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| | From:  proteuskat1 (Original Message) | Sent: 1/26/2008 12:58 AM |
For those of you that haven't read this elsewhere, it follows the events from season 1.
Episode 1: Doubt
“Does anyone else feel this way?�?Shakespeare silently asked himself. “does any one enjoy this the way I do? The cool breeze coming off the dunes running through my fur. The knowledge that I am protecting the family, ensuring their future. Not to mention the way Mitch and the others look up to me.....I think too much.....but why does Pozzo hate sentry duty so much? He's lucky I don't tell dad how many times I take his turn. Of course, if he knew how much I loved this, he wouldn't offer it to me.�?The sky was a brilliant blue. It was the afternoon, but a cool breeze was blowing from the west and Shakespeare knew that things would always be this perfect as long as he stayed sharp.
Flower's lead calls rang out and everyone followed. “Shakes, wait up!�?Mozart called. “Did you get anything to eat?�?“I got enough.�?He replied. Mozart rolled her eyes and said, “you know, I don't know why you won't let me bring you food when you are taking everyone else's turn at sentry.�?“It wouldn't look right, I want to be seen as a leader.�?He insisted. Mozart rolled her eyes again and said “Oh, please! You just don't want anyone to see that you need a girl's help!�?Shakespeare chuckled and said, “Just don't tell Mom!�?He started chasing Mozart and they darted through the brush the same way they have done since they were pups.
As fast as they started they stopped. Shakespeare and Mozart stood in unison, raised their noses to the wind, and Mozart said “You smell that?�?Without answering her he yelled “SNAKE!�?Everyone froze, turned toward Shakespeare and followed. They've done this a hundred times, but Zaphod always barks instructions. Shakespeare realized in a split second that there was no barking. In fact, Zaphod had run ahead of the rest to watch for predators and was too far away to smell the puff adder or hear the alarm calls. Shakespeare didn't hesitate to take charge when he saw that Flower was still a ways off. “Come on, Pack in tight!�? “Keep your eyes on him!�?“Daisy! Keep your weight on your hind legs!�?Over to his right, Shakespeare noticed Pozzo in the mob even though Flower had told him to be sentry during any mobbings. It made sense. He was a big guy and not as quick as the others. Shakespeare took his eyes off the snake just for an instant and yelled “Pozzo! Get on sentry!�?It was an instant that would stay imprinted on his mind forever. Before he could get his eyes back on the adder, he felt something. He caught some movement out of the corner of his eye, and something touched him in a way he had never felt before. His mind churned out thoughts in a blink of an eye; “Daisy's not close enough to have bumped me�?“I twisted my knee�?“I pulled a muscle�? Instinctively, in the same movement he turned to look at his left leg and he felt the same thing on his cheek. He had spent his life training himself to know what to do in any situation, but that failed him now. He backed off. He thought to call for someone to take his place, but when he started to open his mouth, a pain shot through his head like a bullet. It didn't scare him, it baffled him. He started to sit back and the same pain shot through his hip and up his spine. “what is wrong with me?!�?he yelled aloud. His mental discipline kicked in and he knew he better get out of the way. He couldn't help his family now. It wasn't until he got a few yards away and laid down that he realized the relevance of the thought he just had. He turned to lick his leg and finally saw two drops of blood about a half inch apart. It was suddenly clear to him. This is it. This is how it ends. Things were getting fuzzy. His mind was slowing. He raised his head and was startled that it took so much effort. There was Mozart in front of him, her eyes already full of tears. “I'm sorry, Mo.�?He said with difficulty. Mozart's voice was shaky but firm as she said “Shut up! I'm going to get you home and you are going to beat this! Don't you dare start saying goodbye!�?For the first time in his life, Shakespeare had to rely on someone else's strength, and he was amazed that he wasn't as repulsed by it as he always assumed he would be.
The next three days were a blur. He had only a few memories that he knew were real. There was one unifying link between them; Mozart was there. In fact, she never left him for more than the time it took to round up a grub for him. It was pointless. He couldn't open his mouth, much less eat anything. The family conducted business as usual. Flower checked on him, but she had 30 other children and Grandchildren to look after. After a week, he could forage a little. Another week and he helped chase off some rovers. After a month he was almost back to normal, but his idea of normal was much different now than it had been before.
He no longer felt like a part of the family. He felt like a liability instead of an asset. It wasn't because his family treated him any differently. The difference was within Shakespeare himself. He wasn't the same. He had lost something. Speed, Strength, confidence. Something.
It wasn't long before the dreaded moment came. Even though the pain had never completely left his leg, Shakespeare acted like nothing had ever happened. He bit his lip and never let the others see the change that he knew had happened. Now, though, was the first chance to prove himself. Alarm calls were going out and everyone was grouping under a tree. “What is it?�?He called. “Lazuli�? Zaphod answered. He continued “I'm taking center, Shakespeare, you flank left!�?“I see Aretha, I'm taking her!�?Flower commanded. Mitch was nosing his way to the front and stopped next to Shakespeare. “What do I do?�?He said. Shakespeare turned to him and said, “You get on my tail and follow me.�?“NO!�?Flower yelled. “You are too young, Mitch, you stay here and watch. Got that?�?She continue her gaze at Mitch until he finally said “yes ma'am.�?and slinked off to the rear. Shakespeare looked at Flower with anger. The last time she dressed him down like that in front of the others was when he was a pup. “You got a problem with that?!�?She said. He looked away and said very tersely “No.�?“CHARGE!�?Zaphod yelled. Charge they did. The stability of the last two years have allowed the Whiskers to perfect their fighting tactics. Like Leonidas leading his Spartans, Zaphod entered every battle with the simple knowledge that only one result was possible; victory.
As Shakespeare ran, he knew that he wasn't as fast as he was used to being. “it's the sand�? he thought, “it must be softer here.�?He saw that Big Sy had stacked Shakespeare's side with six or seven large males. The Lazuli are smart, and they've fought the Whiskers often. They knew that Shakespeare was always on their right and they keep adding more and more strong fighters there to stop him. Shakespeare had always thought this was funny. He can take it, and it opens up the middle to make Zaphod's job all the easier. There is no reason to think that this time would be any different.
They were only yards away from him now. He loves this part. He had perfected a head fake move that makes them look stupid every time. He bobbed his head to the left and leaped off of his left leg just like he always does but this time he doesn't get high enough. He realizes it immediately and is helpless as Shoy and Padloper catch him in mid-air. They slam him to the ground and go at him. He is on his back with six meerkats tearing into him. The ordeal only lasts about thirty seconds, but to him it feels like an eternity. He is finally able to turn over and run. He shakes his attackers and returns to the fight, but by the time he gets back, the Lazuli are retreating. He can feel and taste the blood on his face, but he's had worse. He spots Zaphod standing beside Zarathustra and walks toward them. As he nears, he sees that Zara's face is torn and swollen. Zaphod turned to him angrily and said “Look at him! Shoy did this to him. Shoy was YOUR responsibility! Now look, Zara will be out of action for a while.�?Shakespeare had never felt shame before, but he was looking at the results of not doing his job, and he hated himself. “I'm sorry Dad, it won't happen again.�?he said. Zaphod looked at him and replied, “You are right, it won't happen again. I'm putting Kinkaju in your spot from now on. Understand?�?Almost inaudibly, Shakespeare replied “Yes sir.�?BR>
Once everyone returned to the borough, there were many injuries and Mozart, as usual, was the head nurse. She came to Shakespeare and started to lick his face. “Stop that!�?he said. “Shakes, I have to clean that or else it will get infected�?she insisted. Shakespeare moved his eyes to hers and said “I don't care if it does�? “Oh, so you will fight your way through a double snake bite in order to die from a little scratch?�?His eyes moved slowly over all of the injured meerkats and said “it should have been worse.�?Mozart looked at him puzzled. “What do you mean?�?He looked back to her and explained, “Most of these wounds were my fault. I didn't chase off a single 'kat. Not one. They tore me up and this was the result.�?Mozart had never heard him talk like this and thought for a minute. “Mitch said you jumped head-long into six Lazulis. He's still over there bragging on you.�?“What does he know?�?he replied, “He's a pup!�?Mozart started combing his face with her claws and said, “Shakespeare, you're getting over a snake bite that would have killed anyone else. Plus, we're a little short since Mom kicked Tosca out. Everyone is learning new roles. The worst thing that happened today is something that I thought I would never see....�?“what's that?�?he replied. “You feeling sorry for yourself.�?She stared at him until he could no longer avoid her eyes and with a slight nod, he said “You're right, I'll stop.�?Mozart stood up, kissed him on the forehead and said “Now that's the Shakespeare I know.�?BR>
Two weeks passed. The fight and the wound were becoming a memory. Shakespeare started taking his normal roll at sentry again. Life was easy, but there had been a few dramatic moments. Daisy lost two pups, Mitch got very sick, Uncle Youssy was acting a little weirder than normal. They haven't seen the Lazuli or the Gattica for two weeks, but Tosca is still lurking around. Zaphod had started acting nicer to him and Shakespeare started feeling his old self again. “Hey Shakes!�?Without taking his eye off of the horizon, he replied to Mozart “What?�?“Come share this millipede with me, I'm stuffed.�?He started to reply to her as he always had but this time he stopped and thought. “OK�?he said and ran over to her. When he got there, she gestured toward the ground and said “there you are.�?He looked down and saw a piece of millipede no bigger than an ant. He looked up at her and said “You little......�?Before he could finish, she started laughing out loud and shot off running. He ran after her yelling. They darted in and out of the grass, around trees and under bushes. Mozart was heading straight for a large Drie Doring bush and tripped over herself and came to rest directly under it. Shakespeare slid in right beside her and said breathlessly “I guess you're going to tell me that was an accident.�?“Of course it was�?she said as she arose. She pointed beside Shakespeare's head and said “Wow, would you look at that!�?Shakespeare turned his head and saw a huge scorpion that was freshly killed and had it's stinger removed. He rolled his eyes and turned back toward Mozart to tell her that she wasn't fooling anybody and saw that she was gone. All he could do was smile and think to himself, “You are something else, Mozart.�?He ate the delicacy and laid down on his stomach. The sun went behind a tree and Shakespeare watched his family with a sense of satisfaction. He thought about the events of the last two months and said to himself, “Shakespeare Whiskers, you are one lucky meerkat.�?/FONT> |
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Ohhh this is a sweet story. Wherever did you find it? TornadoWarning-Protective-Shakespeare Quirkie[the slew] |
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TW, Pro wrote it. Isn't it wonderful? |
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