~*~
It was the year 3196. This was the most depressive year for many Mobians, for it was the year that the Kings of Mobius, Rath and Amavar, were assassinated. But for others, there were other tragic deaths as well. Sir Svein and Lady Diana Wolfe were killed, and their three young pups, Buckthorne, Landon and Kelsey, orphaned, two now dead. And just barely a week ago, Lady Beatrice Warthogg died, from a fatal illness that had been weakening her for sometime, since her husband Sir Graff had walked out with their oldest sons, Goresky and Chislett, leaving her and their youngest son Bullseye. The funeral was long and soul-scarring. And so, five year old Goresky and Chislett were lounging about their (new) house, still listless and low, as they had been for a week. They were still grieving for their dead mother, and missing their younger brother Bullseye, whom their father said had been sent to live with someone else (but had really been sent to the orphanage). Sir Graff Warthogg came up the stairs, into the boys' room. The scarred male warthog looked at his sons, sighing. "-Boys... what are you two doin' up here?" They both slowly looked up at their father. "-Nothing," young Goresky said. "Just bored-" little Chislett added. Graff cocked his head. He knew what was really bothering them... but didn't say so. But he wasn't going to let them sit around like this, day in, day out. "-Well then... maybe you fellows should go out and DO something..." You've been sitting inside the house like this for days, like yer tryin' to waste away." Look outside." It's gorgeous out there... summer weather, boys." Why don't you two go down to the creek?" Go for a swim or find some fish and frogs... surely that might be 'interesting'... hmmm?" Better than lying around here." Both young warthogs stirred. "-Okay Pa..." "Alright Dad." "That's my lads," Graff said, approvingly. "And tell you what... I've got some errands to take care of later." You two can come with, and I'll get you both something... sound good?" His sons nodded. Graff gave them a fatherly smile, and tousled their manes, gently. "Ah kay then." You youngin's go have some fun, now."
Down near the shallow waters of the creek, a young Mobian was wading. His young, sharp, feline green eyes studied the movement in the water. Finally, he saw it. Slowly crawling on the sandy bottom, he stalked through the water. Then, with a swift pounce, he leapt up, and slammed down into the spot he'd been looking at. He scooped up his hands, which were empty. He frowned, in disappointment. Looking back down, into the water, he could see it had moved over some. Getting back into a crouching position, he crept slowly towards it. Up on the ledges, of the banks/shores, Goresky and Chislett came walking by. Seeing the scene nearby, Goresky halted. "-Hey Chis, look!" Chislett stopped. "What?" What is it?" They both looked in the direction Goresky was pointing. They both saw the young Mobian, wearing black swimming trunks, in the water. He was a feline-creature, obviously, but his breed wasn't specific to them. He looked somewhat like a lynx, with his sandy colored fur, white muzzle, and brown tipped ears and tail. But his white paws, brown tinted hair bangs, cheek and elbow fur, and long tufted ears, were definitely not lynx. However, he seemed harmless enough, and around their age, so how bad could he be? The brothers watched with curiousity, at this young boy, stalking in the water, in a certain concentration. Goresky whispered, "-What do ya think he's doing?" Chislett was watching with awe. "-Just wait a sec..." he told his brother, not breaking his focus. Just then, they saw as the kid leapt up, and pounced down, with a cat-like strike. "-Whoa!" the brothers gasped. This time when the boy looked in his palms, he finally saw what he was hoping for. A huge triumphant grin crossed his lips. "-Alright!" Gotcha!" He slowly stood up, his hands closed around his capture. Finally, Chislett couldn't help it. He rushed on over. "-Hey, what did ya get?" he called out, to the kid. Goresky gasped, slightly embarrassed at his brother's forwardness and giving them out. "-Chislett!" he hissed, chasing after. The young Mobian, turned around, in surprise. "-Huh??" He was a tad bashful at this, as well, having thought he was all alone, only to end up being found by two young warthogs. "-What you catch?" Chislett questioned him, eagerly. Seeing that he was interested, the feline boy couldn't help but feel a bit proud. He grinned, "-Big old bullfrog!" He's a speedy, trickster, this one!" Been trying to catch him, for about five minutes straight!" He opened up his palms, just enough for the warthogs to see the slimy green creature, squirming in the boy's grasp, which he took notice to make sure wasn't too tight, so as to not hurt it. It croaked, irritably, blinking its muddy colored eyes. Both Goresky and Chislett carefully touched the cool, sludgy skin. "-Man... he sure is a big 'un!" Goresky said, in admiration. "No wonder it so long to get your paws on him!" The young Mobian beamed. "Thanks." Then, he slowly leaned down, in the water, and to their surprise, he opened his hands, and the frog leapt free. Chislett blinked, "-Why'd you let him go?" After all that time you took to catch him??" The boy shrugged, "-I never did like keeping wild critters... no use in it." They're better off free, like they're supposed to, don't you think?" I just like catching 'em." But I always let 'em go, just to be fair, see?" You know... to show 'em there's no hard feelings, that they put up a fair fight, and deserve to have their freedom back." Goresky and Chislett couldn't deny that he had a point there. Goresky spoke, "-Guess you're right... it makes sense." The boy nodded, "-I mean, don't get me wrong... if you guys and others like keeping 'em, that's fine... I just don't do it myself, that's all." Chislett shrugged, "-Hey no prob there." We ain't got nothing against letting 'em free." In fact, that's what we usually end up doing, come to think of it." The boy gave a smirk. "-Heh." There ya go, then." Just then, the kid remembered his manners. "-Oh!" Sorry guys, I almost forgot... silly me." I'm Jacque Celaya." He held out his hand. Goresky took it first. "-Hey Jacque." I'm Goresky Warthogg." Chislett shook his hand as well. "-And I'm Chislett Warthogg." Jacque looked at the two. "-You guys brothers?" Chislett nodded, "-Yeah huh." Twins." Goresky said quietly, "-Triplets, actually..." Chislett lowered his gaze at this. Their new friend blinked, "-Oh?" "-Yeah... we actually have another brother... he's the youngest of us." His name's Bullseye." Jacque spoke, "-Oh I see... so... where is he?" Goresky's ears lowered. Chislett answered, "-Our Pa said he was sent to live with someone else... since our Ma passed away, a week ago-" Jacque's face fell. He certainly wasn't expecting to hear something like THAT. "-Whoa... I... oh man... I'm... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to ask you like-" "-S'ok, dude... you didn't know," assured Chislett. "-Yeah... and at least we've still got our dad, Graff," added Goresky. This name seemed to catch Jacque's attention. "-Graff?" You mean... 'Sir' Graff... Warthogg?" Both warthogs nodded. Jacque's eyes were wide with realization. "-Wow... you're saying your dad's one of Mobius's heroes of the Great War??" Chislett grinned, "-Sure is!" Our Pa's one of the best sword swingin' warriors in battle!" Goresky smiled wryly at Chislett's enthusiasm. He'd seen that coming. Jacque's attention was certainly captured. "-Cool!" Hey... does he have all those scars, that they say he does?" "-Sure does!" Chislett told him. "Covered in 'em!" Arms, legs, face, chest, you name it!" Man, they must've hurt some, eh?" Bleeding like faucets, getting sliced up like a carrot, and-" "-Chis, quit it!" Goresky yelped, his cheeks a slight shade of green. "I think he gets the idea!" Chislett flushed, and apologized, "-Oh... right... sorry bro..." But anyways, funny thing is, we never even they was scars, until now!" See, our Pa's had 'em, since before we was born, so we thought he'd always had them on him." Guess we figured they was natural for him... like... stripes or something!" Jacque laughed. "-Pink stripes!" he howled. "That's a good one!" "Yeah, just imagine it!" added Chislett. "Warthogs with pink stripes... how lovely we'd all look!" The boys giggled until their sides ached. Finally, Goresky asked, "-Speaking of... well, 'species'... what are you, Jacque, if you don't mind me asking?" Jacque blushed at the question. "-Oh!" Right... yeah, I guess I better tell-" Getting the impression that he had embarrassed Jacque in some way, Goresky said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad!" I was just-" "-Nonono, it's okay," insisted Jacque. "I get that question a lot, anyways." I'm used to it." "-So then?" inquired Chislett, curiously. "-I'm not really a pure breed, see..." Jacque tried to explain. "Thing is, I'm more half and half." A hybrid, actually." My mum's a caracal, and my dad's a lynx." I pretty much came out a mix of both species." Lynx/caracal, I guess you could call it." Both warthogs now understood. "-Oooh!" they both, chorused. Jacque shrugged, shyly, "-Yeah..." Trying to make Jacque feel better (truthfully), Chislett said, "-Well that's no biggie... s'not yer fault or nothin'!" "-Yeah, what he said!" Goresky added. "Besides, aren't caracals and lynxes pretty much the same things?" Jacque scratched his head. "-Kiinda... another name for caracals IS 'Persian lynx'... guess so." "Well there ya go then!" said Chislett. "Close enough... nothin' to be ashamed of." The feline boy blinked, "-You really think so?" Goresky nodded, "-Yeah!" Like Chis said, nothin' wrong with it!" Jacque looked at them. "-You mean it?" It doesn't 'bother' you guys, or anything?" Both shook their heads. "Why would it?" His ears flattened, slightly scowling. "-Dunno... it seems like OTHERS have a problem with it... they call me 'inbred'... or look at me like I'm a 'science experiment'... or a..." He paused, biting his lip, before forcing himself to spit out the cruel word. "-F...freak." He lowered his muzzle. The two young warthogs were shocked at this. Being as young as they were, they didn't understand exactly what racism and judging others, really meant or why someone would want to do that. Chislett gave a frown. "-That's just stupid... I say whoever said THAT, is just a big fat dum-dum, with a monkey wedged up their big fat BUTT!" The young ones burst into a fit of giggles, at the absurd idea of it. Calming down at last, Jacque grinned, "-Y'know... you guys are pretty cool." Thanks." Chislett smiled, "-Hey no, prob!" The hybrid boy asked, "-So... what you guys come here for, in the first place?" Just wondering." "-Oh... came down here for a swim," replied Goresky. "Wanna come with?" Chislett snorted, "You mean he ain't swam enough, bro?" referring to Jacque wading after the bullfrog. Jacque laughed. "Nyah... I wouldn't really call that swimming!" Sure I'd like to join!" That okay with you?" Chislett pretended to consider the matter deeply, with thought, although he was as on board as Goresky. "-Well hmmm... lemme think... just HOW good are you at swimmin'?" Jacque beamed. "What do YOU think??" Chislett smiled menacingly. "Well then we'll just have to find out for sure!" I'll race ya both!" And he ran off towards the creek, with Jacque and Goresky chasing after, wild with youthful joy and happiness.
Turns out that Jacque and his family had recently moved into a house nearby, that wasn't too far off from the Warthoggs new home, much to the youngsters' delight. Considering Jacque was an only child, and with Goresky and Chislett feeling somewhat incomplete at the separation with their younger brother, it was perfect for them. True, Jacque wouldn't be able to ever fully replace Bullseye, but his companionship was still a comforting and wonderful thing to have, and sort of made the Warthogg boys' world 'three Musketeers' again. The three became an inseparable group, always together, seldom apart. The Celayas were overjoyed to see their son having such good friends, and Graff was greatly relieved and content to see his boys so happy again. And so, the three went to school, pretty much growing up together, through childhood into adolescents, and into teenagers. It was those teen years, that the troubles that they weren't even aware of, began to rear...
It was the year 3196. This was the most depressive year for many Mobians, for it was the year that the Kings of Mobius, Rath and Amavar, were assassinated. But for others, there were other tragic deaths as well. Sir Svein and Lady Diana Wolfe were killed, and their three young pups, Buckthorne, Landon and Kelsey, orphaned, two now dead. And just barely a week ago, Lady Beatrice Warthogg died, from a fatal illness that had been weakening her for sometime, since her husband Sir Graff had walked out with their oldest sons, Goresky and Chislett, leaving her and their youngest son Bullseye. The funeral was long and soul-scarring. And so, five year old Goresky and Chislett were lounging about their (new) house, still listless and low, as they had been for a week. They were still grieving for their dead mother, and missing their younger brother Bullseye, whom their father said had been sent to live with someone else (but had really been sent to the orphanage). Sir Graff Warthogg came up the stairs, into the boys' room. The scarred male warthog looked at his sons, sighing. "-Boys... what are you two doin' up here?" They both slowly looked up at their father. "-Nothing," young Goresky said. "Just bored-" little Chislett added. Graff cocked his head. He knew what was really bothering them... but didn't say so. But he wasn't going to let them sit around like this, day in, day out. "-Well then... maybe you fellows should go out and DO something..." You've been sitting inside the house like this for days, like yer tryin' to waste away." Look outside." It's gorgeous out there... summer weather, boys." Why don't you two go down to the creek?" Go for a swim or find some fish and frogs... surely that might be 'interesting'... hmmm?" Better than lying around here." Both young warthogs stirred. "-Okay Pa..." "Alright Dad." "That's my lads," Graff said, approvingly. "And tell you what... I've got some errands to take care of later." You two can come with, and I'll get you both something... sound good?" His sons nodded. Graff gave them a fatherly smile, and tousled their manes, gently. "Ah kay then." You youngin's go have some fun, now."
Down near the shallow waters of the creek, a young Mobian was wading. His young, sharp, feline green eyes studied the movement in the water. Finally, he saw it. Slowly crawling on the sandy bottom, he stalked through the water. Then, with a swift pounce, he leapt up, and slammed down into the spot he'd been looking at. He scooped up his hands, which were empty. He frowned, in disappointment. Looking back down, into the water, he could see it had moved over some. Getting back into a crouching position, he crept slowly towards it. Up on the ledges, of the banks/shores, Goresky and Chislett came walking by. Seeing the scene nearby, Goresky halted. "-Hey Chis, look!" Chislett stopped. "What?" What is it?" They both looked in the direction Goresky was pointing. They both saw the young Mobian, wearing black swimming trunks, in the water. He was a feline-creature, obviously, but his breed wasn't specific to them. He looked somewhat like a lynx, with his sandy colored fur, white muzzle, and brown tipped ears and tail. But his white paws, brown tinted hair bangs, cheek and elbow fur, and long tufted ears, were definitely not lynx. However, he seemed harmless enough, and around their age, so how bad could he be? The brothers watched with curiousity, at this young boy, stalking in the water, in a certain concentration. Goresky whispered, "-What do ya think he's doing?" Chislett was watching with awe. "-Just wait a sec..." he told his brother, not breaking his focus. Just then, they saw as the kid leapt up, and pounced down, with a cat-like strike. "-Whoa!" the brothers gasped. This time when the boy looked in his palms, he finally saw what he was hoping for. A huge triumphant grin crossed his lips. "-Alright!" Gotcha!" He slowly stood up, his hands closed around his capture. Finally, Chislett couldn't help it. He rushed on over. "-Hey, what did ya get?" he called out, to the kid. Goresky gasped, slightly embarrassed at his brother's forwardness and giving them out. "-Chislett!" he hissed, chasing after. The young Mobian, turned around, in surprise. "-Huh??" He was a tad bashful at this, as well, having thought he was all alone, only to end up being found by two young warthogs. "-What you catch?" Chislett questioned him, eagerly. Seeing that he was interested, the feline boy couldn't help but feel a bit proud. He grinned, "-Big old bullfrog!" He's a speedy, trickster, this one!" Been trying to catch him, for about five minutes straight!" He opened up his palms, just enough for the warthogs to see the slimy green creature, squirming in the boy's grasp, which he took notice to make sure wasn't too tight, so as to not hurt it. It croaked, irritably, blinking its muddy colored eyes. Both Goresky and Chislett carefully touched the cool, sludgy skin. "-Man... he sure is a big 'un!" Goresky said, in admiration. "No wonder it so long to get your paws on him!" The young Mobian beamed. "Thanks." Then, he slowly leaned down, in the water, and to their surprise, he opened his hands, and the frog leapt free. Chislett blinked, "-Why'd you let him go?" After all that time you took to catch him??" The boy shrugged, "-I never did like keeping wild critters... no use in it." They're better off free, like they're supposed to, don't you think?" I just like catching 'em." But I always let 'em go, just to be fair, see?" You know... to show 'em there's no hard feelings, that they put up a fair fight, and deserve to have their freedom back." Goresky and Chislett couldn't deny that he had a point there. Goresky spoke, "-Guess you're right... it makes sense." The boy nodded, "-I mean, don't get me wrong... if you guys and others like keeping 'em, that's fine... I just don't do it myself, that's all." Chislett shrugged, "-Hey no prob there." We ain't got nothing against letting 'em free." In fact, that's what we usually end up doing, come to think of it." The boy gave a smirk. "-Heh." There ya go, then." Just then, the kid remembered his manners. "-Oh!" Sorry guys, I almost forgot... silly me." I'm Jacque Celaya." He held out his hand. Goresky took it first. "-Hey Jacque." I'm Goresky Warthogg." Chislett shook his hand as well. "-And I'm Chislett Warthogg." Jacque looked at the two. "-You guys brothers?" Chislett nodded, "-Yeah huh." Twins." Goresky said quietly, "-Triplets, actually..." Chislett lowered his gaze at this. Their new friend blinked, "-Oh?" "-Yeah... we actually have another brother... he's the youngest of us." His name's Bullseye." Jacque spoke, "-Oh I see... so... where is he?" Goresky's ears lowered. Chislett answered, "-Our Pa said he was sent to live with someone else... since our Ma passed away, a week ago-" Jacque's face fell. He certainly wasn't expecting to hear something like THAT. "-Whoa... I... oh man... I'm... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to ask you like-" "-S'ok, dude... you didn't know," assured Chislett. "-Yeah... and at least we've still got our dad, Graff," added Goresky. This name seemed to catch Jacque's attention. "-Graff?" You mean... 'Sir' Graff... Warthogg?" Both warthogs nodded. Jacque's eyes were wide with realization. "-Wow... you're saying your dad's one of Mobius's heroes of the Great War??" Chislett grinned, "-Sure is!" Our Pa's one of the best sword swingin' warriors in battle!" Goresky smiled wryly at Chislett's enthusiasm. He'd seen that coming. Jacque's attention was certainly captured. "-Cool!" Hey... does he have all those scars, that they say he does?" "-Sure does!" Chislett told him. "Covered in 'em!" Arms, legs, face, chest, you name it!" Man, they must've hurt some, eh?" Bleeding like faucets, getting sliced up like a carrot, and-" "-Chis, quit it!" Goresky yelped, his cheeks a slight shade of green. "I think he gets the idea!" Chislett flushed, and apologized, "-Oh... right... sorry bro..." But anyways, funny thing is, we never even they was scars, until now!" See, our Pa's had 'em, since before we was born, so we thought he'd always had them on him." Guess we figured they was natural for him... like... stripes or something!" Jacque laughed. "-Pink stripes!" he howled. "That's a good one!" "Yeah, just imagine it!" added Chislett. "Warthogs with pink stripes... how lovely we'd all look!" The boys giggled until their sides ached. Finally, Goresky asked, "-Speaking of... well, 'species'... what are you, Jacque, if you don't mind me asking?" Jacque blushed at the question. "-Oh!" Right... yeah, I guess I better tell-" Getting the impression that he had embarrassed Jacque in some way, Goresky said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad!" I was just-" "-Nonono, it's okay," insisted Jacque. "I get that question a lot, anyways." I'm used to it." "-So then?" inquired Chislett, curiously. "-I'm not really a pure breed, see..." Jacque tried to explain. "Thing is, I'm more half and half." A hybrid, actually." My mum's a caracal, and my dad's a lynx." I pretty much came out a mix of both species." Lynx/caracal, I guess you could call it." Both warthogs now understood. "-Oooh!" they both, chorused. Jacque shrugged, shyly, "-Yeah..." Trying to make Jacque feel better (truthfully), Chislett said, "-Well that's no biggie... s'not yer fault or nothin'!" "-Yeah, what he said!" Goresky added. "Besides, aren't caracals and lynxes pretty much the same things?" Jacque scratched his head. "-Kiinda... another name for caracals IS 'Persian lynx'... guess so." "Well there ya go then!" said Chislett. "Close enough... nothin' to be ashamed of." The feline boy blinked, "-You really think so?" Goresky nodded, "-Yeah!" Like Chis said, nothin' wrong with it!" Jacque looked at them. "-You mean it?" It doesn't 'bother' you guys, or anything?" Both shook their heads. "Why would it?" His ears flattened, slightly scowling. "-Dunno... it seems like OTHERS have a problem with it... they call me 'inbred'... or look at me like I'm a 'science experiment'... or a..." He paused, biting his lip, before forcing himself to spit out the cruel word. "-F...freak." He lowered his muzzle. The two young warthogs were shocked at this. Being as young as they were, they didn't understand exactly what racism and judging others, really meant or why someone would want to do that. Chislett gave a frown. "-That's just stupid... I say whoever said THAT, is just a big fat dum-dum, with a monkey wedged up their big fat BUTT!" The young ones burst into a fit of giggles, at the absurd idea of it. Calming down at last, Jacque grinned, "-Y'know... you guys are pretty cool." Thanks." Chislett smiled, "-Hey no, prob!" The hybrid boy asked, "-So... what you guys come here for, in the first place?" Just wondering." "-Oh... came down here for a swim," replied Goresky. "Wanna come with?" Chislett snorted, "You mean he ain't swam enough, bro?" referring to Jacque wading after the bullfrog. Jacque laughed. "Nyah... I wouldn't really call that swimming!" Sure I'd like to join!" That okay with you?" Chislett pretended to consider the matter deeply, with thought, although he was as on board as Goresky. "-Well hmmm... lemme think... just HOW good are you at swimmin'?" Jacque beamed. "What do YOU think??" Chislett smiled menacingly. "Well then we'll just have to find out for sure!" I'll race ya both!" And he ran off towards the creek, with Jacque and Goresky chasing after, wild with youthful joy and happiness.
Turns out that Jacque and his family had recently moved into a house nearby, that wasn't too far off from the Warthoggs new home, much to the youngsters' delight. Considering Jacque was an only child, and with Goresky and Chislett feeling somewhat incomplete at the separation with their younger brother, it was perfect for them. True, Jacque wouldn't be able to ever fully replace Bullseye, but his companionship was still a comforting and wonderful thing to have, and sort of made the Warthogg boys' world 'three Musketeers' again. The three became an inseparable group, always together, seldom apart. The Celayas were overjoyed to see their son having such good friends, and Graff was greatly relieved and content to see his boys so happy again. And so, the three went to school, pretty much growing up together, through childhood into adolescents, and into teenagers. It was those teen years, that the troubles that they weren't even aware of, began to rear...