AUTHOR'S NOTE: HEY EVERYONE! Welcome to Life Beyond the Big Top! *cheers* This book is actually about Aurora's adventure on Sodor around a month (or two, I don't remember XD) after the events of Escaping the Big Top. For those who have yet to read that book, Please read it of else you wouldn't understand any of the references that will be in this book. This book is more kid-friendly and not as dark as Escaping the Big Top. There will be strong scenes and some curse words throughout this book but not as bad. I would LOVE to give a big shoutout to my friend/Sister, Goldensaddletank, for editing this chapter and for also being a co-author on this book! Both of us will be making chapters together for everything in this story so I hope you all enjoy!
There are three other books in the works that will tie in with some of the chapters and one or two side stories in the works as well
DISCLAIMER: Thomas and Friends belong to Mattel(They suck XP) while Aurora belongs to me. Any new characters will belong to both Goldensaddletank and myself
If you guys like this story, please leave a review and if you have any idea on a chapter, please type it up in a review or send me a PM
~suicuneluvr~
A young girl softly hummed a tune before opening her eyes, revealing deep pools of sapphire, clear as crystal and glinting with mystery and intelligence. Her hair flowed down her back and hugged her hips, like a veil of molten gold, rippling gently in the breeze. Amidst her beautiful locks, two large triangular cat ears twitched, and her long cat tail with a sapphire tip wrapped around her leg.
Blinking, the girl slowly looked around in confusion, noticing how she was standing in the middle of the ocean. Looking to her left, she can see the beach outside Arlesdale, and to her right, the sun slowly rising. The soft, warm glow of a new dawn cast a dazzling shine across the water, the surface looking like a cloak made of rubies and amber sprinkled with stars.
Hearing soft humming that echoed her own, the girl looked around, her ears pricked in confusion.
Slowly walking across the water was an older woman, wearing nothing but a long white cloak that billowed behind her. The fabric made her look as though she was wearing a ghost around her shoulders, as the material was transparent… and the younger female was able to see through it.
The older woman had beautiful blonde hair that barely touched the water's calm surface. Her figure was similarly shaped to that of the younger, only she had stretch marks on her belly, which Aurora could see as the woman got closer.
But what shocked the younger woman the most were the cat ears and tail the other woman had. Unlike hers, the older woman didn't have a blue-colored tip at the end of her tail, but they resembled her own in every other way. As the woman came to a stop, Aurora saw her eyes were closed before coming to a stop.
The younger woman watched curiously as the older female slowly sat on her knees, the water rippling gently around her. Her cloak fanned as she gently cupped some water into her hands. Bringing the water up to her bare chest, the older woman slowly opened her eyes, revealing two orbs of burning sapphire, blazing intelligence, and... something else Aurora couldn't place.
The older woman remained in her position, staring up at the morning sun, with those blue eyes. The younger woman wanted to call out to her, but her body seemed to be frozen, her eyes glued on the strange woman in front of her.
Gazing at her, Aurora finally realized that look in her eyes, the one she couldn't place earlier.
She was haunted…
THUMP
A soft groan emitted from her lips, as Aurora's blue eyes fluttered open. As she rolled onto her side, ballast crunched beneath her, not unlike hailstones hitting a windowpane.
Slowly pushing herself up, she held her head, giving it a light shake to clear away thoughts of the dream- but it was futile.
Her golden hair was mussed up, and her sleepwear was dusty. She gave a small yawn, her ears flattening against her head as she did so. She then stretched, listened to the noises of her joints.
In the distance, she could hear a soft cricket chorus (her hearing was phenomenal, being part-cat.) Her eyes adjusted, and she peered out.
She could see a faint fringe of pink- orange in the east, but the sky was otherwise still dark and beautiful, with the stars twinkling.
'That was a weird dream.' Aurora thought as she gingerly stood up, stretching once more. 'Who was that woman and why did she look like me?' She thought before looking to the side.
She smiled warmly as she looked at the Tidmouth Team still sleeping, their soft snores soothing her. A large pillow and a fluffy comforter were scattered on Henry's running board. Jumping onto his running board with ease and grace, Aurora grabbed the blanket and pillow before jumping back onto the ground. Her footsteps were quiet, much like a cat's footsteps, as she walked across the tracks. Not far away from Tidmouth Sheds was a small two-story house that used to be an old workman's hut. The brick wall was replaced by beautiful white panels with dark blue shutters opened amongst the windows.
This had been Percy's idea to repurpose it, like what had happened with Old Slow Coach. This would give Aurora the means to live-and learn- independence and have some privacy, but could still visit the engines as often as she wished.
….
Unlocking the dark-brown front door, Aurora walked inside and turned the lights on. To her left was the living room, which contained: a long black couch in the center of the room; an elegant glass coffee table in front of it; a 'Sherlock' armchair rested in a corner with a small pillow and draped with another blanket; next to it was a black 'table nest' which had two extra smaller tables under the main one, which held a lamp. A few large vases were placed around the room, each cradling a beautiful, tall plant; there was a bookshelf with a variety of books and small treasures she collected since she started living on Sodor. The walls were duck shell blue, with white skirting boards.
To her right was a kitchen, equipped with a fridge/freezer an oven, sink, dishwasher, cabinets and drawers, and even a small island.
Various appliances were on the counters, such as a toaster, a kettle, mixer, containers that hold sugar and flour, and a small bucket containing cooking utensils, such as spatulas, cooking spoons. The island had a blue knife block, containing a variety of knives for cutting meat and vegetables, and had drawers filled with cutlery.
She had never been taught how to cook, but she was slowly learning thanks to Dr. Forest, along with Lady Hatt, who had both started her on basic dishes.
Lady Hatt even helped obtain some secondhand cookbooks for Aurora to flick through and experiment with, as well as some spices and seasonings.
She doesn't mind Lady Hatt, and knows she wouldn't harm her, but she was still wary of her. The walls were also painted duck shell blue with pure white skirting boards along the bottom.
Walking up the stairs, Aurora reached a white door and opened it. Turning the light on, she tossed the pillow and blanket onto her bed, tucked against the wall, next to a window that faced the sheds. Like the rest of her house, her bedroom walls were painted the same light blue with white trimming. Her carpet was a cream color and soft under her feet. A desk was against the wall opposite her bed, with a desktop setup.
A light blue laptop rested on her bedside table, along with a small lamp. A bookshelf was against the wall near her closet, housing ornaments and more knickknacks she collected. A dresser was pressed against the wall near the bedroom door, picture frames decorating the top of it.
Opening the drawers, she pulled out a fresh pair of clothes and headed towards her bathroom. Putting her clothes down, Aurora took her pajamas off and stared at the mirror. The small scars that decorated her body were gone, with the deeper and bigger scars remaining. Bringing her hand up to her bare chest, she gently traced the scar over her left breast, easily remembering the bullet that caused this scar. Shaking her head, she turned her shower on and waited for the water to warm up.
…
Having showered and dressed, Aurora hummed as she placed a small backpack on her kitchen island, a piece of toast sticking out of her mouth. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, her hair, ears, and tail glowing in the morning sun. She wore denim shorts, a light blue spaghetti strap top, and a pair of blue and white tennis shoes. She isn't a fan of wearing shoes, preferring to be barefoot, but knows that her fathers would be worried if she didn't wear them today. Packing a small Tupperware box containing an apple and a sandwich into her pack, she next placed a water bottle, a map, pocket knife, compass, and some pens into the various pockets. Smiling to herself, she finished her toast and easily put the backpack on. Turning the lights off, she exited her house and locked the door- but not before grabbing a small whistle on a chain off a hook next to the door.
Turning around, Aurora smiled as she saw her family slowly waking up, their crew starting fires in their fireboxes. Putting the silver chain of her whistle around her neck, she happily ran over to them.
"Morning everyone!" Aurora greeted happily, easily jumping onto Emily's running plate.
"Good morning, Aurora." Percy said happily as he looked at his sister.
"Morning, Aurora." Emily smiled, giggling when her sister kissed her cheek.
"You seem excited this morning." James smirked, watching her easily jump onto his running plate.
"That's because I am." Aurora purred, kissing his cheek before jumping onto Thomas' buffer beam.
"What made you so excited?" Thomas asked, receiving a kiss on the cheek as well.
"Because I get to go exploring." Aurora purred louder, jumping onto Percy's buffer beam before kissing the tank engine's cheek.
"Exploring what?" Percy asked, blushing from embarrassment but gladly welcoming it.
"The old mines that Duke worked at before they closed~" Aurora hummed in a singing voice, jumping onto Gordon's running plate.
"I don't see why exploring some old mines is so exciting." Gordon huffed in annoyance, kissing Aurora's head.
"It is if you want to explore old places that were important to Sodor." Aurora said happily, kissing his cheek before jumping on Edward's running plate.
"She wants to place old locations on Sodor's current map." Edward chuckled softly, kissing Aurora's head as she nuzzled him.
"Precisely." Aurora giggled before jumping onto Henry's running plate.
"Do you have everything you need?" Henry asked his daughter, kissing her head.
"I do." Aurora purred as her tail twitched happily. "I packed some snacks, I have my pocket knife, a compass, two maps, first aid-supplies, and my whistle." She hummed as she sat down, leaning against his cheek.
"Just be careful when you go there." Henry stated softly, already worrying about her. "Watch where you step, keep an eye on everything around you."
"I will, Father." Aurora purred as she nuzzled him happily.
Aurora's ears twitched as the sounds of tires on gravel entered her ears, causing her to look over. Her ears perked a bit as she watched a blue car park near the sheds, watching as a large male exited the car. She pressed herself against Henry's cheek, hesitant upon seeing the Fat Controller's assistants. Sure, she trusts Sir Topham Hatt now, and is comfortable around him, the engines' crews, and Dr. Forest. But every other human on Sodor, including Sir Topham Hatt's assistants, Lady Hatt, and more, she didn't trust.
Henry hummed softly as he tried to calm her down, smiling when he saw her relaxing. He's proud of how far she came along with trusting humans after she woke up in the hospital, especially with their crew. Ears twitching, Aurora looked over and smiled when she saw Sam and Dave walking out of Henry's berth.
"Morning, Aurora." Sam smiled as he looked at the cat-girl.
"Morning Sam, Dave." Aurora purred as she scoots closer to them.
"Thought you might enjoy this." Dave chuckled, handing her a thermos.
"Thank you." Aurora purred happily as she took the thermos, opening it and taking a sip. "Mmm, warm milk and honey!" She hummed happily before scooting back against Henry's cheek.
"Listen up, everybody." S.T.H smiled as he looked at the engines and their crews. "Today will be very busy so I'll need all of you to work your hardest, not to mention not cause any confusion or delay."
"Yes, Sir!" The engines said happily, blowing their whistles. Sir Topham Hatt quickly ran through what needed doing, before they started leaving the sheds. Though they all had to wait their turn on the turntable.
"Have fun exploring, Aurora!" Thomas smiled as he puffed onto the turntable.
"Have fun as well guys!" Aurora purred as she waved at them, nuzzling Henry's cheek some more.
"Thank you!" Peeped Thomas cheerfully, as he left the turntable, followed by Percy and Emily.
Henry smiled at his daughter.
"You'll enjoy exploring more of Sodor, Aurora," he whispered.
"I look forward to it." Aurora purred.
"I'm taking a passenger train to Crovan's Gate." He added, "You'll enjoy seeing the Skarloey Railway engines again."
Aurora nodded. She had met the engines after her arrival on Sodor and meeting Henry and Edward, and had liked them, though she was still a bit wary of their crew, who had nonetheless been friendly and polite to her.
"They are great friends of ours," Henry continued. "For they provide the slate for our goods trains, and we take them passengers for their little line." He saw Aurora's ears perk up with interest, for she had never visited the Skarloey Railway before.
"I've never seen it, as I obviously can't, but they have interesting tales to tell, and they have a habit of chatting the ears off anyone they meet." He smiled. "Though you know that already." He chuckled.
Aurora smiled, her tail swaying happily.
"I imagine you'll get to meet some of the staff as well, I've heard they've many friends there." He said, but he left it at that.
Aurora nodded again.
"I'm meeting Rheneas, for his passenger train. I'm sure he-"
"Henry! You need to hurry, or your passengers will be late!" Said the Fat Controller sternly, but with little reprimand.
Henry blushed, and Edward chuckled.
"I'll see you later, my loves," he said quietly. He looked at Aurora lovingly. "And I hope you enjoy your trip, Ro." He added kindly.
"Thank you," said Aurora with a smile, leaning over and kissing Edward on the cheek. "I'll see you later!"
"See you later, my sweet sapphire!" Called Henry.
Aurora blew a kiss to James and Gordon, who were still waiting, and waved goodbye to Sir Topham as Henry set off to collect his passengers.
…
Henry chuckled softly as he looked at his daughter, moaning happily and stretching her limbs; a loving look lighting up his face. He had been very relieved and elated when Aurora was finally able to leave the hospital after her traumatic ordeal with the circus. The smile on her face when she saw him and Edward waiting for her lit up the grey skies they had faced for a long time after the ordeal.
"Enjoying ourselves, are we?" Henry chuckled softly as he gazed adoringly at her.
"I am," Aurora purred as she turned her head to look at him, smiling her beautiful, enchanting smile that won so many people over. "I'm going to be exploring the old Mid Sodor Railway, and the Skarloey Railway." She smiled brightly as she looked up at the sky. "Rheneas has told me about their railway, including the forest they travel through."
Henry smiled in approval- Rheneas was a solid, dependable sort, and proud of the little line he and his friends called home. They were all great friends of those on the NWR, and had taken to Aurora really well- even the gruff and aloof Duncan had warmed to her.
She hummed before sitting up. "Not only that, but I also don't have to be on guard all the time since they're finally gone…" She muttered softly, looking down as she gently played with the whistle hanging around her neck.
Henry frowned sadly as he looked at his daughter, hearing the different tone. "And you have us to protect you." He reassured her, smiling warmly at her.
"I know." Aurora purred as she looked up at him. "Thank you."
Henry smiled as he watched her scoot closer to his face, gently kissing her head when she was close. Aurora purred loudly as she gently nuzzled his cheek before looking back down the tracks. Henry smiled as he puffed faster down the tracks, the warm spring breeze blowing past them. He can feel Aurora's body tremble in excitement as he puffs towards Knapford Station.
…
Henry's gleaming red coaches rattled as he sped towards Crovan's Gate. Beside him, Aurora was holding on to his handrail, beaming brightly. Her dazzling golden hair flowed behind her, shining brightly against Henry's apple green livery, her sapphire eyes wide and full of life as she watched the scenery go by. Sure, she has done this before, but it always seemed like a new experience to her.
She had learned to never take things for granted, so that always led to even such familiar routines being new and exciting adventures, regardless of where she was ending up.
Henry smiled as he looked at his daughter, feeling happy and proud of how far she had come… Seeing her transform from a scared, angry, and hurting girl to one full of happiness, wonder…freedom, everything that she ever wanted made his boiler bubble proudly.
Of course, she hadn't fully recovered from her traumatic experiences, but she had most certainly made leaps and bounds.
"Today is just so BEAUTIFUL!" Aurora happily stated, letting go of the handrail as she raised her arms up to stretch.
"I wish you wouldn't move around without holding onto something." Henry hummed in a worried voice as he watched his daughter walk over to his face before sitting down. "What if I hit some bumpy tracks and you fall off?"
"I won't fall off." Aurora reassured him as she nuzzled his cheek. "I always stand close to something to grab a hold of in case that happens." She purred as she kissed his cheek.
"I just worry." Henry said softly, nuzzling her gently. "I don't want anything to happen to you." He whispered softly before kissing her head.
"I know." Aurora whispered as she turned around to face him. "And I'm grateful you do." She hummed, smiling warmly at him.
Henry smiled lovingly at his daughter as he kissed her head again before looking back down the tracks. Before, he thought his life was already perfect. Living on Sodor where he knows he's safe from being scrapped, having great friends, and having the love of his life with him. He didn't know he was missing anything in his life till he met Aurora a few months ago. The moment she accidentally rolled into his wheels, he felt a connection to her, a need to protect and love her. The scared look on her face, the distrust that filled her beautiful sapphire eyes, seeing her covered in wounds and scars made his boiler bubble angrily. He never could understand why anyone would harm someone but soon realized that there were sick people in the world who were born like that.
Closing his eyes, Henry took a silent deep breath as he tried to calm himself down. The day that dreadful circus arrived on Sodor, the fear that radiated off of Aurora, he understood what she kept saying. Living with those black-hearted people for so many years, who raped, abused, and tortured a single girl- all because she was different-made him angry. The day when he thought Aurora died, he was so filled with rage that he WANTED to kill the remaining circus workers.
Both him and Edward had been filled with that venomous, explosive rage, even though his sapphire lover was the one who outwardly expressed it. Opening his eyes, he glanced down at his daughter once more as he saw how relaxed she is which made him happy.
Looking down at the tracks, he blew his whistle twice when he saw the station at Crovan's Gate coming into view. He watched how Aurora's tail twitched excitedly as the smile on her face grew. Aurora smiled brightly as she stood up, her excitement growing before opening her bag.
Even though she rarely wears it around the engines and their crews, she was still wary of being near the people of Sodor. Henry watched Aurora gingerly put her new hooded cloak on; the hood and shoulders were a beautiful apple-green, and the material slowly transitioned to a gorgeous sky-blue at the hem. Blood-red ribbons dangled from the neck like a necklace dripping with rubies. Aurora gently lifted the hood over her ears.
She knew that the people of Sodor knew about her, given the various news reports about her harrowing story on TV, across radio stations, headlining newspapers, and over several social media platforms, but she still wasn't ready for them to see HER. She hoped to not draw attention to her unique features.
Henry blew his whistle twice as he slowed to a stop at the station. "Ready, Aurora?"
"I am!" Aurora purred excitedly as she waited for him to completely stop before jumping off.
Two old red tank engines were Sutton at the platform, chatting, but they saw their guests, and smiles broke out on their smokeboxes.
"Good morning, Henry, Aurora." Smiled Skarloey warmly. "How are you both on this beautiful morning?"
"Morning." Replied Henry, smiling from buffer to buffer. "We're well, thank you, had a very lovely run today."
"Can't go wrong with a good run." Skarloey commented.
"Unless it's Gordon on his own hill." Joked Rheneas.
"Edward been going on about it, again?" asked Henry, a smile playing on his lips as he imagined Edward recounting another anecdote to Skarloey, with an escaped giggle or two in between, and his fiery heart melted.
"He did mention one or two incidents, yes." Skarloey said, grinning.
"Something about red trousers"- added Rheneas, before his brother wheeshed him.
"Stop, boyo, or you'll"- he began giggling like a cheeky schoolboy at the memory of Edward telling him the story.
"Too late!" Peeped Rheneas, cheekily, joining in the mirth.
Aurora, who had been admiring the station whilst the trio talked, took the opportunity to greet them.
"Morning you two!" Aurora purred as she looked at the two small red engines, bouncing on the balls of her feet with excitement.
"My, you're energetic today, Aurora." Rheneas laughed softly, who Aurora now noticed has coaches coupled up to him.
"How can I not?" Aurora smiled as she adjusts her backpack under her cloak. "I finally get to see more of your railway!"
"Both old and new." Skarloey chuckled softly as he looked at his niece.
"You sure you have everything?" Henry asked his daughter worriedly.
"I'm sure." Aurora smiled as she jumped back onto his running plate. "And yes, I will be careful." She added, before he could say anything.
"I know you will." Henry smiled before kissing her head. "Just be safe and have fun."
"I will, father." Aurora purred as she kissed his cheek before jumping onto the platform. "I'll see you later on!" She waved at him before looking at Sam and Dave. "Bye you two!"
"Later, Aurora!" Sam smiled as both he and Dave waved at her.
Smiling brightly, Aurora happily jogged over to the two narrow gauge engines. "So, how have you been?" She asked as she kissed Rheneas' cheek.
"We've been good." Rheneas smiled, blushing from the kiss his niece gave him. "We're excited to show you around our little railway."
"I'm beyond excited for that," Aurora purred as she crossed the tracks, kissing Skarloey's cheek. "I've been waiting for today."
Old Faithful blushed, causing Rheneas to chuckle good-naturedly.
Skarloey cleared his smokebox. "So, where do you plan to start your adventure?" He asked Aurora.
Aurora thought about this for a moment, the tip of her tail twitching a bit.
"We can show her the Man in the Hills." Rheneas butted in.
"Your name's not Aurora, is it?" Skarloey asked, gruffly. But Aurora merely purred.
"It sounds interesting." She said happily.
"Or there's the Proteus statue, or the lake, or the Whispering Waterfall, or Eleph"- continued Rheneas, before his brother coughed to cut him off.
"I think that could wait a while, Rheneas," Skarloey objected.
Henry shot Skarloey a grateful look- just as the guard blew his whistle.
"I'd best go. But have a wonderful day, everyone, and I'll see you later, my darling!" He called out to his daughter.
Aurora had gone white at the mention of elephants, her ears folded against her head as her tail fluffed up. Even though it's been a month since the final confrontation, the memories of that evil place still burned deep in her mind. She didn't react to her father's farewell, but nodded at him to show that she did hear him.
Henry frowned slightly as he looked at his daughter, already knowing what she was thinking. She didn't have to say anything, he could just see the scared look on her face, including how her ears and tail looked. Henry knows that it will still be a long while before Aurora stays calm whenever she hears anything circus related but he could cope with that.
He knew what it's like to be traumatized; he still fears the Flying Kipper. Though he doesn't show it, he still feels his heart race when he goes to pull the infamous fish train. Blowing his whistle twice, he slowly set off with his coaches to continue his run.
…
Skarloey gave his little brother the stink eye once Henry pulled out of the station.
"Rheneas!" he hissed.
"It was a genuine mistake." Gallant Old Engine said apologetically. "I'll be more careful." He added, making eye contact with Aurora.
"Thank you." Said Skarloey, darkly. "There is, of course, Duke's old mines." He added.
"I'll go there first, that was where I wanted to go when I woke up." Aurora decided, having calmed down a lot.
"Very well," conceded Skarloey. "When you do get to our little line, we've got plenty of history and legends to share, so I hope we don't bore you." He teased.
"Hah, you'd send her nodding off in no time!" Rheneas teased.
Aurora shook her head. "I want to learn about the history of this place." She said, determinedly, her ears perking up excitedly.
"Good, good, Duke will be pleased!" Said Skarloey, who was feeling chuffed himself at hearing this.
"It's probably just as well," Rheneas muttered. "I caught Lexi in a contentious mood this morning, and she's on station duty, too!"
"Where?" asked Skarloey, worriedly.
"Glennock." Rheneas answered drolly, biting his lip. "It's because she apparently had a nasty fallout with Sir Handel and the pair are needing to work things out."
"Oh, Proteus save us!" Skarloey said quietly.
Aurora, however, could hear them due to her sensitive ears.
"Who is Lexi?" She asked curiously. She hadn't met a Lexi at the Blue Mountain Quarry, nor had she heard anything about her, that she could recall at least.
"Friend of ours," said Rheneas matter-of-factly.
"Well, she's more like family." Added Skarloey. "We love her to bits, but she's got a short fuse at the worst of times. Still, she's a nice girl, you and her might get along."
Aurora tensed at this, and Skarloey decided not to press it, only adding "She's usually either on duty at a station or at the Depot so you'll likely meet her at some point. But that's all I'm going to say."
"Pity that's not what usually happens." Retorted Rheneas. "Whoever thought this railway has great punctuality hasn't looked at you, yet!"
"You calling me slow?!"
"I've seen snails faster than you, I'm sure!" Said Rheneas. Skarloey chuckled as he remembered his brother saying something of a similar vein when he first got his new cab and they feel out not long afterwards.
Aurora was considering intervention, when Skarloey smiled kindly at her.
"Not to worry, we have arguments and banter like this all the time." He explained. "We've known each other for over 150 years, we've got a solid understanding of each other's boundaries. Besides, we're brothers, it's natural for a quarrel to happen every now and again. We're usually laughing it off in minutes so I wouldn't worry about us."
"Yep!" agreed Rheneas. He added to his brother, "Seeing as you still haven't learned to keep to a timetable after 150 years, I think you've got problems to worry about."
"Oh, really?" Skarloey asked sarcastically. "And who was the one who set a whole field of sheep loose- just because they thought they were late?"
"That was ages ago!" Rheneas argued, going red in the face.
"You cheeky sod! It was only last week!" Skarloey rejoined.
"I better go!" Said Rheneas. "Or else I'll be late!"
"Just don't hit any fences again, Jess only just got the last one repaired." Skarloey answered. "She'll make good on her threats if you're so bloody reckless again!"
"Don't remind me!" Rheneas shuddered.
"Jess is a tractor friend of ours, who works on the farms around the line." Skarloey added. "Rheneas took a bend too fast and derailed, setting loose a field of sheep next to one she was ploughing. Boy was she cross!"
"Not only did she have to fetch the farmer and sheepdog Pebbles, I made my passengers late and had to help Jess for two days."
"Served you bloody right!" said Skarloey, smiling affectionately at his beloved brother.
"Rheneas! Pay attention!" barked a snooty voice from behind Rheneas, where the old SKR coaches, of blue and cream liveries, were lined up.
Aurora listened with interest as Rheneas rattled off their names in introduction: Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice, whose reactions varied wildly.
"Pleased to meet you, Aurora!" chirped Beatrice politely.
"What's this about an aura?" Jemima asked, confused.
Rheneas sighed. "She's deaf, poor dear," he whispered to Aurora, before turning his attention back to the coaches. "No, Jem, I said Aurora! She's our niece, from the NWR!"
"Since when did you two get hitched?" asked Beatrice jokingly, and Skarloey burst out laughing at Rheneas's reddening face.
"No, that's not what- I mean- she's mine and Skarloey's niece." He finished lamely.
"Oh, I know, dear, but you are good for a wind up!"
"I second that!"
It was Rheneas's turn to wheesh his sibling.
Lucy and Ruth said hello, but were surprisingly blasé, they usually liked to gossip! Rheneas decided it wasn't a bad thing, at least the gossip couldn't turn malicious if it wasn't happening to begin with.
Agnes, however, took Aurora's mere presence to be a personal offense.
"You belong in Beatrice-out of sight, that is to say!" She sniffed.
"You have only just met me!" Hissed Aurora, hurt. "What right have you to judge me!"
Just when Skarloey and Rheneas couldn't be more aghast, Agnes hissed, "Looks like you've lost your collar, kitty, better not get taken back to the pound."
Aurora shivered in fright, her glare burning bright as she looked at the coach. Her ears folded flat against her leg and her tail wrapped around her leg, fluffed up. She tried to calm her breathing as her vision started to blur as iron bars appeared in front of her.
Every sound she heard was muffled and slowly being replaced by that nightmarish circus music. She silently took a small step back as she continued to glare at Agnes. Rheneas, having heard everything and seeing how his niece is reacting, snapped.
"HOW DARE YOU!" He raged. "AGNES, THAT WAS BLOODY UNCALLED FOR!"
He took a small breather and filled a confused Skarloey in on Agnes's vile words. By the end, Skarloey was also pissed off.
"I have NEVER been so ASHAMED of you in my entire LIFE!" He snapped.
"I agree, Skarloey," said Rheneas, in a withering tone. "Such disgraceful behavior to display on this railway!"
"Biff her for us, brother," Skarloey decided, his heart sinking as Aurora's beautiful blue eyes flashed with hurt, and she lifted her hood over her head. "She is far too old for such name-calling and insulting."
Rheneas agreed. Blowing his whistle, slowly puffed out of the station while lecturing Agnes angrily.
"It was nice to meet you, Aurora!" Beatrice smiled as the cat-girl, watching her nod slightly.
"Did you see her?" Lucy whispered to Ruth softly. "She has cat ears and a tail!"
"I know." Ruth hummed quietly. "Do you think she's a mutant?"
"She might be an experiment." Lucy whispered quietly.
"Did she escape from a facility?"
"She might've came from the stre-OOF!" Lucy gasped, along with the other coaches, as they bumped into each other roughly.
"That's enough." Rheneas huffed angrily as he puffed down the tracks. "I'll make sure the three of you have a 'little chat' with Mr. Percival, once I finish this run."
Skarloey watched his brother puff away from the station before looking at Aurora. The way she stood still, her hood covering her face, he knows just how much Agnes' words hurt her.
"Ready to go, Aurora?" Skarloey asked tenderly, frowning when he saw her jump.
"Y-Yeah…" Aurora said quietly slowly walking over to him.
Skarloey frowned sadly as he watched her, seeing how she used her cape to cover herself. Just as she did when she first arrived on Sodor. His boiler bubbled angrily after his brother told him what Agnes said. He knew she was mean, grumpy and impatient towards everyone, but to say something that cruel crossed the line.
Skarloey knows that he will be late doing his jobs today but he doesn't mind. He knows that the others would help him if need be, namely Rheneas and the Kerr Stuart cousins, Luke and Peter Sam.
Watching Aurora slowly sit on his running plate, making sure her cloak was fully wrapped around her body, he blew his whistle twice and slowly started to puff down the tracks. An awkward silence fell between the two, but he knew she was still upset. Not that he blamed her.
"Don't listen to that crotchety old coach, Aurora." Skarloey said softly, looking at her. "She never knows when to keep her mouth shut, and I'm afraid she's only gotten worse over the years. She once biffed Luke off the line as she took offence to Lexi being a coach cleaner. And that was their first meeting. She's a nightmare, that one. You're perfect as you are."
"…Do I belong in a pound…?" Aurora whispered quietly, looking down at his buffers.
"Of course not!" Skarloey scoffed, the mere thought making his boiler bubble . "You don't belong in a pound, or anywhere else that isn't Sodor."
"Then why-"
"Agnes is always very rude to anyone she meets for the first time." Skarloey sighed softly. "Rheneas dealt with her being mean towards him years ago. She's warned me she would be 'watching me' on Day One."
"...Everyone?" Aurora asked softly as she turned her head to look at him slightly.
"Indeed." Skarloey agreed. "Now then, just forget what Agnes told you and focus on what you want to do."
Aurora remained silent but nodded slightly at the engine, lowering her head once more. Seeing her like this made his boiler ache and kept his anger burning as bright as his firebox. Agnes had no right to say anything like that and he hoped that his brother biffs her good. Though not to the point of upsetting Beatrice or Jem.
The ride towards the old set of tracks was awkward between the two, Skarloey not knowing what else to say. When he puffed into the forest, he watched Aurora slowly looked up.
Smiling warmly, he saw Aurora slowly lift her hood up, feeling his firebox burn brightly from looking at her face. Aurora's eyes were wide and full of wonder, looking around the forest. The trees were tall, healthy and gnarly, with beautiful emerald leaves rustling from the gentle breeze. The sounds of the forest seemed to echo all around her, followed by the soft chuffing from her uncle. A smile slowly formed on her face as she stood up on his running plate, looking around excitedly.
"This forest is beautiful, Uncle!" Aurora purred happily as she continued to look around.
Pride swirled in Skarloey's boiler when she called him that. Usually she only called him uncle when she was sad but hearing her call him Uncle with a smile on her face made him swell with pride.
"I'm glad you think so, Aurora." Skarloey chuckled as he continued to puff down the tracks slowly.
Ten minutes had gone by as Skarloey talked about the forest, Aurora listening to every word that came out of his mouth. The encounter with Agnes had slipped from her mind, being replaced by new information and history of the Skarloey railway. She gazed intently at Skarloey's face, glancing around the forest every now and then.
"We're here." Skarloey hummed softly, slowing to a stop.
Aurora looked around before gently jumping off his running plate, tiny twigs crunching under her shoes. The forest was dense and the sounds of the wildlife seemed to echo around them. Looking to her right, she sees an old track, a majority of it covered in weeds with some of the rested rail visible. Rows of trees aligned next to the tracks, almost looking like a tunnel. Staring down the old path, Aurora felt her heart race with anticipation and excitement. Skarloey chuckled softly as he watched how quickly her tail twitch, almost like a kid fidgeting as they waited for their dessert.
"Now remember, Aurora." Skarloey hummed softly, waiting for her to look at him to ensure he had her full attention. "The old mines and the railway have been abandoned for decades-just be careful where you're going and keep an eye on your surroundings. I don't want you falling through the ground or having a building collapse on you." He warned, already trying to prevent the horrifying images from his mind.
"I will." Aurora purred as she kissed his cheek. "I'll test everything before I even step foot on it."
Skarloey chuckled softly before kissing her head. "Alright, Aurora. We'll see you in a few hours." He smiled before blowing his whistle twice.
Aurora jumped onto the old set of tracks, blowing her own whistle as she watched the older engine puff down the 'newer' tracks.
Turning around, she took a deep breath before walking down the path of the abandoned tracks. All around her, an orchestra played the soft music of the wind, the sounds of the animals, and the melodies of the birds. The smile on her face grew wider as she walked along the old tracks, easily keeping her balance on the rusted rails.
Looking, behind her, Aurora clicked her tongue before taking the shoes and socks off. Even though she did promise her fathers that she would wear them while exploring the old mines, she just didn't feel comfortable wearing them. She's used to being barefoot for it was her way to feel vibrations close by.
Living in a cramped cage for most of her life, she taught herself to feel the vibrations that rattled her cage, either from the elephants being tortured as they 'trained', or the footsteps of the workers and performers. The ones who…
A shiver shot down her spine as she quickly shook her head. No longer does she want to think about that life, not anymore. That twisted and tormented circus was gone, Lucas was dead, and she finally had a family who loved her. They cared about her, and hell, even put their lives at risk to help her when Lucas tried to take her from them.
Putting the shoes in her bag, she put it around her back once more before walking down the path.
Pulling out her iPod Touch, Aurora hummed softly as she unlocked the screen and opened up her playlist. Even though she was on Sodor for only a few months, Sam and Dave were kind enough to get her one and she already filled it with a lot of songs. Her entire life, she only heard the music of the circus and that alone was nothing but nightmare fuel. Being able to listen to songs from a wide genre of everything, from kids' movies, anime, bands, TV shows, etc. she just fell in love with them. The engines also don't mind when she sings while with them, making it feel like their jobs are going by quicker than normal.
"Guileless Son, I'll shape your belief
And you'll always know that your father's a thief
And you won't understand the cause of your grief
But you'll always follow the voices beneath"
Aurora sang softly as she stared up while walking. Her voice was soft, almost matching the person who sang the song. The birds and animals stopped scurrying about, looking at the cat-girl as she sang. The animals rarely had any other living thing travel through their home but they felt no fear of her. Looking at her, the animals of the forest went back to living their peaceful lives. Aurora smiled at the animals before continuing to sing while on her journey.
After what felt like hours, Aurora stopped as her eyes widened in wonder. The remains of an abandoned village stood in front of her, the plant life has reclaimed the land as their own. Walking into the village, the brick buildings were covered in thick vines, windows were broken and parts of the brick walls caved in. The homes that were built out of wood were either slightly bent inwards, missing parts of the walls, or having completely crashed into the ground.
"Woah…" Aurora gasped softly as she looked around, feeling like she had entered an apocalyptic world. She deduced it must have been a railway village, and was abandoned when there was no work or transport after the MSR closed.
The village seemed so barren that even the birds stayed away from this place. Putting her backpack on the ground, Aurora pulled out her two maps and a pen. Sitting on the grass-covered tracks, she opened the maps and started to sketch in one of them. Using the older map as a reference, Aurora steadily drew the new marks on the newer map before labeling them. Looking at the older map and the buildings around her, she easily drew the collapsing buildings on the newer map before labeling it accordingly. She hummed delightedly at her handiwork.
"I can't wait to ask Granpuff about this place!" Aurora purred as she folded the maps up. Putting them into her backpack, Aurora stood up and silently walked over to one of the collapsing buildings.
Sticking her head through the doorway, she took a cautious step inside. Her ears swerved at every sound that was made, every creak from wood as she put pressure on it. Old news articles and other small pieces of trash lay scattered about, faded and worn with time. Most of the windows were shattered, shards glinting menacingly on the floor. Looking, she sees the great divot in the ceiling that was holding the second floor up. The fur on her tail fluffed up as she easily walked around it, immediately stepping back outside.
Looking at the other buildings, she bit her lip as she started to think. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to a smaller building, one that looks like a small house. The doorway was boarded up with rotting wood and moss clinging to it. Lifting her leg up, Aurora easily kicked the wood down before flinching. Hearing no sound of any collapses, she sighed softly before walking it. Unlike the first house she entered, the ceiling seemed to be sturdier which caused her to sigh in relief. Looking around, her ears perked up as she saw a small chest resting on top of an old dresser. It looked more like a mini treasure chest that is usually portrayed in children's books. Opening it, her eyes widen in fascination as she looked at the treasures resting inside it.
Laying within the chest were various types of old jewelry such as a Ruby necklace, pearl earrings, some coins (mostly shillings and other old coins), an old silver pocket watch, and a beautiful red geode. Picking up the geode, she watched how the gem sparkled in the few streaks of sunlight poking through the holes of the building. Putting the geode back into the chest, she gently closed it before putting it into her back. Her tail twitched excitedly as she happily skipped out of the house, wanting to show Granpuff the treasure she just found when she gets back. After spending two more hours exploring the abandoned village, Aurora walked over to a tree and sat down in the shade, pulling out her sandwich and drink.
"I can't wait for James to see what I found. It's as brilliant as his red paint!" Aurora purred as she took a bite of her sandwich. "Let's see…I explored all of the buildings that were safe enough, marked everything on the map to make it accurate…all that's left is the old mine." She hummed to herself as she pulled out her map.
Closing her eyes, she sighed in content as she enjoyed the warm breeze that rustled the leaves on the trees. The smell of flowers surrounded her, making her feel calm and relaxed as she inhaled the fresh spring air. Finishing her sandwich, she took a sip of water before putting everything back into her backpack. Picking it up, she slipped the straps around her shoulders before walking down an old path. Parts of rusted rails stuck out of the overgrown grass, but erosion covered most of the tracks under the ground, yet the pathway remained. Aurora purred as she walked on top of the old railroad tracks, feeling like she's entering another dimension as the trees seemed to arch over the path.
After what felt like hours, Aurora eventually walked into a clearing and stopped. Tall trees were scattered about the clearing as beautiful flowers decorated the land. It was hard to notice at first, but Aurora could see some wooden poles sticking out of the ground, along with some pieces of wood scattered about. To the far side was a decent size building with rotten buffers in the back of them. The building was made of stone but vines nearly covered the entire structure.
"Granpuff wasn't kidding when he said how the old mines were basically gone." Aurora hummed softly as she walked toward the old sheds.
Stepping inside, Aurora's tail fluffed up in anticipation as she looked around the old sheds. Rusted wheels leaned against the walls as shelves of different engine parts rested on them. A shiver ran up her spine as she felt a chill blow into the sheds before wrapping her arms around herself. Something about the sheds felt wrong to her but she didn't know what. Shaking her head, she quickly walked out of the sheds and into the sunlight.
She sighed in relief as warmth quickly covered her being, her golden hair shimmering in the sun's golden light.
"That was weird…" Aurora muttered to herself before looking at the sheds. "It felt wrong being in there…" She frowned slightly before slowly walking around it.
Behind the building was what seemed like a wooden shed attached to the stone building. It was completely boarded up and no door or doorway seemed to be visible. A long rusted pipe came through the roof, looking like some sort of chimney.
"That's weird…why have a shed with no door?" Aurora pondered as she walked around it. "There was no door in the engine shed either…" She hummed before using her claws to climb on top of it.
Standing on the roof of the wooden shed, every step she made caused the wood to creak beneath her weight. Sure she was still too skinny to be considered a healthy body weight, but she had started putting on some weight since she arrived on the island. Taking cautious steps, she looked down at the roof before looking around what was left of the mines. In the distance, she could see a small but steep hill with some tracks on it. A small building rested on top of the hill where it looked like the tracks enter it. Ears swerving, she hears the creaking beneath her before the wood collapsed.
And she was too late to react.
"Ahh!" Aurora screamed as she fell through the roof of the shed.
…
CLANK "Nghhh!"
BANG "Ugh!"
THUD
Aurora groaned as she laid on the cold ground, pieces of wood falling around her as her body ached.
"What did I land on…?" Aurora groaned in pain as she slowly pushed herself up. "It felt like metal…"
"Who's there?!" a voice, raspy and croaky from years of underuse shouted out.
Aurora instantly froze from the voice, her body stiff as her tail fluffed up in fear. Her heart raced as her body started to tremble in fear. Was someone living here? Were they dangerous? Do they…? Aurora shivered and hugged herself, feeling tears starting to fall down her cheeks. Memories of her life in the circus instantly rushed back to her, all of the men and women who paid to torment and rape her. Gulping quietly, she shakily and slowly turned her head, ready to flee from the man, however; it wasn't a man she saw behind her but rather an engine.
The engine's basis reminded her of Rheneas's own. In the sunlight that shone in the shed, Aurora noticed how the engine was mostly rusted,, only a few tiny patches that showed faded olive green livery. Looking down, she felt her eyes widen in horror when she noticed his missing wheels, his body seeming to be welded to the ground. The metal pipe she saw earlier on top of the build ran straight down and onto his funnel, looking like it was welded together.
"Explain yourself!" snapped the engine.
Aurora relaxed a bit, happy that it wasn't a human that was heard but still felt timid by the engine…thing? Gulping quietly, Aurora took slow cautious steps around his front and frowned sadly. His face was dirty and he looked tired but mostly importantly, sad. The machine blinked as his eyes widened as he looked at the girl in front of her. It's been years since he last saw any living thing but he knew that humans didn't have cat ears and tail. The two continued to stare at each other, not sure what to say to the other. Tail twitching nervously, Aurora took a deep breath and took a step towards him.
"My name is Aurora. What's your name?" Aurora asked softly as she looked at him.
"Wouldn't you like to know." The machine huffed as he looked away.
Aurora narrowed her eyes as he ears flattened. "You're a rude one."
A few seconds passed between them before the machine sighed softly. "...Smudger…"
"Smudger?"
"Yes." Smudger replied quietly before looking at the cat-girl. "And…I'm sorry I was rude." He muttered before chuckling sadly. "Another reason why I'm here…"
"What do you mean?" Aurora asked as she walked a bit closer to him.
Smudger looked at her before looking down, strangely feeling calm within her presence. She seemed calm, and kind.
Feeling a warm hand on his buffer beam, he looked down at her and stared at her sapphire eyes, along with all the scars that decorated her fair skin.
"What happened to you…?" Smudger asked, biting his lip as he sees the scared and sad look appear on her face.
"...My entire life, I lived in a circus where I was brutally tortured mentally, physically… and sexually…" Aurora stated softly as her tail wrapped around her leg, ears flat against her head. "It was only two months ago that I escaped from them and arrived on Sodor. The circus eventually found me and tried to take me back with them. I escaped again, with the help of my family but the Ringmaster shot me in the heart." She hummed before looking up at him. "I thought I was going to die but…I survived somehow."
Smudger stared at her in shock, trying to comprehend what she had just told him. He has met some cruel people working on the railway, but never did he hear something so sinister and dark.
"I'm…sorry you went through all of that." Smudger said softly as he looked at her.
Aurora shrugged before putting her hand on the scar over her heart. "What about you?" She asked, looking at his eyes. "Why are you still here?"
Smudger stared at her before he sighed, looking down. "Years ago, I used to work for the mines. I worked with a kind old engine but…I treated him badly. Along with the workers and my crew…"
~~Flashback~~
Smudger huffed in annoyance as he rested on the side of the tracks, once again derailing himself and his trucks. His crew talked to him angrily but he didn't care, finding the situation of worrying about a 'few spilt trucks' annoying. Hearing the sounds of puffing, Smudger watched as Duke slowed to a stop next to him. Duke sighed before staring at the olive green engine in annoyance and exhaustion.
"Smudger, how many times do I have to tell you to be careful when pulling trucks?" Duke asked, clearly trying to be patient but struggling to refrain from snapping, though he already used to Smudger's derailments.
"Listen, Dukie," Smudger snarled, glaring at him. "Who worries about a few spills!?"
"We do here!" Duke retorted, only for Smudger to laugh.
"Hehehehehe!"
"You better change your ways, Smudger, or else you will stop moving." Duke warned before puffing away.
"I'll never stop moving, Dukie!" Smudger huffed as he glared after him.
A few days has passed and Smudger was resting in the sheds next to Duke. He was ignoring his crew once more but instantly paid attention when the manager of the railway walked up to him.
"Smudger, I need to have a word with you." The manager said sternly as she looked at the small engine.
"What about?" Smudger huffed bitterly.
"About you constantly derailing." The manager growled, glaring at him. "Your accidents are always causing us to be late with our deliveries, you hold everyone up by speeding down the tracks, you're a danger to workers and passengers, and not considering the other engines on this railway."
"So what?" Smudger questioned with a laugh. "It's not like you can do anything. Hahahaha!"
"Oh don't worry, Smudger, I already have an idea on how to make you useful." The manager warned sincerely, causing Smudger to stop laughing instantly.
Smudger gulped as he looked at the manager, worry filling his boiler as he realized he spoke too soon. He could hear Duke sighing sadly next to him and for once in his life, he felt scared.
~~End Flashback~~
"The manager turned me into a generator and I've been here ever since." Smudger sighed softly as he closed his eyes. "I've watched Duke, Stuart, and Falcon continue their work on the railway, completely ignoring me." He said before opening his eyes. "Duke would sometimes talk to me but eventually, he stopped. I haven't even seen my brothers when I was put here."
"Your brothers?" Aurora asked softly, gently placing her hand on his cheek.
Smudger slowly looked at her, feeling a wave of warmth and calmness flow through him. "Skarloey and Rheneas. I won't even be surprised if they forgot about me, not that I interacted with them."
"You were turned into a generator, and everyone basically forgot about you…" Aurora muttered quietly, her ears flattening against her had as she felt her tears water. "I'm so sorry…"
"It's whatever." Smudger scoff, though it was full of sadness. "They probably aren't around anymore…"
"They are!" Aurora said, looking at him with tearful eyes. "Duke, Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam-"
"Who?" Smudger asked in confusion. He never knew a Peter Sam or a Sir Handel!
"Stuart and Falcon's names changed to Peter Sam and Sir Handel when they came to the Skarloey Railway- I only found out when Peter Sam called Sir Handel 'Falcon'. They explained their story from there." Aurora hummed softly before smiling warmly. "The engines you knew back then are still around and working on the Skarloey Railway."
Smudger stared at her before chuckling softly.
Aurora frowned as she looked at Smudger, seeing the sadness within his eyes. She knew what he was feeling for she had felt the same way while in the circus. Alone, cold, devoid of hope.. everything she didn't want to remember.
Biting her lip, she looked around at the engine turned generator. Every part of him was rusted and worn from age. She cringed as she stared at his funnel that was melded to the iron pipe, not wanting to imagine the pain he must've felt at the time. She narrowed her eyes as she clenched her fists. How dare that manager do something so cruel to an engine. Who cares if he kept derailing because he was speeding, he didn't deserve this type of treatment!
"I'm going to get you out of here, Smudger." Aurora said determinedly.
"What?!" Smudger gasped as he looked at her. "There's no way you can get me out of here!" He huffed before sighing. "But I do appreciate you wanting to help me but…I deserve to be here."
"No you don't." Aurora said firmly, causing Smudger to stare at her. "The manager was cruel in doing this to you. Other engines who've done worse weren't punished like this! Everyone might've forgotten you but I won't and I want you to be a really useful engine!" She stated, putting her hands on his cheek as she smiled at him. "I will make sure you are fully repaired and back as an engine, not some generator!"
Smudger stared at Aurora, eyes wide as he felt this wave of determination engulf him. Never had a human, well, cat-girl, show so much caring towards him, worried about his well-being, and wanting to help him. Her eyes shone fiercely, determination flaring within her sapphire orbs. Staring at the lost engine, Aurora smiled as she kissed his forehead.
"I will return and I will bring help. You will never be alone again." Aurora smiled as she easily jumped on top of him.
"H-Hey, wait!" Smudger called out, feeling her jump up and off of him.
"I promise I'll be back, Smudger!" Aurora called out as she looked down into the shed. Pulling out a small blue ribbon, she tied it around the metal pipe and adjusted her backpack. "Just don't loose hope!" She yelled before jumping off the shed, running down this old track.
Smudger stared up at the hole in the shed, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight that shone through the opening. He felt a small smile form on his face as warm tears flowed down his cheeks.
"I hold you to your word, Aurora." Smudger said softly, both excitement and fear flowing through him.
Aurora panted as she ran down the old tracks, heading towards the newer track. She texted Duke's crew right as she left Smudger. She had yet to stop running but she didn't care. She wanted to help Smudger as soon as she could, knowing that he didn't deserve to be left there. She was happy to hear the Duke was actually close by so she didn't have to wait. She didn't tell them about Smudger yet, wanting to tell them in person. Her eyes lit up as she saw Duke resting on the track near the small junction that lead towards the old tracks.
"Granpuff! Granpuff!" Aurora panted as she ran a bit faster.
"Woah there, Aurora." Duke hummed softly, frowning in worry from seeing her. "Is everything alright? Are you hurt?"
Aurora panted as she quickly sat on his footplate, taking deep breaths as she tried to calm her racing heart. "I-I n-need to s-see S-Sir….Toph-ham….H-Hatt…urgently…" She panted before leaning against his cheek.
"What happened?" Duke asked as he slowly puffed down the tracks slowly. "Why do you need to see him urgently?"
"S-Smudger…" Aurora panted as she looked at him.
Duke's eyes widened as he nearly slammed on his brakes He hasn't heard that name in years and started to feel guilty. "What about Smudger?" He asked softly, afraid to hear her answer.
"He's…he's still behind your old shed." Aurora said quietly, finally regaining her breath, before looking her beloved Granpuff directly in the eye. "He's still alive. I want to free him." She said determinedly.