"Coyote!" Andy smiled wide as he opened his front door. "What a surprise! Good to see you."
"And you," Wile E. said cordially. He stepped inside and hugged the fox warmly, then nodded to Slappy. "Mrs. Squirrel."
"Oh, please," Slappy groaned. "Since when did you become all formal, Mr. Flea Bag?" The two shook paws and hugged.
"This guy hasn't been giving you any trouble now, has he?" Wile E. asked Slappy jokingly. Andy folded his arms and smirked.
"Who, him?" Slappy asked, gesturing to Andy as if he were some new appliance. "Nah. I got him under control. Heh ha."
"Yes," Wile E. nodded. "So I've seen." He turned to Andy and eyed him mischievously. "How's your back?"
"Okay, okay," Andy grumbled, wrapping an arm around the coyote and leading him into the parlor. A blur of brown fur nearly trampled them as Skippy ran past and out the front door.
"Bye, Aunt Slappy! Bye, Unc!" he called, disappearing outside, obviously late for school.
Andy batted a paw at the smoke trail left by the young squirrel. "Well you see how it is around here. How are things with you?"
"Oh, nominal," the coyote shrugged.
The parlor's large windows caught the angled rays of the morning sun, making the contents of the room glow in an inviting sort of way. The fox and coyote made themselves comfortable in two of the room's plush red armchairs while Slappy wandered off. She returned a few minutes later with a glass of iced tea for the coyote.
"Ah," Wile E. remarked appreciatively. He thanked the squirrel.
Andy eyed Slappy sternly. "But you said it..."
"It is," Slappy snapped back. "But I still got a good memory, and besides, his throat sounded raspy."
The far end of the parlor ended in a breakfast bar that connected with the kitchen. Slappy seated herself at one of the stools and busied herself sorting through a large, neglected stack of mail.
"What was that all about?" asked the coyote, cocking a thumb in Slappy's direction.
"Oh, nothing," Andy said, brushing the topic under the southwest-style rug lying on the floor between them. "It's about time you came by, Coyote. I've been meaning to talk to you about someone."
"Oh?" Wile E. raised a bushy eyebrow. "And what pray-tell would that be, my vulpine friend?"
At that moment, Fluffy appeared in the doorway and casually hopped into the parlor.
"Ah," Wile E. spoke up brightly at seeing Fluffy, "so this is the fellow who's been filling your thoughts of late."
Fluffy turned at hearing the new voice. Seeing the coyote he started and sat up on his haunches.
"Crimany!" he gasped. "A 'yote!"
Andy broke into a snicker. Wile E. was taken aback and looked a bit helpless at the accusation.
"Fluffy," Andy called. "I'd like you to meet my friend and brother, Wile E. Coyote."
Fluffy nervously twitched his whiskers a few times, "Brother," he scowled. "That?"
Andy nodded and winked at the rabbit. Fluffy snorted. He resumed his calm air and continued into the room. "It figures," he said, hopping over to a table holding a bowl full of carrots. He helped himself to one of the brightly colored vegetables. "Coyotes, foxes... it's a wonder I'm alive at all with all you carnivores around here. I suppose there'll be weasels around here next."
"So he does talk," Wile E. observed dryly, still a bit shaken from the rabbit's comments.
"Humph," Fluffy grumbled smugly. Finishing the carrot he nabbed a large sprig of parsley and lollopped over to a window with it. "Indeed."
"Strong-minded, too," Wile E. added. "I see why you get along so well with him."
"Yes," Andy smiled. "He is. As for the talking, well..." Andy directed the coyote's gaze to the pendent on Fluffy's chest. "Not really."
"Ah," Wile E. said, waving a paw. "Intelligent creature none the less."
"So," Andy began, "what brings you here, Coyote?"
Wile E. gave an odd grumble and took a sip of his iced tea. "You."
"Me?"
The coyote nodded. "We're all set up at the Loo for the Tiny Toons' animal heritage assembly this afternoon."
The fox sighed. "Yes. It's finally come."
Wile E. shrugged. "I don't think there's anything to worry about."
"No," Andy agreed, decisively. The fox seemed to lose himself in thought briefly. He gazed up into space and scratched his ear. "You didn't come over here just to tell me that, did you?" he asked.
"And what's wrong with a coyote wanting to visit with his best friend?" Wile E. accused.
Andy half-shrugged and smiled. A hint of concern flashed through his thoughts from the coyote like a single drop of rain in a summer shower, and was just as quickly dismissed as the coyote's thoughts were distracted by a large rabbit brushing by his chair.
His morning snack complete, Fluffy quietly walked over and sat on his haunches next to Andy's chair.
"There is something," Wile E. admitted, watching the rabbit intently. "Tell me, do you know where Pinky and The Brain are?"
Andy shrugged again. "In their cage?" he offered jokingly.
The coyote shook his head. "Try again."
"Involved in an intricate plan to take over the world, then?"
"Strike two. Would you like to try for three?"
"What am I, my mouse's keeper? How about Elmyra Duff's house? I understand they grew quite fond of life there."
Wile E. let out a small chuckle. "Nope. Last seen they checked into lab room 3 at Tetra Dimensional to use the electromagnetic phase inverter. They never checked out and no one's seen them since. That was four days ago."
"Odd," was all Andy had to say, unconsciously reaching an arm over and resting it across Fluffy's back. His fingers petted the rabbit's side. "I'm sure they'll turn up," he said casually.
"All the same, people are starting to wonder. It's not like The Brain to leave lab equipment running or not check out. Can you check to see where they went?"
"Anything for my fellow scientists."
Andy closed his eyes and remained silent for several seconds. Slowly his standard smirk turned into a scowl. After a pause he opened his eyes and looked in confusion at the coyote across from him. "Strange--I don't sense them anywhere in the area." He fell silent again for another second or two before adding, "or the planet, for that matter."
"Oh, great," muttered the coyote, pawing the arm of his chair in frustration. He stared at his glass of iced tea accusingly. "If those two got themselves lost somewhere there'll be heck to pay with Warners."
Andy continued to scowl thoughtfully as he pondered over the situation. His fingers unconsciously traced their way along the edge of Fluffy's saddle where smooth thin leather met plush fur. Wile E. eyed the fox's movements and smiled to himself.
Andy spoke up again. "Maybe you should check the sensor log records for the lab--see what you can find." He waved a paw. "I'm sure they're around somewhere. Maybe they are on Planet X or W or something. We'll find them, though it will make the labs quieter for a while without those two trouble- makers."
The coyote nodded in agreement. He stood up, preparing to go. "Come by this afternoon when you're done at the Loo. I should have something by then."
"Can do."
"So tell me one thing, Fox," Wile E. added, cautiously walking up to Fluffy and eyeing him uncertainly, "Why a rabbit of all things? What was it about, em... Fluffy here... that he ended up here with you? Why not a horse?"
"I find rabbits infinitely more preferable to be with." Andy said quietly, standing and walking over to where Slappy was sitting. The corners of Fluffy's mouth lifted into a smug smirk of confidence as he returned Wile E.'s gaze, causing the coyote to feel even more unsettled by the creature, as if Fluffy knew something he didn't.
"Indeed," muttered Wile E. "And ride as well?"
"Naturally," Andy answered, as if the answer was completely obvious.
Wile E. gave a small mutter of contemplation, laying a paw on the rabbit's side cautiously. He tried to sound friendly and patted Fluffy's saddle, "Well, as long as I'm here, do you think I might..."
"No you may not," Fluffy quickly answered back, turning at the coyote. "You're much to scruffy a character for my tastes."
Wile E. was again taken aback. Andy covered his face and stifled a snicker. The coyote dropped his paw and slunk away from Fluffy. "Well, I..." he protested. He looked over to Andy for help, but the fox only smiled and shrugged innocently. "Like you said: he's strong-minded."
"Sorry I asked," Wile E. grumbled, and turned away from the rabbit.
He hadn't taken more than two steps away when Fluffy suddenly turned and came up behind Wile E. Lowering his head he butted it into the coyote, knocking him off his feet. The surprised coyote fell helplessly backwards onto Fluffy's back.
Fluffy tossed his head and grinned smugly back at the coyote. "Some genius," he scoffed, still with his smug air. "Can't even tell when a rabbit is tricking you, eh?"
"What?" Wile E. glanced at Andy in surprise, partly from suddenly finding himself astride the giant rabbit, and partly from the cutting down the rabbit had given him.
Andy snickered. "He, um..." The fox smiled innocently. "I'm not getting into this."
Wile E.'s long legs dangled comically as he straddled the rabbit. After a moment or two he relaxed slightly, carefully resting his paws on Fluffy's collar. He felt the rabbit's pulse through his warm fur.
Fluffy strolled nonchalantly out of the parlor and around the foyer while the coyote laughed quietly, experiencing the unique joy of riding a toon carousel animal. Fluffy serpentized his way around the foyer to the front door, giving his passenger the fifty-cent tour as he meandered around. Andy and Slappy emerged a short time later from the parlor and joined the pair.
"A living toon carousel animal," Wile E. commented to his partner in science. "Fascinating."
"Eh," Andy yawned, "no more so than a toon pencil or a toon cloud."
"Still," Wile E. said, becoming braver and releasing a paw from Fluffy's collar, "I see the appeal: a very talented and noble creature."
"Thank you," Fluffy said pleasantly, looking back and smiling at him.
Wile E.'s attention shifted from Fluffy to Andy and Slappy as he noticed the pair standing side-by-side. Both toons still exhibited that unique glow that envelops all new couples as the joy of love floods their thoughts and emotions. Andy and Slappy had theirs in spades; they had enough glow between them to keep Las Vegas lit for a decade.
"It's good to see you like this, Fox," Wile E. commented, suddenly quite sincere. "It's good to see a family in this house."
Andy nodded. "It's finally more than a house, Coyote. It's become a home."
"Complete with family pet," Wile E. added, looking down at Fluffy.
Two seconds later a loud crash shook the room as it acquired a new furry brown wall decoration, discharged forcefully from Fluffy's back.
"Smooth," Slappy said dryly.
"Mmmurf," the furry spot on the wall mumbled. "it was just a joke."
Andy calmly peeled Wile E. from the wall and wrung him out like a second- hand throw rug. A small cloud of dust escaped from the coyote's mouth as he popped back into shape. Back on his own two feet and somewhat shaky legs, he eyed Fluffy with a mixture of apology and genuine surprise. Fluffy returned his look with one of pure innocence.
Toon familiarization protocols complete, and the two genuinely acquainted, Fluffy and Wile E. shook paws warmly.
"Thank you," Wile E. said appreciatively.
"Anytime, my friend," the rabbit retorted.
Wile E. turned for the door. "This afternoon then," he reminded Andy. Then he waved and headed out the door and down the front walk.
"Nice fellow," remarked Fluffy to Andy. "A bit stuffy though."
The first thought that popped into Arthur's head at hearing Phillip's startling question was that these men were here to throw him against a wall for writing stories about licensed cartoon characters. He wondered if someone in the fan fiction community had been a spy for this unnamed "someone" who had requested his presence. Horrid waves of paranoia flooded his thoughts. Arthur's eyes darted around the inside of the van at the other two men, then out the windows to the view beyond. After several tense minutes, the van turned in to a small city airport some miles from Arthur's house. There, he was escorted onto a medium-sized jet with the men.
On the jet, Phillip kept an eye on Arthur the whole time. At first Arthur thought Phillip was waiting for him to make some kind of break for it, but as time went on it seemed more as if Phillip was watching him for a different reason, like he expected something to happen and didn't want to miss it. Arthur almost felt sorry to disappoint him as he sat quietly and tried to hide his nervousness by paging through a magazine that he had been given to pass the time.
Outside the jet, the sun's orange glow faded into pink as it disappeared into the western sky, its decent put into slow motion by the jet's westward progression.
To Be Continued...