Animal Jam: Insubordinates

Chapter 9: A Photograph

(WINDY POV)

PDA, abuse, and mentions of blood

I was toying with my grandmother's ring, a nervous habit. Auburn sunlight reflected off of it's smooth surface. Flitting dust drifted through the warm sunbeams that crept in through the small, wood framed windows. There was sort of a hazy, drowsy feel to the snug den. I struggled to not melt into the striped couch.

The dusty floorboards creaked under Victor's paws as he walked towards the small shelf. The crystalline water in the vase of thin-stemmed lillies trembled at each step. He lifted up the delicate glass, inhaling the scent of the ghostly flowers. There was a quiet sadness in his weary eyes. He picked up a small, white laminated square up from under the vase. A paper? What did that have to do with his missing girlfriend?

He trotted back over, and promptly plopped down next to me on the small couch, causing me and the couch to bounce wildly from the weight change.

"HEY!" I complained.

Victor snorted. "Can't help that you're tiny."

I glared at him, while he rolled his eyes and flashed a warm smile. He quickly returned back to his former moody expression. I tried my best to look over his shoulder at the water stained piece of paper.

It was a photograph, the generic ones from the photobooth in Club Geoz and the Movie Theatre. A muscular, curvy arctic wolf proudly struck the generic pose with the Mt. Shiveer background. Her fur was as red as fresh poppies, with a snow-white underfur. A shiny red spiked collar snugly fit her perfect, long neck. A white flower crown adorned her fluffy head, several silky cream petals fluttering away in the cold mountain breeze. A fashionable white sweater was gently draped around her small shoulders and arched back, but fit tightly enough to reveal lean muscle. Kind electric blue eyes were framed by a fan of thick, jet black lashes. Long legs, thick tail, swan-like neck, symmetrical face. This girl was... One of the most beautiful creatures I had ever laid my eyes upon.

What was with arctic wolves and flawless beauty? Unfair!

"That's Fauna. On our very first date." Whispered Victor.

"She's beautiful." I replied.

"Yeah."

He traced his paw around her sharp jawline.

"We'd been dating for two years- since we were sixteen. Then a few days ago I just found a note, from the Bones..." Victor started. He trailed off, staring out the window. I hugged the falcon plushie closer to my chest.

He shook his head.

"I understand. Too painful?" I whispered, faintly.

"Yeah." He replied. His voice wavered.. He truly loved her.

(FLASHBACK TO 8 DAYS AGO)

The first day of summer vacation. The day of planning, waiting, yearning, imagining. Yearning for the wispy fog of June gloom to be burnt into boiling summertime. Frantically shopping for the perfect beach looks, impatiently waiting for more gems and diamonds on the daily spin. Planning fun-filled, lavish beach parties in your perfectly decorated beach den. Lounging on soft towels at the cruise ship party, rolling your eyes at the kids splashing water on your back. Imagining first dates at the Summer Carnival, eating sticky cotton candy as you laugh the blistering heat away. The perfect summer.

Was I planning, waiting, yearning? Of course, almost like every other teenage jammer. Almost- but not quite. I was currently planning to get a summer job, to save up for my own den. Waiting impatiently, for my mother to stop being a poor excuse of a jammer. Desperately yearning to escape the abusive hole I called home. Imagining a better life.