The Pack
Disclaimer: The characters of this story are hereby disclaimed…
Chapter 23 (ooo scary number!)
I was making my way towards the wild cats exhibits when people from around me started to ask me all of these weird questions. It was starting to aggravate me because I definitely didn't want any extra attention.
"How did you do that?"
"Are you a dog whisperer?"
"Can you do it again so my daughter can see?"
I growled inwardly before snapping. "If you people don't stop hounding me, I'm going to start throwing punches. Get away from me! I'm not here for your entertainment. I'm on a fucking field trip so I'd like it if you'd BACK OFF!" I lunged myself forward for emphasis and smiled when the people realized how obnoxious they were being.
When all of the people dissipated I frowned when there was one person left.
John…
"You are by far the coolest person I've ever met. Can we be friends?" John asked.
"No, sorry…" I said and took my chance to escape. I took a sharp turn and sprinted off in that direction, using all of the skill I had learned from my pack. I could hear him running after me so I turned another corner and hid in the trees in bushes. I stayed low to the ground and became silent.
I watched as he looked around for me. After a couple of minutes, he disappeared somewhere and I moved to stand. I would have to keep an eye out for him.
"Wow, you really wanted to get away from that guy…" I turned to see a woman smiling at me.
I smiled. "Yeah, crazy ex-boyfriend." I said before dusting myself off and heading towards the entrance.
I love how fun it is to track you down. Though I must say it was a little difficult with all the odd smells here. I smiled when I heard Squall's voice in my ear.
I turned around to see Squall right behind me. I was surprised to see him wearing the baseball cap from my bedroom.
It's easier to keep a low profile wearing this hat instead of the one I usually wear.
I nodded and took his hand. "You have to see this Squall… I can't believe that I would find them here." I said.
When we got to the wolf exhibit, it seemed that everything had quieted down. The zoo employee must have moved on to another task, as she was not situated on the boulder in the exhibit.
This is outrageous. How did you get in here?
I figured Squall was speaking to the Loup Garou in the exhibit. It seems that the female Loup Garou blocked me from their conversation. It was understandable because she still didn't trust me.
'How are we going to get them out of here?' I wondered.
It'll be a slightly long process. The truth is, the only way you are going to get out of this cage is if you're dead. Luckily… playing dead is another one of our crafty abilities.
'Wow, I didn't know that.' I thought, intrigued.
I had forgotten about it… there aren't many times when any of us have to use it.
I nodded. 'So they're going to have this sudden death and their going to be dragged out of the exhibit…' I thought.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure when animals die at the Zoo they're transferred somewhere for an examination. It's at the point of transfer that's important. The timing has to be perfect.
I nodded. 'Do we need anything?' I wondered.
Yeah… clothes. Larxene and Hayner need to look like humans. Do you think we could borrow some of yours and your mother's clothes?
'Yeah… should I go get them?' I asked.
Nope. Zack's opening your bedroom window at this very moment. He'll be here with the clothes in about five minutes.
'When should they start their scene?' I asked.
Squall didn't have to tell me because I suddenly heard Larxene and Hayner howl as if they were in pain.
Hayner seemed to stumble and trip as he moved. Larxene seemed to drag herself to the pond where she vomited and collapsed. Hayner howled again before hitting the ground seeming to gasp for air. It really looked like they were dying.
It's just an act… they're perfectly fine. Squall's voice reassured.
I nodded and watched with a cringe as Hayner appeared to take his last breath. They both laid in the exhibit; their eyes were wide open… but there was no life in them.
People started to crowd the wolves exhibit staring at them like they were some sort of attraction. I growled in anger. It was just wrong… would they have wanted crowd to just sit and watch them die? No they wouldn't… it was disgusting.
Here they come. Squall's voice alerted. They're going to close the Zoo.
"Attention all customers, the Zoo is now closing due to an emergency in one of the exhibits. All customers please head towards the exits. All employees please escort all customers towards the exits." The announcer's voice sounded throughout the entire Zoo.
We have to hide. Zack's already hidden… we should hide with him. Squall's voice spoke and he quickly moved towards the entrance.
'Where's Zack hiding?' I asked.
He's in the plant area near the gift shop. There's enough space for us. Once everyone leaves, we have to move in the camera blind spots.
I nodded and he and I slid into the trees and hunkered down next to Zack. He was holding a duffle bag and I smiled.
'I'm guessing my parents weren't home. I think it would have been hilarious if my mother caught you shifting around in her underwear drawer.' I yipped.
Zack yipped in response. I'm Loup Garou.
'And?' I wondered.
That means we don't get caught. Zack and Squall's voices rang simultaneously in my ears.
I yipped again but quieted when some employees passed.
I hear the truck pulling up to the wolf exhibit. I heard Zack's voice.
'We should get moving then, right?' I asked.
They nodded and Squall took my hand. We moved through the plant area's with little problems. Most of the employees were located at the wolf exhibit.
Zack. Squall's voice sounded.
You don't have to ask. I love being the diversion. Zack's voice sounded excited.
I watched as he walked up to the employees. "Wow, two wolves just kicked the bucket? I think you guys are at fault." I heard Zack say.
About ten employees set off in pursuit of Zack, who was already running around like a wild animal.
I would have laughed but it would have blown our cover.
There were five employees left supervising the bodies being loaded onto the truck.
Squall growled. There's been a change of plans… we'll have to get them out when the truck is on the move. Zack just leave the Zoo… we're going to follow the truck.
Got'cha! I smiled at the sound of Zack's voice.
When the bodies were loaded, the employees latched the door and the truck moved down the pathway to a back exit.
Squall and I waited for the employees to move before following the truck. When we reached the back entrance, I spotted the truck moving out of the parking lot. We left through the exit but still needed to be careful of cameras.
I sighed when we were finally out of that Zoo. We entered the woodsy area that lined the right side of the street.
I need you to get on my back. Squall's voice rang in my ears.
'Huh?' I asked.
"I need to catch up to that truck. Zack is already trailing it." Squall said and I just did as I was told.
Squall started running and I was amazed at how fast we were going. I growled.
'So this whole time, you were going easy on me… are you kidding me? And I thought I had the ability to keep up with you!' I thought.
Squall yipped. Sorry, love.
I watched as we passed up the truck. Squall came to a halt and put me down. "Just stay here." He said and ran off.
I sat and looked out into the street. This must have been a back road that only delivery trucks used.
I gasped when I saw the truck pass. Squall was hanging off the back of it. I ran up a little to watch as he unlatched the truck. He jumped off and the two wolves inside the truck jumped out and ran into the wood area I was in. Zack ran up to me and smiled.
"Squall is too good at what he does." Zack said with a laugh and we walked over to the Loup Garou.
"Here's your clothes, don't forget the hats!" Zack said.
"So, I'm guessing Squall went to close the latch on the truck door so it looks like nothing happened?" I asked.
"Yep." Zack said.
"We're free…" I turned to see a blond woman smiling at the trees around us.
"Like you should be." I said with a smile.
Larxene glared at me. "It was your kind that captured us in the first place." She snapped.
"Cloud is one of us, Larxene!" Zack barked in my defense.
"Mom… he even smells like us." Hayner said and I smiled at him.
Hayner was really adorable. He looked like a fifteen year-old but I bet he was much younger.
"I'm seven." He said with a smile.
"I really can't wait to introduce you to the pups at the clearing. I'm glad Sora will finally have an opponent that can beat him." I said.
"Yeah! I want to meet them. I never have anyone to wrestle with! Can we meet them, Mom? Please!" Hayner begged Larxene with a whine.
Larxene sighed but nodded. "I need some time to figure out what we're doing form here, anyway." Larxene said.
-The Pack-
We all made our way to the clearing. Squall caught up with us and I was happy to see that everything was fixed.
When we got to the clearing, I smiled when I had three pups run towards me. I knelt down and patted their heads.
I jumped when Lerxene suddenly yelled, "YUU!" I turned to see her running towards me, looking as if she had seen a ghost.
Then suddenly I was pushed out of the way and Larxene was holding Zell tightly. I watched as Zell wiggled out of her hold.
What the hell was going on? I watched Larxene in confusion before seeing Sora and Kairi run to Riku.
I don't know, but I don't think I like it. Squall's voice sounded in my head as he helped me up from the ground.
"Don't you remember me, Yuu? Do you not recognize your own mother?" Larxene asked the pup. Zell looked completely terrified and confused. Larxene kept grabbing him Zell would struggle to get away from her. When he whimpered in fear I felt my anger rise.
"Excuse me? His name isn't Yuu, it's Zell." I said firmly.
Suddenly, Larxene was advancing with a murderous look on her face. "YOU TURNED MY OWN SON AGAINST ME!" she screamed. Zack and Hayner had to hold her back from attacking me. "YOU DID THIS! THIS IS YOUR FAULT, YOU FILTHY HUMAN!" She thrashed and screeched.
I figured that Zack and Hayner would keep her under control. I moved over to Zell ran to meet me.
Mommy, what's going on? Who is that lady? She wouldn't stop grabbing me! Zell whimpered and I kissed him on the head before telling him to go to Riku. Squall started to direct the pup towards the cautious looking black wolf and sent me sent me a feeling of reassurance that Zell would be safe.
Zell looked over at Larxene with an alamed look before turning into a human. "She smells like she wants to kill you, mommy!" Zell yelped.
"WHAT DID HE JUST CALL YOU? YOU ARE NOT HIS MOTHER YOU SICK PIECE OF SHI-"
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" Xemnas' voice boomed throughout the clearing and everyone immediately stopped what they were doing due to the sheer power in his tone.
"I get a message from Squall saying that we found two outsiders in a Zoo, and though I welcome my brothers and sisters to take refuge here, I will not have this anarchy in my pack. You will either obey my order or you can leave!" Xenmas roared pointing his last order at Larxene who was no longer screaming or trying to attack me.
But she had tears in her eyes. "That is my son, I would never forget the scent of my own child… even though it has been soiled by you! You may say that you're his mother but he can feel that the blood running through his veins is mine! He'll leave you soon enough!" she said with a calm vehemence that cut me like knives.
I returned the tone in kind. "Zell is a child of this pack, no matter where he came from, his family is here! And I won't have an outsider of this pack trying to convince him otherwise!" I almost hissed at her. I had never felt such a deep rage towards someone in my entire life. I actually had to leave the clearing in order to prevent myself from attacking the female.
Squall followed me out and I immediately started to run. I didn't care where I was going to but I found myself stopping at the sacred trees, tears of rage flowing freely from my eyes as I whipped back to look at Squall.
"HOW DARE THAT SHE-WOLF SAY THAT TO MY SON! WHO THE FUCK DOES SHE THINK SHE IS! I DON'T CARE IF SHE WAS THE ALPHA OF THE FUCKING UNIVERSE, SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO ATTACK MY ZELL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT! HER SON? OH HELL NO! IF SHE IS THE WOLF THAT GAVE BIRTH TO ZELL, SHE RELINQUISHED THE RIGHT AS HIS MOTHER WHEN SHE FUCKING ABANDONED HIM AND LEFT HIM TO BE SOLD AT A FUCKING PET SHOP!" I screamed with rage, picking up a large stick off the ground and started swinging it around to vent my anger.
"THAT BITCH CANNOT CLAIM HIM AFTER ALL OF THAT! SHE CAN'T JUST WALTZ IN AND TAKE HIM BACK LIKE HE'S SOME SORT OF OBJECT AT A PAWN SHOP! I WON'T HAVE IT! I WON'T HAVE THAT WHORE COME IN AND TRY TO RIP MY FAMILY APART! ZELL IS OUR SON! WE SAVED HIM AND PROTECTED HIM AND WE WILL NEVER ABANDON HIM! SHE IS NOT HIS MOTHER! I AM! I'M THE ONE WHO BARED THE PAINS OF ZELLS TRANSFORMATION AND I RIGHTFULLY EARNED MY TITLE. HE CALLS ME, MOMMY AND NO AMOUNT OF BLOOD WILL CHANGE THAT! I'M ZELL'S MOTHER, DAMNIT!" I threw the stick to the ground and it snaped in half at the force of my throw. With a sob, I leaned against one of the sacred trees before sinking to the ground in agony.
"I won't have that bitch hurting my son. Did you see the look on his face? Zell was terrified and confused and she completely ignored his feelings! She didn't even think about how he might feel after seeing the supposed mother that abandoned him suddenly grabbing him and bombarding him. He had just found a family that loves him and I don't want him to go back to that home-wrecker just because of some meaningless blood ties!" I cried and sobbed. I watched as Squall changed into a wolf before curling around me. He nuzzled my face in an attempt to comfort me.
"I don't want my baby feeling like the bonds he made in our pack are meaningless now that he's met someone who shares his blood. I'll be damned if our spiritual bonds are broken by a concept so overrated like sharing blood." I sniffled calming down after my temper tantrum. I was just so angry, I didn't know what to do.
I agree with you, Cloud. She is not his mother and therefore not his family. Though blood connections are something that Loup Garous feel, Zell isn't the kind of wolf that would abandon the people he knows and loves for a blood connection that never really developed. If he's learned to be anything like his mother, he wouldn't even contemplate leaving his family. Squall's voice said and I smiled.
'You're right.' I thought to him.
I'm always right. Squall thought with a low rumble in his chest.
I stood and took a breath. 'I think it's time I spent some time with my kids. Hopefully they are playing nicely with Hayner.' I thought with a smile and picked up Squall's colthes that he had discarded in order to change.
Squall nuzzled and licked my hand. I love you and our family.
I smiled wider and nodded. 'Me too.' I thought.
As we walked back to the clearing, I thought about how these outsiders might change us, but they would never break us. Axel's pack may have come reaking havoc, but in the end, all of the pack was sad to see them leave. I would just have to consider this the same way.
By the end of this, I would have a stronger family, without a doubt.
A/N: I am really sorry about how long this has taken. For those who read my other fics, another chapter of Without a Sound has been already been posted and I'm starting up a new Fire chapter today. Oh, and if you are wondering about Cloud's school, I will get to that next chapter.