*warning this story contains death and heavy material *
"The EF 4 that hit Pleasonton has officially moved off. We're just now getting scattered reports of injuries and destroyed homes and downlines. No reports on deaths so far but Pleasenton Hospital but we are expecting news updates within the hours..."
The rest of the Anchor foxes report was silenced as Michael hit mute. Him and his brother Leroy sat glued to the TV and there cellphones in the basement. The two wolves had been in the middle of sex when the sirens hit. While the twister passed they got dressed and braced for shock.
"Don't worry Michael, I'm sure Jimmy and the kids are okay" Leroy said assuring him
Michael was about to reply when his phone rang it was JJ.
"Hey baby, is everyone alright" Michael asked
"We're all okay mom!" JJ said "it missed us we're getting ready to head out of the cellar dad say him and little man are coming home and Julia's going to head to the hospital to help out"
"Oh Al-alright" Michael said relieved but still shaken "could you put dad on please?"
"Sure thing" jj said
"Hey mikey" Jim said
"Hi sweetie are you alright?" Michael said frantically
"I'm fine sweetheart, we made it down safe, we've been keeping benny Corey james and rose calm while the storm happened, it never hit us" Jimmy explained.
"That's good" Michael sighed "i think we were hit i heard a crash earlier. Might be a fallen tree"
"Aw no" Jimmy groaned there was a pause "double oh no! Hon the hotel got hit"
"Son of a bitch" Michael cussed. He had come out of retirement and started worked with Sanderson as equals on the new downtown hotel for months. Hearing it got hit just drained the wolf
"You coming home soon babe?" Michael asked
"In a little bit, Julia's heading to the hospital to lend a paw, we're making sure mom gets upstairs safely the lil man and I are on our way home" Jimmy explained.
"Alright sweetheart love you" Michael said
"Love you too" Jimmy hung up
-------------------
It was a few hours before Jimmy and Henery came rolling up to the house. They were shocked by the tree crashed through what looked like the spare bedroom for Hennery bear. That seemed to be the only damage.
The two came in and saw Michael hugging Leroy and Rebecca, Leroy's fox mate and there daughter Jennifer. Hennery and Jim came over and joined the hugging circle. "Hey we're back, what happened?"
"Leroy's street has been obliterated" Michael explained
"Entire block flattened..." Rebecca said in shock her ears flat.
"Michael said we can stay here, that alright Jim" Leroy asked
Jim nodded "your family and have a little one of course you can stay"
"Jennifer can stay with me. I got space in my room" Henery said
Rebecca smiled "I appreciate it Henery but I rather keep her close for now "
Henery nodded understandingly. Before he could go upstairs Michael's phone rang. He checked the number and it was Benny. Marie's father and a old friend of Jim and Michael.
"Hey Benney are you guys ok" Michael answered
"Michael...I have terrible news..." Benny sounded like he was crying "where's your boy Henery?"
"He's right here hang on..." he handed the phone to Henery who answered
As he did Jim's phone rang. It was Julia. He answered "Hey pumpkin what's up"
"Dad Where's Lil man?! I have bad news his Girlfriend Marie's dead"
Just as he said that Henery dropped the phone looking pale as a ghost. The young teen Hyena let out a a loud wailing "Nnnoooo!!!"
"I think he just found out I'll call back" jim said quickly then ran over to hug his youngest son
"Marie's dead" Jim said to Michael "his and his boyfriends girlfriend" he explained to Rebecca and Leroy.
Rebecca gasped and Leroy sprang from his seat like a shot and ran over to hug his nephew. Michael was stunned. He picked up his phone, Benny had already hung up. But he saw Benny had sent a sorry. Michael texted a reply then knelt down to hug his youngest son.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart" Michael said.
"How'd it happen?" Rebecca asked
"M-marie" he whimpered sadly "B-Benney father told me...M-Marie and her brother were picked up by the tornado...her brother's paralyzed...Marie didn't...didn't... gods no" he sobbed heavily.
Henery was so overwhelmed with grief he couldn't finish the sentence. Leroy looked over at his wife ears back with a look. The vixen understood the look and stood up.
"Jim Michael? Could I borrow you two for a few moments...uh outside?"
Jim and Michael looked at her a moment. She looked at Leroy and nodded. It was was an unspoken understanding that Leroy wanted a moment with Henery. As they left Leroy spoke up.
"Let it out nephew" Leroy said "There's no shame in crying"
Henery just held on to his uncle and cried his hardest.
"I know bud" Leroy said petting him gently "I've been through this before"
"R-really?" Henery whined softly.
"Yes. I have." Leroy said softly. "My first wife Gloria, Rose's mom. I lost her to a car wreck 8 years ago. When she died I...a part of myself died too and it hurt beyond words."
Henery nodded "it fucking sucks! She...she was going to be a track star and travis and I..."
Henery paused as he stared off into space. He had realized he hadn't been in touch with Travis after the tornado hit. The otter probably had no Idea about Marie. Slowly he reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone.
"I need to call him" Henery said softly as he dialed travis and held it up to his ear.
"I'll give you some space" Leroy said getting up and stepping out of the room.
Henery nodded as the the ring tone started. It wasn't till the fourth ring that Travis answered. "Henery?"
"It's me Travey" Henery replied
"Oh thank gods!" Travis said in relief "I was starting to worry"
"I'm..." Henery started "I'm alive, but I just learned something terrible"
"Oh no..." Travis moaned "who.."
"Marie..." travis said sadly "Marie's dead. The tornado got her and her brother Paul....he's alive but paralyzed. Marie..."
Henery shuddered unable to finish
"Oh no!" Travis said sadly "if uh...if you need me there I can be over first thing tomorrow. I'll tell dad."
"O-okay...." Henery sniffed. "We got a full house by the way. Uncle Leroy and Rebecca's block was flattened"
"Shit dude" Travis swore. "Is uh...is the rest of your family okay?"
"Yeah." Henery said empty.
Before he could explain further a knock on the wall got his attention. He looked and saw Rebecca poking her head in.
"Hey Henery, I'm sorry to interrupt but you got a visitor...some Gazelle named Tyler. He looks like he'sin rough shape"
Henery paused. What would bring Tyler over at a time like this? He lived on the other side of town. The twos relationship was friends with benefits. He did tell Tyler he could come over if there was a emergency.
"You heard that Travis?" Henery asked
"Yeah" the otter replied "call me back soon"
Henery hung up and followed Rebecca outside. Standing with Michael Leroy and Jim was tyler. The teen Gazelle did look rather ragged. His clothes had rips and his eyes...his eyes looked like they'd belonged to a crying old fur.
"H-hey Tyler?" Henery asked delicately.
"H-he-henery...help...me" he gasped.
Next thing the teen hyena knew, Tyler was hugging him tightly and crying his eyes out. Henery held him close
"Henery...my...my parents...my parents...oh gods...no...they're....they're gone...there dead...I dididi...didn't know where else to go...I walked all the way here"
Henery's already hurting heart ached even more. He looked to his parents who were listening and had looks of shock and sadness on there face. Michael gave a nod and came over.
"You'll be okay Tyler" Henery said "we'll take you in"
"I don't want to be a burden" Tyler cried
"You are no burden sweetheart" Michael said.
"Your a friend of our son" Jim said " we take care of you as if you were one of our own"
"Yeah.." Henery said sadly "your not alone Tyler...I know how you feel right now.. I lost M-Marie tonight too"
Tyler heard Henerys words and just laid his head on the hyenas chest and cried. Henery cried with him too. It was a heavy night for both boys emotionally.
Neither of them remembered how they made there way to Henerys room. As Tyler laid in bed Henery quietly stepped out to call Travis back.
"Hey travy?"
"Hey" travis answered
"Listen, I need you here tomorrow..."
"I'll be the first thing" the otter interrupted.
"I know.. " Henery said hushedly. "We need to talk tomorrow. Tyler lost his parents. The twister got them too. Mom said he could stay here"
There was a small pause.
"I'll be there tomorrow Henery." Travis said "Go take care of Tyler he needs you"
"I love you Travy" Henery said
"I love you too Henhen" Travis said "Don't worry I get it today was tragic. Marie was bad enough...I'm still processing it...but Tyler...he lost more than us and needs someone he really really trusts right now"
"Okay" Henery understood what he meant he had helped Tyler redeem himself and helped him study on occasion. The gazelle became a true friend of there's over time, more so to Henery.
As Henery and travis hung up after saying goodnight He made his way back into his bedroom where tyler was quietly sobbing. The Hyena stripped down to boxers and a night shirt and crawled into bed and fell asleep holding his new brother close as they both drifted off to sleep.
