Baxter looked out the car window as the setting sun beamed down at him. His red, fluffy tail flicked with anxiety. His mother peered at him "don't worry, sweetie. By summer's end you won't have that sinful homosexuality!" Hearing her say that made him hiss under his breath. When summer ended he would kill Russet for outing him to his mom. When suddenly, just when the conversions camp came within view from just beyond the horizon the car came to a sudden hault with a sickening screech. If he wasn't wearing his seatbelt he certainly would have gone flying through the windshield! He readjusted his seatbelt. Groaning at the slight pain in where his seatbelt dug into his shoulders and chest. His mother checked the rearview mirror and snarled "WHAT!?" Her voice boomed causing Baxter to flinch and wince. He peered over as well to see a bear-trap! Someone just set that thing up in the middle of the road!? Baxters mom hissed. Her claws slightly tearing into the leather of the steering wheel. She got out of the car and slammed the door shut making Baxter flinch and rush to cover his ears. He sighed and curled up into a ball. Thinking about the horrors that awaited him just up ahead. He had heard horror stories of children DYING in camps like these. And those were the lucky ones... It got to the point he was shaking. He grabbed his phone and started using it to calm himself down. He managed to calm himself down for a while by watching YouTube when suddenly he realized hours had passed. Where's máma...? He hopped out of the car and looked around. Only to see she was gone without a trace. The bear-trap was still in the tire on the spare tire on the back of their car was just sitting their. Baxter gulped and called out "máma...!?" No response. He was about to reach for his phone to call the police when he felt something grab his arm and start dragging him. He immediately started hopelessly failing, sobbing and screaming. He didn't even turn around to see the figure dragging him. When suddenly he snapped back to reality when he realized he was inside of some sort of warn down building. His sobbing and screaming ceased and he just started shaking and silently sobbing. When suddenly he heard a voice growling in a husky voice "GODDAMN IT SHADOW!" He flinched at the voice. There was no response besides a low growl from the supposed "Shadow" "You know your supposed to get them to come willingly if possible you fucking dunce!" The creature pushed Shadow into the ground. Baxter immediately stood up and darted out. But he accidentally ran straight into a wall. He held his injury when he saw a calico cat walking towards him. But half her face appeared to be gone. They crouched infront of him "Hey. Don't worry. We're here to help...!" Baxter ushered back closer to his corner when he watched 2 other cats drag 2 cats in. The 2 cats being dragged in were a blue cat and a gray cat with a half black, half ginger faced cat with random spolches of ginger and black on their body. They had a white muzzle and muzzle-bridge and white dots above their amber eyes. The multicolored one hissed "HEY HANDS OFF!" When suddenly they all heard a voice "Well well well! Lookie at this!" Everyone looked up at the direction of the voice in shock. The black cat stood up and flipped a switch causing a series of lights to go off. Leading to a large staircase with a paw just peeking out of the darkness. With 2 crystal blue eyes gleaming out "So these are the ones saved from the conversion camp?" Shadow nodded "Good job everyone! And to you... Welcome!" The multicolored cat hissed "Aye what's the big idea!? Why did you bring us here!?" The voice smiled "Feisty... I like it! Now let me explain..." Everyone went silent "We are The Runaways! We were escapees from a similar position you were in. And we've dedicated our life to saving people like you! Now. The three of you. Step forward so I can see you." The half faced cat gestured for Baxter to follow them. Baxter, slightly shaking followed the half faced cat to the bottom of the staircase where they sat down. Shadow and a brown cat with a hairpin around their ear led the other 2 to sit besides Baxter. The voice in the darkness stepped a little closer. Making it so their face could barely be seen. All Baxter could see were scars all over their face "Ah... That's much better! Now you, Blue one. Tell me your name." He looked over at a dark blue tabby cat. With blue eyes. "... Raspberry..." Baxter could hear the cat smile "That's a gorgeous name dea-" before he could finish the feisty cat hissed "Hey! She's MY girlfriend!" "I'm not interested in girls." The feisty cat's tail flicked as they looked away. Obviously regretting their hasty words. But Baxter heard a low chuckle "Don't worry... I like you bud, your pretty feisty! You'll be a great member. But more on that later, what's your name?" Baxter hated the sound of that. "M'names Flare." "Fits your hothead personality! I like it! And you?" Baxter flinched when the looked over at him "U... Uhm... B... Baxter..." The voice smiled "That's a very fitting name. Now. Let me introduce you to everyone!" They pointed at the pure black cat with snow white eyes "Thats shadow! Our local triple A Battery!" There was a pause "Gettit...? Cause... They're Aro/Ace and Agende- Nevermind." They sighed and pointed at a brown cat with a red bowtie and green eyes, claw marks across their face and claw marks over their side "That's Bear! He's our biggest member" Bear struck a little pose of pride. The Voice pointed at a gorgeous brown cat with a white belly and a pastel orange red petal behind their ear and an almost magenta shade of eyes. "That's Petal! He's our fluffy member! But don't touch her fur without his permission!" They pointed at half faced Calico who had one gray eye and one blind eye "And that's Snap! What she lacks in depth perception they make up for in raw bravery." Raspberry giggled at the joke The Voice had made. The Voice cleared their throat "Now, Listen closely you three. We are giving you a choice here. You can join The Runaways or you can leave. We weren't force you to stay here, but we do recommend it. If you leave you will most likely be taken into custody and made to go to that conversion camp. But The Runaways protect each other here. We fight side by side, protect side by side and die side by side. I can't promise guaranteed safety but I can promise you this: you won't be treated as slaves. You'll be treated as equals." Baxter paused. He didn't know what to say before Flare spoke "I'll join." Raspberry looked over at them "W... What...!? B... But Flar-" "Would you rather be beaten for loving me and being yourself?" There was a pause before Raspberry realized the gravity of the situation. "I'll join as well." Baxter gulped. Slightly pulling out a picture of him and his mom from when he was younger out of his purse before sighing "Sorry máma..." He nodded "I'll join." The Voice smiled "Welcome to the family. Now step forward to receive your new names." Raspberry flinched "We have to change our names...!?" "Letting the leader change your name is a sign of heavy, raw loyalty. Don't worry. If you don't like it just say so! I have plenty of name ideas for all of you!" Flare was the first to walk forward to the third step before stopping and laying their front paws down in a bowing motion "Hey! I didn't even have to tell you to bow! Good job! Now..." The Voice stepped out of the darkness to reveal a cat, covered in battle scars with 2 half masked gray face, torso, arms and top tail, the gray littered in light gray, tiny spolches. Their belly, undertail, paws and the rest of their face a nice, soft cream color. As well as a crystal blue bandana. The shade of blue as their eyes. They walked out of the darkness and touched their nose with Flares forehead "From this day onward. Flare... your name gifted to you from The Runaways will be... Birch!" The other cats cheered for Birch. The Cat gestured for Raspberry to come sit up with them. Raspberry walked up and bowed before The Cat. The Cat touched their nose with Raspberry s Forehead "From this day onward... Raspberry... Your name gifted to you from The Runaways will be... Raindrop!" The cats cheered Raindrop name. The Cat smiled and gestured for Baxter to come join them. Baxter, with shaky legs walked up to the top of the staircase and bowed before The Cat. The Cat touched their nose with Baxters forehead. Baxter flinched at the sudden touch of their cold, wet nose "From this day Onward... Baxter... Your name gifted to you by The Runaways will be... Spark!" The cats cheered Sparks name. It felt strangely warm and fuzzy. Birch cleared their throat "So... What's your name by the way...?" The cat paused before realizing what Birch had said "Oh! Golly my apologies! Gosh how rude of me...! My name is Mouse!" Mouse gave them a warm smile "Now I know this must be scary. Your whole lives changed today. So we're just going to show you to your rooms and we'll start with everything else tomorrow! Shadow!" The black cat peered up. "Can you show our new friends to their room?" Shadow nodded and gestured for them to follow. And so the three did. Eventually they made it to a room with a warn down door. Shadow spoke in a raspy, hushed voice "It's not much. But we aren't exactly rich. Make yourselves at home." As they walked away. Raindrop sighed before opening the door to reveal a relatively. Small, but cozy room. It had a bunk-bed with another bed off to the side. A window with a window sill and poorly set up blinds, 2 small dressers (One by the bunk-bed and one by the other bed) and a relatively big closet and a shelf. Raindrop pounced up on the top bunk of the bunk-bed "I call top bunk!" Birch sighed and walked over to the dresser by the bunk bed. Placing some stuff from their backpack on the dresser as well as a few things on the shelf. Raindrop did the shame. Sparks tail flicked before walking over to their bed and sitting down on it. It was pretty comfy considering it didn't have sheets. There was only a pillow and a scratchy blanket. They reached into their purse and pulled out the picture of him and their mom. Setting it down on the dresser. Also grabbing some small Squishies, their phone, phone charger and A comfort plush they had stitched white patches onto a few years back to look like their childhood pet. They peeked over at Raindrop and Birch to see them spray painting a trans flag and a pride flag on the wall! Sheesh.... They must not fear God if that planned on bringing that to a conversion camp huh? Spark flipped onto the bed and sighed. Curling up in the blanket they had. When suddenly they heard a gentle voice "Hey...?" "Hm...?" Spark looked over at Raindrop "Is that... All you brought?" Sparks tail flicked a little. Not mad at Raindrop but at the realization his mom didn't care to send him with anything else. "Yep..." Raindrops ears drooped. She reached into her bag and pulled out 4 fluffy something's in an airtight bag "Here!" Sparks tail swooshed with slight excitement. He hadn't received a gift in a while as his mom didn't have money to give him a gift since his 10th birthday. He sat up and took the bag from Raindrop. Slowly opening it. Every now and again looking at Raindrop who had an overly cheery smile considering the situation. He opened the bag to see a pair of reddish orange, fluffy leg and arm warmers. He stared at them for a moment in complete silence before silently putting them on. They were warm and soft. Spark couldn't help and smile and purr a little from the comforting feeling before remembering Raindrop was Infront of him. He looked over at her to see her smiling "You like them...!?" Sparks drooped as they came down from their happy high "I love them... Thank you, Raindrop." Raindrop smiled "No problem! If you need anything feel free to ask!" The strutted back to their bed and started conversing with Birch. Spark rested his head on his arm. His cheek slightly nuzzling the arm warmer. A purr under his breath as he started to drift off to sleep.
He awoke the next morning to the sunlight creeping through the blinds. He stretched and let out a loud yawn before collapsing back on the bed. He peeked over at Birch and Raindrops bed to see if they were already up. Nope. They had somehow constructed a pillow fort using some sleeping bags they had brought and the stuff already here. And we're cuddled up napping together. At first seeing someone as nice as Raindrop so happy made him smile. But his tail violently flicked at the memory of his last relationship. He sat up and grabbed his blue and white kitty plush "Morning Spirit." He gave the stuffed animal a quick hug and put it in his purse. He was about to turn around to walk out the door when someone knocked on the door. Raindrop groaned and muttered "Come in..." Snap opened the door "Morning you three! Raise and shine! Mouse wants to see you!" Raindrop peeked over at the window and groaned "The sun's barely out..." "You'll have to get to bed earlier then! Now come on!" Raindrop and Birch slowly raised out of bed and followed Snap with Spark behind them. Eventually they made it to the main room. It was easier to see now that it wasn't as dark. The room was mostly empty besides the large staircase where atop was a pile of blankets and pillows. There were also several doors all around the warn-down room. With a large opening on the opposing side to the staircase. Most likely the exit. Snap led them to a door with a poorly set up reading "Meeting room" they opened the door to reveal a relatively small room with a long table with several tails around it. At the left side was a whiteboard and a slightly larger chair where Mouse sat "You three! Come in!" Spark sat down in a random chair while Raindrop and Birch sat next to each other. Mouse started talking "Alright! So, since you three and new here I'll be assigning someone to help you get used to things here! Raindrop, you'll be assigned to Snap! Birch, you'll be assigned to Shadow! And Spark, you'll be assigned to Bear!" They should be waiting outside for you!" Raindrop grabbed Birches hand "Come on! This'll be fun!" Birch sighed and smiled at her. "Alright, Alright... I'm Coming..." Spark silently stood up, pushed his chair in and followed them out the door. Mouse walked out with them and cleared his throat "Now. Let's st-" Bears short tail flicked with excitement "Oh! Mouse! Can we start with the story!?" Mouse giggled "Alright Bear. Go ahead." Bear cleared his throat "2 years ago All of us older members were in an abusive military school. After a particularly harsh day of yard labor and beatings Mouse turned to me. And saw the hairpin on my ear and got an idea. He turned to us and smirked "Listen. We're getting out of here. But you'll all need to trust me." Some of us doubted him. Some of us didn't trust him. But we were desperate. At this point if we died it was just that. We died. So Mouse grabbed my hairpin and picked the lock to our bedroom door. It wasn't an expensive lock since the staff expected us too be compliant. But we weren't going to let them abuse us any longer! Mouse led us through the schools corridors. When right down the hall to the exit we heard a voice "you! Freeze!" We started running. But Mouse stopped. He turned to us and said "Run. Run as far as the horizon will let you. Fly faster than an eagle. All of you. I'll hold them back. Thank you, For trusting me." We all bolted out the door but I stopped by the woods. Everyone else turned to me. Yelling at me to run. But I turned to them and said "No. I'm going to wait for him. He saved us. I'd rather be tortured again or murdered than know we left him behind." The others whispered amongst themselves. Before they sat by my side. I still remember clear as day. Petal said to me "If we started leaving each other behind earlier we wouldn't be here. If they fight one of us they fight all of us." About 10 minutes passed. But it felt like an eternity. When we saw movement leaving the school. We prepared to fight for our freedom when. Out limped Mouse. Riddled in battle scars. I was the first to dart over and help him walk. Mouse huffed "You waited...? Why...?" I didn't turn to face him as I spoke "We weren't gonna leave the one who saved us behind." And so we walked through the woods when Petal turned to us "Hey, my aunt lives near here! She's a doctor! She could be able to help us!" So we went to her house, she patched Mouse up and sent us on our way. We walked all the way from north-eastern Indiana to Western Ohio in the span of 4 months! Where we found this place! We fixed 'er up, made it feel like home, renamed ourselves and nominated Mouse as our leader! And finally we became The Runaways!" Raindrop was in awe the whole story. She turned to Mouse "Was that true....!?" Mouse smiled "Bears retelling was a smidge... Dramatic, but just about! Anyways. Backstory stuff out of the way, now could you guys show them around? I have to plan for the big raid in 3 months!" Bear nodded "Of course! Come on you three! Let's show you around!
The tour didn't take long. After all there were only a few rooms. The kitchen, the other members rooms, the restroom and the treasury (which was a safe only Mouse knew the code too.) By the end of the tour bear led them to the front room again "Alright! Now. Shadow, you h-" Shadow and Snap had both left at some point. Bear sighed "Those 2... Oh wait! Nevermind! I have the list!" Bear reached into his bag and pulled out a list of some sort "These are some rules Mouse wanted us to read too you! Alright. Let's do this.
1: "You are too listen to the leader! However if a veteran member gives an unfair order you may talk to the leader about it."
2: "To win a battle you don't have to take a life. Only take a life if told too or in self defense. If you can't outrun am enemy you can go for the eyes to blind them and make your getaway!"
3: "Please try not to argue. We once had a claw fight start over if Popeyes or KFC is better and it ended in absolute chaos. " Bear growled under his breath "I don't care what Petal says. Popeyes is better."
4: "We do not tolerate Transphobia or Homophobia! Everyone I'd accepted here!"
5: "Failure to follow rules can lead to minor punishments such as extra tasks or more serious punishments depending on the severity. Physical punishment will only be given out for severe rule breaking such as purposefully hurting or attempting to kill a member or killing someone."
Bear smiled "Alright! Now that that's out of the way all members actually have a meeting starting up! So let's go to the meeting room!" Bear led them to the meeting room where everyone else was already sitting. Raindrop and Birch. Obviously sat next to each other. Spark chose a seat that was furthest away from anyone. Mouse cleared his throat and readjusted his bandana "Alright, So I've told all of you about the raid in 3 months! Basically for the new members we're going to break into the conversion camp down the road and we'll save all those kids! But remember!: "Don't kill if unnecessary. Blind if needed!" And for our new members! We have a very simple mission for you." Spark perked up "You know where the gas station near here is right?" Sparks tail flicked as he remembered seeing it driving to the camp "Yeah..." "Here's 100$ and a shopping list! Would you mind grabbing some food for us? You can spend everything leftover on snacks for yourself!" Spark usually didn't walk that far but he wanted to prove his worth "Alright...!" "Great! That'll be your task for the day! As for you 2! I'll have you sort the food cans in the kitchen! Petal! Could you help them?" " 'Course! Come on kitties!" "And stop calling everyone 1 month younger than you a kitty..." Petal snarled "No~" Mouse just glared and sighed "Meeting adjured!" Spark walked out of the base and down the road. Trying to keep his body hidden by the brushes. The wet grass under his paws felt nice. He watched the cars pass him by as he started to pass the bridge where his mother's car had stopped. He peered out of the trees to see his mother's car was gone. And his mother was no where too be see nor was the bear-trap. He sighed and continued walking as he thought to himself "hope your okay Máma..." He made his way too the gas station. Taking a few breaks along the way. When he walked in the gas station he checked the shopping list and started grabbing the things on the list. After doing the math he had about 20$ leftover. And so he grabbed a large bag of Cheetos and some nacho cheese dip. He checked out and started walking home. But as he was doing so he paused. He looked over and saw a bunch of missing posters. Most of them he didn't recognize but a few stuck out. It was him. "MISSING: RASPBERRY FANGTHISTLE: 7009$ REWARD." "MISSING: FLARE FIREFACE: 3000$ REWARD." "MISSING: BAXTER RAYA: 100$ REWARD." "100$" he looked at the other rewards of other missing kids. 500$, 1000$, 4000$. He grabbed the poser and stared at it. Specifically the name. Baxter. He had used that name his whole life. Why did it feel so wrong...? He snarled and tore it too shreds. "That isn't me. My name isn't Baxter... My name is Spark. I'm a Runaway now. And Flare and Raspberry don't exist anymore. They're names are Birch and Raindrop." Spark continued walking through the forest. Hanging his head and carrying the bags and bags full of food. Before finally making it back to the base. Mouse looked back and smiled "Ah! Spark! Your back! And you it looks like you got everything! Here. I'll take those bags from you!" Mouse grabbed the bags and set them aside "You get anything for yourself?" Spark grabbed the bag with his Cheetos and Nacho Cheese. "I got these for myself." "Alright! You can go ahead and do whatever now! Have fun!" Spark walked back to his room and sat down on his bed. He grabbed his phone and started eating while watching YouTube videos. Mostly gaming videos, When suddenly he got a notification from his mom
Máma: Baxter. Where the hell are you.
Oh no... Oh god no... Spark felt himself start hyperventilating. He clenched his phone so hard it could've broken. That message ringing in his head
"Baxter. Where the hell are you."
Spark suddenly felt a surge of emotion course through his body like a tsunami. In a fit of rage he tossed his phone onto the bed, turned around and slashed the wall with a loud growl. He huffed to himself before retracting his claws. He laid back down on his bed covering his face with his blanket as he started sobbing. When he managed to calm himself down he gripped his blanket and looked back at his phone that message haunting him. He took a deep breath and grabbed the phone. Trying to keep from looking at the message as he clicked [block user]. A message appeared on screen [Block user? You won't be able to receive nor send messages to this user.] He paused before sighing "Sorry Máma..." As he clicked [Yes.]
Spark continued to sulk in self-pity. Softly sniffling every now and again. When suddenly Raindrop burst in "Ugh! Why would they need so many darn cans! I'm exhausted..." "So they can waste less since canned foods take longer to go bad...? They already said they don't have much money." Raindrop huffed as she popped down on the bottom bed "Whatever. Come 'ere, Babe. It's cuddle time." Birch sighed but smiled as they laid down on the bottom bunk. Setting Raindrop on top of them so they could cuddle her as they wrapped a blanket around them both. Raindrop purred as her tail wrapped around Birch. Raindrop peered over at Spark who was laying down facing the wall. Trying to keep from crying to not make Raindrop and Birch worry. "Hey Spark! How was the gas station?" Sparks tail twitched as he replied in a monotone voice "It was fine." Raindrop smiled "I'm glad! I'm goin to bed. Nighty night!" Spark mumbled "Night..."
.
..
...
Spark woke up in a cold sweat with a gasp. His claws digging into the blanket. He covered his mouth to keep from screaming as to not wake up Raindrop and Birch. He got control of his surroundings and looked around. It was night. He could tell by how dark it was. He sighed "goddamn nightmares..." Spark sighed and got out of bed. He silently walked across the base. Being careful to not make any sound with the squeaky floorboards as to not wake anyone up. He finally made it outside. The smell of fresh rain and the feeling of wet grass between his paw pads made him feel better. He walked over to the tree just besides the base. He sunk his claws into the tree bark and climbed the tree. Just high enough he could see past the leaves to look at the stars. He remembered how his brother would always lead him outside in the summertime and they would sit in the yard. He remembered his brothers laugh as he said "Ya know Baxie. If you look closely stars kinda look like porcupines of light dipping their quills into the sky. Pretty neat huh...?" He remembered looking up at the stars as a child and smiling "Yeah... They really are..." When his train of thought was cut off by a sudden shake in the branch. He grabbed onto the tree and wrapped his tail around the branch when he realized it was from extra weight. He looked over and saw Mouse sitting next to him. Mouse looked over "Hey, what are you doing out this late...?" Spark let go of the tree and his tail flicked as it unwrapped from the branch "Had a nightmare... You...?" Mouse sighed "Couldn't sleep." There was silence between the two. Mouse looked over at him "Nightmare about your Ma?" Spark paused before nodding. "I've seen that look 100s of times. And not just in my own eyes." Spark paused "Do you still get those nightmare's...?" "Yeah, but I've stopped being scared of them." Spark peeked over at Mouse "I think you would have liked my brother. He was super brave, never scared of anything." Mouse looked over at Spark "Bravery isn't not being scared. It's being terrified but pushing through. To do whatever needs to be done." Spark perked up. His voice almost sounded desperate "B... But you fought a Military School guard!" "2 of 'em. Actually. And yeah sure, I fought 2 German shepherds by myself. And you better believe I was terrified. If your face to face with 2 dogs twice the strength and twice the size of you in a life or death situation and your not scared? Your not alive." There was silence between them. "thank you, mouse." "No problem. I better head back in. Sun's about to come up and the others get upset when I'm not there. I'll see you around." Mouse jumped from the branch and went back inside. Sparks tail waved back and fourth as he became deep in thought. He sighed "Bravery..." He sighed and leapt from the branch and went back into the base he made his way back to his room and pulled out his phone. He went straight into messages and went into blocked users. The only blocked user was his mom. [unblock all] he clicked on her and took a deep breath before writing
"Dear Máma...
I ask you don't reply further. I just want you too know I am safe and happy where I am now. And I will not be returning home. You never accepted me for who I loved. But I've found people who do. I'm sorry and I love you. Even I'd you didn't love me. Goodbye.
Your son. ~Spark"