I didn't realize I was surrounded until I heard a throat bring cleared. Oh yea, I probably shouldn't have done that. Touching baby animals is a big no no especially if they are cubs to dangerous adults! Standing up slowly I met the eyes of over fifty different kinds of Fox Deers. None of them were as big or unique as Altia or her son, but it was clear they all looked like they were getting ready to defend their prince.
"Stand down everyone, she meant no harm to my son. She is a guest here as well as the chosen one. The God of magical beasts has given her his blessing. I also owe my life to her, so I will have no harm befal her." Altia stated firmly to the crowd around us. There were a few surprised murmurs but then they all bowed their heads and left. Everyone that is except Shadow, the little tyke came right up to me again and started begging for attention like nothing had happened.
"Um Altia, would now be a good time to ask why you keep calling me chosen one?" Would it also be okay to pick up your cub to cuddle him? I asked silently in my head, feeling like that last question would be a little weird to make out loud. I looked up into her eyes and could tell that the actions of her cub did not go unnoticed nor my silent question it seems for the next second she was laughing again.
"He wants you to hold him, he is his own being after all. Besides you are the chosen one, its natural he wants to be close to you." Altia said lightly while looking at her son with affection. "We can go to my nest to talk, after all you still have all those questions from before along with those new ones now. Go on pick him up and follow me." Turning around she began walking away.
Bending down I picked up Shadow, he weighed no more than 6lbs. His fur was so soft and warm, I felt so calm while holding him. He nuzzled my cheek, and then turned his head to where his mom was heading. "Yea your right little guy, let's follow your mom. She owes me a lot of answers after all, and for some reason I feel as if I may need you to cuddle with when she gives them. Your presence is very comforting you know that?" I asked as I hurried to catch up with Altia. He just purred in response, and closed his eyes. What a happy little guy. You remind me so much of my pet pup back home before he passed away and I got my cat. I thought fondly with a tinge of sadness.
Though it happened a long time ago and back when I was human I still recalled the memory.
My pup had been hit by a careless neighbor who had not been paying attention, they didn't feel any rumors either over their actions and called me hysterical when I lunged at them for essentially murdering him and not giving a flying piece of rat dung. I thought my world would collapse that day. He had been everything to me, and was only 2yrs old when he died. I had aimlessly wandered through the next week before I saw some stranger throw a kitten out of their vehicle door like it was trash and drive away. I rushed towards the tiny thing and had nursed it back to health. She became my new everything, she went everywhere with me. Until the day when I was suddenly pulled to this world that is. Why havnt I gotten her yet? I missed her.
Shadows warm muzzle touched my cheek. He had his eyes open now and was looking at me with worry. Had I been crying I thought absentmindedly as I saw my face reflected in his red eyes. "I'm okay little guy, just a bad memory of a lifetime that is long gone." He cocked his head slightly at my words and I wondered for a moment if he could understand me. That would be really embarrassing if he did, I only think of him as a cute cub who can't understand me yet because he can't talk. Or could he? I need to remember that he is the son of Altia and that she had even said he was his own being. Did that mean he could talk too? Here goes nothing.
"Umm Shadow, I don't suppose you can understand me and have been just pretending to be a simple cute cub this whole time so that I would cuddle and pick you up have you?" His eyes widened comically then a slight twinkle entered them. He turned his head slightly to the side as if pouting for a minute and then back towards me.
"Mom told me to pretend and I was only too happy to do so. You patted my head and cuddled me I was enjoying it. You can't blame a guy for trying." A cheeky and not so innocent voice said in my mind. I nearly dropped him just then. "Woa there lady careful!" He complained as I caught him. "You little....." I caught myself. "You little fur ball I should let you walk on your own then." I huffed in anger. His laughter rang out as pure as his mother's. "Oh come on! Aren't I comforting to hold though?" He winks at me as he says this, this little..... I was tricked again!