Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 28: The Search for Puppy

Copeland fidgets, watching the skyline. Dakota stands nearby, a small device beeping in her hand.

Venus dashes all over the place, searching the ground.

"Co, where exactly did you find the dog?" Dakota asks.

"Around here," the turtle girl answers. "You know the only reason we're here is so Venus will shut up about it?"

The second turtle doesn't seem to hear the comment, still searching for the black and white dog.

"This has to be it! That poor thing is all alone..." she pouts.

"We'll find him," Dakota assures the young girl. "But for now, how about we go get some food at Murikami's?"

"Yeah!"

They dash off, excited to eat some pizza gyoza. When they arrive, Murikami's daughter, Meeko, greets them enthusiastically. Meeko took over the shop once Murikami proved to be far too elderly to keep it going. Even so, she has her father's accepting heart and his skill with food, meaning that the store feels pretty much the same.

"Good evening, Copeland, Dakota, and Venus-chan. Is it just you three tonight?" she asks, her dark hair pulled back in a lovely bun, her slanted eyes warm and kind.

"Yeah, just us," Copeland answers.

"Where are your brothers?"

"Stayed home. Dean was kind of emotional today, and Asher and Mitch just wanted to keep doing their thing," Dakota replies.

"We're looking for a puppy!" Venus grins.

"A puppy?"

"Co found one and now we're trying to find it again!"

She chuckles. "That is very good. Pizza gyoza?"

"Yes please!"

She turns, starting to make the food. As she cooks, the children think of Murikami, who usually stays in the shop and watched over his daughter diligently. Today, he isn't around.

"Meeko-San?" Copeland asks.

Meeko turns and smiles at them as she places their food down. "Yes?"

"How's Murikami doing?"

Her smile falls, her face pained. She sighs heavily as he hands the three mutants chopsticks.

"Sadly, he is very sick. I admitted him to the hospital a few days ago," she whispers.

Venus, not yet understanding the situation, smiles and bounces a little. "Okay! When will he get better?"

Dakota and Copeland throw each other knowing glances. Meeko looks at her hands.

"I fear...he won't get better. He's eighty-nine years old, Venus-chan. It's amazing that he's been competent for this long," she says softly. "I think he will be going home soon."

"Home?"

Dakota places a hand on her little cousin's shoulder. "He's going to go to heaven."

Venus realizes what they mean and her smile falls. "Oh...will he be happier there?"

"Of course he will," Copeland answers.

Meeko's lips twitch weakly. "He will. I will be sure to let you know of his condition."

"Thanks Meeko-San," Dakota says.

"Anytime. Come back soon, okay?"

"We will. Thanks for the food too," Copeland adds.

They get up and leave the shop, full in their stomachs but their hearts hurting.

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

Desperate to find something to take their mind off Murikami's situation, the three girls launch into a full-scale search for Copeland's stray dog.

"Now?" Venus asks.

"No," Dakota mumbles.

"How about now?"

"Still no."

"Now?!"

"Venus, asking constantly won't make it happen!" Copeland snaps.

Dakota's tracker suddenly whirs and beeps. She grins.

"Got him!"

Venus smirks smugly. "See? It did work."

"What does that thing do exactly?" Copeland asks as she starts following the trail.

"Well, originally it was a mutagen scanner, but seeing as there isn't a lot of that around anymore, I changed it to alert when small animals or other mutants are around, just so we aren't caught off guard," Dakota answers.

"Cool..." Venus whispers.

She grins, and the three girls hop into an alleyway. Nearby, the small figure of a puppy waddles around.

"Puppy!" Venus calls, grinning.

The dog turns, his tail wagging when he sees them. He bounds towards the group, snuffling and licking Venus' hands. Copeland raises an eyebrow.

"Weird...he was so timid when I first met him."

"He probably recognizes you," Dakota hypothesizes.

"Can we keep him, please?" Venus gives them a doe-eyed stare, the puppy snuggled in her arms.

"Maybe...we'll bring him back to the lair," Copeland answers.

She grins ecstatically, setting the dog down. They run home while the other two girls follow at a jog. They find a manhole cover swiftly, ducking down into the sewers. Venus holds the dog close to her plastron, not wanting him to freak out.

Right before they reach the lair, the dog squirms and whimpers. Venus stops, frowning.

"What's wrong, Oreo?" she asks.

"Oreo?" Copeland inquires.

"Yeah! That's what I named him, you know, 'cause he's black and white." She grins proudly.

Dakota shrugs. The dog whimpers again and tries to reach the ground. Venus reluctantly sets him down, and he sits down on his fuzzy haunches.

In an instant, it isn't a dog sitting there.

It's Tiki.

Copeland's eyes nearly pop out of her head. Dakota and Venus' mouths fall open.

Tiki smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck. "Hey guys."