Chapter 4: Friends and Foes
At the Verm-Tech campus's R&D building Dilbert, Pierre, and Glenda are in a meeting with lead researcher Daryl Hendrickson, an African American man in his mid-40s. Attending this special gathering are some special guests: Dwayne and Gladys LaFontant. Now 59-years-old, the married couple were expelled from Verm-Tech 22 years ago for ipso facto allowing all the captured animals to escape. For that, the previous Verm-Tech president placed a restraining order on the pair that would have them arrested for setting foot on the campus. But that document was disposed of when Verm-Tech got a new president 10 years ago which made it much easier for them to get their daughter moved in. If what Dilbert and Pierre have to say at this gathering is as good as they had hinted to the LaFontants, this will be a glorious day indeed.
Pierre: "As we said the other day, we weren't able to kill the specific group of animals that's caused so much trouble for our families for several years now, but we did manage to tranquilize them."
Daryl knows how once Pierre or Dill get full of themselves, the father and son go on a verbal equivalent of a joyride. But Daryl has a PhD in engineering, and master's degrees in computer technology, and robotics—from Stanford at the age of 20. In short, he is a genius, perhaps the smartest man in Verm-Tech. Knowing that there will be repercussions if any sensitive information gets out, Daryl quickly adds, "I personally designed those tranqs with your specifications, Mr. LaFontant. But before we go on..." He gets out a remote and presses a button that shuts off the room's surveillance camera and locks the room's door electronically. "From here on out, everything said in this room stays in this room. We are not to speak of it to any person not attending this discussion under any circumstances. If any word gets out, our careers at Verm-Tech are over. Do I make myself clear?"
Everyone listening says, "Yes" in unison.
Daryl: "Most of y'all don't know this, but I'm the man who designed the animal mind control headsets Dwayne used 30 years ago."
Gladys: "Really?"
Dwayne nods and points at Hendrickson. "And under Dr. Hendrickson's direction I'm the one who took credit for it because if the police or Verm-Tech administration found out it was really you, you'd have been the one who got arrested, possibly expelled from Verm-Tech and then we wouldn't have designed the Depelter Turbo 4000."
Pierre: "Or any of the nifty weapons we used at the Changs' house."
Dilbert: "Those weren't ordinary tranquilizers, either."
Daryl: "Correct. Those contained the latest and greatest work I have ever devised: nanobots."
Glenda: "With all due respect Dr. Hendrickson, you didn't create nanobots. Those were made in 2018. And people use those to deliver medicine, treat cancer, and identify toxins in the body. So why put them in tranquilizers for animals?"
Daryl feels like verbally lashing the young Glenda out for her lack of patience, and especially for the hint of challenge in her tone (1). All his life he was coveted by many companies for his technological expertise, each one had management types who expected instant results (1). People like Glenda have no appreciation for the art of science, the process. He honestly feels sorry for them, such limited, simple, beings (1).
But he is a smart man, not an emotional middle schooler, so Daryl simply answers her question with his usual easy-going voice tone with, "True, but my nanobots are different. Remember when your father used my mind control equipment?" After Glenda nods, he continues, "After his arrest I quickly went about addressing the flaws of my designs: the battery for the mind control helmets had to be strapped to the animals' backs like a backpack. If the straps came undone, the mind control helmet would shut off. The helmets themselves could be taken off with enough force and took a lot of time and resources to make, and then had to be made specific sizes for specific animals. One wouldn't call that cost-effective or design efficient.
"But contrast that with nanobots: small, cheap, requires less resources, far easier to manufacture, cannot be taken off from external force since they are in the bloodstream, have batteries recharged by body heat, and impossible to identify without taking a blood sample, and even then, they would have to be in the spot where blood is extracted."
Gladys: "So you have basically taken your original mind control equipment and shrunk it down to the size of a blood cell..."
Dilbert: "Didn't I tell you this man was a genius?!"
Daryl: "We can control the nanobots' movement from a computer console, and once they reach a host's brain, we can make the host do whatever we want."
Dwayne, Gladys, Pierre, and Dilbert give wicked smiles and sound like snakes while saying, "Yeeeeeesssssssss," diabolically. Only Glenda doesn't join as she has some more questions, "Is this the first time you've tried these mind control nanobots out?"
Daryl: "Of course not. The prototypes have been tested on many animals and refined to their current version."
Dwayne: "So what're you waiting for? Let's make those troublesome animals our puppets!"
Daryl: "It's not that easy. Because of the complex functions these nanobots can do, they are larger than normal nanobots. If we have them move, the animals will feel them. In the early tests, subjects were able remove the nanobots by clawing or chewing themselves to open up wounds that bled the machines out before they reached the brain. They also can't move through the bloodstream on their own while inactive, they are designed to anchor themselves to the vessel walls to not seem a threat for the body's natural defenses to dispose of. For the nanobots to fully work we must only move them when the animals are in deep sleep."
Dwayne groans and says in bitterness, "Great...The ones we're after are awake all day and most of the night."
Gladys: "We'll just have to be patient, dear."
Daryl: "This won't pose too much a problem because the nanobots feed us information about the physiological status of the animals. But another issue is that once the nanobots reach the brain they need time to bond to that organ on the cellular level. Other test subjects died of brain hemorrhage when we tried to control them too soon."
Pierre re-treads Dwayne's earlier frustration-filled tone with, "How long will that take?"
Daryl: "It varies depending on the brain size, how active the brain is, and the animal species itself."
Dilbert: "Like Mrs. Gladys said, we gotta be patient, dad." (Looks at Daryl) "There's no word to describe how grateful I am you decided to be employed here at Verm-Tech. But I don't get why you haven't patented your nanobots for government or public use."
Daryl: "The government and public would make me use my inventions how they want, but Verm-Tech lets me do whatever I want with my inventions.
"And I have personal reasons for wanting to use my robots to kill animals. I had a niece who I helped raise along with my mom. Tasha was like a daughter to me, she had the brightest smile, the greatest personality, and a heart that desired adventure. Then...while on a camping trip with her boyfriend when she was a senior in high school, the pair got lost in the woods while hiking. By the time they got back to their tent, all their food and water had been taken away by woodland animals. They were also attacked by every kind of forest animal while trying to find their way back. Without food or direction, they wandered around for a week, all while their wounds, fatigue, and exposure to the elements slowly and painfully took a heavy toll on them. Doctors said they suffered for six days before dying 100 yards from the parking lot where their car was..."
Glenda: "Goodness gracious..."
Dwayne: "Not even losing my legs compares to your loss, Daryl."
Pierre: "You have our sympathies..."
Daryl: "Thanks folks. Now you know why I do what I do at Verm-Tech, which brings me to why we need to keep things quiet. Nanobots of this kind aren't legal and violate dozens of laws every time they're activated. We're also aware that Verm-Tech is unfortunately well-known for breaking laws when it comes to weapons, as our business contracts for those were mostly made with companies tied to black market arms manufacturers and dealers."
Gladys: "And Verm-Tech barely survived the pet owners' lawsuits that forced the college to make the traps nonlethal."
Glenda: "Which means if any lawmen find out about Daryl's latest nanobots, Verm-Tech will be finished."
Dwayne: "That cannot happen at any cost."
Daryl: "Which means nobody will speak a word of this, AND we are NOT gonna rush things. We have to play the long-game here people, if you want this group of animals dead once and for all."
Everyone says, "We got it," even Glenda who despite having no true hatred of animals like her parents and boyfriend, does want to get the animals that crippled her father and ruined her mother's reputation. Before her arrest, Gladys Sharp was a name that commanded respect and dignity. Once she got out of jail for good behavior all of that was destroyed. Gladys was unable to get a real job now that she had a prison record, and her family saw and treated her as a disgrace to their name, even to this day. As for Dwayne, he and his family had lost their property to animals destroying it. Their house had been in the LaFontant bloodline for generations, and no matter what they did to try to stop animals from getting in to destroy their land and home, nothing worked. Glenda sees this as a chance to make her parents get the closure they have been yearning since before she was born.
The pact having been made; the group of Verm-Tech workers gets to going over their plan.
Daryl: "So first, we need someone to keep an eye on the animals' conditions and move the nanobots when they're asleep."
Glenda: "I can do that. I'm the best computer monitor among us. Just gimme some coffee and I'll stay up as late as it takes."
Dwayne: That's my girl!"
Gladys: "Mine too!"
Daryl: "Then Glenda, you're in charge of making sure the nanobots reach the animals' brains."
Dwayne: "Can Gladys and I be the ones who control the animals once the nanobots bond to their brains?"
Daryl: "Sadly no, it requires a specific computer and program to accomplish that. We only have those here at Verm-Tech."
Gladys: "Can't you come and install it in our home at El Rancho Camelot? We'll have lots of time to kill before the nanobots control the animals' brains and am sure that moving the control terminals outside the campus will help stop Verm-Tech from seeming guilty."
Daryl: "I'm apparently not the only genius here. Great plan, Mrs. LaFontant!"
Dwayne: "Pierre and Dill, that way Gladys and I can have the satisfaction of actually killing some of the animals..."
Dilbert sees where Dwayne is going with this and adds, "Which means dad and I can kill the ones who survive."
Daryl: "And I'll take satisfaction of being the reason more forest animals like the ones who killed my niece and her boyfriend are wiped off the earth."
Pierre: "Everybody's a winner!"
Daryl: "Just remember to tread carefully. We make one slip up, and our lives and Verm-Tech will be finished."
All the others say, "We understand," in unison.
After nodding, Daryl smiles and says, "Now, let's get started."
Note: (1)=Based on Alien: Prototype by Tim Waggoner.
Twelve hours later and it's nearly 5:00AM, the sky truly darkest before the dawn light arrives. But that phrase has a second meaning, as Reagan soon discovers, or in this case re-discovers.
"Reeeaagan?...Oh, Reeeeeeaaaaaagaaaan?"
The ominous voice sounds distant but also close, so close that Reagan can feel the heat of the speaker's breath on the back of her neck. She turns around, ready for a fight but nothing is there. She doesn't let her guard down, for she has learned the hard way that the worst thing to do is to relax whenever a stalker is around. Despite her preparedness, the attacker still gets the drop on her, putting her in a choke hold. It is none other than her real father, Robbie. She tries her hardest to break free, but Robbie always had a vise-like grip; her body would be sore for days from his strength.
Robbie grins his sinister grin, showing his sharp teeth and staring into her hapless and frightened soul with his devious eyes. That's what Reagan always found most baffling and scary about her father: he had the dastardliness of all the sick and twisted personalities at a serial killer convention, but also had the most beautiful blue eyes. How could someone so evil have such breath-taking eyes? The answer: his pupils and muscles around his eyes. They burned with hate but were bone-chillingly cold.
In a haunting voice that is like a whisper, sigh, and moan combined Robbie says, "Foooooouuuuuuuunnnnnnd yoooooooouuuuuuu..." When he speaks next, his voice changes to that of a demon, sounding as if there are several voices speaking at once: a deep, high, and medium pitch, masculine and feminine, loud and soft. "Just like I said I would..."
Reagan would have screamed but his grip is too tight. Robbie notices this and takes sick glee as his demonic voice says, "You've been a bad little girl. You've told others what I have done to you." He looks at her scars and smirks when he notices the one on her shoulder that looks like the Z with a line down the middle. He looks back at her and says, "However, you didn't tell them everything, like a good little girl...For that, you deserve a reward..."
Reagan knows what kind of "reward" he is talking about, and her panic gives way to a sudden adrenaline boost that she uses to try and fight back. But her claw swipes go straight through him which makes her realize she is trying to fight a ghost. "But ghosts shouldn't have this kind of strength," she muses.
Robbie: "You're going to make me haaaaaappyyyyyy..." As he spoke, he starts slowly tilting his head down as if he is about to look at the ground.
But his gaze doesn't stop at the ground...
Reagan yelps "AH!" as she wakes up from her nightmare. She is surprised she didn't scream louder and longer, but is grateful because the last thing she needs is to wake up her reincarnated biological father. She immediately looks around and is glad that he isn't sleeping close to her. To her horror, she discovers why she couldn't scream louder and longer when she touches her neck, and feels the bruises there are sore. She gasps at the horrifying realization that she says out loud in a hoarse whisper, "His mere memory can attack me in my dreams...I'm not safe awake or asleep."
At that moment, Reagan wants to get out of the log and go somewhere, anywhere away from RJ. She carefully walks around the sleeping hedgies and sees the log's exit, but it's blocked by Bucky and Emily. Reagan makes her way to the opposite end only to find it's blocked off by Quillo and Rachel. Having the best defense of any of the hedgies, the porcupines had decided long ago to sleep near both entrances/exits of the family log to pose a great difficulty to any predators looking for a nighttime snack. Any animal would have to try to eat their way through lots of sharp quills before being able to get to any meat. Still, Reagan's fear and craving to get out makes her possibly risk her life if it means she can get away from RJ. She grips the side of the log and then climbs onto the "ceiling" hanging upside down so that she can clear the quills. She nearly loses her grip from how sweaty she is, both from the nightmare and the exertion she is currently doing, but makes it out without waking anyone up.
After a few pants, she breathes through her nose and detects a smell like a wet, recently killed dog. Her instinct is to assume it's the skunks' odor, but after smelling it yesterday, she knows that's not it. She raises her arm, gives a quick sniff, and whispers in embarrassment, "It's me." She decides to cut herself some slack because her body is soaking in sweat. She shrugs while saying, "Meh, might as well take a bath." She walks over to the pile of bathing supplies her new parents showed her yesterday, gets what she needs, and heads in the direction of the pond the family uses for bathing. Although shown to her only once, Reagan has a natural talent of taking note of her surroundings and remembering them. She also takes comfort that she'll be all alone since she wants peace and quiet after her nightmare.
Sadly, she won't get her wish, because as she is nearing the bathing pond, she hears a rather vexed voice saying, "Gosh darn kids..." followed by water being splashed and pouring slowly downward. The voice is masculine and sounds vaguely familiar, as does the scent, but since Reagan only met the hedgies yesterday—and there are so many of them—she doesn't know exactly who it is.
Reagan thinking: "At least it's no one from the log, otherwise I would've heard and seen them. So, who could it be?"
Since there is no other way to find out, she keeps walking and then must go through shrubs and overgrown monkey grass to arrive at the bank of the pond. While doing so, the animal on the other side asks a tense, "Who's there?!" The question is followed by some running through water and then quick rummaging that ends with a light Click! of a gun safety being put off.
Halfway through the shrubs and grass Reagan holds her arms up and says, "It's me, Reagan! I'm a 10-year-old raccoon kit who just needs to take a bath!"
The sigh that the other animal lets out makes Reagan relax, as does the speaker when he says, "Okay, come on in," in a calmer voice tone.
Once through Reagan sees Elroy aiming his taser at her. She nervously asks, "Why're you still pointing that at me?"
Elroy: "Are you with anyone?"
Reagan: "N-no."
Elroy notes the fear in her voice, but it's more of her confusion. Furthermore, being a pure opossum, he can tell whenever someone is talking out of fear of seeing a weapon pointed at them verses talking in fear because they are being coerced by someone trying to set up a trap, and Reagan is doing the former. Elroy finally puts down his taser and says, "Sorry about that. I just had to be sure a predator wasn't forcing you to come here to make me lower my guard."
Reagan: "I thought Mrs. Clara said she and her wolf family got rid of all the predators."
Elroy: "Just because the wolves in our family have defeated all the predators in these woods doesn't mean we're 100 percent safe."
Reagan: "I still don't get it?"
Elroy: "If you were a possum, you'd have been taught that it pays to be paranoid. My parents may have been more fighters than playing-deaders, but they were still overly cautious and taught me to be the same way...But enough about that, why're you up so early?"
Reagan: "I had a bad dream and am sweaty."
Elroy sniffs and says, "Yeah, you definitely need a bath. But not as much as me. I gotta clean off the throw up. Zeke has a fever which meant Mira and Tim had to sleep beside me. Their claws and tails woke me up and before I could try to doze back off, Mira threw up all over me. Caught the same thing Zeke." After a groan, Elroy adds, "And if you know anything about little kids, it's only a matter of time before I start feeling sick too, given how close I gotta be with them all the time...We can't sleep in the log with the others because my three kids' crying will wake them up, and Mary and I have to be as close to our kids as possible because predators will attack the young and defenseless over adults." After a sigh, Elroy ends with what should be his catchphrase, saying "Kids..." in disgust and annoyance.
Not for the first time Reagan realizes that not everything in this new family she is now a part of isn't all smiles and hugs. On a personal note, she thinks Elroy sounds more like her biological parents with his clear disdain for children. Fortunately, she can also tell that his problem is rooted in annoyance, not hatred. Even so, she has to know something and asks him, "Does this mean you don't like me or my little brother? Or any of the other kids in your big family?"
Elroy: "Kids' annoying levels improve as they age, so once they become teens it gets much better. As for you and your brother, I haven't known you and him long enough, and so far, neither of you have said nor done anything annoying. It's little kids I can't stand. I grew up with nine other siblings, and my little brothers' and sisters' constant antics made me wanna put myself up for adoption—single child only."
Reagan: "Then if you don't like little kids, why did you adopt three?"
Elroy pauses to muse, "Aaaaannnnnd now you're being annoying, asking me stupid questions..." but responds aloud, "I didn't adopt them, Mary did. Our three little ones' real mother was killed by a boar, and it was either accept adoption or be as cold-hearted as the pig for leaving three defenseless joeys to fend for themselves. I love them, but right now I just don't like them, if that makes any sense."
Reagan nods yes. Then, demonstrating her raccoon intellect, her next question is, "You're telling me a lot of what sounds like personal information about your beliefs. Are you not afraid I'll tell all the other kids and adults about what you've said?"
Elroy gives a lopsided smirk and his eyes seem to twinkle in amusement as he replies, "Yep, you're a raccoon alright. Just like my mate, or as I like to call her, my 'better half-raccoon mate'..." He pauses to let Reagan giggle twice and then gets serious when he continues with, "But no, I'm not afraid in the slightest of you blowing the whistle of what I've told you. Because everyone in the family already knows this through my words and actions over the past three days."
Reagan: "And they still love you, and don't punish you for it?"
Elroy: "Absolutely. That's the unconditional love families have for each other. We may not like some things about our family, but deep down our love outshines the bad stuff."
Reagan: "I...never knew that."
Elroy: "Didn't your previous parents' interactions with you teach you that?"
Reagan: "No they hated me and Ro-J unconditionally. They beat us up all the time just for fun."
Elroy: "What? That's horrible!"
Reagan: "I told you this yesterday, didn't I?"
Elroy: "Uh, no..."
Reagan's eyes widen as only now does she remember that she and Ro-J intentionally did not tell Elroy and the others attending yesterday's magic show about her abusive parents. Seeing the shock on her face, Elroy decides to put her at ease by saying, "Hey, hey. It's alright. I promise not to tell anyone."
Reagan is about to say yes and thank Elroy when, upon recalling what he had said of unconditional love, and wanting to receive that from every hedgie, she says, "Actually no. I don't mind if you tell them. Or better yet, I can tell them. Now that I know that they'll still love me even if I was abused by my ex-parents, I have nothing to fear anymore. In fact, I already told a few others about that yesterday, but just couldn't do it for the ones at the magic show because there were so many, and I didn't know anything about them yet."
Elroy: "Oh yeah. The bigger the family, the bigger the stage fright. But it's still possible to have secrets even with a family as big as ours. So, if there's something about yourself you don't want them to know, no one will know until you tell them."
Reagan smiles wide and runs up to hug the opossum and tells him, "Thanks Mr. Elroy!"
Elroy: "No problem, kiddo. How's about I keep watching out for predators while we finish bathing?"
Reagan: "Yes sir."
Having made a new positive bond with an adult, Reagan takes perhaps the best bath she has ever had. Her worries, doubts, and fears seem to wash off from her inside as she washes her outside, knowing her life with this group of animals is going to be a blast. Elroy also takes great comfort in how despite everything he has revealed to Reagan, some of his own secrets are still safe.
But both have overestimated their perceptions of family and underestimated the strife that can happen within a family once certain facts about oneself do come to light. And all secrets will eventually be revealed, some of which have the power to tear a family apart.
When the morning comes, and the others wake up, the family once again feels pride in their successful raid when they eat breakfast. It would be wrong to call it a mountain of food, it's the Olympus Mons of food, with plenty of variety to choose from that satisfies even the pickiest of eaters. Reagan and Ro-J have never eaten a meal so delicious that leaves them so full. They are sitting at a tree stump with the other kids their age.
Ro-J sighs, "Ahhhhh," in blissful satisfaction and then says, "Good to the last bite."
Reagan pats her belly contently and adds, "Couldn't have said it better myself."
Kelly: "Three more days' worth of gourmet eating and you two won't look like you're starving anymore—guaranteed."
Reagan and Ro-J instinctively look at their bodies and feel a bit awkward but not surprised about how malnourished they appear. Such was the result of their biological parents scarfing down most of the food and giving their kids the measly scraps. Even worse, if neither Reagan nor Ro-J ate the scraps fast enough their parents would eat the morsels instead.
Because of those painful memories Reagan says, "Never talk about a girl's weight, Kelly!" a bit snappy.
Kelly is surprised but keeps her cool, unlike Reagan, when she talks back with, "Easy. You don't gotta be mean."
Ro-J leans toward his sister and tells her, "Your meanie-side..."
Reagan lets out a sigh and looks at Kelly to say, "Sorry. Your words made me think of a bad memory with my real parents."
Damon: "Quit focusin' on tha' past and enjoy what yo got in tha' present."
Reagan: "It's not so easy for me or Ro-J."
Ro-J: "Yeah, our past is full of abuse, neglect, and heartbreak."
Reagan: "It'll take a while for our hearts and minds to heal."
Rather than seem disturbed and saddened by the newcomers' words, Drake happily responds, "Yep, you'll fit perfectly into our family, alright. You're not the first with a sad backstory."
Reagan: "You mean there's others here who have gone through something like what me and my brother have been through?"
Annie: "Sure are. There's Uncle Kale and Aunt Clara, but the best one to talk to is Uncle RJ."
Reagan: "Forget him! I'm talking to Kale and Clara."
Riley: "Still afraid of him for looking exactly like your real father, eh?"
Ro-J: "I don't mind talking to RJ."
Reagan: "You should. In fact, I'm gonna go ahead and address it. As your big sister, I forbid you to talk to him."
Ro-J: "Just because you're scared of him doesn't mean I'm scared of him too. He's so nice and understanding, you'd know that if you talked to him."
Reagan: "I'm not talking, looking, or even breathing the same air as him, ever! Even if my life depended on it."
Riley: "That's pretty intense."
Ellie: "Too intense if you ask me."
Reagan: "Y'all have no idea of all I've been through..."
Riley: "If it helps, I can try hypnotizing you so you're not afraid of him, Reagan."
Reagan: "You know how to hypnotize others?"
Riley: "I'm still learning how to, so you'd be my first attempt. But yeah, I figured my mommy and daddy are good at magic tricks, so I wanna be an expert hypnotist."
Ellie: "And I wanna be a masterful escape artist."
Annie: "My brother and I are going to be the most daring adventurers who ever lived."
Niara: "My brother and I are gon' be a dynamic duo of elite, crack, alpha skunk warriors."
Kelly: "I'm just gonna be good at everything; a living Swiss army knife. And from what our bat cousins have told us, Kylie wants to be a sneaky stealth bat, Lucas wants to heighten his senses to superhero levels, and Dexter wants to be a bat fitness instructor like his daddy is."
Drake: "So wha'do you and Ro-J wanna be when you grow up?"
Ro-J: "I honestly don't know."
Reagan: "We never really had the time to think about that. All we've done is focus on surviving our abusive ex-parents."
As the following stares, silence, and a few pitiable "Aws" indicate, the good buzz of the family breakfast has been killed. Having overheard most of the kids' conversations, Rachel walks over to where they are sitting and says, "All this moody talk...You kids should leave that to us adults. Kids need to focus on being kids while you still have your youth. And I know just the way to do it. How about we have fun by going to the playground zone?"
A chorus of excited "Yeahs!" seals the deal. Satisfied, Rachel says, "Then finish up your breakfast and we'll head that way."
Reagan: "As long as you-know-who doesn't come along, I'm in."
And the buzz has been killed again, only this time it's not Rachel who addresses the matter, it's Niara who rolls her eyes, sighs, and then says, "You've only been talkin' to us 'bout yo troubled past and fear of RJ fo' a few minutes, and that's long 'nuff fo' me to tell you it does nothin' but suck all the fun outta the situation. So do us all a favor and stop makin' us feel so down, gurl."
Drake: "Like Aunt Rachel said, just be a kid."
Reagan's face scrunches into a scowl at her supposed cousins' remarks, and she retorts at Niara first by saying, "I'm like three years older than you, so you can't tell me what to do!" She glares at Drake next and says, "And like I said before, you have no idea of the kind of things I've been through! So if I wanna be afraid and worry about my survival, I will. And what's with your sudden bitterness toward me?! Bernard said family is supposed to like me no matter what bad things have happened to me in the past!"
Ro-J is about to remind his sister of the obvious, but Reagan rounds up on him to say, "And it's too late to tell me to not let my meanie-side do the talking. They started it!"
Rachel: "Correction, this family will always like and love you no matter what has happened to you, but we won't allow rudeness. You could've addressed their remarks in a nicer way. If you don't cool it down and say you're sorry for your outburst, you won't come with us to the playground zone."
Annie: "And if you're so afraid of Uncle RJ, he's gonna stay here at the log with Aunt Heather. So if you don't wanna be around him you better do what Aunt Rachel says."
Reagan: "You...! You sound just like my ex-parents; threatening me to do things!"
Rachel: "Yes, that was out of line, Annie. Apologize to Cousin Reagan, after she says sorry to the others first."
Reagan's beliefs and high expectations of family have already been shattered in the few minutes she has spent arguing with the other kids, which is something she intends to fuss with her new adopted parents sometime today. But she certainly doesn't want to stay anywhere near her reincarnated biological father, so she does what she is told by sighing and saying, "I'm sorry everyone..."
Before any of the kids can accept Reagan's apology, Rachel shows her intelligence and authority by giving Reagan a patronizing stare and saying, "When you apologize to others, look them in the eyes and speak sincerely," with strength behind every word.
Reagan glares at Rachel and says, "If my new mama and dad were here—!"
Patricia walks next to Rachel saying, "—We would tell you to do the same thing as Rachel."
Bernard walks next to Pat, nods in agreement, and adds, "And we didn't show up until now because we wanted you to learn that all the adults in this family are the bosses of every kid."
Patricia: "You are to treat Aunt Rachel and every grown-up in this family with the same respect and love you would treat Bernard and I."
Bernard: "The same goes for adults in general. So, if you come to the playground zone with us, we don't wanna see you acting up or hear you say anything rude to other grown-ups. But that all depends on what you do next."
Patricia nods at Rachel who then says, "Last chance, Reagan. You know what has to be done."
Reagan looks at Niara, Drake, and Annie in the eyes and genuinely repeats her apology this time with, "I'm sorry for losing it with all of you. And you too, Mrs. Rachel. I've been free from my terrible ex-parents for over two months now, and they still have control over my life. But I'm gonna try harder to be a better kid, and I need all of you to help me with that."
Annie: "Reagan…"
Drake: "We'd be more than happy to help you out."
Niara: "And I gotta work on bein' mo' patient like my parents say."
Annie: "And sorry for trying to blackmail you into having fun."
Rachel rhetorically asks her biological niece, "And lemme guess, you learned to do that from Uncle Kale, Aunt Clara, and their kids?"
Annie embarrassingly admits, "Yes ma'am..."
Reagan: "It's okay Annie. I forgive you."
Rachel says, "Oh brother..." in her mind in response to what Annie had just said. It's not the first time the younger porcupines have been influenced by the wolves, and it certainly won't be the last. 20 years ago, Kale's first prey animal friends became Bucky, Quillo, Spike, Emily, Rachel, and Emma after they bonded by playing a videogame. Even that process was full of strife because of Kale's superiority complex as a wolf, the "disgrace" of losing to prey animals, and the canine's own hotheadedness that makes Reagan's outbursts seem like a complete non-issue by comparison. But the enjoyment they all had outshined the hostility, for it was the first time since Kale's parents had died that he had genuine fun, and the wolf's close bond with the porcupine parents transferred to their kids. Kale was, and still is Ike's, Drake's, Annie's, Bea's, and Ronny's favorite Uncle, Clara has become their favorite aunt, and the wolf triplets are their favorite cousins. As result of this, certain good and bad habits have been exchanged among both species from their interactions despite the parents' attempts to fix things.
Speaking of fixed, it seems that is what has happened with the current problem that had arisen, as indicated by Bernard smiling and Patricia saying, "Great job, Reagan. You did better than we expected by saying all that other stuff. You'll be coming to the playground zone with us and your new cousins after all."
Bernard: "And if you and everyone else behaves great while playing with the other kids at the playground area, you're all getting ice cream when we get back."
This time there is no buzz-killing comment that follows the "Woo-hoo's!" that come out of the kids' mouths. And with breakfast now finished, the parents and grandparents—minus RJ, Celine, and Simon—gather up food to take as snacks and lunch. They all head out, full of eagerness and excitement. All except for Elroy who was all smiles until Mary taps him on the shoulder, and he turns around to see what she wants.
Mary: "It's you're turn to carry the kids."
Elroy: "Oh come on. I'd have to carry them on my back. You have a pouch."
Mary: "Which I have been doing for the past day. But even them staying inside my pouch has given me a sore back. Having three joeys is hard for me too, and I don't need you to make it harder."
Elroy doesn't need to be reminded of the compromises that happen whenever two people marry, so he nods yes and says, "Alright. But I'm doing this for you, not for them."
Mary gives a lopsided toothless grin and mischievously says, "You say that now, but just you wait..."
For the first time since the adoption, Elroy finds himself wanting to deal with his kids more than the look that Mary is currently giving him. He says, "Whoever gets to the top first gets to stay there for the whole walk!"
Zeke, Tim, and Mira rush toward him while saying "Me! Me! Me-Me-Me-Me-Me-Me-Meeeee!" rapidly. But even with their youthful energy and speed, they are not fast enough to beat Mary's gaze from sinking into Elroy's brain. It was the look in her eyes more than the facial expression. It is the look Mary gives Elroy to silently tell him, "It's a matter of when, not if."
Elroy's body is too busy being manhandled by the triplets, but in his mind he responds to Mary's unspoken claim with, "We'll see about that."
The woods' playground zone is R-shaped in which each line and/or shape of that letter holds something for all animals to enjoy. The first section—the vertical straight line of the R—is full of rock formations and hollowed out logs of all shapes and sizes. The round part of the R is a grass field composed of grasses of varying heights and textures. The diagonal line of the R is a hill with trees of numerous sizes. The upside-down V-like gap of the R is a creek whose depth increases the further away from the playground one goes. The creek eventually ends with a waterfall that has sharp rocks at the bottom. Naturally, several amphibious animals such as river otters and beavers serve as lifeguards and will act fast to make sure animals don't go too far down the creek. And ever since Bernard and Mary had saved Tabitha the shrew all those years ago, two dams have been built by beaver families to ensure that if an animal slips by the lifeguards, the dams will stop them from getting too close to the waterfall.
One of the dams belongs to Brooke, a female beaver who, like Richie, originally bullied Mary and Bernard for being opossacoons, but like Richie she was amazed at the twins' hybrid abilities that had saved Tabitha—an action they would live to regret as Tabitha proved to be one of the evilest creatures the world had ever seen. She never forgave Richie and Brooke whose fighting with Bernard and Mary had knocked her into the creek. Tabitha's hatred for them was so great—and her parents' hatred was greater than hers—that she refused to be Mary's and Bernard's friend solely because the twins had forgiven Richie and Brooke. Craving revenge, the shrews became the greatest paisanos—prey animals who do a wolf pack's bidding in exchange for land, food, and authority—of Kale's former Bone-Chomper Pack, helping them maintain a totalitarianism rule of the woods. Wanting to prove himself to his pack, Kale led the Bone-Chompers to where many kids of prey animals trying to resist and overthrow the wolves' rule were located. All were brutally killed, some by Kale's own reluctant paws. But the victims had been chosen by the shrews so that the grieving relatives of those killed would form an antithesis of the hedgie family that almost killed the latter 15 years ago. This secret was spilled by the shrews out of desperation when Clara single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, making their allies turn against them and kill them in retribution.
All of this just shows the sad but accurate truth that, as life happens and the years go by, today's friends could become tomorrow's enemies, and today's enemies could become tomorrow's friends. But when someone sells his/her soul for revenge and hatred, the consequences can be devastating for all. Tabitha's case was probably the most extreme example of these.
Fortunately, with her death, no similar instances have come up in the woods by the EFE, thanks to the Predator-Queller Pack, and the playground zone is known as a place where animals of all species can build fun and happy memories with each other. Even predators are allowed to have their kids come and have fun here, for this part of the forest is a neutral zone where no predator can attack any prey animals. Conversely, if a predator is using the playground area as a cut-through to chase an animal on the opposite end, none of the animals in the zone can leave to go warn the prey animal until the predator leaves. Both prey and predators have equal advantages and disadvantages with the playground zone in that no animals can live within a half-mile radius of it, because if they could it would give prey animals an easy way to escape predators by running into the playground zone.
Are the playground zone's rules convoluted and flawed? Yes, but even animals have laws and rules, and even fearsome predators (save for wolves) have kids who want to have fun and play. Naturally, prey animals usually play with other prey animals while predators play with other predators, but everyone can be satisfied here.
When the hedgies arrive the kids are ready to run around and see where to go and who to play with first, but after Plushie sees a certain someone at the creek, he smiles and turns around to address his family. "Hey everybody, before we scatter like maniacs, I have someone I wanna introduce to the new members of our family."
Lauren: "Then introduce only the new members. The rest of us know who you're talking about, Uncle Plushie, so we should go and play!"
Before the other kids can voice their agreement, Verne says, "Reagan, Ro-J, Zeke, Tim, and Mira need you to show them around so they can have fun faster. You'll also need to introduce them to your friends. So just be patient."
Plushie: "It won't take long, I promise." He doesn't wait for any words of agreement or disagreement, because he immediately turns his head and starts waving at the creek while shouting, "Hey! Over here! I've got some people to introduce you to, and you need to make some introductions as well!"
A feminine voice calls back, "Okay-yay!", making the family's newest members give puzzled looks. Once the voice's owner is next to Plushie, they start to connect the dots. The one who had spoken is a female box turtle with lead-gray scales with a few green in between, orange eyes, and a brown shell with black patches. Her nose isn't large, but her overbite is, making her look like she has a beak. She also isn't alone, as one small turtle who looks exactly like her expect for red eyes is by her side. She and Plushie kiss and after clearing his throat, Plushie points to the ones he names while saying, "These are Reagan and Ro-J, Bernard's and Pat's new adopted kids, and these three are Tim, Zeke, and Mira, Mary's and Elroy's adopted kids. And as for all of you, this is my fiancé, Meredith, and her six-year-old daughter, Carolina."
Meredith: "Soon to be your mate, and she your daughter, Plush."
Pronounced "Ploosh," it was a nickname Plushie had with his former group of friends. Although they disbanded, he still liked the sound of the nickname and kept it.
Ro-J: "How did you two meet?"
Reagan: "They can explain later whenever they come to visit. Let's go play."
Velma: "That would be rude. And like our nephew said, he won't take too long."
Plushie: "Because I also wanna have fun with Carolina and Meredith. Anyhoo, I used to have a crush on another girl turtle named Eliza who used to be in the group of friends I hanged out with to do extreme stunts, earning us the name 'The Extremes'. But when they became a bad influence on me and wanted to attack human kids for fun, I left them, but Eliza went to a whole other state. It took me a while before I was in the mood to date again, but Aunt Velma told me that one of her turtle friends had a cute daughter who I should meet, which we did at a family party."
Meredith: "My parents needed to motivate me to give love another try too, because I used to be married to another male turtle, but..." Given the tone of her voice and lowering head, the kids know the story is about to take a bad turn. "He left me in the middle of the night when he found out I was pregnant. He was willing to uphold our marriage vows, except staying with me to have kids. I tried to find him, but he had a huge head start and I'm a slow turtle, so it was hopeless. Not to mention I hated him for it, so it's not like he'd benefit from getting back with me either. But after Carolina was born I moved back in with my parents, and after meeting Plushie I finally found the male who will love me and stay with me no matter what."
Satisfied with the story, the hedgies are about to break away and go play—until one of them asks a question.
Reagan: "How could he not wanna stay with you if you just had one kid?"
Some look at Reagan in annoyance for asking something that will keep them from playing right now, but more look at Meredith with intrigue and curiosity, which she notices. Having learned that this family is good at keeping secrets and does not judge others for doing horrible things in the past from her interactions with them, Meredith decides to see if they are up for it.
Meredith: "You all really want to know the full story of how Plushie and I met...? If so, we need to go somewhere private."
Given her serious tone and grim expression—not to mention the desire to learn new and unknown things—even the ones who were irritated with Reagan's question stalling their play time want to see the full picture. The hedgies give a series of nods, which makes Meredith say, "Alright, follow me," as she leads them into a spot where no animals are playing. They huddle together as close as they can and listen carefully as Meredith whispers. "I didn't just have one kid." She hangs her head in guilt and almost considers not telling the others the next part for the sake of Carolina, until Carolina grips her hand tight and gives her a comforting look in the eye to show she is willing to hear the story again. Such reassurance gives her the motivation to finish her story, but doesn't make it easier to tell.
Meredith: "I was so angry at my ex-mate for leaving me, that I did all I could to not have any hatchlings. I didn't want any reminders of him, so I beat myself in order to not have any living eggs. I ended up laying five anyway, and after my parents heard of my attempts to abort my young, they hid the eggs from me. But then lizards stole and ate all but one of the eggs. I found it, and was about to crush it, but that's when Carolina finally hatched. The instant I saw how precious she was, I knew I wanted to be a mother...I would be no different than my terrible ex-mate if I didn't raise my Carolina, so after some long 'rehab' time to make my parents know they could trust me with my daughter, I've been happy. But not happy enough without a mate."
Plushie: "That's where I came in. When we first met, Meredith seemed kind and reserved, someone who keeps to herself. She's a lot like my Aunt Velma and Uncle Verne, but," (Looks at Verne and Velma) "no offense, isn't as paranoid."
Verne and Velma in unison: "None taken."
Meredith: "I used to think all turtles take things easy and didn't take too big of risks, until I met Plushie. When he first said that he was an adrenaline junkie who loves doing daredevil things I thought he was just saying that to impress me. There's no way a slow turtle could do half of the things he liked doing...Well, I didn't believe it until I saw it."
Plushie: "No matter how old I get or how much I learn from life's trials, I always enjoy doing crazy stunts and feats because that's how my mother, Kimberly, was. I no longer think I'm invincible and choose my stunts carefully and think of what could go wrong, but I will always be a daredevil."
Carolina: "Mr. Plushie showed me and mother that turtles can have thrills-and-spills-fun too and is teaching us to 'come out of our protective shells'—whatever that means."
Meredith chuckles, pats Carolina's head, and says, "That means he's teaching us how to be more outgoing, more active, and enjoy the moment like he does."
Plushie: "How's about we all do that now? This is a good place to end our story time. Wha'do all you say?"
Hedgies in unison: "Yeah!"
Luby: "Thanks for sharing all of this with us, Meredith. It took guts to do that, which shows how strong you and your daughter are."
Meredith and Carolina in unison: "Thank you, Mrs. Luby."
Lizzy: "Those who wanna have some real fun, follow me!"
Drake: "Pah-leese, you've got nothin' on the kind of fun my sister and I will have with those who come with us."
Annie: "Last one there is a rotten egg!"
Ike: "I'm the one who taught you two how to have fun, so I'm the master when it comes to having fun."
Ronny: "You were the expert, but the student—that is, I—has surpassed the master, and the only way anyone will find out is they follow my lead!"
Bea: "You'll only lead them to lameness, cousin! I'm the Queen of Fun!"
Ronny (defiant and sarcastic): "Oh yeah?"
Bea: "Yeah!"
Ronny: "Those are fightin' words, cousin!"
Bea: "And what're you gonna do about it?"
Ike: "He's not gonna do anything, 'cuz I'm the oldest, wisest, and therefore have the most authority over all you wittle babies. Y'all are coming with me to have fun."
Drake: "Heh-heh, you sure are an old man. 18...in three months from now you're gonna cough dust, forget names, and sit in a rocking chair boring us with your stories of how," (Imitating a stereotypical old man's voice) " 'Back in my day, we called it the pound key, not hashtag like you young whippersnappers do, ho-hum!' "
Ike: " 'Old man'?! I'll show you old man!"
Annie: "And I'll show you how us young'uns have all the brains and power now!"
Ronny: "Not before I show you all how to have some real fun—which you'll never have unless you follow my lead."
Bea: "You sound like a broken record, Ronny. Talk about lame."
Ronny: "How's about you and I make a bet? If more family members and friends have funner with me than with you, you never get to insult me again."
Liking where this is going, Bea smirks and says, "And if more family members and friends have funner with me, I get to insult you forever!"
Ronny extends his paw and shakes hers while saying, "Deal! Now let's do this, Yeeeeeaaahhhhh!"
All the porcupine kids run off like a bunch of crazy folks which brings smiles and flashes of memories to their parents who were exactly like that back then. Only two spouses don't feel as much pride in their own son's and biological nieces' and nephews' hyperactivity as the others. Rachel leans as close to Quillo's ear as she can and whispers, "This is why we stopped at one kid."
Quillo nods yes and whispers back, "Best parenting decision ever."
Since Ike is 18 and very capable of supervising his younger relatives, the porcupines simply walk to follow their kids to the section with the hills and trees. The Quad-Squad and Lauren go the grass field section. Everyone else heads for the rocks and hollowed out logs.
While on the way, Niara stops after noticing a patch of flat terrain and dirt in the shape of a baseball diamond where various young animals are playing a game. Pointing at it, she says, "That's where you n' mama met, right daddy?"
Ladarius and De'Ausha smile with the former saying, "Sho' is, Niara. She was the coolest lookin' gurl I ever saw. And she wuzza tomboy; I didn't have to go easy on just 'cuz she was a gurl."
De'Ausha: "He didn't underestimate me like most boys did, and we both didn't tolerate no nonsense from kids who caused trouble. I would say it was love at first sight, but we was friends first and then lovers much later."
Ladarius: "It's like what we been tellin' you and yo brother; you gotta get ta know someone befoe you fall in love with 'em."
Damon: "Why they all starin' at us, mama and daddy?"
Ladarius, De'Ausha, and Niara now notice that the kids at the diamond have stopped playing baseball and are looking at them with confused expressions. Knowing the reason why, but not wanting their kids to get defensive, Ladarius and De'Ausha take Damon's and Niara's paws and walk off.
De'Ausha: "It's cuzzuv tha' way I look. Pay no mind to them."
Just as the words leave her mouth, two of the kids from the field say insults.
"Weirdo," says one.
"Freak," says the second.
One of the parents attending the game with her offspring is a female deer who gets the kids to refocus—in a way that makes her parenting seem questionable.
Deer: "Just get back to your game, kids. Let that abomination against nature walk away."
Damon and Niara scoff, turn their heads to look over their shoulders with a scowl, and wish they hadn't used up all their spray during yesterday's training with Boombata and Nukalawa. But neither twin gets to say or do anything in response to the insults. That's because their parents tighten the grip on their paws, with Ladarius saying, "Don't take the bait, kids. We didn't come heah to get into an argument, we came heah to have fun. Let those haters ruin their own fun by bein' haters."
Damon: "But they said really bad things about mama."
De'Ausha: "Yeah, I heard what they called me. And it didn't bother me at all. You know what I did? Rolled my eyes and said in my head 'No I'm not.' "
Niara: "Just like what you and daddy have been teaching us..."
De'Ausha: "Yep. Words do hurt no matter how old you get, but it's up to you to decide how badly it hurts. I mean it when I say I wasn't hurt by what they said, cuz long ago Bernard and Mary taught me to accept the fact that I'm gonna encounter folks who make fun'uv my appearance all my life. The trick is to not let what they say get me down too much."
Wanting to do all she can to help Reagan see RJ in a better light—just as Bernard has been doing—Mary says, "And we learned that from your grandparents, Reagan."
Bernard catches on and adds, "Both of them."
Reagan nods but says nothing, making Mary sigh internally and muse, "Not even dignifying us with an answer..."
Because all twins share minds with each other in some form or another, Bernard finishes Mary's thoughts when he thinks, "Her fear of RJ is getting bigger by the minute..."
Luckily, everyone forgets about the subtle yet failed attempt when De'Ausha says, "To be honest, I feel sorrier fo' that one adult. At least the kids have their inexperience and lack'uv maturity as an excuse for what they say, but that deer should know betta. But let's leave it at that and go have some fun, most likely with animals who aren't haters."
"That's my line, baby," says Ladarius with a smile.
De'Ausha smiles back and replies, "What can I say? You've rubbed off on me in my years as yo lover and mate."
Nothing could be truer. Ladarius never liked haters; those individuals who show nothing but prejudice and rude behavior (or words) towards others just because they are different. He and his family had gotten enough of that merely for being skunks, but Jordan and Ahniyah also taught their kids not to overreact and be so gung-ho against haters. They must choose their battles wisely and only act if true injustices are done towards them or those they care about. If Ladarius and his sisters had given an insult for an insult, or a hit for anything besides self-defense, they'd be haters too and start a whole new cycle of hatred and violence. When Ladarius was younger, he used to think he could rid the world of haters, but over the years he has learned that as long as there are those with differences, there will be prejudice. At the very least, he can help reduce the number of prejudiced animals, but only if they are willing to listen and learn. But for those who are unwilling to give up their disdain for diversity and who don't realize the benefits and the blessings that come in a world where differences make things more interesting, they are loud in voice but thankfully few in number. In this day and age, they are the minority. Their hateful words and actions are looked on with shame, not pride; condemned by society, not awarded. If they cannot change because they don't want to change, either justice on Earth or justice in the realm beyond will decide their fate. They are already digging their own graves, and don't need good folks like Ladarius to dig it for them, because if he did, he'd be buried alongside the hater when the latter falls. As is typical of each family-within-the-family, such important life lessons have been taught to the hedgies, improving their lives, attitudes, and actions towards themselves and others.
Now arriving at the hilly section, the kids in the family survey the scene and find something they would like to do. Damon and Niara see a group of minks and weasels having a dodgeball game with small rubber balls and using the rocks as cover. To be fair, it looks more like a paintball course, which gives them even more reason to want to play there.
Niara: "Who's up fo' dodgeball with those kids, me, and my brother?"
Frank raises his arm and says "Me!"
Riley: "Me too!"
Kelly: "Me three!"
Chloe: "I'll pass."
Camille: "Likewise."
Reagan: "I'd prefer to do something less contact-based."
Ro-J: "Ditto."
Ellie: "I'm with you."
Ladarius, De'Ausha, Stella, Tiger, Richie, and Grace go to be with their kids. As the other young raccoons look for something else to do, Mary sees the perfect place for she and Elroy to play with Tim, Zeke, and Mira. She points while saying, "Over there Elroy. See the logs and trees those kids are using as slides? Let's take our kids there."
Elroy actually feels excitement because the logs and trees resemble a large playground playset human children have at elementary schools—which means plenty of ways Zeke, Tim, and Mira can be occupied so that he can rest.
Elroy: "Got it." (To the joeys) "Okay you little rug rats, y'all can walk over there on your own."
To Elroy's dismay they shake their heads side to side and say no in unison. Zeke adds, "You take us there, daddy!"
Mira: "Pwetty pwease?"
Elroy grimaces while groaning, but ends up saying, "Alright. But once we get there you three can run around there on your own."
Mary: "We need to always be near them, Elroy. We gotta make sure they don't get hurt."
Elroy lets out a sigh and says, "Yep...Got it."
As he and Mary walk that way, Elroy does his best not to put his tail between his legs. Having noted Elroy's tone, Aleshia looks at her daughter and says, "Ellie? How about you got play with Tim, Zeke, and Mira? I'm sure Elroy and Mary could use a third helper."
Ellie crosses her arms and says, "No ma'am. That playset is for babies. I wanna be with kids my age."
Aleshia: "Well, then I'll go help out Mary and Elroy." (Looks at Roger) "Keep an eye on Ellie."
Roger gives a salute while saying, "Jawohl!" in a German accent.
Aleshia tilts her head and says in a smart aleck tone, "You just said 'yes sir,' not 'yes ma'am.' "
Roger retaliates in his own smart aleck tone with, "You name a famous World War II movie where the Germans say 'Ja gnädige Frau.' "
Aleshia sighs and says, "You win this round."
Roger: "Again."
Aleshia rolls her eyes and walks off to be with Mary and Elroy. Meanwhile, the other raccoons have located a spot they want to play in. A large part of the hollowed-out logs resembles an indoor playground that someone would see at a trampoline park, but this one is made of trees, vines, and leaves. Because this is their first time here, Reagan and Ro-J stare wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the gargantuan setup. They are so awe-struck that their feet remained anchored in place, their heads still trying to wrap around what they are seeing and how much fun they can have here.
Reagan: "Pinch me, I'm dreaming..."
Ro-J: "This is my new favorite place..."
Lucile rhetorically asks, "Are you kids just gonna stare at it, or are you gonna have the time of your lives?"
Camille: "Race ya!"
She takes off but is quickly followed by the other girls and one boy raccoon. The parents briskly walk to keep an eye on them. In addition to making sure no one gets injured, and to console them if they do, the parents do so to serve as peacekeepers. The kids expect nothing but fun to happen here today, but the adults have learned through experience that not every young animal their kids meet is going to be their kids' new friends or playmates. Conflict is bound to happen, but luckily this second generation of hedgies is great at resolving disputes. However, some things that can catch even the most experienced of creatures off-guard.
The first damper on the good mood occurs at the spot where Mary, Elroy, and Aleshia are playing with the joeys. There are two logs used as slides that are side-by-side. Aleshia has Mira in her lap and Mary has Zeke in hers.
Mary: "Let's have a race down the slide!"
Aleshia: "We're gonna beat your mama and brother, Mira!"
Zeke: "Nuh-uh!"
Mary: "That's the spirit, Zeke! We're gonna win!"
Aleshia counts down, "Three, two, one, GO!" and both she and Mary go "Wheeeee!" as they speed down. Next to the left slide is a playground tic tac toe panel made of wood and carved-in X's and O's that Tim is currently just spinning for fun. Seeing that his adopted son is well-occupied, Elroy looks to his right and down to see who ends up winning the slide race. It's close, but Mary and Zeke win.
Mary: "Ha! Victory!"
Zeke: "Yay, Mommy!"
Aleshia: "Aw sassafras! We're having a rematch!"
As the two ladies start toward the part of the playground set that will take them back up to the log-slides, Elroy says, "Don't expect to win, Aleshia. Mary's got possum fur, which is softer and thicker than raccoon fur, meaning it's slicker too."
Mary looks up at Elroy and would have thanked him for the "science lesson," but ends up saying something else because her eyes go wide and her face shows fear. In an urgent, almost panicky voice, she exclaims, "Elroy! Grab Tim!"
Elroy looks over to his left and discovers that Tim isn't at the tic tac toe panel. Mary cries out, "The slide!" But by the time Elroy turns his head and reaches out, it's too late. Tim rockets down the log-slide at uncontrollable speed. Because of how small he is compared to the wider log-slide Tim wobbles, which causes his head to hit the side of the log-slide and then he lands hard on his left side. Tim instantly starts crying loudly, and Elroy hurries down the slide to go comfort him. He wraps his arms around his son and says, "I'm so sorry, Tim! I should've been watching you! It's okay now, I've got you and I'm not gonna let go until you feel better."
Mary puts down Zeke and gets next to Elroy. Assuming she's here to take charge, Elroy looks at her and says, "Here, take him. You're better with kids than I am."
Mary, however, has something else in mind. "No. This is your fault, Elroy, you fix it. You can't take your eyes off our kids even for a second."
Not expecting, and definitely not pleased, with Mary's words, Elroy says in his mind, "Well, Tim should have had the common sense to not do something foolish!" but says out loud, "Mary, I feel bad enough already and don't need you rubbing in how much I messed up. Besides, if I hadn't been so tired from carrying all three of them all the way here—"
Mary: "—How dare you try to blame them or me for your foul-up!"
Aleshia (rhetorically): "Can we put a stop to the married couple quarrel and focus on Tim?"
Her words work instantly, making both spouses speak in matter-of-factly tones.
Mary: "Right."
Elroy: "On it."
Elroy kisses Tim, rocks him back and forth, makes funny faces and sounds, and rubs his back. All this slowly but surely calms the young possum down. Elroy also endures the ickiness of Tim wiping his tears and blowing his nose on his adopted father's fur.
Elroy: "There we go. All better now. Getting hurt is part of life and growing up. You'll learn faster and become smarter because now you know what to avoid, don't you?"
Tim nods yes, then says, "I wanna go home..."
Elroy: "Alright, let's head—"
Mary: "But we just got here, Tim. Just because you've had this fall doesn't mean you can't have more fun. And like daddy sort of mentioned, when we fall down, we gotta get back up. So I think it would be better if you and daddy went somewhere to rest together. Once you feel fully better, I'm positive you'll wanna play again."
Tim: "Okay, mommy."
Elroy: "Then let's go take a nap together, Tim. We both need one."
The two walk to a spot in the shade and lie down, with Elroy intwining his tail around Tim's so he'll feel his son trying to get up and go in case Tim wakes up before Elroy.
Mira asks, "Daddy and Timmy gonna be okay, mommy?"
Mary: "Yes, Mira."
Zeke: "We can have wee-match now?"
Aleshia: "Yes. And you and your mommy are going down this time!"
Mira: "Yeah!"
Her motherly-playful demeanor returns when Mary says, "Didn't you hear what Elroy said? I have possum fur, so there's no way you can beat me!"
Aleshia: "That was just a warm-up slide. Now that I got the feel of it, I know what to do to win."
Mary: "We'll see about that!"
The two climb up and wait for two more older kids to go down before getting ready to have their rematch.
One problem has been solved, but many more will follow for the other hedgies.
Reagan, Chloe, Camille, Ro-J, and Ellie almost consider taking a rest break too, but the need to keep having fun at the mansion-sized playground setup just makes them wipe off their sweat and keep climbing and running around. They have met a few playmates including a girl possum and stoat, and a boy a squirrel and flying squirrel. The latter is Melvin, the son of Mark, a flying squirrel whom Bernard and Mary had met when they first came here about 20 years ago. However, his most noticeable physical traits are the several parts on his patagium fur that have been duct taped. The duct tape covers permanent injuries Mark had suffered when he was nine-years-old by Bone-Chompers Luciano and Dillinger. The former was Kale's middle brother, and the latter was an unusually quiet but highly deadly wolf known for his sneak attacks. Mark and his family had become the target of those wolves when the flying squirrel fought back and injured the wolves on the day of Kale's coming-of-age hunt, the task that all wolves must succeed in order to go from children to adults. Mark's mother, Barbara, was also killed when she told the wolves to eat her instead of Mark. The wolves did so and were about to eat Mark anyway until Jeff the duck—another friend Mary and Bernard had met the same day as Mark—and his family flew in and took the flying squirrels to safety. Once the Bone-Chompers had been overthrown, Mark went into a deep depression about not being able to glide, but then his father, Mack, got an ingenious idea of duct tapping the parts where his patagium were bitten, thus filling in the holes, and giving his son his pride and species heritage back. Because duct tape doesn't last forever, replacing it with new duct tape is a weekly occurrence—not to mention a painful one when the tape is removed—but Mark is more than willing to accept moments of such pain if it means he can glide again. His mate, Leslie (Lee for short), is the one who mainly does this which has turned into an odd opportunity for the spouses to bond.
The fact that all the young hedgies and their relatives are getting along so well with the children of the adults' own friends puts a smile on the second generation's faces.
The indoor playground-like structure has four main levels. The first level has a bunch of crawl-through tunnels and a massive "ball pit" consisting of dull sweetgum tree fruit and leaves. All the levels above it have slides, but the second level has five slides next to each other (a popular racing spot), more crawl-through tunnels, ramps, and rope ladder-like structures that lead to the third level. The third level has swings made of wood and vines, platforms, and obstacles that make it look like a funhouse. The fourth level continues the latter trend with more elaborate obstacles such as rope bridge-like sections and has the highest and windiest slides that lead to all the lower levels or the "ball pit." Although human kids can have lots of fun on a similar indoor playground place, all the animals' abilities to climb, glide, fly, and leap makes the possibilities endless.
Currently the hedgie kids are playing hide and seek with their new friends and playmates, while Bernard and Lucile join them to provide some adult assistance if needed. They have their work cut out for them with having to keep up with the young kids' energy and speed, coupled with the two of them having to constantly hunch or duck to navigate the low-ceiling structures. The game plays like any hide and seek match with the ball pit serving as the base, but the players can hide on any level of the playground place. Chloe is currently It and because she is only five, the others don't run at full speed to give her a fair chance. As if hide and seek is challenging enough on the ground, the four levels and numerous obstacles make the game far more difficult, but also more immersive and fun.
Chloe sees a boy rabbit playmate named Reston scurrying across a rope bridge-like obstacle that she is near and gives chase.
Chloe: "I'm gonna get you, Reston!"
Reston: "As we rabbits like to say, 'don't count your kids before they're born.' "
He sees a slide that will take him to the second level and rather than climb the tree knots, Reston leaps up and goes down the slide head-first. But like her father, Chloe is stubborn in the sense that she is persistent. She boasts, "You're not gonna get away that easily!" as she climbs the tree knots and goes down the slide in pursuit.
Knowing her sister has a one-track mind, Camille calls out to the other hiders, "Chloe's distracted! Head for the base now!"
As soon as Melvin, the other raccoons, the possum, stoat, and squirrel start running, Chloe's voice echoes from inside the slide, "I heard that! Priorities: altered!"
With Chloe not as simple-minded as they were led to believe, the kids feel the all too familiar sense of fun that comes from the thrill and rush of being under pressure. Even Reagan enjoys the feeling because it's the first time she's ever felt this rush for fun instead of fear.
Oddly, her happier and more carefree brother is the one who ends up not enjoying the thrill, because as soon as Chloe spots him and says, I'm gonna get you!" Ro-J has a hallucination of a traumatic experience of Monica and Robbie saying the same thing to him, and has a complete breakdown.
He screams, curls in a ball, and loudly shouts, "NOOOOO! Don't hurt me! Leave me alone!"
Everyone's heads turn in the direction of Ro-J, including the animals not playing hide and seek, as well as all the adults near the outside of the play place. The eight-year-old stoat girl, named Joycelyn "Jossey" asks, "What's with the kid coon?"
The seven-year-old possum girl named Evette shrugs and proposes, "I dunno. First time jitters?"
The 10-year-old boy squirrel named James says, "I think it's more than that, Evette."
Melvin: "Easy, Ro-J. There's nothing to be afraid of. It's just a game."
Chloe: "Yeah. I-I won't tag you if you don't want me to."
Ro-J: "I want my new daddy or mommy!"
Thankfully, Bernard arrives just then and kneels down to bring his adopted son into a hug while saying, "It's alright now, Ro-J. I'm here."
Being a predatory mustelid whose parents have already taught her numerous tricks and tactics that prey and predators can use, Jossey's heart hardens and she says in an accusing tone, "Hey! He better not be pretendin' just so he doesn't have to be It!"
Reagan: "How dare you accuse my little brother of being as underhanded as you, stoat!"
Jossey: "Don't try me, rascal tail! There's a reason stoats like me are considered the 'little siblings' of wolverines. I may be half your size, but I'm strong enough to take down fully grown raccoons!"
Lucile: "Kids, stop it! Just keep playing your game. Now Chloe, where were you?"
Chloe: "Oh yeah! New target: acquired!"
She gives chase to Jocelyn who leaves Reagan in the dust as the stoat tries to find a way back to a slide that leads straight to the ball pit. Meanwhile, Bernard asks Ro-J, "So why'd you have a panic attack, son?"
Ro-J: "Wh-what Chloe said...I-it reminded me...of when Reagan wasn't home one time to stop my ex-mama and dad from..."
Bernard: "Go on. I'm here for you."
Ro-J: "One time, when mama and dad put Reagan in timeout by super gluing her to a log, she yelled out that mama and dad were coming to beat me, so I hid. When they arrived at the entrance of our dwelling, they said 'I'm gonna get you!' They started tearing our whole home apart looking for me and got madder fast, which made them scream that the longer I made them look for me, the harder they would beat me. But I had hidden well, and kept changing hiding spots when their backs were turned as they were too busy looking and ripping through other parts of our home."
Having deduced the parallels, Bernard says the analysis out loud with, "You were basically playing hide and seek with your real parents...Except if you got caught it wouldn't be fun and games..."
Ro-J nods, takes a deep breath, and says, "They did catch me..."
Ro-J's words finish the horrible story as his memory enters a flashback.
He was hiding under a piece of wood used as a couch that had been overturned. He kept quiet, kept praying—hoping—that Monica and Robbie would re-search another part of their home. Even as they headed in his direction, he hoped that they would look next to the overturned couch. But they didn't, they flipped the couch over again and the sight of their cowering adopted son turned their scowls of anger into sneers of sick glee.
Before Ro-J could try to make a run for it, Monica grabbed him by the head and slowly lifted him up. "There you are...you little—!"
"—Snot," Bernard says as he interrupts the story, because the opossacoon has a perfect idea of the word Monica had said and doesn't want Ro-J to repeat it.
After saying the bad word, Monica's next words were, "Thought you could hide from us?!"
Robbie said, "You can never hide from us!"
Monica: "Now, look at the mess your hard-working father and I made."
Monica kept her grip on Ro-J and turned him so he could see the destruction the dwelling had gone through. It looked like a giant bomb hit, and upon exploding the big bomb sent out baby bombs that scattered and exploded some more.
Robbie grabbed Ro-J by the throat and said, "You made us do this. Do you have any idea how hard it was to find the logs and parts of broken trees needed to turn this dump into a decent place to live in?! Now all that hard work was for nothing! It looks crappier than how your mother and I originally found it!"
Monica: "Like we said, we're gonna beat you seven times harder than usual because you made us look about seven minutes for you. And as extra punishment, to ensure you don't do something like this ever again, the more you squeal and cry like a weakling, the more we'll use our claws and teeth!"
Robbie: "And because of all the destruction it took for us to find you, you're gonna be beaten seven times longer."
Monica: "You are so disappointing to us, son. We thought you'd be better than your worthless sister, but even she has never made us tear up our own home looking for her!"
Robbie: "You're more useless than she'll ever be! But at least you and her have one very important upside."
Monica: "You brats provide us with so much fun when we beat you!"
As the beating started, it was from this deranged hide and seek experience that Ro-J first considered that what Reagan has told him about hope—that it was a cruel joke he can play on himself—was right. Neither Monica nor Robbie was exaggerating when they said they would beat him seven times harder than usual, and this is where he had gotten most of his scars. They would have kept their promise of beating him seven times longer until something happened that proved to the young kit that hope can and does exist.
Just as Ro-J thought he couldn't take anymore, when it felt like the next hit would kill him, Reagan had shown up to save him. The sounds of her little brother screaming and crying in pain gave way to hatred she didn't know she possessed. The rage also gave her strength so Herculean that she ripped herself off the super glue sticking her to the stump. Her adrenaline levels were higher than any other point in her life, making her ignore the pain of tearing off large chunks of fur off her hindquarters. Monica and Robbie couldn't hear their daughter's straining grunts since Ro-J was making too much noise and they were yelling over the noise he made. Their backs were also turned, so Reagan ran straight up to her parents and used both paws to claw them with all her might.
She expected to hear them cry out in pain and surprise, she wanted to hear their reaction of her hurting them, but to her bewilderment, no such shouts happened. Even with her strength boost, Reagan was too malnourished and too weakened from previous beatings to cause any damage to her parents. Her attack had merely pushed them, no tapped them. She realized this when Monica and Robbie slowly turned their heads around to give her side-eyed glances of annoyance as their rhetorical voice tones reflected their annoyance and, more importantly, disgust.
Monica: "Did you touch us?"
Robbie: "Did you dare...to frigging...touch us?"
Back in the present, Ro-J ends the story with, "They started beating sister. But it didn't last as long as I feared because they had tired themselves out from beating me. If she hadn't come to hit mama and dad, I would've died. Reagan became my hero from that point on...But I'll never forget the way they said, 'I'm gonna get you!'...If it hadn't been for Chloe saying that, I wouldn't have freaked out like I did. I'm sorry for making you worry about me..."
Bernard: "There is no reason for you to apologize, Ro-J. No child should ever have to go through what you and your sister have dealt with. Your former parents weren't just bad and weren't just horrible. They were evil. I have no idea what made them the way they were, but there is no excuse for what they have done to you and Reagan. It may not mean much since my experience was nothing like yours, but for a time I used to be afraid of my parents and older sister. I thought they hated me for making so many mistakes on heists and not being more like a raccoon. I had nightmares of them abandoning me, disowning me, and leaving me to get eaten by predators."
Intrigued that such a great guy like Bernard could ever feel that way with his loving parents and sister, Ro-J asks, "Are you still afraid of them now?"
Bernard: "No. It was just a phase I was going through. My dad helped me understand that I didn't have to be a real raccoon, and that he will always love me no matter how many times I made mistakes. My point is, we all have deep fears, but with enough love and support, we can overcome them."
Ro-J: "But you said you're still afraid of heights yesterday, didn't you? So do some fears never go away?"
Bernard smiles at how smart this six-year-old is, and nods to give him a nonverbal response that accompanies his verbal one. "I wish I could say all fears do go away as you grow up and get help, but some fears are so deep and so traumatic, that we'll always be afraid of them. Your past is full of horrors so immense that it makes perfect sense why you'd have a breakdown playing hide and seek. But me and this whole family are going to give you and Reagan everything your original parents stole from you. I promise."
Ro-J smiles and jumps into Bernard's chest, hugging the opossacoon tightly and nuzzling him. The kit then says, "Thanks dad. I love you."
Bernard: "I love you too, son."
Ro-J: "Wanna go down a slide with me?"
Bernard: "I'd be glad to."
The parents and kids who couldn't help overhearing everything Ro-J and Bernard have talked about—including Ro-J's recap of his past trauma—clap and cheer softly for the two as they make their way to the nearest slide and go down. As the two get back on solid ground the cheers and claps are no longer quiet and Bernard says, "Thanks everyone. Just being a decent father. It's new to me, but I think I'll manage well."
As Bernard turns to take Ro-J's paw into his own, a pinecone suddenly hits the opossacoon on the back of the head. Bernard clutches his paws to his heart and goes "Uhhh!" as he plays possum. The onlookers turn their heads in unison to find the one who threw it and ended the pure, heartfelt moment. The reveal of the thrower takes little time because at the sound of loud, cackling laughter everyone faces toward a 13-year-old fox girl.
Teenage fox: "Hah! A raccoon-possum freak playing dead at the littlest of things, just like my papa always told me!"
Next to her is her 16-year-old brother who snidely adds, 'Playing dead'? More like playing dumb because playing possum doesn't work against creatures that're ok with eating dead animals."
Ro-J: "Hey! You can't say that about my dad!"
Lucile: "The kid's right! What is wrong with you, little girl and boy?! You don't just throw stuff at others for fun, especially adults!"
The fox siblings' mother says, "They can, and they will. Cassie, Andy, and I can do whatever we want because we're the paisanos of the Bush-Wacker Wolf Pack. If anyone tries to harm us or insult us, then we'll tell godmother Holly Thorn and she'll end you."
Roger: "All paisanos are replaceable, lady. I know this because I'm Roger, the son of Rick and Luby, the raccoons who helped this entire forest population of prey animals overthrow the Bone-Chomper Wolf Pack—the meanest wolf pack in America."
Many of the prey animal parents and their kids say various words of agreement. The fox mother is sadly unimpressed, and not intimidated. "Guess you haven't been keeping up with current events, because the Bush-Wackers are the new bestest, meanest wolf pack in America now."
Leslie has had enough of this nonsense and decides to say the things that will end it. "You three must be new here, because in these woods the Predator-Queller Wolf Pack protects us—" She intentionally pauses and once all the other animals in the vicinity of the playground structure form a defensive line on both sides and behind her, she finishes by saying, "—If we prey animals don't feel like fighting off trouble-makers like you ourselves."
The sight of the animals rearing to battle finally makes the trio of foxes realize they have overplayed their paw. Cassie tries to remain defiant by saying, "You can't attack anyone in this neutral zone," but there is desperation in her voice.
Patricia: "You're the ones who came here causing trouble. For your sake, you should either find a different spot to play, or leave this zone altogether."
The mother fox keeps her dignity when she says, "So be it. Come on kids, let's go find some fellow predators for you to play with."
As the vixens and tod walk away the animals silently congratulate themselves for a job well done and resume enjoying themselves. Only one among them isn't satisfied with the situation, and it is Reagan who by now has gotten to the ground level and walks over to Bernard who is still lying motionless on the ground. Patricia taps him with her foot and says, "Okay, Bernard, you can get up now."
Just as he gets to his feet, Reagan asks, "Why'd you let that kid boss you around, dad?"
Bernard: "I'm half possum, it's in my genes to play dead. And like my grandpa Ozzie said, 'Playing possum is what we do. We die, so that we live.' "
Reagan tilts her head in confusion at first, then replaces it with annoyance when she says, "But you look more like a raccoon, why not act more like a raccoon?"
Bernard chuckles while walking up to Reagan and puts both paws on her shoulders. "I'm weird in the best of ways, remember?"
Reagan: "So if a predator attacked you and you played dead, then it tried to eat me or Ro-J, you wouldn't get up to protect us?"
Bernard: "There used to be a time when I couldn't climb down a tree to literally save my own life or the lives of my family members. But ever since 15 years ago, I'd be up and kicking the predator's butt as soon as its eyes looked away from me. My dad taught me how to control my fear."
Ro-J: "Don't you mean overcome your fear?"
Bernard: "No, I meant to say control. We may conquer some phobias, but no one truly overcomes fear itself. There will always be things that make us afraid in life, no matter how old we get. But there's an old saying that true bravery isn't the absence of fear, it is accepting the fear but doing what's needed anyway. Of course, in this situation I had a choice. I could get away with playing possum since there were so many other animals around to drive those bonehead foxes away. But when the situation is dire and I have only one choice that could mean the difference between life and death for me or my loved ones, I'll fight with whatever it takes to protect them. So rest assured, Reagan, you and your brother have a silly but strong dad."
Reagan's smile returns and she wraps her arms around Bernard. She says nothing, but her mind chastises her for thinking for a second that Bernard wouldn't be able to protect his own family, but also commends herself for her decision to sleep beside Patricia and Bernard the other night. Out of all the other adult animals she and Ro-J could have ended up with, she picked the best two in the whole wide world.
Once her hug ends, Bernard says, "Yeesh, you are sweating like a pig from all that playing. How about a cool-down in the creek?"
Reagan: "Okay dad."
Ro-J: "Wait for me, sister."
As the siblings and their parents head toward the water, they will soon be joined by more family members who have been having a bit of trouble themselves.
The dodgeball game with the group of weasels and minks against Damon, Niara, Riley, Frank, and Kelly has been rather one-sided. Thanks to the recent training session Damon and Niara have done with Boombata and Nukalawa, the two skunks dominated the game. Frank, Riley, and Kelly had prided themselves as being decent dodgeballers, but all the mustelids have done a good job of humbling the raccoons. They were the first ones out and were shortly joined by the three minks and two weasels on their team. This left Damon and Niara alone verses the other team with all 10 players still in the game. The difference is that the raccoons are good sports about admitting Damon and Niara are better than them, whereas the minks and weasels are not, and neither are their parents.
While Ladarius, De'Ausha, Stella, Tiger, Richie, and Grace are congratulating their kids, the parents of the minks and weasels are venting their disappointment, even the ones who were on the hedgies' team.
At first, the parent and grandparent hedgies ignored the words they overheard the other parents say, but after two full minutes of patronizing phrases such as, "They're younger than you and you still lost to 'em!? We raised you to win, not to lose! Life's about winning! I'm ashamed to have kids who lost to a bunch of little kids!" Richie decides to lay down some parenting advice.
Richie: "It's just a game for fun, folks. It's nothing to get upset about. And you shouldn't talk that way to your kids because there's more important things in life than winning dodgeball."
One of the mink parents says, "I'll raise my kids however I want to. So mind your own business."
Richie shrugs, turns around to face his loved ones and says, "Some people..."
The hedgies are about to leave, when one of the mink kids from the opposing team says, "Y'all ready for round two?"
The hedgie kids cannot resist the chance to have more fun, especially Frank, Riley, and Kelly who, having a better idea of what they're up against, want to play in a fashion so they can stay in the game longer than before.
Frank: "You're on!"
The teams get back together and when one of the mink player's older brothers who is serving as the referee says "Go!" they all run to the middle. However, two minks from the opposing team turn around and fire their spray that hits Frank and Kelly, and another two hit Damon and Niara. The latter are unharmed and not bothered as much by the stench, but the same cannot be said about Frank and Kelly.
Frank (in surprise): "Ack! Ca-can't see!" (Shouting in a panic): "Can't BREEEEEEAAAAATHE!"
Kelly: "Moooooomyyyyyy! They hit me in the eye!"
Only two seconds have passed, and before any parents can say anything, a weasel from the opposing team throws a ball into Frank's face, knocking him on the ground. As for Niara, she is hit by three balls simultaneously.
Stella: "HEY! Stop the game! That's unnecessary cruelty!"
Mink referee: "All I'm seeing is our kids having fun."
A mink's parent gloatingly says, "Atta boy, Chris! Do whatever it takes to win!"
Richie has already run up to Frank and starts carrying him in his arms. In response to the two minks' despicable comments, Richie shouts, "FUN?! My son has asthma! They could've killed him!"
The parent of a mink from the opposing team scoffs and rhetorically asks, "Then why are you letting him play one of the most physically active games in all sports? And you thought I was a bad parent..."
Richie: "You're not a parent. You're a deadbeat, low life, reject, thug. I want to give you a piece of my mind and fist, but I'm a true father, I have to take care of my son because I actually love him. I'm not going to abandon Frank just to attack you. I'm nothing like you are."
Grace looks at the girl mink who hit Kelly and angrily asks her, "And what makes you think your daughter can hit mine in the eye with her spray?!"
The mink replies, "They wanna play with minks? We can use our spray."
One of the minks who had hit Niara adds, "And they have skunks and minks on their side, let's see them use their spray against us."
Unable to keep his emotions in check, Damon growls out, "You want some'uv this?! Here it comes!"
Damon raises his tail, but no spray comes out, making the opposing team laugh and point.
Weasel: "Hah! He's so weak he can't even use his spray!"
Niara: "My broth'a and I used up our spray yest'a'day while training. But if we had some left, it would be way mo' powerful than all of yours combined."
Riley: "But if you say you use our natural abilities, then we can too."
Riley throws two pellets (one from each paw) at the other team and when the pellets explode it's their turn to cough and have their eyes burning from the sparkling purple powder that envelops them.
Tiger: "That's what you get for attacking our kids! Stew in your own filthy muck, we are leaving you terrible heathens."
Ladarius: "If we ev'a see you haters again, it's gonna end badly fo' you!"
De'Ausha: "Sayin' it's okay to spray someone in the eye, and someone with breathing issues?! Y'all all a disgrace!"
If the parents of the opposing team said anything to retort, they hedgies don't hear it. They pick up Bernard's scent and head toward the creek. Even when they were over 50 feet away, the animals at the creek cover their noses from the smell. When Ty and Lucile see their spouses carrying their coughing or crying kids, they start running toward them asking what happened, but Grace interrupts with, "Take care of the smell first, then we'll tell the story."
Ty and Lucile nod yes while frowning. When Bernard sees the newcomers heading his way, he knows what they need. He reaches into his bag and gets out a Febreze grenade.
Richie: "Hold your breath, Franky."
Frank coughs but gives a thumbs-up and takes a breath. Grace then says, "Do it," and Bernard throws the abducted Verm-Tech object that instantly eradicates the odor.
Richie: "Our kits were playing dodgeball with a group of minks and weasels."
Damon: "We creamed 'em, but when they said they wanted ta play another round, they sprayed us!"
Niara: "They also hit me and Franky while we was distracted."
Tiger: "The parents—if you can call them that—only congratulated their kids' underhanded deed."
Riley: "But I made 'em pay! I threw a magic pellet and let them get a taste of their own medicine!"
Ladarius: "We also said we'd mess 'em up real bad if they show themselves around us again."
Lucile: "I can't believe it! Franky has asthma! They could've killed my son!"
Richie: "That's exactly what I said, and they still talked as if I was to blame for letting him play dodgeball."
Ty: "That reminds me, I'm not judging you, I'm just being curious. Why would you let him play, Rich?"
Richie: "Frank's case is very minor; he can run around and play just fine, but if he gets too much of anything in his lungs, like excess dirt, pollen, and spray, his asthma will act up."
Camille comes up to Frank and strokes his arm reassuringly while saying, "Which means you're gonna be just fine, big brother."
Richie: "But as long as the Febreze smell is on him and us, it'll only make his asthma act up. I'm going in the creek with him. It's been long enough for the grenade to get rid of the mink spray smell, so none of us will stink when we wash off."
Lucile comes along with her mate and son as those who stay behind have another urgent problem to take care of.
Kelly: "They hit me in the left eye, daddy! And it still burns!"
Ty: "Jerks...Don't worry, Kelly, before he got banished Kale taught me a trick he had learned from his brother about getting skunked in the eyes. Spit into my paw, I'm gonna rub the saliva in your eye."
Chloe: "Eewwwww! Gross!"
Patricia: "No, it's the best thing to do."
Ty: "Because saliva has healing properties in it. And it's her spit, not mine."
Kelly: "Chloe's right, it sounds gross."
Grace: "It's either do this gross thing for a few minutes or walk around with a burning eye for hours. Which one do you wanna do?"
Kelly sighs and says, "Spit shot..." She does so and Ty rubs it in her irritated eye.
While that has been going on, Richie and Frank have gotten back on dry land where he and Lucile continue telling their son what to do to help stop his asthma attack. What's worse is that being animals, they don't have access to inhalers. The fact that he hasn't gotten any better despite how all the irritants have been removed means he is still in a panicked state; after all, who can remain calm if they're having trouble breathing? Luckily this isn't Frank's first asthma attack and there are three simple steps that are helping him slowly but surely recover.
Frank knows his parents are being very serious with him when Richie address him by his full name, "Franklin...Everything's going to be okay. Keep sitting upright, son..."
Lucile: "Take another slow, steady breath..."
Richie: "And keep calm."
After breathing, Frank makes five sharp coughs, but repeats the three steps one more time and then is able to speak.
Frank: "I'm good now. Thanks, ma and pa."
Richie and Lucile each kiss Frank on the head and hug him lovingly.
Richie: "It's gonna take more than measly mink spray to take down my son."
Lucile: "We love you, Franklin."
Camille and Chloe in unison: "Us too, big brother."
The raccoons share a brief family group hug that ends when Frank asks, "But why'd they do it?"
Richie: "Because some kids and their parents are simply terrible. They wanted to win at whatever the cost. I don't care how bad their own lives must have been to make them the heartless and unfeeling way they are, there is no excuse for what they did. I know this because I've almost gotten someone killed while bullying others too. That's what made me clean up my act—along with the spanking I got from my parents."
Having told this story to his whole family, Lucile remarks, "The worst spanking in your entire life..."
Frank: "But Pa-Paw and Ma-Maw did it because they cared about you."
Camille: "And wanted you to stop being a bully."
Chloe: "So you'd be a better guy."
Richie smiles at how well all his family remembers the important lessons from his story and sums it up with, "And became a better guy I did. But all of you help me be a better guy every day."
Lucile leans forward and kisses her mate on the lips, making their kids groan in disgust.
Frank, Camille, and Chloe roll their eyes and say in unison, "Pah-leeese..."
Too bad for them that Lucile and Richie don't pay attention to their comment. Lucile was one of the cousins of Patricia's third ex-boyfriend and had met Richie while her brother was visiting their family. Having learned from Mary and Bernard to judge others by their actions instead of their appearance, Richie didn't mind that Lucile was a bit on the heavy side. In fact, as he would later confess when she asked why he would always stare at her whenever she came over to visit, he thought her bigness made her cute, like a stuffed animal. Her fur felt softer as a result, and he just wanted to run up and give her a big ol' bear hug. Lucile appreciated how he saw her weight as a positive instead of a negative, which is more than what all the boys and girls she had known in her life up to that point had done. Many assume that obesity is solely the result of eating too much, which can happen, but it can also just as easily be genetic, which was the case with Lucile because her grandmother had been heavy. But because her parents, brother, and little sister were not overweight, it was too easy for other animals to get the wrong idea of why Lucile was chubby and poke fun of her, no matter how many times she explained her obesity was inherited. Richie was the first animal outside of her family to see her for who she was on the inside, not the outside, which made him her best friend.
As they spent more time with each other, Richie soon found out that Lucile's size did not limit her from being quick on her feet and nimble in her climbing like any raccoon. In turn, Lucile quickly learned that Richie was perhaps the most empathetic kid she had ever known; always helping others get through their problems because he had been through many problems himself. But one of his biggest problems was not having another person to help him whenever he was feeling down. Because he cared about others so much, he often was too obsessive and self-reprimanding whenever he said or did something he regretted. He could spend hours, days, or even weeks mulling over how he could have said or done something better, which took him forever to get back into a good mood. His parents and little sister were supportive but weren't enough. Thankfully, Lucile, who also had a history of pep talks from her family, offered fresh and new advice for Richie that put his worries to rest and enabled him to stop getting bogged down in regret so that he could quickly move along with his life. Their friendship became love, and, as the popular kid-tease song goes: love became marriage, and then came the baby carriage.
Such fond memories have once again put Richie in a better mood...Which is quickly spoiled when a voice from the hill he and the others had come from shouts, "There they are!"
Everyone turns to the direction and sees 12 minks—three families of four—aggressively walking toward them.
Niara: "That's them!"
One of the mink kids says, "Thought we were just gonna let y'all get away with what you did?!"
Bernard recognizes two of the parents, each from a different family, and addresses them, "Bruce and Robin? You're one of the parents who encouraged your kids to attack my nephew-in-law?"
Robin: "I raise my kids how our parents raised us."
Bruce: "Me too."
Bernard: "You do remember where that led your family to, don't ya? I thought you both would have learned from the mistakes of your past and become better as a result. But here you are again, causing problems and not seeing your own fault in it."
Bruce: "It's better to be strong and wrong, than weak and right."
Robin: "How have you been doing, scaredy-freak?"
Ro-J: "Don't talk to my new daddy like that!"
Reagan: "He and Patricia may have adopted us only yesterday, but that's been long enough for me to say that they're the best parents in the whole wide world! You don't have the right to insult him!"
Bruce's daughter, Madeline/Maddie, buts in, "Then I'll do it instead!"
Robin's son, Alfred Jr. (AJ), elaborates, "Likewise! My parents have told me everything about your 'dad.' He's a coward who's afraid of everything, especially heights."
Maddie: "He's a big baby in an adult's body. He'd hide in his mom's pouch if he could, but he's too big to fit into it now."
Another mink boy, Lance, pipes in, "And you and your brother are adopted, so your real parents never loved you!"
The kids laugh while the parents give smug grins. However, this backfires in the most spectacular of ways when Reagan retorts, "Yes, our real parents didn't love us, they hated and abused us for fun. But now we can actually be loved by Bernard, Patricia, and all our new adopted family. They adopted us because they cared about how bad our lives were before and wanted to give us genuine love!"
Ro-J: "None of your parents really love you if all they teach you is how to be mean!"
Damon: "Boosh!"
Camille: "Sick burn!"
Frank: "Atta boy, Ro-J!"
Niara: "And that'a gurl, Reagan!"
Accepting their defeat, the mink parents groan and turn around to leave, when their kids yank their paws out of those of their parents' and step forward to yell back.
A different mink boy named Stratford is first, "They didn't adopt you because they felt sorry for you and wanted to provide you with real love!"
A mink girl named Connie adds, "The only reason they adopted you is because Mr. Bernard is a freak hybrid who can't have kids with Patricia!"
AJ: "So the only way their marriage can work is if they adopted out of desperation!"
Maddie: "You two were just a last resort!"
The mink parents give a grin at how the students have surpassed the teachers in the matter of insults. And sadly, the comebacks leave Reagan and Ro-J speechless. By the time Patricia says, "Don't listen to them, Reagan and Ro-J, they're lying," it's too late. The two mull over if what the minks said really is true.
Then, help comes from the most unlikely of sources when Gerald, Miranda, and their kids show up.
Gerald (Rhetorically): "Need some help leaving? You do-oo? Then you can either go willingly or we can force you away!"
Miranda: "Because I have two adopted children as well, and I find your words very offensive!"
Wendy: "You can't talk to my step-siblings like that!"
Max: "You make one more insult, and I'll punch all of you in the throat so hard you'll never speak again!"
Wyatt: "Our new parents have told us about your parents! They said Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Robin were the siblings of Alfred Sr. and the kids of Helen, their mommy."
Jessie: "Alfred was one of Plushie's ex-friends who had been captured by a verminator and died at Verm-Term when Plushie had given away The Extremes' location when they tried to abuse baby humans."
A male monitor lizard comes forward next, and it's none other than Caleb, one of the former Extremes who sided with Plushie on that fateful day, and since then reformed himself, and has remained close friends with the turtle and his family. Hailing from Africa, he speaks with an accent. "I was there when'it 'appened. Alfred cou'da escaped when he had dee chance, but gave into vengeance and tried to attack dee verminator after our leader, Anthony the armadillo, was killed."
The male beaver, Albert—another former Extreme whom Plushie had helped see the errors of his ways before they even tried to attack the human babies—swims up to the creek's edge and joins in. "Caleb's telling the truth. I was there too. I was only 11-years-old and was doing whatever Alfred and Anthony said, but Plushie taught me how to think for myself. I wanted to live, so I ran to safety instead of being foolish."
Max: "Then they and their parents, and the families of all The Extremes and Tabitha's bully hoard tried to kill my stepfather and his family out of revenge!"
Miranda: "And when my ex's family won the fight, the survivors were allowed to stay in the woods around the EFE, but only if they vowed to admit they were in the wrong and shouldn't seek revenge anymore."
Gerald: "If they refused, Bernard and his family would be in their right to either banish or kill them."
Stella: "So, y'all still not bitter ov'a the loss of Alfred and Helen, are ya? 'Cuz if you are, then we'll force ya to leave these woods, or deal with y'all permanently."
Bruce: "This has nothing to do with our past grudges."
Robin: "This is about what happened today."
Like before, the other animals who have overheard the stories come to the hedgies' aid.
Male armadillo: "And what happened today was your fault, not theirs!"
Female frog: "All you flea-infested, stinky minks are such sore losers you can't even use the playground zone to have fun!"
A female hawk: "You minks sprayed a child with asthma. Even for a predator like me, that's cruel."
Bruce: "Alright, we're leaving. But you haven't heard the last from us."
AJ: "And because none of you adults will sink so low to attack a kid like me," (Looks at Reagan) "here's something to remember me by, adopted reject!"
He sprays at Reagan who easily dodges because the mink's aim is way off. Unfortunately, a female teenage muskrat who is on a swing made of two vines and a 2x4-sized cut piece of tree bark is hit. She loses her footing and falls in the creek. Not expecting this, she gasps on reflex and inhales a mouthful of water that goes to her lungs. She panics, which causes her to lose her sense of direction—especially with all the bubbles she is producing by flailing and blowing air out—which prevents her from finding her way back to the surface. Then, something gets underneath her, and she lifts up above the water, coughing up some of it but thankfully able to breathe again. Whoever is under her starts bringing her over to the creek bed. She looks down and discovers it's a family of otters, and a grandfather-aged one says, "Eso estuvo cerca, jovencita."
A 33-year-old male otter looks at him and says, "No creo que ella sepa español, papá." He looks at the muskrat and says, "Sorry, my dad isn't too good with English, but I am. He said, 'That was close, young lady.' And I told him 'I don't think she knows Spanish, dad.' Me llamo, er, my name is Skip. What's yours?"
Female muskrat: "Tina. And thanks! You saved me from drowning."
A grandmother-aged female otter named Kay nods and says, "Just helping others in need. It's what my mate, Jacob, and I have always done."
A 36-year-old female otter named Amy pipes in, "Our parents schooled us well. We heard this creek was short on 'lifeguards' and volunteered to help out."
A 20-year-old male otter named Isaac adds in some humor to lighten the mood, "I suggest all animals stop teaching their kids how to swim so we can actually do our jobs. Lifeguarding is soooooooo boring. All we do is just wade through water waiting to help someone. But thanks to you, we aren't bored anymore."
Amy: "Pay no mind to my baby brother. He was raised on electronic devices, so he expects everything to be as fast and eventful as possible."
Skip: "Iss no wonder he isn't married yet. I'll introduce you to my family and Amy's when we get you back to shore. They're helping move you right now."
The muskrat nods and is back on land soon. The otters that were carrying her lift their heads up. Skips clears his throat and says, "This is my mate Isabelle, or Isa for short, and our daughter Maria."
Isa, a 31-year-old otter says, "Hola!"
Maria, a 15-year-old otter, says, "Cómo estás?"
Skip: "They just said 'Hello' and 'How are you?' "
Tina: "I'm better...now."
Seeing the confused facial expression and hearing the unsure voice tone, Amy says, "Don't worry, my mate and kids are American. This is my mate Jay, our two daughters Eiyla and Candance, and our son Ralph."
The one 34-year-old adult, 17-year-old and 14-year-old daughters, and 11-year-old son all wave while smiling.
Isaac: "I'm Amy's and Skip's little brother, Isaac. Our parents are Jacob and Kay."
By now, Tina's parents have come down to the creek bed and hug their daughter, prompting her to say, "Chill mom and dad. Others are watching!"
Her mother, Kathy, says, "We almost lost you, Tina. We're gonna hug you like never before."
Her father, Dennis, looks at the otters and says, "Thank you so much."
Jacob smiles and says, "Todo en un día de trabajo."
Kay: " 'All in a day's work.' Jacob has always been in the business of helping others, even back home in the Amazon Rainforest."
Tina: "You're from the Amazon?"
Amy: "Sí. My parents, brothers, and Skip's family. And we may be otters, but our dad helps beavers build dams."
Skip: "But he does more than that. He and us have always liked to help those less fortunate. We're in the habit of helping elderly beavers or beavers whose homes have been destroyed build or renovate their dams."
Kay: "Jacob and my boys do the outdoor work, while Amy and I do interior renovation. I'm used to being a stay-at-home mom, so inside is my specialty."
Kathy: "Well that explains a lot. All of you are great people."
Dennis: "We'd like to invite all of you to dinner tonight to show our gratitude."
Kay: "Thank you so much. But we've sadly got dinner plans with another large animal family."
Tyler: "With us to be exact, but we don't mind inviting you muskrats too."
Grace: "Yeah, we have plenty to eat and plenty of room."
Isaac: "Small world, eh Ty and Grace?"
Tyler smiles and says, "Oh hush, you jokester."
While the lighthearted conversation has been going on, a different one was taking place amongst Patricia and her step-family.
Patricia: "Gerald...Miranda...I never thought you would come to our defense."
Miranda: "Now you know what we talked to our kids about last night."
Gerald: "You were right, and we were wrong. We originally did adopt Wyatt and Jessie just to spite you...And...Miranda and I planned on loving them more than Max and Wendy. But adoption shouldn't be about that, it should be for the kids."
Miranda: "What you and your family told us yesterday really got under our skin and made us realize just how bad we were being. But no more."
Gerald: "We are going to love each of our kids equally. I'm also burying the hatchet about my anger of you divorcing me. I was a bad mate to you, but I am not going to make the same mistake twice. I'm a changed mate and father now, thanks to you and your family."
Miranda: "Me too. It may not mean much, but we're sorry for all that we've put your family through."
Patricia is shocked to say the least, but she is still suspicious because it's almost too good to be true. "No one simply changes overnight after years of hating, jealousy, and craving revenge," she ponders with caution. As she starts with "I—" ready to call them out for their deception, a brief pause then yields a more positive outlook in her mind. "But then again, life-changing, born-again moments are a thing, so maybe they are telling the truth..." Her heart softened instead of hardened she says something that reflects this, "I'm so proud of you."
Bernard smiles and mirrors Miranda's tone by saying, "Me too."
Elaina: "I speak for both of my kids, their mates, and my grandkids, when I say what you have said, Gerald and Miranda, means the world to us. Thank you."
Gerald: "No, thank you for changing us."
Ro-J: "Does this mean Max, Wendy, Wyatt, and Jessie are now our official step-siblings?"
Reagan: "They can't be 'official' if we were adopted—"
Ignoring Reagan, Miranda answers Ro-J with, "Are you kidding? They were always your step siblings. My mate and I just didn't wanna open up to it. We were so stubborn and selfish."
Gerald: "But not anymore. All the anger and tensions between us and you have gone. We may be divorced and remarried, but we're still family."
Bernard: "Then how about we invite you six to dinner as well? It'll be fun, and your kids will finally get to skydive."
Gerald: "Sounds good. What do you say, kids?"
Max, Wendy, Wyatt, and Jessie shout "Yeaaahhhh!" in excitement.
Miranda: "Then it sounds like we've got plans for tonight."
Eric: "But until then, let's continue our plans for the rest of the day: having a good time with friends, family, and playmates."
Every agrees and, needing to go play with people they know won't give them a hard time, go to where the porcupines, Quad Squad and Lauren have been.
Note: I want to give a big thanks to two people whose ideas have once again helped me in my story. 1) Shkiper for suggesting the idea of using a group of animals to bully Damon and Niara that will provide conflict for this chapter and future ones. And for suggesting that otters become regular characters in my story. 2) TheIceAgeMan77342 for allowing me to bring in his otter characters of Skip, Jacob, Kay, Amy, and Isaac from his Adventure Awaits II: In the Amazon story into my OTH Expanded Universe to fulfill Shkiper's request.
I claim no ownership of those characters and use them with TheIceAgeMan77342's permission. If you want to see the original creator's take on Skip's and his family's character, read Adventure Awaits II: In the Amazon. But I plan on making his characters have their own separate identities in my story, starting with how much I have aged them up. The only otters that are my OCs are Jay, Eiyla, Candance, Ralph, Isa, and Maria.
The tree section the playground section where the porcupines have been is out of earshot of the part where the others have been playing, hence why none of the spiny rodents had come to give some backup to their family when things got tense. Not to mention, the porcupine siblings and cousins have been making so much loud noises that neither they nor their parents would have heard the commotion. Wanting to prove what each had said about his/herself being the most fun, Ike, Bea, Drake, Annie, and Ronny have each found a small group of animals to hang out with that are still within eyesight of each other.
Remembering the story of how their parents fought off a fox at the age of 19, Drake and Annie have been taking porcupine volunteers to stick themselves together back-to-back by their quills and have been carrying the other on his/her back to show off strength, sometimes by jumping in order to switch, and spinning in circles to show off balance and coordination. Ike has been holding onto small animals while climbing up and down trees by jumping backwards and sticking his quills to the trunk; flinging himself up or down. Bea is with a younger group of kids and has had them put sticks or dull sweetgum tree fruits to each of her quills whereby she has given the young ones a ride on her now harmless back. Ronny and two other porcupines have taken out some of their quills and created a pinball machine-like playfield on a piece of wood that has the smoothness of a shuffleboard, whereby they have been sliding (or throwing other animals) down it, causing them to ricochet here and there. Their parents have been cheering them on the whole time, and privately feel a mix of pride for their kids' ingenuity, but disappointment that they didn't think of doing those kinds of things when they were young.
Wanting to rub in a victory before it's even announced, each of the siblings and cousins have taken time to look and shout at each other.
Drake: See how much fun they're all having with me?!"
Ike: "Not as much as mine are having with me!"
Bea: "No one can have more fun with a porcupine than being able to ride on its back unharmed!"
Annie: "That's slow and boring, I'm doing something fast and exciting."
Ronny: "Mine is the most elaborate and mobile, so eat failure lame-wads!"
But the real judges of who is the most fun porcupine among the hedgies are the animals they are playing with, and it's hard to tell because all their playmates are having the time of their lives. Fortunately, no one has to wait too long for an answer because most of the other animals the porcupines are playing with are very young, and several of their parents now speak up telling their kids that it's almost lunch and nap time.
Spike: Moment of truth: which of you outgoing kids had more fun with Ike?"
Numerous cheers erupt. When they have finished, Emma asks, "Who thought that Bea was the funnest of all?"
Cheers follow, and when it's over Rachel asks, "Who thought Ronny was the most fun?"
More cheers, and after they subside Bucky asks, "Who thought Drake was the best?"
After another round of cheers, Emily asks, "And who thinks Annie was the best?"
The final round of cheers occurs. Quillo nods while grinning and says, "The votes are in: Ronny wins!"
Having grown up under the influence of his best wolf friends Percie, Boxer, and Roaster, Ronny's subconscious causes him to speak like a wolf by shouting, "Yeah! Wha'did I tell ya's!"
The appalled Ike, Bea, Drake, and Annie shout, "WHAAAT?!" in unison while loudly putting their paws to their hips.
Ike: "I demand a recount!"
Bea: "Yeah! He had bigger kids playing with him, which means their shouts were louder!"
Ronny: "Not a chance! Little kids are way louder than teenagers! My ears are still ringing from their shrill screams."
Drake: "High-pitched versus low-pitch doesn't count!"
Annie: "My brother's right! And big kids have bigger lungs!"
Ronny: "Just admit it, y'all are being sore losers. I won, you lost. Deal with it!"
Bea: "And you're being a sore winner, Ronny."
Ronny: "Winner, and don't you forget it!"
Drake: "Argh! How does he always do that!?"
Ronny: "Y'all need to hang out with Roaster more often. He's the king of snarky comebacks."
Bea huffs, crosses her arms, and gives Ronny the cold shoulder.
Knowing the snark and rub-ins won't end with these kids, Emma mediates the situation with, "This is just Round 1, kids. And y'all did have fun, didn't you?"
Ike: "Yes mom, we had lots of fun."
Drake: "Uh-huh."
Annie: "Sure did, BA-Emma."
Seeing the confused expressions on the onlookers, Spike whispers, "Biological Aunt Emma," to the other animals who nod in comprehension.
Bea: "Probably the most fun we've had in our lives, which is saying a lot."
Ike: "So no recounts." (Points to Ronny in challenge) "Rematch!"
Ronny: "Lookin' forward to it. Bring it on!"
Ike: "I sure will!"
By now Kelly, Ty, Grace, Stella, Tiger, Ladarius, De'Ausha, Niara, Damon, Patricia, Bernard, Reagan, Ro-J, Richie, Lucile, Frank, Camille, Chloe, Riley, Roger and Ellie show up.
Chloe: "Can you do the same kinda things you were doing before with us?"
After noticing that Miranda, Gerald, Wyatt, Jessie, Max, and Wendy are among the family, Emily points to them and asks, "What're they doing here?"
De'Ausha: "Good news, they've changed their ways and now we on good terms with 'em."
Bernard: "It's true. When a group of no-gooder kids and adults got into a fight with our kids, and insulted me for how I look, these six came and put a stop to it once and for all."
Richie: "Here's what happened..."
After explaining the altercation, the porcupines are reminded of the harsh truth that the world is full of troublemakers who have nothing to do but spoil everyone's fun. But the story now has a happy ending with news of Gerald's and Miranda's reform. The ending is even happier when Ike, showing his leadership skills, says, "Then let me, my sister, and BCs—biological cousins—give y'all the nonexistent shirts off our backs; we'll give you all the fun we can possibly give! Right?"
Bea, Drake, Annie, and Ronny in unison: "Right!"
Ty: "I think only some of our kids want to be here. Others, like my daughter, wanna go be with Lizzy, R3, Gary, Sare, and Lauren."
Frank: "Those five are at the grass field, right?"
After taking in a big whiff to catch those raccoons' scents, Grace nods and says, "Correct."
Frank (disappointed tone): "Then I need to stay here. Can't risk another asthma attack. Camille and Chloe, go have fun at the green field."
Chloe: "No way, José."
Camille: "Where you go, we go, big brother."
Frank's smile returns as he says, "Thanks, girls. You're the best little sisters a big brother could ever ask for."
As the three siblings hug Lucile and Richie feel like they're about to burst with pride. Chole and Camille are very energetic girls who don't have asthma and love being active; and they just turned down having extra fun with Rebecca's and Garrett's kits so that their brother doesn't have to feel sorry for holding them back. That...is...true sisters, for a true brother. The realization isn't lost among the other adults, as Spike whispers, "If only our kids could be like that with each other and their BCs..." to Emma who nods yes.
Rachel: "Aside from those three, who else wants to stay here with our kids?"
Paws are raised with Kelly, Ty, Grace, Stella, Tiger, Ladarius, De'Ausha, Niara, Damon, Richie, Lucile, Frank, Camille, and Chloe, opting to stay while Patricia, Bernard, Reagan, Ro-J, Riley, Roger, Ellie, Gerald, Miranda, Max, Wendy, Wyatt, and Jessie head to go find Lauren and the Quads.
As those raccoons leave, Drake sighs while shaking his head to the side and says, "Those noobs, they don't know what they're missing..."
Kelly: "You're saying that hanging out with you all is funner than being with our other raccoon cousins?"
The porcupine kids say, "Yes" in unison.
Niara: "Why's that?"
Ike smiles like a child seeing a new toy and says, "You'll see..."
There is already a commotion going on at the grass field as Bernard, Patricia, Roger, Gerald, Miranda, and their kids approach it. It sounds heated, but non-threatening, like a bunch of animals are arguing about who is It and who is not.
The voices are being directed into the air where some birds are flying overhead.
Sare's voice: "Who's the jerk who tagged my precious little sister Lauren too hard?!"
R3's voice: "Yeah! You mess with her, you mess with me and my other quad siblings!"
Teenaged male cardinal: "All you raccoons look alike, it's hard to tell who pounced who from above here."
Gary's voice: "Boo! That's specist!"
A girl raccoon points at the cardinal accusingly and says, "Come down here and say that to our faces! Then you'll see how we don't all look alike!"
Lizzy's voice: "We invented this game, so we know all the rules, and get to decide whether someone breaks them or not. First: Lauren are you really hurt?"
Lauren's voice: "No, I'm not."
Lizzy's voice: "Good. Second, no drama queens by claiming specist remarks. Cut the birds some slack. I know that the only way to tell me from my three quad-born siblings apart is our eyes. But third: you birds need to try harder distinguishing one raccoon from the other so the game can be played properly. And forth, because no one can tell who got tagged, let's start the game back at square one: whoever was It first is It now, while everyone else is not It."
Animals in unison: "Okay."
Roger: "Room for more kids to join?"
Sare: "Oh, hey Uncle Roger. Sure thing."
R3 notices that there are more than their family members among the newcomers and points at Gerald and his family while saying in an accusing tone, "Wait a sec, what're they doing here?"
Patricia: "It's okay. We're on good terms with them, and they with us. We ran into some nasty trouble with some nasty minks, and they were the first animals outside of our family to defend us."
Bernard: "But we're not here to recap bad times, we're here to have good times."
Lizzy: "Then you all have come to the right place. We're playing 'Raptor Attack.' We got the idea from that popular movie franchise about dinosaurs—in particular, the one where a man screams 'Don't go into the long grass!' Here's how it's played: those who are It hide in the long grass, waiting to pounce on the animals trying to make it safely to the other side of the field. If you get pounced on, you become It."
Max (excited): "Ooo! Sounds fun!"
Wendy (nervous): "Sounds violent..."
A young female cougar reassures her with, "Don't worry it's basically a different version of tag. I'm one of the ones who's It and we've been nothing but gentle and safe."
Ellie: "Then in that case, count me in!"
Reagan: "I...think I'll just watch."
Ro-J: "Y-yeah. Me too..."
Patricia: "Why's that?"
Reagan beckons Patricia to come closer, and when her adopted mother does she whispers, "I don't wanna have another breakdown from a bad memory I had with my real dad after playing tag."
Ro-J: "Sister never told me what happened to her. It was that awful..."
Patricia: "Well, if that's how you feel, then find a good place to watch the show."
Reagan and Ro-J simultaneously sigh in relief. Their former parents would force them to do things they didn't want to, but their new parents will not. They mentally add that to the ever-growing list of ways Patricia and Bernard are infinitely better parents.
Their new adopted relatives are also good folks in general, as Roger announces, "And while walking over to you kids we overheard the issues y'all were having with playing this game. So how's about all of us adults help the birds better pick out which animals get tagged?"
A robin says, "Oh thank heavens, yes!"
A crow agrees, "That would be a huge help."
A blue jay quizzically asks, "But how will you do that if there's no nearby trees to climb?"
Demonstrating that cunning problem solving is indeed a genetic trait of all raccoons, a father of one raccoon says, "We'll hold someone on our shoulders, piggyback style."
The female cougar's father stomps the ground and rhetorically berates himself with, "Now why didn't I think of that?" His tone shifts to positive when he says, "Who wants to get on my back? I can hold three of ya."
Three volunteer, with the rest of the parents of the predator animal kids abiding the neutrality of the playground zone by offering to do the same. Once the observers are ready, Lizzy—who is not It—asks loudly, "Runners ready?" She receives a yes, which makes her then ask, "Raptors ready?" Another round of yeses follows. Lizzy smiles and shouts, "Begin!"
Gary replicates the accent of the man from the dinosaur movie when he shouts, "Don't go into the long grass!" even as he and the other runners do just that. It's only natural that he follows up with the rest of the movie character's line, "Not into the long grass!"
Unlike the humans in the movie, the runner animals have the advantage of being able to smell the scents of those who are It, meaning the latter have to work harder to pounce on the former. Although Lauren and the Quad Squad are good, the predator animals are naturally much better whenever they are It. And of course, the predator animals had volunteered to be It when the first round of the game was played, and now they are It again.
The first victim to fall is a hare who gets pounced by the female cougar. A teenage boy coyote then pounces on a badger. R3 picks up on the scent of his sister Sare and easily avoids her pounce but is then pounced on by a boy raccoon. As soon as Sare gloats, "Gotcha!" R3 knows what had happened. Just like their mother, Sare has already become a ringleader even at her young age of 15. She obviously had gone over her plan with the boy: she jumps first, R3 dodges, only to be pounced by the other raccoon. R3 doesn't feel any scorn, as the dinosaur movies this game is based on has a knack for claiming how real velociraptors were pack hunters. Rather, he decides to say a famous quote from the first movie: "Clever girl..."
Though small, a squirrel uses his speed to pounce on Lizzy. Gary is It and misses his attempted pounce on a girl raccoon, but doesn't give up and pursues her. He accidentally bumps into a male gray fox which makes both unable to pounce on the ones they were targeting. The fox is naturally annoyed and says, "You just ruined my hunt, man."
Gary: "Sorry. Let's just get someone else."
With a nod the gray fox says, "I'm with ya."
That brief exchange makes the hedgies who are observing smile. It's one of the few instances they have witnessed today where two kids have let bygones be bygones and kept having fun. And both kids get their wish when the gray fox pounces on Lauren and Gary pounces on Wyatt.
By now the rest of the runners have reached the opposite end of the field where the long grass ends, panting and smiling in fun whether they stand or plop on the ground. The cardinal from before tweets like a whistle and says, "Game's up. Let's review who got pounced and who is now It."
Thanks to Roger's idea, the process is quick and easy, as the parents either saw or identified the scents of those who escaped and those who were pounced. No one admits it out loud, but a few had allowed themselves to be pounced just so they can be It. And when the next round begins, they either have underestimated the speed of the ones they want to pounce, or got those they targeted with ease.
While helping observe, Bernard and Patricia notice that their adopted kids are covering their eyes with their paws, choosing to not even watch the game as they originally claimed they would do. Both adults make a mental note that whatever had happened to Reagan after she had played tag way back when was probably the worst experience of all the things her biological father did to her—which is saying a lot. But neither will pressure Reagan nor Ro-J to talk about what happened. Instead, after the next round ends, Bernard and Patricia approach their kids and gently tap them on the shoulders.
Bernard: "Hey."
Patricia: "Do you wanna go play somewhere else or go back home?"
Ro-J: "I wanna go home. I'm not used to playing this hard."
Bernard: "Yeah, you do look really tired. I'll take you back."
Reagan: "I'll find somewhere else to play."
Ro-J: "But you look more tired than me, sister."
Reagan says more sternly, "I'm still not ready to go home yet."
Bernard has an idea as to why she wants to stay here instead of heading back to the log, and its initials are R and J. Still, he respects his new daughter's choice with, "Then Pat'll take care of you. I think y'all could use some mother-daughter bonding."
Ro-J: "Can I get some father-son bonding with you on the way back?"
Bernard: "Of course you will, son. Let me start by giving you a piggyback ride."
Once the two have left, Patricia asks, "So, what'll us two ladies do?"
Feeling too tired to do anything physical—she also isn't used to playing so long and so much—Reagan recalls another family member they had seen today. Or rather, upcoming family member. "Let's go find Meredith and Carolina."
Patricia: "Good choice. But I bet they're doing daredevil things with Plushie."
Reagan: "Which means it'll be more fun to watch than 'Raptor Attack.' "
Patricia: "Then c'mon, I'll carry you."
Reagan says, "Thanks mama," and climbs on Patricia's back with the two of them heading to the area Pat smells the turtles' scents.
Patricia and Reagan find the three reptiles ten minutes later at the hill section, curled in their shells and rolling down it like wheels as the rocks they hit make them bounce up and down hard. Patricia grins at the sight which reminds her of a stunt from the popular show (and subsequent movies) whose title is a synonym for a male donkey. After all three stop, Plushie is the first to instantly pop out his head and limbs from his shell and shouts, "Hoo boy, whatta ride! How about you Meredith?"
Meredith is much slower to extend her head and limbs from her shell and says, "Once you get used to the terror, it's kinda fun. But man am I dizzy!" Her cheeks puff, she puts a hand to her mouth, then reaches into her shell to pull out a barf bag that she proceeds to retch in.
Carolina: "That was fun Mr. Plushie! Let's do it again!"
Plushie chuckles and says, "Atta girl! But this time let's go down spinning on our backs."
Meredith: "Guess you need me to push you two down since turtles can't get up in that position...I just don't feel like moving right now."
Seeing an opportunity, Patricia makes hers and Reagan's presence known. "We'll do it, Meredith. Reagan and I loved watching you three just now and will get a better view from up top."
Plushie: "Alright!"
Carolina: "Yay!"
Meredith: "Praise Mother Nature for you two! I need to sit down..."
While walking back up the hill, Plushie asks, "Why're you two not playing elsewhere?"
Reagan: "I got too tired and am now only in the mood to watch someone else do something fun."
Plushie: "Then you've come to the right place. Carolina's a born natural, daredevil, stuntwoman in the making."
Patricia: "By the way, where's Verne and Velma?"
Plushie: "Oh, they went to spend some quality time together."
Patricia: "Well they sure have earned it."
Plushie: "Mm-hm. And I bet RJ and Heather are doing the same."
Reagan: "Please don't say his name around me..."
Plushie gives a confused look and says, "You're still afrai—" He stops when Patricia makes an attention-grabbing cough and gives a cut sign by waving her flattened paw in front of her neck. He nods yes and changes topics with, "So you'll push Carolina down and Pat will push me down. Sound good?"
Reagan: "Yessir!"
Carolina: "Don't go easy on me, Reagan. Push me as hard as you can!"
Reagan: "Heh-heh, you asked for it! Don't say I didn't warn you."
Plushie: "Let's make it a race this time."
Carolina: "Awesome! I'm gonna beat you, Mr. Plushie! I'm younger and faster."
Plushie matches her premature celebratory voice tone when he replies, "Maybe so, but I'm more experienced!"
Patricia: "Okay we're here. Get in your starting positions. Let's end this debate once and for all!"
Plushie and Carolina flip so they are flat on their backs and then curl into their shells. Patricia and Reagan also get into place by putting their paws on the turtles' shells. Patricia counts them off, "On your mark. Get set. GO!" and she and Reagan push the two reptiles.
Knowing that Plushie will go easy on his soon-to-be daughter and let her win, Pat didn't push him with all her strength. She expects Reagan to have given Carolina a big head start, but the corner of her eye sees something most peculiar. Reagan has conked out on the ground, and her push has only moved Carolina a few millimeters. The young turtle is not amused and says, "Hey what's going on?! You didn't push me, you just touched me!"
Patricia says, "Here you go, girl," and pushes Carolina. She then looks down at her daughter with a smile. Apparently, all the tiredness she had been fighting off has caught up and hit her like a truck. Patricia reaches down, planning to cradle Reagan in her arms while sitting down, but as soon as she touches Reagan, Patricia realizes something is wrong. Very wrong.
The kit is sweating profusely, but her fur and skin are cold. Her breathing is rapid and erratic, and her body starts to shudder. Worst of all, Patricia puts a finger on her carotid (neck) artery and discovers her pulse is irregular.
No question. Reagan has gone into shock, caused from over-exerting herself when her body isn't used to so much physical activities, leading to overheating. Patricia also recalls it's been a while since Reagan's had any water, meaning dehydration is also responsible. "And I didn't even notice the warning signs. Sweet lord, I'm a terrible mother!" Patricia frantically says in her mind. But that's all the time she spends on feeling bad for herself, as she is perfectly capable of treating a shock victim. She starts by shouting, "Someone help! My daughter's gone into shock! Go get leaves, wet them in the creek, and bring 'em back here!"
Trusting that the turtles or at least some passerby had heard her, she sets about doing the next phase. She steps down the hill and picks up a rock that she brings back and uses to elevate Reagan's feet. Next Patricia lies on her back and puts Reagan on top of her, readjusting her position so the girl's feet are propped up by the rock again. Patricia then wraps her arms, legs, and tail around Reagan to keep her warm and turns her head to the side just in time for the kit to throw up.
Patricia calls out, "Where's the wet leaves! I need them now!"
She had assumed right about a passerby hearing her request the first time, as a mockingbird lands next to her carrying wet leaves in his beak. He places them in Patricia's outstretched paw and says, "Here you go ma'am."
Patricia makes eye contact to say, "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart," then puts the leaves on Reagan's forehead. By now she has attracted an audience of other animals who form a circle around her, each one with their stomach's tightened in anxiety and suspense of what will happen next.
The female beaver Brooke starts shoving through the crowd saying, " 'Scuse me, folks! Outta my way! I got some ice here!" When she is beside Patricia, she holds out her paws and tells her, "This'll work better than water. Wrap it up in the leaves."
Patricia takes the wet leaves off Reagan, lets Brooke put the ice in it, and then places the wrapped-up leaves back on Reagan's head. She looks at Brooke and says, "Thank you too, Brooke. So much."
Brooke: "What're friends for, Pat? And it's a good thing I never take my kids out here without bringing my thermos full of ice water."
Everyone then glues their eyes on Reagan. Waiting for any signs of life...or death.
Waiting. And waiting...And waiting...
Reagan wakes up with a groan and feeling like utter heck. Her mouth is so dry that there's no saliva. Her body aches like a stampede of animals had trampled on top of her. There is an empty hole in her stomach so large that it hurts. And lastly her energy levels are in the negative 100s. Fortunately, she wakes up in the best of places: back home in the log surrounded by her parents, brother, and several of the hedgies.
Ro-J flings his arms around Reagan, nuzzling her so fast that each feels the rub-burn. "You're okay, Reagan! You had us so scared! We thought you wouldn't wake up for days, but now you're awake!"
Heather taps Ro-J on the shoulder and says, "Okay, Ro-J. Let's nurse her back to health now."
Ro-J lets go of Reagan and says, "Yes Grans."
Bernard puts a bottled water with a straw in it in front of Reagan's lips and says, "Don't talk, Reagan. Just drink this. It's water with a bit of salt and lots of sugar. But take small sips. I know you're extremely thirsty but gulping it will make you worse."
Reagan obeys and can feel her energy levels start to slowly climb back up again. Once she finishes the drink, Bernard is handed another bottle which Reagan sips down. When she finishes her stomach growls and brings her pain.
Rebecca comes forward, wearing a nurse hat, and with a bowl of soup. "Here you go, some chicken noodle soup. Eat slowly, dear."
While eating Reagan listens to Patricia recap the story of what happened.
Patricia: "You went into shock, sweetie. You were dehydrated and had pushed yourself too hard at the playground zone. Your body also isn't used to eating such big meals yet, so we're gonna have to give you and Ro-J small portions for a while to prevent any more health issues. It didn't happen after finishing breakfast because you're so young and your metabolism is faster. And we really should've let you head home with daddy and Ro-J. After you were still unconscious for an hour, I had Plushie send someone to go get one of our red wagons from home so we could bring you back here to recover. You've been out for four hours. It's an hour past dinner time now, and we have guests here, but those you see before you are gonna stay and tend to you..." She leans in closely, the mother locking her eyes on the daughter. "Going into shock is serious...You could've died...But it's a good thing I know exactly how to treat shock victims. And RJ taught me how."
Even in her current shape, Reagan has another one of her strength boosts that makes her rasp out, "That's a lie! You learned it from your parents or Bernard!" as loudly as her throaty and hoarse voice can muster.
Heather: "It's the truth, Reagan. He taught everyone in the family all he knows about first aid. Many of us would've died if he hadn't done that. I almost died twice, but he saved me twice. And one time, I saved him. But you're not in the mood to talk about him right now. Just keep eating and drinking."
Bernard: "And after you're finished, Riley and Ellie are gonna come in to give you a magic show."
Reagan nods yes with a twinkle of excitement in her eyes. But outside the log, one particular animal's eyes and spirits are low. RJ has been listening to all that's been said inside and is disheartened that his adopted granddaughter is still too afraid to interact with him. He got to see her when she came home in the wagon and as they took her into the log. He waited in the back of the family crowd for Reagan to wake up so that if she did, he could easily slip from sight as the mere image of him could cause her to go back into shock. The point is, he only got to see her while she was unconscious, and even if she did wake up he couldn't be in eyesight of her.
With another sigh, he returns to the family's eating area to sit down and be a gracious host to the family's guests who include Tina, Dennis, and Kathy the muskrats; Gerald, Miranda, Max, Wendy, Wyatt, and Jessie; Eric Elaina, Richie, Lucile, Frank, Chloe, and Camille; Boombata and Nukalawa; and the otters Jacob, Kay, Amy, Jay, Eiyla, Candance, Ralph, Skip, Isa, Maria, and Isaac. By now the skunks and Tiger have told their fellow African mustelids what had transpired at the playground zone with the minks.
Nukalawa: "Thas horrible. It reminds me of'a time when a group of honey badger picked on me tha day after I used up all'uv my chemical weapon."
Damon: "Did you get back at 'em when your weapon was reloaded?"
Nukalawa: "Yes, I did. But I did'na do to dem what they did to me."
De'Ausha: "I was jussa 'bout to tell 'em that, but am glad you did, Nukalawa."
Niara: "Tell us what, mama?"
Boombata: "What we teachin' you two, is not for attack, but for defense. Only defense."
Damon: "But we attacked the trainin' targets yesta'day. And we gonna attack those good-for-nothin' minks if we ever see 'em again!"
Ladarius: "Did yesta'day's targets attack back?"
Niara: "No...Until you threw 'em at us."
Stella: "We had them pop in and out, and y'all reacted—in defense, even when we threw 'em. That's what all good fightin' is about."
Tiger nods yes and says, "At my former owner's home I had many days to freely roam the house and watch the television, and whenever I watched martial arts movies, I observed that the protagonists did not throw the first punch. They let their opponents make the first move, whereby a dodge or counterattack followed."
De'Ausha: "If you ran up to spray 'em or fight them, you'd be just'uz bad as they are."
Ladarius: "You two'id be haters. Like them."
Nukalawa: "We not saying to not attack dem at all, but to just attack in defense."
Damon hangs his head in shame for forgetting such an important lesson and his voice tone is just as shameful when he says, "Just like you and everyone in dis family always have, mama and dad..."
Niara: "We sorry we let our anger control us..."
Stella: "We all had every right to be angry today. And if we ev'a see those minks again, we'll deal with 'em when the time comes—aft'a we let 'em make the first move."
Wanting to get the mustelids back in a good mood, Dennis joins the conversation with, "But if it weren't for those minks, we wouldn't have met all of you and your wonderful family."
Kathy says, "We also wouldn't have met you wonderful otters," while looking at the latter.
Jacob: "El Señor obra de maneras misteriosas."
Kale: "Dios ayúdame, it jus' warms my heart when anoth'a animal speaks my native tongue."
Amy: "FYI for those not fluent in Spanish, my dad said 'The Lord works in mysterious ways.' And Mr. Kale said, 'God help me.' "
Tina looks at the Amazonian otters and asks, "How did y'all wind up here in Indiana?"
Amy: "Izza long story."
Kathy raises an eyebrow and says, "We wanna hear it."
Kay: "Then in that case, we came to America because of one otter named Kaitlyn."
Kale: "I know dat name! She was one of my ex-pack's otter paisanos."
Percie: "From what our papá has told us 'bout her, she's the evilest otter who ev'a lived."
Kay: "Kaitlyn's own children, Reaves and Carla, disowned her after she had Saul, her disloyal mate, killed for cheating on her."
Kale: "Her first act as the Bone-Chompers' paisano..."
Skip: "Even if Saul was guilty of infidelity, his son and daughter did not want him killed. Kaitlyn took it too far."
Kale: "She had had a very bad day that day, and let her misery and hate take the driver's seat in her life."
Clara: "I'm not tryin' ta challenge ya's, but how come you's cared about two otter kids who lived 4,356 miles away?"
Kay: "Well, those kids happen to be my godchildren."
Scarlet: "*Gasp* No. Way..."
Amy: "Yes way. Mom had befriended Saul when they met in Cuba. He was smuggled into that country by his American owner who had come to open up an exotic pet shop."
Kay: "He was...my first boyfriend. He also taught me English. When the pet shop closed two years later due to bad business, he stowed away on the first ship back to America and I went on a ship to Brazil. But distance is never an excuse to end a friendship. True, we were almost four and a half thousand miles apart, but my family and I kept close contact with Saul and his family through phone calls, social media, and face time.
"But back to what brought us here to America. After leaving Kaitlyn, Reaves and Carla called to tell us what their mother had done to Saul. Like Hispanic or Latino humans, we Hispanic or Latino animals do not let family murders go so lightly. Family is a scared and holy bond. We share our experiences, our love, our pain, and pleasure. We laugh and dance when we something great happens, and suffer and mourn when we experience loss. That kinship we held with Saul bound us, compelled us to leave our home in the Amazon. We told Reaves and Carla to meet up with us in Guatemala, and then they would take us to Indiana to get back at Kaitlyn."
Isaac: "The journeys for us and our god-siblings didn't take as long as you think because we and they secretly rode on buses, trains, and boats."
RJ: "Did you succeed in your goal?"
Skip: "Yes. But at a price most dear..."
Amy: "We did avenge Saul when we assassinated Kaitlyn in her sleep."
Like everyone understands ever since Skip just spoke, Kale knows this story doesn't have a happy ending. He gives the family and friends some expert knowledge. "She was the Bone-Chompers' most efficient, not to mention favorite, paisano of all. She was one'uv'a kind, irreplaceable. I wasn't there ta witness it since I had been banished, but I know they would want to avenge Kaitlyn."
Kay: "We were willing to stay and fight the Bone-Chompers when they would hunt us down. Reaves and Carla promised us that we would go to battle together...But they lied to us. At dinner they had drugged our food so that we would be out cold, and as we slept, they went off to go meet the Bone-Chompers without us."
Skip: "They left us a note...a suicide note as it turned out. In it they said we had bitten off too much that we could chew if we messed with the Bone-Chompers. We wouldn't stand a chance against the best wolf pack in all America. But the Bone-Chompers didn't know who assassinated Kaitlyn, so Reaves and Carla...they said they would claim responsibility for the deed, and meet their fate, as punishment for helping to commit matricide."
Kay: "They were more than our godchildren, they were true family: sacrificing their lives so that we may keep ours."
Isaac: "They died so we could live. And since we were already in the US of A, we believed living in Saul's, Reaves's, and Carla's homeland was the best way to honor their sacrifice."
"Whooooaaaaa..." the hedgies say in unison.
Rick: "It truly is the connections you have that get you places..."
Jacob: "Es un mundo pequeño después de todo. Especial para animales."
Boxer: "I agree Señor Jacob. 'It's a small world after all. Especially for animals.' "
Mary: "Well, it's getting pretty late, and our joeys need to be put to bed. So, if you'll all excuse Elroy and me..."
RJ: "No problem, Mary. Go ahead."
Tina: "I'm tired too, dad."
Dennis: "Alright, princess. We better start heading home too. But let's do this again another time. We really enjoyed the dinner and fellowship."
Verne: "You, the otters, and Gerald's family are welcome here any time."
Kathy: "Thanks."
Miranda: "I can't believe we tried to be your enemies. Thanks for putting your feet down for us. If you hadn't done that, we'd be going down a dark path."
Max: "Speaking of dark, can we spend the night here, daddy?"
Gerald: "If there's room."
RJ: "There sure is. Just tell us where you want to sleep."
Wendy: "Thanks, Mr. RJ."
RJ: "You're welcome, kiddo." (To everyone) "Alright family and friends, let's go do our own things or hit the hay."
The crowd disperses but three come up to RJ, his mate, son, and daughter-in-law.
Bernard: "Reagan and Ro-J are sound asleep now."
RJ: "So bully problems and heatstroke aside, how did my raccoon grandkids' day at the playground zone go?"
Patricia: "They had a blast."
Bernard: "I have never seen any kids be so excited as they were to play and have fun like real kids should."
Patricia: "They still have some post-traumatic stress to work out, but with enough love and support, I'm sure they'll turn out just fine."
Bernard: "We did all we could to subtly make Reagan like you, dad. But her past memories with her biological father must be beyond what any of us can comprehend. But like Pat said, we'll get her to open up to you eventually."
RJ: "Thanks guys. I'm so proud of you and happy for her and Ro-J..."
Noting the hint of depression in his voice, Heather says, "But there's something really bothering you, love," in a way that is no question.
RJ nods yes and confesses, "I really wish I could have been there with them. Unlike Zeke, Tim, and Mira I could do more fun and interactive things with Reagan and Ro-J. Heather's told me about all the great things she's got to witness with Reagan and Ro-J. But as for me, it really breaks my heart being left out, being an outcast by my own grandkids. It's like there's a restraining order against me."
Heather: "We all need to be patient, RJ. We've still got a lot of life left to live, which leaves you and me plenty of time to wait for Reagan to fully warm up to you. And don't forget that Ro-J already likes you, you just have to play with him whenever Reagan isn't around. Which, given that she needs a few days to recover, you can start doing tomorrow."
RJ smiles with his confidence boosted again by his true love. "You could not be more right, Heather. And I bet the time when Reagan likes me will come when she and Ro-J will go on their first heist. I just need to plan where it'll be and when it will take place. Not to mention I could start taking inventory of what food we're starting to eat through—"
Heather smiles and teases him with, "RJ, you're starting to sound like Verne."
RJ: "I most certainly am not!"
Heather grips his nose with her fingers and gently pulls it forward. "Your nose is growing, which means you're lyyyyinnnng..."
"And you're one to talk about big noses, my pulchritudinous possum mate," RJ teases back at her while tapping Heather's nose.
Patricia rolls her eyes and says, "Get a room you two..."
Bernard comes to his parents' defense by teasingly telling Patricia, "They're animals, they don't have rooms."
RJ: "And we're nocturnal, so it's nowhere near any of our bedtimes."
Heather: "Wanna go gaze at the stars together in your hammock?"
RJ: "Lead the way, love."
The two head in the direction of RJ's downtime spot while Bernard and Patricia go to keep an eye on Reagan and Ro-J. By now everyone feels satisfied with the day's happenings and results.
It could have been better, but it could have been worse. And better and worse days are coming soon...
Happy Labor Day in the USA in this chapter's original 9/5/2022 positing! Whether it's Labor Day or not, by the time you read this, fellow reader(s), I'm glad you chose to spend your R&R time reading this chapter. I assure you it's coincidence that three stories (including this one) have been updated around the same time—lol—but am always glad to see updates or new stories OTH stories posted no matter the occasion.
See you next time!
