A/N: Incoming conclusion to Part 1 of Beyond Those Distant Hills! It's in Tramp POV, so come get it!
As the sun shines right onto my face, I let out a loud yawn and stand up, being careful not to jostle a sleeping Pidge.
We'll need to get going soon. If I want to give her a bit more time in town I'll have to wake her up.
Honestly, I'm a bit surprised she let me lay my head down on her. Heck, I don't even know why I felt the need to.
Okay, Tramp, you can think about it later. You've gotta wake her up now.
Several moments later, the two of us have started some playful banter, and after washing ourselves off, have started down the road to Francois Pastries.
Now I can think. So, what could this feeling be?
There's no way it's simply attraction. I've dealt with more than enough of that in my time to be sure.
It's something more. Something bigger.
Wait...could it be? I already suspected this before, but...
I've heard the other strays talking about me and my girlfriends. They say that I'm never serious with them, which, to be fair, is true. But they also say that one day, I'll meet someone different. Someone who gives me a wish to shelter and protect. Pigeon? She fits both of those terms.
And they say that under the spell of 'true love', I'll grow careless, picked up by the dog catchers, and it's curtains for me.
True love...
Is that really what this is?
I took her in...tricked her (which I feel guiltier than ever about)...and treated her far better than the others.
I can see no other explanation. I've been more honest about myself with her than anyone else, and I haven't ever felt such a strong bond with anyone else. In just a few days, she's become the person I trust most in the world.
As we arrive, I resolve to continue thinking it through later. When we receive our pastries, I accidentally let slip about the Junkyard Dogs and am forced to explain them. Unfortunately, that puts her into a rush and she wants to leave right away.
We don't get very far before being stopped.
The moment I notice something off, I turn towards the sound and sniff the air. This worries Pidge, so I quickly explain before facing myself back towards the one I know is coming.
"Come out, Buster! It's no use hiding."
As the group surrounds us, I converse with him, trying to keep the discussion away from what he knows about my past. Eventually, he leaves me no choice but to send Pigeon off ahead with the promise that I'll clarify on his words later. She still hesitates.
"I can handle myself. Now go!"
She listens and I look at Buster as another dog begins to chase her.
"Leave her out of this." I growl.
"Alright, fine." He chuckles. "For now, at least. Come back here! We can catch her at our leisure once we deal with the Tramp."
"Buster...are you sure this is what you want?" I grin. "Because this is your last chance to change your mind. If it is, I can't be blamed for what happens next."
"Oh, tryin' to sound tough, just like old times, eh, Tramp? Ain't gonna work."
In seconds, I'm on top of him. Holding onto him as best I can as he shakes around to get me off, I aim a bite right for his chest and hit my mark perfectly. He falls to the ground and I take the time to give him a scratch to keep him off me long enough to get away.
"H-how?" Buster sputters. "H-how did yo-?"
"I told you already. Not my fault. You made your choice, so accept the consequences."
I smirk at the other Junkyard Dogs. "You should probably go patch him up. You don't want to be down a leader, do you?"
They all grab him and haul him off.
I rush ahead, hoping that Pidge is okay. I don't have to go very far. I can hear them before I see them.
"...He be a criminal. They say 'he's giv'n the slip to evr'y dogcatcher' 'round town, and 'nev'r gets caught'! 'e deserves to be locked up, and he certainly don't deserve ye!"
Despite my complete, unfettered hatred for those two, I hang back. I want to see how she handles herself. If things look risky, I'll step in.
But then, they say something that makes my hatred for them stronger than ever.
"Yer sweet, smart, and funny. That mongrel will nev'r notice one o' those things!"
I prepare to do something due to her silence, before she bursts.
"What are you talking about!?" She barks at them. "You wouldn't know! Those exact words: 'sweet, smart, funny', are one of the first things he told me!"
"Aye, but-"
"No buts!"
"Miss Lady, we just don't want ya to get hurt. This...this strange devotion you have to that mongrel, it's not healthy." the old-looking bloodhound tells her. "Being that close to him will only hurt you in the long run. And I don't mean physically, I mean emotionally."
Okay, that's enough.
"Hey, fellas~!" I smile, walking up to them. Pidge looks up at me with relief. "How are you doing? Watcha talkin' about? Me? Oh, do go on."
I just need to maintain the pleasant facade. If I attack them, who knows what she'll do.
They don't say a word but - Jock, was it? - glares and growls.
"Oh, so you were finished. Allow me to retort. How many times have you saved her life?"
"Wh-what?" He gasps.
"How many times have you saved Pidge's life?" I smirk. "Pidge, why don't you tell them how many times I have."
"W-well, I'd say twice at this point."
"Twice. That's two for me. How many do you have? One? Three? Zero?"
"Whassit matter, mongrel?"
"Well, you see, Sandy," I chuckle as I hear the 'It's Jock!'. "I have another question. How many times did you help her when she got that muzzle stuck on her by Aunt Sally?"
"Sh-she got a muzzle!?"
"Oh, so you don't even know! So you accuse me of only being able to hurt her when I have done anything but. Overall, lately, all you've done is hurt her. Remember the railroad?"
"I-I..."
"Now, the two of us are going to take our leave now, right, Pidge? If you have anything left to say to them, do it now."
"Jock..." she murmurs. "Trusty... I'm sorry. But I don't think you'll be seeing me much anymore."
"But Miss Lady, why?"
"Not because I don't like you. Because I won't be here. Tramp and I are leaving town."
"H-huh?"
"I'll see you around, guys." She moves back to our path. "Come on, Tramp."
I follow.
The two of us look up at the stars from our spot in the fields.
"Tramp?" Pidge calls to me.
"Yeah? What's up, Pidge?"
"I...wanted to talk to you about something." She mutters.
"What is it?"
"Well...you see, ever since you saved me...I think...I love you."
My heart skips a few beats.
"H-huh?" I gasp.
I can't believe it. Why would I be so surprised if it wasn't true? I love her, too.
"Oh, no!" She exclaims. "Did I mess up our whole relationship? Everything!?"
"Relax, Pigeon." I calm her. "I love you, too."
"Then why did you gasp?"
"I was surprised...and happy."
"Oh. Well, we should probably get some rest, Mr. 'Surprised and Happy'."
"Shut up." I groan.
"That's not a very nice thing to say to your new girlfriend, is it?"
"Stop using that against me!" I complain, even though she won't know exactly why for a few days yet.
And as the stars grow brighter and brighter, the bond between the two of us has grown stronger than ever before.
Pidge's gentle snoring fills my hearing after a moment, and I grin.
This is what a dog's life can really be.
Part 1 End
A/N: And that's a wrap! I'll see y'all for Part 2 after a short break.