I work for the local animal welfare department, and we got called for what we thought was a dogfighting ring. It was not. It was a bitty-fighting ring. I couldn’t stop the state from euthanizing the ten or so fighting bitties, that’s the law as the view is that they can’t be rehabilitated, just like fighting dogs. But... there was a “bait bitty,” and I was able to get them to delay putting him down if I could find a rescue willing to help. 1/2
2/2 He looks to be a Horrortale Papyrus bitty. He doesn’t speak any language, just babble, but I’ve had some success with a picture board. All his teeth are broken, likely on purpose, so he need soft foods. He doesn’t like other bitties, we think he was used as both bait and a heat aid for them so he screams if they’re near, but he seems okay with humans. Anyway, I hope you can help, he doesn’t have long left. We think they just called him Bait, but maybe that should change.
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A bitty fighting ring.
Fuck.
Pardon my language, but FUCK.
I’m going to have to talk to Mama and make sure she’s aware of the situation, she came to us from a similar situation and could get violent if she thinks we’re getting a fighter. I’ll get a space together for the little guy, it’s going to be difficult to properly care for him since pretty much everybody here at the Sanctuary besides myself is a type of bitty.
As for the name... Well. No body deserves to be named BAIT.
Until he feels better and decides to choose a name for himself, I’m going to go with my gut and name this little survivor after one of my favorite Irish mythological heroes- Cu Chulainn, the mighty hound of Ulster.
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“Remember, stay out of sight until I’ve got him settled, okay? He’s scared of other bitties, pretty much the opposite of Pocket, so he’s going to be staying with us here in my room until we can figure out something better.”
“S’why y’made that house thingy?”
Cell nodded, lowering themselves down onto their knees next to the bed. Underneath, a large cardboard box had been set up much like the kennel apartments in the medbay, large enough for a nice bed and space to store clothing and personal items without feeling crowded or stuffy. Strings of tiny fairy lights were stitched through the top, giving a warm ambient glow to the comfy little space. Hopefully, the badly spooked little Horror Pap would like it...
“Okay, Brass, I’m gonna help him out of my hoodie. Could you go to your room for a little bit?”
The brassberry frowned, but nodded, moving from the desk where he had been sitting over to a ladder that went all the way to the top of a bookcase, where another box apartment had been set up, though it looked much more lived in. With their roommate out of the way, Cell hunkered down and gently reached into their sweatshirt to where the latest addition to the Center had decided to hide himself upon being given over, tucked up under Cell’s arm and making an honest attempt at melding into their turtleneck.
“Hey, Cu, you ready to see your new room? We can move it to where ever you want, but I thought you’d like the privacy under the bed.”
When the bitty didn’t respond, Cell tried not to take it personally. The Horror Pap didn’t understand really all that was going on, and had apparently never been around anyone speaking long enough to pick up any kind of language, so communication was difficult at best. So far, they had been making do with a calming vocal tone and gestures bordering on sign language, but the hardest part was trying to move the little guy without scaring or hurting him. He seemed to be really clingy and touch starved, but screamed when he was handled in any way he didn’t like, which was a frightening learning process.
Cell reached a few fingers towards the bitty, watching to make sure his eye lights were tracking, and very gently tapped him on the nearest wrist. He jolted, startled, but looked up and seemed to finally notice that it was quite a bit lighter. He clung harder, and Cell sighed, sitting back on their legs.
“It’s okay, Cu, we’ve got all night...”
Cu Chulainn the Mighty has been added to Residents.