The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

3rd Person

The pups were so exhausted after facing the anaconda and the landslide that they stopped for the night shortly afterwards, taking care to carry a few mangoes with them as they clambered up into the branches of a rubber tree – safe from the dangers of the forest floor. The next day they woke and made a breakfast of the sweet yellow fruit, before continuing to trek downhill.

Around midday the endless sea of trees and vines finally broke, giving way to rolling green hills and fertile pastureland. As Riley, Parker, Paisley and Ryder plodded through the muddy fields, each feeling more exhausted and hungry than they’d ever been in their lives, they tried to figure out what to do next.

“| dunno how we can make a plan, when we don’ even know wheres we are” Parker sighed, feeling as though their conversation was going round in circles. Every time one of the siblings came up with an idea, the same wrench seemed to get thrown into the suggestion – that they were well and truly lost.

“Do you think Mommy and Daddy know we aren’ in the city ‘nymore?” Ryder questioned nervously.

“| bet they do.” Riley mused. “They’re really smart, and Daddy’s such a good tracker.”

“But we made it ‘mpossible for Anita to track us, and that goes for Daddy too.” Paisley reminded the others, “he’ll never know to look for us here… wherever here is.”

The others nodded forlornly, but then Parker – who was leading the way – pulled up short. “You guys, look!” He exclaimed, pointing to the terraced landscape ahead of them.

“What are they?” Riley gasped in awe, staring at the strange creatures dotting the fields they approached. None of the pups had ever seen animals like this. They were tall, easily as tall as their Mommy, with long necks, long legs and very furry bodies. They had two little ears pointing up on top of their heads, and the curly white fluff covering them from head to toe looked as soft as a cloud.

“They look like sheeps on stilts.” Ryder suggested, desperate to get a closer look.

All four pups inched closer to the nearest animal.

They’re so fuzzy.” Paisley observed with a lopsided grin, “do you thinks they’re friendly?”

“They haves to be.” Riley confirmed, “they’re so cute | could scream.”

“Don’t do that!” Parker objected, “It might scare them off”

“I didn’t say I would scream, just that I could.” Riley answered, sounding affronted her brother might think she’d do something so foolish.

“I wanna hug ’em.” Ryder announced, “maybe if we’re really nice they’ll let us.”

looked very strange indeed: covered in mud, insect bites and bruises, and moving like tiny predators trying to sneak up on some unsuspecting prey, with they’re small paws raised

Apparently decided it liked the way the pup smelled, the fuzzy animal

the creature before it could make a true meal of his

Ryder circled his plump arms around its long neck and Riley clambered all the way onto its back, sprawling her short arms and legs

be suddenly covered with puppies, unintentionally carrying a

with a beaming smile. “Is so

as her sibling continued to play. Her eyes widened when she saw movement in the distance,

Ryder urged his

for anything they could

the tall

but it seemed they were too late. The man had stopped a few meters away, kneeling down onto his haunches

him.” Paisley instructed her siblings, “you know how strangers are – they can’t be

others nodded in agreement, huddling closer together. Meanwhile the man was searching the field behind them, “Where did you little

tell him ‘nything!” Parker murmured. “I don’ like the

these parts. I don’t have the faintest idea how

inch closer. However this sent the wary children running to take shelter under a different animal, one who seemed remarkably unbothered by their presence. “Maybe we can try to ride one away.” Riley offered, thoughtfully studying the creature’s long legs, “I bets

don’t thinks l’d like to

names?” The man called, not giving

shouted, stomping his foot when the

llamas huh?” The man asked conversationally. “1 don’t blame you, they’re friendly

asked, earning a light smack from his sister. “Don’ talk to him!” Riley scolded, but the truth was that

shared, giving them a welcoming smile. “1 raise them for their wool, soft aren’t

exchanged glances, subconsciously clutching the creature’s fuzzy wool for comfort. Paisley, intrigued by the idea that the tall sheep might belong to someone, peeked out from behind the llama’s front leg. “Do they

them do” The man confirmed, sitting on the ground now that the children weren’t

though – you could give it one.” He

pups exchanged another series of

Really?” Riley questioned suspiciously.

man nodded, “and I can introduce you to