New Pet
“ DOMINO!! DOMINO IS THAT YOU???”
Anne was running around the forest, faster than a firefly, eyes wide as she looked around frantically.
She had been out in the fields, playing baseball with Sprig, using a rotted cabbage as a ball, when she’d seen something in the corner of her eye….
A cat.
A small, fluffy, black cat.
It looked just like Domino, the friendly stray she’d left behind on her world, about four years back.
She’d immediately ran after it, watching it sprint into the forests behind the house. She followed it, ignoring Sprig yelling and the fact that she was running barefoot across the soggy, slippery and occasionally rock and thorn covered forest floor.
Could it be?
Had her beloved pet somehow managed to find her way to Amphibia? If she had...maybe Maggie had found a way to get to Amphibia too? Her heart was beating, her mind racing with possibilities.
Eventually, the ten year old found herself in a clearing, panting and practically gasping for air as she looked around desperately for what she hoped would be her beloved pet from back home.
“ DOMINOOOOOOOO!” She yelled, her cry resounding throughout the vast forest.
Nothing.
Not even a meow.
Anne slowly felt herself give up, falling to her knees. It probably wasn’t Domino to begin with, just a random creature native to Amphibia that vaguely resembled her old cat. Besides, how in the world would Domino get into Amphibia?
She was so stupid for getting her hopes up…..
“ Mow!”
Anne whipped around, gasping, eyes growing wide and mouth agape.
There, right behind her....Was Domino.
Well...What she’d thought was Domino….
Upon closer inspection of the small, black and white creature in front of her, Anne found that it most definitely was NOT Domino.
While it mostly looked and sounded like a cat- Fluffy, lil square ears, a cat-like face with big yellow eyes- Cat’s didn’t usually have six legs.
“.....Are you, like….This world’s version of a cat?” Anne asked, slowly reaching out to see if the fuzzy creature would allow her to touch it.
The fluffy beast slowly moved towards her, rubbing it’s soft little head against her palm.
“Mrah!”
The critter made small, purr like noises, and Anne felt a surge of pure joy.
“Hi Kitty!!” She squealed, scooping the cat creature up in her skinny arms and hugged it to her face, laughing happily.
“ You look so much like Domino!!!”
She may not have had Domino kitty back...but she did have what seemed to be the second best option. She felt herself growing immediately attached to the fuzzy lil baby, and she even had a name in mind already!
“ From now on, you’ll be Domino 2! Got it?” She asked the creature, holding it and looking into it’s mustard colored eyes.
The creature simply blinked and let out another squeaky little “ Mao!”
Anne giggled,hugging it close as she walked back to the house. She couldn’t wait to introduce kitty to Sprig, and Polly….and Hop Pop.
She froze,skidding to a halt.
Hop Pop has a very strict no pets allowed rule.
He’d always said that,unless they got a livestock animal for food or sellin’, then there was no way in Frog hell that he’d allow any kind of animal into the house or onto the farm.
Too much work,responsibility, yet another mouth to feed, plus vet bills could be pretty expensive.
Anne felt her heart sink.The moment she showed her fluffy friend to HP, he’d have a total fit and tell her to go put it back where she found it.
She held Domino 2 to her chest, fighting back tears.
She…...she couldn’t.
She couldn’t just leave him…...He reminded her of home,of the life she’d been forced to leave behind.
Sure,her life on earth had been pretty shit….but it wasn’t like she didn’t still miss it.
She missed the familiarity,the sense of being born there and therefore being a natural part of it.
She missed Maggie,who,despite having been kind of a bully sometimes,had been her only friend since age 4 or so.
She missed Domino…...her fluffy first pet…..
She looked down at Domino 2 again.
She couldn’t get rid of him…...she couldn’t.
She felt tears roll down her cheeks,sniffling and trying not to let the memories flood her mind.She always tried to keep them buried,to try and think that she’d lived in Amphibia all her life…...but that just wasn’t true.
She couldn’t hide the memories, nor could she hide the fact that she could never be an Amphibia native.
She felt something rough, almost spiky run across her cheek.She turned her head, and then felt Domino 2 nudge his head up against hers, licking her tears away.
Anne felt herself melt.
Well...that settled it.
She was NOT gonna let Domino 2.
But she was gonna have to think of a way to hide him….
She started walking back home, cradling her fluffy new pet in her arms.
Maybe….Maybe she could hide him in the basement? No one really went down there, and there was plenty of space….Yeah, Yeah! That was it! She’d just keep Domino 2 in the basement...just remember to feed him and think of some good excuses to go down to the basement so she could see him.
She soon found herself back at the farm, Domino 2 squirming in her arms.
” Hold still!” she said, scanning the area for HP or anyone else.
Once the coast was clear, she started running towards the house, almost at the front door when she suddenly collided with someone else, falling to the ground with a loud “OOF!”,feeling Domino 2 fly out of her arms.
She groaned, slowly getting up, feeling the sting of a small scrape on her right elbow. She looked up, then turned to see Sprig lying next to her, groaning….and a small, fluffy, jet black baby tarantula lying on his chest, biting his vest and tugging at it.
“Sprig…..What…”
The pink frog looked up at her,his eyes widening as he saw her eyes dart over to the fuzzy tarantula that yapped at him,panting,giving him those big,bite eyes that had made him take the lil guy from the pet store in the first place.
“ANNE! I-Uh….What’s that thing?”
He pointed to Domino 2, Who was wandering around a lettuce patch.
”DOMINO 2!!”
She got up and ran after them,quickly scooping them back up and cuddling them up.
”Don’t wander off like that!!”
“......Domino 2?”
They both looked at each other.
”.....Howd you get that thing?” Sprig asked.
”....Found them. Where'd you find the spider?” Anne asked.
“....Pet store…”
“....You know what HP says about pets..”
“So do you…” He stared at Domino 2, who was rasping at the scrape on Anne’s elbow.
They both looked at each other,both hugging their new pets tightly.
”......He doesn’t need to know…”
“HOW? HP knows everything! And he’ll find out-“
“Not if we’re careful!!”
“How the hell can either of us be careful??”
Anne sighed.”We can just hide them in the basement…”
“HE’LL FIND THEM!!”
“No he won’t!! Hardly anyone goes down in the basement!! As long as we play it Cool and keep them in the basement,and care for them,then HP will never know that we have pets!!”
Sprig sighed,looking down at the tarantula squirming in his arms.
”.......I don’t really like keeping stuff from HP….and besides Polly could find out and tell..”
“She won’t! We can just bribe her with candy….”
“.......If we get in trouble-“
“Sprig we won’t! Now do you wanna keep your pet or no?”
Sprig once again looked down at the tarantula,which looked up at him with big,shiny eyes that just screamed “Pet me!!!”
“......Fine….”
Anne squealed and hugged him, Domino 2 being crushed into Sprig’s tarantula, the fuzzy arachnid growling at the feline esque creature.
“C’mon! We gotta get these two set up in their new home!!” Anne said excitedly, cuddling Domino 2 as it nibbled on her arm. Sprig was a bit...unsettled at how bitey that thing was...but then again, he currently had a tarantula licking his face.
“Fluffy! Stop it!” Sprig giggled, holding his fluffy pet up over his face, he just couldn’t resist those big ol eyes!!!
Anne began to walk cautiously towards the front door, Sprig following behind her like a shadow, shushing Fluffy whenever the creature started barking.Anne looked around, scanning the area for HP and Polly. She looked to her right, seeing HP over by Bessie’s stable, scrubbing her shell and singing an incredibly off-key song that had been popular back when he had been a young frog.
“Sprig-now-QUICKLY!!” Anne whispered, running to the front door and opening it hard enough to tear it from it’s rusted old hinges. Sprig practically flew inside, Anne bolting in after him and slamming the door shut.HP heard the slam and looked up. Now what was that? Kids get spooked by something?
Anne and Sprig both ran to the basement door, crashing into it and screaming as they fell down the stairs, toppling onto the floor, their two furry friends falling in front of them.
”OhmyfrogFLUFFY!” Sprig yelled, rushing over to his pet and picking him up,checking the spider for injuries. Anne did the same,running over to Domino 2 and cuddling them up.
”Domino 2!! Awww,I’m so sorry!You okay? “
The cat thing shook itself off,then looked up at her and gave a “Mrraow!”
Anne sighed in relief, cuddling him as Sprig cuddled his,thankfully,unharmed, Spider.
Anne began looking around the room,scanning it and trying to plan out how she could make it a comfortable abode for both Domino 2 and Fluffy.
”Okay,soooo…..Domino 2 can have this half, aaaaand….Fluffy can have the other half.” She held her arm out, trying to visually split the room in half.” We can maybe find some pillows and create a wall to separate them….”
Sprig looked around, seeing a few bags of cornmeal and that they had stored down there in case of hard times.”We can use these!” He set Fluffy down and went over to one of the sacks, attempting to lift it with his twiggy arms, struggling for a few minutes before giving up, out of breath.”....Or I can go get some pillows from our room and use those…” He sighed, walking upstairs as Anne cuddled Domino 2, the fuzzy animal nipping at her and letting out mewls and growls.
Sprig closed the door, slowly walking up to his room, hoping no one would see them.
“Hiiii Spwig!”
Sprig jumped and yelped, looking down to see his three year old tadpole sister right in front of him, a large lollipop in her mouth, looking up with her big, wide tadpole eyes.
“ Polly! Don’t scare me like that!” He said, letting out a sigh of relief.
“Sowwy!” She said with a huff,holding onto her lollipop.
” What're you doin anyway?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at her brother. He looked sweaty, nervous….like the time he’d tried to hide the fact that he’d accidentally broken a window with a ball, or the time he’d tried to hide the fact that he’d eaten all the pillbug cookies… he was hiding something.
“.....What awe you twying to hide?” She asked, narrowing her eyes and nibbling on her lollipop.
Sprig immediately froze.Oh Frog, how did she know? Or maybe she didn’t….just keep calm!
“I….dunno what you’re talking about!” Sprig yelled, trying not to look too nervous.
“ You look like you’we twying to hide somefin!” Polly said, pointing a stubby arm accusingly at him.
“I’m not!”
“Then why awe you sweating?”
“Because it’s hot out!”
“Why do you keep looking away fwom me?”
“Cuz...Ivy said she’d come over later and I’m watching out or her! Now just go back to whatever you were doing!”
Shit, he should’ve looked for some candy first in case he needed to distract or bribe her.
Polly glared at him with narrowed eyes, then sighed and shugged.
“Fine! But if I DO find out you’we hiding somefin, I’m tellin Hop Pop and he’s gonna beat your butt!”
“Yeah yeah yeah.” Sprig said, pushing past her and running up to his and Anne’s room.
Phew, close call...Better go get some candy….
He got into the bedroom, collecting every pillow he could find.He also found two spare blankets and rolled them up, thinking that those could make for good barriers.He then ran back downstairs, speeding back to the basement.Fluffy started jumping up and yapping, chasing Sprig as he ran back to Anne, who was petting Domino 2 and waving a piece of old twine in front of it’s face, the catlike beast swatting at it.
“Who’s a good kitty? Who’s a good kitty? You are!!”
“Anne!I found some stuff to make a barrier! Also we gotta get some candy pronto! I think Polly suspects something…”
“ Oh cool! And yeah, We can swing by Barry’s and get some candy…Maybe if we tell him about the pet’s he’ll sympathize with us and give it to us for free!”
‘Yeah! Maybe..”
Sprig began to arrange the pillows and rolled up blankets, trying to form a wall, Fluffy bouncing and scurrying around him as Anne fawned over her new critter.
“How’s this?” Sprig asked, motioning to the barrier- a stack of pillows with a big rolled up blanket on each side.
“ Good! We can maybe try and find more stuff to strengthen it, decorate it a lil…”
She set Domino 2 down, the fuzzy creature crawling around, scanning the room. Fluffy yapped at Sprig, Sprig picking him up and cuddling him up.
“Who’s my cute lil guy!You aaare!” Sprig gushed, holding the fuzzy little spider, bursting into a fit of happy laughter as the spider began licking him face, letting out excited yips in between the torrent of licks.
The two spent maybe two hours- or more, theyd lost track of time-in the damp, cold basement, playing with their pets and basking in their own happiness, then decided that they had to go back up to avoid any suspicion from Hop Pop and any further suspicion from Polly.
“We’ll only be gone for a minute! I promise!” She cooed to Domino 2, kissing their head as she went upstairs. Sprig ruffled Fluffy’s head and kissed him on the nose.”Yeah, we’ll be back soon buddy.”
The two youngsters ran upstairs, hoping that no one would notice they’d been gone. Fluffy watched the two leave, whining a little. He sat at the bottom of the stairs, saddened that his new friend had gone.However, his sadness soon dissipated and was replaced with curiosity as he saw the other creature behind him, staring intently at him as it shot a strange, pale, silken substance from it’s mouth, wrapping the substance around itself in a thin cocoon. Fluffy stood back.Some natural, ingrained sense in him was making him feel like he was in danger….
__________________________________________________________________________________ \
As Anne and Sprig made their way upstairs, the smell of smothered roasted grasshopper- one of the VERY few things that Hop Pop could actually cook- hitting their nostrils, their stomachs rumbling as they realized just how hungry they were, too distracted by their new pets to realize they’d skipped lunch.
The two rushed to the table, Polly digging in and Hop Pop bringing a bowl of blanched scream beans to the table.
“Now where on Frog’s name have you two been?” The old frog asked, eyeing them both suspiciously.
They froze, both looking at the other. Anne then looked to HP.
“Uh….We were with Ivy! Got caught up in a game..”
“Oh really? Cuz a little while ago I saw you two run into the house like somethin had spooked ya and not once did I see ya come back out.”
They both froze once more, sweating profusely.
“ You….must not have seen us!”
Sprig said , shakily grabbing a plate, his arm trembling a bit with anxiety. Oh frog oh frog oh frog Hop Pop was gonna find out!!!
Hop Pop’ eyes narrowed as he sat down at the table.
“....I could’ve sworn that I didn’t see you two getting
outta the house-“
A loud crash resonated throughout the house,Anne and Sprig both freezing.
Oh no…..
Ooooh nooooo.
”.....What was that?” Polly said,looking over towards the basement door.
``....Probably just some stuff falling over…..uh….I’ll go check it out!!” Anne said,quickly getting up from the table.
``No Anne,you eat your dinner before it gets cold, I’ll take a look…” Hop Pop got up, going over to the cellar door.
“OHNO-Wait HP! I’ll get it! You worked really, REALLY hard today, you just sit and eat and I’ll check it out..” Sprig hoped he wasn’t shaking too noticeably, or that he wasn’t too sweaty…
Hop Pop stared at him, frowning.” Now Sprig you are a growing boy that needs all the food you can get in ya, you stay put!”
“ Hop Pop I insist-”
Just then the cellar door burst open, an absolutely terrified Fluffy rushing out, bolting over to Sprig and clinging to his leg.
Oh shit.
Oh shit…
OH SHIT.OH SHIIIIIIIIT!
Hop Pop stared at the fluffy little creature at his grandson’s leg, the whole room going definitely quiet. Even Polly stopped her incessant crunching and munching as she stared at Fluffy, the chewed up food in her mouth fully visible as her mouth hung wide open.
“.......Sprig, Anne...Why do I have the sneakin’ suspicion that this creature here is something you two brought into this house?”
Anne gulped, sweating and shaking, Sprig trembling so much that he felt as if his bones would separate from their joints.
“ Well…..Ya see Hop Pop….This...I found him! By the side of the road, and...y’know….he had no mom….no one was claiming him…..soooooo I brought him back here-”
“ Boy you stole it from the pet store didn’t ya?”
“Uh-H-HOW DID YOU KNOW??”
“ Cuz for the past two weeks you’ve been oggling those little tarantula pups at the pet store and I caught ya tryin ta sneak one into your vest just the other day!”
Sprig sighed.” Yeah...I’m sorry HP…”
“ Now you’re gonna have a whole lotta explaining to do to Mrs. Hopper when we go and return the critter to the pet store, and as soon as we get back home-”
A loud screech-roar interrupted Hop Pop’s scolding, everyone freezing in place.
Panic immediately flooded Anne’s body.
Oh dear Frog...it came from the basement…
“DOMINO 2!!!” She screamed, rushing into the cellar.
“ANNE!” Sprig yelled, rushing after her, Fluffy falling off his leg and scurrying after him, yapping loudly.
“KIDS WAIT-”
“HEY!WAIT FOR ME!!!” Polly bounced out of her seat and bounced after them, Hop Pop looking side to side frantically as his kids all suddenly rushed into the cellar.
“K-KIDS YOU WAIT UP!!” He ran down after them, tripping and falling down some of the stairs.
Anne’s heart was thumping like a beating drum, she could feel tears beading in her eyes. She didn’t care what kind of monster was down there...if it laid a claw on Domino 2, she was going to tear it limb from limb.
She soon found herself in the cold, damp depths of the basement once more, looking around frantically.The walls were covered in what appeared to be large spiderwebs, and claw marks lined the walls, floor and ceiling. A bunch of stuff was flipped over or destroyed beyond repair,the bags of cornmeal had been torn open, and Anne felt the sharp little grains of cornmeal stab into the soles of her bare feet as she walked around the area, heart pounding.
“D-Domino 2??P-please….please be okay….”
“Anne? Is Domino 2 okay??”
Sprig quickly made his way over to her, holding a shaking Fluffy to his chest.Hop Pop flopped down on the floor, having fallen down the stairs the hole way there..he prayed to Frog nothing was broken.
”Alright YOU TWO!! You two are gonna explain to me right FROGGIN’ now what's goin’ on here!” Hop Pop demanded as he slowly got up, flexing his fingers and toes to check for any broken bones. Anne was panicking, trying not to completely lose it and dissolve into tears.
”I...I found….a cat….and….”
“cat??” Hop Pop raised an eyebrow.
”It’s….it’s small,furry,black with white spots-“
Hop Pop’s eyes widened in realization and pure, unbridled terror as he took in the description.
”SWEET FROG JESUS ANNE! THAT A’INT NO CAT OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT! THATS A COASTAL KILLAPILLAR!”
Anne and Sprig both stared at him.” Uhm….killapillar?” The name wasn’t exactly reassuring…
” ITS A DANGEROUS AMPHIBIVORE! AND THEY ONLY GET WHITE SPOTS WHEN THEY”RE ABOUT TO-”
Fluffy began yapping, loud and scared, looking behind them. The four froze in place, then slowly turned around, the sound of soft flapping and low growling becoming audible to their ears, their heartbeats all beating so loud you’d think they were playing war drums down there.
The sight that met their eyes made adrenaline shoot through their veins as terror shot through them.
A huge, white, hairy beast, with butterfly-like wings big enough to smother twenty frogs combined stared down at them, it’s bright red eyes glowing down at them with nothing but pure hunger.As it opened it’s jaws to emit a growl, the four were able to get a glimpse of it’s razor sharp teeth, and the long, spine and spike covered tongue that swiped against it’s teeth.
Oh hell.
Oh Hell.
OH HELL.
RUN!
The five of them simultaneously began rushing up the stairs, Anne and Sprig practically tearing the basement door from it’s rusted hinges as Fluffy ran after them, damn near getting under their feet and getting trampled.
Hop Pop had Polly held tightly in his arms, and had almost gotten out when the creature’s tongue shot out of it’s mouth and grabbed him by the ankle.
Hop Pop screamed, feeling the spines scratch his skin and draw blood, Polly screaming and clinging to him.
”NO!!” Sprig and Anne both screamed, watching in terror as their grandfather grabbed into the door in sheer desperation, tearing Polly from his chest and tossing her away from him.
” KIDS!RUN! SAVE YOURSELVES!!!” He screamed as he was pulled down the stairs, grabbing onto the stone floor in an attempt to save himself, but was quickly pulled downstairs, leaving scratch marks along the floor and stairs.
The kids all ran over, staring in horror as they watched Hop Pop grab onto a stair with a loose stone with absolute terror, the killapillar slowly inching closer to Hop Pop.
Anne was hyperventilating.
Hop Pop was going to die...and it was all her fault….
She breathed in, trying to think of what she could do.
Find a knife….Cut it’s tongue...But how…..Wait..Distract it….Think, what used to distract Domino back home? String...Bells….Wait...WAIT! There was a big, slightly rusted Cow-Slug Bell that was kept near Bessie’s stable….
Without any further thought, she ran out the door.
“ANNE!” Sprig yelled, temporarily removing his gaze from his screaming and struggling grandfather as Polly hugged his leg and sobbed, Fluffy barking at her as if to tell her to come back.
Anne ran out to the stable, paying Bessie no notice as she quickly sought out the bell, then, upon seeing it right next to Bessie’s water trough, snatched it up and sprinted back to the house.
Hop Pop was sure that this was it.
The creature’s tongue was wrapping tighter around his thin leg, spikes piercing his skin.
He could already see his life flashing before his eyes…..
So many regrets…..
This was it…….this was-
The sound of a cow-slug bell ringing loudly made both him and the killapillar look up.
Anne was ringing the bell, damn near assaulting the thing she was waving it that hard.
”DOMINO 2!! HERE BUDDY!” She yelled, Sprig, Polly and Fluffy looking at her with big, terror filled eyes.
”ANNE WHAT'RE YOU DOING??” Sprig yelled,now fearing for both his grandfather and his sister’s lives.
”SPRIG GET POLLY AND STAND BACK!” Anne commanded, Sprig grabbing Polly and standing back a bit, Fluffy cowering behind him.
The killapillar slowly unfurled it’s tongue from the old frog’s leg, Hop Pop slowly sliding down the stairs as the killapillar swiftly flew upstairs, eyes now fixated on the loud, shiny object that the tall creature was waving around.
”COOOOOME AND GET IT!” Anne yelled, wanting to get the killapillar to focus all it’s attention on her and the bell.
The creature slowly flew towards her, Anne slowly and cautiously making her way out of the house, wringing the bell as hard and loud as she could.
She waited till they got out of the house,....then near the forests behind them…..then she waited till the creature was getting closer… and closer….
She prayed that all her years of playing catch and baseball with Sprig and Ivy had paid off….
She mustered up her strength, inhaling, then threw the bell as hard as she could, the bell flying off far into the deepest recesses of the lush green wilderness.The killapillar flew off after it, letting out growls and yowls as it chased after the shimmery, loud prize, quickly getting lost in the great wilderness.
Anne waited until the growls of the creature and the ringing of the cow bell grew quiet and disappeared, waiting until the only sounds she heard was her own heavy breathing.
She stood there, breathing, then fell to her knees.
Domino 2….Hop Pop...Sprig….Polly…
”ANNE!”
Anne turned slowly, seeing Sprig running towards her, Hop Pop limping after him.Luckily the killapillar’s tongue spikes hadn’t sunk too deep into his skin, but it’d still probably leave some scars and hurt like all hell for a few days.Polly bounced after them, Fluffy barking and scurrying alongside her.
Anne quickly forgot about her exhaustion and rushed towards Hop Pop, hugging him so tight the old frog wheezed due to having the air squeezed out of him.
”HOP POP I”M SO SORRY! I DIDN”T….DIDN’T KNOW….AND…”
She broke down into heavy sobs, wracked with guilt.Her grandfather almost got killed and it was all her fault…
”Anne….Anne...It’s okay Anne….It’s okay Anne...You didn’t know...and if it wasn’t for your quick thinkin’ I’d be in that killapillar’s stomach by now..”
The old frog hugged her back, trying to settle her.Sprig hugged her too, Polly grabbing onto her leg and Fluffy simply standing back and observing the scene before him with curiosity.
”Yeah Anne...I’m sorry about your pet...you didn’t know…” Sprig soothed, trying to make things a bit better.
”Do you...think it’ll...come back?” Polly asked, looking up at Hop Pop with big, fearful eyes.
”Oh no, as long as it’s got the bell, I don’t think it’ll be comin’ back here anytime soon..” Hop Pop reassured her,patting her head softly.
Once Anne’s sobs had subsided, they all made their way back home, exhaustion creeping over them all.
”...I love you Hop Pop…”
“I love you too Anne...You’re grounded for four weeks.”
Anne looked at him with wide eyes, shocked.
”Huh?!? Hop Pop WHY??”
“ Because you broke house rules and brought an animal that you intended to keep as a pet in the house, and you know what I say about pets…”
Anne huffed, the rush and excitement of the previous events fading a bit.
” Not to mention the fact that you were gonna keep it a secret from me!”
“ Hop Pop come on, Anne saved your life-” Sprig interjected.
” You’re grounded too Sprig.”
“ WHAT?!?! Why me???”
“You broke the rules too, and first thing tomorrow, you’re returnin’ the tarantula to the pet store!”
He eyed Fluffy, who scurried after them as they got back to the house.
He quickly pushed Fluffy away, shutting the door once everyone got inside.” Aw c’mon Hop Pop-”
“No.Rules are rules you two...now to bed with ya!”
“Can’t Fluffy come and sleep with us? Just one night…”
Hop Pop breathed, then sighed.As long as the kids kept it in their room it’d probably be okay….
“One night only…” He opened the door, Fluffy bounding over and jumping into Sprig’s arms, yipping and licking his face as Sprig giggled.
“Thank you Hop Pop!”
“Now to bed with ya!”
They both nodded, walking upstairs to their rooms, Fluffy yipping and yapping the whole way up.
Hop Pip watched them till they’d walked in and shut the door before picking up a now half asleep Polly and carrying her into her room,then going to the bathroom to wash up the bloody cuts on his ankle and check to see just how badly he’d been injured.
______________________________________________________________________________
Sprig laid in his bed, scratching Fluffy’s head as he laid on his stomach.Tomorrow was gonna be painful, saying goodbye to Fluffy...Although he could still try getting Hop Pop to change his mind...maybe if he acted remorseful enough and put on some big, sad tarantula pup eyes, he could persuade Mrs. Hopper to forgive him and persuade Hop Pop to let him keep Fluffy…
He sighed and turned onto his side, Fluffy cradled in the bend of his stomach.
Anne was turned with her back to them, so still you’d think she was dead.Sprig could hear soft sniffling and a few barely audible sobs.
He sighed, feeling guilty.She’d only wanted to have a pet, something that reminded her of home….and in the end it had just gone so horribly wrong…
He slowly got out of bed, carrying Fluffy along with him as he got into bed with her.Sure, he wanted Fluffy to himself for one last possible time...but Anne probably needed the tarantula pup’s love more than he did right now.
Fluffy crawled over her, looking at her face, which was hidden in her pillow.He slowly went up and nosed her till she looked up, eyes dripping with tears.
The tarantula pup quickly began licking away her tears, Anne quickly shutting her eyes, then slowly allowing a sadness- twisted smile creep across her face.
“H-hey! That tickles!” She patted Fluffy’s head, Fluffy yipping at her, then turning around in a circle a few times before settling down, cuddling next to her upper chest.
Anne let her arm fall over the fuzzy little creature, cuddling him closer.
“....I’m sorry about your pet, Anne….” Sprig said softly.
“.....It’s okay Sprig…..I don’t even feel….that bad….about...Domino 2…..Hop Pop could have been killed, and…..It’d have been al my-”
“No! Anne you didn’t know…..It wasn’t your fault….and in the end, you saved us all…..And now we’re all sill here, thanks to you.”
He patted her back, Anne sighing and cuddling Fluffy up a bit more.
From now on, she was gonna be more careful...she couldn’t be so stupid….so weak...she had to protect them better…..
They were her family.They were all she had now.
And she was NOT going to let anything happen to them ever again.
Never.Ever.
No matter what it may cost her….she’d protect her family.