Regret and Sunshine

After finding a place to settle down for shelter and food, Scarlet, Flen, and Blackwood grew closer. Blackwood seemed to have a knack for befriending animals. Later, they saw a small creature that looked like Pim. After Blackwood gave it a small sample of worm meat, it devoured it completely and was happy. It fell asleep curled up after feeling full. They decided against waking it up and waited for it to wake up again.

The small Pim yawned, and its eyes slightly opened. It then pressed its nose to the ground smelling its herd scent home. Out of curiosity and to make sure it returned home safely, the group followed the small Pim home. They were amazed to see a whole herd of them. There were Pim of all sizes.

Scarlet’s eyes sparkled.

I’ve never seen this many Pims before!

There were some playing and tackling with each other. One of them was trying to bite the other’s tail. Some were bathing in a small pond on their backs, relaxing.

In the center of all of the ruckus, there was an ill one shivering and sweating. The others were surrounding it. They crowded up against it keeping a tight circle around it. They were making some sad mourning sounds. They were unable to help the sick creature and were saddened.

Wooa Wooooa Woooa

Blackwood slowly walked closer over to that one in the center. The other ones were immediately protective of it and snarled at him. They did not welcome him.

Hiss Hiss Hiss Hiss

Flen and Scarlet were still in the bushes, watching this unfold. She was worried for Blackwood.

Blackwood laid his hand on its cheek and whispered, “Poor one, you really are in pain.”

The skin was bumpy, rough, and purple spots were scattered over it like bruises. It shrieked with every touch. Then its lips moved and spoke. “You… you can hear me? How unusual?” The other Pim like creatures’ small ears propped up to listen in.

“I have lived a long life here. It’s been a peaceful life, we eat, sleep, and play. Although in my pathetically simple life, I do have one regret.”

Blackwood listened intently. “What is it?”

A memory scene played out.

There was a tall fuzzy green fern casting over the field. The Pim-like creature was a soon to be mother. She was lying on the matted grass bed and she had sweat droplets streaming on her face. Her body was shaking as she tried to push her baby out of her body. She squeezed the dad's hoof as she pushed. She gripped tightly and pushed for the third time. She huffed and puffed, breathing between contractions. With her last strong push, a moist bouncing baby slipped out sliding from her body. His eyes were still closed tight; his hooves were hugging his sides.

She sighed tiredly, it was a big relief for her, knowing her baby came out safely. The father licked the newborn’s face, cleaning him from the sticky liquid. The newborn blinked and started to open his eyes and the dad’s face was full of fright; he was born abnormally with three eyes. Both his parents had two eyes and the teeth he bore were sharper and plentiful than theirs. They found him to be a cursed and an unlucky being. He opened his eyes innocently to see his parents’ terrified faces.

It moved his little hoof to reach out to his parents, longer for a warm touch. They ignored his reach, and he did not feel the warmth that he most desired. They felt that they had given birth to a monster. The father pulled the mother away, leaving the baby behind. He was considered unusual and weak to the rest; they thought he would be detrimental to their survival.

He was abandoned alone in the field. He grew weaker over time especially without much food and love.

“Oooo, oooo” It cooed longer for his mother and father. The cries were not heard.

The Pim-like creature’s face was full of regret as she continued to talk.

“I left him all alone when he needed me the most. I should not have been frightened as I was since he was my baby. I did not know how to deal with him. If only he was born with two eyes, like a normal baby.” It wailed in sorrow. The other ones wailed the same way.

So, she’s a mother.

Blackwood translated this whole conversation to Scarlet and Flen.

Flen thought to himself.

“This sounded just like how Pim was found.”

Another memory scene started.

It was a rainy day in the flower garden. The plants were soaked with the nutrients from the rainwater

Oooo, oooo He cried. He was wet from the rain and shivering from the cold.

A young Theo ran over with a cover over his head, he found Pim lying in the garden not moving. He gently wrapped him up in a warm blanket and took him home.

His parents refused to take in a pet to his dismay. He waited for his parents to sleep before he brough the creature in. He made a small basket bed for him.

Theo took him in to care for him. The creature started to recover with his medicinal potions.

“Let’s see what’s a good name for you…”

Theo thought long and hard.

“How about Pim?”

The creature’s face brightened up and its body shook in excitement.

“Woo, woo.” It made a pleasurable sound.

Theo laughed, “That’s your name then, Pim.” He gave him a couple of pets.

Flen later on found out about Pim too, when he was cleaning up some blankets that have fallen in Theo’s room. Pim was having fun hiding in the blankets and did not like him moving them. Pim nibbled his hand.

Owww

Flen fell backwards, looking astonished at the cute fluffy creature.
“What is he?” Flen asked Theo.

“He's a unique one of its kind creature. His name is Pim, " said Theo excitedly.

Pim played chess with Theo and almost always knocked over the pieces. He enjoyed living his current happy life.

Blackwood explained to the creature. “You made a mistake, but that does not mean you need to regret it for your entire life. The child you had abandoned was named Pim by his owner. He is well taken care of and is living his best life.”

The creature was satisfied with the words and closed its eyes forever.

The other Pims gathered around Scarlet and gave her a stub of fur from Pim's mother.

Wooa Wooooa Woooa They cried.

Blackwood translated, "They want us to give the fur to Pim for him to smell his mother's scent and that she was sorry for leaving him."

“I wished Pim could have met his parents.” Scarlet said tearfully.

Flen comforted her and said, "We can tell Pim all about what we have seen today."

She wiped her tears, "Yes, you are right; we definitely will."

Flen turned to Blackwood.

“I underestimated you, your power to talk to animals is a wonderous thing indeed. You were able to complete a good deed today.”

Blackwood laughed hoarsely, “Thank you, I can never be as strong as you. You got immense strength there.”