Here is Chapter 2!

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Chapter 2: Interrupted

Lupus sat on the bed beside his suitcase, panting and wiping a trickle of sweat from his brow. The bedroom featured a blend of rustic and contemporary elements that harmonised together beautifully. The interior walls displayed exposed painted brick, their surface coated in a soft off-white shade to highlight the unique architectural features. Adding to the rustic appeal but also some rigidity for the ERAS system Snackers mentioned were the heavy wooden beams on the ceiling, painted a deep obsidian black.

But could that really allow Snackers to raise the roof? His heart raced as he imagined the sound of creaking wood and the metallic grinding of gears, and the raccoon’s enormous hands snatching him away like a dollhouse toy. The lake house was a dollhouse, at least to the Vastelerian raccoon outside. Lupus briefly felt small and vulnerable, ashamed of his insignificance, but quickly realised that this notion must have been quite foolish. Snackers treated them all as equals despite their size difference, and he was better than safe in his company.

With a deep breath, Lupus shook his head and returned to inspect the bedroom. Wide pinewood planks spanned the floor space, polished to a mirror-like shine with beeswax. Soft, woven rugs in muted, earthy tones were laid out, creating an inviting atmosphere for barefoot walking. Deko picked the furniture with a similarly considered application, selected to enhance the aesthetics. A large wooden wardrobe, positioned next to the feature wall, seemed like a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Its rich, dark grain and antique brass handles evoked a sense of history, adding depth and character to the space. Across the room stood a sleek, modern angled desk crafted from walnut and carbon steel. It had a hidden charging station for devices, built-in LED lighting, and a pneumatic height adjustment panel. An ergonomic chair accompanied the desk, ensuring maximum comfort without compromising on style.

Lupus’s face lit up with a wide smile as he puffed his chest out, a blissful glow of happiness fuelled by endorphins. After dreaming about it for so long and talking countless times on Discord, he took a moment to take in the reality of finally being there in this giant racoon's domain, eagerly awaiting what could happen. Gradually, his nerves and anxiety faded, giving way to a tug on his heartstrings that left him eager for more.

Once his strength returned, the wolf rose to a stand and unzipped his suitcase, neatly unpacking his clothes in the wardrobe and arranging his hygiene products in the bathroom. He then took out a socket adapter to charge his phone with the two-hole socket by the dresser. Amidst the quiet noises of his organising, the joyful laughter from outside filtered in through the windows, filling his heart with warmth and a longing for those carefree moments.

As he arranged the belongings, his fingers brushed over something familiar in the suitcase. He pulled out an old, weathered notepad, its once vibrant cover now succumbing to the passage of time. A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he opened the fragile cover to see ‘Lupus’ Story Journal’. He packed it for brainstorming ideas, hoping it would provide a distraction during the one-stop, ten-hour flight to America. However, the ultimately noisy, turbulent trip prevented him from getting many of his thoughts down.

A knock broke Lupus’ reverie. He turned to see Deko standing in the doorway, a mused expression on his face and holding two glasses of water. “Hey Lupy, I thought you might be thirsty.”

The wolf placed the journal down on the bedspread and gratefully accepted the glass, taking a long sip before setting it down on the dresser.
Deko’s tail gently swished behind him. “How’s the room?”

He beamed brightly back, his tail flapping away on the mattress. “The room’s great, but that run exhausted me. D-doing fine though,” he adds hastily.

Deko set his glass down, crossed his arms and cocked a brow. “Just a lil’ jog?” he teased as he walked over and took a seat on the bed next to Lupus.

“Yeah, yeah,” he sniped back. “But mate, it’s great being here!”

The folf nodded, his eyes sparkling with glee. “Yes! It’s amazing to have you here, Lupy. After all those phone calls and video chats on Discord, it’s still crazy to actually see you in person.”

“I know what you mean, it’s like a dream come true. I never thought we’d get the chance because of the distance.”

Deko’s expression softened, and he placed a hand on Lupus’ shoulder. “I can happily speak for everyone when I say we’re all so glad you’re here, Lupy.”

His tail locked up and his ears drooped. “I…Thank you so much,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Deko nudged Lupus gently on the shoulder, a reassuring gesture meant to lighten the mood. “You and Snackers are having fun, though?” he said with a playful grin.

Lupus managed a small smile, his tail wagging again. “Oh yeah, it’s weird seeing a Vastelerian up close,” he admitted. “It’s funny, I feel big whenever I’m around my friends back in Britain, and then…”

“And then…” Deko muttered. “His size reminds us how small we really are.”

“Yeah, but…” Lupus paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before he continued. “I mean, Snackers is so big, but he’s so gentle. It’s like having a guardian, you know?”

Deko nodded thoughtfully. “What do you mean, Lupy? I thought you had Vastelerians back in the land of tea and biscuits.”

Lupus sighed, his curled lips fading slightly. “We do, but it’s rare to interact with them, let alone befriend, or even date one. They live only in two Vastelerian settlements segregated from the Petritan population. There’s one parish in the West Country called Brackenmoor, and one further north in a remote part of the Lake District called Thornfell. Both places are in the remotest parts of England and are very difficult to get to already, but they are also restricted areas. We never see them, we barely know anything about them, how they live, what they do all day. Now people are afraid of them because of their size. That’s why they keep them separated—out of sight, out of mind.”

“Oh god, that’s so awful. Have you ever seen any of those towns?” Deko leaned towards the dresser, taking a long sip of water, letting the arctic wolf fill the silence with an answer.

“No,” Lupus said quietly. “I did live close to one, but I’ve never been inside. And I don’t think I ever want to, either. It’s honestly so degrading, they’re just regular people locked up like they’re cattle.” His fingers began their tapping again, now audibly, like a ticking clock reminding him of a time he wished he could forget.

After finishing his sip, the folf placed the glass down on the dresser with a soft clink. “Did you ever want to visit it?”

“I wanted to, for a while.” His eyes flickered down for a moment as he sighed, reaching past Deko for his own glass. Rim to lips, he sipped and continued, “But the government and law enforcement prohibit us from approaching.” His other hand slid across the covers, landing on the worn leather journal resting by his lap. “There were laws in place—strict ones. One is the Vastelerian Interaction Public Safety Act.”

Deko’s eyes peered up from his drink. “The Vastelerian Interaction Public Safety Act?” he repeated, the words rolling off his tongue as he tried to grasp their meaning.

“Yeah, VIPSA for short.” Lupus said.

Deko’s eyes followed the wolf’s hand to the journal, then back at Lupus, a thoughtful expression crossing his face before a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “You know, there’s Snaccy. He might be able to help, you know?”

“I appreciate it,” Lupus replied with a thin smile. “I just wish they didn’t have those awful rules back home.”

Deko’s brow furrowed, concern etching his features. “What would happen if you broke those rules?”

“These places are heavily guarded by military security. People who trespass or try to enter without clearance get detained immediately. Arrests, fines and jail time are all possibilities, that’s why there’s no videos showing what everyday life is like there. There’s not even a location on Google Maps for either of them, satellite photos get scrubbed clean at the request of the government.” Lupus paused, his fingers slowing as he continued. “There were rumours, though. People who crossed over, but no one’s heard from them since.”

“Are they… okay?” The folf murmured, lowering a palm to rest on the wolf’s thigh.

“I don’t know,” Lupus admitted. “There’s the Big Hearts foundation that’s been pushing for integration, but they’re ignored by the media and parliament. Last thing I heard, they were planning a protest.”

“We know about the Big Hearts foundation. Their HQ is based here.” Deko responded tenderly. The folf rubbed his hand on Lupus’ shoulder, while he leaned to the wolf’s ear. “The US treats Vastelerians differently. When you are here in the states, you can hang with one.”

Lupus’ ears perked up a little at Deko’s reassuring touch, his tail resuming its gentle sway on the mattress. “Yeah, I’ve noticed that. It’s just so different from what I’m used to back home. How do you deal with it, having a Vastelerian boyfriend and all?”

Deko smiled, taking another sip of water and slid against the wall, considering the question. “It was not always easy, you know. We met on a server dedicated to paws two years ago, but I only realised he was large a few weeks later.

Lupus scoffed, “Of course it was paw related—"

“Well yeah, what else would it be?” Deko snipped and continued, “Snackers and I had our own set of challenges when we started dating, especially getting governmental approval. You know, safety and stuff like that under the Vastelerian Compliance Act.”

“The Vastelerian Compliance Act?” Lupus piqued, bringing the glass to his lips for a drink before resting it on his lap, the cool surface pressing against the denim.

“It’s just a law to ensure Petritans’ safety,” he started. “If a Vastelerian harms a Petritan, the authorities will revoke their right to be near all Petritans for a certain time. In serious cases, it could be permanent. And depending on the severity, jail sentences are a possibility too.”

“If a Vastelerian steps on a Petritan…”

Deko nodded. “Accident or not, there’s a consequence, and when you’re dealing with people who can weigh anything up to a thousand tons, there’s no room for accidents anyway. That’s one of the biggest obstacles we faced when getting approval for me to live with Snaccy.”

“Damn, mate,” Lupus said, scratching his head.

“It’s all good, Lupy. It took them a while to recognise our relationship. Although, Snaccy insisted we date anyway. In his words: ‘If you tread on me, I’ll tread on you’.”

“Damn.” Lupus giggled, amused by the idea that Snackers would have the guts to stand up to the government. Something tugged at the back of his mind that his country could definitely benefit from having someone like that.

Deko continued. “But when Snaccy got offered a government-sponsored job to be an emotional-support raccoon for Petritans to deal with megalopateophobia in Illinois, we couldn’t refuse.”

“Yeah, that’s fantastic. Does that mean you two live together?”

“We do!” Deko replied with enthusiasm. “The government funds Snackers’ lifestyle, and as part of the agreement, I get to be his roomie!”

“And you work too?” Lupus asked.

Deko nodded, a proud smile manifesting across his snout. “Absolutely. In fact, I work with Snackers. Snackers does the heavy lifting and stomping — literally. Meanwhile, I explain what happens in the session to our clients.”

Lupus tilted his head. “Wait,” he started, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice, “so these ‘sessions’ you’re talking about…it’s exposure therapy?”

Deko sheepishly gazed at Snackers through the window. The enormous giant’s striped tail swished as he scratched the back of his head. The leaves on the trees behind him rattled in the updraft caused by his fuzzy appendage, making the folf long for those sessions he would soon describe to Lupus.

“Well…yeah, kinda,” He admitted, his voice lowering to a more tentative tone. “But, um, it’s not like…I mean, it’s not meant to be scary or anything. We’re trying to expose them to living around Vastelerians in a safe and controlled environment.”

Lupus grinned. “Oh, I see what’s going on here,” he teased, leaning closer to Deko. “You just want to be near your boyfriend’s size two-hundred-and-eighteen paws, don’t you?”

Deko’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. “Umm, no, maybe—" he muttered, until he flash forward to acceptance. “Can you blame me? Those paws are something else. They’re like my personal pillows.” He admitted.

“Beds, more like, huh?” the wolf poked.

“That too.”

“Isn’t that biassed when he’s your boyfriend?” Lupus asked, arching a brow at Deko.

“Yeah, but it’s true,” he mumbled. “And who knows? Maybe while you’re here, you’ll get to experience some of Snaccy’s giant charm for yourself.”

“Are you implying I haven’t already?” Lupus asked, studying Deko’s expression. “Oh, as in a paw session? Sorry bud, that’s not my thing, you know I prefer—"

“Tails?” Deko interjected and soon let out a soft chortle. “Yes, I know. I never said it would be a foot-related session. I still find it strange you don’t have any sessions like that in the UK.”

“We’re a long way from anything like that back home.” Lupus sighed, still trying to wrap his mind around the concept.

The folf’s eyes softened with sympathy. “That sounds tough, for both sides. It took time, but we made it. And we’re happy, especially with you here. Snaccy can’t wait to spend more time with you.”

Lupus couldn’t help but let out a disarmed sigh at that. “Man, he’s such a ball of energy, where does he get it all?” The arctic wolf’s gaze drifted to the window to see the giant raccoon lounging outside beside the lake, with one arm draped over his abdomen. Snackers was munching on a grain bar the size of a bus, his teeth effortlessly chewing immense volumes of nuts and marshmallows before they were sent down his gullet. Lupus was well aware of the massive amount of calories such a large person needed to consume to sustain their energy, yet Snackers seemed so casual about it.

“Guess that answers my question.”

He soon snapped back to attention when he heard Deko pipe up again. “Hey, Lupy, why are you writing stories on your holiday?”

“Writing?” Lupus tilted his head and shifted his focus to the notepad in his lap. “Oh, that was for brainstorming ideas to pass time on the flight.”

Deko raised a brow in suspicion. “Oh?”

“Yeah, just some silly thoughts,” the wolf shrugged unconvincingly and placed a hand on top of the notepad. Deko wasn’t exactly buying Lupus’ lie about it being ‘just silly thoughts’ though.

“So, may I have a look at these ‘silly’ ideas of yours?” Deko was about to reach for the notepad, but Lupus moved it away.

“Another time, mate, if that’s alright?” he asked Deko politely, who raised an eyebrow but nodded, respecting the wolf’s sudden reticence.

“Of course, dude. But if you change your mind, it would make a great campfire story tonight.” Deko reassured with another calm stroke across Lupus’ shoulder blade, while he noticed the closed suitcase. “Need any help to unpack, bud?”

Lupus’ ears perked. “Huh? Oh, no, I’m almost done, but thank you.”

“Fantastic! Just relax, you’ve had a long flight. When you’re ready, come join us outside.” Deko spoke as he stood back up, but stopped to face Lupus with an uncharacteristically serious expression. “But before I go, can I ask you something, Lupy?”

“Sure, what’s up?” Lupus replied, curiosity piqued.

“Well, Rayne hugged me when we were in Snaccy’s neck fluff, and now it’s your—"

Before Deko could finish, Lupus leapt off the bed, wrapping his toned arms around the folf’s chest, his tail helicopter-whirling in joy. Surprised by the wolf’s warm embrace, Deko’s face lit up with a radiant smile, his body melting into the comforting touch, and a blissful sigh escaped his lips.

Lupus took a deep breath, his earlier apprehension melting away. “I would happily hug you, mate.”

Just as Deko pressed his head into Lupus’ chest, they lingered in the embrace for a few seconds, until a sudden door knock broke the spell, and they both turned to see Rayne peeking in. “Hey, Deko, are you gonna help me with the campfire?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” He told Rayne, grabbing his glass from the dresser, finishing the last of the water as he walked to the doorway.

“Want me to take your glass down, Lupy?”

“No, it’s alright. I’m gonna have a shower. I’ll take it down when I go outside again.”

“Alright, see you soon,” he beamed before following Rayne downstairs.

Once his friends left, he put away the last of his belongings from the suitcase and made his way to the adjoining en suite, meeting the cool tile floor. He turned on the shower, adjusting the water to the perfect temperature, giving one last listen to the laughter outside.

---

Deko made his way out of the lake house and approached the pile of supplies they had hurriedly unpacked earlier. As he stood in front of the pile, the folf inspected each item methodically, ensuring they had everything they needed for the weekend.

The folf soon turned to the large garage-sized backpack Snackers had brought and decided he would rummage through its contents. Swinging a foot over the open fly, he walked inside the polyester cave of his lover’s bag.

Within the spacious interior, Deko’s eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the fabric. The air smelled faintly of leather and the familiar scent of his partner’s snack bars. As he walked further into the bag, his footfalls were muffled by the thick material beneath his paws, and soon he began to spot the various essentials they had packed for the trip.

First, Deko’s eyes landed on a giant packet of marshmallows and food bars neatly stacked to one side beside it. They weren’t just any ordinary food bars; they were specially made, packed with nutrients to sustain a being that would tower over the factory they came from. There were several to choose from, from rich chocolate with tangy berries, to puffed rice with marshmallow. Deko smiled knowingly, knowing how much Snackers loved these.

Next, his gaze shifted to the neatly folded blankets near the raccoon’s hiking boots. These were massive, cosy quilts, perfect for snuggling up against his boyfriend during the cooler nights by the lake. Deko imagined the two of them wrapped together, Snackers’ hand adding an extra layer, sharing the view of the stars. The thought made his heart flutter for the night ahead.

As he continued his exploration, something unusual caught his eye. There, carefully folded and nestled among the other items, were a pair of Godzilla-themed pyjamas. A onesie. Deko chuckled softly, remembering their teasing sessions where Snackers would record himself as a kaiju raccoon stomping around a cardboard city in his bedroom. Even as they waited for their permits to come through so they could meet, the raccoon knew just how to cheer him up. Seeing them now, Deko struggled to withhold a cheek stretching grin at the thought.

Satisfied that they had not forgotten anything, Deko gathered the extra blankets tucked between the bus long breakfast bars and headed back out of Snackers’ bag. As he walked to the porch, he noticed Rayne had returned and was engaged in a lively conversation with the raccoon.

With the luggage now taken care of, Deko and Snackers focused on unpacking items for the camping that evening. The giant raccoon had managed to unpack a few things already, but it was clear to his boyfriend that he kept distracting himself with the guest.

“And now, I suppose we’d better put up our tents,” said Rayne.

Deko nodded, casting a tender glimpse up at the raccoon, “Hey, babe, where did you put the tents?”

With a blink, Snackers’ infectious smile shrank. “Uh…tents?” He scratched his chin sheepishly. “You wanted me to bring the tents?”

Deko sighed. “Yes, the tents, Snaccy. We need somewhere to sleep if we are going to stargaze tonight.”

Snackers’ ears drooped. “Uh, you told me to get rid of them a couple months back because they were coming apart, remember?”

“Oh damn… you’re right.” Deko grumbled at his mental lapse, nursing his snout with his thumb and forefinger.

Rayne rubbed his temples. “Of course you forgot them, dude,” he muttered in exasperation. He glanced at the two, who were both sharing sheepish smiles. “Next time write a checklist, alright guys?”

“Come on, Rayne, you know we count on you to keep us in check.”

Rayne pinched the bridge of his nose. “Don’t I know it?” he sighed heavily, dropping his hand to his side. “You’re lucky I love you guys. What’s the plan for the tents now?”

“We’ll go into town and buy some tents.”

“That’s a two-hour drive.”

“I never said drive,” Deko insisted, gesturing a thumb back up to the raccoon. “We’ve got our own personal taxi service.”

“Deko, it’s six o’ clock already,” Rayne grumbled. “Even if Snaccy ran, they’d be closed by the time he got there.”

“Well, damn.” Deko slumped forward in defeat. “Guess we got no choice then.”

“So, where are you guys going to sleep?” Snackers spoke as he lowered his head to meet Rayne and Deko.

The folf sighed. “For tonight Rayne and Lupy can sleep inside, and I’ll stay outside with you.”

“But…” Snackers stammered, saddened that his friends would miss the stargazing.
Rayne strolled up the length of the raccoon’s left leg, reassuring him with a smile. “Don’t worry, dude. It’s just for tonight.”

“I know, but…”

Rayne whispered, “Just for tonight, we still got clear skies forecast tomorrow. It just means we’ll be heading into town tomorr-.”

Then, the raccoon’s eyelids shot wide open. The other two could practically hear a click of a proverbial lightbulb inside his head. “Hey Rayne,” he called tentatively.

“Huh, what’s up?” Rayne asked, his attention drawn to Snackers, his ears twitching round curiously.

“I have a sleeping bag you and Lupy can borrow for the weekend?” Snackers insisted with a bashful smile. “If it’s okay with you?”

Rayne’s ears perked up in interest, but before he could respond, Snackers reached down to meet his calf, tugging at the blue and white striped socks that adorned his massive legs. “Wait, do you mean-?”

Snackers rapidly nodded, his eyes twinkling with mischief and sincerity. “I could give you and Lupy my thigh highs for the night. It’s not much, but they will keep you warm tonight. My size two-one-eight paws have made the socks nice and toasty, right, babe?” He nudged Deko with a pinky tip.

Deko’s eyes widened in disbelief, his ears flicking back as he looked up at Snackers. “Wait, you can’t be serious!” he protested, glancing over at Rayne for support. “You really want to put them in there after you’ve used them?”

Rayne, equally shocked, shook his head. “Yeah, no way, Snackers. I don’t think Lupy wants to use your used socks as a sleeping bag.”

Snackers flashed a mischievous grin. “Oh, come on, guys,” he teased in a light tone. “I might be kidding. Maybe. But you have to admit, they’d be nice and warm. Just think about it!”

Rayne crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge the raccoon’s facial expression. “Are you really serious, or are you just trying to mess with us?”

Snackers swished his tail a bit more. “Maybe a little of both,” he admitted, giving them a wink. “But hey, if it’s too much, I can always lend you my fresh pair for tomorrow.”

The raccoon leaned in slightly, muzzle worming a few metres from between Rayne and Deko, adding a whisper, “They’re big enough, size two…one…eight.”

“Do you have to keep mentioning your paw size, hun?” Deko, once composed, found himself flustered under Snacker’s earnest gaze. The folf twiddled his fingers, while he stammered out, “But, yeah, Snaccy. I’m sure they’ll find them…uh, very comfy.”

The raccoon couldn’t help but giggle at the reaction. "Thanks, Deko,” Snackers replied warmly, scratching his small sweetheart’s ear with a claw tip. “But that means if they have my socks, you’re going above my heart tonight, babe.”

Enchanted, Deko could only stomach a “W-Woah!” in awestruck. “I-I think I should set up the fire,” he suggested as he walked across the campsite in the centre of the field.

“That’s my good blueberry,” Snackers cooed to the folf and glared at Rayne.

Delicately, and with a rumble of the ground, Snackers leaned forward to meet his shoes. The femboy took the utmost care when shifting his weight, being mindful of Deko strolling past his feet and Rayne aside his thigh. Snackers couldn’t resist swishing that expansive tail as he untied his laces and slipped a socked paw out.

“So, what do ya think, you wanna sleep in my warm raccy socks?” he whispered to Rayne, flexing his toes to wrinkle the sock fabric. The fabric folds obeyed to the tiniest of muscular spasms, while Snackers enjoyed the cool breeze washing across his day old socks.

Rayne watched in a trance-like state, his eyes fixated on the giant raccoon’s movements. There was something oddly fascinating about the way Snackers’ toes wrinkled and stretched the socks. Each disturbance of the cotton seemed to draw Rayne in deeper until Snackers tapped a finger on the ground to snap him back to reality.

“Well? You wanna sleep in my thigh highs or not?” Snackers cooed to the wide-eyed wolf-shepherd.

Hesitantly, Rayne mumbled out, “Umm, sure dude,” as the giant untied the other shoe and slipped his paw out from its warm confinement.

“Perfect, you won’t regret it, they’re extra warm,” Snackers insisted and slipped his striped socks off, showing off his squishy soles and pristine purple amethyst toe ring. “Aaaaaaahhhh, that feels so, so nice.” The raccoon purred and flexed those toes in the breeze, and as he settled back down, he glanced over his shoulder to observe Deko across the field, diligently putting together the campfire. A fond smile spread across his maw as he watched his tiny boyfriend hard at work. His heart swelled with affection while another idea formed in his mind.

Slanting forward, Snackers mumbled to Rayne, “You know, I kinda want to put Deko in one of these socks again. He’d be so snug and cute in there.”

Rayne blinked. He paused mid-breath. “In the sock? That’s… creative,” he stuttered, trying to imagine the scene. While the thought was hilarious, he peeked up to Lupus’ bedroom window. “Snaccy, maybe you should save that idea for another day. Let’s keep things simple tonight, for Lupy.”

Snackers chuckled softly as he nodded. “Yeah, you are probably right. I just can’t help but think of all the ways to make him happy and cosy with me.”

Rayne placed a hand on Snackers’ thigh, appreciating the raccoon’s tender heart. “He’s lucky to have you looking out for him. And hey, there’s always tomorrow when we go hiking for that sock idea.”

The raccoon simply grinned back mischievously.

With a satisfied sigh, Snackers placed the socks beside his thigh, neatly spread out. He peered over his thin shoulder, and over to the campsite to watch Deko start the fire. The folf struck a match and placed it onto the dry twigs. A small flame took hold, flickering shyly at first, then grew more confident as it spread across the pieces of wood.

Deko took a step back to watch the fire crackle and dance. He spun around to meet his boyfriend’s eyes in excitement, and called out, “Snackers! I got the fire going-!” And walked back to the lake house.

---

Lupus stepped out of the bathroom in a fresh change of clothes. A blue t-shirt and black jeans. No sneakers this time, preferring to feel the ground with his bare paws. As he walked into his bedroom, Snackers’ loud laughter interrupted his thoughts from outside, summoning the wolf to wander over to the window. The sun was setting, casting a warm, amber glow that stretched the shadows in the room and painted the walls with a serene, golden hue.

He stared back at the notepad resting on the bed where he left it, then strolled over and placed it on the desk.

“I’ll say hello to the guys after. This is more important,” he muttered to himself.

Lupus sat on the desk chair and searched through the pages filled with sketches and scribbled notes, flicking through the pages until he found a To-Do list that occupied a quarter of the page. Each task was associated with a Vastelerian.

Just when he picked up a pen, his mind drifted back to Deko’s earlier mention of the ‘Vastelerian Compliance Act’. The gravity of the law and its implications weighed heavily on his thoughts, clashing uneasily with his own desires. He knew there’d be some similarities between these and the more draconian VISPA laws back home, but he proceeded anyway, hoping for a resolution to dawn.

He ticked one box: ‘Have Snackers hold me in his hand.’

“That’s one down, I guess,” Lupus mumbled.

He stared at the empty lines on the page below, tapping his pencil against his chin. “Next… lie down in his pocket,” he said, scribbling it down as he envisioned what it would be like to be rocked inside the raccoon’s shorts pocket. “Or even…fall asleep against Snaccy’s tail.
That would be sooo cosy!”

Lupus’ thoughts raced faster than he could write as he imagined all the possibilities of what he’d like to do with Snackers. Even the smallest things such as being perched in his fluffy hair or being involved in one of his sessions set his imagination running wild. The possibilities were as vast as they were exciting, and before long he was writing ideas without even thinking them out thoroughly.

As Lupus gazed out the window to meet Rayne stood next to Snackers in front of the porch, the wolf added to his list. He soon paused as he stared at the backdrop of the setting sun behind the raccoon’s head.

“Stargazing with Snackers,” he wrote, underlining it three, no four times, for emphasis. “Ask Snackers to lift me so I can see the stars in his hand.”

Lupus folded the page, closed the notepad, and stood up. “Should I tell them? They’re my friends, of course they’d say yes—" he reassured himself, though his voice was soft until the windows rattled again with Snackers’ powerful laughter.

The wolf paused, while he watched the grey-furred raccoon snicker with one hand pressed against his lips.

“Maybe later,” he muttered to himself.

“Soon,” he whispered. “Soon, I’ll be ready.”

Lupus rubbed his eyes, and with that, he closed the notepad and slid it into the desk drawer. He stood up from the chair, taking a deep breath. Lupus muttered, “I’ve… got this,” as he headed towards the door, finishing his glass on the way.

He closed the bedroom door behind him, the soft click echoing in the hallway, and descended the wooden stairs. After each successive step, the sounds of laughter and joy from outside grew louder. The wolf could hear snippets of conversation, banter, and the occasional vibration of Snackers bursting into laughter. He couldn’t resist smiling, unable to withstand his friend’s infectious mirth. He rounded the corner into the living room, where the front door stood open, inviting him to step outside into the sunlight.

Lupus nodded gratefully, placing the glass on the kitchen counter, his eyes landing on a bag of ‘Cheetos’. Curiosity on American snacks took over and he reached for the bag, the plastic yielding in his grasp.

He tore open the bag and took in a lungful of that cheesy aroma. “Hey, everyone, I’m back,” Lupus called out, grabbing a single Cheeto to slip inside his maw as he stepped off the porch to approach the group. Deko noticed first, waving enthusiastically.

“Hi back, I’m Dek-!” Snackers bonked the folf with a finger tap. “Hey!” he exclaimed, staring at his towering lover.

“Bad joke, babe,” the raccoon scoffed, though a light snicker escaped his lips.

Deko feigned a hurt expression, placing a hand over his heart. “Hey, my jokes are top-tier,” he protested, but his cheshire smile betrayed him.

Rayne rolled his eyes. “Sure they are, Deko. Sure they are.” He quirked a brow and glanced at Lupus, who walked up to him.

The wolf popped the Cheeto into his mouth, the crunch echoing slightly as he bit down. Although it was a single cheesy bite, it summoned the attention of Deko and Snackers, whose ears twitched in response.

Deko couldn’t contain his excitement. “So? How is it?” he called out to Lupus, stopping the wolf in his tracks.

Instead of replying immediately, Lupus took another bite, savouring the flavour before speaking. “It’s different,” he said, trying to focus on the message his taste buds were sending. “Very…cheesy and crunchy. It’s sort of like Wotsits.”

“Who’s it?” Snackers asked, noticing Lupus scoffing at him. The raccoon’s ears twitched and his head tilted, and he challenged the wolf. “What’s so funny?”

“I said Wotsits. They are cheesy crisps we have back in England,” he explained, taking out his second Cheeto to compare. “But, Wotsists have a slightly less intense flavour, but still really cheesy.”

“Is that your reward for finishing last in the race, Lupy?” Snackers quipped with a delicate chuckle, one still powerful enough to rattle the trio's innards.

Lupus rolled his eyes. “I let you win, Snaccy,” the wolf challenged with a growing smirk.

“Uh huh, sure, want a rematch?”

Just when the arctic wolf opened his maw, Rayne asked Lupus, “Feeling refreshed after your shower, dude?”

“Absolutely,” Lupus replied with a grin. “There’s nothing like a warm shower after a workout.”

“How is a walk to a tree a workout?” Snackers snickered, his tail thumping down.

Lupus barked back, “You walked, I ran!”

Snackers arched his body forward to meet the arctic wolf, his humongous frame casting a shadow over Lupus and Rayne. “Well, I guess it’s good to know you’re staying active,” he said, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. “Regardless, glad to have you back, Lupy. We just finished organising sleeping arrangements for tonight.” Snackers added, stroking Lupus on the cheek with a fingertip.

Deko, still a bit flustered from earlier, managed a smile. “We did our best. And Snackers even offered his socks for a sleeping bag.”

Lupus raised an eyebrow, squinting over to Deko and then Snackers. “Really? Using your socks as sleeping bags? That wasn’t on my lis—”

The wolf’s eyes darted around anxiously to the others, his voice strained as he abruptly broke off, frantically seeking any distraction from the impending suspicion. Instead, he rubbed his snout into the raccoon’s finger to distract them.

Rayne tilted his head. “Wasn’t on your what?"

But before he could answer, Snackers added. “Yep, they’re extra warm. Plus, they’re big enough for you to explore inside!”

Rayne’s question hung in the air, unanswered. His brilliantly golden eyes shifted to meet Lupus’. But as their eyes met, the arctic wolf quickly looked away, avoiding the unspoken inquiry.

Lupus eyeballed the campsite, specifically the neatly placed thigh highs. “I can see that. I’ve never camped in a sock before, though.” The wolf laughed heartily as he strolled with Rayne to the fire. “That’s very generous of you, Snackers. Thank you!”

The raccoon nodded, relieved. “All good, Lupy, I just wanted to help,” he said with a shy smile.

The folf was quick to stroke his lover’s bare paw as he cooed, “you always do, babe. Now, don’t you think we should go enjoy our campfire?”

“You’re right,” Snackers replied warmly, his masked eyes crinkling at the corners as his lips curled. “Let’s all snug by the campfire together.” The raccoon carefully lifted Deko onto his head, settling the folf comfortably between his ears.

Deko’s tail wagged enthusiastically as he adjusted to his fluffy perch. “Whoa, this is amazing!” he exclaimed, leaning forward to peer at the campfire. “Hey, look at me up here! I’m on top of the world!” Deko shouted, raising both arms out wide.

Lupus and Rayne had already settled around the crackling flames, their faces illuminated by the warm glow. The wolf-shepherd was eagerly poking at the fire with a stick to fan the flames, while Lupus leaned on his side with a contented sigh. But both soon turned to see Deko and Snackers closing in.

“Nice view up there, buddy?” Rayne shouted back with a wave to the folf.

With careful steps, Snackers crawled towards the campfire on palms and knees. His bushy tail swayed lazily behind him, adding a hypnotic sway to the raccoon’s movements. And throughout it all, Snackers kept his head steady to support his ankle-tall passenger.

Meanwhile, Rayne scooted over to make room for Deko. “Welcome, your highness, Sir Deko,” Rayne teased, offering a playful bow and glancing at Lupus for approval. “Is that how you do it back home, Lupy?”

Lupus rolled his eyes and mocked. “Indubitably, what ho, jolly good show, old chap.”

Deko laughed, gripping Snackers’ fur for balance as he stopped. “Thanks, Rayne! Can’t beat this view.”

The giant raccoon chittered contentedly, lowering himself to the ground onto his belly with a gentle swing of his hips. Deko slid off his head, down the slope of his boyfriend’s fluffy cheeks, and landed lightly beside the fire with a gleam of pure joy. After a quick stretch, the folf settled down around the campfire next to Lupus, and stretched his legs out to feel the fires heat stroke his pad and toes.

Beside them, Snackers let out a deep, rumbling yawn that reverberated through the clearing. The giant raccoon shifted off his stomach and slowly crawled behind the group. Then, he lowered himself down again, and curled his massive body around them to create a living windbreaker of sorts to guard them against the cool night air. His snout lay flat to meet the horizon, parallel to the lakeshore.

Without hesitation, they leaned against Snackers’ chest and stomach. As the fire crackled, their eyes followed the stray ember sparks from the campfire as they soared into the darkness before fading into oblivion. Dipping lower, the sun cast long beams of light that sparkled across the nearby lake. The tree’s shadows stretched longer like fingers across the fields towards them. They all watched the sun sank behind the canopy in a blaze of molten gold and crimson.

The raccoon’s emerald eyes sparkled in admiration of nature’s beauty, until an idea sparked in his mind, and a playful grin spread across his face. Snackers moved his hand and placed it near his three friends, who sat to watch the sunset.

No sooner were they drawn to the clear night sky, a vast expanse sprinkled with constellations growing increasingly visible as the sun faded below the horizon. Deko, Rayne, and Lupus sat together shoulder to shoulder against Snacker’s squishy, warm stomach. In spite of the forecast clouds, there would be a brief moment where they could stare at the Milky Way that arched across the sky, a luminous band of stardust that enchanted the darkness.

“Look at that constellation!” Rayne whispered excitedly, pointing towards a cluster of stars that seemed to form a squashed ring. “That’s Orion’s Belt I think… yeah, that’s it.

Lupus leaned closer, squinting slightly to discern the shape. “Oh, woah, now I see it!” he agreed with a nod. “Nature works in mysterious ways.”

Deko chimed in. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he traced another constellation with his finger. “And over there, that one looks like a flower!” he declared, pointing up to a row of bright stars that formed the stalk of a flower. Rayne squinted and noticed the constellation his friend pointed out, but he couldn’t recall what the name of that was.

Snackers shifted behind them while he squinted at the starlit sky above. “Are there any raccoon stars?!” He asked.

“Yeah, you!” Deko yipped.

“Hmm, there’s one in Canis Minor?” Lupus answered with a raised hand, catching the attention of Snackers’ enormous emerald eyes.

“Canis Minor? That doesn’t sound like a raccoon,” Snackers repeated, while he planted an elbow on the ground and rested his snout on top of his flat palm.

“That’s the name of the constellation, it’s right next to Orion’s belt and it is…” The arctic wolf trailed for a moment, tracing his finger round to find the exact star he wanted to point out. “That one, it’s a star called ‘Pyrocon.’”

“Pyrocon?” Snackers inquired, a little confused.

“It shares the same name as the raccoon genus. It’s actually a binary star system, meaning two stars are in close gravitational orbit of each other.”

The raccoon beamed. “Two stars, huh? That’s so epic!”

“Lupy! Where did you learn this?!”

Lupus mused, his eyes distant as he remembered. “Through books. When I was a kid, I would spend hours on the balcony just staring up at the night sky from the attic.”

Rayne, who had been listening nearby, beamed. “Did you buy that telescope in the end?”

The arctic wolf nodded. “Yeah, the day after you sent the money over. It was such a sweet birthday gift, mate.”

Deko’s tail flapped as he gazed at the wolf-shepherd in admiration. “You bought him a telescope? That’s so sweet!”

Rayne snickered, giving Lupus a nudge. “You used to message me for hours about the latest star you found.”

“That was the one time I am grateful for time zones. Otherwise, I’d have gotten no sleep.”

Deko slanted forward to look into the snow-white wolf’s eyes. “You were stargazing?”

“Yeah, kinda. I’d stay up late, waiting for nighttime in the states, and then we'd watch them together.” Lupus spoke with a heartwarming smile and eyed Rayne, whose facial expression softened at the memory.

The wolf-shepherd’s grin grew. “When night fell, I would always look up and think, ‘He saw it first.’”

Snackers’ eyes twinkled. “So, Lupy, you stayed up just to watch the stars with Rayne. I’m surprised your sleep schedule didn’t suffer.”

Lupus smirked sheepishly. “Where it suffered is a matter of perspective; I…guess I’m a bit of a night owl-”

“If you aren’t already passing out asleep on a voice call,” Deko snickered.

“Yeah, I have a history of dozing off mid-conversation, huh?” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Rayne nodded in agreement. “Oh. Whenever you're silent on call, we’re trying to figure out if you’re just thinking or you’re asleep.”

A rumbling chuckle came from above as Snackers weighed in, adding, “It’s like a guessing game! ‘Is Lupy asleep?’”

Rayne joined the raccoon’s snicker, then leered at Deko and Snackers. “Do you know how I always know for sure? If someone calls him cute or a sugar cube and he doesn’t deny it—he’s out cold.”

The group burst into laughter, but Lupus shook his head and grimaced. “Alright, you win,” he turned away from the amused trio and gazed at the night sky once again. “But man, I’m so glad I came out here with you guys. The cramped cities back in England don’t offer many views of the night sky, not unless you go out into the really rural areas.”

As they continued to stargaze, a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves. The crackling of the campfire provided a soothing backdrop to their quiet stargazing. But just as they were immersed in the universe’s beauty, a thin veil of clouds drifted across the stars and obscured their celestial view. Rayne was the first to notice when he lost sight of a constellation, and sighed with disappointment, his shoulders slumping slightly.

“You gotta be kidding,” he growled, watching as the stars disappeared behind the cloud cover.

Deko’s eyes drifted away from the stars to see the faint clouds passing overhead. “Maybe it’s just a small cloud,” he offered with a spark of optimism, squinting to see if there were any breaks in the cloud layer. “It’s alright, sometimes, even the stars need to rest behind the clouds.”

“Oh, they’re gone,” Lupus mumbled to himself, declining into the squishy folds of Snackers’ belly.

“Hey, we can always try again tomorrow night,” Snackers suggested, while his tail curled around them protectively, a silent gesture of comfort for the wolf. “How does that sound? The stars will still be there, waiting for us.”

Rayne and Deko nodded in agreement and then leaned into Lupus’ arms.

Snacker’s ears flickered after Lupus’ yawn and looked up. “Looks like someone’s ready to hit the hay,” he remarked with a teasing undertone. “Well, sock.”

Deko, perched nearby with his small frame partially nestled in Rayne’s lap, chimed in. “You must be exhausted, Lupy. Jet lag is no joke.”

Rayne watched Lupus closely and nodded. “The coffee’s effects have probably worn off by now,” he added thoughtfully. “You should really let yourself crash for the night.”

Rayne yawned not long after, feeling the weight of a day’s drive catching up to him. “Maybe we should all get some shuteye, babe. It is late, after all,” Deko suggested. “Besides, Lupus and Rayne had a long drive.”

Lupus blinked, his gaze still lingering on the obscured stars. “I’m… fine,” he mumbled, though his second yawn betrayed him.

“Lupus,” Rayne chimed in, rising from his spot on Snackers’ stomach. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“Come here, sleepyhead,” Snackers sang and reached a hand up to fish Lupus out from under his tail.

Lupus, surprised but too exhausted to protest, nestled against the raccoon’s fingers with a contented sigh. The raccoon nuzzled his maw against Lupus’, blowing a tender gust of his breath on the canine. “You need some rest, buddy.”

With a finesse that betrayed his size, Snackers then slipped Lupus into his thigh-highs. The wolf blinked with a faint smile across his lips as he nestled into his unusual sleeping bag.

“There you go,” Snackers muttered, and picked Rayne up to slide into the other sock. “Sweet dreams, you two,” he whispered, while he kissed a fingertip to stroke against Lupus’ and Rayne’s cheeks.

The campsite now enveloped in near silence, except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze, Snackers scooped up his boyfriend, his little lover nestled snugly and securely in his palm. He steamrolled his back across the ground, the prolonged movement causing the earth beneath him to rumble. His back and legs compressed the grass and leaves as he rolled across the field, resulting in a gentle, satisfying crunch. He shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable sleeping position by the campsite.

With Lupus and Rayne nestled snugly in their sock sleeping bags, Snackers’ tiny tremors through the earth did little to bother them. Eventually, he tucked Deko against his midriff, the raccoon’s heartbeat, steady and reassuring, became the folf’s lullaby. The soft rise and fall of Snackers’ breath, the warmth radiating from his chest, created a cocoon of safety for his doll-sized sweetheart.

“Good night, my lil’ blueberry,” Snackers muttered under his breath and stroked the folf’s neck to tail with a finger, while he held him close protectively through the night. With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, letting the tranquillity of the night wash over him.
Soon, the four drifted into a deep slumber under the night sky.

---

The following sona's featured include:
Snackers - belongs to  TheBigFluffyRaccoon
Deko - belongs to  Deko_Teh_Wuff
Rayne - belongs to  pawlover007

Disclosure:
Although this setting is my own, outside Lupus, the following characters included in this story are not my own. This novel does not completely reflect their sona's size or personality, but instead focuses on who we are together as close friends.

Let me know what you think in the comments!