Chapter 12: Relaxation

-Back on Earth-

A single letter was slid into a mailbox as a mailman drove away. As the vehicle disappeared from hearing into the distance, the wind and call of nature began to sound. Footsteps were audible as the only piece of mail was waiting inside its snug envelope, carrying either good, or bad news, for the recipient. CREAK!

When a tan hand opened up the mail box, light flooded into the dark space, and it was revealed to the man that had grabbed the envelope that a red ink seal was what kept the letter encased in its paper prison. In the top corner was a mail sticker of an eagle holding a scroll and arrows, each in a respective talon as the bright green letters below it read, 'military'. On the center of the letter was a small mailing address, but that wasn't of much concern to the man.

The letter was opened as the man walked back up the steps to his home, and he opened the doorway as he discarded the envelope. He leaned his head down as he walked into a room with another person, his wife. As he began to read, he spoke out loud so his wife would know what he was reading.

"Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s) of Wolf,

I am the head director of foreign affairs for our nation, though our line of work is far from that of planet Earth. I am contacting you now to let you know that your son was collected on Monday, per a need of national interest. Your son once visited another planet by a pure lucky chance, and his skills and knowledge of the planets inhabitants made him a prime example to have as our diplomat to the planet known as Cerinia, by its locals. Wolf's mission was a success, but I'm sorry to inform you that you will be required to remain on Earth as the negotiations solidify. Wolf will be committed to planet Cerinia for the… rest of his life…" The man looked up at his wife with a surprised and outraged look. He looked back down at the letter, and continued, "…The negotiations went as the United States Government receive a tremendous avalanche of technology, for Wolf to… marry… the Princess, of Cerinia…"

The letter slowly drifted down to the ground as the man continued to look where it had just been.

"Richard…?" the woman began to ask, but just as she did, the large man collapsed from the shock that had manifested itself inside of him. My son has been taken away… to marry an alien… I haven't even met… The man thought, just as blackness surrounded his vision.

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

I was currently sitting down on the bed as Krystal brushed her fur in the mirror near a table. The shower had been… interesting, to say the least for me, but it wasn't something I was looking forward to in the future. I made extra sure to mask my thoughts as Krystal was probably going to try and read them… again. She may be beautiful, and sure, I would've enjoyed sleeping with her, but come on, she was almost entirely naked. A shower… I'm alright with it as long as the steam keeps blocking out everything rated M, but I swear she kept bumping into me on purpose. It isn't like I can say anything or it will be considered 'cold', and that will just get my feet stomped on, and she is pretty heavy when it is concentrated on my feet.

Looking over at Krystal, I smiled as she set her brush down, finally she is done…

Krystal stood up and walked over to me, but when she reached me, she sat down next to me and said, "What do you feel like doing today?"

"Um, I don't know… maybe you should choose." I said as I looked over and outside the window.

"Good, I was hoping you would say that." Krystal said, and I quickly looked over at her with a surprised frown. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around my neck, and store up into my eyes as she rested her head along the shirt her father had given me. "I think we can first go grab something to eat, and then we can go see a movie… Father gave me the entire day to spend with you, so I don't intend on wasting it…"

My frown turned upside down, and I said, "Learning local sights… sounds good."

As she stood up with me, she grabbed my hand, and I felt my face heat up slightly.

Knock, Knock, Knock!

Krystal sighed, but she pulled me over to the doorway with her while the person on the other side waited for a response. When we reached the door, I reached out and grabbed the handle just as Krystal did, and I felt my face heat up even more, but I looked over and saw Krystal smiling towards me. Looking back forward, I opened the door and saw a tall canine guard of some kind standing there with a small purse in his hands, along with a pistol held in the other. "Lady Krystal, here is your purse," he said as he extended his arm out to Krystal, who graciously took it, "and Mr. Wolf, this is yours, since your weapon was damaged in the rebels incursion." And then he held the Pistol out for me. I nodded as I took it, but before I asked my next question, he held out a holster type thing, and then he marched away. I looked at Krystal as I held the two items, and I began to slide the holster onto my pants loop.

Sliding the pistol into its proper holster, I felt Krystal slide her arm through my own, and we began to walk down the hallway. "Krystal…?"

"Yes Wolf?"

I sighed as I tightened my arm around hers, and I asked, "What will the others on Cerinia think if they find out you chose me as a husband…? I don't even look like anything or anyone else, how will I fit in here?"

After I finished, Krystal giggled a little bit and I looked over at her with a curious expression as she kissed my cheek and said, "You are thinking about all that too soon. I'm sure once they know you are the hero of Cerinia, they will more than likely accept you, just as I have come to accept, and love, you."

Smiling at how Krystal put it, I stopped walking and pulled Krystal into a hug. I guess it is moments like this that make up for the… awkwardness you keep putting me through.

"I wouldn't want to make your life miserable on Cerinia, now would I?"

I chuckled as I pulled away, and we continued walking, "I would hope not, I'm already ill at ease standing out how much I am."

We walked passed an intersection with mixed genders, but I saw the eyes of the female guards widen slightly, but they remained looking forward. Hey, why is it all the female guards seem to like me, even though I'm not even Cerinian?

Krystal looked at me with a confused expression, and then it morphed into one of humorous happiness. She waited until we were further away from the guards before she said, "The females on Cerina judge by actions, though how you look also plays a role in it, but they think highly of you since you fought Garit."

Chuckling, I said, "They treat it like I fought the biggest and baddest thing on all of Cerinia."

When Krystal stopped our forward momentum along with gazing at me with a strong intentness, I looked into her gaze as she said, "He is by far the biggest out of every Cerinian, Lylatin, and most of the apes from Venom. You may have possibly fought the strongest fighter in all of Cerinia.

I felt my jaw hang open slightly as I couldn't fathom doing such a task. I wasn't an adult yet, though I would be one in a few months. I only took basic fighting classes, not to mention I was by far not the strongest kid. Then I look at the fact that I somehow beat a wolf that was tougher, meaner, and leaner than me, and came out supposedly 'on top.'

"Wait… Lylatin? Venom? What are those?" I asked helplessly as Krystal came around and grabbed my arm with hers once again.

She rested her head against my shoulder as she explained, "Cerinia is far from the other solar systems of our galaxy, so we rarely visit Lylat. Lylat is another planet, very much like your own if our reports are correct. It is the central… hub, for all of the many races that we know of, except for apes and humans. The Lylat system has numerous habitable planets, surprisingly, and one of the other main planets is known as Venom." Krystal shivered slightly from beside me, but before I could ask why, she continued, "Venom is the worst planet of any I know of, and I'm glad I have only read reports, instead of visiting it myself. It is a planet ruled by criminals, thieves, and every other type of foul creatures."

Tightening my grip around Krystal, I said, "Well at least you won't need to go there by yourself if it is ever required. Since I'm required to be your husband," chuckling quietly, since I wouldn't marry any other Cerinian, "I wouldn't let you go to that planet alone or not without me by your side."

*Gurgle* I looked down towards Krystal's stomach as I smiled. She blushed beneath her blue fur, and I smiled as I said, "I guess that is the note that we need to get going…"

…

(Tyler's P.O.V.)

Samantha and I were in a park for our hangout day, for I wouldn't call it a date. Samantha was dozing off on my shoulder while I was looking up into the sky. Every once in a while, a spaceship/airplane of some kind would glide through the atmosphere like some kind of shooting star. Taking a deep breath in, I felt the warm breeze blowing over my skin as the smell of wildflowers flowed into my nose. While the air was warmer than I usually liked, the breeze kept me in a comfortable temperature.

While I was now looking down and across the park, I saw children of all kinds running around and playing what must've been tag. I saw a pack of dog children, some with droopy ears, floppy ears, or in some cases, straightened like Samantha's. I saw another kid playing with what looked like a cougar or mountain lion of some kind, but the difference was, this child was a bird. How strange…

Movement drew my attention, and I looked down as Samantha scooted closer to me and wrapped an arm around my opposite shoulder while her head remained on the other. I enjoy Samantha's company, but in some cases, it starts to feel strange and sometimes just purely scary weird. She is a dog… I would consider actually going steady with her if she was a human, but I can't date her seriously… it won't seem right.

But I guess it wouldn't hurt to enjoy her company while I can. I sighed softly as I wrapped an arm around her and closed my eyes. A short nap wouldn't kill me, but I also was feeling lazy in what could only count as a spring day surrounded me. Letting my head rest on the tree I was leaning against, I could hear the sound of laughter from children and the drone of craft in the air above. Life is too good to be true sometimes…

"Tyler…" I looked over just as Samantha yawned. When her muzzle closed again, I felt her tense up briefly, before she sighed and asked, "Do you feel like going to go grab a bite?"

I smiled at how she said that, your teeth can probably bite through anything… "Sure, why not?"

Samantha leaned off of me as she stretched, and I got up and onto my feet. When I turned and saw Samantha standing up, I grabbed her hand, and helped her up to her feet. She smiled at me as I attempted to release her hand, but she just kept holding onto it. She leaned towards me and gave me a quick dog kiss on the side of my face, and I internally flinched. That is still way to close to how a pet dog would give its owner a kiss… she is nice, but she is just too much like my old dog to consider dating her…

Attempting to appear polite, I smiled as I continued to hold her hand, and I she smiled wider as she pulled my hand towards her as she began to walk. When I was trailing slightly behind her, I felt the smile fall from my face as sadness replaced it; it has been so long since I dated someone… I can't even remember the basics if I did date her…