After Invasion

Chapter Two

“Love me when I’m gone, when I’m gone, when I’m goooone.” The red fox anthro sang into the microphone and finished just as the music in the background did. He looked over into the window in the booth across from him. “How was that, Alpha?”

The auburn haired women in the sound box raised up both of her thumbs as the other red fox behind her started to clap. “That’s platinum Redford, that’s smells of solid platinum.” Red nodded and stepped out of the booth stretching slightly. He shook his head as his shoulders instantly slumped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one.

“You know those things will kill you.” Red didn’t even have to look he knew the voice like the back of his hand. Erica Greytail, his cousin’s mate and the sister of the only one he could love stepped from the hall way. She had just got done modeling the latest of Alpha’s line of wardrobe she had called “Destiny.”

“The last battle should have.” He walked to his room and closed the door. Erica sighed. This was only getting worse. Alpha and the other fox stepped from the sound box after making a few last minute touches to the song, and Erica gave them both a hearty smile. “Greetings, milady, Knight Fox, how did Red do today?” They looked at each other then to her both knowing her true feelings. Alpha stepped up.

“His songs just keep getting better but I get the feeling he’s going to lose his voice sooner then he thinks if he keeps up the smoking.” As if on cue, Knight Fox, the other red, lit up next to her.

“Usually, I wouldn’t blame him, but the fact that he’s stealing mine pisses me off.” He let a plume go skyward as not to offend the ladies present. Alpha shook her head, then look into his brown eyes.

“You SHOULD quit too.” Knight hated that. She always tried the drop the fox hints that smoking wasn’t exactly good for him, which he knew. Like Red though, it was his way of dealing with things, it’s not that it tasted good. It didn’t. It’s not that he thought it made him look cool. He was already cool as Antarctica. It was just his way. He never told her that though. He always gave the same response to her statement.

“I’ll think about it.” This always got the same grunt and tongue sticking out at him as she walked away. Erica sort of chuckled at the exchange as Alpha left to check her new wardrobe line.

“Knight, did Red seem slimmer to you?” He looked into the vulpine’s worried green eyes.

“Yes, actually. I thought this wound would heal in time. It hasn’t. I noticed he stopped eating a few weeks ago. Soon he’s gonna be a bone rack.” Erica closed her eyes shaking her head.

“Katherine keeps sending him food. I don’t get it.”

“Every night I wait up. He’s like clockwork, I stand in the hallway, he slowly pokes his head around and sticks the meal in the fridge, usually for me or someone else other then him to eat later. His eyes always seem really bloodshot too.” Erica reeled at this one.

“He’s not sleeping either?!?” Knight waved his paws trying to calm her down.

“No, no, no, I mean he’s been crying a lot. I wonder how well he sleeps, but he does or he be too drained to make it to these tapings.” Knight held his chin in thought. How to get Red out of his slump was one of the mysteries that plagued him constantly. Erica, Alpha, and even Katherine had started to worry about him and they’ve all tried to console him in some way but it seems all they managed to do was be painkillers for the actual torture he was going through.. As if on cue, Erica and Knight heard some beautiful but melancholy tones come through Red’s door. All Knight could do is wait. That he hated most of all. Being helpless was not a feeling he relished. Looking into Erica’s eyes, he knew he wasn’t feeling the feeling alone. She walked up to his door, almost knocked the bowed her head and walked away. She had just went through what most of them do. She would knock but by now he had a counter to every good thing any of them could say.

When it came to Red, their were only two people that could help him. Himself or Scarlet.. No one had heard of her since the final battle. Red had realized just how much he had relied on her, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Knight looked at the door as he walked away. If something wasn’t done soon, Redford Firefox would die of a broken heart.

Knight caught up to Alpha who was on her cell phone. “Yes, Zig, yes, that’s fine, can’t wait to see it. Alright, I’ll be in tonight. I’ll talk to you later, I got Mathyas on the other line. Later Zig.” The brunette dropped the phone from her ear only to punch a button and replace the phone. “Hey Rad, what’s up? Yeah. Really? That’s great, are you sure you won’t need them? Alright then, I’ll be by to look at them. What? Why Freeman? You want what?” Alpha held the phone a moment. A large smile stretching her features. “That will be great, when? I could be there tomorrow... a week. That’s great, can’t wait to tell them. I think they all need it. See ya in a week Rad.” Alpha hung up and handed the phone to Knight.

“What did Rad want?”

“He wants the bring everyone together, we haven’t had a get-together in a long time and he’s wanting to reminisce. Said he already called Freeman and that he’d be down in a week.”

“Doesn’t that mean that we have a week?”

Alpha nodded. “I know it will kind of be dropping it in their laps but I think they all need a break. Especially Red and Erica. Erica almost as bad as Red but hides it better. She’s doing a lot more to keep her mind off her knee. She’s quite a person.” Knight nodded in agreement then scowled..

“Wish I could’ve had five minutes with that son-of-a-bitch Lightbow after he put that magnum round through her knee.” Knight cracked his knuckles, and showed his fangs.

Alpha nodded as well. “He’s off in another area, we have no control over that. Right now, let’s focus on the present.” Knight stepped in front of her to get the door to the facility of the wardrobe design. She looked around at the workers. Some humanimals others human, she walked to past a few of them and talked to those that noticed her, Knight did the same. She hated having to put strain on anyone like this, but people needed clothes. She looked across the room and smiled as she saw a red and gold feathered avian with a black feathered avian doing about the same thing they were. The two small groups met in the middle.. “Hello, Phenix, Xenif. How’s everything coming along?” They all shook hands as they walked to a nearby office.

“Ahead of schedule actually, most of the workers have put up double there quota within the past month. Quadrupled for the arachnid workers.” Alpha bit her lip.

“I’ve been pushing them too hard.”

“How would feel about a little time off, away in the country just relaxing a bit?”

Phenix put up some retort. “But there’s so much left to...” She let it trail off when Xenif hand set down on her shoulder. She looked up and smiled at them. “I’d love some time off.”

“That’s terrific. You, Xenif, Mathis, of course, and a few others are going down to Mathyas’s plantation for a week, in a week. Think you can hold out until then?” Phenix’s eyes brightened as she looked at Xenif who gave a bright smile. Phenix looked back at her and kneeled.

“Thank you milady.” Alpha put her hands under Phenix’s arms and lifted her back to a standing position.

“Equals, no more, no less, remember.” Phenix nodded as she shook Alpha’s hand.

“I get caught up.”

“That’s understandable.” Alpha looked at the clock on the wall of the office. Four. She wanted to meet up with Zig and talk about some of the other parts of her end of the entertainment establishment, but that wasn’t until nine so she had a few hours to kill. “I’m going to take off now. Hold the fort for few more days, then you get a week off in the country..” The avians smiled at each other as they fox and human left.

“Thank you Alpha, Mathis. Thank you so much.” Alpha and Mathis returned to their room at the center of the large establishment. It supported and housed at least 25 individuals. So far, thanks in a large part to Phenix, Xenif, Zig Zag and Mathis’s efforts everyone that worked for Alpha was happy. Alpha laid down on the soft bed exhausted from the days events. Although not physically tiring, they laid a heavy burden on Alpha’s mind and spirit. Mathis sat down on the bed next to her and ran his paw through her hair. Alpha reached for her phone, and handed it to Mathis.

“I don’t want to be bothered for the next four hours.” Mathis nodded as he dialed the number for Katherine, their secretary.

“Yes, Katherine, transfer all calls to voice mail until eight o’clock, please. Oh and by the way, you along with Red and Erica are going on vacation in a week. I’ll have more details for you when I get them. Yes, yes your welcome. Goodbye Katherine.” Fox hit the end button on the phone and set it on the end table next to bed. Alpha smiled tiredly at the fox.

“Mathis?”

Mathis’s ears turned toward her so he could hear better. “Yes milady?”

“You wanna take a shower?” She smiled devilishly as he nodded and started to draw the shower. She stepped in silently behind him and slide off her dress. Mathis didn’t see her until she pushed him into the spray and started to kiss him passionately as the water ran down both their bodies. She heard Mathis let out a purr as his arms wrapped around her and kissed her with the same passion.. He slide off his clothes and continued the kiss.

“You always know how to make a good day better, milady, but let me wash you, this time.” He pulled from the embrace as he took the sponge ball and poured some soap into it. When it was well lathered, he ran along her body with it not missing a spot, then turned her body into the spray of water and let the soap rinse through to the drain. He shampooed her hair tenderly, and gently bent her head back to wash out the soup. They both stepped out of the bath to the fur dryer. Fox turned it on and brought in two fresh towels. Alpha was lavished as Fox’s soft touch and the warm air of the dryer dried her.

She stepped out as Mathis wrapped up her hair in a towel and she walked to the bed and laid down her on her stomach. “Could I give you a massage milady?”

“Absolutely.” She smiled as Mathis’s tender paws kneaded and pressed delicately but sternly into her body, making a few bones pop and a lot of muscles relax. “I am a big pile of goo.” She managed to say as he started on her legs. Mathis had tried his best to teach himself masseuse techniques and what he did know pleased her and that was all that really mattered..

He smiled as he finished and she rolled over and took him by the back of the neck. “I think I’m ready for the front now.” She kissed him tenderly as his paws traced her body. Caressing every part of her being and missing none.. He gently slid his fingers into her folds nibbling on her neck gingerly and she shuddered as he massaged her inner walls. She turned his head to face her and kissed him as she held him close to her as her first orgasm rocked her body. Mathis slid his tongue down her stomach then slid his the length of his muzzle into her. Reeling from the first orgasm the second came much faster as she took a hold of his ears and pressed his head into her deeper. Her second orgasm came in a tidal wave compared to water pail of the first. She bent back as she moaned his name. He lifted up to face her again as he licked some of the juices off of his muzzle. Already quite hard, he inserted into her and began to pump. It had been a while since they had last made love and the explosion of ecstasy, he would surely leave her shell-shocked.. She moaned as her movements started to match his. He began to pound into her and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as the third orgasm ran through her. He grunted and leaned up next to her as he pulled the covers over them both.

“I love you, Alpha Raye.”

“I love you too.” Sleep came easily for both of them. The alarm clock rattled them both as Fox tapped it gently to silence it. Alpha snuggled closer to her “walking furnace” as she liked to call Mathis. “Don’t wanna get up.”

“You have an appointment with Zig. I don’t want to get up either but we have our duties.” Alpha stuck her tongue out at him.

“Duty this.” She got up and sat down in front of the mirror, perched much like a falcon waiting for a rabbit to come out of his hole. Fox got up and ran a brush through her hair, gently removing some of the tangles in it. He put it into a braid and put one of her favorite ribbons at the end of it. When she looked, she gave a approving smile and leaned her head back against his stomach. “Do we have to?”

Knight kissed her forehead gently. “You know if it was up to me you wouldn’t but it’s not. Come let’s finish getting ready. The sooner we get the jobs done the sooner we can come back.” This got motion from Alpha, and Knight nodded as she got dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a blue T-shirt. They proceeded to the back of the complex where a black and white skunk/tiger hybrid was waiting for them.

“Greetings, milady Alpha Raye, Sir Craven.” She bowed her head to show them due respect then stepped into the building.

“How’s the project coming Zig?” Zig walked into a back room and dropped a VHS tape into Alpha’s hand. “Ahh, a finished product, I assume.” Zig smiled.

“Absolutely. Tanya is already in the process of producing a few more dozens of them and James is helping me with the next couple of scripts.” Zig frowned slightly. “Milady, we can only do so much, we going to need new talent soon. The workers you sent me were admirable in the performances and their personality and vigor for the work would have made them stars easily but the populace is starting to get picky. They wanna see fresh faces. If you wish, I could perform again...” Alpha cut her off there.

“That won’t be necessary Zig. In about a month or so I’ll be bringing a few more actors that should be everything your hoping for. Just make sure they have some good material to work with.”

Zig smiled.. “Have I disappointed you yet, milady?” Alpha returned the smile and shook her head. “I’ll be looking forward to the new arrivals..”

“Zig I have a favor to ask of you.” Zig’s ears leaned forward showing interest. “I’m going on a two week to month vacation. I’m taking Phenix, Xenif and a few others with me. I’m going to be counting on you to run the place without me for a week or so. Think you can handle it?”

Zig bit into her lower lip. “Will I be able to contact you if anything goes horribly wrong?”

Alpha smiled. “Yes, but all of the workers are way past quota, so I figure giving them a few weeks won’t hurt, so the only part you’ll really have to run is this one. Hopefully, too much won’t change. Can you handle it?” Zig bowed her head again.

“I’ll do my best to help provide you with a worry free vacation, milady..” Alpha walked over to the skunk raise her muzzle and planted her squarely on it. Mathis’s eyes widened at the sight. When Alpha had finished she turned to Mathis whom had recovered quite well. “I thank you, milady, but what was that for?”

“Loosen up, Zig. Call me Alpha for crying out loud. While we’re gone have James cook you dinner or something, but please loosen up. Sabrina’s worried shitless about you not being your old self. So, calm down, and just be yourself around me. I like formalities as much as anyone but you’ve been working with me for a year now. I have enough emotional breakdowns on the other side of the facility, I can’t help four people at once.” Zig’s turn to cut her off.

“But you’d be the first to try.”

“Damn straight.” She pushed back some of her bangs and then looked at the hybrid. “Look I’m sorry I don’t mean to rant at you.”

Zig put her paws up. “It’s alright, you have a lot to deal with right now. I’d say the only person that needs this vacation coming up more then Red and Erica is you. You’ve earned a little R&R. Don’t worry about a thing, consider everything in good hands and enjoy the film, if you have any advice for cover art let Sabrina know. Right now, I gotta run, James just paged me.” Zig Zag walked out of the room holding the door for Alpha and Fox.. Alpha watched as the sultry hybrid walked to another area of the studio. Mathis turned to Alpha a questioning glance on his face.

“Have you two ever... ah... ya know?” Alpha let Mathis have another sly little grin.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Mathis walked with Alpha back to her room.

The room was covered in a gentle haze of smoke. Red leaned back in his chair next to the air filter. Katherine and Erica had both insisted on it being there when he was still able to be negotiated with. He picked up his guitar and looked at his paws.. Some of the calluses had opened and he was bleeding. ’Funny, I didn’t even feel them break, still don’t really feel it.’ Red strummed a few cords on the instrument as he cleared his throat. Then started to play a gentle yet melancholy tune from one of his older albums.

“Wish I’d died instead of lived, a zombie as my face. Shelf forgotten with it’s memories, dairies’ left with cryptic entries and you don’t need to bother. I don’t need to breath. I’ll keep slipping farther, and once I am gone, I won’t let go till it breaths.” The tune was burned into his mind, it fit the vulpine almost too well. He strummed the last few notes of the song and heard a gentle applause coming from behind him. He turned to see the cougar feline her hair back in a ponytail and standing next to another plate of food.

“You only get better as you go on, Red.” Red remained silent. Katherine was the only person that could get into his room without disturbing him by opening the door. She sat down next to him. His eyes looked very red, dry, and his paws were bleeding from what appeared to be broken calluses. “You think you should stop, you might hurt yourself doing that.” Red looked at her.

“I wish I could feel the pain again. No matter what I put myself through no matter how much I make myself suffer, it feels like I’m dead to it. I can only feel my heart. The pain it harbors makes everything else pale in comparison.” Katherine shook her head sighing slightly.

“Don’t you ever hope she might still be out there, waiting for you?” Red closed his eyes, running his paws over his head as more tears meet the friends on the floor of his room.

“I think that’s the only thing keeping me alive.” Katherine bit into her lower lip.

“Do you think we can’t feel our own hearts?” Red looked up to her at the statement. He noticed tears were starting to well in her eyes too. “I haven’t heard anything from Max either. Erica doesn’t know where Sly is. Do you see either of us moping around about it? I’m not saying don’t mourn, I’m saying have a little more faith in yourself and a lot more respect for your body. Red, your in shambles. Would Scarlet even recognize you the way you are now?” Red looked back down at the floor.. All this time he had just been thinking about himself. He had never realized until this moment that others had been suffering like him, just holding it back better then he was. He looked back to the feline.

“I’m sorry, Katherine. I’ve been so selfish these past few months.” He sighed again as he walked over to the chicken salad sandwich and ate a few bites of it.

“None of us are telling you to forget. We are all here to help you. Me, Erica, Phenix, Xenif, even Mathis and Alpha have been worried about you.”

“I’ve just been too blinded by my emotions to see it.” He finished the sandwich and drank the water down. He looked down at his paws. “I’m going to need some time to heal.” Katherine smiled at him.

“Mathis told me today that in a week we’re going to get some time off.. A farming plantation owned by Conrad Mathyas. I’m excited, I haven’t been outside these walls for a while. Maybe you’ll get some time for your heart to heal as well as your paws.” Katherine got up and walked to the door. “I’ll see if I can get some more details, until then, take care Red. Goodnight.”

Red smiled at her as she phased through the door. “Goodnight Kat, and thank you.” He stepped to the his bed and pulled out a collar with a decent central diamond and was surrounded by rubies, Scarlet’s favorite stone. He stepped over to his bed and laid down looking at the collar. As he did his eyes slowly started to sag and close. Soon he was having the best rest he’d had in a while.. The pain wasn’t gone, and wasn’t dulled, but somehow as he slept it just didn’t feel as painful.

A pair of red eyes smiled behind the embers of a burning cigarette as Mathis nodded to himself and walked away from Red’s room back to Alpha’s. He was reminded of a myth he had read about once. About a girl and a box, in the box was all the evils of the world. When the box was opened they all escaped, but yet there was a single light still in the box as the girl gazed inside it. The light was hope, and while it can be very faint at times, it is never truly gone.