Some days, all the pieces fell into place; on other days, some pieces became lost. That was on Grant’s mind when leaning back in a game shop with various books for tabletop RPGs and board games. His tail, cyan which turned purple halfway and ended with a white tip, twitched as he adjusted his half-moon glasses. His glasses helped make his blue eyes shined.

The missing piece, in this case, was the third player. Grant sighed while leaning forward, picking up a couple of letters with the folded crease almost undone. The right one was a response from Ari, who agreed to come today, but the left one’s response was a decline without any explanation. Perhaps it was because of something Grant did in the past, something that he couldn’t escape from. Or he might be busy. Regardless, it still left the part with one short.

“This is lame,” Grant said to himself even as he rubbed his cyan muzzle. “Who else can I invite on such short notice?”

Grant shook his head in disappointment, his cyan hair-fur wiggling with the motion. His ears, which held purple fur with cyan tips that went over his eyes, folded back. Though the temptation was great, he shouldn’t be angry. Instead, Grant inhaled and exhaled in a rhythmic pattern, his white furry chest and stomach expanding and retracting. He still felt that low anger, his finger inching closer to the letter. He realized what he was doing and stopped, his claws inches away from ripping that letter in half.

Grant pulled his hand-paw away, a twinge of guilt flowing through. “A close one there. And I may have to cancel this unless I find someone on short notice.”

Soon, Grant twisted around, skimming through the various visitors of this game shop. A bunch of them he encountered over the years, though they were more or less acquaintances who just liked being in this shop. Despite the urgency, he remained seated. His eye soon caught a unicorn and a wolf playing a tabletop RPG, and he flinched. A few years back, Grant asked to join them in their game, but they gave him such a cold shoulder that he hadn’t bothered asking anyone else or played a tabletop RPG. Instead, he stuck with board games. Time was short, and there might be another who would join.

And then Grant spotted someone he had never met before.

This person was an anthro fox, with bright red fur and a white torso, though only his muzzle and neck exposed it. It’s odd for someone wearing some kind of clothing that covered much of his body in this place. His red headfur parted down the middle, his sea-blue eyes shining as he read a book. Soon, he rubbed his eyes, his hand-paw down to the muzzle covered in black fur. Despite that sudden burst in drowsiness, his red with a white tip tail wagged. His clothing, except for his blue jeans and dulled white wrappings around his left forearm, was bright with a red unbuttoned aloha shirt over his tucked-in green shirt. The golden A on his belt shined in the light as he turned the page.

Grant raised an eyebrow at this newcomer before turning to Ari’s letter, with him promising to come at the agreed time at noon. He nodded before reaching behind him, where his hammerspace was, and pulled out his smartphone. Grant pressed it, and it displayed the time 11:34 AM. His stomach tightened, and his head grew hot from the stress, but he exhaled and swallowed. And, before he knew what he was doing, he found himself standing beside this newcomer.

“Hi there,” Grant said, leaning a bit.

“Hello,” he replied, not looking up from his book.

Grant felt stress building from the back of his head, but he continued asking, “How are you?”

“Trying to recover,” he replied, sighing and shaking his head. “I was hunting a dangerous object last night, which I succeeded at in two in the morning. Even now, my body felt sore from running so much.”

Grant blinked, tilting his head. “I don’t fully understand what you’re talking about, but OK. Sounds like you want to relax.”

“Yup.” He nodded before setting his book down and turning to Grant. He raised an eyebrow and rubbed his chin. “Hmm. I have never seen anything like you before.” He stood up, striding around Grant, who blinked. “Your facial structure suggested a badger, but your tail is far longer and bushier. Plus, badgers have short, round ears, not long, triangular ears.”

“Oh! That’s because I’m not a full badger,” Grant explained, grinning as he fidgeted with his red collar. The black and white tag with a 1 and a triangle next to each other on it wiggled. “I’m part badger, part fox, so I’m a foxger instead. Though Ari suggested that it should be box instead.”

“Huh. Intriguing,” he said, pulling out a long metallic device with a light at the end of it. He pressed it, with the light shining orange while it buzzed, waving it before Grant. The piercing buzz echoed in Grant’s ears, with them twitching. “Zelda will be interested in this data.”

“Um, OK,” Grant said before rubbing the back of his head, having an embarrassed smile. “In any case, the name is Grant. What is your name?”

“Call me Daren,” he answered, putting the device back into his aloha shirt before sitting down. “Daren Crevan.”

Grant nodded and, ignoring the building stress, asked, “Say, Daren? Could you do me a favor? I’m trying to set up a group, and one of the members dropped off. I need a replacement on short notice and, if you’re willing, I like you to join.”

Daren blinked, tilting his head while his left ear flattened to the side. “A group? Could you elaborate?”

Grant winked at Daren. “It’s a surprise. Just know that it requires at least three people.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I mean, I could rearrange it so it could be done with two, but it won’t be as fun. So, care to join us?”

Daren hummed for a few seconds, leaning back on the chair. “I’m not sure. I should be heading off soon, especially since I completed my job here. I’m just here to rest and relax.”

Grant felt his heart sink, but he continued, “Does it have to be right now? Or can it be held off?”

Daren sighed, rubbing each individual of his hairfur. “I guess I can put it off for a couple of hours. But I don’t want Zelda to get too worried.” His left hand-paw flinched, and he flexed it. “She can get so worried, and rightfully so.”

Grant’s right ear folded to the side for a moment. “So, does that mean you’ll join?”

“Just that I’ll consider it,” Daren answered, stretching his arms. “Let me complete this chapter first, and I’ll show you my answer.”

Grant blinked, adjusting his glasses. “Um, OK. Thank you.”

Soon, Grant stepped back, with Daren picking up the book and continuing where he left off. Grant sat back down on the table, sighing even as he felt a sense of dread. He reached to his smartphone and pressed it again, the time reading 11:40 AM. The seconds ticked, with the minutes changing from 40 to 41, and he placed it back into his hammerspace. Soon, he turned to Daren, feeling a sense of hope. His heart froze, his tail puffing up.

Though no words came to Grant’s ears, he could already guess what that wolf was talking to Daren about. After all, he pointed at Grant several times and made a few broad gestures. Daren, for his part, kept reading without a response or even looking at him. His face was unreadable as he rubbed his left forearm, almost as though it fell asleep and he was trying to bring it back to life. Soon, the wolf stopped and returned to the unicorn, and Daren sighed while squeezing his left forearm.

Grant’s ears flattened down to his shoulders, his frozen heart not warming up. He turned back to the letters, one of his claws ripping into one of them but only a half-inch while digging into the wood. He wanted to continue tearing into it, watching it slice into bits. Instead, he lifted his claw up and instead stuffed both letters back into his hammerspace.

Time passed by, though it felt slow to Grant. The other anthros chatted like friends even as he sat alone. The room felt so cold, yet he knew it wasn’t. In fact, it was hotter than usual for a summer’s day. His fingers rubbed through what bits of cyan headfur he had and when he turned to where Daren sat, he wasn’t surprised to find it empty.

There wasn’t anyone he could blame other than himself for this. If he was better, wiser, even-tempered, and other stuff, he wouldn’t be alone.

“Hey there, Grant!”

When he turned up, Grant blinked as Ari set his hand-paw onto Grant’s shoulder. Ari the coyote held pale blue fur all over his body, with a deeper blue color down his elbows and knees. His ears, deep blue with bright yellow inner, wiggled. He tapped on his chest where a bronze star fur pattern that dominated much of it, before he tapped on Grant’s cyan’s forehead. He wagged his tail, red with a yellow stripe down the top. His red eyes shined even as he grinned, giving Grant a noogie.

“How are you doing, dear buddy?” Ari asked, sitting across from Grant.

“Um, could be a lot better,” Grant admitted as he shifted on his seat. “We’re down to just the two of us.”

“That’s a bummer,” Ari said before turning around. “Still, there are a lot of folks here. Why not ask one of them.”

“I’m not sure if any of them would join us,” Grant answered, sighing while shaking his head. “You know how annoying I can be.”

Ari tilted his head. “I guess, but that’s only because they haven’t got a chance to know you. So just give a chance.”

“I did, and it’s with one I never seen before,” Grant said, turning his head down. He felt emptier with as another table cheered in a DnD game. “I did my best to tone down my annoying side, but he still disappeared.”

“Are you talking about me?”

Grant blinked and, when he and Ari turned to the source, he gasped. He widened his eye at Daren, who lost a good chunk of his foxiness with a shorter muzzle that moved at a higher angle to his forehead. Dark red-brown fur surrounded his eyes, moving up and back his head until it reached his ears, the tips remaining black. His muscles seemed more defined and his claws longer, though he still wore wrappings on his left forearm.

“Daren?!” Grant stood up, blinking. “Wh-what happened? Why are you—”

“A foxger?” Daren completed, and Grant nodded. He shrugged before answering, “Truth be told, I want to try out the style before starting whatever you invited me for.”

Grant’s eyes widened as large as plates for a moment, taking a step back even as Ari tilted his head at Daren. “So then, y-you accept joining this group after all?”

“Of course. Why shouldn’t I?” Daren stepped around the table and sat beside Grant.

Grant blushed, turning away. “W-when I saw you chatting with that—” he was about to say a harsh word, but he stopped himself before continuing, “—that wolf, I thought for sure that you declined. And when I saw that you disappeared, I lost hope.”

“It’s natural to feel fear,” Daren said, patting Grant on the shoulder. “It’s something that Zelda said to me more often than I can count. But one shouldn’t lose hope without reason, especially if you don’t know everything going on. If you do, you’ll grow miserable, fearing that the next one will bite just like the last one did.”

Grant’s face flushed even as Daren continued. “As for that guy, he tried to discourage me from joining you. Calling you annoying and stuff like that. And while I appreciate getting warnings like that, I’m more bothered that he only bothered to approach to ‘warn’ me after you left. Yes, I was aware that he eyed me when you chatted with me. I find such behavior to be distasteful. In fact, it only made me more interested in joining.”

Grant nodded before turning over to the wolf some tables away, with him and his unicorn buddy looking at them with distaste before returning to their game. “I always wanted to join them, but they never let me. Though it’s more than likely because I can be so annoying.”

Daren sighed and shook his head. “There will always be circles you won’t be able to join, no matter how hard you try. As such, it’ll be best to form your own circle. In fact, I noticed that you do have a member already.” Ari reached over to Grant, grabbing his hand-paws, and clung tight. “And if you find yourself with problems regarding certain folks, it’ll be best if you cut your losses and find others, no matter how afraid you’ll be. Besides, you came across as insecure rather than annoying.”

Grant nodded before turning to Daren, having a small smile. “Thanks. But that didn’t explain why you left your table for so long.”

Daren gave an embarrassed laugh, rubbing the back of his head. “Truth be told, I didn’t mean to disappear for that long. I was in the restroom, trying out the foxger look. It was tricky to find the right fur pattern on my face.” He rubbed just below his right eye. “I tried having them all black while keeping a red ‘stripe’ down the center of my face, but it didn’t look right. So next, I made them have a peachy color, which didn’t work. Then I realized that the red ‘stripe’ down my face was distracting, so I made it white while making the ‘mask’ a dark red-brown color, which is when I’m satisfied. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you, showing you my answer.”

“Oh, wow,” Grant said, setting his arm over Daren’s shoulders and pulling him close. “That sounds cool. Though you should’ve asked me if you wanted to be a foxger first.” He winked before reaching into his hammerspace behind him and pulling out a sword with the colors of a pencil and a pentomino-style shield no larger than their chests and pure white. “I could’ve helped you.”

Daren raised an eyebrow even as Ari snickered. “Looks like our new buddy has no idea about the pencil sword and pentomino shield.”

“Yup!” Grant handed both over to Ari.

The sword and shield glowed white at once, though it took a while for Daren to notice the glow. The pentomino shield changed shape, with colors filling it up with each new change. A bronze star formed at the center, with the surrounding shapes turning into a mix of red, yellow, and dark blue, and Ari grinned wider. As soon as the shield’s colors stopped changing, Ari’s facial fur changed, with the ears’ tip becoming light blue and the dark blue moved forward, surrounding his eyes. His muzzle moved back a few inches, the angle to his forehead becoming higher. Daren tilted his head at him, his tail wagging.

“You can probably guess what I am now,” Ari said, setting both pencil sword and pentomino shield to the side.

“Interesting,” Daren said, getting up and moving all around Ari before sitting back down, his muscles also more defined than before. Soon, he turned to Grant. “I didn’t realize that you could use magic.”

“I guess, though I don’t call it ‘magic,’” Grant said with a snicker. “More like the power of mathematics!” Daren’s eyes half lowered, his ears folding back. “Kidding, kidding, but only half so. I learned that, by forging complex math and pencils with steel to make a sword, they will become the deadliest of weapons, for a pencil is mightier than a sword!”

“I thought that was a pen,” Daren said even as Grant pulled out another pencil sword and pentomino shield. “I still need to remember that this place is a more too—”

“As for the shield,” Grant continued, handing both to Daren, with the shield changing shape and colors so that it’s bright red with a white A at the center. “I apply logic puzzle on metal forged into shields until they took that shape. Of course, not everyone can wield them. Only those skilled with mathematics and puzzles could, turning into a foxger as a nice bonus. If the shield doesn’t change and you didn’t turn into a foxger, they become brittle enough that even a gentle tap would shatter them.”

Daren nodded, tugging on his hairfur. “So, I am worthy then?”

“Yup!” Ari gave Daren a thumbs up. “You’re a bright one.”

“In any case,” Grant said, standing up, “shall we begin?”

“Sure,” Daren said, though his tail twitched. “Though, what were you planning that requires at least three people?”

Grant grinned as he winked.

“You know,” Daren said, leaning back as he held up some cards. “When you said you needed an extra person for this group, I didn’t think you meant a board game.”

“Why not?” Grant asked, shifting his cards as his eyes shined. “This is a game shop, after all.”

“Yeah. What were you expecting?” Ari asked as well, setting down a card.

Daren tilted his head, the three playing a game of Saboteur. Despite Grant helping him with the rules, he felt lost in this game, only earning a couple of gold nuggets even as the other two made more. He felt frustrated, though he kept it contained and instead sighed.

“To be honest,” Daren answered, setting down an unhelpful path card. “I was expecting something like DnD.”

“Fair point. I still feel burned out from my last attempt at playing it,” Grant said, setting down a path card against one of the three blank spots. He flipped it over, showing a gold nugget and he grinned. “Looks like the saboteur failed again!”

Daren sighed and flipped over his character card. “That’s me again.”

“That’s a shame, buddy,” Ari said. “Though it looks like Grant wins again.”

Grant jumped with joy, and, at once, a pair of massive blue wings with white tips popped into existence, with Daren falling back. “Yay!”

“I didn’t detect any wings on a foxger!” Daren said, standing up before pulling out the long metallic device again, pointing it at Grant. “Are these natural for a foxger?”

“Oh, these? Nah,” Grant answered, blushing as Daren stepped all around Grant, the device buzzing even as its light glowed orange. “They’re a magical gift from a friend, though more like a former friend.” He sighed, his ears folded forward. “He disagrees with my beliefs, despite me trying to be nice. But, I kept them because of how cool they are.”

Daren nodded, putting the device back even as the wings disappeared. The wolf passed by, having a frown, even as Daren turned away from him, his left hand-paw tensing. He sat down, rubbing his left forearm as sweat formed on his forehead. Ari and Grant tilted their heads at him.

“Any reason why you’re wearing those wraps?” Ari asked, his tail wagging in anticipation.

Daren paused, shifting his eyes before sighing. “I-I can’t explain.”

Ari tilted his head even as Grant reached over and tugged the wrappings. Daren twitched but didn’t protest or even resist as Grant unraveled it, but he winced with each layer undone. Soon, the wrappings landed on the chair, exposing his forearm, with no injuries or even blemishes.

“Strange. There isn’t anything wrong with it,” Ari said even as Daren picked up the wrappings.

“Again, I can’t explain,” Daren said, his face becoming pale. “And, in any case, I need to head out. I don’t want to make Zelda too worried.”

“Um, OK,” Grant said, though one of his ears flattened back.

With surprising quickness, Daren stood up, leaving the pencil sword and pentomino shield behind as he rushed out the door, the bell ringing as he swung the door. Soon, he stood outside, panting with his left forearm flinching as he gritted his teeth. His tail puffed up along with his fur, and stress overwhelmed him.

Grant and Ari turned to each other and nodded, with Ari picking up his pencil sword and shield. Grant took the ones Daren held, the shield still bright red, and soon the two stepped out, the bell ringing again. Daren’s ears twitched, and when he spun around, Grant and Ari stood there, with Grant giving him the sword and shield.

Daren blinked, holding both sword and shield as Grant reached out behind himself. “Huh?”

“I want you to keep them,” Grant said before pulling out his pencil sword and pentomino shield with the shield light gray with a dark gray 1 and triangle. “While I’m not sure if we count as friends, I like you to have them in memory of me.”

Daren nodded, gripping both sword and shield tight. “Thanks.”

“Then let us mark this occasion!” Ari said, pointing his sword up.

Grant and Daren turned from the sword to each other before nodding, pressing their own pencil swords against it and each other, both saying, “All for foxger,”

“And boxes for all!” Ari concluded, having a cheeky grin.

Grant rolled his eyes as Daren lowered his sword, a sheave forming on his belt. He sheaved the sword, with it melting into mist into the belt even as he set his shield against his back, melting into steam as well. Both Grant and Ari waved at Daren, who waved back as he walked away, all smiling.

“Shall we start another game?” Ari asked, setting his hand-paw on Grant’s shoulder.

“Sure. Let’s get another one, though,” Grant replied, with both stepping back into the game shop.

As soon as Grant and Ari entered the shop, Daren’s grin faded, and he reapplied the wrappings onto his left forearm.