Part four of my summer story, Failte Baile, is here for you! I do hope you enjoy this story series, and if you have questions about the way Tyra and Ciaran Campbell [Zeb's aunt and uncle] speak, feel free to message me about it! I tried to keep the dialect as close to redneck Scottish as possible, while still explaining what it meant. I don't know if I did a very good job, though. Either way, enjoy!
Please leave a review, and thank you for reading!
Part Four - Wicked Weather
Méngméng, who had started Merida in a trot, had quickly turned it into a gallop as tears streamed down her face. Above her, the skies were clouding over, becoming darker with time. Zeb's words echoed throughout her mind, breaking her heart all over again.
She wanted to get away. So far away. She wanted to go home. To forget. To hurt. Gods, how she wanted to hurt!
Blinded by her needs, she dropped the reins and dug her claws into her arms, drawing blood after a few strokes. Beautiful, warm crimson liquid staining her dress, turning it from a lovely green to a burgundy.
Merida, having been given sudden free rein, walked calmly through the trees. She kept a safe pace up until a loud crash of thunder panicked the older mare and caused her to rear up and neigh loudly in a panic.
Méngméng let out a shriek as she fumbled for the reins, but ultimately failed. She was just starting to slide off the back when Merida started galloping wildly through the trees. All it took was one high leap over a fallen tree near a small cliff by the river for Méngméng to fall off into the water, being pulled swiftly away.
.~*~.
Zeb rode through the trees, following her scent as far as he could before the storm broke. When a loud clap of thunder sounded, he hurriedly gripped the reins to keep Beau under control. Thankfully, he was easier to manage than Merida was in a storm. "Easy, boy. Good boy," he praised gently, patting the Clydesdale's neck and looking around.
"I hope she's okay," he murmured, hoping she had made it back to his relatives' cottage. He debated for a bit on whether or not he should go back and get Ted and Jade to lead them home before the weather got worse. After all, Méngméng had had an early enough start that she could be back home, right? Jade was always telling him to think positive!
He turned around and began trotting back to the lake, just to make sure Ted and Jade weren't stupid enough to stay in the water.
Thankfully, he found them out of the water and under an old shed with the horses, with Jade soothing both beasts as they were spooked from the thunder. "Shh, it's okay."
Zeb rode up and got down, bringing Beau under the shed as well, making it even more cramped. "Good, you guys got out of the storm."
"Of course we did. We're not stupid, you know," Ted grumbled. "Where's Méngméng?"
"Couldn't find her. I'm hoping she just went straight back home. That's where her scent was leading."
"I wonder why she bolted," Jade mused.
He shrugged and sighed. "I just hope she's okay, ya know?"
She nodded. "Once the storm breaks, we should head home. I dare not get on these guys while it's thundering like this. They don't like it," the black she-bear responded.
Zeb nodded. "As soon as it lets up or we see an opening, we make a break for it."
Jade studied his downcast expression. "I'm sorry, Zeb. I know you want to get home and see what happened."
"It's fine," he lied. "She's a big girl and can take care of herself." He started laughing a bit. "Did I ever tell you how when she was thirteen she took down a group of attempted kidnappers by herself?" At Jade's shaking head, Zeb laughed a bit more and began to tell the story. "And Henry, oh my gods, he had his gun all set and when he saw them on the ground, he just... the look on his face!"
Jade snorted. "I bet it was hilarious. So, she's actually tough, huh?"
"Yeah. She knows kung fu, and she's very strong, but doesn't show it. Anyway, here was Henry, a trained military guy, and he was just flabbergasted!"
"Where was I for all this?" Ted implored, confused.
"I think you went to the bar, but I was too young to go at the time."
"Thought you told me you didn't drink, Ted," Jade wondered, looking over at her fiancé.
"I was young and stupid," he muttered. "Hanging out with the fans sometimes after concerts."
She smiled. "I'm teasing, Teddy. I didn't even know you back then."
"Yeah, true." He shook his head.
Zeb laughed. "Ah, well. Just one of the stories. Thought it might pass the time, and it would seem it has. Ready to mount up? And I don't mean on each other."
Ted nodded. "Oi!"
"Hey, Zeb, tell me about a hippie Ted while we ride back, okay?" She led her horse out of the shed and climbed up.
"I was not a hippie!" Ted growled, getting on his as well, his horse snorting at him. "Shush, you."
The striped auburn bear shook his head and mounted up on Beau as well. "Calm down and let's get going before that other storm back there gets us. It looks like it stole the strength of ours. It appears to be a doozy. We're going to need to help my aunt and uncle batten down the hatches. No stopping unless one of us gets stuck. Don't travel in a single line, but next to each other, that way we're not wearing the road down, though it shouldn't be too muddy." Zeb turned Beau around and took the lead, and they formed a triangle, those bears, riding back to the cottage while Zeb told a half-hearted story of Ted trying an afro-look.
Thankfully, they made it back just before the new and bigger storm broke, but were confused to find Merida in the stables with her saddle and harness still on.
Zeb got down and went to her side, soothing her. "Easy, girl... Easy... Did Méngméng forget how to untack you?" he questioned, confused and a bit annoyed at her for not doing her task. "Easy, I'll get ya out of this."
Jade held onto her horse's reins as she climbed down. "I love this horse. I'd love to buy you. You're so sweet and pretty." She rubbed the spooked horse's nose. "What a good boy. Shh..."
Zeb looked over at her, amused as he finished removing the tackle. "You may be able to. The reason my uncle was able to rent them was because they would soon be going to the auction."
Merida greeted Beau as Zeb got him free of his gear as well and started brushing them both.
Ted eyed Jade. "Well... There are some old stables at the Hall. If I remember right, Henry and Helen had a couple horses back in the day, too, but had to sell them because they needed the money. At least, I think that's what happened."
"They are not going back to that auction," Jade frowned. She knew what happened to a lot of horses at auction. "Teddy, don't let them go back. I want them. Please." She actually had tears in her eyes at the thought of the two beautiful brown Clydesdales being slaughtered.
He smiled a bit. "I won't. I'll go see the owner tomorrow and purchase them. But, how are we to get them home?"
"Oh, thank you, Ted! As for getting them home... Uh... I don't know." She frowned, looking at the ground a moment before she untacked her own horse, giving him a good rub down with a slicker brush. "I'm going to name you Budweiser."
Ted looked at her oddly. "After the beer company?"
"Fine, then. How about..." She looked him over, studying his shaggy mane. "Wookie?"
Zeb looked up. "Like Chewbacca? That's a good one."
Ted laughed a bit. "You two are such nerds."
"Shush, Ted. Wookie it is. Wait, no. Kashyyyk. Planet of the Wookies." Jade beamed with pride. "He looks like a Wookie after all." She looked over at Ted. "And you?"
"I was thinking Enterprise," he grinned, teasing.
"Hell no. You are not going to be a Trekkie, my sworn enemy!"
"Rawr. Fine. How about... Blaine?"
Zeb stiffened, and lowered his gaze for a few moments before he resumed his brushing.
"Kid?" Ted looked over at him oddly. "Is that okay?"
"Y-Yeah, it's fine, Ted. Anyway, there's an international horse transportation service," he responded. "They can ship your horses back safely."
"Oh, good," Jade said, ignoring the awkwardness. "Anyway..."
"Shall we head inside? I'm all done brushing Blaine." Ted furrowed his brow a little, feeling odd at the name. "Yeah. Blaine." He smiled a bit.
"Why not Thain, Ted?" Jade asked, looking over at him. "Then he's not named after a dead bear."
"Jade!"
"What? Oh." She looked over at Zeb, realizing she had accidentally upset him. "Zoober, I..."
"It's fine, Jade. Just... fine." The auburn bear was stiff with anger at the disrespect, but he also knew that Jade hadn't been thinking, either. "Ted, maybe you should name him Thain." He backed away from Beau and Merida, hanging up their gear, and walked out of the barn.
"Way to go," Ted grumbled, glaring at his fiancé. "But I will change the name to Thain instead."
"I didn't mean to upset him, Ted, or you. I wasn't thinking."
"I know you weren't, which is why I'm not holding this against you. Put your stuff up and come inside. I'm sure there are preparations we must do for the storm." He frowned. "Come on, let's head inside, okay? This storm could break at any time, and I want to know, like Zeb, why Méngméng didn't take off the tackle."
Jade nodded and put her horse away who nudged her arm as she walked away. Jade smiled and stepped back, giving him a little kiss on the snout, and he neighed happily. Jade then followed her boyfriend.
Zeb was talking to his Aunt and Uncle by the time they arrived, and he looked upset. "What do you mean she's not here?" he asked.
The fiery bears shook their heads. "Haven't seen her sin ye left, kiddo," Tyra answered.
Both Ted and Jade shared worried expressions as they hurried over.
"But... but Merida..." He looked at Ted and Jade a moment before bolting. He had to find her!
"Zeb! Don't be a fool!" Ted yelled. "It's about to rain hell on us!"
"I don't care! She's out there somewhere, and I gotta find her!"
"Let me go with you!" Jade called, attempting to go after him. After all, Méngméng was her friend, too. What if she was hurt?
"Noo hauld yer horses juist yin minute!" Ciaran argued, hurrying over with his wife. " None o' fowk gaithers oot in this waither! Keek at th' sky! Tis green! A'm needin' yer hulp in getting th' horses th' storm pasture, Alec!"
"But... But, uncle..." Zeb was pained.
Jade frowned and looked up. "Green sky? Storm pasture? This looks bad. Why a storm pasture?"
Zeb looked at her. "So they have the ability to run if they want, and not be trapped in their stalls where they can hurt themselves," he explained. "Uncle, I have to go find her! What if she's hurt?"
Ciaran frowned, glancing at his wife uncertainly.
"I can help get the horses to where they need to go," Jade interjected, knowing Zeb was going to go one way or another.
Ciaran nodded in agreement, letting his nephew go. He led Jade to the barn, where Zeb had gone, while Tyra asked for Ted's help in taking things to the storm shelter, such as blankets, water, food, and flashlights, among other necessities.
Zeb was in the barn, tacking up Beau and debating on whether or not to do the same with Merida, but decided against it, reminded of her fear of storm. He passed her lead to Jade and smiled. "Take her. I'll be back with Méngméng soon." He climbed in the saddle and looked over at his uncle. "I'll be fine, uncle. I have rope, and I know how to make a shelter if need be. We'll be back soon." He led his horse out of the barn, and off the property.
He reached the trees at the rain began to fall, and he was thankful he was wearing his brimmed hat as he looked around. Where could she have gone? Had she strayed from the path? Why had Merida come home alone? Had Méngméng fallen from Merida's back? What had happened?
He glanced up at the sky worried, and then looked back down at the ground. The hard rain earlier had washed away an all traces of what could have happened. He kept looking for any kind of sign that the rain might not have washed away.
Soon, he found a broken branch just off the path, and he moved closer, examining it. It was still green, so only recently broken, which mean she'd come this way, right? He looked in the direction of the break and found more broken sticks all over. "Hm..."
He followed the trail of broken pieces, wondering what had happened. He thought back to when Méngméng supposedly vanished, and the earlier storm. Had Merida panicked from the thunder?
"Méngméng?!" he called, surging forward near the cliff. Where could she be? What had happened? The moment he realized what happened was the moment he found part of her dress caught on a rock just above the rushing water. He got off of Beau and picked up the fabric, studying it closely. It hadn't gotten too wet, and her scent was still upon it. "No..." He stuffed the fabric in his pocket and looked around. He climbed back on Beau. "MÉNGMÉNG!" He leaned out over the water it was moving rather quickly and he pulled himself back and walked down the path in the direction the water was flowing.
Méngméng, meanwhile, was currently hanging onto a rock in the middle of the river, shivering frantically. The current was super strong, threatening to drag her under. She was positive she had her lungs almost filled to the brim with river water.
"MÉNGMÉNG!" He kept moving scanning the water for a body or some sort of sign.
Her ears perked a bit. Had she heard a voice? She wasn't sure. Was that a voice or just her imagination?
"MÉNGMÉNG! WHERE ARE YOU?"
She lifted her head, looking towards the shore. "Alec..." she breathed, staring at him. She was relieved, of course, but also upset about it.
He stopped dead in his tracks and stared out at her, feeling a pain on his paw from the bond mark. "MÉNGMÉNG!"
She didn't reply. She didn't know what to say to him. Why had he come looking for her? Would it be worth calling out to him? He might hurt her again! She didn't know what to do or say! She wanted out of the river, but at the same time, she wanted... well, she wasn't sure. Death? But not death?
He finally spotted her and climbed off to Beau, calmly getting the rope out and checking the lasso. He raised it above his head and began swinging it, building up moment. "Méngméng, I'm going to get you out."
She looked at her arms, which were shaking with the effort from holding on. She knew he didn't have time.
Zeb tried a few times to throw the rope, but he landed short every time, and he could see she was having trouble hanging on. He pulled it back and put it back in his saddle bag, and looked around. He tied Beau's lead to a branch, knowing he was calmer in a storm, and with how heavy it was raining, he didn't want his uncle's horse to vanish.
He walked up a bit and found a fallen tree stretched across a thinner part of the river. It looked steady enough. He climbed on top, hoping that he didn't screw up, and laid down, digging his claws into it as he reached an arm down. "Let go of the rock, Méngméng!"
She didn't have to; her arms gave up and she was swept down the waters.
He made a mad grab for her as she passed him, and he just barely managed to grab her slick fur, digging his claws into the flesh. He pulled her up carefully and onto the log. "Méngméng," he grunted, "remind me to thank your father for giving you that eating disorder that's made you so light.
She was shaking like a madman, and crying.
He sat up and pulled her close, holding her tightly. "Shh, shh..."
She wouldn't look at him.
He pulled away from her and looked at her. " What... what the heck happened?!" he shouted over a loud crack of thunder.
"Obviously, I fell in a river," she snarked, irritated. Who was he to act like he cared?
Zeb frowned. "Why did you leave? Wait, hold on. Let's get off this log." He carefully got up and led her off and back to Beau. "Why did you leave, Méngméng?"
"Because I'm just your big mistake," she hissed.
"What? Who said that?!" He looked at her, shocked.
"You." She said it so softly that her statement was almost lost by the thunder.
"I... I-I... I..." He frowned, thinking. "Wait... You heard me and Jade talking? I never said you were my big mistake. Méngméng, you... You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just wished the timing would have been better. You've never been a mistake. Not ever!" He thought about what to do next. What would Jade do? He frowned and thought for a moment, and suddenly leaned forwards, kissing her deeply.
She let out a surprised yelp and, upon acting on instinct, bit his lip.
His eyes widened. "Owowowowowowowowowowow!"
She released him and pulled away, panicking. She was not used to being kissed like that, and it had frightened her.
Zeb was examining his lip, seeing it was thankfully still attached to his face. "I'm so sorry. That was a little, uh, brazen." He frowned and looked at her. Thankfully, she had not gone too far away, as she was still holding her arms.
She was trying to not cry out in pain from where he was holding her, as the cuts were fresh and deep.
He didn't notice. "We need to get out of here the waters going to keep rising the longer we stay."
Méngméng looked away from him. "Doesn't matter. I'd rather it did and swept me away to be honest."
"Why?!" He wanted to freak out on her, but knew that wouldn't solve anything.
"Because I don't believe you at all! You can't say something like that and then take it back! It's not that simple!"
"You didn't listen to my whole conversation!"
"I didn't have to. I know how you feel, and I'm not amused. I'm not your plaything!" she snarled, trying to break free. "First you tell me that you're not sure that you want me, then you say that you do!"
"If you actually knew how I feel, you'd know that I said it was the best decision I ever made because I knew I love you, and I know I still do!"
"Then why say it was your worst?!"
"I said it could have been!"
"You said it was... I..." She didn't know what to think. She was so confused and conflicted! "I... You... Why... Why did you do it? Why did you make love to me all those years ago?"
"Because I loved you. I still love you. I'm in love with you. Damn the consequences of that love, Méngméng. I'd go to jail for you."
"Those are just words," she murmured, looking away, but his words had a bit of an impact.
He put his finger on her chin as lightning flashed overhead. "Just words? What have we but words? Hm? I've tried to show you, and you frickin bit me!"
"Kissing isn't everything," she grumbled, feeling awful about what she'd done.
"Well, what the heck do you want me to do? I don't know what you want! I can't tell you, I can't show you! What do I have to do to make you realize? Marry you?!"
"I don't even know what I want," she whispered. It was true. She wasn't sure what she wanted. She couldn't answer him.
"Well, I..." He frowned. "I..." Crap. All his steam had been deflated in a matter of words, and he was stuck on what to say next.
She lowered her gaze and sighed softly.
"Méngméng, can I... Will you let me kiss you?"
She blinked and eyed him in confusion. "Kiss me? Now?"
"Let me show you how much I love you, my pearl. Please."
Méngméng shook her head. "A kiss is fine, but anything more than that, we'll regret, Alec." She put a paw on his chest. "Let's wait. We're both not thinking clearly, our emotions are high..."
He nodded and offered her his paw. "Let's go home before we get swept away in the river or our troublesome emotions. Jade and Ted are waiting for us."
She silently took it, eyes sadden and lonely. She didn't know what to say. As he helped her up on Beau, she was confused as to why he wanted to walk, but realized it would be too much weight if they both were on the mighty stallion.
Zeb was silent as well as he led she-bear and horse back to the cottage in the storm.
As they reached the edge of the woods, Méngméng pulled back slightly on the reins and sighed. "Alec, I'm sorry."
"Sorry? For what?" He looked at her in confusion.
"For being a royal bitch."
"You? Never. That's Jade's thing." He smiled, brushing it off, reaching over to squeeze her knee through her torn gown.
She frowned a bit and murmured something in Chinese.
He just smiled. "Come on, let's get you out of those wet clothes."
"If I was Jade, I'd be taking that the wrong way," she murmured halfheartedly. "Unless you meant it to be." She sighed, unable to figure out what was wrong with herself. Why was she so depressed? Zeb had said it was just a misunderstanding, right? That he really did love her! So why did she feel like she didn't believe him?
"Ya know, she makes Ted act like he is twelve years younger than he really is," he mused. "Not sure if he's the perv or she is."
"Maybe they both are."
"You think?"
"Yup. Gotta be it," she murmured.
"You lived with Jade. Shared the same house. Ya had to of heard them at least once." He laughed, trying so hard to defuse the tension.
"I tried to be out of the house," she replied. "All it did was remind me of you."
Well, that backfired. "Oh," he said, frowning. He was completely at a loss of what to say. He had nothing.
"I... I don't want to go back."
"Then where do you want to go, my lady?"
'To the moon and back with you,' she said to herself. "Uh... Wherever you want to take me?"
He frowned, knowing it wasn't what she wanted to hear. "Well, to be honest, I'd like to take you home. Get you warmed up so you don't get sick."
She sighed, looked down, and nodded, her ears lowered. "Okay..."
"Besides, Mama Jade's worried about her cub. We don't want to keep her waitin'." He smiled a little, hoping that helped defuse the situation.
"Cub? What cub?" Méngméng gave him an odd look.
"You. It was a joke."
"Me?" There was a small smile on her face.
He grinned, seeing the smile. "Mhm. Jade loves you, too. Sometimes, I think too much."
She nodded a bit. "I know she does."
He kept her walking until they finally reached the barn, where they untacked Beau and sent him to the storm pasture, where he reunited with Merida and their unborn foal. After that, they made their way to the cottage, both soaked to the bone.
"There you are!" Jade shouted, dropping the box of supplies into Ted's arms and racing over to Méngméng, shoving Zeb to the side.
Méngméng stared, startled by Jade's appearance.
"Come on. Zoober, your uncle said we need to be down in the storm shelter ASAP."
"Well, Uncle Ciaran is usually on point about these things, so we should probably do as he says," Zeb replied, heading out. He didn't want to make things awkward with Méngméng. Well, MORE awkward.
Jade looked at her friend and pointed to the shelter. "After you."
Méngméng frowned, shaking. "I... am not really keen about being underground, Jade."
"I doubt we will be down there for long. I don't like it either," Jade mumbled. "But that's the safest place to be right now."
"Not for someone who was buried alive," Méngméng stated, walking past her to their room, hoping to find something warm to wear. That, and to wrap her arms, which she was sure were still bleeding.
"Hey, I'm claustrophobic, too, remember? It's no picnic for me, either." Jade followed her friend, just to make sure she didn't try to lock herself away.
Méngméng frowned, spotting her. Great. Now she was going to get yelled at. Hm... maybe she could grab some clothes and then bolt into the bathroom! So that's exactly what she did.
Jade growled darkly. "Mysty, so help me, I will drag you outta the bathroom by your damn hair if you don't get out of there!"
Méngméng ignored her as she got dressed and did up her arms. It was only then that she realized she had grabbed a tank top. She quietly cursed, knowing Jade would get suspicious if she put back on her torn dress. With a sigh, she opened the door, waiting for Jade to freak out at her.
Jade stood with her arms crossed, looking the she-panda up and down, her eyes focusing on the bandaged arms. "I'm going to pretend I don't see that, and chalk it up to you getting hurt verses you doing something stupid to yourself. I supposed you want to change your shirt?"
Méngméng stared at her in surprise. "I don't have anything else at the moment that won't get ruined in the rain. At least I have jeans, though."
"Mhm. Come on, let's go." She grabbed her by the paw and towed her away.
Méngméng was silent for a moment, looking out where she could see Zeb was helping Ted with the last of the things for the shelter. She looked up at the sky as the rain poured down, noticing the sickening green color. "Jade? Did Zeb really say I was a mistake?"
Jade blinked. "Zeb? Oh, now I know it's serious, considering you usually only call him Alec. No, he never said that. He's totally head over heels in love with you."
"Promise?"
"I promise, you goose." Jade made her go down into the storm shelter first when they reached it.
Méngméng frowned, but she knew she was in the wrong about what she had overheard. Had she blown it big time? How could she ever expect him to love her when she couldn't even trust her own heart?
Jade gave her a slight push through the doorway, and it was a good thing she did, as the wind suddenly picked up again.
The silver panda stumbled down the stairs with a startled yelp, crashing headfirst into Zeb's crotch.
Ted laughed. "Nice one, grace," he joked.
Méngméng's ears flattened as she backed away from the startled auburn bear and move into a lone corner.
Jade growled at him. "Theodor, be nice. It was my fault." Jade made sure to secure the door like she had been shown. "Do these kinds of storms happen often?"
Ciaran shook his head while Tyra explained that it had been years since they'd last gotten such a bad storm.
"Oh, lucky us." Jade sighed as she sat down next to Ted.
"This is all your fault, Jade," Zeb said, looking at her.
"Excuse me?!"
Ted shook his head at the shenanigans.
"Yeah. If you'd stop being so ragey and dragon-y, and messing with the weather with your hot temper, things wouldn't be this bad," Zeb tried, knowing it was a bad joke.
"You're dumb," she snorted, rolling her eyes and sighing.
Ted shook his head. "Whatever the reason for the weather, it's no one's fault. Anyway, let's, uh... Hm. What should we do?"
Tyra looked around the assembled group, focusing on Méngméng alone in her corner.
Jade shrugged and shut her eyes. "Not much to do but wait out the storm."
Zeb took glanced over at Méngméng and frowned. He shifted over to her a little bit. "Méngméng? Are you okay?" She didn't answer him, though.
"Weel, how come nae uise this opportunity tae git tae ken ilk ither a bawherr better?" Ciaran suggested over Zeb's soft talk.
"That's a thought. Who wants to go first?" Ted looked at everybody. "Uh... I volunteer Jade!"
"What? Why me?" Jade's eyes popped open. "My story is boring."
"B-Because, uh..." Ted frowned. The only story he hadn't shared with Zeb or anyone other than Jade was the story of Zeke, and he felt that right now was not the best time.
Jade thought. "Well... Where should I start?"
"Wherever yi'll waant, if yer comfy wi' it," Tyra replied. "Ye dinnae hae tae if ye dae nae wish tae."
The black she-bear thought for a moment. "Wel, I come from a military family, and have lived in several places around the world until my father finally settled in Colorado."
Ted leaned back, listening.
She went on and on about her childhood, her brother, her father, about her mother dying while giving birth and how that was one of her fears and why she was a little scared of ever being pregnant.
Ted opened his eyes at that and stared at her, not sure what to say or think.
Tyra wished she could offer some words of wisdom, but only having miscarriages, she wasn't sure what to say to the younger bear.
Then Jade told them a little about collage, her career, how she ended up in Tennessee, followed by how her life had been changed with the arrival of Tasha and James in Tennessee as well, and her getting to spend more time with Jewel.
Ted smiled at that.
She spoke of the day she first met Beary. How she had made Jewel cry that day, and Beary had said she was mean. She went on and on about all the crazy things they did together, and sighed when she spoke of how that now Trixie and Tennessee were in the picture, she knew those things wouldn't happen again because she was well aware that Tennessee didn't like her.
"They're just protective, Jade," Ted argued, feeling like they'd had the argument before. "You know he likes you. He's just... upset about the timing."
"I know, but he won't let those trips happen again, so hush."
He rolled his eyes, knowing she was wrong. Those two just needed to get to know each other better.
She continued her tale of little things that had happened with the cubs, and how they had once discovered that Jade had a secret crush on a certain lead singer, and would always tease her about it.
Ted glanced at her, greatly amused.
She smiled a little and then started laughing. "Guess they were right."
"Of course they were. They are... are and were very smart cubs."
She frowned, her bit of joy shattered. "Yeah... Jewel's not the same as she was, and Beary..." She sighed.
Tyra and Ciaran glanced at each other worriedly. What had happened to these cubs that seemed to cause them so much pain?
Ted shook his head. "Uh... Well, I'm an open book. For the most part. Like everyone, I have my own secrets." He frowned. What was he to say now? "I, uh..."
Jade reached over and grabbed his paw, wondering if he would actually tell the tale or not. Finally, after several minutes of silence went by, she spoke again. "When do you think this storm's going to be over?"
"Solid tae say," Ciaran responded. "We cannae afford a waither tranny, sae ah'ament tae sure. Bit th' win` is aye whistling, 'n' ah kin hear th' smirr, sae ah think we're in th' stairt o' it noo. "
Jade sighed, not sure of what he said, but it didn't sound good. She looked over at her friend, who was huddled in the corner.
Méngméng was rocking back and forth, fur puffed up, though still wet. She was visibly shivering, but if it was from the cold or being trapped underground, no one quite knew.
"Is she a' richt?" Tyra questioned, worried.
Jade frowned. " probally not."
"Whit's wrong wi' her?"
"Claustrophobic," Zeb cut in quickly. "Severely.
"Och, ah see. Howfur does she ordinarily deal wi' it?"
Ted frowned and shrugged while Jade and Zeb both shared worried looks.
"Does she hae a security blanket or hing or something?" Ciaran questioned curiously.
Zeb frowned thinking for a moment and then groaned. How could he have been so stupid as to forget something like that?
"Whit is it, Alec?" Tyra questioned.
Zeb ignored her and went over to the door, listening carefully, trying to figure out just how bad the storm was. Judging that he had enough time, he opened it. "I'll be back."
Ted's eyes widened. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He was too late. Zeb was already gone, having left his hat behind.
Jade just stared. "That... is so something I would do."
"What, be an idiot?" Ted growled.
"Hey. I'm always the hero here!" She elbowed him.
"He shouldn't have gone out there, Jade, and you know it."
"Oh I know." Jade frowned. She could hear the wind picking up and starting to hear the trees crack and break as Zeb had left the door wide open.
Ted's eyes widened in horror as he jumped up, trying to get to the door. He had to find him and bring him back!
"THEODORE, DON'T BE STUPID!" Jade shrieked.
"I can't leave him out there, Jade! He's my responsibility!" Ted stressed, looking out at the raging storm anxiously.
She covered her eyes. "I can't watch you do something this incredibly stupid."
Ted grinned at her and nodded, getting ready to go out, when he was bowled over by a silver and black blur.
Jade looked up, startled. "Did she just...?"
Ted nodded as he looked up. "Yup. She did."
Tyra and Ciaran shared a glance.
"Well... now what do we do?" Jade looked at her fiancé.
"Pray?" Ted suggested, shutting the door. "Nothing else we can do."
Jade frowned. "You know how hard this is for me to not go after the both of them right?"
"Yes, I'm well aware. We can only hope that they'll be fine."
Tyra sighed and shook her head. "Alec kin be a gowk at times, bit he's smart. He'll keep her safe."
"He better." Jade looked at Ted as he sat back down next to her.