A/N: Ok. If you're rereading this chapter as well, you'll notice it has changed entirely. This was because I felt that the story had jumped into the action too quickly without fleshing out the characters first. So, I went back and wrote a chapter based around Maruk and the Mudokons. So, hopefully it came out ok . Enjoy!
It had been a little under aweek since Maruk had joined up with the wandering Mudokons and he was still hesitant to talk to them much. After his run in with Stumps and his group they had chosen to take him with them, not wanting leave the poor Steef by himself. Attempts to coax the Steef to talk had been met with heavy silence or whimpering after which the group chose instead to let him talk in his own time. Finally, one night when the Mudokons were sheltered around their campfire, Maruk broke his silence.
"..Thank you…" Maruk mumbled through a mouthful of half-chewed fruit.
"Eh? Did ya say something little guy?" Stumps turns to stare curiously at him, unsure if he had heard him speak. Stumps was the unofficial leader of the group.
"Thank you, for helping me…" A small sob escaped his lips, a common occurrence during the previous week.
"Aw ain't nothing to it little guy, we was more than happy to help you out. Ain't that right guys?" He turns to the rest of the group for confirmation, receiving a round of agreements, albiet not all so honest.
"Hmmph I guess so.." Muttered the Mudokon Maruk had come to learn was named Serzbiz. He was the one who originally had been very adverse to taking him in. Everything was 'serious business' to him, according to Stumps.
"T-t-totally, fuzzy guy! N-n-nothin like new face!" Beamed Boots, a particularily large Mudokon with a more purple tinge to his skin, and numerous feathers on his head. He also, for an unknown reason to Maruk, wore a boot on his head as well.
"WATCHMEEATTHISROCK!" Shouted Supafast, an extremely over-energetic Modokun, before promptly shoving one into his mouth, receiving several exasperated looks from the group and one extremely confused look from Maruk, who had still not grown accustom to his antics. His face didn't change, even as he attempted to chew it.
Sliding up closer to Maruk, Stumps asked gently "So you wanna tell us about ya self little guy? Whats ya name?"
"Um…I'm M-ma
ruk..." Mumbled Maruk nervously.
"Ma-what?" said Stumps.
"Mar
uk…" He answered again.
"Malook?" Stumps tried again.
"No ya idiot he said Matuk." Said Serz.
"T-t-think he said Maruk, S-serz." Counters Boots, adjusting the boot adorning his head to stop it falling off.
"What'd ya say Boots?! Cause it sounded like ya were saying I was wrong!" Serz shouted at Boots.
"Calm d-down Serz, Ya know I only tryin to h-h-help." said Boots, his hands raised in surrender.
Ignoring the ensuing argument Stumps continued to gently question Maruk. "So, your name is Maruk huh? That's an interesting name."
"Uhuh. m-my mum sa-sa-" he began to sob, fresh tears beginning to appear in his eyes.
"Sh-sh-sh hey now little buddy it's alright, you've got us now. You know I never met my mother." Stumps tried to move the topic away from Maruk's past. It was obviously painful, something Stumps knew well.
Maruk's sobbing faltered for a moment, confusion replacing the tears. "R-really?"
Stumps next smile was a small one, a touch of sadness and loss behind it. "Yeah fuzzy dude. Ya see we Mudokons are born from a single mother. Our mother was Sam. Me, Serz, Boots and Supa are all brothers in that sense. But she was captured and enslaved, wadn't even allowed to hold us for long, and the whole Mudokon race was enslaved with her. That is until Abe came along…"
By that point, the rest of the group had stopped talking and began listening in; Even though they knew they story from experience.
Stumps then went on to detail the history of the Mudokons he had learnt after gaining his freedom, and the actions of their savior Abe. Maruk listened in wonder about the actions of this single Mudokon who stood up against everyone and triumphed. From escaping RuptureFarms to destroying Soulstorm Brewery Maruk held onto every word as Stumps had woven the tale of danger and perseverance.
Soon the others began to join in to, interjecting with points of alternate views that Stumps had forgotten or missed. Before he knew it, Maruk was smiling and laughing, eyes wide in wonder. Sadly the story soon wound down and Serz and Boots went off to rest while Supafast ran off to do who-knows-what.
Maruk was sitting with his legs curled up underneath him, arms wrapped around his chest in comfort or warmth. Unsure how to continue Stumps sat there and stared into the flames, idly scratching the stump of his missing finger. He had told Maruk he lost it to a Slig that was feeling merciful that day. Maruk didn't know what a Slig was, but it didn't seem nice.
"…Why did you help me?"
Stumps was startled by Maruk's question, shocked the child chose to speak first "What?"
"Why did you help me? I-I mean you di-didn't have too. Why?" He was obviously still scared, not willing to trust anyone completely yet.
Stumps smiled gently at Maruk. "We helped because we couldn't just leave you out there, you were hurt and scared. Anyone would have made the same decision."
"Not anyone…" Sorrow blanketed Maruk's face once more.
"Hey buddy, I won't push you to tell me what happened. That ain't something that should be forced, but I will let you know that as long as you're with us nothin will hurt you again, ok."
Maruk looked skeptical for a few seconds before hesitantly asking "Really?"
"Yeah bud, nothing. Us Mudokons, we know what its like to be the lowest of the low. We ain't going to stand by and let the same happen to others. Least me and the others ain't. Now, why don't ya come a little closer to the fire, ya lookin a bit cold."
Maruk shuffled closer to the fire, sighing as the warmth dispelled any lingering chill from the night air. Silence fell between the two again, before Stumps said, "You might want to get some rest. We's gotta head off early."
Maruk was startled by the words. "Huh. Oh...ok."
Curling up around himself, Maruk closed his eyes and focused on the warmth of the fire as it lulled him to sleep. Just before he slipped into his dreams, he heard "Night Maruk. Sweet dreams."