The next chapter is here! I really like how this one ends ;) Enjoy everyone!
Shadow, Rouge, Keelie, Gadget, Jay, and Tempest, were on their way to do some rebuilding. The rest of the resistance was too, but they were on other teams of six. Ace, Kinnley, and Fortune stayed behind with Vanilla.
Tempest took Jay's hand as they trekked through the rocky terrain. She felt a bit better after talking to Rouge last week, but it still hurt.
It wasn't long until they reached the place where they were going to be working. It was an orphanage.
The lady who ran the place was there, along with all the children. The house had pretty much been leveled. A few skeletal pieces were there, but basically the children had no roof to sleep under.
They wasted no time and got to work.
Later on they stopped for lunch. Jay stretched and ran a hand through his short mohawk. He was having a little trouble being around all the children, it reminded him of the pup he and Tempest lost. It didn't seem to bother her though.
"You ok love?" She asked taking his arm. Concern shone in her eyes.
"I'm fine. I'm going to go down to the river. I need a drink." She nodded and he walked down to the water.
He drank a bit and splashed some water across his face. A heavy sigh left him as he stared at his reflection.
"What are you doing?"
He turned quickly towards the voice, his hand on his dagger. He stopped when he saw a young hedgehog girl standing there staring at him. Her fur and quills were yellow, and she was wearing a tattered blue dress. Her quills reached the middle of her back.
The girl blinked, staring up at him with big blue eyes. She was obviously waiting for his answer.
Jay placed the blade back in its holder on his belt. "I was getting a drink."
"Oh." A pause. "My name's Maybree. What's yours?"
"Jay."
"Like the letter?"
He raised his brow, "yeah."
"Oh." She padded across the soft riverbank and sat beside him. "This is my favorite place," she said after a while, "it reminds me of mama." Maybree played with the hem of her dress, "I wish she was still here." Her deep blue eyes looked up at him, "she died during the war."
Jay tried to swallow the lump in his throat. So many lost their lives during the war, and his brother caused it.
"You seem sad," Maybree observed, "can I help?"
A soft smile brushed his lips. "I don't think so Maybree, but thanks for the offer." He reached over and ruffled her quills.
She giggled and swatted his hand away. She liked this jackal. He was nice.
"Maybree!" A woman's voice yelled, "Maybree!" The woman who oversaw the orphanage came rushing into the clearing. "There you are. I've been so worried." The cat woman hugged her to her chest. "You mustn't run off like that."
"It's ok. I wasn't by myself, Jay was with me."
The cat sighed and shook her head. Maybree was always a handful. "Let's go back to the house, it's lunchtime."
"Ok." Maybree got to her feet. Then she took Jay's hand, "come eat with us," she demanded, not asked. He just smiled and followed her.
"Can I ride on your shoulders?" Maybree asked the jackal as they walked through the woods.
"Maybree," the cat scolded lightly, "you can't ask things like that."
She put her hands on her hips, "he looks strong enough to hold me. Aren't you Jay?" She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
A smirk slid on his muzzle and he scooped her up. The hedgehog girl squealed happily as he set her on his shoulders. "Hold on tight," he said.
She grabbed his ears to keep from falling off. Then they walked back to the house.
Jay smiled to himself as Maybree babbled away. She was definitely a spirited girl. They were seated on a fallen tree.
Tempest came up with a couple sandwiches and bottles of water. "Hungry babe?" She asked plopping down beside him.
Maybree smiled at her, "I am."
Tempest was surprised to see her. "Oh," she said. The female jackal handed her a sandwich, "well, here you go."
"Thank you," the hedgehog girl grinned. Then she took a bite.
Tempest gave Jay a questioning look. He just shrugged with a smile. It was obvious that he'd already grown attached to this little girl.
After the day was over, Maybree hugged Jay's legs, "come visit again soon Jay."
Emotion welled in Jay's chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Really not since the war. He smiled and patted her head. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon."
She grinned, "you too Tempest." Then she went back over to her friends.
"Maybree really has taken a shine to the two of you," the owner of the orphanage said, "she usually avoids adults." Then she handed Jay a paper, "Maybree really needs a family. Fill out this adoption form. If you're interested." Then the cat went back over to the children.
Tempest and Jay looked at each other. This was a big decision, they would have to talk about it.
The group walked back to the base. Tempest took Jay's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Jay's gold eyes looked at her fondly.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked quietly.
He exhaled sharply through his nose. "A lot of stuff actually."
"You can talk to me about it you know. We're a team." She linked her arm through his.
He smiled. "I'm glad it's you I'm with."
She grinned, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. The two of them leaned against each other as they walked.
"I'm really sorry Tempest," he said after a while.
She lifted her head off his head, "for what?"
"That I haven't given you pups. I know how much you want that, I do too, and I haven't given that to you."
She could see the burden he'd put on himself was really weighing him down. Tempest bit her lip, slightly kicking herself for not seeing it sooner. Rouge was right though, you can't dwell on the past, you have to move on. "Honey," she said while squeezing his hand, "it's not your fault, and I've never blamed you for it." Her arm moved around his waist, "I love you, not what you can or can't give me."
He smiled as her fingers played with the fur on his side. "So what did you think of Maybree?"
"She's a sweet girl," she responded, "a lot of fun." Tempest looked up at his face, she knew he really liked Maybree. "What are you thinking?"
"Do you think they would approve us to adopt her?" Jay asked while unfolding the paper and looking at it.
"I don't know Jay, but we could see."
He grinned, and kissed her on the mouth.
That night, Lance, Pierce, and Gaia were playing cards. Ace was sitting at the table with him. They'd dealt him in, but he was not the best player.
The pup was content with his snacks, and just spending time with his family.
Lance's eyes swept over his cards. A smirk formed on his lips and he slapped his hand on the table, "read em and weep."
Gaia groaned and tossed her head back, while Pierce just chuckled. "Good play Lance."
The jackal with the bandana around his neck grinned and pulled the poker chips to his pile. Then he dealt the next round.
"Ace," Keelie said as she walked up, "it's almost time for bed. You need to start getting ready." She ruffled his hair.
He swatted her away, "I don't want to." He snapped. He showed his teeth and growled slightly.
Keelie recoiled a bit, slightly hurt. Then she frowned, "now none of that." She scolded. "Time for bed."
"You'd better get going kid," Lance said. "We'll save a spot for you tomorrow."
"No," he snapped, "I'm not going to bed." His eyes sparked with anger. When Keelie went to pick him up he snapped at her. His teeth only caught air.
She put her hands up in surrender, "fine. Do what you want. Just know your father will hear about this." Then she walked off.
Pierce set his cards down, "you should not treat your mother like that Ace. She just wants what is best for you."
Ace scoffed, "whatever."
"She's doing her best Ace," said Gaia. "You shouldn't try to bite her. She went through a lot for you and your brothers." Her voice was calm and reasoning. Although on the inside, she was fuming at his attitude. He had no idea how much she'd suffered for him. And his brothers.
"I didn't ask to be here," Ace shouted while slapping his palms on the table.
"Your mama didn't ask for you to be here either," Lance muttered as he rearranged the cards in his hand.
The pup turned to face him, "what are you talking about?"
Lance leaned forward, "I'm saying, that she didn't want you, or your brothers. But she kept you. And now you have the nerve to treat her like that? Sickening."
"Wh-what do you mean she didn't want us?" Ace felt panic rising in his chest. His mama didn't want him?
Pierce elbowed Lance to get him to shut up, but it wasn't working. "If she had the choice, you wouldn't be here," Lance said. His voice had a low growl to it.
"B-but why?" He felt tears rolling down his face.
"That's something you'll have to ask her. It's not my place to say."
The chair screeched as Ace pushed it back. Then he ran toward his parents' room.
"Gaia turned to Lance, "what have you done?"
