Last Laugh

Prologue

_PROLOGUE_

Ten years ago...

Sitting outside of the tent, Finn was waiting for news. It was a sweltering hot afternoon where most of the beasts were either swimming at the lake or enjoying frozen treats at an ice cream parlour to cool down.

But not him.

He was waiting for a sound, a sign, anything really. Finn wanted nothing more than to stay by his wife's side but he was immediately shoved outside, praying for a miracle to happen. He sighed, twiddling with the pendant from his necklace which was shaped like a sun with an amber gem in the centre.

"You know she's going to be okay," a gentle drowsy voice whispered from above. It was a grey koala with a purple shawl draped around her back like a blanket. She was hugging the tree branch as if it were a bolster. It was odd since the temperature was FAR from cold.

"I know Gypsy, but she's my wife. I need to be by her side since she's have our baby."

The koala let out a yawn, opening one of her eyes to gaze down at him. "Finn, she's having twins. Did you know that?"

The old Tasmanian devil blinked, trying to take in the news. He had never been to a proper hospital to get any treatment due to insufficient funds. Recently, the performance held by the troops weren't too pleasing to the crowds. They had to survived on what was left from their savings to the point they would go as far as to steal little things such as food from the market.

"Gypsy," he breathed, wishing he was nimble enough to climb up. "A-are you sure? We don't even have proper equipment that doctors used to check the babies inside the mother's womb."

The koala nodded absentmindedly, her eyes were very droopy. "I'm sure. I've had children before, you know?"

Just then, a sharp cry followed by screams were heard from the tent. Finn had the urged to burst inside and comfort his wife but knew the rule: Tasmanian devil fathers cannot be by their wives' sides when they are having a baby because their aggression was far more dangerous than those of large carnivores.

Finn stuck his muzzle into the mouth of the tent. "What's going on? Can I see her?"

He was immediately shoved outside by a strong paw. It was none other than a spotted quoll, who shook her head. "Finn, you know the rules. Tommy is taking care of her and once it's done, you can see her. Ruby's a tough girl. She'll be okay."

As much as it reassured him, his instincts of being a husband and a new father had made him even more paranoid. Beasts that passed by stared at him as if he had been spending too much time in a poppy field.

Still, he decided to stand close to the tent until he heard a tiny wail— Two tiny wails to be exact!

Once he was gestured to come inside with a spotted paw, Finn held his breath. For him, it did not matter what the babies will look like. It's Ruby who he was worried about. Even before marriage, she was a spitfire of a Tasmanian devil and an excellent dancer. The audience were entranced by the way she moved, which was why he wanted her in the Taronga Troops.

In all of their shows, everyone wanted to see Ruby and her fiery dance that could charm a stoic reptile into awed.

Ruby was lying on the makeshift cot, breathing heavily but with two bundled blankets in her arms. Finn lets out a sigh of relief. His wife and children are safe! Ruby had the same black fur and red face just like him except for a few more scars here and there.

"Ruby," he whispered, reaching out to stroke her messy face before kissing her cheek. "You did it. Look at our kids, a boy and a girl! They're so adorable!"