Christmas Future
"Of course not!" Eric stuttered, taken aback by a question asked by the wolf anthro walking next to him. "I wouldn't step on one of you or anything like that, I'm just saying it's easy to not notice when you're not wearing those cloaker things." The raccoon rubs over his head, a little surprised that the wolf would even think he'd do such a thing.
"Oh calm down, I'm not saying you're a bad guy or anything. I just notice that the normals seem to like doing it is all. There're probably some micros that like having it done to them, too." The wolf, Oran, states. Oran notices the embarrassed expression on Eric's face and can only smile. "So you're spending the break with your family?"
"As soon as t'day's over, can't wait for our last class to end so I can go home. We usually have a big family dinner and open presents and all that. How about you? Dinner with the fam'ly?"
"Uh... something like that..." The wolf tries to smile.
"Huh? Something li--" The bell rings and Eric jumps. "Crap! I can't be late this time... Seeya later, Oran! I'll see you after school maybe!" He runs, leaving the wolf behind. Oran watches with a slight smile before moving towards his own class.
"Come to think of it, I've never met any of Oran's family. I... I guess they -are- micros... Oran's type don't come outside much" Eric says to himself while he moves to try and get to class on time. "I wonder what they're like... or if they have cloakers too. What would a fully-micro family do for Christmas?"
The day goes by quickly enough and, once it's all done, Eric is walking out of his last class. "Finally! Break!" He giggles and flicks his tail a little behind him, walking outside to breath in the fresh, if cold, air. He looks around at the other students rushing out of the building and, in one of the windows, he notices Oran staring out, not moving. Eric walks back into the school, trotting over to Oran. "Aren't ya going to go home, Oran? Schools out!" He giggles, "Comeon, I'll walk home with ya."
Oran watches as Eric approaches, cringing somewhat as the raccoon begins to talk about going home.
"Well, I just have a few things to finish up here is all. Can't go home yet. You go ahead, though. You've got a lot to do before Christmas comes, right?" Oran walks forward and hugs Eric, causing the raccoon to blink a few times. It takes a moment, but he hugs the wolf back. "Uh, well alright. I'll give you a call sometime or... well, come over to my house at some point before Christmas, alright? You really need a cellphone..." Eric states before letting go of Oran.
"Yea, I know. I'll see you before Christmas then." Oran speaks before turning to walk further into the school. Eric watches the wolf for a moment, then shrugs and goes home.
"Mom, I'm home! Officially on break." Eric grins as he walks in.
"Welcome home, hun. Be careful, the twins are here." She warns.
Eric slips his shoes off and takes a few steps, the last of which ends with the black, supple pads lining the sole of his foot pressing down against something wriggling and warm. "The tw--"
"Shit!" Eric pulls his foot up only to hear a giggle. Below, two micro-sized raccoon hybrids give one another high-fives. "Ha! Toldja we could get him to do it." One says to the other while the second grins. "You're so mean, Eric, steppin' on us like that."
"That's not cool, guys." The larger raccoon sighs, lowering himself over the two micro twins. "You really could've gotten hurt if I didn't feel you there."
"You weren't gonna hurt us, we knew you'd feel us."
"That's not the point!" Eric sighs... "Mom? Could you tel--"
"Put your cloakers back on you two, that was dangerous of you to do" She states while Eric reaffirms with a nod.
"Awww... alright" the two say in unison, sighing with exasperation before slipping their cloakers on. In moments the two stand about stomach-high to Eric, as opposed to ankle-height. "See? That's better. Now I don't have to worry." Eric smiles. "If I catch you down there again maybe I'll stuff you in my sneakers or something. You know how smelly those get."
"Phhf! Like you could catch us!" The two laugh before running off.
Eric sighs and walks into the kitchen. "You could've told me earlier..."
The female raccoon, named Claudia, grins and walks over, settling a cup of hot chocolate down before her son. "Well, your aunt wanted me to take care of them while she went out shopping for their presents. Since we don't have any micros on this side of the family, our house isn't exactly made for those two to play around in. You have to hand it to them, though, they're pretty fearless. Most micros cringe at the mere thought of being little around us."
"I wish they were just a -little- more fearful. At least then they might not pull stunts like that." Eric rubs over his head, still shaken up by the near accident.
"I'll try to keep them out of your fur, Maybe give them a little pool to swim around in or something."
"Thanks." Eric chuckles a little. "Hey Mom? What do fully-micro families do for Christmas? I mean, Aunt Pok's family is mixed. Her husband is a micro and she's a normal. What if you have a family with no normals in it...?"
"Well, if they have cloakers I imagine it wouldn't be that different. If they don't, however..."
-
"A little lower, get beneath the toe." A large fox states, staring down at the three miniature wolves rubbing beneath his toes. Oran nods gently, "Alright." He moves his palms so that the rub into the fur between the ballpad and toepad of the gigantic vulpine. The fur there was hot, a little damp, and rather musky to the wolf's sensitive nose. It didn't bother him as much as it used to, though. The scent of feet had long become common place for the wolf considering his family's 'profession'.
"That's the spot, right there...tongues too." A vulpine sighs happily, leaning back into his chair while splaying and wriggling his black-furred toes above the tiny wolves' heads. Oran presses his muzzle against the underside of the fox' toe, licking against the damp, salty fur and cleaning the spot requested. After a few moments, the fox curls his toes down over the teenager, clasping the wolf's head in the powerful embrace of his middle toe. Oran doesn't panic... instead, he simply continues to nuzzle into the musky, heavy scent of the black fur, cleaning the fur and flesh with his tongue while the pressure from the toe presses into his back and holds his head still in its current position.
The mother and father wolf work on the fox's other paw, one at the toes and the other at the heel. The male has his head shoved between the rightmost pair of toes, licking against the fur while his wife presses his hands into the thick, black heelpad of the same foot.
While Oran's body is stuck in place at his left foot, the fox smiles and presses downwards, pinning the wolfess beneath his heel and forcing Oran's dad backwards. With a quick motion, the two parents are pressed beneath his heel and toes, pinned to the ground while Oran continues his work beneath the fox's toes on the left footpaw.
"Heheh, so this is your family, Oran?" The teenaged fox grins, holding Oran's now struggling parents beneath one foot while Oran works on the other. He releases Oran, whom only now notices what's going on. Between somewhat heavy gasps for air, the wolf speaks: "Comeon, Tyler. You hired us to do this so let us do our job..."
"Aww, I'm gonna let you do it..." Tyler smiles and lifts his right foot, allowing Oran's parents to stand again. Both parents are a little damp and dirtied from the bottom of the fox's foot but neither are hurt. Oran's dad moves to go help his wife while the fox simply slants his foot and lets the musky, black sole hang over the two wolves' heads. "I'm just havin' some fun is all, I can't believe this is your job. How's it feel rubbing the feet of some kid your son goes to school with?" He asks, moving a toe to flick at Oran's dad, throwing the small wolf off of his feet with a loud yelp and preventing the lupine from helping his wife.
"It's a job, alright?" Oran's mom, Cristine, states firmly, trying not to panic after her husband was so easily thrown backwards by a simple toeflick. Oran goes to help his dad up while Cristine frowns up at the gigantic Tyler.
"It's just a question." Tyler chuckles, bringing his toe near to the wolfess. "There, I'll hold it still for you. Give it a good licking." He states, holding the digit still before the female. Cristine clenches her first, wanting to refuse it but they needed the money. She walks forward and holds the toe between two paws, bringing her muzzle down to lick against the padding beneath the claw while the fox above chuckles. "There's a good girl." He states while looking back to Oran.
"Who said you two could take a break? Back to work!" The fox kicks his free foot out and lets the heel slam into the ground nearby the two wolves. Nezur, Oran's father, growls somewhat, but doesn't wish to start a fight with someone so large. He gives Oran a slight glare before moving back to rub at Tyler's foot.
Despite the fox's sharp tongue, the wolf family does finish the two paws, leaving them relaxed and much cleaner than they were when the wolves started. "There, it's finished." Nezer states, staring up at the towering vulpine.
Tyler peers down at the little wolves at his feet, chuckling a little at how pathetic they all looked down there. He wriggles his toes against the ground and nods. "Yep, here's your payment." He grins, typing a few things into a wristband wrapped about his right arm. The fox's right foot then lifts above Cristine and Nezur, causing the two to try and flee but Tyler is too fast. The fox's heavy sole presses the two into the ground, grinding in place for a little bit while Oran protests. "Tyler! Stop! What're you doing!?"
"Ahh, let up Oran. I'm just playing." He grinds his foot into the floor for a bit longer, letting the two wolves feel his thick, soft pawsole; smothering them beneath it before he steps off, giggling as Nezur sticks to his sole for a few moments, after which the wolf falls off of the sole to the ground, next to his wife.
"Later, pawstains. See you after break, Oran." The fox stomps off, shaking the ground for the little micros until he's too far away for the vibrations to reach.
"Sorry mom, dad..." Oran sighs, "I didn't think he'd--"
"Let's just go home." Nezur growls, picking himself up while Cristine helps. The adult wolf pulls away from his wife and storms off in the direction of their home while Cristine lowers her ears. She looks to Oran sympathetically. "You didn't know, it's okay hun..." She pulls Oran to her side and walks with him after Nezur. Oran looks at his own wristband-- a computer that links to a bank account for micros who work certain jobs. "50 cents... barely a fraction of the price we discussed. I really screwed this up..." He sighs, looking down at the ground while his mother walks with him.
-
The next day, Eric decides to travel to the markets with his father to pick up a few presents. "What're you going to get Mom?"
"I have enough ideas for her" The larger raccoon, named Jasper, grins. "But she pinned me with the responsibility of shopping for the micros this year. What are you even supposed to buy for a micro? I have no ideas for what to get your uncle or the twins." Jasper shakes his head a little.
"Leave it to me; you get Mom's gift, and I'll find something for uncle Pix and the twins."
"Really? Alright, that sounds good to me. I knew I had you for a reason." Jasper laughs, "Meet back here in an hour or so?"
Eric smiles. "Sure thing, Dad." Before walking towards the other side of the markets, towards a little toy outlet. "The twins will be easy, a little toy train or roller-coaster for them to ride around in would be enough I'd think. Actually, I'm a little jealous" He chuckles. "It'd be easy to make a little amusement park ride for someone their height. Cheap too."
"But what to get uncle Pix?" He asks himself while looking over the plastic tracks and trains available at the toy store. While he's looking, he spots Oran at a nearby outlet and perks his ears up. "Oh yea, I should get Oran something too." He frowns, "But what?"
While he's thinking, he decides to go over and say hi to the wolf. As he nears, he can hear the conversation Oran is having with one of the outlet keepers. "50 cents? Hmm, alright. I can't pay you more than your cut of that 50 cents, I'm sorry to say. We made just enough to give everyone their separate share. I'll try and track the boy down and get the money from him. Sorry, Oran. I'll try to get another assignment for you all before Christmas but I can't make promises."
"No, it's okay. This was my mistake... I kind of deserve it, I suppose..." Oran lowers his ears and turns to walk away.
"Hey! Oran!" Eric shouts, walking over to the wolf. "How's it going? Make sure you come over before Christmas like you said you would."
Oran smiles when he sees Eric. "Well, I'll try. Things will... be a little busy. Family stuff and all. Are you here shopping? How's it going for you?"
"It's going well, need to figure out what to buy my uncle and cousins. Maybe, uh, you have a few ideas? They're micros, they have cloakers and all that... what would you have wanted as a child? I was thinkin' about a toy rollercoaster for the twins. The can build it with their cloakers on then ride it with the cloakers off! Though, that might not be too safe... Not sure about my uncle."
"I think the rollercoaster idea is neat, maybe get his parents to help modify the cars so that they're safer and can't fall off of the track. I would've loved something like that as a kid." Oran laughs a little, rubbing behind his head. "I didn't know you had micros in your family... What's it like?"
"Huh? Oh, well, strange sometimes. The twins like to... I don't know, it's weird, they try to trip me up sometimes by getting in my way -without- their cloakers on. It's so dangerous but they still do it... I'm worried I won't notice them one day. Other than that it's pretty normal. The micros shrink down for dinner so that they can eat less and still feel full. It's actually pretty neat, I get a bit envious at times."
"Heheh, your family sounds neat." Oran blinks, then looks down at his wristband. "I've gotta go... sorry Eric, it was nice talking to ya." Eric blinks as Oran turns to run off, "W-wait! What were you talking to..." The wolf doesn't turn around and Eric trails off on his question. "Hmmm.."
He turns to walk over to the shopkeeper that Oran had been speaking to. "Excuse me?"
The skunk blinks and turns to look at Eric. "Yes?"
"I, uh, saw a friend of mine here talking to you a moment ago. You said you would try to find him work before Christmas? What was that all about? What kind of work?"
"Oh, he and his family are Foot Masseurs."
"Foot Masseurs? Huh... His entire family? So what happened that you can't pay them?" Eric presses.
"It's not my place to tell you, I'm sorry." The skunk laments.
"He's a friend of mine and, well, overhearing your conversation made me a little worried. If I can help them out, I want to. You said you can't pay them before Christmas, right? Had they gotten enough money before? Do you think they'll be okay? I've actually never seen his home. I don't even know if his parents have cloakers like he does."
The skunk eyes Eric for a while, before leaning forward and resting his elbows on the countertop of the booth. "I won't go into detail, but any help you could offer them would probably go a long way. Oran's cloaker is a loaner from my shop, registered only to him. His parents can't use it. Only reason he even has it is I pulled a few strings so he can use it for school. The only job they've been able to get recently is this one and things have been rather slow here. Winter is always tough for fully-micro families, the city just doesn't have enough infrastructure to support them yet. Look, hire them for Christmas and I'll only charge for two hours. If you have room at your dinnertable, I'm sure they'd appreciate."
Eric smiles. "Yea, I think that sounds nice. How much is two hours?"
"Twenty-five dollars."
--
Oran walks home, sighing as he moves through the alleyway he and his parents live in. He stands before the crack at the base of an apartment complex, simply letting himself stay stationary for a while so he can calm down. "I didn't want that much... just enough to have something nice to eat this time around. Why do the holidays always have to end up this way?" The normally happy wolf shakes his head and moves to slip his cloaker off, walking into the slightly damp, cool interior of his home.
"Welcome home, hun." Cristine smiles. "How did it go?"
"We only get the normal fraction until he can get the money from Tyler so..."
"I'm sorry, Oran. We'll figure something out, though. We always do."
Oran tries to smile. "Yea, we do. So where's Dad?" He asks, looking around the room.
"He... assumed that you wouldn't come back with anything." Cristine looks down. "I tried to stop him, but you know your dad. I'm sure he'll be back soon.."
Oran frowns. "So he's going to steal? He was almost killed last time."
"We have to believe in him... Just pray he comes back in one piece."
"That's why I just wanted this to work out... Grf... I'll give that Tyler such a--"
"You can't, hun, you know what'll happen if you do. Let's just hope things turn out okay. Your father will be home soon. Try to relax."
Oran sighs a little, only partially noticing the beeping noise his wristband is making. He lifts it to peer at the message displayed on the screen.
"We have work on Christmas Day."
--
Everything was set. Eric could only cross his fingers when he went to bed that Christmas Eve. On Christmas day, Eric wakes up to the smell of breakfast. He slides out of bed and walks downstairs to see his mother and father working together In the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas." Eric smiles, walking in and sniffing the air.
"Merry Christmas!" His mom responds while his dad settles some plates onto the table. "Merry Christmas, Eric." Jasper grins. "After breakfast we can open presents."
There's a knock at the door. Both parents look at one another while Eric moves to go open the door. With his mother and father behind him, Eric opens the door to find Oran standing there with a smaller, white-furred wolf in his hands.
"I apologize, m-my father isn't here today so there is only two of us. I hope tha--" Oran looks at Eric for a moment, silencing himself as he looks over the raccoon's body three times just to make certain he's seeing who he thinks. "E...eric?"
"Oran! Come in!" Eric smiles, "You're at the right place."
Oran walks in, ears pinned to his skull while he carries his mother in his palms. "You hired us...?
"Yea, uh..." Eric looks at his own parents. "This is Oran. Oran, this is my mom and dad. I hired you, but I don't really want you to rub my feet or anything. I just wanted to invite you over for dinner. Now that you're here, you may as well stay right?" Eric smiles.
"This is Eric? The friend you told us about?" Cristine asks her son, causing Oran to snap out of his confusion. "Oh! Uh... Nice to meet you uh.."
"Mr. and Mrs. Pen." Eric's mom smiles.
"Y-yea. This is my mom..." Oran holds his hands up. "We're, uh... micros."
"Well, it wasn't entirely expected but I'm sure we can find room for you both." Claudia motions towards the table. "We were just going to eat breakfast, come on in!"
"We couldn't, we don't want to interrupt anyth--"
Eric interjects, "Comeon, Oran! You said you'd come see me before Christmas and now here you are, late. Keep your promise. Come eat." Oran wolf whom can only smile. "Thanks, Eric." He walks into the dining room and settles his mom onto the table. Eric settles down nearby where Oran settles his mother and Mr. and Mrs. Pen take a seat next to Eric. Oran removes his cloaker and, soon, sits on the table next to his mother.
"I don't know how we could thank you for this." Cristine looks to the three raccoons. "This... was completely unexpected. I.."
"There's plenty of food, and the rest of the family will be over for dinner later on. We have micros in the family so we're aware of hard difficult it can be. Please just enjoy, you're our guests today." Mrs. Pen smiles.
"Thanks..." Cristine smiles while Oran blushes. "How did you know?" He asks.
"Well, I overheard your conversation with the skunk guy at the markets. You'd never told me anything about your family and he said that things had gotten a little tight for you. I wasn't certain, so it was a bit of a risk... but I wanted to make sure you had something nice for Christmas. You're one of my best friends, Oran. I want to see you happy. Where's your dad, anyway? If he's... uh.." Eric rubs behind his head, realizing Oran's dad might not be alive.
"N-no it's nothing like that. He's missing, we don't know where he is..."
Cristine and Oran explain what happened with Tyler to the Pen family. After the story, all three raccoons seem visibly bothered.
"They don't have any safeties in place? What if that fox jerk had hurt one of you?" Mrs. Pen growls a little while Mr. Pen thinks to himself. "I'll call around and see if anyone has turned him in. Maybe we can find him and get him here. Eric, Oran, and I will go and check the jails and you two can stay to finish getting ready for everyone else."
"You don't have to, you've already been far too--" Cristine begins.
"It's not an option." Mr. Pen smiles. "I know how your husband feels... I don't know if I'd have done the same thing, but the frustration he must've felt... We should help him out if we can."
It takes a while, two hours to be exact. The three find Nezur locked up at a nearby jail, and when Oran arrives he just lowers his gaze away from his son. "I couldn't get anything." He states as soon as Oran is within hearing range.
"That's not important, Dad. We just want you to be home with us. We worried all night about you when you didn't come home. We... almost figured someone had captured you or worse."
"Sorry... It was a hard-headed move I made. I wanted this year to be the one where we weren't moping around is all. Guess I screwed that up."
"Almost!" Mr. Pen smiles, walking over with a key and unlocking the cage Nezur is being held in. "But it's the season, right? You should be with your family."
"Who is...?" Oran smiles. "This is Eric and his father. I... didn't expect it either, but they're having us over for dinner. Mom's already at their house helping out and we came out to look for you."
"Come back with us and celebrate Christmas with my family." Eric states, "We have micros in the family so it's not like you guys will be the only ones."
Nezur looks at the three for a moment. "That's why you like him so much, huh, Oran?" He looks at his son, whom smiles a little and looks away with a blush.
"I can't say thank you enough for getting me out of this mess..."
"Call me Jasper." Mr. Pen smiles.
The three come home to the house brimming with micros and normals alike. It'd been a long day but, finally, everyone was together. For the first time, Oran and his family had a feast and friends to enjoy it with, which they were more than happy to.
"Thanks, Eric." Oran smiles a little, alone in Eric's room with the exception of the two twins running about the micro wolf trying to get him to play with them. Eric smiles down to his friend. "I had to... you weren't going to visit me otherwise." He pokes the little wolf with a finger. The wolf lowers his ears, "I didn't want anyone to worry about me is all. I didn't want to play the 'poor micro who just can't get a leg up'. Maybe it was a little foolish but..."
"You're not a 'poor little micro', Oran. You get good grades and you do your work and you deal with all of that stress. I can't imagine how you do it! You just needed a little help, and it's not a bad thing to need help."
"Thanks again, Eric. I won't keep secrets anymore. You're a real friend, I'm happy we met." He says gently, slipping his cloaker on after making certain the twins are far away enough. He walks over and hugs the raccoon tightly.
"Yea, just don't worry me like that again." Eric grins, squeezing the wolf back.