Visiting Hours

[February 2-Open to Tramp and Lady]

Ever since Jock had 'motivated' him to stop worrying and get off his rump, Tramp had been quite busy. He'd made a number of trips to the edge of the Outlands to familiarize himself with the lay of the land, and to observe the typical behavior of the majority of the Outlanders. While he had seen Lady out and about a few times, he'd been forced to bide his time since she was surrounded by Outlanders. And he hadn't yet seen where she was kept when not being paraded around like some trophy.

However, he'd had a stroke of luck when he spotted Cash, furtively making his way into a section of the Outlands not easily observed from any distance. He'd managed to sneak close enough to overhear faint voices, but not make out what was being said. While a part of him was wary about what the hound's intentions might have been, he still could've given Cash the juiciest bone he could find.

While the onset of the endless darkness wasn't part of his plan, it was a boon to him. It would make his disguise all the harder to see through. A combination of soot, sand, and a bit of tar had gone into making him look less himself, and just as importantly, smell less himself. He was a motley mix of tan, grey, and black all over, and his ears stood more fully upright than normal.

Thus disguised, 'Fritzi' made his way into the Outlander camp, bluffing his way past a hapless hyena who he managed to send farther away from the prison, advising him he was in a poor place to watch over the prisoners, and Zira would be displeased if she saw him there. "Zee queen, she make schnitzel out of you if she catch you slacking! Now go!" he ordered, sending the bemused creature scurrying off. Once the hyena was out of sight, he breathed a sigh of relief before turning to pad towards Lady's cell.

"Excuse me, is it visiting hours yet?" he quipped quietly, a roguish grin on his face as he sat right outside the makeshift cage. Dangerous as it was, and dire as Lady's imprisonment was, he was enjoying the thrill of being there despite it all.

Ever since she was a pup, Lady had looked for patterns and repetitions in the world around her. Be it how many minutes passed between chimes of the great grandfather clock in the vestibule, to when the paperboy would come around the corner and down the street. She had even learned Jim Dear and Darling's schedules. Down to when Jim should be awoken for work. (Except on Sundays). Family life had not changed that. She knew when he pups needed nursing, when they needed bathing. All down to repetitions in the world around her. She even had grown accustomed to the patterns in the Tramp's snoring. When war came, she knew the patterns and numbers of camp movements, supplies, and the trains.

So, it was no surprise to find that she had been marking the events of her incarceration. Drawing a claw along the back wall of her cell ever 24 hours. She had just made another claw mark, 3 hours since Zira had sent someone to check on her, and five hours since Two Tone's last visit. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the wall, pressing the forehead to the dirty stone. Her back was too the cage door, but one of her ears perked as she heard a new voice at the entrance of the cave. Someone new to pester her? She groaned, all she needed now was someone's condemnation.

"Zee queen, she make schnitzel out of you if she catch you slacking! Now go!"

The ends of her mouth turned up in a wide grin. She would recognize that fake accent anywhere. Her heart suddenly fluttered as a wave of relief and excitement washed over her. Had he really come all this way, to find her? Sure enough, she raised her head from the wall and looked over her shoulder to see the male in question sitting at the entrance to the cell.

"Oh, Tramp." The graceful spaniel stood to her four paws, and trotted over to the cell door. "I can't believe you! Do you know how much trouble you could get us both into if you get caught!"

She wrinkled her nose at his disguise, before bursting out into a kindly laugh. "And what on earth are you waring? Not that I look any better I'm sure. Oh I just can't believe you came out here."

When Lady padded over to the cell door, Tramp dropped into a bow, resting his head on the edge of the door, much like he had when he'd tried to smooth things over outside Lady's doghouse, shortly after her trip to the pound. His short tail, turned almost completely black with soot, wagged merrily as he gazed up at Lady unrepentantly.

"Oh, don't worry Pidge. They won't catch me. I've been in and out of this place a few times the past several days, and they haven't been any the wiser," he reassured her almost flippantly. Besides, if anyone reported him, his description wouldn't exactly match the look Zira would be familiar with.

"Today, I'm Fritzi, zee German pet, formerly belonking to zee Schultzes," he announced, still in a good humor. "I'm only sorry it took me this long. How you been, Pidge? You're looking pretty good to me, despite everything." He hadn't known what to expect when he'd first spotted her, several days ago. But he'd been relieved to see she was still alive, and all in one piece.

"And, as much as I hate to say it, this isn't a real rescue. Not yet. I just had to see you, and find out how you were doing. But I can promise you I'm not going to leave you here. As soon as Dani's well enough to travel, I'll think of something," he promised. He wouldn't leave Africa unless Lady was with him, that was for certain. And once Dani had recovered, they could move out of Zira's reach for good.

"Oh Tramp." She whispered. "You're just wonderful."

The spaniel's tail wagged merrily, and a soft whimper came from her throat. How she had missed him, each day wondering for her family was holding, hoping beyond belief that her sacrifice was paying off. As long as Zira left them alone, then every moment spent as the Queen's pet was worth it.

 "It's like the dog pound but ten times worse. I've been threatened, punished, and paraded around. I've never been so humiliated, and embarrassed, and frightened."

She pressed herself against the bars. The space between them was wide enough for her to poke her muzzle through, her long silky ears rolling around the ivory bars on each side of her head. Lowering her head to meet the top of Tramp's she gave him a soft touch with the very tip of her nose to the bridge of his towsled muzzle.

"But they haven't broken me. As long as our family is safe. I'll stay as long as I need too."

"Oh Tramp. You're just wonderful."

It warmed his heart to hear her say that. But it was more heartening to know how his mere presence was soothing her fears and stress. He only gazed at her in deep sympathy as she spoke, and nuzzled his muzzle gently with her nose. Knowing she wasn't broken, knowing the iron in her soul was still strong, brought him relief. While he would still worry for her life as long as she remained here, knowing she was still resolved to hold on did ease his mind.

"Don't worry about our children. Dani's getting stronger every day, and Scamp's away running messages for Shang. I heard he went back to New England a while ago. They're safe," he stated reassuringly, sidling up towards he cage so he could stick his paw through, rather awkwardly draping it across Lady's shoulder and returning her nuzzle gently.

After a moment, he drew back, once more lying belly down on the ground, examining her makeshift cage. The bones were all too thick and strong to even consider trying to gnaw through. But there were other possibilities. If he had enough time, or enough extra helpers. But if he were to even think about freeing her, he'd have to be absolutely certain he could get in, and get her out without any trouble.

"I heard you talking to Cash the other day. You think he'd be willing to help get you out, if it came down to it?" he asked in a casual tone. If he could depend on an inside ally, things would be that much easier. And he was certainly willing to overlook his dislike of the hound for Lady's sake.

Lady closed her eyes and allowed him to gently nuzzle her. She pressed herself close as his foreleg settled over her shoulders. Laying down on her own belly, forepaws pushed through the bars on each side. The fact he had snuck in, and had been keeping an eye on her had a strange feeling of comfort. As if her whole endurance had not been alone, a guardean stood nearby. Even knowing that where he to be found, Tramp would be tossed right in there with her...or worse.

Zira had made plain her feelings towards them both, and breath had not been wasted on painting gory pictures of her fantasies of redemption for them both.

Still, she sighed a breath of relief knowing that Dani was on her way to recovery, and she looked at Tramp, slightly puzzled upon his speaking of Scamp's current work. So her little boy had made it home. Her heart somersaulted at this fact. At least he was safe.

However, his next question made her cheeks blush in embarrassment and she bowed her head in shame. Unable to keep her gaze with the mongrel who was embracing her through her cell walls. He had seen her speaking with Cash. After all she had said, and after all she was feeling for him. Sure, he was an old flame that she had kept burning. But it was nothing like the red hot furnace that burned for the best street dog there ever was.

"Oh, dear. I don't know. Cash seemed more upset that I was locked away then anything else. I don't know how he feels one way or the other to be honest. I think he just wants to put me behind him. As I wish for him."

She rolled her shoulder blade, nuzzling his paw with the side of her head. Eyelashes fluttered, and a kind smile crossed her soft honey furred muzzle.

"We'll think of something. I'm sure of it. But for now, keeping Zira happy untull Dani can travel is my top priority. Weather or not Dani comes home to Marceline doesn't matter. As long as she is safe from Zira's paws."

Tramp's smile slipped when he noticed how much mentioning overhearing her talking to Cash made her feel uncomfortable. That hadn't been what he intended in the slightest. After all, she had mentioned she would always feel something for Cash. He was perfectly fine with that. She was equally clear that she was willing to give him a second chance, and that her love for him was deeper than it was for Cash.

He gently raised a paw to rest beneath Lady's chin, and just as gently raised her muzzle so they were eye to eye. There was no trace of condemnation or judgment in his eyes. No hint of anything beyond love and understanding. "I know you still care about him. That's nothing to be ashamed of. You're one of the most loving people I've ever known, and I've always loved that about you," he stated, letting his paw drop. "I was rather put out that he was the one to talk to you first, and I'll admit I was a bit jealous. But I'm not going to hold that against you. Either of you."

Truth was, he wanted to put it all behind him as well. Let the past stay in the past. And if Cash wanted the same thing, he might be willing to help him get Lady out of his life that much sooner. And, just maybe, there was another Outlander or two who would be willing to pull one over on Zira.

"I think Dani wants to go home as badly as the rest of us do. At least she seemed to, when we last spoke. As far as setting you free, it would take more than this to stump me," he declared, his grin reappearing. Once, to satisfy his own curiosity, he'd actually managed to make his way into Jim Dear's study to see what was in there, and the man had been none the wiser when he'd awoken the next day. Yes, anything Zira would do to him far outweighed the danger from a slipper or a rolled up newspaper, but if he could fool a man as smart as Jim, he was certain he could pull one over on a psychotic lioness.

Lady's eyelashes fluttered again as she felt his paw move under her chin, touching her oh so delicately as if he was afraid to damage her. Those beautiful chocolaty brown eyes gazed into his. She expected to see disappointment, but rather only saw his love. Sure, there was pain, it would be a long time before the pain dulled. But that pain was overwhelmed by the love that burned with an ungodly fury. Love for the family she had sired with him, and love for the father he had grown to become. Even here, he had come all this way and risked so much to be with her for the precious few moments that they could steal.

"Thank you." Was all she could whisper. She nuzzled his forepaw slightly in the crock of here neck, a bit awkwardly admittedly due to the bars on either side of her face. But the intimacy was there.

"I know Annette was practically begging me to go home." The spaniel admitted. "I havn't had the chance to speak with Cole, so I can not judge her feelings. We Can't force them home, as much as I would like too"

She thought of how grown up her pups had become. The war had forced them all to mature at a rate that would have seemed utterly titanic at home. On top of being practically orphaned for a time. Lady could never find it to forgive herself for the neglect her litter had been forced to endure. But things had happened out here that where far removed from life in the smart Victorian home. Now that she had her own four paws back under her, Lady was determent to never let her little down again. Perhaps, In some way, it would make Reba's fate have some meaning.

"I have no doubt in your abilities to free me. I have myself seen several chances to escape over my time here. But, oh I'm terrified of what would happen if I was to up and vanish. Annie and Dani may want to go home, but what of Cole? What of Angel and her litter?" She lowered her head again, close to laying it across her paws. "I could never forgive myself where anything to happen to them. Perhaps Angel will be safe, as I don't think anyone out here knows of her lineage. But Zira knows of Dani, Annie and Cole for sure."

Tramp frowned a bit in thought as Lady spoke. Yes, it was true they really couldn't force their children to return to New England. They'd grown up out here, and, in all truth, they were older than Lady and himself had been, when they'd begun to make their own ways in the world. Granted, Lady had been sheltered due to growing up in a fine home, but the point remained the same.

"No, the choice will have to be theirs," he agreed, a bit reluctantly. Trying to impose his will on them all had driven Scamp into running away. There was no telling what trying to do the same now would do to them all. "All we can do is let them know what's going on, and allow them to decide on their own. Perhaps the chance to at least get away from the war for a while will be enough to convince them to return."

"As for Angel, well, I talked to Patch, and he seems determined to look after her and her litter. The best I can do for her, if she decides to stay here in Africa, is see ti it that she has people she can depend on close by," he stated. He'd have to see if he could track down Pongo and Perdita, and talk things over with them. His gut told him he could trust Patch to always look after his Angel. The best 'mistake' he'd ever made. He would never feel an ounce of shame in admitting she was his daughter.

"I tell you what. I'll talk to Cole, and see what she thinks about returning to New England for a while. Same goes for Angel. You just worry about keeping Zira appeased until I drop by again," he suggested, a small grin once more forming on his face, rather cockily assured that he could simply walk into the Outlands when he pleased. Or at least without any real chance of getting caught.

She reached a paw out, through the bars, and gently wiped away some of the soot from the side of his face. Before pressing her nose into the fur. Despite being paraded around like a trophy, and being told how many ways her own death was being planned, Lady had never once stopped hoping she would see her mate and her family again. Her tail was thumping to dirt behind her, it's motions close to being a blur.

"Whatever choice they make, we'll stand by it and do our best to protect them and provide them with the love and shelter they need."

Lady knew her pups where mature enough to make their own decisions. Weather or not she agreed with them. She would not force any of her litter to do anything they did not wish. They days of being able to grab them by the scruff of their neck and nose them into behaving where long passed. Somehow, through the mess that their family had turned into, they raised a full litter of intelligent pups. She was so proud of them all.

Just as she felt a sting of pride for the male in front of her.

She cocked her head to one side, one of her long ears fanning out across his paw and being caught between the bar and the side of her head. Even with her grubby appearance, Lady's beauty shone through. The soft curves of her body and silky fur, dirtied and ruffled, still fought back against the harsh world around her.

"Tramp, how long have you been watching over me?" Her tone was honey smooth, full of kindness and warmth. "How are the pups handling things. They don't know about me yet, do they?"

The last thing she wanted for them to do was try and rescue her, putting themselves in danger. No, she would suffer alone, and suffer for them.

Tramp nodded in agreement. That was all they could honestly do, without treating their children like the pups they'd stopped being a long time ago. Even if they decided to stay here in Africa, or head to some other corner of the world, all he and Lady could do was give them advice, wish them well, and make certain they knew if they ever needed a place to stay, someone to share their problems with, or any kind of help, all they had to do was ask.

He grinned as he gazed down at her, unfazed by the dust and dirt that clung to her fur. No amount of grime could hide her beauty. And her indomitable spirit made her look all the more beautiful in his eyes. "I first came out here looking for you nine days ago. Since then, I've been in and out," he replied, leaning back as he prepared to scratch at an ear, but he stopped himself. He didn't want to risk messing his disguise up.

"No, they don't know you're out here. If they ask, well, I promised I wouldn't lie to them, or you, ever again. But, so far, only Jock knows. Well, and Shang, but he's still his normal, unhelpful self," he snorted lightly. Leaving Lady to die was the worst advice he'd ever heard. While keeping his children safe was his top priority, he wasn't going to give up so easily.

"I can promise you, nobody's going to come after you until we're certain we can escape out of Zira's reach," he promised. He doubted Annie and Cole would be all that willing to venture into the Outlands again, anyways. Dani definitely didn't. If he did have to ask them to help rescue Lady, he'd be certain to place them in the least dangerous jobs, so if anything went wrong, they'd be able to run.

The graceful spaniel slowly nodded her head.  She understood more then anyone else the reluctance to keep her incarceration quite from their litter. She could not bare the thought of any of their pups entering the Outlands again, never mind asking any of them on her behalf. No, she was out here under her own volition as an offering for their protection.

"Thanks." Was all she could whisper.

She gave a soft chuckle as the mongrel refrained himself from scratching at the soot and dirt that filled his grey fur. Absentmindedly wondering what Jim Dear and Darling would do if they saw them as they stood. No doubt the bathwater and soap would be readied in record time. Lady felt dirtier then the time she went a whole month without a bath during darling's Pregnancy.

For a few seconds, she just lay there, silently enjoying his presence. In some way, sitting there in the flicking torchlight and listening to the crackling of the fire, she felt as if she was stealing back a bit of time from the Outlander Queen who had taken such a shine to her. After all she had been through, all she would have to go through, just the silent moment together was worth it's pain.

"She likes to show me off..." She commented, almost wistfully. "I've watched their training sessions from a cage, and spoken to a few of their members. Most of them hate me. They see us as criminals who demolished their home. I've even been convicted of kidnapping. Seems Dani's friend has a brother. He wishes me nothing but ill thoughts. But not all of them are bad."

She motioned with her nose to the skullcap full of water, and the small pile of knuckle-bones.

"A few have even snuck me food and water."

Truth be told, having to wash the soot, dust, and tar out of his fur had crossed Tramp's mind when he was getting into his disguise. That was one thing he wasn't looking forward to. While he never fought against being bathed, actively (not in a long time, at least) he certainly didn't love it like Lady and his daughters did. He always itched for a while afterwards.

He let th silence linger, simply enjoying being close to Lady again, even if she was locked up, and dirty. This was their time, not Zira's, and there was nothing the cruel lioness could do to change that. For all her strength, and force of personality, Zira would never be able to reach the love they shared.

"Oh, he does, does he? So, where was Berlioz's brother when he was trapped in that pit? And now he wants to blame you when he didn't even lift a paw to help," he snorted in disdain. Typical. He and Lady were the ones who risked their lives to save Dani and Berlioz, and this cat wanted to blame them for kidnapping his brother when Berlioz had no real reason to want to stay behind in the Outlands. It was always so easy to try to blame somebody else instead of taking responsibility for one's own failures.

"Well, we did bring the war right to their doorstep, even if Scar and Zira asked for it. If calling us criminals, and getting mad because we wrecked their lovely home, makes them feel better, then I guess that's what they're going to do," he scoffed. Truth be told, the fact that the Outlanders were so worked up over the loss of, what, a few termite mounds? That they were so worked up over that almost made him want to laugh. It was like getting mad because somebody made a mess in a junkyard.

"Well, if Zira wants you to live, some of them may be doing so under orders, but I doubt all of them are as cruel or crazy as Zira. I don't know why they put up with her, but I'd bet any number of bones that some of them at least would be decent folk to meet, if there wasn't a war going on," he mused. No use trying to spot who was bringing the food and water in hopes of finding a sympathetic ear. He'd have to look elsewhere, and hope he could catch some sort of sign that at least one of the Outlanders might be willing to cross Zira secretly.

Lady cocked her mouth to the side in agreement as Tramp spoke about Berlioz and Toulouse. She felt the exact same toward the feline. Where was he when his brother was dieing? Of course it was easy to blame someone else and cast your anger elsewhere. It also probibly didn't help when she let him know exactly how she had felt about him and his convictions towards her. The Outlanders it seemed needed a scapegoat, and Zira brought them one.

"I will admit, the first few days where terrifying. I was walked around and made to be a target. Everyone was venting, demanding for my death. They spoke of making me their dinner. Some where more outspoken then other. But as I met others, as I saw who was out here. There are some decent folk. I guess when things look as bad as they do, you need someone to blame."

She shuffled a bit. gazing down at her forepaws for a brief second. it was obvious to her who was at fault. One name rose high above others. Scar. Sure, Zira was right there standing alongside him. But it was Scar who started all of this. It was Scar whose actions had brought hell upon her and her family. If not for him, then they all would be enjoying a calm life in Marceline. Not embroidered in a war that was not theirs to began with.

"I have no regrets for what we did," She touted "None. We did not hurt anyone, well...not as much as they could have been. We didn't want to start a battle, we just did what we had to do, and I feel no remorse for that. Not after seeing what had become of Danielle."

She often thought of how her daughter had survived out here. As well as what pushed her to join Scar's army in the first place. After haveing spoken with Two Tone, and learning of the Dalmatian's feelings towards her family, Lady had often wondered if Danielle had thought the same way. She wondered if her actions had pushed her little baby girl to what could have been her death. She knew Pongo and Perdita from a distance. Not enough to say weather or not their Outlander daughter had been correct in her assumptions. But she found the similarities between Two Tone and Dani sobering to swallow.

"The only remorse I feel was how long Dani had to suffer." The spaniel sighed. Averting her gaze to the wall.  "If only I had paid closer attention to her. Perhaps given her more love. She would have never been out here to began with."

"I think I'd have to hide in shame if I was reduced to blaming one small dog. Even if that dog did crash a train car," he snorted, shaking his head in bemusement. The Outlanders were waging a war against a good many more fearsome creatures than any dog. If they couldn't handle a pair of dogs, and wanted to make a huge issue out of their little incursion, what would thy do if faced with a full-scale scrap?

"I don't regret it, either. So a few Outlanders got hurt, and Zira got her face bloodied. They were asking for it when they tossed Dani into that pit," he stated. He'd have done anything to rescue his daughter. Including kill if he'd had to. But after they'd gotten Dani back safe and sound, he'd have been happy enough to leave the Outlanders to their war. Only Zira had to hold a grudge.

He nodded in agreement again, wishing he'd learned about the pit sooner. As it was, it was only a stroke of good fortune that he'd learned about it. They'd arrived in what had seemed to be the nick of time. But as Lady kept speaking, he felt his gut twist when she mentioned Dani, and how she might have been able to do things differently. He shook his head, knowing he was just as much to blame, if not more, than Lady for Dani's decision.

"Take it from me, Pidge, don't go down that road," he cautioned. "You won't get anywhere, borrowing guilt from the past. I know. Dwelling on what I could have done differently nearly drove me to end it all. There's nothing we can do to change the past. All we can do is keep moving ahead. The important thing is we have her back, now. We can make up for our mistakes, even if the road ahead is going to be a rough one. Just remember Pidge. You won't be walking it alone," he reassured her.

One day, they'd get through all of this, and away from this wretched war. But they'd have to go a lot further down their road before they were clear of their mistakes. Maybe they'd never be clear until they'd left the mortal world behind. But if he Lady beside him, he'd always be there for her. They didn't have to face the future alone. None of them did.