Family
Atlas stared at her, opening his mouth to say something but he didn’t get the chance. “How do you know that song?”
Her voice was barely audible.
“W-wha-“
“How. Do. You. Know. That. Song.”
She demanded firmly, placing the guitar down and taking a step towards him. “I-I don’t-“
“Answer me. Answer me NOW .” She ordered, grabbing his arm in a firm grip. “H-heard-heard M-M-Master s-sing i-it,”
He stuttered, shrinking under her piercing gaze as she dug her fingers into his wounded arm, holding back a shriek of pain. “Then how does HE know it?”
“I-I don’t-I don’t know! P-please-d-don’t-don’t h-hurt me!” Kipo’s gaze softened, seeing the terror in his blue eyes. She let go of him, stepping back. “I-I’m sorry, Atlas. I-I just..wanted to know how you knew Dad’s song.”
Sss
“Dad?” The boy questioned, cocking his head to the side. The word was unknown to him, but then again, he only knew the basics from listening to the scientists in the lab and the mutes Master spoke with.
“What is?” The two girls simply stared at him like he was a ghost. “Y-you seriously don’t know what a dad is?” He shook his head.
“What is?” Atlas repeated, his blue eyes darting from one girl to the other with a confused glint. “I-it’s a term for a family member-a parent. D-do..do you know what a mom is? Or a brother, or sister?”
The boy perked up at the word brother . “Brother? Brother! Had brothers, I think. Didn’t know them well though, Mylo died when was seven, and Dak when was eleven. Mars like brother though! Miss Marsh, promised find him if I escape.”
At the thought of his past friend, the pale blue-skinned boy’s shoulder slumped. “B-But will! Will find Mars-have to, promised.” He went rigid as he felt a hand placed on his shoulder.
“H-Hey, it’ll be alright, ok? We’ll find your friend, Mars, right?” Atlas nodded, reading slightly at Kipo’s comforting voice.
“M-Marshall-Marshall was best friend-only friend-when brothers died. Then Burrow was destroyed. Promised…Mars promised, if separated, always find again. Then Master took us. Together still, just…not free. A-and then someone took him. Humans, I think-bought him from Master, and he promised-promised we find each other. And now-now I here, without him.”
Sss
“He’s escaping!”
“Lock the doors!”
“Get back here!”
Cold wind rushed past him, and his short red and blue hair was pushed against his face as he ran.
Where he was running, he had no idea, he just had to get away.
Then a thought hit him, a thought that he’d pushed back months ago. A promise.
“We’ll find each other again, I promise.”
[Insert creative line break here]
[Prepare for flashback:D]
“Hey, hey, look at me, look at me, ok?”
The brunet glanced up at his friend, tears brimming his eyes. “Whatever happens, wherever we go, we’ll always find each other, I promise.”
The older boy inhaled sharply as the piece of debris concealing the two was lifted. “Two humans? Well, it must be my lucky day!”
“Wh-who a-are you?” Marshall asked nervously, wrapping his arms protectively around the other boy.
The mandrill simply cackled, and a shadow fell over the two humans. “Why, I’m your new owner!”
Marshall’s blood ran cold. “W-what-“ With a gasp of pain, he fell to the ground, arms still holding his friend.
Sss
Marshall was always the weird one, he knew that, he always had. But he was also smarter than most others, he knew the answer, he knew the solution. He was the brain, heart, and brawn, all in one.
But now, here, trapped with his only friend, his friend who was counting on him to protect him? He didn’t know.
For once in his life, he had no idea what to do.
“Humans!”
He whipped his head around, hiding Atlas the best he could with his body and glaring at the large figure.
The stranger simply chuckled, opening the cage and grabbing his arm. Marshall growled, pulling away, but ultimately failed.
“Do yourself a favor and stop struggling, child.” The person holding him thrust him outwards, sending him spiraling to a stop on the marble floor. A figure loomed over him, and when he glanced up, he saw the same-same thing that had taken the two humans the night before.
“So, I take it your friend is still asleep?” The boy went rigid. “I swear, if you touch him-”
He was cut off by laughter. “Oh, threatening your new owner now, eh?”
“You’re not my owner!” Marshall growled, struggling to his feet, only to be backhanded back down to the floor.
“Watch your tongue, human, or that little friend of yours is as good as gone.”