Chapter Text
"Get the baby!"
Screams were all he could hear whilst spears, as sharp as nails, whipped past him causing his heart rate to slowly increase as it pounded against his chest.
"Give us the Goddamn baby!!"
Glancing back he could see his pursuers but he knew full well it wasn't him they were after. Looking back, hoping to find a way to create distance between himself and the enemy, but hope seemed to dwindle as it was just mainly an open field with so many possibilities that would risk him and the little one he was protecting.
"... fuck..." he grunted to himself, trying to relax his breathing but found it difficult to how high he had let his anxiety spike. He couldn't dare lose focus on this task, if he did it would risk more than just his life.
His whole body felt like it was slowly coming unstable, his arms beginning to ache from holding the precious little one for so long, his legs burned from the overuse, the coldness of the air gave him a headache, and his eyes were watering but he tried his best to not let it bother him, for the moment. However, while he was determined to get the job done his body didn't feel the same as when he went to try and outsmart the pursuing enemy with the old wrong direction trick his ankle suddenly gave up and twisted on to its side.
"Ack!" was the only sound that emerged from his mouth, muffled by the mask on his face, only to come to a quick realization of what was about to happen as gravity had locked its grasp on to him yanking him like a chain to the ground. "... Shit!" he cursed, pressing the little one into his chest to shield it from what was about to come. All too quickly had he gone from running to now tumbling down a hill with his only protection from the sharp rocks littered across the grassy ground being the thick woolen coat he was wearing, one hand- that wasn't protecting the little one- was trying to make sure his hood didn't fly off which would risk his head not only to damage but he really didn't want any of the enemies to know his identity. Each tumble and smack into the ground left its mark as by the time he finally reached the bottom he felt battered and bruised with half of his original strength and a quarter of his energy still lingering there. Taking a glance back to see the situation noticed the enemy still pursuing with ease as though the gravity of the hill had little to no effect on them. Looking back down with gritted teeth he couldn't help but feel like he had already failed.
"Fuck... those bastards don't give up easily..." he moved his arm to look at the little one in his arms, swaddled in, now dirty, blankets with only a small part of his sleeping face could be seen. "... But don't worry... I won't let them get you..." was all he said letting his hand lift to the little one's head before letting it rub his head gently as though to comfort the little one. His heartfelt warm as the little one reacted with a little yawn before snuggling deeper into the blankets knowing it was safe. He wished he could stay with the little one, who had captured his heart even before the little one realized, but he knew that would put the little one in bigger danger. With a heavy sigh, he re-adjusted his arms to hold the little one in a safer grip only to try and continue his journey. But due to how damaged his body was he found it a little hard to run as he used to without limping or hiss with pain. Glancing at one of his hands that stung he grimaced at the sight of the blood coming out of the wound on his palm that had a small patch of dirty around it, "... dammit..." he sighed as he put his hand back, "... she's not going to like that..."
"This way! He's got the baby!!"
He flinched, cursing how he had failed to keep track of the enemy, only to immediately break into a limp-run to try and reach safety with the enemy not too far behind. Panting heavily making his mask wet and hot was all you could hear as he tried to get a good distance from the enemy and himself but he didn't need to look back as the sound of pounding feet and the fact that the spears were now just whizzing by with a much higher risk of hitting him told him they were closing in. Trying not to react had become so much harder especially when one just whizzed by with him knowing if it was just two inches closer it would've got his ear. He just had to get a little clo--
An agonized scream echoed from his throat as a sudden sharp pain appeared in his lower leg causing him to stumble and fall straight to the ground. He held his arms out to ensure he wouldn't crash on to the little one with a little success which he, unfortunately, couldn't check due to how he had hit the ground before he even realized what was reality and in his head. With shaky breaths, he glanced back to find- to his horror- a spear protruding out of his calf muscle with the wound heavily bleeding as he could feel something trickling down his leg and ruining his trousers.
"We got him!! Now grab the baby!!"
Looking back to ensure the little one was safe only to freeze completely as the little one was no longer in his sight. Alert and panicked, he looked around for any signs of a little baby only to find none, however, his heart suddenly came to a halt when he finally spotted it. Floating in the ocean next to him was the familiar sight of the blanket. Fearing the worst, he quickly snatched the blanket in hopes of rescuing the little one only to find: it was empty.
"Fuck... fuck... shit!" he continued to look around trying to find the little one, praying he hadn't just let the little one fall and drown, but when the reality hit he couldn't deny that he had failed. He was supposed to protect him but yet he left him to die and it was his own fault. He looked into the water before he smashed his hands into it before beginning to try and feel around for the little one in hopes of finding and pulling him back up to the surface before it was too late.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time as strong hands suddenly took hold on his shoulders only to yank him backward, away from the water. Trying to kick and get the enemy off had become an increasingly hard task especially with how achy and bruised his arms and legs were, and not to mention a whole ass spear was still stuck inside his leg. He tried to fight but the enemy seemed to tell he was in bad condition, so they took it to their advantage.
"What do you want us to do with this scum, sir?" asked one of the people, "he's lost the little brat."
Those words stung but to him, knowing it was his fault, made it stung even more. He glanced up at the tallest one, who glared down at him with a really steely look in his eyes, before a sickening grin made its way onto his face as he crouched down before making him look up at his ugly face with his hand.
"Take him. Keep him kept where he won't runoff. Beat the shit out of him if you have to." he chuckled, "we'll find that brat even if we have to kill a whole kingdom for him!"
A cheer came from nearby but he couldn't see them as whoever was holding him had begun to drag the injured male away, not giving him a single chance to attempt escape. The taller one, the leader, watched on with glee as the male was taken away. He went to follow only to glance at the ocean where a discarded blanket was left beside the surface of the water.
"Don't worry, little brat, we'll find you... and when we do... I'm sure you'll prove yourself use... unlike your little Mummy and Daddy, hmm?" he ended his sentence with an almost menacing cackle before he turned to follow his band of men. Though, if he had looked back he would've won.
Watching from just a few centimeters from the surface was what appeared to be an octopus who stared on in horror from what he had just heard. He shook his head before he glanced around only to lift two tentacles gently only to feel a sense of warm joy appear as he watched the tiny baby playing with his tentacles with an adorable chorus of noises. The baby looked at the octopus before sliding down closer to his face before attempting to grab his face. A blurb-like chuckle emitted from the octopus as he gently embraced the little creature who cooed as he investigated the eight armed creature, the octopus didn't mind.
"Octodad, what are you doing?" a flinch came from the octopus as a sudden voice appeared behind him. Turning around, the octopus felt sheepish as he recognized the face now staring at him with a questionable look, "you're supposed to be watching over the guppies right now."
The octopus held the baby tightly as he lifted two other tentacles to demonstrate and point as a blurb of an explanation came out of him with the other just listening only for his look of confusion to turn into surprise.
"Wait... there were some men trying to hunt down... a... a baby?" the octopus nodded, "... that doesn't make any sense..." he looked up only to spot the little baby in the octopus' grasp, "Octodad, could you pass me the baby please?"
Though hesitant, Octodad pushed himself across the body of water towards the other, not even trying to stop as the male took the baby from his grasp. The baby whined a little as he no longer could hold on to the octopus only to glance up at the other who examined him.
"Oh my God... where... where are his parents?" he glanced at Octodad who just shrugged, "... he's an orphan?"
A short blurble came from Octodad who placed a tentacle on the top of the baby's head with the baby reacting by trying to reach up to grab the tentacle.
"... Poor little guy." the guy frowned, "all alone in this big world... we can't just leave him out here... he'll most likely die."
The two remained silent for a short passing moment only for one of them to suddenly get an idea. Octodad told the other his idea through a long blurb which the male listened to only for his eyes to widen.
"Get the king?" the male repeated, "but... what could he..." he paused only for his brain to click, "of course, now I get it. The king will know what to do for this little guy." the male said, glancing down at the baby who was now snuggled up in the male's warmth and asleep.
Before Octodad could say anything the male passed the baby back to him, the octopus immediately took the little one with gentle tentacles, only for the male to disappear under the surface with only a quick splash from his tail before any sign of there being another person was gone. Now on his own with a baby, Octodad glanced down at the sleeping baby only to gently rub his head before cradling him, attempting to sing a little lullaby to him but he was sure the baby wouldn't understand him. He only hoped the king would find the little guy a safe place to call home.