Wolf Cub

(Forgive me for having multiple PoV's in this chapter. The sequence should be Wolf-Will-Wolf-Will etc.)

Chapter 2 - The Plot

The city park was a good place to walk around. I had Leon drop me there. He had to go to work, as well as Panther, so it just left me alone with nothing to do. I sat at a bench in front of a large lake, wondering what my life would have been if I hadn't stopped becoming a mercenary.

I saw a kid and his parents enjoying their picnic. I had a thought - if I continued my life as a person who wondered in the dangerous frontiers of space, I would be risking my life. I might not be able to return back to my family breathing. I dreaded the thought of my son not having a father. It had occurred to me, and it even had occurred to Fox. I wanted my child to live a better life instead of the dangerous life of a risk-taker. I idea of my son not enjoying his life to the fullest would destroy me. That reason alone convinced me not to tell him about my past. Not about Star Fox. Not about anything about my conflicted past life.

I threw a stone at the lake. I wondered if my son, as well as Panther's, would be treated well in school.

Juan and I rushed into our classroom. We were quite excited! I wanted to make new friends and meet new people! "Over there!" Juan pointed out. "The one with the blue fox! I know him! His name is Marcus! He was a nice playmate back when papa would leave me for work to Mrs. McCloud's place!" Oh, he knew him? That's good!

I followed him and seated beside him. The blue fox was on his other side. I didn't know what to say to this Marcus fellow. I just looked at Juan, who seemed to be excited to introduce us to each other.

"Marcus!" he suddenly spoke out. "I want you to meet my friend! His name is Will!" He then looked at me. "Will, this is Marcus!"

"Hello, Will!" the fox greeted me. He was a nice guy after all, judging by the way he spoke. I couldn't wait to play with him!

"Hi, Marcus!" I greeted back. "We're lucky that we're classmates! Juan knows you a lot!"

"Yeah, we play a lot when Mr. Caroso leaves him to us before going to work," he quickly answered.

"Although I guess I won't be coming over next time," Juan told him. I could feel his disappointment from the way he talked. "Papa said his work ends earlier than our school time, so he will pick me up. He said that he won't be dropping me off to your place anymore."

"Aww... Well... we could ask our parents to take us to the park during weekends!" I told them. That idea just popped up to my head. I wanted to play with Marcus too! "I think they wouldn't mind, right?"

"Hey... Good idea!"

The teacher came in though. We had to stop talking. We were like little angels. She introduced herself, "Good morning, class! I am your teacher, Miss Alexandria." Ooh, that sounded like a nice name. Her voice was also sweet! "Now, now... Since it's your first time in school, I want you all to come forward and tell your name!" Oh! Oh! I couldn't wait for my turn!

Those at the rows in front of us did what she said, one by one. Lemme see... Rudy... Jack... Philip... Charlie... Sam... so many names to remember! I would just recall them once I get to play with them later at recess!

It was soon Marcus's turn. "My name is Marcus McCloud," he said while at the front, a bit shy. He then walked back to our table. My classmates made some sounds. I heard them say stuff like 'Oohs!' and 'Aahs!' Hmm... I didn't know why everybody was making that noise though. "Don't mind them, Will," he whispered at me.

"Well, that's because Marcus is the son of Fox McCloud!" Juan proclaimed as he stood up. Ooh... Fox McCloud!

"You mean Star Fox?! Cool!" I whispered back at Marcus. "You must be popular!"

"Well... You could say that," he replied with a rather... low tone? He didn't seem to like it. "We should listen to Juan." Yeah, I might as well not bother him about him.

"¡Hola! My name is Juan Esteban Caroso!" he introduced himself while grabbing a rose and bowing. He really liked to show off his flower... I wondered why. Some of my classmates laughed, but some made some whispering. I could hear them. When he returned, I told him about it. "Don't worry about it. You should go in front now."

"Oh... okay."

I pulled all of my courage within me. I told my dad before that I wouldn't be shy in front of many people. "My name is Will O'Donnell!" I proclaimed. I think I overdid it... I heard some of my classmates whispering again. Was it because I... was too overconfident? I walked back to my seat and asked the two, "Why were they whispering?"

"I dunno... but you really overdid it!" Juan laughed while gently hitting me at the back.

I glanced a bit at Marcus, who seemed like he wanted to say something. "Something the matter?"

"Oh... It's nothing!" he smiled back. I could swear that he wanted to tell me something, but I guess I'd bother him about it next time.

After some coloring activity, we had our recess break. The three of us were enjoying our food - Juan was eating a tuna sandwich that he was trying to show to me earlier, Marcus was enjoying a small apple pie, and I finished my baloney sandwich. We were at the bench at the playground.

"Let's play tag afterwards, okay!" I told them as I sipped on my juice.

We were suddenly approached by some stranger. He was a fox with black sunglasses and well... wearing mostly black. "Hello there, children."

"Umm... hello... mister," Marcus replied, with some nervous feeling in his voice. We were ready to sprint away from this stranger. He looked scary.

My cellphone rang. "Hello?"

"Wolf!" the other line shouted back with anxiousness. Panther? "Wolf! Hurry! Go to the school! Our kids!"

"What? What happened?" My heart suddenly beat faster.

"They were kidnapped!"

"What?! But how-"

"I don't know how it happened. Just get your butt here! Leon has already called your wife. She'll be heading there as well. I already left work."

"How did you know about this?" I asked again. I was already sprinting to the nearest bus station, with my legs ready to move.

"The news. The teacher contacted the police as soon as it happened, and the news showed it on the monitor."

"All right, I am on my way."

I hung up the cellphone and boarded the bus. As soon as I dropped the fare, I quickly sat on a seat. My heart was thumping. Not my son... No.

"Wolf?"

I looked to my seatmate. It was Fox.