Unfortunate Circumstances

Chapter one


	In the most unbelievable and undesirable place possible, certainly the most surprising
I sat trying to think distracted by an equally surprising amount of discomfort. Not least of 
which was my aching, pulsing headache. No telling what they gave me, and its very nearly pitch
dark here as well. So let me try to relate to you the events leading up to me being shackled 
here as best I can. it's the only other thing I have to focus on at the moment.

	By way of introduction, my avid concerned reader, i go by Scorpiious. Unusual i know
but that's a story for another time. On sight of me you would recognize me as a furry. difficult
to see in the dark under normal circumstances, with an almost entirely black coat.. impossible 
here in the viscous darkness. -sighs- I'm a hybrid mix of cat and fox, with crimson, nearly 
maroon accents. these are most notable in the ring on my slightly bushier than normal tail, 
ear tips, face, and a few places on my coat in between along with my paw pads. Offset with 
very slight whitish accents near some of the red portions, with sapphire blue eyes. I would
imagine that in the not so distant past that i would have brought in a high price on the fur
market say for a coat or a handbag. -shudders- I haven't discounted that as a possibility why
I知 manacled and bound wherever it is i am, but now that I致e introduced myself, let's move on.

	I had gone on a trip not long ago... i think.. well.. maybe, who can be sure, to visit 
with some friends. a mixed group of furries and humans at the opposite end of the country. at 
the time, maybe 4 days ago, i got into town and drove straight in to my friends home. It was a
chilly  night and unusual for this time of year, so i was promptly welcomed in from the cold and 
introductions were made. My brother, and closest friend, met me first, and introduced me to everyone 
else efficiently, and exuberantly over hot chocolate. foxes always seem to be unusually energetic, 
and i couldn't help but purr at meeting so many other furries, the cocoa practically vibrating in my
paw. I don't recall everyone, but i believe there was another feline there, a wolf.. maybe, definitely
a canine species, with his extremely toothy grin. canids always unsettle me a bit.. hard to be sure
if they're being friendly or if they might be up to something unsavory. He seemed nice enough however,
firmly grasping my paw and pulling me into a friendly embrace. As had everyone else including the lion,
my brother the fox, and the rest of the mix of furries and humans present. None of which i knew 
personally except for my brother. I知 sure you noticed I知 not exactly volunteering names and descriptive 
features here, just relating the facts i remember that relate to the story. that can come later.

	After the warm hugs and nuzzling were over and we were comfortably seated, everyone present 
began to mingle off into their own conversations and activities. there was a pleasant mix of overlapping 
conversation i could pick out from the sofa. My ears twitching this way and that like a radar dish with 
ADHD. "-other came back to town, and just would not sto-" "yes, i do use a conditioner all over my body,
not just the hair between my ears.." "top cabinet to th-" "she keeps aiming her ear at you, and her tail 
is twitching, I知 tellin' you, she likes you, go give her a pet.." was all i could hear. a delightful and 
warm confluence of friendly voices that make you feel accepted and part of something the way only a party 
can. In the middle of plucking this and that from the air though, i was a bit distracted and caught up in
myself and the vibe of the social atmosphere. Believe me, even if i was human it would take at least two 
stiff drinks to warm me to the social atmosphere, and that has nothing to do with my species. Parties and 
all social gatherings have always seemed to me to move very quickly and present a bit too much to do all
at once unless I知 at least with someone who i can speak to as well. Its a bit like sitting with some one 
with a wall of televisions and all the remotes, flicking through the channels. you might enjoy everything 
that痴 on, but you feel a bit left out.

	Presently, i was staring back and forth between the wolf and the fox, who seemed either to be 
trying to load a disk into a gaming console, or were hoping that the next time it flashed a brilliant red
and spat the disk out that it would be a winning lottery ticket. It was hard to tell with the heartfelt 
determination they had in hoping to convince the device to accept the disk, so i rose swishing my tail and
padded over to help. "Umm, hey, did you try checking the connections?" i offered hopefully. Both seemed 
surprised to see me, maybe because they were distracted by the frustrating machine. i puffed my whiskers in
amusement and surprise, noticing it was an Xbox 360. "Maybe i can have a look, i have one of-" i was cut off by the wolf.. "No, it's ok, I致e got it dude. We'll have i set up in a few" he replied tersely, but in a friendly enough way, so i offered to get a canister of that compressed duster they sell at the office supply store if it was needed and went to get something hot from kitchen.

	Not, however before noticing ****** shoot the wolf an odd look, which i dismissed as nothing of any importance. I suspected they were dating, but they had yet to announce it. Making my way through the throng, i weaved deftly, and maybe a little too shyly through restless furries and humans more at ease standing with drinks, smiles and bubbly conversation than seated. Maybe it was the lack of alcohol, but i felt distinctly rigid and un-party like. As though at any moment all would turn and notice an interloping wallflower in their midst and i would be unceremoniously handed, pawed, and bum rushed to the exit. Naturally, i was just being paranoid, and reached the kitchen without incident aside from bumping a few elbows and tails.

	Kitchens are kitchens, especially in a house made this side of the turn of the millennium, and my brothers shared home was no exception, boasting a bit above the basics. I easily made my way to the coffee maker, my drink of choice when i didn't want something quite so sweet. I began to purr, enjoying this simple ritual of grinding beans into a filter and pouring water, setting out some milk and sugar, intending to brave the chill to have a cup with my other vice, cigarettes. Yes, i smoke. and before going further into what happened at the party and the next 24 hours, i will gladly tell you that in spite of the warnings and admonishments i get from nonsmokers, I would like to quit, but thank God I知 not doing it for my health. though, i don't care for the nicotine stains it leaves on my paw fur. -sighs deeply- i sure could use one now, as well as someone to hold it and light it for me seeing as my paws are fastened above my head. but.. where was i? 

	Staring at the coffee pot in the nondescript modern kitchen, almost as though expecting it to pour itself into my waiting cup, i didn't at first notice the paw on my shoulder. I yelped and jumped in the same moment instinctively hissing at the unexpected black, warm fox paw on my shoulder which i first wasn't sure what it was. "Jes- ******, why u sneak up on me like that for?"  i said alarmed, grasping a paw to my chest. He flatted his broad pointy fox ears, looking simultaneously guilty and amused as only my brother can. "I'm sorry about ******, it's in his nature to just be naturally defensive like that, and, i wanted to see what you were doin.." I gathered myself, and steadied my paw pouring the hot fragrant liquid into a cup. "Jus makin somethin hot before i step out back bro." I looked back over my shoulder at him with my tail stilled, expecting a rebuke about my unhealthy habit.

	"****** almost has the thingie with the console fixed, so i thought we would play a co-op or multiplayer match of something, then go to see a movie." he answered me sheepishly, ears still slightly flat and looked back in my eyes. "wa- together, as in.. you me and him?" he grinned broadly, swishing his tail. "uh yeah, so you could tell?" "Yes, hehe, you two both answered the door, and while everyone else mixed around you've been down there in front of the TV all smiles an wagging tails like a couple, you've been inseparable" I laughed, purring and pleased with myself for being right about what I suspected the entire night as i added sugar from a bowl and used the spoon to stir in some milk grinning back over my shoulder at my bro, who was beaming at me. Looking for all the world like he had just won the lottery. "So, erm, how long has it been?" i asked, gathering my cup and padding toward the patio, holding the door for him. " Only a few days, actually.." he trailed off, taking a seat upwind of me as i lit up. "Well, as long as you're happy." i answered with wink to him, adding "opposites attract after all i guess." "what do you mean, opposites?" he asked me, cocking his head in confusion at me. I answered something about ******'s highly defensive nature over an inanimate object, and told ****** that i thought it was ok as long as he watched out for him. 

	Several cigarettes and some 15 minutes later owing to getting caught up in conversation with my brother about everything from his new beau to waxing pseudo-philosophical about everything from computers and games to what at one point bordered dangerously on politics we had gone back inside talking more than we moved our feet, not paying attention and i nearly stepped on one of the wireless controllers. naturally this earned me a glare from the wolf that was soon forgotten as a four player match up took place. 3 hours later, i had nearly won by a tiny margin of 20 kills to everyone else's solid 50 and 60 point scores and had settled into a more social groove, nearly not noticing the swish of my tail or the smile on my face as things wound down a bit and we got ready to leave to catch a movie.

	I volunteered to drive, being both older and more experienced with the wheel in nearly every sort of weather, as sure footed and graceful on rolling rubber as my footpaws on dry ground. In a few minutes we had told a few other friends where we were
going, and when we planned to be back. I put on a leather coat and fished out car keys, smoothing my fur under the smooth lining with a shake of my shoulders and padded out to the driveway after my goodbyes and hugs. Trying to smooth things a bit and ingratiate myself with my brothers boyfriend, i pawed the unlock button and went around to open the passenger doors, flatting my ears against the more frigid wind this much later in the evening. I turned the SUV over and set the thermostat selector at it's highest setting, rubbing my paws before putting my coat on a hook in the cargo area. Behind the wheel and a bit more comfortable i gestured for seatbelts and reversed from the driveway and set off for the movies.

	 Nearly the entire drive of some 40 minutes was an awkward attempt at civility. My brother caught in the middle of my lack of social skills and his boyfriends defensiveness. I can't say i blame the guy. He didn't really know me that well, and frankly, i was glad he found someone who would look out for him. ****** was mature for his age, but a bit fragile in a sweet way. always seeming to be caught in the middle of something. he needed and had found someone who would put him first. for a lack of conversation that everyone could participate in, we had talked excitedly about what films were on offer, but ****** wasn't the type to open up easily to a lot of people any more than i was, i switched on the radio and spun the analog
dial with a claw searching for something upbeat to listen to and gave up picking the MCR CD already in the disc player. and drove, awkwardly hoping to break the ice with everyone before my planned departure in a few days

	My brother was oblivious, enjoying the ride and slapping paws on his legs in time with the music while ****** seemed to look forlornly out the window. lost in thought. A while later, we arrived and trolled for a space within sight of the door. excitedly debating the movies advertised on the giant backlit sign. If i had known what would happen the next day.. i probably would have just stayed with my brother at the house and not gone anywhere until it was time to pack back up.  But.. as fate would have it, even that would not have offered me surety or a guarantee of any safety from being apparently chloroformed and injected with something on a tour of the city sights the next day.

	I'm afraid, my concerned reader, that being bound in an awkward position for what feels like a day or two in complete darkness with hand paws on the ground nearly upside down on my back with no food or anything to drink is not conducive to consciousness or mental clarity. I've tried to introduce you to myself and who i feel may be the key characters from the party, but right now, i think I値l have to wait to tell you about what happened that next day in another chapter. As well as what i may have overheard in my stupor immediately after my brush with fate. Unless of course I知 taken from this dark place which I strongly doubt will be to freedom.