This has been a long time coming. In this chapter, we're gunna take more of a look into Marcus' past than what has leaked out in previous chapters. I feel that I must warn you that it's gunna be... rough. However, there will be cuteness later on in the chapter, and quite a bit of it, since this chapter is going to be longer than normal. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and a happy new year! And also, please feel free to leave a review or comment.
Found (Chapter 22)
by
Elite Shade
"Now, I haven't watched the video myself, but yer brother says that it's purdy... rough. I won't hold it against y'all if ya wanna back out now..." Dorian was standing in his study. Before him were Zach and Vanna, both sitting in the two chairs before his desk, his desk chair having been scooted to join them. Turned towards them was his laptop, a video ready to play.
"I... I can handle it," Zach said, squirming in his seat. Vanna silently nodded her agreement.
"Wait, how did Yuri get ahold of this video again?" Zach asked, looking quizzical.
One Week Ago in Seaotter...
"Amazin'," the black wolf snorted as he looked over the newspaper in his paws. "The first new species discovered since the turn o' the century, and it only gets a lousy three paragraphs."
"Isn't that a good thing?" his partner, Lance, asked. The fastidious antlerless deer buck was holding two coffees as the two leaned up against their cruiser. "I mean, it's certainly better than those kids being treated like an exhibit."
"I guess..." Yuri said with a roll of his eyes, before tossing the paper into a nearby trash can and accepting his coffee. "Have I shown ya a picture of them yet?"
"Well, actually," Lance started, not quick enough to beat Yuri whipping out his phone and, with a quick set of taps, bringing up a photo of Alice, Trevor, Lily, and Marcus together sitting at the picnic table in the back yard. They were all smiling, Lance taking note of the smile on Yuri's muzzle. The deer noticed that his partner always perked up when discussing his nieces and nephews, and that he'd been showing the pictures off to everyone in the precinct, despite his denials.
"In all truth... it's purdy amazin' of my brothers and their mates to take on some pups, especially ones that no one knows anything about..." Yuri said more to himself than to Lance. The buck simply rolled his eyes, knowing full well that asking further about Yuri's thoughts and feelings on the matter would only lead to the black wolf attempting to play it down.
"It certainly cannot be easy," the deer agreed, his eyes suddenly shifting back over to the cafe he had just come from.
"Marcus has had it purdy rough, though, so askin' him fer details about where he comes from is slow goin', at least without potentially bringin' up some trauma." Yuri said, only now noticing Lance staring off. "And li'l Lily, she can't remember anything really, since she was so young."
"Maybe he could help," the deer said, pointing. Yuri followed his hoof to see a... human, wearing a well-worn dark green coat and jeans. His skin was much darker than either Marcus or Lily's, but there was no mistaking that the mammal was a human. Approaching, Yuri took note of how the mammal's head was entirely without fur, yet his jaw seemed to be growing some stubbly fur, with a white tint to most of it. He also only appeared to be missing his left arm at the elbow. The jacket itself looked to be... very similar to the one Marcus had been found in, aside from the difference in color.
"Excuse me," he asked, getting the taller mammal's attention. There were lines on his face, along with a few scars. The blue eyes looked out at him, dull and not really seeing him.
"Yes, officer?" the human asked, his voice deep and gravelly, with a strong hint of tiredness.
"Yer one of them huemons, right?" Yuri asked, straight to the punch.
"Yes, officer," he answered.
"What's yer name?"
"Renard Dupont." Yuri frowned at the almost terse answers he was receiving, but continued on.
"Mind answerin' some questions about yer species?"
"No, officer, not at all," Renard answered.
"Look, I ain't askin' fer me. I'm askin' fer my niece and nephew. They're huemons like yerself." Yuri took note of the skeptical look on the human's face and pulled out his phone again. "I ain't messin' with ya, see? The little girl is Lily, and the boy is-"
"Marcus!" Renard said, snapping to full attention, his previous dull and lifeless eyes blazing with a fierce inner blue fire, his mouth agape. Yuri and Lance exchanged looks of bewilderment.
"How do ya know his name?" Yuri asked, a bit suspicious.
"I-I thought he was... gone... but he is truly alive?" Tears welled up in his eyes and, before either officer could react, Yuri was pulled into a bone-crushing one-armed hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he said, tears of joy streaming down his face.
"Y-yeah, no problem..." Yuri said, breaking free from the hug, noticing Lance with his hoof having been resting on the butt of his tranq gun. "But, if ya know Marcus, then do you know how he was... injured, on his back?"
Renard's entire demeanor changed, the fire in his eyes taking on a hard glint. "I do... and I sincerely hope that the one who did it suffers for the rest of eternity..." Renard said.
Present Day, Back at the Ranch...
"And so this Renard fella told yer brother... quite the story. Apparently, there's quite a few hidden human-only city-states. They keep in touch with one another, albeit rarely, and if they travel from one to the other, they always do so during nasty storms. The one Marcus was from, Kartakka, is a bit behind in technology, outta stubbornness more than anything. And Marcus... is the son of Duke Lucas Wolfram. The Duke led a sorta coup, and the already isolated Kartakka became even moreso. Marcus... he had been treated horribly and lived in fear of his father... until, as Mr. Dupont put it, he openly and publicly defied him. And his father... he... he responded... also publicly..." The old law wolf saw the resolution on his son and daughter-in-law's faces and nodded, hitting play on the video. He took a seat next to them, and watched the video.
Kartakka, City Square...
On a polished white raised circular dais, there was a massive crowd of humans. The vast majority looked underfed and injured, with filthy patched clothes. Everyone in the crowd, however, looked angry. Many had darker colored skin tones, but there were those with lighter ones as well. Some were shaking their fists, some were chanting, some were screaming at the assembled guards surrounding the dais, with their rifles drawn and at the ready. They were wearing red uniforms, with white undershirts. The camera panned out, making it clear as to where they were directing their anger. Above the dais, in a polished ornate marble courthouse, standing on an upper balcony and scowling down with disdain, was Duke Lucas Wolfram. His solidly-built frame was apparent beneath the crisp white military coat, complete with gaudy polished medals. His headfur and beard were grey, and both neatly kept.
"My people, I come before you today a humbled mammal," his voice was deep and rich... but as cold as ice as it boomed from large retro-looking speakers attached to the streetlights. "Years ago, I stepped forward to lead our great city, and our species, out of the treasonous mire we were quickly sinking into. Talk of revealing ourselves to the other nations and other mammals of the world, the savages who would just as soon see the human species go extinct, is an idea born from a lack of discipline and commitment to our cause. The cause of survival. Yet, despite the many successes of my regime, I am ashamed to say that such thoughts have infected my own flesh and blood."
The Duke motioned with a white gloved hand and, from inside the courthouse came two of the guards, both looking panicked, as they roughly marched a shirtless Marcus. He was sporting a few bruises and looked just as malnourished as the crowd, who had become even more incensed at this display, several attempting to push past the guards. Shots rang out, and that quelled them for the time being.
"HE'S JUST A CHILD, YOU MONSTER!" a voice could be heard screaming, a female, and the cacophony of the crowd was of a similar mind. Marcus was very clearly doing everything to retain his composure, but the fear in his eyes was apparent. On the dais were three pillars, and the central one, Marcus had his arms affixed with heavy-looking chains around it, his back exposed. Out from the courthouse strode a tall mammal, with close-cropped blonde hair. He was muscular, and was wearing a simple light-blue button up shirt with a brown vest, and brown pants. In his hands... was a leather whip. He sneered at the crowd, his eyes brightening with excitement at the sight of Marcus' back.
"Truly, it was my fault. I see now that I was too soft on my own son, and in turn, too soft on you, my people. Today, I shall remedy that. Today is the day of celebration! For today, we bring back discipline! Silas, you may begin." The Duke looked down at the man with the whip, and nodded. He nodded back and strode forward to Marcus, whispering in his ear. Marcus shivered... and then steeled himself, jutting out his chin defiantly. The man identified as Silas stepped back and limbered up while the din of the crowd dipped into a lull.
Crack
Marcus clearly let out a gasp, but bit down on it.
Present Day...
All three mammals winced with each crack, Zach and Dorian both inadvertently letting out low growls, Zach's becoming a whine, tears in his eyes. Vanna sat there in stony silence, tightly gripping the armrests of her seat, her claws slowly leaving deep gashes in the wood. They watched as the pup was lashed a total of thirty times. He never cried out during, despite the clear agony on his face that the camera caught, along with the silent tears streaming down his face, but not once did he cry out. The mammal known as Silas, who had started with glee, seemed frustrated by this fact, his lashes coming in faster and harder, his face becoming an ugly frown.
It was at the thirtieth lashing that Marcus passed out, either from the pain or possibly the blood loss. It was also when the crowd, stunned and disgusted, collectively came to. With a roar, they swarmed the guards who, in a panic, fired into the crowd, several mammals going down, before being swallowed up. They swarmed the dais, but Silas had already rushed back into the courthouse, knocking several guards down in the process, the doors shutting and locking behind him. Many humans slammed against the doors, while others worked, using tools, to cut the manacles off the now unconscious Marcus, spiriting him away. The video ended with a shot of his back, eliciting a howl of pure emotional anguish from Zach.
"H-how?! HOW CAN A FATHER DO THAT TO HIS OWN SON?!" he cried, getting up and, without thinking, punched the nearest wall. Dorian was quick to be by his son's side, putting a paw on his shoulder.
"It's important to remember that it's over fer Marcus. That on the video, that was not a father. Y'all are that boy's Pa and Ma now, right, Vanna?" Dorian looked over to where the tigress had been sitting. She nodded and stood up, heading towards the door. Dorian thought that she was very adept at maintaining her composure... until he saw that as she opened the door to the study, not only did she accidentally break the doorknob, but also ripped the door off its top hinge.
Vanna, breathing a little heavily, made her way outside, heading towards the pumpkin patch. As she neared, she could hear Marcus playing his violin, and saw Audrey standing there, smiling as she watched him. She had elected to pupsit Marcus while they watched the video, knowing that she wouldn't have been able to handle it. Hearing her daughter-in-law approach she turned and with one look, instantly knew that she had been correct. Vanna slowed to a stop just before Marcus, who was smiling as he played, oblivious to his foster-mother's presence. As he finished, he suddenly found himself pulled into a tight hug. Surprised, when he saw who it was, he was quick to reciprocate.
"Marcus I... I just wanted to let you know that we love you very much and... we wanted to know how you would feel about being officially adopted?" Vanna blurted out, having not been expecting to do that. She had had to rein Zach in numerous times from asking Marcus that, not wanting to pressure the boy. But it had just slipped out.
Marcus, confused, looked up at her as she loosened her grip a bit.
"I thought I already was," he said.
"O-oh! Well, no, not yet, sweetie. Right now we're just your foster parents. And we don't want to pressure you, but we would love to... officially adopt you. But please don't think that we'll be upset if-"
"Y-yes."
"-you want to take some time to think about it. I know that it's a big step... wait." Vanna stopped her verbal spillage and looked down at the human boy in her arms in amazement. He was blushing and looking down, a small smile on his lips. "Wh-what'd you say, sweetie?"
"I... I w-would like to officially be a-adopted... I never knew my mother... but when I would read about them... well... Vanna... y-you're how I always pictured one... and, when I w-would read about f-fath-OMPH!"
The wind was suddenly knocked out of him as he and Vanna were tackle-hugged by a teary-eyed Zach, his tail practically spinning like a helicopter blade. He let out a joyous howl... which of course triggered the other wolves in the area.
"We'll do somethin' special ta celebrate when the adoption becomes official, son, I promise!" Zach's face was still tear-stained, but he'd never seemed happier. Vanna, regaining her composure, didn't have it in her to roll her eyes at her mate's antics, considering how elated she herself felt, a welcome contrast to the horror and despair she had just felt when she watched the video. Soon enough, Audrey, her stomach a little bigger now, her own tail wagging, was teary-eyed herself. She joined the hug, kissing Marcus on his forehead.
"I think Marcus Hunter has a wonderful ring to it," she said.
Meanwhile, Back in Savannah Central...
"Alright kids," Dawn said, hopping down from her seat in the car with Princess Callibrie in tow on a leash, "have you thought about what kind of glasses you'd like?" After taking the children in for eye exams, it was revealed that Trevor and Alice needed glasses. While Dawn was taking them to the optometrist to get their glasses, Vernon had elected to take Lily in to the office with him. This way, Lily wouldn't be bored and potentially wander off, and Vernon would have an excuse to take a half day. Dawn also suspected that her mate was trying to get out of watching Princess Callibrie. The kowmodo dragon had started hissing at her mate and he, the big puppy that he was, was more than a little afraid. Their plan for today was to meet up for lunch.
"Can I have a pair of those cool glasses where the lenses become sunglasses in sunlight?" Trevor asked, bouncing on his hooves, the little black ram excited. Dawn giggled at her son's antics. Today he was wearing a blue AMSS shirt and shorts.
"Of course, sweetheart!" she said, nuzzling his head wool. "And what about you, Alice?" She turned to address her oldest daughter. The black wolf pup was wringing her paws, looking nervous about something.
"Uhm... c-can they be like yours, Mom?" she asked, blushing beneath her dark fur. Today she was wearing a pink t-shirt with a white butterfly on the front, and jean shorts.
Dawn was touched and surprised, as she knew that her tortoiseshell glasses were not the most fashionable accessory, and almost let out a coo, but bit it back, seeing how embarrassed Alice was already.
"Are you sure, sweetheart?" Dawn asked, having to gently tug Princess Callibrie's leash as the reptile started to climb a nearby tree. Alice, still blushing, nodded.
"Th-they look really durable, is all," Alice said, looking down at her paws. Dawn smiled warmly and pulled both her lambs into a hug.
"Absolutely, honey," Dawn said, before being bowled over by Princess Callibrie who, after giving up attempting to climb the tree, had instead attempted to climb Dawn to rest in her head floof, still not understanding that she was now too big to do so, being almost as big as the ewe in question.
"UMPH! U-uh, kids? C-can you please help get P.C. off of me?" Dawn said, wondering how her mate was faring at work with their, so far, youngest lamb in tow.
At that Moment in City Hall...
Lily hummed as she skipped along. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress and her favorite coat. The coat with the same coloration as Vernon's fur, complete with wolf ears on the hoodie. It was a little big on her, the sleeves easily slipping over her hands, but she would grow into it, and loved it nonetheless. Presently, she was looking around the offices and halls in awe as Vernon held her paw.
He was a little nervous about Lily wandering off as she had been doing with increasing frequency. In fact, he and Dawn had been discussing getting a harness and leash for Lily, which started when the little human girl chased after an ice cream truck. Despite numerous talks with Lily about the dangers of wandering off, it seemed that she would just get distracted and do so without thinking. Vernon was against the idea of using a leash, especially since she'd be coming from a mixed family with a wolf for a father, Lily was sure to hear some derogatory "dog" slurs in her life.
"And here we are, Princess," Vernon proudly said as he brought her to his desk, shaking off thoughts of leashes and slurs.
"Wow, Daddy! I didn't know that y'all make houses fer dollies! Can we build one together?" Lily asked, looking at one of the residences he had recently finished for a buyer in Little Rodentia.
"Heh, Princess, that's actually not a dollhouse. It's a house fer a mouse," Vernon explained.
"It's actually for my cousin," a voice piped out from an open window of the two story brick house with a rooftop pool. Out poked a grey-furred mouse wearing a stylish pinstripe skirtsuit. "Since she fell in love with my new beach house your father built for me."
"Hi, Moira," Vernon said, rolling his eyes. The mischievous mouse had a tendency to poke her nose into things around the office. "This is my youngest pup, Lily. Lily, this is Moira, one of my coworkers."
"Hi, missus Moira," Lily excitedly waved, a bounce in her step.
"Hi there, Lily, it's wonderful to finally meet you. Your daddy just loves talking about you and your brother and sister, and he's so excited about your mother's pre-" Moira noted Vernon waving his paws and silently mouthing "No" as he shook his head, standing behind the oblivious Lily. Quick to catch herself, Moira continued on. "Y-your mother's... present, that he's looking forward to getting for her today!"
"A present fer Mommy?" Lily turned to her father, excitement in her eyes. "What is it, Daddy? And can I help?"
Vernon flashed Moira an annoyed gaze before smiling down at Lily. "Sure, sugarplum. We'll get her a little present on our way to meet them fer lunch."
"Yay!" Lily cheered, before spotting something and making a beeline straight towards a nearby table. On it was a miniature of Sahara Square, along with the new library Vernon was tasked with designing and overseeing the construction of, in his role as the architect. The miniature pyramid-shaped structure with columns on either side of the steps covered in hieroglyphics, and large strips of glass windows going down the centers of each side was going to be a sight to behold when it was finished.
"Is that the library, Daddy?" Lily asked, looking up from the table at Vernon. "And is it fer ants?"
Vernon chuckled while Moria cooed at the cute idea.
"Naw, Princess. That's just a model. It's how us architects show the client what the finished building will look like, so that way if they want any changes made, they can do so before everything's all said and done," Vernon explained.
"WOW! That's so smart! OH! We can do that fer my dollhouse station!" Lily cheered.
"Hehe, well sure, and that way we can... wait, whatcha mean dollhouse station?"
"I wanna have my dollhouse also be a police station, and have an atrium just like Precinct One, just like where Auntie Judy works!" Lily bounced excitedly.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Moira chimed in.
"Thanks, Moira," Vernon said with a huff. He was considering how to carefully try to sway Lily away from her dollhouse having anything to do with law enforcement, when a very out of breath beaver came to a stop near them.
"Robert, what's the matter?" Vernon asked.
"Phew! I am out of shape!" he said, taking out a maple wood dowel from his pocket and chewing on it. "One of the contractors is kicking up a fuss about something to do with that new canal proposal in the Canal District."
Vernon shook his head, and was quick to cover Lily's ears before Robert muttered, "Dumb lemurs." Removing his paws, Vernon let out a cough.
"Robert, this here's my littlest, and therefore most impressionable, pup, Lily," he said, with a disapproving tone.
"Oh? Oh yeah, the little human one," he said, waving to Lily, who huffed and crossed her arms.
"I'm a wolf, like my Daddy," she said, flipping up her hood. Vernon's tail gave a wag at that, while Moria giggled and Robert just chewed on his dowel uncomfortably.
"Uh... alright then. Anyways, Vern, you gotta talk this guy down again," Robert continued. Vernon nodded and rolled his eyes, having already had several conversations with the aforementioned lemur.
"I thought we had already solved the issue, but there's no helpin' it I s'pose. Moira, please keep an eye on Lily fer me," Vernon said to the now surprised mouse, before kneeling down and making eye contact with his daughter.
"Now, Lily, you just hang out here and listen ta Moira, okay? And I'll be right back."
"Okay, Daddy!" Lily said, wrapping her arms around her father's neck, making his tail wag even faster. They broke apart, and Vernon quickly left.
"V-Vernon, wait I," Moira tried, but it was too late, the large wolf was already gone and down a hall. She looked at Lily who was looking back at her with a smile.
"Uh... okay," the mouse squeaked, turning for a second to compose herself. Taking in a breath and plastering on her most winning smile, she turned back around. "How about we work on a picture for your Daddy while he's busy in his little meeting?" Moira asked, finding Lily nowhere in sight.
"Oh... oh no!"
One Mildly Annoying Meeting Later...
"Sweet sawgrass, I swear some folks just like ta argue fer the sake of arguin'. Alright, Princess, are ya ready ta..." Vernon looked around his desk, then the rest of the office room, not seeing a sign of Lily. He was quick to spot Moira scurrying around the ground, searching to and fro in a panic.
"Moira... did Lily wander off?" he asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Uhm... m-maybe, Vernon... I'm sorry! She was here and and I turned away for literally one second and... somehow, she was gone and I hadn't noticed," she said, looking under a desk.
"How did you not notice, compared to you she's huge!" Vernon exclaimed.
"Okay one, rude. Two, I don't know! She moves like a big cat! I didn't even hear her leave!" Moira insisted. Vernon groaned and was just about to start searching all over the office, when there was the sound of someone clearing their throat. Both Vernon and Moira turned to find a very amused-looking Elton Hart. The well-dressed stag had taken up Dawn's former role as assistant mayor.
"Mr. Hunter-Bellwether, it would seem as though you lost something. Luckily, Mayor Snow found them and is waiting for you in her office," he explained with a chuckle. Vernon grimaced, worried about getting in trouble for bringing his daughter to work with him and letting her wander off. Following the assistant mayor to Mayor Adele Snow's Office, he braced himself for the worst... only to walk in on the snow leopard sitting at her desk, with Lily seated across from her, and between the two of them a tea set and some cookies.
"You have a lovely daughter, Mr. Hunter-Bellwether, she's very polite, and quite inquisitive." Mayor Snow chuckled while smiling at him warmly. Lily turned in her seat and beamed at her father.
"Hi, Daddy!"
"H-hi, Lily," he said before addressing the mayor. "A-and, uh, th-thank you very much, Mayor Snow, and also, thank you fer, uh, keepin' an eye on Lily here," Vernon nervously said.
"It was truly my pleasure, and please, call me Adele. I must say, I was very surprised to look down and find her here in my office, asking me if I was a princess," Adele chuckled some more.
"Heh, y-yeah, she has a tendency ta wander off from time ta time, uhm... Adele," Vernon trailed off.
"Please feel free to bring her and your other two children by the office from time to time. I'm sure that they are just as delightful."
"Will do, Mayor... uh... Adele," Vernon said, scooping Lily up in his arms, "but I was actually plannin' on duckin' out a little early today to meet up with my mate and my other two pups."
"I understand. Have a good day, Vernon, and you as well, Lily," Mayor Snow said.
"Bye, your majesty," Lily excitedly waved as Vernon started to back out. Making his way to his car, he used his free paw to whip out his phone and send off a quick text to Dawn.
Okay, let's get a harness and leash... just for emergencies.
And there you have it, folks! Phew! I am so happy to have brought you this new chapter! Please consider leaving a comment or a review, as that just really makes my day!
