[SleepingPup567]

Chapter 4. w00t! It was tough. I should warn though that it is rather dull and more in depth character development for Avery mostly. Hopefully the next one will be better. I should warn though, that I will not be home all of June, so chapter five won't show up for a while.

Enjoy!!!

Chapter 4: Doctor’s Orders
December 18, 2010

His face expressed melancholy as he stared off into the sunrise beyond the window. His heart was beating slower than it normally did, which was normal after an attack of that level, so he felt cold, even as he cuddled into his sapphire-colored comforter. The rather cramped room didn’t help very much, either. It was only meant for one person, but now two beds, one for both him and Hunter, matching clumps of school crap neither cared exceedingly about, and two closets filled to the max with clothing, most of which he knew was his own. Avery often tried to convince Hunter that he should allow the wolf to just sleep in the living room at least, but the large, stubborn lion refused the idea.

So now the wolf sat, his consciousness fading between fuzzy to acute as he lingered in the bed. Desiring to get up and walk, he put his feet down to the floor, but instantly found himself drained of all energy. Instead, he looked up and the mirror Hunter had on the entirety of the ceiling. Often wondering why Hunter had that up their, he had asked him about it, only to surprise the wolf in saying that he was interested in becoming a male model, and was slightly vain of his appearance. The very idea of the lion being vain made him laugh, as he knew Hunter was the most kindhearted, modest person around. He saw himself and grimaced. He preferred looking rather feminine, as he was what most called a “flamer”, and was damn proud of it. So, seeing himself looking scruffy… well, scruffier than he usually saw himself in bouts of low-esteem… was rather unnerving. He thought that he looked just about like every serial killer in history as his mind went about in a slightly erratic fashion.

Just sitting there was bothering him, though. He hated feeling weak. So, gripping the wall tightly, leaving some accidental scars, he pushed himself up. He never thought it would be so difficult. It felt like the world was pulling solely on him. Regardless, he trekked toward the door on the other side of the room, keeping an iron hold on the wall, grimacing with each lead-like step. He so close, so beautifully close, when he finally looked down involuntarily by the building pressure, only to see that he was wearing a pair of black boxer-briefs. Not really caring where his red briefs from the night prior were, he cursed, as he hunted for his red jogging pants. Finding them was the easy part, as he walked unsteadily over, elated to feel the pressure lighten up off of him steadily. However, as he braved far enough from the wall to pull up the pants after slipping them under his feet, he instantly regretted it. The fall wasn’t normal at all. Normally, he would feel his body turn before he hit the floor. This time, though, it seemed that the world twisted for him before he felt the caret rub roughly against his flesh beneath the arctic fur.

Avery just sat there, letting his mind catch up with what just happened. “Great,” he mumbled as he angrily pulled his pants the rest of the way up, happy no one was there to see him in such an embarrassing predicament. Once again he had to grip onto the wall as he forced himself to stand once more. He was happy to find that it was much easier the second time as he walked carefully out of the room and turned down the hallway.

It was any other family’s hall, he knew. It had golden walls with a dark brown table in the middle. The wolf glanced at the table as he always did when passing it. On it was an increasingly large array of family pictures of the McGourdeaux family. The parents, a tall muscular lion with a crimson mane and blue eyes, Clyde, and a lithe, black maned lioness with dark chocolaty eyes, Gloria, were both big family people, and took every available chance to take picture of the three children. Apparently, there were a lot of those times, as there were mounds of pictures of Hunter and his two year younger twin siblings Vale and Glade. Avery stopped to look at the most recent picture of the twins. It was at a football game for the junior-varsity team that Vale and Glade both competed in. He had to chuckle though at seeing the younger, male twin Vale blushing as his sister had her arm wrapped around his shoulder as they both held up the state cup their team had won only about a week ago. Honestly, had Avery not known her personally, he would never have known Glade was a girl. She was taller than her brother, but both had blue eyes and Vale had a shoulder-length mane of crimson, and they were both well-built, though Vale was undeniably bulkier than his sister, who preferred to keep a more supple form as a woman. Glade was the first female to ever play on the football team in the history of the school, and on top of that, she was a complete dyke. Originally, she was thought of as just a tomboy, but when Clyde and Gloria found her making out with one of her few female friends, her lesbianism wasn’t exactly transparent anymore. They didn’t care though. In fact, they joined numerous LGBT parental support groups.

Then, Avery saw the newest picture. It showed the five lions having a picnic during a warm summer day. Vale was leaning up against the tree in the background, talking to Hunter who was only visible because he twisted his head around the trunk. Glade was laughing with her mom about some random joke the two discovered while talking. Clyde was leaning around the camera to be seen from behind it. However, a small white wolf was way out of place. Avery was laughing hard as Glade had him tucked beneath her arm, roughly ruffling his hair. It was the first picture that Avery had taken as a new member of the McGourdeaux family. It made him involuntarily smile.

“He should be better after a nice meal.” Avery could hear the soft voice drifting up the stairs. The voice was one he heard often. Even then he could imagine the middle-aged Siamese cat sitting in the McGourdeauxs’ velvety violet-red rocking chair, his legs crossed and his right hand holding up his head as he stared rather absently at the floor from sleep that evaded him not only in the night he was called, but so many nights before. “However,” the wolf began to sullenly walk down the dark sienna stairs, trying to find out what the cat had to say in the ‘However’-Department before he got down, “If he has one more attack, he-”

As Avery left the last step and walked down what little length of the hallway he had left, Vale spoke up, his voice firm but with a shoddy undertone, “Don’t say he won’t make it…” The statement was absolutely radical and pessimistic, but his entire family had been thinking the exact same thing, he was only the voice.

“Oh!” Dr. Reynold’s soft voice struck a note higher than usual in surprise. “No, no! Nothing like that! It’s just-” The white furred young man rounded the corner, placing an elbow against the frame, his hand on the other arm resting on his hip. They all looked at him quickly, all having a slightly startled light in their eyes. As to whether it was merely his presence, or his rather rugged morning appearance that startled them, he did not know. “He won’t be able to compete in the state finals this Friday,” the doctor’s voice was once again soft as he looked the lupine up and down.

Silence engulfed the room, and Avery grew uneasy as all eyes stayed fixed on him. He hated how repetitive the routine was. Every time he had an attack, the morning after he would wake u to hear Dr. Reynolds explaining the situation once everyone was awake, seeing as they always usually happened when he and Hunter were out late. Of course, he had arrived there much later and had stubbornly chosen to wait and check on the lupine’s condition after he woke up.

Glade was the first to move, as she rose to her feet slowly, wearing a pair of denim short-shorts and a white tank-top, and walked over to Avery. For a moment, she stared into his pink eyes uncertainly with her blue ones, before wrapping her arms around his neck. The first time she had done this, Avery had choked up. However, by then, all he could do was wrap his arms around her. He knew what was happening, they all knew. Each time these attacks arose, the closer he was to dying.

Dr. Reynolds moved on to his most painful point, “We are still searching for a compatible heart for you, Avery. However, the recent international wars have caused a fierce short-handedness in them. The United States has so far avoided military-involvement, but it has been sending medical assistance to ally countries.” The feline’s arctic-blue eyes locked onto him, “I swear Avery, once one is available, you will be treated.”

His eyes remained solid and firm. “That is fine Dr. Reynolds. I understand the difficulty of finding the match.” He took in a slow breath as glade pushed herself back, but his slender hand remained on her rather muscular shoulder. “And I am in no rush. I am not afraid.”

He smiled gently at the cat, who momentarily looked stunned, but eventually returned the smirk. “Anyone ever tell you you’re tough, kid?”

For the first time all morning the room filled positively with chuckles as the entire lion pack answered with a unanimous, “All the time!” Of course, that elicited only deeper chuckles from the group that turned into hardy laughter.

“Well,” Reynolds said as he stood gripping his knees for support before arching his back to let multiple vertebrae pop. “I’ll be heading out. I think I might just take the day off and let that new kid try out a test run alone for a day.” He was mumbling to himself as he touched his right index finger to his chin, letting his eyes rise up as if the ceiling was a Magic Eight-Ball ready to burst with a gambling yes-or-no. Digressing, he reached down and picked up his black leather bag before shaking both Clyde and Gloria’s hands. Then, he bowed a head toward the white wolf who stood out rather awkwardly against the large group of felines.

As he began to walk out, opening the door to the cool outside world, Avery muttered to him, “And you really should sleep more Doctor, no offense, but the bags under your eyes have become rather horrendous.” As the door shut quietly, the aging Siamese let out a tired giggle.

The family sat in another moment of nervous silence before Gloria stood, clapping her hands together quietly. “Alright, alright! Glade, Vale, Hunter! The three of you head upstairs and get ready for school!” As the three lions rose, and Avery turned to go get ready as well, the lioness in charge grabbed him by his arm, “Uh-uh. You, mister, are lying down again.”
Gently, she guided him down onto the couch next to her husband, who stood and ruffled his head fur. “Yeah, pup. We’ll take you to school later on, but for now, rest. And I suppose you heard what Dr. Reynolds said about Friday’s game?”

The wolf nodded a confirmative, “Yes, Mr. McGourdeaux.” As the two adult began to walk away, he called out to them. “And, Mr. and Mrs. McGourdeaux,” they turned to him, giving him rather questioning arches of the eyebrows, “Thanks for letting me stay here… It must be the millionth time I’ve said that.”

“Rest, kid,” Clyde said with a caring smile as he walked away, his baggy green sleeping pants waving with each step.

The next three hours were quiet as Avery lay on the couch. Hunter and his sibling each gave him a hug as they left. They looked rougher than usual, and he felt guilty for that, knowing that the guilt was stupid but nevertheless there. Other than that, there was silence, eve as Gloria left the house in a nice brown suit, petting his head softly before she walked out.
Finally, Clyde came back though, wearing comfortable clothing for a lawyer. It was just a casual blood-red muscle-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. “How you feelin’, pup?”

Avery pushed himself into a sitting position, flinging his legs off the sofa as the lion took a seat next to him. “Better than I did. Getting out will help… What’re you still doing home, anyways? Shouldn’t you be at work?”

“Oh, well,” the lion seemed a little hesitant as he explained, “I took the day off in case you might need help… and… someone needs to drop some stuff off, and I don’t enjoy the thought of him being within a three lock radius of his house without either myself or Gloria being here.” He stretched his arms across the couch, letting one fall over Avery’s shoulder before he saw the look a terror in his eyes. Immediately, he went into a fatherly-protectiveness, “Don’t worry Avery, I won’t let him hurt you.” Just then, the doorbell rang, sending blood-stopping chills descend through Avery’s spine and body as Clyde stood to answer.

He walked to the door slowly, sighing as he rounding into the wall that separated the door from view of the living room. Avery could just barely hear him over his hasted breaths, “Yeah, just leave it in the living room, Zeke.”
Just that name made the horrified wolf’s eyes widen as a tall, average-built white wolf walked into the room, his cranberry colored eyes sharply piercing the air around Avery. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and a pair of brown slacks over a white shirt with a red tie. Immediately, he locked Avery in his sight and gave him a condemning glare before he sat down a box full of what the younger wolf knew to be his own clothes.

It was rather unintentionally that Avery stood and waked closer to the man, being careful to still stay out of arm’s reach. Clyde seemed to glide over to them, close enough to intervene if things went awry.

The younger wolf was speechless, holding a fist close to his chest defensively, trying to build an emotional wall between hi and the person in front of him. “Hi… Dad…” He said it so quietly, almost as if not to be heard.
He expected screaming, raging at having called Bryan that, but didn’t get it. “I’m not your father… you’re not my son. I don’t raise fags.” It was so simple and quiet. It seemed like denouncing his son… his only son… was no task whatsoever. Avery had heard it all before, and was able to constrain his emotions. Clyde, though, felt suffocated. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend it. The thought of having something like that conspire between him and any of his children over something that wasn’t their fault was so alien. It just didn’t seem possible.

“But, Dad-”

Nothing was said, as Bryan committed a vile act against his son. Avery was only left stunned as he wiped the liquid off his face. He couldn’t believe it as he finally opened his eyes to see Clyde escorting his father rather roughly out the door. His father had just spat in his face…

“-and don’t come back! You aren’t welcome!” The large lion was screaming as the wolf quietly and calmly left, his car screeching madly as he turned away onto another street, hell bound to never go into that area again. For a moment, Clyde could only stare at where the car had last been before turning out of sight. The pain of watching that was... surreal in every sense of the word. Avery was to him, another son. He was so sweet, intelligent, and mature beyond his time. The lion had heard the wolf crying over this when he thought he was alone. Avery wanted so badly to put up a masquerade of strength that would only strangle him, but he kept going.
Finally, Clyde turned to see him once again sitting on the couch, his elbows on his knees while he cradles his face in his gentle white-furred hands. His eyes were blank and unreadable as he put on his enigmatic stare. Just subtly he could see the canine’s Adam’s-apple shaking as he held back the torrent behind the storm of questions. Though an experienced father, he had never once had to face something so brutal even with his own children… no, it didn’t matter. Avery was now one of his own.

With slow, delicate steps he padded toward the couch, running a hand through Avery’s head-fur gently, eliciting a slight groan of surprise. He could tell the wolf didn’t want to, but nevertheless he did look up, staring for a moment into Clyde’s calm, loving eyes before blushing and taking in the view of the floor. The lion had no idea just how much he could get away with at the moment. All the same, he took a seat next to him, moving his hand down to the young man’s back, moving his soft pads up and down.

“Avery. I realize that this hurts. I do. I won’t lie and say I know just how much.” But…” He wasn’t entirely certain how the canine was going to react, but he felt compelled, pulling him closer, wrapping his arms around him. “Avery... you are so sweet, talented, and loving. And… I just want you to know; I feel like you, and Tyler as well, are just extensions to the family. Extra cubs to look after.” The wolf looked up at him, his eyes watery and cold. “You’re always welcome here.”

It was unavoidable, as the canine started to sob into his shoulder. He could feel the wet tears against his fur, and the pulsating of his body as he took small breaths between his weeping. He almost wanted to cry himself. To see someone so inspirational in so much pain was hard. So, he just tightened his arms, pulling him closer. That was how a father handled things. Everyone… no matter how old or how stubborn… everyone eventually needed a shoulder to cry on.

_____________________

“Yeah! Good Job, Lyst!” He could hear the large equine coach yelling as he ran right through the smallest gap between the two players who lunged with their full weight at him, warping his body in a way only such a lithe body could. The field perfect that day. The winter breeze was soothing against the tight materials of his uniform and pads as he stepped over the in-zone. He turned to se the two guys he had blocked glaring at him, pissed as they took of their helmets. One was an extremely cute panther named Baron, and the other was the annoying pug Allen. It was a rather ingenious rule of Coach Kezka’s. Anytime you were slipped by or effectively blocked, you ran a single round of the fourth-mile track. Needless to say half of the team always had to do at least one lap after every play.

“Sucks for them, too,” he thought. The guys were tired. Avery however, had had enough sleep last night and that morning that by the time he got to class around fourth period, he was full of excess energy.

He decided not to dwell though, as the coach called in everyone who wasn’t running to go get in the showers. Thankful, he took off his helmet, letting it air-out as his face satisfactorily met the breeze, making him smile. The walk was nice, and since he was farthest from the door, he got to see all of the white-clad asses he wanted, letting himself indulge in a rather pathetic passion. Of course… there wasn’t much to look at, so it wasn’t all that pathetic, more like boring. So, giving a small wave to Hunter who headed the first of the runners who would come out alive, he went inside.

Instantly, he smelled what could be described as “rancid jock” heaven. The fragrance was horrible, like musk mixed rotting fungi. It was nice not having to deal with the annoyingly seductive smell of those guys. Especially the guys that, if he looked at them for just a second, he would fear for his sight.
He moved with a spring in his step, too, humming as he stripped off his clothes, doing his best not to step on any of the slackers passed out on the ground. For a moment he looked up at Cross who was only a few feet from him, wondering what he had talked to Hunter about during lunch, before letting himself strut to the showers, his tail swinging limply and his soft fur whipping about in the air. He felt like he was on top of the world at that time, his muscles stinging with adrenaline as he winded down, walking to a shower head and letting warm water flow over him.

It felt so good, so relaxing. Letting his mind unwind, he didn’t notice two black arms slipping against the wall in front of him. When he did notice it, though, he turned quickly, only to find himself face to face with Ryan again. At first, he was frightened, trying to find a way out of the raccoon raping him in the damn locker room. But, when he finally able to identify the tears rolling down Ryan’s cheeks, he understood. “Ryan, what’s wrong?” Stupid questions, he knew…

The raccoon moved back, his blonde hair now wet and mashed against his brown fluff, one eyes hidden while the other stared at him. “Avery… I… I…”
There was a silence as a black, glove like hand covered his mouth. He was trying to find the words. It hurt the raccoon so much, Avery could tell. He saw the hurt beneath the surface, the secrets and scars. He couldn’t determine the specifics, but knew enough to see pain. It was the same look he saw in the mirror constantly.

“I- I’m so… so sorry Avery. Please forgive me. I p- promise. I will never touch you again.” Avery had heard that before… but… there hadn’t been that painfully truthful ping in there the last times. They were always hollow and tearless. Now though, there was emotion. He saw Ryan awake and alive. His day had most certainly been interesting.

Happily, he slunk two arms around the raccoon, pulling him close, intimately, as he buried his muzzle in the brown neck-fur, letting the warm tears and the shower water wash down his shoulder. He felt warm, secure, and happy for once. Just… for once.

He wished to stand there, frozen in time. He couldn’t help but cuss quietly as a whistling came down the hall connecting the lockers and showers. Immediately, he felt the enigmatic youth move away, giving him a blank stare as he situated himself in front of a head on the other side of the room.
The rest of the time was boring, drying and dressing. It was nice to chat with Cross though. Of course, he regretted making the collie feel sad with what he had said. But, hey. What he had said was true. He didn’t fear angels of death. Long ago he had opened himself to their blades, but they didn’t partake. Now, the gates to hell in his heart was long since chained shut. Yes, he still felt pain. Yes, he still cried. He did not, however, want to die.
As he walked into the parking lot, he noticed the breeze had died down, and the silence was dead and frozen. To his left, on the filed he had not long ago been practicing on, he saw the underclassmen practicing. By a stroke of intuition he found Glade and Vale, now able to pick them out just by the make of their bodies. He smiled as the sister took her brother down playfully when he wasn’t watching.

Then he heard something unusual, a motorcycle in the parking lot. He would normally just ignore it. No one drove a motorcycle in Alamston High, and Hunter was busy getting some last minute tutoring he forgot about. So, he was stuck there until he got out with the car keys. It made him wonder why Hunter wouldn’t just let him tutor him. It didn’t really matter, as long as the lion passed, the wolf supposed, laying a hand on the strap of messenger bag and another on his hip as he walked toward the engine sound, curious of its owner.

As he walked around the side of the building he heard voices from the parking lot which was void of all but what few teachers’ cars remained and some football players. The first he recognized. He could tell his favorite otter’s voice from anyone’s as he rounded the corner to find himself standing right next to a white Kawasaki Ninja and between Tyler and an adult red panda he had never met before.

Both jumped as he popped out of nowhere, making him chuckle. “Jumpy, Tyler?” He asked it so sarcastically, just to bug him.

“Don’t do that Avery! Shit!” He was clutching his chest slightly. The otter had always been a little paranoid and anxious. Eventually, his breath leveled, and he found the Dante and Avery staring intently at each other curiously. “Oh! Um,” he pointed to the red panda, and then to the wolf, “Dante, Avery. Avery, Dante.”

They both smiled an Avery waved deafly at him, his baggy sleeve slinking down over his arm. The panda was cute, or so he thought. He was wearing a leather jacket and ordinary white T-shirt beneath it with some worn-out blue jeans. His silver eyes glistened as he looked him up and down. “Hello, Dante. It’s nice to meet you!”

Dante was curious, and both of the two friends could see cogs in his head going rather madly about. Spontaneously, as he looked from the otter to the wolf, he looked straight at Avery, “Nice to meet you too. Say, we have a show playing. A Night in Paradise, I assume you know about it from Tyler. Would you like to come?”

Dante seemed very interested in Avery… but not necessarily for himself, as he looked from him to Tyler expectantly. It seemed like he was planning something…