The Reckoning Part 2 by: Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters. You have been warned.
A short buzzer sounded in the room as a vibration caused the faux wood surface nearby to vibrate. The sun cast its vibrant rays through the window, panning through the slats in thin veils of brightness. The young teenage fox boy underneath the top bunk rouses from his slumber as he rubs his eyes. Hitting his head a bit on the barred bottom of the upper bunk, the thing was lower than he was used to.
Pent slowly eased himself out of the bed, remembering that he wasn't at home anymore in an instant. The room was vacant, with the bags he and his brother had bought in the fit of the moment. Turning off the alarm on his phone, he gazed at it for a moment. There were no texts from the boy's foster mother. Unsurprising to him under normal circumstances, but after the previous night, he wasn't sure what to expect.
The white-furred boy stood up and gently eased his brother from his side. The younger cub was clutching a plush toy to his chest, something he hadn't quite grown out of despite now being 12. Pent nudged him a few times briefly until the salt-and-pepper boy started to come around. His brother slowly came around as his eyes fluttered. Letting go of the small plush, he sat upright in the top bunk and looked at the older boy.
"Morning, Pent. Time for school?" Samaliel asked, even though he knew it was the case.
The white-furred boy nodded softly. "Mhm, get up, lazy bones. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling alright, I guess. What are we having for breakfast?" The salt and pepper fox eased himself down off the top bunk and onto the ground below.
The older teen shrugged as he looked at him for a moment. "Dunno, I guess whatever this place has to serve. Are you sure? You had a pretty bad experience last night."
"I don't really want to talk about it, okay? Can we just deal with it later?" The smaller cub padded over to his book bag to grab his school clothes from it.
Pent hesitated a moment before responding. "Alright, but promise you'll talk to me about it soon?"
The salt-and-pepper cub nodded as he tried to hide the worry in his mind. "Yeah, sure. I don't want to think about it right now."
"The bigger question is, how are we gonna get to school? I doubt the buses run out here." The older teen decided to let it go for the time being despite noticing that worried look on him.
"Maybe someone up front can take us?" The younger boy slipped out of his pajamas and into the school clothes his grade was assigned.
The bigger boy nodded. "Yeah, we don't have a choice. We wouldn't make it in time if we just took our bikes."
"Probably. Just get dressed; I'm starving." Samaliel slipped on his socks and shoes, clearly in a bit more of a rush than usual.
The younger boy waited as his brother changed as well. The uniforms were very similar in design, at least for boys. The only thing different about them was the shirt, which was dark red for Samaliel and dark purple for the older boy. Each of them had brought the long-sleeved choice since it was getting cooler outside. Nothing that their thicker fur coats couldn't handle, but they wanted to be safe.
Once the two boys were ready, Pent opened the door for his brother. Noticing on the rear end of it that there was a number on it. 6 digits with a diagram showing the lockbox for the key. He pushed it in, and sure enough, a key was ejected. Pocketing it, the two fox boys exited from the small room and into the hallway. The corridor leading out was a long hallway with freshly polished floors that shone against the lights above.
Some signs were plastered against the wall with directions for places of interest. One of them indicated there was a cafeteria, so the two brothers followed along. Pent was ahead despite not even realizing it, his brother shortly behind him as if still insecure about the whole situation. Passing by a few other people who chatted along but paid them no attention. Entering into a large mess hall that was much more full of furs.
Inside the mess hall were several long tables strung parallel to each other. Some furs sat together, but most isolated themselves. Nearby, a broad-shouldered border collie looked on. The man in a dark blue uniform had a badge indicating he was security. No weapon was about him, but his figure was brawny and grizzled. Very few were near the man, as it seemed he had garnered some form of respect in the building.
Pent and Samaliel filed into a line that fed out from a serving station. Unlike school, the station had no one behind it. The other furs each served themselves, each of them grabbing small but careful selections. Some cameras focused on them from above, as if some form of management was watching from afar. The cafeteria had no posted rules, but many of the patrons had been asked to ration things so there was enough for everyone.
The two foxes' turn was before long. Pent was first to see the selection. Large faux-silver platters with lukewarm food assorted on top. Split up into meat dishes, fruit, and veggies. Bread options were right next to it, with a toaster nearby for those who wanted to warm it up. Pent grabbed a waffle with a huge fork and worked his way through the line. His younger brother, keeping close, did exactly the same thing, as that insecurity still stuck in his mind.
Each of them fetched an apple from a dish, and the older fox poured a bit of syrup on each of them. Not much was left, so he allowed Samaliel to have what remained. The white-furred boy wasn't so worried about what it tasted like. Nibbling on the apple as they made their way to an open table. At the closest table nearby, the older furs looked at them. They were by far the youngest ones there except for the few cubs hanging about with their parents.
The meals they had were meager that morning. Pent looked over at his brother, whose face still looked long. He knew something was still bothering him. Likely whatever had really happened the previous night. Telling himself that even if Samaliel didn't talk to him about it, he would bring it up to Santiago. Perhaps he could get the younger boy to open up to him just as Pent himself had done in the past.
They finished their food, and both of them got up. Pent discarded the paper plate he'd collected, and his brother followed suit. The older boy's eyes fell on that security collie, wondering if maybe he would know where they could go for a ride. The white-furred fox and his brother approached the man. The broad-shouldered dog eyed them warily as they did so didn't budge from his position.
"Yes?" He asked once they were close enough to hear him over the constant chatter in the room.
Pent looked up at the taller male. "I was wondering if maybe this place offered rides to the Academy?"
"The secondary school? Nah, but there's a bus stop right outside that runs right past it. Where are your parents?" The border collie rubbed the fur on his snout.
The younger male hesitated before answering. "It's a long story. Thanks for the information. Come on, Samaliel."
Motioning for his younger brother to follow him, the fox teen began trekking down the hall to their room. Unlocking it once more so they could grab their things for school, taking only the bare minimum that they brought with them. Pent grabbed a few bucks to pay the bus each way, feeling a bit strange about not having a full bag like he usually did. Still, as his brother gazed toward him, the older fox showed only confidence in that moment. Only wanting to show the younger boy that he could be counted on in this time of need, even if he too was uncertain.
Not staying long, the two exited the room once more before Pent locked it. Continuing their way down the hall, following the signs that indicated the way toward the exit. Outside, it was lightly drizzling, so one of the office staff handed them an umbrella to borrow. Thanking them, the white-furred teen continued leading forward. His brother stayed closely behind, not even bothering to acknowledge the kind act. Feeling like the only sense of security he had was the only person he could trust, and that was his brother.
Making their way out of the safe house, Pent popped open the umbrella and looked around for the bus stop. Looking at his phone briefly to run the route from here to the school. A bit over an hour, even accounting for the delays and usual stops that particular route had scheduled. At the bus stop, they were the only ones there, and there was a small, closed-in shelter that allowed for furs to get under it. The fox boys both got under it, waiting for the bus to arrive. Looking at the time, the older boy was worried they would be late, but there was nothing he could do about it.
"Hey, Pent?" The younger boy said with a rather vulnerable look in his eyes.
The white-furred teen looked back at him. "Hmm?"
"Can we talk about it now?" Samaliel looked at the ground, still seeming distraught about it.
The bigger boy nodded. "Of course, I'm here for you."
"I came home from school, and she was already home. Screaming and yelling about how she lost her job for going off on a customer. Venting about how it wasn't fair and that her boss was being unreasonable. I didn't even realize she was talking to herself until I saw her in the kitchen. Her back was turned to me with her face focused on her phone. I couldn't tell if she had cried earlier, but in that moment I felt bad for her." The salt and pepper boy tried to recall how the whole thing had started.
Pent listened intently, trying to be empathetic. "That doesn't surprise me. She was always late, and from what I remember, she had lost them a few accounts."
"I guess that makes sense. But when I tried to talk to her, she went off. Throwing her phone onto the ground, and the glass on it shattered all over the floor. She lost her cool and started to scream at me, telling me it was my fault. Demanding that I go to my room and think about what I'd done. When I questioned it, it only got worse. She threatened to hit me and even raised her paw toward me. It was in that moment that I realized that maybe she might have been serious." The smaller cub let out a deep sigh.
The older boy held him closer. "Oh, my. She didn't hurt you, did she?"
"No, I locked myself in both the closet and the room. She managed to break into the room rather violently. Pushing the door open with a few kicks of her foot. I stayed inside the closet with my feet propped up against the door and warned her that I'd called the cops. Immediately, she sprang into a rage and started to destroy everything in the room. All I could hear was the ripping of paper, splintering of wood, and the shattering of metal. I was petrified she would try to break into the closet, so I called the police and put it on speaker." Tears formed in the younger boy's eyes as he thought about it.
The white-furred boy pulled him for a hug. "Wow, Sama. I'm sorry you had to experience that."
"Once she heard the police, she made another threat that she'd be back. I stayed on the phone with them, and they never showed up since I told them she had left. They asked me to stay on the phone to speak with the Crisis help center. I talked to them for a little bit, but there wasn't really anything they could do for me. So I just texted you and waited for you to come home." Samaliel dug his snout into the other cub's fur.
The bigger teen stroked his back for a few moments. "Thanks for telling me, Sama. I know it must have been a traumatic experience for you. I'm here for you, though. Just let it all out."
It was a few moments longer before the local bus finally arrived. Samaliel remained clutched to his older brother. The bigger boy was all too happy to give him the support he needed. As the bus arrived, they both got onto it. An ostrich woman who was the driver eyed them for a moment. The older fox tried to pay for a ticket for both of them, but the woman declined, as youths were permitted free rides during the early morning and late afternoon.
He thanked her, and they continued on their way to an open seat. Unlike the school bus, the vehicle was sparsely populated. A few workers in whatever dress their employer dictated. A single mother with her baby near the back and an older couple doting on one another. Once they were in their seats, the bus started down the route just as it did every morning. Stopping at its scheduled stops with the usual hiss of the door, following to let furs in or out.
The trip to the academy was longer than a typical one on the school bus. Outside, they passed by a few neighborhoods they didn't recognize. Going passed their own community and not even realizing it, since it was further removed from the main road. Pent had decided to dig his snout into the book he brought with him, glad to get a chance to read a bit more than usual. His brother leaned into him, still seeking that staunch support the older boy offered.
They arrived at the academy some time later. Slightly later than the bus itself. The local bus stop was just a small walk from the school itself. An announcement over the intercom made it all too obvious where they were, as the name of it was recognizable to the other youth who did get on board. Pent and Samaliel followed along once they realized that all of the other kids were getting off, many of whom had the same uniforms they did.
The moment they were off, Samaliel did not immediately sprint to find his friends. Still clinging to the older boy almost as if he were his lost shadow. Pent let him follow him for a bit, going the same way he always did without even thinking about it. Eventually the younger boy saw one of his closer friends and pried himself off his brother. Pent watched him for a moment, and when he saw that familiar smile and wag of his tail, he wasn't as concerned anymore, even if part of him was still worried about the long-term impacts of what had happened.
Pent soon found his way to the usual tree, where he found his boyfriend waiting for him. The rodent immediately sprang up the moment he saw him. Walking right over to him with a worried look on his face.
"Where have you been all morning? Was the bus late?" Xavier's father hadn't told his son the telltale signs the other boy had shown last night.
The smaller boy shook his head. "No. We had to take the public bus. We stayed at a safe house."
"A safe house? Why? Did something happen? Why didn't you tell me?" The brown-furred teen crossed his arms defensively.
The white-furred boy took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm sorry, Xae. It's been a long night; I didn't think about it. We didn't even get there until late, and I passed out."
"I was worried about you, foxy. Especially after I saw some of the usual kids from your bus walking around the school. What happened?" The bigger teen reached around and pulled him into a hug.
Pent hugged him back tightly. "Victoria went off on Samaliel last night. Threatened him after she lost her job."
"Holy smokes, foxy. Is he alright?" The brown-furred boy let him go with that look of concern in his eyes.
The fox teen thought about it for a moment. "I think so. He's been pretty clingy today, so time will tell how it affected him."
"Wow, that is quite the night. I'm sorry you had to deal with it. Did you still want to go to the Science club after school?" The rodent asked, hoping to change the subject to get his boyfriend's mind off it.
The white-furred boy shook his head. "No, I am not letting my brother go alone back to the safe house."
"Maybe he can come too? I bet it would be good to get his mind off of it for a bit." The bigger boy thought it was a good idea.
The smaller boy thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I guess that could work."
"Cool. My mother said she could take you home if needed. I guess she can take you to the safe house, but she might ask about it." Xavier figured she might be curious about it.
The fox boy nodded. "I understand. That won't be a problem. I can just tell her."
"Cool, just let me know if you or your brother need anything, okay?" The brown-furred teen slung his arm around the other boy.
The fox boy smiled at him. "Yeah, I will."
It wasn't much longer before the first bell rang to announce their classes. The two boys joined hands together and walked back into the school, shuffling their way through a few piles of leaves as they made their way inside. Through the usual halls leading toward their first class, passing Mr. Bernard as they walked together. The older rodent smiling at the two lovebirds, his heart always warmed when he saw them together.
Xavier took the smaller boy to his class first, making sure the fox boy wasn't in any sort of distress. He knew that the other boy was good at hiding his feelings. Though since they had started dating, he had gotten better. Even despite that, the fox was not great at being outright about some things. It was part of the reason he continued to see the school counselor on occasion but had only made some progress to that end.
The two hugged and kissed before the fox went into his homeroom, and Xavier went on his way. Pent's first class was Literature, a class he was somewhat ambivalent about. It wasn't that he didn't like to read; it was more an issue that his brain craved knowledge. Whenever they were given book reports, he went out of his way to get approval for some science-related text. Each of his teachers had learned this, and so far none had gotten him to open up much to the alternative.
He made his way into the class and shuffled toward the front row. His bag was certainly lighter that day, mostly because most of his usual supplies he'd left back at home. Still, he had brought enough to use that day. The woman padded in from the back room where that division had their meetings. An old otter with greyed fur that had seen decades of tenure at the academy. To those students who favored it, she was known as Lady Pairmont. To those who didn't, she was simply called "Teach".
The woman took roll, and the usual morning announcements sounded off soon after. The usual school events were cited one after the other. A brief mention of the clubs, an upcoming theatre production, and a charity drive the academy was running. Pent listened intently as usual, as he wasn't one to disrespect the rules. After all, he was always a bit of a teacher's pet, especially when it came to Science and Math.
Before long, she began going into her lesson for the day. A dive into the classic literature of Mary Shelly and Frankenstein. It was a book many of them had heard about, and some of them had even seen the live production of it on television. Such things were broadcast all the time and didn't even require a cable or streaming subscription. Though the old otter was planning to have them dive a bit more into the characters.
After she went over the assignment in question, each of the students was given a slip of paper with a name on it. Sure enough, the fox teen was given the Scientist. As he eyed the teacher, she gave him a curious wink, almost as if she had planned it. After all, she knew how to get him interested, and if this was the best way to do it, then so be it. The fox boy smiled at her as she went about her duty, handing out the little slips of paper.
Pent wasted no time in getting to work. He was always a diligent student, even when the assignment didn't interest him. Yet when given the venerable Victor Frankenstein, he couldn't help but be curious just how grounded in reality the old story was. Finding that it was loosely based on the diaries of Johann Dippel, Luigi Galvani, and Alessandro Volta. Finding himself more interested in it the more he looked into the work.
Of course, the actual experiments themselves were nothing short of exaggerated studies into Electrochemistry. But the ones practiced by Dippel and his colleagues were all too real, even if many of them had long since been debunked. Pent ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole, diving more into the biochemical aspects of electrical impulses on bodies. It was the first time he had dug into the topic, and eventually it led him to the invention of the defibrillator.
It wasn't long before his class was dismissed with the usual clanging of the bell. The fox had been so distracted by his work that the time flew by rather quickly. Pent quickly packed his things and smiled again at his teacher before exiting the room. Trekking his way through the halls, heading towards his favorite class. While he didn't have Mr. Bernard, Science was always his first love when it came to academics.
The halls where the science classes were situated were equally distributed between lecture rooms and practice rooms. A few larger labs were given to the more advanced classes, but every teacher was allowed to use them, so long as they reserved them on a day when they weren't being used. The fox boy was already in senior-level courses, and so his assigned room was situated near the back, closest to the exit toward the rear of the building.
He arrived in the room before everyone else. Never having any issue with being the first one there. The teacher in the room gave him a soft, knowing smile. Everyone in the department knew who he was by this point. He had won the Science Fair every year for each one he participated in. He devoured every book he'd ever been given to borrow without question. Often asking for clarification but understanding each concept with the brevity they required.
His teacher was an older fellow who was an adjunct professor at the local college. One of only two members of the academy staff with a doctorate. A hard-nosed African Dog who had long since immigrated from abroad. Still harboring that soft South African accent that he'd carried since his youth. An expert on Thermodynamics and one who had worked for an energy company before transitioning to teaching.
It would be a short time before the rest of the students showed up. All several years older than Pent, and none of them liked him. The fox boy was always seen as a teacher's pet, especially when it came to Science. Always volunteering to answer the questions, respectfully questioning when he thought things needed clarification, and always following the rules. His grades were nothing less than perfect, and he even took every opportunity to get extra credit, even if he never needed it.
That day would be a lecture going into some of the more nuanced aspects of Physics. The class required a rudimentary understanding of calculus, as well as the very foundations of the study itself. Going into the physics of the International Space Station, hardly something most furs would use on a day-to-day basis. But for the fox boy, the combination of topics was all too interesting. They would even be allowed to experience a simulation of it.
The assignment would be a simple electronic worksheet with some formulas on them. All of them had been approved by the Canadian Space Agency for public release. Watered down to the various grade levels that studied that particular lesson plan. But the teacher decided to challenge Pent. She gave him the college-level version of the assignment. A far more challenging task, to be sure, one that required an even greater understanding of not just the concepts but the math behind them.
Pent wasn't even aware of it. Simply getting to work on it without a question. She often allowed the students to work in groups, but he wasn't interested in such things. The woman allowed it as he knew he was isolated in that group. Never pressuring him and letting him do his own thing. He was more than able to pick through the particular assignment after a short period of trial and error. Working through the data and coming up with results for every one of the problems. Sporting a smile as he finished the assignment and re-checked his work.
When he turned it in, she glanced over the submission on her screen. Unsurprised that he was the first one to do so, even with the harder task in front of him, but when she checked it, and found every single one of them was correct. No errors, not even in the logic of showing the steps. The mastery of the concepts and math behind them was unparalleled, especially for a boy his age. She looked over at him, and already the boy had his snout in another book. Deciding to let it go, she went about the rest of the class as she always did.
The rest of the morning would be a normal one for the young teenager. Math was interesting, but it was never really challenging to him. They put him in the highest class available, but the academy didn't have very many college-level options for him there. Instead, he was left to virtual studies where he relied on adjunct teaching from a nearby college. Of course it wasn't quite the same thing, but he took advantage of it all the same. The other classes were much the same; even if he didn't find himself quite as interested in them, he still excelled.
By lunchtime, the fox was always ready for his. His body was used to the schedule the school had set for them. Already hungry by the time the usual break bell sounded. Pent never rushed out of his final class, even despite looking forward to seeing his boyfriend. He knew it didn't make a difference since the foot traffic was bad enough that he couldn't make progress. Always at the rear of the line, never wanting to rush, he waited as the line filtered through the wide hallways. It took some time before he got into the cafeteria.
Pent's group was one of the first inside the school mess hall. A small line filtered along the wide wall in front of the serving station. Pent was one of the younger ones, so he was a bit smaller than the rest of the other students. Pulling out a book so he could catch up on reading while he waited in the line. The fox occasionally nudged himself forward as more of the cafeteria began to fill up. Soon it was his turn, so he put his book away to pick his meal. Selecting his usual variety of plant-based products, a side of potatoes, and a small carton of milk.
Continuing out of the line, he made his way along the wall. One of the coaches of the varsity soccer team always stood by the door. Her cool and calm demeanor was well known by the students. A stickler for the rules and didn't put up with the usual nonsense of students in the school. She nodded to the fox boy, who had become a daily sight to her. Not always willing to let kids out, but with him, she knew he wouldn't cause any problems, so she allowed it.
Outside, it was still a cool day with the brisk wind, and leaves were still scattered about. A few piles had been assembled, though most of them did not remain intact except for a larger one near the maintenance utility shed. Pent continued over to the usual tree where he hung out to wait for Xavier. Sitting right underneath it, he got to eating right away as he was quite hungry. The fox chowing down as he occasionally looked to the swinging doors where the chipmunk would likely appear.
Eventually the rodent showed his face; that usual toothy grin about him was all too apparent. The bigger boy was carrying his own tray, trotting about through some of the piles of leaves. Xavier had always been a bit more carefree than he was. More concerned with having fun than with any silly rules that were seldom enforced. A few moments later, his boyfriend took a seat right next to the boy he loved, easing his arm around him.
"Hey, Foxy. How are you feeling?" The brown-furred boy asked as he started to snack on his food with his free hand.
Pent smiled at him. "I'm good. How were classes?" The smaller teen sipped on his drink.
"The usual. Mr. Romero was very strict today. Barry got sent to the principal again." Xavier rolled his eyes as he thought about it.
The fox boy arched his eyebrow at him. "What did he do this time?"
"He was running around the class and slapped one of the students on the back of the head." The rodent swallowed a bite of his food.
The white-furred boy didn't seem too surprised. "He doesn't learn. If he keeps that up, he will get expelled."
"Maybe. Are you excited about Science club today?" The bigger teen offered his boyfriend his cookie, which he politely turned down.
The fox teen thought about it for a moment. "No, not really."
"How come? You don't have to go if you don't want to." Xavier didn't want to force him if he wasn't up for it.
The smaller boy looked at the ground for a moment. "Nah, it's not that. Just worried about Sama."
"Oh, right. Well, have you talked to him about it yet?" The brown-furred teen wasn't sure how much the other boy saw his brother during the day.
The fox boy looked back at him and shook his head. "Nope. I haven't seen him yet, but I doubt he just wants to go back to the safe house."
"Maybe my parents would let you guys stay over a few days while you get things figured out." The bigger boy smiled as he thought about it.
Pent's tail swished behind him into the tree. "You think they'd be alright with that?"
"Probably. You sleep over all the time, and there is a guest room your brother can use." Xavier munched down some chips.
The white-furred boy nodded. "That would be cool. The safe house is nice, but there isn't much space. It's sort of a bare minimum temporary thing."
"I'm sure. I've never even seen it, but I've heard about it on the news when it's featured." The bigger boy was pretty sure they were talking about the same place.
The fox teen shrugged. "But at least we had somewhere to stay. Either way, we are gonna have to pick our stuff up from both places. We sorta just grabbed whatever we could fit in our bags."
"Yeah, I'll text my parents about it now. That way you can plan and let your brother know whenever you see him." The brown-furred boy finished his meal.
Pent reached over and hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Xae. I appreciate it. I feel much better now."
"Of course, foxy. You are kind of like family now anyway." The rodent held him just as tightly.
After breaking their hug, Pent would go back to finishing his own lunch. Not much was left, so they were able to go back to chatting about nothing specific. Talking briefly about the Renaissance Faire they had heard about the other day and then to the latest math assignment the chipmunk had gotten. Of course, the white-furred teen was all too keen to help him out whenever he needed it.
It wasn't much longer before the end of lunch was signaled. The usual clang of the bell chimed its high-pitched tone as the two of them got up. Joining hands once again as they walked back toward the building to discard their scraps and garbage. The varsity coach who had let them out gave them a soft nod upon returning outside. Locking the push lever before going on their way since it was the final lunch period that afternoon. Inside, some of the maintenance staff were already cleaning the room and moving some of the tables.
Xavier and Pent would soon separate in the hall, with each of them going to the electives. The academic electives were all a bit further removed from the cafeteria. The school assumed that most students would choose the less rigorous options, and so they were nearest to the gym and cafeteria. The fox boy's electives were all back where the Science classes were. After all, they needed labs and practice rooms just like any of the core classes did.
He made his way to his first elective. One of his favorite classes, not just because it was another Science class but because Mr. Bernard was the teacher. He had always been fond of the older male since meeting him several years ago. The rat took a liking to him as well, definitely treating him differently than the usual students. Usually, he didn't take to having favorites, but the fox's affinity for Science was undeniable, and he wanted to foster it even further.
Pent walked into the room and greeted the man with a smile. The rodent fixed his glasses and gave him a friendly wave.
"Need help with anything?" The white-furred boy couldn't help but ask.
The older man shook his head. "Nah, we have quite the lab set up for you today. I surmise you will like it since it involves dissection."
"Oh, neat. What are we dissecting?" The teen couldn't help but ask, as he was already curious.
The grey-furred man grinned at him. "Most everyone else is dissecting a frog, but you will be dissecting a cricket."
"Oh neat!" The younger boy's tail wagged behind him softly.
Bernard took out a small cardboard box and handed it to him. "I figured you would like that. Besides, I know you have probably dissected a frog before anyway."
"Yeah, a few times. Mrs. Vernon was the first one who asked me to do it since the whole class freaked out about it." Pent was hardly squeamish about dissecting animals in the name of Science.
The teacher waited for him to take it. "You will need these tools. It is a smaller set of a scalpel, forceps, tweezers, and everything else you will need to complete the task."
Pent smiled at him as he took it. "Got it. I won't let you down. Shall I go about identifying the organs?"
"Correct, see how many you identify without the help of a diagram or other reference document. I surmise that your recent studies into entomology will help you. I am curious to see how many you get correct." Though the rat had little doubt he would get most of them correctly.
He handed it over, and the fox wasted no time in getting to work. Bernard always let him do his own thing, especially when it was something they'd done before. Sure, a cricket wasn't quite as large as the other animals Pent had dissected, but the process was similar. Already on one of the front desks was a large cricket laid on a small metallic plate. The thing had been preserved in formaldehyde, but other than that, it had been largely untouched.
Putting on his gloves and mask, the fox fastened both of them against him. Beginning by splaying the thing and cutting off the lower part of its legs. Slitting it right down its center and using a single wire to attach it to a nearby pin. The connection would serve to keep it open while he went about identifying the different parts of it. Rinsing the thing in a sterilized solution to rid it of whatever bodily fluids remained.
Inside his little box were some smaller colored pins that could be used to point out each of the organs. Pent began poking holes in each one of them, going through the thing's entire body as he did so. Having to use a small magnifying glass for some of them but was able to mark them all the same. Even going beyond just the organs and labeling some of the external structures as well. Always wanting nothing more than to impress Bernard and show him what he knew.
Soon the fox called him over to check his work. It was a little halfway through the class, and the rodent was a bit surprised to see him finish so quickly. Padding over from one of the other desks, he glanced over at the cricket. The thing's cuts were perfectly clean without any signs of tearing or stretching. It was like the fox had already developed the acuity of a surgical doctor, but in truth it was just the care and attention he put into the project.
Mr. Bernard carefully reviewed it, actually having to look at a diagram himself as he did so. When it came to entomology, it was something he wasn't familiar with. Though he had looked into it a bit more when his favorite student brought it up to him. Sure enough, the fox's work was impeccable Missing none of the major organs and even identifying all of the minor ones. A smile crept across his face as he looked at him.
"Good work, Pent. Would you like to help the other students?" The older male hoped he would be willing to help out a bit.
The fox thought about it for a moment. "Can I read instead?"
The rodent smiled at him. He knew the teen was somewhat introverted when it came to most things.
"Sure, but clean up first. Alright?" Mr. Bernard chuckled at him and nodded.
Pent nodded and got to cleaning up right away. The rodent looked at him briefly but didn't get much of a chance to think about the response before being called away. After all, he had tried to get the fox to be social before and had almost always failed. It was why he recruited the teen's boyfriend, hoping he would have more luck. He had seen the two together, and while the white-furred boy was by no means social, he was still more outgoing with Xavier around than normal.
The class didn't last much longer before the usual ring of the bell. The fox boy had his face stuffed in that same book for the remainder of it. Pent left the room, going about the rest of his day like normal. The rest of his electives would be pretty uneventful. Gym, too, had reserved for the days' activities to be held inside. Just a simple tug-of-war event that didn't go nearly as well as the two coaches had hoped.
It was hardly the most well-thought-out activity, and as such it was short-lived. Ending up with a few students getting rope burn and others falling, but resulting in no serious injuries. Still, some students enjoyed it, and even Pent and Xavier had their share of fun. When the final bell rang, very few of the students were talking about it. It would be something the coaches would remember and reflect on for future activities for their classes.
The two teenagers did not bother to change out of their gym clothes that afternoon. Neither had worked up a sweat, and since it was an indoor activity, they hadn't gotten dirty. The school didn't mind that students went home in their gym clothes, so long as that was their final class of the day. Pent and Xavier joined paws together as they grabbed their things and filed into the long line that led out of the locker rooms. Neither bothered talking since the chatter that filled the room was too loud to hear each other.
As usual, the coaches stationed at the exits to maintain the traffic flow at a steady pace. It was just as long as it normally was, and most students were too busy chatting to bother with pushing or shoving. Those who did were quickly plucked out to be spoken to, as the staff had a no-tolerance policy for such things. Rules were always strictly enforced, even at the end of the day, and all of the students knew and understood it.
They made their way through the halls with the crush of foot traffic. A few posters had been put up advertising the upcoming Renaissance Faire that weekend. The history class teachers had put them up since there weren't many of them remaining. A few of them were even offering it as a school field trip, even if most students weren't interested in such things. Eventually the two boys broke off from the crowd and stepped to the side.
Pent dug his phone out of his pocket and texted his brother the plan. It was only a few moments before the familiar buzz showed a notification. Samaliel would meet him at Mr. Bernard's. No complaints or retorts, only acceptance. A surprised look was on his face, but saying nothing about it. For the younger boy, the fact that his brother had invited him to a club was a welcome change. He wasn't about to deter him, even if it meant he would lose part of his afternoon.
The two teenagers soon arrived back at Mr. Bernard's room. He had moved back to his main classroom since it was larger. The Science club was far from the most popular extracurricular activity. Inside the room, the older rodent was already getting things together. A few college students were helping him, each of them setting up whatever lab the man had in store for the club that day.
"Hi, Mr. Bernard. Do you need help?" The brown-furred boy asked once they were in a more personal distance.
The grey-furred man turned around and smiled. "Oh, no. I'm quite alright. Hello, Pent. Nice of you to join us."
The smaller teen gave him a feeble smile. "Sure."
Xavier squeezed his hand and nodded but made no response. Tugging him back to follow him. It wasn't long before Samaliel arrived, as well as the rest of the students in the club. All of them were juniors or seniors at the school. Some of the higher achievers in the school, but none of them had the fox boys' classes. Each of them walked with an eager smile on their faces, not bothering to waste time as they pulled out their field notebooks.
The club was sort of a self-study network. An enrichment activity designed to allow the students to explore what they liked. The college aides were all former students of Bernard himself. Each of them was at a different level, but all of them were Science Majors. The oldest of them was a grad student by the name of Violet. The Labrador had thick glasses and a tomboyish look to her. The woman was well into her studies and often volunteered at the academy for all sorts of activities but was especially fond of Mr. Bernard.
The Labrador had seen Pent around in study hall a few times. She knew from just those occasions that he was not outgoing. Violet had never gotten to know him, but each time he'd come, the boy was quiet and kept to himself. Only asking for help when he needed clarification. The level of his studies was way beyond his age, but his understanding was just as advanced. The woman fixed her glasses as she approached the young teen.
"Ah, hello, Pent. Mr. Bernard says you've taken to Entomology. Is that correct?" Violet had heard her elder mention it before the club started.
The white fox looked up at her, seeming to recognize her. "Yeah."
"I have something you may enjoy then." The woman padded back to her bag of things and pulled out a small book before returning.
"See what you think." She held it out to him.
Pent looked briefly at the book, but it had very little depth to it. "What is this?"
"It's a field book. It allows you to catalogue all the insects you find. There is an entry for every local insect as well as blank pages for others." The Labrador continued to wait for him to take it.
The smaller boy cracked a smile on his face as he took it from her. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
"Of course. Anything for a budding Scientist." Violet patted him on the shoulder.
Looking over his shoulder, Xavier couldn't help but be curious about it. Already the fox teen was skimming through the small book. Each page had several insects on it, both taxonomically and alphabetically categorized. To the chipmunk, they looked like nothing more than bugs, but to his boyfriend it was something else entirely. Already in his mind, he wanted to go out and look for insects to fill his new log book.
The club started before long. Mr. Bernard welcomed the new members, though Samaliel was quick to dismiss his own membership. A fact that elicited a quick chuckle from both of the older boys. Soon the elder rodent started going over the day's activity. A short lab involving microscopy and samples of different biological specimens. Hardly the most involved thing, but the man had a trick up his sleeve involving some live ones.
Little glass slides were soon passed out. On top of them were a number of specimens that the man had collected. He had borrowed them from one of the adjunct professors at the college who happened to be an old student of his. Each of the students got to work. Pent was pretty excited about what he would find, even if he had looked through microscopes before. What he found were interactions between bacteria and cells. The bacteria itself wasn't infectious to furs but it would allow them to witness how such interactions occurred.
A phage had also been introduced to the sample, which allowed them to see either viral or antibiotic interactions for each of them. Each sample had a different concentration of it, with the replication of such species being more prevalent in some than others. One showed almost a complete elimination of the bacterial hosts, and others showed bacterial domination. The variety of life was diverse even among the few specimens that had been provided.
Pent allowed his boyfriend to take a look, explaining what was going on as he did so. The process wasn't overly complicated even to the non-scientifically literate teen. The chipmunk still didn't quite understand what he was looking at, but he looked all the same. Even his brother got a look, and he was even more mystified by what he was looking at. The older fox's explanation, though more simplified than usual, was still beyond his understanding.
The most interesting sample they found was one from a nearby pond. A specimen that was live with both bacteria as well as some small organisms. Some of the interactions were parasitic, but others were symbiotic. Pent had to look a bit to determine a hypothesis as to why the variation occurred. Something he would ask Mr. Bernard himself later. A clarification the older rodent was all too happy to provide to his eager student.
When the club came to an end, the fox boy seemed to have enjoyed himself. Xavier saw the smile on his face, feeling all but certain he would want to come back. The three of them waving goodbye to Bernard before making their way down the hall. As they walked together, the chipmunk thought about asking his boyfriend about it but decided against it. Figuring he would give him a bit of time to decompress before bringing it up.
Outside, the fox brothers and chipmunk boy waited for Xavier's parents to arrive. Briefly, the bigger boy checked his phone to see that his mother was on the way. Already his mind was on the conversation to come. He figured his mother would pick up on his boyfriend's issue immediately. It was more a question of how open the fox teen would be about his situation, and he wasn't certain how much he should reveal if Pent didn't.
The car arrived before long; his mother's smiling face beckoned through the glass window. A surprised look crossed her face as she saw the salt-and-pepper cub with them. She knew who Samaliel was, but seeing the fox's younger brother wasn't something she was used to. But she wasn't about to turn him down a ride, since she knew he took the bus and had no other way to get home. Already the youngest boy was staring at him, looking rather distracted.
Filing into the back seat, Xavier and Pent didn't think much about taking both of those spaces. Eventually the younger boy hopped in the front seat but didn't say anything to the woman as he entered. Xavier's mother looked at him again; there was an air of insecurity about him. Tapping away at his phone but wasn't playing any games, as if he was trying to take his mind off something. Her motherly instincts told her that something was wrong.
Gazing into the back, the older fox seemed at ease. His usual content smile and demeanor around Xavier hadn't seemed to change at all. Leaning on the bigger boy's shoulder as he usually did. But looking back up, she noticed the distant gaze on Samaliel's face. His head soon turning when he realized she was looking at him. Almost as if he didn't want her to recognize something was wrong. That inner alarm bell rang in her head, but she didn't say anything yet.
"Ready to go home, boys?" The woman looked back at Xavier expectantly.
The brown-furred boy looked over at his boyfriend as if uncertain what to say. He wasn't about to leave him hanging, so he sat upright and steeled himself for what he assumed would be a difficult conversation.
"Can you take us to the safe house in Bridon?" The white-furred boy said in a soft tone.
She arched her eyebrow at him. "Why there?"
"Samaliel and I had to stay there last night." Pent was as emotionally controlled as he usually was.
The woman looked back over at Samaliel, who avoided her gaze. Already she was putting the pieces together in her mind, even if the boy was being roundabout about it.
"Did something happen at home?" She stared intently at him, awaiting an answer.
The older fox went about explaining what he knew happened. Xavier's mother's face turned sullen. She'd known Pent's foster mother for a while and knew she was mostly absent from his life. Never having confronted her about it, since it wasn't her place. But she never expected this sort of thing from her, even if her two children were not hers by blood. To go off on one of them in a fit of rage didn't make sense to her.
"Oh my, I am sorry you all had to deal with that. Are you two alright?" The older chipmunk frowned upon hearing the story.
Pent nodded. "Yeah, but I am more worried about Samaliel than myself."
"That's very sweet of you. Do you two boys want to stay the night while we figure things out?" She couldn't help but offer, as the two were basically an extended family for her.
A smile cracked across the smaller teen's face. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden."
"Oh, hush. You spend the night all the time. What's the harm in having your brother over as well? He can stay in the guest room." The other boy's mother didn't waste any more time and started the car.
The white-furred boy leaned on his boyfriend once again, seeming more relaxed. "Thanks, Mrs. Noyer."
Xavier's mother was already racing with thoughts. Her motherly instincts told her it couldn't be true. But why would the boy lie to her? Pent was far from someone she would expect that from. Wanting nothing more than to believe him, already planning to confront his foster mother about it. A conversation she would have with her husband before the fact. Besides, he would likely want to know as well, and she wasn't about to hide the issue from him.
The car began down the streets toward the safe house. Xavier's mother knew where it was, but she had never been before. Wanting the two boys to grab their things before coming over. It was a much shorter drive than the commute the two brothers had that morning. Once they arrived, the woman found an ambulance parked around back but avoided it. Going instead around the front and waiting there with her son as the two foxes exited.
Pent and Samaliel went inside the safe house, finding that the entrance was vacant. An administrative popped her head from the back room but paid them no mind, as whatever she was watching was keeping her attention. The fox brothers continued through the narrow corridors leading through the buildings. Passing by one of the other residents who was rambling about something incoherent nearby to one of the paramedics.
Once back in the room, they gathered their things. Neither of them took very long since they hadn't brought much. Simply stuffing it back into the book bags they had come from school with. On top of the bunks, Pent found some leaves had scattered in from the outside. An open window just beyond it was blowing a cool breeze through the room. It was apparent that someone had been inside to open it, but nothing else appeared to have been touched.
They didn't stay in the room long after they packed up. Samaliel still followed closely behind, just as quiet as before. His tail tucked between his legs, but still glad to be out of the place even if it had just been for one night. On the way out, Pent signed them out and passed over the key they had gotten from the lock box. Thanking them, the woman asked them for the room number before sending them on their way.
Outside, they looked for their bikes on the rack but found them missing. A glance over to Xavier's mother's car, and they had been fastened on a rack on the rear of the vehicle. Already the rodent and his mother were back inside the car. Padding back over, Pent and Samaliel put the place behind them for what they would hope would be the last time. One final look over his shoulder and the white-furred boy filed back into the car.
The ride to Xavier's home would be a quiet one. Samaliel's gaze was completely fixated on the outside, still trying to distract himself from his thoughts. Occasionally his brother looked over at him, knowing he'd have to confront the issue again. All but certain he was still harboring the trauma over what had happened previously. A discussion he promised himself they would have another night to let him decompress a bit more since they had talked about it earlier.
At the chipmunk's house, the rodent's mother found her husband not home just yet. He looked back at her expanded company of boys. Pent and Xavier seemed as chummy as ever, and her son's boyfriend didn't even seem fazed by whatever had happened. His brother, on the other hand, was much slower to get to the front door. Stopping him just as he walked by her, kneeling to his level with a concerned look in her eyes. She offered him her hand, to which he looked at her with a curious gaze.
Samaliel had never had a motherly figure in his life. Her eyes were soft but confident. That was reassuring to one of her own blood, but to a cub who had never experienced it, it was off-putting. A moment of silence was exchanged between them before she spoke in a soft tone.
"If you wanna talk about it, I am willing to listen." Samaliel looked over to the front room to find his older brother gone.
Gazing back at her and then at the ground beneath him. Twiddling his fingers against his lap. A moment more of hesitation before he gave in and hugged her. Tears flowing down his cheeks as he finally let it all go. Sure, Pent had seen him cry before, but the salt-and-pepper boy had wanted to be strong for him. Hiding the fact that it was bothering him, but to this woman? None of it seemed to matter in the moment.
Xavier's mother was caught off guard by the sudden show of affection but welcomed it all the same. A few short sniffles and the unmistakable drip of tears down her left shoulder. She caressed his back softly, just as if he were her own child. Holding him close as long as he wanted it. She knew in this moment that it meant a lot to him and continued to hold him tightly. Realizing that the boy's brother was not lying and that they had been through a lot the previous night. The moment lasted several minutes before the embrace was finally broken.
She showed him to the guest room, a space adjacent to Xavier's own. Inside, the older boy's Xbox had been moved along with some other things for older guests. No bed was inside; instead, there was a small fold-out couch with a nightstand and several other pieces of furniture. On the wall was a computer desk with a spare laptop on top of it and a lamp next to it. The room was scantily decorated except for a few paintings on the wall with a colorful faux floral assortment on the table at the center.
The woman helped in unfolding the bed, a firm older mattress that had seldom been used. Squeaking as it came out of its confines but was simple enough to straighten out. Handing him over some tan sheets, promising that she'd get him a change of clothes. All but certain she had some of Xavier's old stuff still around in his room. The cub thanked her and immediately sprang over to the gaming console. Wasting no time in getting that turned on.
Normally the woman would balk if her own son did such a thing, but this was a different situation. Deciding instead to let it go, simply smiling that he could let himself go in that moment. Though part of her was still worried about him, she hoped he could move on. She watched him for a few moments, fixing the bed with the sheets as she did so. The sound of the gaming console flaring on the screen and the smile on his face showed he was having fun.
Once she had finished, she exited the room and made her way toward the kitchen. Already having decided to make dinner, figuring it would make the blow to her husband all the less difficult to deal with. Even going as far as to make his favorite, along with the more nuanced choices for the fox children, who she knew had stricter eating habits. It would be some time before the older male showed up at the house.
Before long, the older male showed up, his usual work attire wrinkled from a long day. He shuffled off his shoes in the living room, already smelling the pasta that his beloved wife was making. A few more extra shoes were at the door, two pairs of which he recognized and another two he did not. Immediately thinking that perhaps Xavier had a friend over. The extra one didn't make sense, but it didn't cause any immediate concern in his mind.
Popping his head into the kitchen, he found the smaller woman stirring a pot and mixing in some herbs. Heading over to help her by cutting the vegetables she had already gotten out. His wife leaned over and kissed him, being just as affectionate as always. But the moment they broke the embrace, he could see the look in her eyes, that unmistakable look of concern that he knew all too well.
"How was work, honey?" She held out a spoon for him to taste.
The taller man slurped it with a smile. "It was good. You?"
"Oh, you know the usual. Doug, we need to talk about something that happened the other day." The woman wasted no time in getting right to the heart of the issue.
The older male put his arms to his sides. "Oh? What about?"
"Pent and his brother experienced some issues with their foster mother, and I was wondering if you could help me confront her about it." Sophie got back to work in putting some plates on the table.
His ears sank a little bit upon hearing it. "Why didn't you tell me before? I guess that would explain the extra shoes at the door."
"Because I didn't know until I picked them up from school. Both Pent and his brother are here for the night. I hope that's alright?" She didn't think it would be a problem for him.
Doug poured enough drinks for each of them. "Of course it is, and yes, I will help you confront her. What happened?"
Over the next few minutes, she told him what she believed had happened. It was piecemeal at best, but it was what she recalled from the conversation with Pent. As the older male listened, he couldn't believe what he heard. It just seemed so unreal that another boy's foster mother would lash out like that. Still, he wasn't about to discount it either. Already planning ways in which he would address it with his wife.
Soon the 3 boys were summoned to the kitchen. Xavier and Pent would trot in together holding hands as they always did. The younger boy was just behind them, a light smile on his face, seeming more lighthearted now after decompressing a bit. Each of them sitting together, with the two foxes sitting together with Xavier on the other side of his boyfriend. As the chipmunk's parents looked at them, they couldn't feel happy in that moment.
The meal would be delicious that night. Far better than what they had over the course of the day or even the previous night. Pent and Samaliel couldn't help but chow down on it. The look of satisfaction on their faces was even more evident than the clear plates in front of them. Insisting that they help clean up, even after Xavier offered to assist them. Eventually letting it go when he realized that the older fox wouldn't let the issue go.
The rest of the night was a slow one. Each boy returned to their shared rooms, with Pent sharing a space with his boyfriend. Samaliel having his own for the first time in his young life. The other boy's mother came to check in on him, only to find him gaming away just as he had done plenty of times in the past. No longer seeming to be thinking about what had happened. She was all too glad to see it, hoping he could move past it in time.
Later that night, Xavier's parents would come up with a plan as to how they would want to deal with the fox's foster mother. It was not something they had dealt with before. But they knew they couldn't just let the issue go. The two boys had to go home at some point or find someone else more willing to take care of them. It wasn't simply a matter of just letting them stay at their home indefinitely, nor was it an issue that they could simply ignore. After all, the fox boys were essentially an extension of their family.
As the night carried on, the house grew more silent. Pent eventually came to check on his brother too, finding the younger boy already asleep. Pecking him on the forehead and watching him for a few moments as the cub lay there. The older boy was still worried about him but knew that only time would tell how it would impact him. Returning to Xavier's room to cuddle up in bed with the boy he loved.
Xavier bringing him close, and the two of them closed their eyes. The smaller boy's body relaxing all too readily alongside him. All too glad to have a comfortable bed again, as it was much better than what he had the previous night. Eventually allowing his mind to rest even if those concerns still lingered. Promising himself that he'd continue to watch over his younger brother, as sleep overtook him once more. Hoping only that he could be the better brother he wanted to be.
