Lost Puppy
Chapter 1 Lost Puppy It was late inthe evening when the wolf found himself picking himself up, and dusting off the snow from his clothes, staring after the tail lights of the cab as they vanished into the distance. Upon looking around, his coat clutched tightly, and ears folded back, he finally turned and began to trudge though the snow, folloing the road twards the twinkling lights of a small town."Maybe I'll be able to fine help, somewhere in there" he shivered. The cafe was mostly empty, yet anyone who peeked in though the windoe and snow the bustling little red panda scurrying about, polishing tables and chairs as she sang along and danced to Boyce Avenue's "Be Somebody" would never had known it. Her fluffy pink and blue exterior seemed to to positivlly glow with cheerfulness as she waved her hips and tail in time with the beat " cause we-e-e-e, gotta dream!" Wata Kashi spread her arms and gave a little twirl. " Oh! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohh. We all wana be some-bod-ee! Be some-ooone!" The bell above the entry gave a slight jingling as someone entered. causeing Kashi to beam happily. " Welcome to the Kashi's Cafe! Home to the sweetest of treats! Please have a seat, I'll be right with you!" Kashi Bounced excitedly to the conter and hopped up onto a raiseed portion of the floor sort of like a low step that ran the length of the counter, beaming happily at her new customer; a black wolf, looking somewhat bedraggled from trudging though the snow. "What can I do for you this evening?" She bubbled cheerfully clapping her paws. "Hot cocoa and a pastry, I'm freezing" the wolf smiled in embarassment, his teeth chattering. "Hot Chockit and a pastry! Coming right up!" Kashi nodded enthusiatically, and sprang into action, turing on the oven and busying herself with squeeing chocolate icing onto a square of pastry dough, which she skillfully crimped and set on a baking sheet. Finishing that, she hopped over to a dispenser and filled a cup with rich, steaming cocoa and placed it in front of the stanger. "Your pastry will be done in a minute!" she said. Smiling appriciatively, the wolf picked up the mug and drank the contents thirstily heedless of the steam that rose from the cup; sighing contently when he set it down. "Thank you so much. This is wonderful!" He said earnestly. Kashi was radiant. "It's my own recipe! I make it every day!" She said " would you like a refill?" The wolf grinned "I'd love one. Also, I don't mean to bother you, but would you know where I might find a place to stay the night? I'm not really familiar with this area." He appered chagrined, his cheeks slightly pink beneath his facial fur. Kashi opened her mouth to reply, just as the timer for the pastry went off. " Oh! I actually have a little guest room I rent out sometimes! wait just a minute, Imma get your treat!" She hopped off the step and scurried to the oven, carefully removing the nummy pastry from the baking sheet and placed it proudlt on a plate. "Order up!" She sang, placing the pastry before the wolf with an excited grin. She watched with wide eyes as the wolf took a dainty nibble, and held her breath, expectantly. There was a brief silence. "Oh my God" The wolf said at last. Kashi was momenterily crushed, thinking there was something wrong. " I burned it didn't I! I'm so so so-" "It's Amazing!" The wolf proclaimed cutting her short. " I mean it's. God. Are you single, I might just marry the cook!" He laughed before he stopped, blushing deeply. "That is. I mean. It's delicious. Thank you." he stammerred. It took Kashi a moment to process what he'd just said; and when she did, she laughed joyously, clapping her paws to her cheeks and turning away the hide her embarrassed blush. " Oh my gosh! You're too nice! Thank yew!" she exclaimed, still giggling " And to awnser, yes, but I'm not really looking." She winked, tripling the wolf's embarassment. "Besides, you haven't even metioned your name!" she giggled. The wolf flushed even brighter. "Z-Zel! I am" He laughed embarrassedly. " My name is Zel. Zel DeWolfe. Sorry I didn't mean to be rude." He smiled, extending his hand warmly. She beamed, taking his hand and shaking it vigorously. "Wata Kashi! My friends call me Kashi." she said. " Now about that room I mentioned." Zel found himself smiling. He was already home.
Chapter Two Vagrant Zel's face steamd wiht mositure, as the lightning flashed and the thunder craked the very air like a whip, urging him onward, the limp form in his arms barely slowing him. "Help! Please someone help me! Please!" he ran though the streets tears blurred his vision. She couldn't be gone!!! After everything they had done! The docter's said she'd be okay. Only she's not- NO! She will be okay! I wont let her. die. Her eyes closed. Lips blue. Her beautiful fur slick from the rain. She was cold. Her limbs stiff and rigid. Somewhere he bgan to hear somone screaming. "Please! Please, somebody help me!" He fell to his knees and wept bitterly, still crooning that one word. "Please...Please...Help..." He woke to the sound of his own voice screaming as someone threw open the door and rushed to the bedside, soft hands running though his fur. Gentle arms encircling him. "It's okay. You're safe now. It was just a dream." That voice. Still shaking his screams dided down to sobs as he felt his head being cradled against soft fur. Gentle, soothing hands stroked his ears. 'Just a dream' He thought bitterly. ' A dream I can't escape.' He lay for a time and listened to the sounds of the birds beginning to chip and as the sun rose outside. Nearly two months had assed since he'd bgan renting from Kashi, and working ar her Cafe. He'd hoped the dream would have been gone by now.
Zel glanced up from where he'd been busily applying the finishing touches on the morning batch of pastries, and smiles at the tall black fox who entered. Kyle was one of thier regulars. " Morning Mister Miles. Good or Irish?" He grinned. "Always good." The fox replied with w grin. " the best you've got." Zel chuckled and made his way over to the table with a coffee pot, pouring out a mug and setting one of the freshly iced raspberry pastries beside it. "On me." He said with a wink. Kyle grinned and snuck a flask out of his pocket and splashed a hint of its contents into the mug with a smile. "On you? I'll make sure I savor every bite then." He grinned earing a chuckle from the wolf. "If Kashi sees you with that flask, I'll ger scolded." Zel said with a grin, eyeing the fox expectantly. " A little I rish Coffee never hurt anybody." Kyle grinned but he hastily tucked the flask away as Kashi bounced in from the back. "Zelli the groceries for the week just got delivered. Go put 'em all away for me?" She bounced on her toes cheerfully. " Good morning Mister Miles. I hope I don't hafta remind you again that alcoholic beverages are prohibited in my establishment. Kyle yipped and blushed. Grinning at his tiny but cheerful employer, "Zelli" saluted and strode to do as she asked, his tail flicking beneath the tie of his apron.
Kashi bounced up the stairs holding a bowl full of her latest creation for Zelli to try, and she knocked on his door. "Come on in." Came his reponse Kashi found him sitting at his computer, writing his story. She had asked him about it once, and he has responded that it was about three humans named Aaron, Teresa, and Kyle,-She suspected that it was based on people he actually knew and she even suspected that she was one of them- and thier various adventures together. "How's goes the battle?" She asked, leaning over his shoulder with a mouthful of cotton candy. Zel chuckled, taking a piece for himself and smiling as a delightful burst of mango and peach filled his mouth. "Aaron just kissed Kyle for the first time. He is working though the emotions. He smiled, pilfering another piece from the bowl. "THis one's a keeper." He commented. Kashi giggled. "I thought you might like it." She beamed happliy, her ears wiggling. "I have eleven more flavors for you to try downstairs!" Zel nodded. " Alright. Lemme forward what I've got so far to Emily so she can start her edits. I'll be right down!" Kashi giggled, nodding. "see you there!"
After Kashi had gone Zel smiled as he felt a presence beside hi. Holding up the other pice of cotton candy ad he clicked send. A long slender tongue materialized, and swiped the fluffy morsel from his fingertips. "Mmmmh. You're getting better." a queit voice said, soft furred arms encircled his torso. "Maybe. Or are you getting careless?" Zel smiled and turned, instinct guiding his lips to where he knew hers would be. He was met with a surprised squeak as he connected, before his tonge as met with another, and his mouth filled qith the lingering tropical taste of Kashi's candy. "Hello Spinda." He murred softly. "Mmm. Hello, Zel." Came a breathless reply as she revealed herself. He smiled. " Am I going to be late, getting downstairs?" WHen he felt her lips press against his, and her hands roam his torso, he smiled "I'll take that as a yes."