Chapter Text
He was free. 10 hellish years in prison, but he was finally free.
Pawbert Lynxley thought about this day for months now. He never really believed it would come, it always felt like a fake hope. The snake he betrayed would ask for an additional 10 years to his sentence just for good measure. The rabbit he poisoned, or perhaps the fox he fought with would greet him with a mocking smile, saying the sentence he heard was never the real one and he was there for a life. But no. Nothing like that happened. The guards escorted him out of his cell, he got back a few personal items, had a quick session with a psychologist, who gave him a card and he was… free. Just like that.
Now he had no idea what’s next, he was standing outside of the main entrance of the jail, alone with no further plans. What would a no-good criminal like him could do out in the real world anyway? No house, no money, no… family… This last thought still made his throat shrink after all these years, letting basically no air through. His father made it pretty clear he didn’t want to do anything with him, right on the first day in prison, and… perhaps throughout his whole life… he just didn’t pick up on the signs.
His eyes started to water.
Why? Why was he never enough whatever he did? Nothing ever was good for just one ‘I’m proud of you son.’ He was willing to ruin the life of hundreds of thousands of reptiles, and perhaps mammals, for what? One pat on the back from his father?
“So stupid.” He muttered under his nose, lightly kicking a rock that bounced a few cracks away. As he was glaring at the small rock even more thoughts came.
Maybe that was the problem in the first place. He tried too hard meeting his father’s standards, knowing very well it would never happen. He would always be the failure of the lynxley family no matter what.
He swiped his tears away as his legs finally started taking him somewhere. He didn’t stop it from happening. If his legs want to be somewhere, so be it. His head couldn’t make any decisions anyway, he might as well let his legs do that for him.
Maybe being a Lynxley failure isn’t a bad thing? His family is made out of a bunch of egocentric assholes. Yeah! Being a Lynxley failure isn’t a bad thing! He thought, his ears perking up for a second. Then… he remembered why he was in prison in the first place. Even if his family wouldn’t admit it, he was a real Lynxley. He almost killed multiple animals for his own selfish desires. If that’s not a flesh and blood Lynxley action nothing is. So he is one of them… even if only a miserable one. One up to no good Lynxley.
He deserved everything that came his way in the past years. The daily beatings, humiliation, and perhaps other things that shouldn’t be said out loud. All well deserved, and he had it coming.
Where did it all go wrong? When was the last meaningful choice when he could have turned his life around? On the weather wall perhaps? He could have simply helped the rabbit and the snake get to their goal, ignoring his family’s respect. Or even after all that he could have fixed things? Maybe yes, maybe no. He wouldn’t know for sure. He made a series of bad choices and he is the only one to blame for that. In a different world maybe he would be the only respected Lynxley in his whole family. Not here. Right here and right now he is just simply one of them and not one of them at the same time. The worst outcome.
He wasn’t sure where he was heading. He left behind Savanna Central's prison hours ago, and now he was somewhere deep in Sahara Square. The heat buried itself deep in his fur making him uncomfortably hot. Was that the goal of his feet? Making him suffer even more after all these years? Maybe…
A bunch of other mammals were walking around minding their own business. A few camels running past him, a fennec couple sharing an icecream, a few lizards laying on a chair, in sunglasses, enjoying the heat… Did any of them recognise him? The mammal who almost ruined all reptile’s life? Well it was ruined to begin with. So perhaps he’s more like the mammal who almost ruined the chance to improve all reptile’s lives. It's been 10 years, news agencies most likely moved onto something else to chew on after 1 year max. No way anyone remembers right? Well… someone, or someone’s most definitely do.
How would they react if they suddenly saw him? Would they immediately send him off with a bunch of harsh words? Or perhaps they would angrily wait for whatever he had to say… Actually… What would he say?
‘I’m sorry I almost killed you?’ or ‘I’m sorry for being a manipulative prick?’ Yeah… Maybe. He had so many things he wanted to apologise for, but at this point he was unsure why he wanted to. Another selfish thing just to lighten his conscience? Would it be another manipulating technique? Maybe he truly feels that way? Or does he…
“Oww!” A young pit viper yelled after bumping into the deep in thought lynx. “Ssssorry Sssir…” He quickly claimed with an apologetic look.
“Oh… Ahm… No worries kid, it happens to the best of us. I’m also the one to blame.” Pawbert awkwardly claimed, ready to follow his foot just to realize it wasn’t going anywhere anymore. It stopped, reaching its destination. As he looked around he had to realize he wasn’t in Sahara Square anymore. His heart skipped a beat as he realized, it’s an awfully familiar place. Last time he was here it was covered in ice and snow, but the outline is mostly the same. He’s in Reptile Ravine that’s fixed into its full glory. He looked around in awe, soaking in the beauty of the place. It’s a real tragedy that it was buried for 100 years under the coldness of Thundra Town. It’s just not fair… Just as these thoughts formed in his mind, his glare stopped on one specific house. His foot took him straight to De’Snake’s house.
“Ohh! Are you visssiting usss?” The young viper enthusiastically asked, the end of his tail tipping from left to right.
“Ahh… N-No… Just… Ahm…” Pawbert stammered. He shouldn’t be here. He most definitely shouldn’t be here.
“Then why did you ssstop in front of our house?” The young snake kept on pushing the question, tilting his head.
Good question little snake, why did I stop here? He wondered. Stupid foot! At any time someone could recognise him and yell to the kid to get away from him, rightfully so. However, seconds passed and nothing happened, aside from the kid curiously waiting for his answer.
“I don’t know…” Pawbert whined as the unwanted tears appeared in his eyes again. However this time, no matter his efforts to soak it up, new and new tears appeared, opening the floodgates. He had no right to cry here, but he felt too weak to stop it.
“No, Sssir don’t cry! Did I hit too hard? I might have hit too hard. Sssorry! I didn’t mean to!” The kid remorsefully lowered his head closer to the pavement.
“No! No… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Pawbert said, kneeling in front of the house with his head down while fighting with his tears. “I’m so sorry…” He quietly said for the third time, and it felt like even if he said it a thousand more times it wouldn’t matter. He wanted to keep away this paradise from everyone, all for one genuine proud smile from his father. Such a stupid goal that’s just simply not worth the sacrifice.
“Well… Uhm… Apology accepted!” The kid did a ‘salute’ with his tail. “I’m not even hurt, see?” He claimed, and to prove his point, slithered around the collapsed lynx. “So pleassse ssstop crying! Want to come inside? I can show you my family!”
“Heh…” The lynx sniffed, and stood up. “No… but thanks for the offer. You’re a good kid. Just… tell your dad that I…” He bit the last part of his sentence. No reason to swirl up their life now because of him. Let them live happily without having to think about the guy who alsmot ruined everything. “Never mind… Just… forget I was here.” He finally said, now consciously walking away, leaving behind the confused kid.
As he was leaving, the card the psychiatrist gave him drew his attention. ‘Second chance foundation. How to reenter society as a changed mammal!’ He gave a weak smile. Maybe it's already too late to fix a lifetime of bad choices. But never too late to try!