Whisper's POV:
The next morning following the party, I wake to the usual noise of the birds chirping. Dawn is here. I rise from my nest, stretching to ease the stiffness. I must've slept wrong. I exit my family's cave and behold the fresh spring grass swaying in the breeze. I sniff the air, pleased with the freshness in it. "Mornin', Whisper." I turn to see dad fully awake with a smile on his face.
"Morning, dad. Sleep well?" I ask.
"Yup! 'ow 'bout ya?" Dad asks back.
"My night was pretty good. No dreams," I answer.
"That's good. 'ey, if ya want ta, ya can go out an' 'ave some fun," dad suggests.
"With who? Dale can't come out today. He's grounded, remember?" I point out.
"Well, why don't ya try ta make some more friends?" Dad presses.
I sigh, a bit unwilling. "Okay…" I finally reply in compliance. I begin to head off in the nearby woods towards where the other teens hang out. I really don't want to do this. I'm not so great with others. Dad knows that, of course. He only wants the best for me. That's why I'll brave heading near others. I hope I can find some more friends who see things like I do.
After a few minutes, I make it to the hangout place. It's a waterfall that runs into a large pond. All the stones of this place are of a bright red and purple shades. I haven't really been here too much as I am normally too shy to be around others. I have reason as I am usually shunned by others because of my strange gift.
I already see the other teens hanging around. One in particular catches my eyes and makes me stop in my tracks. A tall, handsome weasel is there surrounded by the other teens. His fur is black as night with silver spots that shine like stars. His eyes are a bright, piercing blue. The teens by him are three other boys and two girls. At first, I am afraid to come closer to the group. It is his kind smile, directed at the others, that encourages me.
I brush past the bushes and slowly make my way towards them. The group looks up at my appearance. Most of them glare at me. They know and fear my strange gift. They're the ones who hate me because of it. The only one to keep his kind smile is the boy I first saw. I take a deep breath before I speak. "H…hello. My…my name's Whisper. Um…do you mind if I hang out with you?" I ask nervously.
"Go away, freak! We don't want you here!" One of the girls yells at me. The mysterious boy glares at her.
I look down, tears pooling in my eyes. "Never mind," I whisper. I turn around and begin running off.
While I am still within earshot, I overhear the boy's voice. He sounds angry. "Why did you have to say that to her?! What did she ever do to you?!" He shouts. I just keep running.
After a few minutes of running, I make it to a tree that's hollow at the bottom. I crawl inside of it and curl up in a ball. I cover my face as I let my tears fall. I begin sobbing, my heart hurting from all the torment at the paws of the other teens.
I jump at the feel of a paw on my back. I look up to see the boy from before looking back at me with a look of compassion on his face. "I'm sorry about them. Believe it or not, I know about your gift of dreams. I have the same gift. It's hard. I have to keep it from my friends so they won't leave me. I understand," the boy tries to soothe me.
I swipe a paw across my eyes, wiping my tears away. I sit up and look at the boy. "You have the same gift as me?" I ask in surprise.
"Yes, I do. And, if you want, I wouldn't mind being your friend," the boy suggests.
"R…really? I…I'd like that!" I smile.
The boy helps me up. "First things first, my name is Shade. You said your name is Whisper, right?" The boy, Shade, asks.
I nod my head. "Yes, I did," I reply softly, still a little shy around my new friend.
"Well, Whisper, I think we'll be great friends. Oh, shoot, I forgot! Mum wants me home for lunch! I really have to get going, but I'll find you later, alright?" Shade asks.
"Alright. I live in the caves near the river," I explain.
"Okay. I'll find you there after lunch. Bye, Whisper," Shade waves as he begins to leave.
"Bye, Shade," I reply, also beginning to head home. I have a large smile on my face. I'm thrilled to have found a new friend.
When I return home, I find mom and dad preparing lunch. I go up to them. "Mom, dad, guess what?" I begin in an excited tone.
"Wot?" Dad asks.
"I made a new friend, a boy named Shade! He sees things like me and he defended me from the other teens when they were insulting me!" I explain.
"Well, 'm glad ya made a new friend. Just don't start datin' 'im yet, alright?" Dad requests.
"Oh, dad, don't worry. I just met him. He had to go home for lunch. he will come by after to see me. We might go hang out for a while," I reply.
"Alright. That's fine. Just don't stay up too late," dad continues.
"I won't," I promise.
Dad smiles at me before turning his attention back to the food. He's cutting up some fish and bird meat and setting it out on plates while mom slices some apples as a side dish. I set the table. My brothers and sisters are quick to sit down at the table. I sit down beside them while mom and dad set the food down. We fold our paws in our laps and bow our heads, eyes closed, as dad says grace.
After dad is done saying grace, we begin eating our most delicious lunch. Of course, I am the first one to thank our parents. My siblings, especially my younger ones, tend to forget their manners.
After our lunch, I go by the cave opening to wait for Shade. I can't wait to see him again. I feel my face flame a bit at the thought of seeing his dark fur and piercing blue eyes…
I'm snapped out of my thoughts when the bushes nearby rustle. Shade appears from those bushes and strolls towards me. I go over to him and meet him half way. "Shade, hi. Um…what should we do?" I ask nervously. I'm not used to having many friends.
"How about we go down to the river? It's nice out and the river is so beautiful when the sunlight hits it just right," Shade suggests.
"Okay, but I want you to meet my dad first, if you don't mind. He'd like to meet you, seeing as he can be a bit overprotective at times," I give a fake sigh.
Shade laughs. "Sure. I'd like to meet your parents."
"Great! Come on!" I lead Shade inside. My parents and siblings are finishing the dishes. "Mom, dad, this is Shade, my new friend," I introduce him.
Dad comes over and stretches his paw out. "'ello, Shade. My name's Buck. I see ya decided ta be friends with my daughter. That's fine. Just no datin' 'er yet, got that?" Dad points his finger at Shade with a stern look on his face.
"Hey, don't worry! We just met! We are thinking of going down to the river, though. You know, just to talk," Shade replies.
"'kay, then. 'ave fun you two," dad smiles at us.
"We will. Love you, dad!" I call as Shade and I begin to walk away.
"Love ya too!" Dad calls back. Though I don't turn to look at him, I know dad is watching us until we're fully out of his sight.
Shade and I make it to the river after a few minutes of walking. He's right. The sunlight on the water gives off a beauty that's hard to imagine anywhere else. We sit down beside the water. I sigh in contentment at the breathtaking view. "What do you think?" Shade asks.
"It's beautiful, just like you said," I answer.
"That you are," Shade whispers to me.
"Shade, that's corny," I giggle.
"I know. I tried," Shade laughs a bit.
There, we just sit and talk about ourselves in turn. I tell Shade about my family and he listens to every word. It is when I ask about his own family that things take a turn. Shade frowns at the question, his ears lowered. "I…I don't have a family. T…they died when I was six. It was a pack of Sabers that killed them. A couple of other weasels took me in, but they were horrible to me. They'd whip me for not doing my chores right and…well…when I was six I was still a bit of a nest-wetter. They'd whip me for that. Heck, they'd take the belt to me for no reason at all! Just to make themselves happy! Then, when I was twelve, I ran away. I found my way to the village here. A female weasel saw me in the village, alone, with the still fresh welts from the beatings. She brought me into her home. She fed me and gave me a bed to sleep in. When my injuries healed, she gave me the one offer I couldn't refuse. She asked if she could adopt me. I said yes and I've been living with her as my foster mom ever since," Shade tells me his tale.
"Oh…I…I'm sorry about that…" I whisper, looking down.
"It's alright. I've moved on. I have a mother who cares for me now. And friends," Shade looks at me as he says this.
"Yeah," I reply, looking back at him. We continue talking until the sun starts to touch the horizon.
Shade is the first to notice. "Hey, it's getting late. I should probably be getting home. Do you want me to walk you back?" Shade asks.
"No. I can manage. Thanks anyway," I reply, getting up from my spot on the sand.
"You're welcome. Goodbye. I'll see you tomorrow," Shade says.
"See you then!" I call as I begin heading back. This day has been the best that I've ever known. I couldn't be happier. Too bad things have to change…