For A Season

AN A LITTLE NOTHING /COONAVERSE CROSSOVER 

Legal Notice: This story is Copyright © 2007 by Tigermark. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any way, shape, form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums or any other mediums yet to be discovered. Characters are not to be used without obtaining author’s permission. This story is a fan fiction of Joe Martelle’s Open Season, and Chuck Percy’s Change of Season, and every attempt is made for it, with the authors’ permission, to be canon to those stories and the Coonaverse. 

Rick Coona, Kelso (Kel) Amanda Vixxen Ujinkhan, Max Badger, Kath Badger, Kacy Kelso Coona, Richard Randolph Coona, Gwen Smith (Harcort-Smythe) Coona, Jo-Ann Procyon, Dr. Charles Procyon, and Mike Ferretti are Copyright Joe Martelle. 

Kassir Ujinkhan, Lynne Smyth, Richard Kassir Charles Procyon and Kelso Gwenwyfar Procyon  © Chuck Percy 

Tigermark M’Rega © his player. Tammy Lynx (TL), Rachel, and Brianna M’Rega © Tigermark. Aslaug Larsdater and Aramis Dagaz © their players. Joe Latrans © Silver Coyote. Tani the kitsuné angel, The Amigos, and the Scruffy Squad © the ALN writing team. 

All other characters not credited here were created for this story and are © Tigermark 

Any resemblance to persons furry, non furry living, dead or undead is purely coincidental.

Chapter 3 

The Game’s Afoot

Arlo Rexonis looked over the assembled furs. They had gathered early that morning at his request. He shook his head a bit sadly at how depleted their numbers were, compared to a couple of years earlier. Only twelve were left. Most he knew by their longtime association with the Brethren. Since the lawsuit, no new members had joined them. In a way, Arlo thought that was for the best. Anyone new would be suspected as a possible attempt by some law enforcement agency to infiltrate them. After all the publicity of the arrests of some of their members, and the lawsuit that had done the group’s finances in, Arlo had become very cautious about allowing just anyone to join the Brethren. When he’d followed the scroll’s instructions and had the little hybrid child abducted and prepared for the sacrifice, he’d realized there could be no new members brought in unless the Brethren became the ruling power in the world.

Now, with the angel working for them, that was going to happen. He had the plan, and all the instructions they needed. All it would take was the nerve to follow it. He had plenty of that. Now, to see if the other furs did too . . .

Shaking off his introspection, the lion began to address the group.

“My fellow Brethren, the angel Specaurious has stated that the sacrifice we made was very acceptable, and has secured his aid. Now the full might of God awaits only the prescribed sacrifice of tenfold to be ours.”

The group had been looking at him with rapt attention, but now they looked a bit unsure. They began to murmur restlessly amongst themselves for a few moments. Finally the boxer who’d assisted with the first sacrifice spoke up.

“Ah, Arlo, dat sounds all well an’ good, but how we gonna get ten o’ the little mixers? It took a lot o’ plannin’ an work ta get that one an’ prep it.”

Arlo smiled a benign smile. “By teamwork. The angel has given me the way. You will split up in teams of three. The angel has told me where to acquire a van for each team, each of a different color. You will each cruise an area, watching for a proper sacrifice to present itself. We will hold each acquisition at the warehouse we used before until we have all ten. Just hold them. We’ll prepare them all at once, when we have all ten, in the same way as we prepared the first one.”

“Ah, Arlo, what’re we supposed to do if we get spotted? The cops are really watchin’ now,” a different voice called out.

Arlo now lost his smile, and took on a stern look as he regarded the short pug everyone called Stogie. “Where is your courage? Are you not of pure blood? Besides, there is more of the plan. Each team will disperse to a more rural area outside of the city. Don’t spend any more than an hour or two in any location, because the locals will spot anything more than that. The time between acquisitions will be as short as possible, so the police won’t be able to recognize any pattern. By the time they do, we’ll have the power. Enough to insure we’ll never have to worry about the police again. And then, then we’ll get the offspring of the taint that has tried to bring us low. Now go. I’ll be in touch with each of you privately to match you up with your team and tell you where to get your van, and where and when to begin your hunt. Do not attempt to contact me or each other until then. Go on now, go about your normal day. Remember, God is with us, and so is the angel.”

The group all nodded as one, and then began to look around as though a bit dazed. Specaurious had told Arlo that might be the case, as he was now speaking with the authority and power the angel provided. The males milled about for a few minutes, and then made their way out the door. Arlo smiled to himself as he locked up and went to his car to go to work.

For his part, Specaurious had watched the proceedings with a bored eye whilst hovering unseen in the back corner of the room. Things were going as he planned, but this time of waiting always made him a bit cross. Still, the lion had done adequately at both explaining the plan and using the power the demon had channeled to him. Perhaps today he’d even get an idea who the agent was who’d come after him.

With that happy thought, Specaurious lifted and followed the lion along, thinking about more ways to stir up hate and anger.

Both lion and demon thought that it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day.

# # #

Tigermark was sitting cross-legged in the corner of the room. He’d been pretty much stationed there each of the past three nights, ever since the children returned home from the Badger’s and their grandfather’s. The room he was in was used as a nursery for the two sets of twins who shared both Rick Coona as their father and Casa Coona North as their home. The older pair’s mother was Gwen, and they were inquisitive and precocious eighteen month-olds.  Jo-Ann’s pair were only eight months, and babbled and chittered away to each other and the room in general as they cruised along the edge of tables and furniture and made their first attempts at walking.

Right then, although the dim glow of predawn had just begun to illuminate the windows, little Kacy Coona was edging her way across the room from her crib in an early-morning attempt to sneak up on the stoic guardian who’d invaded her room a few nights before. For his part, Tigermark was fully awake, as he had been since the raccoon-skunk kit had first stirred. Just as Kass did out of habit, though, he had made no outward sign that he was anything but sitting there sound asleep.

In her little mind, Kacy pondered this as she slowly made her step-by-step advance. Why did this funny grown-up sleep sitting up? He’d been that way when she’d awakened and her mother had come in the past few mornings. Plus, the funny stripy fur always had clothes on! She personally only ever wore a diaper when at home. Her parents had stressed to her about wearing, ugh, clothes when she was away from home. They’d explained that not all furs were as relaxed about not wearing them as her family was. This big fuzzy cat was like that. He always had something on. So she’d decided this morning to get up before she made enough noise to wake up everyone and sneak over and pounce on the fur and ask him why that was. The fact that the tiger had a large caliber pistol at his side, and a large knife on his belt, and a short sword strapped across his back was totally lost on the innocent and curious little femme. She got close enough, crouched down, gave a slight wiggle, and launched herself into the tiger’s chest.

Tigermark would have barely nudged from the impact, but he knew the young kit was just being playful and curious. He fell onto his back and opened his eyes in mock surprise. Kacy landed sitting atop his chest looking down at him.

“Oh my! I’ve been pounced! Whatever shall I do, I know I can’t escape the mighty Kacy!” Tigermark said in a woeful voice. Kacy just crossed her arms and gave him an imperious look.

“Uh huh, I got ya. Now ya got to answer my qwest’n.”

Tigermark arched an eyebrow. “Well, you didn’t have to pounce me to get that. I’ll answer it if I can. What would you like to know?”

“Alla grownups here don’t wear, ugh, clothes. Why do you, Mister Murrega?”

Tigermark paused only a second before answering. “Well, your parents, and the grownups here, are very special furs who are comfortable with each other and themselves, enough that they aren’t embarrassed or bothered by not wearing them, and it is more comfortable. I wear clothes because where I come from, it isn’t … polite to be without clothes around children, especially if they aren’t your own.”

“But why?” Kacy began in a tone that said the question why would be repeated until Tigermark either ran out of answers or ran out of patience. He was spared that as the door opened and Gwen Coona came into the room.

“Good morning …Tiger?” Gwen stifled a giggle at the predicament the tiger was in and put on a stern face. “Kacy, Mr. M’Rega can’t do his work with you sitting on him. Come on, let’s get you ready for breakfast”

The little kit bounced off TM’s chest and over to her mother, her arms up so she could be lifted into her mother’s arms. “But Momma, I was jus askin him somfin.”

Gwen looked at TM, who had regained his sitting position and now gave her a wink. “Kacy was curious about my odd proclivity to wear clothes all the time.”

Gwen’s stern look returned as she lifted her daughter, but as Kacy wrapped her neck in a hug and kissed her cheek, Gwen knew she’d never hold it. She settled for a mildly exasperated chuff.

“Kacy, we’ve talked about how some furs prefer to wear clothes, and some don’t. It’s Mr. M’Rega’s business.”

“It’s okay Gwen, she was just curious,” Tigermark commented as he stood and stretched a bit. Then he fixed a cool eye on the young kit. “But the next time you pounce me, beware the tickle monster that lurks about.”

TM’s paw shot out, so fast it made even Gwen give out an “eep!” The paw only tickled for a brief second, but the little kit dissolved in peals of laughter. Then Gwen wrinkled her nose a bit.

“Well, if you didn’t need a fresh diaper before, you do now. Let’s get you changed and your brother up, too.”

As Gwen headed to the changing table along the side of the room, the door opened again and Jo-Ann stepped in, blinking and yawning.

“G’morning, Tiger. Time to feed the little ones.”

Without further comment, the raccoon femme went to the crib that held her kits and retrieved one. Whichever one it was (Tigermark had trouble telling which was which) let out a sleepy squeak and began to protest. A few seconds later, silence returned as Jo-Ann plopped down in a recliner near the crib and began to feed whichever of her kits she’d picked up. Gwen was just finishing with Kacy, and her other kit Richard was up and ready for his turn on the table. Jo-Ann’s other kit was beginning to stir and show signs of waking, too. TM would’ve gone and picked that one up (he realized the tape on the diapers was color coded, and Jo-Ann held her son Ricky), but he was not equipped to give little Kelso what she would want when she was fully awake. Instead he gave a polite nod to both mothers and kits and walked out. He was feeling the need of the facilities, and breakfast. He would then retire to the room he’d been using and catch some sleep until Lynne arrived.

As Tigermark sat at the kitchen table working on the eggs and sausage he’d prepared for everyone’s breakfast, he thought over the past four days since his arrival. Lynne had been a very good guide, and he had a good handle on which neighborhoods in this world’s version of Seattle were the likely habitations of mixed-species marriages and hybrids. He was feeling a bit fuzzy-headed from the lack of sleep, and decided to forego anymore analysis until he’d had a chance to rest. He put his plate and utensils in the dishwasher and headed for his room.

It felt like he’d barely put his head down when he heard the doorbell ringing frantically. He was instantly awake and sitting up. He leapt out of bed and rushed to the door. Gwen was already there, and opened the door without hesitation. Tigermark was instantly in a combat crouch with his pistol in paw. The figure that charged in the door fell into Gwen’s arms and began sobbing. Tigermark relaxed and slipped his pistol back into its holding space.

“Well, quite an entrance, Lynne. What’s wrong?” he asked as Gwen helped her cousin into a chair. The skunkette was beginning to get herself under control and managed a shaky response.

“G-g-g’morning Tiger. I . . . I had the most terrible dream. I’m . . . afraid.”

“Afraid of what, Hon? Was it just a nightmare, or was it a vision?” Gwen asked as she soothingly rubbed Lynne’s back with a paw.

“T-that’s what I’m afraid of. I think it was a vision. I—I don’t know if it was happening now or it was a precog. Oh it was so terrible.”

Tigermark crouched down in front of Lynne and took hold of her paws. “It’s okay Lynne. I want to hear about it, but take the time to settle down. When you’re ready, you can tell us.”

Gwen let go and stood up. “A cup of coffee and maybe a little Switchel to replenish the energy the vision took should help. Meantime do some of your grounding exercises. I’ll be right back.”

“Ah-alright,” Lynne replied, still shaking a bit. She then sat up and took a deep breath. Tigermark could tell the skunkette was beginning her grounding routine, so he began to release her paws and let her concentrate. She gripped his paws harder instead.

“No, please stay with me Tiger. I could use the contact to help me ground my feelings.”

Tigermark was a bit taken aback, but after a second, he sat back down and simply held onto the femme’s paws. After several minutes, Gwen came back in with a cup of coffee and a glass of Switchel. She arched an eyebrow at the scene, but didn’t say anything. A moment longer and Lynne took another deep breath to finish her routine, and then opened her eyes. She was much calmer, and after a quick squeeze she released Tigermark’s paws. She had a slight blush as she spoke.

“Ah, thank you, Tiger. I needed the physical contact to help me stay grounded. I’m much better now. I’m ready to talk about it.”

Tigermark and Gwen sat down on either side of Lynne, and she told them about her vision.

“The vision began with a bunch of males together in a room of some kind. A big middle-aged lion was speaking to them, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. It was all garbled to me and the voice was strange, like it wasn’t really coming from him. Then the scene shifted. There was a van driving along a road. Then suddenly the side door opened and whoever was inside reached out and grabbed a child. It happened again and again, but each time the van was a different color. I was screaming each time for the little one to look out, to get away, but they didn’t hear me. Then it was like I was swimming in blood, and there was nothing around me but fire and hate. I was screaming as hard as I could, but it was like I wasn’t making a sound. Then the lion was there, but it was something else looking out of his eyes, and he was laughing, and then I woke up. I was soaking wet with sweat and tears, and my throat was raw. I’m surprised no one called the police, I must have been screaming up a storm in my sleep. Then again, I don’t have any close neighbors in my apartment building.”

Tigermark had to forcibly restrain himself from growling. Gwen’s ears were folded down and she was also looking like she was ready to tear something up. Lynne looked from one to the other and shuddered.

“I really don’t think I ever want to be on the receiving end of either of those looks. What more can I tell you that will help?”

“Did you recognize any of the locations the vans were driving in?” Tigermark asked as he focused his emotions into thinking through what she’d said.

“Uh, no, no I didn’t. They all seemed to be out away from town. Even when there were buildings around, they seemed to be in a small town instead of around Seattle. What does it mean?”

Tigermark took a deep breath and let it out, running a paw through his hair. “What you’ve seen, Lynne, is the next phase in the Demon’s plan for the Brethren. They will gather more children to sacrifice. Just like they did the little femme. We have to figure out where they’re going to strike. Jo-Ann can alert the police forces in the surrounding areas, and we can begin hunting for the would-be abductors. If we can disrupt their plan and put them out of action, it’ll make it much easier to deal with the demon and the leader.”

“Jo-Ann is already at work. I can give her a call and perhaps she can have a ‘hunch’ that can put the police in surrounding areas more on alert.” Gwen was looking thoughtful. Tigermark nodded his agreement.

“A very good idea, but I have a hunch of my own. It’ll be a day or two longer before they can get organized and start prowling. It does make a twisted kind of sense. The police in the metro Seattle area are on alert since someone has abducted and murdered a child. They’re watching over the younglings a lot closer. The rural areas outside of Seattle are harder to patrol, and the children range out a bit more. They probably think they’d be easier targets.”

Both Gwen and Lynne looked at the tiger, and then Lynne shuddered. “Tiger, that is twisted. It gives me a chill to even realize you could think like that.”

Tigermark shrugged. “Know thine enemy. I have dealt with this demon before, and his sick M. O. doesn’t seem to have changed. He is moving both faster and with more initial followers than the last time, but I’ve also learned to move faster than before. Please realize that while I might be able to follow his methods, there is no way I would ever use them. Good will not destroy good, just to win, but evil will destroy even its own brother to win.”

Both femmes nodded thoughtfully, and then Gwen stood up. “I have a call to make.”

“And I need to get some more sleep. Lynne, will you be okay to hang around until I get up? I want to go have a look around some of the outlying towns.”

“Oh, sure. I’ll give Gwen a paw with the kits. I’m doing a lot better now, thanks.”

Tigermark gave a quick nod and headed off to bed. Lynne sat for a moment longer, thinking how her life had changed since the first time her cousin had shown her true magic. Now she was having visions and assisting a Paladin who was about to square off against a demon. With a shrug she mumbled to herself, “If anyone had told me this two years ago, I’d have told them they needed a psychiatric evaluation.”

Then she got up to go get comfortable and then help her cousin.

# # #

“Detective Procyon,” Jo-Ann stated as she picked up the pawset. She was at her desk doing paperwork from the bust they’d made the day before. Fortunately, it had been uneventful as cocaine busts went. A raid on a residence had netted two kilos, five firearms, and three thugs off the streets, and no shots fired. So far, it’d been a boring day. There hadn’t even been any good leads yet on the murder cases the department had shown pictures of several days before.

“Jo-Ann, it’s Gwen.”

“Hi Gwen, uhm, something in your voice tells me this isn’t a social call. What’s up?”

“Listen close. I don’t want to spend a long time on it or your fellow officers might get suspicious of the hunch you’re about to have.”

“But I’m – Oh, I see. Go on.” Jo-Ann understood that Gwen was about to relay some information that it would be best if the rest of the world never knew the source of.

“Lynne just showed up scared and shaking like a leaf. Tigermark thinks maybe that what she dreamed is related to the little femme. Notify the outlying rural areas to step up their watch around the little ones. Watch for several males in a van. Could be any color. Phrase it however you want. Take care and I’ll see you tonight.”

“You got it, Gwen, I’ll be sure and pick some up. Later.” Jo-Ann replied as one of her fellow narcotics detectives walked up. She put down the phone and looked up at him questioningly.

“Hey Jo-Ann, have you got a copy of the evidence inventory sheet from yesterday? I need it to go with my report.”

“Sure, hang on a sec. By the way, any new scuttlebutt on those two murder cases they showed pictures of the other day?” Jo-Ann asked nonchalantly as she rummaged on her desk for the paper the detective had asked for.

“So far, the general thought is that the little femme was the victim of some sicko pedophile, but a couple of the Homicide guys have said that where and when she was snatched, it would have to be a very quick grab. That means a vehicle and maybe more than one perp. As to the other guy, everyone is baffled. The Coroner said it was like the body had decayed to the point it exploded inside out, but the other signs of decay said the body had only been dead for twelve hours or less. Weird, huh?” The detective shifted his weight to one leg and tilted his head to the side, his eyes now distant in thought.

“Yeah, really weird. Hmm, here’s the sheet. I’ve gotta go see the Captain. I just had a hunch. See ya later.” Jo-Ann stood and headed for the Captain’s office. Now she had a basis for the “hunch” she was about to relate. The Captain could forward the idea up and then the central headquarters could alert the police forces of the outlying communities that there could be predators prowling their towns and counties. For now, that was all she could do.

# # #

“So you think this stretch of road might be one of the places you saw?” Tigermark asked as he and Lynne lay on a grassy hilltop overlooking a loop in the county road a hundred yards below.

“Yes, I think it is. I seem to remember that the van came around a bend while the kid was out of sight of anywhere else.”

“Probably belongs to that house at the next bend.”

Lynne nodded. There was a telltale of chimney smoke rising from that direction.

Tigermark was wary. The police had been alerted to be on the lookout for unusual traffic, and he didn’t want Lynne and he to have to explain their presence on a hill overlooking a rural patch of lonely road. He decided it was time for them to get going. He rolled onto his side to get up.

“We’d better be going…”

And promptly collided with Lynne as she did the same from the opposite direction.

“Eep!” was all she managed before TM muffled her outcry with a paw over her muzzle. They had collided back to back but TM, fearing she was about to scream, used his larger momentum to flip himself over. They now lay with Lynne on her back and TM on top of her. Her eyes were wide with surprise. TM put a finger to his lips to let her know to be quiet. He removed his paw and she let out a silent gasp. Then she looked up into his intense green eyes, and felt a blush rise to her cheekfur. 

Before she could say anything, TM was up and pulling her to her feet. He tugged her by the paw and led her quickly through the trees and down the hill. As they got to the level ground near the road, he suddenly pulled her around and into a close embrace. He had one arm around her, with a paw gently stroking her tail, and the other gently caressing her now furiously blushing cheek. He smiled down at her, and moved in close, putting his muzzle next to hers. She could almost feel his sharp teeth as he quietly whispered.

“Don’t be alarmed. There’s a Sheriff’s Patrol cruiser going slowly by and checking out your car. Okay, he sees us. Aaand, there he goes. We don’t fit the description, and he has more important things to do than be bothered with two lovers sharing a kiss along a wooded lane. Are you alright?”

Tigermark released his hold on the skunk. She was still blushing intensely, and her breathing was more rapid than she wanted, but she managed to stammer an answer.

“Y-yeah, never better.”

TM turned toward the car, satisfied that the deception had worked on the police. Lynne got in and they drove back toward Seattle. TM was planning the next day’s stakeout. Lynne wasn’t quite sure what she was doing, other than driving.

# # #

Tigermark relaxed out of his combat stance. He’d been in his room working out since dinner, not wanting to be a hindrance to the Coona household’s normal routine. He’d also been puzzling over the day’s events. Lynne and he had gone out scouting, and had actually managed to identify one of the locations in her vision. When they’d come home, Lynne had excused herself, claiming she had chores to do. While helping get the dinner dishes taken care of, Gwen had sidled past and made a comment that had him puzzled.

“Hey Tiger, I hear you’re getting a line on the Brethren’s targets. Good, you go get ‘em. Just don’t let Lynne get hurt. From the outside or inside.”

By the time TM could put together a response, she’d already gone out of the room. He’d been puzzling over that cryptic line ever since. Of course he wouldn’t let Lynne get hurt! He’d already told the clan that.

He was about to get dressed and ready for his nightly vigil in the kits’ nursery when a giggle from the corner of the room startled him. He was halfway through changing from his workout clothes into his black ops gear and was only clad in boxers at the moment. He shook his head and sighed.

“Tani, you could knock before barging in like that, you know.”

The three-tailed kitsuné merely pulled a pout from her position on the corner of the bed. “Grumpy tiger. And you haven’t even noticed. Do I have to have black and white fur to get your attention?”

Tigermark looked again, and then quickly looked away as he realized the vixen was naked, covered strategically by her three tails. “Tani! I don’t think the Boss, or TL, would approve of you popping in on a married male sans clothing.”

“Oh, just getting into the spirit of the place. Besides, you don’t seem to mind when that skunkette is around sans clothing. I doubt TL would approve of that, or of you leading the poor femme on, either.” Tani replied sharply.

“Who? Gwen? It’s their house and their rules. She’s very beautiful, but I haven’t been leading her anywhere.” TM was more puzzled than upset.

“Geez, for a team leader and an old paw at this, you can be so dense sometimes. Not her, the other skunk gal.” Tani’s eyes now held mischief, which was normal for her.

“Lynne? You’ve got to be kidding. She’s so young, and she’s doing a very brave job of being my guide, but that’s all there is to it. We work closely together, so we’ve been spending a lot of time together. Why today we had to play-act a bit to keep the police from looking too close, but that was … all …an…oh no.” Tigermark now looked very concerned. “You don’t really think she took that seriously, do you? No way!”

Tani looked at the tiger seriously for a change. “You really don’t get it, do you? She’s developing a very hard crush on you, ol’ tiger. You’ve come in like a knight in shining armor, and brought her into the biggest adventure she’s ever had. You’re kind and gentle, mostly. Wise and confident. You say you’re not out after sex or a relationship, but then you sweep her into your arms, or hold her paws while she’s scared. What are you going to do when you leave, TM? Take her back to TL and say ‘Oh, I picked her up on the job. She can be your number two?’ I’d dearly love to see that!”

“Of course not! Lynne is of this world, and unless the Boss says so, on this plane she’ll remain. Great, now I have to keep watch on the kits and think about this all night. Thanks a lot, Tani.”

The kitsuné vixen smiled rather sweetly and then slowly disappeared, leaving her tails and her smile to fade out last of all.

“Wrong reference. This should be Sherlock Bones, not Alice in Blunderland,” TM muttered as he went back to getting dressed.

End of Chapter 3.

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