This story is PG-13 in the "Adult Settings" sense, so if you'd like to know more about what Myra does, check out WastedTimeEE's Ask Blog or their SoFurry account!
Hey there, readers! Finally, I was able to get this chapter out of my head and typed out for you to read! I hope you like it! And please consider leaving a review, as those really brighten my day!
Found (Chapter 27)
by
Elite Shade
"Nervous, honey?" Vanna asked, looking down her side at Marcus.
"Uhm... n-no, Mama," Marcus said, clinging a little to her arm. She chuckled and leaned down, pulling him into a proper hug, nuzzling the top of his head. "I promise that your grandparents are not going to be mean at all. My father can be a bit loud and boisterous, but he's not an angry mammal... in many ways, he's like a big kid."
"What about Grandma?" Marcus asked, much more relaxed from her hug. This made Vanna smile even more.
"She's soft-spoken, but very caring. Expect plenty of hugs from the both of them."
"What about Auntie Myra?"
That made Vanna pause, and she could feel Marcus tense up in her arms.
"My big sister is also very caring... she just has a tendency to be a little more open about things than I am comfortable with. That's all, honey." Her large paw rubbed her son's back and she could feel the tension leave his body.
"What kinds of things?" Marcus asked absently, and now it was Vanna's turn to, briefly, tense up.
"Just... adult things... nothing you need to worry about for now," was Vanna's response as she hugged Marcus just a little tighter. She didn't hate her sister or think less of her for her line of work... but she was going to pull her aside and set some definite ground rules about what she could and could not talk about with or in front of Marcus. Marcus just looked confused before dismissing it. Zach had already set off in the truck to go and pick up Vanna's sister and parents, and the tigress wanted to spend a few extra minutes cuddling her soon-to-be-adopted son to her.
Unbeknownst to Vanna, shortly after she had ended the MuzzleTime call with her family, Dorian and Audrey had returned with the temporary newest addition to the ranch had continued to protest from the back seat of the cruiser until Audrey's Glare had shut him up. Audrey quickly reverted to her warm and caring self, happily discussing where Tim could set up to stay while they awaited his uncle, as well as how he could go about getting in contact with him. Coincidentally, they pulled up just a couple minutes before Zach did with his in-laws, Myra and the massive Lucero riding in the back with the luggage. Surprised to see Vanna's parents and sister, Dorian and Audrey were quick to wave them over, the two sets of parents being on excellent terms with one another.
"Lucero, Padaprashna," Dorian called with a smile, "nice to see y'all again! Oh, and you too, Myra."
"Hey, Dorian, is that my new nephew?" Myra asked, motioning to Tim, who was looking a little surprised at the sight of the tigers. His eyes went wide in fear when the large male one hopped out of the back of the truck, and practically sprinted over to him. Tim found himself swept up into a nearly literal, bone-crushing hug.
"So THIS is my new grandkitten, eh? You are much bigger than my daughter made you seem!" Lucero said with a hearty laugh, his Manish accent peppering his words. Tim tried to correct the tiger who was crushing him, but could not get a word out... or a breath of air in, for that matter.
"Uh, sorry Lucero, but that ain't Marcus," Audrey said, her tail wagging, "that is Timothy. We're letting him stay with us until his uncle can come and pick him up."
"Whoops," Lucero said, letting out a belly laugh as he released Tim, who took a few moments to deeply inhale before finding himself sprawled on the ground from a back pat by the tiger. "Sorry about the mixup, young Tim."
"Lucero," Padaprashna lightly scolded, "you have to remember to be much gentler with Marcus. From what I've heard, humans are very fragile. Plus, remember how nervous Zachary told us he can be."
"You're right, mi amor," Lucero said, turning to smile at his mate. "I shall remember when we meet him, Pasha." Padaprashna smiled at his use of the pet name he'd given her before she turned and greeted Audrey, congratulating her on her pregnancy.
"Is Marcus here? We've been wanting to meet him for so long now," Padaprashna asked, her Binti accent also audible. Her long headfur trailed behind her in a braided ponytail. She wore a beautiful blue-green sari with a matching sundress. She was a contrast to her clearly rough-and-tumble husband, who was wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans. Myra, in her skin-tight jeans and black tank top with a red heart in the center, was watching her father, looking rather amused. Then her eyes wandered and spotted her younger, yet taller and more muscular sister, walking towards them from her and her mate's house, with one of her arms around a human boy. He had shoulder-length soft brown headfur, and was wearing a simple flannel shirt and jeans, as well as a coat with a tiger pattern that looked suspiciously like Vanna's stripe pattern. She smirked and pointed in the approaching mammals' direction.
"I think Marcus is the one over there, next to Vanna, in the tiger coat, Papa," Myra said, waving to her sister and nephew excitedly. Tim wandered inside the house, Dorian helping him with his luggage and making sure that the boy could breathe.
"Hi, Mama, hi, Papa, hi, Myra," Vanna said as she and Marcus approached the group. "I'd like you to meet your grandkitten, Marcus," she said, rubbing Marcus back, her arm still around him, giving him comfort and security.
"Vanna!" Lucero said, stepping up and pulling his youngest daughter into a hug, that she was quick to return. He let her go and then turned to Marcus, smiling. "And it's nice to finally meet you, son." Lucero opened his arms. Marcus, clearly nervous, smiled a little and stepped into his grandfather's orange and black arms. They encircled him, and gently pulled him close. Lucero let out a happy chuff as he grinned.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Marcus," Lucero said.
"I-it's nice to meet you too... uhm... s-sir," Marcus said, which earned him a pat on the back.
"I'm not a sir to you, Tigre Pequeño," Lucero said with yet another laugh. "I'm Grandpaw! Or Pop-Pop if you'd prefer!"
Marcus looked briefly confused but smiled and nodded. "Okay... Grandpaw." That netted Marcus another hug, his grandfather making sure to be gentle still. It was then that Padaprashna approached, smiling brightly, and opening her own arms for a hug, which Marcus was quick to oblige.
"And Grandma is just fine with me, Marcus," she said, hugging Marcus close and nuzzling the top of his headfur.
While Marcus was being doted on by his second set of grandparents, and as his first set looked on joyously, Vanna had taken Myra by the arm and led her away a bit, with Zach in tow, to have a private chat.
"It's really nice ta see ya again, Myra," Zach said, meaning it but also feeling a pang of worry.
"Yes," Vanna was quick to agree, "it's been too long."
"Oh, well, y'know how busy my schedule can be. All those movies and photoshoots," she proudly said, oblivious to her sister and her sister's mate's anxiousness.
"Y-yeah... 'bout that..." Zach said, rubbing the back of his head, blushing and clueless about how to continue.
"We'd prefer it if you didn't go into detail around Marcus about your movies and... photoshoots," Vanna explained.
"He's too young ta hear about such things," Zach chimed in.
Myra waved a dismissive paw. "I'm not gunna say anything. He's only twelve. I mean, I'd be more than happy to help you guys have 'the talk' with him when he hits puberty, as well as get ahold of some movies and magazines for him to explore when he's old enou-"
"NO!" Vanna and Zach said in unison.
"We'll decide when to talk to him about... those... things..." Vanna said.
"Which is quite a ways away," Zach added, nodding along and crossing his arms, "since, again, he's much too young. Still just a little puppy, and we don't wanna traumatize him."
"Zach, Marcus is a pre-teen... but yes, he's just not ready to hear about any such things, Myra." Vanna rubbed her mate's back.
"You said he's twelve, I'm sure he'll start having questions soon enough. Also, how are you two when you're both-"
"Myra!" Vanna said, blushing along with her mate. She knew her sister was only trying to help, but last time, she had tried to give pointers for Zach and Vanna both to improve their "intimate" moments. She'd even once offered to help coach them, clueless as to why her sister and her mate vehemently refused. Vanna pinched the bridge of her nose, still loving her sister, just not her sister's lack of filter.
"Look, Myra, please, just try to be mindful around Marcus and keep conversations PG-rated," Vanna said, spotting her older sister rolling her eyes.
"Alright, alright," she said, holding up her manicured paws, "I won't say anything 'dirty' around Marcus." Vanna and Zach both knew that Myra would try her best, but being so open and so used to casually talking about the subjects they deemed too mature for their son, they knew that they would have to run interference to keep her from slipping up. Thankfully, both Vanna's and Zach's parents were aware of Myra not having a filter and would do the same.
"Now, c'mon, I wanna give my nephew a hug!" Sighing, Vanna nodded, and she and her mate led her sister back over to the group. Marcus looked up at their approach, Padaprashna having been admiring his wool coat.
"Hi, Marcus," Myra said, spreading her arms for a hug, "I'm your auntie Myra!"
"Hi, A-auntie Myra," Marcus said, walking up and hugging the tigress.
"I brought you a present. I got it after we finished up my latest movie out in Flock Angeles," Myra said, Vanna starting to instantly panic and reach for her sister. Myra was too fast and obliviously... pulled out a jar of rosin. "I know it's not much, but I heard that you like to practice the violin, so I got you some of this to help maintain it." The other adults visibly relaxed.
"Oh, th-thank you Auntie Myra. I've been starting to get low," Marcus said, taking the jar of the resinous substance gratefully. "So are you an actress, Auntie Myra?"
"I sure am, Kitto! Granted, you probably haven't seen any of my movies...well, yet..."
"Myra," Vanna warned.
"But when you're old enough, I'd be more than happy to set you up with my greatest hi-"
"MYRA, STOP NOW!" Vanna said, her face red.
Later that afternoon...
Lucero and Dorian were sitting on the porch of the ranch, watching Zach and Marcus off in the distance, practicing baseball. The Felidaes had gotten all settled into Zach and Vanna's home. Presently, Audrey and Padaprashna were chatting together while Audrey was showing off the new nursery for her upcoming litter. And Vanna was with Myra, the two sisters catching up. Lucero and Dorian watched as Zach, wearing complete catcher's padding and face mask, pitched Marcus a ball. Marcus swung, and the ball smacked Zach right in his unprotected throat. Both grandfathers agreed that they had been wise to kindly refuse Zach's earlier offer to let them help Marcus with his practicing.
"He's quite the kitten," Lucero remarked, watching Marcus run over to Zach and helping him up.
"That he is. Wait 'til ya hear him play that violin of his, or Audrey's piano downstairs," Dorian said with a note of pride.
"I heard... that he had had a rough go of things before you found him out in the woods," Lucero said. Dorian frowned and nodded.
"Yup... he's been through so much..."
"Are you referring to Marcus' scars?" a young voice chimed in, and both males turned to see Timothy standing there. He was wearing his freshly laundered and ironed blue slacks and a blue vest with an undershirt with white sleeves. Presently they were rolled up and in one hand he had a pair of his dark shoes, and in the other a shoe-polishing kit. "Sorry, I wasn't intending on eavesdropping. I was just coming outside to polish my shoes..." Tim said, trailing off, also looking off in the direction of Marcus and Zach. Earlier in the day, the two had bumped into each other, and greeted one another rather formally, both taking a moment to bow and shake each other's hands. Dorian had noticed that the two appeared to be familiar with one another, both equally shocked to see the other at the Ranch.
"I take it that y'all were there ta witness it happenin'," Dorian queried.
"No... I did learn of it through my parents, however." Tim sighed and got a faraway look in his eyes. "I knew something like that was going to happen, though," Tim said, looking uncomfortable. This had piqued both Dorian and Lucero's interests.
"Oh?" Dorian asked.
"How so?" Lucero added.
Tim continued to look uncomfortable, before finding his resolve. "It started to become apparent that the Duke was beginning to lose power. The people were furious not only at him, but also the wealthy families that backed him or simply allowed him to continue uncontested. Those that did speak out against him were imprisoned, placed under house arrest, or simply disappeared. My parents and I were attending a party thrown by the Duke himself. I and a number of children from the various aristocratic families stole away and met together in secret. We were well aware of an upcoming uprising, and very few of any of our parents were taking any precautions."
Lucero and Dorian both listened with rapt attention, letting Tim continue.
"Meeting privately, Leopold Mesner, a son of a business magnate, had already come up with an idea, and was the one to arrange for us all to meet in secret. Basically, his brilliant idea had been to draw up a public declaration, that he would deliver to the local newspapers, the ones that were free from the Duke's control and operating in secret. It openly denounced the Duke and his actions, and all our own families who did nothing to stop him. This was done with the hope that the people would read it and not only spare us from their wrath in the coming uprising, but allow us to retain our places in society..."
Dorian snorted at that, and Tim nodded.
"My sentiments exactly. And various others in our little secret group felt the same. Still, he had the document drafted and laid out there on the table, with a pen, waiting for the first person to step forward and sign. At first, no one did... until the youngest and most timid of all of us there stepped forward and, without hesitation, signed his name." Tim looked off to Zach and Marcus as he said that, Zach now on his back, apparently he had managed to pitch to Marcus again.
Lucero's eyes went wide. "Wait... was the child who signed first... Marcus?"
Tim looked grim and nodded. "I had never seen such a look of determination in his eyes before. But he walked right up and signed his full name. After that, there was a minor clamor from most of the others to sign their names, hating the idea of being outdone by Marcus. I didn't sign as I knew that all it would accomplish was to paint an even bigger target on our backs than what was already there. The document was sent off and published by the illegal papers, and large posters of it were printed and stuck up all over Kartakka. A week later... many of those who signed had been rounded up and arrested, aside from a couple whose families had turned their manors into fortresses and sealed themselves off... and Marcus was... punished... publicly."
Dorian and Lucero looked on as their grandpup helped his dad up once again, seeming very apologetic, with Zach casually waving him off... and falling over again; and both smiled.
Back in Savannah Central...
The next day, as Marcus got to know his new extended family better, Dawn and Vernon found themselves sitting in the Principal's office of North Mammalia Elementary. Vernon was holding Dawn's hoof in his paw, giving it a gentle squeeze. Across from them, sitting behind his desk, was a badger in an olive green coat and mustard yellow tie, looking at the two mammals before him through his glasses. Mr. Mustel smiled at the two.
"Thank you again for coming in Mr. and Mrs. Hunter-Bellwether," he said, looking a little nervous.
"It was not a problem at all," Dawn said, worried that one of her lambs was in serious trouble, but she tamped down on that thought. Vernon frowned a little but simply nodded.
"I've called you in here today to discuss... Trevor..." he said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
"Has something happened?" Dawn asked, feeling her worry return.
"No... not exactly..."
"Has someone been bullyin' my boy?" Vernon asked, the lightest growl to his voice.
"Absolutely not. We do not tolerate bullying here, Mr. Bell-Hunter," the badger said, putting his glasses back on and reaching to pull open one of his desk drawers. From inside, he pulled out a manilla folder, setting it onto the desk.
"Trevor is overall just a happy little ram who is quick to make friends and loves expressing his creativity... which, incidentally... the reason for my asking you two here today..." Now Mr. Mustel looked outright uncomfortable.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked, now confused.
"Well... it's just that... the last three writing assignments he's turned in have been a tad... inappropriate..."
"Inappropriate how?" Vernon asked, although with a sinking feeling, part of him already knew.
"It would seem that Trevor's favorite genre is the horror genre... and the assignments he's turned in have been rather... graphic... and detailed..."
Inwardly, both Vernon and his mate groaned.
"Basically.. there's just a concern about where he got his information about mammalian anatomy. He hasn't... dissected anything, has he?"
"'Course not!" Vernon said, hotly, while Dawn squeezed his paw.
"No, we never leave our lambs unsupervised, Mr. Mustel. However..." Dawn paused as the badger looked to her and she continued. "One of my sisters-in-law is a coroner... and has been answering Trevor's questions to help him with his stories, in order to make them more scientifically accurate and scary."
"Oh? Aaaah," Mr. Mustel nodded in understanding. "I see."
"Yeah... but we're puttin' a stop to it." Vernon nodded. "We're not gunna stifle our pup's creativity in the least. We're just gunna have a talk with his aunt."
"O-oh! Well, that's great to hear. We were just a little... concerned. Between Trevor's... graphic stories and young Alice's recent mood..."
"Wait," Dawn chimed in, "what about Alice?"
"Uh, well, her teacher has noticed that she seems... distracted... and a bit despondent..."
"She has been a little less enthusiastic about her soccer practice lately," Dawn said, rubbing her chin with her free hoof.
"We were plannin' on havin' a little talk with Alice as well. We don't wanna push her, just see if there's anything she wants ta get off her chest," Vernon said with a nod.
At that moment, in the first grade classroom...
"Okay, class," Mrs. Dalis said. The giraffe clapped her hooves together once as she looked about her classroom smiling down at her students. "So this week, the classroom Sheriff is going to be... Lily!" She clapped her hooves again as the excited human girl jumped up from her desk and ran over to her teacher. She accepted the small tan wide-brimmed hat and the dark blue sash with the gold lettering on it that read "Sheriff", along with a plastic silver sheriff's badge.
"Thank you, Mrs. Dalis," Lily said, as she put on the hat and sash and pinned the badge to the chest of her periwinkle Floatzen shirt. "I promise to uphold the law of the classroom and the school!"
Mrs. Dalis had to hold back laughter at the adorable display, and instead smiled warmly at Lily. "That's wonderful to hear, Lily. Now remember, for the whole week this means that you're my special helper as well as meaning that you are to help make sure everyone is following the rules, okay?"
Lily saluted at that. "Okay, Chief!" she said, proudly.
Bonus Scene!
Marcus stood there, next to Zach and Vanna, all three dressed up. Marcus was wearing a suit and tie that Audrey had gotten for him in town. Zach and Vanna were dressed up in their dress uniforms, standing on either side of him, each holding his paw. Behind them, also in attendance, were the rest of the Hunter boys and their mates, also all dressed up for court, as well as Lecero, Pasha, and Myra. Despite all of Xavier's assurances that the proper papers had all been filled out and filed and that this court date was just a formality, there was still a nervousness in the family.
Judge Yakborough, a seasoned hoof at family court in the Meadowlands, was looking over the last of the documents and nodded. He looked over to the large family with the boy at the center, and smiled.
"I am happy to say that it is the findings of the court that the placement of Marcus Wulfram with the Hunter family is a fine placement. Congratulations, young mammal. You've had to endure hardships and travel to what is to you an entirely new world, and through all of that you've managed to find a loving and caring family. You are now free to hug your new mother and father."
Marcus stood there, frozen for a moment, before his face broke into a grin. He found himself practically tackled by Zach, the two of them pulled into a tight hug from Vanna. And, like a dam letting loose, Zach let out a howl of pure joy, that of course triggered his brothers, as well as Audrey, and, being in the center of town, set off a chain-howl across the meadowlands. Even Alice and Lily joined in, with Lily still wearing her wolf coat, despite the coaxing from Dawn for her to wear something a little more formal.
Vanna's mother wiped a tear of joy from her eye, while Lucero bounced up from his seat to join in the hug, accidentally knocking the trio over in the process. Unbeknownst to the entire family, Ruddy, the Northern Meadowlands representative, had heard of the hearing and been waiting on a call about how it went. Hearing the happy howl's coming from the family court, he chuckled and immediately already knew the outcome. Tapping on his phone, he gave the go-ahead for his own little gift to the Hunter's. Just like he did with Dawn and Vernon's tithing, he called in a favor, ensuring that the headlines for the next newspaper to go out would have the story and picture celebrating Marcus' official adoption on the front page, as the headline.
And there you have it, readers! Be sure to let me know what you think of the new chapter!