Stouffe raised her eyes happy to see that finally; she was so close to home. there it was; the dead forest; thank god. She smiled to herself and Picked up her pace; which wasn't going that fast since she was so fat from pregnancy. She just wanted to be in her own den when that time came. She made her ways through the trees; trying to find the dried out river bed; she passed a tree that seemed like it was trying its hardest to come back to life. That was her marker; she turned to the right and kept on going straight from there. She stopped finally; there it was; the dip in the land and the flattened river bed. She put her front two paws forward and slid down the dirt gently; not being able to actually jump; for fear of what it might do the babies.
The green pup gave a slight wine. Where exactly was he? Where was mother? She had brought him here for a game of hide and seek, hadn't she? The lioness was so large, he could always find her easliy... But mother had never called out to say she was ready. After what must have been hours, the pup had gone looking.. Where could she be? Certainly she wasn't that grumpy...
Aha! He spotted the familiar tawny hide, and crouched low. He would frighten her this time, he knew it! With a slight wiggle, the pup pounced foreward, barking his happy exclamation, "I found you! Mommy-" He stopped dead in his tracks as he watched the lioness, this not-mommy. Her hide was covered in odd patches, His little heart fell. Where could she be? "...You're not mommy!" The pup acused, his little face wrinkling with the slightest of snarls as his ears pinned back against his skull.
Rags turned her head to look up at the little pup that had come bounding up to her and pounced her; scaring her quite a bit to be honest; not that she'd let it show. She raised an eyebrow and looked at the child curiously; turning her body to face it fully and take in the looks of the babe. "Don't you snarl at me child; where is your mother? do you need help finding her?" she asked moving forward towards the young thing. Poor thing must have gotten lost from its mother. But honestly now; who takes their child into these woods? no one knew there was any place that could sustain them here.
"I don't need -your- help." The little green pup backed away from this strange lioness. He had to be brave, he had to. There was no way around it. If he was brave, then Momma would come back for him, right?
He refused to drop his little snarl, "I'll find her on my own!" Still, the little pup could hardly help the way his little tail tucked between his legs, or the slight, nervous twitch to his ears. The forest was large, and dark, and dead... Momma.. Why did you leave me here?
Rags sighed and moved forward snatching the pup up by the neck and walking down the dead river path. Not saying a word. Honestly; she didn't really care if the pups mother had abandoned him here or if she really was just playing a game of hide and go seek with him. The smell of death was everywhere in this forest and she'd be damned if she let him stay here. so she moved on; walking down the bath back to her own home. It would take her fifteen to twenty minute to make it to labyrinths opening; she'd take the child with her into the Labyrinth. They needed new blood after all. Besides; once he tired himself out by trying to fight she'd explain to him what had probably happened. Or let him come to the conclusion on his own.
"Let-Me-Go!" The pup squirmed his best, paws flailing before him. Who did this lioness think she was? Picking him up like this! He didn't need her help. He.. he could find his momma on his own! Momma would come for him! It didn't matter what that old man said about him. He was just as good as their cubs. He was just as strong. Wasn't he? "Leave me Alone!" The pup wasn't sure when he had begun to cry. "I just wanna go home.. Momma will miss me.."
Now wait little pup. Momma had crooned, a slight tremble to her voice as he hid his eyes and she disappeared. Wait for a very long time, then come and find me. As the days had passed the old man lion had become more and more annoyed with the pup's presence. He was just taking milk from the cubs. He was a nussiance. He was a burden. Why couldn't she just get rid of him? But this morning Momma hadn't argued. This morning, Momma had taken him to the dead forest, somewhere he was told to -never- go on his own. Momma had told him to wait, and then come find him...
Rags let the kid down gently but put a paw over to keep him held fast as she looked him in the eye. "Do you know why other animals come here darling? They either come here looking for goblins; or they come here to die. You smell that sad smell in the air? that clings to you? that won't leave your nose no matter what? that's the smell of death. That's why they call this the dead forest." she laid down gently; careful of her full stomach and pulled him in close to lick at his head gently; trying to be somewhat reassuring to the poor kid. "But don't you worry little one; I'll keep you safe. No goblins will hurt you; and you won't die here; not today." She couldn't help the motherly instinct that made her nuzzle him. "Come now babe. Come with me. I will take you to your new home." She told him; still keeping a firm grasp on him. Not really giving him an option.
The pup gave a slight wimper. He remembered the story that momma had told him. The night she was to give birth to her cubs, only to find the little pup, new born and clinging to life. Momma had saved him. She wouldn't leave him here. She couldn't.
But she did.
For the first time, the pup felt the heavy weight of heartbreak, his little form going as still as death, and just as silent. There was no use in crying, he would only exhaust himself. That was one thing that the old man lion had taught him. Crying wasn't something a weak person did. Crying was what made someone weak. A Cynical streak ran through the pup. "..You might as well jus leave me here. Skip the middle ground.."
Rags laughed at the young pup and nosed him. "No; I'll take you to the goblins; becuase would you like to know a secret?" She lowered her voice as if telling him something super top secret pulling him in a bit closer to whisper into his ear. "I'm a goblin." She chomped her teeth at him and smiled. "and when the world abandons; when you're lost and lonely; you go to the underground. And we'll take you in. And we'll love you. And no one will ever leave you. You want to know why? Becuase we've all been abandoned. We've all been scared little cubs and pups away from their family. but out king saved us; and took us in; he'll love you like a son as he loves all of us; just you wait and see." She heaved herself to her feet and smiled down at the cub. "I know a few mothers that would kill to take care of you." She told him honestly already being able to think of one before once again taking him in her mouth and starting off towards her pride.
"..You're lying." The little pup shook his head. "People like that aren't real. Goblins aren't real either." It was all story, and in the cub's mind, such a think as others like himself could hardly be a true thing... But something in the lioness's voice rang clear. It made him want to believe... Perhaps she was a goblin. "But.. Is that how you got your patches?" Perhaps goblins had patches.. In all truth the pup had no idea what goblins really looked like, or acted like. Maybe it was her patches that made her a goblin..
Ragdoll set the cub back down; keeping her paw squarely on his head. "If I tell you how I got these patches; and if I tell you about the goblins; you promise not to run away from me? I don't want a young thing like you dieing out here; and I can't chase after you since I'm so fat; so unless you want to be bored with me not talking; you need to be good and stay close to me alright?"
The pup gave a slight nod. "It's not like I have anywhere to run to.." He paused, suddenly seeming to find the ground very interesting. "...Momma isn't comming to find me, is she?" He wanted ot hear about the goblins. He wanted t o hear about the place that this new lioness told him about. He didn't want to think about Momma. He didn't want to think about the sadness of this forest, or the other things that had been left to die here.
Rags looked down at him and told him straightforward. "No." she leaned her head down and licked him before nudging him forward. "But thats ok; becuase a cute kid like you; all the female goblins will be trying to claim you as their own. Not a lot us have children and we recognize you young ones and the potential you hold." she held her head up a little higher as she started off at a slower pace not sure how fast this little pup could go. "Whats your name little pup?" she asked curiously; knowing that might make him feel better if he could talk a bit about himself.
Again, his eyes hit the ground. "...I don't have one." The pup had never been given a name, not by his Momma, not by hte old man lion. Certainly not by the wild dog who had tossed him new-born, from the den. He was nameless, and unwanted.. But here was this lady saying that he was wanted.. It was all nice words, but she never once said that -she- wanted him. It was the sort of thing people told you to make you feel better. She was kind, he supposed, but you never could quite tell.
Rags stopped and looked at him seriously. "Then I will give you a name. How about patches?" she teased pawing at him playfully. "do you like that name patches?" she laughed lightly; continuing to walk again. "My names is Rags; people would think you were my child; not that I would mind of course. A big brave pup like you; would make me proud to call you my son. Though maybe patches is a bit weird..." she smiled and chuckled. "I know." She said brightly even though her whole body was aching with the journey now; she just wanted to make this small thing feel better. "I shall call you Alitaka; becuase no matter what; I will always want you."
"Alitaka?" There was a slight wonder to the pup, as if he were astonished for something like a name to have been given so easily. He tested the name again, "Alitaka.." It hardly seemed real, and in the same moment, fit so perfectly. His little tail wagged hard enough to make the entirety of his spine swing as if it were a rope. "I am..wanted." He could have run to the lioness and buried his face in her fur then and there, but that astonishment and happiness kept him rooted to the spot. He was wanted. He was Alitaka.
Rags smiled proudly at the response the little cub was giving her. "That's right; I want you with all my heart; and I'm sure our king will want you as well. You're a brave little Goblin Babe now. And the Goblins never desert their young." She smiled and nuzzled him since he'd stopped rubbing her scent all over him. "So everyone will know who your mother is." She told him sweetly. "Now come along Alitaka; we need to hurry up if we want to get to the entrance of the Labyrinth before sun down. there's a small bit of water left there for anyone that knows where to look. And if your hungry... there's usually a rabbit or four buried or hidden away in one of the trees."
"Ali-taka, Ali-taka" He pranced about his new mother, chanting the name, his name, in rhythm as if it were a song. The cub couldn't have been happier with this new turn.. here there was no one to leave him. There was no one to push him away. Rags promised. She said that she would always want him, and never desert him. He had a family now, a true family. The pup hesitated a moment, looking up at the lioness with eyes that swelled with an almost bursting little heart. And then, in a flash he had buried his face into the lioness's leg. His mother's leg, his tail wagging so hard, it almost seemed as if it would propel the pup to flight..
Rags went all soft and gooey on the inside as he buried his face into her leg. What a sweetheart this little cub was. And so happy just to have a name; maybe it was the hormones that were making her so damn motherly; but what kind of a female would leave such a sweetheart behind? She bent down and licked him from head to toe. "Come on baby; we'll have plenty of time to be all lovey dovey when we stop for the night. Right now mommy Ragdoll needs to get to the opening of the labyrinth ok? Are you hungry baby? Becuase the faster we get there; the better."
Alitaka gave a wide grin, bouncing ahead. "Let's go then!" She called herself his momma. He didn't have to ask. He hadn't even had to do a thing.. This lioness -wanted- to be his mother. "Then let's go Mommy-Rags!" It didn't seem right to call her Momma. That was what he had called the other lionesss, the one that had left him. No. Mommy-Rags deserved a name all her own, one just like the one she had given him. He gave a slight giggle, giddy with the turn of events. "let's go!"
Rags smiled and followed along after Alitaka; "Just follow this river bed straight until you hit a wall of rock." She instructed him. The trees were beginning to thin out after a while and the ground around them was beginning to grow higher and higher. As if the earth was trying to swallow them up. She smiled at this; the memories coming back to her on the first time she'd passed through this place with the king. He'd found her a bloody mess and helped to haul her here where she'd be safe. Since then it had been her mission to serve him.
She closed her eyes for a minute; it would be so nice to see him. He was a bit of a hard a** but he made a good king; and was always there to protect his subjects. She kept following after Alitaka; making sure he wasn't too far ahead of her. As she began to tell him the story of how their pride had come into existence. since he needed to know things in order to be a good member.
Alitaka listened in wonder, following close to his new mommy's side. He hardly noticed their slow decent into the unknown. The pup was completely entraped in his mommy's story. The take of the goblins, the pup's new people. His new family. As he listened, the pup commited every word to memory, vowing to be the best goblin there had ever been. Somehow, he felt as if he belonged here. The sad ground now seemed welcoming under his paws. It wasn't so bad really, now that he understood. This place was just as unwanted as he had been, and yet, these people wanted this land. He couldn't quite understand it all yet, but he'd be damned if he would forget any of it.
Rags smiled at how good of a listener this young pup was; so attentive; such a sweet heart. "You're such a well behaved pup Alitaka." She told him moving his head to lick him over. "You know what the best part about our pride is? Our king. He's a big giant ball of terror; and at the same time; he makes sure to know every members name. He's a good male; someone you should try to be like when you grow up for sure. I'm certain he'll accept you into the pride just as easily as I have accepted you as my child." She was certain of this. It had to be true. Maybe the king would take a special interest in Alitaka? And then she would have even more reasons to be near him. She smiled to herself at that thought; a small sort of smile.
Alitaka thought for a long moment, wondering what such a lion would look like. The idea of terror, and loving hardly seemed to fit in his mind. There seemed no way that the two would be able to coexist in one being.. "What's he look like?" The pup couldn't help but be wary.. Mles did not seem to like him.. The old man lion had been what had torn him away from his last mother, he thought. And beyond his knowlege, it was a male's reckoning that the pup was still born that led him to the lioness's paws. "...Maybe I shouldn't meet the king until I'm bigger.."
Rags started to smile another sort of smile as she thought of her king and his looks. She closed her eyes and stopped for a moment swaying a bit as she thought of him. "Well he's very handsome." She told him honestly thinking of him lovingly. "He's got a deep red pelt; with black overlays; almost like a spider web. And his smile.... mmm~ His smile was so wide and dangerous when he needed it to be." She opened her eyes suddenly realizing how off track she'd gotten all of a sudden. "He would love to meet you; he's king after all; he needs to meet every member of his pride... If you don't come to him first; he'll find you."
Alitaka paused for a moment, slightly stunned at that. "I don't think I like the idea of him come to 'find me'..." The pup backed slightly, ears pressing to his skull and tail tucking between his legs. He wasn't sure if he liked this whole idea.. He wanted to stay with mommy, but the king sounded very large and very scarey..The pup grew more and more nervous as he stood, wondering about this "king" and his "dangerous" smile..
Rags let out her paw and took hold of Alitaka; pulling him towards her sweetly and licking him; nuzzling him as much as she could. "Darling; new love of my life. I would never let anything bad happen to you; no matter how gorgeous the king is." She licked his face again. "Now come on. A big bad pup like you; shouldn't be afraid of anything." She nodded her head and continued walking. "Come along my lovely; we really need to get to the opening of the labyrinth and it's so close too." She told him; trying to make him more interested in going.
"..Okay.." He folloed behind, taking a slight and careful hold of Mommy-Rag's tail tuft in his little teeth. He wasn't sure why he was so afraid. Mommy would be there to protect him, and she wouldn't let anything harm him, now would she?
The pup did his best to put the thoughts out of his mind, instead turning ot the ever changing and ever the same scenery. It had an odd beauty to it, something tha the pup could hardly understand at such a young age. As the apprehension faded, the happiness returned, quickly, as it did in most young ones. He had a mommy! He had a name! He was wanted! It was enough to make the pup dance on his Mommy's heels.
Rags laughed lightly as he took a hold of her tail. How cute was that. She twitched her tail a bit playing with him; the fact that he was holding onto her tail didn't really bother her much; she didn't have much pain receptors anymore after all. She breathed in deep; she was so close to home she could feel it. She didn't hear anyone though; and that was cause for some alarm. Did the king know his males and females were slacking on duty? Her ears went up as she strained to listen for them. No one. She looked up at the sky; normally there was at least one guard around at this time. Waiting out the night. Where were they? Finally they arrived at the entrance to the labyrinth; the sun was close to going down and Rags was at least a bit releived to see they had arrived with enough time to search out for food. "Ok." She said turning to him and smiling; "Now lets go and find that water and the kill."
"Alright!" The little pup leg go of her tail, stipping ahead with his nose to the ground. He would find the kill and the water for her.. After all, Mommy seemed very fat and very tierd.. Why was she so fat, anyways? ...Maybe she didn't exercise very often.. or maybe it was part of being a goblin.. He certainly hoped not.. The pup was rather certain that he wouldn't very much like being fat..
Rags smiles; she knew where everything was already; she took a few steps and felt a dip in the ground. "Dig here." She told him before talking six steps forward; turning to the left and then walking to the wall lifting up on her back two paws; pawing at a peice of the wall that looked like it was one whole piece; finally she hit the spot and a rock moved; falling with a loud crack to the floor. There it was. One of the things she liked about this hiding spot was that the sun hit it perfectly; cooking the meat inside. Drying it out and keeping it good for mostly ever. She grabbed the bag and pulled it out. At least this felt like there was still a kill in there.
Alitaka was more than happy to follow direction. The little cub dug his paws into the ground, pushing away the earth with all of his might. He wasn't at all sure what he might come across, but he trusted the large lioness that had accepted him as her own. His tail wagged as he dug, falling into a rhythm that seemed to extend into his whole being. Slight yips startted, dipping tones that elongated once and a while into little howls and growls. While it seemed little more than chaos at first, the sounds eventually formed a slight, wordless song. A bouncing melody to match the beat of earth hitting earth, and paws shoveling deep. He had all but lost himself in his little music as the lioness pulled the kill from the wall.
Rags looked over at Alitaka once she had obtained the kill and brought it over to him; laying it down next to him. She looked at the whole he had dug and turned her head in confusion. No one had ever put it that deep... who had forgotten to refill the water? The king was sure to be upset once he found out. She nudged Alitaka. "I don't think you're going to find it darling." She told him honestly; pulling at the bag around her neck that contained a water holder. There wasn't as much in there as she would have liked but... oh well. She'd be sure to attack who ever was supposed to have refilled the water once she was back. "Drink from this." She told him as she opened the bag. At least there was food for them. She nudged it out and pushed a good sized portion over to Alitaka before beginning to eat her own food. "Once your done let me know and we'll curl up and go to sleep alright darling?"
The pup's head bounced up as he was nudged, dirt almost covering the whole of his muzzle. "Oh... Ok!" He couldn't help but smile as he lept up water from the little baggy, still, he didn't need much. Even a pup, he was sure that Mommy-rags hadn't had someone carry her to the forest.. She must have walked the entire way, and with a belly so heavy.. Alitaka was careful to drink only was much as he needed before sitting before his bit of the food, waiting paitently. He had been firmly taught that he ate last, and the pup held to that little ritual. He would wait until Mommy-rags was finished before he began.
Rags looked at him as she laid there in front of her food. "Whats the problem? Aren't you hungry? why aren't you eating?" She as curiously; pushing the food a bit closer to him. "come on baby the sooner you're done eating the sooner you can go to sleep ok? you must be hungry if you were waiting so long in the woods like that."
"Nope, nope." The little pup smiled. "I'll wait til you're done, Mommy-rags." The pup had made it into a sort of game. "I gotta watch for any baddies while you eat, or we might get attacked!" The pup giggled at the idea, knowing it was more fantasy than anything.. There was hardly a thing that would hurt a -lion- in the pup's mind. To him, lions might as well have been gods. At least, they were as he was so young.
Rags stared him down; practicing her stern mother look. "Eat it now." She told him with no room for argument. "No one's going to attack us here baby; don't you worry. We're both safe at the entrance of the labyrinth trust me. This is one of the safest places in the world becuase it's so secluded."
Alitaka jumped slighly at her stern look, and stared down at the ground for a confused moment. "..But I'm not allowed to.." The little argument died quickly, and hte pup took a tentative bite of the tender meat. Despite his hesistation, the little pup could hardly stop once he'd started.. It had been near a full day before he had eaten, and the pup was starving
Rags nodded her head as she watched him take a bite. "Who ever told you that was a bad person and I want you to wipe the thought from your mind this instant." she told him before turning to her food as well; holding it down with her paw and taking out a bite of it; a hug chunk really and just chewing it for a few moments before swallowing. She was so excited; she wondered how well she would be able to sleep tonight... <3 When she was done she waited for her new child to be done as well and pulled him in close to her; pushing the meat back into the bag and closing it tight so they would have something for tomorrow.
Alitaka smiled, his tail thumping delightfully against his new Mommy's side. This was perfectt, in his mind. He was home now, he thought. He had a Mommy who loved him. He was wanted. Really wanted! That alone was enough to make the pup as happy as could be, but one thing still tugged at his mind.. "Mommy-Rags, how come you're so fat?"
