Chapter Text
It was an early time to be up, sure. The chill breeze along my fur didn’t help, but I sat at the bus stop anyway. It was a special occasion to be sure. My friend had just invited me and a few others on a month-long trip to an entire mansion where we would pretty much have full reign to do whatever. Under legal obligations of course, speaking of that same friend was walking up to me now, a small boar with dark red fur and a goofy smile that showed childlike wonder and excitement. Roswell came up to me with a grin holding two Star-notBucks cups.
“Heya pal! Surprised to see you made it here before me!” Roswell said a hint of surprise in his jovial tone “Well I got us some coffee! Decaf for you of course. Take a guess on which is yours.”
“Hey Ros.” I reply before he shoves the two cups towards me. I guess I had to choose so I grabbed one and looked at the name on the cup “... Who in the hell is Dave?”
“Huh what are you talking about?” He asked, tilting his head to which I showed him the name on the cup. “Heh wow guess the barista must have been as tired as you are!”
“Guess so. As long as its my order.” I say taking a big gulp. My eyes instantly snap open as I taste the most caffeinated, disgusting, tongue staining taste before I cough out “JEZUS WHAT THE FU-HUCK” I say hacking out my lungs before looking at the label “THIS IS JUST STRAIGHT ESPRESSO.” I announce in complete and utter disgust, before Roswell can say anything two more friends arrive
“You okay Nix?” Sal, the big gator. Croc? Asks worry overtaking his usual stone cold demeanor as he walks over
“Yeah you sound like you’re throwing up a lung!” said the golden dragon walking up to us getting close patting my back
“Y-Yeah I’m fine…” I manage to say between coughs “Besides from Roswell trying to poison me” I say glaring at the worried boar
“Hey hey hey! I didn’t know they messed up the order!” Roswell says defensively waving his hands worriedly
“Straight espresso.” I restate glaring up at him
“How cruel of you!” Orlando says still at my side as Sal shakes his head sighing not partaking in this witch hunt as Roswell continues to try and defend himself
“Heh I was expecting a warm welcome but I gotta say this was unexpected” I hear a whistle from behind me I immediately stand up and swirl around to look up at the bear who had just approached us
“O-Oh hey Dean” I say a blush creeping on my face before I clear my throat “Take this” I say handing him the cup of poison which I know he’d appreciate, Dean has strange tastes all around, strange taste in coffee, strange taste in hobbies and especially strange taste in men. The man has been trying to court me for the past year which I have… Conflicting. Feelings about.
“Oh thanks?” He says taking the cup “Who’s Dave?”
“Shush and drink the bean juice” I reply looking at the cup with disgust and Dean, shrugging takes a sip
“So who else is excited for the mansion trip?” Orlando asks practically bouncing with excitement
“Mansion?” Dean asks, tilting his head to which all of us deadpan to look at him “W-What?”
“I told you about the mansion when I invited you,” Roswell reminds to which Dean , thinking for a moment and when he does, yet another person walks up. A cream lion with a dark mane and the fashion sense of a cantaloupe.
“Hey everyone!” Hoss says walking up to us with an exaggerated wave “Who else is excited for the mansion trip?” He asks to which Orlando raises his hand excitedly. I never really got to know Hoss as much as the others as he had enrolled into the school only last year, but I suppose now is a better time than any to get to know him better.
“Well no one is more excited than me!” Roswell boasts, much to Orlando’s chagrin but before he could argue we all hear the sound of an approaching bus “Oh! That must be our ride!” Roswell says excited as I look around seeing the bus drive up to us before stopping.
“Alright!” Orlando says, punching the air excitedly as the door opens and everyone starts to board. Apart from me who stands there looking around my leg bouncing
“Hey Nix what's… Ohhh right! Your plus one!” Roswell exclaims, he was right, I was allowed to bring a plus one. Who of course was running late but not for long as a gray wolf starts to walk up to the bus nonchalantly earning a glare from everyone on the bus as he passed by. Except for Hoss
“Christ took you long enough” I say to Tyson who in response slaps my shoulder
“Yeah yeah thanks for inviting me” He says rolling his eyes “I can feel your friends burning a hole into the back of my head”
“Well you’re my friend to, that's why I invited you” I explain with a shrug
“Yeah just don’t expect me to make any new friends” Ty says with a shrug of his own
“Get on the damn bus edgelord” I state plainly earning a chuckle from Ty who climbed into the bus with me in tow. Everyone still seemed excited even with the unexpected addition to the crew, so I’d call this a win
“Alright no rough housing on the bus okay?” Said the driver to which we all agreed before he started to drive, I looked out of the window feeling something in my chest. As if I had sold my soul away for this as the bus lumbers down the road. I shake off the feeling and sigh looking across the bus at my friends all sitting in their own seats. I suppose I should do the same. I sit down in a seat near the back to which Roswell and Orlando approach me
“Hey Nix” Roswell says with a greeting smile “Wanna talk for a bit?
“Yo” I reply sitting up “What's up dudes?”
“Well I just wanted to know if you’re gonna document this trip in some way” Roswell says smiling
“Oh yeah I did bring a journal I was planning to write in” I inform Roswell earning a smile from him
“Oh same! Maybe at the end of this we can compare notes!” Roswell suggests to which i find myself nodding in agreement
“Roswell” Orlando mumbles lightly elbowing him “What about the other thing”
“Other thing?” I ask earning a sigh from Roswell and Orlando freezing up a little
“Well y’know a fun get together isn’t really the only reason for this trip” Roswell says leaning back to which I raise an eyebrow
“You’ve just been… Distant. Since what happened… So Roswell and I wanted you to let loose a little and have fun” Orlando says fidgeting with his fingers “We just miss the old Phoenix y’know” He says which earns a slight eye twitch from me which neither of them seem to notice
“Yeah yeah I hear you” I say leaning back “I promise I’m gonna have so much fun my tail falls off. Scouts honor” I say putting two fingers to my chest “But I was about to catch a nap. It should be illegal to wake up this early”
“Heh alright we’ll leave you be than” Roswell chuckles before the two of them go back up to their respective seats
“The old Phoenix huh..?” I mumble to myself before I slowly close my eyes being lulled off to sleep
----------------------------
I awake to a soft feeling on my face and hands. It's rather pleasant being honest, like being in a comfy blanket. Sleep cannot last forever as I slowly rub my eyes sitting up a hand resting on my back
“Mmm what time is it..?” I ask no one in particular but I hear a chuckle from right next to me
“Well about the right time to wake up” I hear Dean say, snapping my eyes open I look over seeing my hand on his chest. This, of course, earns an embarrassed shriek from me as I flail around jumping back
“OMIGODIAMSOSORRY” I spurt out falling onto the floor earning another chuckle from Dean
“Heheh sorry sorry! I was gonna wake you up but you got comfortable and I just couldn’t!” Dean says chuckling “We’re almost at the mansion though” He informs me, who’s heart rate just calmed down to a reasonable state
“Ah nice” I mumble slowly sitting back in my seat unable to look Dean in the eyes as he chuckles before I hear a sharp bonk as something connects with Dean’s forehead
“Ah!” He yelps out in surprise rubbing his head where the bottle had hit. I sigh looking over at Ty who was glaring at Dean. “Who threw that?” He asks. I say nothing of course not wanting to sell him out.
“Aight we’re here” The driver says stopping and opening the door prompting us to get out “Seeya next month” He says tipping his hat as we all leave
“Ah yes! And here we are, everybody!” Roswell says excited standing at the front of the pack. The mansion was big of course. But something about it felt… Ominously familiar. Looking at the others I see I’m not the only one to have felt it. Hoss had that same look of recognition I had looking at the mansion. But distinctly less fear then I felt. I shake off the feeling as I look back at Roswell who was explaining stuff about the mansion a short otter standing behind him
“Ah you must be master Roswell I presume” He says which had Roswell snap his head back in reply before he clears his throat
“A-Ah yes that would be me” He says nodding his head
“Alright then come in all of you” The butler smiles opening the doors for us to enter and so we all do “Welcome to the Hammond manor I do hope you enjoy your stay, my name is Benson. just come to me if you need anything” He says with a courteous bow
“Uh yes can we look around?” Dean asks raising his hand
“Ah yes you are all allowed to explore at your own leisure I shall be in the kitchen if I am to be needed” The butler nods, walking off to which everyone does the same leaving me in the entrance room, I don’t stay for long opting to explore as well. The upstairs seemed fancy. The decor being right up Hoss’ alley, the kitchen of course being full of food as one would expect from a rich man’s mansion. Speaking of rich, I found Orlando there looking through ingredients planning on what to make, outside I found Dean and Sal who were both excited about their own respective interests, Dean enjoying the greenhouse and Sal the pool. After all that I decide to venture down into the basement finding Tyson appreciating the workout equipment.
“Oh yeah I got somethin else down here I wanna show ya” Ty said leading me down into another room of the basement where he showed me a strange out of place vault door
“Freaky” I say looking at a pad near its center with a keypad
“I know right” Ty says in agreement “I tried a bunch of codes and none worked”
“Hmm I wanna give it a try” I volunteer before looking at the pad thinking before typing in a word ‘Winter’ Is the word I type in earning in a beep in rejection “Damn” I say disappointed
“Ya couldn’t possibly have expected to crack it first try” Ty says with a cocky grin “Have that much faith in yerself?”
“Why yes I believe in the power of myself’ I say in a haughty tone standing up Ty chuckling before Dean comes down
“Hey guys! Dinner is ready!” He calls out
“Alright finally c’mon fawn” Ty says walking out. I hesitate looking back at the vault, the same ominous yet familiar feeling coming back. My own hunger snaps me out of it thankfully as I walk up to the kitchen finding everyone sitting at the table. I look around before sitting down next to Tyson who raises an eyebrow
“What ya wanna sit next to me for?” He asks. It was a good question he was sitting by himself away from everyone but I just shrug
“Eh figured you would have wanted the company” I reply with a half smile
“Heh you ever think I enjoy being alone?” Ty points out
“Nope you’re too edgy to” I shoot back ducking my head to just narrowly avoid a swipe from Tyson’s hand. Dinner and desert go similarly with Tyson and I giving light jabs to the other as we eat, everyone soon migrating to the entrance room
“Man that desert was good Orlando” Hoss says smiling at the dragon who took the compliments with a prideful smile
“I know I know no need to thank me… But I guess if you must” Orlando says smiling. To which everyone goes silent looking at him “... Hey don’t look at me like that!” He says flushing red with embarrassment to which everyone bursts out in laughter, even Orlando eventually
“So how’s everyone's thoughts on this now? I for one am excited for this month!” Roswell says smiling getting a reply from everyone in the same tune
“Well I think I’m gonna retire to bed now” Dean says yawning
“Yeah same here I need my beauty sleep” Hoss nods
“Me to” Sal agrees “Goodnight everyone” He says walking upstairs soon followed by everyone else. I stand in the room sighing looking around. I feel eyes on me. I don’t know why but I feel like a deer in headlights. God I hate how true that stereotype is. I soon quickly retreat up into my own room lying on my bed and collecting my thoughts. I soon grab the journal from out of my bag and begin to write about the day including sketches of the mansion and all my friends. I smile looking at them… What the? When I blink I swear I saw all of the drawings of my friends with X’ed out eyes except for Roswell… I shake off the thoughts. I must be really tired, that really heightens my intrusive thoughts. I quickly close the book and lay back in bed the events of today replaying in my mind as I slowly drift off into sleep.