As she stepped into the house, Kimbra kicked off her shoes with a relieved sigh. Eternally glad that her shift at EcoTech had ended. She hadn't meant to stay out so late, but this time it was out of her hands. And living in the outskirts of town now meant she got home at an evenlatertime.
Not like she was totally dramatic about it, but if Kimbra had the energy, she would have found the voice to complain.
"Kimbra, is that you?" Asked Bud, leaning back on the couch to peer at the doorway.
"Oh, my apologies, sire," she bowed in the most sarcastic bow he'd ever seen. "Forgive me for disturbing you at thisungodlyhour of the night."
"You're late," the smile was evident in the saleman's voice. "Do I have to talk to Ainsley about that?"
"It's not his fault. This time." Kimbra sighed, plopping down beside her boyfriend. "No, our dumb shipment came in late. I don't even know why Dr. Ainsley insists on using the company."
"Are they that bad?"
"Yeah, I was waiting at the warehouse for the plane forfourhours with three of my technicians. And then when the guy finally gets there, he blames it on air pirates. Air pirates! I haveneverheard such a ridiculous lie before." Kimbra couldn't help but throw her arms out wide in disbelief. Almost hitting Bud in the face.
Air pirates?
That made the hound pause. Thinking. "What's the company called?"
"Higher for Hire or something stupid like that."
"Higher for Hire?" Bud repeated the name, perking up slightly with interest.
Higher for hadn't heard that name in quite some time.
"Do you know them?"
Bud's smile froze a bit, and the look behind his eyes morphed to soft, sad nostalgia. He was looking at Kimbra, but his gaze was far, far off and in another time.
"Something like that."
Twenty-something years ago.
The sound of heavy footsteps pacing back and forth echoed off the walls of the large house. Along with the sound of an adult male's voice scoffing into a phone.
"Cape Suzette?Seriously? What do you have to go all the way to Cape Suzette for?" Harrison said, with a distinct note of bitterness in his voice. He continued his pacing in the parlor of the house. There was a tense draw to his shoulders as he walked.
A young Bud sat at the bottom of the staircase, scooting closer so he could hear the conversation. Sure, itmayhave been wrong to eavesdrop on his father, but he couldn't help himself. It seemed like the only way he could somewhat bond with Harrison. Actually get to know him through his conversations with other people. Business calls.
It's pathetic, really.
"Rufus, Ineedyou to watch him. I have an important meeting to go to today and–" the older hound mulled for a moment, then said, "I don't need him getting in the way."
Harrison didn't exactly ever step into thedadrole with Bud. Which at this point, Bud wasn't sure he ever would. It was just something he had to deal with. Barely ever being spared a glance. Having to downright beg the man for any ounce of attention.
"Fine, take him with you. I don't care." Bud could practically hear his father throw up a hand. "Okay,okaybye."
After hanging up, Harrison let out a long exhale through his nose, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Hazel eyes opened, and immediately looked over to Bud. Who still sat on the bottom of the stairs. Patiently waiting.
Patiently hoping.
"Bud, get your things together. You're going with your uncle for the day."
And the little hound's ears perked up at that. "Uncle Rufus?"
"Yes, Uncle Rufus," Harrison repeated, grabbing Bud's coat from the small closet by the entryway. He then muttered under his breath as he knelt down to help the pup into it. "Because god knows I wouldn't trust your Uncle Edward with you for an entire day."
"Where is he taking me?" But Bud already knew the answer to that. Somewhere far,faraway from Harrison. Far enough where he wouldn't bother the older hound. Somewhere out of sight, out of mind.
"Cape Suzette." Frustration flared at the question.
"Where's that?"
Harrison pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out an irritated sigh. "Bud, I don't have time for this. Get your shoes on. Your uncle will be here soon to pick you up." He stood with another sigh, waiting for Bud to finish getting in the mood to be dealing with a child of all things.
His father's scrutinizing stare made Bud curl in on himself slightly. He looked away, discomfort clear on his face, as Harrison continued to stare. The puppy didn't want to give his father the gratification of seeing him cry.
Harrison frowned heavily at his son, looking away from him. As if he weren't disrespectful, but whatever.
He decided to keep talking.
"He has business there for one of his films. Don't cause too much trouble for him. You're always bad about doing that."
And that just made Bud sink in further on himself. He quietly sat on the front steps of the house, quietly waiting for his uncle. Trying his best to be the good, well-behaved son that Harrison seemed to have wanted.
When Rufus finally pulled into the driveway, Bud felt his anxiety start to ease. Things were always better with his uncle. They were easier. He felt free to say and do what he wanted without running the risk of being chastised for it.
Upon walking up to the house, Rufus knew something was wrong. He could tell the young pup was upset over something.
Before he could even ask, Bud spoke.
"Dad is in a mood today," Bud said, not fully looking Rufus in the eyes. Tried to ignore the pit of anxiety gnawing at his stomach.
"I'mnotin a mood." Harrison snapped at the pup, passing by him and Rufus as he headed towards his car. "Bring him back by atleastnine. Don't keep him out all night. The last time you did that, Julie never let me hear the end of it." A few vulgar words under his breath.
And with that, Harrison left. Leaving the two standing on the sidewalk alone. Bud's eyes grew wide as he looked to Rufus with a'see what I mean'expression.
Rufus snorted, placing a hand on Bud's shoulder. "You're right. Heisin a mood."
"He always seems to be in a mood." Bud was unable to keep a slight waver out of his hushed voice.
Thoughts of Harrison ran through the hound's mind as they passed over the Audubon Bay Bridge. How he couldn't remember the last time the man had ever hugged Harrison ever hugged him? Probably? Maybe?
Maybe he did that time for Arctic Record's 'Take Your Child To Work Day'.Harrison had always been one for public appearance. What the media thought of him mattered the most. Nothing he did in the privacy of his own home seemed to matter. Hence, the cold shoulder towards his own child.
Out of the corner of his eye, Bud sensed his uncle's frustration since the older hound's hands kept tightening on the steering wheel. Like he was angry. Angry athim.
Maybe if he wasn't here it would have been so much better on everyone. Harrison wouldn't have to be burdened with caring for him. Uncle Rufus wouldn't have to babysit him and be distracted from work. He wouldn't keep disappointing Julie with his failed auditions.
Finally, Bud spoke in a delicate tone. "Uncle Rufus, are you mad at me?"
"What? No, Buddy. I'm not mad at you, kiddo." Rufus paused and finally went on. "Your father is just… being a thorn in my neck lately. It has nothing to do with you, I promise."
Rufus gave his nephew a stern, but gentle look. "Just forget about him for now, okay? You're with your good ol' Uncle Rufus. We'll have our own little fun outing today." He then smiled, hoping it would quell the hound's mood.
And Bud somewhat relaxed at that.
Cape Suzette was lovely this time of year. A gentle sea breeze blew onto the coastlines of the city. Waves crashed against the shore in a periodic rhythm. A view that you'd only see in postcards or travel commercials.
Bud had heard about the city in passing before in school. Until this point, though, he had never seen it for himself. A shame really. It seemed much more scenic than the bustling loud city of St. Canard.
And with much less smog.
A large yellow seaplane gently floated by the docks. Bud didn't know much about planes, so he wasn't sure what kind it was. But it appeared to be one that shipped cargo. He wanted to ask Rufus about it, but decided against it. Fearful he'd be scolded for asking too many questions.
On one of the plane's wings sat a pretty red fox and a gangly lion. They were tediously patching hundreds of small bullet holes in the plane. Immersed in a lighthearted conversation as they worked. But their chatter went silent as Rufus and Bud approached. As if the words were meant for their ears only.
Rufus put on his best fake smile and headed up the walkway. "Excuse me, ma'am, is this Higher for Hire?"
Without looking at the pair, the fox answered. "Depends on who's asking. If you're with the debt collectors, no. If you're a client, then yes." Her ponytail swayed gently in the wind. Continuing her work.
Bud couldn't remember if he had ever seen hair as red as hers before (maybe cousin Morty as a close contender, but not by much).
"Rufus Flud, I'm with Starlight Pictures. We hired your pilot to fly our plane in one of our scenes?"
And that made the fox finally look at them. "Oh, you're the one Baloo talked about. You'll want to talk to the owner Rebecca about that." She jabbed her thumb in the direction of a building behind the docks.
"Oh," Rufus glanced behind him and then back to the fox. "Thank you."
With a hand on Bud's shoulder, Rufus led him to the building. He rapped on the door twice with a knuckle, and stepped inside.
The inside appeared to be an office combined with a living space. It looked… ordinary. Plain. Bud had at least expected something alittlemore extravagant. Maybe he was just used to his father's large and luxurious office back in St. Canard.
A large sloth bear, sitting at a desk, spoke into a phone. Not paying any mind to the guests. "Now Illyah, your cargo ships out tomorrow, I promise. Have I ever let you down?" His southern accent drawled the words in a sweet manner.
He had his feet up on the desk, twirling the phone cord in his hand as he talked. Wanting to keep up the illusion of being busy. The red pilot cap on top of his head made Bud tilt his head in interest. Wondering if this was the pilot Rufus hired for his movie.
Upon noticing Rufus and Bud enter, the bear sat up, holding up a finger as if to say'one moment'.
"Okay… okay, okay, that was one time," the bear ran a hand down his face. "And Itoldyou, that wasn't even my fault. It was because–"
He paused, pulling the phone away from his ear temporarily. Pressed it back to his ear. "Hello? Illyah?" He tapped on the dial pad a few times, eventually giving up all together.
Before he could properly acknowledge his guests, a female bear, much shorter, walked into the room. Carrying a short stack of papers in her arms that she dropped onto the desk.
"Baloo, please don't tell me you–" The woman began to gripe, but noticed Rufus and Bud in the room. Her face went from annoyed to pleasantly surprised in an instant. "Ah, Mr. Flud I presume?"
"Miss Cunningham," Rufus held out his hand for her to shake. "Pleased to finally meet you."
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." Shook his hand with a warm smile. Returning her attention to the large bear, a frown returned to her delicate face. She slid some papers across the desk towards him. "You forgot already what you were doing today, didn't you?"
Baloo straightened up and acted as though he didn't forget in the first place. "Becky, now would Ieverforget?" Picked up the paper that Rebecca slid to him.
The first thing Baloo did was squint at it. "Now Rebecca–"
"Baloo" Rebecca cut him off with a warning look.
He knew what she was thinking, it was a conversation they'd had in the past, it was about him taking his work seriously for once. Truth be told, he didn't even remember agreeing to the stunt.
But he sure as hell wasn't going to tell her that.
"We. Need. This. You. Are. Doing. The. Stunt." Rebecca tapped the desktop with a finger after each word. As if she were making a point.
Baloo held up his hands. "Alright, alright geez. I'll do the stunt, you don't gotta bite my head off."
He then waited for the businesswoman to disappear into the back room before leaning over to Rufus, speaking behind a hand. "Sorry about her. She's always in a mood these days."
Which pulled a laugh from Rufus. "Sounds like someone I know."
"Who's the kid you brought along?" Baloo asked as they stepped out of the office, ruffling Bud's hair with a hand.
"Baloo, this is my nephew, Buddy. Buddy, this is Baloo. He's the pilot performing the stunt for my movie."
Small hands ran through his black hair as Bud tried to fix it. Not listening to what the adults were saying. They only saw him as a little kid. He had no business joining their conversation. And now his hair was messed up. Great.
"Say, I actually have a kid of my own that's your age." Baloo kneeled to get a better look at the pup. "Somewhere."
That piqued Bud's interest. "Really?"
"I have two, actually. The other one is a bit younger than you. Dunno where they've gone off to." The bear stood up, glancing over his shoulder as he tapped his chin.
In that abrupt moment, a small bear cub (much darker than Baloo or Rebecca) ran into the back of Baloo's leg. Falling over with a small'oof'. A large dark green bow rested on the back of her head. Matching the turtleneck she wore under her dark maroon colored poncho.
"Woah there, princess! What are you runnin' around for?" Baloo knelt down, picking up the little girl. Holding her ever so gently in his arms.
It made a deep longing pang inside of Bud, as Harrison had never held him that way. Or at all, actually.
"Kit is chasing me," she seemed to be at home in the bear's arms. Looking over his shoulder every so often. "I think he's mad."
"What did you do?"
The question made her give an offended gasp. "Nothing!"
"Now Tilly," Baloo shook his head. Clearly trying to parent the cub to the best of his ability. "Kit wouldn't be chasing you for no good reason."
" don't know what he's capable of." Tilly smirked up at him. She began to ask Baloo a question, but the two hounds caught her eye. "What's with the dogs?"
Bud narrowed his eyes at the little bear, then looked up at his uncle. Hoping he'd say something.
But before Rufus or Baloo could get a word out, another young bear (one closer to Bud's age) ran up to them, panting heavily.
"There you are!" He leaned over, resting his hands on his knees. Attempting to catch his breath. "I was looking for you everywhere!"
"See?" Tilly splayed out her hands at him, looking right at her father. Showing that the cub had been clearly chasing her.
But Baloo paid no mind to the kids' antics. "Kit, Tilly, this is Rufus and his nephew, Buddy."
"Hi," Kit and Tilly said, in unison before glaring at one another. Putting aside whatever bickering they had going on (for the time being).
Rufus merely gave the two a nod, while Bud chose to step behind his uncle's legs. Weary of all the new faces around him. Unsure of what to do or what to even say to these people.
He wanted to go home.
Tilly brushed off the newcomers fairly quickly, having other things to prioritize. "Can we go play by the docks?"
Baloo seemed to mull on the question for a moment. Questioning what exactly he should tell the young bear. "Where's your Ma at? Maybe we should ask her first, okay?"
Pulling the'let's ask your mom'card always seemed to do the trick.
"She's helping Wildcat with the Sea Duck. They're patching all those holes you caused."
The pilot frowned at that. "I didn't put the holes in the Sea Duck."
"Miss Rebecca said you did."
"Nowsweetheart, we don't listen toeverythingMiss Rebecca says, okay?" Baloo didn't seem put off by what his daughter had said, he actually snorted in what appeared to be these days,he thought.
"She said I should because you're a…" Tilly's nose scrunched up in thought. She leaned over, whispering (loudly at that) in her father's ear. "A really mean word that I'm not allowed to say."
The pilot stifled back a loud sigh as he chose to be the bigger person and not let Rebecca get to him today.
The group stopped at the end of the dock, where the red fox and the lion were tinkering with the seaplane.
Baloo held a hand out, introducing the pair to the canines. "This is my wife, Persephone, and our mechanic, Wildcat."
"Howdy," the lion waved a hand, dropping his wrench into the water in the process. "Oh, well, there goes another one." Scratched the top of his head as he stood, trying to figure out a way to get the tool back.
Rufus hesitated when he saw all the bullet holes again. Leaned towards Baloo. "Should I be concerned about all the holes?"
"Oh those? Nah, there's just this crazy old man on the west route who keeps shooting at planes that get too close to his edge of the cliffs." In which the hound's concern just made Baloo laugh. "And it probably didn't help that acertainKhan Industries transport pilot dropped several bags of flour on the guy."
He raised his eyebrows at his wife.
"Hey,heshot at my plane first." The red-headed fox waved a finger at Baloo. "I was merely defending myself. It's only fair."
"Uh huh, and it just made him madder. Then, when I went through an hour later, he turned the Sea Duck into Swiss cheese."
"Well maybe if…"
"NowPerse" Baloo warned, crossing his arms. Just knowing what she was about to say.
She continued. "… you were as good of a pilot as me…"
"Don't you start."
"…then maybe…"
"No."
Held up both her hands, presenting the damage to the Sea Duck. "… your plane wouldn't look like this."
That just frustrated him. "Why did you even go that route? I know for afactthat Khan sends all his planes through the main route. You weren't scheduled to go that way."
"Because it's a shortcut? Murphy and I wanted to get off early. We have other things to do, you know, than fly around all day."
"Like what?"
"That's super secret, important Khan Industries business." Persephone quickly moved the topic, giving Rufus a sweet smile. "You know Mr. Flud, I am the better pilot if you rather have a professional do the stunt for you."
Baloo forced a laugh. "Ha! The better pilot? That'srealcute Percy."
"I did beat you in that race last month."
"Because you cheated!"
"Nu uh," she shook her head childishly. "I won fair and square. Don't be such a sore loser, Baloo."
"You threw my keys and cap across the field for one thing."
"The rules didn't say I couldn't."
"They didn't say you could, either."
Persephone looked at him, blinked, and then looked away abruptly. Pretending to go back to patching the holes. As if he weren't even there. Something the fox did whenever she didn't have a counterargument.
"Pa," Tilly cupped a hand to her mouth, loudly whispering to Baloo. "We're supposed to ask her, remember?"
"Oh, yeah right. Go ahead, sweetheart." He encouraged her to ask.
The small bear turned her attention to her adoptive mother. "Mama? Can me and Kit go play?"
"Sure but don't go too far, okay?"
"Okay!" She almost ran off, but paused. "Can Buddy come too?"
That made the small pup freeze in place. He looked over to this uncle, who merely gave him a smile and a nod.
"Go ahead," Rufus patted Bud's back, ushering him to go on and play.
Oh great, now he's expected to play with kids he doesn't even know. Wonderful.
The little hound allowed himself to take a moment and breathe before running off with the other two kids. Maybe they'd go easy on him. Suggest that the three of them play hide and seek so he could hide until it was time to leave.
Yet, they didn't.
"I'll be the air pirate." Tilly said, climbing onto a large rock.
Bud blinked a few times. Confused as he watched her. "Air pirate?"
Kit shrugged as nonchalantly as he could manage. "They'rebasicallypirates, but instead of sailing ships, they fly planes."
"Oh, okay. We don't have that in St. Canard… I think."
If they did, no one ever bothered telling him about it. Fantastic, just something else the young pup would have anxiety about at night. Air pirates taking over St. Canard. Harrison would never in a million years believe that.
"Kitusedto be an air pirate until the dummy left!"
"Tilly, that was alongtime ago. And besides, I'm doing something way cooler now."
"Uhhuh," She began to mock him. Walking around the edge of the rock. "Youusedto be cool, but then you decided to be a dumb ol' navigator."
"Navigatingisn'tdumb. It's cool, butyouwouldn't know that."
"It's dumb." Tilly waved her arms around, pretending to look at a sheet of paper. "Oh, look at me! I can read a map, I'm soooo smart!"
Kit's eyebrows drew together with irritation. "Tilly, it's a lot harder than you think."
Then the little bear cub pointed at the sky, in pretend shock. "Oh, Papa, go left so you don't hit thatbigol' mountain on the right!"
"Okay now you're just being mean." He sighed, looking over at Bud apologetically. "Our mom actually used to be an air pirate too."
"She was the most terrifying one around! Scarier than Don Karnage!"
"You better not let him hear you say that." Kit crossed his arms. "But yeah, she was one before her and our dad got together."
Tilly hopped off through rock before speaking loudly. "Yeah,beforehe tied her down, and now she's a boring transport pilot for Shere Khan."
Kit narrowed his eyes at her. Before he could say anything, Tilly blurted out something else.
"Kit is adopted, by the way. I betcha didn't know that either."
"We'rebothadopted," came Kit's swift reply. Irritable.
"Yeah, but they got stuck with you. Theywantedme." Tilly poked a finger into his chest for emphasis.
Kit eyed her, but didn't say anything further on the matter. Not that anything he said would silence her anyhow. She'd find a counterargument (or insult) for anything hecouldhave said.
Rebecca poked her head out of the Higher for Hire building, holding a phone receiver in her hand. "Mr. Flud? They just called and said they're ready for us at the set."
Rufus glanced over at Bud, with a worried expression. He didn't really want to leave the pup there. But he also knew that Bud wouldn't enjoy the movie set. It'd be too loud and overwhelming for him. He'd get overstimulated and have a terrible time.
Persephone noticed his hesitation, and gave him a warm smile. "Wildcat and I can watch the kids."
"Are you sure? If it's not too much trouble." More hesitation.
"Yeah, I'm sure, and it's no trouble at all."
That seemed to put the older hound's mind at ease.
"Bud," Rufus walked over and knelt down so he would be eye level with his nephew. "I'm going to the movie set with Baloo and Miss Cunningham. I'll be back soon. Listen to Miss Persephone while I'm gone, okay? We won't be gone too long."
"Okay," Bud wanted to beg him to not go. But he knew how important this was for his uncle.
And Harrison had told him to not cause any problems.
Rufus ruffled the young hound's hair, giving him that iconic warm smile of his. He stood up and met the two bears in the car. Bud watched until the car left, completely out of view.
And with that, Bud was left alone with complete strangers.
Oh, how he was starting to miss St. Canard. He even missed the smog at this point.
Persephone stepped onto the dock with Wildcat, seeming to have finished tending to the battered plane.
"Are you and Wildcat done with the Sea Duck?" Tilly asked. Somewhat eager.
"Yep!" Persephone patted the side of the plane with a hand. "It's all patched up and ready to go again."
"We should probably take it on a test flight then. Right?"
The fox looked skeptical and perhaps a bit hesitant. "What? Why? I don't think that–"
But that gave Kit an idea. A brilliant one at that. "Oh…OH,yeah, you're right, Tilly. Weshouldtake it on one."
"I have no idea what you two are talking about." Persephone said, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed in.
Wildcat tapped a finger to his chin. "Ya know Percy, they might be right…"
That only earned him a sharp glare from the fox. "Wildcat, we only patched bullet holes. That doesn't call for a test flight."
"Itdefinitelycalls for a test flight." Kit gestured with a nod of his head towards Bud. Averyuncomfortable and out of place Bud.
Which Persephone finally understood.
"Okay, fine. Come on, we'll take it out on a test flight." A part of her winced internally as she said that. Knowing that Rebecca hadn't given any of them permission to fly the Sea Duck.
For a moment, Bud thought he hadn't heard her correctly.A test flight? They were going to actually go on the plane?
Oh man, oh no. No, no no, no no.
Bud felt his nerves rise with each step as they got closer to the plane. He only followed them because he had nowhere else to go.
The yellow plane seemed to tower over the little hound, her outstretched wings gleaming with the sunlight that glanced off the glittering water below. A rope was the only thing keeping the Sea Duck tethered to the dock, and the plane bobbed ever so gently with the rippling of the small waves drawn from far-off boats. The tail stretched far into the water, casting a long shadow over the creaking planks Bud walked alongside of Tilly. He pulled himself closer to the cub as they were thrown into darkness, the Sea Duck backlit by the sun, making it appear much larger than it was.
"That's…that'sthe Sea Duck?" Bud asked nervously, hands wringing together as he frowned up at the plane. It didn't look safe. And why was it on the water, attached to the dock by nothing but a single rope?
"Yeah," Kit patted the side of the plane with a smile. "It's aConwing L-16 seaplane. Best of the best."
"The Iron Vulture is cooler." Tilly rolled her eyes, unfazed by the Sea Duck.
Kit huffed out at her. Planting his hands on his hips. "Tilly."
"It is!" She grunted as she pulled open the door to the plane. Scrambling to climb inside of it. "It'smuchbigger and cooler than this smelly ol' thing."
"I'm telling Pa that you said that."
"And I'll just call you a liar, and he'll scold you for telling a fib." She stuck her tongue out at her older brother. Ducking her head into the plane.
"Now kids, behave. Or I'll tell your Pa you'rebothbeing bad." Wildcat said it in a way that made you wonder whether he was being serious or not.
He helped Bud into the plane. Climbing in behind him after Kit.
Bud slid into the passenger's seat. Clearly nervous from the tightly drawn features on his face.
A giggling Tilly leaned over, close to his ear. "Maybe the nasty air pirates won't go after us and take you for ransom. It happened to me last month."
He let out a soft whine of distress at that. Tried to push the thought out of his mind. Harrison definitely wouldn't pay out a ransom to get him back. He'd most likely pay them to keep him.
"Alright, kids, let's fly!" As Persephone leapt back into the drifting Sea Duck, Bud was quick to buckle up.
"Miss Persephone, the plane is moving!" He gasped out, pointing to the now untethered rope that was wrapped loosely to its respective post.
"That's what's supposed to happen, silly," Tilly giggled, leaning on the back of his seat again to watch him. "If we kept the Sea Duck tied to the dock, we couldn't take off. It would probably tear it in half."
She didn't bother to mention the amount of times that her father had done such a thing on accident.
Bud whined, and tugged on his seatbelt to make sure he was securely buckled in. The last of the dock he saw before Persephone slammed the doors shut was the ground. And oh, how he wished he were back on the ground.
No, no, he didn't want a second look.
"I-is it too late to say I don't want to go?" He tried, and Persephone laughed as she buckled herself in, and set herself to commencing takeoff.
In simple terms…
Bud Bernard Flud was afraid of flying.
"You'll be fine, Buddy! I've never had a plane go down on me, and I don't intend to today. You can close your eyes as we take off, if you'd like." She picked up the transmitter looped to a hook on the broad, gleaming console, and flipped the switch to allow communication between her and the small tower.
"ATC, ATC, this is the Sea Duck, are we clear for takeoff?"
"10-4, Sea Duck, you are clear for takeoff."
"10-4, ATC. Commencing cross-wind takeoff." Persephone pushed the throttle forward, adjusting her headset as they began to move. She did it so swiftly and with ease, like it was as easy as breathing for her.
A low rumbling surrounded the plane, engulfing Bud's hearing in nothing but a loud roar that seemed to chatter Bud's teeth as the Sea Duck began to push through the water, waves rippling as the rudders sank into the water.
It was the noise that bothered him. He didn't understand how he was supposed to think. And then there were thecliffs. The hound covered his eyes with his hands, terrified they'd run out of water surface. But they didn't. The Sea Duck took off into the air, missing the cliffs entirely. Going between them and out of Cape Suzette.
Once they were finally in the sky, things didn't seem so bad. His shoulders relaxed as the plane flew across miles and miles of ocean. Below, fishermen waved up to the Sea Duck, as if it were a familiar, friendly face.
The silence had been peaceful for a time.
Until Tilly opened her big mouth again.
"I told Buddy that you used to be a pirate."
"Tilly!" Persephone side-eyed her daughter. "You shouldn't be telling people that!"
"I didn't even tell him you went to jail! IswearI left that part out, Mama."
"Tilly."
Oh, great. A criminal is flying the plane. A criminal is flying the plane that he's currently sitting in. What else could go wrong?
Little Bud Flud couldn't help but ask. "What did you do to end up in jail?"
An answer came out of Tilly's mouth without delay. "She killed a man."
Persephone let out a sharp breath of amusement, barely able to conceal a small laugh. But still, she tried to scold her daughter. "Tilly! I did not! Don't tell people that or someone mightactuallybelieve you one of these days."
"I bet you didddd."
"No, I did not. I only stole some stuff and kidnapped a few people. It wasn't anything asdrasticas murder I just–" She cut herself off abruptly as she realized what she was saying. That she shouldn't be telling all of this to a bunch of kids.
"Why did you become a pirate anyway?" The little girl scrunched her face up, trying to make sense of it.
The red fox gave a nonchalant shrug. "I just never felt wanted. It seemed at the time it was the only place I had to go."
The hound blinked a couple of times as he stared straight ahead at the empty sky in front of them. "I know how that feels…"
Persephone's eyes softened in understanding. A change of topic felt needed at that moment. "Do you want to steer the plane?"
"Really?" Bud said, looking at the woman with a bit of distrust.
"Why not? Grab the co-pilot yoke, it's a lot easier than it looks."
As Buddy scooted up beside Persephone, Tilly nodded. Giving him a small pat on the back before reassuring him.
Wildcat spoke up, not having said anything since they got into the plane. "Yeah, it's like riding a bicycle. Well… if a bicycle had wings… and an engine… and–"
"I think he gets it, Wildcat." Golden eyes slid to give the lion a look, cutting him off, before turning her attention back to Bud who was now poised and ready in the co-pilot's seat. "Now, just hold it steady like this." Persephone nodded to her own hands.
Bud reached out, gripping tightly onto the control stick with small paws. He let out a sharp whine, filled with anxiety, but it seemed straightforward as riding a bike, right?
As it turned out, Persephonewasright. Steering the Sea Duck wasn't bad at all. Sure, he'd never be a flying ace, but at least now Bud Bernard Flud could say he flew a plane.
A faux-bored voice sighed out next to them. "Can we go to Louie's?" Tilly pressed her cheek against Persephone's arm, pleading.
"I don't think your father would want us joyriding in his plane–"
"Wrong, he would. He'd actually encourage it."
"Tilly, shush. And well, Rebecca wouldn't want us to since it's technically her plane. So there. End of discussion."
"Pa said we shouldn't listen to Miss Rebecca."
"Well, sometimes your father is wrong."
"But I wanna see Uncle Louie!" She couldn't help the small pout. "And they won't be back for a few more hours anyway."
Reluctantly, Persephone gave in to the young cub's demands. She always scolded Baloo for giving her whatever she wanted.
And here she was, doing just that.
The Sea Duck soon enough approached a small island in the South Sea. A large neon sign at the top of the mountain flashed the wordLouie'sin an array of yellow and orange.
The main building was nestled against the truck of a giant banyan tree. It looked to be constructed entirely around the wreck of an old sailing ship. Bamboo-pole framework surrounded thatched walls and ceilings. A tan hut roof protected the interior and its patrons from harsh weather.
When the plane had finally landed and was tied off at the dock, Bud hopped out onto the creaky wooden planks. Grateful to finally be back on the ground.
Brown eyes peered up at the neon sign again and then to Kit.
"Who's Louie?" Bud asked, walking to the building alongside the bear cub.
The shocked look on Kit's face almost made Bud regret asking. "Louie? He's Papa Bear's best friend. Have you really never heard of Louie?"
"He's not from around here dummy, ofcoursehe hasn't." Tilly giggled as she playfully shoved Kit aside, running down the dock at full speed.
Inside the building, the place gave off a jungle vibe from all the makeshift architecture. Colorful tiki masks adorned the walls and balconies. Aircraft propellers hung from the rafters. Tables built from planks and wooden barrels occupied the seating area. Various other tables and booths lined the walls of the room.
All in all, the place seemed to be constructed of found items that had washed up on shore, or were found in the shipwreck.
Harrison would definitely hate this,Bud thought, with a small smile.
Maybe it's why he immediately liked it.
Persephone headed to the bar, saying a few pleasant greetings to some of the people she passed. A group of black panthers in blue aviator jackets gave her a respectful nod. Tilly whispered in Bud's ear something about them being Persephone's coworkers.
At the center of it all, sat the bar. Behind it a red orangutan worked swiftly. Mixing up something into two cups. He noticed the fox, and gave her a smile.
"Hey, Perse. Didn't know you'd be bringing along an entourage with you." He commented, and the kids dissolved into giggles. "Where's that husband of yours?"
The fox didn't seem all too excited about delivering the news.
"Louie, he's doing work for some movie studio from St. Canard," she rested her elbows on the counter bar. "He's flying their stunt plane for a scene."
Resisting the urge to groan, Louie threw his head back. Facepalming. "Aw, now why did you go and have to tell methat? You know me and him are going out to Coral Cove in a few days to pick up some fruit. And that'sallI'll hear about. He'll be bragging the entire way there and back."
"He promised me last night that he wouldn't let it get to his head."
Louie leveled an unimpressed look at her. "And you believed him?"
A shrug and a smile. "No, but it's nice to have hope sometimes." Persephone didn't really want to consider that Louie might be right. He knew Baloo fairly well, probably better than her.
Tilly stood on her tiptoes at her mother's side. Struggling to see over the bar. "Hi Uncle Louie!"
"Hey pumpkin!" Louie leaned over the counter to get a good look at the little girl. "How's my favorite goddaughter doing?"
"Bad! I practically had tobegMama to let me see you!" She gave an excited little hop, turning and pointing a finger accusingly towards her mother.
"Really?" The ape scolded his friend. "Percy, baby. You can't keep me apart from my little bear. Forshame."
"I didn't want to take the Sea Duck without asking Rebecca first, you know how she is. She's probably going to kill me when she finds out that Wildcat and I took it out here without permission." Persephone said, picking up menus off the counter and handing one to Kit.
She set the other one in front of Bud, softly patting him on the back. "Here sweetheart, order whatever you want. I'm sure you're hungry."
Bud's face lit up a little at that, but it soon dulled again.
"Whatever I want?" He had to ask. Had to make sure she didn't mean'whatever he wanted… as long as it was off the kid's menu'.
Like a better dad.
The fox nodded before she returned to the counter. Falling back into conversation with Louie. She didn't have to do that for Bud, but he appreciated the kind gesture. She and Baloo seemed like loving parents to Kit and Tilly. It felt foreign to Bud that a parent would treat their kid with such patience and kindness.
Would Harrison even care if something happened to him out here?
No,Bud thought grimly. He wouldn't.
"Uncle Rufus! I steered the Sea Duck!" Bud announced with a proud beam suddenly bursting onto his face.
They had made it back into Cape Suzette in one piece, right as the car had pulled up into the drive. Bud had immediately run into Rufus's arms, excited. His small tail wagged as hard as it possibly could. Mainly glad to see his beloved uncle once again.
Rufus laughed and picked up the small hound. "Oh you did? I'm so proud of you!"
Tilly replied theratically, throwing her hands up in the air. "Yeah Mr. Flud, we almost crashed and DIED!"
Baloo had to bite back a chuckle. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah!" She clung onto her father's side, rambling about a made-up scenario where air pirates had gone after them.
Persephone tied the plane off at the dock, hearing everything that the cub was saying. "Tilly, you're being overdramatic again."
"And then the air pirates came and shot at us!"
"They did not." The fox shook her head at that. Wanting to change the subject as soon as possible. "Where are you getting all of this?"
She gave her mother an innocent shrug. "I dunno, my brain just makes it up."
As the sun began to crest over the horizon, Bud Bernard Flud stood at the end of the dock. Waiting for the adults to finish talking. Thinking again about how messed up his family was. What Harrison thought of him.
If he even loved him.
Why had Bud ever thought that he could be anything more than the son of Harrison Flud? More than what his mother expected of him?
Nothing he ever did seemed to please either of his parents. As if Bud Flud were just doomed to amount to nothing.
Feelings of being inadequate started to bubble up to the surface, and Bud could do nothing about it but mope.
The reflections of the water danced across Bud's fur. He chose to sit on the end of the dock, away from everyone. Just needing a brief moment to himself.
Why am I like this?
The small hound was so lost in thought, he didn't notice a large shadow rolling over him.
"Care if I join you kiddo?"
The hound sat up swiftly, wiping away a stray tear that rolled down his cheek. "Oh, of course, Baloo. I don't mind." Hoping that the pilot didn't notice he had been crying.
The night sky above them was dotted with few stars. They flickered brightly in the dark like twinkling lights. You couldn't see the stars in St. Canard due to all the light pollution. It was a nice change of pace seeing them for once.
"Any reason you're all the way out here by yourself?"
Bud really,reallydidn't want to talk about this subject with Baloo. Much less anyone for that matter.
"I just wanted to be alone, that's all."
But the pilot could see it was something else that bothered the hound, he stayed silent, letting the boy continue to speak.
"Baloo? Can I ask you something?" Bud finally asked, turning around to face the bear.
"Sure you can."
"Do you… do you ever tell Kit or Tilly you didn't want them?"
That made Baloo's mouth drop. It took a beat for the pilot to finally speak. "Now, why on earth would you ask that?"
"Because my dad tells me that sometimes." Bud's voice was audibly tight.
Oh. Okay. So they were talking about this now. Alright.
The bear sighed, a low sound that was barely audible. "Your… your dad isn't a good fella, isn't he?" It was said quietly. Baloo didn't move, afraid that the puppy would get scared and say'never mind' if he suddenly moved.
Those assumptions couldn't have been farther from the truth. Harrison Flud had been called plenty of things in his life. The media called him a renowned genius of the music industry. Celebrities would refer to him as a classy gentleman who could charm his way into your heart. The public had nothing but good things to say about the Arctic Records CEO.
But it was all a facade. About time someone acknowledged that.
Bud rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing down. "He's… not very nice. But it's fine." However, the words sounded hollow, even to him.
People with compassion don't get anywhere in life. Or so, Harrison always said. The older hound had never cared for anyone but himself. Bud told himself he would never turn out like his father. He… he would rather die than grow up to be likethat.
"But, maybe it's my fault. Maybe if I–" Bud continued, trying to keep his voice still.
Baloo's head was shaking before Bud even finished the sentence. "No, it ain't your fault. You seem like a good kid, Buddy. Don't be so hard on yourself."
The bear's tone became lighter as he made the last remark. Hoping that something he said would resonate with the young hound.
Bud scrunched up his nose at the bear's kind words and looked away. A face he made when he was very clearly trying not to cry.
"Thanks," he replied in a tight voice. Swallowed with some amount of difficulty.
A tear rolled down his flushed cheek, quickly rubbing it away to save himself from further embarrassment. The hound sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Looking like the dictionary image of miserable. All the bad feelings of the day crowded in his chest like they had never left.
"Hey, you wanna see something cool?" Baloo asked, and that was all they said to each other for a while. As he gestured with a hand to the water, where shimmers of green glowed with each ripple.
Bud smiled, enjoying the distraction, even if it was only for a moment.
"How about I take you back to your uncle? I'm sure he's mighty worried about ya." Baloo held his hand out and smiled a little.
Without hesitation, Bud grabbed it, standing up beside the large bear. Grateful that at least someone in his screwed up family cared about him.
The night was starting to get a little chilly, so Wildcat built a fire near the coastline. Well,afterhe had set his tail on fire and struggled for fourteen minutes. And after Tilly had laughed at him until tears rolled down her cheeks.
The bear cub yawned, rubbing an eye with the inside of her wrist. Nestled up in her mother's arms.
Persephone rubbed her daughter's cheek with a thumb, speaking in a soft tone. "Aw, is little Tilly getting sleepy?"
"No Mama, I'm not… sleepy." Tilly barely got the words out, due to yawning in between them.
The former pirate stood up, still holding the little girl in her arms. "Come on little bear, let me tuck you into bed."
Tilly didn't resist. Tuckered out from a long day of tormenting her older brother. "Mkay…" Another yawn.
"It was a pleasure meeting you by the way, Buddy," Persephone said, as pleasant as always. "I had fun with you today."
"It was nice meeting you too, ma'am." Bud replied, pulling his gaze away from the flickering fire. The bright light flickered across his fur in hues of bright yellow and white.
The tall fox then turned her attention to Baloo. "Try not to keep Kit up too long, dear." She leaned over to kiss the bear's cheek.
"I won't," Baloo waved her off as if she just worried too much. "Have I ever?"
"Do youreallywant me to answer that?" She raised her eyebrows at him before giving Kit a kiss on the top of the head. "Goodnight sweetheart."
"Night Ma," Kit replied, snickering at Baloo after she went inside with Tilly.
He had muttered something about Baloo always getting into trouble. The older bear responded by playfully pulling Kit's cap over his eyes. Making the bear cub laugh.
Bud blinked before rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands. He suddenly felt a bit tired himself.
Rufus leaned forward, closely watching his nephew. "I better get you home or your parents will never let me hear the end of it."
And there it was, the end of it all.
Truthfully, going home was thelastthing Bud wanted to do. He didn't want to go back to all the yelling. The neglect. The feeling of being unwanted. Coming to Cape Suzette made him realize that a family shouldn't be like his. That your parents aren't supposed to ignore and demean you at any chance they get.
He didn't want to go back tothat.
Bud blinked again before rubbing his eyes once more. Best not to think about the crushing weight of being stuck in a family like his.
Oh, he wasn't going to cry now, was he?
"Bye bye Baloo," he said as Rufus gently picked him up.
"Bye Buddy," Baloo waved goodbye to the hound, watching as Rufus held him close. "Come back and visit us, you hear?"
A deep yawn as Bud's eyes began to droop. "Okay."
"I'm sure he's looking forward to getting back into his own bed."
Unfortunately, Harrison's yelling was about all he had to look forward to. Being brushed aside and forgotten about. Neglected. Treated like he was nothing more than a burden on his parents.
Which he probably was.
But Rufus had never treated him that way. Neither did Baloo nor the pilot's friends and family. They were warm…welcoming. Different. But in a good way.
Maybe they'd come back to Cape Suzette some day. Just him and Uncle Rufus. No one else. Maybe things will be better next time. Maybe by then, his woes would be something of the past.
It didn't always work out that way, though.