On the outskirts of town, the atmosphere glows blue as an oval appears out of thin air. Out of the shape, a red kobold launches out and lands on his belly, onto the ground. “Ugh,” he grunts, picking himself up. He wears a bright orange cape with a hood and loincloth and appears to be half the size of a regular being.
“You done fooling around?” utters a voice. The kobold turns back to see the pink rabbit approach him through the portal, which disappears behind her. She wears a conical hat on her head, a light green, heart-shaped top on her chest, dark green pads on her knees and shoulders, and a belt with a cloth covers anything below her waist are her apparel. Beside her hip is a saya, which rests her katana. The rabbit stands slightly shorter than her companion. “Well, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” replies the kobold.
“Get up, then,” she commands. “We have work to do. Unless you plan to lie on the ground all day.”
The kobold gets to a standing position. “Uh, how do you even know they’re here?”
“Don’t question me! My senses traced them here. Now, where to start…?” She looks out past the trees toward the city skyline. “Hm, I feel we’re going to be here for a while.”
***
“Zach, are you ready?” calls Ralph into the doorway. “We don’t want to keep the girls waiting.”
“Hang on a moment!” Zach utters. The fox appears in his usual attire; blue bandana, blue baseball cap, and blue backpack. He closes the door behind him and locks it. “All right, I’m ready.”
“Ah, Ralph, Zach, good morning!” spurts a voice from close by. The two animals turn to the source; a black rabbit with a sunset-orange bowtie and grey, rectangular-framed glasses over pink eyes.
“Hey there, Danny,” responds Ralph. “Good morning to you, too. How’s it going?”
“Nothing much. Just got up and ready to start the day. How about you? You two doing anything?”
“Zach and I are going to meet the girls and hang out together. Same as usual.”
“Oh? What are you guys going to do?”
“What’s going on out here?” interrupts another fox, who comes up beside the rabbit. He dons a red cap and has tan fur. “Ah, Zach, Ralph! I knew I heard familiar voices.”
Ralph’s smile grows bigger. “Hey, Kyle. How’s it going?”
“Not much, my friend. Off to get the group together and hang out?”
“Oh yes,” Zach adds. “We’re headed over to the mall to walk around. Not sure what we plan to do after.”
“I’m sure you guys will think of something.”
“We always do,” Ralph implies. “We should head over. Don’t want to keep the girls waiting any longer. Right, Zach?”
“Yeah,” Zach responds. Both Zach and Ralph give their goodbyes to their neighbors before heading off.
***
The four animals amble down the wide hallways of the mall with the imp flying alongside them. Their plans for today are still in question, yet they decide to hit the mall together as there is usually something to do. Walking on, the friends engage in conversation and continue to figure out their next plans for the rest of the day. Emma, however, had stopped short and stares at another warthog leaning against the wall before her. The warthog dons a leather jacket, and jeans, near-close to Emma’s apparel. The only exceptions that make this warthog different from her is a male body-build, dark brown hair stemming from the top of his head, sunglasses added to his attire, and orangish “skin” tone.
“How’s it going?” The male warthog begins, noticing his female counterpart staring at him. “Like what you see?” He forms a smile on his face.
Emma remains speechless for the first few seconds before trying to figure out what to say. “I… I… I’m terribly sorry, Mister… I just-”
“Don’t worry, I get you. I know you can’t resist these looks.”
“Um… Yeah, I…”
“Tell me, you from around here?”
“Well, not initially… I have been here for a while, though…”
“What’s your name?”
“Emma… What’s yours?”
“My name? It’s…” The warthog looks around and picks out the first name he sees; an ad in one of the store windows. “Alec. Name’s Alec.”
“Alec?” repeats Emma. “You look more like an ‘Alejandro’ to me.”
“Ah! That’s my true name.”
“So, ‘Alec’ is a nickname of yours?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
Emma pulls out her phone after getting a buzz and looks down at her text messages. “Oh shit!” She looks at Alec. “I’m very sorry… I got so caught up with meeting you, I didn’t mean to abandon my friends…”
“It’s all good. Mind if I join you? I’d love to meet your buddies.”
“O-of course! Why not…?”
***
Winnie looks back at her phone after having sent her message over. “Where did she go? It’s not like her to just break off from the group.”
“Maybe something caught her attention?” Zach suggests. “Like a new sketchbook or something?”
“Probably was kidnapped by someone and made her a slave,” Igor adds. “Doesn’t surprise me that would happen.”
“Igor,” spurts Ralph.
“What?! It can happen!”
“Not likely,” says Winnie.
“And how do you know that?”
Winnie shows him her phone screen. “Because she texted that she’s catching up to us…”
“Could be anybody texting you,” the imp claims.
“Hey, guys!” The group turns to see the warthog approach them with the other beside her. “Sorry, about that… I just got… ‘distracted’ by something.”
Winnie crosses her arms. “Oh, and we can see what that ‘something’ was. So, who’s your new friend?”
“Alejandro,” says the male warthog. “But most know me as ‘Alec.’” Emma then goes about to introduce her friends, and demon, to him, getting Alec acquainted with the bunch. “Such a pleasure to meet the rest of you.”
“He sounds and looks handsome,” comments Ralph. “Where are you from?”
“Let’s just say… it’s a very hot place. Don’t really talk about it too much. It’s why I’ve decided to leave.”
“Did you have a rough past?” asks Zach. Alec gives a nod. “We understand that… It’s never good…”
“Probably because you’re from Hell,” Igor points out. The others look at him with confused glares. “What?!”
“Don’t mind him,” Winnie tells Alec. “It’s just in his sense of nature.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Alec says. “So, what are you guys up to?”
“Well,” Ralph begins. “We were just walking around and chatting… Nothing major… Haven’t really had a plan on what to do next today.”
“How about some food?” Igor utters. The group pivot to him. “What?! I’m starving here!”
“I mean, we haven’t eaten anything since we got here,” Emma says. “We should go and get something to eat, if that’s all right with you guys.” Her three friends nod and agree. She then turns to Alec. “Want to join us?”
“Why not?” Alec says. “Might as well stick around with you guys.”
***
The four friends and their new guest sit at a table in the diner, sipping ceramic mugs of hot beverages and chatting among each other as they wait for their food to arrive. They exchange conversations with the greaser warthog, getting to know each other more. Igor crosses his arms as he’s strapped into a highchair, wearing an unamused face.
“You’re awfully quiet, Igor,” Ralph says. “Something on your mind?”
“Very much so,” Igor replies. “I do not take kindly how you mortals are treating me currently.”
“Don’t mind him,” Emma tells Alec. “Someone’s just being a little fussy this morning because of attitude issues.”
“Woman, I am no child! I am a spawn of Hell, and you will respect me!”
“Settle down,” Winnie tells him. “Why don’t you find another activity on your kiddie menu? Oh look, there’s a fun coloring page for you.”
“Ooh, that looks fun,” butts in the warthog, adding to the joke. “Why don’t you use your crayons and give it some pretty colors?”
Igor stares at the girls. “I hate you both…”
“Now, now. No reason to be naughty. Be a good boy and color that in.” The imp grunts and colors away on the paper.
“Do you always treat him like this?” asks Alec.
“Not really,” Emma tells him. “Winnie and I got the idea when we were hanging out. We thought it would be funny.”
“I see.”
“You seem quite calm about this,” Zach utters. “Everyone assumes we have a pet bat. You are the first to know about Igor being a demon and you don’t seem bothered by it.”
“I think demons are cool. They are interesting creatures of myth.”
“So do I,” Emma adds. “That stuff fascinates me.”
“Well, what if I told you I was a demon myself?”
Emma lets out a chuckle. “Really?”
“Oh yes. I come from that dimension, too.”
Emma continues to giggle, not taking him too seriously. “Heh, well you are the cutest ‘demon’ I ever saw.”
“You don’t look that way,” Igor implies. “Unless you’re disguising yourself as a warthog.”
“Oh yes,” Alec says. “Thought I’d wander around like this.”
“Neat,” Emma continues. “I also like to listen to metal.”
Alec turns to her. “Metal?”
“You know, metal rock music?”
“Oh! I listen to that, too.”
“What group do you like to listen to? I love Evil Magic; they play a lot of songs I like.”
“I like them, too…”
Emma gasps. “For real?!” Her smile grows bigger. “That is so awesome!”
She continues to look at him. They engage in a conversation, leaving the others out.
Winnie leans over to the boys and whispers to them, “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
“And what’s that?” Zach asks.
“Emma crushing on this new ‘demon’ boy…”
“Looks likely,” Ralph comments. “What’s wrong with that?”
“We only just got to know him and Emma is already fantasizing over him…”
“I remember when that happened to me,” Zach states. “I haven’t thought about it in a long time…”
“I remember my first crush, too,” Ralph adds. “After that, I didn’t think I could find true happiness ever again…”
“It never happened to me,” Winnie implies. “Not once have I felt any romantic desire toward another soul.”
“Well, maybe it’ll be different for Emma,” the fox says. “Perhaps love will flourish with them. Either way, we should be there to support her on that.”
“I agree,” includes the rabbit. “Whatever happens, we should be by her side and do whatever it takes to guide her.”
“I don’t know,” Winnie spurts. “What if she starts abandoning us for this boy? You know, ignoring us for him?”
“Stuff like that happens,” Ralph tells her. “When you’re in love, you are blind to the world but that person. That’s why we should constantly remind her that we’re still here for her.”
“What are you guys chatting about?” asks Emma, interrupting their little secret talk. The three stop and glance at her.
“Just catching up on some ‘other’ things,” Winnie utters. Zach and Ralph agree with her.
“Oh! What about? Sorry if I haven’t been paying much attention…”
“Uh, we- Oh look, our food’s here!” She stops as the plates make their way from the waiter’s tray to their table. Each of the animals move their paws/hands as their food appears in front of them. Then, the waiter takes his tray and leaves. “Oooh, that looks delicious!”
Emma looks back at the chicken. “What were you about to say, Winnie?”
Winnie turns back to her. “Huh? Oh, I’m sorry… Lost my train of thought. Besides, I’m hungry…”
“Okay then.”
***
The group, having left the diner, travels along the sidewalk together. Emma spends much of her attention and time focused on Alec, who tells her all about his experiences and himself. They stop before the crosswalk and wait to cross when a familiar voice grabs their attention.
“Hey, Zach!” The gang turn to the source and notice the blonde-haired bear approach them. He is accompanied by a koala, who stands a third of his height. “Such a surprise to see you!”
Zach manages a small smile. “Hey, Josh. Weird to see you outside the studio.”
“As with you,” the bear says, smiling back. “So, these are your friends, huh?”
Zach nods. “Yep. These are the people I’ve told you about. Guys, this is my coworker, Josh. Josh, this is Ralph, Winnie, and Emma; my friends. Oh, and this is Igor and our newest friend, Alec.”
“My,” comments Ralph, staring at the bear. “Zach, I never knew you worked with such handsome men.”
Josh turns away with a smile. “Heh, thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Who’s the koala?” asks Winnie.
“I’m Kenny,” says the tiny marsupial. “I’m Josh’s cousin. Well, aren’t you a cute chicken?” Winnie spurts out a laugh.
“I never knew you had a cousin,” Zach adds.
“He just moved here from another city,” states Josh. “Been showing him around and such.”
“Josh has been telling me about you,” Kenny tells the fox. “You seem like a nice guy to work with.”
“Thank you, kindly,” Zach responds.
“Uh, so,” Ralph begins, moving closer to the brown bear. “What do you do at the studio?”
“Just repair stuff,” Josh tells him. “I’m one of the techs, working alongside Zach.”
“Oh, really? What do you repair?”
“Electronics and lighting, mostly.”
“Would you be able to ‘repair’ something ‘special’ of mine, cutie?”
Zach stares at him. “Ralph…”
Josh manages a chuckle. “Seems like your friend is pretty fond of me, Zach.”
“TOO fond,” the fox adds.
“Hey, wanna come along with us?” Ralph asks.
“Come with you?” Josh places a paw by his mouth. “Where are you guys headed?”
“Oh, we’re just out enjoying the day; walking around.”
“Sure, I don’t mind. As long as Kenny’s fine with it.”
“I am,” Kenny tells him. He faces the chicken. “If Winnie wouldn’t mind, too.”
Winnie chuckles a bit. “I’m not sure I’m your type of girl.”
“I’d like to find out, if that’s cool with you.”
“We shall see.” The traffic stops and the signal changes to green for the pedestrians, telling them it’s okay to cross. The entire group crosses the road in pairs, except for Zach, who isn’t very talkative as his friends focus more on their “companions.” They all stop and gather in the park for a bit of rest. Zach finds himself on the side, alone, as his friends are busy with their “other.”
“Looks like you’ve got competition,” Igor tells the fox, flying alongside him.
Zach turns to him. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t you see your friends ditched you for romantic interests? That doesn’t click into your mind, Fox Boy?”
“You think I’m jealous or something?”
“You could be.”
“This doesn’t change anything, Igor… So what, my friends developed crushes…? Big deal…”
“Things will change. They will completely abandon you, Fox. You’ll be all alone; nobody to talk to.”
“You don’t know that…” Zach pivots back and watches the group again. “My friends wouldn’t abandon me…”
“You sure about that? Looks like they already did.” Igor points to the six animals walking away.
“Hey, wait for me, guys!” Zach picks up his speed and attempts to catch up.
Igor crosses his arms as he hovers. “And so it begins…”
