Post by Neighborhood Watch on Apr 21, 2007 16:36:59 GMT -5
Hadrian
Chapter 1:
Pilgrimage
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
-Matsuo Basho
Chapter 1:
Pilgrimage
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.
-Matsuo Basho
“I saw it with my own eyeses, H,” Trinket swore, fussing with her disheveled flight-feathers as she spoke. “The other Four-Legses were all gatherin' around, talkin' 'bout it, 'bout 'The Wallses' Ma and kin.”
The caramel-colored Pit Bull ducked his head, anger coiling in his belly like an irate rattler.
“You're positive?”
“I swearses on my treasures, H! On my treasures!”
“I heard it as well,” affirmed Hopscotch, the Kestrel landing neatly beside Trinket. “They were indeed talking about your family, Hadrian.”
The former fighting dog stalked off, tossing a “thanks” over his shoulder to his winged friends. It had been three years since he had last seen a member of his family. Common sense told him that in the interim between Now and Then, they had died. The lives of fighters and breeders were not long or easy. Three years was a lifetime.
But common sense had been wrong.
They were alive.
Hadrian clambered up the wooden steps of the deck jutting out from the back of Jack's house. The flap over Hadrian's dog-door swung gently in the early-evening breeze, an open invitation to just go inside and forget about all of what he'd heard. If his family was still in Old Market, there was no way he could reach them from Limestone Street. They might as well be holed up in Siberia.
The scarred dog took a step toward the door, cropped ears picking up the sounds of the TV from the living room. Jack would be there, watching his programs and waiting for that human female of his to call. In a few hours, Jack would bounce out of the house, excited as a pup, and promising Hadrian that he'd be bringing home a new Mom for him soon.
Jack meant the human female of course, as Jack considered himself Hadrian's Dad. Ridiculous notions, but Hadrian knew what his Two-Legged best friend meant. Besides, it wasn't as though Jack would understand any explanation-to-the-contrary that Hadrian offered; humans were pretty much deaf and dumb to any form of communication beside their own tongue and the most basic body language. Tail-wagging did not convey near as much as a heart-to-heart chat, but Hadrian figured that the humans made up for what they lacked in non-human language comprehension with their companionship and ingenuity.
Jack was a good Two-Legs, and Hadrian had discovered that there were many more good than bad.
“H?”
Hadrian turned at the flutter of wings and the abnormally serene call of Trinket. He quirked a brow at her, watching the Pied Crow fidget on the railing of the deck.
“It's just... That's a bad place, Old Marketses. Shouldn't you at least try?”
“It's too dangerous, you know that. If I got hurt, if I didn't make it back, who would look after him?” He tossed his head toward the inside of the house.
“You'd come back,” Trinket insisted, the white feathers of her neck and chest puffing with irritation. This conversation was, undoubtedly, far too lucid for her liking.
“There's no guarantee. Jack is my family now. He's my responsibility, I--”
Trinket took off, either too annoyed or too disinterested to continue the conversation.
Pushing old memories and new questions to the back of his mind, Hadrian once again moved forward, intent on curling up at the foot of the couch and spending the night keeping watch over Jack.
Something sharp and metallic plunked down on his head, causing him to pause and flinch at the same time.
“What the--!” He looked up, squinting at the flurry of black and white feather above.
“Look at it!” she squawked.
He scowled and looked down at his feet where the object had fallen.
“It's a rusted piece of metal, Trinket. I don't have time for your games.”
“Where's it from, Stupid Dog!”
“How the hell should I know!” He barked, angry that the crow had reverted to her her far less sensible way of communicating. Hadrian usually enjoyed her riddles and odd behavior, but now was not the time.
“From Old Market, idiot!” Trinket flitted down to the deck floor and stared up at him, obviously furious. “This is what they have!” She bristled. “Look at what you have! Selfish, stupid No-Feathers!”
This time when she flew off, Hadrian knew she wasn't coming back with another round of questions or demands. The crazy crow had made her point.
He gave one last look at his door and turned away from the welcoming peace of his home and his human. Once again, he'd descend into Old Market, the one place he never wanted to return to.
But Trinket was right; to abandon his family to that place any longer than he already had would be unforgivable.
Had he really become so complacent? So comfortable in the company of Jack that he would ignore his family's situation after being told that they were alive and suffering?
What had happened to the indomitable pit-fighter that had once ruled Old Market? Had 'The Wall' really crumbled into such disrepair that Hadrian could no longer muster the courage to return to the place of his birth and demand the freedom of his mother and siblings?
Grey eyes narrowed to slits, the pit bull leaped down the steps of the deck and loped across the open expanse of fenceless backyards that made up the heart of Limestone Street. He could feel the old confidence returning as he moved, his goal firmly set in his mind.
Besides, what kind of moron would deny a living legend such as Hadrian? Who would tell him 'no'? Three years had softened his muscles and dampened his killer-instinct, but Hadrian knew that if he had to--
“Hadrian!”
He froze at the bright sound of her voice. Cursing himself mentally, Hadrian realized he should have taken the long way around, through Hangman's Wood, to avoid rousing any suspicion from the locals.
“Josephine,” he answered, nodding to the shadowy outline of the Border Collie female. “What're you doing out here so late?”
“That retarded bird told us everything,” came a gruff reply. Hadrian looked up at the nearest tree.
“Pious? No. No, no, no. Everyone go home. This isn't any of your business. This is my problem and I--”
“Oh, shut up, Hadrian,” Josephine trotted up alongside him, materializing out of the growing darkness. “You always were too stubborn for your own good.”
Pious scurried down the trunk of the tree, the fat raccoon grimacing as he joined the canines. “That feline friend of yours is coming too. Had to find an exit first. I popped the big second-story window open for him.”
“Sita as well. She was waiting a few minutes after I left so no one suspected anything,” Josephine added, smiling down at the annoyed raccoon.
“Oh good, that should certainly keep them from noticing three dogs and cat have gone missing,” Hadrian drawled, still determined to leave the pets behind.
“Well, we're coming whether you like it or not, Hadrian,” Troll strode forward, the huge Maine Coon cat threading through the long grass, his eyes glowing green. “Besides, it's been much too long since we've had any excitement around here.”
“Or a cause worth getting riled up about!” Sita chimed, moving forward on a set of long hunter's legs. “You didn't really think we'd let you go alone, did you?” The permanently optimistic Saluki-mix wagged her feathered tail slowly, sidling up to Josephine.
“I didn't expect you to even know that I'd left, and you wouldn't have if--”
“I hads to tell them, Ugly Dog!” crowed Trinket from the same tree Pious had been perched in earlier. “You were worried you wouldn't come backs so I made sure you would.”
“We'll keep an eye on the neighborhood, Hadrian. If anything comes up, one of us will fly straight to Old Market and fetch you back.” Hopscotch had joined his troublesome friend in the tree.
“Yeah. Be sure to do that,” Hadrian grumbled. He looked at the motley crew of animals spread out before him. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Old Market was no place for pets, or even wild animals such as Pious. They'd heard his stories about his early life but even those had been watered-down for their benefit. If he had told them the whole truth, they would have been terrified of him.
“I want to make a few conditions, and they're non-negotiable. You disobey me and I'll knock you out for your own safety.” He eyed each of them in turn and when no objections arose he continued.
“One; You do exactly what I tell you to do. Old Market isn't a playground. The gang will kill you if they're given the chance. Two; Say nothing. Let me do the talking. If they remember my name and reputation, this shouldn't be a problem. Three; Stick to me. Don't wander off to do your own exploring. I can't risk--”
“We're going to be fine,” Josephine sighed, padding toward the outer-most edge of the neighborhood. “Honestly, you worry too much.”
There were miles of suburban sprawl between Limestone Street and Old Market Street—where the city began to bleed into their town. She looked out at the distance calmly and glanced at Hadrian just once before setting out.
“Pious, Troll... We need your eyes. Lead the way.”
With that, their pilgrimage began—a raccoon and a cat leading three dogs into a nest of monsters. Hadrian was sure that each of them, himself included, were quite insane.
---
This obviously needs editing and probably a good deal of expansion. Consider it a bare-bones first-draft of Chapter 1. And yeah, the story doesn't follow the same timeline as the comic. OH WELLS. ^^
