Chapter One: The Roommate Part One
#1 of If I Could See You Again
Of Foxes, Boxes, and Iguanas
As far as foxes went, his coat patterning certainly wasn't anything special. The standard orange and white markings covering his body, covered as it was with a comfortable dark brown t-shirt and deep green cargo pants. His muzzle had some unique marks, with little white spots towards the back, and two black strips running from the side of the muzzle up towards the eyes. He had short trimmed dark brown hair atop his vulpine head.
As far as incoming roommates went, what he was carrying was certainly nothing special. In his arms, which were quite strong and tense, was a large cardboard box, taped over with packaging tape. The fox easily carried the box into the dorm room and set it down amongst a grouping of other boxes, similarly packaged. He then stepped aside, making way for an incoming group, bringing with them more boxes.
The first fur following the red fox was a young female wolfess, carrying a smaller box in her arms. Her coat was a light soft beige, with darker brown along the outside of her body, making a standard two color pattern. She was wearing a light green shirt and blue jeans, and her long dark brown hear flowed down wards to just past her shoulders. She set her box down, then stepped close to the fox, taking his paw in hers as the two left the room and exited out into the hallway.
The second incomer was a light fennec vixen, hefting a pair of small boxes into the room. Her fur was light tan all over her body, save for her face. Starting above where her right eye should be, and descending all the way down to the nape of her neck was a thick black cast, concealing her flesh. She looked through only one eye, which was a bright, piercing blue. Half of her mouth was covered by the cast, giving her a very unnerving, strange look. As the others had done, she put her box down, then left and followed her friends.
Bringing up the rear was a tall, massive dragon male hefting a pair of large boxes. His scales were a deep, dark, midnight violet gray, with such an ominous sheen to them that they were almost black. His stature was so great that he had to stoop down as he entered the door, lest he hit the door frame above him. His long scaly tail trailed just above the ground behind him, swaying barely as he easily lowered the boxes to the ground. He then turned around and followed his companions out of the room, following close behind the fennec vixen.
After the four furs left the room, there was a stirring form one of the room's doors. The lights were out in the room, and peeking out of the crack in the door were two large luminous green eyes. They peered out into the room, taking in the site of the boxes, and a small hiss came from behind the door. Clawed hands gripped at the door frame, scratching a little as the eyes glared darkly.
"Hhhrr....Roommate..." came a dark, moody voice from behind the door. The claws scraped again at the door, before retreating with a soft thud as the door was closed. No more noises were heard in the room, and soon the incoming furs and their dragon companion returned with more boxes. This continued throughout the day, until all of the boxes were completely unpacked for the fox.
All the while, the strange creature behind the closed door was conniving sinister plans to reduce his new foxy roommate to a size where he could be easily stuffed inside one of those boxes he had brought in...Preferably the one labeled 'tea'...
When the Iguana Is Away, Everyone Else Sits Around
The four friends sat in the university dorm room, the male fox and female wolfess on a couch, the large dragon on the ground, and the fennec vixen was seated at a comfortable easy chair, a smile across the half of her face that was visible. They were chatting amiably, each listening intently to the other, as good friends do.
"Well, Hale, this is a good place you found. I like it," the dragon remarked, nodding his head as he looked around the room.
"Thanks, Saszik. It really is one of the better dorms I've seen, and the room is nice enough," the male fox replied with a smile.
"Have you met your roommate yet, Hale?" asked the fennec, her voice a little gravely and grating.
"No, but I'm sure he'll be here soon enough," the male replied.
"Maybe he's in his room right now, Hale. Ever thought of that?" asked the wolfess with a chuckle. She leaned over onto the male's shoulder and nipped at his neck playfully. "Silly foxy."
"Well, maybe he's in there, but I'm not about to barge into my new roommates room and ask if he's in. If he was, he would have come out to meet us."
"You're assuming too much, Hale. Maybe he's just really shy," commented Saszik with a sly grin.
"Well then why don't you go bring him out to meet us then? After all, we're such a wonderfully fun group to be around," Hale said, with a smirk of his own.
"Aaah, that's low, Hale. C'mon, we're not that strange...Are we...?" asked the female wolfess, looking at her friends with her ears tilted down. They said nothing for a moment, only looking at her with looks of mock despondency. "Hey, don't be mean to me..." the wolfess whimpered.
Hale was the first to smile and laugh, reaching over to pet the female wolf's head. "Ah, cheer up, hun. We were only teasing, don't worry."
"Will you go and get your roommate now?" she asked with a small wag and a gentle purr in her voice.
Hale's ears twitched when he said that, and it was now his turn to nip at her own neck. "Silly wolfie," he said with a grin.
This Chapter Title Will Have To Do With Shadows And Iguanas!
Inside the darkened, dank room of the iguana with the irritated eyes, evil was afoot. Or rather, irritation and the feeling of unrest that always accompanied a new roommate moving into the dorm room. The iguana, who for this time shall remain nameless, lay in a small corner of his room that had been adorned with small assorted rocks and branches. What purpose this arrangement served was beyond anyone, but it is here that we find curiously reclusive reptile residing in the other room of Hale's apartment. His feet were bare, as was his chest, but he was thankfully wearing loose dark brown cargo pants.
Deep furrows marked the male's brow, his eyes closed in concentration. His hands, tipped with harsh claws, were clasped together as he sat with his legs crossed. A deep growl came from his throat, and deep breaths came in and out of his chest. After a few moments of contemplation, low, quiet murmurs could be heard from him.
"A roommate...A new roommate...And he brought his friends...Hnn..." the iguana growled, his hands clenching together.
There was a soft knock on the door after the reptile finished his dark soliloquy. "Excuse me? I'm your new roommate, Hale. My friends and I were wondering if you wanted to come out here and hang out with us."
The iguana's bright orange eyes burst open, glaring out at some infinitesimal spot far off on some distant horizon. A growl came from him, and his long tail swayed jerkily behind him. He slowly stood, the muscles of his legs rippling as they worked. He crossed the room from his strange little den to the door.
Slowly, it swung open, and a beam of light illuminated the iguana as he regarded his roommate with a curious expression...