FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hey everyone, a shorter tale than the norm for me, by only a few hundred words but still, I hope you will enjoy it. Comments and votes and the like are always appreciated, and I wish you all the best.

Put Out The Fire

Leon woke with a gasp, his head turning around as he panted in fear, a sigh of relief leaving him soon after. Just another nightmare. The fire from the camp still showed and his eyes glowed with the flame. "Must have passed out at the fire..." he mumbled to no one, stretching as he scratched his stomach.

The lean fox slowly rose, looking around the campsite but finding no one, a puzzled look on his muzzle as he did. He shook it off, they were probably sleeping. "Better go to the bathroom before bed..." he mumbled again, a yawn leaving him as he slowly walked through the dark camp site, making sure to keep an eye out for anyone.

Padding along the dirt path, a strange detail reached his ears, but he shook it off, continuing to walk. Must just be tired. The faint glow of the small building holding the bathrooms came into view as he continued moving. Maybe Stacey was in there? He chuckled to himself, maybe some old TP fights like when they were kids would be in store then! But, she was probably sleeping knowing her. She always liked her rest.

Seemed like only yesterday they were both together. But, many more years than that was under both their belts. He planned to ask her hand, a lot sooner if he had his way, but with the loss of his job, he didn't really have the cash to give the ring she deserved. He had his eye on one ever since last year when he went. He even worked in a deal with Lucy, the clerk that worked there. They would keep the ring on hold for him until he got it. He couldn't believe she agreed, but he certainly was not going to argue.

The door swung open as a grizzled fox with some grey in his fur stepped out, Leon smiling. "Hey Dad, everyone else sleeping?" he looked to the fox, the man looking around confused before walking on, the crunch while he walked away. "Senior moment perhaps?" Leon chuckled, entering the bathrooms before finding the nearest urinal, relieving himself before going to the sinks, turning the faucet. To his puzzled look, he didn't see any water flowing. "Must be busted...meh, doesn't matter..." he mumbled before leaving.

Leaving the bathroom, he saw a little bulletin board lit up, turning his head towards it. Leon quickly scanned through some of the articles, seeing a rather grim one in the middle. A fox dead from a car accident. Same age as him too? "Harsh..." he breathed, moving down to the camp site again after it, seeing the fire still going as he reached the white trailer they always used for these trips.

He wondered what got into his dad. Maybe he and mom were fighting? Maybe he was just tired? Leon shook his head, continuing his walk. His paws felt cold in the night of the campsite, quickly shuffling them into his pockets. Finding the fire still lit at the trailer, he moved quickly to try to get warm.

Tilting his head, he saw the peak of snow white lapine ears in the chair he was sitting in. Stacey! Leon hastened his pace, a smile on his muzzle as he spoke out. "Stacey! Over here!" he waved his paw, panting as he bent over beside Stacey. "Hey, why up so late?" he looked to her, smiling still.

She was wearing his sweater! "Little thief..." he chuckled to her, smiling still as he knelt down beside her. Her blue jeans gracing her other half as he looked over her. He was such a lucky man, to have such an amazing woman. Such a sweetheart, loved games (just like him) an amazing sense of humour, all of it. So great.

Though, his smile soon faded seeing the look on her muzzle. She was crying, or at least she had been. The white fur of her cheeks were damp and pressed down, a sniffle coming out of Stacey as if to confirm his worries. "Hun?" he asked, his ears already drooping as he placed a paw on her leg.

She gasped at the touch, rubbing her leg and looking around, causing Leon to look puzzled. "Hun, I am right here. What's wrong?" He asked her, reaching and cupping her muzzle which she twitched away from just the same. Though, slowly she stopped moving, accepting his touches but still not looking to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, genuine concern gracing his features as his mate fidgeted in the lawn chair she was sitting in, reaching for her pocket. A slight whine escaping her as she pulled out a picture, looking down to it, the whimpers growing as she did.

Curiousity got the best of Leon, going over and looking to the picture, tilting his head to see. It was a picture of the two of them, specifically when they went to prom together. That was a fun night for sure, so much dancing and smiles. Good memories...great ones really. But, why was she looking at it? "Hun, I am right behind you! Don't have to look at the picture silly..." he chuckled, waving his paws in front of her face...not seeing her even flinch. "Hey..." he muttered.

"Leo..." Stacey exhaled sadly...her nickname for him. "God...Leo..." she brushed her paw over the picture, specifically over him as she continued to whimper. "Why did he have to hit you?" He contorted his muzzle in confusion.

"Stace...I am right here..." he said, waving his paws over her face again, still...no reaction. "Hey!" he yelled, not caring anymore if he would wake anyone. "STACEY!" he yelped, trying to grab hold of her shoulders, but realizing, he couldn't get a proper grip. "What..?"

His mind race, trying to understand, before he gasped. The news letter on the board...

22 Year Old Vulpine Killed in Automotive Collision, one Leon Stryker...

"No...no no no..." he repeated like a mantra, pacing back and forth briskly as he turned, kneeling before his girlfriend...his former love...one he would never be able to hold again. "Baby...baby please..." he whimpered, crying as he tried his best to hold her to no avail.

"God I miss you Leo..." she cried gently, holding her head in her paws. Leon's heart broke in his chest, seeing his love so sad, unable to do anything at all. He whimpered up to her, trying his best to hold himself up. "I miss you too baby..." he replied, knowing she couldn't hear him and simply not caring.

"Know that...I love you babe...I always will, and I pray one day...somehow..." he was cut off by the trailer door opening, his father poking himself out and looking to Stacey, a sigh leaving him. "C'mon kiddo, getting late." He told her, walking back into the trailer. "Put out the fire before you come in..."

She nodded at him, getting up and wiping her muzzle softly, getting the bucket of water beside the trailer and looking to the flames. "Love you Leo..." she said to herself, before splashing the flames with the liquid, a hiss filling the cool evening air.

"Stacey..." he reached out, finding his arm blowing like petals in the wind, the rest of his body joining in as he was swept into the night breeze. He would not join his love again tonight, but he knew, he would wait however long it may take to get back to her.

Link to song inspiring this tale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z42t114KMXc

Thank you for reading, best wishes - TCF