“Alexa?” the panicked fur exclaims, lost in the bleak, empty sea of blackness. “Its me! J.T.!”
“J.T.! Help me!”
“I’m coming!” He starts to run, following in the direction of the voice. A small, bright light appears ahead of him, much like one, lone, tiny star in a shrouded night sky. The fennec runs closer, and the strange light grows. Suddenly, the light erupts blinding the fur as it engulfs the darkness surrounding him. The fennec shields his eyes with his arms.
The fennec catches the sound of a storm tossed sea. As he uncovers his deep, dark brown eyes, he feels the deck of a all too familiar ship rolling beneath his feet. Again, he hears the woman’s cry, faint against the sound of the pounding rain and crashing waves. The fennec dashes for the railing, searching the rough waters as the wind bellows in his face, sending his shoulder length, ice blue hair whipping behind him. He breaks for the other side of the ship, slipping on the rain swept deck. The fennec falls onto his back and slides towards the edge. He grabs a hold of the railing just as he goes overboard. The fennec slams into the side of the ship with a matted thud. He grunts, but keeps his grip. He tries to shake some of the water from his dull tan and dark brown fur, but it is quickly replaced by sea water and more rain.
“Alexa! Where are you?”
A gargled scream is his only answer.
The fur looks, and spots the silhouette a drowning vixen. “Alexa!” He struggles to pull himself up, but the waves and rain have soaked and matted his fur too much, and the added weight proves to be greater than the strength of the vulpine. The grey fox in the distance disappears and reappears behind the huge waves. She struggles against the hungry, foreboding sea, trying not to get swallowed by the ever-growing waves.
The fennec tries and tries again, but to no avail, his rain soaked fur proves too much for the ever-weakening vulpine. No choice left but to give up, he turns and watches his beloved vixen disappear into the waves for the last time, her struggle finally ended.
The fennec wakes with a scream, “ALEXA!” He immediately sits up, squinting to keep the blazing orange dusk sun from his eyes, and putting his hands on the ground to hold himself steady. His fur matted with sweat, he shakes a bit to dry off. The fennec sits there, gathering his bearings. A blanket falls onto his shoulders, and two dark purple furred arms proceed to wrap him up in it.
“Feelin’ okay?” A completely feline voices asks.
The fennec turns, “Oh, Shauna. Thanks. I’m fine.” He pulls the blanket closer.
“I brought some food, too. If you’re hungry, I mean.”
“No thanks. Maybe later. Thirsty though.”
The feline searches through a cooler, pulling out a frosty glass bottle.
“Skyy. Good guess.”
“Guess? Our fridge is full of them!” She grabs a bottle opener.
“So?” He pulls off the top and tosses it to the side. The feline stares at the cap for a bit, shrugs, and puts the opener back in her purse. The fennec tips his head back and takes a drink, then looks at Shauna. “How long this time?”
“You were asleep for… five days, this time.” She gives the fennec a worried look.
“Not a personal record…” He shrugs it off.
Shauna lowers her head a bit, “You know, you really should get this narcolepsy thing checked out.”
“I’m fine…" The fennec tugs the feline’s hair lightly, "Highlighter Pink this time?”
She gives a yank back, “Won’t let you be the only one with crazy-colored hair.”
“What’s wrong with Ice Blue?” H e gives her a smile, and they both start laughing. “Bribed the park caretaker again?”
“Had to. You’re not supposed to abruptly wake a narcoleptic!”
The fennec gives his feline companion a blank expression, “Oh…”
The slender, purple furred cat stands, placing her fists on her hips, “Hey mister! This is a serious thing! Don’t just blow it off like it was nothing!” Eyes narrowed, brows scrunched together, and ears folded back, she stares down the fennec.
He raises his hands in defense, nervous. “Hey now! Sorry, okay?”
The cat lowers her hand, “Okay. Get up now, will you? I’ll drive you home.”
“Sure thing.” The fennec takes the offered hand.