Feels like I don't belong here

(March 14th Wizzer's introduction, into the heroes camp. Open to everyone)

Wizzer took a very long deep breath. In Spite of his better judgement, telling him, that the Villains would have been a better place to be as of now. (He was a traitor to them now) he had decided to hopefully catch up with someone he knew. He had hoped to find Zukki somewhere, just in case. But, since he couldn't find her, Wiz was on his own.

He gulped loudly, and on very shaky legs, he walked along the pridelands.

It shouldn't have been this hard, and if he had explained, to the people who once cared for him, that he had made a mistake, and that he had finally realized what a mistake he had made, and that he was sorry, Wizzer thought that might have been enough. But, that didn't stop Wizzer, from worrying about all the bad things, that could have happened after he had been so stupid for so long.


Wizzer looked around, keeping alert just in case someone recognized him, or he recognized them. He kept on going through a long apology in his head, just in case, he had bumped into Mooch, or any of his Dalmatian family first.

Wilbur was doing his best to figure out a better way to train. He hadn't had a good chance to train with any of the others at the last training session. The idea of training on his own was something he may have to get used to from now on.

Using the lessons Elsa had taught him, the boy thought that the best way to practice was to imagine fighting a magical enemy. He moved to and fro swiping his knife at the air. It wasn't the work out he was expecting but it was working, at least he hoped.

A blur of spots caused the boy to stop in mid-swipe. Another dalmatian? Surely, it was just one he had misplaces among the others. But no this one was different. He seemed shaky...almost nervous. Placing the knife back in the shealth, Wilbur made his way over.

"Hey, dog. You okay?"

Wizzer screams not expecting Wilbur to show up and half expecting it to be Mooch or someone to attack him or something. Wizzer thought for a second, half wanting to come up with a different story, and a fake name, just in case this human went to tell everyone about a villain in their midst. But, at the end of the day he had decided that truth was the best policy. Wiz took a second to regain his composure.

"Uhhh.... hi, I'm Wizzer. Please call me Wiz. I guess I am as fine as you can imagine. I have been on the villains for a really long time. And well, let's just say a turn of events opened my eyes and I betrayed the villains. But, let's just say I am not really on the "Best Of TERMS" with my family. You must have seen some of them around. Most of my Brother's and Sister's are right here on the heroes side. But, I may have treated them bad for so long, that they won't accept me back. That one of them will try to jump out and attack me. And then there's the distinct possibility, of someone from the villains, killing me, for being a traitor. That's why I may seem a bit jumpy. To Spare you a long complicated and complex story, that's the gist of what's going on." Wizzer said.

It was obvious, that Wizzer had been a bit frightened, but in his mind he had sort of a legit reason to be.

"So, what's your name"? Wizzer asked looking around.

Wow. That was a lot to take in. Though he wasn't expecting such a long answer, Wilbur had at least learned the dog's name. Wizzer. That was certainly an interesting name. "I see." he said before responding.

"Well, you can call me Wilbur, Wilbur Robinson at your service." he gave Wizzer a big smile. The pup didn't seem to be any harm and unlike some other people, he was sure that the pup would not try to do any harm. It was too bad that there wasn't anyone else to comfort the dog. Or even a general would be nice.

"I wouldn't worry about it so much, one more for our side, I mean I think you made the right choice." As long as they could fight. "As for your family, you'd be surprised, there are quite a few people who have a lot of issues with their family, maybe I could help. Though I probably wouldn't be much help."

Was that...?

Perdita had been making her way through the Pridelands, mostly with the intent of making sure that all of the Dalmatian pups were accounted for, and she spotted Wilbur through the darkness. There wasn't anything too unusual about one of the humans talking with another hero, so she would have been on her way otherwise. It was the voice of the other individual he was speaking with that had caught her attention, though. Perdita stopped where she was and stared in the direction of Wilbur and the dog she had previously dismissed. The shape of his head was all too familiar to her, and his voice was equally so, but... Could that really have been her son? Hope sparked within her as she started to walk closer. It had been so long since she had seen Wizzer, and she silently prayed that it was true.

When she finally drew closer, she knew there would be no denying it. That was Wizzer, all right. Slowly, Perdita's tail began to wag and she quickened her pace. She didn't hold any ill feelings toward her son. If anything, she was happy to see him again. Just what he was doing in the Pridelands right then was beyond her, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to be with her son again.

"Wizzer!" Perdita couldn't hide the joy in her voice. She reached him, and without giving him a chance to really react she began to nuzzle him with her nose. It could have been the totally opposite reaction from what he was expecting, but that was the last thing she cared about.

"Oh, Wizzer... Wizzer, my darling..."

"Any help that you can give me would be very much appreciated, thank you! I know you can't help much" Wizzer said with a small wag of his tail. He realized he may have said too much, but Wilber was like the first person wiz had talked to about this for a long time.

"Wizzer"

Wiz's ears went down in terror and sadness. Of course he wasn't worried about his mom hurting him. He was terrified for a whole different reason. He was worried about the biggest lecture and grounding in all of history.

"MOM! Before you say an....." Wizzer began to explain to maybe lowering his punishment.

But , he was extremely surprised as she nuzzled him with her nose. Zukki might have been his adoptive mom, but perdita was his real mom( the only mom he really ever knew anyway)

Wiz nuzzles his mom back. "Mommy, I am so sorry, I made such a stupid choice. Could you ever forgive me"? Wizzer said.

Wilbur's attention turned to the other dog. The one Wizzer called mom. It looked like a touching reunion, and the boy was glad that at least to see Wizzer meet someone from his family. He was sure that Perdita would forgive her son. Mom's did that, though with a son on the opposing side for so long, it would probably take time to earn trust again.

"Of course. Of course I can, my darling. I'm just so glad that you're all right," Perdita answered. After everything that had happened to her other puppies in the war, it was always a relief to see one of them still alive and well. This was especially true after what happened to Patches, she reflected. But no more. She didn't have to worry about whether or not Wizzer was in danger of dying anymore. He was safe, and he would remain so as long as she had a say in it. She continued to nuzzle him gently and had to try and regulate her breathing so she didn't start crying. It was such a relief to know that her son was still alive and well.

"What matters now is that you're safe," she said. She didn't care what anyone else had to say on the matter. As far as she was concerned, no matter what side Wizzer was one he was her son. No one could take that much away from her. Besides... It wasn't as though he had killed anyone. No one could object to his presence as far as she was aware. Apart from some evidence of wounds he'd received in the past, there was no evidence that he was anything more than yet another dalmatian in the heroes ranks.

"I'm sure your father will be happy to see you here, too," she said. "And your brothers and sisters, too."

Wizzer snuggled up close to his mom and nuzzles her paw lovingly. He knew his dad would miss him, and was sure, his mom missed him. It was his Brother's and Sister's missing him that he sorta doubted. Cadpig would probably forgive him the most easily. After all she was in his position, not that long ago. And as far as he knew she was sort of welcomed back with open paws.

It was the relationship with his other siblings that he was worried about, and Mooch. Mooch would def not forgive him easily. Maybe he could try to talk to Patches and Fidget and move on from there. If he could get both of those pups to forgive him, it might be a little simpler. Of course he had no idea, that both of them were killed, and would be in for quite a sad shock when he found out. Patches and him, were always kind of close.

"I don't know mom, I have done a lot to them. It might take a while for them to forgive me. I really messed up big time with them. Going to the villains was one of the biggest mistakes I could have ever made. I didn't see it, before, but, I sure see it now. I was mean to everyone even some of my bestest friends, like Mooch, and Patches, do you think they could ever forgive me mom?" Wizzer asked sadly

"I'm sure your father will be happy to see you here, too."

"He certainly will be. Welcome back, son."

If Pongo's reaction was calmer than his mate's, it was only because he had caught the gist of what was going on from some distance away. He'd just been out about the camp, keeping an eye out for any wayward pups who were trying to get around being confined to camp - Lucky and Strike being the most probable offenders - when he'd caught sight of Perdy in the distance. And not only Perdy, but a smaller figure, too; and an incredibly familiar one at that.

Wizzer?

A few steps closer had revealed that, indeed, it was; and Pongo's heart leapt for joy. That was one more pup present, accounted for, out of harm's way... what had brought the younger male back, he didn't know, but that almost didn't matter in the immediate moment. That was one more son back, one more who was blessedly safe...

He approached slowly, allowing the adolescent pup and his mother to share the moment together. Pongo knew, of course, that Perdy loved all their kids - and he did, too - but seeing her embracing this prodigal pup with such open compassion, the male was realising that hers ran so much deeper than even he could have imagined. A true mother's love was as unconditional as anything, and he felt like to make his presence known immediately would be breaking in on a moment where he didn't quite belong.

Until his ears had caught the words Perdy as spoke them, words that all-but invited him in.

"Wizzer..."

He, too, bent down and ruffled the youngster's fur with his nose. The boy was scarred up a bit, like so many of his pups who'd joined this wretched war - hell, even he and Perdy had taken damage of their own -; but it didn't take Pongo long to grasp the fact that the biggest scars Wizzer had sustained were not physical, but emotional. Looking at him, Pongo couldn't see a villain or a former enemy, even though he recalled the no-holds-barred fight he and Perdy had walked into so many months ago; rather, he just saw a youngster as damaged by the war, deserving sympathy and not a reprimand.

"We're so glad to have you back."

What else was there to say?

Except...

At Wizzer's mention of Patches, Pongo couldn't help but glance at his mate. It was a certain fact that they'd need to tell him what had become of his best friend at some point; but now, when he already seemed so fragile? On the other paw, though... wasn't it better that they tell Wizzer, rather than him finding out from someone less compassionate?

The dalmatian didn't have an answer to that. He caught Perdy's gaze, silently asking her what they ought to do on that count.

A low growl rippled out of the teenager's throat as he caught sight of his brother from where he stood by the tents. Slowly but surely, Raine crept towards his adopted parents and brother. A few others were there but that didn't matter to Raine. His adopted father was probably right, and Wizzer's siblings would be happy to see him. Raine himself, on the other hand, was wary of the ex-Animal Villain. After all, this could be a trap. Even with his adopted parents present Raine wasn't about to believe Wizzer's story.

"Mum, dad, how do we know he's telling the truth?" Raine asked, moving towards his family.

Speaking of Pongo, he had arrived on the scene almost like magic. Perdita, of course, couldn't have been happier about this development. Although their family was broken up from the war, and it was going to be difficult to put it all back together, but at the very least they were able to put some of it back together. Perdita looked from Wizzer to Pongo and smiled at her beloved husband, tail wagging slowly as she did. But her tail stopped moving when Wizzer asked about Patches and his other siblings.

Now, Perdita knew better than anyone that Wizzer and Patches had been close at one point. Practically best friends, and they had helped one another during the time they'd been at Hell Hall with the others. How on Earth was she going to tell Wizzer that Patches had been brutally murdered months ago? She was so at a loss that she didn't even notice Raine arrive on the scene. Perdita looked at Pongo again, almost hoping that he would have an answer, but it looked like he didn't. It was up to her to give Wizzer some kind of an answer. So, at last, Perdita decided to try and tackle the issue. The sooner Wizzer found out about what happened, the easier it would be to help him cope. That was what she wanted to believe, anyway.

"Well, son... I'm sure the others will find it in their hearts to forgive you," Perdita said to begin. "But... Patches..."

Perdita had to take in a breath of air before she continued. Already, she was getting mental images of how she had found Patches that fateful day. It was the same day Pongo had been brutally attacked as well. He seemed to have more or less recovered from that, but Patches hadn't been so lucky. That was only because they hadn't been fast enough to find him.

"A couple of months ago, the pridelands were attacked by a... A horrible creature. It... It attacked Patches, and... I'm so sorry," Perdita said. Tears had welled up in her eyes and she was quick to bring her paw back around Wizzer's body. The tears slipped free a moment later, and she felt the breath catch in her throat. She wished she could have done more. There should have been a way to save Patches, but they hadn't been able to. He was gone just like so many of their other puppies. And now Wizzer had to be on the receiving end of that knowledge.

"H-He was torn a-apart when I-I found him. H-he didn't stand a chance...!"

"What"?? Wizzer said. Wizzer couldn't believe it. One of his bestest friends, gone, just like that? Before he had the chance to apologize? Or a hug from Patches, after all of this? And the worst thing was, Patches had an idea who had killed him. It had to be one of the outlanders. His so called "Brother's" and "Family" killing one of the bestest friends he had ever had? If only he had known about this sooner, if only he had been on the heroes, there was a chance, in Wizzer's mind that he could have done something. ANYTHING!!!!

But, instead he had done nothing. And now, there was no way to change back what had happened. Wizzer sobs violently on his mom's paw. "How could this have happened mom? Patches had done nothing wrong. He didn't deserve to die mom. None of our family deserves to die. I could have been there, I should of stopped this creature, I could have fought for him, I could have gotten help, it didn't have to end like this.

A true friend, doesn't leave their friend out in harm's way to get killed. I could of been there.... I could have done something... I'm not a friend...I'm just a...just a....just a" Wizzer couldn't even finish his sentence as he sobs violently.

Mooch's teeth gritted pretty visibly as he stood on the outskirts of the reunion. He was sitting back on his haunches, waiting, just waiting for his moment to strike. Wizzer. Wizzer had abandoned the gang just like stupid Two-Tone had. While Tone's betrayal hurt him a lot, Mooch still was stung by Wizzer's abandonment of the friendship they had. And now he just wanted to waltz back in and apologize? Not if he had anything to bark about it.

His fur prickled as he thought of how to do this. How to approach his former friend. Sometimes Dipstick's words bit at his ears. You were mean to us Mooch! His eyes tightened close, teeth gritting again.

"WELL, WELL, WELL, Look who it is." He couldn't help himself. Despite his time with the deer, Mooch still lacked a filter. "Coming back to the arms of your family, are ya, Wizzy? Well, you know there's a few OTHER dogs who want a piece of you. Hint; He's standing right in front of you."

Wizzer sniffles. " I understand you're angry. And I am willing to accept anything you are ready to dish out. I deserve anything that you want to do. One of my bestest friends aside from you and Dipstick is dead and I turned my back on you and everyone. So, I knew someone would be furious with me, and want to hurt me, for what I did. If having my ear gone, and finding out that one of my best friend’s was killed and I wasn’t even here to do anything to stop it, isn't enough punishment for you then do your worst Mooch. I understand, and deserve it. When you make a mistake like I did, there are punishment’s and Consequences, that come with it. And I am ready to face to face those consequences, however you see fit.”Wizzer said.

______________________________________________________

Cadpig had seen Wiz from a distance and ran over to him and Mooch. “The least we can do, is hear him out. He was quite content in the outlands, as far as we know. So, Why is it, if Wiz was so, happy there….that he would come back? Knowing full well, he was gonna be hated by some of the heroes? Knowing full well, that there was a small chance that the Villains, might just hunt him down, for his betrayal? He didn’t kill any of us, and it’s pretty clear to me, that he is extremely sorry for what he did. Don’t we owe it to him, to hear him out?” Cadpig said trying to be the voice of reason to sorta calm down Mooch and Raine. The way Cadpig thought he at least deserved time to talk and explain everything. Besides, if what she heard from Zukki was true, about being in that huge hole with no food, then Cadpig was happy he had finally made the right decision.