I think I’ll eventually be doing a New Dawn AU for my boys, Jasper, Angelo and Leonardo. I can see them fitting in very well in this new world. Not sure if they will be older from surviving the Collapse or if they’re their current canon ages in the New Dawn world but still serving under New Eden (Eden’s Gate).
Characters: Jacob Seed, John Seed, Angelo Luciano, Jasper Slade, Thom Cothi
Summary: When the Hope County meets Mothman, or more specifically, a certain mothpuppy.
“Hear anything more, Eli?” The voice crackled over the radio as the Whitetail began to climb up a particularly sturdy tree. His rifle slung over his shoulder as he scouted out peggy movements. A majority of his attention had been thrown into the other side and their activities to try and drown out the never ending worry that had to do with his missing friend.
“I'm sorry Cothi but there's nothing.” The Whitetail leader let out a heavy sigh over the radio. “Maybe it's time you consider he might not be alive anymore.” It was a stagnant truth that made Thom Cothi's stomach tangle into knots. His best friend, and currently, Jacob Seed's own second and personal guard dog, had disappeared over a month ago without a trace or warning. Thom suspected a falling out with Jacob had caused Jasper to flee and hold up somewhere safe. He and the other Whitetails held hope for a couple weeks that Jasper might appear on one of their cameras, seeking asylum with them but nothing came up. Sick with worry, Thom contacted Jasper's older brother who turns out, was in the same state of panic as he was about Jasper’s prolonged absence.
Thom was trying his damn best to find productive distractions and not become overbearing on Eli, but he couldn’t help but check in frequently with the hopes of seeing some sign of his friend. He let out a heavy sigh of his own, feeling that sinking feeling once against in his stomach that rolled sickly at the thought of Jasper having died somewhere alone, scared and possibly in pain. It wasn’t a way that anyone, especially the mute deserved to go. “You know I can’t do that.” He murmured into the radio before turning it off. That signaled an end to the conversation and Eli took it in full understanding, letting the radio fall to silence.
Thom repositioned his rifle on the branch as he tracked peggies with his scope, following them on their patrols, ever creatures of habit. He mumbled a few curses about the Herald and the weakened state of his soldiers, before jotting down more information into a notebook he balanced carefully on the branch between himself and the bark. It was mostly chicken scratch welsh as he quickly scribbled it down before tucking the information away into his uniform for later. He let out a slow sigh, lining up his shot, finger on the trigger as he slowly squeezed it. A presence shifted in the branches above him, a shiver racing down his spine with the sudden realization that he was not alone in this tree. Thom’s heart thudded heavily within his chest, the hairs rising on the back of his neck as he held his breath. He shifted his hand away from his rifle as he moved to sit up, legs straddling the branches for balance when a shadow dropped down from the thicker canopy above with a high pitch squeak.
Thom let out a scream as he slipped off the branch, jolting away from the creature as he fell over the edge and smacked into the two lower branches before landing in a heap of brush down below. His back hitting with a thud as he groaned, eyes blinking up at the falling leaves, catching sight of two bright blue eyes and a flash of red. The creature squirmed in the branches above with confused squeaks, clinging to the branch Thom had been sitting on, limbs wrapped around it as if it were afraid of falling too.
It took Thom a few moments to focus enough to make sense of the creature. A big black fuzzy blob shifting into a humanish shape. Shaggy fuzz crowded around a set of twitching antennae as it’s head tilted with little squeaks of greeting. The red flannel fabric that still clung to the body, somehow held on even after being torn through the back by a set of rather large moth like wings. As they stretched out in seemingly frantic gestures, Thom could see the outer edges of the soft black wings had red spots following the front, moving back along the spinal column, they moved to an iridescent blue that faded out into the rest of the black coloring. He was speckled with white spots in the black areas. A tilt of the head showed small white spots across what Thom would only assume was the creature’s cheeks, resembling freckles.
It took every ounce of Thom’s sanity to muster his words. “Ja- Jasper?” The creature paused in its sounds before making even more excited noises, though it lacked sense enough not to let go of the branch it was holding onto causing all roughly eighty pounds of moth creature to come plummeting the ten feet down into Thom’s lap. Thom was met with more excited squeals as the creature hardly missed a beat as he nuzzled into the whitetail’s chest and shoulder, arms wrapped around him pulling him into a hug. The whitetail paused briefly before reciprocating the strange embrace, pausing to draw away and get a better look at the fuzzy creature that has become his best friend.
Jasper’s hands, as Thom inspected them while they came to rest on his chest, turned out to be paws with little black toe beans on his palms. His hands rose from the paws up through the soft fuzz that covered Jasper’s chest and the whole rest of his body. Even rising up around his face. His hands smoothed out the shaggy mess that cluttered the base of his antennae, his fingers gently petting over the long fan like antennae which were just as soft and delicate to touch as the rest of Jasper’s form. He tilted his head down, nuzzling into Thom’s palm as soft hollow purr like sounds rumbled from his chest. “That feel good Jas?” He asked softly, realizing, no matter the body, Jasper was still Jasper.
His fingers brushed past the antennae as Thom continued to explore Jasper's newfound body, brushing along his neck when his fingers hooked on something beneath the thick layers of fur. It was a lot tighter than Thom remembered it being, but as his thumb brushed over the front, he knew exactly what it was. Jasper's collar, which had once been comfortably snug on the mute was now bordering on suffocating the poor boy. A light tug on it cause sounds of discomfort to chatter from Jasper's beak, (wow, that was new) as he wiggled in Thom's lap. It was still as strong and unbreakable as ever meaning the Whitetail had only one place he could go to fix it. It was also the last place he wanted to go, but given the situation was now an emergency, he had no choice.
It took a bit of coaxing to get Jasper to stay put long enough for Thom to retrieve his belongings still balancing in the branches. He fished out a rope from his pack, looping the length carefully around his friend's waist and tying it firmly. It took a bit of time to get Jasper to follow him all the way back to the road where his truck waited for them. Jasper, despite his usual demeanor as a human was infinitely more easily distracted as a giant moth creature. Everything was worth scampering around in the grass for or pouncing on with excitable squeaks of sheer delight.
It took near twenty minutes to get Thom's things loaded into the backseat of the truck and then get Jasper to climb into the bed. He had a habit of jumping out like an overly excited canine, only he was far more unsteady on his feet and often took a tumble, tripping over himself with wings fluttering clumsily. Once he was in, Thom tied the rope down to the interior of the truck bed, having to swat at Jasper's curious attempts to chew on the rope itself. He wasn't certain rather Jasper was hungry or that's how he inspected unusual objects but given it was the only safety precaution Thom had for his friend's travel, he preferred it remain in one piece.
Thom climbed in and drove off, taking back roads and going very slow. The back window of the truck was left open in case Jasper had any concerns but he appeared content to feel the wind in his fur and his antennae twitching energetically as he inspected their passing environment. Playful chirps bubbling up from his chest as night grew closer, cloaking the landscape in shadows. The moon hanging above like a massive silvery lantern light just as Thom slowly brought the truck to park in the two track offshoot of a private driveway. It led up a handful of worn out and seemingly forgotten hunting paths that he was more than familiar with.
A last minute check on Jasper, the creature popping his head up over the edge of the truck while Thom placed Jasper's favorite sky blue blanket over his body. It had little white paw prints across it and was a gift from Thom. The Whitetail kept it inside his truck, holding out hope that he would eventually find Jasper and could wrap him up in it once again. Even if it were for the last time. He watched quietly as Jasper paused to inspect it, his paws taking hold of the edges and he let out keening purrs, his blue eyes closing as he bristled with contented sounds humming out of his body, nestling down into the bed of the truck. Thom pressed their foreheads together, feeling the twitch of his antennae as he brushed his fingers through the soft shaggy raven fur. “I'll be right back. Just wait here, Jasper.” Receiving a sound of acknowledgment, or what Thom could only assume was that, he turned on his heel and started the trek up the older hunting paths towards the Center.
He was able to move much faster now, under cover of night as he made for the path behind the walls. He checked to ensure no Chosen patrols were nearby as he shimmied up a tree closest to the walls, using a grappling hook he tossed it over to latch onto the back balcony of the third floor, swing over the wall and bracing himself as his side bumped the exterior. He winced before starting to scale the rope up to the balcony then using the ledge to hoist up to the rooftop where he carefully crawled across the shingles. He kept his body pressed low, following the same route he usually did if he wanted to drop in on Jasper and surprise him if he hadn't been out to the Den in a while. Usually doing so while Jacob was absent. This was the first time in a long time, he had done this which left him a little rusty.
A final glance around to ensure he didn't catch the attention of any chosen before dropping down to the balcony below. The doors were open, allowing for the cool night air to nestle into the Herald's sleeping quarters though he appeared to have missed that memo. There were tired bags beneath his eyes as he sat hunched over in his chair. A stack of reports rested on his desk, an unusual amount that showed they've piled up for weeks. Something that wasn't at all like the Jacob Seed Thom knew. Though, Jasper's disappearance had taken its toll on everyone. He assumed Jacob would be no different.
“What d'ya want, Cothi?” Jacob's drawl was thick, drawn heavily as he made a lazy motion to run at his weary eyes. His legs sprawled out beneath the desk, body slouched rather unsightly in his seat as if he was seconds from slipping out of the chair itself were it not for the one boot wedged against the back of the desk. Thom was startled by the question, seems Jacob never really lost his edge. Despite his mourning state.
“I need you to come with me. I found Jasper and- well...you need to see this yourself. You won’t believe me otherwise.” Thom explained quickly, watching the Herald stiffen at the mention of his pup's name. The eyes that settled on the whitetail were cold as ice, sending their rightful chill through Thom. There were emotions in those eyes that Thom was intimately familiar with on his own end but to see the ever calm and collected Jacob Seed show his hand of distress was a hard one to swallow. “Please.”
Thom begging wasn't something he often did, especially in the same room as Jacob Seed of all people. In the past, he would have sooner shot himself then beg to Jacob but the circumstances differed. Jasper was wrapped up in the middle of all of this and Thom was desperate for help. Jacob was his best shot at this point and the only one he could trust to think things through rationally.
“Alright.” He nodded, pushing himself up to his feet with an unsteady sway like he was learning how his own legs worked again. He turned for the door, motioning for Thom to follow him through the Center. The confusion from a handful of peggies was palpable as they saw a Whitetail dutifully in tow behind their Herald. Wide eyes and gaped jaws hung slack, until they were corrected by a sharp bark of command by Jacob to get back to work. The peggies scattered, clearing the halls and rooms in the snap of a finger.
Jacob led Thom to his personal vehicle, gesturing for him to get in the passenger side. A handful more peggies stood to gawk before they all made themselves look busy as Jacob pulled out of the Center and started heading down the road at Thom's direction. The drive was short since Thom did a majority of the work so far in bringing Jasper close. They pulled up on the shoulder of the road, stopping at the narrow opening of the driveway. The tail bed of Thom's truck could be seen in the faint light before Jacob turned the truck off. A flashlight in hand as he climbed out, Thom stepping around the front to join him.
“Whatever you do, don't freak out.” Thom warned as they headed for the truck. Thom's eyes catching a glimpse of the blanket in the dark before his eyes registered the problem at hand. His fingers dipping down into the truck bed to pull up the broken, apparently chewed through rope he fastened inside. The blanket remained untouched by any sign of hungry moth beak but the absence of his friend was obvious. Thom whirled around when he heard the telltale click of a gun aimed his direction.
“This some game to you Cothi?” Jacob snarled, stepping towards Thom who took a wary step back. His hands raised in defense as he shook his head quickly but Jacob didn't give him a chance to speak up. The sharp look directed at the Whitetail made him highly aware of how this looked. “I would have thought you of all people would have the decency of respect. That you wouldn't sink so low as to use him as bait.”
“Jacob, I promise you this isn't a trap. I didn't lure you out here with promises of Jasper. I swear he was right here when I left.” The words were tough to bite out, barely concealed anger bubbling beneath at such blatant accusations even if they were relevant to what the situation seemed. The Herald held his cherry red handgun more firmly, directing it at Thom's head so he could see the anger in the elder man's eyes. The hurt that twisted his features up into a snarl of bared teeth and tightly wound shoulders.
Thom felt a presence at his back, the same signal of hairs rising along his neck as before alerting him to his friend. A series of squeaks bubbled up excitedly when a furry body pressed against Thom's back. The Whitetail only had a moment to warn the Herald before the gun repositioned towards the creature behind him. “Don't shoot! Its Jasper!”
“What the fuck?!” Jacob cursed, taking a step back as the furry creature pounced forward. The Herald drew his flashlight from his pocket to see better at the shadowy figure, catching an eyeful of large bright blue eyes and white freckled fuzzy cheeks with an open beak chattering in greeting. The light only seemed to bring Jasper closer, the creature lunging for Jacob who toppled back onto the ground, tripping on his own feet in a lazy stumble. The gun fell free of his grasp in an attempt to catch himself, the flashlight rolling away to shine on the pair. All eighty pounds or so landed against Jacob's chest, wings fluttering in manic excitement as the massive fuzzy face crashed down against Jacob's shoulder, nuzzling into him. His antennae bobbing around, bumping against Jacob with hums of delight.
The Herald was shocked, eyes wide and jaw slightly agape in confusion as he struggled to gather how this was Jasper. His fingers catching the remaining shreds of the red flannel fabric on the creature's body. What little remained was enough for him to make out that it was Jasper's. His thumb rubbing along a series of repair work on one specific shoulder where it caught and tore a few times. It was unmistakable. The white spots on the creature's cheeks matched up with Jasper's own adoring freckled features and those big blue eyes, though they were more like sauce pans now in size, they were the same shade of blue as his pup's. The feel of paws against his chest was a new sensation but Jacob took them in hand, fingers rubbing over the pads of his palms before a though occurred. It took a minute for Jacob to maneuver the wiggling mess of a man in his lap enough to feel out the furry body until his fingers found what he was looking for. The collar he placed on Jasper was too tight. It was probably incredibly uncomfortable for his pup with his new body, unable even slip a finger into it like before.
“Alright, alright.” Jacob assured as Jasper's excited movements squirmed in Jacob's lap making it increasingly difficult to focus. What he wasn't expecting was the long black tongue like appendage to come out and flick across his cheek, maintaining the same old mischievous nature of his pup. “Pup.” Jacob spoke sternly, attempting to gather Jasper's attention. His body went still as the rest of him focused on Jacob, his long bushy black antennae still twitching as the breeze rustled against them.
“I need you to listen.” Jacob proceeded to explain very carefully. “Get up.” He used a hand to gesture with it. Jasper obeyed, seemingly bouncing back to his feet with a flutter of his wings giving him a boost. His paws rubbing together almost anxiously as Thom stepped forward to help the old wolf up. Jacob needed a moment to collect his fallen gun and flashlight, giving a look around as he collected his thoughts. “Alright then. Everyone into the truck.” He pointed back towards the white Eden's Gate vehicle marked clearly with the starburst insignia.
Thom opened his mouth to protest but Jacob directed a look at him. “First things first, we need to take his collar off.” With that, all protest left Thom. He never thought he'd hear those words coming from Jacob but given the fact the Whitetail has been trying to take the thing off his friend for months, this was as good as it gets he guessed. Collecting age of his things from the truck, including Jasper's blanket, they were able to pile into Jacob's vehicle which was far more spacious than Thom's own. It was a tight fit but the back was big enough to hide Jasper in as they made their return to the Center.
Despite Thom's protests, Jacob left the pair in a side room often used for Judge examinations. There were cages within, big enough for Jasper to fit inside of one. Upon entering, that's exactly what the creature did. He wiggled his way inside the cage like it was his home away from home, settling down on the large cushion that filled the base. Thom ensured the door remained unlocked and open on the cage just for Jasper's sake. Still harboring a lot of distrust with Jacob over their own trifled past. The Whitetail carefully tucked the puppy blanket around Jasper's body, watching him snuggle up inside it while Jacob left them alone to find his tools. The door to the room was locked only to prevent peggies from walking in and seeing the giant moth creature and a Whitetail militia officer.
Thom seated himself in an old desk chair pulled up to the examination table. His back turned to the table as he watched Jasper get cozy in his spot. He leaned forward in his seat, his hands coming to rest between his legs as he picked up the rosary hanging from his belt, thumbing over each bead as he waited impatiently. His olive green eyes drifting over to the cage after a couple minutes, hearing the soft ticking from his friend. A tilt of his head as he murmured softly. “Jasper?” He shifted his chair, trying to get a good look at the mute, seeing the dip in his antennae as they hung still for the first time in a while. The slow rise and fall of his chest with the subtle ticking as if the creature were purring in contentment. It took a moment for Thom to realize, Jasper had fallen asleep. A smile curling his lips as he admired the softness of his friend, no matter the body, Jasper was still Jasper.
The signal click of the lock was the only warning to Thom that the Herald returned. A small leather tool kit held in his hands. It was the kind a repairman might keep on his person, small and portable in a roll up case. Jacob glanced from Thom’s impatient posture straightening up in the chair to Jasper’s quietly sleeping form. His own smile drawing up, barely concealed beneath the red scruff of his beard as he moved to kneel beside the cage. His hand reaching gently through the bars, petting his fingers over the fur that obscured his view. “Pup, it's time to get up.” He rubbed a hand over Jasper’s head and down his back, giving light nudges to get his attention. Antennae twitched to life before Jasper leaned into the bars to press against Jacob’s hand. A low rumble of amusement bubbled up inside the herald, the first positive response Thom has seen from Jacob since Jasper disappeared.
“Come on. You can sleep all you like in a minute. You have to climb out of the cage first.” There was a series of hesitant clicks and squeaks as he seemed to nestle further into his blanket, dipping his head down in refusal. “You can keep the blanket. We just need to move you to the big table.” He pointed towards the examination table. It had deep gouges in it from the claws of Judges. Jacob’s need of it was mainly for the raised position and the installment of bright lights that helped him see better. He would also need the extra space and possibly even Thom’s help to get the collar off before it starts causing serious problems for his pup.
There was a sound of consideration before Jasper fluttered his wings in response, stretching them to knock against the sides of the cage before he slowly started to crawl backwards out of the cage. “Good boy.” Jacob preened, petting a hand down his back as he helped take Jasper’s blanket while he shuffled wearily towards the table. He practically threw himself upon it, lying belly first, his fuzzy cushioning himself against the colder metal temperature. Jacob carefully rested the sky blue puppy blanket over his back to keep him warm before proceeding to search for the back mechanism of the collar. He turned on the bright lights above, adjusting the positioning as needed while he and Thom pawed through Jasper’s fur to find their target. It took both of them, a few snips of the sheers to cut down some of Jasper’s fuzz, and some reprimanding words to keep him from wiggling around while they worked, before they managed to free him of his collar.
It took even longer, using a pair of wire cutters to maneuver around Jasper’s wings. Jacob held Jasper down so he wouldn’t wiggle while Thom cut the remaining fabric of Jasper’s flannel free of his wings and shoulders. Soft whines leaving Jasper’s chest rose during this as he watched the red checkered pieces of fabric fall to the floor. “We’ll get you a new one, Jasper.” Thom assured his friend, knowing how much the jacket meant to the mute but at this rate it was more of a danger to his person to remain tangled around his body like that.
By time all was finished, Jasper’s antennae hung with his head tilted down, staring at the shreds of what was left of his precious beloved jacket. Thom let out a heavy sigh, recognizing that mournful look in those big glossy blue eyes. He set the cutters aside and rested a hand on Jasper’s shoulder, rubbing gently up to his head to console him. He wasn’t prepared for Jasper to turn and nip his forearm with the tip of his beak. His antennae bouncing as he let out disgruntled trills of frustration. Jacob barked out laughter as Thom pulled his arm away quickly and let out a curse in welsh. Okay, Thom guessed he deserved that one. But still, it hurt like hell despite not breaking skin. It felt the equivalent of being pinched very very hard. Jasper’s displeasure easily turned on Jacob whose hands were just as much free game as Thom’s arm. A quick peck of the beak drew a curse from the Herald as well. “Serves you right.” Thom snarked, rubbing the forming bruise on his arm before turning to retrieve his bag from his chair.
Jacob shook his head, folding his arms across his chest as he watched Thom fish through his bag until a soft chime could be heard. He withdrew a rather large looking dog collar made of a soft material with red checkered flannel patterns. On the front was a little brass bell that jingled softly and reflected the lamp light in its polished shell. “This was meant for Fenrir since his old collar was getting too small but I think you need it more than he does.” Thom explained as he stepped towards Jasper, holding the new collar out as he adjusted the straps to fit around his friend’s neck. He slipped a finger underneath to ensure it wasn’t too tight before seeming satisfied.
Jacob hummed in approval as the color of the collar easily stood out against Jasper’s black fur but didn’t clash with his natural coloring. Jasper’s head picked up as he let out a series of excited squeaks at the new accessory. Jacob purred pleasantly at the sight as he stepped towards Jasper, one hand reaching inside his coat. “We found it not long after you disappeared. Your bag was wolverine food but this managed to be salvaged.” He carefully withdrew Jasper’s stuffy puppy, Ohana. The old worn out stuffed animal was well cared for since being lost to the wilds.
Jacob had sent out Chosen after Jasper failed to radio in after a mission. They found his pack, all of his belongings, including his radio and cell phone were lost at the sharp end of a wolverine that shredded it. The stuffed animal survived by some miracle, blood stained the fabric of Jasper’s pack which brought Jacob to the conclusion that his puppy may already be dead. A hard to swallow truth everyone denied for weeks and eventually succumbed to when no sign appeared as to what happened to his pup. Not even a body.
He gently placed it in Jasper’s lap, watching as his pet stared down at it with quiet sniffs and consideration before curling his paws around it. He tucked it firmly against his chest, nuzzling into the familiar body of his precious object, his displeasure melting away as he settled back on the table. Thom adjusted Jasper’s blanket, curling it around his shoulders to keep him warm beneath the lamp lights.
Without missing a beat, Thom turned towards the Herald, gaining Jacob’s attention as he spoke. “Angelo needs to know.” He stated bluntly. The herald hummed in acknowledgement, but fixed his weary glacial blue orbs on his pup, his arms crossed over his chest. Part of him just wanted to keep Jasper to himself a bit longer. This seemed like a lot all at once but the sooner they got it over with, the easier it’ll be. That and, considering the status of the situation, they were deep in the heart of the Center and eventually, someone will notice the moth creature and the Whitetail spy locked in one of the rooms.
With a heavy sigh, he raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, rubbing at his eyes as he grumbled. “You good to drive?” He inquired, knowing from past experience that his current state wasn’t at all good for long distance. There was a very high risk that Jacob would fall asleep behind the wheel on the way to the Valley.
“Keys.” Thom asked, holding his hand out to the herald expectantly. Jacob fished into his pocket to hand over the keys to his truck, his gaze pulling towards Jasper as he chuckled softly. His hand coming to rest on Jasper’s shoulder as he urged Jasper to follow them. The creature already started to drift back off to sleep in the warmth of the lamp lights.
They managed, with a bit of redirecting of peggies by Jacob, to sneak Jasper into the back of the truck. Jacob stretched his legs out across the back seat, his back pressed against the door as Jasper crawled into his lap, lying down with his chest against Jacob’s. His big fuzzy head resting against his shoulders and the rest of him curled up and content with the blanket draped over his back. Thom was in the driver’s seat and halfway down the road by time Jasper fell asleep in Jacob’s lap. The herald, despite all attempts, was quick to follow suite after nearly a week of insomnia.
Thom decided to keep his driving under the speed limit and within rational range to keep from waking his sleeping cargo. He had to admit, seeing the Herald so vulnerable was a nice side he could learn to appreciate with time. Though he doubted he would witness it very often. His olive green orbs slipping to the rear view mirror to check on the pair as he drove the long way through the Whitetails and towards the Valley. It was odd passing by so many peggies and not being shot at on the way, each cluster of checkpoints simply saluting as he drove by, acknowledging their Herald's presence in the middle of the night.
The roads crossing over into the Valley were a bit more bumpy as Jerome's people did a number on the landscape with their most recent fights against the cult. The Valley had gotten worse since Jasper's disappearance. The number of casualties tripled, the amount of bodies from the Resistance side was overwhelming and if Fall's End was having troubles surviving before, Angelo Luciano was hell bent on making it near impossible now. Thom hadn't been by this way in weeks, sensing the dark shift inside his lover since Jasper's absence. He could tell something had snapped inside him and even John appeared to be at the end of his rope in trying to minimize damages along the way. Less people were making it to atonement with Angelo on the other end of the blade.
It was nothing but destroyed vehicles and smoke from charred, recently burned buildings clotting the skyline. The lights of Fall's End were a faint beacon in the night. Thom took a different route than normal to go around the town and following back roads to avoid heavily occupied Resistance areas. The last thing he wanted to do was drive a Herald truck right through a Resistance roadblock.
By time they reached the Ranch, pulling slowly up the driveway as peggies parted to greet them. Jacob was ready awake, hearing the crunch of tires on the fancier gravel that littered his little brother's driveway. His hand brushing through the dark fur of Jasper's body as he urged him away from beneath the blankets. The Herald's legs were slowly regaining their feeling by time Thom parked and rested for a bit, waiting for word from Jacob. “So, how are we going to do this?”
Jacob shifted his legs out from under Jasper as he looked out the front window at the lit up Ranch. “Knock in the front door.” A snort of disbelief cracked from Thom before realizing Jacob was serious. He twisted in the front seat to eye the Herald as he climbed out the back door and helped Jasper stumble sleepily out of the vehicle. The Whitetail scrambled to follow, pulling the keys from the ignition and drawing up to Jasper's side, keeping him protected between their bodies. The blanket draped around him his a good portion of his body and with the shadows of the driveway hiding them. It was easy to walk out of view of peggies as they mounted the front steps.
Jacob delivered a firm knock on the door as he waited for either John or Angelo to answer. They didn't think to give a heads up but figured the peggies out front would have notified one of them that a Herald truck had entered the perimeter.
The door creaked open to greet them with a flood of warm yellow light, the heat from inside rushing out over them, the fireplace crackling in the backdrop as a single good golden eye stares them down with incredulous scrutiny. It starts on Jacob with a scowl, shifts to Thom, taking in the Whitetails sudden presence on his front porch, a hint of disinterest clinging to it before sliding up towards the shadow behind the pair. Before either of them can speak, Angelo slowly closed the door with a heavy click and retreated for the kitchen in lazy strides, leaving the pair to consider each other in silence. “Well, that could have gone worse.” Thom quipped before reaching out for the door and pushing it open.
Jacob and Thom proceeded to enter the Ranch, the Whitetail holding Jasper's paw as he guided him inside where it was warmer. Jacob followed the retreating figure that turned into the kitchen, throwing open the first cabinet on where the glass door accentuated the rather large liquor selection. Grabbing the biggest, fullest bottle he could find, Angelo removed the cork in the bottle of expensive aged whiskey and tipped his head back, letting the burn pool down his throat.
“Not even going to greet us?” Jacob drawled tiredly, his voice still thick and husky from sleeping the whole ride down. He was met with a single finger of pause from Angelo as he swallowed down each gulp of alcohol until deprivation of oxygen forced him to take a breath. With the flooding of amber light upon the Latino, Jacob could tell that the last month had taken its toll on Angelo as well. Dark shadows smudged around his eyes, creases forming in the corners making him look a good twenty years older. His features were gaunt, lacking the appeal that came from proper diet and exercise. Something Jasper had kept on Angelo about. With his absence and assumed death, it didn't surprise the soldier that Angelo had let it tear him apart. To put it simply, he looked like worse shit than the Herald himself which considering how he looked on a good day, was rather impressive to achieve.
“In case you haven't put it together, that's your brother in there.” Jacob explained, earning a sharp snarl from Angelo, a baring of teeth in warning as he cradled the bottle in between contemplating drinking it and putting it down.
Eventually he set the thought aside and corked it, carrying it into the living room where the massive fuzzy creature trailed dutifully behind Thom. The sky blue blanket barely staying on its shoulders as they made their way to the couch. Jasper pounced to the rug before the fireplace, the soft jingle of the bell sounding. Angelo took one look at the red flannel collar and sneered in disgust. “How dare you?” He growled, pointing a finger at Jacob as he stepped towards the Herald with a sharp tongue and a deadly sense of intent. “Whatever that thing is, it is not my brother. It's not a replacement for him either. My brother is dead.”
“As much as you'd like to believe that, this thing is Jasper. I don't know how or why, but that creature is your baby brother.” Jacob blanched.
Angelo turned his gaze to Thom, his lips curled up in disgust as Thom spoke up. “Angel, I cut the flannel jacket off of him myself. We had to take his old collar off as well. This is Jas.” He tried to assure, his voice soft as he held out his hand to pet it over Jasper's head, brushing fingers between his antennae.
Jasper crawled across the rug, the blanket falling off to expose the brightly colored patterns on his wings. His white freckles lighting up his bright blue eyes as he tilted his head towards his brother. Soft squeaks of greeting chittered from his beak as he hesitantly approached the elder. Angelo's hand curled into a fist, the tension strung tight in his shoulders as Jasper noticed the hostile posturing and slowly backed off. “C'mere Pup.” Jacob urged, holding out a hand to soothe the slumped posture of his pet.
Angelo turned away, heading up the steps towards the more private living space of the house, leaving the trio in the living room until John returned home. Jasper curled up on the couch, his head resting in Thom's lap as he snuggled his stuffy puppy, the blanket draped back over him. Jacob had commandeered a peggy radio and was out on the front deck talking to his brother. Angelo remained absent upstairs, surrendering the house to an eerie sort of silence Thom wasn't accustomed to.
Thom gently trailed his fingers through the soft fur of Jasper's back and along the shaggier locks around his antennae and head. To fill the silence, he started to softly sing to his friend. Starting the first verse of his favorite song, a traditional Irish folk song known as the Parting Glass. Knowing how much Jasper's heritage meant to him, Thom wanted to bring his friend what little comforts he could. His voice lifting each silky note up, taking full advantage of the acoustics of the wooden interior as it echoed down the halls and eventually drew Angelo from his quarters to investigate. It was a rare opportunity to hear Thom sing to anyone, and so far the only people fortunate enough to hear it in the past were Angelo, John and Jasper.
“I gently rise and I softly call, good night and joy be to you all.” Thom cooed to the creature, a steady rumble of purring bubbling up in the quiet as he continued. “So fill to me the parting glass, and drink to health what e'rr befalls. I gently rise and I softly call-”
“Good night and joy be to you all.” Angelo had finished the verse, his rich voice lacking its usual luster as he pulled it along in tune to the song. It wasn't as pretty as Thom's who's was tailored to singing Gaelic and Welsh with complex syllables. It had been a long time since Angelo had last sang, it being to Jasper of course.
He leaned against the railing overlooking the pair below. His movements were lazy after finishing the bottle back in his quarters. He dredged up the only reason he returned to the living room was to retrieve another bottle from the cabinet, but was distracted by the singing and his own tipsy poor decision making. He watched Jasper's head perk up as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a laser sight from one of his rifles. The dot sight was red and easy to track, tilting it to the side, he turned the light on and aimed it to the floor beside the couch, rolling it in circles as Jasper's attention switched from Angelo to chasing the little sight all around. His paws pouncing to catch it, racing around the living room and bumping into furniture along the way.
“You really think this is Jar-Jar?” Angelo asked, his voice heavy with the tinge of booze as he gave a lazy twirl of the sight, watching the creature practically roll to make the sharp turns and catch the red dot. Thom ignored his urge to speak up about the cruelty Angelo portrayed in the moment, understanding that the man was hurting worse than any of them could ever understand.
He flicked the light up towards the ceiling, not entirely sure what he expected to be the creature's response. It opened its wings and lunged up to the rafters, claws scratching and scraping along the wood as it scrambled after the light. Thom jumped up to his feet, half expecting Jasper to panic upon realizing his predicament but he was too focused on the red dot sight to seem to care. “Yes, Angel. Its Jasper. I swear to you.”
“I'll be the judge of that.” Angelo cut the whitetail off with a sharp tut on his tongue. He continued the farce with the laser before turning it off. His tongue was heavy with the word as he spoke loud and clear. “Otorno!” The accent dragged with it bordered on Thom's own but the language was wrong. The pronunciation of that word was foreign to his ears. As his gaze flickered to Jasper, he noticed the lack of movement as the creature froze in place. High pitch keening sounds echoed inside the room, shrill and ear piercing before Jasper's wings opened up and he fluttered down to where Angelo waited. His claws digging into the wood of the railing as the pair came face to face. “Otorno.” Angelo spoke more softly, his good eye closing as they pressed their foreheads together affectionately. Angelo's fingers brushed hesitantly through Jasper's fur as steady purrs rumbled out.
“Not sure if I like this new look, Jar-Jar.” Angelo jabbed softly, feeling Jasper's antennae bumping against his neck and twitching down his back. They were soft and light, fluttery with his excitement like the rest of him. Still wired and jittery. His eye rose to meet those huge blue saucer like orbs as Jasper opened his beak in energetic chattering. He leaned in and nuzzled his brother fondly before Angelo wrapped an arm around his waist and easily scooped him up. “Lost some weight though.” He gave a sound of surprise, shifting Jasper in his arms as he tried to take a guess. “Damn.” He blanched, taking careful steps down to the living room.
Thom was waiting by the couch as he watched the brothers settled into a somewhat normal state of interaction. Angelo carefully set Jasper down, holding him until he was steady on his feet, on hand resting upon his shoulder as he looked from the whitetail to the moth body. “Where did you find him?”
“Stuck up a tree. He fell on me.” He shrugged, reaching up to pat Jasper on the head, making a mess of his fur and running his fingers through it to make small mohawks in it. “If it wasn't for the collar and bits of red flannel, I don't think I'd have recognized him.” Thom explained, plucking at little curls of fuzz and spreading his hands across Jasper's body. He couldn't get over just how soft he was. It honestly should be illegal. “Jacob helped me fix him up.” He flicked the little brass bell hanging from the collar to prove a point.
“And then you brought him here to me?” Angelo questioned, slipping a hand behind Jasper, sneaking under his wings to stroke across his shoulder blades and back. Jasper appeared on the verge of melting between all the physical contact. The majority of his weight shifting to lean against Angelo's sturdy frame.
“You wouldn't have believed me if I told you.” Thom explained.
“Good point.”
“Plus,” Thom continued, brushing his hands off on his pants as he stepped back. “he has nowhere else to go to be safe.” Jasper perked back up after a moment, pulling away from Angelo's touches as something new gathered his attention. Angelo didn't seem to mind, crossing his arms across his chest as he continued to speak with Thom.
“I'll talk with John, see what we can do. If worse comes to worse, we can use the cabin.” He explained, giving a gesture towards the ranch as they continued their conversation, seeming to lose track of their mothpuppy. It wasn't until Jacob returned inside, finding Thom and Angelo in deep consideration with the absence of both moth and sound that the Herald spoke up, interrupting the pair.
“Where did pup go?” Jacob asked.
Thom and Angelo both opened their mouths to speak, gesturing towards the space beside them where a moth creature had been only to find the living room empty. A hush from Jacob signaled the sounds of a soft bell chime coming from upstairs. The trio rushed up the steps in pursuit, Angelo leading the charge as his good eye settled on the open bedroom door at the end of the hall. “Jar-Jar?” He inquire, answered only by another soft chime of the bell. He glance over his shoulder at Thom and Jacob who appeared just as puzzled as they were as to why their pup was this far into the Ranch. Pushing the bedroom door open revealing the neatly organized view of John's bedroom, they scanned their surroundings to find another door open adjacent to the bathroom. “Jar-Jar? What are you doing?” Angelo asked aloud, pulling the next door the rest of the way open.
The barely stifled laughter could be heard when they found the massive moth sitting on the floor like a toddler with an assortment of colorful silk ties pooled on the floor. The racks they had previously been so painstakingly and neatly arranged upon were tumbled to the ground. A long particularly expensive looking blue tie was halfway through the process of being eaten by Jasper who preened over the delicious fabric. His antennas bobbing as he munched away on his snack. A snort from Thom broke the quiet as he offered, barely holding himself together for the sake of seriousness. “Maybe you should consider the cabin option first.”
Angelo nodded, straightening up as he started wringing his intoxicated brain on how he'll explain the loss of his ties to his boyfriend. “Good idea.” Thom's resolved lasted about that long before he was breaking down into hysterics.
Jacob snickered quietly while Jasper held up a vivid purple tie to Jacob in offering, the Herald taking it to consider its cost, eyeing up the price tag before setting it back down for Jasper to finish up. “If you tell him this is a test from God, he might believe you.” His lips curling up into a smile as Jasper sucked the rest of the tie up like a spaghetti noodle and parted his beak to let out a belly rumbling belch. He lifted the purple tie to his beak and started working away on that one next.
