Chapter Text
Skid and Pump waited outside their school for Lila to pick them up. However she was taking much longer than usual. Skid’s pin feathers fluffed up as a cold breeze wisped by, Pump sinking his reptilian head further into his scarf.
Skid looked a lot like his mother, at least how the baby of their animal counterparts should be. They were both Harpy Eagles, but the boy had some odd black markings that made him look more like his favorite Halloween costume.
Pump was more of an odd case. His grandpa and sister were Bearded Dragons but he was a Frilled-Neck Lizard. Susie tried calling their parents but she never got a response. Even after several other dozen attempts they never got a response.
“Hey! Freaks!” A voice called out that wasn’t familiar to either of them. Ignoring it as they kept an eye out for Lila, maybe the wind was slowing her down. But then a weasel entered their vision, a badger right behind them. “Don’t ignore me when I’m talking to you.” The weasel sneared, getting right in their line of sight. The badger glaring right behind the weasel. “Hand over your lunch money,” the weasel snarled.
“Uh- what lunch money?” Pump asked, genuine confusion in his voice as he looked at Skid. The small eagle shrugged back in equal confusion.
“Don’t play dumb!” The badger finally spoke.
“Yah, you have to have something!” The tall weasel snapped. Both of them looked furious.
The two boys looked between each other, uncertain on what to do. The older mammals got closer to them as footsteps boomed towards them. The weasel and badger stopped in their tracts, looking up in fear as a shadow casted out the little sunlight there was on that cloudy day.
The mammals backed away, still looking up in fear, and with a familiar snarl they turned tail and ran. Leaving Skid, Pump, and whoever the shadow belonged to.
They turned and looked up at the looming figure. A polar bear with a wide, toothy grin looking down at them.
“Grunkle Bob!” The kids cheered, then they realized how odd it was for him to be here. But that did explain why it took them so long to be picked up. Usually Lila would just fly over and scoop them up, but that didn’t explain why it was Bob who picked them up. At least Frank had a van.
“Hello there, hope y’all weren’t waiting out here for too long.” The bear greeted. Ever since Bob became a Polar Bear he’s had a hard time telling how cold it’s been getting. To him it still feels like an early fall, hopefully summer takes its time coming back around.
Usually Bob stayed at home and cooked lunch while Lila got them. Rarely did anyone else in the house get an opportunity to cook a major meal since he came around. The last time someone else cooked was because the bear had gotten a fever and could barely pull himself out of bed.
“Wait a minute, what are you doing here?” Pump asked, almost playfully accusatory.
“Oh come on now. Is it that hard to believe I offered to pick you up?” The bear sounded amused by Pump’s accusation, which he indeed was.
“Did you have a fight with Uncle Frank again?” Skid questioned.
“Me!? I would never!” Bob sounded jokingly offended, a hand placed on his chest with feigned sincerity.
“Yah right!” The boys shouted, pointing at the polar bear.
“Ha!” The bear stood up straighter as he barked a laugh. “You know me too well,” he then huffed amused, “Now let’s get going, Ms.Lila is cooking up something mighty fine for lunch!”
“Can we stop for some candy first?” Skid asked, holding onto the cuff of the bear’s red sweater.
“Pleaseeeee,” Pump begged from his other side.
“Hmmmm… I suppose, you know I can't say no to candy.”
“Yay!” The children cheered before they changed their direction to take a detour that would have them pass by the candy store.
“As long as we’re quick, don’t want to worry your mother now. Right Skid?” Bob asked, Skid nodding profusely in agreement.
Finally they made it, entering the store with a slight ring of the door alarm. Bob looked around, he hasn’t been here since that Halloween night. Interesting how things change. But without that damn amulet in his chest he’s been thinking a lot clearer.
There was a lynx at the table, seeming nervous. Probably just a reaction to him though.
One good thing about being animals now was that it was hard to recognize him, it didn't help that he was legally dead either. So far, even on his rare instances of leaving the house, no one has connected him to serial killer and cannibal Bob Velseb. Not like he ate people anymore, Lila threatened to expose him to the police and kick him to the curb if she ever found out he started killing again.
The kids gathered what they wanted, Bob also grabbing a paw full of candy before fishing for his wallet. He didn’t have much, without his job all he has is a ‘candy allowance’. Which was quite annoying but what was there to do? Not like he had a job anymore.
“Will that be all sir?” The Lynx’s voice warbled.
“Hi Kevin!” The boys shouted as they placed their candy on the counter.
“Hello kids,” the lynx greeted rather reluctantly.
“Hm. Yes, that'll be all.”
“Your total will be $18.75”
Bob then handed the Lynx two $10’s, “Keep the change.” He gathered the bagged candy.
“Bye Kevin!” The children waved before turning and darting away, leaving the bear in the dust.
“Now hold on!” Bob called after them but they were already gone. The bear let out a deep sigh and hurried after them.