Guess who's back. Ya'll holiday gift is here. May ya'll have a wonderful, fun filled, next year while I go run in Wonderland killing the March Hare and Doormouse, finding he Mad Hatters limbs, sinking the Mock Turtle's boat and killing the Jabberwocky and the Queen and making Wonderland my own.
Ivan: Nothing to see here move along
~Mysterious Beast~
Newfound Information
Arthur just came back from his lunch break with Francis in tow. He saw a crowd of people forming in front of Alfred's and Amelia's habitat. Many people had their camera on video. He quickly ran into the crowd with Francis calling him. Arthur had to squeeze between people to get to the fence.
Below Alfred was towered over Amelia with his paw on her back. Arthur never grasped how the idea of the size difference between them. Alfred's paw almost covered Amelia's back. A thought went through Arthur's head: Alfred was fully grown how big would Amelia get. Arthur shook the thought off his head.
In one second Alfred scooped up Amelia on the top of his paws and threw her up in the air. Alfred stood on his hind legs to catch his daughter when she came down. To Arthur, and the rest of the crowd, it was a heartwarming but scary thought. Alfred was about the size of a Clydesdale Horse, and him standing on his hind legs made him looked more imitating than he already was.
Alfred a few more times of Amelia getting thrown up in the air Arthur realized it looked familiar. What Alfred was doing looked like a father throwing his child in the air. He stood there in awe with the rest of the crowd watching the scene. In one second that happy scene was broken.
Amelia twisted in the air making her move backwards. Alfred, who was still on his hind legs, backed up to catch his daughter, she flew backwards more than he anticipated. Alfred, in a split second decision, threw up on of his paws in the air. Amelia hit the paw and tumbled down into her father's other waiting paw. The sudden change in weight made Alfred loose his balance and tumble backwards. He landed hard on his back which made his head slam against the ground.
Alfred's tight hold on his daughter loosed when he hit the ground. Amelia jumped at her father's paws and tried to wake him. She pawed at his head and got no response. Bystanders could easily tell she was growing worried about not getting an immediate response out of her father. Amelia started to climb on her father in another attempt to get a response.
When Amelia got down she stood by her father's front paw with her head down. She started to whine with her tail tucked between her legs and ears down. Arthur was about to radio Kiku to close off the habitat before something exciting happened.
Alfred quickly grabbed Amelia to his chest. Amelia barked and started kicking her father's chest. Arthur could hear the entire crowd let out a sigh of relief. The little children laughed at the play between the father and his child. Arthur smiled a little when he saw the pair playing happily before walking off.
~Mysterious Beast~
The day passed slowly for Alfred. He hoped Amelia would calm down after his fall but after an hour she was back at it again. Alfred just watched Amelia run around from under a shady tree. Every now and again his daughter would get close and he would swat at her making her laugh.
When the zoo closed Amelia started getting riled up more. She was running back and forth in front of the door to go in. Kiku came and opened the door and Amelia darted in. The Japanese man had a look of confusion on his face as Alfred approached.
"She is excited to see Gupta." Alfred stated.
"Ah," Kiku said.
Alfred and Kiku followed after the hyper child down the corridor. Kiku opened the door to the zoo. Amelia darted out the door once it was high enough for her to slip through. Alfred had to wait for the gate to open high enough for him to pass. He lay down on the ground.
"Get on." Alfred said.
"I can run." Kiku responded.
"You can but not as fast as her. She has a good memory so she probably remembered the way. It would be easier for me to carry you."
"Alright," Kiku sighed in defeat. He grabbed onto the scruff of Alfred's neck and pulled himself up. "I trust you Alfred-san."
"Don't worry I know what I am doing. Hold on tight once I start moving. I don't want you falling off."
Kiku shifted himself so he was in the middle of Alfred's back, away from where the paws might get him. When Alfred felt Kiku was situated he stood to his full height. He started off in a walk but picked up the pace. He was soon running at full speed following the scent of his daughter. When the turns came he went wide.
Alfred knew when he was doing. Before the Europeans came his kind used to make packs with Native American. He had many humans in his lifetime so he had time to perfect his techniques. His first human was Standing Bear. They had many problems at first with hunting and gathering but the worst was riding. Standing Bear would always fall off but get right back on. In just a matter of months they were able to take down a buffalo.
Beasts like Alfred were not just used for hunting; they were intertwined in private life as well. The males in Alfred's species had a maternal instinct for some reason. They made excellent babysitter as well as trainers. When Standing Bear had children Alfred became a babysitter for the little terrors. When the males were old enough he taught them now to hunt and on their sixteenth birthday their own beast. The beasts were usually young so they were easier to train. When a beast's human dies they mourn for quite a while because they lost someone dear but after a few years they would try to find another.
"You alright back there." Alfred called.
"Hai, it is quite fun actually." Kiku responded.
"Just don't let go." Alfred mocked.
As he ran he saw Arthur's blond hair flash in the corner of his eye. He kept running until he caught up with his daughter. Amelia looked back and saw her father catching up and tried to move faster. Alfred stayed back to let Amelia lead him. Amelia turned and slowed down before stopping at a door so Alfred did the same.
"Alfred-san can you let me down now," Kiku said. Alfred bowed the front of his body so it allowed Kiku to slide off. "Go around to the other side and I will lift the gate over there"
"Alright," Alfred said before turning around and walking down the corridor.
Kiku slid his card through the slot and the door slid open. Amelia darted in with Kiku following her. Kiku walked to the gate and pressed the button to lift it. Alfred was already on the other side waiting to walk in. When the gate was raised high he walked in and followed his daughter. When she got to the gate leading to the habitat she was wagging her tail as fast as an Olympic runner with her body moving with it. Kiku pressed the button which made the gate open.
When the gate was open enough something attacked Amelia making her fall to the ground. Soon the fighting duo separated and ran into the habitat. Alfred stood in his toes confused on what just happened. Kiku mentioned for him to move forward so he did. There was barely any grass under his paws, just sand. To him it felt like he was on the beach.
"Kiku who is this?" A voice said from behind Alfred.
Alfred jumped around and got ready to fight.
Kiku jumped in front of Alfred with his hands up, "Calm down Alfred-san, this it Gupta's father."
"Sorry could never be too careful you know." Alfred said standing back up.
"I understand, can never be too careful around strangers." Muhammad said.
"It's nice to finally meet you…uh."
"My name is Muhammad and yours."
"Alfred." Alfred nodded his head.
Muhammad did the same action, "Let's walk to meet them in the front." He started moving.
Alfred followed the on the side of Muhammad with Kiku between them. The air was not tense or anything just relaxed as two giant beasts could be meeting each other for the first time. When they came to the front of the habitat there was another large Sphinx sitting under the shade of the one of only trees. Two bodies were twisting and turning in a ball not far from them.
"Let's hope they knock each other out. It will be easier to put her to bed tonight." Alfred said.
"Truth be told I have never seen Gupta play with another. He is usually is drawn into himself." Muhammad said lying down by the other Sphinx. "This is my wife Shakirah."
"That's a pretty name. What does it mean?" Alfred questioned sitting at the other end of the shade.
"It means 'one who is grateful'. What does Amelia mean?" Shakirah asked back.
"Well her name was picked out of a list her mother made; supposedly Amelia means 'angel' or 'industrial' in other sources."
"It's a pretty name for a pretty girl."
"Thank you."
The three adult creatures talked and watched the little ones play. Kiku had made himself comfortable leaning against Alfred while this went on. The duo wrestled in the clearing for a while then would stop until one would swat at the other's tail then it was back to square one. It seemed like the two would never break it off until someone stopped them. One time Gupta got a little too rough making Amelia give a painful cry. At the sound of his daughter in pain Alfred growled and was about to get up but a growl from Muhammad stopped him. That was really the only incident like that.
Playing between the two continued pass a few hours after the sun had set. The adults decided it was time for the kids to say goodnight so they could sleep. Shakirah herded the two sleepy children into the holding chamber in the back, which in turn collapsed over one another. Alfred used his muzzle to scoot Gupta off of Amelia so he could pick her up later.
"Thanks for having us, Muhammad, Shakirah." Alfred nodded.
"The kids seem to enjoy it, so much they wore themselves out." Muhammad said with a yawn, "It seems it has worn me out as well, I am not young as I was. Goodnight Alfred."
"Goodnight to you too, have a good night."
Alfred turned and picked up Amelia by the scruff of her neck. Kiku walked beside him and opened the large gate for him to get through. He had to lead Alfred back to the habitat. When they were back in the holding cages Alfred placed Amelia down on the hay that was laid in his cage.
"Goodnight, Kiku," Alfred said.
"Goodnight, Alfred." Kiku responded.
Amelia moved on her bedding, "Goodnight, Uncle Kiku."
"Goodnight, Amelia." Kiku said before walking away.
Alfred walked over to his daughter and curled around her. That is when he noticed she was warmer than usual. The temperature in the air did feel a little hot to him. Where he came from it was moderate to cold all year round. He knew there was a thermostat around on one of the walls. Not wanting to be deprived of sleep any longer he quickly got up and walked along the walls. Once he got to the end he spotted a worker.
"Hey." Alfred called out.
The employee turned around the most horrified look on his face, "W…wh…what?"
"It is too hot in here can you turn it down."
"Y…yes," The employee stammered.
"Thank you," Alfred turned around and headed back to Amelia.
The employee was shaken in his boots. He had just come across the most fearsome creature he had the privilege of being stuck with. Wanting to get out of the room he quickly ran over to where the temperature gauge was at. He lifted the plastic cover and just turned the dial down without bothering to look at how far he turned it. Quickly he turned on his heels and left the building without turning back.
~Mysterious Beast~
Arthur and Francis came into work at roughly the same time. In the morning all employees had a staff meeting to go over the rules about when the animals were taken out their habitats for interactions with the people. Arthur did not know that they did that with the animals. Talk about a close encounter.
The walk to his assigned post was nothing but blabber in his ear by Francis and one of his female coworkers. Arthur punched in his code and went straight inside. The moment he opened the door a blast of ice cold air hit him. He hugged himself as he walked to the cages, hearing others complain on how it was freezing. Inside he expected to find the two creatures he left yesterday but did not. The cage was empty and the door was open. He ran inside the cage and looked around franticly. When he moved over to the hay he saw two humans laying there.
One grown man and the other a young child were lying motionless, and lips blue. Both had a long tan skirt like clothing that reached the ends of their legs and torsos bare. Their hair was the same color as the beasts that were kept inside the cages last night. The older one had the younger one in a tight embrace against his chest. Both where not moving and breathing shallow.
The older one looked between eighteen and twenty. His blond hair was long and shaggy, much like the beasts. Fingernails were pointed and sharp. It looked like his body was built over years of working out and scars littered almost every visible part. The high cheek bones gave the man's heart shape face a rugged look.
The child looked about five or six. Arthur could not figure out the gender because the child was not old enough to tell by its chest. It had the same kind of long hair and fingernails like the older one. The child's tiny body was in the fetal position against the other's torso. The child was visibly shaking from the cold and trying to steal heat from the older.
All Arthur knew that something was wrong horribly wrong. They were barely breathing and their skin looked like ice. He had to get help.
~Mysterious Beast~
*covered in blood* The March Hare and Door Mouse are dead and the Hatter also time to sink a ship *evil smile*.
Ivan: *pushes Phantom into a closet and locks it* Now I just have to call the Insane Asylum to come and get her. I'm going to be doing this today for you all. Well those last few paragraphs give a little clue on what happens next chapter. How will our zoologist take this new information? What will be their reaction? I know but I am not telling. "Ask the Arthur when she is sane" is still going on. I blame work and deadlines all with lack of sleep. *Knife punctures the door right by head* and I'm going to run now. *runs around the house* Where is the damn phone?
Phantom: You can run but you can't hide rabbit.
