An Anthro's Tale

Road Trip

My alarm went off at five AM the next morning. It's sound drilled right through my skull. I reached over and felt around until my paw finally found the snooze button. I pulled myself out of bed and slipped into tan cargo pants and a blue shirt before grabbing my backpack full of clothes as well as the one that Josh had given me and going down stairs. Mom was packing a bag full of snacks,chips,cnady and the like while Dad was bolting the back door shut. James,Will and Taylor were throwing a few things into there bags and Tess was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom",I asked setting my bag on the table,"where's Tess?"

"She's still asleep",Mom replied,"will you get her up."

"Okay Mom",I said walking back tworads Tess's room.

When I opened the door,Tess was laying on her stomach,her ears were flopped back on her head and her wings were hanging limp off her bed.

"You okay sis?" I asked.

"No",she half said,half moaned,"my head and eyes hurt."

"Your fire's probably low",I said in reply,"I'll be right back."

I quickly walked to the fridge and pulled out my metal canteen as well as another bottle of fire starter for Tess. I tossed my canteen on my bag as I walked back into Tess's room.

"Here",I said holding out the bottle.

With some difficulty,she reached out and took the bottle from me and took a big gulp. Tess puffed a bit of smoke and handed the bottle back to me,"That seemed to do it",she said standing up.

I left the room as Tess quickly showered off,joining us in the living room.

"Mom",Tess said walking out of her bedroom,"I've got a really bad headache."

"Come here",Mom said. Tess walked to Mom and leaned into her as she put her hand on her forehead,"you feel hot,come here."

Tess followed Mom into the kitchen as the rest of us finished packing. I slid my fire starter and my Vita into the front pocket of the backpack Josh gave me along with my IPod and cramea and zipped it up tightly before throwing it over my shoulder. Dad and the other's quickly finished packing and we walked out to the van.

Our van was a 2011 Ford Excrusion that Dad had bought new the day Taylor was born. It was a bright blue with a tan interior and sliver trim. Yesterday,we had gotten it ready for the long trip that was about to be thrown at it. We had installed a piggyback fuel management system and high flow fuel pump rails,filters,injectors and high flow,stainless steel braided fuel lines to increase gas mileage. We had also increased exhaust port size and shape added a dry sump oiling system with remote oil coolers to ensure consistent oil flow. We'd also installed street legal soft compound DOT-spec tires for better traction as well as a roll cage that went along the edges of the interior,like we had on DJ's truck,the cage was painted to match the Ford's Tan interior. After we had torqued up the springs to lower the ride height,checked and replaced the oil and other fluids and thoroughly cleaned it,the Ford was ready for the cross country journey. If your wondering why a Diesel powered family truck has all these upgrades,the answer is simple,I can't leave anything alone.

Outside was crisp and clear,the sun was just beginning to rise and a light breeze was blowing over and I could hear the sounds of cars out in the distance. Mom and Tess exited the house and Mom locked the door behind her.

"You okay Tess?" I asked,"you look kinda pale."

"I'm not feeling very well little brother",she replied,"but I'll be fine."

We shoved our bags and suitcases into the van and we all piled in. Dad and Mom up front,Tess and I in the captains chairs and James and will in the back with Taylor. Dad started the van and drove to the edge of the driveway.