The Coming Storm

-At the Fox's Den: Before Dawn-

Nick's eyes were half-lidded and tired as they opened. There wasn't really a reason for him to wake at such an early hour, yet his body had decided to do just that. Perhaps it had been the haphazard sleeping hours that these bunnies had been subjecting him to for the last couple of days, or maybe it was just his restless mind telling him to get up. He couldn't say which.

But what he could say for certain was that the sight that awaited his opening, tired eyes was a welcome one.

When Nick had fallen asleep last night, it had almost been a dreamlike paradise.

Little Cotton had cuddled to the side of his neck and Ashes and Ollie had fallen asleep using his tail as a blanket… And Judy, the beautiful grey rabbit of his dreams, had fallen asleep holding his muzzle with her paws while the two had tenderly gazed at each other until slumber had claimed her.

This newfound closeness with Judy and the kits was amazing to him.

Less than a week ago he would curl up in a ball alone and hope that the next day would bring something a little better.

And then, out of nowhere, it did.

And now, Nick had the privilege of waking up surrounded by the ones that he loved.

For the fox, he wasn't sure if "amazing" would ever fully describe just how special waking up surrounded by his family was to him.

And now as the fox awoke, he would get to dedicate this day to being with the ones he loved, these special rabbits that had burrowed their way into his heart.

As the fox contentedly laid in his bed, his body began to function.

It was always a process for the nocturnal fox when he woke at such an hour.

The first thing to come was his sense of touch. The fox creaked a very tired smile as he began registering what was around him. Two little bodies were still pressed against his side, and tiny paws were holding his tail for comfort. Unmistakably, it was Ashes and Ollie enjoying their favorite sleeping space.

Nick made a mental note on congratulating Judy for not stealing away their 'blanket' this morning like she had the day before.

Nick also registered a warmth from the side of his neck.

The fox was quite surprised to realize that the usually rough and tumble sleeper Cotton had remained remarkably still throughout the night!

Little Cotton must have enjoyed the warm nook between the fox's muzzle and shoulder quite thoroughly to entice her restless body to stay so still, or perhaps it was because she felt safest with the fox that had told her that he loved her so dearly…

Likely it was both.

For Nick, it was a wonderful thing to feel the little bunnies so close to him. They were using him to feel safe, and warm, and protected. Even though he was insurmountably sleepy, his heart swelled at the thought of providing them with so much love and comfort.

And the strong emotions in his heart only increased as he opened his eyes. As his vision cleared, the fox's heart thumped against his chest. A sleeping Judy still so close to his muzzle.

Just like Cotton, the restless grey doe hadn't moved in her sleep either, still comfortably close with her face right across from Nick's.

His heart throbbed in his chest as he felt the light patting of her breath gently hit against his muzzle, and only now did he register that her paws were resting gently underneath his jaw. One paw with fingers still buried in the cream-colored fur of his neck and the other wrapped gently around Cotton's smaller body, protectively holding the kit.

His heart skipped and his tired eyes lost a bit of their sleepiness as he gazed at the snoozing rabbit lying next to him.

So the kiss wasn't just a dream. The fox realized as he stared at the bunny next to him.

Nick refused to stifle the fond smile that crossed his muzzle as he recalled the events of the night before.

The night had turned so painfully sad when they discovered little Ashes had had the worst nightmare of his entire life. The poor buck had been crumbling in his sorrow, his dream had brought picture after picture of vicious wolves hurting his loved ones.

And when his mother hadn't come to reassure him and tell him that it was all ok, it was then he remembered what had happened really wasn't just a dream… and that his momma was gone.

The buck needed the support of his family, and it had been up to Nick and Judy to give him that… He needed to know that he was loved. That there were mammals who would shoulder those tears for him… for them. Each of the kits needed to know that.

And that was given to them last night as Nick had sung to the upset kits, and Judy had gently rocked little Ashie while petting his ears to soothe him.

Together Nick and Judy provided the love that the kits so direly needed to feel.

Nick smiled at how well Judy was able to care for them last night.

We make a great team, Carrots.

His smile grew as he considered the doe.

How was it not a dream? That she kissed me…

Like an angel of Karma, Judy had discovered the fox's emotional distress. He closed his eyes and could feel her licking away the tears that had plagued him.

It had taken the fox's breath away.

But it hadn't ended there.

Judy had put her nose against his… an action that made his head spin as he fully inhaled her scent… What she had done next had even overshadowed that. An act that had taken all sense from the fox, an action that he would have never dreamed of actually happening… Mindbogglingly, Judy had pressed her lips against his nose…

This beautiful grey doe had kissed his nose last night… She had kissed him!

It had been as wonderful as it was unexpected! He had reveled in her tender care and sincerity in the action…

Judy, the bunny he had imprinted, scented, and loved had kissed him.

He couldn't stop his body from purring his contentment at the thought of her actions, and even now he was still reveling in this crazy, wonderful bunny.

His father's words echoed in the back of his mind as he purred his bliss for the bunnies surrounding him.

You were right dad, the right one really would turn my life upside down.

It was an easy thing to believe when he was laid out on his back nose to nose with a bunny.

And as Nick half-liddedly gazed at the bunny next to him, he still couldn't deny his conclusions that he had come to last night.

She and the kits really were the best things that had ever happened to him…

She's perfect. There wasn't doubt in his internal declaration.

Indeed, for this fox, Judy was perfect. He knew she had flaws, of course, but he accepted the ones he knew of and he would accept any others that came up.

She wasn't perfect because she was flawless, she was perfect because she cared. This rabbit had given him her full trust. He hadn't been shown compassion or kindness since his parents had passed, but she had changed that.

Because of her, it had all flooded back to him in a matter of days.

She had reminded him of what it was like to be cared about, and it restored him.

She was perfect for him, a force of nature that overtook his pain and replaced it with happiness and hope and faith.

She made him believe again.

The looks she gave him with those strong, violet eyes, the way her padless paws felt when she would groom his tail or run her fingers through his fur, the way she had tenderly licked away his tears…

the softness of her lips when she kissed his nose…

It had reminded him that there was something to live for..

This rabbit had the incredible way about her that just so easily drew him in, and compelled him to want to be with her, to want to protect her and want to…

… love her…

Yes, so very much now Nick wanted to share his love with her.

He had told it to little Cotton when she sleepily asked the question last night.

And he meant it, he really was falling for a rabbit.

It was a wonderful, painful truth.

He already came to the conclusion that she may never feel anywhere close to that for him, but still his heart told him that he would be there for her… that as long as she wanted him there, he would always stay with her.

I will, Judy. I'll be here no matter what…

I'll never let you go.

In that moment, his heart ached to be closer to her. And so he did.

He leaned his muzzle a little closer to the doe.

Quietly and carefully as to not disturb the doe, Nick rooted his nose through the fur on the top of her head. Softly, he inhaled her scent, lightly digging his nose through her fur tracing his snout to the base of her ears.

It was there that he heavily began scenting her again, taking in her fragrance that he'd already committed to his memory.

To the fox, there just couldn't be another prospective mate for him anymore, not after finding this doe who smelled of fresh rain, hope, and new beginnings.

Her scent alone made him feel high like nothing else he could dream of.

And as his nose dug against her fur he noticed a new element to her fragrance.

His own scent was lightly mixed in with hers, a fact that very much pleased the fox.

And within him, it stirred up that protective, even possessive, nature.

My Carrots… His brain proclaimed.

It was a fight for the fox. His mind and body told him to confess his feelings for her, and Nick oh so very much wanted to give in.

But at the same time he knew he couldn't risk driving a wedge between them because of his emotions. Logic dictated to him to resolve himself to simply admire her and show his love with his actions.

The problem was, Nick was already struggling with that concept.

True when it came to most things foxes were sneaky and cunning, but not with this.

It was foreign for a fox to not be upfront and obvious with how they felt. Chasing their mates, biting, teasing, flirting, scenting, grooming and more- foxes weren't great at being subtle when it came to their love interests.

And Nick had already fell into several of those with Judy.

Even now, the idea to withhold his emotions from the doe didn't hold water… Not as he continued to press his nose against her ears. Even underground, it appeared that logic had been thrown out the window.

Their scents mixed together kept preaching of how things could be, a foretaste of what life could really be with her, and he loved it… loved her.

He came to a conclusion. He wanted her to know the truth, to know what his feelings were for her.

But he wasn't ready for that yet, wasn't ready to verbally risk it.

Maybe soon though, Carrots.

Pushing it off seemed like his best option for now. It was easier. As easy and simple breathing in the fresh, rainy scent that gave him hope.

He chuckled lightly, remembering when he had first scented the doe.

She had come into his life like a freak storm, and now being with her was like the wonderful days that followed them.

He let the memory of their first day together replay in his head…

It had been when Judy had first helped carry him back to his den after injuring him that he had caught the smell of fresh rain from her ears that had bobbed underneath his nose.

It had captivated him then just as it did now.

The scent of the doe was the same as the scent that encapsulated his happiest memories.

Memories like when his father would chase him back into the den when he went to play in the rain. A time in his life where those around him loved and cared for him.

She was the smell of new life in the spring and summer. The scent of an enlivened forest. The fragrance after a torrential downpour, a smell that promised new days of bright sunshine were coming soon!

It fits her. He thought

Fresh rain reminded him of his family when he was younger, and with Judy a new family he had.

And just like the fresh rain would bring forth new life to the forest, so too did Judy bring new life to this fox. She brought forth a bright new day after a terrible storm. Judy and the kits had ushered in a new era of his life. Days that would surely be full of sunshine and hope after so many years of loneliness.

True, last night Nick had felt down about his future with this doe, but this morning things didn't feel so hopeless… at least not with her scent filling his lungs and the memory of her kiss on his nose last night.

With those in mind, how could he not feel hopeful for his future?

Would it really be so bad if I told her? The fox asked, full of optimism.

It didn't feel like it would be. And with that hope emboldening the fox, he couldn't help but whisper his promise.

"I'll never let you go, Carrots." Nick softly said in the ear he was scenting.

At his words, Nick felt her paw begin to scritch underneath his jaw.

"I'm glad, Nick." She whispered back.

At some point Judy had woken up too, and instead of making her consciousness known, she laid there and enjoyed the feeling of the fox's nose exploring her fur and taking comfort in her scent.

She wanted him to feel happy from her scent just like she had done with him.

Still, Nick knew none of that. He knew it hadn't bothered her much last night, but surely it would bother her now since he had just woken her up by sniffing her long ears!

Knowing that he had been caught, his body stiffened. He hadn't realized that she had awoken too, and embarrassingly his nose was still pressed against her ears.

It was safe to say that Nick was utterly mortified!

Karma, why do I keep doin-

And then Judy's paw hit just the right spot underneath his muzzle… and his worried thoughts were no more.

Now, it was just a bunny scritching underneath a fox's muzzle, and a fox melting into a bunny's paw like putty.

Underneath the jaw just so happened to be a preferred spot for canines to be scritched by their loved ones. It felt good, yes- immensely good, in fact. But it also meant that they had access to his neck. It was trust, and she had it completely.

In his state of newfound bliss, the fox's mind began catching up to the words of the grey doe.

She's...glad? With me?

It wasn't so much the words themselves that made the fox feel so content, but the context of them… Judy was glad that he said he would never let her go… that essentially she was happy if he would always be there with her…

That was significant to the fox, and his heart skipped at the prospect.

If she really means that…

It would mean the world to him… because she and the kits were his world.

To the fox, it would be like a promise that they'd stick with each other from now on… that they would be a permanent family… the fact she affirmed this when she had her paw against his neck only deepened the meaning for him.

Although her wonderful scritches dulled his mind with bliss, Nick was still capable of removing his snout from her ear so he could look at her face.

Soft purple eyes met with hopeful greens.

Judy wore a smile that was warm and sincere (and just a little sleepy,) and her eyes only spoke of a contentedness at the fox's quiet declaration that he would never let her go.

His ears reddened as he blushed from her content look.

She really meant it! She's happy being with me!

Perhaps that should have been a given to the fox, but for a mammal who had only recently escaped the grips of long-term isolation, he couldn't help but take every bit of reassurance he could. And this was a very welcome reassurance, one that caused his body to react without his brain's input.

A happy whine escaped from Nick's throat as he cherished the honest look on her face and her paw against his neck.

At the realization of the embarrassing, happy noise that had escaped his throat, Nick's ears reddened.

Why do I keep doing that?! Karma-

Judy giggled at the abashed look on Nick's face and decided that now was the time to tease the embarrassed fox.

"You know Slick, you can't whisper in a rabbit's ears and expect us not to hear it." She said sarcastically, making sure to emphasize his nickname. (Although not too loudly to prevent waking the sleeping kits.)

Her statement only made him blush a bit harder. And the purposeful inclusion of his nickname only added on to the teasing. It was pretty obvious to Nick that it had been anything but 'slick' to whisper in her ear and expect that she wouldn't hear it.

Judy expected the fox to play along with her. However, this time her teasing wasn't met with an equal verbal jab that would make her blush.

Instead, it was met with a tender clawed paw to lift up and rest against her cheek.

Nick's heart had clenched at his nickname. She was teasing him again… and he really loved it, really loved that the first thing she tries to do after waking up is to get under his fur. It was a privilege to him, a wonderful trait of the bunny next to him.

And on this occasion, he couldn't help but let the bunny know just how much it had meant to him.

His paw moved on its own accord to gently place itself on the side of her face. Gently, he rubbed his clawed thumb against her cheek as he began purring once again.

She had such a strong effect on him.

Judy let out a surprised eep at the fox's surprise touch with his clawed paws.

It was safe to say she hadn't expected his retaliation to be a display of affection for her. But as she felt his smooth, paw pads rest against her cheek and the pad of his thumb tenderly rub against her fur, she settled quickly and leaned into his touch.

Now she was the one feeling her ears redden at her embarrassing noise.

He grinned at both her surprised sound and happy reaction.

It was all he could do to not chuckle as he finally whispered his mischievous response to the doe,

"I guess your fox isn't as sly as you, Carrots. I'll have to be careful or you might just get better at being a tease than I am."

Judy's ears turned a dark shade of red at the fox's innuendo.

He had just called her a tease!

There was a lot she wanted to say to that comment, a lot she could say. Sophisticated answers such as, 'I am not a tease, fox!' came to mind.

But those thoughts were quickly clouded over by a more important detail in what the fox had just said,

My fox? Judy internally asked, Did Nick just say he was my fox?

He had.

Within that innuendo, Nick had called himself her fox… and perhaps she was putting too much stock into that single word, but she really, really liked it.

It was right to call him hers. And for some reason, to hear Nick say it made her feel a bit… possessive.

My fox… Her smile grew as she repeated the sentiment in her head over and over. My fox, my fox, my fox! … My sly fox is trying to be slick again…

And it was working.

She leaned further into his paw resting against her cheek, her heart swelled as her mind continued on its tirade, My fox. My fox.

Still, she couldn't leave his innuendo unpunished.

"A very sly bunny, and a very, very dumb fox!" She said back with a grin a mile wide.

Nick smirked at her response before quietly (still mindful of the sleeping bunnies in the bed) going into dramatics. "You wound me, Carrots." He responded jokingly.

"Why, I am shocked at you, appalled- shocked and appalled, I say! How could anyone mistake this dashing, charming, and extremely handsome fox as dumb! I'm so much more than just my looks you know."

Judy was impressed at how well he could display such a dramatic bit so quietly and yet so humorously. She tried her best to suppress her laughter at his response, but it was still clear to the tod that he'd gotten to her good.

She already had her own thoughts for getting him back for his slyness earlier, however.

And she would use his dramatics to do it.

In her own whispering, dramatic flair, Judy responded to the fox, "I think you've shown me the error of my ways. Slick, from now on your bunny won't dare to even think about calling her fox dumb ever again!"

If Nick thought he could be sly and call himself her fox, well Judy would make sure he knew that she caught it, but she certainly wasn't about to use it against him… but she would use it for her benefit.

A fact that certainly didn't escape him.

My bunny? He purred his contentment at that.

My bunny… Carrots… my bunny…

Wolven Encampment: Before Dawn

Unlike our fox and bunny, for a certain brown wolf, the night had been uneventful after Julius' speech. It had crawled by at a snail's pace, tormenting him by its never ending length.

He found himself pacing the grounds just outside of the new wolven encampment edging by the forest. Sleep had never come to Wolford, no, he wouldn't dare sleep with his hunt for vengeance at paw. It had been a restless night of silent prayers to the Ancestors on behalf of his friend and pleadings for a successful hunt.

Aggravatingly, he saw that his prayers were met with a clouding sky that warned of a likely blizzard. Although a wolf's coat protected them from temperatures far below freezing, even wolves would have to hunker down during a snowstorm, not to mention an effective burial of the trail.

Soon, his pleads to the Ancestors were replaced with angry growls and verbal cursing.

"Calm yourself, Demas. Cursing the Ancestors will do nothing to aid the Hunt."

The familiar voice of Brute calling him by his birth name surprised him, but did nothing to ease the incensed wolf.

"Calm?! How can I be calm when my friend's desecrator is so close to freedom?!" Wolford shot back while gesturing at the clouding sky that all but promised feet upon feet of snow.

Brute hummed at this. Normally, the Beta would pull rank at such an outburst, but at the moment he couldn't help but feel compassion for his packmate.

In light of the ruthless (and perhaps even murderous) actions taken by the Alpha towards Sapper, Brute found himself questioning his view of the hierarchy.

In his reflection, the Beta found himself very much at odds with how things had been run.

Traditionally, wolf packs always had a ranking system that gave each member a position within the pack: from the leader to the lowest rank. A system that allowed higher-ups like himself to force the lower ranks like Wolford and the deceased Sapper to submit to the upper echelon's will.

The Omega, the lowest ranked of all, had it the worst. The poor wolf had been used as someone for the rest of the pack to physically and emotionally abuse in order to relieve stress.

But on Brute's reflection he found it difficult to justify treating Sapper in such a way.

Did that position really need to exist? He had asked himself.

Most wolves needed a release, but couldn't that be through something else? The position had always existed and always made some semblance of sense, but after what had happened to Sapper he was struggling to justify the wolven hierarchy, struggling to justify using rank to achieve his goals.

And as bad as the position of Omega was, the root of the problem stemmed from the leadership. The Alpha had been domineering and ruthless, a trait that was widely acceptable for a leader.

A trait that Brute now saw as a clear danger to his own packmates if the leaders were too powerful to be held accountable. Julius' behavior was proof of it. No other wolf could directly challenge him and hope to win, and as his leadership went on his power grew evermore.

A power difference that was set to continue for generations.

As pack leader, Julius had the sole right to have pups. True, it was acceptable for him and the other higher ranked members in the hierarchy to have mates, but thanks to the traditions that the Ancestors had put in place, it was only acceptable for the Alpha to have progeny. A guideline that so clearly was meant for the guaranteeing of a dynasty that could solidify long-term control.

A fact that was already coming into fruition considering that Julius was already lining up his eldest son to take over after him.

It seemed to Brute now, that these rules were put in place not to strengthen the pack… but to strengthen the pack leader… And Brute didn't like that. Not when that position was currently being abused. Not when it hurt the other members below.

Brute still considered himself as a traditional wolf on most fronts… but maybe some traditions needed to be reformed… including the need to pull rank on a member of the pack that was so clearly hurting.

And because of this fresh outlook, maybe it would be best to approach the situation with friendly compassion.

Carefully and calmly, Brute responded to Wolford's outburst,

"It's almost dawn, Demas, and it won't take long for Julius to select the participating warriors to mobilize. I know what this hunt means to you, and believe me, there will be justice for Sapper…"

A growl caught in Brute's throat as he thought of Julius' possible treachery, "One way or another… there will be justice."

Even if we can't find the desecrator…

Wolford was taken aback by the almost sentimental words of the Beta, it was strange to feel such a consolation from Brute.

The words were reassuring to the brown wolf, and at Brute's response Wolford's respect for the Beta grew.

So, Wolford decided to place his faith in the words of his… friend?

He wasn't sure what to call Brute right now, but perhaps that one wasn't too far off.

But what Wolford did know was that if he had the pack on his side, he had a much better chance of getting the vengeance he needed.

As Wolford's reassurance was bolstered once again, Brute's words proved to be prophetic. The loud howl of the Alpha could be heard from the center of the encampment, signalling for the whole pack to assemble immediately.

"It's time, Demas." Brute spoke with steel in his voice as he heard the howl, "Today we will get justice for Sapper."