School was rarely fun, as most people could testify to. There was only so much fun that a child, be it human or anthro, could have in a building that only serves the purpose of making them learn stuff they probably wouldn't need later in life. Especially when all they're doing is reciting stuff that has been ingrained into them since before they could walk and talk.
It was hard to imagine a scenario where knowing if a train departed from one station and arrived at another one 3 stops away, the meaning of the word "hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia" or what happens if you mix sodium and water, could ever actually be useful to them, but who were they to question it? It wasn't like it made a difference if they did, anyway.
That was the same case for the students of Ceaderton Elementary School. All of them were sitting there bored in the classroom, trying their best not to think about the clock on the wall, and the moment it would release them from this sentence of boredom they had to endure.
Friday, 2:58. The most torturous time of the week for any student, bar 9am on a Monday. The end was always so close, yet so far; it seemed like time went from marching on to slugging forward, almost as if it were deliberately prolonging their torment.
However, today was a little different from every other Friday. They would finally be released from this prison, but not just for the weekend. It was June 1st, which meant it was nearly time for summer break.
3 whole months of not having to worry about school, homework, or anything of the like. Just the thought alone was enough to make all of them look forward to the end of the school year, but the knowledge of what was coming later today made it all the sweeter.
Mayor Prince, the father of one of the school's own students, had financed to replace the old swimming hole with a new, fancy one, and it opened earlier today. A new, large swimming pool with a lifeguard tower, a kiddie pool, and a lazy river had been put in the middle of town.
Naturally, the children of Ceaderton were looking forward to it, and in just a few moments, they would get their chance.
2:59.
Only a minute left. The clock seemed to drag on more than usual, the seconds feeling like minutes.
The anticipation was killing them, and they could already feel their hands & feet getting ready to bolt from their chairs and out the doors like they were being hunted by a pack of poaching dogs.
Which, the likes of Todd, Bambi, Faline and Thumper could testify to, was pretty fast indeed.
30 seconds left.
Some of the kids could already hear the bell ringing in their heads. In reality, the clock was still ticking, and they could do nothing but wait and watch as the hands kept going.
20 seconds.
It was getting closer, tormenting them with little tick and tock.
10.
The sound of clockwork could practically be heard through the entire town. The moment that had been long-awaited was coming, and the children would soon have free reign to go and play.
5...
4...
3...
2...
1!
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
"YAAAAAYYYY!" Came the chorus of cheers from the cubs, and off the dashed to the exit, finally getting to savor their freedom.
They ran as fast as they could down the corridors and towards the doors leading to the outside world, not caring about anything else. Not like they had to worry about detention anymore. Not for the next 100+ days.
A stampede of excited cubs, pups and kits bolted out the door and into the outside world, not stopping to even think about where they were heading. All that was on their minds was the new attraction in town and how they couldn't wait to use it.
"To the swimming hole!" Todd declared, earning a chorus of cheers from his peers as they charged down the sidewalk, towards their destination.
Meanwhile, further down the pavement, a conversation was being held between the aforementioned mayor of their quiet, humble home, and another grown-up who was quite well known to most of the citizens. Though often for the opposite reason.
"Furthermore, Chief..." The long-antlered stag said, walking alongside the grumpy old dog. "I expect you to supervise the children without issue over the coming months. Now that school's out, we need to ensure they're able to have some fun over the summer."
Hearing this, as was expected from him, Chief wasn't too pleased by the order, giving the big deer a glare.
"What're ya talkin' about, Prince?" The Irish Wolfhound "I'm a huntin' hound, not a lap dog. I got more important things to do; I should be chasin' down bank robbers, not babysittin' the lil'-"
"Your work is vital to the well-being of this town's citizens." The mayor interrupted him, giving him a stern look of his own. "And in my eyes, there are no citizens more important than children. They're the adults of tomorrow, and the future of this community. There can be no greater service than watching over them, especially during a time where they feel that rules aren't as strict. And I don't believe I have to remind you, that you've taken a vow to uphold. Not just as a public servant, but as a father as well..."
The mention of his status as a father struck the aging dog a bit harder than he was willing to admit. As much as he didn't like the idea, he knew the mayor had a point.
Copper might not have been his real son, but with how long he had known him and having taken the pup in, he might as well have been.
And the thought of him getting hurt, mixing with the wrong crowd or even being a little reckless and hurting himself made the chief feel uneasy. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something like that were to happen... Even if he got the satisfaction of punishing whoever was responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
It might not have been ethical, but he was the town sheriff, and he had a job to do.
Still, he wasn't exactly a fan of children, even back in his heyday. And now that he was older, his patience was wearing even thinner.
Although, he wouldn't get the chance to make another complaint, when the sound of an incoming stampede of young ones came their way, catching their attention.
Seeing them coming towards them, Chief crossed his arms in disdain at their irritating enthusiasm, whereas Mayor Prince greeted them with a more welcoming, albeit professional demeanor.
"Hello, children." He said, getting their attention when they stopped charging to stand in front of them. "I trust you're excited about the opening of our new swimming hole?"
"Yeah!" Bambi exclaimed, his voice matching the excitement of his fellow cubs. "We're on our way there now, dad! You want to come too?"
"I appreciate the invitation, son. But I'm afraid I have some important business to attend to, and it will take all my focus." The stag replied, giving his boy a small, gentle smile. "That said, you all need to take great care with the new facility. You'll be the first to use it, and the first impressions can mean a lot."
"Don't worry, Mr. Mayor." Tod reassured him. "We'll be careful, and we'll take good care of it."
"You better had do, boy..." Chief grumbled, giving the young fox a hard glare. "'Cause if I see anythin' outta line, yer not gonna like the consequences..."
The canine's intimidating tone and threatening gaze was enough to make most of the kids nervous; Bambi and his friends all knew better than to get on his bad side.
Copper had grown accustomed to his demeanor, but he knew his friends hadn't yet.
"I'm glad to hear your concern with them, Chief." The mayor said, looking down at the grumpy, graying dog. "Since you're so worried about them misbehaving, then I'd say you should keep a close eye on them."
Both the sheriff and the children turned to look at the deer with a puzzled look.
"I'm appointing you as the lifeguard for the children this afternoon."
The shock and dismay was palpable, even from the kids, as none of them could believe what they had heard.
"Wait, what?!" Chief exclaimed, his jaw agape and his eyes widened in utter disbelief. "Sir, you can't be serious..."
"I am." Prince told him, not seeming at all fazed by the dog's reaction. "You'll be supervising the children while they're swimming. Safety is my primary concern, and there's no-one I entrust this to more than you. After all, you are a lifeguard yourself, are you not?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"And I trust you won't let me down." The mayor said, interrupting the canine again, as he gave him a confident, and yet demanding gaze, wordlessly telling him that "no" wasn't an option.
Sighing heavily, Chief realized that he couldn't decline. No matter how much he disliked the idea, he knew the mayor had a point. If the children were under his care, then they would be safe.
"... Alright, fine..."
"Good." Prince said, giving the dog a satisfied smirk. "Then I wish you luck. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going."
"But what about-" The stag's flesh and blood, tried to ask, only to be shot down by his father.
"Another time, Bambi." He told him. "I'll see you later tonight."
And with that, the long-antlered buck walked away, leaving the rest to stand there, looking at the police dog for confirmation.
"C'mon, kids..." Chief sighed, walking in the direction of the swimming hole. "Let's get goin'..."
Not wasting a second, the group followed behind him, not wanting to make him more annoyed than he already was... Although they were sure that was going to happen regardless.
***
Finally, the moment the had all been waiting for had arrived at last.
At the same exact moment, the first three kids emerged from their changing rooms, now wearing their swimming attire.
Not that it took much effort; the whole class was so excited for their afternoon activities that they all chose to wear their swimsuits underneath their regular clothes.
Bambi opened the door to his changing room, revealing the young buck wearing a pair of green swimming trunks. To his left, Thumper did the same, wearing an identical pair in blue, and to the deer's right, Flower came out in a red pair.
The deer, rabbit and skunk turned to look at one another, seeing that they were all ready for their fun to begin.
Across from them in the changing room, their friends walked out of theirs shortly after.
Todd came out wearing a black pair of trunks, though of a slightly different design than the other three lads, whereas Copper walked out donning the same kind as his best friend in yellow.
The fox and the hound shot each other a competitive glance after getting a look at what the other was wearing.
"Are you copying me?" They both asked at the same time, sharing a brotherly moment of rivalry that they were so known for.
"Psh. As if!"
"Yeah, I got these ages before you!"
"Well, at least I'll be the fastest in the pool!"
"Wanna bet?!"
The shared glare lasted for only a second between them, before both canines bolted, tring to beat the other into the water.
"HEY! No running!" A loud voice barked, halting their race.
Standing next to the pool was a lifeguard tower, and sitting in the chair on top of it was mone other than Chief. Having been appointed as their lifeguard and supervisor for the time being, he seemed to already be establishing his position.
The boys looked up at him towering over them, maintaining that usual air of dominance and dauting aura he had about him.
"This is a swimming hole, not a racetrack!" He said, glaring down at them. "If ya wanna run, go run somewhere else, but don't do it in here, ya got it?!"
"Yes, sir." The two canines replied, not wanting to upset the grumpy old dog even more than he already was.
From behind them, Bambi and his own best friends stiffled their giggles at the canines' scolding.
"What're you laughin' at?" Chief growled, glaring daggers at the three smaller animals. "I've told you before, boy; bein' the mayor's son doesn't give you special privileges. I've got my eye on you three as well."
His tone was enough to make the deer, rabbit and skunk straighten up immediately, nodding their heads and standing in perfect formation, not wanting to invoke his ire.
"Yes, Chief..." They replied in unison, as respectfully as they could make it sound.
"Good." He nodded. "Now get in the water and don't cause me no trouble. This isn't how I wanted ta spend mah afternoon."
With that out of the way, the pair of brothers looked back at one another again, maintaining their competitive gaze, but keeping the banter down this time.
"So, what should I beat you in first?" Todd asked, narrowing his eyebrows in gleeful flare. "Breath-holding or a swimming race?"
Copper smirked, matching his friend's look with a confident one of his own.
"I'd like to see you try~" The hunting dog-in-the-making retorted in a challenging tone. "I've been training real hard with Chief in the past few weeks. We even went camping in spring break, and he showed me tons of stuff that nature survivors need to know, like hunting and swimming. Just wait until I show you all the cool tricks I learned from him. I'm not the same pup from last summer, and I'm gonna show you who's top dog around here, To-"
The young hound stopped himself from rambling any further, when he got a load of the look on his friend's face.
Instead of that competitive glare he was just showing a second ago, he looked like he was in the middle of a dream; he had a big goofy grin on his face, and his eyes were staring off into space.
In fact, they were staring right behind him, which prompted Copper to turn around.
As soon as he did, he could see why his "brother"'s attention was elsewhere.
Walking towards the boys from the changing rooms were their other friends, dressed in their own swimwear.
One of them was the vixen in their class; the girl that Todd couldn't keep his mind or eyes off since the moment they met.
Vixey, who had joined their class at the start of the year and showed a great interest in the farmer fox boy, seeming to find that his boyish and good-natured personality had a certain kind of charm to it. Not to mention his face.
The young red vixen wore a purple one-piece swimsuit, making her look rather attractive in the eyes of the young male fox. Not that she wasn't already a goddess in his eyes anyway.
He couldn't stop staring at her like this; it was like he was under a spell that rendered him incapable of turning his gaze away.
And she wasn't alone.
Walking alongside Vixey was another girl from their class; Faline, the young doe, was talking with her as they approached the pool area, wearing something easy on the eyes as well.
The female deer was wearing a pink one-piece suit, with a little skirt sewn onto the waistline.
As the two girls got closer to the boys, Vixey's attention turned to Todd, letting out a little giggle when she saw the lovestruck expression on his face.
"Hi, Todd~" She greeted, giving him a friendly smile.
"Uh, uh... H- H- Hi, V- Vixey..." The farmer boy stuttered, smiling back at her and giving her a little wave.
Copper looked at his best friend with a little smirk of his own. His feelings towards the girl was hardly a secret to anyone, especially him, and seeing him like this was amusing.
Thankfully, he didn't consider her a threat to their friendship. She was a nice girl and he didn't feel like she would take his brother figure away from him. Though even if she did, he knew Todd would be in safe hands, and as long as he was happy, that would be all he would be concerned about.
Watching the scene as well, Thumper and Flower had their own reactions to Todd's touch of Cupid.
The skunk was snickering at the scene, finding amusement in how flustered their friend got when his crush was around, whereas the young bunny placed his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Twitterpated..." The mischievous rabbit tutted condescendingly, recalling one of their lessons that their science teacher Professor Owl taught them earlier that semester. "Sure glad that's not gonna happen to us, huh Bambi?"
But when his head turned to look at his best friend, his expression changed when he saw his.
The buck had an identical look on his face to Todd's, staring directly at Faline in the same manner.
Thumper could've sworn he could see little hearts floating around & popping as he looked at the doe, his mind wandering off into la la land.
"Oh no, they've got him too..." Thumper commented, seeing Bambi's lovey-dovey look, before letting out a sigh and rolling his eyes.
Paying no notice to his friend's remarks, the deer just looked with dreamy eyes as his own crush walked up to him.
"Hi, Bambi~" She greeted, giving him a friendly, almost sickly sweet smile.
"H- Hi, Faline~" The buck replied, smiling back at her.
Her eyes scanned the buck's mostly exposed body, getting a look at him and how adorable he looked like this.
As far as she was concerned, he didn't need to be rugged and manly to impress her; she liked his cute appearance and gentle nature, and found his innocent side quite attractive.
Of course, there was the fact that he had the makings of a strong buck in the future, being the son of the town's mayor, but she would never put a lot of value into that. She liked him for him.
Bambi didn't need to do the same to her; he was contempt with just looking at her pretty face and hearing her graceful voice.
She was perfect in his eyes, and she knew he was smitten with her. The whole school did, really.
"You look nice~" She complimented him, making his cheeks redden.
"O- Oh, thank you, F- Faline." The deer boy stammered, unable to tear his eyes away from the object of his affection, no matter how hard he was blushing. "Y- You look nice too..."
Seeing them acting all mushy around one another, the bunny couldn't help but scoff at it.
"Come on, Flower. Let's get in the pool already." He suggested, turning to be the first in the water, quickly being joined by his stinky pal.
"Oh, boy!" He excitedly exclaimed, heading towards the water as well, getting a look at the brand new facility.
It looked incredible; it was way bigger than any of them thought it would be, with a kiddie pool, a lazy river, a slide, a diving board and everything!
There was also the aforementioned lifeguard tower that Chief was sitting in, but that was something none of the cubs were going to pay much attention to, as long as he wasn't bothering them.
"Hey, Thumper." The skunk spoke up, addressing his best friend, as they stood at the edge of the water. "Do you want to jump in together?"
"Yeah, sure!" The young rabbit said, smiling back at him. "On three, we'll jump."
Flower nodded, standing on the edge of the water next to him.
"Ready? One..."
"Two..."
"Thr-"
"CANNONBALL!"
The sudden voice of someone else caught the boys off guard, causing them to both lose their balance, falling forward and splashing into the water.
At the same time, someone bigger than them leapt over where they had fallen in, and curled herself into a ball, splashing into the water a fair few feet away from the boys,
After regaining their bearings, Thumper and Flower lifted their heads above the water, looking over to see who interrupted them, only to be met with a little tidal wave splashing over their faces, getting them wet a second time.
They wiped the water off their faces, trying to see who was responsible, and when they saw, they weren't all that surprised.
Emerging from the water was someone else who attended their school, and could more often than not, be something of a problem for both the students and the teachers.
It was the wolfdog, Aleu, whose family had moved into Ceaderton earlier this year, and she had quite the reputation.
She was something of an attention-seeker, having a knack for making a lot of the kids and grown-ups alike grow tiresome of her antics.
"Ha ha!" She laughed, emerging from the water and shaking the liquid off her fur. "I'd give that a ten outta ten, wouldn't you guys?"
The boys looked at one another, silently exchanging their opinions.
"Uh... Yeah, sure, I guess." Flower answered, not sounding very enthusiastic about her self-praise, whereas Thumper didn't even bother answering.
Aleu smiled, feeling satisfied with her performance.
"Awesome! Maybe next time, I'll get a standing ovation!" She cheered, earning a blank stare from the boys, before her own gaze shifted upwards to the ledge where she had jumped from. "Hey, chicken! You wanna come on in!?"
Looking up at who she was referring to, the boys could see another canine looming over the edge of the upper platform, having the polar opposite look on his face than his sister had.
Kodi, Aleu's brother, was looking down at his sister with a mix of concern and fear, not seeming comfortable in the slightest.
"Uh, no thanks..." He declined, not seeming interested in jumping in at all. "I- I'll... Come in when I'm ready."
The sister of the two could never resist the chance to tease her sibling whenever the opportunity arose. And right now was a prime opportunity indeed.
"Suit yourself, baby bro!" She taunted, grinning mischievously. "More pool for us, right guys? Come one, I'll cream you in a game of volleyball!"
That wasn't an appealing thought; with the way this girl usually was, they could imagine getting pelted in the face with the ball full-force, and that didn't seem like something they would enjoy.
The boys once again turned to look at each other, not looking as impressed or amused by her suggestion, before they both shook their heads and swam away.
Not the response she was looking for, but not surprising, either.
"You guys are no fun." She remarked, sticking her tongue out at them before going her own way.
Meanwhile, still sitting up on his lifeguard chair, Chief was watching the goings-on of the children, keeping a close eye on them and their activities.
His gaze shifted from one kid to the next, making sure they weren't getting into trouble, or hurting themselves, and so far, none of them incurred his wrath... Yet.
The old dog kept looking, and after scanning the area, his eyes settled on his pseudo son.
Copper was walking alongside Todd as they approached the pool, after Vixey had left them to their own devices so she could tend to hers, and it wasn't long before the brothers reached the water, looking forward to getting into it.
The canines' expressions were the same as most of their classmates; excited and eager to get started.
Seeing them, Chief's demeanor relaxed slightly, as a small smile crept onto his face.
As much as he may not have liked Todd, due to his feud with who he lived with, it was nice to see Copper enjoying himself, especially when the dog was with his best friend.
The fox could make him smile, which was something he didn't do a lot of, admittedly.
"Okay, let's get in!" Todd suggested, wasting no time in dropping himself into the body of water, submerging himself beneath it and letting it soak his fur.
It was just the right temperature for him, and he hoped that his best buddy was enjoying it as well.
However, when he looked besides him to see the dog's reaction, he was puzzled to see that Copper hadn't joined him in there.
Instead, the young hound was still standing on the ledge, not having moved an inch yet.
Poking his head out from the water, shaking it a little instinctively to dry himself off, the vulpine took a look at what was going on.
Copper was staring off into a different part of the pool area, with a smile on his face that wasn't too different than the one his best friend had a few inutes ago.
"Hey, Copper, what are you waiting for?" The farmer boy's voice caught his attention, snapping him out of it and bringing him back to the reality. "The pool is calling for us! Let's go!"
"O- Oh, right. Sorry, I just..." The younger canine began, averting his gaze away from the source of his distraction, and looking at his brother figure with an awkward smile, hoping he wasn't blushing. "I was just... Thinking about stuff."
Todd could only tilt his head to the side, puzzled by his friend's odd behavior.
Before he wouldn't get the chance to ask, before the dog made his move to enter the pool as well.
"Move over, I'm coming in!" He declared, preparing to fall in the same spot his pal was.
Seeing him coming, Todd quickly swam out of the way of the incoming impact, moving aside just in time.
He watched as the younger canine's form plummeted into the pool, creating a small tidal wave that washed over the fox's body.
It wasn't strong enough to knock him over, but it was still enough to make him to wipe the water off his face, and look towards his brother.
He could see him emerge from the pool, shaking his fur like a wet dog, and looking quite content with himself.
"Now that was a perfect entrance, if I say so myself." He remarked, earning a chuckle from his pal.
"Yeah?" Todd asked, grinning at his buddy's smug expression. "I bet I can beat you at holding my breath!"
"Oh, you're on!" The hound said, giving him a competitive glare, as the pair of best friends engaged in a friendly rivalry once again.
Both of them taking a deep breath & puffing their cheeks signalled that they were ready to begin, and then the pair dove beneath the surface of the water, waiting to see who could stay under the longest.
And they weren't the only ones who were getting into the competitive spirit of things.
It wasn't long after his two best friends got in that Bambi decided to do the same, and the three of them were engaging in a little splash fight between themselves.
The deer, bunny and skunk had gotten himself drenched, and he was loving every second of it, as well as the laughter and smiles from his two best friends.
"Hahaha!" The buck giggled, as the boys playfully splashed one another, not caring about who would get the other wetter.
The skunk's eyes closed from all the water splashing in his face, but that didn't stop him from enjoying himself.
"Haha! Ahh! This is fun!" Flower commented, before getting doused with more water, prompting him to open his eyes again and retaliate.
Bambi and Thumper both got soaked by the spray of water from their pal, and they were having the time of their lives.
"I'll get you for that!" The young bunny declared, as he hopped into the air from the water, landing back in with a splash.
The impact resulted in a little tidal wave washing over the other pair, drenching their faces and making them giggle uncontrollably.
"Haha! Hey, Thumper!" The deer called out, smiling widely at his best friend, as he splashed him in retaliation.
Their boyish game continued for a while longer, until something caught the attention of the equine, pausing his activity and making himself vulnerable.
All by herself at another part of the pool, sitting on the ledge and soaking her hooves in the water, Faline was watching the boys having their fun, a sweet, innocent smile on her face. Although she quickly looked away when she saw that the buck of her heart had taken notice of her, and got back to what she was working on.
It was a flower crown, namely made of daisies from the surrounding bunch growing on the grass besides her.
Bambi couldn't help but stare at her, getting lost in her beautiful features.
From her gorgeous blue eyes, to her elegant brown coat, she looked just as beautiful as a painting.
And seeing her making something so intricate and delicate, it only made her all the more perfect in his eyes.
But he wouldn't get the chance to stare at her for long; he was suddenly brought back to reality by the feeling of a wave of water splashing his face, larger than the previous ones.
He could hear the sounds of snickering and chuckling, and he turned to his best friends, who were looking at him with mischievous looks on their faces, having combined their efforts to surprise attack him.
"Gotcha, Bambi~" Thumper taunted, earning an embarrassed look from the buck, as he turned to look at his best pals again. "Maybe you should keep your eyes on the game, instead of staring at your twitterpate~"
The buck's face flushed with red upon hearing his best friend's teasing remark, not helping him maintain his dignity.
"Sh- She's not my twitterpate!" He retorted, though not sounding very convincing in his arguement.
Both the rabbit and the skunk looked at one another, sharing a smile between them, before turning back to their friend.
"Suuuuuure, she's not~(!)" Thumper replied sarcastically, giving him a teasing grin, which was mirrored by Flower, and they both shared a quiet giggle between one another. "Look, if you really wanna go talk to her, then go for it. We can't stop you."
"Yeah, if you like Faline, then go ahead." Flower added, earning an embarrassed glance from the deer, looking as supportive as he sounded. "We'll be okay without you."
The buck gave the pair a small smile, appreciating his best friends' support.
He couldn't help but feel nervous about the thought of approaching her. It was the same everytime; his knees went weak and his his heart began pounding.
And that was exactly what was happening right now.
Turning around and looking at the pretty doe, he could see that she was still working on her little project.
He couldn't deny that he really did want to go over and talk to her, especially since the two could have some privacy, but the question was how would he go about it?
He didn't want to just interrupt her, but just staring from afar wasn't a much better alternative.
Looking around, the buck tried to find the best way to approach her.
Eventually, his eyes landed on the part of the grass patch adjacent to where the doe of his dreams sat, and there, he saw a flower that matched the same color as the rest, except it was much larger than the others, and much more beautiful.
From what he had learnt from his Flora-&-Fauna class, this one wasn't a daisy like the rest of them that Faline was gathering for her crown; this was a lily flower, and a particularly beautiful one at that.
'That's perfect!' The deer thought to himself, before making his way over to the lone flower.
He could hear his buddies whispering behind his back, but he didn't let that bother or deter him, knowing that he'd get an earful of teasing if he turned back around, and not wanting to deal with that at the moment.
Instead, just quickly and quietly made his way towards his target, hoping it would impress his love.
Just as he passed by a pair of little streaming bubbles, a sudden upwards splash emerged from beneath one of them, with the hunting dog's head coming with it, taking in some deep breaths after resurfacing.
Only a second later, a second, matching splash came out from beneath the other stream of bubbles, where the fox's head would pop out from the water.
The two canines looked at each other, both panting after their little competition, trying to catch their breaths.
"Looks like I win..." Todd managed to say in a smug tone, after recovering a little.
"Best out of three?" Copper suggested, earning a cheeky grin from his best friend.
"Sure. If you wanna lose again, that is."
"Yeah, we'll see about that." The dog said, narrowing his eyes and smirking back at his buddy.
The pair laughed, before taking in a deep breath and diving down under the surface again, eager to engage in another competition.
And they would've been successful, if not for a certain something waiting for them down there, catching them by surprise forcing them back up.
There, beneath the water's surface, was the wolfdog girl herself, sitting in the shallow water, waiting for the next competitors.
As soon as she saw the pair, she smiled a big, smug smirk, and gave them a little wave.
Seeing her beneath them, the boys shared a quick glance between each other, before they decided to surface.
Aleu popped up from the water as well, emerging from behind the pair of pups, still having the same smile on her face.
"Hiya, boys!" She loudly greeted them, startling the pair a little.
"Gah! Aleu, you scared us!" Todd exclaimed, turning around and seeing the female hybrid standing there.
"Sorry 'bout that(!)" The girl said, not sounding sorry at all. "Just looking for someone else to tease. But since I found you guys, you wanna race?"
The fox just gave an uncomfortable look, seeming unsure about this girl's idea of "playing", and not wanting the risk of getting hurt, as he presumed he would be.
Maybe it was just a feeling he had from the rep she had, but something about her was telling him to avoid her at all costs.
"Uh, no thanks..." He declined, hoping she would take the hint. "Me and Copper are busy right now, and-"
"Man, what is with you boys?" She huffed, turning around and spotting her scaredy cat brother, who seemed to be making a little bit of progress in regards to joining in on the aquatic fun.
A short distance away, the more cautious one of the siblings was sitting on the ledge, slowing working the nerve to inch his toe into the water, Kodi's face was painted with a nervous expression, as he carefully reached his foot downwards, and let it dip in.
Seeing this filled his sister with some sinister thoughts, and her gaze quickly turned back to the two canines who were now behind her.
"Never mind, then. Catch ya later!" She declared, lowering herself into the water again and making her way towards her new target.
Todd let out a little sigh, as her watched the wolfgirl swim away, leaving them alone.
"Whew, that was close..." The fox stated, looking back at his best friend with that same challenging smile. "So, still wanna have a rema-"
Stopping himself midway through his question, the young vulpine's expression changed from excited to puzzled, when he saw the look on his best buddy's face.
Instead of sharing the sentiment of brotherly rivalry between him and his closest friend, the dog had a face that said he was lost in some kind of trance; he was looking off at something in his line of sight before him, paying no attention to the fox, with half-lidded eyes.
"Copper? Are you alright?" He asked, waving his hand in front of his face, trying to snap the young hound out of it.
Instead, he was met with a slow inhale & exhale, and his head slightly tilting.
"Hey, Todd~?" He began, still not looking at his companion. "What'd you think of Aleu? Is she cool or what?"
The question took the fox by surprise, not expecting it from his pal.
"Well, I... I guess..." He answered, not really sure what to make of the wolfdog girl, nor of the question itself. "Why are you asking?"
"Oh, nothing, I was just curious..." The young hunting dog trailed off, letting out a sigh. "I just think she's... really awesome, y'know? So cool, and sporty... And cute~"
That follow-up didn't require the fox to put two and two together, knowing the cause & origin of the sudden question.
"Ooooh, Copper~" Todd cooed, a teasing look creeping on his face as he rested his elbow on his friend's shoulder. "Are you twitterpated~?"
Suddenly, Copper's face became red as a tomato, and he turned away from his best friend's direction.
"Wh- Wh- What!? N- No, I- I'm not!" He exclaimed, denying the accusation. "I'm not- I don't- There's no way I would ever-!"
"No way you'd ever what?"
The sudden voice of the she-wolf they were just referring to from right behind them startled them a second time, though one of the boys moreso than the other, causing him to leap into the air and come back down crashing into the water, submerging himself beneath the surface.
Once he poked his head out and his best friend turned around, there was Aleu, looking at the former with a mischievous smile, as per usual.
Copper could only hope that she couldn't see his furious blush beneath the water, and if she did, he could only hope she didn't read too far into it.
Even though he tried to deny it to his friend, when he was staring up at the confident & pretty she-wolf, he couldn't help but think about her and the feelings he got when he was near her.
And now, with her being so close to him & looking down at him like this, his thoughts were all over the place, and his heart was beating out of control.
She was so beautiful, her personality was amazing and her sense of humor was so unique.
There was no way someone like him could even come close to someone like her, and yet, the mere thought of her made him feel so complicated inside.
Feeling this, the young hound simply let himself sink lower into the pool's water, which earned a little giggle from his brother figure and the girl of his dreams.
Once his whole head was under, the latter two looked at each other, a smile on their faces.
"I'm just messin' with him." She said, winking at him.
"So... Did you hear what we were talking about?" He asked, giving her a suspicious look.
"Kinda hard not to." She said, shrugging. "I can hear pretty well as is, and it's kinda easier to when you're shouting like that.
"Oh, well..." The fox boy responded, looking between her and his best friend. "You, uh... You know how he-"
"I think he's pretty cute, too." She cut him off, her tone sounding quite fond and warm. "He's a sweet kid, and I've seen you guys playing. Looks like fun."
"Yeah, he is." The younger canine replied, his gaze still fixated on his best friend. "You gonna tell him?"
The wolfdog turned her head to look at him, raising an eyebrow, prompting him to clarify when he saw the look on her face.
"Y- You know, that you like him too?"
The hybrid gave him a sly grin, before letting out another little giggle.
"Heh heh heh. Nah..." She answered, shaking her head. "If we're gonna be twitterpated, he's gonna make the first move, or forget it. It'll happen sooner or later, though. I can tell."
"How can you tell?"
"Trust me, I can." She said, turning her body back to the young fox with a more serious/unamused expression. "You better not tell him what I told you, either. Or else..."
She let the threat trail off, knowing she had a reputation, and didn't need to do anymore to convince him not to say anything.
"Sure, yeah. I promise." He replied, nodding. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Good." Aleu said, smiling once more. "See ya later, chicken."
With that, she dove into the water and swam away, leaving the canines alone, once again.
Once she was gone, Copper's rose from the water again, gasping for breaths, as if he had been underwater for a lot longer than he actually was.
"I- Is she gone?" He asked, still seeming flustered.
"Yeah, you can come out." His brother figure reassured him, patting him on the back and helping him calm down.
"Phew, that was close..." He sighed, letting his heartbeat slow down, before he turned to his friend, who had an odd smile on his face.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just..." The fox said, trying not to let the secret slip, and got back to the more important topic. "Come on, let's race to the other side of the pool and back! I bet I can beat you this time!"
The dog gave him a little smirk, liking his idea.
"I'm not gonna go easy on you, Todd!" He remarked, as the two pups began swimming their way over to the other end of the pool.
They both came racing by the side of the pool, namely where a certain doe was resting herself at, holding onto her custom-made crown in her hands, and admiring her work.
When the boys zoomed past her, Faline's eyes caught the pair, watching them swimming across the pool.
She couldn't help but smile, finding it a cute sight, and also a funny one. It was different than the kind of playing she would occasionally do with Bambi and their friends, but it was still a nice sight.
And speaking of...
"Um, h- hey, Faline..." The voice of the buck she was thinking of declared from right besides her, getting the girl's attention.
Looking to her right, the young fawn was standing there, holding a beautiful, white flower in his hands, which he offered to her with a shaky, nervous smile.
"T- This is for you..."
Faline looked at the flower, her face lighting up, before she turned back to the buck.
"It's very beautiful, Bambi." She thanked him, gently taking the lily from his hand, holding it in her own. "I love it~"
Her smile was enough to melt the boy's heart, and it was the exact reaction he was hoping for.
He let out a happy sigh, seeing that she appreciated his gift, and her appreciation only made her even more perfect.
"Mind if I give you something in return~?"
Bambi's heart skipped a beat when he heard that, his nerves returning in full force, and his tail wagging like a happy dog.
"O- O- Of course not." He stuttered, his smile never leaving his face.
Smiling at his answer, the doe patted the spot next to her, inviting him to sit down, and the boy didn't hesitate to do so.
Once the buck was sitting beside her, Faline turned around and reached for something, prompting the buck's curiosity.
"Here. For you~" She said, turning back to him with her fists closed and moving them towards his, as if she was handing him a pair of something.
Naturally, the buck held his own hands out and open, ready to receive whatever she was planning to bestow him.
However, once she opened her hands, nothing was in them; instead, she gently grabbed his hands with her own, holding them in a way that was both caring and tender, surprising the buck with whatever she had planned.
Tilting his head up to look at her, Bambi was suddenly met with the feeling of the doe he loved pressing her lips against his, catching him off-guard and making his heart stop.
His eyes widened, and his body stiffened, not having expected her to kiss him so suddenly like this.
As her soft lips were pressed against his, he felt an incredible amount of happiness and affection for her, not believing how lucky he was, and not wanting this moment to end. Not for anything, not ever.
After a few seconds, Faline slowly pulled her head back, separating their lips, and looking the boy in the eyes.
"Did you like that~?" She asked him, giving him a sweet, loving smile.
If Bambi could comprehend anything at the moment, he would easily be lost in those beautiful, baby blue eyes, and the gorgeous face behind them.
"I- I- I..." He tried to say, his heart still pounding. "I- I- I l- l- lo- loved it, F- F- F- F- Faline..."
His response made her giggle a little, making him blush even more, making him look at the cuter in her eyes.
"Me too~" She replied, giving him a gentle caress on the cheek, making him smile and relax, enjoying the feeling of her touch. "Wanna help me make another flower crown? We'll have matching ones, then~"
That suggestion was enough to make the boy's heart skip a beat again; any chance to be with her was a blessing, and to spend some time together and get closer to her would only make it all the more special.
"O- O- Okay..." He accepted, his smile growing even bigger, not being able to contain his happiness.
It didn't take long for the two deers to get busy, the pair of them working together on the little project.
Meanwhile, not too far away, another pair of friends were busy with their own activity on land, and they were having just as nice of a time.
Kodi, deciding to have opted out from entering the water as well, instead went over to the sand area of the pool, where he went to assist the vixen already there with what she was working on.
Both he and Vixey were in the middle of making a sandcastle.
Actually, it was more of a sand kingdom; a small village of sand houses, with a castle on top of a hill, which they were making using a bucket, and were using some seashells to decorate the little buildings.
They had a fun time working together on it, and the fact that they were the only ones over here was nice, knowing they wouldn't be disturbed.
Not by any of their peers, anyway.
"Look, Kodi. This looks so good~" Vixey commented, smiling at the little village they had made together. "This can be the library, and this can be the bakery, and this can be the park!
"Yeah, and I can be the king, and you can be my queen!" The pup added, giving her a confident smile, before letting out a giggle and earning a little one from her as well.
Despite the remark being taken well, Vixey couldn't help thinking about that idea, but with a slight change in the monarchy.
Just like most of the kids here, she had her eyes set on someone from their class, and he was in within her eye's view, currently.
Looking into the pool, not too far from where they were, the vixen's gaze landed on the young vulpine she had a crush on.
Todd and Copper were currently having a race in the pool, the former being a few meters ahead, and the latter trailing behind, but he seemed determined to catch up.
"Hey, Kodi..." She said, her voice suddenly becoming a little lower and less enthusiastic. "Could... Could you give me a moment?"
Kodi noticed the sudden change in her demeanor, and gave her a slightly puzzled look.
"Oh, uh, sure. Take your time." He said, getting up and walking away from her, dusting the sand off his trunks & knees.
The young girl smiled, giving him a grateful look, as she watched him walk off, before turning back to her crush.
Todd had just reached the other side of the pool, and was making his way back, with his best friend close behind.
'He's so fast and agile...' She thought to herself, thinking about how good of a runner the young fox was, and how athletic he looked in general. 'I'm sure he likes me back. I hope he does, anyway~'
Meanwhile, Kodi looked elsewhere for something to do, or someone to interact with. His phobia of getting in the water was still eating away at him, and it would likely be a while before he could work up the nerve to get in.
He wished that he didn't have to be such a burden to himself, though; just looking besides himself at the water, he saw Flower, paddling about & playing by himself, and Flower showing off with some backstrokes, neither of them looking like they had a care in the world.
If he was like that, maybe things wouldn't be so bad, and he wouldn't be feeling so anxious and afraid all the time.
Suddenly, a deep sigh broke him out of his self-derogatory thoughts, and his attention turned to the source of the noise, seeing the grumpy old dog who was appointed to be watching over them.
He was sitting there, on his lifeguard chair, resting his head on his fist, staring into the distance.
Kodi couldn't help but wonder why he even bothered with this job; he was the chief of police, and yet he was babysitting a bunch of children. It wasn't hard to see why he wasn't enjoying himself.
"Um... Chief?"
The old canine turned his head to the sound of the voice, his eyes landing on the younger canine, standing below him.
"What?" He simply replied, sounding bored and not interested in whatever he had to say.
Despite the rude reply, Kodi maintained his friendly approach, not wanting to upset him and ruin his day any further.
"Would you... like some company?" He offered, giving him a friendly smile, hoping that would get a different reaction from him.
Of course, it didn't.
"I'm fine." The canine declined, turning his gaze back to the distance, not sparing the pup another glance. "Just git back to playin'."
Kodi gave him a concerned look, not convinced by the former part of the answer, instead choosing to stay and see if he could make his day any better.
"Well, it doesn't look like you're having a lot of fun up there, is all." He commented, hoping that would get a bit more of a response out of him.
The dog didn't look at him, though his expression shifted into a more frustrated one; his brow furrowed even more behind his sunglasses, as if the mere comment irritated him.
"I said I'm fine." He repeated, his tone a little more stern, as a way to try and deter the young pup from bothering him any more.
However, his stricter voice didn't change Kodi's mind, nor did the frown he had.
"What's wrong?" The boy innocently asked, sounding genuinely worried for him. "There's something bothering you, isn't there? Something other than me"
The chief just grumbled, turning his head to look downwards, before he sighed again, his expression not changing, along with his tone.
"I... I'm just fed up." He explained, his gaze averting. "I'm tired of all the kids around here. They're always causin' trouble as is, but now I'm being made to watch 'em, too. I should be doing something better than this..."
"But you're doing an important job." Kodi reassured him, trying his best to keep his spirits up. "The mayor handpicked you for it, because he said he thinks you're the best person for it. That should be-"
"That's the problem!" The dog exclaimed, his frustration growing, as he got more annoyed. "I'm not a lifeguard, I'm the chief of police! I'm the town's head lawman, and now I'm wasting my time babysitting a buncha whippasnappers!"
He sighed, turning his head to look away again, not feeling like he could handle looking the pup in the eye right now.
"Mayor Prince says I'm the best man for it? Yeah, that's probably 'cuz he thinks I'm not cut out for proper police work nowadays." He remarked, scoffing at the notion. "I mean, I know I'm an old dog, but I can still tackle a bank-robber as well as any young spark can."
Hearing the older canine's complaints, Kodi couldn't help but feel bad for him, seeing that he really wasn't enjoying his job right now.
While he understood why the majority of kids at the school, including himself to a degree, found Chief to be a huge killjoy and spoilsport most of the time, he was one of the kids who also understood the importance of the old timer's job, and how seriously he took it.
He may not be idolised in terms of personality or win any popularity contests, but he knew that the dog had done a lot of good for the town during his 54 years of life, 30+ of which were spent serving & protecting the residents of the town.
Even after all the years and decades, he had a sharp mind, and still had a strong spirit, despite the aging and the arthritis.
He couldn't blame him for wanting something better to do than sit about on the tower, keeping an eye on a group of kids.
"Well... There has to be something you can do, right?" The canine pup suggested, not seeming very sure of his own advice, before an idea popped into his mind. "Hey, if you're not busy, um... Could you help me try and get in the water?"
Chief's eyebrows raised a little at the request, seeming like it had intrigued him, and his face softened a little.
"What'd'ya mean by that?"
"I- It's just... I- I've never gone swimming before, and... I'd really like to try..." He explained, turning to look at all his friends having a good time in the water. "But, um... I'm k- kinda scared of the water... So, I was hoping, since you're in charge here, that, y- you know..."
The old canine took a second to ponder the idea, before looking at the young pup.
"Alright. Guess it'll be something new to do."
Kodi smiled at him, happy that the older canine was willing to help.
"Thank you, Chief. This really means a lot to me."
"Yeah, yeah, kid." Chief replied, a small smile creeping on his face, not having felt appreciated in a while.
Climbing down from his tower, Chief came over to the boy, and the pair went over to the edge of the pool.
Looking at the water, the older canine could see a few kids playing around, splashing each other, or diving underwater, and a few of them were playing in the shallower end.
They seemed to be safe for the moment, so he wouldn't need to watch them for a little while.
"Alright, easy does it, son..." He advised, slowly dipping his toe into the pool.
"W- What do I do?" Kodi asked, taking a deep breath, trying to prepare himself.
"Just ease yourself into it." Chief suggested, letting his foot sink into the water. "Start slow, one bit at a time. Hold onto me if you feel like you're in trouble."
The pup nodded, slowly moving forward, and following the chief's advice.
"Here we go..." He muttered, putting one foot into the water, and then the other.
He had a bit of trouble getting them in, the unfamiliar feeling of the water being a little uncomfortable, but he pushed through, and soon, both his feet were in.
"O- Okay, what's next?"
"Just keep going." Chief replied, as his foot sank further. "Move at your own pace. Don't rush."
Taking the dog's words to heart, the pup slowly started lowering his legs into the pool, his legs sinking deeper and deeper, until the water came up to his knees.
He was starting to feel comfortable in the water, and he was enjoying the feeling, smiling at the sensation of the warm water brushing against his skin.
"Wow, this feels nice..." He commented, looking down at his legs, which were submerged beneath the water.
"You're doing great, son. Keep goin'." Chief said, watching as the young canine kept moving further and further, happy that he was still needed for something after all.
It might not have lived up to the standards of his glory days, but he was grateful for the fact that he was still useful to the people around him.
Kodi continued his descent, moving forward and letting his body sink into the water, slowly and surely.
He was grateful as well. For having someone like Chief here, someone who was willing to help him, and also for the chief himself.
Maybe it was just his nature, or the fact that he was a policeman, but Chief always had a protective, nurturing vibe about him, despite his strict and often harsh exterior that he usually showed.
***
A whole two hours had passed since the kids had gotten to the pool, and they were all still having the time of their lives.
However, their time limit had been reached, and Chief made sure they knew that.
His whistle had blown, and the announcement was made, and now, the kids still in the water were slowly beginning to make their way out of the swimming hole.
On the outside of it, Bambi and Faline had finished making their matching flower crowns, even making them for their friends as well, and were having a lot of fun wearing them.
Three of them, at least. While Flower and the two deers enjoyed their new headwear, Thumper looked like he'd rather not be donning one as well. Though he'd rather not ruin the mood for his friends.
Todd reached the edge of the pool, following the rabbit and skunk, and was about to pull himself out.
That is, until he noticed his best buddy was not beside him, and he turned around to see the dog still swimming his way over, seeming like he was taking his time.
"Hi, Todd~"
However, before he got the chance to call out to him, a feminine voice from above him caught his attention, and when he looked up, there was the girl he liked, smiling at him, holding a hand out.
"Need a hand?" Vixey asked, earning a blush from the fox.
"O- Oh, uh, n- no thanks, Vixey..." He declined, giving her a nervous smile, as he took a hold of the edge of the pool, beginning to push himself up. "I- I'm fine."
"Alright, if you're sure~" She said, smiling as she watched the fox get up and out.
It took him a second, but the vulpine was soon out of the water and back on dry land.
As he stood before the vixen, the latter handed him a towel, which he accepted.
"Thanks."
"No problem~" She replied, smiling as she watched the boy dry himself off, and couldn't help admiring him. "So... How'd you enjoy your first time swimming?"
"It was a lot of fun." He answered, not looking at her as he continued drying himself off. "Copper's a natural, though. He's a fast swimmer."
"Yeah, I saw. You were pretty amazing, too~" She complimented him, smiling and giggling, making his cheeks heat up.
"Oh, uh, th- thanks..." He responded, his blush deepening, as he tried to hide it behind the towel.
Once again, his actions earned a giggle from the young vixen, trying not to embarrass him any more.
"Hey, if you want, maybe we could hang out later~" She suggested, turning to walk with him towards the changing rooms. "Just the two of us~"
Her suggestion caught him by surprise, not expecting it from her, but it did put a smile on his face, as he thought about spending some quality time with her.
"S- S- Sure, s- sounds fun." He answered, earning a bigger smile from her.
"Great~ I'm looking forward to it~"
And with that, the pair left, heading towards the changing rooms to get changed and prepared for whatever they had planned.
Aleu, being the next to climb out of the water, decided to wait for her brother to catch up with her, before making her next playful move.
As soon as Kodi was passing her, the wolfdog began shaking the wetness off her fur, intentionally aiming at the boy, getting him a bit wet.
"Hey, hey, hey!" He exclaimed, getting splashed with water.
The wolfdog chuckled, seeing his reaction, before she ran away, prompting her brother to chase after her.
"Oh, you're gonna get it!"
"I'd like to see you try!" She taunted, as the sibling duo dashed across the grassy plains.
"I said no running!" Chief declared, having caught the sight of the duo dashing around, and blowing his whistle again.
However, they had already left the premises by the time he had called, and were long gone.
Meanwhile, back at the pool, Copper had finally made his way over to the edge, but he wasn't yet pulling himself up.
Instead, he was just standing there, staring ahead at something. Or someone.
Aleu, his crush, the girl of his dreams.
She was right there, still within his eyesight, heading off to the changing rooms, her tail wagging side-to-side behind her with every step.
He was still mesmerised by her, lost in his daydreams, and still feeling the same feelings for her.
"You need help getting out, son?"
Chief's voice snapped him out of his daze, and his gaze landed on the old dog, holding a hand out towards him, as he offered his help.
"Oh, uh, n- no thanks..." The younger dog answered, before climbing up and out of the pool, not needing the canine's help with it.
Turning to look at whatever his adopted son had his eyes on, the chief followed his gaze, and found it leading towards the same destination he was headed.
"I, uh... I see your fox friend isn't the only one with a little crush." He stated, earning a look from the young hound, a small blush forming on his face. "It's Aleu, isn't it? You like her."
"N- No, I- I don't..." He denied, not wanting to admit it.
"Copper, I may be old, but I ain't blind yet." The canine remarked, smirking a little. "It's pretty obvious you got a thing for her."
The fox boy just gave him a small, awkward smile, not having the guts to deny it again.
"I... I just don't know what happens to me." The lad explained, looking at his adoptive father. "Wh- When I see her, I feel... Excited. And nervous. At the same time. My heart is racing, and my stomach is all fluttery. Like, butterflies."
The older canine listened to his son's description, having an idea of what he was talking about.
"Sounds like twitterpation, to me." He told him, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder and walking alongside him to the changing rooms. "Lemme tell ya 'bout it."
