A Prey Among Predators

The following morning, the locker room is filled with the Brave chattering to each other as usual. Along with the talking are the ripping and fluttering sounds of the equipment being put on.

Nolan emerges from the opening and peers ahead. His eyes land across the room on his spot on the bench. Brett is sitting in his usual spot; next to him is Carter’s spot, which is empty.

With subtle confusion, Nolan wades through the scattered equipment and opened bags and settles down in his spot. He gazes around the lively room, searching for his friend. With a sigh, he leans over to his bag and unzips it.

“Hey, Patty.”

Nolan perks up and turns his head to the right.

Brett is gazing down at him with a roll of sock tape in his hand. “Where’s Hartsy?”

“Uh…” He flicks his eyes around, then reverts them back to him. “I don’t know.”

“Huh.” Brett looks out at the room. “I thought he would be with you…” He turns back to him with suspicion. “...since he’s always with you.”

Nolan faces his hockey bag and pulls out his jock, hockey pants, and skates. “No, we haven’t seen each other at all today.” He then pauses at a realization, his shin pads in his hands.

Nolan drops them and straightens up to gaze at Brett. “He’s not here yet?”

Brett tosses his roll of sock tape between his hands. “No. He’s usually comes late though. Y’know—” He halts his tossing. “—lumbering bear.

Nolan lets out a giggle.

Brett turns away and leans over to begin wrapping the sock tape around his socks. Nolan stands up and pulls down his sweatpants, revealing the compression shorts he is wearing. He instantly freezes as a sensation of one’s presence slips over him; his ears face straight ahead of him.

He manages to flick his eyes up at the owner of the presence.

Clayton looms above him in his full hockey equipment. His narrowed eyes burn behind his visor.

“Where’s the bear?” he snaps.

Nolan remains frozen.

Brett rips the roll from the extended sock tape and straightens up to gaze at the coach. “He said he hasn’t seen him yet.”

Clayton purses his lips, scrutinizing Nolan then Carter’s spot. “Mmm, ‘kay. He better be here in five minutes.”

He then whirls around on his skates’ blades, his bushy tail brushing against Nolan’s bare thighs, and stomps across the room. He disappears through the opening.

Nolan keeps his still wide eyes ahead of the room. His position is immobilized.

Brett shoots him a confused look. "You...good, Pat?” His eyes then capture Nolan’s tail displaying pure fluffy whiteness, just like a cotton ball. “Dang, that’s a fluffy tail,” he murmurs.

Nolan snaps his head down. “Uh, yeah, Coach just scared me there for a moment.” He then sits back down and kicks off the rest of his sweatpants.

Brett chuckles. “I don’t blame you. He scares me too sometimes.”

He glares at him.

“In a different way,” he clears up.

Nolan then turns away and leans back over for his equipment.

Notes