Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Twenty Three

Ruben bounded into camp, and straight to the others.

“How'd they take it?” Quinn asked.

“It could've gone worse... but Niki wants to meet him before she'll agree. Where is Vincent?”

Vincent was at that moment, suffering the concequences of losing a game with the kits. Cavan had caught him while they were play hunting, and since he wasn't to be eaten, started grooming him.

“How's our captive doing?” Ruben asked, as he and Quinn approached.

“I caught him, uncle Ruben! It took a lot of tries, he's very fast,” Cavan said proudly.

“Well, good job. If you don't mind though, me and your uncle Quinn need to speak with him.”

The ermine was released, and no worse for wear. He shook himself, and said a surprisingly cheery “bye for now” as Cavan and Kelly went to find something else to do. Malaki stayed, eager to know what was happening.

“Vincent, how would you like to stay here?” Ruben asked.

The ermine looked up at Quinn, then back at the squirrel, “Is that code for “would I like to be eaten” or would I still be alive?”

“Alive and useful,” Quinn answered.

“Useful, how?”

“We've talked it over with everyone, and we're nearly in agreement... You could stay, and help train the young hunters. You've already been doing that, and seem to be pretty good at it,” Ruben explained.

“You're trying to make it sound nice, but I know what practice prey is.”

“No one would hurt you, and you could give them instruction, like you were just doing.”

Vincent scratched his neck, groaned and said, “If I leave, I suppose that dog will eat me. And if somehow I get away from him, I'll probably run into survivors from your attack on the colony. They'll know I'm a traitor, and they'll kill me for it,” he sighed, and glanced over to where the kits were playing a new game. “I don't mind them. They can chase me all day long, if you want. I'll stay.”

“Well, I did say we're nearly in agreement. There's a friend who wants to meet you before we make anything official.”

“What friend would that be?”

“Her name is Niki, but you called her “The Hunter”. The dog who caught you earlier is her mate, and if they agree, and you stay, you'll help train their young ones too.”

Vincent stared, wide-eyed in disbelief and completely at a loss for words.

“It's alright,” Malaki encouraged, “I'm sure Niki will like you.”

“What happens if she doesn't like me?”

“I think you're smart enough to figure that out,” Quinn replied.

In the end, Vincent decided to trust the creatures who were trying to help him. If the dog didn't like him, it was likely to kill him quickly. If his old companions found him, his death would be anything but swift. Should the dog think enough of him to let him live, he was quite sure no one would treat him badly. He would have food, and water, and shelter, and perhaps even friends. It was a risk worth taking.

As Ruben lead him through the forst, and eventually into the den, Vincent was holding his composure. When he came face to face with the huge dog, and its glaring eyes locked on him, the weasel started shaking. The sound of soft whimpering caught his attention though, and his gaze turned to see the litter. In that moment he was wishing someone would've killed him earlier. But he knew what had to happen, and made peace with his fate.

Before Ruben could even give an introduction, Vincent spoke for himself, “I'm so terribly sorry. It was bad enough, the way you were treated... I had no idea you were expecting puppies. It's a miracle you didn't all die in that pit. I apologize for taking any part in what was done to you. It was horrible, and if I could go back and change it, I would. You can go ahead and eat me now.”

Niki stared at the ermine. He'd turned his face down, clearly waiting the end, but he wasn't moving. She reached her nose down to the hopeless little creature before her, and sniffed it.

“Well, I never thought I'd see one of your kind so repentant,” Niki said quietly. “What was your name?”

“Vincent,” he answered, scarcely above a whisper.

“Alright then. I'll expect to see you out here every few days or so, Vincent.” The weasel's eyes turned up to the dog, confused but hopeful. “The puppies will need be familiar with you early on, if you want them to be at all respectful for hunting lessons.”

“Y-yes ma'am, that would be good. That's very kind of you... Thank you.”

Ruben smiled, and ushered the ermine back towards the entrance, “Thank you, Niki, Arkadi. We'll see you soon, I'm sure.”

Vincent was silent the entire walk back to the clearing. He was silent when they joined the group sitting by the firepit. He was even silent when Jacob started talking about building a cage to keep him locked in, when he wasn't needed for hunting lessons. Malaki was watching him, and eventually the young squirrel went up and tapped his shoulder. The weasel turned, but still he said nothing.

“Did Niki scare you?” Malaki asked.

“No, it wasn't the dog that scared me.” All eyes fell on the ermine, at those words, “I've never seen so much hurt and anger in a beasts eyes... and I helped put it there. She had every right to kill me.” His ears flattened, and he turned to Jacob. “You have just as much right to kill me, I'm the one who took Malaki... when we found you all by the berry patch. I was the first one to get paws on any of you.”

Jacob starred at the weasel, “I'm insulted that you thought I didn't recognise you.”

Vincent turned back to Malaki, who had sat down beside him. “Did you know, too?”

“Of course. You were the one who watched me the whole time we were traveling. Until that night you nodded off while I was still awake. That's when I ran.”

“Yes, I remember that. Then they sent me and one of the other guards to go fetch you, but there was this crazy squirrel... and a terrifying raccoon,” Vincent said with a smile. He sighed, and looked around him, “I don't understand why you're all being so kind.”

“What good would it do anyone if we were mean?” Malaki asked.

Vincent looked at Ruben, “Well, apparently this is just my day for eating crow.”

It was well past dark when all of the creatures started finding their way to their nests for the night. Quinn however, took the kits, and their captive, to the tree house. The ermine was given a nest of his own, in a corner. It was behind Quinn's nest, so he wouldn't be tempted to try escaping in the night. Though the safety measure didn't really seem needed, Vincent didn't mind the arrangements. The air was getting cool as the seasons changed, and a nest in the corner, beside a larger animal, was sure to stay warm.