FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Come on, get ready," Cloud urged his boyfriend to hurry while he waited by the front door. "Your birthday party is starting soon."

"I should have expected that you'd throw a party," Rye commented, as he walked out of the bedroom with his swimming shorts on. "Ryan agreed to this, right?"

"Of course," Cloud replied and smiled. He opened the door for Rye and followed him out into the early morning sunlight. "You never complain about the Amor Games."

"Because I'm not always the center of attention at the Games," Rye replied and stuck his tongue out at Cloud, while they walked down the road.

Cloud giggled. "You know you like it so just enjoy it."

"Whatever you say." Rye also laughed. "I'm still surprised that you even remembered my birthday. I told you when it was like once, a long time ago."

"Well, you know me."

"Yes I do. When your birthday comes up, I'll remember to embarrass you in front of all of our friends too."

Cloud laughed. "I only told you that my birthday is in the summer."

"No, you told me once while you were almost asleep."

"I wouldn't have told you."

"Well, you did. I wouldn't stop bugging you otherwise so you did," Rye laughed. The otters were about halfway to the pool by now.

"You'll forget about it when the time comes," Cloud responded with a smile. "At least my birthday is during summer vacation."

"Lucky mine is usually during a break from school."

"Come on otter, let's not keep your guest waiting."

Rye groaned when Cloud picked up his pace but Rye kept up with him. Soon enough, the two of them entered the main lobby of the Lagoon, where only about a dozen people were, busy in the gift shop or arcade room. None of them were attending the party. At the front desk was Rose, the crimson red dog that worked at the pool.

"Hey Rose," Cloud greeted her.

"Hi Cloud, hi Rye," she returned the greeting. "They're all waiting for you two so hurry up."

"Where's Aaron?" Rye asked, when Rose opened the door that led to the lockers.

"We have days off too Rye," Rose answered. "We do have lives outside of work."

Rye laughed. "Okay, okay. Come on Cloud, you have to help me get through this."

"Happy birthday," the dog chipped in before the hallway door closed behind the otters.

"Of course," responded Cloud when the door shut behind them. Within a minute, they entered the locker rooms, which was busy with activity.

"Usual spring break crowd," Rye commented while they wandered toward the showers for a quick rinse.

"I am kind of surprised to be honest, I haven't seen the pool this busy on a day without the Games," Cloud admitted. Both otters turned on a shower, and quickly rinsed out their fur before they continued toward the pool.

Among the shady trees near the far end of the pool was where Rye's friends were gathered, and Cloud dragged him to that location. Meanwhile the pool was busy in other regions too with the usual guest who didn't even know Rye. Nearly instantly when Rye reached the group of his friends, he was assaulted by a series of "happy birthday's."

"Happy 19th birthday Rye," Nate greeted the otter after the initial crowd already done so.

"Thanks Nate," Rye replied. "So where's Ariel? She usually funds these parties."

"Vacation somewhere," Nate answered. "She didn't say much on where she was going but she still got you a gift. All the gifts are over there." The wolf pointed to a table that had dozens of gifts on the top of it.

"Great," Rye said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.

"I drove here so we can put the gifts in my car to get them back to your place," Nate said, knowing one of Rye's usual concern.

"Thanks. So what are we going to do?" Rye asked Cloud.

"Whatever you want to, it's your day Rye," Cloud answered with a smile.

Rye smiled, and leaned in toward Cloud, pressing his lips against the white otter's. Their soft lips massaged the other's only for a few seconds before Cloud pulled back, with a heavy blush. Nate sarcastically sighed and feigned interest in a different conversation.

"You know that they don't like it when we kiss," Cloud informed Rye under his breath.

Rye kept his grin. "You said anything I want," he replied. "No one likes when Ariel and Patrick kiss in public either but they steal a kiss every now and then."

"Your birthday just began though so you get to do anything you want until midnight tonight," said Cloud before he gave Rye a wink.

Rye chuckled. "Okay, seriously now, let's start a game of laser tag."

Nate reengaged the couple again after overhearing Rye's favored suggestion to start a game. "Good, but you two shouldn't be on the same team again."

"Okay, deal," said Cloud. "It's been too long since we played against each other."

"Yes it has," Rye agreed with a sinister smile. "This will be interesting."

Nate went around the pool quickly and started to recruit players, after he dubbed Rye and Cloud the two team captains. A crowd quickly formed around the otters, of all the guests in the pool who also favored the game.

"Cloud picks first," ordered Nate.

"You're on my team then Nate," responded Cloud, crookedly smiling at Rye.

"Fine, then Trisha is on my team," the blue otter said.

Both the otters picked a few teammates until the remaining guests were split in half and put one of the two teams.

"What map do you want to play Cloud?" asked Rye while the teams separated to opposite ends of the pool.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Cloud smiled. "It's up to you."

"Ruined Lutracha, Burrow?" Rye suggested.

"With all these guests?" questioned Cloud.

"No emerging underneath players, and exception swimmers only," the otter continued to lay out the rules.

"Okay, sounds good to me."

Entering in the information on the laser gun, Rye could hear a few groans from players who hated the map. The area designated for the games is empty and allowed for the holographs to light up over it. City ruins and dust-covered ground blanketed the surface, with the only pool water being show on the edge of the map as part of a beach.

The teams tested the holographs, and walked onto the holographic ground. This map was dangerous because inexperienced swimmers can panic if they go in the water underneath the hologram, even though from underneath it wasn't even visible which made it look like no hologram was there at all.

"See you on the field," vowed Rye while he walked toward the other side.

Within the next three minutes, the teams are ready and the lifeguard signals for the game to begin.

While the amateurs hurried across the map and shot at each other, ultimately getting each other hit and out of the game, Rye used the opportunity to slide by the main forces around the edge by using the ruins for cover.

A tail snaked behind a ruined pillar a few meters in front of Rye. Laser gun trained on the pillar, Rye slowly crouched behind the ruined low wall he was behind. Only a second went by when a lemur, gun raised glanced around the corner and fired a shot at Rye and it impacted on the low wall. But the otter also fired a shot, and hit the lemur between the eyes. Without reacting to the shot, the lemur didn't realize he was out for a moment until his disappointment showed that he finally realized it.

The otter hopped over the wall and passed the lemur. "Nice shot," Rye said. "You would have hit me if that wall wasn't there." The lemur smiled weakly and left the field while the otter continued heading toward his enemy's side of the map.

Meanwhile. he noticed that his forces and Cloud's have been battling it out in an intense firefight in the middle of the map. Rye settled down behind a destroyed vehicle and watched the fight. Nate was on the ground at the lead of his team, and Nate was scoring several hits on Rye's team.

The holographic ground seemed to shatter and explode from behind Rye's team. From the ground, Cloud Cloud jumped and fired his laser gun at Rye's team in the flank. The white otter used the map to it's name, and Rye's team was suffering heavily for it.

Pawing at the ground, as if digging, the ground gave way and Rye fell through the hologram and into the water, burrowing underneath the simulated ground. Swimming back toward his team and Cloud, Rye quickly emerged once again with the hologram simulating it.

With the players screaming, all Rye could focus on is getting his laser gun into position. Cloud is surprised by the unexpected emergence, but Rye doesn't hesitate and fires. Cloud is out.

"Damn it Rye," said Cloud, sticking out his tongue. "I thought I had this game."

"Sorry hun," Rye replied, smiling. "I have the rest of your team to shoot, so I'll see you on the sidelines."

Cloud smiled and started to walk off the map, while Rye burrowed again. Within another ten minutes, Rye managed to score a hit on the rest of Cloud's team, including Nate. Only three other's on Rye's team didn't get hit, and the teams met up again.

"One more on Burrows," Cloud insisted.

"Hold on," interrupted Nate. "Are we staying on the same teams?"

"Doesn't matter to me," answered Rye, staring at Cloud with a challenging expression.

"We'll switch it up," Nate suggested and chose two other people as team captains. The teams were quickly picked with both the otters on opposing teams once again.

The map stayed the same, now that the players knew a bit more about it and they wanted to test out their new strategies, including the otters. Once the game began, Rye immediately burrowed and fell into the water, swimming to the enemies back. Within a couple minutes, Rye resurfaced on the holographic map behind the enemy where no one could see him.

Firing a short burst, Rye knocked out a few players from the game and relocated. Keeping an eye out over the main fight, Rye searched for Cloud, who once again isn't in the main firefight.

The trained otter managed to send eleven players out of the game before the opponent team figured it out and are forced into a two-front battle. With Rye's advantage gone, took a more cautious approach until he saw Cloud once again using the same tactic.

With a smirk on his face, Rye burrowed again and swam back to his side of the map where Cloud has been spotted.

Thinking he has the surprise on his boyfriend again, Rye surfaced near the location where the white otter was seen. But the white otter was gone, and only Rye's defeated teammates were seen walking off the field.

Confused, Rye hesitated. A splash behind the otter caught his attention. Turning, Rye felt his laser gun vibrate, signaling that he's out.

"I got you," snickered Cloud, dripping wet behind Rye's position.

Now facing his boyfriend and opponent, Rye tried not to smile while he realized that he fell into a trap.

"Alright, you win this round," Rye replied. "How'd you do that?"

"Game over! Cloud wins the match!"

"I knew you would come after me again if I started taking out your team," answered Cloud, walking off the map with Rye. "So as soon as I heard you resurfacing, I burrowed and snuck behind you."

"You're adaptive," commented Rye, impressed by Cloud's actions. "Let's take a break."

Both otters walked away from the crowd of the players starting up another game. Cloud lied down on a nearby pool chair, and Rye lied down on top of him. Sharing the pool chair, the otters snuggled there for nearly ten minutes while watching the other guests play another laser tag game with the pirate battle map. Another game started soon after with another map.

"We probably should open your presents now," Cloud said, smiling down at Rye who is still resting on the white otter's chest.

Rye groaned. "I'm too comfortable here."

Cloud giggled. "Well, you get to do whatever you want. But your guests probably won't be too happy if you don't open them."

Rye chuckled. "Okay, you win." The otter stood up off the pool chair and helped Cloud to his forepaws as well.

While they travelled toward the party tables, Nate came up to them. "Where are you two going now? You sat out two games already, so come on."

"Rye's going to open the presents now," said Cloud.

"Oh good!" Nate exclaimed. "I'll go get everyone then."

The wolf ran off, and again herded the otters' friends to the table where the two otters were now at.

"I feel like I'm seven years old again," Rye muttered. He sat on a large pool chair, with Cloud sitting next to him, hip to hip.

From somewhere in the crowd, the pool manager called for it to quiet down and a moment later, he came up to Rye. "Happy Birthday Rye."

"Thanks Ryan," replied Rye. "Nice to see you out of the office."

"I don't have a gift wrapped up," Ryan said. "But I am granting you both a three dollar raise. And since Beach Lagoon is growing ever more so popular, I'm appointing Cloud as our Beach Lagoon representative, since you'll be away, which also comes with an extra four dollar raise."

Cloud nearly fell out of the chair.

Rye chuckled. "Thanks Ryan."

"Of course. Anyway, I just wanted to be the first one to give you a gift, but I got to go back to work. See you two tomorrow." The manager turned back toward the main building and disappeared behind the crowd.

"Okay, bye Ryan," Rye bade his farewell

"This one is from me," Nate said as he handed the otter a moderate-sized rectangular wrapped box.

"Thank you Nate," Rye said and accepted the box. Quickly ripping the paper open, Rye found out that it was a shirt box. Inside he found three polo shirts with clever designs on them. "Wow, these are awesome. I've never seen these, where'd you get them?"

"That's for me to know and you to forget about it," Nate said and stuck his tongue out. Rye laughed. "I'll see you later, I'm going to go play another game."

"Okay, thanks again Nate."

"Here's mine," Aaron said, handing Rye a box the same size as the last gift.

"When did you get here Aaron?" Cloud asked.

"I was always here," Aaron answered with a laugh, obviously stretching the truth. "It's not my fault if you didn't see me."

Rye smiled, knowing Aaron's tricks, and opened the box to reveal several pairs of swimming attire. "You know I have enough of these already," Rye said with a chuckle.

"None as cool as those," Aaron debated. "Besides, since you and Cloud wear the same size, Cloud can use a couple of them too."

"Thanks Aaron," Rye said. "Am I done now?" Rye asked Cloud while Aaron turned and disappeared behind the crowd as well.

"No," Cloud answered with a laugh. "Open that large one there, that one is from Ariel."

Rye continued opening another dozen gifts, from Ariel's new LED television to more trendy clothes, books, video chips, music albums and video games. Finally the group started to dissolve to leave Rye and Cloud trying to organize the gifts. Aaron returned with a trolley so that Rye could load his gifts on there. Once they were done, Nate rejoined the two otters.

"Leaving already?" the wolf asked.

"Yeah," Cloud answered. "I still have a gift for Rye."

"Oh yeah," Nate said and volunteered to roll out the gifts. "I'll load these in my car, while you two go shower."

"Thanks Nate," said Cloud and then led Rye toward the locker room.

"You got something for me too?" Rye asked as soon as they left Nate.

"A few things," Cloud answered. "Something for both of us really though. You'll like it, trust me." They both turned on showers and rinsed their fur out.

"Do you know how dirty that sounds?" snickered Rye.

Cloud laughed half-amused. "No, it's nothing like that. Hurry up, Nate's waiting for us."

Both otters towel-dried themselves and soon met Nate in the parking lot where he was finishing loading Rye's gifts into his car, with the help of Aaron.

"Thanks for helping us with the gifts," Rye thanked Nate and Aaron. Nate shut the trunk of his car and the four of them stood facing all toward each other under the hot sun.

"Doesn't come without a price," Aaron said with a smirk. "I hear you bought some more video games, and I'd like to try them out."

Rye looked at Cloud questioning whether or not if he was okay with the fox coming over, but the white otter only shrugged with a smile.

"Sure, that'll be fine," Rye replied.

"Well, let's get out of the hot sun," Nate urged the group and went toward the driver's side of the door.

"Shotgun!" Aaron cried out and ran toward the passenger door.

Content with this, the otters took the backseat of the clean vehicle. The engine rumbled to life, and Nate accelerated out of the parking lot on toward Rye's and Cloud's apartment.

After parking next to Rye's car, the four of the friends got out and started to unload the gifts to carry them inside the apartment. The two otters carried the new television set into the apartment, and set it behind the couch.

While Rye was carrying three heavy boxes from the car, with Cloud in front of him, Cloud decided to stop in the doorway all of sudden.

"Hurry up otter," Rye urged him.

"I got to take a break," Cloud teased.

"Cloud, this is heavy," Rye pleaded. When Cloud only shook his head, Rye pressed one forepaw on Cloud's thigh and pushed him through the doorway.

Cloud laughed, as he caught his footing again and went to set the gifts in the bedroom.

"Jerk," Rye muttered just loud enough for Cloud to hear as he smiled.

The white otter chuckled but didn't respond. Aaron walked in with the last of the gifts, and Nate right behind him shutting the door.

Rye went back to the front door to lock it, and when he turned around, he saw Aaron already making himself comfortable on the couch.

"Alright, let's get this started," Aaron said, grabbing an Xbox controller.

"Thanks for the help guys," Rye said to the fox and wolf.

"No problem," Nate replied.

"You're welcome," Aaron also responded. "Do you want to play?"

"Nah, I got all these gifts to put away now," Rye declined the offer.

"Your loss."

Rye went into the bedroom, where most of the gifts were at along with Cloud who was folding some of the clothes that were gifted to Rye, and setting them in the drawers.

"Looks like you don't have to buy a new wardrobe any time soon," Cloud commented without looking up at Rye.

Rye smiled. He went over to the bed, and pulled some of the clothes from the gift boxes and held them up so he can examine them.

"So when do I get your gift?" Rye asked, folding the shirts from the boxes.

"Gifts," Cloud corrected. "I'll go get them right now." Cloud put the last set of apparel in the drawers and went off to the closet. He soon returned with a poster tube, and something small, thin and wrapped up. "Here you are." Cloud handed the smaller gift to Rye.

Rye carefully and quickly opened the wrapping on the gift, to reveal a black portfolio and an envelope that possessed a birthday card.

Cloud watched but didn't say anything as Rye opened the card.

Happy Birthday Rye!

I doubt anyone else appreciates the celebration of your 19th year of life more than me. When I came to Ab Amor, I was very nervous since I have sacrificed everything I had left in search of a better and less stressful life. The summer before the beginning of this school year was very tough for me and I dreaded going to the new school. But I found you. Rye, you are the most friendly, caring and generous person I have ever met. Words cannot come close to describing the happiness that I felt when you kissed me in the pool that night. All my hardships, and all my sacrifices have definitely been worth it. I am so very happy to celebrate your birth with you today, Rye. I don't know what I would have done if you were not ever born. I love you Rye, always.

Cloud

After reading the card, he didn't know what to say. Gazing at his boyfriend, Rye felt his heart reach out for the white otter. Cloud appeared to be shy of the card and didn't respond to Rye's stunned reaction, until Rye smiled and leaned in to kiss his boyfriend lightly on the lips.

"I love you too, Cloud," said Rye finally.

With the white otter grinning, he urged the other otter to open the portfolio. Flipping open the black cover, Rye discovered dozens of pictures he recognized as himself, Cloud and several of their friends participating in different activities in the past several months. Smiling, he browsed through the photos.

"Cloud," whispered Rye. "This is . . . beautiful. Thank you. This must have taken you forever to get all these photos and organize them."

Grinning, Cloud replied, "I thought you can have a little memory portfolio. I left most of it blank so you can add more pictures you want in there."

"Thank you Cloud," Rye said again, still hardly able to speak.

"This gift was a bit more difficult," commented the white otter, opening the poster tube. Rye saw the material of weaved cloth usually used for oil paintings, but then Cloud unrolled it and showed Rye the front.

A portrait of Rye painted on the cloth is revealed. Except the naked otter on the painting is enshrouded by light that spun around his body. Floating in the air, the otter has angel wings, as bright as the light, spread out from behind his shoulders.

"I painted this," Cloud informed the stunned otter. "It's kind of how I see you through my eyes."

Completely speechless, Rye couldn't react. Tears started to form in the otter's eyes with one sliding down his cheek.

Cloud chuckled. "Well? Do you like it?"

"I love it," Rye answered, nearly sobbing. Cloud chuckled again and hugged Rye tightly with one paw, and held the painting in his other. Rye returned the hug, still silently crying. "Thank you, Cloud. These are by far the best birthday gifts I've ever received."

"I'm just happy that you like them so much," Cloud replied, still holding onto Rye.

"You're absolutely wonderful."

Holding the other otter in their embrace, the otters nuzzled against each other for only a few seconds before a bizarre outburst from the fox in the other room was heard.

"That didn't just happen! I so beat him!"

The otters looked at each other, confused from the strange outburst.

"Come on Nate, get 'im!" screamed Aaron's voice again.

Rye giggled, knowing Aaron always took video games too seriously. "Well, that kind of killed the moment."

Chuckling, the white otter nodded. "Sure did."

"I didn't know you could paint, did you really draw this?" Rye asked looking at the painting again.

"Yes," Cloud answered with a smile. "It took two weeks to finish it."

"When did you draw it? How'd you draw it?"

Cloud chuckled again. "You're not supposed to know all the details of your gifts. But I worked on it whenever you were at Lagoon and I had a day off."

"I had no idea you were an artist," Rye again muttered. "Think you can teach me?"

"Teach you?" Cloud repeated, confused. "I'm not sure I know how to teach someone. I learned by just practicing a lot, but I can try to teach you if you want."

"He's getting away!"

"Sounds like Aaron needs some help," Rye suggested with a chuckle. "Tomorrow we both have off so you can teach me then. Meanwhile, we'll put this painting back in the tube until I can get it properly framed."

"That's fine with me," Cloud said, triumphantly. "It's your birthday. You get to do whatever you want to today."

"Whatever I want today?" Rye repeated, while they both exited the bedroom.

"Yep," Cloud confirmed with a smile. "Why? What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing particular," said Rye with a mischievous grin, but quickly turned his attention to Aaron, who is still enthusiastically playing the video game he chose. "Need help Aaron?"

The fox looked at Rye and raised an eyebrow before turning back to the screen. "I wish I had more freedom in this game otherwise I would have shot this bastard a long time ago."

Rye laughed. "Sounds like a 'yes' to me."

After making themselves comfortable on the nearby sofa, the otters joined in the game with Aaron and Nate. Hours went by and the afternoon quickly aged, until Aaron and Nate finally left to leave Rye and Cloud alone together for the rest of the day.

Even with their friends gone, the otter continued to play video games absent-mindedly while the shadows slowly stretched across the floor. One can play video games only for so long, and it was clear that the two otters were bored, with Cloud lying on the couch and Rye lying on the lounge chair, stretched out across the two arms.

"Come on birthday-boy," said Cloud after a yawn, still staring at the screen. "You don't want to do anything at all?"

"Not really, not until later at least," answered the birthday-boy.

Cloud continued playing the game for another minute or two before he spoke up again with a new idea. "Well, if I'm going to 'teach' you to paint tomorrow, maybe we should look at a couple drawing-tutorial books at the bookstore."

Rye turned away from the screen and looked at Cloud, who looked straight back into his boyfriend's eyes. They only stared at each other.

"Alright," Rye groaned and sat up. "It couldn't hurt."

Cloud smiled and stood up, quickly finding the keys and his wallet. The white otter was already at the door by the time Rye stood out of his chair.

"Don't you think we should get dressed first?" Rye asked looking at how casually dressed they were.

"We're not going out on a date," Cloud replied. "We're just going to the bookstore."

"It's kind of like a date."

Cloud laughed. "Come on otter."

"Alright, I'm coming," Rye chuckled, while he slipped on his sandals and grabbed his own wallet.

The bookstore was just down the road from the school in the opposite direction of the two otters' apartment so it didn't take them long to park in front of the store.

"Try to see if you can save us the couch," Cloud said to Rye while they wandered toward the back of the store.

"Okay," Rye agreed.

Rye noticed that there weren't very many people in the store, as usual, but he didn't pay that much attention to the others. Cloud headed straight for the bookshelves while Rye made himself comfortable on the complimentary couch that was near a coffee table and bordered by three other lounge chairs.

With an armful of books, Cloud soon came back and sat with Rye on the couch.

"Personally, I don't like these things," Cloud said while he set the books on the coffee table one-by-one. "Even though I'm not good at drawing, I learned what I know through trial-and-error."

"You're a great artist so shut up," Rye said with a chuckle, examining the books Cloud chose.

Cloud also chuckled. "See, I even found that drawing this," Cloud pointed to a sketch that was in the book Rye was flipping through, "is difficult to draw. You have to literally learn how to draw the lines and circles before you can put them together. Then there's the angle that you put them together."

"I didn't think it'd be so complicated," Rye said, smiling. "Maybe you just over-think everything." The otter stuck his tongue out at his boyfriend.

"Maybe I do," Cloud chuckled and stuck his tongue back at Rye. "Wait right here, I'll be right back."

The white otter quickly left and headed to the other side of the store, leaving Rye to browse through the pictures and tips of the artistic books. It took Cloud longer than expected to return, but when he did, he was holding a plastic bag which he soon set on the table near the books.

"We can start lessons a little early," Cloud said, and he pulled out computer paper and a small art kit. Opening the packaging, the white otter handed Rye a couple of pencils and a sheet of paper. "Really, I don't think I can teach you. You just have to try."

"What should I try to draw?" Rye asked.

"How 'bout one of the many simple sketches of Fox McCloud?" Cloud suggested.

"Now I'm going to butcher Fox," Rye muttered while he lowered the pencil to the paper.

For several minutes, Rye attempted to draw different sketches while Cloud suggested different tips that have worked for him.

Rye leaned away from his sketch and chuckled. "I could definitely use a lot of improvement."

"If you improve any better, you'll be surpassing me already," Cloud replied. "Paws are difficult to draw. I used my own paws as references to learn the curves and shape so that might help a bit for you."

Rye held out a paw and concentrated on his paw while he flexed it and moved his fingers in different positions.

Unable to control it, Cloud startled to giggle.

The otter raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend and lowered his paw. "What? You suggested this."

"I know, I know," Cloud said through his giggles until he finally regained control. "It just looked funny how you were concentrating so hard on your paws."

"Whatever," Rye pretended to scowl. "It's deathly quiet in here; I'm going to go grab an album or two to listen to while we're here."

"Okay, hurry back," Cloud said, starting to doodle on another blank sheet.

Rye went to the music area of the store, and started to sift the modern music section of the thousands of CD's in the store in search of something new. The otter noticed a few others also browsing through the music, and that the closest person to him was an attractive cougar but neither really paid attention to the other's activities.

Browsing through the new releases, Rye picked up one of the albums titled Click Five and another Cobra Starship. Being not very familiar with the bands, Rye read the songs on the back.

"Guilty Pleasure is one of my favorites done by Cobra Starship."

Rye looked up to see the cougar standing near him and looking at the albums he held in his paws.

"It sounds familiar but I can't remember if I really heard it or not," Rye responded. "Do you work here?"

The cougar laughed. "No. I just love these songs," the cougar pointed to the songs listed on the back of the Cobra Starship album. "I highly recommend them."

"Thanks," Rye replied with a smile. "Are you new here? I haven't seen you around before."

"It's a large city," the cougar answered. "You can't know everyone who lives here."

"True, but most would have visited the Lagoon."

"What's that? An amusement park?"

Rye laughed. "No. It's the local pool that I work at nearly every day. You should stop by and go for a swim sometime. My name is Rye by the way," the otter said while pulling out a card from his wallet and handing it over to the cougar.

"I'm Brett," the cougar said, accepting the card.

"Nice to meet you Brett," Rye replied with a smile.

"Likewise."

"Well, I have someone waiting for me," Rye said, dismissing himself. "Hopefully I'll see you at Beach Lagoon sometime."

"Okay, I'll be sure to stop by."

After an exchange of smiles, the otter headed back to Cloud with a pawful of music albums.

Without noticing his boyfriend until he was at the sofa, the white otter continued to doodle on the same sheet of paper.

"I'm back," Rye announced, sitting on the sofa.

Cloud looked up and smiled, while Rye looked over his shoulder to see what the otter was doodling. It was a rough sketch of both of them cuddling, without any clothes on like the night they became boyfriends.

"Awe, that's cute," Rye muttered and kissed Cloud's cheek.

Cloud giggled. "You inspire all of my artwork."

The otter grinned. Before the otters continued doodling, Rye pulled out his iPod and scanned the barcode on the albums which then started to play the music quietly.

"I found a few cartoon characters that are a bit easier to do sometimes," Cloud said showing Rye a couple pages in one of the art books.

For nearly twenty minutes, Cloud helped his otter boy draw different things which there was a definite improvement with every edit.

"Enjoying the music?" Brett's voice came from behind the otters.

The otters looked up to see the cougar standing over them.

"Yes, thank you," Rye said. "Brett, this is Cloud, my boyfriend. Cloud, this is Brett who recommend these songs."

The white otter and cougar exchanged greetings quickly.

"Well, I must be going," Brett said, making his leave. "Cute picture by the way, Cloud. You two are a cute couple. I'll be sure to stop by Beach Lagoon sometime. Bye."

"Glad to hear it," Rye replied with a smile. "See you later."

"Bye," Cloud said.

Brett headed to the cashiers near the front of the store, to leave the otters alone again. For the next couple hours, the otters stayed in the bookstore drawing on dozens of pieces of paper. Cloud insisted on not throwing away one piece that Rye drew, so he collected them all and took them with him when the otters finally left the store.

Being later than usual, with most of the mall's shops closed and abandoned, neither otter thought anything of it as they walked down a common alleyway toward the parking lot. Occasionally the couple would pass another person walking home or to their own car, but Rye quickly grew suspicious when he could hear someone behind them keeping the same pace.

Ignoring the feeling, as often times some people did walk the same pace, Rye and Cloud didn't turn for a more lighted path. However, Rye noticed Cloud's anxiety as well, when they spotted dark figures hanging around the end of the alley.

"Let's head back," Rye whispered, grabbing Cloud tighter by the paw and turning around.

Blocked, Rye and Cloud was forced to stop in front of a large komodo dragon about twice the otter's age and nearly a foot taller.

"Hello there," the dragon said with a mischievous smile. "In a hurry are we?"

"Excuse me, we're late," Rye said defensively and tried to step around the dragon.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," the large lizard said, stepping in front of the otter. "It's a nice night, let's have a little chat."

Rye listened carefully to his surroundings. Cloud's breathing was uneven, and light footsteps from behind them approached closer. The air was full of hostile intentions.

"We're expected by friends," Rye lied.

"I'm sure you are."

"Richard! Stop playing with them!"

Rye turned, motioning Cloud behind him, so both the dragon and the others were at his sides, no one to his back but Cloud. Two stallions, a rat and a bat were now to his right, with the komodo dragon to his left.

Examining the gang, Rye noticed the stallions were of the same breed as Diane's friends. The bat had a bandage around his eyes and seemed to be listening to the movement instead of watching it. The dragon has a distinctive crescent shaped scar on his left shoulder. And the rat, the rat Rye recognized as his schoolmate, Vincent.

"Fine," the dragon said. He pulled out a gun from his belt and flashed it to the otters. "Don't resist fags and you won't get hurt, much."

Cloud gripped Rye tighter, and tugged on him but Rye ignored it. "Let's get out of here," Cloud whispered.

"Take their stuff," one of the stallions said.

"No, not yet."

Much to his surprise, Rye saw Diane walking from the shadows dressed in black. He still didn't dare say a word.

"The faggots need to be taught a lesson," Diane said.

Rye's blood boiled. This is her doing.

"Beat and rape them first," Diane ordered. "Then you can take whatever you want. Leave them naked here in the alley."

Vincent and one of the stallions both pulled out knives.

All five of them moved in.

"Faggot, you shouldn't have come to this city," Diane said to Cloud.

With one paw, Rye pushed Cloud away against the alley wall and posed in a defensive position.

"Don't resist Rye, they're only giving you what you want," the mare continued.

"Don't you dare insult Cloud or I'll cut out your tongue mare," swore Rye.

"The faggot will get more than you Rye, don't worry."

While Rye was distracted by the mare, he felt a large paw grab his necklace, the necklace Cloud got for Rye during the winter Games. Instinct and training kicked, time slowed and his vision narrowed.

Rye snapped up his paw, grabbing the wrist and instantly jerked it in an unnatural way causing the bones to snap! The rat screamed in pain. The otter pulled on the broken wrist to bring the rat closer to him, and brought up his other paw, slamming it into the elbow joint in another unnatural way.

The dragon jumped back, while the other three tried to grab Rye's arms. He quickly sidestepped from a slashing knife. All in the same instant, Rye pounced from his new footing for his closest target. Trained to kill, not subdue, the otter brought his elbow to the stallion's throat.

"Hit him, damn you! Hit him!!!"

While a wet choking sound came from that stallion, Rye noticed the knife the stallion held fell from his paw.

From the corner of his eye, Rye saw the other stallion go toward Cloud.

Picking the knife up, Rye jumped for the other stallion and drove the knife in the back of the stallion's knee.

A pain-filled whinny pierced the night air. Rye recovered the blade from the stallion and kicked the kneeling creature over to clutch his leg. The bat hasn't been seen since Vincent went down.

Cloud hasn't moved, frozen in fear as the dragon held the gun up at him. Rye stood back up to his full height and stood in front of Cloud, holding the bloody blade in his paw.

"You FAGGOTS!" Diane continued to scream. "You'll burn in Hell! You deserve to die! Shoot them!"

With the gun pointed at Rye instead of Cloud, he allowed himself to take a breath again. "Shoot me, we'll see how long you live."

"Shoot his faggot! Kill the albino one!"

"You dare to aim that gun at Cloud again, I will kill you."

The dragon didn't move or say anything with his eyes wide, while Diane continued to order him to pull the trigger.

"Rye," Cloud said, his voice very shaken. "Let's go, let's just go."

Rye didn't turn but held out his paw for Cloud to take. Once Cloud's paw was in Rye's, the otters started to walk away from the unconscious and wounded. Without turning his back to the dragon, who followed Rye with his gun, he tried to hasten out of the alley.

"Don't let them go! Shoot them!!"

When the otters were several meters away, the dragon lowered the gun and Rye felt safe enough to turn back to Cloud.

"Die faggots!"

Two shots echoed off the walls. Rye tackled Cloud to the ground, feeling pain erupt in his shoulder.

All the sounds of the world were muffled, as if the volume was turned down.

"Diane! What the hell?! Let's get out of here!"

"RYE!!" Cloud's panicked voice sounded. "RYE! NO!"

In the distance, sirens sounded. Cloud's voice was growing more distant as well until all sound faded into nothingness.

"Rye...Rye!..."