The Unwanted Child
Falspar / Pyrell / Tula
"Wait, stop, hold everything!!!"
Pyrell and Tula turned to face Falspar, both sharing an equally confused expression from his sudden outburst.
“And why is that?” Pyrell asked as he set down the bags of groceries next to him. “We’re almost home."
“I...forgot the sprinkles....” He softly mumbled as he motioned the pair to head back to the market as quickly as possible. “We have to go get them before it closes!!”
The Leo just rolled his eyes. Really, he was going to walk all the way back to the market just for a bottle of toppings? “Falspar, we don’t need-“
“Sprinkles!!!” Tula interrupted and eagerly tapped Pyrell’s paudron. "Hurry, Daddy, we have to go back!! The ice cream won’t be complete without it!! Pleeeeease?”
The Leo slightly glanced to the entrance of Kalmari Forest, and then back his daughter. Of course, he’d quickly shoot down Falspar’s plea of going back to get such petty item, but Tula on the other hand....
“Sprinkles are important for ice cream, I suppose.” He smiled and grabbed the bags. “Let’s hurry up, then.” The hug and praise he received from her soon after made up for his husband’s forgetfulness.
Pyrell set the bags on the small bench outside of the store while he watched the pair dash inside to get the ‘oh so important’ sprinkles. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard the store owner shouting at them that they were already closing up. He took a seat and patiently waited for the boisterous duo to come out…which didn’t take long.
“Hey, Pyrell!” Falspar called a few minutes later. Half of his body was sticking out of the doorway, and he waved his hands to get his attention. “I don’t have any money, can you pay for it?"
“Hm?” He turned his attention to him. “And the groceries….?” Surly he wasn’t just going to leave the pile of food where someone could waltz up and take it. Sweet Nova, only Falspar would leave a months worth of groceries just for some stupid sprinkles...
The Puff shook his head and called Tula over when the Leo didn’t budge. He nudged the Sasuke and pointed to the bench. “Tula, could you wait with the groceries while we pay?”
“W-wait?? B-but....” She started to stammer and clutched on to Falspar's wings when he asked that; her mood not excited and peppy like it previously was.
The last time someone asked her to wait by herself she was…..
“It’ll only be for a minute.” Pyrell picked her up and gently set her on the bench. “Remember, if anyone tries to hurt you, dad and I give full permission to set them on fire.” He semi-joked and headed towards Falspar.
Tula anxiously watched as the two went inside. Fear soon kicked in when the pair was completely out of sight, and she quickly jumped off of the bench and peered inside to try to find them. It didn't help that the glass made everything inside the shop blurry, so when she was unable to locate the pair, she tried to open the door- unaware the owner locked it when they scrambled in.
"N-no, p-please open...." She spoke as she struggled to push one of the doors. Once Tula realized it wasn’t going to budge, she started to pound on the glass; frantically calling for one of them to return.
“D-Daddy!! Wait!! Come back!!” She cried and continued to pound- ignoring the stinging pain it was causing her each time she hit the glass. Each painstaking hit resulted in nothing. Falspar and Pyrell did not appear, but this did not stop her, however. She continued to call and hit with all her might, hoping one of them would hear her.
'What did I do wrong?' Her mind started racing when she was still unable to spot them returning. They said they'd only be gone for a minute. Although she was unable to determine how long it's been since they left, she can certainly say without a doubt that it's now been past the time they promised they'd return. With her confidence and hope thinning by each passing second, Tula could only think of one thing to say.
“I-I'm sorry! Don’t leave!!!! I...I'll change, I promise!!!" She blurted out and began to cry, “Y-you said you loved m-me….y-you...said w-we'll always be a family!!"
When the lights of the store started to shut off, Tula backed away in disbelief and started to tremble in shock when she realized what has happened. Eventually, her legs gave way and she collapsed on the floor; small sobs echoing though the empty streets of the plaza. She tried her best to hit the glass a few more times, but she eventually gave up...
“Y-you’re….not coming back….are you?” She softly whispered, slowly retracting her now bloodstained hand from the door.
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“You idiot, I told you only to buy one! We didn’t need 8 different types of sprinkles.” Pyrell huffed and looked at the receipt. “You’re lucky I’m only doing this for Tula. You do realize that I wouldn’t have went back to get them.”
“Yeah, you would~” The Puff teased and headed to the exit. “Like you said, sprinkles are important for ice c-“
Falspar quickly stopped when he noticed his daughter crying on the floor mat outside of the shop. His once cheery mood quickly changed, and he dropped the bag and pushed the door open.
“TULA!!!” Both parents rushed outside and began to frantically bombard her with questions when they saw her completely distresses.
“What happened?”
“Are you alright?!!!”
“Did someone hurt you?!!!”
Their voices lowered when she finally looked up. She reached up to wipe her tears and hugged them. This confused the pair even more, and Pyrell set Tula down and locked eyes with her.
“Tula, tell me what happened?” He spoke in a serious tone. “Did someone try to hurt you?” He said, assuming someone or something tried to harm her when they were inside. Although the residence of Kamari are quite friendly, there would be an occasional scuffle or two. He figured that wouldn't be enough to scare her since Squishes aren't that terrifying, so....perhaps a demon beast? He really hoped that wasn't the case.
She shook her head and just ran up to nuzzle the figure for comfort again. Pyrell felt her shaking in fear as she kept a firm grip and refused to let go. He looked at Falspar for support, and the Puff gave a nod.
“Calm down, Tula, it’s alright.” He said, placing a hand on the quivering frame. “We won’t be able to help if you don’t talk to us. If someone tried to hurt you, then you need to speak up."
When she didn’t speak after the fact, Falspar’s brow furrowed in anger at the one responsible for hurting her, and he stood up and pointed to the direction of their home. If she wasn’t going to talk, then it was up to him and his comrades to find out who it was. “Take Tula back home and watch over her. Tell Alto to get Teacher Bate while I get Dragato and Nonsurat. Surly with the five of us, we can-"
"D-dad, don't...." With a soft, cracked voice, Tula finally spoke and tried to stop him.
"Tula, it's alright." Pyrell hushed. "We'll find them and-"
"But...there isn't any." She quietly spoke, still clinging on to Pyrell. "No one hurt me...."
The Leo raised a brow, not convinced. "Then why were you crying, and why in Sweet Nova is your hands covered in blood? You don't need to lie to us if you're scared, Tula. We're strong enough to protect you, so don't worry."
"I...I'm not lying, Daddy. I.....I just...."
Falspar watched as the Sasuke burrowed deeper in Pyrell's arms and mumbled the rest. Eventhough he was unable to hear it, the reaction that Pyrell got from what she said was enough to know that something wasn't right.
"Pyrell, what happened??" His wings started to anxiously flex when not only his daughter was crying after she spoke, but Pyrell too.
The Leo did not speak and stood back up to head to their home. He gave a small sigh and motioned the Puff to grab the bags.
"Let's go." He said, though barely a whisper. "I think we have some things to discuss....."
Pyrell and Tula turned to face Falspar, both sharing an equally confused expression from his sudden outburst.
“And why is that?” Pyrell asked as he set down the bags of groceries next to him. “We’re almost home."
“I...forgot the sprinkles....” He softly mumbled as he motioned the pair to head back to the market as quickly as possible. “We have to go get them before it closes!!”
The Leo just rolled his eyes. Really, he was going to walk all the way back to the market just for a bottle of toppings? “Falspar, we don’t need-“
“Sprinkles!!!” Tula interrupted and eagerly tapped Pyrell’s paudron. "Hurry, Daddy, we have to go back!! The ice cream won’t be complete without it!! Pleeeeease?”
The Leo slightly glanced to the entrance of Kalmari Forest, and then back his daughter. Of course, he’d quickly shoot down Falspar’s plea of going back to get such petty item, but Tula on the other hand....
“Sprinkles are important for ice cream, I suppose.” He smiled and grabbed the bags. “Let’s hurry up, then.” The hug and praise he received from her soon after made up for his husband’s forgetfulness.
Pyrell set the bags on the small bench outside of the store while he watched the pair dash inside to get the ‘oh so important’ sprinkles. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard the store owner shouting at them that they were already closing up. He took a seat and patiently waited for the boisterous duo to come out…which didn’t take long.
“Hey, Pyrell!” Falspar called a few minutes later. Half of his body was sticking out of the doorway, and he waved his hands to get his attention. “I don’t have any money, can you pay for it?"
“Hm?” He turned his attention to him. “And the groceries….?” Surly he wasn’t just going to leave the pile of food where someone could waltz up and take it. Sweet Nova, only Falspar would leave a months worth of groceries just for some stupid sprinkles...
The Puff shook his head and called Tula over when the Leo didn’t budge. He nudged the Sasuke and pointed to the bench. “Tula, could you wait with the groceries while we pay?”
“W-wait?? B-but....” She started to stammer and clutched on to Falspar's wings when he asked that; her mood not excited and peppy like it previously was.
The last time someone asked her to wait by herself she was…..
“It’ll only be for a minute.” Pyrell picked her up and gently set her on the bench. “Remember, if anyone tries to hurt you, dad and I give full permission to set them on fire.” He semi-joked and headed towards Falspar.
Tula anxiously watched as the two went inside. Fear soon kicked in when the pair was completely out of sight, and she quickly jumped off of the bench and peered inside to try to find them. It didn't help that the glass made everything inside the shop blurry, so when she was unable to locate the pair, she tried to open the door- unaware the owner locked it when they scrambled in.
"N-no, p-please open...." She spoke as she struggled to push one of the doors. Once Tula realized it wasn’t going to budge, she started to pound on the glass; frantically calling for one of them to return.
“D-Daddy!! Wait!! Come back!!” She cried and continued to pound- ignoring the stinging pain it was causing her each time she hit the glass. Each painstaking hit resulted in nothing. Falspar and Pyrell did not appear, but this did not stop her, however. She continued to call and hit with all her might, hoping one of them would hear her.
'What did I do wrong?' Her mind started racing when she was still unable to spot them returning. They said they'd only be gone for a minute. Although she was unable to determine how long it's been since they left, she can certainly say without a doubt that it's now been past the time they promised they'd return. With her confidence and hope thinning by each passing second, Tula could only think of one thing to say.
“I-I'm sorry! Don’t leave!!!! I...I'll change, I promise!!!" She blurted out and began to cry, “Y-you said you loved m-me….y-you...said w-we'll always be a family!!"
When the lights of the store started to shut off, Tula backed away in disbelief and started to tremble in shock when she realized what has happened. Eventually, her legs gave way and she collapsed on the floor; small sobs echoing though the empty streets of the plaza. She tried her best to hit the glass a few more times, but she eventually gave up...
“Y-you’re….not coming back….are you?” She softly whispered, slowly retracting her now bloodstained hand from the door.
------------
“You idiot, I told you only to buy one! We didn’t need 8 different types of sprinkles.” Pyrell huffed and looked at the receipt. “You’re lucky I’m only doing this for Tula. You do realize that I wouldn’t have went back to get them.”
“Yeah, you would~” The Puff teased and headed to the exit. “Like you said, sprinkles are important for ice c-“
Falspar quickly stopped when he noticed his daughter crying on the floor mat outside of the shop. His once cheery mood quickly changed, and he dropped the bag and pushed the door open.
“TULA!!!” Both parents rushed outside and began to frantically bombard her with questions when they saw her completely distresses.
“What happened?”
“Are you alright?!!!”
“Did someone hurt you?!!!”
Their voices lowered when she finally looked up. She reached up to wipe her tears and hugged them. This confused the pair even more, and Pyrell set Tula down and locked eyes with her.
“Tula, tell me what happened?” He spoke in a serious tone. “Did someone try to hurt you?” He said, assuming someone or something tried to harm her when they were inside. Although the residence of Kamari are quite friendly, there would be an occasional scuffle or two. He figured that wouldn't be enough to scare her since Squishes aren't that terrifying, so....perhaps a demon beast? He really hoped that wasn't the case.
She shook her head and just ran up to nuzzle the figure for comfort again. Pyrell felt her shaking in fear as she kept a firm grip and refused to let go. He looked at Falspar for support, and the Puff gave a nod.
“Calm down, Tula, it’s alright.” He said, placing a hand on the quivering frame. “We won’t be able to help if you don’t talk to us. If someone tried to hurt you, then you need to speak up."
When she didn’t speak after the fact, Falspar’s brow furrowed in anger at the one responsible for hurting her, and he stood up and pointed to the direction of their home. If she wasn’t going to talk, then it was up to him and his comrades to find out who it was. “Take Tula back home and watch over her. Tell Alto to get Teacher Bate while I get Dragato and Nonsurat. Surly with the five of us, we can-"
"D-dad, don't...." With a soft, cracked voice, Tula finally spoke and tried to stop him.
"Tula, it's alright." Pyrell hushed. "We'll find them and-"
"But...there isn't any." She quietly spoke, still clinging on to Pyrell. "No one hurt me...."
The Leo raised a brow, not convinced. "Then why were you crying, and why in Sweet Nova is your hands covered in blood? You don't need to lie to us if you're scared, Tula. We're strong enough to protect you, so don't worry."
"I...I'm not lying, Daddy. I.....I just...."
Falspar watched as the Sasuke burrowed deeper in Pyrell's arms and mumbled the rest. Eventhough he was unable to hear it, the reaction that Pyrell got from what she said was enough to know that something wasn't right.
"Pyrell, what happened??" His wings started to anxiously flex when not only his daughter was crying after she spoke, but Pyrell too.
The Leo did not speak and stood back up to head to their home. He gave a small sigh and motioned the Puff to grab the bags.
"Let's go." He said, though barely a whisper. "I think we have some things to discuss....."
-End-
Artist Comment:
Date: April 2, 2017
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Date: April 2, 2017
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I've explained previously that Tula was sent to several different homes before Falspar and Pyrell came along. One case in particular was a family who told her to wait outside while they went to go shopping. They promised they'd return shortly, and Tula happily obliged and patiently waited for them. Minutes slowly turned to hours, and they did not return. A security guard spotted the lone, shivering figure in the empty lot well past midnight, and even then she asked if he spotted her parents. Once she was placed in another orphanage, and overhearing one of the caretakers, Tula came to the realization that they abandoned her.
This, and several other experiences, left her traumatized where she's unable to be separated from Falspar and Pyrell for very long. She hates to be left alone in fear of being abandoned and unwanted like before. Without one of them by her side, she will greatly worry and panic to the point were she may end up injuring herself to get to them. When Falspar and Pyrell went into the market, she assumed they didn't want her and ran off like her previous family. When they DID return, however, Tula was too worked up to say anything and just clutched on to them for dear life.
After understanding her reasons once they returned home, Falspar decided to gather all of his relatives (As in comrades, Friends, Guardians and Teacher) to meet her. He wants her daughter to know that he and Pyrell will NEVER do what her previous family did, and that she now has a rather large family that will always welcome her with open arms. If something were to happen to Falspar and Pyrell, both assure that she never has to fear losing her home as his comrades made a promise to take her in.
It takes many months, but Tula does end up recovering from her past experiences, and is able to fully trust the words of her parents when they say they will never abandon her.
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem