Playing Poker

Already Off To A Bad Start...

  Storm and his friends were all seen sitting on their usual old, red couch watching television early in the morning after they had all
  had their breakfast. "What do you guys think we should do today?! We can't waste the new year away on the couch!!" he
  asked excitedly, darting his head left and right to look at his friends with a huge smile while his tail wagged behind him. The
  others really didn't know what to respond with this, but Cookies knew exactly what to do. And of course he merely just shrugged
  lazily and continued watching tv with his tired, crusty eyes while the others actually put effort into their thoughts. "I am not sure,
  Sniper" she stated genuinely as Storm was...still thinking...maybe a little too hard. "That's okay, Anastasia!" Sniper assured happily,
  closing his lids for a moment while Storm narrowed his eyes. "Hmmm...how about we go to the library?!" Storm asked with a
  happy smile. Sniper and Anastasia blinked twice as they stared at Storm "I've got my library card, don't worry" Storm bragged
  with a big grin and closed eyes. Sniper and Anastasia looked at one another while Sniper looked more...nervous than her blank,
  serious expression. "Uh-" suddenly, (and thankfully) the phone rang from the kitchen. Storm's brows and ears perked right up
  with his lips drawing back to boot "op- let me get that real quick" he grinned nervously before dashing off quickly. Sniper blinked
  twice sheepishly "...okay then" he stated quietly and slowly looked back over at the tv. Meanwhile, Storm was seen picking up
  the phone with a little twirl and pressing it up to his ear with closed eyes and a bright smile. "Hello,hello,hello" he asked
  joyfully. "Good mornin', Storm!!" the peppy, feminine and very familiar voice said. The sire's eyes went wide with his lips
  shaping into a dot "oh!" he blinked twice and smiled "good morning Daydream! I uh...didn't expect you to call this early." He
  chuckled and she'd laugh a little "oh you know me. Always wakin' up as soon as I have to raise the sun 'n all" she said with an
  amused tone that made Storm feel safe and warm inside. But her voice always had this effect on him in all honesty. "Yeah..." he said
  in a bit of a softer voice with a half chuckle at the end before relaxing and appreciating the fact that Daydream took the time
  out of her busy day to call him. "Anyways though-" this snapped Storm right out of it and made him blink twice with slightly wide
  eyes. "The reason I called you is because I have your first ever mission for you!" she said rather excitedly and made Storm blink
  twice yet again, along with feeling a little nervous. "Oh-...really?" he asked just a little quietly "yeah!" Storm gulped "go on..." he
  grinned nervously and listened more closely.

"Alright so there are these troublemakers in one of Crystal
  Caverns' casinos and they cheat, scam and are overall pretty violent down there..." Storm's ears were pinned back with
  widened eyes. "And the big problem is that there's, like, an entire gang of them too...and we don't want that. Even if it is some
  casino. But with that out of the way, definitely don't take any of your friends since Sniper is...y'know and Cookies is...also y'know.
  Same with Anastasia really..." Storm nodded a little as his face basically looked frozen besides some blinking. "And I know that
  you're not eighteen yet...but just let them know that you have my approval." Storm smiled a little and felt like he just got told he was
  the sheriff of Snowy. "That is if you're even up for the mission..." she said, basically queuing him to answer a somewhat subtle
  question. Storm blinked twice and took a moment to think about this and the paths it could take. "...Mmmh- sure! I mean, I've got
  five lives and i'm basically a demi-god" he somewhat joked but felt pretty nervous on the inside. Suddenly, he'd hear Daydream
  laugh energetically "that's the spirit, Storm!!!" she exclaimed excitedly and made Storm feel more confident and cause him to
  smile some more. "Thanks" he laughed a little "no problem! Take all the time you need! But the sooner you do it...the better." She
  informed with a smile in her voice, Storm nodded yet again. "I'll be on it, Daydream!" he stated confidently "alrighty!!!
  Toodaloooo!!-" suddenly, she hung up. Which queued the hero to place the phone onto it's base with a confident grin, determined,
  furrowed brows and puffed and perked up wings. Then he'd quickly run back into the living room and stand in front of
  everyone "guys. Sorry to say, but I have to go and do my first ever mission that Daydream asked me!!" he exclaimed with an excited
  confidence. Sniper grinned happily with his tail wagging behind him while the adults...well they just looked how they usually did.
  "Wow, really?!?! That's so awesome, Storm!!!" Sniper exclaimed happily and closed his lids for a second "I know right?!" Storm
  questioned excitedly. "But uhh..." he blinked twice and glanced to the side nervously while Sniper was just still so excited "...none of
  you can come..." he looked back at all of them collectively with a bit of awkwardness to his voice. Sniper blinked twice and paused
  for a moment "not s'prised" Cookies stated with heavy eyes as he was...still watching tv and looking past Storm rudely. "Oh..." Sniper
  went quiet for a moment and made Storm's grin turn a little awkward. Suddenly though; "that's okay!!! Just have fun and be
  safe for us!!" he exclaimed happily and made Storm smile confidently again while Anastasia nodded in agreement with
  the small fox.