Whumpee nervously cuddled their teddy bear as their new owner paced back and forth frantically looking at their phone.
Whumpee looked at the box they had just been pulled out of. They contemplated climbing back in and trying to introduce themself again.
This wasn't how their master was supposed to receive them. Their trainers said their new owner was so excited to receive them. That they had been waiting for weeks, communicating back and forth. You will get all of the love and cuddles, their trainer said. That's why they learned to behave and do tricks so quickly. They wanted love and cuddles from a happy owner.
"Wh-why are you mad at me?", Whumpee whispered, "I-I thought you wanted me."
"Wanted?", their new owner looked at them in shock, "I don't know what is going on. I didn't order anything. Then I open this strange heavy package and there is a whole human inside. I am stressed. What do I even do? Police. How do I even explain this to the police. There isn't any addresses on the box."
"I-I was trained for you though", Whumpee's lip quivered, "I was told you were excited to own me."
"Listen... wait trained?", they paused, "what did I just get involved with?"
Whumpee looked down over themself then nodded.
"I know lots of neat tricks. I really love cuddles", Whumpee explained eagerly, "I even learned the tricks you specifically requested.... like... uhm... oh... beg", Whumpee sat up on their knees and held their hands up like a puppy.
"This has to be a prank", the person frowned, "am I being pranked?"
"No Master", Whumpee lowered themself sadly, "don't you want me?"
"Want you? Y-you're a human..... the way you're acting..... it's like you were being sold to be... someone's... pet", they paused, "wait, were you trained to be a pet?"
"Y-yes, there were a lot of us there to be trained", Whumpee explained, "you.. you paid for me. I worked really hard to be able to come to you quickly."
"My dear. I didn't order you. I'm almost thinking you were sent to the wrong house", they looked at the person weirdly, "I didn't even know such a thing like this existed."
"Oh", Whumpee whispered sadly. They turned back to their box and quickly climbed in.
"What are... what are you doing?", the person watched dumbfoundedly and walked to the box.
"Will you set me back on the porch. I need to be sent back so I can be with my master. I want my cuddles, I was promised... cuddles. I've learned tricks and worked hard for my master to love me", Whumpee explained from inside the box, "will you send me back?"
"No, I'm not sending you back. I don't quite know what I'll do with you, but I'm not sending you back. Thi-this is illegal", they frowned, "plus you've been on that porch for a long time already. It's freezing out there, and you are not even dressed for the winter weather."
"Your supposed master can rot in prison", they pulled open the box, "come on, out with you. I have some things to figure out, but I'm not having you sit in a box while I do that."
Whumpee wiped their eyes as they climbed back out.
"What is your name my dear?"
"Whumpee, Master", Whumpee sat back on the floor.
"For right now, will you call me Caretaker", Caretaker sighed, "you look a little cold. How about a warm bath. Then I'll set up some warm blankets for you to nap on. A-are you hungry?"
Whumpee looked at them with a little smile, "I am sleepy and hungry. It was not easy to sleep in that box."
"I can imagine", Caretaker nodded, "come on, let's get that bath. Get you nice and cleaned."
Caretaker helped Whumpee into the tub.
"Are you okay if I help you?", Caretaker frowned, "I want to know that you are completely cleaned up. I work at a hospital, so I'm pretty use to bathing people."
"Yes Caretaker, I'm trained to be okay with being bathed", Whumpee nodded, "I don't fight at all. I'm a good Whumpee."
Caretaker sighed, "trained... more like desensitized."
Whumpee turned in a way that showed their opposite side.
Caretaker saw a better display of bruising all down Whumpee's back.
Whumpee turned back and saw Caretaker's shocked face.
"I'm a better pet now. Those are my training marks. They'll go away soon. I promise I'm a good Whumpee now."
Whumpee tried to be quiet as they laid on the blankets. It did feel warm and comfortable to sprawl out, and to cuddle their bear. The food they had eaten was better than anything they had had at the facility. They were even allowed to sit at the table.
'This isn't what I was promised though', Whumpee told them, 'though this person is a good cook', they patted their stomach happily, 'I wonder if my master would have cooked for me.'
They sneakily glanced around the corner of the couch and saw Caretaker looking at a computer.
'I do like it here. It's small, it's small and cozy. I wish I knew how to get them to like me', Whumpee sadly laid back down, 'I'm a good Whumpee.'
Caretaker looked away from their computer when they heard sniffling.
"What's going on over there?", Caretaker frowned.
"Mm, just sad", Whumpee answered, "I'm okay."
"I'm talking with a detective currently. This has happened a few times. It's an illegal human trade ring. They take people and.... torture them until they.... uh", Caretaker paused, "just to say this isn't new. They said that the packages are untraceable. They seem to delete the address once its been delivered so no one will be able to find the owners who bought these trafficked humans."
Whumpee nodded, "I know what happened to me. That's why I learned quickly so I could get away from them."
Caretaker nodded, "they're asking if you could stay here with me. They want to collect some information from you and the box."
"I'd be happy to stay.... if you allow me to, that is", Whumpee looked up at them with their best puppy eyes, "I'll be good."
"I don't even know what you need", Caretaker looked at them, "I wasn't exactly looking for a pet. I'm very busy. Plus you're a human. It's a little.. weird", Caretaker watched Whumpee lower their head.
"I'm a very good Whumpee", they whispered sadly.
"You keep saying that", Caretaker stood from the couch, and walked to Whumpee, "and I believe you. I just... have no idea what to do with you."
"A hug would be nice", Whumpee mumbled, "I want cuddles."
"Let's get you.... uhm... I guess I'll get you settled. I hope the couch is comfortable with you", Caretaker looked back at the couch, "I have work tomorrow, then the detective will be by after."
"I can sleep down here on the floor", Whumpee looked at the blankets, "I'm comfy."
"Okay, I guess", Caretaker nodded, "you know we're the bathroom is and stuff like that."
Whumpee startled when a loud bang happened at the door during the night.
Caretaker came running from their room.
"Are you okay?", Caretaker hurried to check on Whumpee.
"I'm okay, it happened outside", Whumpee shook, "I'm scared."
Another loud bang happened outside the front door.
"Someone's trying to get in here. I can bet you I know who it is", Caretaker hurried to where they had a gun hidden. They called the detective they had been talking to as they loaded the gun.
"Police are coming", Caretaker hurried back in and passed Whumpee, "stay right there."
The door was being kicked in now.
Caretaker stood ready with their gun raised.
"You come in here, you get shot", Caretaker yelled.
"We just want that stupid pet. We have a very unhappy buyer. Hand them over, and no one gets hurt", someone yelled.
"I'm not giving them back to you. Now that I know... you say no one will get hurt, but Whumpee will", Caretaker cocked their gun, "I'm dead serious you kick that door down... I will shoot."
"You can't shoot us all", they yelled back.
"Is that something you're willing to chance?", Caretaker yelled.
Sirens could be heard in the distance.
"No", Caretaker heard someone yell.
"We'll be back... and we will get them."
The banging on the door stopped, and running could be heard, then car doors.
Caretaker could see the red and blue lights fly past the window near the door.
The sound of tires screeching from down the road made Caretaker shake their head.
A more gentle knock came moments later.
"It's Detective", someone announced.
Caretaker cautiously opened the door, the gun still in hand.
"Rough night?", the detective eyes the gun.
Voices come over the radio.
"Good news, they got them", the detective sighed.
"Rough night indeed, I thought you said they lose the address after dropping", Caretaker sighed out some frustration.
"I suppose they can remember the address if they get into trouble. I know it wasn't planned, but I'm happy those guys are in custody. That will help a lot with getting answers."
"What about Whumpee?", Caretaker looked back and saw Whumpee fearfully peaking from a nearby corner. Tears wetted Whumpee's face; they shook slightly.
"What about them? I can take them off your hand if that's what you mean. Unfortunately, they won't have much going for them. The networks of trafficking are very deep, it will take years to find missing people and put them were they need to be", the detective talked matter of factly, "it's unfortunate, but I have to be honest about it. They won't probably have a happy ending after I get the information I need from them."
"That seems so... sad", Caretaker frowned.
"Can I talk to you on the porch?", Caretaker whispered.
"That's really what would happen to them?", Caretaker whispered.
"Yes, they would probably be put in some sort of care home. Maybe some therapy, then after a while they would go out on their own", the detective looked down, "there isn't much else I can do for them, and I'm sorry for that, I am."
Caretaker clicked their tongue on the roof of their mouth as they thought.
"They want cuddles... they want to be loved and cuddled", Caretaker thought back, "that's all they were hoping for. H-how can I... how could I allow that to be their fate. They came here thinking they were being given to someone who wanted them. Then they get me, who has already disappointed them so much. I can't allow them to lose this one thing they worked so hard for."
"Are they able to stay with me?", Caretaker questioned, "I'll know they will be safe here. I couldn't live with myself if you took them with you."
"They can stay here. If there is anything dug up about them I will let you know, but that will probably take time. We have to work out who these people are, how the networks of human trafficking are done. That will take time as well, we have to dig out records of the buyers and trace them all back. I'm talking years", the detective reminded, "are you sure?"
Caretaker thought for a moment, "yes, I don't know how this is going to go, but I couldn't live with myself if I sent them away."
The detective nodded, "that's fine. I know it's late. I will work up some paperwork for you to have and I guess some other guidelines or something. I'm not really sure what Whumpee and you will need, but I will update you on everything. Lastly, I will take that box off your hands."
Caretaker went inside after the detective left.
"Th-they aren't taking me?", Whumpee whispered from nearby.
Caretaker shook their head, "no, for right now, you will be staying here with me. I couldn't do that to you, not after everything you've been through."
"I-I get to stay here?", Whumpee watched Caretaker unload the gun and put it all away.
"Yes, for right now this is your home", Caretaker turned to Whumpee, "I have no idea what I'm going to do with you, but we will figure it out...."
Whumpee squealed and ran to Caretaker. They wrapped their arms around Caretaker's waist and hugged them tightly.
"Thankyou", Whumpee sobbed.
Caretaker looked down at them for a second as they questioned what to do next.
Whumpee sniffled... tears fell from their eyes and soaked Caretaker's shirts.
Finally Caretaker rested a hand on Whumpee's head, then used their other hand to pat Whumpee's back gently.
"I uhm, I know tonight was scary", Caretaker sighed, "but we should really get some sleep. I have work tomorrow... I'll tell you more in the morning though. Tell you how my schedule kind of goes with work and stuff. How about we try to get to sleep again?"
Whumpee nodded and looked back to where the blankets had been abandoned and their teddy bear.
"I'll sleep on the couch tonight so you're not alone", Caretaker sighed, "and will also figure out a better place for you to sleep as well."
Whumpee stretched out comfortably.
They had just sat up to see their new master.
'I'm so happy', Whumpee thought about Caretaker's words, 'I have an amazing master, who wants to keep me safe. That's almost better than cuddles, and I have my teddy near for cuddling anyways.'
Whumpee blinked tiredly and yawned.
'I'm so happy', Whumpee grinned as they stretched out again.
"I know you're awake", Caretaker mumbled, "go back to sleep."
"Okay", Whumpee whispered, "sorry."
Soon, Whumpee's heavy breathing matched with Caretaker's snores. At peace with the fact that they had finally gotten their wish.
Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.
@weirdthingweee @the-beasts-have-arrived
@sacredwrath @porschethemermaid
@monarchthefirst @generic-whumperz
@bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13
@cyborg0109 @idontreallyexistyet
@everythingsscary @skittles-the-whumpee
@expressionless-fr @theforeverdyingperson
@legendarydelusiongoatee @candleshopmenace
@ivymyers @starfields08000
@a-living-canvas @lumpofsand
@kitcatling @indigoviolet311
@whumpy-mountains @electrons2006
@kaz-of-crows @mis-graves
@decaffeinatedtimetraveler94 @sausages-things
@isikedmyself878 @daffyduckcommittedtaxfraud
@valravnthefrenchie @glennemerald
@jasperthecapser @does-directions
@jumpywhumpywriter @blackbirdsinatrenchcoat
@mylifeisonthebookshelf @thenormalestever
@starmoon-constellation @bacillusinfection
@whumpsandbumps @tobiasbones