Two days later, we start to run low on food. We only have enough for one more meal. As soon as the kits finish their breakfast, I speak. "Rita, Lucas, stay here. I'm going to look for some food," I announce.
"Yes, mommy!" Rita and Lucas squeal. They are smiling at the prospect of food.
I smile to them. I take a empty sack and put it over my shoulders. Then, I climb down the tree and disappear into the forest.
I am climbing in the treetops, picking fresh fruit and putting it in the sack. I grab a vine and swing myself back down to the forest floor. I turn around, ready to head back to the tree. That's when I hear it. By it, I mean the earth-shattering roar that sounds from behind me.
I turn around, already feeling fear begin to course through me. There, I see a giant white dinosaur with red eyes. I watch as it lets out another deafening roar. Screaming, I run away as fast as my legs will carry me.
I'm running and swerving in between bushes and trees. I hear the monster's thundering footsteps as it chases me. My right hind paw catches on a tree root. I go flying. I try to get up. Pain shoots through my ankle. I yelp, falling back to the ground. I turn my head towards the beast. I watch fearfully as he approaches me.
Suddenly, I hear a battle cry. Out of nowhere, a male weasel with a green eye patch over his right eye leaps at the beast. He uses a vine and begins to tie that monster up, starting with his mouth. The male weasel trips the beast up. The beast falls, knocking himself out.
The weasel turns to me. "Come on! Thi' won' hold th' beast fer long!" He shouts.
The weasel tries to pull me along. The moment I put pressure on my right paw, I gasp and stumble. "I…I can't! My ankle's hurt…" I gasp.
The weasel puts my arm over his shoulders. "Lean on me," he says. I comply. The weasel takes me off, deeper into the forest.
When we finally get a fair distance away from the beast, the weasel turns to face me. "My name's Buck. I's short fer Buckminster. Wot's yer name an' wot are ya doin' 'ere?" He asks.
"My name is Sophie. As to why I'm here, I'd rather not say. It doesn't really matter, though. I have three kits that I have to get back to," I finish explaining.
Buck's eye widens at the mention of my kits. "Ya 'ave kits? Why would ya bring 'em 'ere?" Buck asks.
"I want to keep them safe. There is danger for us back in the world above. We only just escaped that danger. Now, I have to get back to my kits. I lost my sack of food when that beast chased me!" I growl, annoyed.
Buck looks thoughtful. "Wait here," he says. Buck darts off into the forest.
He returns a few minutes later. I am surprised to see that he has the sack of food slung over his shoulder. He hands it to me. "Thank you!" I smile. I'm grateful to Buck for him getting the food back.
"You're welcome, Sophie. Hey. I'll 'elp ya ge' back ta yer kits," Buck offers. He helps me up. Together, we begin heading towards the tree.
We reach the tree in just under an hour. I can hear my two older kits playing inside. I turn my head to look over towards Buck. "Would you like to come in and meet my kits?" I ask.
Buck looks a little surprised. "Um…sure…" Buck answers.
I smile. "Wait here for a moment. I'll explain everything to my kits first," I continue. I manage to climb up the tree despite my sprained ankle.
When I enter, I see Rita and Lucas playing. Callie is asleep on her nest. Rita looks up first. "Mommy!" She squeals, before running up to me to hug me.
Lucas also comes to hug me. "You're back, mommy!" He squeals.
"Yes. I'm back. I brought the food. I also brought a new friend," I announce.
"Who?" Rita and Lucas ask.
"Alright, Buck! Come on in!" I call down.
A moment later, Buck's head appears in the entrance to our home. "'ello, everyone," he calls.
"Hi!" Rita and Lucas wave.
"Kits, this is Buck. We met when I was gathering the food. A dinosaur chased me. I tripped and he almost got me. Buck saved me," I explain to my kits.
"Really? Wait…you tripped?" Rita asks.
"Yes, as much as I hate to admit it. I sprained my ankle. Anyway…Buck, these are my kits, Rita and Lucas. As well as my youngest kit, Callie," I introduce my kits to Buck.
Buck looks at my kits. I can see a smile sneak onto his face. "Hey, kits," Buck greets them.
"Hi!" Rita and Lucas both greet Buck. Callie squeals.
I limp over to Callie. I pick her up, before limping back to Buck. "Say hi," I whisper to Callie using a baby talk tone.
Callie giggles and waves at Buck. Buck waves back. "Hi, Callie!" He says.
"How is it that you're so great with kits? Any younger siblings?" I ask.
"Um…yes. I had two younger sisters and a younger brother. Who was their father?" Buck asks.
I flinch. Looking over to Rita and Lucas, I can see tears fill their eyes. They hug me and begin sobbing. I hug them to me and stroke their heads in a soothing matter. After a few minutes, they calm down. Then, they go off to continue playing.
I look back to Buck. "We do not speak of their father. He is very much alive, but we can't be around him after all that he has done," I explain. There are, of course, things that I'm keeping out of my explanation. I just don't want anyone to know right now.
"Oh…'m sorry I mentioned 'im…" Buck looks down with a guilty look on his face.
"Don't worry about it. You weren't to know that he's a sore subject for us. Maybe someday, I'll tell you about him. Just…not yet," I reply.
Buck nods his head. "I understand," he says.
I smile. "Thank you, Buck. Now, would you like to stay for dinner? I should have it ready shortly," I offer.
Buck looks surprised at my invitation. "Sure…thanks…" He accepts.
"You're welcome. Rita! Lucas! Would you please set the table?" I ask, referring to the piece of wood in the middle that we are using for a table.
"Yes, mommy!" Rita and Lucas reply. They go to do as I asked while I prepare the food. I set the food on the table. Buck, my kits, and I sit down to eat.
I watch as Rita and Lucas begin to fight over a peach. "Kits! Behave!" I scold them.
"Sorry, mommy," Rita and Lucas mumble. They begin to eat much more calmly.
Buck turns to me. "You're a good mothah," he says.
"Oh! Thank you," I reply.
"Ya kno', if ya wan', I c'n stick around fer a while ta 'elp ya an' protect ya from th' dinosaurs," Buck offers.
My eyes widen with surprise. "Well, if you want to. Sure," I accept Buck's offer.
Buck smiles a little. I can see him blush. The blush is gone, though, before I can be sure that it was even there. "Alright. Then…whe-ah should I sleep?" Buck asks. I can tell that he's nervous.
"Well, you can sleep over there," I say, pointing to a spot that's cleared of everything. "I'll get some good bedding materials for you." I offer.
"No. I'll do 't. Yer ankle is still injured. I'll be right back," Buck speaks up. He darts out of the tree.
Buck returns a short while later with his arms full of bedding. He builds his nest on the space that I had indicated. Rita and Lucas go over to him. "What are you doing?" Rita asks.
"Well, yer mothah is letting me stay 'ere fer a while ta 'elp against th' dinosaurs. Right now, 'm building my nest," Buck answers with a smile.
Rita and Lucas cheer. They go over to me and hug me. I hug them back. I look outside. It's getting dark. "Alright, kits! It's time for bed!" I announce.
"But mommy, we're not tired!" Rita argues, before breaking off with a yawn.
"You were saying?" I ask, laughing at Rita's pout. I herd them over to their nests. I tuck them both in. "Now, get some sleep," I smile. I kiss them both good night. I watch as Rita and Lucas fall asleep. I look to see that Callie had already fallen asleep. I pick her up and tuck her into her nest.
I look up, seeing Buck sitting at the table. I get up and sit next to him. "So…how are you doing?" I ask.
"'m fine. Um…we should also sleep…" Buck suggests.
"Oh…okay. Good night, Buck," I call softly before going to lay down on my own nest.
"Good night, Sophie," Buck replies. He lays down on his nest. I can hear his breathing even out as he falls asleep.
I lay awake for a little while, just thinking. I think about my ex-mate. I think about everything that he has done to all of us. I also think about Buck. I wonder about things. At the forefront of my mind is one question: How did Buck come to be in this world of dinosaurs in the first place?