Chapter 3! We enter full angst zone, things fall apart and relationships go through some small changes. Here we already left season 2 but still haven't entered season 3, kinda in between those two in the imaginary timeline.
Now without spoiling much...despite everything pointing to Pidsley ending living with one certain character, I admit I went full shameless headcanon mode at the end and sent him with another one that doesn't make sense in canon lmao There's a proper in-story explanation in the next chapter I swear
I'll talk more about that in the notes at the end of this chapter, but for now hope you like this update and stay tuned for the end of this story next week! :
oOo
Things between Pidsley and the rest get worse somehow; much, much worse.
It's difficult to wrap around how, it just gradually grew. It did to the point of something always ending broken whenever they had confrontations. Curtain, vases, a fence...even themselves at getting hurt more than once; all things the farmer looked more and more tired of having to find in those conditions.
Pidsley isn't alone in the scolding now at least. The sheep get caught in the middle of fights, get rudely shooed away, and despite he and Bitzer receiving severe scolds from the farmer too, the cat is happy to not be dragged down alone any more.
But none of that is a good signal and Pidsley should've noticed sooner.
oOo
One particular day the group of animals(a cat, a dog, and several sheep) get involved in another fight, this one over a phone some humans lost there and ending taking place in the house living room. As it's so common now, it goes too far and the place is left a horrible mess.
The farmer arrives to catch not only Pidsley, but all of them in the middle of destroying his house and it's ugly, very. The lamb of the group could've learned quite the amount of curse words if it wasn't for his mother covering his ears.
After the tantrum the man leaves to his room. Bitzer wants to follow him, explain things, but it's being yelled to kick everyone out and clean the mess. A dead silence falls into the room then, and Pidsley, oblivious to the heaviness of it, knows it's his moment to leave.
For once Pidsley is happy, giving a snooty raspberry to them all on his way out with the phone. He thinks he finally won.
He keeps forgetting he never does.
oOo
The cat returns home late that night, shivering from the cold and already having grown tired of the device. Standing in four at the main door he notices there's an odd, heavy silence again. He frowns; a bad signal.
There's no light except from the damp yellowish one coming from the barely open living room's door. A second bad signal that makes the cat hesitate as he approaches. Before he can come in, Bitzer opens it from inside, for a moment looking behind him before blinking at noticing the cat.
Some seconds pass. The dog bites his lip, nervously averting his gaze and passing a paw around his neck before opening his mouth. He tries it seems, but no words comes out and he closes it again. The sad look Bitzer directs him instead only confuses the cat even more.
At seeing he'll get no answer there, he just rolls his eyes and walks avoiding the dog's legs as if he was an obstacle. Behind him he hears the same irritated sigh that always receives that kind of actions, but something tells Pidsley no roll of eyes was there this time.
The room is warm, not only in temperature but in the way it looks due to the blazing fire of the chimney. Despite what a nice receivement for his cold paws that is, Pidsley can't help but feel something is off.
The farmer is sitting in front of it on the armchair, his arms on each side of it and giving his back to the cat. Pidsley finds himself doubting to come closer.
When he does anyways, he notices the farmer no longer seems angry; more like...lost on his own mind, a little sad maybe. Once more Pidsley has to meow to be noticed, and the answer to that is a glance and a soft pat on his lap.
A hand goes to pet his back the moment Pidsley jumps to curl up there. Like Bitzer a moment ago, the man opens his mouth to speak, but only sighs instead and no further words are spoken for the rest of the night.
Under the warmth of the fire, and the sound of the embers being the only sound in the room, Pidsley falls asleep on his master's lap with the feeling of something being wrong in the middle of all the calmness.
oOo
The idea doesn't dawn on him until a few days later, when he's on the farmer's niece's arms, being hugged excessively tight and seeing how they are walking towards a car. Pidsley's reaction is instant.
He knows the brat is untouchable, that he'll get kicked out for an entire day if he dares to use his claws, but Pidsley still moves and pushes and hisses until he frees himself off the brat's grip. She cries when he runs away to jump over the wall of course. Pidsley doesn't care, nor for her, less for the farmer looking at him with the most offended face while trying to calm the kid down.
It was so obvious! The excessive petting from the man, he supervising how Pidsley handled being with the brat, his toys on a box all packaged. He should've noticed sooner, the farmer was going to give him away!
Pidsley feels betrayed, angry, and he's well aware what the reason may be when he sees Bitzer and the flock peeking their heads over the stone wall. The hiss the cat sends them before leaving is filled with hate— If they think he's cruel for treating the kid like that, or hope for him to leave soon, any of that Pidsley doesn't care either.
Behind him, both Shaun and Bitzer grimace at thinking even Pidsley doesn't deserve to be left with her of all people.
oOo
Constant protests and running away eventually do the trick and Pidsley manages avoid that horrible fate. Not leaving with the farmer's niece should be a win now, shouldn't it?
Not really.
There's not much of a way to win now.
The farmer has been thinking of giving him away, that's clear as water now. At this point Pidsley can't really ask why—the reasons are obvious— but rather why him? He wasn't the only one fighting, he wasn't the one leaving someone else with an injured paw; most of the property destruction wasn't his fault to begin with! So why?Why is him the one who has to go?
Pidsley feels...unhappy in all aspects, to say the least. In the department it was clear he wasn't going to stay forever, but things were supposed to be different here. This was supposed to be his permanent home, he was supposed to be the favourite pet and the farmer has no right to treat him as if he still was after just trying to abandon him like that!
Pidsley glares and acts cold from that, to the farmer, the sheep, Bitzer...anyone he can blame for the situation. The message easily gets across and he's given space even when the attitude is not well-received.
But regardless of how he feels, the adopting plans just keep going. Pidsley sees the human making calls sometimes, always glancing at him while he does so. To this day no one came to pick him, so Pidsley is 'lucky' to not have to leave his home for now.
But again, that's not really a win, and he isn't sure he can keep calling this place his home any more.
Plans to try to convince the man to not do that had slowly faded as the days went by, as the idea settled that there was no way to turn things back now. The sheep, Bitzer and he will keep fighting; broken vases and scratches and all will keep happening. It's just how things have always been.
Pidsley just never thought how bad that could turn out to be for him.
oOo
Time is a dragging force, something which effects can't be stopped no matter how hard one tries.
Pidsley did try to nonetheless. His anger was not something he wanted to let slip easily now that it was so needed; but it still did, and by now all that has just turned into upsetness that only appeared when he thought about the situation. He doesn't have many reasons to do so nowadays.
He doesn't find himself caring for Bitzer getting more attention, the joy of pranking the sheep just isn't there any more, when they roam around the house he doesn't even bother. And the same goes the other way around. No one bothers him, no one laughs...he's only glanced at with pity now, some guilt maybe if the cat squints hard enough to see it.
Despite having sort of accepted things, Pidsley still dislikes being seen like that, still struggles to understand why him.
It's an unexpected sight in the field what suddenly gives a new perspective to it all.
Pidsley is walking near the bushes when he sees the farmer standing not far away in the field, half-eaten apple in hand and giving some instructions to the farm's sheepdog. At the smell of fresh fruit, the biggest sheep of the flock gets closer to ask for(if not try to steal) some. After a few failed attempts of shooing her away, the man ends giving up and giving her the rest of the apple.
Then the lamb comes closer too, and suddenly all the sheep are surrounding the man and he unexpectedly laughs at the sudden attention. At his side Bitzer chuckles as well. Pidsley feels a bitter taste in the back of his tongue at seeing the farmer petting each one fondly.
Leaving to avoid being spotted is a solution he opts to for a problem he has no idea what it is. The barn storage becomes his hiding spot at seeing its door open slight open, but finding that big picture there over the table does nothing but worsen the bad feeling building inside.
Everything in it is old, from the glass frame covered in dust to the actual content of the picture. The farmer has hair for starters; he looks young and oh-so-happy carrying the smallest lamb and pup on his arms, with the rest of the baby flock around him all looking at the camera.
Pidsley suspected, kind of knew, they all have been living there way longer than him. They are special. They are special and the reasons why they were chosen over him were obvious but he just didn't want to accept them. All of them have a place there that Pidsley will never get because he isn't going to live there any more, and he can't do anything about it while the rest just go on with their lives and it's unfair!
Pidsley's paw lifts, claws out ready to knock the frame off to shatter it in a thousand pieces against the floor-
But the cat brokenly sighs instead, his ears lowering as his paw barely makes contact with the glass—It's unfair...
Pidsley stays there for a while, doing nothing, saying nothing. In all that time, the sound of hooves leaving through the door also remains unheard on his ears.
oOo
Even knowing well that Pidsley is still angry at him, the farmer keeps trying to make amends. This time the attempt is simply offering the cat in the sofa a snack.
All curled up in the armchair, Pidsley barely glances at it without bothering to frown this time. When he turns his head, provoking the man leave with a sad grunt, the cat can feel Bitzer giving him a look from the other side of the room.
Like most things lately, Pidsley doesn't bother to acknowledge it either.
Bitzer isn't saying his thought out loud about this, as he should, but Pidsley still knows what kind of things are in his head. 'At least he's looking for a home for you', 'he still loves you', 'he just wants the best for you', blah, blah, blah. Pidsley knows.
At the sudden glare received, Bitzer clicks his tongue and roll his eyes in a more...tired than irritated-like-usual way, before going back to his novel. In the silence, Pidsley finds himself drumming his fingers on soft surface as he leans his cheek on his once-hurt paw. It's dumb, but something about recalling how the farmer had touched it with such worry back then brings a feeling to his chest he can't quite describe— It's not guilt, he has absolutely no reason to feel guilt.
At being unable to make it go away, he grunts and decides to go for a walk.
oOo
Those words that hadn't even been spoken, and some nice memories too, both stuck with Pidsley all the way until his return.
He finds himself not angry like expected, but insecure of going into the living room again when he hears snoring coming from there. With the damp light of the lamp Pidsley can see the man sitting on the sofa, already fast asleep. The cat takes a moment to stare in unusual deep thought. His paws, he notices, all have problems remaining still at being unsure of what he's going to do.
A few hours later, the farmer wakes with the company of his cat fast asleep leaning right at his side on the sofa. Pidsley gets woken up by a light petting on his back, and is surprised to see Bitzer stopping on his tracks in the hallway to blink at the scene. At the light teasing smirk of the dog, Pidsley feels the embarrassment go to his cheeks and he's quick to go back to pretending to sleep.
oOo
Everything seems normal in the house that night: the dark, his sofa, how cozy he is knowing the soon-to-be rain outside won't reach him...
The only difference is his pillow, which Pidsley feels move, which when he turns on the lamp he discovers it's not a pillow but a small sheep.
He frowns— the lamb of the bunch, a kid.
Those are two things he doesn't like in one and him being in his house interrupting his sleep is not something Pidsley wants to deal with right now. Just because he's decent enough to not be aggressive with a kid, he simply lets it pass and takes it to the door so it can leave.
The lamb just looks up at him, tilting his head and the pacifier sounding erratically in the middle of the silence. After pointing at the door and hissing don't work, Pidsley crossed his arms. With an annoyed huff, he carries the lamb on his arms at being forced to return him himself.
Once outside the barn Pidsley opens the door to find all the worried sheep(and dog) gathered in the middle of the place. The cat puts his thumb and index finger in his mouth to whistle loudly, and between all the widened eyes that look at him, it's the careless mother that steps out of the crowd to receive her lamb being left on the floor. The mushy reunion hug is ignored by Pidsley in order to give the ewe a warning nod(basically telling her he doesn't want to see the kid sneaking in the house again).
Pidsley turns around to return to the house then, but finds the surprise of the already gathered clouds deciding to break into rain at that moment. Pidsley feels the little amount of energy he had leaving him in a looong sigh.
The hoof that touches his shoulder is unexpected, as well as the sight of Shaun bleating and offering an old umbrella when the cat turn his head. They never do favours neither help each other—that was left clear that day Pidsley had to meow for hours to get help to get down from that electric pole— Pidsley doesn't know how to react to that besides of baffled blinking.
Shaun can only smile and shrug, still offering the purple object. The rest of the animals are behind the leader sheep looking at the cat expectantly as well. At the end, Pidsley takes it and mumbles something that can be interpreted as a 'thanks', before returning with the luck of not having to face the heavy rain.
Why he got helped? That's a mystery which only logical answer for him has to be the lamb. The sheep have always returned any prank or bad thing done against them without fail, maybe it worked the same way with favours.
...a good thing to know, but late to consider for the future now.
oOo
A man, elegant unlike any other the cat has ever seen, arrives at the farm not long after that raining day. Pidsley can't help but look at the man sitting so straight on the sofa as if it was an unmatching furniture there because he is. That man's grey moustache and impeccable golf outfit just scream he's a millionaire or something. What is he doing in a muddy farm? In that house? Talking with the farmer?
Business. As simple as that.
Pamphlets all over the coffee table, the constant bitten lip from the farmer basically screaming 'please accept the deal', and how Bitzer is running here and there to bring things make it obvious. Oblivious to any proper manners, Pidsley can't help but jump to stand on the armrest of the sofa to observe the stranger with curiosity.
The man looks at him, a tad surprised maybe, but not as scandalized as the farmer is. The stranger just chuckles and waves a dismissive hand when the farmer gestures to the cat to go away. When the man moves aside, Pidsley takes that as a signal that he can go curl down on his usual spot in the sofa which is right next to him. Pidsley feels a curious stare falling on him until the conversation returns to business seconds later.
It's not until he wakes up from his quick nap that Pidsley sees the visit is nearly over. Both men are shaking hands and the cat swears he can see money signs appearing in the farmer's eyes at the success of the deal. The stranger twirling his moustache with his fingers seems unaware of that.
Everything is fine until the farmer starts patting his jacket, back of his pants, all the possible pockets he has without success. He chuckles awkwardly at the arched brow of the other man and Pidsley has to give him a look because the pen is right over the table.
Just because Bitzer isn't there to point the obvious, Pidsley decides to do his human a favour and get up give him the object. Without even looking at his pet, the man releases an 'oh' and ruffles his hair, to which Pidsley frowns. This quickly changes to a soft, quick scratch under the cat's ear when the farmer realizes it was not Bitzer who lend him a paw this time.
Again, Pidsley feels the gaze of the stranger falling on him when he smiles at the short attention. He guesses maybe the man has never seen a cat walk in two before. The prideful feeling of having impressed a man of such status gets Pidsley to leave with a smile and his nose high in the air.
oOo
Pidsley knew the day would come, he just didn't expect it to be today.
He wouldn't have expected it at any moment honestly.
Whatever talk the farmer and the other man had between that day and his second visit some days later is a mystery, but if it led to this, Pidsley can already get an idea. Things like him being a nice cat, and the farmer looking for a home for him because 'the animals don't get along' should've been mentioned.
Whatever the case is, after the elegant man observed him closely—with Pidsley trying to look just as elegant with his chest puffed out of nervousness- and petted him a bit, a few minutes later his things were already packed and a car was waiting for him outside.
Pidsley stands on the door's house that bindle containing his things over his shoulder. He looks at the car not far away, red and vibrant and expensive-looking, then at both humans(one his new, the other his old) talking next to it. Sighing softly is the only reaction Pidsley manages to have.
Bitzer is there too, dusting his hands off and exhausted after having to carry all the merch bought to the car. He stops for a moment over the stone wall at noticing the cat, and the sheep, still unable to mind their business, peek their heads over the stone to observe the scene too.
They all have alike expressions, but heck if Pidsley knows what they are thinking. He himself is unable to describe how he's feeling right now.
Instead of ignoring them or hissing, Pidsley gets close to them. He looks at Bitzer, then at Shaun, both having puzzled gazes, and indicates with a paw for Shaun to stand in front of him.
After a moment of confused blinking, the leader sheep hesitantly complies after making sure the humans aren't watching. He awkwardly stands in two next to Bitzer, both unsure of what the cat with the blank expression will do. Pidsley knows this is the last time he'll see them probably. He can't quite explain it, but even with most of their interactions being bad, they are the animals he interacted the most there so there's this...need of having a last proper goodbye with them.
His definition of proper ends being kicking Shaun in the leg and proceeding to blow a raspberry at Bitzer. His way to say 'I still blame you, screw you guys' basically.
The gasps of everyone, bleats as Shaun jumps on his place grabbing his pained leg, and the reclaiming barks are all ignored as Pidsley gives them his back, paw lazily waving at them. While he walks towards the humans sighs are heard behind him, but sound more resigned than angry this time.
His new human is already inside the car when he arrives, twirling his moustache with his fingers and just waiting for everything to be ready to go. After dropping his package inside through the window, Pidsley jumps over the stone wall to looks at the farmer, and though he considers frowning to show him he still is a bit bitter over the adoption thing...he finds himself bumping his head against his arm to call his attention instead.
The sad smile the man directs him gets Pidsley to soften a little too. Though he smiles at being pet, he still wonders if that really is a proper goodbye.
Pidsley knows there could be animals watching, that he could look mushy, but doesn't get himself to care as he stands in two to give the man a hug. Though the farmer shows surprise at first, he doesn't take long to release an 'aww' and fondly return the gesture.
And with all that done the moment to finally leave comes. In the backseat, Pidsley sees the farmer waving goodbye, and the rest of the farm, his old home, all turning smaller as they drive away to an unknown place.
oOo
I know it makes sense for Pidsley to go with the farmer's niece buuut, like many fans, I don't like her xd If she didn't mistreat animals I would've thought about it but nah lil girl, you lost me with that. I also wanted to give Pidsley and the rest time to assimilate the cat of the farm was going to leave by delayind his departure, you know for the angst and to give room for their relationship to change a bit for the better, just a bit.
The man with the moustache at the end is the golfist man from season 4 ep 'Save the dump'. Him adopting Pidsley started as a joke I threw in the sts discord but I ended liking to the point it kind of inspired this fic lol What can I say? I like the character and judging by his interactions with the farmer in that ep I think those two are sort of recent friends at that point so yeah. I actually considered if I should think of another alternative that made more sense to adopt Pidsley, like the old lady for example, but you know what? This has been planned for a while, half of the chapter focused on Pidsley in his new home was already written and -link meme lifting Pidsley- It's my forgotten aardman character and I get to decide where he lives.
Again I know it doesn't make sense but I did my best to make it work, you'll see more of that and the final touches to Pidsley's ''redemption'' in the next chapter(hopefully it'll be good ;u;)