(A/N) Whew, I finished it just in time!
Most of the chapter was already written, but I'm finishing it up late because I screwed up my sleep schedule and ended up sleeping all day today. But thankfully, I was still able to get it done before Thursday is over!
I really did not intend on the Fall Festival taking quite so long, though I'm not necessarily complaining. These last few chapters have been really fun to write.
Jack sat quietly on the hay, watching as Skye followed Bob off the trailer and over towards the truck's engine. He could tell the two of them were speaking, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.
And additionally, the rest of the kits on the trailer weren't as quiet.
"Oh, this is awful!" Courtney said. "We're never going to get back! The wolves will come along before they get anything fixed and—"
"And force us to listen to a terrifyingly lengthy speech!" Tim exclaimed. "The horror! Someone must do something about this!"
"Shut up, Tim!" Courtney shrieked. "What is wrong with you? Can you take anything seriously?"
"Can you?" Jack shot back.
Tim, Brian, Sheila, and several others looked at him confusedly. It took a moment for Jack to realize it was probably because he rarely spoke that much. Come to think of it, why had he just jumped in?
"What are you talking about?" Courtney demanded, now sounding offended. "I'm the only one here who's taking this seriously—"
"Then why are you convinced the Lunarians are going to come and eat us?" Jack interrupted. "What's your reason for that? Are they known for eating mammals or something?"
"They're wolves, Stripes!" Courtney replied. "And they practically own this town! They can do whatever they want…"
"Well, then why haven't they eaten anyone before?" Jack inquired. "If no one can stop them and they really wanted to do it…?"
"Look...I don't know everything!" Courtney scoffed. "Maybe they don't want to raise suspicion or something! Wouldn't be hard to cover this up, us out here in the middle of nowhere!"
"Why would they want to eat us?" Jack asked. "They're super rich, they're not desperate for food or anything."
Courtney folded her arms.
"Like predators need an excuse to attack prey," she muttered.
Jack balled his paws into fists. Was this bunny for real?
"Well, if they do eat us, you'll be first," Sheila said, looking at Courtney.
"Don't say stuff like that!" Courtney shouted back.
"Hey, guys, the more you talk, the easier it is for the preds to hunt us!" Tim said. "Just throwing that out there!"
This got Courtney to shut up, though a lot of the others were muttering amongst themselves.
"Whose side are you on?" Jack asked, turning to Tim.
"Whichever one gets Courtney to stop riling everybody up," Tim answered in a whisper. "It's already freaky enough out here this late, and she's not making it any better for anyone."
"But...you're not thinking that...that what she's saying would actually happen, are you?" Jack asked.
"Well, not...really, I guess," Tim said. "Logically it doesn't make sense, civilized mammals don't just go around eating people. But it...gets in your head. Out here, in the dark, a group of small, mostly prey mammals…"
Jack didn't respond. Tim didn't seem to hold any ill will towards the wolves, or predators in general, but it was clear he was still frightened of them.
"I just wanna get back to civilization," Brian moaned. "The wild isn't a good place for prey animals. Never has been…"
Jack supposed that was true. Before civilizations formed, predators would have always had the advantage. Admittedly, it wasn't that different out here, except that the idea of modern mammals coming out here to eat them still sounded incredibly far-fetched.
The next several minutes passed mostly in silence, though scattered groups here and there were still talking quietly to each other. After a while, Jack began to notice just how dark it really was out here, how eerie the forest looked. A cold breeze blew by him, and he shivered a bit. He didn't want to stay out here any longer than necessary, either.
A few times, he heard Bob attempt to start up his truck again, but something would usually go wrong. Eventually, it sounded like it started up normally, and Bob shouted something excitedly. The murmur of the other kits got a little louder, and soon enough, Skye climbed back onto the trailer and came to sit by Jack.
"Everything's working?" Jack inquired.
"Should be," Skye sighed. "He really needs to get new tools, though. How have...you been holding up here?"
The trailer started to move again, inspiring cheers from the crowd. Tim, in particular, made his enthusiasm known.
"I...I've been ok…" Jack answered. "It is kind of dark out here, though. And... getting colder, I think. I should have put on an extra coat like Natalie did…"
"Cold?" Skye repeated.
Before Jack could respond, he felt something warm and soft wrap around him, pulling him a little closer to Skye. When it came to rest in his lap, he realized the fox had wrapped her tail around him.
"Th-thanks," he said, looking up at her. "It's...it's really soft…"
"Probably one of the only things about me that's soft," she chuckled. "Glad it helps."
Now that he was sitting right next to her, he slowly leaned his head over onto her shoulder. When she made no move to stop him, he let it rest there, his ears lying against the back of his head. After a moment, he felt a gentle touch, ever so softly stroking them. He closed his eyes and relaxed, letting himself breathe in and out slowly.
Until now, Jack hadn't realized how tired he was. He really had been up a lot later than he usually was, especially with their little delay, so it was surprising he hadn't noticed it until now.
And yet...he wasn't eager to get home. Sitting here so close to Skye, wrapped up in her tail...it was so calming and so exciting at the same time. He was held in the embrace of a predator, something that should have evoked an instinctual fear in him, but instead made him feel...right.
That was the only way he could describe it. And in any case, the feeling was so pleasant that he didn't bother trying to understand it. Plus, he was also getting sleepy…
It wasn't until the trailer began slowing down that Jack opened his eyes, and lifted his head from Skye's shoulder. They were pulling back into the field where the rest of the hayrides were parked, and a whole group of mammals—mostly rabbits—were waiting for them.
Skye pulled her tail back as they stopped, several of the others immediately jumping up and rushing off the trailer.
"Oh, sweet relief!" Courtney said dramatically. "We didn't die!"
"Wow, what an impressive achievement," Sheila remarked sarcastically.
"Well, uh, that was…a ride," Tim said, his eyes wide as he got up from his seat. "You guys ready to go? It's freezing out here…"
Jack felt another chill as he stood up; the wind seemed to be getting stronger.
"Yeah, let's...go," he agreed.
"I'm right behind you!" Brian said.
Tim led the way, Brian and Dave close behind him, while Skye walked beside Jack. Just as they were about to climb down, he turned to look at her.
"Hey, thanks again for...you know," he said. "I-I...didn't really feel cold the rest of the way."
"Anytime," Skye replied. "Ah...I hope my dad isn't too upset about what happened…"
They both jumped down, following right behind Tim, Brian, and Dave. Jacob was already running towards them, Ian beside him.
"Jack!" Jacob said. "Whew, you're finally back! Bob's wife let us know what happened. Speaking of which, I'm gonna need you and Natalie's phone numbers in case something like this happens again."
"Me and Jack don't have phones," Natalie said, having just run over to them.
Jacob looked almost startled.
"You don't?" he exclaimed. "But Thalia, Xander, and Ian do!"
"Ian and Xander because they're old enough to drive, and Thalia because she bribed Jason into getting her one," Natalie said.
"Ah," Jacob said. "Well, if you're staying here you're gonna have to have 'em. I'm not having you kits wandering around this town with no way to get on touch with me."
"Hey, that's what I've wanted for a long time now!" Natalie replied.
"Well, I'll get to work on that soon," Jacob said. "For now, let's get home. It's pretty late, and more importantly, there's no food left!"
"See you later, Jack," Skye said to him quietly, before running off another direction.
Just then, Mr. Snow came up to them, his expression just as disapproving as always.
"Timothy!" he said. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, the truck broke down and stranded us in the middle of nowhere," Tim explained casually. "We tried to sacrifice Courtney to the vengeful forest spirits, but they kept sending her back."
Mr. Snow's eyes narrowed. Jacob was barely holding in a laugh.
"Let's go now, Timothy," Mr. Snow finally said, taking his son's paw. "Farewell."
As they walked away, Brian also waved to Jack before he and Dave followed their father. Jacob led Jack, Natalie, and Ian back to his own car, where Thalia and Xander were waiting for them.
"Back from oblivion?" Xander noted.
"Oh, it was really freaky," Natalie laughed. "I'd rather not repeat that anytime soon."
"It sounds fun," Thalia said.
"Oh, of course you would say that!" Natalie replied. "Next time you can go on the hayride that gets stranded!"
"Alright, kits, let's tone down the bickering for a little while," Jacob said.
They all piled into the car, Jack and Natalie sitting in the back. Jacob started pulling out of the yard and back down the driveway, though they had to wait for a few others to move out of the way first. Luckily, since Bob's hayride had taken forever, most of the other guests had already left, so getting out wasn't too difficult.
As they drove back onto the main road, Jack's eyes were fixed on the window and the scenery outside. It was so dark, but a few streetlights here and there lit up the area, and it just looked...eerie. Not necessarily in a bad way, though.
Natalie had made Jacob turn up the heat, so it wasn't cold in the car. Still, Jack couldn't get his mind off how it felt to be all wrapped up in Skye's tail, leaning against her…
"Hey, Jack?" Natalie said.
"Huh?" Jack replied, a few seconds late as he was barely keeping himself awake.
"You never told me that you were friends with a fox," she said.
"Oh, you mean Skye?" Jack said. "Well, you never asked…"
"I guess not. I guess we haven't talked about school that much since we got here."
"Yeah…" Jack yawned, his eyes watering from how tired he was.
"That's...cool how you're that close with a predator," Natalie continued. "She seems pretty nice. I...doubt I would have been brave enough to find out, though."
Jack turned around to face her. She really did have a mild look of awe on her face, as if impressed by her brother's new friendship.
"Well...she came up and talked to me at my locker…" Jack said. "I mean...someone else came up to me...he was a jerk...and then she came up and told him to stop bothering me… So that's how we became friends, I guess… Tim still thinks it's crazy. Apparently he's only heard that Skye was really dangerous or something…*
Natalie nodded.
"You sound really tired, Jack," she remarked. "Honestly, I am too, I guess. That was...a lot. Hey, but it was nice how your friend wrapped her tail around you!"
Jack jolted awake for a moment, having forgotten that his sister would have seen that as well.
"Yeah…" he agreed.
He wanted to say more, but he was just too tired. Thankfully, Jacob soon pulled into the driveway of his house, and he and the five kits climbed out of the car and filed inside the house. Ian and Xander stayed downstairs with Jacob, but Jack, Natalie, and Thalia immediately rushed upstairs and split off to their bedrooms.
After saying goodnight to Natalie, Jack headed up the hidden stairs to his attic room, shivering at the cold as he climbed the stairs. Once he got in bed, he wrapped himself up in the covers and fell asleep, imagining himself curled up in Skye's tail again.
The next morning, Jack awoke to a feeling that was familiar, but yet...not so familiar. It was like when he woke up from a really good dream and realized in retrospect that it was too good to be true, except this time he knew the events were real.
He couldn't stop flashing back to last night, Skye curling her tail around him and pulling him close to her...after an event that was already one of the most enjoyable things he'd ever been to.
He jumped out of bed and got dressed to head downstairs, feeling weirdly energetic. He kept shaking his paws like he'd done at the Snowball game last night, trying to expend the excess energy. His whole body was shivering, but it wasn't from the cold this time, as it continued when he stepped back out into the second floor hallway.
Every time Jack remembered what had happened, he found himself more amazed. That had really happened! He had spent the whole night with Skye, and she seemed to enjoy herself as well. A predator actually wanted to hang out with him, and liked it.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" he thought. "Predators are just mammals like the rest of us. It shouldn't be that surprising that we can get along. Still...there's something exciting about this, and I don't know why."
In the kitchen, Jacob and three of the other kits—excluding Thalia—were sitting at the table. Natalie and Ian looked up as Jack entered the room.
"Hey, there you are!" Natalie said. "Come to join us? I talked Dad into making pumpkin spice rolls."
"Don't expect them to be like the ones your mother makes," Jacob warned. "But I'll do my best."
"What's gotten you in such a jumpy mood, Jack?" Ian asked, chuckling.
"What?" Jack replied suddenly.
Ian and Natalie laughed.
"You're bouncing in your seat," Xander explained.
"Oh!" Jack said. "I guess I'm still just excited after last night. That was...really fun. I wish events at home were like that."
"Oh, tell me about it!" Ian agreed. "Mammals around here have a lot more personality. And the place wasn't crowded! I'm all for big events, but it's nice to actually hear the people you're talking to, you know?"
"All I could hear was Courtney!" Natalie lamented. "I tried to calm her down, but she was pretty freaked out by the whole thing."
"She was freaking everyone else out," Jack said.
"Huh? What?" Ian asked curiously. "A story I haven't heard yet?"
He glanced between Natalie and Jack, an inquisitive look on his face. Natalie sighed.
"He's talking about how Courtney was convinced that...the wolves were going to come and eat us," she explained.
Ian winced.
"Like...for real?" he asked.
"And she also thought Skye was going to eat her," Jack added.
"Wait, who's Skye?" Ian asked. "Someone else I haven't met yet?"
"One of Jack's new friends," Natalie said. "She's a fox."
"Oh, right, I met her when you and the rest of your friends came over to the hayride," Ian recalled. "How did that happen, by the way? Most of the foxes I've encountered here seem kinda standoffish."
"Well, that's what Tim keeps saying too," Jack said. "But she's been nice to me since we met."
"Sounds like this Courtney thinks everyone's out to get her," Xander remarked.
Jack and Ian laughed, and Natalie chuckled awkwardly.
"She's not like that all the time," she said. "I think she was just...a little scared. Because we got stuck in the middle of nowhere."
"And of course she didn't acknowledge that Skye is the one who fixed the truck," Jack added.
"Wait, really?" Ian said. "I didn't hear that part of the story last night!"
"Yeah, she's apparently really good at that," Jack said.
"Alright, I guess they're probably done," Jacob said, setting a plate of pumpkin spice rolls on the table before seating himself. "Honestly, they smell pretty good, and they don't look burnt, so I'd say it went better than I expected!"
He, Ian, and Natalie eagerly grabbed some to put on their own plates, followed by Jack and Xander. Jack took a bite and thought it was pretty good, though they did seem a little different than the ones he remembered from home.
As they ate, Ian and Natalie entertained their father with their own stories about what they'd done at the Festival last night. Jack listened a little, but before long his mind was predictably wandering. It just now occurred to him that the night he'd been so excited for was already over, and it made him feel...oddly empty.
After eating a few rolls, he got up from the table to go outside. Jacob and Natalie were surprised he didn't want to eat more of them, but he assured them he'd had enough for the time being. He needed to be alone with his thoughts for a while.
Stepping outside, he closed the door and his family's voices faded out behind him. He hurried down the porch, pleased when he felt the familiar cold breeze. At least the weather from that night was still here…
He started across the yard, towards a wooded area not far from the house. He wasn't sure exactly how far his father's property extended, but he didn't see a fence anywhere nearby. And he did have some vague memories of walking around in the woods here, so he figured it was ok to enter. He told himself he just wouldn't go too far.
As he walked through the woods, he thought back to last night. It had been everything he'd hoped for, even more than he'd hoped for, so why did it all feel so pointless now?
Tomorrow, school would start back, and things would get back to normal. He did know Skye quite a bit more than he had before the Festival, but they still weren't going to have much time to talk in between classes. The only place he ever saw her was by his locker, and there wouldn't be much chance to talk then.
Jack looked back, and noticed that he could no longer see the house from where he was. He knew which way he came, so he decided this was a good time to head back. And no sooner did he turn back than he realized something.
"Wait, what if Brian is right?" he thought.
It had seemed like a far stretch just yesterday, but after what had happened last night, and how he'd reacted to it…
He thought again about how he'd felt when Skye's tail wrapped around him, not just relieved because of the warmth but also kind of...excited. Come to think of it, his heart sped up a little just thinking about it, and he had to start shaking his paws again as the shivers returned.
Jack never felt that way about being close to anyone else, not even his friends. He enjoyed hanging out with Tim, and Brian and Dave, but with Skye...it was different altogether. Initially he had thought it was just because she was a predator, but...what if that was only part of it?
"Doesn't bother me that you're into preds," his friend had said. Wow, was that really just one day ago?
The more he thought about it, the more confused he felt. He'd never had a crush on anyone before, so he wasn't sure how he would know if that's what he was feeling. He hadn't even known her for that long either, but...would that really change anything? Brian clearly had a crush on Sheila Frost, and from what he'd said last night he didn't really know her at all.
Still a little dazed, he got back to the house and went inside. Not feeling much like talking to anyone, he headed upstairs to his room.
The rest of the day went by slowly and very uneventfully. Jack spent most of it in his room, though he came downstairs for meals. Jacob and Natalie had both asked him what was going on a few times, but he simply said he wasn't up to talking about it. Neither seemed to have a problem with him being friends with a predator, but he wasn't sure how they would react to knowing he might have a crush on one.
The next morning, Jack got up early and rushed to get ready for school. He came downstairs to eat breakfast, finding that there were still a few pumpkin spice rolls left. He ate quickly and then followed his siblings out to the bus.
He saw Tim, Brian, and Dave on the bus, but didn't talk much on the way to school. Tim was busy recounting some rant his dad went on yesterday, and Jack didn't really have the energy to chime in.
Finally, an opportunity arrived for him to go to his locker, and he eagerly rushed down the hall towards the foxes' lockers. When he got there, he saw Skye talking to some of the other foxes, and instinctively kept his distance from them. After a moment, she turned around and noticed him.
"Hi, Jack," she said, walking up to him. "Listen, um...I had a really good time at the Fall Festival. Actually, it was a lot better than I expected…"
"I did too!" Jack exclaimed, a bit louder and more sudden than he'd intended.
"Yeah, I was just...wondering if you wanted to hang out any more," Skye said. "Since we don't really get that much time to talk here."
"I...I mean, I definitely want to hang out with you if you do," Jack answered.
"I would, uh...tell you that you could come over to my house," Skye replied. "But it's always a bit of a mess, and I'm not sure how you would do being near more foxes…"
"I don't mind…" Jack said, looking down nervously. "I don't...I'm not like that Courtney or anything…"
Skye chuckled.
"No, I didn't think so," she said. "Hey, speaking of that, I didn't...freak you out, did I? When I made that joke about…"
"What?" Jack asked. "Oh, when you said you were going to eat us?"
Skye winced, clearly uncomfortable with the subject.
"Yeah," she confirmed. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I wasn't being serious."
"N-no, I didn't think that!" Jack assured her.
"It's just kind of a defense mechanism, you know?" Skye continued. "I say stuff like that a lot when prey talk about me being a monster or something like that. I guess it makes me feel more in control. But I didn't...I completely forgot to think how it might make you feel. So...I'm sorry."
"No, honestly, it wasn't a problem!" Jack said. "And I...think I get what you mean. Honestly, it...it was kinda funny."
"You...think so?" Skye replied, the faintest hint of a smile on her snout. "Morbid sense of humor for a rabbit. Is that why you're called Savage?"
Jack laughed nervously.
"Maybe so…" he said. "Hey, maybe you can...you can come over to my house, if you want."
Skye looked down, fidgeting with her paws. Jack hadn't really seen her look so uncomfortable before.
"I...don't know," she said. "A house full of bunnies…? Are you sure they would be ok with me being there?"
"I think so," Jack said. "I mean, they don't seem to have any problem with you or anything. My dad likes you pretty well. And Ian was impressed that you fixed Bob's truck."
"Oh, that was nothing," she said. "I've fixed way worse… Well, if you think it would be ok, then I...I can come over. After school today?"
Jack almost jumped. He hadn't expected her to say today.
"Sure!" he blurted out.
Skye smiled.
"Ok, I'll see you then," she said. "I remember where your dad lives, so I should be able to find it."
"See you then," Jack replied.
They both returned to their lockers and quickly left the hall, each going different ways to their next classes. Jack was already feeling the 'shivers' again as he ran down the hall, thinking about what the afternoon would hold.
"What?!" Tim shrieked.
"Tim, quiet down!" Brian whispered loudly. "There's really no need to piss off more mammals…"
"B-but—but...aahh!" Tim replied. "Jack, are you crazy? I mean, I know you're friends and everything, but…"
"You're not still afraid she's going to eat me, are you?" Jack asked.
"Well...honestly, I don't really know what to think about her," Tim admitted. "The Festival was...weird. Aside from that one time she said she was going to eat us, she was really very...nonthreatening. Particularly when she, uh…"
Brian grinned.
"Oh yeah, don't think we didn't see the two of you," he chuckled, looking at Jack. "Is that why you're into foxes? The tail blanket?"
Tim looked back and forth between Brian and Jack, his expression becoming more confused.
"Wait, are you...are you two like...a thing now?" he asked.
"I don't know!" Jack said. "Brian said he thought I had a crush on her and I don't know...maybe he's right."
"Maybe?" Brian laughed. "Well, alright, I don't know how you feel about her, but I can tell you I've never seen a fox wrap their tail around someone they don't care about. I mean, in general, I try to stay away from foxes, but you know what I mean. Some things are hard to miss."
Jack shivered again, his heart jumping a little.
"Wait, does that mean I do like her?" he thought. "How...there's no way she actually feels that way about me though, is there? We haven't known each other that long...although I guess if that hasn't stopped me from feeling something…"
Still, the idea that a predator might feel that way about him...it was exciting, mildly terrifying, and almost unbelievable. He couldn't stop himself from shivering again, which Brian seemed to take notice of.
"You're jumping around like Tim now!" he laughed. "Come on, you don't have to hide it. We can all basically tell you like her, anyway."
Jack didn't respond right away. He had so many thoughts in his head right now and trying to sort them out was only confusing him further.
"And you're all...ok with that?" Jack asked; it was the only thing he could think to mention. "It doesn't bother you that I...might have a crush on a predator?"
"Well, it is kind of terrifying," Tim admitted casually. "I wouldn't be brave enough to be that close to those fangs so much. But she seems to like you, at least, so I'm not worried about that. Maybe it'd help the other students learn to get along…"
"I've got no problem with it either," Brian said. "But, uh...being around preds is kinda...hard for me. Don't get me wrong, man, I don't have anything against her, but if she's gonna hang out with us more, it'll take some getting used to for me."
"I guess I can get that," Jack replied. "I don't even know if it matters anyway, though. Maybe she was just doing it because I was cold."
"Well, let us know how it goes next time you see us!" Tim said. "Are you, uh...absolutely sure that you want her to come to your house? N-not that I'm saying you shouldn't—"
"Yeah, I think so," Jack said. "She said her place was a bit of a mess, so it seems like the easiest option. And it's where me and you always hung out when we were little, remember?"
"I can't believe you still remember that!" Tim laughed. "Yeah, definitely better than being in my place, around my dad. Well, good luck, then."
"Careful with the fangs," Brian warned. "I know you like 'em, but you gotta watch yourself!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Jack chuckled, rolling his eyes.
After school, Jack was eager to get back home. He and Skye never rode the same bus, so he guessed she would probably go to her house and then come over from there. As usual, he got off the bus with his siblings, and they all walked up to the door together.
Inside, Jacob was waiting in the kitchen, and came over to greet the kits as they entered.
"Hey!" he said. "Good day at school?"
"It's funny you think such a thing exists," Thalia replied monotonously, heading upstairs without another word.
"Well, it was alright for me and Xander," Ian said.
"My day was torture," Natalie said. "Courtney's still upset about what happened and the whole time I was trying to keep her from making a scene."
"Oh, just give her time," Jacob replied. "Kits do dumb stuff all the time. I'm sure your mom's told you plenty of stories about mine…"
"Hey, uh...something I should mention," Jack said. "I may have...invited someone to come by later. Is that ok?"
"Of course!" Jacob exclaimed. "Why, before your mom moved, this used to be the go-to spot for your friends to hang out!"
Ian, Xander, and Natalie went upstairs, while Jack decided to wait in the living room until Skye showed up. He hoped she was still going to come, given they hadn't really planned many details for the visit.
After about twenty minutes or so later, however, he heard a knock at the door and immediately jumped up to go check it.
Swinging the door open revealed Skye Winter, right on time. She looked mildly nervous, but smiled when she saw Jack.
"Hi," she said, quieter than she usually spoke. "So...what do you want to do?"
(A/N) Well, that's finally a wrap for the Fall Festival! I haven't decided if the next chapter will be Skye's POV or if I'll wait for the one after that, but it's definitely coming soon!
...If I can get my sleep schedule together again, that is. XD