Toon It Up: Furry Up for the Beach (Preview) (Patreon)

I drove all the way here… Vivan stopped in her tracks and turned, inching back to the bridge. I… I should try… She trembled. Maybe… maybe just watch a little bit…

It wasn't much of a watch given the distance between her and the people down at the beach. It looked like everyone was in fursuits. It seemed like something that would be a pain to get the sand out of or to wear in the hot sun, but what did she know? She never had one before.

The thought made her glummer. I don't really belong. I don't even have a fursuit. Vivian sighed. Maybe if I was wearing one, no one could see me. That could better…

She shook her head. There was no point in moping around. She should just head home and stop feeling sorry for herself. She at least showed up and that was better than what she thought she could muster.

“Hey there! Just gonna leave without popping in?”

Vivian turned, suddenly finding herself confronted by a white wolf. The wolf towered over her, sporting dazzling blue hair. She had on a large t-shirt stretched over fairly sizable breasts. There was a badge attached to its collar that read, “Emmi”.

The sight of her was… strange. She had to be wearing a fursuit. Her fur and hair looked unreal and artificial with the way the sun shined on it. However, the blinking of the eyes and the way the mouth moved said something differently. Something about it just wasn't right.

 It left her speechless.

“So, taking off?” The wolf spoke again, snapping Vivian back to reality.

“Oh!” Of course, the wolf is probably a p-part of the group that set this up. Vivian cleared her throat. “I… I probably am.” She looked down at her feet. “I-I don't feel right being here, joining you…”

“Oh, nonsense!” Emmi waved her paw dismissively. “This party is super welcoming! There's nothing to be scared of!”

“…I… I'm not… er…” Vivian struggled to respond, but the words wouldn't come to her.

“Hmm… you did come all this way,” Emmi murmured to herself, scratching her chin. “Be a shame to leave.” Her ears twitched, her voice lifting. “Oh! You should at least take this for all your troubles!”

The furry reached behind her back and pulled out a lanyard with a white ID badge attached. Where was she keeping that? The wolf handed it to the shy girl.

The badge read “Fuzzball Beach Party 2024” at the very top of it. Right below it was the phrase, “Hi, I'm…” with space below for a name and a picture. “It's all yours!” Emmi cooed, handing her a marker too, “Just put your name or, better yet, your fursona's name at the top. Helps make you feel like you were a part of things.”

“Oh… thank you.” Vivian did come all that way. Even if her anxiety was going to get the best of her, she could at least get the lanyard. Maybe she could use it as motivation to step up next time there was a nearby party.

For now, she wrote the name of her fursona, Vivi, at the top. She slipped the lanyard over her head, adjusting it carefully around her neck. “Thank you, Emmi.” Vivian gave the wolf a polite nod. “I'll… I'll try next time! I will-”

The words evaporated from her. Her fingers felt tingly and then warm, a strange sensation spreading up and across her form. She tried to say or comment on it, but she couldn't muster anything up.

SNAP/SNAP! All at once, the bands holding her twin ponytails broke. Her hair fell to her shoulders, bouncing a little before tumbling further.