In a small office on the circus grounds a brown haired human sat in his office staring at his red top hat; next to it laid three knives."We need something...new." He sighed openly as he picked up one of the knives and threw at a dart board on the wall.
He gaze shifted to his orange simian companion."It's a shame you sprained your ankle, People loved your show a month ago" The orangutan smiled. He threw another at the board. A ringing sound entered the room, he picked up the phone.
"I'll be on my way." He hung up and walked to open the door.
"Sometimes I really feel like you understand me... Hopefully the new blood could replace you for now." The ringmaster smiled as he closed the door behind him, there was no bitterness in his voice, but that went over the head of his companion.
The orangutan picked up the final knife and threw it into the board hitting the a target with deadly accuracy. The smile it had before disappeared and turned into a grim smile, he limped as he followed him out. Beside the dart board was a poster, it had symbols on the posters X and O's and at the top of the poster read: Trap layout.
In the playground area Locke noticed that Pitch wasn't following him, he turned his head and rose an eyebrow."Come now, let's go see the show. We haven't hung out in a long time."
Pitch rubbed the back of his head nervously."Ahh, I don't think that's a good idea.
His friend sighed annoyed. "Don't do this now, you promised we'd go if I won."
Pitch scratched behind his left ear, "Technically, no one won or lost." He smiled cheekily.
"Don't play rules lawyer here, we both agreed to the terms." Locke said.
Pitch looked at Locke sheepishly while holding his hands behind his head."What is this a contract?" Locke narrowed his brow, he was stalling they both knew that. But they both knew who would this new battle.
The parents smiled at the sight of the cubs. Leonard however heard clapping from below him at the other side of the fence. He looked down to see the mouse. "Right...why are you still here?" he glared at him.
"Bored,' The mouse replied 'Wanted to see how that fight turned out." Kid's got talent, could use better footwork.
Leon narrowed his gaze as he stared down at the mouse. "Leave! Your kind won't hurt another cub."
"Tch. Sour puss." He muttered as he walked off.
"I will eat that mouse."
Locke and Pitch walked up to him.
"Father can we go over to the tent? I want to play with Pit near the hay."
The lion looked at the bear quizzically. "But can Pit go? Wouldn't want his mother worried."
Pitch gulped upon the inspection, but was quickly broken out of his anxiety when Locke nudged him with his paw."Sure. She's ok with it, Pit would be here if she wasn't." He smiled as Leonard looked at his son intently.
"Hmmm, ok. But don't let the humans there see you."
"Don't worry we're good at sneaking around."
"It's not you I'm worried about. Pitch can be clumsier than Sophie when she trying to dance."
"I heard that!" Sophie yelled from the trailer area her ears weren't there for show."Just be careful, especially if Django sees you." They both smiled and ran to the gate. He continued to watch them run down the hill toward the tent. He sighed openly.
The lioness noticed. "What's wrong?" She asked.
He looked toward the forest. "Locke, Serena. Among other things." Serena the Lioness nuzzled her head under his chin. "Leonard, I'm sure they'll be fine." He sighed as rubbed his head embarrassed at her display of her affection.
"Hey, Leon!" Leonard recognized this voice. Oh great, Mono finally decided to show up.
….
The tent was packed with people. Each barred by a metal rail and many of the voices there blended together in an unorganized mess;
"Whats the hold up?" Said one of them.
"I need to peeeee!" screamed a child waiting for the event to start.
All while a vendor was announcing his wares to the audience; "Get your corn-dogs, popcorn, possum on stick. Get em while they're hot!"
"Is that legal? Hell, is that even edible?" Someone from the stands responded.
The Smells from the fried food and popcorn filled the air and left a smokey haze. They all stared at the ringmaster in the middle of the stage as he held a microphone. He wore white gloves in each hand and wore a red coat with a red top hat. And finally a plain pair of white pants. On his shoulder was an orange orangutan, his head was shaped like a peanut. While the hair on top of his head resembled an ice cream swirl. He also waved to the crowd and smiled. The ringmaster rose his free hand to address the audience as drums began to play.
The two cubs slowly crept in near the opening of the tent and hid near a couple of stacks of hay."You froze up there, Pi. hehehe" Locke stated as they peaked over the hay.
"Sorry lying is isn't my forte," He replied. Locke looked at him gave a knowing look. He knew that wasn't the problem. Let's just hope my mom or Django doesn't catch us. He shuddered knowing what would happen if either caught them here. He then just realized what transpired as he looked at his friend chuckled at him.
"Did you just call me Pi?"
Locke grinned coyly. "And what if I did?"
He forced a smile, "Call me Pi again and hit you straight in your eye."
Locke still chuckled at him regardless. His threats were harmless, he thought so anyway.
"Just soak up the atmosphere...or whatever you call sniffing and gazing at the tight ropes."
To Pitch this was his favourite place. He could even observe humans from a distance here, he felt drawn to the sounds of circus it brought a warmness to his heart that he could barely describe himself. It made him forget things for a moment.
"The sights, sounds, smells,...' He saw a child throw a corn-dog on the ground near the ringmaster. Pitch frowned at the neglectful child. 'The sounds.' He moved forward toward the floor, but Locke pulled him backward just as he was about to blow their cover.
"Be careful you idiot, the ringmaster can't see us."
"I know you that, you dork." He sighed his time in the limelight was over before it began. They continued to observe the new act when the bear cub felt something moving on his leg and then crawl unto his head.
"Is that your tail touching me?"
"What are you? He turned to see a mouse on his head."What a pleasant surprise." His tone grew sour.
"Well, nuts to you too then." He crossed his arms and scowled at the lion.
"Watch your tongue, mouse." He angrily narrowed his brow.
"Please, you don't scare me. A pampered puss like you can't do nothing." Locke looked at his paw.
It was shame the keepers kept their claws trimmed. Pitch however decided to break the silence, in his own way.
"Mom, Dad, Stop fighting." Pitch jokingly made fun of them both. Locke rolled his eyes.
"Aww is puss, puss scared to tussle?" Mike smiled proudly.
"I could throw you off my head right now." Pitch's tone was flat, he really didn't have time for this.
"Fine. let's just look at the dumb monkey do tricks and be done with it." He waved his hands frivolously which almost made him fall off. He placed both his hands on his ears. Looks like both sides don't match. Best not to ask.
"Actually we got someone new. he's the opening act." Pitch replied.
Mike rose an eyebrow confused.
"It seems like he's replacing Django till his...Leg heals" Locke interrupted, he scoffed and rolled his eyes. "No one knows the cub's name he's kept in a rundown cage. Suppose he has to earn his keep. "
"Earn what? Your animals." Mike said.
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be." Locke stated as he held his chest with his paw.
"What are you-?" Mike was cut off by the announcement the Ringmaster gave. He was leaning the mic away from the simian who tried to grab it, he brushed him of his shoulder.
"Welcome, and now! The fearless bear cub will drive-" He pointed to the metal ring in the tent. 'Through devilish ring-' One of the clowns there lit a match on the ring. 'Of fire!' The crowd applauded beside him was albino bear cub wearing a green collar with bells on it. He was riding a red tricycle, it had a worried look on his face as he looked around scared. He tried to ride in the opposite direction of the ring but to his dismay the ringmaster cracked his whip just above his ear.
Crack, Whip, Crack
He finally turned around as he screamed for dear life. The children in the audience laughed and threw food and drinks at him. He dodged them frantically and a caught a cone of ice cream.. He rode up the ramp and soared through the ring. He looked seemingly unfazed as he landed.
"Huh." Mike said mildly amused at his plight. The bear then suddenly caught on fire and started screaming in pain.
"AHHHHHH!" He rolled on the ground to stop the fire. As if on cue the children started to laugh. Even the orangutan started to laugh as he rolled on the floor tapping his feet on the ground.
"Geezus!" Mike recoiled back. Locke looked at Pitch he shuddered as he saw the bear. Poor creature...I guess, I'm lucky. Locke placed his paw and patted him on the back. "Let's get out of here."
"Gladly." Mike said. Locke looked back at the audience with contempt as they quickly ran away from the tent and into the field.
Two of the clowns walked toward the burning bear cub with a fire extinguisher. They sprayed the contents of it unto the bear. He laid there un-moving in the foam. The clown kicked him in his side. The bear cub let out a cough. The clown raised his thumb up.
"And he's ok!" The Ringmaster said as the crowd continued to cheer. The orangutan smirked as he saw the bear being pulled out this was just the beginning for him.
The trio continued to walk back to the play area.
"That. Was.…" Mike couldn't find the words.
"Messed up. We know, humans are vile creatures." Locke said he almost felt bile come out of his mouth scowled coldly.
"They can't be all bad though, you just need look hard enough." Pitch replied as Locke sighed in response.
"Unfortunately the fiends that keep us here are proof enough for me. But you know that first hand." He looked at his friend's sliced left ear, it was an almost clean cut at the top of his ear, but a jagged portion remained outward.
"Look, what I said before-" Mike scratched behind his head.
"Don't sweat it. Probably the second most messed up thing I've seen." Pitch said he kept his cheery tone.
Mike looked at him confused." How can someone burning alive be number two?"
"Well…"
Years prior:
"And that my son is how we bears mate with loved ones." Pitch's stared at the old television. He didn't blink, nor do he even move. He just stayed there in absolute silence trying to piece together what was left of his...innocence. "Your mother was different though she loved to firmly grasp-" His brain shut down at that moment, it saved him from permanent damage.
...
"God…" Mike said his mouth was agape.
"Whelp. This day has been eventful, I need a cold shower..." Locke shivered in response.
Pitch quickly recovered, if only to tease his friend. "Probably gonna have to fight Sophie for that. And Sorry about that. The levels of awkward have just skyrocketed past the moon at this point."
Mentioning the moon reminded the mouse of something.
He grabbed Pitch's hair and made eye contact with him upside down. "Kid, I know we don't see eye to eye." Pitch snickered even the bad jokes brought him a laugh. "But, I saw what you did today. You got potential."
"Where... are you going with this?" He answered wearily, no confidence in his voice.
"I can teach ya, how to fight, if ya don't mind."Locke was not convinced he spat out.
"Pft. Your gonna teach him how to fight. Buhahaaaa!" and he laughed hard. Pitch hung his head down and spoke.
"Jerk! What?!You think I'm not strong, or smart enough to learn!" the cub grew annoyed at his companion.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Mike said clearly not seeing the obvious problem.
"Your a mouse! How are you gonna teach a bear to fight? Leave it to his parents."
Mike scowled. "I know I can take you, your size doesn't matter. Everything has a weakness. But I have a condition-" he rose his tail up.
"Congrats, go see a doctor." Locke smiled smugly in response as Mike sighed annoyed.
"You gotta help me talk to Sophie. Gotta woo that voluptuous-" He stopped himself and coughed, thrusting his hips forward the kids both paused.
"Y'know bow chicka wow wow?"
"D-did you just say 'bow chicka wow wow?" Locke was stupefied as his mouth was left titled his head intrigued.
"Wow, dirty rat has a completely new meaning for me. Also how would that even work? You'd be crushed before you'd do anything." Mike rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to give them an answer.
"If you hold up your end of the deal. I'll train your friend."
"Just leave Sophie to me. I'll have to apologize for… well I've said a lot of things." Locke said as he look up to the sky trying to remember.
"All those books you've read and you still don't know it's not a good idea to call a woman fat. Let alone clumsy?" The bear shook his head.
"We have another problem though, my mom."
"I'll talk to her can't be too bad." Mike replied.
"First impressions are important, If you say one wrong thing it's over. I don't want to see you hurt."
"Aww the kid's got a soft spot!" Mike teased as Pitch blushed.
He then turned his gaze to Locke with a scowl."Also the heck's wrong with you, puss? Making fun of him like that, Little Shit". He whispered under his breath.
Pitch's ear's perked up, He looked at Pitch he'd have to say sorry later.
"I don't expect an uncultured rat to know Shakespeare." He smiled proudly
"Dude, even I don't know half of what he says and you taught me how to read it."he rolled his eyes.
Mike shook his head. Great… a buncha nerds.