Senior Member
Registered: 08-31-07
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Surprise, surprise: I decided to do Journey's End from Flower's point-of-view. I actually wanted to do it shortly after I wrote Farewell My Lovely (which is in the Mix section), but I wanted to wait until I got a chance to watch the episode again. This starts shortly after Liz and the rest are born.
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For the first few seconds, I don't think I realize where or who I am. All I knew is that I'm with others, I'm warm, and EVERYTHING hurts like...
I open my eyes at this point, everything coming back to me. I had given birth during the night, and the group all huddled around me, trying to keep me and the pups warm. It was probably morning now, so I untangle myself from the fuzzy pile of meerkats and head for the entrance, giving a few lead calls. Several others wake up and begin following.
With the sun warming my tiny body, I feel the lingering pain of last night fade away, relaxation washing over me instead. One by one, my family appears. Almost everyone is a child of mine, and some were grandchildren. The only one not actually related is my dear Zaphod, but we might as well be 'married' like the humans. I give him a cheerful chirp as he wakes up, but he doesn't return it and instead plops down on the ground. This has gone on pretty much every morning since Youssarian left. Zaphod is a wonderful meerkat, but he can just be so lazy sometimes.
That's where some of my kids get it from. A lot of them are just lying around, and Einstein's even getting covered in dir-- Hey! Just because your brother's being lazy doesn't mean you can cover him like that! Mitch, McMurphy, cut that out right now before I-- ...No, McMurphy, don't even start. You stayed in this group, and you will treat your aunts and uncles like siblings as long as you are here.
Ah, children. I love them so.
I think now's a good time to head out. Who's staying behind? ...Sophie, Spud? Heh. You two really do take after your mother. I wonder how Mozart's doing... I wouldn't be too surprised if she was a dominant female; she's very persistent.
Let's go.
---
The rains have done wonders on the desert. Bugs are everywhere now that the plants are blooming, and it's just what a giant mob like us needs. Maybe we should rest for a bit. Everyone, over here, in the shade.
I look around as some of the younger ones try to suckle; I'm not sure whether they can be called pups, but given how rations have increased dramatically, it doesn't concern me too much.
...There's the sound of playfighting. If I look up, will it be Buster and Suggs?
Yep, it's them. Always the clowns.
I watch as the scuffle unfolds. I feel movement next to me, and look to see Jogu getting up to join them. I'm surprised, Jogu. For someone who gloated becoming an adult, you seem quite interested in children's games.
Not that I can blame you, of course. It's one way to unwind. One by one, everyone goes over, including Zaphod. Eventually, the lure of fun and games is too much. I run over, and playfully pounce on Rocket Dog. She responds by bucking me off and trying to push me. We lock arms, trying to get the other down, but don't scratch or bite, aside from Rocket Dog giving me a playful nip on the shoulder. The two of us go down at the same time, and we laugh, being just two of the many Whiskers laughing at this point.
And then, I stop.
Something's not right. I can feel it in the air. Zappa? Commandoes? A roving group?
I give the group a few shrill calls, telling them it may be time to fight for real, and assemble them at the top of the hill. There's another group in the distance. ...With pups? How irresponsible can you get? I don't take my young ones out to others' territory unless I'm looking for a new home, and they certainly look more interested in raiding our food.
Are they fleeing? I'm not letting them off that easy! I'm tired of people trying to take our food! Charge!
Definitely Zappas, even though there's a new girl wearing the collar. And Houdini seems to be taking charge, too. Zaphod goes right after him. I guess...he's still a bit bitter over that incident, even if he forgave me.
And there they go. Goodbye, Zappa. Alright, let's reclaim this spot. I want them to get the message.
...Mitch? Is that a pup?
...N-no, Mitch. That's not how you take care of children. Nooo, bad Mitch. You don't unceremoniously drop them at someone's feet and walk away without a word. Sometimes, I hope you never have any of your own.
Ack, this little guy reeks of Zappa. They must have left him behind. Some parents. Let's see what he does if I put him on the ground. ...He's snuggling up to me. Clinging to my leg. He's really scared.
Mitch, did you get his name? ...Axel? Okay, then...
Axel, you can stay. We won't hurt you, we promise. Just stay low, and don't panic.
Let's head home. If we're going to keep Axel, we need to stay away from the Zappa in case they want him back.
...Len and Squiggy would have been about his age...
Huh? Oh, nothing, Zaphod. Just thinking.
---
My blood runs cold. Snake. I haaate snakes...
And it's a Cape Cobra. Wonderful. We seem to keep finding these guys. Where's Axel? ...Good, he's safe. Alright, let's do this. He's too close to our burrow for comfort, so let's go all-out.
...
Mitch, as good an idea as it was...DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! Nearly gave me a heart attack when you leaned in to bite it... I don't want to relive what happened with Shakespeare...
I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Shakespeare would be proud, wherever he is. I'm just...I'm really on edge for some reason. Let's get Axel and get out of here before the cobra comes back.
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...Oh no. No, no, no. Not here.
He's gone in. There's no signs of a struggle, so Sophie and Spud must be underground with the pups. They have no idea.
MOB! NOW! GET HIM OUTTA THERE! I'M NOT LOSING ANY MORE BABIES!
Zaphod, move! This isn't working! I'm going in, and no one's stopping me!
Nngh...the burrow smells like snake now... At least I can find him in the dark-
What was that?
...
Oh no. Holy-
...
...
...I think I just screamed. I'm not sure what to think. My face burns too much...am I bleeding?
---
It's all a blur now. I think I caught it by the tail and got Zaphod to drag it out. Or maybe Spud heard me and killed it. Or...maybe I was too late.
No, I wasn't. I remember snuggling with Liz last night. Or was it last night? I...I don't know anymore...
The pain is too intense. I can't do much more than curl into a ball. Such a fall from grace. One day, I'm at my prime. And the next, I'm...
I'm dying.
Only have enough energy to get to the entrance... Trying to lead everyone to the top, for one last time... I look back at the faces watching me with worry. Worry and understanding.
Loving Zaphod. Fearless Mitch. Caring Sophie. Feisty Buster. Trusting Axel. You and everyone...thank you. For being here.
The pain suddenly stops, and by legs buckle. As I hit the ground, my vision narrows even more than it had been earlier. It goes completely black, and the last thing I hear is Zaphod's anguished cries.
---
For a while, there's just darkness. Am I alone? There's a bright flash of light, and I squeeze my eyes shut, yelping. My voice isn't weak anymore, though.
Slowly, I open my eyes, nearly blinded by how bright it is. It looks like the Kalahari, but...it's much different. The dirt is a very pale color, almost white. And there's a lot of lush plants around.
Something brushes against me, and I jump. I look back, and...
Shakespeare?
In that moment, I understand everything. As we catch up on lost cuddles, more begin to approach me. Blossom. Squiggy and Len. Tosca. Even Carlos of the Lazuli comes, even though he doesn't get as close; I don't blame him. Several unknown pups come to me, squealing for "Grandma". Tosca snuggles a few of them, and I can see a bit of Mozart, Rocket Dog, Kinkajou, or Daisy in each of the other ones. Who knew my family stretched so far?
Ironically, most also seem to look like Carlos, except for Rocket Dog's; I get a feeling those may be Houdini's.
I look over the rest of my family proudly. My chest tightens a bit as I look at my grandchildren; Rocket Dog never showed any signs of being pregnant and must of miscarried or gone into labor early, before we reunited.
But we're together, and some day, the rest of the family I know will join me. I hope it's not anytime soon. I have an eternity to wait. And an eternity I shall wait. Because in the end, I'm never alone.
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aaaahh I love a happy ending
