Chapter 4 The traumatic scouts
With Augustinus again.
It was the next morning. Larry was back at school, and Augustinus was sat in his office. He's now completed several huge detective cases, and he and Little Loco had shot up the ranks in the Agency. Their team work was phenomenal and Augustinus was very proud of it. Even the ten thousand dollars he'd just been given after completing a VERY complicated case with his friend.
Only... looking at Larry's baby photos, Augustinus had an itching feeling in his fingers he knew what he wanted to do with the cash. The problem was... would his ex-mate, Rilla and Nick notice the payment from him and track him down? Oh boy. Augustinus knew he could NEVER allow that to happen. It would be the end of him.
But Augustinus knew he had to, he withdrew from his account $50.000 and placed it in a brown envelope. Then, jumping into a car from the Agency, he headed back from his Agency back down to the Forest District.
The drive did take him three hours, but luckily it was still dark. He drove up the old, familiar road and parked about a block from his ex-mate's home. Even though he technically bought it for her. Quietly he looked over to the house and saw all the lights were off, as quiet as he learned, Augustinus drove the window down and jumped out, he crept on all fours up to his ex's house and posted the envelope through the mailbox.
He listened and heard it clack against the carpet. But the rest of the house was quiet, just two breath sounds were heard, so Nick and Rilla were both still sleeping.
Augustinus crept quietly round the small house and looked through a window, he saw Nick in one room, lying in his kid's bed and holding an action figure in his hand, he had a few books and building blocks as well as race cars. Augustinus felt a tear fall, wishing to speak to him, but he knew he could never. He walked further round and found Rilla in 'their' shared bedroom, fast asleep.
Augustinus was stunned to see a lot of the furniture and decorations he and she had picked out at the beginning of their relationship were all gone, sold most likely and she was barely left with a bed, and a clothes' cupboard. The frame that used to hold his and her wedding photo has also been replaced with just her and Nick on it.
Augustinus gritted his teeth, of course it was too much to hope for that she would want to remember him after dumping her. But it still stung. Not wanting to be discovered, Augustinus fled again and headed back home in his car. Now never regretting breaking his ex-s heart.
With Mrs Wild, aka Rilla.
Rilla had only just started recovering that her, now ex-mate Augustinus had abandoned her. She stayed at home and in the several months after Augustinus dumped her, stole one of her twin babies and abandoned Nick. She found in her letter box the envelope containing ten checks, each about $5000 so $50.000. Rilla sighs, she and Augustinus never discussed divorce, but one year later the divorce papers were sent to her, and she signed them.
The money that was coming to her, she knew, was Augustinus apology, sort of, to her that he left her and 'stole' one of her two beloved twins. But Rilla knew it was her own fault. Had she not freaked out over his job offer and just went with him, then maybe her twin babies: Nick and Larry, would have never been separated.
The next morning.
With the morning, Rilla had an idea as Nick asked to join the Junior Scouts club. But that was a bit expensive. But with Augustinu's in time child payment, Rilla could afford it.
In a flash, she was on the phone.
"Hello, is that the Junior Ranger Scouts?- this is Mrs Wilde. I would like to ask to enroll my son, Nicholas Piperitus into your gang, if that's possible?- He's about three months old now.- Male.- A fox.- Yes I can get his uniform made and fitted.- Ok thank you I will drop him off later, thanks." Rilla said and smiled a lot.
She opened her Email account and received all the papers for the gang, quickly filling them out and printing them out she sent the email off and received a confirmation that Nick was accepted.
Later in the Afternoon Nick, now going to school himself, just got back from school and he was excited. His mother just placed a box in front of him.
"That's this mama?" Nick asked smiling.
Rilla smiled a bit at her son, "It's a gift for you, my dear. Go on, open it."
Nick did, and his face lit up. "NO WAY, a brand-new scouts uniform?"
"Sure thing. Just the best for you, my dear. And here," Rilla smiles, handing Nick a piece of paper.
Nick blinked, he picked the paper up and his face beamed, "The Junior Scouts at the Acorn club? I'm now really a member with them?"
Rilla had handed Nick the entrance papers to the scouts club before, nodding her head, Nick threw himself into his mother's arms.
"Oh mama. Thank you, thank you so much. I promise I will behave and do everything they tell me, and then once I'm back I will show you what I've learned." Nick beamed over his face.
Rilla nodded and walked with Nick down to the scout's meeting club.
The walk took them about ten minutes, Nick was looking all over the place and saw various other animal kids being dropped off too. It was amazing to him. But, as he looked at the various parents he saw: zebras, hippopotamus, buffalo, antelope and a woodchuck.
'Strange, am I the only predator?' Nick wondered.
"Hey Nick." The woodchuck called out to him and waved, "Ready for initiation?"
Nick beamed. But then everything turned on him. Nick was terrified, they held him down, shouted, put a muzzle on him and laughed him out as Nick broke down and escaped.
Outside he forced the muzzle off himself, collapsed and wept. His spirit had been broken, and he cried and cried and cried.
Just then a fully grown hyena came, dressed in the same scouts uniform and looking quite strict.
"What's going on here? Ah, you must be Nick Wilde right? Our new scouts' member?" The hyena asked, "my name is Brone the Hyena and scouts leader of this troupe."
Nick trembled still, "Mr Brone. I was just bullied and hurt by the other scouts boys. What did I do wrong? And they tied a mussel to me."
"They what?" Brone screamed.
He grabbed Nick roughly by his hand and walked back into the room, the other scouts members quickly hushed and stood in line. Brone stood at the front and faced everyone angry.
"Members of the Junior Ranger Scouts, is what this fox cub says the truth?" He asked, a little angry.
The buffalo stepped forward and nodded, "Yes sir... but we only did it to protect Jim."
Jim was the Woodchuck junior scout. He nodded and trembled a bit.
"That fox was growling as he entered, I got really scared he was going to attack and eat me. So the others came to my aid and stopped him."
Nick stared horrified at them, "I would never. I only just came here. I would never wanna hurt any of you on purpose. But it was still not right to muzzle me like that."
"We don't want to be eaten by him." The others chorused at the same time, still pointing and looking at Nick.
Nick felt his spirit sink, and his heart broke. These were meant to be his new friends, his new buddies and partners, and everyone was turning against him.
"I don't even eat: zebras, hippopotamus, buffalo, antelope or woodchuck. I like vegetables and fish mainly. Plus, I'm not even hungry." Nick snapped back. "I just wanted some friends and learn about survival and such."
Brone glared at Nick though, "Well I never. Nick Wilde, leave this instant and NEVER show your face in here again."
Brone even back hit Nick against his head, Nick fell to the ground, and he ran, screaming in pure and utter pain. The slap didn't hurt him, but the emotional and bullying hurt the worst.
"Why can't I have friends? Why?" Nick trembled and wept.
He picked his mobile phone up, "Mama - please come and pick me up.- No, I was not accepted. I'm sorry mama."
Nick hung up. A few minutes later, Rilla was back at her son's side and Nick threw his face into her fur, crying with everything he has.
"I'm so sorry, my son." Rilla shivered, hugging him.
She quickly drove them back home and made Nick his favorite food, then threw out the rest of the evening she comforted Nick as best as she could. But Nick cried himself to sleep, he was so hurt.
The evening dropped in even later, Rilla was in bed and fast asleep and Nick woke up from a terrible nightmare, he tried not to scream this time to worry his mother even more.
Instead, Nick got out of bed and pulled a photo out he found once, it was a VERY old photograph showing him his mother, pregnant and another male fox dressed in dark blue next to her, whoever that blue, sort of, fox was Nick had no clue. But guessing from how his mother looked like... maybe his dad?
Nick had written a note to it: Mama: Rilla Wilde. Unknown male fox: Dad? Mr Wilde. But Nick couldn't place a name to that guy. Only that he knew he had a father.
"Who are you, papa?" Nick whispered to the photo and looked at it, "Why aren't you here? Don't you love me and mama anymore? We're just about coping... but please come back."
He hugged the photo carefully, knowing this was the only photo he's ever had of his daddy. He placed it back and shook hard, wondering if his dad just saw his mama as a one night February fling or whatever.
And why are his memories also so far back that he remembers someone else with him? Every time Nick had a shower and sniffed his fur a little, it's like a very old memories came to him smelling fur as he was a baby. Which meant he must have been close to someone, but whom?
Rilla never told Nick what he was thinking or explained it, and unfortunately Nick can't remember any further back, only after a screaming match of something that the warmth and other fur had been taken from him, and he never got to see what or who it was.
All Nick could do was life further and wait to see if his mama might tell him one day. Whenever that will be.
Back now with Larry, also 9 years later.
Larry and Benny finished today's lesson and were confused as Augustinus asked them to meet him after work at his work place.
The agency had a special training ground of sports and Augustinus was going to grab Larry and Benny and put them threw their training, hard.
Little Loco looked at his best friend worried, they both were changed in white gym clothes with sweat bands over their heads.
"Are you sure they would cope with this?" Little Loco asked, "This gym training is way tougher than their average sports lessons Augustinus. What if they'd start hating it?"
"Do you know how many times I've had Larry look bored out of his mind with his school work? Larry needs to take his lessons a level higher. And if his friend Benny would like sports too then they'd love this exercise." Augustinus smiles, "I'd like a fully trained, experienced and smart son and not a chicken."
Little Loco shakes his head, what Augustinus also means is, he'd want Larry to take his job over or have his own at the same company as he was employed under, that can only work if Larry gets an A grade in sports.
Larry and Benny arrived and Augustinus handed them each another bag.
"Welcome cadets, get to the changing rooms at the end of the room, change into these sports gears and meet us back here in five." Augustinus ordered.
Larry and Benny both nodded, they grabbed the bags and headed to the back as promised. Inside the room they opened them up and looked surprised at the context. It was an expensive white T-shirt, expensive black shorts, two white sneakers, sweat band for the head and wrists.
"Wow, your father must be very wealthy to afford us this top training gear," Benny beams. "My sister has to send half of her payment to my family to keep them afloat."
Larry nodded, carefully they stripped of their clothes and changed, it suited and fitted them quite well, which only made Larry feel more uncomfortable, how on earth did Augustinus figure out Benny's size? Even Benny doesn't know it.
They walked back and Augustinus and Little Loco were also changed.
"We will start with a running exercise Larry and Benny. Run round this entire gym for twenty minutes and no pauses or slowing down." Augustinus ordered.
Larry and Benny nodded, they went into a start pose, Augustinus blew into his whistle and the two cubs shot off, round and round they ran. Augustinus started the timer and watched Larry and Benny carefully.
Even though some stories always state the hare as a fast runner, Benny and Larry were both fast together. Either that or one of the two was purposely slowing down to be with the other. Either way, they lasted the twenty minutes with no problem.
"Very good job." Augustinus nodded, "Now follow my lead, I'll show you some stretch exercises first before we begin with sports."
Larry and Benny panted a little but accepted, they all did a 10-minute hard stretching round which hurt the two a bit more. They bent their legs, back, arms, hands, heads, tails, ect.
As if that wasn't enough after the last stretch Augustinus nodded and walked to a shed, from there he pulled out two huge balls, he set up the running round again and pointed at the balls.
"Larry and Benny, Larry lift the 7 kg medicine balls up, and carry them as fast as you can to the other end of the room, put them down then lift them up again and return them to me. And vice versa. Benny the same but with the 3 kg ball." Augustinus ordered.
Benny faces Larry, "He's kidding, right?"
But a growl from Augustinus was clear, he wasn't. In a flash, Larry and Benny ran to the balls, they lifted them up struggling and ran with them to the other end of the room. It hurt a bit but they dropped them. Then they turned around, and did it back in return. Augustinus made them run the lap with the ball at least 200 times.
By the time he stopped Benny and Larry were drenched in even more sweat, they panted and Benny collapsed next to his medicine ball.
"Gah... Augustinus, can we now have a break please, this is exhausting." Benny panted, whipping sweat from his brow.
True the young fox and rabbits small bodies were now developing a good cramp in their arms and legs, as well as heating up. Augustinus grinned.
"You both have done really well and yes your sports lesson is done for the day. Rest now. I'll see you at home Larry." Augustinus said nodding his head.
Larry and Benny panted, they nodded got up, Augustinus packed the sports stuff away and the two boys headed to the males changing room, had a thorough shower before getting dressed again.
Augustinus was leaving the Agency's sports area as he came across his best friend Little Loco. The Arctic fox faced him and motioned to a set of comfy chairs to sit down.
"So I take it, you've spoken to... 'her' bout Larry, right?" Little Loco guesses.
Augustinus nodded his head, "Yes, she knows everything bout him as I could tell her. I only hope he can get to like her too."
Little Loco giggled a little, "If 'she' were the same age or similar to you, could she possibly be a new mum to Larry?"
"No, I have absolutely no feelings to her at all. Though you're right, starting a new relationship might be nice, but I'd never want to force a new mother into Larry's life." Augustinus sighs, "I't been too much of a betrayal and heart break that Rilla refused to want to be with me and do this work with me. That I could never trust another vixen to be my love or force a new mum onto Larry. That's why I want to see a happy and loving man and woman relationship for him at least. Even if I have to live with a broken heart, I'd never want Larry's heart to break."
Little Loco hugged Augustinus, he understood where his best friend was coming from.
Quanktumspirit: "I hope its ok as a small part for Nick. Oh and the 'shadow' person will reveal itself in the next chapter. Please review."