A Curtain Falls Over Furdom 13: Sanctuary

Story by sheerclaw on SoFurry

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#14 of A Curtain Falls Over Furdom

This story can/will portray levels of gore, violence, sexual behaviors (M/M, M/F, F/F, ....), upsetting stuff, etc. that may not be suitable for infants/minors or the weak of heart. Know that you are free to read. View at your own risk if you are anywhere (anywhen?) you shouldn't be reading. All characters and situations are sprung from my own head (ie. poof). Any resemblance to real, imaginary, dead, alive, undead, or transitional beings is coincidental.

This chapter includes M/M activities.


I gawked at the crowd, feeling a growing sense of discomfort as the beautiful female wolf threaded her way between excited onlookers. All the other furs in the dim light seemed to fade away in my shock. Her gaze was set as if she were hunting him, but a smile was on her muzzle. Her tail wagged slowly, and her paws twitched in anticipation.

The crowd stopped a polite distance away, not too close. They drew my attention as they asked quick questions, mixing together in a rumble. Two pups were jumping up and down, waving. The new wolf moved to the front and stopped, examining Shadow with wide, appreciative eyes.

I realized that while Shadow was wearing a t-shirt, his lower half was only covered by his boxers.

Shadow had not given the crowd more than a wary glance with his yellow eyes as he tried to free his arm from a determined stoat... err... 'ermine'. He wrenched his arm one way, then another, but had absolutely no success. Jenny was firmly attached. He was completely confounded that he could not get rid of the laughing white female attached to his arm.

I might need to rescue him soon, but he looked more confused than upset.

The rest of the crowd... a mixed batch of furs. A mouse... a raccoon - that made my heart skip for a moment. The male dog who had let us in slipped past me and... went to join his family. All collies, a handsome breed. A father, mother, and two pups....

That could have been my family. My whole family which had survived intact. Unfair.

I hated it.

Directionless anger rose. It was horrible....

Then I felt terrible for feeling that way, even briefly. I sagged, fading into despair. I was selfish - even horrified that another wolf had appeared. My eyes dropped to the floor, and my ears tried to follow.

My sudden excitement at finding so many furs alive faded into despair as I remembered. What I'd lost. What I had become to feel so selfishly. The end of my tail lay on the floor.

A paw grabbed my arm and I jumped. Shadow. Somehow he had freed himself of Jenny's white paws. Pained relief swept me. He moved into my line of sight and gazed into my blue eyes worriedly.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded and looked down, focusing on his brown t-shirt. He drew me wordlessly into a hug.

Shadow gripped my shoulders in firm paws; I could feel his tension. He'd turned his back to the crowd. Must have been difficult.

I watched over his shoulder for him as he steadied me. It was the least I could do.

Somehow he'd escaped Jenny who ran up to the crowd. "Where's Peter?" she asked cheerily.

"He left yesterday to see if he could find anyone else out there," replied the unknown wolf absently. Her gaze never left Shadow. "He'll be back in a few days." Her tail started to wag excitedly, "Who's this?"

"Everyone," announced Jenny, enjoying the attentive gazes, "This is Tyler - the shorter one - and Shadow, the wolf. We met them today and haven't heard their story yet."

Burt called out from behind me as he walked up, "And this is Howard. We found Howard holed up in an office building yesterday. He and one other fur, who we lost last night to a tornado. They had lost the rest of their group to the zombies."

I shuddered. That tornado.... The world spun unsteadily, and I leaned into Shadow.

A very pregnant red and white cow joined Burt, and they kissed in greeting. Burt's mate, probably.

Steve flicked his rabbit ears, as he joined the happy couple.

Jenny slipped through the crowd and joined the shy raccoon. I shivered, but it wasn't Eric. The female raccoon looked and smiled in a friendly manner, and I managed a weak smile back.

The wolf stepped closer, looking like she wanted to speak.

"Shadow," I whispered to him, "The wolf-"

"What wolf?" he started in alarm, letting one paw drop from around me. He glanced around, turning us. His eyes settled on the female, and his other paw stiffened on my back.

The unknown wolf took a step towards us. "I'm so happy! I didn't think any other wolves had made it!"

I could feel Shadow's tension spread to me as he froze uncertainly.

"Stories at dinner, everyone. We still have work to do." A large female stepped out of the crowd. How had I missed her? The rhino smiled down at me as I trembled in shock and confusion. "Welcome to FurShopper. There's still quite a few bodies, but the place has been cleared of those undead things. Why don't you take some time to rest. Burt can show you where."

Shadow nodded and guided me carefully over to Burt. He glanced occasionally at the female wolf or at the rhino.

The large, gray rhino was trailed by a slender doe as the large female spoke with the new furs.

Burt turned to us, "Hey! Everyone, this is my wife, Michelle."

"Hello." The big cow shook hooves with Howard as Burt introduced him. She smiled broadly as Burt introduced us too. She was almost as big as Burt. Maybe bigger with her belly.

I smiled shyly back and offered my small black paw. "Hi," I murmured. My paw was unhesitatingly enveloped by a strong hoof.

Shadow made passable gestures of greeting.

"I can't stay," Michelle said, giving Burt a smooch. "I need to get dinner ready." She smiled brightly to Shadow and I, "I'll see you at dinner, pups. We'll make sure you eat well tonight. Thanks for bringing my mate back. I'm so glad he's safe! I don't know what I'd do without him." The red and white cow left waving, walking heavily through the crowd.

Steve passed Shadow the gory baseball bat. Shadow's ears drooped in embarrassment; he'd left it when Jenny hauled him away. Shadow gripped the wood steadily with a paw, and I saw the female wolf's deepening smile.

The furs dispersed slowly, chatting happily to each other. Several tried to catch our gazes to wave a quick "hello" before heading off. The two collie pups almost ran to us before being stopped by their watchful parents.

I could see the area beyond the crowd. Nearby, there seemed to be some sort of... camp. I thought I saw tents and lamps. The rest of the FurShopper was dim, but not completely dark.

The wolf was the last to wander off. She kept looking over her shoulder as she left. Her hips gained a purposeful sway before she went out of sight.

"Looks like Helaina has her eye on you already," the fawn-colored Steve winked at Shadow and chuckled deeply.

"Who?" I asked.

"Helaina's the wolf you saw. She's a nice fur, so be sure to treat her well," said Burt, leading us three new furs away.

Shadow shrugged neutrally, earning him a slight frown from Burt.

Burt looked at me. "Anyway, I can see you're pretty tired. Well, Tyler is anyway."

I nodded, ashamed. My feet were dragging slightly, and I felt numb and confused.

Shadow gripped my shoulders firmly. "I could use a rest."

Burt turned to Howard, "You napping for a bit too?"

"Nope," grinned the sturdy, middle-aged goat. "Show me what you got here, big guy. I'm tired, but I still pull all-nighters just like a college brat."

"I could..." I began.

"No it's okay," insisted Burt. "You two look like you've had it rough. Tell us all about it tonight. You'll need energy for that, trust me."

I shrugged helplessly. Had our experience been any worse than theirs?

Shadow nodded and guided me along with one arm around my shoulders. We followed Burt as he pointed things out to Howard with a large flashlight. My mind had decided to focus on sleeping, and my toes began to catch on the smooth floor.

"Just a little further," Shadow quietly assured me. He held the bat loosely but still watched the dim superstore.

Howard had asked something about how secure the FurShopper was. I caught the last half of Burt's answer, "...closed off pretty well, too. The entrance is barricaded completely. Even to get to the doors, a fur would have to climb through a mess of pallets and boxes. Not enough space for zombies to pile up together.... Oh, watch out for that body, there's still dead furs we haven't cleaned out of here yet."

Everything was starting to blur in my fatigue. When was the last time I was really able to get a full rest without worry? Each day seemed horribly long. Every moment etched into memory by stress.

We were in the home goods section when Burt passed the large flashlight to Howard. The black bull grabbed two plastic-wrapped bundles and easily opened one. He pulled out a blanket and pointed into the dim store. "There's some couches over there." He opened the second package. "Take these and get some rest. I'll send someone in a few hours to get you for dinner."

I accepted a smaller flashlight, and Shadow warily took the blankets.

Burt nodded to us, then wandered off with a inquisitive Howard. The long-horned goat had a thousand questions on his mind. Who knew the soft-spoken fur had that much to ask?

We watched them leave, and I looked into Shadow's bright eyes. Even though we had accepted the hospitality, it didn't mean we trusted them. I wanted to feel I could trust them. I think Shadow wanted a reason not to trust them - probably make things easier not to trust any fur at all.

He gave me a little grin, suddenly returning to normal as we were left to ourselves.

"I thought they'd never leave us in peace," he said, gripping the bat with one paw. He started us towards the vague outlines of couches lit by my flashlight.

I nodded, yawning as tension left me. Sleep sounded good.

Shadow laid the bat on the floor and sat with the blankets on the first couch he came to. Not picky at all. He tugged lightly at my shirt, and I gratefully accepted the invitation to sit next to him.

I sighed and nuzzled my nose into his shoulderfur. His wolfy scent calmed me. Wild, wolfy smell.

He chuckled and held me closer, turning off the flashlight. In the dimness, he guided me down and settled behind me, spooning my vulnerable back. We faced outward, the couch protecting his back. He pulled a blanket over us and pulled me close.

I didn't mind this at all. I could feel his chest against my back, and his paw snaked up my shirt to stroke my chestfur.

He whispered in my ear, "I've got you, Tyler. You can sleep if you need to."

I mumbled something happily as I slipped away.

***

I stretched myself awake, my leg threading between his. Shadow pulled me tightly against him and licked my ear.

He didn't say anything, just slowly licked my ear. I held his paw to me through my shirt and shifted closer to him. He growled possessively under his breath and chewed on my ear. His spare paw drifted towards my shorts, grasping my hip.

"Is this okay, though?" I asked around a faint gasp. "It's fine with me, but there's other furs for you if you-"

His personal growl hitched, and he buried his nose into my scruff. "They seem okay, but I like you."

I hummed in agreement. The other furs appeared to be nice, upstanding furs. But Shadow was Shadow. I knew and trusted him. I was attracted to him. Would things change soon between us now that we were among others? Did I want them to change? In what way?

The questions faded as his boxer-clad hips pressed slowly into mine. A faint moan escaped with my breath, and I gripped at the paw through my shirt. The closeness... even with more furs, I needed his closeness. I shifted my hips back into his as his hips retreated, and he gasped into my fur.

The paw at my hip fumbled at the fastenings to my shorts. His other paw clutched at my chestfur. He groaned his frustration in my ear as he returned to chewing on it.

I gasped sharply and helped unfasten my shorts. He pulled at mine briefly, then quickly sat up behind me and slid them down near my knees. I kicked them off the rest of the way as he pulled his t-shirt and boxers off.

I reached up and eagerly pulled him down to me as he pulled the blanket back over us. Bare fur contact down there was so very much better. His lips pressed against mine, and my muzzle opened, inviting him in. He breathed heavily into me and stretched his tongue over mine, then invited mine into his wolfy-tasting muzzle.

I sighed, he tasted wonderful and every texture was new, as if my tongue had never lived before.

Shadow sucked at my slow tongue needily and again invaded my muzzle. He broke away, staring at me in the faint dimness of the FurShopper. He pulled my shirt up and started licking the centerline of my chest.

That was new. I shivered and wiggled underneath him, bathed in new sensation. He growled softly and nibbled the contours of my chest. He sat up and pulled the shirt off my unresisting torso. Our clothes piled below the couch as he returned to me, licking along the lines of my collarbone. The fur, wetted and smoothed by his tongue, cooled slowly in the air. The cooling sensation echoed the movements slowly behind his wet muscle.

My chest was alive with long tracing lines. I panted softly and clutched at his backfur, my head tilting back as I sought escape.

I felt something drip on my leg, and Shadow hunched his hips and dragged his hard length up. It interrupted his licking, and his eyes closed in concentration. I wanted him to find his escape too. I raised my leg against him, and he flexed involuntarily into my fur.

He gasped and opened his eyes. A brief second later, he'd glued our muzzles together hungrily. No rhythm, just quick, urgent movements of our tongues. He thrust steadily against me.

"Try something new?" he managed between breathy gasps.

I nodded, new things were always amazing with him.

He raised, panting and pulling on my hips. He stuffed a couch pillow and his brown t-shirt beneath me. Following his gestures, I turned onto my stomach. He pulled my sheath down, exposing me to the cool air, then to warmed shirt cloth. I gasped softly and flexed. He settled on top of me from behind; the weight on me was fulfilling in a deep recess of my being. Pressed comfortably between, my weeping head slipped around in the shirt I knew smelled of him.

A moment later, I realized I couldn't breathe well this compressed. But just as I'd realized it, he shifted his weight more over my hips, allowing my eased breathing. One hip pressed more firmly into my thigh. On the same side, one wolfy elbow supported his upper weight. The paw slipped under, across my chest to hold my shoulder firmly. The other paw steadied my hip when he made a strong thrust against it.

His erection slipped over my butt cheeks and past the base of my tail. He slid up me, holding himself carefully to go slowly.

My tail was curled up my back, the tip pinned near his shoulder. My reddish fur brushed along his and mingled with his deep, black fur.

I could feel his damp length slip through the canyon between my lower cheeks. My hips rose against him in automatic response, and I felt a rub near my most private area. His balls pressed into my rear, touching above mine.

I whimpered into the cushions; my paws clutched helplessly at the thick fabric. I couldn't really move like this. I was at his mercy, nearly immobilized. All up to him. I sighed and relinquished control to Shadow, demonstrating my trust in him.

He growled wordlessly and moved his muzzle to chew gently on my shoulder. He again thrust against my rear and past my tail base. His whiskers poked at my neckfur. My tail was pressed to the side, but not too uncomfortably. The movement above transferred to my cock's little nest below, moving around gently, finding friction in the warm cotton.

I whimpered my need and Shadow brought his paw up from my hip to my muzzle. When he prodded my lips with two fingers, I opened and sucked gently on them in the rhythm of his thrusts. His one hip pressed hard into my thigh, but he had a longer angle to thrust as he leaned in.

He grunted into my shoulderfur and moved his paw down. His thrust stopped, though his hips still flexed slightly... instinctively. I felt him circle the area around my little pucker, gently pressing in. The gentle but focused massage relaxed muscles I hadn't known were tense. His finger prodded around the entrance.

A single finger prodded the tight bud, and it slipped in a fraction before slipping out. Repeating for several long minutes.

I gasped at the strange but pleasing sensations. He sucked and licked deep into my shoulderfur, inhaling and concentrating. Somehow, in the fury of lust, he was still in control of himself. I laid my ears back as my whiskers rubbed gently along the couch fabric. Saliva pooled at the edge of my lips. I moaned and tried to shift my hips to him, but could hardly move at all.

He breathed a low laugh between pants and resumed his steady thrusts. His hips pressed his finger in slowly as his unsheathed cock pressed slowly past my tail.

But not far. Just a minute length before the pressure released back, then returned. He slowly worked his finger into me, taking his time.

I moaned in urgent frustration. It felt so strange.... Like something was stuck in there... but pleasing somehow. Filled in a place I'd never realized was empty. Uncomfortable... but fascinating.

The finger rubbed back and forth in time with his hips. It felt strange but good. Difficult to say if I liked it. Then the finger brushed across something in me. A snap of sensation shot the short distance to my nesting cock. I grunted and felt Shadow's teeth brush me.

Tingles spread, and I released a yip into the cushions.

"Did you hear that, Diana?" piped a high voice.

I froze, already immobile. My tension made my tender bud tighten on Shadow's finger.

Why wasn't he stopping? He inched forward and back slightly, not wanting to give this up.

"Jacob Michael! Quit scaring your sister and keep up."

"Yeah, you're not supposed to scare me, remember?"

I turned my muzzle and slowly buried it in the deep crack between the seat cushions and the back cushions. Shadow continued tiny, slow movements. At least this wasn't a noisy leather couch....

"I did hear something.... But I don't hear it now."

"Maybe it was your stomach... lit-tle bro-ther," came a taunting little female voice.

Pup one and pup two from the collie family.

The tension was somehow raising me higher.... Or maybe it was the tiny movements across my little spot. That and the faintly growling muzzle with teeth beginning to set into my flesh.

"Don't call me little!"

"Hey pups, keep up. We're joining the others."

Voices and pawsteps faded. They never came very close, but they had been close enough to warrant caution.

I sighed, relaxing, but my toes started to tingle. Shadow started thrusting hard and urgently against my rear. The paw at my shoulder dragged my weight towards him with each desperate thrust, and the finger inside me rubbed that little spot firmly. My knot was quickly forming in layers of t-shirt.

He grunted through his teeth with every quick thrust. Enough playtime.

Shadow's knot filled quickly behind me, pressing against my rear, anchored by his paw. He wasn't pulling back any more. He was trying to push his knot further through my skin with each thrust and push me further through the couch.

I came first, my broken moans muffled deep inside the couch. Drool escaped my lips into its depths as I shuddered and wracked my way through. My jaw worked helplessly, and I whined loudly as I was overwhelmed.

He shuddered behind me and over me, twitching and jerking. His teeth ground firmly into my shoulder, holding me still. His other paw dragged my chest towards him. He grunted and groaned into my fur. He panted and tensed reflexively as he released into my backfur.

I was still whimpering and whining into the couch, shivering as sensations continued to ripple through me.

He grunted several times into my shoulderfur.

Damn. That felt... really....

I liked it.

No wonder there were "horny young furs" running around. If it always felt this good....

I calmed and no longer made helpless noises into the couch.

Shadow panted heavily into me. His belly rippling against my back in his private aftermath. His finger slowly withdrew from my rear, and he rubbed the area soothingly. He didn't wait long before he removed his teeth and helped me pull my muzzle from the depths of the puffed cushions.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly between his calming pants.

I panted a moment in the cool outer air. "Is it like that every time?" I asked enthusiastically. "I think I really like it."

He groaned, vibrating against my back as he held me close. "I thought I'd hurt you, the way you sounded at the end." He sagged against me in relief. "I don't ever want to hurt you. Even a little," he whispered.

He slowly licked my ears as we settled down. Our knots didn't last long, since the pressure on them was not quite "right". It was still nice as they released a few extra blobs of fluid.

Shadow sighed into my fur, licking and breathing in my taste and scent.

"So is it always like that?" I asked, honestly curious.

He chuckled against my back and held me closer. "Only if you're really into it."

"And the feeling back there. That was the... prostate?"

He nodded against my neck.

"It really makes a difference," I breathed.

He licked my shoulder, but it wasn't very sore. The licks there felt nice when paired with my quiet content.

Shadow reached beneath me and pulled out the brown manure shirt. A noticeable wet blob jiggled on the cloth in the dimness. He used the drier parts to clean the area where our bodies met.

He set the shirt on the arm of the couch and helped me roll onto my back. "Looks like I need to get a different shirt again."

"Lots here," I breathed out and reached for his ears, drawing him willingly to me. My lips met his briefly. We lay on our sides, tangled together to allow us to face each other.

We held each other a while. I drifted lightly in sleep for a time.

He shifted around me. "I think they're gathering. Let's get up before someone sees us naked." I could feel his grin against my neckfur and a tail wag near my legs.

"You'd think it funny if they actually found us wouldn't you?" I accused jokingly.

"A bit," he admitted, pulling away and gathering our tossed clothes. When he was dressed, he grabbed the bat and dirtied manure shirt.

I dressed myself and he kept a careful watch of the dark store. I finished by quickly folding the two blankets. Didn't want to try explaining why we had only needed one....

Again, I was fully clothed, and Shadow... in nothing but his boxers. Now I cared. I didn't want him parading around everyone like that. Especially that female with the long stare.

"Clothes," I insisted. I grabbed the flashlight and led us away at an angle from the growing noise in the distance.

This really was a huge store. Like a darkened forest of racks and cliffs of shelves. Like a forest, with wide moonlit paths. I looked up and realized the darkness was relieved by a scattering of small skylights. Not safe for the Curtain.... I shuddered. A place this huge... If you were too far away when it was coming....

There were more dead furs the further away from the camp we went. The snarls on their muzzles proved that even the little skylights had been enough to facilitate their deaths.

I caught Shadow edging to the side to throw the brown t-shirt, sticky with fluids, into a trash bin. Clothes... Male....

I picked out some decent clothes for him, though he looked unhappy to be in anything that wasn't unsightly and avoidable. He really did look catching dressed in regular clothes. Wielding the bat, he looked even better. Maybe my tastes had suddenly changed with all the gore.... I paused and looked thoughtfully.

"What?" he asked, looking at me nervously.

"You really do catch the eyes when you're not in dirty, baggy clothes."

He sagged, bat tip tapping to the floor. "So I've been told.... It's brought me all sorts of trouble."

I smacked him on the back, "It's always a new day."

He shrugged, but his tail wagged happily. He grabbed me and left a slobbery kiss in my cheekfur while I giggled. We continued through the FurShopper and quietly approached the lamp-lit camp. I turned off the flashlight. There was enough light to get us there, no need to waste a good battery.

"... don't know anything about them."

"And our wolf - Helaina's fine. We all know her. A gentle fur. She's an exception. But wolves are violent and dangerous, especially the males."

There were murmurs of agreement.

Shadow halted us, and he tensed. The bat raised slowly. I shifted uneasily next to him and glanced up.

He looked uncomfortable and hurt. Furs really acted this way around him. I felt my empty stomach sink. Even in a time like this, old prejudices remained. A nasty aspect of the world before, that had not faded like the rest.

"He's a nice enough wolf," I recognized Burt's voice. "He's pretty protective of his friend Tyler, but that's probably because they were alone when we found them. We don't know for how long."

"They do seem like good furs, though I only met them briefly," I thought I recognized Michelle's voice. Burt's mate.

"How do we know the black mutt didn't... get rid of the rest of their group," said a hushed voice.

"You did tell us how they didn't want to let you in...."

"It wasn't like that!" I recognized Jenny's voice.

"No," said Burt firmly. "They didn't want to let us in because we could have been any group of furs.... They also wanted to see our eyes before they let us in."

"Understandable... maybe. But still...."

"We should get rid of the wolf, but the fox should stay. He won't last out there on his own."

Shadow and I both sagged. I knew I was weak... I didn't need someone to point out just how weak. Shadow looked torn between frustration and resignation. He gripped me tighter around my shoulders with one paw, and the other gripped the bat firmly. I moved my paw to clutch the fur beneath his shirt.

"Wolves always pull through. They're vicious."

"No," said a voice softly. I recognized the female wolf, Helaina. "Wolves aren't naturally vicious."

"I've met a few wolves," grumbled someone. "They're all pretty close to feral."

I shivered. I knew Shadow was no feral. Even feral wolves weren't vicious, just survivors. I felt the rejection as if it were my own. I didn't want to part from Shadow. Ever. We had decided - whatever we do, we do it together. We had survived together.

"Did you see the clipped patches in his fur? The long scabs? He's been in some trouble recently."

"Could be from anything...."

"Not a good sign on any fur," insisted some female. "Especially on a wolf."

I'd gotten used to the slender, clipped areas in his fur. I felt I had done a good job making sure they were healing.

"That little fox might've picked up habits from the wolf."

Several furs murmured agreement.

"You said the car is his, but he looks awfully young to drive."

"Maybe they stole the car from their first group...."

"And left them out in the open?" someone gasped.

"Backstabbing fox!"

My empty stomach felt like a hard rock, sinking to my toes. Was that really what it looked like? I felt my tail and ears slump.

Shadow growled under his breath. I thought he would turn us away, but he pulled me to him firmly. He gripped the bat but let it hang down. He dragged me along as he stalked into the lit area.

A few furs also carried basic weapons. Crowbars, an oversized wrench, baseball bats....

I dropped my gaze. I couldn't look at furs who gasped in embarrassment and shock. My head and ears hung in shame. I successfully fought off a sniffle.

He sat me at a picnic table... wherever we were in the camp. My eyes drilled into the tablecloth; my nose nearly touched its surface. I hadn't done anything, but their accusations had me feeling ashamed. I could feel his warmth near my back.

"If you're going to speculate about us, at least have the courtesy to ask before you find your conclusions," he growled angrily.

A few furs muttered to each other. Words I didn't catch.

"Well?" Shadow asked testily.

I heard paws and hooves shift.

"We should leave then. Not even going to see who we are?" When no response came, Shadow shifted on his feet. "We're not welcome here."

"The fox can stay," insisted a female.

I shuddered. I didn't want that. I rose to stand next to Shadow, my nose still pointing at the floor. My eyes started to overflow. No community for us here.

"Wait!" yelled Burt, silencing the growing mutters. "You can at least stay until tomorrow, after Midday."

"You asked us here," growled Shadow. "You wanted us to try it out. We're leaving."

I heard a gasp and Jenny said, "No! Wait! If you go now, you won't make it past those things outside!"

"Will we survive the night with you!?" Shadow yelled. I felt him gesture widely with an arm as he held onto me. "Paranoid hypocrites! Furs, hiding in the dark. You smiled at us when we arrived, but left to yourselves, you had already condemned us."

There was a long silence.

"You're a mad, scared mob. Hiding in the dark. We'll both be dead by morning if you continue this way." I heard him spit to the ground in disgust.

Low voices rose around us.

"Shadow..." Jenny whined.

"Tyler?" Shadow asked.

I nodded and clutched the fur beneath his new shirt. My eyes were glued to the floor, but I think I caught a glimpse of Burt's white-snipped foothoof.

We walked away into the dark FurShopper.

Voices rose behind us. Arguing noisily.