FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I stepped onto the ice and let my skates drive me out into the open rink, the crowd in the stands cheering with their home made banners and their clapping hands and spewing, obnoxious horns now as their eyes home in on me. Not because their excited to see me, no that would be an understatement, but because they know I hold the fate of my teams win in my hands. It is, of course, my turn to take the shot.

The final shot of the championship seasons shoot out.

To be honest, I never thought I'd make it to this point of tonight's game. I'm usually the one sitting on the bench during this part of the game but fait turned the tables around on me and back fired the bench idea in my face. Now I'm stuck with the final shoot out turn and all pressure was laying on me right now, pressing harder now as I drift slowly out onto the ice, the eyes of ten thousand hockey fans on me right now. Waiting for me to take the final shot that will determine who will take home the championship title and trophy.

But In truth, this isn't exactly the shot I wanted to take. Not because I'm scared, but because of the consequence it will leave if I win the goal or miss.

It sounds stupid, I know, being scared of winning the night's tournament because of what the outcome will turn out to be, but you try being in my situation and figure this out! It's hard!

A hand slapped down on my right shoulder pad and I yelped a little, my balance shivering a little over the ice but I managed to save myself before the embarrassment sunk in. "Hey kid," the ref smiled and looked me in the eyes, his hand tightening firmly as if to add confidence. "Play it good," He said, "Their watching." He winked his eye and pushed off, sliding backwards on the ice and grabbing the puck.

What he meant by 'their watching' was that he means the college scouts were here in the arena, observing the game. I looked around to try and scout them through the wild crowd but was sad when I found no trace of a single person with a clipboard, watching the game closely. At first I thought that they must have been late for the game, but that's never possible. After all, this was the season's final game, the championships.

This is part of the reason why I'm scared, because of the scholarship opportunity if I get the goal.

But If I get it... then he won't...

The large Horse ref smiled at me again and dropped the puck in front of me, its black rubber bouncing off the ice but I managed to catch it with the end of my stick. "This is it," He grinned, "You ready."

No, but as if someone possessed my body and muscles, I nodded anyway in response.

His grin grew wider as he threw his hand up in the air, his other hand holding the whistle. Then, he blew it sharply and threw his hand in the direction of the opponent's goalie.

But it wasn't just a goalie though... It was Joshua.

My legs spurred into action as I lunged forward, scooping the puck into my sticks grasps and sped down the ice rink.

That's when I could swear I could see his eyes as I was approaching him quickly through our visors, I could swear I was as fast as a freight train it felt like. Josh's eyes were telling me he was going to let me win and I could just tell by the way he wasn't getting ready for my fast skating. He wanted me to win.

He wants me to have that scholarship.

But, I can't take this scholarship...

If I do, then he won't...

He's doing this for me, and I won't let him... He has to have this scholarship into Sid-University as much as I do...

If I get the goal, I go to University, and he won't. If I miss on purpose, then my team hate's me and Josh will go to Sid-U.

Either way, the decision's left up to me... but I can't make this decision and I know I'm being over dramatic right now--especially when I'm heading straight for the goalie's net at full speed, I just haven't even decided if I should or not.

Suddenly everything around me went into slow motion as I was a few meters away from Josh, and already I could see him moving to his right so his left side would be open for the shot.

He's doing this on purpose! That Bastard!

In the heat of the moment of the last few seconds I had before making the shot, I was reminded of last night when we were in his car driving around the city, his hands shaking on the steering wheel and his green emerald eyes and scaly arms were illuminated by the blue dash board lights. We were driving down a busy street and lots of traffic just so happened to be on the road so we were pretty much held in traffic. Though, I didn't mind. Just being with Josh was enough for me at the time.

"You have to win." He said softly as we stopped behind a car, the soft music of piano meeting techno-dubstep emanating from the sounds system. To think about it, the music was soft and hypnotizing that it set the mood right.

Of course he was talking about the championship, and once again, we were back on this topic. I sighed, "No, Josh, you deserve this as much as I do." I whined a little but how could I not? He really did need this scholarship so he could pursue his life.

"Chris, just stop for a second," he took his hand off the wheel to place it into mine in my lap, my eyes darting down at the touch and feeling his cold touch against my fur, the blush on my face was--thankfully--not obvious in the darkly lit car. "I know my family and I don't have the money to pay for college, but that's why I've been working so much. You have this opportunity of a life time and I want you to have this. It's been your dream to get into hockey, so you should have it." He squeezed and my heart throbbed in my chest, pounding hard enough that I think he could feel it in my fingers.

Though, as much as he was making me blush, I still had a stubborn side, "My family can afford me going to college, Josh, which makes perfect sense why you should have this scholarship!"

"But I don't want it if it means you're in the running for this too." He sighed and inched further into traffic, for some reason the lights seemed to want us to talk about this now because all we kept getting was red, "What's with this traffic." He tried to change the subject.

"Josh!" That snapped his gaze off the road and into mine again, the blue light emanating more of his facial features now. "If by any chance there's a shootout tomorrow night, I won't be doing the shot anyway. I'm just a backup if any of our top guys get hurt. And they won't get hurt because they're the best..."

"But the scouts will still look for a good player, and you're that player Chris." He pointed his finger to me and returned it to my hand, squeezing tight like last time.

"Look," I said quickly after, "You're a good goalie, Josh, so if I have to put on a show, so do you!"

He frowned, "You better not do something sloppy on purpose, Chris. I've seen you play so I'll know if you do."

It's true, he's been to my games a couple times and I've been to his too. We're both good, but I never want to be a bragger about these things. I always feel like I'm jinxing myself.

"I won't." I said, there goes that idea, "Only if you promise not to do anything sloppy too."

"I won't..." He trailed off and I caught it before he could try and change the subject again.

"Josh..."

"What? Okay! Jeez you Otters are stubborn." He threw up his hands in defeat, "Fine, but if you so much as get close to me with that puck I won't make any promises on accidentally moving the wrong way."

I giggled at that and he smiled afterwards too, squeezing my hands in his scaly one and leaning over the side console to press his lips to mine, his mouth as cold as his hands but I didn't care about that anymore. That moment was ours...

The kiss lasted a few seconds until the car horn behind us broke it, Josh and I realized afterward that the light had now turned to green.

Then I was back in the arena with the audience--who were probably holding their breath now--and a puck that could make or break the whole tournament.

Josh had left me an opening, just like he said he would, and my hand twitched towards it but I suddenly hesitated.

As I entered and neared the final seconds of shooting, I saw his green emerald eyes again and felt a warm throbbing inside my chest. He was smiling, I could tell by the way his cheeks were moved up a bit. That's when I knew that the love I had for him was forever. I just knew it.

I love him.

As the slow motion finally broke, I was back in regular speed again.

This is it.

It's now or never.

With a deep breath, I took the shot.