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The night had been arduous at best. The forefront of the mighty war lay waste to the entire shoreline; but for one small bastion. And as the sun emerged from the layer of low clouds encircling the horizon, its golden light was reflected upon the jagged crenellations of the castle.

Emeral was genuinely surprised it was still standing. Well, what was left of it. It looked like half of it had either crumbled away or someone might have accidentally stepped on it--or at least, she was going to assume it was an accident.

Ket was not being accidental when he charged toward it. As he reached the crumbled side, his foot reeled back and the inside of his instep collided with the top tower like a giant's sword cleaving a mountain top.

The sand erupted in a myriad of clumps and grains, some of them twinkling in the orange sunlight as they flew.

Emeral's lips opened wide with glee as she ran toward the castle and leapt into the air. Like Mario stomping a Goomba, the castle flattened and popped beneath her feet. She had to catch her balance, but found no purchase, and began tilting forward, her feet lodged into castle-gook.

Were it not for Ket's steadying hands she would have gotten a little too intimate with the beach.

They stood there for a moment, giggling, shivering a little. It was not early, almost eleven o'clock in the morning, but it was fairly cool--surprisingly cool. Where the hot, steamy, thick, musty air had gone they didn't know, but they liked this air despite the drawback.

Emeral had to wonder how Ket was managing. She at least had most of her body covered by her swimsuit, but he had been shirtless practically the whole time since they woke up. She was a little dismayed she didn't get to do this morning what she did yesterday morning. When she woke up, before she opened her eyes, she wanted to hug and snuggle him again, especially since the lack of shirt might mean he was cold, but when she opened her eyes he was quietly lying awake, covered.

Their moms weren't too keen on going out to the beach so early. The sun wasn't out, the clouds were dark and thick way out in the distance, and not many people were out yet. But the kids really wanted to go and so they acquiesced.

"Haha," Momma R. chuckled. "Look at Emmy, she really did a number on that castle."

"Jeez," Momma B. let her arms flop by her sides. "Leave it to my kid to bring the whole thing down in one move."

"That's the fun way of doing it," Momma R. replied, stretching out on her towel. "Ket would have broken it apart piece by piece."

"He'd rather torture the poor thing than put it out of its misery, huh?"

"Gah, you make it sound like he's a serial killer or something."

"Oh look, it's their friends. This could get interesting."

"Hey!" Cassie shouted, running across to the beach, little brother at her heels. "Hey-y!"

The tiger cubs turned their heads.

Cassie stopped, panting a little. "You guys! We were waiting for you so we could do that together."

Ket looked down at the castle beneath Emerals feet.

She suddenly felt a knot tie the top of her stomach.

"Haha," Cassie chuckled, "You guys look like a couple of deer in headlights."

They exchanged glances.

"We...can build another one," Ket suggested, motioning to Emeral, "and you guys can wreck that one."

James shook his head. "Nah," his hand went up as he gazed onto the ocean, a gust of wind blowing the growing crop of his hair. "The water's way too cold today."

Emeral shivered at the wind; it was like a sudden gale. She looked out to the ocean, the dark clouds in the distance scudding ever so closer, and then to Cassie, who, despite wearing a moderately reserved bikini compared to yesterday, didn't even so much as flinch from the gust.

"Actually, James and I were wondering if you two would like to play some volleyball with us and a few of our friends."

"Sure."

Of course he would say sure; she was asking all nicely with her skimpy orange suit, skinny legs and jiggly--"We can't." Emeral stated.

Three pairs of eyes glanced at her.

"Why not?" Ket asked.

"W'llcuz--" she looked around, and then remembered, "Our moms. They have to be able to see us."

Ket rolled his eyes. "I'm sure if we asked 'em..."

"I was thinking of bringing the game here." Cassie said.

Ket leaned in close. "C'mon Emmy, what's the big deal?"

"Nothing," she stated stiffly, "Just being responsible that's all."

"Ugh..." Ket said, scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe we could just--"

"We can play," Emeral cut him off, "I wasn't saying we couldn't," she directed at her boyfriend. The look she received was like he was scanning her. She looked back at their parents. They waved.

"Well...I guess it's on then. James, phone please."

The buck took the phone out of his pocket.

Cassie flipped it open. "Hey, Luke. Think you can bring the net down the beach a little?" She watched the tiger cubs as she talked. Emeral began flattening out the castle ground while Ket looked out at the ocean. "We're down by the campsites, not too far. Bring the whole gang." The beeped as she hit the end button.

"So..." Emeral said, without any real direction.

"They should be here in just a few minutes. Why don't you two introduce us to your moms, huh?"

At this, both tigers sort of looked hesitant. But in the end the group walked over to the two moms sitting on their towels, themselves miffed that the sun was not at all going to peek over the thick, distant clouds.

"Well hey kids, whatchya up to?" Momma R. asked.

"Mom," Ket said, "Momma B., this is Cassie and James."

Both moms stood up and greeted.

"Hello," Momma B. said, "We saw you two helping Ket'n'Emmy build a castle yesterday, right?"

Cassie nodded. "Yup, they helped build a really good one."

"Did you see them crush it?" James asked, stomping on the sand.

"Yes we did," Momma R. told him, "Emmy dealt the killing blow."

They all laughed, except Emmy who started to blush.

"So," Cassie stated, "I just wanted to come by and say hi to you guys. Ket and Emeral are going to play volleyball with a few friends of mine; we're bringing the net here."

"Oh really?"

"That's great," Momma B. chuckled, "Maybe we'll join in too."

"No way," Emeral said, crossing her arms. "No moms allowed."

"Oh well maybe you'd like us moms to leave you here and go home by ourselves?"

The girl lowered her brows in mock anger.

"Are you guys having fun on your vacation?" Momma R. asked to James.

"Oh yeah," the buck replied. "We live here, so it's always fun."

"You guys live here?" Emeral asked.

Cassie nodded, "Our house isn't far from the beach. That's why I like meeting people here; when you live on the coast the novelty of the beach kinda wears off."

"I bet," Momma B. stated.

"Look," Momma R. pointed, "I see some people carrying poles."

"That's them," Cassie said. "Man they're quick. Okay, I'm gonna go help set up, feel free to come join us whenever, moms."

"Sure," they said, "But we'll wait until our rascals say it's 'okay'."

Ket shook his head and Emeral rolled her eyes.

"C'mon guys," James said to the tigers, "Let's go."

Emeral huffed as she ran, the cool air swirling in her throat. Since Cassie had taken off ahead of them, she was in front, and the tigress immediately noticed the doe's perky white tail sticking out of the orange that covered her rump. The whole thing wiggled back and forth with each step, and the tigress wrinkled her nose. She imagined her tail looking like a dead limb being dragged through the sand. She curled it up as much as she could. And then she shot a glance at the tiger, intent on figuring out what he was looking at--to his fortune, it was the group around the net.

"Hey guys!" Cassie shouted, not out of breath like the kids in her wake.

"Cass-eh!" One of the boys shouted, raising his hand. They clapped together and hugged. "You got a couple more players with ya?"

"Yup," she said, stepping back and gesturing toward the kids. "That's Emeral, and he's Ket," she introduced.

Emeral had her hands on her knees, and she stood up straight, trying to assert herself.

"Guys," Cassie said to the tigers, pointing to each of the teenagers; "Meet Luke," she pointed to the boy, a border-collie, that she had high-fived, "Paul," she pointed to a very tall rat, "Billy," a chubby gopher, "Haley--"

"Hey," greeted the lioness cheerfully;

"And...Haley, where's your sister?"

"Where else?" The lioness asked, and stepped aside. "Say 'hi', Felicity."

The younger vixen clutched her tail, hugging it against herself. She distended her left hand and waved with a meek, "hi," that everyone could barely hear.

"Nice to meet you," Luke said to the newcomers. "Why don't you kids visit while we set the game up, huh?"

Ket and James nodded, and Haley patted her sister on the back. "Go on," she whispered.

The vixen let her tail drop away.

Emeral's hackles immediately rose.

She was a vixen, that was for sure. As she walked over on her timid, skinny legs the two bubbles below her neck bounced and wiggled, the blue bikini she wore strikingly vibrant against her red coat. the bottoms were tied at her left hip, the bow bouncing just as much as other things with every step. Were it not for the arms crossed over her belly, she would expose the white fur of her stomach.

Emeral absent-mindedly smoothed her suit, now two days worn. Her stomach remained concealed. She showed off nothing; had nothing to show off.

"Hi, Felicity," Ket greeted cheerfully.

A little too cheerfully. Emeral glowered.

"Hi," the vixen said, looking down.

"My name's Ket," the tiger said, extending his hand. "Cassie introduced us kinda fast. I didn't see you behind your sister."

"Oh..." Was all the girl said, as she tentatively reached for the extended paw.

Beside him, Ket heard a throat clearing. "This is Emmy," he said, without missing a beat.

"And...?" Emeral said.

"And what?"

"What else are you supposed to say?"

Ket squinted an eye; "I dunno." He admitted sourly.

Emeral crossed her arms, glaring at him. And then, from beyond him, she saw Cassie watching. She let out a sigh. "Nevermind," She said definitively.

"You two act so weird," James said, rolling his eyes. "If that's how you act when you're in love, count me out."

Felicity blinked. "Oh...you guys are...?"

"Yes." Emeral stated, glaring again at Ket.

"Just ignore them if they act like this," James muttered, "It gets kinda annoying."

"Aw," Felicity said, grabbing her tail absent-mindedly in one hand. "I wish I had a boyfriend."

Emeral rolled her eyes. "How do you not?" She questioned.

The vixen tilted an ear. "What do you mean?"

"Admit it," the tigress said, "You have boys talk to you all the time."

She shook her head. "No." She smiled and pointed at the buck; "They all say the same thing as James."

"Don't feel bad," Ket said encouragingly, "They're probably just shy."

Felicity shook her head. "No, I think it's because they're afraid of me."

"Why would they be afraid of you?" The tiger asked.

The vixen swallowed, grabbing her tail to hide herself again. "Cuz I... 'grew up'..." she said.

Emeral flattened her brow.

"Well," the tiger said with a smile, "I think you look just fine."

She grit her teeth.

The vixen giggled. "Th-thanks, Ket." She said quietly.

"Okay guys," Billy said, "C'mon and pick a side."

"What are the teams?" Asked James as they stepped up to the net.

"How about the girls, Ket and James versus the other boys," Haley said.

James rolled his eyes. "Do I hafta be on the girl's team?"

Haley shook her head. "No, you can be on whatever team you want."

With a grin, James joined the other three boys.

"Traitor!" His sister shouted.

"Loser!" He shouted back.

The collie tossed the ball to the buck. "Show'em how it's done."

James tossed the ball into the air, leapt surprisingly high for his stature, and his arm hit the ball like an asteroid to a planet. The ball spun with english as it flew over the net.

"Get it Emmy!" She heard someone shout. She watched as the ball headed for her, not quite prepared for the game yet. Just as she was about to react, a red flare crossed her vision and the ball was knocked back to the other side.

"No worries, I got it," Felicity giggled.

Emeral pursed her lips. The rat smacked the ball back without so much as leaning over. The tigress was determined to send it back this time, and so as it fell toward their side she ran with a growl and swung her right arm, hooking it with a shout. The ball was given a concussion, and fainted right in front of her.

"Jeez, girl," Haley said.

"What'd that poor little ball to do you?" Billy chuckled.

Cassie stepped up beside her. "Love the energy, Emmy." She said with a laugh. "But try hitting the ball like this," she clasped one hand in the other like she was praying, and did the bumping motion.

"I know how to do it..." Emeral said with a sigh.

"Just checkin'. You wanna serve?" Cassie proffered the ball.

Emeral shook her head, eager to not embarrass herself any further.

"Can I serve it?" Asked the tiger.

"All yours," Cassie said, tossing the ball.

Ket caught it, and bounced it up once, as if hefting it. Then, copying James, tossed it up into the air, giving it a spin. Like in a cartoon it appeared to float in the air for a moment as he jumped up and clapped it, sending it on its journey.

Billy huffed as he hit the return, the gopher not exactly in the best of shape.

It flew a bit far right, thanks to the wind, so Cassie bumped it back into the game, while Haley bounced it toward the boys.

They performed their own play. James bopped it up into the air, and Luke smacked it over.

Felicity sent the return all on her own, complete with an overly-dramatic, "Hi-ya!"

The rat whisked, which meant Billy had to get the rebound.

"Emmy!" Ket said, as he just barely managed to bop it toward her.

She poised; she would not let the ball embarrass her this time. As it came within hitting-distance, she was looking toward the beach. Just as she had made the most perfect hit, it was at that moment that the sun just barely peeked from behind the blanket of encroaching clouds. The last split-second moment went black to her, and when the brightness resolved from her vision the ball was resting on their side of the sand, the net rippling.

"Darn, just shy," Haley said, snapping her fingers.

"It's okay, Emmy. I believe in you," Felicity said with a quiet cheer.

I'm so relieved.

James walked over and kicked the ball to their side. "Two-zip," he stated.

"Oh give me that," Cassie ordered, Felicity obediently tossing her the ball. "Got my back Haley?"

"Go for it!"

The ball was served. Paul quietly knocked it back over. Haley rushed up to the front of the net and flew into the air, striking the ball with a yell comparative to Wonder Woman.

But James, knowing his sister's plans, was right there, ready for the spike. He shot the ball back immediately, the orb having no chance to figure out which way was up or down or what dimension it was even in.

"I got it! I got it!" Felicity stated, backing up, gauging where the ball would land. The wind took it, carrying it just a bit farther. She turned, running forward at full-speed, neck craned upward--until she collided.

"Man down!"

"I'll get the ball!"

"Ket are you okay?"

Felicity opened her eyes and felt something warm beneath her. She pushed up onto her palms to see a slightly dazed tiger underneath her. It took her a moment to realize she was on top of him. Two sets of hands helped her up; one was gentle, the other was rough. She glanced to see Emmy to her left, and her sister to her right.

"Oh gosh are you okay?" The vixen asked the tiger as he sat up, brushing sand out of his hair.

"He's fine," Emeral said, letting go of the vixen's shoulder, but not without giving her a threatening glare.

"Didn't see you run up so fast," Ket mumbled, standing up on his own. "You're really fast."

"Sorry," she said meekly; "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Ket rubbed his jaw, the collision knocking it a bit. He felt blood on his lip.

Felicity gasped. "Oh no..."

Emeral rolled her eyes. "He's not gonna die."

"Nah, probably not," Haley said, dusting off her sister.

James came back at a jog, panting. "I got the ball!" He exclaimed with a wiggling voice, raising the brightly colored ball above his head.

"Good man, James," Luke said.

The buck approached his sister, handing it over. "Redo," he said.

"What a good sport," Cassie said, taking the ball. "Everyone okay?"

"Fine," replied Ket and Felicity.

"Can I serve?" Emeral asked.

"Go for it," the doe tossed the ball over.

Emeral caught it with slight bounce before finally grasping it. It was a little big, but she would manage a serve. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that she was better than Felicity at sports. That girl was so timid she would faint in a game of dodgeball if one of the balls rolled at her from across the court.

The tigress took in a deep breath. She would do exactly what Ket and James had done; she would throw it into the air and jump-serve it. There was no way that little vixen could pull that off if she couldn't even watch where she ran.

She wouldn't have even made it anyway, she was running way too slow.

"Hurry up!" James said.

"I'm concentrating!" Emeral retorted. And then she tossed the ball up. She squatted, her haunches ready for the jump. Her feet left the sand; she could feel the wind whisk the sand from her footpads. Her hand jolted forth. Her entire body erupted in a spasm.

The thunderclap came less than a second later. Like the roar of Poseidon, it made the earth shake and tremble. Emeral was dazed; the lightning strike so sudden. She roused herself, and spotted the others on the beach, everyone still recovering from the shock. Every follicle on her body tingled.

"Break it down! Break it down!" Paul shouted, as he and the other boys started unhooking the net and carrying the poles away.

Emeral saw the second arm of lightning. Bright-yellow, it struck the water far away. Far away, and yet she could feel it jolt across her fur like every hair was being torn from her skin. The thunderclap that resounded was even more deafening. It made her heart pause. It felt like her body had turned off for just a second.

The clouds swathed the sky overhead in moments, the storm rushing the shore like the troops of an army.

Amidst the ringing in her ears, Emeral was grasped by a hand. Ket had her, and he looked just as dazed as she was. Yet he collected himself and began leading her back to their mothers.

Cassie and James joined them, and when they got to their mothers they were already picking everything up. Everyone grabbed what they could, and headed toward the campsites.

Emeral stared back at the storm clouds, another bolt of lightning snapping down to the waters. They were far enough away now, and she only felt a little twinge. But the thunderclap was not softened, and she still felt her adrenaline surge. She squeezed Ket's hand even harder, and felt a return.

They could outrun the lightning, but they could not outrun the rain. As the clouds swarmed overhead, the raindrops began to fall, soaking everything.

The beach would be uninhabitable for the time being.