Dimestore Novelty
Sometimes stores are far, far better than reality.
This story was originally a submission to FurAffinity's [url=https://www.furaffinity.net/user/thursdayprompt/Thursday Prompt[/url] writing group.
Dimestore Novelty
By: DankeDonuts
https://dankedonuts.sofurry.com/
A real live gun fight was about to happen!
Willie Buckner hooted and ran halfway across Blackpaw Gulch's single street. Angling for a good view, the young Opossum leapt onto a hitching post before the General Store. Wrapping his hairless tail around it for a secure seat.
A crowd of Furs formed along the building fronts. Rapid thipping of feet behind Willie made him look backwards. The feet belonged to the store's owner, Mr. Stanton. The Hare gave Willie a disapproving shake of the head. Willie just turned back to the street, still smiling wide. This was going to be just like the in the books his big brother, Tad, sent him all the way from Saint Lepus!
Two Furs approached each other from either side of the street. A Bulldog, Orville Cobb. A Calico Cat, Elbert McKinney. They'd been feuding for months. All leading up to this long, slow walk along the dirt. They stopped at twenty paces from each other. To stare each other down. Size each other up. Paws twitching over their pistol grips. The Cat's a polished pearl. The Dog's a deep black wood.
The world stood silent. Willie's breath froze in in his throat.
There was a burst of sound.
An eyeblink later, both males were on the ground. The burn of gunpowder was in Willie's nose. It was already over, and he hadn't even seen their hands move.
Only it wasn't over. Because the bodies were still there. From beneath the Bulldog, a smear of red oozed to view. Its coppery scent mingled with the lingering fume of spent weapons. Pained... Wheezing... Breaths... came from the direction of the Cat. Until they didn't.
Mr. Stanton was the first to step forward. Followed by the old turtle, Doc Johnson. Then Miss Juniper, the Bison schoolmarm. And others. They moved the bodies, to where the undertaker was already waiting. One Rattler, two coffins.
But the young Opossum stayed frozen, clutched to the post. All the boy saw was red on the street. All he heard were those final gasps. Until something inside the boy forced his eyes shut and ears shut, and his head forward and down.
Willie Buckner threw up.