Illo Scene: Carper, Tre, and Stone – Tryouts

Illustrated Scene #2 for April, 2016

Artwork courtesy of the excellent Vasuki

Universe: Vasuki's Universe

Tags: Raccoon, Wolf, Fox

1,410 words

This little story is inspired by the artist Vasuki’s characters, specifically the picture above of Carper and Tre leaning on a railing, and another picture of Tre holding Carper and Stone apart.

I wrote this initial little story a couple years ago soon after finding Vasuki’s artwork, and just falling in love with his characters.Tre is a big white/grey wolf who always wears a backwards baseball cap, and despite being huge is a big softie and super shy. Carper is a cocky and outgoing raccoon who is Tre’s best friend, and finally there is Stone, the brooding and quiet bad boy fox who turns both of their heads.

If you don’t know Vasuki’s work, you should definitely go follow him on his twitter, where he posts most of his stuff, and if you really like his work support his own Patreon. He’s done an amazing art book with Furplanet, and has become one of my good friends online. Thanks for letting me share this Vasuki!

***

Carper was leaning on a railing, staring down at the football tryouts morosely from the stands. The raccoon tried to look uninterested, tried to pretend he didn't care, but he'd always been terrible at that cool aloof thing. Besides! This was football, and he loved the game. Normally Carper was so excited by tryouts that he couldn't sit still, even though he had to come to school on a Saturday.

Not this time. Now, he watched the guys trying for spots on the team in practice gear without enthusiasm as they raced back and forth across the field, eyes tracking one of player in particular. His name was Stone, a red fox who had transferred to Stoat High this year, and was trying out for wide receiver. Carper's position.

Carper hadn’t talked to him yet, but knew his name because everybody in the school was talking about him. Something about his dad being a famous rock star. It took one look for Carper to know he didn't like the guy, Carper had seen the fox's confident swagger as he smirked his way out onto the field. The raccoon also knew Stone was good. His red tail flicked through the air as he deftly avoided the guys trying to tackle him and landed the catch. Worry began to build in the raccoon's stomach like a belly ache as he watch the fox catch yet another pass and race for the end zone. Stone was really good.

A shadow cross the sun for a moment as someone came up and leaned on the railing beside him, and Carper's nose told him who it was. "Hey Tre," Carper muttered, glancing at the big wolf beside him.

"Hey, how are tryouts going?" The wolf tried to look uninterested like Carper looked, but his ears were turned forward, swiveling through the holes in his backwards baseball cap.

"Okay. I don't think Evan’s gonna have much competition for quarterback. The only guy who seems good is that bull and he's way too big. They'll probably make him a linebacker."

Tre nodded slightly, eyes following the ball as the bull tossed it, inexpertly, to the receiver down field. The fox had to change course to catch it, and barely got his fingers on it, but he still snatched it out of the air anyways, making another break down field. “Yah, we need more depth, Kota and I can’t keep carrying the offensive line.” Tre watched as Stone dodged past all the other boys trying to block his path. "New receiver looks good though," Tre said carefully, glancing over at his friend.

"We'll see how he does in practice," Carper said dismissively, and Tre flicked his ears back as he pushed off the railing and wandered off.

***

Practice that afternoon did not go terribly well. Once the new potentials and the remaining members of last year's team were all on the field in their pads and jerseys, the coaches had the new offensive line play a mock game against their own defense.

Carper pushed through and dodged around the big linebackers and newbies, but every time he got open, every time he got free, he did so just in time to see the ball sailing smoothly across the field towards Stone. Again and again, the fox caught the pass and headed downfield. By the end of the game, Carper was glaring daggers at the fox and shouting for Evan to throw him the ball. He glared and fumed, muttering about the fox until the fennec quarterback tossed him the ball a few times, but Carper was worked up regardless.

So it wasn't all that surprising what happened afterwards. Once they were in the locker room, Carper changed without talking to the guys, trying to ignore Stone. He succeeded somewhat, only throwing a couple glares his way, at least until the fox walked by on his way past to the showers and intentionally banged into him.

There was no way the shoulder check was anything but intentional. "Hey, what'd you think you're doing?" Carper snapped, steam almost coming out of his ears.

Stone looked him in the eye, a slight sneer on his muzzle. "I don't know, what do you think you were doing out there?" The fox got up in his face, pushing him slightly. "I heard you cat-calling; you got a problem with me or something?"

Carper's eyes widened. "Yah I got a problem, you jerk, I-" the raccoon lunged forward, and Stone mimicked the move.

Tre was there in an instant, getting physically between the two of them, back to Stone before they could start something. "Hey! Hey, hey, whoa, don't! It’s not worth it," the wolf said placating. "Come on, you guys, you both made the team, right?"

Carper glared past the wolf, and Stone made a dismissive tick sound before turning and heading for the shower, towel over his shoulder.

"That guy pisses me off," Carper muttered.

"Come on, he doesn't seem that bad," Tre mumbled awkwardly. "He's in a couple of my classes, and he seemed nice."

Carper rolled his eyes at the taller wolf. It was something the raccoon had a lot of practice with. "Come on Tre, you think everybody's nice. Just look at him, strutting around like he owns the place. Like he's the hottest thing ever, he's even wearing designer underwear just to show off his ass!"

Tre glanced back and caught a look at Stone's ass as the fox flicked his tail in annoyance, obviously having heard Carper despite the rowdy discussion in the locker room. It was... okay so it was very nice ass. The wolf felt the blush start in his chest, rushing up his neck to the sides of his face like a wave he couldn't stop. "Y-Yah well," Tre swallowed and looked away from the fox. "Let's just see how the first couple of games go, alright? Who knows, maybe you'll like him."

"Fat chance," Carper muttered.

***

Things did not go well the next two weeks in practice, and Tre found himself running interference between the two wide receivers. They probably would have gotten into a real fight if their respective positions hadn't put them on completely opposite sides of the field.

After their first game two weeks later, all that changed.

***

Carper was hollering the loudest, but the entire team was worked up into a frenzy of cheering as they piled into the locker room after the game. People were slapping the raccoon on the back, whooping and hollering as he carried the game winning ball in his paws. It was the highest scoring game he'd ever played in, and he'd scored three touchdowns, a record. When he spotted Stone, the raccoon headed for him grinning. "Dude!" The raccoon yelled he crashed into Stone, bumping chests with the fox. "You ruled out there dude!"

Stone staggered back, a self-satisfied grin splitting his muzzle. "Oh, yah think so huh?" He said it with a hint of sneer, like he expected the raccoon to be mocking him. He had scored two touchdowns himself.

Carper was grinning like a kid in a candy stone though, "Yah! You ran rings around them! We had em so confused who was getting the ball they never knew who to cover! That was our best game yet!" The raccoon slapped Stone's shoulders, practically dancing as he hugged the surprised fox. "This season is gonna be great!" Carper shouted, still hugging the stunned Stone.

Tre came up behind Carper, looming despite his nonthreatening demeanor. The wolf got his own hug, before the raccoon bounced off to relive more highlights with his fellow players. Stone watched Carper go, looking incredulous.

"He um, gets really into the game," Tre said as if that was an explanation for Carper's changed behavior.

Stone's stoic face split into a genuine grin as he looked at the wolf, "I noticed. Let me guess, he's going to treat me like we're friends now, right?"

"Probably? You don't, um, mind do yah? He's like that. And um, sorry about the last couple of weeks. He's kind of... competitive." Tre said, smiling at Stone sheepishly.

Stone's confident, almost smirk, of a smile returned as he looked at Tre's genuine smile speculatively. He hadn't gotten the chance to talk to the handsome but shy wolf much, not with Carper always there glaring daggers from his side. "Yah I guess that'll work," he said, beginning to unbuckle his pads.