Erick O’Nail woke up to the sound of his alarm clock beeping in his ear. Yawning he climbed out of bed slamming his fist onto the clock to stop the beeping, slowly he makes his way into the bathroom washing his fur with some water. Looking up at the fogged up window he takes a towel wiping it clean looking at himself in the mirror. He was a black furred wolf furry with a white underbelly, deep blue eyes long muzzle and pointed sensitive ears. He was tall about 6 ft. what was strange about him was that his tail curved like a husky ‘s tail dose witch he inherited from his mother along with his eyes. He sighed drying off his face walking back into his room taking up a picture with his entire family a few years ago. He looked at her like he had a million times over. Her name was Malica, she was beautiful, deep blue sapphire eyes, light brown fur with a white underbelly, a smile that could make any mood change to nothing but happy. Today was supposed to be her birthday witch meant that his father would not be in a good mood at all today. So he decided to go out to the practice field for the day. Erick was a Quarter Back for the Herrietta Falcons. After slipping on his old jeans and a green colored T-shirt he swiftly grabbed his game football heading for the door before his father’s horse voice stopped him.
“You goin out to practice again…” he said holding a picture of Malica running a finger along the frame shaking slightly
“Yeah….we have a game tomorrow…I need to be at my top game…we’re up against the Calcaska Warriors” Erick replied afraid of what he may say. His dad was a black furred wolf only he didn’t have a colored underbelly, his eyes were a bright green but for some reason Erick had the feeling they were dim as the fire in them died when his wife was taken from him. His father’s name was Max a S.W.A.T squad leader (better known as the suicide squad).
“Today is your mother’s birthday….I’d like it if you could visit her today….but I’m not going to make you” max said from his desk. Erick gulped knowing that he was in a worse mood than normal. Doing the smart thing he quickly opened the door grabbing a duffle bag, closing it behind him walking down the road to the gym where he would lift weights for a few hours then go practice. Once at the gym he went immediately to the bench press adding enough weights to make it weigh 130lb. lying down onto the press he grabbed the bar lifting it up lowering down to touch his chest before lifting up again. He could feel his muscles strain against the weight but he continued until the count of ten before replacing the bar back to the handles that hold it. For two hours he went along lifting an assortment of weights before taking a quick shower in the shower room leaving shortly after a change of cloths that he had brought with him inside his duffle bag along with his football. A block away was the practice field where he picked up many footballs passing them to other teammates as they ran down the field. One of the other guys a bull anthro named Jake wanted a quick game the first to 12 points to win. Erick like his dad couldn’t resist a challenge so he picked his team witch in turn lined up facing the others. Erick took his position looking down the line taking a good look on who he might pass the ball to.
“HUT” he yelled in acknowledgment the ball was handed to his waiting hands, he grabbed the ball jumping back as the line of players lunged forward slamming into each other. Erick took a quick look seeing Jack himself running at him but sees his friend Ryan in the distance wide open. Erick let the ball spin out of his hands sailing directly at Ryan just as Jack slammed his entire heavy body into him. Erick hit the ground with a thud hearing the cheers of his teammates knowing Ryan scored a touchdown.
“YEAH BABY THAT’S SIX WOOHOO” Ryan screamed most likely dancing around. Jack reached down lifting Erick up easily off of the ground patting him on the back.
“Next time Erick…you wont be so lucky” Jack said grinning walking back to his team. Erick laughed running back to everyone else getting into position for a fake pitch. Erick received the ball pretending to hand it off to Ryan but instead holds onto it tightly running in the opposite direction. for the 2 point conversion he tried to run the 10 yards…tried but only met dirt 3 feet away as Mike slammed into him.
“What are you doin down there Erick?” mike said laughing a little helping Erick to his feet.
“I was sleeping because I didn’t see you come out of no where” Erick replied laughing slightly handing the ball over to him. Even though the entire team was competitive against each other they never let that get in their way of teamwork. Erick got up to his position right in front of the QB. He looked around seeing his team gets set up in the road kill formation. The ball was handed off and Erick rushed forward slamming into the QB’s guard stopping him dead in his tracks. Jackso happened to be that guard being much bigger and stronger but didn’t have as much of a footing as Erick could get. Neither one of them moved as Mike passed the ball to someone who scored a touch down. They finally let go of one another panting form the strain of holding each other back. They smiled at each other returning to position. Jack’s team was going for the two-point conversion. Erick took his position ready this time for Jack who looked him square in the eyes. The ball was handed off and Jack plowed through Erick before he could gain his footing catching the ball getting the two points. The score was 6-8 Jack’s lead. Erick and his team huddled up.
“Ok…Ryan and Jim…go long…Tim stay short just in case they are too defended or something…the rest of you…cover my ass” Erick said while the rest nodded. They moved into position, Erick could hear his heart pounding in his chest but he got to position readying his hands. He shouted the command the familiar leather being placed into his waiting hands. Jumping back he watched Ryan and Jim bolt down the field waiting for him to pass. He let the ball fly from his hand at Jim nearly at the touch down line; the ball fell into Jim’s hands just as he stumbled falling onto the ground. Erick jumped up cheering when they came to the conclusion that Jim just made it into the line giving Erick’s team the victory.
“Next time you wont be so lucky” Jack shouted from the other half of the field. Erick waved grinning picking up his ball and bag walking home. When Erick walked through the front door of his house he smelled a very strong odor…alcohol. Max only drank when he was called by his commander…or it was because it is Malica’s birthday…either way it wasn’t good. He rounded the corner seeing Max in his uniform just putting on the body armor.
“Got a call…. there is a problem…a whole army is reported heading this way” Max grimly said more to himself than to Erick.
“Will you be able to make it to my game…?”
Max chuckled slightly coughing in response putting on his protective helmet.
“We’ll see….we’ll see” Max replied hesitantly patting his son’s shoulder “you’ve made me proud….I just want you to know that”
Erick was surprised he had never said that to him before and Erick knew that this call would turn out very bad for everyone and that most likely….there would be no game at all. He stood there listening to Max walk out the door closing shut behind him. Erick stood there in that spot frozen, but stole a glance at Max’s desk. His most treasured picture of all three of them on the last day she was alive was gone. He sighed moving stiffly to his room slumping down onto his bed staring at the floor. He sat there for a few moments, then stood up grabbing his car keys heading out the door to visit his mother at her grave.