Author's note: Hello my fellow readers! So since this is my first story I've posted on this site, I just wanted to let you know that I'm very excited for you to have a read of it and I would love feedback too! Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story except for Will (whom you will read about very soon ;))
Chapter 1:
It was a cold Autumn's day and the air was thick with the smell of moist grass and bark. The ground was cold and wet from the rain that poured down last night and all Sherlock wanted to do was head back home and sleep in his 'probably now cold' bed. As he stepped outside of his cozy log and surveyed the gloomy forest around him, he was quite certain that this day would prove to be two things: boring and cold. Not to mention all the mud.
That was until he arrived at work and was instructed by one of his colleagues that he was to report to his manager. Sherlock was glad for the detour as he was not ready for any physical labour just yet.
As he walked into the log which was his manger's office, he was greeted by the secretary.
"Hey there, Sherlock! Come to see me I suppose?", she said with a twinkle in her eye as she leaned forward on the desk and placed her paws under her chin, googling her eyes up at Sherlock and wiggling her whiskers at him. Sherlock could tell that she had gone through some effort this morning to look good as she had combed her fur and her whiskers looked straighter than ever.
"You always take your chances don't you miss Adler", replied Sherlock a bit dryly. He wasn't in the mood for her flirting this morning. Or any other morning in fact. She just didn't seem to take a hint.
"Always my dear", she replied just as flirtatiously as before. "And how many times have I told you. Call me Irene."
"Look miss Adler. Irene. I'm really not in the mood for your games this morning. Can I just go in please?"
Irene looked down disappointedly and gestured with her paw without looking up. "Sure, go right in."
"Thanks", said Sherlock as he walked past her. He felt sorry for her but how else could he show her he wasn't interested? It wasn't exactly a win win situation. And anyway, he had more complicated things to worry about.
But before he had any time to worry about them, he was already in his manager's office, waiting for him to finish a phone call.
"Yes, I'm sending a team over as soon as possible. Don't worry it'll be cleared up in no time. Thank you for your cooperation. Goodbye." And he hung up the phone. "Ah, Sherlock! Just the otter I was looking for. Do sit down. Shall I make some tea?" He asked as he was already up making some tea for himself.
"No, thank you Mycroft. Already had some tea this morning", answered Sherlock.
"Very well", said Mycroft as he brought his tea over and sat down at his mahogany desk. Mycroft was a lanky but tall otter with dark brown fur, almost black, and razor sharp claws. Some people say that's how he got his position. If anyone got in his way, just a flash of his claws would send them running off. But once you got to know him, you'd find he was quite charming, completely harmless and something of a softy. Especially when he wore his reading glasses.
"Now then, on to business", said Mycroft as he took a sip of his tea and put it back in its saucer. "There has been an incident at the dam. Last night during the storm, a tree fell onto the lap pool and well the young otters, or shall I say pups, are unable to train until we can remove it. I have already sent a team of workers out but I wanted you to join them as you've had much experience in this field of work. So what do you say? Will you go?"
Sherlock's breathing began to increase and his heartbeat began to rise. This was just the perfect opportunity to see her. He couldn't believe that he could be this lucky. Especially to be selected out of such a diverse group of excellent workers. He could barely contain his excitement.
"Of course!" He sputtered out. "I mean, ahem, of course." He said more composed.
"Good! Then you can head straight there. I know you already know your way so I'll leave you to it." He said as he stood up and reached out his paw.
Sherlock took his paw in his own and shook it.
"Thank you again Mycroft."
"My pleasure. Have a good morning."
And with that, Sherlock released his paw and walked out of his office, jogged rather as he didn't wish to make any more awkward conversation with miss Adler that morning.
