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Fallen leaves crunched beneath my paws as I strolled along the familiar forest shortcut home. It had been a long day--Melanie was expanding the Twin Bells to include chocolates and other sweets and I'd been running back and forth from the storeroom all day. A trip to the Whistle had helped me relax, but I still wanted to just lie down. My tail swished happily as the fence bordering Flynn's yard came into view; soon I'd be able to just curl up in my den and--

I stopped suddenly as I neared the fence. There were paw prints scattered about the hole I used to get into the yard. This had never happened before--no animal ever went near my territory. I cautiously approached and sniffed at the tracks. The scent was fresh, whatever it was had been here recently. I followed the tracks into Flynn's yard and stopped when they disappeared into the ground. I flexed my ears and caught the sounds of breathing beneath the earth. There was no mistaking it--something was in my den.

I slowly crept down the tunnel leading into my den, ready to chase away the intruder. I saw it the moment I reached the main section--a raccoon asleep on my blankets.

My fur bristled as I stepped forward. A sharp growl startled the 'coon awake and I followed up with a baying yelp to scare it into leaving. Surprisingly, the creature didn't move. It just sat there chattering madly at my attempts to force it out. Assuming an aggressive stance, I extended my claws and bared my teeth menacingly. Even for a wild animal, the meaning would have been clear--leave, or get eaten.

The raccoon still didn't move. It was obviously freaked and cowering, but for some reason it wasn't making any attempt to flee. There was no way I was actually going to attack the raccoon, so what else was there to do? None of this made sense; any animal would have fled by now so why wasn't--

The answer hit me like a slap to the face.

"Are you a teefer?" I asked abruptly. The effect was immediate; the raccoon looked up at me and, very slowly, nodded.

I sighed and retracted my claws before sitting down. "Well, that explains that then. Mind telling me what you're doing in here?"

Another wave of chatters and squeaks. Lovely. There was something odd about the sounds the raccoon was making though--I angled my ears to better hear him.

<oohing...hlace 'o flive.>

The raccoon was definitely talking... but his words were scrambled among the animal noises.

"Umm, can you repeat that?" I asked.

<Looking for a place to live.> He repeated. It was much easier to pick up the words once I knew they were there.

Fair enough. "Not to be, uh, rude or anything, but didn't you notice my scent everywhere? And my stuff?"

The 'coon nodded. <That's why I waited here. I wanted to ask if I could live here.>

"Don't you have your own home?"

<Yes. In Minnesota.>

My ears perked in surprise. "Minnesota!? You're a long way from home, kid."

<It's a long story...>

I sighed again. "Well, no matter. There's a train station not far from here. C'mon, I'll buy your ticket."

The raccoon let out a terrified cry at this. <Please, no.> He squeaked, backing up against the wall of my den. <I can't go back. I just can't!>

I blinked. This was getting more complicated by the minute. I could probably guess why he didn't want to go home though.

"How long ago did you get TFOR?" I asked.

<A month ago--maybe two. I lost track of time. I adapted pretty quick but...> He trailed off, shivering.

Suspicion confirmed. I padded forward and placed a paw on the kid's shoulder. "Look, uh..."

<Daniel.>

"Look, Daniel, I think I know how you're feeling. TFOR can be hard on families, especially with Fullmorphs like us. All the adjustments and lifestyle changes are very disruptive, plus you feel start feeling useless and like you're nothing but dead weight. But you should never think that running away will make things better."

Daniel pushed my paw away. <That's not it at all! You've got no clue...>

"Jonas."

<You've got no clue, Jonas!>

Well, he had me there. "So tell me then."

<Fine.> Daniel slid down the wall into a sitting position. <It's my Mom. When I changed she went nuts. I'm talking overprotective batshit insane! One time I went out without telling her and she locked me in my room for two weeks! She even put newspaper down so I didn't have an excuse to leave!> He threw his paws up in the air. <Newspaper!>

Oh my. "It can't have been that bad..."

He scoffed. <It was that bad. She went hysterical when I changed--said she'd protect me her entire life. Was making pretty damn good on that promise too--until I managed to jimmy the window open, anyway.>

By now my ears were starting to hurt from the strain of picking up Daniel's words. "Do you, uh, have a voder or something?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't mind the sudden change in subject.

<I did, but it broke. I accidentally dropped it from the back of a pickup truck I was stowing away in to get to New York.> Daniel answered, shrugging. <Thing was a piece of shit anyway. One of the first models--sounded like a dying robot with a bad case of constipation.>

Well that was a lovely visual. "Hold on..." I muttered, turning around and walking over to a box I kept in another side pocket. "I think I have a voder around here you can use."

<What on earth do you have a voder for?> Daniel asked behind me, genuinely surprised. <You talk just fine--besides sounding like a cartoon character.> There was a nervous squeak and he quickly added, <N-no offense, of course.>

"Oh, just emergencies I guess." I answered while rummaging through the box. "Plus I always keep one handy for bad days. Good days too, I guess. I lose my voice any time my emotions waver too much."

<Wow. That must be scary. At least I don't have that problem.> Daniel said. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. The raccoon came up next to me and looked into the box. <Hope your model is newer than the one my Mom could afford... so damn irritating to use.>

I found the small box containing my voder. "Well mine is fairly old--Albion's first non-keyboard model. It's been modified though so it should work as well as a new one."

"Just wrap it around your next and make sure the fuzzy part is touching your throat when you talk." I added as I gave Daniel the voder.

His eyes lit up instantly. <No keyboard? Awesome! My old one had a board and I had to lug it around everywhere. Sucked to lose it since I couldn't talk, but there was still something satisfying to see the thing getting mangled under the cars on the highway...> The raccoon trailed off as he put on the voder, a look of giddy nostalgia on his face.

"Well," I said, interrupting Daniel's reminiscing, "it looks like the voder is secure. Try it out."

He tapped at the device. "Err... testing. Can you hear me okay? Supercalafrajalisticexpialadocious. Antidisestablishmentarianism."

I smiled, relaxing my ears. "Yea, it works. You can use that until you're able to get a hold of a new one. Now, you've gone on a bit about your mother. What's your dad's role in all of this?"

Daniel look down, ears and tail sagging. "I...I'm not sure. I haven't seen him since I was eight. He was a traveling musician in a band called the Banana Republic. No clue what happened to him. Mom remarried but my stepdad is out of town on business for half a year."

I sighed for the third time that day. This kid was several provinces away from home, and even if I did manage to get him to go back he'd probably just run away again. Besides... considering my own history it would be hypocritical of me to turn him away.

"You can stay." I said. "On one condition."

"Of course!" Daniel exclaimed. "Anything! I'm no freeloader."

"I want you to write home. I don't mind having a runaway but there's no way I'm letting your mother think she's lost another family member." I dug around in the box and fished out some paper and pencils. "I can send it so that the letter won't be traced. Just tell her you're all right."

"Oh--but--I..." Daniel sighed. "Ok. Haven't written with these paws yet so don't blame me if it gets messy."

"Raccoons have thumbs, you'll be fine." I said as I passed him the writing utensils. Daniel got to work, using the top of the box as a table.

"All right... one letter coming up. Let's see... I'm safe, in good han--err, paws. She's not going to find me, don't call the police--though she probably will anyway. I love her very much even though she's crazy... Blah blah blah, and I'm safe...again."

He gave me the letter when it was finished. It wasn't the most... poetic piece, but I had a feeling Daniel's mom would know it was sincere.

"I'll mail this on my way to work tomorrow." I said as I folded the letter and slipped it into a vest pocket. "Now then, why don't you tell me how a runaway racoon managed to get all the way to Polyton?"

Daniel nodded and began his story. It was... dramatic to say the least. I let Daniel use some of my spare blankets and moved my clothing chest to make room for him to sleep. This was going to be a very unusual arrangement for sure, but I knew it was better for the 'coon if he stayed with someone who had at least some experience with what he was going through.

Daniel was still fast asleep when I woke up the next morning. Considering what the kid had gone through, I was tempted to let him keep snoozing but I didn't want to risk being late for work again. I padded over to the sleeping 'coon and gave him a gentle nudge.

"Wha--? Whuzgoinon...?" Daniel asked sleepily. "Wha? Where am I? Oh... right... Polyork..."

"Polyton, New York." I corrected as I slipped on my vest. "It's morning and I have to go to work soon. You chitter in your sleep by the way."

No response. Daniel had fallen back asleep--definitely a teenager. I poked him again. "You're going to have to come with me today until you get to know the city better. Now c'mon, I want to get some breakfast."

At the mention of food, his ears perked and eyes instantly snapped open. "Great!" He exclaimed. "All I've had to eat for three days was pretzels and Little Debbies--had to wash it down with Sierra Mist and AUGH that stuff is foul!"

"I can imagine." I replied with an amused yip. "Fortunately Flynn's pantry is better stocked than a vacationer's truck."

"Will there be pancakes? Mmmm.... with warm blueberries and whipped cream and syrup... and apple juice. Oh, and hashbrowns! I love hashbrowns--well, when they're fried anyway..."

Daniel chattered away as we exited the den and entered the house. Flynn was already seated at the kitchen table when we entered and look up curiously at the sight of the raccoon.

"I need to tell Flynn what's going on." I said quickly to Daniel. "The fridge has a pedal-opener and there's some fruit in the crisper at ground level. The drawer next to its got some sandwich materials if you'd rather have that."

"Are you sure?" Daniel whispered. Or tried to whisper, anyway. The voder wasn't good on volume adjustment.

"Yes. The food's mine. Flynn just lets me keep it here since the den has an obvious lack of refrigeration."

While Daniel was looking through the crisper I waved Flynn into an adjoining room.

"A runaway?" He asked once I finished explaining the situation.

I nodded, watching Daniel now rummage through the sandwich drawer out of the corner of my eye. "Yea; I'm letting him stay with me for now. Maybe once Daniel gets more relaxed I can convince him to go back home but for now he's staying with me."

Flynn sighed. "Well it's your den so I can't really object unless the kid starts messing with my garden."

"Thanks. Oh, could you mail this letter for me on your way to work? It's to Daniel's parents telling them he's all right."

Flynn nodded. "Yea, I can manage that. I just hope you know what you're doing."

"I do, don't worry. More importantly though, is that I know what he's done."

Returning to the kitchen, I retrieved one of my premade sandwiches from the fridge before joining Daniel at the table.

"You'll have to come with me today until you're more familiar with the city." I explained between bites. "I don't think Melanie will mind you hanging around the bakery if it's just this one time--but be warned that she might try to make you do some work."

"Is she nice?" Daniel asked as he finished off a slice of turkey.

I paused. "That sort of depends on your definition of 'nice'. Melanie's not a bad person, but she has this way of dealing with people that's kind of manipulative. She's a good boss though, so long as you can stand being tricked into something every now and then. Oh, and while at work she's 'Miss Dia.'"

Daniel began fidgeting with his tail."...I don't like being tricked. It makes me feel... well, stupid. Stupid and foolish. Think I could ask her to just be straight with me? I'd do work voluntarily. I don't need tricks. ...I'm not overreacting, am I?"

"Yes, you are." I said with a smile. "Don't worry about Melanie--you don't work for her so she'll leave you alone. Now let's get going, I don't want to be late."

Daniel's ears shot up. "Oh! Wait, before we go--a" He dashed out of the house before finishing the sentence. I followed him outside to see him ruffling through one of the bushes.

"Ah, here it is!" He exclaimed, pulling out a vest. It was simple piece like mine, except Daniel's had one of those sky-blue 'Cure TFOR' ribbons pinned to the lapel. I avoided commenting on this.

"I hid it just before going into your den last night." Daniel explained as he put on the vest and fished a collar out of its pocket. "My personal info is on this collar, see? I wanted to hide it in case you didn't let me stay with you."

"Fair enough. It's a good system to use anyway." I replied, lifting up the bone-shaped nametag on my own collar so he could see the information printed on the reverse side.

Traffic was light as we travelled down the streets--though since Daniel and I were on the sidewalk that just meant there were a lot less annoying scents. The 'coon became noticeably more nervous as we neared Polyton's downtown--his eyes kept darting about as he waddled and I could see his ears flick towards every sound.

"First time in the city?" I asked.

"When I was human I used to go to Minneapolis a lot, but I lived in a quiet place called Appleville." Daniel replied. "First time out since TFOR, though. Bedroom quarantine and all..."

I nodded. "I see. Well the sounds and smells can be overwhelming at first but with practice you can learn to tune them out. For now though just try to keep your ears still."

When we reached the Twin Bells, Daniel followed me as I positioned myself in the corner by the counter.

"My main job is security." I explained, motioning to an oddly-coloured tile. "See this here? It's a silent alarm trigger. Most of the time I just sit here in case someone tries to rob the store but that's never happened. I also have to distract customers if they need to wait for an order to be made--kids too if they start getting rowdy. Plus I chase after customers if they leave stuff behind and every now and then I'm asked to pick something up or make a delivery."

"Wow, sounds like a lot of work." Daniel said.

"Oh, it isn't as much as it sounds like." Came an amused voice. Daniel and I looked up to see Miss Dia standing over us. "But Jonas here prefers to think of himself as an industrious little fox. So, who's your little friend? I'd guess a relative, but I fail to see any family resemblance."

I rolled my eyes. "Miss Dia, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Melanie Dia. She owns the Twin Bells."

"H-hi, it's a p-pleasure to m-meet you." Daniel's voder hissed with static at his stammered greeting. Poor kid, guess he wasn't used to being so small around people.

My boss smiled before turning her attention back to me. "Jonas, Stacy dropped an egg carton again and I need you to cle--"

Miss Dia stopped as the front door opened and rather harried-looking women entered flanked by three (very hyperactive) children.

"Oooh! Cookies! Can we have some? Canwecanwecanwe?"

"No, dear. We just need to pick up some bread."

"BUT MOM!" Cried out all three kids in unison. Taking my cue, I shrugged off my vest before stepping into the middle of the store. At once the children forgot their cookies.

"Aww look! It's a puppy!"

"It's a fox you dork!"

"Aww look! It's a fox puppy!"

The three crowded around me while their relieved mother proceeded to the counter. Five minutes (and many ear-scratches) later the family left and I put my vest back on before going to clean up the egg spill. To my surprise I found Daniel in the kitchen finishing the clean up.

"Daniel?" I asked.

"Oh, hey, Jonas!" He chittered, looking up. "You seemed busy with those kids so I figured I'd take care of the spill."

"Ah, well, thank you very much for that."

His ears flushed. "No problem! I'm not the kind of guy who just sits around taking up space--if there's something I can do to help then I'll do it!"

"That's very good to hear." Said Miss Dia, suddenly behind us. "Now, Daniel, was it? I can give you a few other small things to do if you'd like. Oh, and Jonas? If you could run down to the deli and get the usual lunch special for us that would be great. Get something for your friend too."

I nodded and left as Miss Dia began explaining to Daniel how the storeroom's labels worked. The rest of the day was fairly routine aside from the fact that Miss Dia was finding an awful lot of 'small things' for Daniel to help with. I had to give the kid credit though, he was a fast worker and certainly eager to be of use. By the end of the day, Melanie had offered him a job.

"Wow, can you believe it?" Daniel asked as he bounced beside me on the sidewalk, fur bristling with excitement. "I mean, my last job was a paper route and now I'm Miss Dia's executive assistant!"

I chuckled. "Don't let it go to your head. Melanie likes giving people titles like that. I'm 'Head of Security Operations' and 'Public Relations Manager'."

"Yea, but still! It's a step up either way!"

"True." I nodded, adding, "By the way, since you'll be joining me at work, I suppose you should also join me in my after-work tradition."

Daniel blinked. "Tradition?"

"It's a little place called the Pig and Whistle..."