[Vfw-times] MK - Winter assault part 5a

[COkane8116 at aol.com]

 Here is part 5a where you see how good a party the fox can throw! And don't 
forget the bean dip! 

*** 

12/24 - 1:30p 


It was nearing one-thirty, according to the clock on Rickkter's mantle, by 
the time they were ready to go. Kayla had spent the better part of an hour 
and a half loosening his muscles and straightening his fur. She had then 
spent over forty minutes fussing over his wardrobe. She could honestly never 
understand how some men could care so little about how they looked. But while 
he complained and bitched and moaned, Rickkter eventually did concede to 
letting her pick his attire for the evening. 

Now he was dressed in a black surcoat over a deep purple doublet. The surcoat 
had runes and magical symbols sewn onto the cuffs and collar with a 
golden-copper thread. While Kayla had asked about their relevance, Rickkter 
had just smiled and said they were for decoration. Of course the mischievous 
glint in his deep brown eyes told it otherwise. The rest of his outfit was a 
white shirt under the doublet, ruffled at the neck, and black pants. It was 
simple, elegant, with as few adornments as possible. Just how Rick liked it. 

Currently the two were heading for a stair well. The tower that Rick resided 
in was not the same as the one closest to where the Long House was adjacent 
to, so they needed to cross over on a connecting causeway to it. True they 
could have gone down and through the lower parts of the Keep, but both agreed 
this was more... scenic. 

It was also a little louder. As they were ascending along one of the wide, 
central staircases, loud, clear laughter drifted up from below them. Rickkter 
recognized it immediately and left Kayla's side to lean over the side. "Hey 
Cope! How's it going?" 

"Arg, Rickkter! What are you doing up there, you masked bandit, you?" 

"Just off to one of Misha's parties at the Long House right now." 

"Long house?" the lizard's voice echoed off the stone walls. "You're going 
the wrong way then!" 

"This is Metamor Keep!" Rickkter shot back. "You can stand in one spot and 
get to where you want to eventually. And as for you, why aren't you busy at 
the pool hall hustling all the visitors?" 

The response made Kayla blush and Rickkter laugh. While Copernicus and the 
raccoon traded barbs over the railing, Kayla wandered up a few steps to the 
next level part of the stairwell and over to an unshuttered window to admire 
the snow. Apparently they had moved to a side facing south, away from the 
brunt of the storm. Folding her arms over her chest, she lost herself in the 
cold beauty of the world beyond. From their current height, perhaps a third 
of the way up the central tower of Metamor, the blizzard did have some beauty 
to it. They way the snow swirled about beyond the glass, the light scraping 
it made when it blew against the window, did have a enchanting quality to it. 
If one looked hard enough, she reflected, they could almost pick out patterns 
in the random flurries. 

The echo of Rickkter's harsh, barking laugh broke her revere. Grinning out of 
one side of her muzzle, she shook both her head and her tail. Over the last 
few months she'd grown to know that sound to mean that Rickkter was finished 
whatever little contest he was involved in and would soon be coming so they 
could continue to Misha's. Lowering her hands so that they were clasped at 
her waist, Kayla fluffed her tail out behind her and turned half around to 
wait for him. 

"Ha ha, I'll see you around sometime, you old handbag," crowed the mage down 
to the lizard a story below. He laughed some more at whatever Cope did in 
response then waved him off and turned to face Kayla. The smile that had been 
on his face abruptly slid off and he almost stopped dead in his tracks. Kayla 
cocked her head to one side and tilted one of her ears over in puzzlement. 

He walked up to her slowly, his tail slowly brushing the backs of his legs as 
it swayed. When he was a step below her, he reached out, gathering both is 
paws in hers. Using his thumbs, he rubbed her knuckles in gentle circles, 
feeling the skin moving under its covering of fur. 

"You know," he began, his eyes never leaving her paws, "I just realized that 
I haven't told you how beautiful you look today. And for that I must humbly 
ask your forgiveness." 

Kayla's muzzle rose slightly in an embarrassed smile and her tail tried to 
work its way between her legs. "Oh, Rick. It's not that serious," she said, 
giving his paws a squeeze. 

Rickkter brought her paws to his lips, planting a small kiss upon her black 
knuckles. Like almost all animal morphs, the pads on her palms were dry and 
slightly rough, but the fur on the other side was wonderfully soft to his 
touch. "It is to me, love," he responded, shifting his grasp so that his paws 
enclosed hers and bringing both sets upwards as he moved to stand on the same 
level as the skunk. "In all the time I've known you, I can't say when I've 
seen you look more beautiful than now." Leaning forward, he gave her muzzle a 
small lick of his tongue. She quickly angled her head and turned it into a 
kiss. 

The outfit that she had on was indeed striking. She was attired in a dress of 
deep blue, the material thick and warm in the cold weather. Outlines of white 
brocade were stitched at her wrists and around the bust and neckline. Kayla's 
breasts were not large, but the dress worked to accentuate them. The run of 
white fur from her chin downwards could be clearly seen, as well as the black 
fur just at the edges of the dress. The back was also cut low, running down 
to just below her shoulders to reveal the dual white stripes that cascaded 
over jet black. Around her neck, visible as a thin, shining yellow line 
against the ivory and jet of her fur, was the gold chain of the pendant 
Rickkter had crafted for her many months earlier. The only other jewellery 
she had on was the leather bracelet with its metal disk and sunburst pattern 
she had received from Rickkter during the summer solstice festival. But the 
way the dim sun had hit her from behind, illuminating her shining white fur 
and deep, seductive black, Rickkter had been right: It was inexcusable for 
him not to have made mention before. Especially considering his feelings. 

"Thank you, my love," Kayla said in a soft tone after they had broken the 
kiss. She freed one paw for the tangle and brought it up to gently rub the 
cheek of the raccoon she loved. "I really don't know of anything else to say 
to that." 

Rubbing and sliding his head along his fingers, Rickkter smiled down at her. 
"That first part contained all that is important to me." He smiled along with 
her, leaving his head in her tender grasp several moments longer before 
withdrawing it. "Now come on.. We've still got to find that crazy fox and his 
wild party before it's all over." 

Kayla chuckled, the sound heavily tinged with a skunk's burr, as she slid an 
arm around his waist and felt his own do likewise. "In that case I hope the 
food there is good. We'd die of starvation before having wandered around long 
enough to miss one of Misha's parties." 

Rickkter just laughed and playfully batted the end of his tail against the 
hem of her dress as they started off once more. It was several levels until 
they reached one that was on the causeway to the next tower, the one that 
would lead them to the Long Hall. It was a sort of round about way to get 
there, but they were not in any great hurry and took pleasure in the other's 
company. Coming off a set of stairs into a main corridor, the couple was 
almost trampled by a pair of rambunctious kids; yelling, screaming, and 
running down the halls totally heedless of anyone else but themselves. 

"You know, I don't think I can recall the Keep being this crowded in a very 
long time," Kayla said as she settled her tail after the initial fright 
caused by the kids. "Of course what with the weather out there, most people 
would be intent on staying inside." 

"This is a time of families as well," Rick remarked to her as they watched 
the retreating form of the two kids. His walk held a bit of a swagger, but it 
only gave him an excuse for Kayla to hold on tighter. "It seems like almost 
everyone is spending it with their families. Bender and Moorly are gone with 
theirs; the lighthouse up on the hill is where basically all the Hipoccians 
are; even Saroth, Electra, and Sean are off at Magdalain Island. Or they 
should be by now, as it's been almost a week since I saw them leave." 

"And where does that leave us?" asked Kayla, giving Rickkter's waist a quick 
squeeze. 

Leaning over, the raccoon imparted a quick nuzzle. She leaned into it, 
smiling at the deep murr that her love made as she did so. "We have each 
other and we have our friends," said Rickkter. "What more do we need, 
really?" 

"I suppose you're right," she conceded in a contented burr. 

"Whoop, hold on there," said Rick as he came to a stop, jerking Kayla back 
with him. The skunk murrfled at her raccoon love before leaning across him to 
see what he was looking at. 

"YYEEAAGGGHH!!!" came the bellow of the rhinoceros as he stampeded by the 
couple and heaved a small body onto an expanse of thickly packed straw. The 
smaller body cried out as well, as it was propelled through the air. 

"Dwarf tossing, Shamgar?" Rick asked. 

The rhino looked back and panted. "Aye! Though more like AR tossing. I'm 
hoping to retain my title!" The judge called out the distance the now 
slightly dazed Keeper had flew and Shamgar smiled. "Looks like I'm dong a 
good job of it so far!" 

Both Rickkter and Kayla politely chuckled and continued on their way to the 
party. "Ah, Yule. Some things never seem to change, no matter where you go." 
Kayla churred at him in a tone he had learned was one way of her asking a 
question. "I saw that in the town of Ingersoll several years back. It always 
amazed me that they considered it festive." 

The signs of the season kept greeting the pair of well-dressed animal morphs 
as they continued to walk the halls. Kayla often had them stop for a few 
moments to admire some of the pine bough and holly arrangements as well as 
listen to the singing of the small choirs, often poorer families from the 
town, that travelled around the Keep itself in the days before Yule singing 
carols in the hope of a few coins as the wind howled impotently outside the 
windows. Rick was often kind enough to oblige them with a bronze or two and 
the occasional silver. It took longer than either expected to reach their 
final destination, though neither one really complained, not after all the 
festive sights they had seen. 

For once Rickkter was not forced to explain his presence to the Long House 
guard. There was only one guard, and it was quite apparent he was a simple 
youth who got the bad luck of the draw when it came to duty assignments. He 
had on chain mail armour and a tunic bearing the red stallion on black field 
that was Lord Thomas' personal emblem, the edge of which he was fidgeting 
with. There was a short sword at his hip and a shield leaning against the 
wall. The llama looked up at Rick and Kayla when they walked by. 

"Pardon me, do you have the time?" the young soldier asked. 

"Um, should be about quarter after three by now," Rickkter told him, stopping 
a moment. 

The llama nodded before thanking him and returning to his fidgeting. 

"Waiting for your duty to end so you can join your friends in the 
celebrating, aren't you?" Rickkter guessed with a wry smile. 

Snorting, the llama lowered his head in embarrassment. "Aye, sir. First Yule 
as a soldier, and this time the other guys in my squad all planned a 
celebration at the Mule. And I was the only one with bad enough luck to get 
called to guard duty." 

"Well, at least you're in here, where it's warm, and not outside freezing 
your ears off on the walls," Kayla offered. 

The guard smiled at the mephit and nodded. "I suppose, ma'am, but I'd much 
rather be guarding this place from the inside," he said, inclining his head 
towards the open doors of the Long House. The two party guests chuckled 
before bidding the young soldier well and heading on inside. 

Upon emerging from the anteroom of the Long House's single entrance, both 
were struck by the spectacular transformation the place had undergone. Where 
before it was open with rather austere décor it was now awash in colour and 
gaiety.  The uncluttered flagstone flooring was crowded with celebrating 
Keepers of every sort, the walls clustered with chairs, stools, benches, and 
whatever else that could be procured for the throngs.  There were the 
ever-present pine boughs and holly clusters flanking the old tapestries. 
Decorative candles were in abundance, adding a certain air and unique 
fragrance to the otherwise torch lit interior of the Long House. At one end 
there was a band of four keepers playing for others on a makeshift dance 
floor. Along one entire wall there were tables bedecked with all manner of 
food and desserts, flanked by a pair of bars, one for non-alcoholic and the 
other for alcoholic beverages. Rick could guess which was the latter due to 
its far larger size. The rest of the free space was filled with milling 
keepers, all laughing, dancing, or engaged in loud and boisterous 
conversation.   

"Now all we have to do is find that crazy fox who invited us here in the 
first place." 

The pair soon found their host and hostess at one of the dessert tables, the 
fox holding and feeding some pasty dusted with icing sugar to the female 
otter before him, teasingly holding the treat almost higher than her bite 
could reach. "Not very nice, is that?" commented Rick as he strode up to the 
pair. 

Misha and Caroline looked over at the new arrival, smiles coming to their 
muzzles immediately. "Rick, Kayla, I'm so glad you two made it," Misha 
beamed, the otter echoing his sentiments around the rest of her hard won 
treat. 

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world," Rick told him as he stuck out his 
paw and the fox gave it a strong shake. Misha's dress did credit to his 
personality and position, being of fine weave and earthen colors. His doublet 
was a rich, dark ruby red with a good deal of gold threading in the trim, the 
shirt under that the color of emeralds and appeared to be made of silk. His 
pants went with the doublet, though they were of a lighter red. The soft 
leather shoes on his paws and a very ornate gold dagger on a belt of gold and 
silver clenched at his waist finished his ensemble. 

Caroline, on the other hand, was a figure of striking beauty. She was in a 
dress that looked to have come from one of the finest tailors in the valley 
and was bedecked in a multitude of fine jewellery. The dress was a deep, rich 
blue; not quite navy, but a really deep sky blue, it had a long hem and long 
flowing sleeves trimmed with lace. Her small otter ears held a pair of gold 
hoop earrings and her fingers held a handful of rings, all most likely 
crafted by her father. The last piece of jewellery was a golden broach around 
her neck, held there by entwining chains of gold and silver. As a couple, her 
and Misha seemed to radiate beauty and wealth. 

"I see I wasn't the only one who was forced to get dressed up for this 
fiasco." Rickkter commented as he flicked at the lapel of Misha's doublet. 

"Well, we ladies can't have ourselves be led around here by a bunch of 
disheveled slobs, now can we, Kayla?" Caroline murred humorously.  Kayla 
nodded in agreement, smiling over at her raccoon. 

"Oh, it's not that bad, love," said Misha as he gave Carol a hug. 

"The food sure looked good," Rick mused. "Is it as fetching as it first 
appeared?" 

"More so," Caroline informed him. She turned to Misha. "I'm going to get you 
back for that pastry, you know." 

He only chuckled. "Somehow I don't doubt it, honey." 

Rickkter echoed his friend's chuckle and guided his mephit love over to the 
other side of the first couple. 

There was jelly rolls, apple cobbler, peach cobbler, honey cakes, small 
custard filled pastries lightly sprinkled in icing sugar, various fresh 
fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and cherries. For the herbivores there 
were several varieties of salads and other greens. Kayla clapped her hands 
before her and gave a little squeak of delight at all the food. The other 
three had a quick chuckle at that before moving up and starting to pick over 
the sumptuous selection. 

They were spread out in a line - Caroline, Misha, Kayla, and Rickkter pulling 
up the rear - when they were brought up by Rickkter's laughter. They all 
turned around to see him holding one of the baked chips from a bowl of them, 
its end holding a small amount of brownish paste. 

"Beeeaann dip," pronounced the raccoon before snapping off the paste covered 
end. He had a wide grin upon his face as he chewed, his eyes dancing with 
mirth. 

"What about it?" asked Misha, one ear flicking about. 

"Oh, nothing. Just that I heard that you and Laura Calamar were... 
connoisseurs of this stuff, and that I should ask you if I wanted an 
interesting tale about it, I'd ask you." 

The look on the red fox's face was one of almost pure murder. "Don't even go 
there Rick." 


The raccoon, on the other hand, was still smiling and nibbling on various 
snacks and swished his long tail about. "Oh, come on, Misha! You can consider 
that my gift for the year. How about that?" 

Misha continued to glare. He lifted one finger, pointed it right at his 
friend and said, plainly and simply, "No." Then he turned around and started 
off. 

"Oh, come on, Misha!" 

"No." 

"Come on." 

"No!" 

"Come on. Please?" 

"NO!" 

"Well, are you positive about that?" 

Until that time, Rickkter didn't know foxes could growl that loud. 

"Okay, was only making sure." 

They found a good spot next to one of the larger hearths that kept the fierce 
winter chill from the room, each couple taking a place close to their 
respective mates. Fortunately the food, wine and conversation soon had Misha 
back in good spirits. Rickkter finished first of the four of them. Picking up 
his cup of wine from where he had set it on the mantle, he lounged back 
against the wall and looked out over the hall full of people, children, and 
animals, all of them having a very loud and probably very good time, feeling 
the wine warm his belly. 

"You know, I love this," said Rickkter as he leaned over a little and draped 
an arm around Kayla. She was licking a little errant filling from her 
fingers. "I have everything I could want. Good food, good drink, good 
friends," he said gesturing with his stein at Misha and Carol, "and most 
important of all," he said, his gaze meeting that of the skunk under his arm, 
"warmth," he concluded, turning away and pointing with his drink at the fire 
place. 

Needless to say, everyone within earshot burst out laughing. 

"Oh, warmth, is it now?" burred Kayla as she slipped out from under his arm 
and around to his front, grasping the lapels of his doublet. "Well, you just 
wait until we get back to your place, then I'll show you some real warmth." 

The crowd roared with lusty approval as she leaned up to give him a kiss. 

"I apologize, but I must take my leave of you, Rick," commented Misha as he 
looked across the Long Hall in the direction they had come. "Carol, honey, 
shall we get ourselves some more desserts before some of the other guests 
start to notice them?" 


Carol saw where he was looking, and the rat there. She knew, too, his reason 
for wanting to return to the table. "Sounds good to me, love. I remember 
seeing a few things I couldn't carry myself last time." 

"Then we'll catch you two later," said Rickkter as he gave Kayla's shoulder a 
squeeze. "I want to mingle a little, see who else is here yet." 

The two waved off the other couple then looked around and surveyed the room, 
Kayla following his gaze. "Looking for anyone in particular, love?" she 
asked. 

"Just a friend or two," Rick commented as he finished his drink. "How about 
you? Who are you going off to see?" 

Kayla cocked an ear back. "Oh? Getting tired of me already, are you?" 

Rickkter turned back to her with a smirk then ran the side of his muzzle 
across the top of her head in a quick nuzzle. "No, I don't think I ever 
could, especially not that easily. I just want to see my friends, and what we 
would talk about would probably bore you to death. Same that you and your 
friends would do for me." 

"Rather, I believe you want to talk about women, and all the nasty things you 
do with them." Before he could object, Kayla reached up and tapped his nose. 
"I know how you soldier types are. Since today is special, I'll let you have 
your little fun," she said with a smirk as she headed off into the crowd, her 
lush tails swinging around her legs. 

End part 5a 


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.integral.org/archives/vfw-times/attachments/20010809/ea0b994b/attachment.html