Falling for a Furry: A Great Change

A Melodious Picnic

Dawn beams down on the guest cottage and the sun glares over our hero as he stretches his arms out with a yawn.
Jackson: "Good morning, sun. It is now an incredible Wednesday! I wonder what's on the breakfast menu? Maybe I should go and make it for everyone as a surprise."
Jackson sneaks into the main house and starts cooking breakfast. Soon everyone is greeted with a large breakfast of boiled eggs, sausage, and toasted homemade waffles.
Jackson: "Alright, that looks deliciously good."
Taciana and Warrick are the first to arrive and tuck in.
Warrick: "Thanks, man. This is great."
Taciana: "You are so sweet, my handsome dhole."
Serena: "Yum!"
Ramona: "You are so thoughtful, Jackson!"
Tawny: "I want the last waffle!"
Serena: "No, I want it!"
Ramona: "No, me!"
Taciana: "Guys, there's enough for everyone."
Jackson: "That's right! There is."
The furries begin eating breakfast and as they reach the last hard-boiled egg on the center plate, Jackson cracks the top and splits the soft interior with Warrick.
There is a knock at the back door, and everyone looks up to see Melody on her phone. She looks upset. Taciana opens the door to let her in. Melody's phone is on speaker phone, so everyone can hear.
Melody: "Look Caldenozo, I will bring the usual to lunch for me and you, okay?"
Caldennazo: "Good, and make sure it is fresh!"
She takes a seat at the table, Nova trailing in quietly and sighs sadly as Serena pushes over a waffle to each of them.
Jackson: "Who was that on the phone with you, Melody?"
Melody: "My boyfriend, Caldenazo."
Ramona: "Is he treating you right?"
Melody: "He yells at me when I don't get him the lunch he wants because he hates school lunches."
Jackson: "Why don't you tell him to find his own lunch and not sponge off of you like that?"
Melody: "I have tried that, but it only makes him angry and I feel bad for him. I am going to school early. I just wanted to stop by and thank you again for helping me yesterday."
Taciana: "Wait a minute, you can ride to school with us."
Nova: "That would be great! It's a long walk."
Melody: "Thank you, guys!"
The sisters walk out the door and climb into Jackson's car to wait for the others. Jackson and Taciana ready their own bags and head towards the car.
Jackson: "Ready to roll?"
Taciana: "Sure am!"
Melody: "Sure."
Jackson: "Another great day at school!"
........At the High School.........
Jackson: "So what are your two favorite classes, Nova?"
Nova: "Gym class and biology. You?"
Jackson: "Gym class and physics."
Nova: "Hmm, well if you ever want to join me for a workout, just call me up and we could go on an exercise regimen together."
Jackson: "That works. I will definitely call you about a possible meet up date."
Nova: "Hehehe. Cool."
Melody: "Were you serious about always having our backs if we need your help?"
Jackson: "Yeah, I gave my word."
Melody: "You are a good furry, Jackson. Talk to you later."
Jackson: "Yeah, anytime."
........Lunchtime........
As everyone reached the lunch table, they noticed that Nova was there without Melody.
Taciana: "Hey Nova! Isn't Melody going to join us?"
Nova: "She said Caldenazo wanted some alone time with her."
Taciana: "I've heard a story about Caldennazo."
Jackson: "What kind of story?"
Taciana: "He got suspended last year for beating her up right after she rejected his offer to prom."
Jackson: "That is not right, no one should beat anyone up over a little rejection. And you should never hurt anyone like that."
Taciana: "You are absolutely right, Jackson. I wish there was a way to make everyone good like you."
Jackson: "Aww, Tacci, that is just the gentleman in me."
Taciana: "How was the trip yesterday, Jacky?"
Jackson: "It was fun. In fact, me and Nova raced up to the highest mountain in the Accretion Forest."
Taciana: "Did you win?"
Jackson: "I would have been the winner if the terrain was not so rugged."
Nova: "You wish. I was a few seconds behind him, but we touched the flag at the same time."
Jackson: "She leaped at the beginning of the race and then leaped to reach the flag when I ran towards it."
Nova: "Guilty."
Taciana: "Even though it was a tie; I am glad the two of you are unharmed."
Nova: "Thanks, Taciana. It means a lot."
Taciana: "Of course."
Pepper: "Jackson? What happened to Melody's left leg?"
Jackson: "We had a little trouble with a wild panther that tried stalking us for food, but I fought it off and injured the beast."
Gulani: "Oh my goodness! There are still wild ones out there in Accreton?"
Jackson: "Indeed. Melody found out the hard way, but in the end I patched her and the beast up since the panther had cubs trailing behind her."
Everyone at the table looks at him in shock and surprise since they had never seen many wild ones come too close to furries before.
Riley: "I am assuming that you let the panthers live?"
Jackson: "Yes, because in that moment, Melody taught me that the panther's life is precious."
Miles: "You got wisdom, bro. I respect that."
Riley: "That's so cool."
Taciana: "Ahem."
Riley: "What? He's a hero."
Taciana: "Yeah, but he is still my boyfriend and not yours, Riley. Keep yourself under control."
Riley: "Hmmph."
Jackson: "Warrick, how is Renet doing?"
Warrick: "She is doing better, actually."
Jackson: "That's great news! She is going to need you more than ever."
Warrick: "Thanks, man. She called earlier and said she will come tomorrow."
........Out in the hallway........
Melody: "Look Calden, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but can't you get your own food?"
Caldenoza: "Melody, you don't understand at all, do you?"
Melody: "Understand what?"
Caldenoza: "Let me remind you!"
He grabs her by the hair.
Melody: "Owww! Stop it!"
Suddenly something knocks the bobcat out.
Melody: "Jackson?"
Jackson: "Sorry Mel, I couldn't stand overhearing that situation. So I stopped it from escalating even further."
Melody: "Is he...?"
Jackson: "He's fine, he's just knocked out."
Melody: "I appreciate the back up."
Jackson: "You're welcome." 
Melody: "All of that got me thinking, maybe you are the one who can change this school for the better."
Jackson: "How so?"
Melody: "You can make a donation to Wild Eye High School to increase security around here to prevent future bullying and abuse."
Jackson: "That's a thoughtful idea Melody. I will think about it. Hey, why don't we do a fundraiser? Everyone can chip in. Maybe we can do a bake sale or something."
Melody: "Good idea! You know, I have never really met anyone as thoughtful and considerate as you."
Jackson: "First time for everything, right?"
.........In the School Courtyard.........
Mitchell: "I took a picture of the whole lunchroom and Salvador called me about taking everyone in the photo that this Jackson guy has been hanging out with."
Kumal: "Wait a minute, that is his plan? That is crazy, I was hoping to just ask one of the rabbit girls on a date. I don't want to force them into anything."
Marino: "Mitchell, I think Kumal has gone soft and has forgotten our true mission here."
Kumal: "I haven't gone soft; I was only thinking of a different way keeping Clawtooth Clan pure and not corrupt."
Mitchell: "The only way that our crew is going to grow is if we have some ladies to expand it with."
Kumal: "What if they don't want to agree to our terms?"
Marino: "Then we force them to do what we want."
Kumal: "Fine, I guess this is how it has to be."
Mitchell: "That's more like it, now come on. It's class time."
.........This evening.........
Dinner is over, and Taciana, Jackson, Melody, and Nova are outside watching the stars. Jackson just finished explaining his idea of a summer fundraiser and everyone had agreed to spearhead some part of the plan. Jackson falls back on the ground, staring at the
stars in the night sky.
Melody: "My favorite constellation as a little lynx was always Gemini because I used to think me and my sister looked exactly the same."
Jackson: "Mine was Orion, since as a little guy I dreamed of being a bounty hunter with loyal fighters at my side."
Nova: "How are you so popular?"
Jackson: "The trick is to stay true of heart, by not losing yourself and not stooping down to the level of an individual with malice."
Taciana: "You sound like my grandfather."
Jackson: "I know that sounded deep, but it is true. You can ask anyone."
Melody: "Okay."
Taciana: "I'm glad your pod landed here, Jackson."
Nova: "Me too. You are making our town a safer and better place with all you've done to help."
Jackson: "I'm enjoying it too."
The teenagers chat a while longer before going their separate ways to their homes.
.......At 3:00 am in the morning........
A terrible plan is already in motion. An assailant comes in through the open window and drags Melody off the bed.
Melody: "Let me go you horrible heathen!"
Mitchell: "Keep your mouth shut, kitty."
He puts a chloroform-laced rag over her mouth to keep her quiet. Her muffled screams fade as slowly her eyes close.
Mitchell: "Okay she is out. Put her in the truck with rest of them."
Marino: "Got her. Where is the other one?"
Mitchell: "The other lynx girl?"
Marino: "Yes, the other one."
Mitchell: "Kumal already carried her to the back of the truck. Were you even awake when that happened?"
Marino: "No, I just figured it would take him forever since Kumal is not as tough as we are when it comes these types of missions."
Mitchell: "Kumal might be a bit of a sap, but you can count on him as muscle for the crew."
Marino: "You are both fox furries and I am a coyote furry. Toughness is something that we cannot let up with in this town."
Mitchell: "I know. Salvador taught us that."
Kumal: "Are we done?"
Marino: "Not yet. We still have a few more targets to hit this morning before the sun comes up."
Kumal: "Then what?"
Marino: "The boss man will fill us in on the rest of the details."
Mitchell: "Well, what are we standing around for? We got a neighborhood to raid."