The Lost

Chapter 5: The Jestrit

Alina knew what was coming next. She let go of Argus hoping that it could get away as the Wolf focused on her. But the dread that permeated through her heart never came to fruition. Finally, she opened her eyes. Nothing. No Wolf, no teeth. There was nothing. She spun around remembering the beast's penchant for surprises. She had her knife cocked and ready to fire at the slightest of movements. However, her near-fair gaze latched on something in the distance, a tall figure.

"STAY AWAY YOU SON OF A GUN!" she shouted from deep in her lungs.

Undeterred, the figure kept lurching closer, and closer, then it shouted back "ARE YOU TWO KIDDO'S WELL?!"

"LEOPLOD?!" They both shouted, sprinting toward the dark figure. It was him, it was Leoplod. Argus crying leaped into Leoplod's arms hugging him.

"HE-HE SAID YOU WERE DEAD!" Argus cried in between monstrous sobbing.

Alina opened her arms to hug him, but corrected herself and bowed, "Thank you Mr. Leoplod." she said.

Leoplod bent down on his knees and, with his free arm, hugged her, "I see you're hurt. I shouldn't have had you two go on your own. Your bravery is astounding, Alina, Thank you for protecting Argus on my behalf."

Alina stared off into a distant nothing, a null expression resting on her face. She felt her whole body folding in on itself, her eyes sinking under their weight. In no time, she blanked out.

Leoplod placed her in his arm to pick her up. "It's time to go home, you two," he whispered.

"WOW! I didn't know you got another one, Boss." Laughed that same playful voice in the distance, "That fricked-up Wolf had one thing right, you are kind of a daddy now."

"Please Xandrillo don't call me that, they aren't mine, these kids still have their parents to go home to, I'm not a replacement," explained Leoplod.

"Oh, come on lighten up a little, I'm joking, kinda," said Xandrillo, it looked like a rabbit with diamond-shaped eyes, it stood on its hind legs he was about 5'9, and they were wearing purple and yellow jester shorts, he was bloodied up though.

"Is he dead?" Asked Leoplod, fixing Argus as it slept peacefully.

"HA! If only, I could only knock him down a few times." scoffed Xandrillo, wiping his blood-dripping noise. "Quick question, why her out of all of them, humans I mean, every other human that Argus brought you, you turned them away, so why her," quested Xandrillo.

"At first it was because she had long hair, and I could actually help her, but then she told me, she opened the front window before closing the front door, she might be our hope," Leoplod told Xandrillo, looking at Alina with sparkles in his eye.

Xandrillo grinned, "Awwwwww! What A cute proud dad moment. Just admit it you enjoy the company, and you like being a parent figure, first, your bunny little ol' me, because you saved my life, second, it was your little kitty, Argus knocking at your front door to welcome you to this house, now it's a little panda cub, asking for help. You have a whole petting zoo, HAHA!" Xandrillo was looking at Leoplod smugly, they could see some pink on his screen, as if he was blushing, "Oh My Gosh, Is The ice cold Le-o-pold blushing?" It teased.

Leoplod started walking faster, and faster until he was running, "Don't call me Dad, Daddy, Father, or anything like that," Thrented Leoplod.

"Fiiiineeeeee," sighed Xandrillo. "Oh my, how threatening, you know I respect you, so is threatening me really necessary?"

Leoplod turned his head to Xandrillo, "If you need to know, yes, it was because you're annoying. Oh, look we're here." shrugged Leoplod. Turning to the door, releasing he can't open it, "Xandrillo, please get the door for me." he said.

"Yes Boss," sighed Xandro, It went and opened the door for Leoplod, going inside Leoplod laid down Argus and Alina on the couch where Alina slept before, he went and grabbed A lamp for Alina and also Argus's little stuffmal, wishing them goodnight and patted them on the head and tucked them in, finally he went and sat on his chair right across from the two kids.

Xandrillo sat on the floor right next to Leoplod, "I never asked, what's the girl's name?" It wandered.

"It's Alina, Alina Eisise." smiled Leoplod.

Xandro snapped his head to look at Leoplod, "Wait, isn't that!?" it asked.

"Indeed, she's Felix's daughter, my partner," answered Leoplod. "She's fourteen now, it's only been five years since I've been here, it feels like a lifetime."

"Oh snap, that's the real reason you helped her, and that means I've only been here three years!" Exclaimed Xandrillo. "Are you gonna tell her who you are?"

"No, not right now, she has to get used to this place first then, maybe" responded Leoplod "We should get some sleep, you know where the blankets are, right?"

"Of course I know, I'm not that stupid," said Xandrillo a little offended. "Good night Boss,"

"Good night Xandrillo, wake me if anything happens," said Leoplod, laying back in his recliner, ready to sleep.

Xandrillo got up and looked for the blankets, but couldn't find them, "Uh um Leoplod, where are the blankets?" they asked awkwardly.

"Not that stupid huh," sighed Leoplod, as he pointed, "there right above the mirrors, now good night Xandrillo,"

"Thanks, Boss," It smiled, they went and grabbed the blankets, then laid on the love seat wishing all a good night.

The following day Alina was awoken by the smell of pasta, and Argus and Xandrillo singing loudly.

"Huh, what's happening?" asked Alina, still half asleep, "and why do I smell pasta?"

"Goooood Morning Alina!," greeted Argus, "This is Xanny," gesturing to Xandrillo.

"Nice to meetcha Little Cub, My full name is Xandrillo, but you can call me whatever, like Xanny, Drillo, or even Nuisance," They said glaring at Leoplod, "Whatever floats your boat Cub."

Alina stared at Leoplod for a while, and then at Xandrillo, a little uncomfortable "Uh, okay, My name is Alin-" "Alina Eindis, yeah I know these two idiots told me all about you," interrupted Xandrillo.

"Now watch you tough Xandrillo, respect you elders." asserted Leoplod.

"Ay, yes, I am so very sorry, Argus, please accept my apology, good sir'" joked Xandrillo.

Alina was even more uncomfortable, she wasn't used to being around this much of an extrovert before, and she barely got used to Argus, but now she has to deal with another one. She looked at Leoplod hoping that he could get her out of this situation.

Leoplod looked back at her to say, "Alina, I know you just woke up, but please clean yourself up before breakfast is done."

"Yes sir, I'll go to that right away," She went off to brush her hair and teeth.

"Wow! It's been like foooorever since I've seen another human before, what year is it? Did One Piece ever finish? What's your favorite color? How come you have purple eyes? Isn't that like really rare" Interrogated Xandrillo.

"The year is 2010, no, One Piece is still going, and my favorite color is purple, my eye color, I don't know I was born like this," sighed Alina.

"The pasta is ready!" Anowsted Leoplod.

"Oh! You hear that the food is ready, let's go eat," Alina shoded Xandrillo away, as she finished up, she saw from out of the indoor window, she noticed, a bunny in a baby pink dress with a bow. She started going towards the bunny but, then Leoplod called, "Alina the food is ready!" she turned her head around, then turned it back to where she saw the bunny but the bunny was gone. Finally, Argus walked into the bathroom to get Alina. "ALINA!" Alina snapped back into her reality looking at Argus saying, "Sorry, I'm all done. Let's go eat." Argus and Alina left the bathroom, but not until she could get one more look at where the bunny was.