The Wolf and the Fox

The Wolf and the Fox

****

She woke up in the darkness. A small light appeared between her eyelids that grew as she slowly opened her eyes. Gathering herself she stood up and realized she was in a cave, a den really. She sensed that she wasn't alone. Looking around the den she could see small shadowy forms, spectral figures that vaguely resembled a small dog, more like a small wolf cub. She sensed their fear, they were afraid, and their wisp-life forms seemed to look up at her for their protection.

She slowly, fearfully headed to the entrance of the cave from where she could sense the danger. At the entrance she came upon a familiar sight, a grassy rolling slope descending from the entrance of the cave till it reached the treelines, but what caught her attention were the two figures in the middle, a red wolf and a red fox.

Climbing the slope was a giant red fox, it was easily two or three times the size of the wolf. Its red fur seemed to shine with a deep blood-red hue. Its pristine white underside and the tip of its tail gleamed like polished pearls and its snout and legs were as black as coals. It lazily walked up the slope, circling the wolf with a sneer on its snout as he regarded the wolf with the utmost disdain.

The battered red wolf tried to block its advance. Its once lustrous thick fur was now caked in with packed dirt as if it had been dragged through the mud. Here and there a dried leaf poked out from the mud cake and there was even a twig dragging alongside it. The wolf limped sideways, favoring one of its legs as it tried to block the giant fox from reaching the cave. As the wolf limped along she noticed that the paw it favored was covered in white bandages.

The wolf was hurt, and battered, but not beaten as it defied the fox, snarling a warning at its opponent as it hobbled sideways. The snarl was met with a contemptuous sidestep from the fox as if mocking the wolf barring its path. She gasped when she saw the wolf bravely leap forward to attack the giant fox.

She heard herself howl in dismay at a fight she feared Zack could not win. She sprang forward and woke up with a start.

*****

Brandon, Trent, and Kurt walked outside with a beer in their hands they joked about the girls kicking them out to gossip. Probably all about Hannah although each one secretly hoped the gossip stayed with Hannah and that their names didn't come up.

But even through all the jokes Brandon couldn't shake off Madison's fury and what she had revealed to him. It was shocking and he felt unnerved by it all. 'Was it true?' he wondered as he silently peered into his beer. So lost was he in his thoughts that he didn't hear Kurt excuse himself to leave or Trent's question until he touched his elbow.

"You ok bro?" Trent asked Brandon.

"Yeah, just thinking," Brandon tiredly answered.

"No Dude! Don't do that!" Trent joked light-heartedly, "You know coach told you not to think too hard! You gonna hurt yourself that way! Bro don't push yourself too hard."

Brandon couldn't help but chuckle at Trent's lame joke.

"So what's eating you up?" Trent asked fearing that fucking Ashley together might have just ruined their friendship. At the same time, he didn't want to touch the subject, just in case.

"You... You really like Maddie?" Brandon asked "Like Really. Really. like her?"

"I don't know," Trent answered honestly, "I mean, she's cute, smart... She's got a comeback most of the time. I guess... I guess I'd like to know her better and, I don't know, see where it goes. But I don't want it to cause bad blood between us you know."

Brandon nodded as he took another sip of his beer and he realized what Maddie meant when she said he had scared off Trent. He glanced back the the cabin, trying to see if Zack had kept his promise not to enter Chloe's room with Madison. What he saw made him slap Trent on the shoulder to follow him as he jumped out of his seat.

****

Kurt mentally juggled the possibilities before him. Most of the girls were going to be tied up gossiping in the bedroom, and Brandon and Trent seemed willing to wait it out and drink, maybe get drunk and all. He knew Taylor and Peter were going to be locked in the other bedroom. 'Mmm that leaves Zack, Chloe, and Madison around,' Kurt mused to himself. 'Zack is probably with Madison and that means Chloe might be alone.' A plan started to form in his mind as he quietly excused himself from the other boys.

Zack sat on the floor with his head against the wall, He could feel sleep pulling him into a slumber but his scattered mix of emotions kept him awake. He heard a pair of footsteps approaching and he scrambled to his feet and came face to face with Kurt.

"Hey dude," Kurt said with a smile, "Sorry man, didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's okay, wasn't really sleeping," Zack said

"Cool! Just coming by to see Chloe" Kurt said patting Zack's shoulder "She in there?" he asked as he tried to go around Zack.

"Why?" Zack asked as his senses came to life and stood in his way.

"Nah nothing really," he said dismisively, "She asked me to swing by tonight, and well since she's not with all the girls over there," he said pointing over his shoulder to Ashley's room "I thought she might be in her room."

"Leave her alone," Zack warned Kurt.

"Dude, She asked me to come here tonight." Kurt said with some annoyance '_What a lose_r' he thought to himself.

"No! Zack said shaking his head "Get out of here and leave us alone!" he said pointing away from Chloe's room.

"Or what?" Kurt sneered back at Zack, "Should have thought about your friend before you whined like a love-sick puppy after Vicky. Beside..." Kurt drawled out his words before leaning to whisper in Zack's ear, "... weren't you fucking your sister's friend last night?"

"Wha-?" Zack stumbled over his words in surprise. He felt embarrassed at being found out and wondered who else might have seen them last night.

"Vicky was almost right about you having a side chick, just wasn't a redhead, it was a blonde." Kurt gloated as he let the implied **** hang in the air and he patted Zack's arm before he moved to continue along.

Zack took another step to block Kurt but all he could think of was to repeat his words, "Leave us alone," he said trying to sound firm but just barely growling out a whisper. He was lost for words and wished he had a quick comeback but all he could do was repeat his words and feel stupid for doing so.

"AWW! That's Cute! Looking out for her and all, but! She's a BIG girl now if you know what I mean?" Kurt winked knowingly and added, "besides, she asked me to come over tonight." Kurt mocked Zack as he dug a knife into the young boy's feelings, he guessed he lost his chance with Chloe unless he could humiliate and dominate Zack, get him to fold, and make him leave like a puppy with his tail between his legs. "Take it from me, dude. Don't waste your time with her. Just go back to Hannah or try your luck with Madison."

"NO!" Zack cried as he pushed Kurt away, "Get out!"

Kurt just chuckled as he regained his balance. He hadn't expected Zack to push back. In the past, he'd had guys try to deck him for hitting on their girlfriends but he didn't think Zack was the kind to fight. Still, getting into a fight with Zack wasn't worth letting everyone hear about it. He didn't want to miss out on fucking Vicky again and maybe the other girls too. Plus he might find a way to shame Zack with Vicky's help and get him out of the way.

"Okay, Okay!" Kurt said raising his hands and laughing "Keep her if you want. I'll go look for Maddie. She's another slut who'll drop her panties just like that!" he said snapping his fingers, "Bet that's why her brother's always on her case." Kurt sneered at Zack before he whispered "Keep your slutty friend if you want to."

"THWACK!"

Kurt stumbled back in surprise, his hand grabbing his jaw where Zack's punch had grazed his. Zack came after Kurt swinging his arm for another punch. Kurt ducked under the punch and crashed into Zack. The two teens struggled and wrestled with each other. Each one trying to gain leverage over the other to gain a clean shot at each other. Kurt had more experience than Zack and it began to show as he started to twist Zack sideways and free his hands.

A meaty hand clamped around the back of Kurt's neck. Zack saw a moment of surprise on Kurt's face as the older blonde teen was pulled back and slammed against the wall. Brandon was next to him and Zack saw his fist slam into Kurt's stomach.

Zack was equally held back as Trent locked his arms behind him, keeping him from going after Kurt. Zack struggled for a moment but quickly realized that he couldn't break away from Trent. His grip was too strong for him to break away. From across the hallway, Zack saw Brandon grip Kurt's shoulder and keep him pinned against the wall.

Zack and Brandon looked at each other. For a moment they seemed to connect with each other as Brandon nodded at Zack. He felt Trent let go of him and stand by his side.

"Get out of my house!" Zack growled at Kurt, "Leave us alone! Get your things and get out of my house."

"I'm Ashley's guest," Kurt mocked him but Zack wasn't going to have any of it.

"This is MY cabin and you're out" Zack shot back, "And don't you ever come close to me and my own."

Kurt chuckled he knew the gig was up but he saw Chloe behind Zack and decided to screw over Zack again, "She acts like she's shy and all but she's just a slut who'll fuck anyone who asks." The surprised look on Zack's face told him he had just struck a nerve "While you were playing stupid games outside! Thinking you were so smart fucking Hannah, I was fucking her good, she just begged me to fuck her more and more and then she begged me to see her tonight so I could fuck her again. And again, and ag-"

"UMPH!" Kurt grunted as Victoria's shin clumsily connected with his crotch and Kurt crumbled to the floor.

"You lying! Cheating!" Victoria furiously struggled with the words "Piece of... Asshole!" She screamed at Kurt. She threw another wild kick at Kurt hitting him in the thigh before Victoria turned around and ran out crying with Ashley and Heather running after her. A few moments later Hannah turned and followed the girls.

Zack and Brandon looked at each other again. Brandon again seemed to nod at Zack, a kind of recognition before he turned away followed by Trent. The two football players picked up a crumpled Kurt from the floor and carried him upstairs. Kurt painfully groaned as he clutched his bruised testicles while his empty stomach tried to heave the pain out.

Zack turned around and found Chloe just where he knew she would be standing. The two friends-turned-lovers just gazed deeply into each other's eyes, reading into each other.