Visiting Hours

She sighed. He was right, of course. Thinking about the past would not change the present. All she could do was focus on the future. Still, she had thought several nights, laying alone in the cage, that she had heard the soft giggling of puppies. Of a childish laugh, female in nature. Whatever Reba's ultimate fate had been, Lady could only speculate. But she would never lose another pup again, and that was a promise.

"Oh dear, I suppose." She mused. Turning her attention back to her mate. "No...you're right. We're very fortunate that we still have our beautiful litter. Somehow, and I still am unable to wrap my head around it without succumbing to headaches again, we have defied death more times then I care to admit."

She looked up at the grey furred mongol. Soft brown eyes full of pride. A kindly smile spread across her maw. even with his fur dirtied, and colors muted, he was still a handsome canine. Even with those horrid scars on the side of his neck. But she found his eyes too alluring to focus on the scars of the past.

"We have our whole family again, and so far, at only at the expense of a flat car. Oh no one was going to miss it anyway." The spaniel chuckled. Although what had become of the piece of railroad rolling stock was far from humorous. Of course they where never going to recover it. But it's transformation from a railcar to a ramp had broken it up enough that the Outlanders where capable to use it for far darker means.

"You know, they broke the car apart. Used it in the construction of the jails."

Lady reached a paw up and ran it across an iron bar. The only bit of iron in the cell. It was being used as a bolt to lock her cage closed. At one point it had been a part of the ill-fated circus car. Most likely as a brace rod running under the deck. But she couldn't honestly say for sure.

"They also filled that pit with wreckage, made spikes out of the debris...I was threatened with being tossed into it."

She was right. They had had many close calls with death. Too many. For all his risk-taking for fun back in New England, and despite how much he enjoyed the thrill of danger, there had definitely been too many close calls. He still had the scars to prove it. He felt the sudden desire to return to Marceline, crash on a cushion, and stay there for a few days.

He chuckled a bit when she mentioned the flatcar, and glanced briefly towards the pit's location. Even if it was missed, it would be quite the mystery to explain how it got all the way out here, with no rails. But his mirth faded when he heard what had been done with its wreckage. He grimaced briefly, then shook his head with a quiet sigh. Well, he supposed he shouldn't have expected them to simply leave the wreck as it was.

"Oh, of all the...I think we've been cheated. We go through all that trouble to deliver them some building supplies, and this is how they treat us. Maybe we should furnish Zira with a notice that we intend to repossess," he quipped. Maybe he should've tried to negotiate the delivery of a flatcar to the Outlands first. If Zira had any sort of reputation for being reasonable.

"Well, if they intended to do that, they'd likely have done it already. I suspect Zira wants something from you. Or Scar does, if he's even involved with what goes on around here," he mused. For all the time he'd been scouting about, he'd never once seen the dark-maned lion. He'd seen a rather scrawny looking one wandering around, but he certainly hadn't carried himself like a king. But, whether it was Scar or Zira wanting something, he feared if they got what they anted, Lady's safety wouldn't be assured anymore.

"You might have to give Zira something, if she makes demands. But I would draw it out as long as possible. You just might live longer that, Pidge. I'm sorry to sound so grim, but we're dealing with a real psycho, here," he stated, shaking his head a bit. Maybe he shouldn't have thrown that coal scoop at Zira's head. Or...maybe he should've thrown a bigger one.

Of course, he supposed there was always the chance that Zira would do them all a favor and fall into her own pit.

"Oh, I'm sure she does." Lady agree, her mouth twisting into a scowl. "She seems to have something in mind. I'm sure she isn't just keeping me around because I amuse her. I have yet to even see Scar...well...I saw him once. He wasn't too pleased with me."

The spaniel rolled her eyes and the ends of her scowl turned up in a smug smile. In fact, the so called lion king had seemed more flabbergasted that someone like her was capable of executing a raid like they had preformed. Still, her time with Scar had been very limited. To the point where she had been quickly whisked away by her hyena guard. She had yet to lay eyes on  Prince Taka again. Strangely, she was not exactly terrified of him. She felt more anger and disappointment then fear. Perhaps it was his surprised attitude, or the lackluster approach of any threat he conceived to mentally create.

Zira on the other hand, Lady did not know what to make of yet. Tramp was right, she was psychotic. To a point where she was hard to predict. One moment she was a tall cold glass of milk, the other a noose that was being placed around the spaniel's neck. Still, so far none of the queen's threats, other then the daily acts of possession and the incarceration itself, had come to fruition. This only reinforced Lady's thought that the Outlander Queen had ulterior motives.

She was saving the spaniel for something. Whatever it was, it did not bode well for Lady. For that, she feared Zira.

"I'll do my best." She promised, giving a soft nod of her head. Her smile vanished, Soft brown eyes full of concern, and a slight hint of fear. "Tramp, she frightens me. Just the way she dangles fates, if I knew what she was to do with me, then perhaps I wouldn't be so afraid. But She likes to toy with me...I can't tell what she intends and whats just a threat."

Tramp couldn't help but laugh at Lady's understated description of Scar's reaction to their little escapade. But from what he'd seen, Zira was the one actually running things, so she was the one who posed the greatest threat to Lady, and the rest of their family. He sighed, and his mirth faded when Lady let some of her concerns show.

"It's the waiting. I'd bet anything that's what it is. She's clever. Too clever for my liking," he growled softly. Waiting in uncertainty, especially when not free to act, had always been hard for him to bear. He suspected it was wearing Lady down just as it would him. And she, smart and clever a she was, didn't have his cunning, and street smarts, to draw on. He fell silent for a while, lost in grim thoughts of what Zira might do. Or, more likely, would do. He suspected that, even if Zira did decide to let Lady go, she would leave her with something to remember her time in the Outlands by.

"I suspect that's her play. Wear you down with threats, and displays of how powerless you are here. Right now, any threats to harm you are more than likely empty ones. But if she threatens someone else, she's likely to carry it out," he predicted grimly. He'd seen the type before. And he'd roughed up the type before, on a couple of occasions. But Zira was too much for him to handle like that. Even playing his ow mind games with her would be dangerous since she could still strike at his children.

"I don't know what to say, other than to try to hold out as long as you can against any threats or pressure she may put on you. And if you find out what she wants form you, give it to her as slowly as possible. Stall, claim you're having a hard time remembering, anything to keep yourself useful to her. Every day you spend here, alive, without giving Zira what she wants, means a day Dani's spent getting stronger," he stated encouragingly, reiterating some of the advice he'd already given.

"And always remember, Pidge. I'm never far away. You're not alone out here," he promised, once more placing his paw over Lady's shoulder. He smiled softly, proudly. He was especially proud of her courage. The courage she showed in even coming out here, first off, and for withstanding everything so well. Enduring the scorn and threats Zira and the other Outlanders threw her way. What Zira could never understand was that the love Lady had for her children might have served well enough to force her to enter the Outlands again, but it also gave her the strength to hold out against any threat to herself if it meant her children would be safe.

The spaniel lowered her head as he spoke. He was right, each time she awoke, she found herself wondering what would appear at her cell door. What consequence would be suddenly levied at her for her so-called crimes. Her gaze drifted over the her own claw marks on the wall. Time was passing, and her chances for redemption where vanishing. She knew that Zira was planning something more then keeping the unfortunate cocker around as the camp scapegoat.

Lady rolled her shoulders as he laid his paw across them, catching his paw in the cock between her head and neck. She gently nuzzled his paw with the side of her cheek, just below the eye. For a few seconds, the graceful spaniel just continued this simple motion. Rocking her head back and forth. Knowing that he would be keeping an eye on her, even from afar, while not elevating her fears, gave her a small since of comfort. Even at the risk of his own safety. While he may have admired her courage, she likewise found herself enamored in his loyalty. Something that it seemed she was finally starting to trust.

“I'll do my best. Every day counts, and the sooner Dani can recover, the better. I wasn't too impressed with the way our own side was treating her. She was in chains, and we're supposed to be the good ones in this war. If there is one thing I've learned being out here, is that there is a lot of gray.”

She rolled her head sharply, in an attempt to toss hear ears back down to her side. Letting Tramp have free reign of the back of her neck. So much had changed in the year and a half since the war began. If one had told her she would be locked away in a jail for lions for staging a train wreck, she would have scarcely beloved them.

Pulling her gaze up to the Tramp once more, she cocked her head quizzically to one side. With his disguise, her eyes had been distracted from the fact that he was no longer wearing his iron collar. She absentmindedly raised a delicate forepaw to the one still locked firmly around her neck. Her chocolaty brown eyes shone as a warm smile passed over her muzzle and soft eyelashes fluttered.

“I guess for all his faults, Shang is a man of his word. It is good to see that horrid thing isn't hanging from your neck anymore.”

Tramp couldn't help but smile a bit wistfully as Lady spoke. He'd never really believed the Heroes' cause was all that righteous, and the way they behaved certainly didn't do anything to change his opinion. But to hear Lady come to that same conclusion was a bit sad, in a way. Her sheltered naivete had always been endearing. Not that he'd have wanted her to continue along in ignorance by any means.

"Yet another reason why I don't want to stick around. The way things are going, any moral high-ground Simba might have had is starting to crumble from beneath him," he sighed, shaking his head slightly. Locking youngsters in cages after they'd narrowly escaped death wouldn't have sat well with him even if one of them hadn't been his daughter. And to have been ordered to abandon her to her fate before being told the same about Lady had completely disillusioned him towards the Heroes.

"I was glad to be rid of it, myself. If he wasn't so cold, I might even have grown to like him," he stated, a small smirk crossing his face as he briefly wondered what Shang was like when he wasn't fighting a war. But only for a second. He dismissed Shang from his thoughts to focus on the present. Risky as his sneaking in to the Outlands was, if he lingered too long, he ran a much greater risk of getting caught.

"As much as I hate to say it, I really shouldn't hang around for too much longer. I doubt Zira would approve," he smirked light-heartedly. His disguise might fool her at a glance, but she'd more than likely take an unhealthy interest in anyone who she caught talking to Lady. Particularly someone who she wouldn't recognize as one of her soldiers. But, even with the threat of discovery hanging over him, he was still reluctant to leave. A moment longer couldn't hurt, now could it?

"In another minute or two, or three, I should be going," he added, a roguish twinkle in his eyes as he spoke.

It felt as if the motley furred mongrel had just arrived. While he was right, each moment spent was a massive risk that could get them both into serous trouble, the time spent apart had been a torment for the little spaniel. To be with him once more, even for the little time that they had been able to steal, felt like a powerful gift. To let go so soon after having reconnected. She suddenly understood and felt a massive gulch in her heart at the thought if him standing alone during the time of her passing. They had come so far, made such advances in the salvaging of both their personal relationships and their family's identity. Trust was being built, and to have to part ways once more suddenly felt absolutely unbearable.

"Must you go?" She whimpered. Her voice warm and loving. "it feels like you just got here."

Lady pushed her head as far through the bars as she could. Feeling the  ivory structure dig into her shoulder blades. She closed her eyes and  slowly ran the side of her muzzle up his neck, just barely brushing the fur. Her touch was delicate, soothing in it's very movement. Her long  silky ear caught between the ivory bar, and between his neck and the side of her head. 

"I'll be thinking of you and the pups." The cocker spaneil whispered. "Oh she can take away my freedom, but she can't take away my hope. I'll be out soon. One way or another."

When Lady pulled her head back, she cast her gaze up, into the Tramp's strong handsome muzzle. Her chocolaty brown eyes sparkled roguishly, as if matching his own. A little of the street-dog having rubbed off into the house-pet. Along with a small bit of soot on the side of her face. When he was gone, she would have to groom herself as best as she could with the water from the skullcap. Remove all evidence of his visit, less anyone have a sharp enough eye to take note. As remote as that possibility was give the level of ineptitude most of the Hyena guards tended to have.

"If the pups do ask..." She curled her lower lip. Tilting her head to one side. "Let them know that their mother is holding her own."

He shared the same sentiment. It did indeed feel like he'd just gotten there. But he couldn't stay for much longer, despite how reluctant they both were to say goodbye, even for a little while. He certainly wouldn't be gone for long. "I'm afraid so, Pidge. as much as I don't want to, I mustn't wear out my welcome," he smirked, short tail wagging a bit.

But, despite his words, he remained where he was, leaning forward to allow Lady to reach him easier. He closed his eyes as she rubbed her muzzle along his neck, just relaxing under her touch. Despite having to leave here in her cage, somehow it was beginning to seem like things would turn out alright in the end.

"And I can guarantee you I won't stop thinking about you," he replied. After a moment, a short bark of laughter escaped his maw. "Oh, what a joke on Zira! She may think she's got you in her grip, but she'll never know you're only staying in here because it's your choice. Oh, if she only knew," he snorted, chuckling softly. While Zira was still very dangerous, she was the butt of a joke and she was completely oblivious to it! His very presence in the Outlands was proof enough of that.

"I will. I'll let Jock know, too, if we cross paths again. I actually think he's starting to warm up to me again, just a little," he stated. As much as the Scottie tore into him whenever he messed up, Tramp was coming to appreciate the Terrier's words. He couldn't help but wonder if Jock took the time to actually demand things form him because, deep down, he still cared.

Lady cocked her mouth to one side and rolled her eyes. It wasn't that much of a joke to her. While she was there of her own volition, it was the threat to her family that kept her there. She was not masochistic enough to want to stay within the Outlander Queen's clutches simply for pleasure. She hated the fear, the tension, and the torment. She knew that Zira was not done with her yet.

"It won't be much of a joke if she did find out. After-all, she can still send assassins after our pups." A sly smile split her soft muzzle. "Still, she hasn't broken me yet."

Her eyebrows arched when Tramp spoke about Jock. Of course the little Scottie would have made some point about her vanishing into the night. She would have been surprised had he not noticed. For as long as she knew him, Jock was the protective type. From when he used to chase after her as a pup when she started noseing about the bushes, to the day he and Trusty stood as a wall to protect her from the Tramp when it seemed that he had used her and tossed her away. Even after her admission that she had the situation under control, Jock still let the roving mongrel know exactly what he felt.

"Oh my, well...you know how Jock is. He has a heart and he is just looking out for me. He always did, and I have a feeling he always will." She pressed her nose into the fur just under his chin. A soft little touch, barley disturbing the fur, before pulling back. Soft brown eyes full of happiness. "Goodness knows, if I can open doors again after all that happened...he can too."

Tramp's laughter faded, and he cleared his throat, his attention focused away from Lady. He'd clearly put his foot in his mouth, making light of what was going on. He'd been too caught up in the excitement of it all that he'd momentarily forgotten Lady didn't share his love of thrills. Not dangerous ones, at least. Especially not when their pups were concerned.

"Not really time for brevity, is it?" he grimaced ruefully, a self-deprecating smirk on his face. He relaxed again when she started talking about Jock, and he would have nodded in agreement except Lady nosed him just under his chin. He let small, quiet sigh escape him as he took pleasure in the touch, and drew solace from it.

He mulled over Lady's assessment of the little Scottie, grinning a bit as he remembered their first meeting. He hadn't been all that impressed with either Jock or Trusty at first. They'd seemed like just another pair of pedigreed pooches, too stuck up to give him the time of day. He'd genuinely enjoyed jerking their chains a bit. And, of course, he'd deliberately sat on Jock just to irritate him.

"I hope so. But, speaking if Jock, I'm a bit surprised Trusty's not hanging about," he mused. He'd have to ask Jock about the old hound, if the Scottie gave him the chance. He owed the old hound his life, after all. Him and Jock both, but Trusty especially. He hoped the old geezer was doing alright. Maybe he was smart enough to stay in New England where it was safe.

Since the recovery of her memories, Lady had been treated to fleeting snippets of recovery. Trains of thought that wound themselves down to a stored memory or emotional moment of her life. She had wondered herself about Trusty, knowing that for as far back as her recovered mind could think, he and Jock where inseparable. Perhaps a long time separation from his best friend would explain the hike in Jock's aggressiveness. 

"You know," The spaniel mused. "I do wonder if not having Trusty around is effecting Jock. Making him react to an already uh...poor...situation in regards to you and I."

She delicately danced around Tramp's infidelity. Not wishing to bring him shame for his past misdeeds once more being brought forth.

"As far back as I can remember, those two where always there. For me, and for each other. Why, when I was just a pup. They both acted as alternating fatherly figures. They worked well together. But alone? Perhaps that's why Jock seems to be more protective towards me and aggressive towards you."

She was slightly defending the Scottie. But only slightly. The idea of such long term separation was something she had started to grow accustomed to dealing with. Be it separation from her pups, her friends, or her mate. It had taken her oh so long to start thinking of him as a mate again, rather then just another dog. Suddenly being forced apart like they had been was not helping her form trust in him. Instead, she just found herself missing him. She took a deep breath, her furry chest rolling with the exhale of air. Soon she would be alone once more. The thought of loosing Tramp just as she was getting to know him once again was painful to contemplate.

"When can I see you again?"

Her voice was warm, low, and full of honey.

Tramp considered the suggestion Lady made, wondering if that could be part of what was causing Jock's aggression. Well, he couldn't say it wasn't, and since the Terrier had always been a bit on the aggressive side anyways, his lapse in sound judgment, and what it had done to the family, would definitely be enough to cause Jock to be all the more aggressive towards the Tramp.

"You could be right. It couldn't have been easy for either of them to watch," he agreed, smiling a bit in gratitude. While he had, for the most part, come to terms with what he'd done, he would just as soon not have it brought up. It would be better if they could both just move on, and try to put everything that had happened between them while they were dealing with it behind them.

The honest truth was he'd been a bit jealous of the relationship Lady had with the older dogs. Not that he believed she held any romantic notions towards them, but because it was something he'd never had. He could tell how much the two meant to her, and he could see just how much she meant to them. It was odd. Growing up, and living on the streets, he'd never felt any desire for anything like that, but after seeing it up close, it was like he only then realized what he'd been missing.

It made his betrayal of Lady's trust all the more painful since, in many ways, he'd betrayed them as well. As Jock not so delicately put it, he was supposed to protect his family. Well, he intended to. He'd prove he would stand by Lady faithfully until the day he died, no matter what dangers he faced along the way. No matter how long and hard the road ahead.

"Hmm. A few days from now, I should be able to sneak back in. As long as the old battle-ax doesn't get wise to her uninvited guest," he snorted, another roguish grin crossing his face. Then it shifted into a gentle smile. "Hang in there, Pidge. I'll be back before you know it."

"Well, just tell Jock that I'm okay, and that I will be back soon." Lady affirmed with a sharp nod of her head.

The cocker spaniel rolled her eyes at his roguish smile and motley snort. they where enduring aspects of his personality that she had always come to know as being a part of "her Tramp." After having gone through so much pain, mistrust, and enduring their separation, it felt good to see some aspects of familiarity eking their way into their current relationship. As a gentle smile shifted across her towsled maw, Lady felt her cheeks heat up in a soft blush.

"I'll hang in there. You just be safe. I don't know what I would do should you get yourself hurt or captured on my account."

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she seemed a bit more relaxed then she had previously. Knowing that she now had something to look forward too. Between Tramp and Two Tone, her existence in the Outlands, while bleak and full of danger, had become somewhat habitable. She still feared Zira and her aproching fate...but for now at least, Lady felt she had gained back some meager amount of control over her own destiny.