Chapter Text
The shadows were everywhere. They wrapped everything in their cold embrace, morphing branches into claws, each rustle into a threat. Tails had been dropped into this big, scary place, but nothing about it was scarier than the looks on the big foxes' faces when they opened the big, glowing ring. They looked at Tails like they hated him. He knew his extra tail was weird and people didn't like it, but did they hate him because of it? Did they wanna get rid of him?
He mewled and howled, calling out for someone, anyone, to find him. The people who lived in this forest, or near it. There had to be a village around here, right? He couldn't just be...in the middle of nowhere. If he was, he would be alone, forever and ever. He toddled through the forest, trying not to trip over the big roots and the plants as he called out for someone, anyone.
He tried to go in a straight line, but it was super hard with all these trees in the way. So he wound back and forth and back and forth, trying to find a village. He wanted to be held, for arms to wrap around him like they did to the other kits. He wanted milk, but mama wasn't here. She had left him in this big, scary forest. She had looked at him the same as the others, like she hated him. If even his own mama hated him, would anyone care? Would anyone love him? Or would he just be alone?
Another howl bubbled up from his chest. He wanted his mama, even if she hated him. He wanted a stranger, he wanted hugs, he wanted-
A pair of arms picked him up from the left. They were so warm, the clothes so soft. He leaned into the feeling, letting out another desperate howl, a plea for this kind stranger to stay. The stranger, shrouded in darkness, tucked Tails into their arms, turned around, and started walking away with him. Their chest was so warm, their hands gently running through his fur. The bounce of their walk was gentle, soothing. The howls died away. In their place came a low rumble, deep in his chest. He hadn't purred in a very long time, not since his mama last held him.
They soon came upon a golden, flickering light, like big candle. Tails turned to look at the source. A campfire, well fed and crackling softly. Beside it was a tent, held up by metal supports. He wished he could take it apart and look at it. Someone was sitting on one of the chairs, a species Tails didn't recognize. No fur except on the head, eyes small, wearing more clothes than he had seen on most boy mobians. The strange creature stood up and walked over, gently scratching Tails on the head.
He spoke in a language Tails didn't understand. Maybe he could build a translator of some kind. He had been working on one at the village with the scary people, but there was no way he could get it back now. And because they didn't speak the same language, he couldn't ask these nice people for the supplies he needed. Tails sighed, letting out a sad little yip.
The one holding him cooed, scratching behind his ears and talking in that mystery language. He opened his mouth, saying "don't understand." The person stopped, saying something else and tipping the pitch up in a question. He repeated himself, and the other said something to the one holding him. They talked amongst themselves, and the one holding him set him down on one of the logs.
Both her and the other person sat on another log. She began gesturing broadly, saying things slowly. He shook his head, pointing to his mouth, then them, then making a big, big no gesture. The pair glanced at each other, probably trying to figure out what he meant. After a few moments the woman rubbed her belly. As if to answer the question for him, Tails' tummy growled. Right. He wanted milk, but there was no way to get it now. He let out a little whine. The woman cooed again, standing and picking him up. The pair talked amongst themselves before Tails was placed on the lady's hip, and the duo began to take apart the tent.
Tails watched on in fascination as the simple construction was revealed and undone. Maybe he could build that when he was bigger! For now, his tiny body couldn't hold such a big, big tent. They poured water on the fire, too, stomping out the embers before walking off with Tails. Where were they going? Somewhere warm, like a home? He hoped so.
Where they stopped wasn't a home. Instead, it was a mode of transportation, from the looks of it. A really cool one. One that he wanted to get a really, really, really good look at. But for now, they went inside it, and he got to sit on a big stack of books and a belt was strapped over his chest. From there, he was taken into a town, where they went into some sort of hospital for animals. There, the one who held him retrieved a bottle of some kind. It was passed to Tails, who suckled on it. It...it tasted like milk. A little different, but... He stared up at the lady in confusion, even though he couldn't understand her answer. She passed him a box, and he looked it over. From the imagery, he guessed it was some sort of substitute for fox milk. They just...have this? And were giving it to him.
He slowly suckled on the bottle as the woman moved around, doing something on a curious piece of tech. It looked like one of the computing devices he was working on building. Maybe she would let him take one apart and put it back together, so he could figure out how to build one himself.
After that, he was put back in the vehicle and driven out to another part of the forest sat. There was a big, big house, at least two floors. He stared at it with wide eyes. Was this...their home? Were they keeping him here? Were they his family now? His heart lifted, lighting up with hope.
He was lifted up once again, his tails gently hashing at he was brought inside. It was neat, warm, comfy looking. He was placed on a sofa in front of another screen, different from the computing device. The empty bottle is taken from him, and He's tucked under a blankie. These people are so much nicer than the mean, scary ones back at the village. And from the looks of it, he'll get to stay with them.