Sebastian was curled up in his bed of dry grass and dead leaves, closed on himself like a gray ball of fur.
His eyes were closed, but his ears could feel the freezing wind of the middle winter roaring outside, beating the ground he was hiding under and moving the world like a goddess’ breath.
The only other sound's the door’s one, being softly hit by brushes and fighting against the coldness of the season, making their house safe from the ice.
They decided to build their den underground because the tree they used to live on wouldn’t be as good as it, in case the temperature got low again.
His child was sleeping on his couch, a cute and small ball of love that now was exhausted after having spent the night before playing in the snow. His small ringed tail was swinging on his side, as soft as the clouds in the sky.
His wife, Cherry, was lying on his left, awake, staring at the ceiling with black and lively eyes.
Her belly was round and warm, keeping the minuscule baby inside safe.
She was pregnant again and Sebastian was the happiest raccoon in the world. His job of guardian wanted him and his family to live isolated from their fellows, which was weird for his species, but they could live the best of lives thanks to it.
Sebastian took a few minutes to notice that Cherry wasn’t sleeping anymore and, when their eyes met, he smiled at her.
It was late night, which meant it was almost time to wake up for nocturnal animals such as raccoons.
For some reason, the female raccoon didn’t smile back. Her eyes were filled of worriness and suspicion.
- Are you alright? - asked Sebastian, alarmed. His eyes went from her snout to her belly, then back to her eyes, scared of the idea that something was wrong with the baby.
- No… - answered her, uncertain - I just…
- Just what?
- I woke up because I thought I heard something outside.
- It’s been windy for the whole evening, maybe it caused some troubles.
- No, it’s not like that… it was more like.. steps.
- Are you sure? No one comes here anymore, you know. - whispered Sebastian, standing up and getting a bit closer to her. They rubbed their noses, lovely, then kissed. - You’re safe here, I promise.
- Yes, I know… - nodded Cherry in the end - Maybe I just dreamt it.
- Shall we wake Tommy up? - asked her husband, pointing at the child asleep behind them - It’s almost time to go to the nocturnals’ school.
- Nah, let him sleep for another five minutes. He deserves it.
- I’m going to prepare breakfast, then. - Sebastian stood up and left the bed, calmly - Berries or bugs?
He barely had time to end the last word, then a loud and scary noise made him jump.
Cherry ran to him, scared, then put herself between the door and Tommy’s bed. Sebastian did the same, hissing to the door and keeping them behind his body.
The noise repeated, stronger. Again and again.
- Sebastian…
The raccoon’s first thought was that a bunch fell down from a tree, or that a rock hit a small brush and destroyed it. It was the classical noise of the wood being violently broken, crushing on the ground or hit by something very hard.
After a few seconds, he realized that it didn’t come from the wood, instead it was from the opposite direction.
- The mansion! - exclaimed. He ran to the door, but Cherry bit his tail to stop him.
- Wait, don’t go by yourself!
- No, I need you to stay here. Someone has to protect the children.
Cherry turned to Tommy, who began moving on his bed, then down to her tummy. She nodded, serious.
- Be careful, Seb.
- You too. I’m coming back in a few minutes.
YOU ARE READING
Pocketville Lost Diamonds: VOLUME 2
Fanfiction[PG 13] [Sequel of "Puppy in my pocket: Pocketville Lost Diamonds", available on my account.] Princess Ava and the Royal Guards are travelling through the Kingdom, rebuilding her father's life, looking for the princess' secret sister, who may belong...
