Bandit
#2 of Quelchion IV Chronicles
Disclaimer: The events in this story take place 6 months after the horse Destini and her mother Teilani got impregnated by the male squirrel Chipper in the story "Squorses", and one month before the squorses were born in the same story. Quelchion IV is a planet with the multiple distinction of being a place where any two species can hybridize, animals have human intelligence and can talk, and it has many portals (wormholes) from other planets allowing creatures from all around the galaxy to enter.
As a nature lover, hiking and horseback riding were irresistible activities for Cindy. She was outside the barn getting ready to go horseback riding in the wooded area on her new property on the planet Quelchion IV. After she saddled up her pregnant mare Destini, her ferret Bandit scurried up from behind her. "Cindy," he said, "is it alright if I come too, and we can bring Fenton?"
"I don't know if it will work, honey," she said.
"Can't you use your double carrying pouch for me and our son?" asked Bandit.
"Okay, fine," she said, buckling the pouch around her waist. She picked up her anthro-ferret baby and Bandit and placed them each gently in their own pouch. Fenton, just a few days old, was about the same size as his father Bandit, which is large for a baby ferret and small for a human baby. He was sloth-like, had human proportions and inherited his father's mask-like marking on his face that gave Bandit his name.
With her ferret and their baby around her waist, Cindy got on Destini and rode towards a path. Because a squirrel was the father of Destini's pregnancy, and the fetus therefore very tiny, she was confident the ride would not be too much of a strain on her. They rode into the wooded path gracefully. During the ride, Bandit occasionally took peeks outside of the pouch examining the scenery, while his son on the other side was sound asleep with barely any stirring.
This ride was quite risky, because the portals on Quelchion IV open up bringing in life forms both good and evil from all around the galaxy. A benevolent alien race had installed evil-filters on these portals, but unfortunately they don't always work. Strange sounds could be heard of animals from other planets as they kept pacing on. They enjoyed the bizarre beauty of the alien plant life, brought to Quelchion IV as spores or seeds mostly by accident.
Suddenly, a serpent-like creature jumped in front of them, opening up three jaws and making a most horrifying screeching sound. Startled, Destini neighed and backed up. The creature began to speak with an evil, raspy voice: "Well, well, what do we have here?"
"Leave us alone!" said Cindy.
"I will not leave you alone," it said. "After I devour whatever is in those pouches, you and your riding beast will make excellent hosts for my spawn," it said, laughing sadistically.
"Not if I can help it!" said Bandit, jumping out of Cindy's pouch, and perching on Destini's head.
"No, Bandit," said Cindy, "you can't possibly defend us from that thing."
"Trust me," he said. "I will show you what a ferret who still has his balls can do!" He meant this both literally and metaphorically. Domestic ferrets are normally neutered to prevent aggressive tendencies, but Bandit was an exception.
The creature made a really evil sounding rasping laugh when it saw Bandit. "What is that weasel going to do to me? I'm trembling," it said sarcastically. As it kept laughing, Bandit noticed a pulsating bulge on the creature's neck. Instinct, intuition, or perhaps a guiding spirit told him this must be a vital organ. Rikki-tikki-tavi, that renowned mongoose of lore, had always been quite a role model for Bandit.
Immediately, Bandit pounced from Destini's head and lunged toward the creature's neck bulge.
"Be careful, Bandit!" cried Cindy.
As soon as Bandit's mouth made contact with that bulge, he sunk his teeth in and shook vigorously. The creature writhed and screeched in pain as it tried to shake Bandit off. Despite the violent thrusts of resistance by the creature, Bandit still managed to cling to that vital organ. He had his human partner, his son, and a pregnant horse to protect, and was determined not to give up. As the creature made its disturbing cry of death, its last jolt of life flung Bandit to the ground. The creature then disintegrated into practically nothingness, as must be the case whenever this species dies.
Bandit was on the ground moaning in pain. Cindy got off the horse, and picked up Bandit's injured body. "I think my left leg is broken," he said.
"Oh, Bandit," Cindy cried. "I'll get you to the nearest doctor as soon as I can." On Quelchion IV, since animals are sentient, there really is no such thing as a veterinarian. Doctors help all creatures; human, animal, or alien.
Back at her property, she invited an anthro-fox, who was a doctor, to mend Bandit's leg. As the doctor was bandaging him, he said, "you are one brave little critter."
"He sure is," said Cindy. "He risked his life to save ours," she said looking at Fenton and then outside at Destini.
"He should be good in a few weeks," said the doctor. "Call me if there are any problems," he said, handing Cindy a painkiller.
Later that week, Cindy had purchased a custom plaque with Bandit's photo, and the inscription: "Bandit, our brave little hero."
...To be continued...
Stay tuned for Bandit II: Hero Worship