Before the Storm
Dusk was coming as Aulious stood out upon the balcony. The sea lapping in the distance in peace as the sun painted the sky a dull blue. Aulious himself, however, could not see that far: Being an Albino like himself, he was better off blind.
Flicking his tounge out into the crisp air, he could almost taste the sea itself. The breeze undaunted and pure. No pollution resided here. Even the temperature as it kissed his yellow skin was perfect all year round. But a storm was coming, he could sense it along the horizon. The thunder pulsed through his veins, like the roar of a mighty beast. No one could hear it yet, but Aulious could taste it. Feel it. See it.
"A storm is rolling in." He spoke as a new sound trickled into his skin. It was his friend, Nubis. A Kaibab Squirrel who was his room mate. A rather colorful one as well.
"Yeah," Nubis nodded his black head. His blonde hair wet from a shower, "The weather channel said there was one coming in about 30 minutes. Big one, too." Aulious smiled some, the nervous sound was hidden in his voice. But too obvious for him.
"It will be a long one as well. Are you going to be okay?"
Nubis was afraid of storms, lightning ones in particular. They often times had to share Aulious's bed as a result of the fear, though the python had no problem with something furry to keep him warm. Nights were cold here anyway from the moisture.
"Maybe." the squirrel shrugged and joined his friend along the balcony, "Ain't it cold out here?"
"No." Aulious blinked, his pale skin flexing and tightning as a gust of cool air rushed over him. Nubis noticed the obvious flexing of his skin and sneered, "Come inside. Warmer in there, anyway." Taking Aulious by his hand, which in that case was holding a single finger, Nubis lead Aulious inside and into his room.
The walls were stunning pale, the floor wooden and covered with small rugs of plush green. The bed was low and neatly made, the sheets were plush and green. The pillows themselves a lime green. The air here was placid and undisturbed from the waves of technology coursing through the room. No, this air was dead and filled with the smell of earthly scents and the scene of waves through the only window.
Aulious walked to the bed and began an odd burrowing method at the edge of the bed. Poking his head under and digging blindly under the cool surface of the sheets. when his head popped out at the other end, his tail was hanging loungingly toward the floor, the tip wagging slowly and hypnotically. The python looked over his shoulder at his friend and flicked his tounge in expectance for Nubis.
The squirrel smiled abit and walked to the bed, pulling himself under the covers and to Aulious's side. Before long, thunder rolled over the condo, driving Nubis under the covers and face first into Aulious's spine in fear. They python turned his head around and peered under the covers at the black, fuzzy growth now stuck to him. It wasn't unusual so much as it was uncomfortable, but he had come to the understanding that Nubis hated things he could not control. And, to avoid it, hid himself from sight. If he could not see it; it was not there. But hearing was another thing.
The squirrel's coal black ears were pinned as far as they could go, little smudges in his blonde hair. It glowed gloriously in the now dark room. But Aulious couldn't tell if it was from time; or the sun was bloted out by the summer storm. He sighed and moved his arm back carefully, stroking his friend's hair. Amazingly, Nubis was asleep; and still afraid fo the storm overhead. The python rolled his expansive body over with difficulty and caution, so he wouldn't desturb the squirrel. Nubis's coal black face was now hidden in his stomach, clutching Aulious's shirt in his fist.
Aulious pulled Nubis's head to his chest, cradling him like a child. His friend's odd white tail now tightly wrapped on his pale, long arms. Atleast Nubis was warm, that's about all Aulious needed during the chilling nights: Something to keep him warm.
With a ring clad hand, they python stroked his friend's head softly to reasure him. He had given pratically everything up for Nubis. He could spare a hand cramp to comfort him in the night. Nubis also gave all he could for Aulious; even the loss of all his Kaibab friends. A python and a squirrel was taboo. Deadly buisness. The python would go hungry if he did not feast on the closest prey, and the squirrel would die allowing himself to trust--Let alone sleep ten feet close to a snake.
But they were both odd from the start, anyway. Kaibab squirrels were different from the others squirrels, with their odd fur and stunning skunk style tails. While Aulious wasn't accepted by any pythons: his parents loved each other too much. There was nothing wrong with this, until it was known they were a Brother and a Sister.
The odd looks themselves are what brought Nubis and Aulious to befriend the other. Though Aulious himself thought Nubis was an incest result--Not that he was actually suppose to look that way.
It was the last thought the Albino had as he drifted off into an unblinking slumber. Through the night they slept, holding the other. Nubis in the darkness of his mind, and Aulious in an unblinking trance. His red eyes glistened through till dawn.
The storm was over. The air hung around them in a soffocating smell of the earth. The first sign of life between them was Aulious's toung flicking blindly into the dim room. Morning.
Finally, Nubis shifted in Aulious's arms, his ears unpinned painfully and he opened his chocolate brown eyes. He looked up, a pink flash nipped his eye lid, and he flinched. Aulious jolted in surprise as the taste of bitter eye liner invaded his senses. He faded from his trance like sleep and moved his eyes down to Nubis.
"You poked me in the eye!" Nubis cried, one eye pinned shut, his makeup smudged.