Trouble on the Horizon

"A storm is coming."

Annabeth slowly woke up. She rubbed her eyes and began to adjust to seeing her surroundings. As she was about to lay her head back down, she noticed her pillow was a bit warm. The fox then look to see that she was resting on something grey. Only when she got up did she remember last night. Annabeth smiled as she saw Roland sleeping beneath her. She laid back down and rested her head on his chest, hearing his strong beating heart. The sound felt comforting. The girl tried to go back to sleep but she couldn't. Annabeth didn't want to be the only one awake, so she began to nuzzle against the coyote, hoping to wake him up.

"Mmmm..." Roland was enjoying whatever it was that was rubbing against him. It felt soft, and soon Roland began to respond back with the same actions, waking himself up in the process. He opened his eyes as gold came into his view. After blinking a couple of times, he saw Annabeth. "Morning, love," the coyote said. "Morning," the fox replied back. She gave Roland a kiss, and as she pulled away, Annabeth looked to see Roland smiling. "Now I'm awake," he said in enlightening tone.

Letting out a yawn, the coyote stretched his arms and shook himself a bit. Annabeth sat up to let the boy finish his stretching. Shaking himself once more, Roland said, "I haven't slept that great in a while. I have you to thank for that." With a smile, the fox replied, "You're welcome. Roland, last night was incredible." Smiling as well, the coyote said, "It truly was. I meant every word I said last night, love."

"I know you did. I have to say that I meant every word I said as well. For a long time, I've always loved you," Annabeth said as she pressed her face against Roland's chest.

"I love you too, Annie. I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you. I've always thought you would find someone else," the boy admitted.

"I never did until yesterday. I realized that special someone was always there, but I never took notice."

"We all make mistakes. I think we were pretty lucky to correct ourselves last night."

Both friends laid down in each other's arms for a while until the fox got up and walked to her dresser. She took one of her robes and wore it. As she finished tying the knot, she looked to see that the coyote got up as well, but he grabbed his jeans and put them back on. "Now, how about some breakfast," Annabeth asked. "Sure, I could eat. I hope Marcus went home with a friend, otherwise I'm not sure how to explain why I wasn't home last night," Roland said.

"Don't worry. If he asks, I'm sure you can come up with a good lie," the fox responded. "Or, I could just tell him the truth," the coyote replied with a smile. Annabeth thought that her friend was actually serious. She walked up to him and said, "Don't." Laughing, the boy just said, "Relax, Annie. I would never tell a soul about us. They'll just have to figure it out themselves."

After showering and eating breakfast together, both lovers walked hand in hand to the fox's front door. "I'm sorry, Annie. I want to spend the day with you, but I have work," Roland said in a apologetic tone. "It's alright. Will you see me later," Annabeth had asked. "Yes, I will," Roland replied as he took the fox's hand and kissed it, making the girl blush. "I love you, and I'll see you later," the coyote had said. "Goodbye, and I love you, too," the fox replied. Annabeth sighed as she saw her boyfriend leaving to go to work. She smiled upon thinking that perhaps ten years from that moment, maybe she would be saying goodbye to her husband. "I can only hope," she said as she walked back into her house.


Marcus yawned as he got out of bed. He tried to remember how he got home last night. The wolf smirked upon remembering that he got a ride from a friend of his. He let out another yawn, hoping to wake himself up a bit more. Marcus was feeling hungry. Upon leaving his room, he walked down the hallway and said, "Roland! Wake up, brother, let's get some breakfast." No response from the sibling began to concern the wolf. "Roland. You up? Come on, I'm starving," he said loudly. Again, no response. Marcus shook his head as he walked to his brother's room, opened the door, and stepped in only to discover that Roland wasn't in his room. A bit worried, the wolf ran back to his room, looked for his phone, found it and called his brother.

"Hello?"

"Roland, where are you?"

"I'm at work. You know, the place you never go to."

"Ha ha ha, very funny. Hey, where did you go last night? I don't remember seeing you here last night."

"Annabeth asked me to stay over."

"Ohhhh. She asked you to stay, did she?"

"It's nothing like that, you idiot. I'll see you later."

"Give your girlfriend my regards."

"Screw you."

Marcus laughed as he heard the phone call disconnect. "About time with those two," the wolf said. Marcus knew that his brother and his friend had feelings for each other, and he was happy that they were finally together. Even though his brother didn't say anything, the older sibling knew that Roland and Annabeth were now a couple. "Well, I still want breakfast," he mumbled to himself. Going back to his room to change, Marcus walked out of his room and out of his house to get something to satisfy his hunger.


The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the weather was very nice. It seemed like a glorious morning in Crescent City. However, nobody knew of the incoming storm. Five familiar figures stood many miles away, all of them looking at the city.

"Master Isis, are you sure that they're here," one had asked.

"Yes, Liam. They're here. I can feel one of their energies growing. A long time ago, I felt the power before, and I didn't know where its source was. Now, with this new pulse of energy I sense, I know they are here," Isis said confidently as he acknowledged Liam.

"You've been waiting for this day, haven't you my lord," another had asked. This one was a female's voice. With a dark chuckle, the one known as Isis said, "Kachina, you have no idea."

A gruff voice then said, "To think they were dead, when they were hiding all along. Is it the same plan, Master?"

"Of course, Gelhert. We need their blood. Surely, I know you can fetch that for me, am I correct?"

"When have you ever doubted our abilities, Master," another asked as a rhetorical question.

Chuckling, Isis said, "I never have, Noel. Now, each of you know what you must do."

"Yes, Master," his servants said.


Author's Note: Sorry if it seems kind of short. I'll try to make the next one longer. Until then, bye.

*tb100*