I Want my Mom

[Pepper]

(Day 2. For the dogs in the uncharted wilderness.)

Pepper was crying. She was sad, scared and couldn't believe what was going on. She was alone.

And this was only day two.

"I...want...my...mom!" She cried. She raised her head and howled to the sky.

[Kara]

(ooc: Would foxes be okay? Technically they are wild dogs.)

Kara's ears twitched at the sound of a howl piercing the air. Her first instinct was to want to run away, but a the same time she didn't. She wanted to know what was going on. Marcus had run off to play elsewhere for the moment and Kara hadn't wanted to follow him, so she was free to do whatever she wanted for the moment.

You might as well, Kara. No one else is going to tell you to stop. she thought. At last, Kara plucked up enough courage to venture forth and see what the sound was coming from. The kit padded forward at last and eventually came upon the source of the sound. A dog. A puppy, actually, and she looked quite upset. Normally, Kara would have bolted at the sight of her due to fearing dogs, but seeing the other girl crying touched the timid girl's heart. Kara had to know if she could make Pepper happier.

"H-Hey... are... are you all right?" Kara asked as she moved a bit closer to Pepper.

[Flash]

Flash was wondering in the same area, feeling lost, when the howl caught her attention. She'd parted company with Elanna earlier that morning, just wanting a little time alone. The half-dal hadn't had a destination in mind as she'd set of on her own, and still didn't, so she allowed herself to be drawn towards the source of the howl. One of the foxes she'd seen yesterday was there - along with a pup who looked suspiciously like Flash's own mother. Brow furrowed in puzzlement, the blonde-spotted girl approached the other two. She didn't comment on her observation, however, simply nodding an acknowledgement to the fox - Kara, was it? - before stopping beside her. She kept silent for the moment, not seeing any need to repeat Kara's question.

[Pepper]

She turned and saw the others. Tail wagging slightly but still sniffling back tears. "I...I'm scared..." She said to the fox and the dog, "I...I want my mommy. I miss her...I dunno where she is..." She peered at the dog. She smelled and looked familiar. Like her mom slightly but spotty. It was odd.

She stood and turned to the two. "Muh-My name's Pepper..." She said, "Who're you guys??"

[Flash]

"I'm Flash." the pup with the blond spots replied. This Pepper... she smelt kind of like mom, too, and it puzzled the dal/pom cross. Without really thinking about why she was asking, Flash added "Who... is your mom?" Maybe mom had a long-lost sister... that would explain the somewhat familiar scent.

[Kara]

At least Pepper wasn't as upset anymore. This relieved the fox kit. "I'm Kara. It... it's nice to meet you, Pepper." Kara said at last. Glancing between Flash and Pepper, Kara could clearly see similarities in their appearances. Even their scents were rather similar. Could it be a coincidence? The kit didn't know. Kara wouldn't ask for the moment, deciding it would be better to let the two pups talk.

[Pepper]

Pepper sniffed and wiped her nose with her paw. The tears were drying up now that she had some companions. "Its nice to meet you both..."

"Her...her's name's Angel," Pepper said, "Dad's name is Mooch. They...they're the bestest dogs ever in the world. Momma was a street dog before going off to the war. She's pretty and looks a lot like me." She stuck her chest out proudly.

[Flash]

Flash's jaw dropped so fast it was almost comical. "Y-your mom's Angel?" she stammered, blue-grey eyes wide. "But... but that's MY mom!" But with MOOCH? That couldn't be right... could it? If this WAS true, then Swafi's assertions the day before that he knew nothing of Upendi made a bit more sense...

But how could this be possible? Flash simply stared dumbly at Pepper, wishing she knew what was going on.

[Pepper]

Pepper's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Nuh uh," she said, "Angel's my mom. The bestest street dog there ever was! I mean now we live in the pridelands but...HEY! How can she be your mom! You aren't my sister! Gerry's my sister!"

[Flash]

"And I'm sure you're not my sister." Flash confirmed, utterly confused. "But my mom looks a lot like you, and she's called Angel, too." This was enough to creep the blond-spotted pup out. Mom mated with MOOCH?

"How come you're living in the Pridelands?" she asked, head shaking in disbelief as she desperately tried to make sense of what she was hearing. "Queen Kiara doesn't let any heroes in there - and I know my mom would never be a villain."

[Pepper]

"Queen WHAT?" Pepper laughed dramatically, falling on her back and giggling. "Silly puppy, Kiara was killed! Mom and Dad fell in love after that stinky dog Patch ran away with the villains." She grumbled, stomping her paw in the ground.

"He came back and tried to be good but Daddy doesn't like it when he and Mommy talk," she explained, "The heroes won, remember? Now who's your real Mum and Dad cause your mom can't be Angel!"

[Flash]

If it had been possible, Flash's jaw would have dropped even further. "B-but the heroes LOST!" she stammered. "Mom and dad had to flee back to London and live in hiding because Shere Khan was hunting them down. They raised me and my brothers in secret..."

Almost as an afterthought, she added rather defensively "And dad ain't stinky."

[Pepper]

It was Pepper's turn. Her jaw dropped. "DAD?! PATCH ISN'T MOM'S MATE!" Pepper almost jumped in the air with anger.

Her fur bristled, eyes narrowed and her teeth gritted. "You have to be lying! My mother is Angel and my father is Mooch. Mum would never mate with Patch!" She sat down in the ground and waited for an answer.

[Flash]

"Patch is MY mom's mate." Flash insisted, her own fur bristling in response. "And my mom IS Angel, and she'd never mate with Mooch!" The girl was getting upset. She'd never have dreamed she'd ever find herself in a situation like this, and really didn't know what to do. She did know, however, that she was the one telling the truth. Mom hadn't had a lot pleasant to say about Mooch - that he was a Buster-wannabe, whatever that meant - but it didn't take a genius to figure out that she'd never mate with him.

[Chinook]

(With my new story for Pepper this thread makes no sense, can we restart it Flash?)