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Chapter One

It was early in the morning when Adrian awoke to the sounds of vomiting coming the the bathroom in his dormitory. The white lion figured that his room mate, Jeff, must have partied too hard with his boyfriend the previous night. Adrian groaned. It was Friday. Neither of the two had any classes until Monday and Adrian really wanted his sleep. Jeff was an adorably effeminate bat. He was flamboyant and ultra-active, as was his boyfriend, David, a German Shepard on the football team. The two went out on dates every other night. This wasn't the first time Jeff had spent his morning in the bathroom. Thought, something about the way he sounded seemed different from the usual hung over sort of vomiting. He didn't hear David, either. David would always stay the night when they went drinking. Adrian had grown used to hearing their loud love making until the wee hours of the morning.

Adrian tried to ignore the bat's wails and pleas to every deity he could think of until Jeff started calling out to Adrian. Adrian sighed, rolling out of his bed to heed his first college friend's calls. Drowsily, the lion shuffled to the bathroom, where the bat was naked, hunched over the toilet, wings covering most of his body. This wasn't because Jeff didn't want Adrian to see him naked. Adrian got more than a few eye-fulls of the bat in the nude than he really cared for. Mostly when Jeff was getting out of the shower. Not that it mattered now for Adrian was only worried about his friend.

Jeff looked over to Adrian, his face looked pained and helpless. He almost said something before he had another round of dry heaving into the toilet bowl. Adrian didn't know why he did it, but he asked, "Hey.. Jeff? Are you okay?" Jeff sighed and managed to say, shakily, "Went out of sushi with David.. We both got sick." He then proceeded to vomit again into the toilet. It was rather unpleasant to watch, so Adrian looked away. He heard the flush of the toilet and heard Jeff's now shaky voice, "There's a bag on the coffee table. Can you go on the club trip in my place?" Before Adrian could object, Jeff screamed, "Please!"

Adrian sighed, knowing there would be no way to get out of it this time. He nodded, "Okay, I'll go."

Jeff responded, "Good. It's not too big a deal." He paused, made a face that made it obvious he felt he was going to be sick again. Nothing happened, he sighed with relief and continued, "Just drive up with my club, spend tomorrow doing some activities, then drive back Sunday. Can you do that?" Adrian knew the question was rhetorical and nodded, "Yeah. Are you sure you don't want me here, instead?"

Jeff shook his head, "No, David will be over soon. His room mate, Vincent, will be over, too, to go with.." He dry heaved for a few moments, Adrian looked away, feeling a little sorry for the bat.

"What club is this for, anyway?" said Adrian. Jeff was active in many clubs on campus. Jeff only groaned and blurted out, "You've got like, ten minutes to get to the parking lot, hurry and pack, Vincent will be in the hall." Adrian didn't like the lack in information he was receiving. He rolled his eyes at Jeff, then returned to his room, getting his things ready. Packing anything he might need for any occasion, finding it difficult to pack for something without knowing what it was, deciding he'd just buy something on the way if he needed to. He also hated that he couldn't so much as shower or brush his teeth. He also needed to pee really bad.

When he finished packing his things in a hurry, he saw that David, a large German Shepard, was with Jeff, comforting him. The German Shepard was nowhere as sick as his boyfriend. Adrian waved at David, who was too preoccupied with Jeff to really notice Adrian. Adrian grabbed the backpack Jeff had left on the coffee table in their living room area and quickly made his way into the hallway where David's room-mate, Vincent was waiting. Vincent was a black and white tiger who looked half asleep, with a large back over his shoulder that was obviously not his. Adrian had only met Vincent a few times. He was a very quiet, private person that played a lot of video-games. Vincent yawned, than looked at Adrian and said, "So.. Ready to go?"

Adrian shrugged, "Can I use your bathroom? I really need to pee."

Vincent nodded, "Sure, I'll meet you in the parking lot." With that he handed Adrian his dorm key. Adrian made his way into David's dorm, which was only down the hall. He quickly peed and brushed his teeth, hoping he wouldn't keep the rest of the club waiting for him. The lion practically ran to the parking lot after locking up the room. In the parking lot stood a small group of athletic men standing around one of the coaches. A few feet away stood Vincent, leaning awkwardly against a small van.

Adrian waved to the professor, a large ape Adrian had seen a few times in the cafe around campus. The ape waved back, looking slightly disappointed and said, "Are you Jeff's replacement?"

Adrian nodded, "Yeah." He handed Jeff's bag to the ape and let his own bag drop to the floor. He felt completely out of place with the others.

The ape nodded, checking off a list he was carrying, "Good, we are ready to leave, then."

Adrian backed away, eying the small crowd. There were four others, besides Vincent, the Professor and himself. All males. A thin rabbit and panther he didn't know, the silver wolf named Pete that he had met a few times around campus who always greeted him after he had once helped Adrian with directions around campus. Lastly, a leopard Adrian knew as Mike that was in a class with him who always seemed to get a question horribly wrong just before Adrian was able to answer it correct when they were asked by their professor. Adrian often felt that the leopard disliked him because of this. Adrian groaned to himself, he didn't want to have to spend the weekend avoiding someone.

The ape cleared his throat, getting the groups attention, "Alright, we are down two people, hopefully their replacements will be able to keep up with us." The small grouped laughed to themselves. Adrian was starting to fear what they were going to have to do. He really wished Jeff had told him. Vincent seemed to know, thought he looked rather peeved. The professor continued, "The hike should go without too many problems." Adrian's heart sank. He didn't bother listening to the rest of the speech. He didn't have any kind of hiking gear. He really didn't want to have to climb to the top of any mountain or walk through a forest and get lost in the middle of the forest in Oregon. He tried to get back to the professor, who was explaining the house they were staying in and the rules they had to follow once they had arrived their. It was a five room vacation home that the ape owned. Once the coach was don't telling people where to go, they started packing the small van with bags and gear. He shut the trunk and said, "Only two others will fit in the van, so Adrian or Vincent, do either of you own a car?"

Adrian nodded, "Yeah, I have a car." His old sedan that his brother had given him was parked a few cars away.

The ape nodded, "Good, we should have enough space, then."

Adrian went to his car, throwing bags into his trunk when Vincent walked up to him. Adrian looked over at him and said, "What's up?" putting his iPod into his back pocket so as not to forget it.

Vincent said, "Mind if I ride with you?"

"Sure, you can ride with me." Adrian didn't care, assuming Vincent wouldn't be making a sound anyway. Vincent then placed his things into Adrian's trunk while Adrian watched the others. The panther and Pete were putting their stuff into the van while the rabbit and Mike were putting their things into a small sports car. Adrian closed his trunk and let Vincent into his car, heading around the back of his car, he noticed the rabbit and Mike were now playing keep away with one of Pete's shoes, which someone had obviously wrestled off his foot. He watched them wrestle a bit. Pete was much bigger than the other two. The rabbit was thin and agile while Mike was a bit sluggish in his movements, thought his movements were more precise. He was built like a weight lifter, without the mass to be anything more than a lightweight.

Mike had noticed Adrian watching them and dropped the shoe. The leopard scanned Adrian up and down and said, "See anything you like?" In an intimidating, sarcastic way. Obviously not actually flirting with him. Adrian shook his head, his heart starting to beat a little harder. He walked around his car, "Just waiting to leave." With that he made his way to the front of his car. Mike followed him and grabbed his arm. Adrian spun around, pushing himself away from the leopard almost yelling, "Let go of me!" He backed away from Mike, tripping on the concrete side walk, falling back on his tail, hearing a crunching sound as he hit the ground. Pete's voice yelled, "Mike! Do you have to start a fight with everyone?"

Mike turned around with an audible, "Hmph." before saying, "Why yes, I do. I made a list. What is is to you?" He then walked to his small sports car.

The base of Adrian's tail was throbbing from the landing. Pete came around to help him up, sighing, "Let me guess.. At some point you beat him at something.."

Adrian rubbed his tail, "Yeah, something like that. Is he always like that?"

"Pretty much." Pete nodded, "Sadly, he's the best on the wrestling team."

"Ouch." was all Adrian could think to reply with. Pete sighed, looking at Mike and the rabbit getting into the sports car. Adrian took the iPod out from his pocket, knowing he had to have broken it in the fall. It was beyond help. Pete patted Adrian on the back, "Don't worry, I'll make sure he gets you a new one. Did you get the map to the house yet?"

"What map?" Adrian replied.

"Bill has one in his van. Knew you would need it. If you don't have one I can get it for you if you want." Pete said, enthusiastically. Not really waiting for a reply, he darted off to the coach, coming back half a minute later with a piece a paper, handing it to Adrian, "Here, good luck getting there. It's pretty much the only house in the area. Well, at least that I know of."

Adrian nodded, "Alright.. Thanks. I'll see you there, then."

Pete smiled, "Yeah, see ya there. Sorry you had to give up your weekends. You probably had other things you wanted to do."

Adrian shrugged, "It's fine, I didn't really have anything planned." He really didn't, though it made him feel a little sad that this was true. Pete hadn't left yet. He looked like he had something to say, but didn't know how to bring it up. Adrian stood there awkwardly for a second while Mike's car left the lot. After a second of silence, Pete eventually said, "Well, thank you guys from coming with, we really needed the extra hands for what we planned."

Adrian opened his car door saying, "Umm.. Don't worry about it. I guess we'll see you there." Then got into his car, handing the map to Vincent to navigate.

They pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the nearest sporting goods store, where Adrian bought hiking boots and some durable jeans an employee pressured him into buying. He left the store in a hurry, heading back on the road, hoping to catch up with the others.

They were about half way there when Adrian asked Vincent, "So.. What exactly are we doing up here, anyway? Jeff didn't really tell me anything."

Vincent thought for a moment before saying, "I think we are exploring some cave system, or just using it for something before rock climbing and then we will be camping. That's what they needed us for. Some campsite stuff."

"So we aren't spending the night indoors?" asked Adrian, dreading the answer.

Vincent shrugged, "Not really. I think we are spending tonight inside the cottage or whatever it is."

This news relieved Adrian a little bit. He then asked, "What club is this even for?"

Vincent replied, "The Health and Fitness Club."

Adrian didn't ask anything else. His heart sank; he didn't think to get a tent or sleeping bag. As he drove, he hoped that Bill would have extra gear.

It was still early when he arrived at the house. He pulled into the driveway. It was a small mansion of a house. It had two garages that had the van and the sports car already parked. Adrian was going to have to leave his car outside. Everyone seemed to already be inside the house. His detour to the sports goods store had cost more time than he would have liked. Nearly two hours had passed since they had left the apartment building. Adrian parked his car behind Mike's, making a mental not to sleep in on Sunday.

The exterior of the house was made to look like the walls were made from rocks, giving it an earthy look. Trees were visible in every direction around them, making Adrian feel closed off from the rest of the world. Being out in the wilderness like this made him a little excited about the hike.