Chapter 41: Howlers
Several weeks go by, as Peter prepares for his pack. We all return to the precinct, and Clawhauser squeals at seeing the new additions. They go play on a corner of the mats, while we do our routine. About halfway through Scott come over and starts to do the routine with us. Elisabeth and Justin not to be out done, come over and join us. They fall down a lot, and soon have everyone in stitches at their antics. I pit mom against Fangmyer, and they fight to a draw. Mom use to beat her. Fangmyer just walks away with a smug look on her face. I think it's time for some new lessons for her.
"Are you Ready Love"? "Vivian I'm as nervous as the day I asked you out". "Oh, that's bad, do you need a hug"? "Well I could do with more than a hug, but I don't think we have enough time". "Peter you are incorrigible". Peter laughs, "yes, I am. Scott you ok in there son"? "Yes dad, it's nice and comfy". Peter picks up the pup carrier, and they all head for the door.
They drive to the Howler compound and don robes before they get out of the car. All that can be seen of Peter and Vivian are the ends of their muzzles sticking out of their hoods. Barry meets them at the door, and leads them to the council chambers. Peter looks around and spots many family members he recognizes, and he has to hold back a tear. They wait as family business is conducted first. Peters just holds Vivian's hand. Eventually business completed, they turn to new matters.
Barry steps to the middle of the floor. "Dad, I bring a petitioner to the floor, who wishes to join the Howler pack". "Petitioner step forward". Barry steps back, and Peter steps forward. "What can you offer the pack"? "I am a doctor, and the head of pediatrics at Mercy General". Many mammals get a look on their faces as Peter Speaks. "I bring my wife and son as well". Perry gets a look on his face of disbelief. "Please remove your hood, so we can look at you".
Peter grabs the seams of his robe, and in one fluid motion, pulls it off and drops it to the floor. "O.M.G. PETER". With that Perry is across the room in two bounds and knocks Peter to the floor. He Kisses up one side of Peter's muzzle and down the other, whining the whole time. He then starts to scent mark every part of Peter he can reach.
"Ahh, Perry this not very dignified for a pack leader". "Don't care, Peter I'm so sorry". "Hush brother, all is forgiven". Peter reaches up and feels the scars on Perry's Neck. "I was told you paid dearly already for what happened". "Peter, we thought you were dead, dad said you were". Perry helps Peter up. "I damn near was". Peter undoes his shirt and shows the three parallel scars on his chest. "Dad gave me these, he wanted to kill me".
"Peter…" "Perry we will talk later, but first I would like to introduce my wife". With this Vivian removes her robe. "Perry, I would like to introduce my wife Vivian, and the mother of our son, Scott". Peter reaches down and undoes the latch on the carrier. "Scott son, you can come out now". "Can't dad, scared". Peter squats down and opens his arms. "Come Scott, I will hold you". Scott shoots out of the carrier, and into his father's arms. Peter stands up and turns around to his brother.
Scott clings tight to his father and looking with one eye, stares at the mammal in front of him. "Son, I would like you to meet my brother, your uncle Perry, can you say hello"? In his high squeaky he says, "hello uncle". Perry is floored, and takes a few to collect himself. Vivian steps forward and cuddles into Peters side. "God Peter he's cute, how old is he"? Scott pipes up, "I'm five and a half." "He seems kind of small for his age". "Ah, Perry he meant months. He was born January 17th this year". Again, Perry is at a loss for words. Scott lifts his head off of his dad's chest and looks around. He can feel no animosity towards him. "Can you put me down dad"? "All right son, but no wandering off". Scott just stands up and holds onto Vivian's paw.
Just then, the oldest female dog comes over. "Hi mom", says Peter as he hugs her. They both start to cry, "I knew you weren't dead Peter, and I can understand why you stayed away". "I didn't know that dad had declared me dead, though he did try to kill me". "I know son, in one of his fits of rage he told me, he was trying to hurt me, but I just knew". They cry for a bit more when he feels a hug come around him from behind.
"Hi sis", he lets go of his mom, and turns around to hug his sister. "How did you know it was me"? "I may have been gone for a long time, but your unique scent is still in my memory. Mom, Beth I would like you to meet my wife Vivian, and our son, Scott". They both hug Vivian, and looking down, seeing Scott, they are shocked at his color. "Peter he's adorable", says his mom picking him up. She kisses him, and scent marks him. "Scott, son, my mom is holding you. And this lady over here is your aunt Beth". Scott flips his tail up, and shyly hides behind it. "Wow, that is one fluffy tail, and long too". "Well, he does have his mother's genes as well".
Rita, Peters mom, puts Scott down, Scott looks around and sees the brightest heart fire, and heads that way. He grabs her leg, when he comes near. Sasha reaches down and picks him up. "So, who are you little one? I haven't seen you around before". "I'm Scott, Peters son". Terry hugs his wife, "look at him, he's a hybrid". Sasha holds him up and has a good look at him. She starts to cry, as she hugs him close. Scott scent marks her as she cries. Terry takes Scott, and with the other paw hugs his wife. Scott then scent marks Terry as Well. Terry just smiles, and puts Scott on the floor. Scott walks back to him mother and holds her paw.
"So, Peter, why did you come back now"? "Well Beth a wise son in-law told me, that the hardest thing he ever had to do was to seek forgiveness, and I came to realize that I needed to forgive as well. And I couldn't do that without coming back. My life didn't seem complete without my family, and I had been a lone wolf for so long, that when love presented its self to me, I jumped at the chance. My wife loves me, and I love her, and our expression of love culminated in our son here. But part of my life was still missing, I still love you all, even after all dad did to me". The rest of the family moves in, and a group hug insures. Someone howls with joy, and the whole pack joins in.
Peter and Vivian stay for the evening meal, there is light banter, but Peter can see the question coming. "Peter so what happened"? "Well the accident you know, and my time in the coma, but what you don't know was I was aware of my surroundings for about a week, before I was able to move again. Barry laid an action figure in my paw, and left. I spent the rest of that day just trying to close my paw on it. I had almost given up hope, but about midnight I closed my paw on it. I fell asleep clutching that figure".
"When I woke up the next morning, I could open my eyes and look around. I shocked the day nurse by asking for water. I regained the use of my body about noon the next day, but I was as weak as a new born pup. Dad came in the next morning, he was in one of his moods. He welcomed me back into the pack, and I told him to take a flying **** at a rolling donut. I would never be part of a pack that he was leader of. I called him a hypocrite, and a S.O.B. He had been raising his voice, and the nurse called security. Dad raised his right paw, and slashed me across the chest. I was two weak to defend myself. He raised his paw again to slash me across the throat, when the two security guards grabbed him and stopped him. They asked me if I wanted to press charges, I told them no, no father of mine would ever do that to one of his sons. As he got to the door he turned around and said to me", "your dead to me boy, you hear, dead".
"It was a week before I could reactivate my phone number, but no one from the family called. I felt lost and forgotten. I spent an intensive four months in rehab, but not one call came from my family. I became bitter, and swore that if my family didn't want me, I didn't want them. I didn't know that dad told you all, that I was dead. Why would you call a dead mammal's line"?
"So, from that point, I put all my energy into my job. I became, in the truest sense of the word a lone wolf. Then about two years ago this burnt umber flower appeared in my life, and I realized I wanted to live again, I wanted to love again, and she said yes". Vivian blushes at this, several of the females just went Ahh. Peter leans over to her and drags her into a passionate kiss, it's hard to drag the willing.
"So, tell us about your son". Peter looks over at his son sleeping in his mother's lap. "What's to tell? He was conceived and carried in the conventional way, and born in January. He is a bit smarter than a normal pup his age, but he appears to be in good health". "Peter, he's well advanced for his age, most of my pups didn't start talking till about 18 months". "I should mention he is house broken as well. His abilities are normal for his nieces and nephew's, so I don't think it's abnormal".
"He has nieces and nephews"? Vivian pipes in. "Yes, my son has 7 biological kits, and four adopted kits. Two of them were born the same night as Scott". "Wow, your house must be chaotic". "Not really the nine older ones are very independent, and help to look after the younger ones". "How old are the older ones"? "They just had their fourth birthday". "Their four, and independent"? "Well yes, we can't talk about it, as ZCIA the have a classification stamp on it". "Wow, this gets stranger and stranger". Vivian pulls out her phone and passes it around, showing pictures to every one. "They seem a little different". "They are, they are fox and bunny hybrids". "Wait are you telling us that a fox and a bunny had kits"? "Yes, I am. The two youngest were conceived and carried by their mother, and born just before Scott". Sasha starts to cry and leaves the table; Terry follows his wife out.
"So, your son married a bunny"? "Yes, my son Nickolas Wilde married his partner Judy Hopps". "Wait, are you telling us that the first fox cop married the first bunny cop"? "Well yes, they did". "Dad, Judy and I went through the academy together, she helped me over some rough patches. Without her, I don't think I would be a cop today". "So, she was the one you were sweet on". Barry blushes, and several others just snicker. "Yes dad, but I knew it could never go anywhere, unless I wanted to leave the pack, and I didn't want to leave, so I chose to work at precinct 3". Perry just hugs his son. Stacie hugs her son as well.
"So, Peter will you be moving into the compound"? "Sorry Perry, I live down town, and I won't be leaving the place I live now". Perry deflates a bit. "But you are always welcome to visit". "And where would you be living"? "I live at 100 Harris St". "Wow, that's very exclusive, how can you afford that"? "I can't, but I know the owners of the building, and they let me live there rent free. Barry and Vivian Start to laugh, and they have a hard time stopping. Peter just smiles at his own joke. Perry gets a puzzled look on his face. "When you come to visit brother, I will explain it then".
It was an interesting night, Peter positively glowed when they came in the door, Scott ran across the room and pounced on Elisabeth, he let out a growl, which came out more like a stutter. Elisabeth just giggled and laughed. Justin then pounced on him, and both Justin and Elisabeth wrestled him to the ground and start to tickle him. "All right guys, bed time". We all let out with a sigh, "ahh, mom", "don't ah mom me, move or you will get the dad treatment". We all scramble to get to our rooms; we remember dad's sore butt cheek. "Dad looks up, does that go for me too"? "Quiet Wilde or your next". "YES, Ma'am". Dad and mom just smile at each other.