A Fox’s Tale
By Joshua Fox
Susan Felin, Debbye Squirrel, Cindy Lapine, Clarence Skunk, Chris Foxx, Rodney Lapine and Wanda the Vixen are copyright Chris Yost. Zig Zag and Max the Black Rabbit are copyright Max Black Rabbit. Sabrina Mustelidae, Tammy Vixen, Sheila Vixen, Tor the Dog and Amy Squirrel are copyright Eric W. Schwartz. Lillian Batholomew, James Sheppard, Rhonda Badger and Tamara Rabbit are copyright James Bruner. Marvin Badger is copyright James Bruner after a description by Chris Yost. Robert Fale, John Anderson, Veronica Salese, Melanie Turres, Joshua Fox, Jim Leard, Ralph Dix, Shawna Coon, Kris Coon, Wilde Cat, Aaron Cole, Victoria Maine and Tara Nadine are copyright Joshua Fox. Blue Wolfe, Kyrin Cat, Metal-Head and Kittiara Seng are copyright themselves. Tyler Leone is copyright Mike Mullig. Thomas Woolfe is copyright Mike Higgs. Rava Purr is copyright her player.
Legal Notice: This story is copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by Joshua Fox. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums.
Permission to use characters that are copyright other individuals was obtained prior to the appearance of said characters.
This is an independent work of fiction with no connection whatsoever to any other stories or works by anyone else and does not imply any connection to the above-named sources. As far as these sources are concerned, this story doesn’t exist. They disavow any knowledge and do not officially sanction the events in this story.
Chapter 15 – Hatchi Matchi!
Oooh man, that was one heck of a workout. Josh thought as he entered the apartment, dropping his gym bag and closing the door behind him with his foot.
And indeed it had been just that. His arms were sore, his shoulders tense and just about every muscle from his chest down had been so strenuously utilized that he was having a great deal of difficulty adjusting to normal speed. So he decided to bring himself down easy from his exercise high, jogging in place lightly at decreasing speed in an effort to suppress the tingly feeling in his legs. After a minute or two he had brought himself down enough to walk normally and, slightly winded, padded across the floor and into his bedroom. Sighing with relief, he quickly stripped down to his shorts and tossed the sweat-stained clothes onto the bed before turning back out into the living room. Thinking of the relaxing sensation of hot water running over his body, he made towards the bathroom door and opened it.
"Why hello there," Said the ample-bosomed vixen that he found on the other side. "Coming in to join me?"
"Sheila? What are you doing here?" Josh asked with raised brows and smirked lips, seeming pleasantly surprised at the discovery. "You said you wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow."
"Well, I thought it would be nice to surprise you, Foxy," Sheila purred pleasedly as she looked him over, strolling slowly over to him and making a little circle on his big, burly chest with her index finger. "Seems I picked just the right time, wouldn’t you say?"
"I don’t have to. You just did," Josh replied smugly as he moved to the side, allowing Sheila to saunter sexily past him and into the living room.
"You’ve got me there, Foxy," Sheila conceded with a smirk as she halted her step just long enough to look back over her shoulder at him, giving a sensual swish of her tail. "And maybe here, too."
Josh just grinned as he watched her advance across the floor and past the couch, her hips moving side-to-side in that familiar vixen walk until she stopped just feet in front of the stereo, curling her index finger to beckon him over. Not that such action was really necessary; she was fetching enough in that short silk bathrobe she wore that it did all the beckoning for her. Quickly yet coolly he answered her call, soon closely positioned behind the voluptuous vixen as she leaned forward to place a CD in the player’s tray.
"I think a little music would be nice," Sheila announced stirringly as she hit the Play button, her tail raising itself up slowly behind her as she looked back out of the corner of her eye. "Don’t you think it’s nice, Foxy?"
"Oh, I think it’s very nice," Josh replied absently, his eyes much more occupied than his ears at the current moment.
"Good," Sheila observed just before turning around and gently pushing the buff fox back onto the couch, catching him by surprise and causing him to land back into the cushion with an ‘umpf’. "Then you’ll love this."
It was at that point that the music really kicked into tune, the delightful rhythms and fluid melody filling the room as the shapely femme stood before him, her teeth playfully closed around her knuckle as her eyes roamed over his body. It didn’t take long for her to begin moving to the beat of the erotic euphony and soon her paws were at her waist, slowly undoing the dainty silken cord that just barely held the thin and fluttery garment to her shapely form. Josh looked on with increasing pleasure as his eyes were previed to some of the most delightful curves and contours any male could treat their optical lobes to. With deliciously thick anticipation the robe glided down over her fur almost fluidly, finally gliding down past her hips and finding its way to the floor around her ankles. His line of sight traveling back up from where he had followed the garment, feasting upon the image that he now beheld before him. There stood Sheila, clad in what simply had to be the skimpiest of all negligees as the transparent fabric showcased nearly all there was to be seen. His male instincts aroused, Josh couldn’t help but allow a low and pleasant growl to emanate from the depths of his throat, naturally increasing in volume as she stepped forward and laid her paws on his powerful shoulders.
"So, think you can have me here, Foxy?" Sheila grinned sultrily as she straddled the muscled male’s lap and leaned against him, crossing her wrists behind his neck as she touched her nose to his.
"Oh, you better believe it," Josh answered with utmost confidence as he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply, instantly immersing the two in much-anticipated ecstasy.
Shiela immediately melted into his strong arms and lost herself in him, her tongue gently flicking against his as her fingers ran through the fur on his back. When the kiss broke, she panted and shivered as Josh’s lips now wandered over her chin and throat, descending further as shivers of pleasure coursed through her body.
"Oh, yes! Foxy, oh yes," Sheila gasped sharply as she hugged his head to her chest. "Oh, I’ve waited so long…"
"MMMPH! MMMFMPH!!! MMMFMMFMMPGHRTH!"
Suddenly Sheila’s eyes flew open as she felt the head in her arms struggling to remove itself from her chest. Looking down she saw that it most certainly was not Foxy that she held, but rather a German shepherd with whom she was most definitely unfamiliar. Without hesitation she pushed him back into the seat next to her, where the young canine spent several minutes panting and wheezing to catch his breath. After a moment or so his lungs were once more bringing air into his body, allowing him to turn to the surprised vixen.
"Phew! Oh, geez, sorry about that. That really must have been one heck of a dream you were having. I didn’t expect you to reach out and grab me like tha-,"
*SMACK!*
"PERVERT!" Sheila yelled after striking the poor canine across the cheek, her other arm covering her top, particularly the low cut neck line that was common in most of her wardrobe.
The shepherd held his cheek for a few moments with his teeth very slightly clenched against his lip, not moving a muscle. After an uncomfortable pause he got up and took a magazine from the seat pocket in front of him, trying to cover an embarrassing curve of his own.
"I… think I’ll just use the rest room. Excuse me," The moderately blushing male meekly pardoned himself as he hastily made for the back of the plane.
Stepping awkwardly past a cadre of curious furs who had heard the commotion, he made his way past ten rows of filled seats and ducked into the head. Breathing out in one hard puff, he turned on the faucet and began splashing cool water upon his face, paying special attention to the part that was now most decidedly sore.
"Owww…" He winced sharply as he pressed his fingers against it, rather impressed by the vixen’s capacity for dishing out damage. "Geez, that almost makes it not worth it."
But then he paused. After only a brief moment of thought, he grinned.
"Nope, nope. Definitely worth it."
###
Hmmph! The nerve of that guy! Sheila pouted and silently fumed with her arms crossed and her back pressed firmly into her seat. It was such a nice dream, too.
She sighed and turned to look out the tiny window to her left, looking down through the clouds to the distant ground below. Feeling a bit anxious during a long flight was normal for her, but this particular trip had her feeling as impatient as they come. True, she had deliberately lied to Foxy when he left that message on his answering machine, but she figured surprising him a day early would be a nice treat… as her vivid fantasies seemed to emphasize.
Besides, she thought, if Tammy hasn’t really gotten the chance to talk to him about some of the more fun ideas I had, maybe this will give her the icebreaker she needs.
After a moment her brow wrinkled a bit as she pondered. She remembered Tammy mentioning that Josh had just started going out with someone from a local college. A feline… a lioness, perhaps.
Well it doesn’t really matter. Tammy said they’d only had one date. Somehow I don’t think they’re going steady just yet. Sheila mused as her arms began to loosen slowly. A small, satisfied smirk not unlike that one she’d had while in dreamland crossing her muzzle. If she’s of the more adventurous type, maybe she’d even consider joining in.
She couldn’t help but giggle a bit at that prospect, but after a light-hearted sigh she continued her quiet revelry of staring out the window, musing of things that brought various sizes of smiles to her face.
Just hold on, Foxy. I’ll be there soon.
###
Dammit, Josh, where the Hell are you?
Tammy sighed as she paced back and forth across the living room floor, going from one length of the kitchen counter to the other before turning around and repeating the process all over again. With her sweater-jacket adorning her shoulders and her purse on her arm, she was obviously ready for an appointment of some kind. And as it were, she did have such an appointment today. She had arranged to meet Eric at five-thirty so he could drive them to the restaurant, and as she was still in Josh’s apartment as the clock showed five-twenty, it was understandable that she was losing patience. In truth she would have left a good while ago had it not been for the message that Sheila had left a few hours before. After finding that Josh’s cordless phone had been left off the hook too long, Tammy had decided to wait for him to get home to make sure he didn’t stumble across the message without her being there. But she had set up this meeting with her old boss weeks ago, and time was getting tight.
I can’t just blow Eric off. We’ve been looking forward to seeing each other. Tammy bit her lip as she paced ever more anxiously, keeping an eye on the nearest clock and watching the seconds tick by.
Another minute passed and Josh still had not returned. If she waited any longer, she would no doubt be late.
That’s it, I’ve got to get going. Tammy decided with a sigh as she made a beeline for the door, locking it behind her. She carefully placed the emergency key in the ‘special’ hiding place where it had been before she arrived.
Josh hardly checks his messages anyway. Besides, Sheila’s not getting here until tomorrow. Tammy rationalized as she made her way down to the street, walking briskly as not to waste anymore time. I’ll make sure to give him fair warning when I see him tonight.
###
"Oh, I just can’t wait to see him tonight," Susan proclaimed gleefully as she delved her paws into one of several shopping bags hanging from her desk chair. Carefully taking out a dress she had bought on her previous shopping excursion, she held it against her and turned to face the judges. "What do you think? Be honest!"
"Wow, that is really nice, Suse," Debbye replied breathlessly as she ran her fingertips over the smooth fabric of the oriental style dress. "These designs look great!"
"Yeah, they do," Cindy nodded in approval, admiring in a fashion similar to Debbye’s. "Why’d you choose this style dress? I’ve never seen you buy one like this before."
"Well, I just thought it’d be appropriate considering where we’re going," Susan pleasantly explained as she held the elegant garment. "We’re going out to that neat Chinese place after the movie and I just couldn’t resist when I saw this on the mannequin. It even came with these cute chopsticks for my headfur!"
"Good deal," Debbye confirmed as she took a step back, giving Cindy a chance to closer inspect the article of clothing.
"Still, the skirt part seems a little long for you. Are you going to try and get it adjusted or…" Cindy paused and grinned as her paw came across one of the dress’s more attractive features, more or less answering her own query. "Ah, I see."
"What? I think it makes the outfit," Susan said as she ran her digits along the long, well-cut slit that ran up the side of the skirt straight up to the hip. "Besides, there’s nothing wrong with showing off a little leg."
"I’ll certainly agree with you there, Suse," Cindy claimed as she peered past the lioness, looking over a couple of the smaller bags that were as yet unopened. "I don’t suppose you got a matching purse, by any chance."
Susan kept silent but smiled broadly as she returned to the bag-covered chair, emptying the contents of one and spinning around to show off the dainty purse she held in her paws.
"You didn’t!" Debbye gasped in delight as she cupped her paws over her mouth.
"I did!" Susan grinned and glibly replied as she held it out for her friends’ perusal.
"That is just too adorable!" Debbye continued as she mentally matched up the various pieces of the outfit inside her head, trying to get a good idea of how it would look on Susan.
Susan’s expression remained stable and pleased as she now brought the tiny bag to her chest, her claw tip running carefully along the designs that dotted it’s surface. "I know the color’s not a perfect match, but it’s close enough to compliment the dress, don’t you think?"
Now from the very moment Susan had brought out the purse, Cindy had wanted to ask something. And believe me, her expression showed it. Since then she had been holding her tongue out of courtesy, but it was no use. She simply had to ask.
"Suse, you didn’t happen to pick up matching lingerie by any chance, did you?" Cindy asked flat out, her arms crossed as she patiently awaited the answer.
"Oh ‘ha ha’, Cin," Debbye kiddingly scolded as she turned back towards Susan, readily expecting a similarly natured rebuff.
But instead Susan said nothing. Her paws now clasped behind her back; her smile only took on a clear look of mischief and stayed as such as she began to walk toward the bags once more.
"Suse! You didn’t!" Debbye’s paws now clasped around her muzzle once more, though this time more noticeably that of shock than pleasant surprise.
"Of course I didn’t!" Susan let out just before submitting to the urge to laugh, chuckling most pleasedly at the squirrel’s reaction to her little ruse. "Not that I didn’t stop to look, mind you. There just wasn’t anything that really fit the outfit."
"Just as well," Cindy commented through pursed lips as she sat down on the edge of Susan’s plush bed. "I doubt he really would’ve appreciated it anyway."
"What do you mean?" Susan asked as she tilted her head slightly to one side, setting the purse down on the bed next to the wily rabbit.
"Don’t mind her," Debbye rolled her eyes and smirked as she folded the dress over her arm. "For some reason she’s convinced Josh is gay."
"Oh really?" Susan scoffed as she placed her paws to her hips; attention now set firmly on her friend.
"Come on," Cindy implored jokingly as she leaned back a bit into a pillow. "From what you told us and what we’ve seen he’s polite, fairly neat, built, funny, decently good-looking, great in a conversation and shows no discernable outward signs of having an oversized ego. Like I said: gay!"
"Well he certainly didn’t seem gay to me," Susan let her tongue show between her teeth and fluttered her eyelashes as her thoughts turned to the last date she had shared with the large vulpine.
"As I recall you didn’t even get a goodnight kiss," Cindy kept on doggedly, which is quite a feat for a bunny.
"Now that’s where you’re wrong. That sweety gave me a wonderful goodnight kiss," Susan corrected as she held out her paw, palm down and limp-wristed. "Right here."
"No way does that count!" Cindy insisted vocally, sitting herself upright now.
"Hmph. It doesn’t matter," Susan deemed defiantly with a twitch of her nose. "Tonight I fully expect to get a kiss that’ll leave no room for doubts."
"We’ll see," Cindy nodded in agreement as she stood now, stretching out her shoulders as her digits interlaced behind her back.
"If you two are done," Debbye ventured amusedly as she held the chopsticks up in each paw. "Want to get started getting your hair ready?"
"Sounds good to me," Susan replied happily, starting her way off towards the bathroom just before the phone rang. "Oops, hold on. Let me just get this."
"We’ll be waiting!" Debbye reassured her as she and Cindy ambled into the bathroom, immediately setting about the usual Clique preparation for a hairstyle change.
"Hello?" Susan’s voice practically resounded as she picked up the receiver, an amusing side effect to her giddiness.
"Hey, little sister!" Came a burly voice from the other end of the line.
"Hey, big brother," She replied in a playfully mocking tone. "What’s up?"
"What, can’t I check up on my favorite sibling every once in a while?" He chucklingly replied, phone pressed firmly against his cheek.
"Considering almost every time you do someone I am or was dating ends up getting scared out of their wits, no," Susan put it in a blunt but loving fashion. "Now once again, Jay, what’s up?"
"Nothing gets past you, Sis," Her brother commented with a smirk before answering. "Dad just wanted me to remind you about dinner tomorrow night. Mom’s making those great shells and everything!"
"Ooh, I love those!" Susan proclaimed gleefully as she twisted the phone chord around her finger. "She hasn’t made them since my birthday."
"Yeah, looks like you lucked out," Jay commented from his stationary position, cradling the receiver under his chin. "So how’ve you been doing?"
"Great, but do you mind if I tell you tomorrow night?" Susan quickly added the last part when she saw her two friends looking out at her anxiously from the bathroom. "Deb and Cindy are going to do my hair and they’re starting to look impatient."
"You got a date tonight?" Jay’s ears perked as he put two and two together, his interest suddenly piqued.
"Yes, Jay, I have a date tonight," Susan sighed as she leaned back against the wall, knowing full well what was to come next.
"Well you just be careful. And if the guy turns out to be a creep, just tell me who he is," Jay said in a tone practically oozing with perceived machismo, one that his sister had heard many times before. "I’ll straighten him out."
"You know, I really don’t think you could for this guy," Susan just barely staved off a giggle as she mentally compared the two males physically. "He’s a tough one."
"Why ya’ say that?" Jay replied with a slightly surprised tone, this being the first time he had heard such doubts voiced.
"Well you should see him. He’s actually really big for a fox," Susan grinned evilly for a moment as her mind briefly delved into the gutter.
"Aw, c'mon. All the foxes I know are scrawny, short nerds who can’t pry their eyes away from a Playfur long enough to throw a punch," Jay outright scoffed as a couple nondescript acquaintances ran through his mind. "How bad could he be?"
"For now you’ll just have to take my word for it," Susan stated simply with a wry twist to her smile. "But I really have to get moving. I don’t want to be late."
"Alright, alright, I’ll let you go," Her older sibling graciously conceded with a chuckle. "See you tomorrow."
"See ya’," Susan spoke as she ended the call, immediately padding into the bathroom where her Clique sisters were poised and ready to begin.
###
Oooh man, that was one heck of a workout. Josh thought as he entered the apartment, dropping his gym bag as he closed the door behind him with his foot.
Immediately afterward he paused, though, his brow furrowing as he remained stationary.
Huh. Weird. Feels like déjà vu. Josh thought before shrugging it off and locking the door, clicking his tongue a few times as he then ambled over to the telephone table. Let’s see if there’s any messages for me.
Ooh, two new ones. I’m getting popular. Josh mused as his finger moved towards the answering machine’s Play button.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Josh looked up and towards the cradle as he heard the phone chime in from the charger.
Wow, that’s convenient timing. Josh chuckled as he reached over onto the counter, grabbing the cordless and hitting the Talk button.
"Yello yello," Josh said as he held the receiver to his ear, awaiting response from the other line.
"Hey, Big Guy," Rob greeted him as he held his new phone between the shoulder and ear, trying to keep both paws free for typing as he sat at his work station. "Called earlier, you just get home?"
"Yeah, actually I just walked in the door," Josh confirmed for his friend as he leaned back on the counter, his elbow supporting him. "What’s your query?"
"Nothing really. Just wanted to know if you needed any help getting ready for the big number two tonight," Rob said plainly, his fingertips moving nimbly over the keyboard.
"Big number two?" Josh looked puzzled as he repeated back a fragment of his friend’s statement.
"Y’know, ‘Big number Two’. Your second date," Rob explained as he tilted sharply to the left, the phone almost dropping to the floor before he re-gripped it with his shoulder.
"Oh, that. Got the wrong day, Buddy," Josh corrected him with a nod. "I’m seeing Susan tomorrow night."
"Uh… no," Rob finally said after a short pause. "I’m pretty sure you said it was tonight."
"Nah, we set it for Saturday night, remember?" Josh enforced his claim, now standing up straight. "We wanted to go see that new Disney flick."
"… Josh, it is Saturday night," Rob shot back after another brief pause, starting to get the impression his friend was in dire need of a calendar.
"See? Glad you remembered I was right," Josh grinned as he walked over to the fridge, poking his nose in to search for a soda.
"No no no. It is currently Saturday night… like, right now," Rob tried explaining more pointedly, his tone a bit more flat.
"Can’t be, I always get up early on Saturdays," Josh doubted aloud, now ponderously rubbing the small tuft of fur underneath his chin.
"Oh yeah, I forgot the properties of time and space were controlled by your sleep schedule," Rob stated sarcastically. "Seriously, Dude, think for a minute. Check a calendar, do something. This is Saturday."
Josh groaned as he stopped to think, quickly realizing that what his friend was indeed speaking of truth.
"Oh, man! I can’t believe I forgot what freaking day it was!" Josh winced at just how stupid it was.
"Come on, don’t sweat it," Rob tried to reassure him from the other line. "I’ve read that sort of thing’s actually pretty common in folks who regiment their lives like you do."
"Still I… wait! Crap what time is it? Am I late?" Josh suddenly freaked, all of a sudden barraged by a whole flurry of concerns.
"Whoa there, partner," Rob said abruptly, trying to get the vulpine’s attention. "Take a pill and chill, alright? Just calm the heck down and go over everything. Now it’s 6:08. What time are you picking her up?"
"Ahhh… seven. We’re going to the 7:10 showing," Josh remembered out loud once he made himself calm down.
"See? You’re good. Her place is only fifteen minutes away," Rob sanguinely stated, opening up his Word program and typing a few lines. "You can get ready in half an hour easy. Where you taking her afterwards?"
"That Szechuan Palace place over on fifth," Josh continued as he quickly jogged over into the bathroom, pulling his shirt off over his head as he began to strip. "Said she had a friend who could get us a good table."
"Oh, yeah. That place that serves the fortune cookies before the meal?" Rob nodded as the ‘tap-tap-tapping’ of his nimble digits continued.
"That’s the one," Josh sounded a bit rushed as he kicked off his shorts, drawing open the shower curtains. "Sorry but I need to get going, man. I don’t have much time and I smell like a sweat sock."
"Thanks for the info, really," Rob replied half-kiddingly, his fingers now stilled as he reached and clasped the phone from his shoulder. "Just lemme know how it goes, ok?"
"Sure thing. Bye," Josh immediately hung up the phone and put it on the sink before jumping into the shower, intent on taking a quick one before going to pick up the lovely lioness.
###
Rob whistled as he punched Blue’s number into the phone pad, a most devious and self-satisfied grin on his muzzle as he heard his wolf friend pick up.
"Szechuan Palace, around eight-thirty. Hope you got your disguise ready."