Chapter Text
A boy was digging through heaps of trash, selecting small items and placing it in a small bag wrapped around his body. It seemed to fit perfectly on him. His oversized clothes draped over his body with small on his head and the small of his back that flickered every now and then as he put a plushie into the pouch.
The bump perked up before the door opened behind the boy. Someone was coming for the boy.
"You're the trash raider from the reports! I won't let you get away!"
Quickly, the boy threw heaps of trash at the Apostle and the reinforcements as they reeled away in disgust. Meanwhile, while they were distracted by the filth, the boy crawled into the chute, turning into a wolf, making his getaway.
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Rudo sniffed the air as Chiwa was called by her mother to go home.
"Well see you later, Rudo!"
There was another familiar person in the area... one that smelt both like the pit and the one beyond the barrier. Upon recognition of the scent, Rudo looked up from the plushie and stared from behind the wall. It was the man who looked after Rudo for all these years-
"Regto. I know you're there!"
The two of them had a closer bond than any people had with them for a good few reasons, and Regto was one of the two people he trusted amongst the Tribesfolk.
"Uh I'm not gonna sell it, so I want you to... Classic!" Regto grinned, teasing Rudo as he appeared from behind the wall.
"R-Regto! You saw?! Stop it!"
Regto laughed, "You really need to be direct with your mind! Come on Rudo, let's go home and chat. I know you went out trash collecting last night, you smell like it."
Rudo gulped.
When the two arrived home, Regto sighed as the both of them revealed their ears and tails. Only here they were safe to do so.
"Rudo, we're still family even if we aren't related. I know what you've been up to. Now, let me check your arm, you got shot, didn't you? Let me fix it up for you- and I'll change the bandages on your arm as well."
Rudo reluctantly showed him the wound on his arm and gave Regto one of the many bandages nearby. It was only a scratch! But he was too naïve to think that Rudo wouldn't notice. He should've knew that Regto was also different like him in a way - being able to transform into a wolf and have its traits. It was an animal long extinct, Regto had told him that due to his vast knowledge of ancient history, yet the two of them could become one of them. Clearly, Regto would've known about the wound due to the stench of blood. He was used to the smell.
"I don't want you going there again, it's dangerous, they won't let you off so easily, especially for the fact that they know what you look like as a wolf. What did I say about turning?"
Regto looked down at the wound and started wrapping it up with ease. Apparently, it took Regto practice and practice after the first time Rudo got his bandages redone when Rudo was first adopted by Regto, but now Regto could do it with ease. If Rudo's shit for a father hadn't wounded his arms then... never mind.
"Not to do it in front of the Apostles."
Rudo's tail flicked.
"Yes. You need to be careful, Rudo. One misunderstanding, one mistake or serious crime, they'll drop you into the pit, it's been the law ever since our ancestors lived. You need to take care of yourself and the things you care about in this crap of a world! I love you, ok. "
Regto sighed again, tying up the bandages and put Rudo's gloves back on him.
"So don't hurt yourself going around collecting trash, ok? So don't try appeasing me."
Rudo nodded, "I know... I'm just trying to thank you, as part of my family."
Both of their heads perked up as an odd smell stayed outside. Rudo growled. It felt weird.
Regto frowned at the scent then patted Rudo's head and smiled, "Now, let's have dinner, probably just some straggler. Now fix that scowl of yours!"
The two woke up early and peacefully ate breakfast together before going off to do their usual routine. Yet today Regto seemed a bit off. He was pacing around the room more often than usual. Did he cause him stress yesterday?
"Hey Rudo, don't come home until the afternoon unless you win Chiwa over! She's cute for you, no? Win her over or else someone'll go swooping in! You won't get the chance if you get arrested so behave yourself ok!"
Stress? Probably not. It was just him worrying about Chiwa.
"What why?!"
"Do it or no lunch!"
"Fine!"
Rudo grumbled, opening the door letting the first few rays of the morning sun reach him.
"Oh Rudo!"
He turned around to face his father.
"Don't forget this and make your move! Make sure you smile!"
Regto playfully threw the plushie Rudo had found two days ago. The very one he planned to give to Chiwa.
"Thanks! I'll see you later!"
Rudo ran home in excitement. Never mind that reoccurring smell from earlier. Chiwa accepted the plushie! She said- Oh it was too exciting! A million of emotions lit up on Rudo's face as he ran back home.
Thump thump thump!
His heart raced. Chiwa really said that she loved him! He had to go tell Regto! He needed to tell him it went well! Screw what he said about coming back in the afternoon, Rudo had to tell him!
Slamming the door open, out of breath, he stared at Regto who seemed to curled on the couch as a wolf.
"Rudo? I told you to come back in the afternoon!" He barked.
Rudo's tail wagged excitedly after he shut the door.
"Listen to this, Regto! She accepted it! She said she'd treasure the plushie forever! She said she loved me too!"
"What? No way! Go back and tell her directly that you like her! You knew her for a while now!" Regto's ears perked up and playfully tapped Rudo with his giant paw.
"I just ran though! How am I meant to know where she lives! And besides, she probably hasn't had breakfast yet.
A knock came on the door. Surely it wasn't an Apostle... was it?
"I'll get it!"
He ran over, and hid his ears and tails. Who knew who would be by the door.
Rudo looked up. A tall masked man stood menacingly by the door with a large sword in hand. Was he an Apostle? No. It couldn’t be. The Apostles were too snobbish to wear a mask like the man in front of the door.
"Hi, how can I help you?"
The man smelled weird. He smelled as though he were from the centre of town and the Pit simultaneously, just like Regto did. But unlike Regto, this man had a cold air to him.
Silence.
The man brought back his arm, hand on the hilt. The glint of the sword reflected the rays of the the sun, twinkling in every direction until it got closer, shadow covering it soon.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The man smelled oddly familiar too. It was the same smell that loitered around their house for a few minutes yesterday. The same odd smell that was near when he talked to Chiwa.
Rudo was sent flying as a fast movement of black fur moved him out of the way.
Rudo's body went cold.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Regto!"
A warm putrid smell slowly started filling the air, blocking out any other scent in the air. It was blood. Regto's blood.
The masked man took the book Regto had on the table and walked away. No warning, no conservation. Just straight violence and brutality. No mercy.
Rudo rushed and grabbed the bandages for his hands and started packing it into Regto's wounds.
"Rudo."
He glared at the man walking away, still applying pressure onto Regto's wound, "Come back here, you bastard! You're going to pay hell for this!"
Regto suddenly held onto Rudo's arm, "Kid... Listen to me."
He immediately looked down at his father, the way he looked at him.
"Run. Leave me here."
"What? No! I'm not going to leave you here! You're going to die! Regto stay with me!"
"No- you'll get caught with me! Just... go," Regto heaved, grumbling his words out.
Rudo's breath hitched, tears dropping as he applied more pressure onto the wound.
Soon, the Apostles came and grabbed his arms, pulling him away from Regto.
"You murderer! We witnessed you kill your guardian - your accomplice in raiding the trash."
"No! He's not dead! Listen to me! Just listen! Someone's gotta help him! He's still breathing!"
Rudo looked down at his father, staring in horror as they also dragged Regto's body. Spools of blood dragged behind him as he lay on the floor, breathing heavily. There was so much blood. All of it was his fault. If he only listened to Regto. And they'd put the blame on him.
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"Send them to the pit!"
"Send them to the pit!"
"Send them to the pit!"
"Regto didn't do anything! He's being framed! Believe me! It was all me-"
Only jeers and came. No one listened.
Rudo looked up to see Regto breathing heavily beside him, clutching at the wound where the sword had stabbed him. Regto was quiet.
Because of Rudo, Regto was suffering the consequences.
The rope snapped as Rudo fell first, the Pit engulfing his vision just as he saw his father fall in after him, barely conscious.
Rudo reached out for Regto.
Rudo couldn't get to Regto.