[Vfw-times] TBP - Zach's story

[PJ Skunk]

TBP - Zach's StoryBy PJ Skunk send mail to: pj_skunk at vulpine.transform.toAuthor's note: This is my first attempt at writing a story in The Blind Pig universe, and probably the first time I actually finished a short story. Zach is an almost exact representation of myself with only a few minor differences. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this story since I had a fun time writing this one. -------------------------------------------------------'So bored...''What to do, what to do?' Thought Zach, as he absently bagged groceries for a norm customer.  'Same routine time and time again, this is getting really dull.  I've already been on this job for at least two weeks and bored already, how pitiful.'	As he begun to daydream again, he suddenly felt a really sharp pain in his left hind paw.  That brought him back to reality.  He was about to yell at that person who ran over his foot with a shopping cart, but decided not to; instead he just nodded at the norm customer and rubbed his foot paw gently. 	For as long as he could remember, Zach had always been very reclusive, rarely going out in public.  This was because he had a really terrible fear of being with other people; it was so terrible that he had isolated himself.  With only his videogames, music, and small circle of friends to keep himself company.  He knew he had really bad problems, but merely shrugged it off.  When anybody asked, his only reply was "nothing, nothing at all."  This bugged him of course, but he always kept an expression of calmness.  But this was just a mask to cover his true feelings; feelings of both shame and guilt that have haunted him, only his eyes betrayed the mask he always wore."Hey Zach, how long are you just going to sit there?"  Said someone at the next check out counter.  A hot looking vixen, who was almost as old as Zach.  Quickly the lapine scratched one of his long ears and replied with an embarrassed look on his short muzzle; " Ummm, not too long I guess."	"It is not like we are having a sale or anything, Rachel.""Well, you should at least make yourself look busy just in case the manager shows up." said the gray vixen with a growl."I'll try to keep that in mind."	After about twenty minutes of very little activity in the store, Zach decided to go look for something that needed to be done.  All the while he thought about what happened to him, all those many years ago.  'How long has it been six years, eight; since he started taking advantage of me, or was it the medicine that -They- insisted on giving me that forced me to stay in the submissive role for so long?'   These questions have been on Zach's mind ever since he visited a friend who lived at least a couple states away from him.  When he was with this friend he felt so secure, that he was able to get many things off of his chest that he had always kept secret and had felt too ashamed to speak about.  After a long talk with his most trusted friend, he felt much better as tears that had been held deep inside for many long years were allowed to flow freely. Being hugged and comforted had made Zach realize who he really was, for the first time in his life. 		As he saw that there was a small puddle of water that was obviously coming from a pipe that had separated from the joint, Zach swiftly got the mop and bucket out and started cleaning the mess up: all the while humming a tune to him-self.	After finishing that up, he went into the backroom and got a wrench to fix the offending leak. Slowly he shifted his gaze upon the fresh looking cabbage and lettuce and started to feel quite hungry, remembering that he missed breakfast. It took him only a couple turns and then it was done. He looked at his watch and said to himself excitedly  "Woohoo, quitting time."   He then quickly went to get his time card, sprinting so carelessly that he nearly tripped on his oversized feet-paws.  It took him only a second to punch out then he was off to the car.  Deciding to stop at home first, he sped off at break-neck speed.	The drive home was always refreshing for this rabbit-morph, since he rarely got outside: Other than to drive to and from work.  But, as Zach got halfway to his apartment he remembered that his girlfriend was not home yet and decided to take a nice ride out into the country to find a nice calm spot to graze and to calm his nerves, since he had so many things on his mind.  Where he was going was about a half hour away, it was a sort of park area with many different types of great tasting vegetation that provided good cover for a nice long snooze after filling your belly with fresh greens.  At that, he thought about how much he enjoyed being in the woods, all by himself without the turmoil of city-life.  		To Zach it had always felt natural to be there ever since SCABs changed him, it become more of a truth; since, his genes were derived from 'wild' relatives that were common to most of North America.  So much that most of the lapine instincts were ever present. But, they had turned out to be more of a blessing than a curse.  Saving his life more than once in fact, with an incident that happened a couple of weeks after the 'Flu' had run it's course and changed him into a 120 lb morphic cottontail rabbit.  As he grazed he thought about how he met his musteline girlfriend.______________________	It was during the spring months, around April; after being cooped up in his house for at least two long months, Zach started to become very anxious, so anxious that he started feeling quite hungry.  Very quickly he made up his mind and decided to venture outside.  But, as he padded over to the front door and opened it, something caught his eye across the street.  It appeared to be a dark shadow slinking around some garbage cans, that a neighbor had forgotten to put away.  Since it was still around 3:00 PM and sunny, he assumed it was just the lighting playing a trick on his semi-lapine mind.  Quickly, but cautiously he hopped onto his front lawn, searching for some sweet tasting weeds to munch on.  As the rabbit became a bit more relaxed in a nice shady spot underneath a large oak tree, he started to graze a little; suddenly there was a slight rustling in a nearby bush. Quickly, Zach perked up his long ears and started sniffing the air.  What he smelled was a scent that was unfamiliar to him.  As curious as he was, Zach decided to question 'it'."He...llo?"  But there was no response, only the sound of the wind.  He tried again this time a bit louder. "Anyone, there?"  This time there was a growling sound, right behind him.  As Zach turned his head, he spied a mean looking gray colored weasel that was obviously hungry for rabbit.	But unknown to Zach at the time the weasel was actually a mustelid full-morph who happened to be wearing some type of scent-killer to mask her approach.  All that the shocked cottontail could say was a stunned "Damn it."  Suddenly his instincts took over and he was off like a bottle rocket, running to nowhere in particular with the weasel about a yard behind him.  With the tiny mustelid closing in, the rabbit got a great idea.  As he was nearing a brush pile, Zach slowed down a little and gave the weasel a swift kick in the nose causing the weasel to swerve into a toy dump truck that dazed her only for a couple seconds.  As that feeling wore off, the weasel got really pissed off, so pissed that she started hissing loudly.   That gave Zach a head start with his adrenaline pumping at full, which made him madly dash toward some nearby swimming pool that happened to be unlocked.		As he started to calm a little, Zach decided to rest a little. But, he remained cautious with that weasel still trailing him.  Stopping a few inches from the pool, he thought about using some tricks of his own.  He stood up on his hind legs and looked around for a safe hiding spot since, he can't seem to scent the woodland predator.  "Ha, there's the perfect spot." he whispered to himself.  It was a pile of PVC pipes that were barely wide enough to hide himself in.  It was a tight fit, but Zach was able to fit in with little discomfort.  As he sat the weasel followed the lapiform SCAB's scent around the pool. But lost the scent as she neared the pile of pipes. The plastic smell was so overwhelming to the mustelid that she started feeling a bit light headed.  Hearing that the weasel was on the opposite end of the hiding place, he got out of the pipes and immediately kicked the wide end of pile causing the to roll toward the water; dragging the weasel backwards with it, into the pool screaming.  Unable to suppress a chuckle Zach stood up with his paws at his hips and said.  "So, you thought you outsmarted me, by stooping as low as to use scent killer?"  But the only response he got was sniffling and gurgling sound, that indicated that the weasel could not swim. "Help Me!"  She cried out, while desperately clawing at a partially submerged pipe."Why should I?" Zach retorted "You were trying to kill me not too long ago, and now you want me to help you.""Damn man, I just wanted to play with you *cough* not actually kill you." said the weasel as she still struggled to stay afloat."Umm.... Okay, if you insist."  Zach said, still uncomfortable with the thought of helping a creature that usual hunts rabbits.  Quickly, he jumped into the water and swam toward the weasel, who was near the deep end.  It took only a couple of seconds to grab and tow her back to the edge of the pool, where Zach helped to squeeze the water out of her fur. "Thanks, by the way my name is Amber," she said still shivering from the cold water."I'm Zach, pleased to meet you.  Anyway, why were you hunting me anyway?""I was actually going for a stroll until I smelled you, then I sort of let my instincts take over.  But, it was mostly out of curiosity." Amber laughed a bit at that."Really?""Yup""Anyway, what's up with scent killer that you are wearing"?"Scent killer?" She inquiredYou know, the stuff deer hunters wear to mask their scent," said Zach"Your so silly, it is just a deodorizing spray designed for mustelid's that you can get at any Petco. Besides, it keeps my fur soft and shiny," said Amber with a toothy smile." I'm sorry about kicking you earlier. I was really afraid with you chasing me and all.""Don't be, when I scent rabbits or other prey species; my natural instinct takes over and I fully shift into a weasel. It is so bad that I was almost sent to a SCABS Institution, over a little incident.""What happened?""I don't really want to talk about it..." "Oh, that bad." Zach said in soothing voice, while giving the weasel a hug that she really needed."Thanks" she said returning the embrace."Anyway, what is your story Zach?""Umm, my story? I'm not sure where to begin.""You could start by telling me a little about yourself.""Well... I'm twenty years old and a high school graduate.  I also like doing lots of neat things with my computer and artistic skills.  But, with these paws it has been quite difficult to get on with business as usual.  Anyway, I have been able to get along handsomely, even though I'm unemployed."  Zach said as he showed off his short lapine paws."Your an artist?""Yup.  But, I'm still kind of a novice at it."  He said with a chuckle that sounded a little like chittering."Even if you're a novice, it might not be as bad as you think."  Amber giggled with a surprised look on his shortish muzzle, Zach Said  "Oh?"  "If you'd like, I could show you mine.""Thanks."  Said Zach as he followed Amber onto the sidewalk"My apartment is just up the street, just follow me.""Okay."______________________	The late afternoon sun was really soft, with a light salty ocean breeze coming from the southeast part of town.  Quickly the unlikely pair, made there way toward Amber's apartment which was at least two blocks from Zach's house.  Which surprised him a little.  As they neared the entrance, Amber said.  "I'll be right back, I have to check in."  It took her only a minute to buzz the front desk and then the door opened.  Amber took Zach's paw and placed it on her left shoulder and smiled a bit.  For she knew that this lapine could be a really lovable companion. 	Unknown to Zach, Amber had been watching him for quite some time.  But, from a distance she admired him for how sweet natured he was.  She first laid eyes on him while he visited The Blind Pig Gin Mill a couple days ago to talk to his good friend Phil.  For her it was love at first sight.  But she chose today to make contact with Zach and become a really, really close friend. 	The Apartment building was well furnished for a middle class neighborhood.  It was like the interior of a mansion, complete with red carpeting that was outlined with gold knitting and had beautiful paintings on the walls of the hallway.  Finally they padded up to a wooden door that was made of oak, and had a number plate that was made of gold: proudly displaying the number 15."Here we are."  She said upon entering with Zach still holding her paw.  As they entered the apartment Zach was overwhelmed a little by the slight musteline scent in the air."What an interesting little place you got here" Said the Lapine as he took in the layout of the apartment. It was well furnished with a couple couches, large windows, antique chairs, and lots of beautiful paintings covering most of the empty wall space.  As he went further in something caught his eye, it was a large painting of a silver dragon that was done in watercolors, that looked almost lifelike."Did you paint this one yourself, Amber?" Zach asked."Why yes, I did.""It looks as if you have real talent.""Thank you." Amber said with a blush that could be seen through the fur on her short muzzle."I'm quite the artist myself, but I mostly work with rulers and a compass.""You might also want to give credit to my roommate Sandy.  She did most of the still-life paintings you see here.""You have a roommate?  Is she cute?" "Well Yeah.  And she is really cute, being a Siamese ferret and all.""Cool since I have a thing for mustelid's, especially weasels and ferrets."Suddenly there was a knock at the door.  It was so sudden that it sent Zach scurrying behind a couch in slight terror.  "Who is it? Amber asked."It's me Sandy, I'm back from the afternoon exam.""Okay, It will take only a second.  Be sure to wipe your paws.""Zach you can come on out, there is nothing to be afraid of." "Uhh, Okay."  Zach said, still with his long ears twitching in slight distress.  As he found the courage, Zach climbed up onto the couch and decided to relax for a bit.	Amber padded over to the door and unlatched it.  Letting in her roommate, who had a large book bag at her side, which looked pretty funny on the ferret.  For a slender body, Sandy obviously had a lot of difficulty keeping it on her shoulder at any given time.  To Zach it looked a little yiffy from his spot on the couch."Hi Sandy, there is somebody that I would like to meet." "Is he that person you have been gossiping about, at the Pig?""Yup, and he's sitting on the couch.""Oh cool!" sand said with a large smile on her muzzle.""Zach, this my roommate Sandy, And Sandy this is Zach.""Pleased to meet you." he said, as he took Sandy's paw and kissed it; that made her blush a little."Oh gosh, you are a true gentleman.""Why, thank you." He smiled."I've heard allot about you from Amber.""You have?  But I only just met her today!"  His smile changed into a look of surprise."Actually, I've seen you quite a few times at the Blind Pig.  Probably you never noticed me, since I usually sit at a table in the back."  Amber laughed.  "That must mean that you're my secret admirer.  I should have known that it was you sending me all those gifts."  Zach said now with a smirk on his face."I fell in love with you the moment I saw you a couple weeks ago; but, I was a bit too shy to introduce myself formally." Amber said, still with a smirk across her muzzle."I have also seemed to have grown attached to you too."  At that, Zach and Amber exchanged a big hug.  "Zach, when was it, that you first came to the city?""Well, I came here about six months ago, just after I got out of the hospital.""How long were you in for.""At least three weeks. But I cannot recall much of the transformation, since I was feverish and incoherent off and on most of those three weeks," He sighed."The strange thing was that I sort of enjoyed the changes happening to my body; the feelings were really familiar, as if I had always been a rabbit. But, mostly in my dreams.  That is what's so strange about the Martian flu; it seems to know your deepest desires, and dreams. I think of it as a blessing""Wow, I never thought about it that way.  Perhaps, being Furry has more advantages than one might suspect." she said with a knowing smile. Slowly, she wrapped her tail around Zach and brought him closer to her slender body, which made Zach a little excited."Thanks for everything, Amber." Zach said as he kissed her on the lips. The mustelidBlushed a little as she answered. "It is the least I could do for someone who truly understands how I feel.  You see I was really depressed when I first found out, that I was changed into a weasel.  After coming home from the hospital, my family started acting hostile towards me, and that made me even more depressed."  Her smile quickly turned into a frown."I'm so sorry..." Said Zach"Don't be, my family is really religious and believe that SCAB's is a mark from Satan and the stopped listening to me.  A couple days after I came home, I packed up and left for this town.""My family was kind of that way too, but that was in a different life.""Where are you from originally?" She asked."I used to live in Wisconsin; in a small town. Where did you live, Amber?""Me?   Umm... Pennsylvania, in a town that was made up of mostly Catholics.""I think a made a wise choice moving here, because they treated SCAB's like outcasts there, and the Human Firster's control most of the town. I almost got skinned before I safely made it to the Bus station." Amber said, almost on the verge of tears."I know how hateful they are, they almost beat me to death a couple of days after leaving the hospital."Almost instinctively, Zach started snuggling up to the weasel to calm her down. All the while telling her "shhh... Everything's all right." They were snuggling for hours, as Zach soothed her with careful paws. ______________________And that is how Zach met his wonderful girlfriend who is soon to become his wife.-More to come_____________________________________________Copyright 2002 - PJ Skunk


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