A mistaken identity, a heart raw with loss, naivete.........these were the fragmented factors that laid the fragile foundation of their relationship. But, once their infatuation was kindled, it burned wildly and furiously out of control. Harmonious blends of squeaks, wheeks, rumbles and staccatoed chutting made up the melody of their life's love song.
For nearly thirty days, their love was hidden from the eyes of this world - eyes that would have extinguished the flames of desire once they realized them for what they were. For nearly thirty days, they could exchange brown-eyed glances filled with longing and contented purring. Cherished days immortalized in memory.
It was in that first moment that Fudge laid eyes on Oreo, that his world shifted. His life had been so bleak, bereft and barren after losing a dear companion; Maple Mutt-Skin the Second had been a friend who was closer than a brother and Fudge's heart ached with his absence. So, when Fudge met Oreo, his tender heart swelled with joy. Suddenly life felt full once again; full of hope and sparkle, effervescence, ecstasy and elation.
Oreo was the kind of creature one was not likely to forget. Her midnight-black fur was artfully tousled about her face, accentuating the fathomless pools that were her eyes. A stripe of white coloured her nose and one rogue, chestnut-brown patch encircled an eye; the rest of her body was a snowy white mass of curls and sweet swirling rosettes. Large, floppy ears framed her face and four delicate paws allowed her to move about with a dainty grace. When she first noticed Fudge staring unabashedly at her, she nervously chutted several times and then let out a tentative squeak. Fudge licked his dry lips, twitched his whiskers once or twice and then let out a low and glorious rumble. Oreo seemed pleased by this reaction and she purred softly, impressed by this marvellous older male before her. Fudge had broad, stocky shoulders and strong masculine paws. His fur was a rich tawny colour that was beautifully broken up with black patches. His eyes were a dark, moody brown and bore within their depths the wisdom of his older years.
To say that is was love at first sight or squeak would have been to cheapen their feelings, Fudge thought. After their initial introduction, Fudge nudged Oreo towards the pellet bowl and shared his meal with her. He showed her around their habitat and indicated his favourite sleeping spot with another rumble and a purr. With Oreo around, Fudge felt that life was infused with blissful possibility. The days began to blend together in an intoxicating blur of love. Feeding time became date nights together. Pellets, Timothy hay and water had never tasted this good. Resting became cuddle time and they would snuffle and snuggle together in a corner of the habitat, their colourful fur intertwined as their two heartbeats thrummed as one.
On one particular day, Fudge professed his feelings; using words that he had only penned that morning. Poetry came naturally to Fudge and he was well versed in the written arts of the greats such as William Muttsphere and Mutter Seuss. In a tone that trembled timidly, he gingerly began:
"Dearest Oreo," he squeaked,
"Your fur is black, brownish and white
Life without you would be a horrific plight.
Your squeaking and chutting fill my days with delight.
I love you with all my might."
Oreo giggled, wheeked and purred with delight. Those were the glorious days of blazing, brash and bold love. These were also the days when it became blatantly obvious that Oreo was not who she was supposed to be. Hers was a case of mistaken identity for, while Oreo was intended to be a replacement companion for Fudge, she was intended to be a male.
Oreo's exotic femininity was conspicuous to all but those who introduced her to Fudge. Her true identity became obvious, however, as her body changed. Oreo was now pregnant. No longer could Fudge and Oreo hide their love from the world. Time passed and her body swelled, now great with pups. Fudge and Oreo still feasted together, still nestled together, still purred and rumbled out their love story together. They knew that their time together was drawing to a close and this was a bittersweet realization.
On a sun-dappled Sunday afternoon, Oreo's body convulsed. The time was here. Fudge fled to a corner of their habitat and watched in horror as the great love of his life doubled over in pain. But his devastation gave way to wonder as she hunched over and pulled out one-two-three-four wet and mewling pups. One black and white, two white and cream-coloured and one whose fur colours blended his tawny-orange with her black and white. Four gorgeous, forever-reminders of a love that would never die.
Fudge felt himself being lifted up, up, up and away into another habitat and he waved his paws in a futile attempt to stay near Oreo and their pups. His heart constricted with pain, loneliness and sorrow at this separation. He crouched in a corner and noticed that if he remained very quiet, he could still hear the tiny squeaks and chuts of his newborn babies and the muffled purring of his beloved Oreo.
Theirs was a love that was doomed from the start. They would not be able to stay together. They would not last. Their love could not overcome the obstacles that they would face by being together. But for a short time, their love blazed brightly.
And that was enough, Fudge thought.
That fierce and short-lived love was enough to last him a lifetime.
Fudge and Oreo
Shivers, Chestnut, Peanut and Snickers.
