Animalia: The Green Forest, Book 2

Chapter 22

Samson strolled out of his room with a yawn the next day. He saw Tsuki walking toward the front door through the corner of his eye. "Where are you going?" He called without looking at her.
"I'm going to look for Luca," Tsuki replied sharply as she stomped away.
Idiot. He wants nothing to do with you. Samson rolled his eyes. "Okay." He shrugged. He then stiffened when he realized Scout was with her. "You're taking your kit too?"
"Yes," Tsuki picked up Scout and held him with one arm. "I'm going to take him to see Luca. Once his dad meets him, he's bound to take us in."
Samson felt anxious at the thought of Luca being near his son. "I'm coming too," he announced. "Here, let me carry Scout."
Samson followed Tsuki through the forest. Scout, still in Samson's arms, looked around the trees with wide eyes. "So many big leafy sticks!" He squeaked out.
Samson affectionately looked down at the pup. "These big sticks are called trees," he informed. "They're great for scratching to trim your claws. They're also great to pee on."
Tsuki huffed.
"They're great for peeing on if you're a male," Samson corrected himself with a chuckle. "So you and I are lucky, kit."
"Pee! I wanna pee on a tree!" Scout chanted and clapped his hands.
"Maybe later," Samson forced himself to sound cheerful as he remembered where they were going. He gave Tsuki a concerned look. "You do know where Luca lives, right?"
"Yes, I know where he lives," Tsuki replied icily without looking back. "Where else do you think Scout was made?"
Samson looked down at Scout. The kit was nibbling on his own tail. "Okay. Lead the way."
The pair continued to walk. They passed by the great rock on their way. Samson couldn't help remembering how Tsuki had pushed Alex off of it in an attempt to kill her nearly two years ago. And here I am, helping her. He realized crossly. No. I'm only helping her because her son is related to me. If he wasn't, then I wouldn't have allowed her to give birth and stay in my home for so long.
Tsuki was starting to look uncomfortable now as they started to get closer to Luca's home. "Almost there-" she suddenly flinched back.
Luca had jumped in front of her from seemingly out of nowhere and was now towering over her. "Tsuki," his greeting was unfriendly. "What are you doing here? Are you here to have some more fun? You're out of luck. I'm not interested today."
Tsuki looked up at Luca with wide eyes. Samson had never seen the bold blonde look so taken aback. "I uh, no, that's not what I'm here for," she fumbled with her words.
Luca's good eye sparked with interest for a moment. "Then what are you here for?"
Tsuki turned and walked over to Samson. He handed Scout over to her and stood back while she returned to Luca.
Tsuki placed Scout down in front of Luca. "I'm here because I wanted you to see our son," she replied meekly. "He's six months old already, and you haven't even seen him once."
Luca glared down at Scout. Samson tensed as he waited for his cousin's next action. He better not hurt that kid or something.
"Okay, I saw him," Luca turned away from his son. "Happy now? I'll be leaving."
"No!" Tsuki cried and reached for Luca. Her hand tightly gripped one of his shoulders. "Luca, we're your family! You're supposed to be taking care of us! Please!"
Luca turned to give Tsuki a wild glare. "Get off of me." he roughly shook her away, causing her to fall on her bottom. Luca stood over her. "You don't need me," he growled. "You have Samson taking care of you."
No! Take her with you! I don't want her anymore! Samson bit back the words.
"But I want you," Tears formed in Tsuki's green eyes. "You're the one who got me pregnant. You're the only one who's ever paid attention to me when I had no one. I need you. . ."
Scout was sitting on the floor beside his mother. He stared up at Luca with an anxious look in his eyes. "Are you my daddy?" He asked quietly. "Why did you make mommy cry?"
Luca turned his back on his son. "Your mother was annoying me," he spat. His tail bushed out. "And I'm not your father."
Scout blinked innocently. "But you look like me," his fox ears twitched and his tail started to wag. "You have red hair like me too!"
"Oh wow, we both have similar hair. That totally makes us related to each other," Luca sneered. But there was an uneasy look in his good eye. "You and your mother need to leave."
Scout stood up and stared at his father with a large smile. "But I don't want to leave yet!" His tiny tail started to wag even faster now. "I want to be with you, daddy!"
Luca let out a warning growl. "Yeah? Well that sucks. Because I don't want to be with you." He whipped around-away from his son-and dashed into the trees without waiting for a reply.
Scout stood perfectly still, staring in the direction that Luca had taken off in. He then slowly turned back to Tsuki with tears in his eyes. "Mommy!" He flung himself toward Tsuki with a wail. "Why did daddy do that?
Tsuki hugged her son. "I don't know," she whispered. She was crying too.
I knew this wasn't going to end well. Samson glared at Tsuki. Luca's rejected her before. He was obviously going to do it again today. What in the stars was Tsuki thinking, putting her own son through this? Then his shoulders dropped. I knew this was going to happen. I shouldn't have allowed it to. It's sort of my fault too.
Samson walked over to the miserable pair. "Let's go home now," he nudged Tsuki.
Tsuki struggled up to her feet. She stumbled past Samson and started to walk back without him. She didn't bother checking to see if Scout was following her.
Samson approached Scout. The kit was curled up in a sobbing ball. Samson felt a flash of both sympathy and anger. What's wrong with Luca, hurting his own son like this? Samson crouched down beside Scout.
"Hey, kit," Samson sat down on the floor and pulled Scout into a hug. The kit cuddled against him and sobbed into his black hoodie.
Samson felt a pain in his chest at the sight. "Don't worry, Scout," he gently brushed his tail down the kit's spine. "Everything's going to be okay. I'm going to take care of you. I'll always be there for you."
Scout looked up at Samson. Tears still streamed down his face. "I wish you were my real daddy!" He cried. "Not that meanie!" He buried his face in Samson's hoodie again.
Samson curled his tail around the kit. "I know," he sighed. "Luca's an awful person. He doesn't deserve such an awesome son like you."
Scout pulled away. "You think I'm awesome?" He asked quietly.
"I know you're awesome," Samson gently ruffled Scout's hair.
Scout wiped his tears away. His eyelids started to flutter now.
All that crying must have tired him out. Samson gently petted the top of Scout's head as he slowly drifted to sleep. He's so young. His body can't handle all this stress. Poor kid.
Samson continued to watch the kit sleep. I'll take care of you. He vowed to himself. I'll always protect you, no matter what.