Springlily leads us north, towards a glade of tall, dark trees. The trees are surrounding a clear river. Taisley and I follow Springlily to the tallest, thickest tree. It has gnarled roots on the bottom, with a hole in between them. We enter through the hole.
Taisley and I see a gathering of weasels. There are young and old alike. The oldest of the old, whom we presume to be the clan elders, are seated on some rocks higher up than the rest. We hear the clan's murmuring their surprise. Springlily steps closer to the clan elders. "Old ones, this is Buck and his mate, Taisley. They come trying to find his parents, Johnathan and Roseline. They left him as a newborn kit because of the prophecy that you gave back then," Springlily explains.
The elders seem surprised. "We wanted ya dead because we believed that ya would get us all killed. However, we found out that 't was someone else entirely. Please, forgive us fer our misdeeds," the elders bow their heads in shame.
"Oh! I forgive ya. But…where's mom an' dad?" I ask.
"Come wi' us. Yer parents are in their cavern wi' yer older siblings an' younger siblings," the elders explain.
"I 'ave siblings?" I gasp, surprised.
"That ya do," the elders answer. Springlily stays in the main cave while the elders lead Taisley and I towards my family.
When we get to the cavern, the elders enter it. They have us wait outside. Soon, though, the elders summon us inside. Taisley and I see six weasels total. The two oldest step up. "Buck, my son, is 't really you?" My mother asks.
"Yeah, mom. It's me…" I answer. My mother comes forward. She takes me into her arms and holds me tight. I feel tears escaping my left eye. I bury my face into mom's fur to hide my tears.
"Oh, Buck, don't cry," mom strokes my head fur.
"I…I can't 'elp 't…I…I missed ya…I didn't know wot 'appened ta ya…" I whimper.
"I know an' 'm sorry. We just wanted ta keep ya safe," mom whispers into my ear.
"I know, mom. I know," I say as I pull myself away from mom. I wipe the tears away from my left eye.
"Buck, this is yer fathah, Johnathan. Over there are your older sistah an' brothah, Marie an' Thomas. There's also yer younger sistah an' brothah, Lily an' Timothy." Mom introduces the rest of my family, pointing to each in turn.
My father comes forward. "Buck, I can't even begin ta express 'ow much we missed ya," he begins.
"I…I missed ya too, from th' moment I was told I was adopted," I reply.
"I only 'ave one question. 'ow is 't that ya 'ave th' same accent as us if ya weren't around us very long? Did yer foster parents speak like us?" Father asks.
"No. I guess I speak like this because I was around ya just long enough fer my brain ta remembah th' accent subconsciously," I try to answer.
"Well, no matter. We love ya all the same," father continues. Both mother and father hug me. I hug them back, smiling and burying my face in their fur as I take in the feeling of being a part of a family again.
The rest of my family come up to embrace me. My smile widens at the realization that I now have a complete family of my own. Taisley clears her throat. "Oh! Sorry! Mom, dad, everyone, this is Taisley. She's my…um…my mate," I introduce Taisley.
"Well…congratulations, son!" Dad claps me on the back.
"Hey! Are ya expectin' any kits, yet?" Mom asks. She has a sly smile on her face as if she expects the answer to be yes.
I blush at her question. "Mom! No, not yet!" I answer. It's clear that I'm embarrassed. My face is beet red. I've even started to fidget, my fingers twitching with unease.
"Awww! Is li'l bro embarrassed?" Thomas teases me with a laugh. He has a different kind of look, a smirk that I don't quite like.
"Quit that!" I glare at him. "'m no' some li'l kit! 'm as big as ya! Mebbe bigga!" I growl slightly.
"Hey! 'kay! I was only teasin'! Sheesh! No wonder mom an' dad gave ya away!" Thomas whispers the last part under his breath.
Even so, my sensitive hearing picks it up. I lower my ears, pain clear in my single eye. Soon anger takes the place of that pain. "That does 't!" I yowl. I lunge at my brother, surprising him, as I tackle him to the ground. He hurt me! I intend to hurt him back! I'm rolling around on the ground, clawing and biting Thomas. I feel his claws rake down my side. I yelp slightly, before continuing to bite him.
I feel strong paws pulling me off Thomas. "Stop this at once!" I hear my father's stern voice.
I stop fighting. I look to see that Marie is holding tightly onto Thomas. I look at my parents, my ears pressed against my head again. "'m sorry 'bout that," I mumble the apology to my parents.
"No, we're sorry. 't wasn't all yer fault. After all, wot Thomas said was quite 'urtful. Thomas, apologize, now," my parents order my older sibling.
"'m sorry," Thomas mumbles. At the sight of my father's nod, he turns around and scurries off.
I turn to my parents. "I kinda came from a place where if somethin' 'urts ya, ya 'ave ta 'urt 't back. Otherwise, I woulda died before," I explain, pointing to my eye patch.
"Oh! Wot was that place?" Mom asks.
"Well…after th' ones that took me in told me that I was adopted, I ran off. I…I was angry wi' them because they lied ta me an' nevah told me that I was adopted before then. After I ran off, I found my way ta an underground world full of dinosaurs. Ya would nevah believe this, but 't was a dino that took me eye! 't was a 'uge white dino that I called Rudy! 'e slashed 'is claw across my eye. I ran up a tree an' tied a leaf patch over 't. Rudy came an' closed 'is mouth around me. I was in 'is throat! I climbed up an' grabbed onto that dangly pink thing in 'is throat. I used 't ta swing outta 'is mouth! I knocked one of 'is teeth out. I used that tooth ta make this knife, 'ere," I show my family my knife.
My parents seem amazed by my tale. "Did 't 'urt a lot?" Mom asks.
"Well…I'd be lyin' if I didn't say 't did. I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't spend some time cryin' after that. 'm only glad that my right eye socket can't make tears anymore, or that woulda 'urt quite a bit more!" I answer.
"Will ya stay 'ere wi' us?" Mom asks.
"I…I can't…I already 'ave a home wi' an odd li'l herd. I say odd because th' herd is made up of two mammoths an' their baby, two possums, a sloth, an' a Saber. They're my greatest friends. I can't leave 'em…" I trail off, my head lowered.
"Then…we'll go wi' ya…if that's alright…" Dad says, before looking at me.
I nod my head. "Of course! I'd love that!" I smile.
"'kay, then. Marie, do ya want ta come wi'?" Mom asks.
"Of course I'll come!" Marie nods her head.
"I'll ask Thomas. He's old enough ta make 'is own decisions," Dad goes inside to find Thomas.
Dad reappears with Thomas behind him. "That's settled, then. We'll all go as a family," dad announces. Taisley smiles at my eager expression.
We head back to the main cave to find Springlily still there. "Hello! I just stayed long enough to see you again, Roseline. It's been so long! But now, I must return to my own mate and kit. Maybe, we will see each other around," Springlily smiles.
"Maybe we will. Goodbye, Springlily!" My family, Taisley, and I call our farewells as we watch Springlily disappear over the hills. Taisley and I begin to lead my family on the journey home.
As we are travelling, I decide to walk right beside my parents. I hadn't seen them since I was a baby and I missed them a lot. They know, of course. I already told them. Mom can clearly see all of my emotions by how I'm glancing at them. She puts her left arm around my shoulders and hugs me tightly. "I know ya missed us. We missed ya, too, each an' every day. We love ya, Buck," mom kisses my forehead.
"I love ya, too. 'ey! We're almost there! I can't wait ta introduce ya ta th' others!" I squeal almost like a kit, causing my parents to laugh, as we scramble through the snow towards the cave.
When we get inside, the whole herd is playing with Peaches. They turn at the sound of our approach. "Buck! Taisley! You're back! Who're they?" Ellie asks.
"Guys, these are my parents, Johnathan an' Roseline. Those are also my older sistah and brothah, Marie an' Thomas, as well as my younger sistah an' brothah, Lily an' Timothy. Mom, dad, this is th' herd. Manny an' Ellie an' their baby, Peaches, are th' mammoths. Sid th' sloth, Crash an' Eddie th' possums, an' Diego th' Saber," I introduce everyone.
"'e won't eat us, right?" Lily asks in a scared little voice.
"No, of course no'. 'e only eats gazelle an' such. We're too small ta make a good meal," I answer while ruffling Lily's headfur.
My siblings get closer to my herd members and start conversing with them. I sit beside Taisley and watch the display. My parents come over to us. "So, this is yer herd," dad begins.
"Yup! They're my closest friends! So, do ya like 'em?" I ask.
"That we do, Buck. We love ya," mom replies while hugging me.
"I love ya, too, mom," I hug mom back while saying these words.
A moment later, though, a frown takes the place of a smile on my face. Mom notices, naturally. "Wot's wrong?" Mom asks, her voice full of concern.
"I…I just…I missed ya, an'…" I mumble, feeling tears begin to form. I bite my lip and look down.
Mom and dad both embrace me. I sniffle and bury my face in mom's fur as my tears begin to fall. Mom strokes my headfur in an attempt to soothe me as I cry. When my tears slow down, I pull myself away from my parents. Before I can even wipe the tears away, mom takes my face between her paws. "Oh, Buck, we missed ya too! I can't even tell ya 'ow heartbroken we were that we 'ad ta give ya up. We thought 'bout ya each an' every day!" Mom kisses the remaining tears from my face.
Dad hands me a tissue. I dry my eye and blow my nose in it before disposing of it outside. "Thanks. I…I love ya," I whisper as I hug my parents again.
"We love ya too, Buck," mom and dad both reply as they hold me in another loving embrace. There, we remain, reunited after so many years. Now, I know that I finally have a family. Things couldn't be better!