Code Drop: Powder Hounds - An Official Heat Teaser
#2 of Code Drop
Tess takes her golden retriever boyfriend skiing for the first time. Have fun!
Code Drop Promo 2 - Powder Hounds
Tempe O'Kun
Tess squinted through the falling snow. Few enough people on the mountain, you'd think I could spot one golden retriever--
"Wheeeeee!" Erik plummeted down the slope, floppy ears fluttering in the wind. Snow crunched and hissed under his skis, audible over his panting. He whooshed past Tess, tail straight out behind him. "This is fun!"
Insane dog. Tess shoved off with her poles, chasing after him. "Turn, Erik! Slow down!"
If he heard her, he gave no sign. Careening ever faster down the mountainside, he raised his arms in triumph, neon green coat flapping after him.
He doesn't even have to zip up! Tess growled around a shiver. The jackal leaned downhill, tucking down under the wind. She had to catch him; the last thing she needed was for him to go blazing off into the trees or off the edge of a cliff.
After gaining some reckless speed, she caught up, skiing parallel and barking at him. "Erik, you dope!"
He turned to his girlfriend, grinning. His wide pink tongue trailed out the leeward side of his muzzle like a banner. "Hi, Tessie!"
"Slow down." She made little snowplow gestures with her paws.
"I think I've figured it out." He looked forward again, just in time to avoid a mogul and a small bunny family. "If I go fast enough, I don't have time to tip over."
"Slow. Down." She set back her ears against the band of her goggles.
"Okay, fine." He looked down at his skis, compacted snow rushing under them. "How do I do that again?"
The wind howled against Tess's ears. "Make a plow with your skis."
"Right." He made a wedge with them, trembled for a moment, but caught an edge and suddenly smacked into the slope in an explosion of powder. His equipment flew in every direction as he plowed headfirst down the mountainside.
Tess gasped, coming to an effortless hockey stop.
Her boyfriend came to a stop several yards later, face buried in the snow, skiless boots flat out behind him.
Oh shit. I've killed him. She hurried to his side, dropping to her knees. "Erik! Are you okay?"
Then he wagged.
His black nose poked up through the blanket of white, then the small drift dispersed as he shook his muzzle free, laughing. "That was great!" His pretty blue eyes shone, even though the tinted goggles.
Despite the cold, she felt a deep warmth.
He looked back up the slope. "Hey, where'd my skis go?"
* * * * *
After shaking the day's snow off, they headed off to the resort's main bar: the Wikiup. Located right at the bottom of the hill, it acted a watershed for every thirsty powder hound on the mountain. For Tess, walking inside from the serenity of the mountains was akin to stepping into another world. The blare of the crowd set her ears back. Loud country music buzzed through over-amped speakers. Booze and sweat wafted over from the worn dance floor. Not her kind of place.
He brushed a paw down her arm. "Ooh. Feelin' a little cold there, Tess."
She glanced his way only to have her irritation wash away in the cool blue of his eyes. She leaned against his paw just a little. "I'll be fine."
He took her arm and led her to the bar. The bartender, a Norwegian Elkhound, poured drinks with quick white paws, curly tail swishing in time with the music. Local beers in specialty bottles lined the back wall of the bar, displaying charming names like "Avalanche Ale" and "Moose Drool."
Erik bumped her cheek with his nose. "What's your pleasure, sugar-jack?"
"Manhattan." She wasn't one for fruity nonsense drinks.
Her boyfriend wagged and smiled his way to two empty stools and knocked on the bar to get the barhound's attention. The Elkie perked his black ears and faced her golden. Erik spoke over the din of the room. "One Manhattan and... What's the house specialty?"
The barkeep puffed up his fluffy white chest. "The Colorado Moose Dog."
The jackal rolled her eyes. Crap. Everything's a moose around here.
"Oooooh. I'll have one of those too." Erik nodded, quizzical quirk on his muzzle.
Tess glanced at the stool, not wanting to get someone's spilled drink on her new snowpants. "House special again, Erik?"
"Ya gotta try new things." He hopped up on the other stool, ski boots clanging against the brass legs.
"You'll just nurse it the whole time, so I don't know why I bother..."
"Aww! It's cute that you know me." He beamed, leaning against whatever had spilled on the bar. Unaware, he surveyed couples on the dance floor. Half the dancers still wore their snowboarding and ski boots, so they really just sort of swayed in time. The golden's mouth curled in a smile. "I like it here."
"What's to like?" She grumbled as the barkeep set down her drink on a cheap cardboard coaster.
Erik licked her ear. "The company."
Tess sat bolt upright, blushing. After a moment, she smiled at her retriever. Together they turned and looked out at the other patrons milling about. I have to admit, it feels good to rest my legs. And maybe if I drink enough I won't notice the music and--
"Hey there, little lady." The tall 'roo sauntered over and leaned in. "You here by your lonesome?"
Fuck. Every time. "As a matter of fact, I'm not." Tess gave him a dangerous look over her Manhattan.
Erik slipped a paw over her shoulder, offered the 'roo a disarming smile. "Sorry, buddy."
The marsupial ignored him and stepped closer, stumbling over extra-long ski boots. He righted himself with a sway and gave the jackal a tipsy grin. "Aww now, haven't you had enough a' pooches? A nice little coyote ought to sample the finer things in life." He slipped in front of the jackal, propping himself up on the bar. "Kangaroos, for example..."
Tess flattened her ears. The old fire flared up in the back of her throat as she stared the 'roo down.
Sighing, the golden at her side made quiet inquiries behind her about whether the barkeep had a first aid kit.
Slamming back the rest of her drink, she slipped her paw over her golden boy's. "Come on, Erik. Maybe the dance floor's less crowded." She loaded enough spite on that last word to kill a horse. The kangaroo tipped back, dismayed, for a moment. In that instant, she was on her feet, pulling Erik after her.
The retriever let himself be pulled along, sipping once more at his drink before setting it on a passing waitress's tray. Now so close to the speakers that her ears rang, Tess still couldn't help noticing the warmth of his paws on her hips. Anger over the 'roo still simmered, though it couldn't keep from cooling when faced with the retriever's soft smile. The buzzy howl of country music and the jostle of the crowd washed past like snow, ever-present and thus beyond acknowledgment. She caught his scent in the hazy swirl of others. Her hackles eased down. Jackal and golden swayed together in clumsy ski boots, her legs tired but her head resting on his shoulder. He feels kinda nice...
"'Scuse me, pooch." A single paw seized on Erik's shoulder. The canine had just enough time to raise his ears in shock before he was hauled back and shoved into the crowd. The 'roo loomed over Tess, his muzzle a smarmy smile on his long muzzle. His rough paws gripped her around the midriff. "Can't have you hogging every dance with this little coy--"
Tess slugged him.
The kangaroo spilled back against the dance floor, his over-sized boots clattering for an instant before impact against the varnished wood.
The dancers nearest her froze, staring and chattering. Giving the lot of them nasty looks, she shook herself out of an aikido stance and looked around, wondering with not small concern just how far away Erik had been shoved.
He appeared a moment later, dropping a borrowed first aid kit on the cussing 'roo's chest. The golden shook his head. "Word of advice... Keep pressing your luck and you'll probably need more than that first aid kit."
Around his already-swelling lip, the 'roo looked about to say something in response, but Tess scowled it out of him.
Erik took her arm and led her out of the bar, giving the 'roo a wide berth as he tried to stand up. He set a couple bills on the bar on the way out. "Gee, honey, your self control is improving. I must be rubbing off on you."
"That jerk! I can't believe this happened."
"Don't worry, dear." He patted her arm as they walked out into the commons outside the bar, the chill air of a mountain night breezing over them. "I can."
She dropped her ears and tail. "I am so embarrassed."
"Why? You didn't even resort to hitting him down under."
"Erik?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up, dear."
Well, that's another story with Tess and Erik. Hope you guys are liking them so far. ^_^
Editing by: SillyNeko345
Let me know what you think!
-Tempo