Trees buckled and broke as the child sulong crushed and made a wild rampage through the forest! The Towns people Macua thought that it was an avalanche! Though there was no tremors that would mark the coming of one.
But the loggers and Icemen from within ran! Speaking of a beast with piercing red eyes!
That night, for the second time in the Minks' life. They were hunted.
And it left them bleeding and fleeing into the Forest where the exhaustion caused them to revert to the child they were.
The next day, with a leary and grey sky above, was when through the crunching of snow in the forest. A Lone figure met their eyes.
Offering to them, for the first time in their life. A hand. Gentle and delicate.
But the mink was far too hurt. Deciding to instead run through the snow, naked and afraid yet again.
And yet. Every day. Every week. For over a month. They saw the same human. Gently swaying and walking to the mink.
Everytime, they always came from wherever Dezzi could see, never from behind. And never with the intention of Stealth.
For weeks, and close to two months Dezzi ran from the Masked individual. They couldn't tell who they were, with the long coat, goggles, and scarf across their face.
They got so used to running, that when they heard the snow crunch, they would make a run for it.
That was until one day, in the middle of a Blizzard in December.
Clank! Metal snapped shut, a scream from the young Dezzi echoed! Blood dripping!
A Bear Trap that had been set just for them had caught their leg, skin torn as their ankle was broken! Fear radiated through Dezzi's mind, only for it to escalate as the snow in front of them continued to crunch!
The Person from before coming through the thicket.
Dezzi, like a feral animal, bared their teeth, canines sharp, claws protruding from their fingertips!
And yet, the person continued to walk.
In defense, they took a quick swipe! Wishing to scare them off! Adrenaline surging through their system as they thought 'if this human gets me…I'll-' but their young mind couldn't formulate the words to describe the horror they expected.
Now they were too close! With a flinch, Dezzi closed their eyes, and looked away. Hoping that it'd be over quick…
Ka-clink. The Pressure from the trap suddenly left, their eyes slowly opening to see that-
The Human had opened the trap just enough for them to pull their leg from the Trap.
Scurrying and Scooting backwards, Dezzi hit the bark of a Tree. Breath heaving as they watched the Human slowly shut the trap. Raising hand up to their scarf, pulling it down and pushing the goggles to their forehead
Beneath was a Feminine face, crows feet at the corner of their soft eyes. Pink lips expanding into a gentle smile, raising a gloved hand to the Mink.
Eyes shifted from the hand to the smile, a pang in their chest as they saw what they had at the docks. Now looking at them instead.
Slowly, Dezzi reached their hand out…
"Dezzi! Would you come in here Please?" Oslar said, quick thumping of the floorboards announcing the now fully healed, and clothed, mink.
For the past few months, Dezzi and Oslar had been living together after the Bear Trap. Oslar teaching the Young mink had to speak properly. Their language and understanding of it being only that of a 3 year old. The 7 years a Slave and the Months of being with the Sailors didn't help
One of the things that when learning about the language, was the subject of pronouns. Oslar had been referring to Dezzi as 'Him' purely on reflex. But by the choice of the Rabbit Mink, spoke for the preference for 'They'. Saying that it just, sounded better.
They read the books that Oslar har, which discussed the Idea of Gender. And Dezzi, even at so young, just couldn't feel as though they aligned with any of it. Better they aligned with not having one. Something Oslar accepted in stride. Happy for the mink to develop so far so quickly as to even self-identify themselves
The Realization of Asexuality and Aromaticity would come to them over time after the fact
"Yes Dr. Oslar?" They said hopping up onto the table filled with tools and glasses for making medicines by hand.
"Say that again for me would you?" She rested a hand on her chin
"Yes, Doc-tor Ous-lar?" They sounded out.
"Good!" Oslar praised the Mink. "How has the reading been coming along?"
"It has been good! I really enjoy the Diag-nos-is books!" They attempted to sound out 'Diagnosis'
"You know Dezzi. We've lived together for a while now. And I think you need to be given another Name."
"I want us to be connected. No matter what. No matter where you go in this world, a piece of me will be with you, even if that mask breaks, or shatters. I will be with you no matter what."
Leaning forward, with a glint in their eye they asked "What are you thinking, Doctor?"
"I think, from this day forward, your Surname shall be Oslar Kanin Dezzi. The name of the Greatest Doctor I've ever known, my great grandfather. Who lived 200 years ago. The man who made the Oslar family into world Renowned Doctors!"
"After all, you want to be a Doctor too, right?"
"Yes! Absolutely yes!" They leapt into their Adoptive mothers arms. Gripping her tight, tears beginning to well from their eyes as they embraced
"I want to be just as great as both of you one day!" They declared. Oslar lifting them up, tears streaming from their own eyes, that smile that they saw for the first time radiating.
"You'll be even better Dezzi!"
That smile. Could only go so far. Even with the help of Oslar, their reservations towards other humans stayed. Even in the mask, when they went into down with Oslar, they were always given weird looks. And the anxiety that rose in their heart
But then they saw another Human that shined the same radiance they saw in Oslars smile.
The Man they chose to set sail with as their Doctor.
Where on that very voyage, everything they'd had ever hoped for came true. A time where they no longer needed a mask, where they didn't have to hide their true self.
People who would love them.
And now, with all the Memories from their past coming back, and then remembrance of everything after.
Dezzi began to wake up.
"Dezzi!" Kirk shouted as they held Dezzi. Jeannes eyes widening as she leaned forward. "You're okay! You're alright, we've got you patched up."
Without a word, Dezzin reached forward, and pulled them both into a hug. "Thank you…So much…All of you."
The three continued their embrace, all while Raven watched it all unfold.
"God…Dezzi. I'm so sorry…" She stood alone in a field all on her own. Hand to her mouth as she watched her crew struggle. Hearing it all.