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.”

question were watching the approaching pups with unbridled curiosity. They smelled like the people who cared for them, but they looked very strange indeed: covered in mud, insect bites and bruises,

down to sniff his head. Apparently decided it liked the way

boy, his siblings distracted the creature before it could make a true meal

gingerly petting one of it’s wooly flanks, while Ryder circled his plump arms around its long neck and Riley clambered all the way onto its back, sprawling her short arms

suddenly covered with puppies, unintentionally carrying a laughing Ryder with

Paisley murmured with a beaming smile. “Is

Riley followed the direction of its gaze, staring into the distance as her sibling continued to play. Her eyes widened when she saw movement in the distance, movement

Ryder urged

Parker fretted, looking around for anything they could use to conceal themselves from

the tall sheeps!” Paisley

the young shifter gathered beneath the animal they’d so recently been cuddling, but it seemed they were too late. The man had stopped a few meters away, kneeling down onto his haunches and c*g his head as he studied the dirty children.

him.” Paisley instructed her siblings, “you know

the field behind them, “Where did you little ones come from?” He asked, truly bewildered.

‘nything!” Parker murmured. “I

you lost?” The man pressed. “There’s not much around these parts. I don’t have the

the man attempted to 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,

l’d like to be ridden. It might throw

your names?” The man called, not

foot

my llamas huh?” The man asked

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

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

intrigued by the idea that the tall

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

one doesn’t though – you

exchanged another series of serious

Really?” Riley questioned suspiciously.

name you want.” The man nodded, “and I can introduce you