Khristian held his head very still, blinking slowly as the auburn-colored dire wolf leaned over him. She held a paintbrush in her left hand and another in her mouth. Her face was a mask of concentration, her green eyes narrowed as she painted a phoenix on the white wolf’s face. She wore torn up blue jeans, and a black tank top, and as per the norm she was bare footed. Her face sported back markings over her eyes, ruff, muzzle and her ears, there was a small scar was under her left eye. He could see the pinkish skin where the fur had not grown back.

Their muzzles were inches apart, and her could feel her warm sweet breath on his face, he closed his eyes and tried not to sigh with pleasure. But suddenly the breath moved away from him, and the paint brush no longer touched his fur. He opened his eyes to see her looking over her shoulder. Envy flushed over him, and he tried his best not to pin his ears back as a tall, lanky coyote rodie passed by holding a pole with lights on it. He looked up to see the dire wolf looking over her shoulder, a slight grin tugging at the corners of her mouth, the coyote grinned openly, brushing his long brownish hair back.

Khristian almost growled. The dire wolf turned back to him, studying his face, but never really making eye contact with him. She added a few more strokes with her paintbrush and nodded.

“Looks good,” she said grabbing his chin and inspected her work. “Damn good, I tired a different brand of paint, seems to be a lot more vibrant on your fur.”

The white wolf muttered something, not really paying attention to her words. His eyes drifted up and down her body. She was strong, and lithe, her slim body covered in wiry muscles, her reddish hair was pulled back, and even with her mouth closed he could see the tips of her canine teeth.

-We’d be a good match, - he thought to himself. He was taller than she, though not as muscular. His fur coat was the color of fresh snow, with golden tips around his face and ears. His hair was almost the same color as hers, though straighter. His eyes were sapphire to her emerald.

By the time he came back to his senses, she had packed her brushes and paints and was walking off. He reacted as quickly as possible and grabbed her wrist. She turned around to look at him, confusion written on her face.

“Hey, Ravyn, I was wondering if you’d want to meet me after the show tonight. I’m not expecting anyone, and I’d love for your company.”

Ravyn smiled.

* * * * *

The show had been a good one. The crowd was energetic and completely responsive to the band. But Khristian was glad it was over, he had made his way to his dressing room as quickly as possible, and got cleaned up in record time. He lounged casually, too casually, and waited, while seconds that seemed like hours ticked off on his watch.

Suddenly the door opened. Khristian “accidentally” let his robe open, revealing his naked body.

“I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! All these years, you HAVE been pining over me!”

The voice was not female, and the figure was defiantly not Ravyn. Khristian tried to hurriedly cover himself up, flushing a deep scarlet under his fur. But he found his paws to be too sweaty for the slick fabric of his robe, and opted for a nearby throw pillow to cover his crotch.

Corrigan, the bands drummer, flopped down on the couch next to the flustered wolf. The cougar picked at the edge of the pillow.

“Oh please Khristian, you KNOW you aren’t my type. Besides, its not like I haven’t seen it.”

Khristian buried his face into the over stuffed couch.

“Murrr murrf eeerrr uuuummm.”

Corrigan raised an eyebrow. “Honey, if you have to make out with something, I’d rather it be me than seeing you drool all over this couch.”

Khristian looked up, despair, longing and embarrassment crossed his face.

“I don’t know why you get you’re hope up on her,” the cougar said matter of factly.

“How did you…?” started Khristian.

“How did I not know is more like the question honey, everyone knows you are pining over that piece of tail. And she doesn’t see you as anything more than a canvas. Tsk tsk. Rather sad really.”

“You are so comforting.” Khristian replied bitterly.

There was a heavy silence in the dressing room, at last Khristian broke it.

“Its just not fair! Goddess bless, I could have any woman I want, thousands of screaming fans, beautiful women throwing themselves at my feet…”

“That sounds rather pretentious,” muttered Corrigan under his breath. Khristian ignored him.

“…And when I find one woman, one person I’d like to get to know better, would like to be with, she ignores me! She sees right through me as though I’m no more than anyone else! And I know its not just a species-fix…I tired dating other wolves, and…”

“Eeeww…that’s kinda creepy…” Corrigan interjected.

“…And its not a wolf I want, its that particular one! Its her, but she doesn’t want me, I watch her, and I see her. I know whom she wants, I can see it every time he passes by. He…”

“You so sound like a stalker…” Corrigan mused.

“He’s just a rodie! A scrawny, lanky Coyote! Little fuzzball! He doesn’t deserve her, I’m better than him! I’ve got money, and fame, and I could give her everything!”

Corrigan sighed, and set his jaw, he wasn’t going to let his friend do this.

“Now listen you overgrown mutt!”

Khristian froze and looked over at his friend. It wasn’t often that Corrigan ever spoke up or was firm with the band members. The cougar was, as he put it, “Quite content being your stereotypical gay man, better looking and with more fashion sense than the rest of the band put together.” But the cougar could get a persons attention quite quick when he wanted to.

“Are you even listening to yourself? You sound like a half grown pup; fixated on some chic you can’t even comprehend having. Giveme, giveme, giveme, I want, I want, I want. I can’t believe I’m even hearing you say these things. You think you are so much better than that “little fuzzball?” His name is Malakai, by the way, and he happens to be a very sweet individual. No he doesn’t have your fame, he is just a rodie, someone who sets up and takes down our stage, and no he doesn’t have your wealth, he gets paid a little bit above minimum wage, and gets to travel a lot. But, he loves her, and he gives her everything he’s got.”

“But…” started Khristian.

“No buts, accept that there is a very pretty dire wolf that paints your face, and that she is in love with someone else. And if you can do that, and truly accept that the most you could ever be to her was a friend, then maybe you’d have a chance of her seeing you as something more than a fuzzy white canvas.”

With that the cougar got up and left, without a backward glace at his friend.

For a long time the white wolf just sat there, trying to let Corrigan’s words sink in. At length he got up and paced around the room. Changing into something a bit more decent. He walked over to his desk and picked up a piece of paper. A tour schedule.

Perhaps after the show in Eriwyn, he’d ask Ravyn and her coyote to join him for some drinks.

Perhaps.