch. He popped open the brew and brought the bottle to his lips, the first drink of alcohol he had in a solid week. However… Just as the bottle touched his lips, he thought of River. The wolf stared at the glass bottle for what felt like forever. He finally stood up and walked into the bathroom and looked at the man staring back at him in the mirror, then back to the beer in his hand. \n\n“...Heh~” \n\n...was the only thing that escaped his lips as he poured the alcohol out, and watched the liquid disappear down the drain with a somber smile.\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Ripples in the Rain
Sunshower


“Gah, fuck!” Caleb yelled as the bouncer tossed him from the doorway of the bar, down onto the cold concrete of the sidewalk.

“Get lost, buddy! I don’t care how drunk yeh are, this is a bar, not a stripclub. Go get some tail elsewhere!” The bouncer snarled as he slammed the door behind him.

Caleb wiped the blood from his nose from the impact with the ground, giving the bouncer a sneer as he left.

“Asshole. How was I s-supposed... *hic* ...ta know she was the manager, when she was dressed like a stripper?” Caleb grumbled, spitting a bloody wad at the door in spite.

The young wolf got to his feet with a bit of effort, the alcohol making the world spin around him. He trudged down the sidewalk, not giving two shits about the onlookers who watched him get thrown on his ass. Some snickered. Some tried to avoid eye contact with him entirely. Luckily, the wolf knew his way home even while completely wasted.

The nightlife around him swirled faster the longer he walked. It made him dizzy. Caleb groaned, realizing that maybe that last drink was one too many. That feeling welling in his gut finally caught up to him. He ducked into an alleyway, practically crashing into the dumpster that he used to hold himself up as he vomited up the liquor in his stomach. He gasped and coughed, spitting out the taste and gritting his teeth.

“Urrgh… Burns just as bad as it did going down…” He grumbled, backing up against the opposite wall and slumping down to the cold ground. A puddle beside him caught his reflection, and he leaned down to the wolf staring back at him from the water.

“Look at you… What a lowlife… *hic* Bloody nose. Puke on your mouth. An ugly ass scar over your eye… Bet your reeeeal proud of yourself, huh?” Caleb scoffed drunkenly at his reflection. “Who would ever give a single fuck about you? Tch…”

The wolf leaned back, resting his head against the brick wall as he turned his gaze from the pathetic looking man judging him in the puddle. He stared up at the dark and stormy clouds gathering overhead as a low rumble of thunder echoed within the roiling mass. It was definitely going to storm soon. Caleb let out a sigh, watching the shifting clouds above him swirl about. Or maybe that was just the booze…

“...What the hell is wrong with me…?” Caleb muttered under his breath. His eyes were heavy and even though he knew he was so close to home, he didn’t care to move. What time was it…? It felt like hours since he had been thrown out of the bar. Probably getting close to morning… He finally let himself lose consciousness just as the first few droplets of cool rain fell on his face.

----------------------------------------

“What a loser!” The older boy’s voice echoed.

“Teach him his place, guys!” Another boy’s voice echoed, sneering and malicious.

Caleb’s eyes snapped open, his heart racing as the situation set in. The group of older and much bulkier boys stood over him, the biggest in the center holding him up by his collar. His feet were off the ground, kicking helplessly as he struggled to get free of the boy’s grasp.

“Let me go! Please!! LET ME GO!” Caleb cried, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I didn’t mean it! I’ll never do it again!”

“Shut up, twerp! You shoulda kept your mouth shut and just let us have our way with your friend. Now we gotta make an example of why you don’t stick your nose where it don’t belong!” One of the surrounding boys snapped, shutting Caleb up into a fit of whimpers and sobs.

A sharp yelp escaped his lips as the bully holding him threw him back, the back of his head colliding with the rocky ground sending his vision reeling. He felt the warmth of something trickling down the back of his head... The world went hazy, the boys in front of him becoming blurry silhouettes. The middle silhouette reached down and picked up something large. It looked jagged and sharp.

“No… p-please… please…” Caleb sobbed with what little energy he could muster, trembling as the silhouette loomed closer.

“Where’s your friend to save YOU, huh? Nowhere. And now you’re gonna take the punishment for him, with interest!” The main boy’s cruel voice echoed above him.

The other boy’s voices became garbled. Muffled. Caleb could only make out that one of the other bullies was cheering the boy with the sharp object on, while another seemed to be trying to tell him that what they were going too far, only to be silenced with a snap from the leader.

The silhouette above him loomed until it was all he could see, the jagged object dangerously close to his face near his right eye.

“No…! No, please! Stop! Leave me alone! Someone help me!!” Caleb cried, struggling with every ounce of his strength as the arm reached back with the object, prepared to strike.

“STOOOOOOOOOOP!!!”

----------------------------------------

“GAAAH!” Caleb shouted out as he snapped back to consciousness, his heart pounding a mile a minute. He was soaking wet, the overnight rainstorm having drenched him thoroughly. He brought his hand to his right eye, touching the scar gashed across it.

“What was that!?” A hushed child’s voice exclaimed, making Caleb’s ear twitch to attention.

Caleb looked at his surroundings, finding himself in the alley leading to his backyard. The wolf winced as the throbbing pain of the hangover finally kicked in. He brought a hand up to his aching head with a groan. Did he just imagine that voice? More importantly… Did he really just sleep outside all night in the rain? Truly this had to be rock bottom...

 “Stop! Leave me alone! Someone help me!! Please!!” A younger voice cried out.

“Shut up, kid! Or I’ll make you! Now gimme any money you got for lunch, I know you have some!” A different boy’s voice this time.

Caleb was now certain he didn’t imagine that. Who the hell was in his backyard!? Whatever it was didn’t sound good. The wolf struggled as he used a loose brick jutting from the wall to get to his feet. Stumbling, he made his way down the alley towards the sounds of the struggle. He turned the corner and he saw what was going on. There in the middle of his backyard was a small pomeranian boy dressed in an all yellow raincoat. The kid was cornered against the old rusted playset by a pair of older boys; a chunky looking black bear boy and a skinny looking skunk that clearly were not friends with the small boy.

Just as one of the young bullies reared his leg back, ready to kick the young puppy, Caleb dashed around the corner into the yard with anger in his eyes.

“Hey!! You little shits get the fuck away from him!” Caleb shouted, making all three boys jump. The two would-be bullies turned instantly as the wolf ran towards them, fear in their eyes.

“Oh shit! Run! RUN!” The bear shouted as he started to sprint, tripping over his own two feet as he scrambled to get away. The skunk boy was paralyzed with fear for a moment like a deer in the headlights, until his body finally reacted and took off with his cohort.

“Get the fuck out and if I ever see you shits in my yard again you’re DEAD! YOU HEAR ME!?” Caleb yelled at the top of his lungs, sending the two hooligans sprinting for their lives.

With a snarl and gritted teeth Caleb watched them take off through a hole in the fence on the other side of his backyard. The wolf immediately made a mental note that he had to cover that hole in the very near future. However, his attention turned to the more pressing matter as he stepped over to the cowering young pup who had taken the opportunity to hide beneath the playset.

Caleb knelt down, placing a hand on the playset as he peered beneath the metal slide. The little boy in the yellow raincoat ducked in further, a whimper escaping him. Caleb’s ears flattened to his head, afraid he may have scared the kid. He had to think of something to help the situation.

“Hey… You can come out, little guy. I’m not gonna hurt you.” Caleb said as calmly as he could despite his adrenaline still racing at the outburst. “I promise you’re safe now. Come on out.”

One tan trembling paw slowly came into view, then one small floppy ear, followed by a pair of timid blue eyes with tear-stained cheeks beneath a yellow hood.

“That’s it, bud. Don’t worry, I don’t bite, heh.” Caleb spoke softly, careful to try and make himself seem as unthreatening as possible.

Caleb watched the boy slowly poke his head out and look around, looking around for any sign of the bullies that attacked him. Seeing they were gone, he turned his attention to Caleb. The pup stepped out from under the playset into view. He looked okay at least, no bruises or cuts, though maybe a bit shaken.

“There ya go, see? I- UFF!” Caleb choked as the blonde pup hugged tight around his neck. Quite hard actually. “W-woah! Hey now, buddy. It's all right…”

“T-thank you! I… I was s-s-so scared…” The pup whimpered through trembling breaths, clutching tighter to his savior.

Caleb hesitated to put his arms around the child, but he slowly did. His paws came to rest on the slick rubber of the yellow raincoat as he hugged the boy. It was a strange feeling, hugging. He couldn’t remember the last time he gave anyone, or anything, a hug for that matter. It felt strange but... pleasant.

The wolf snapped back to reality and slowly tried to pry the boy’s arms from around his neck before the kid choked him to death. He eventually released Caleb, who stayed kneeling for the moment as he rubbed his neck.

“Sheesh, don’t kill me now, kid! What’s your name? How old are you even?” Caleb asked.

“...R-River. I-I’m seven.” He said, wiping his nose with his sleeve.

“Shouldn’t you be at school?”

“I… I was going... but those bigger boys started chasing me and… and..”

Caleb furrowed his brow at that. Memories came flooding back of his own time as a young boy, bullied every day. Not to mention his previous nightmare… Nobody in the world to care about his well being. The wolf wasn’t sure the boy was exactly uncared about. His hair was neat if just a little wet, and his clothes didn’t exactly look like they came from a poor family. Honestly… the boy was kind of cute. Though, to bullies he knew that the smaller, and more innocent looking, the easier the target. Caleb couldn’t stand the thought of it.

“Where is your school?” Caleb asked.

“I-It’s only down the street, b-but I’m probably late now… A-and what if those two are still out there?”

Caleb thought long and hard for a moment. Did he really want to get involved in this? Who was this kid to him even? But those thoughts didn’t seem to matter; the more he thought of the little pom getting hurt or taken advantage of, the more pissed off it made him. Something in his gut told him he couldn’t let such a young boy get hurt like that.

After all, it was the act of bullies that took their games a step too far that made Caleb into what he was now, and it absolutely sickened him to his stomach.

“Hmm… Well, come on then.” Caleb said standing up.

“H-huh?” River squeaked, wiping his eyes as he looked up to the wolf.

Caleb smiled and turned towards the alleyway. He held his paw down to River.

“Let’s get you to school. I’ll make sure those jerks don’t bother you.”

River’s young eyes widened. He hesitated before taking the adults paw, but the moment he did, the boy smiled for the first time in front of Caleb. The wolf’s heart leapt in his chest in a way he couldn’t explain seeing the kid smiling for something he was doing. Clearing his throat, Caleb started to lead the pup by the hand down the alleyway, before turning onto the sidewalk.

It didn’t take terribly long for them to reach the boy’s school. They stepped inside the front door of the building and he let go of little River’s hand. River watched as the wolf went to the counter.

“Uh… Hey. I think this kid needs to get to class?” Caleb asked awkwardly, knowing full well he didn’t look like River’s parent. In fact he probably looked like shit, some shady scarred wolf with a bloody nose bring in some kid. The lady behind the counter raised an eyebrow and looked over the desk.

“Oh, yes, he’s one of our students. You can go to class, River.”

“T-thank you!” River squeaked as he nodded quickly and took off down the hallway.

Caleb watched River take off, smiling a bit as the boy turned halfway and waved frantically. Somehow, Caleb had the feeling that ‘Thank you.’ wasn’t for the lady behind the desk.

“And who are you?” She asked, her eyebrows still raised suspiciously.

“Oh… Doesn’t matter. The kid was chased into my backyard by some bigger kids and they were bullying him. I scared them off and just wanted to get the little guy back to school safely…” Caleb said averting his eyes from the suspicious look he was getting.

Instead, the front desk lady’s eyes changed to surprise.

“He was being bullied? I see… Well, that’s very kind of you, sir. I’ll make sure to let his teacher know to excuse his tardiness. I know River is a good boy and was wondering why Attendance said he was absent.”

“Oh, well… Good. I guess. Haha… Great!” Caleb said, not knowing what else he could say. He wasn't much of a talker. Hell, the dried blood on his nose from the previous night could attest to that. He was at least happy that the little pup wasn’t going to be in trouble. Regardless he had done his job, so he turned to face the door.

“Well, have a good one, miss.”

“Hold on a moment.”

‘Ah shit, here we go...’ Caleb thought, expecting to be berated or told off for being some kinda creep or some shit… again.

 “I want you to know that what you did was very sweet.” The lady said with a smile.

Caleb stopped. Did he hear that right?

“H-huh?”

“Not many adults would go out of their way to help a child in need to such an extent. The fact you prevented a situation that could have escalated to who knows what is commendable. Bullying is a very serious issue, after all.”

Caleb was quiet for a moment as he held the door open to leave. He turned with a solemn look on his face as he looked at the lady from the corner of his scarred eye.

“I know…” He muttered as he went out the door.

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“What a way to start a week…” Caleb sighed as he opened the door leading to his backyard. The wolf rubbed his forehead, nursing the last remnants of his hangover as he inspected the holes in his fence that the boys from before escaped through.

“Time for some new fencing I guess. ” Caleb sighed as he grabbed a tape measure and went to work. He looked over to the rusted playset, a broken down memory of his childhood. Ever since he inherited his mother’s house, he never did anything with it.

“Hmm. Maybe it’s time to get rid of that thing too… First thing’s first though.”

----------------------------------------

Days passed. Monday to Friday he worked on the old rusted fence, replacing segments of broken chain links with new rolls he purchased from the local hardware store. Thankfully the weather held up all week, staying sunny while he worked. It was nice enough even for a few cold ones during the day, though perhaps having a few too many at night. Nobody ever said he was good at learning from his mistakes after all.

Finally Saturday arrived. He stepped out into the yard and admired his week’s work, reveling in a rare sense of accomplishment in the morning sun. He looked at the rusty playset again.

“Guess that’s the next project…” Caleb said to himself as he grabbed a wrench.

Just then he caught a glimpse of something by the alleyway, just as it ducked out of view. Maybe he imagined it, but it looked very familiar. Just as he was about to turn back to the playset he saw it peek out once more. Staring back at him was a familiar young pomeranian pup with blonde hair and floppy little ears, hiding behind the wall rather poorly.

“Ya can come out, kid. I see you over there.” Caleb called, making the boy duck back for only a moment, only to slowly step out into view. He was dressed for the sunny weather, a pair of low cut boyish shorts he was probably outgrowing and a colorful t-shirt with a cartoon printed across the front that Caleb didn’t recognize.

“A-are you gonna get rid of the jungle gym?” River squeaked.

“Hm? Yeah. It’s old and rusty. I honestly shoulda taken it down years ago, someone could get seriously hurt on this thing.”

“B-but I like it!” The pup protested, looking quite sad.

“Huh? What do you mean? It’s not like you’ve been on it before.”

“Well I…” River started, looking down at the ground with his hands behind his back as if he did something wrong. “This is where I go to play… a-and hide from the mean kids.”

“Hm? You mean all this time you’ve been hiding and playing around in my backyard?” Caleb asked in confusion, wondering how he never noticed the pup in his backyard before.

“I-I only found it a few weeks ago! I thought it was just a playground nobody went to any more. I’m sorry!” River said frantically.

“Hey! Hey! It’s alright! I’m not mad or anything. Relax!” Caleb said quickly before the kid started to cry or have a panic attack.

He took a long look at the old decrepit gym and back to the young pup he had saved, thinking back to his own childhood where places to hide and play and just be a kid were practically nonexistent, save for this playset. Memories of times he spent alone on the now broken swing, or hiding under the slide after the fleeting moments of play on the set lost his interest. Maybe he could do something to make this place mean something to someone else, just as it used to when he was little.

“Hmm… Well I can’t let you play on this thing… It’s dangerous. I mean you could get hurt on some of this stuff.”

“B-but-!”

“Lemme finish.” Caleb said with a soft smile. “Now what if instead I fixed it up? Then you can come by and play on it whenever you like.”

River looked stunned, his sky blue eyes wide and his curly little tail started to wag.

“R-really!?” He yipped excitedly.

“Heh... Yeah, kid~ I got nothin’ better to do anyway.” He chuckled, tussling the pup’s hair.

It was true. The wolf didn’t really have much better to do. He didn’t have a job yet as he was mostly spending his inheritance from his mother’s passing on rent, food, and booze. This seemed like a better use of time than going out and getting wasted every weekend, especially if it gave this kid a place where he could feel safe like he never could when he was his age.

“Yaaaay! Thank you!” River cheered as he flung himself forward and hugged the man around his waist, nearly knocking him over.

There it was again, that warmth as the boy hugged him for the second time now. What was this? This strange feeling of butterflies in the pit of his stomach. He looked down at the boy nuzzling his hip, and placed a hesitant hand on his blonde head with a nervous laugh.

“H-hey, easy bud!” Caleb chuckled.

“I can’t wait! Heeeee!” River cheered, practically bouncing with excitement.

Eventually Caleb managed to pry the pup off of him, though he didn’t exactly fight too hard.

“Tell ya what, you come back next weekend and it should be ready for you, all right?” Caleb smiled at the cub.

“Promise?” River said with his tail wagging a mile a minute.

“Haha, promise.”

----------------------------------------

As he watched River finally disappear back down the alleyway and return home, he turned back to the playset with wrench in hand.

“Well… Looks like I’ve got some work to do.” Caleb laughed as he brought the wrench to a single loose bolt and began to tighten it. As he started to work he realized something, a tightness in his jeans. He looked down, a bulge formed at the front of the pants.

“What the…?” Caleb muttered, staring at it for a few moments. His thoughts drifted back to River and the warmth he felt as the boy had hugged him. He felt his cheeks redden, and the feeling made his hair stand on end. He shook the thought from his head quickly.

“N-no. Must be just a random one…” He said to himself, trying to ignore the tightness as he went back to work on the old jungle gym.

Every day for the next week, just as he had done with the fence, he spent fixing up the playset. Every loose bolt tightened. Every bent bar set back into place or straightened as best he could. All the rust and sharp pieces sanded down and painted over to be safe again. He didn’t want to just get a new playset, he wanted to restore the playground that was his backyard to at least a fraction of its former glory. Even the swingset had been fixed, as well as a few minor additions thrown in like a set of old tires with their rims still in as stepping blocks in the places where the ground was uneven and would pool when it rained. Caleb didn’t even drink as he worked. In fact, he realized he hadn’t drank a single beer or touched a drop of liquor in the week he spent working on the area.

Finally, it was Saturday once again.

Caleb stood outside his door, admiring the product of his labor. There it was, the backyard haven he had grown up with. It wasn’t perfect, but it was at least safe and looked damn good if he said so himself. He smiled, leaning back in his chair. However that smile turned to disappointment as he stared up at the grey clouds above. They seemed to be closing in, but for now, the last beam of sunlight shining through highlighted the playground in all its glory.

Caleb stared at the alleyway, expecting River to come around that corner at any moment. However, half an hour passed without sign of the boy. The wolf sighed, realizing that River may have forgotten, or just couldn’t come out with the coming rain.

It was then Caleb’s ears perked up, as curiously peering around the corner he watched River, dressed in yellow raincoat and boots appeared. It seemed rain or shine, the pup wasn’t going to miss it for the world. River’s eyes were wide with awe and his mouth hung in a happy open mouthed smiled seeing the newly repaired playground. Caleb smiled, the boy’s reaction worth every painstaking moment he spent in that last week and more.

River ran up to the playset, eyes glittering in uncontainable childish joy. Caleb stood up, walking over to the playset as the excited puppy climbed up and began exploring every inch of the jungle gym. The boy laughed as he spun the captain’s wheel inside, climbed a rope to the next level, slid down the newly installed slide and hopped across the tires. Caleb could only sit back in the grass and watch as the pup played for what felt like ages, silent as River did what he never felt he truly could…

Simply be a kid.

----------------------------------------

Soon enough, the last rays of sunlight faded, and with them came the rain. Drops started to fall one by one, until it began to pour. Caleb had moved into the jungle gym, sitting under the plastic cover above to get away from the rain. River sat beside him, tuckered out and giggling with glee. The wolf smiled, reaching over and tussling the little pup’s slightly damp hair softly.

“I take it you like it, heheh~” Caleb grinned.

“Mhm!” River grinned, showing a missing tooth.

“Heh, cute.” Caleb said smiling, at least until he realized what he said. The comment felt out of character for him. He couldn’t even imagine why he had said it. The wolf didn’t have time to dwell however as he felt a pair of thin arms around his neck and a wagging little tail battering his forearm.

River hugged Caleb once again, shifting to the man’s front. Caleb’s eyes widened, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks as the small boy’s chest met his in the embrace. He couldn’t explain why his arms reacted the way they did in that moment, embracing the kid in a full bodied hug. His heart pounded in his chest, faster and faster.

“I love it so much, hehee!” River said happily into the adult wolf’s ear. “Did you mean it? Can I really come back anytime I want?”

Caleb struggled to even find the words to respond for a split second, nearly paralyzed in the boy’s arms.

“O-of course, little guy! It’s why I did all this after all.” Caleb could hear the boy’s ecstatic giggling right in his ear. It must have been like christmas to him.

He gently rubbed up and down the pup’s back, the warm embrace was so comforting… Neither of them pulled away, not even River who seemed to have nestled in quite comfortably, turning the simple hug into a cuddle. Caleb couldn’t tell if his heart was going to burst or melt. The kid was cute he had to admit, and unreasonably cuddly. It was then he felt it… that tightness in his jeans that grew more and more uncomfortable with every second. He let out a shaky breath, finding his rubbing paw had drifted slightly lower down to the small of the pup’s back.

‘What the hell am I doing…? He’s just a kid! I can’t have these feelings for him, it’s… not right!’ Caleb’s thoughts screamed, but his body and his heart had their own plans as he found himself unable to stop from further lowering his hand. His fingers trembled as slowly… slowly they lowered, until they passed the boy’s tail and rubbed across one round cheek of River’s rear. Every alarm in his head rang out the moment he felt his paw cup the boy’s bottom, and yet he couldn’t pull away.

River didn’t seem to even react to the touch, but he was certain the boy could feel his heartbeat with how hard it pounded in his chest. It was nearly deafening as he heard it in his ears. His paw rubbed there softly, and River started to wiggle, giggling at the tickly feeling on his bottom. Caleb’s hand went even further. Giving the small globe a gentle squeeze. This made River yip in surprise, making the boy release his hug and spin around, falling back first across the wolf's lap in a laughing fit.

"Heheehahaha! That tickles mister! Sto-ho-hooop~!" River laughed, wiggling in Caleb's lap making the tightness in his jeans no better. His little butt must have been extremely ticklish to have warranted such a reaction.

"H-heh, s-sorry, lil guy…" Caleb nervously chuckled, the beating in his ears nearly able to drown out the sound of the rain pattering against the plastic roof above them. His paw came to rest again, now on River's belly as it began to rub once more. That curly tail began to wag between the boys legs from the belly rubs. He looked down to see those happy blue eyes piercing through his soul, like little crystal pools of water glistening with childish admiration and innocence. He didn't even notice as his fingers slowly unbuttoned the boy's raincoat one button at a time.

Each came free easily, until the yellow rubber garment lay splayed open showing the familiar cartoonish t-shirt underneath. His fingers traced up and down the puppy's young belly, messing up the little shirt as he gently scratched the soft tummy underneath with his fingertips. River seemed to melt in the man's grip, his tail wagging faster. His small leg kicked a bit, which Caleb couldn't help but snicker at.

"That feels reeeally good, mister… Rrrf… M-mmm…" River mewled, closing his eyes.

Watching the pup melt under his touch only urged his hand on. Bravely as he scritched the boy's belly he snuck his paw down, his fingers tugging up the bottom of the small shirt. He dragged the garment up, revealing the creamy tan belly fur beneath. Caleb ran his fingers through the thin, silky fluff, shuddering as the warmth of River's bare stomach met his fingertips.

River only seemed to slump further, his tail wagging miles faster with the large paw stroking his naked belly. Caleb couldn't believe he wasn’t even remotely freaking out. Perhaps his parents never taught him about stranger danger… Or maybe the kid just was enjoying the feeling too much to care. Maybe… Just maybe he could press his luck…

Caleb's right hand slid down River's belly, venturing lower and lower. The wolf couldn't keep his hands from trembling as his fingertips met the clasp holding the buttoned shorts on the pup's waist. His left hand distracted the boy with gentle belly rubs as he took the biggest risk of his life and did what he knew he would never be able to take back…

The little button snapped free, making River stop as he looked down to see the paw that just unfastened his shorts. Caleb tensed up expecting River to freak out or run away at any moment, and the next he'd be in jail…

"Mister…? Why did you unbutton my shorts?" River asked, peeking up at the wolf.

Caleb didn't even have an answer, he knew what he was doing was wrong by moral standards. He couldn't think. He had to say something! Finally, resigning himself to his fate, he decided that he had to show the boy how he felt, and whatever the consequences of his actions came later he would gladly accept them…

"I… I wanna show you something… Something special. Is… Is this okay…?" Caleb asked him.

"I… I dunno… Mama said that I shouldn't let people touch me around there..." River said, shifting nervously.

"Y-yeah… You shouldn't if you aren't comfortable…" The wolf said, using every ounce of willpower he had to not continue with his hand so close to the kid's crotch.

"Well… I…" River shifted, his young cheeks blushing softly. He nervously fiddled with his fingers, indecisive.

Caleb bit his lip. The strain in his jeans was unbearable, but deep down, he knew he wouldn't be able to go through with this if the pup said he wasn't comfortable. He decided to let the final decision be up to the River.

"Do you trust me…?" Caleb whispered, gently taking the boy's zipper.

River stared down at the large fingers gripping the little metal zipper. Caleb's left hand could feel the pup's heartbeat with how close it lay across his young chest. It was racing nearly as fast as his…

There was a moment of silence, deafening the rain, the pulse of his heart, everything as if time was standing still… until River gave one definitive nod in answer, and Caleb felt every inch of the fur on his neck stand on end. He smiled nervously, giving the young puppy a few gentle strokes along his naked chest beneath the shirt.

"Okay… Just relax for me then, little guy…" Caleb cooed softly, holding the boy carefully to his chest as he finally drew down the tiny zipper. “If you want me to stop, just tell me…”

The front of the shorts came open as they unzipped. With a gentle tug he nudged the shorts loose from River's waist, and felt his member throb in his pants seeing the adorably colorful kid's cartoon printed undies come into view. He drew the shorts down only to the boy's knees, keeping them only just out of the way. For a moment he admired the boy's body, shirt pulled up and shorts pulled down, naked tummy and thighs exposed to the cool damp air. The cute and colorful briefs contrasted the dark grey of the rainy playground, hugging his young crotch tight enough he could see the small bump at the front that hid River's boyhood.

Caleb’s paw moved between the pup's legs, making River gasp and blush as the large paw cupped his much smaller package. Gently he groped, feeling the boy's bits just beneath the fabric. He couldn't believe what he was doing or how it could have possibly led to this, but here he was… molesting some kid he had only met a week prior. No… Molesting felt too hostile… What he felt was different. Selfless. Deep down he didn’t even care about himself in this situation, that much he realized… It was River’s happiness was the only thing that mattered.

His thumb hooked the waistband of the small garment. Caleb held his breath, his heart practically in his throat as he tugged the boy’s underwear from his hips. His breath wavered, watching the pup’s creamy tan colored privates come into view, solidifying the boy’s fur was the same color throughout, save for his light blonde hair. His penis rested flaccid atop his round fuzzy scrotum. River tensed up, his cheeks a rosey pink now that he was exposed from the waist down.

“Still okay, buddy?” Caleb spoke softly, letting his hand rest just on River’s lower belly, caressing the soft thin fur as comfortingly as he could.

“Uh… Uh-huh…” River confirmed nervously.

“All right. Now like I said, just relax for me, buddy…”

“O-okay…”

Caleb held the boy tight to his chest, one hand softly rubbing his young chest in a comforting fashion, as ever so slowly his other hand lowered, fingers gently dragging through his tummy fur. The wolf’s fingers made their way across his pubic mound, and finally, his fingertips met the boy’s private area. Caleb let out a trembling breath as his hand now held River’s naked penis and balls, to which River squirmed slightly out of timid shyness. River bravely opened his legs, though only slightly with the shorts around his knees keeping them from spreading very far. What little space Caleb got at that moment was plenty, as he began to tenderly fondle and play with the small member.

Inspecting the boy’s penis in his fingers, he gently rubbed the tight foreskin, tugging and kneading it playfully between his fingertips. Caleb kept his eyes on River’s reactions, in case he was getting skittish or uncomfortable. However, River’s eyes seemed to be focused on the paw fondling him, wide with timid curiosity. He started to rub the soft skin up and down, and within moments he could feel it beginning to stiffen, to which River gasped. The young rod swelled little by little in his large paw, until it finally stood straight up from River’s groin.

“W-why’s it all pokey like that?” River gasped, plainly never having seen his penis erect before.

“Huh…? O-oh. Well…” Caleb’s face was burning now. “It’s… what your thing does when you… uh... like something.” He explained, though he had to admit that was probably the most vague answer he could have come up with.

“Is it… supposed to do that?” River asked meekly, holding out a finger and poking an exposed area of his erection, which Caleb adjusted his fingers to allow.

“Heh. Yeah don’t worry… It’s perfectly normal. See? Mine’s like that too…” Caleb whispered as he shifted his hips under the pup, grinding the rock hard bulge slightly against his young rear. River blushed, feeling the mound under him throb.

“D-does that mean you like me, mister?” River squeaked, those beautiful blue eyes meeting his beneath that little head of sunny blond hair.

Caleb felt his heart skip a beat. His face was so very close to River’s own. He leaned in, feeling as if he could kiss the boy in that moment. However, he quickly reminded himself of his situation, and placed a kiss atop the boy’s head instead.

“Mhm… I like you a lot, River…” Caleb smiled as he slowly began to stroke the stiff little rod in his paw.

River let out a soft gasp, his toes curling within his yellow rain boots as the tickly feeling of the rubbing sent new sensations through his body. Caleb nuzzled the boy’s cheek, the paw on the boy’s chest finding one small nub beneath his chest fur and beginning to tease and circle the little nipple. He closed his hand around the warm erection, hiding it completely as he started to pump his balled fist up and down around it. The boy trembled in his grip watching his penis being stroked, and soon enough Caleb heard a soft whimper of pleasure escape River’s lips.

River’s eyes were half lidded, his soft breathing escalating the longer he watched Caleb’s paw jerk his cubhood. The little rod twitched in his hand, reacting to the natural instinctive feeling of something tight and warm sliding up and down. He picked up the pace, teasing River’s nipple and stroking him off faster and faster with every passing minute. After nearly five minutes, he could feel River’s hips starting to shift, obviously wanting to naturally thrust, but his naive little body was unable to grasp the concept yet. He could feel the boy’s foreskin slipping over the pink little glans in his palm, each time it went further, making River shudder and whimper more.

Before long, River was panting and whining quietly, eyes closed as his balled fist pumped faster and faster. The little rod pulsed in his palm desperately, and the boy’s squirming was becoming erratic. Caleb knew what was coming as he held the whimpering pup tighter, pinching his other nipple and building his strokes to a firm rhythm.

“Uh…! Hnnn… M-mister…! I-It feels funny! I think I... g-gotta go pee!” River panted hotly, his breath appearing in the cold air.

“Don’t worry… It’s alright. Trust me, lil guy… Just let it out.” Caleb whispered, reveling in the child’s reactions to the all new feelings of pleasure. He felt something inside him welling up as well, biting his lip as the pup’s squirming bottom rubbed the front of his pants.

‘Oh god… Can’t take it… I think… I’m gonna…!’ Caleb thought to himself as the pressure mounted to the very edge.

“I… I…! Nnnnnnnhh!!!” River mewled, his hips pushing up into the man’s paw in desperation.

It was then River let out a yip of surprise, followed by a series of high pitched boyish whines and mewls, his small hips spasming suddenly as it happened. Caleb could feel it in his hand as River writhed in his arms as his very first orgasm wracked his young body. The pup’s boyhood throbbed and pulsed frantically in his large paw as his stroking came to a halt against the boy’s mound, tugging the tight foreskin over his underdeveloped glans. Caleb couldn’t take it any longer, the feeling of sending River over the edge in turn sent him over too.

Caleb moaned into River’s ear, grinding his clothed erection against the boy’s naked rear as his orgasm took over, coating the inside of his underwear in thick spurts of warm cum. His paw tightened in reaction, in turn making the pup shudder heavily as the tightness on his young twitching erection made the pleasure of his climax even more intense. The two moaned out into the pouring rain, their bodies rubbing against one another until their climaxes eventually subsided, leaving the wolf and young pup gasping for breath, the heat of the air escaping their muzzles leaving wisps of mist in their wake.

Minutes passed in silence. Caleb lay with his eyes closed, simply holding the boy in his arms in a hug. River was small enough to feel like a teddy bear in comparison to him, and he nuzzled softly into the boy’s hair without thinking, simply acting due to being lost in the afterglow. He breathed in deeply, taking in the pup’s scent. His hands gently returned to loving rubs across the boy’s belly and chest. For the first time in years, Caleb felt an emotion he long since thought he had lost… love. Of course, as all things in his life, all good things must come to an end…

Caleb reached down and grabbed River’s underwear that lay drawn down around his thighs, and gently pulled them up snug over his once naked crotch, snugly covering his bits. He did the same with River’s shorts, his fingers beginning to tremble for a different reason as he zipped and buttoned them back up as well as tugged the boy’s shirt down leaving the young pomsky fully dressed. The wolf sighed somberly, feeling tears welling up as he held River. He knew what he had done, and was fully willing to accept the consequences.

As if on queue, there they were… The sirens of authorities coming down the street, wailing a cry he only knew was a matter of time before they came after him for doing something he would regret. Perhaps someone heard them or saw them… It was over for him. He was certain of it. But at least he was able to spend his last minutes of freedom with the boy he had only met last week, the first person he ever felt even a twinge of affection for… Closer, closer… The sirens were in his ears, and he grit his teeth.

“M-Mister?” River suddenly spoke up, breaking the wolf out of his state just as the sirens passed them, continuing down the street. Caleb’s heart was pounding a mile a minute even as he heard the siren grew quieter with every passing second.

He looked down to the blonde puppy, his little crystal blue eyes filled with concern.

“What’s wrong, mister…? Why are you crying?” River asked worriedly.

Caleb wiped his eyes, still in disbelief as the sirens faded to silence, leaving only the soft patter of raindrops on metal and plastic around them.

“It’s… It’s nothing… Nothing at all…” Caleb said quietly as he looked down at the concerned pup.

“I… Um… T-that felt really really funny, mister! What just happened? Why did my thing get like that? Can we do it again!? Can we-”

“R-River! Just… hang on for a second, okay?” Caleb stopped the boy before he was drowned in a sea of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.

“Oh… K-kay.” River squeaked, piping down obediently.

Caleb took a moment to collect his thoughts, taking a deep breath.

“How about we save the questions for later? I promise to answer them all, just… not right now.” Caleb said, hoping this would give him some time to think.

“Um. Okays… Can I come back tomorrow, mister?”

Caleb took a breath, then swallowed, and then finally smiled softly at the little Pomeranian boy who now held his heart captive. River deserved to know all the answers to the questions his act had put in the boy’s head.

“...I did say you could come here anytime you wanted, didn’t I? Heh…” Caleb smiled, patting River’s head affectionately.

River’s face lit up in a big smile, giggling as his curly tail began to wag once more.

“Okay! Um… What’s your name mister wuff?” River asked, his eyes wide and curious.

“Er… Let’s not worry about that… I think ‘Mister Wuff’ will do just fine, for now, eheheh.” Caleb said, wanting to keep some form of anonymity in case the boy let something slip. “Look, buddy. What we did just now… I could get in a lot of trouble if anyone finds out we did that. Can you keep a secret? I’ll tell you why as well… some other time, all right?”

River looked confused, plainly not fully understanding. Regardless, the pup nodded in agreement.

“Okay, I promise!” River smiled.

Suddenly the young puppy hopped up on his knees, threw his little arms around the adult wolf’s neck, and even placed a little kiss on his cheek. Caleb’s face went crimson in an instant, and he swore his pulse stopped for half a second. River hopped up to his feet, his paws behind his back as he looked down at the still sitting Caleb with a bashfully shy smile. He turned, running at the slide and laughing gleefully as he slid down the wet metal sheet, splashing into a puddle at the bottom. River turned, his legs soaking wet, waving a big full swinging wave only a cub like him could look so adorable doing.

“Bye bye, Mister Wuff! I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” River called at the opening of the alley.

Caleb finally broke free of his paralysis, looking at River waving at him. God he was so cute… Dressed up and smiling bright like a little sunshine in the falling rain.

“Yeah… Promise~” Caleb finally smiled, waving back.

With a last cheerful grin, River took off down the path.

Caleb took a long heavy breath, and stood. The wolf made his way to his back door and went inside. He realized he had left the television on earlier judging from the sounds of the local weather report on the news playing from the living room.

“-and now for our weekly forecast! Local pressure systems will be moving in over the course of the week, with a high chance of thunderstorms this coming weekend. Be sure to bring your umbrellas this week and keep dry! Temperatures will be in the hi-...”

“Thunderstorms, huh? Lovely.” Caleb said to himself as he grabbed the very last cold beer from the door of the mini-fridge beside his couch. He popped open the brew and brought the bottle to his lips, the first drink of alcohol he had in a solid week. However… Just as the bottle touched his lips, he thought of River. The wolf stared at the glass bottle for what felt like forever. He finally stood up and walked into the bathroom and looked at the man staring back at him in the mirror, then back to the beer in his hand.

“...Heh~”

...was the only thing that escaped his lips as he poured the alcohol out, and watched the liquid disappear down the drain with a somber smile.
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