A Paw Behind You

A Gloomy Day...

"Dammit..." 

The a cloudy afternoon sun hits me in the school gardens, when I saw Aiden punching a moss-covered tree trunk nearby since who-knows-when. 

"Stop it, Aiden! You're going to bleed soon, look!"  By the time I got there, his paw knuckles were reddening with obviousness even through his darker-brown paws. And noticing my sudden presence, a certain emotion was expressed...

"S-sorry, Sky," he retracted his paw with force, "I was just in a... mood, that's all." the tree leaves rustled softly with Aiden placing weight from his leaning.

Clearly not just a mood. His eyes sparked no joy, his once positive smile had long disappeared from the hours passing by. This emotion, although unrecognizable on him, was far too acquainted to myself.

Even then, I had to admit, the whole ordeal had dealt a heavy blow to everyone. I haven't seen both Zain and Nick for the past twelve hours, with Aiden being the only exception here. And for me, I would be lying if I said the flashbacks and the suddenness of everything hadn't affect me that day...

"Has Mrs. Arilese give any updates yet?" He asked, staring blankly at the drifting, white clouds.

"No, she hasn't," I placed a white paw on fox's shoulder, "Aiden, you should... get some sleep. Go home, take a break."

"I..." He pulled back, and a silence came before he spoke again, " yeah... maybe I should go home."

Soon as he ended, he walked off in a slouching, slowing movement. And now, I was left alone with a blowing spring wind, which was beginning to get warmer through the days passing.

Left to my empty, isolated self, I felt unusually drowsy, probably because I didn't really sleep well last night. Noticing a wooden bench stationed near the fenced-off sides, slightly moist but at least comfortable, I sat and laid on the cold surface. And with the cooling weather, it wasn't before I----

Zzz... Zzz...

~~~~~~~~~~

"W-Wha... what... what is it?"

My mind was in an utter mess when I felt a forceful jerking motion on my upward-exposed left shoulder. And in front, stood a groggy figure with a visible setting sun peering its final look over the Western Block before disappearing from view behind the block very soon.

"You should really find somewhere else better to sleep, wolf." My vision cleared from the fuzz to a gold-furred body, "Thought you were dead, you know."

"O-oh, Nick!" I exclaimed, readjusting myself for the standing dingo to end up sitting next to me.

"Don't call me that,"

"Why?" I questioned.

"I just... don't like it when people like you call me that," his grumpiness started to increase. Rude much? Anyhow...

"Anyway, Nick, what are you doing here?"

"What did i ju----" He paused, took a deep breath, before slouching frontward with both paws clasped together on his thighs and a depressing sigh, "I just needed a breather until I came across your loud snoring."

"Wha---"

My entire body heated up unnaturally as I turned away. Damn, do I snore that loud!?

Noticing this, he laughed wickedly, before giving a humored sigh, "No worries, wolf. I'll keep this secret away from prying eyes, although with a price of course."

"Hmph!" I gave a solid frown, "As if I cared that much about a simple snoring."

"Are you sure?"