hilaroo wrote:...On a side note, does anyone know what actully happened to Jack's paw?
I got a really cool idea for a back story. We don't really know where the pack came from before moving to Babylon Gardens, only that they were in the wild. And we really don't know much about Joel's back story, other than he was kidnapped by his pets.
Here's the idea: Joel was working for another wildlife protection agency that monitors animals in the wild. While driving out in his truck one day, he happens to notice a wolf with a very sick-looking leg. (or arm?) Without hesitation, he stops the truck and jumps out to get a closer look. His suspicions are confirmed when he sees the wolf trying to limp up on unsuspecting prey. (I figure I have to leave some room for creativity...) Of course, trying to sneak up to something when you've got a limp is hard enough, let alone when there's plenty of dry sticks to step on.
*SNAP!*
The prey hears the sound, sees the wolf, laughs, and scampers away chuckling. (Insult to injury?) The wolf growls quietly under his breath, turns... and sees Joel.
Knowing he's been spotted, Joel decides to try the friendly approach first. "Hey there. I couldn't help but notice your leg there. Would you accept help if I offered it to you?" Joel notices that the wolf looks extremely weak and tired. No doubt there is an infection. But the wolf looks calm, so if it is rabid, it doesn't seem to have taken full effect yet.
"My pack has done everything they can to help me, but I'm beyond what they know how to do. What could you do that would be any better?" (HP Universe=all humans and animals can communicate, so I can get away with this, right?)
"We have doctors that could help you with their medicine."
"Your doctors would probably take my arm. I'd rather meet my end out here than be a cripple for the rest of my life."
"I could fight for you. I can't guarantee what will happen, but I know a good vet who knows what she's doing, and she normally listens to me."
The wolf looks down at his nearly helpless leg. "I don't know."
Joel thinks for a moment. This would take some sneaking, but it's worth it to help this creature. "Perhaps if I told you that I would be there the whole time to make sure nothing happens that you don't want?"
The wolf seemed satisfied with this. "I guess I can give you a chance. But do you really have to use that thing?" The wolf looks at the tranquilizer gun in the holster on Joel's hip.
"No, that's just for emergencies. And since you've agreed to come along, I have no reason to use it. But you'll have to give me your word that you'll stay real still on our way to my vet friend."
"Sounds reasonable enough."
“By the way, my name is Joel, what’s yours? I don’t really want to call you something dumb like ‘Wolfie.’”
“My name’s Jack.”
The two walk together to Joel's truck, where Joel explains that Jack will have to lie in a cage on the way to the clinic. Joel promises not to lock it, and Jack agrees. However, on the way to the clinic, things start going wrong. (...As much as I don't want them to, the end of this has to match where we are in HP now...)
*Over the CB Radio* "Mr. Robinson, come in Mr. Robinson."see this
Joel groans and picks up the receiver. "This is Joel. What do you want, Clarence?"
"We've received a report that one of our trucks has been parked along the side of the road again, and the plate matches the truck you're driving. What have you been doing, Mr. Robinson?"
"First off, I've asked you time and time again not to use my last name. Just call me Joel. And I saw an injured wolf in the woods off from Country Road, and... *rolls his eyes* you know... I don't want to talk about it."
"Mr. Robinson, you've been told three times before that our policy is clear, and the law is clear. We cannot interfere with the animals in the wild beyond tagging them and putting out vaccine blocks. Are you transporting any animals in our vehicle? Mr Robinson, please confirm."
Joel puts down the receiver. "That's not going to happen."
Jack's cage is up in the cab, and he heard every word. "What's going on? I hope you're not causing trouble. I don't want some crazy animal control people trying to wrangle me."
"Don't worry, that's not going to happen. My friend's clinic is just a couple miles from here."
They arrive at the clinic. Joel's friend comes out to meet them. Jack is startled at the sight of the vet.
"Why didn't you tell me your vet friend is a wolf?"
"It sounds too unbelievable. I've told other animals, and they never believed me. They just called me crazy and ran away."
"Makes sense. I probably would have done the same thing."
The wolf vet smiles and speaks to Jack. "I see you're in not so good shape. I'll see you right away in room three." (I would've had her say "exam room three" but this room has more than the typical tools found in one of those. Plus it sounds Trek-ish.)
Jack looks at Joel. "You'll still stay here, right?"
"I have no reason not to. I just need to park the truck in the garage out back, and I'll be right in. I'm sure Cindy won't bite while I'm not looking." (I would have used Elaine's name, but as I understand it, Miles was the first from his pack to decide to permanently leave the wild.)
Joel parks the truck inside and joins Cindy and Jack inside, where he finds Jack in a corner, fur on end, looking at Cindy.
“What’s going on here!?”
Cindy looks frustrated. “I tried telling him it was just a standard antifungal shot for his leg, but he keeps shouting that it’s a tranquilizer.”
“It’s ok Jack, Cindy knows what she’s doing, and she wouldn’t lie, especially not to one of her patients.”
Jack doesn’t seem to like the idea, but he calms down. “Okay, but does it have to be a needle? Isn’t there another way to get the job done?”
Cindy looks nervously at Joel. “Well, there is the direct approach, and it’s what I’d really rather do because your friend here has extensive tissue damage, but he told me he doesn’t want to lose his leg.”
Joel scrunches his face and puts his right hand on his chin. “Well, maybe you can…”
At that moment, five large policemen burst into the office, as well as some animal control wranglers. Before anyone can react, Joel and Jack are restrained, and jack is given a tranquilizer. As Jack slumps out, he stares, frightened, at Joel.
"I thought I'd be safe with..."
One of the policemen reads Joel his rights.
“Joel Robinson, you are under arrest for grand theft auto and illegally transporting a wild animal to an unauthorized clinic.”
Cindy is flabbergasted. “Now just a minute! You can’t…”
“Your license only applies for pets, madam. Sorry, but we will have to take this wolf to an authorized clinic.”
As Joel and Jack are brought out of the clinic, Cindy looks on in disgust and grief. “And that wolf was kinda cute, too…”
Jack is brought to another clinic, where the doctors remove his damaged leg, and convince him that it is better to live on than to die in agony. Jack is nursed back to health, with frequent visits from Miles and Elaine, who have been informed of what happened. Cindy visits too, but things don’t work out for them. Jack is just too used to living in the wild, and he holds some resentment against her for letting ‘them’ take his leg. After coming back to health, Jack is released back into the wild, but things aren’t the same for him and the pack. (I can’t say ‘his’ pack because Miles is the Alpha male, right?)
Months later, at Joel’s trial…
“Joel Robinson, you have been found guilty of Grand Theft Auto, as well as illegally transporting a wild animal in an unauthorized vehicle to an unauthorized location. Is there anything you wish to say before I pass sentence?”
“Yes, your honor. I still believe that my actions were justifiable, and that it is wrong for this court to pass sentence upon them. I didn’t steal the truck, per se, as I was an authorized driver. And what was done to Jack was wrong. He didn’t want to lose his leg, and I gave him my word that I would not let that happen to him. Also I was under the idea that Cindy Wolf, V.D. (not sure if Veterinary Doctor is abbreviated that way, but I’m the writer here.) had the proper licenses to work with wild animals. That is all.”
“Your words are duly noted in the records. However, since the jury has already found you guilty, I have to give you sentence. I believe you understand the nature of the offense, so your sentence shall be two years proob… *ahem* that’s two years probation (yes the judge is a kangaroo, it’s allowed in HP U, or at least it should be…) and a fine of $5,000. See the clerk to set up a payment plan. This is a felony charge, so it will go on your record as such, but I don’t believe prison time is necessary in this case. Case adjourned.” *Gavel SMACK*
The charge further increases Joel’s dislike for animals, but also increases his desire to help them. (Joel is the kind of guy that can pull off those mixed emotions and desires. As King, he’s shown us that angst quite a bit.) Since a felony is on his record, he joins PETA (Boo!) since “they’re the only group that doesn’t require a background check.” And you know the rest…