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More from LupusKintsugi
We continue from where we left off from the last Chapter in this two part opening. Hope you are enjoying it. Plenty more to come.
Chapter 2: A New Beginning, Part II
Marcos started walking at a slow pace, holding onto his fur to be sure. Focused on my thoughts, I was silent to Marcos. "You okay up there, Carlos?” he interjected with a silky voice anchoring me back to reality. A small blush materialising across my cheeks. Tail drooping across his head. I sniggered. Craning my head around, I watched as his large grey tail swooped side-to-side. It was hypnotic.
“Y-Yes. Sorry…zoned out” a small jostle from his head was accompanied by the sound of Marcos chuckle. My cheeks turned a greater shade of pink.
“That’s okay. We are nearly home...”, he sang as he strode across the walkways. As he did, I kept looking down to see the former pathways designed for furs like me. Cracks and rust smothered the once proud landmark of Concordia. At least that's how Marcos presented it as. Now abandoned. Then, we passed an alleyway that cared for me that night. I almost felt the paper blanket wrap around me. Shielding from the cruelty of the world. It called to me. Shaking my head, rejecting any attempts of persuasion. The alleyway was not my destination. “...Not far now”. Looking down merely emphasised the size difference between us. The walkways only approached his waist. An interrupting jolt from my heart was all I felt. But in time that faded.
I took a deep breath. “Are you okay? Tired? Cold?” he queried. His voice warmed and protected me more than the old newspaper. Slowly lowering my paw, I felt it rub through the fur on his head. Then, patted it. My rough and beaten pad made contact with his clean and cared for fur.
“Oh no. J-Just, taking in the sights” I looked around at the amazement of these mountain-like buildings. Surrounding me. Baring no mind to the alleyway or shattered doll-like walkways lurking below. But Marcos still laughed softly. Head standing firm.
"You certainly seem more cheerful, Carlos”, he smiled. I looked back down towards him, stroking the fur on his head. Barring no mind to the window, push through my fur. Agitating the potent smell. My maw clenched at the imaging of this wolf's incredible smell picking it up.
“That...is because of you”.I looked back up, and I began to feel a paw stroke my head. I leaned softly towards it. Embracing its welcoming embrace. His digit tells me, I'm safe.
“Awww! Any time, my pleasure...”. Whilst the digit caressed me gently, it started to tilt and move around me. “And...we’ve arrived,” he sang. Paw acting like a platform before me. I crawled towards it willingly. As soon as I sat in the middle of his paw, he lowered it. It thawed my heart. Marcos paw leveled with his maw, and remained there. I stared at his smile and large puppy eyes. Marcos stepped into the elevator and looked for his floor number, until I noticed he pressed the top floor button. I did not know how to react.
“P-P...Penthouse...Suite?” I stumbled. His cheeks turned pink. A metallic clunk followed. The colossal gates sealing us in. The rhythmic thump returned.
Turning at the golden-brown walls, they started to close in on me. Slowly, at first. But it picked up, matching the pace of my heart. I turned to Marcos in hopes for help. I gasped. From his waist upwards, his form started to stretch. Taking a fun house mirrors-esque shape. It twisted and turned in front of me. My eyes focused towards its maw. The furry confinement started to open. Great white blades faced me. My idle paw making another attempt to release its internal fright. I felt my legs struggle to sustain my weight, shaking. My eyes watched as his paw expanded to fill my vision. His digits closed in on me like a living, furry wall or flesh and bone and sinew; the horizontal columns arching round me with a soft, yet firm and unyielding grasp around my whole body. Encasing me. Sealing me in its grasp. When his other hand, and by extension, the floor I had been standing on just a few seconds prior, fell away to take its place beside his thigh, the sheer scale of this world hit me. Over the edge of the knuckles encasing me, I could see well over a hundred feet below me, maybe closer to two hundred. Just seeing the vast distance between me and the ground made my head spin; my knees went limp, but fortunately I was already securely held by the room sized fist of my host. Craning my head back up, facing the walls merely a few inches away. Then, Marcos digits covered my view. He was about to grab me before...
*ding*
I let out a heavy sigh, eyelids blinking rapidly. Rubbing my paws against them to confirm my vision. The golden doors opened. All manner of normality returned. Craning my neck upwards. Resisting the strain exerted on my muscles. I was astounded to realise Marcos didn't notice. The wolf's sense not picking it up my tic. The lift doors slowly opened and, across the hall there was a big white door with a golden bronze handle. Marcos got his keys out and unlocked the door. Then, Marcos opened the door slowly. I sat in awe at Marcos' apartment. “Welcome home, Carlos" he winked. Marcos walked through the expansive apartment, and paw slowly lowered it. He placed me on a large marble table top in his kitchen.
Marcos then sat down and placed his head down to face me, looking at my ragged clothes. A light bulb appeared above his head, until he walked away. I swung my ears to its side, watching Marcos turn around the corner. “Be...right...back” he smirked as he left me. A thump echoed from my chest.
I was left to my thoughts, the last thing I needed. My insides in disarray as I moved my eyes around the apartment. Until my idle paw seized the opportunity to react, he returned. Marcos’ hands behind his back. I pointed towards them, arm shaking. “W-What is in your...?”. He puts his hands down to the table and opens them. I was stunned. It was a set of clothes, my size. “F-F...For me?” his face lit up like a Christmas tree. Treating me like a new doll to add to his collection. My eyes shooting open at the revelation. But, I surrendered to the wolf. Accepting my place in this world. He lowered his paws down to the countertop and dropped a pile of clothes. “T-Thank you...so...much". I stared at the clothes, jaw touching the countertop below. Then it hit me. I curled my body together as I tensed up. Struggling to make eye contact with the wolf.
“I'll turn my back" he gave a flirtatious look, and then Marcos turned. I started to get changed. I took off those old, ragged clothes. It revealed a tapestry of scars and bruises. Tattoos without consent. My bones were on display, even from his height. Then, I watched as his ears collapsed and his fists tightened. Realising he saw. A slight shift in his head revealed wiped tears at his sides. Eyes that reflected myself.
“M-M-Marcos...”. I started to tilt my head, but Marcos focused on me and my marks.
“I didn't mean...to pry. But, your...b-b...bruises” he gulped. A small digit peaked around his waist, pointing towards me. My body collapsed. “I-If...I was there...” his fists shook, veins under immense strain. Marcos muscles hypnotised me. “HOW COULD SOMEONE DO T-THAT...TO YOU!” He shouted and slammed his fist against the table. The impact was a meteor strike. Striking me off my footpaws. “S-S...Sorry" he retreated with a stutter, paws attempting to move towards me, but they held back. Seeming humiliated. "I just can’t understand”. I tried to calm him down, lowering my paws up and down in an attempt to sooth Marcos as I approached him. But my throbbing heart let me down.
I craned my head towards him. Moving it higher and higher as our distance shrank. The bruises and marks only hint at half the story. The remnants of the rest lurked below. "I’m...a punch bag. Nothing...after all...”. Marcos maw retreated towards himself, creases surrounded it. Until shooting out. He thrusted himself forward, placing both paws on either edge of the countertop. Filling my vision. His eyes confronted me. “Carlos, you are not nothing” he clenched his jaw tight as he focused his eyes on me. The pain in my chest amplified at the sight. I could already feel my lungs quaking as I stood there, immobilized.
“I am...” I fired back with a screech infected voice. Dismissing the comment immediately with a straight face.
“No! YOU ARE NOT!"” he interrupted, lowering himself further. Both his pupils fired at me. A small gaze towards his arms revealed his muscles applying pressure towards the countertop below. For a moment, Marcos leaned his head down to face the ground, emitting a light snarl. Any attempt to hide the anger and frustration failed. That is when I saw his teeth, and the large pink monster that could swallow me. Small dark patches started to surround my new clothes. My arm-pits and upper chest were the first to fall victim to the sweat. It penetrated every corner of my anatomy. I only watched as his maw filled my vision. His pupils phased as they widened. A slow tilt of his ears and lowered eyebrows revealed his concern. He noticed.
Marcos’s finger started to approach me as he stroked the top of my head all the way to my back, “S-Sorry, Carlos. Look, I'm here for you". Marcos looked at me and started to smile. I raised my paw towards his muzzle, and placed it on it. Feeling the warmth of his breath dry my clothes, I started to pat his muzzle.
“A-And I, y-you” I smiled, cutting through the darkness that attempted to fill the void. “I am so t-thankful I have y-you…”
A familiar rumble disrupted my thoughts. “Are you...hungry?”. Before I could reply, he asked “How does pizza sound?”. I looked to face him. My mouth reminisced the last taste of pizza. By the street, cold and soggy. But it helped for the night ahead. I nodded. Marcos leaned back up from the countertop, standing tall. “Okay, give me an hour. Would you be okay...on your own?'', he asked as he tilted his head back.
I smiled at the consideration and care Marcos had for me, “yeah, I’ll...be fine. I won’t go anywhere”. He laughed. As he began to walk out of the apartment, he turned to me waving goodbye. The door was sealed. I decided to sit down on the great marble counter, close my eyes. Darkness surrounded me. A flutter convulsed my delicate body. Sending it into overdrive.I felt a familiar presence. This time stronger. "HELLO AGAIN” the shadowy figure spoke with an echo. It diced through my body, scraping through every corner.
My maw folded back, and slammed my footpaw against the shady floor. “W-WHY! WHY CAN’T YOU JUST…!”. What felt like spikes running down my spine as it thrusted upwards, already preparing to pounce at the figure. A frightening growl echoed across the space, ringing it like church bells. The figure remained unfazed. It stood there, waiting. I was about the pounce, but a force held me back. Snapping out of my feral-state, staring at the figure. My instinct wrapped its rope around me. Holding me in place. A white puff of smoke exited my maw, my body shivering. "...leave me...alone!”.
“UNTIL YOU FULFILL, THE PROPHECY...” I clenched my fist tighter.
“W-WHAT...PROPHECY!” I shouted while my stutter attempted to take over. Overwhelming me.
“THE PROPHECY, THE GUARDIAN, THE SWORD, THE TRAVELLER, THE SAVIOUR, THE FALLEN, THE WARRIOR, THE SEER” was his only reply. I struggled to move, to attack. My instinct still restrained me. It proved difficult to speak, to breathe. A cement like mixture started to fill my lungs, My throat swelling, blocking any access of air to my lungs. Any vision started to blur. A glimmer of light filled the centre of my vision, expanding to chase the darkness away. I opened my eyes.
Curling my eyes towards the door, a slight exhale left my maw. Marcos was not home. “M-M...Marcos, cannot...see me...l-like that” I muttered. Those words of the shadowy figure lurked in my mind. Acting like an endless ringing. Lowering my gaze towards my finger. I stared at the only answer I had. I held the ring in front of me, hoping for it to reveal its secrets. It did not yield. The ring mocked me. ‘TELL ME!’ I clenched my digits tightly around the ring, trying to crush it. ‘Please’ my paw wobbled under the strain, my eyes close to watering.
I jolted out of my thoughts, hearing the sound of thunderous clunking emanating from the door. Someone was unlocking it. Then, the door handle moved. It was Marcos. But there was someone else behind him, hiding.
“Hi Carlos, I got the pizza you wanted. Pepperoni okay?” I nodded in reply. “Good! Also, my friend wanted to come over”. He looked at me with calm eyes. Marcos was a child begging to open his christmas presents early. I leaned towards Marcos' right shoulder, a figure lurking behind. It revealed the tip of a red furred ear, rivalling Marcos. I squinted my eyes to get a closer look, but no luck. It appeared they were deliberately hiding themselves from my sight. I gave a hesitant nod, almost feeling my heart scratch my chest. “Lexi, it’s okay” he cooed behind him. Marcos’s friend started to crouch up, standing at full height. Matching Marcos. Lexi was a giant red fox with a white and orange tail. She wore a white top and brown leather jacket, with navy blue jeans. “Carlos, this is Lexi. Lexi, this my friend Carlos” He then turned to close the door and place the pizza on the counter to divide up slices.
The red fox, Lexi, began to approach me ever so slightly. Her ears lowered and tail slowly wagged slightly as she let out a large smile. She then sat down with her head placed on the counter and leaned towards me. A beam of delight covered her face. She slowly opened her mouth, and like Marcos, not revealing her teeth. “Well hello, little one” an ember of anger tried to set alight inside me. That word attempted to trigger me. “You're cute, aren’t you”. I watched as her right arm shifted, raising. My heart raced into overdrive. A mighty digit travelled towards me. I withdrew to the side, attempting to avoid it striking me. But, it curled to lay at my waist height. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Carlos”, her eyes levelled with mine. I raised a paw, placing it on her digit. Shaking it. Both my eyes set on facing hers. She had large green eyes, they felt inviting. The fox was locked in place in front of me. She was about to turn her head towards Marcos, until I squeaked. Her head thrusted back to me.
I just stared at the large fox, “uh...h-hello there” I was shaking. Legs turning to jelly.
“Hey, relax. I'm not going to harm you. I have heard so much, about you” she insisted with delight. Withdrawing her digit, she crouched down even lower. Her maw was now meeting the tip of the countertop. I watched as her eyes remained fixated on me. Then, her vision changed drastically. Those gentle eyes started to glisten towards me. A shiver travelled through me. She noticed the pink craters that smothered my body. ‘I should have gone with the long-sleeved top’ I chuckled to myself, trying to drown the despair that sought to devour me. An urge to give in to my tics started to take over.
I took a small step back, whilst still looking at her “W-What did Marcos...t-tell you” I gulped. I waited anxiously for a reply. Those tics began to bubble and build within my confinement. My body was a barrier, sealing the conflict and anxiety lurking within. It got harder to contain every passing second. Gradually, cracks started to form, the barrier becoming unstable. It started with a quick shiver across my right arm and both my legs. Both my ears collapsed behind. All thoughts turned to running and hiding overwhelming me. The dread of my secret being revealed was all that followed.
Unexpectedly, she started to giggle. “That you both met on the beach, and watched the sunset together. It sounded...ro-man-tic". The tension monopolizing my body, left. The contraction in my chest dissipated. ‘Phew’ I sighed. Both her paws covered her maw, trying to contain the laughter she struggled to hold within. I wanted to join but found it hard. I had not earned that right. Both my shoulders shrugged, whilst the tip of my right footpaw drew circular motions across the countertop. Pink lines appearing across my maw.
“The sunset was beautiful...W-WAIT! D-D..Did Marcos say...‘r-romantic’?”. To face Lexi was a difficult task, I could only imagine her visage from the sounds of her chuckling. Turning my head towards Marcos, worried. ‘Did he feel that way?’ the shaking on my right arm extended to the left. Taking over me piece by piece.
“Why?”, she responded directly. Leaning closer towards me, a flirtatious look smothered her. “Do you like him...?” she grinned.
“N-NO” I blurted out to her, the sound forcing her body to retreat from me. Her expression changed drastically. It then hit me. I shifted my gaze to Marcos who was still cutting the pizza, unaware. It was a relief. “S-Sorry. I don’t...Please, tell me. D-Did he say ‘romantic’?” I repeated. This time, facing her. I almost felt my neck buckle and crack under the strain it was not designed to withstand.
“No. He told me you ‘both watched the beautiful sunset together’. Sorry...didn't mean to imply anything” her maw pointed to the ground. Whilst her eyes faced Marcos, she began to quiver. “I just...want him to be happy. He seems lonely...sometimes”. Her eyes were now gazing at me. Inspecting my reaction.
“That is very kind of you Lexi. But, what about you?” I replied. Those warm expressions disappeared. I quickly glanced towards Marcos and I noticed him starting to approach us. His ears twerked upwards, what I assumed, allowing him to listen in to the conversation.
“I am happy as it is. It didn’t end well...last...time”. Her smile looked familiar. It mimicked the veil I wore for Marcos. The cracks appear more visible. Her eyes being the biggest clue. They were trying to contain the waterworks. “S-Still...what about you? Tell me about yourself?”.
Lexi caught me off guard. I tried to reply but my stutter returned. All nervous tics attempting to find release. It was getting too much, but Marcos appeared to quicken his pace as he approached us. His face distressed. Marcos nudged Lexi and so she turned to him. Marcos was signalling for Lexi and him to talk in private, so she did.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lexi walked towards Marcos’ bedroom, and closed the door. Marcos placed a paw on her shoulder, looking straight at her. “Lexi...stop asking him stuff, like that?” Marcos whispered. Lexi was startled by the comment. Lexi froze. The last time she saw her friend struggle with his words, and act protectively, was the day they met. A firm stare escaped his vast pupils. His paw started to gently squeeze her shoulder. Lexi watched as her friend struggled to remain calm. But she knew it was not because of her. Lexi raised her paw and placed it upon his arm. Marcos eyes darted upwards, locking with hers.
“Why?" Lexi wondered. She watched as the leather of her jacket creased under Marcos strain. But, he withdrew himself. Taking a few brisk paces away from Lexi, his maw struggled to stay up. Marcos chest buckled under the pressure his heart exerted.
“In...the elevator, he had a…p-panic...attack. When I-I...I tried to stroke him he...panicked. The poor thing was terrified” he raised his maw. Both eyes were targeting Lexi, whilst his shoulders shot upwards. Marcos struggled to contain it any longer. He knew in his heart that he had to say it. It was the only way to stop Lexi’s curiosity. “Lexi, he is h-h...homeless” he shot out. Lexi gasped as she raised both her paws to cover her widened maw.
Lexi’s eyes widened, caught completely off guard. “H-Homeless? W-W..What?”. She spoke in shock but refrained from raising her voice. Marcos nodded. Lexi just stood there. She was now facing my direction. A twinkle appeared in her eyes, whilst her maw struggled to remain still. “Wait! Where is he staying...?” she looked back at Marcos. Lexi’s parental instincts kicked in. But Marcos didn’t face her, his eyes were too focused on me.
“Here. I couldn’t have him sleep...on the streets, again” a light exhale left his trembling maw. Both eyes collapsed, finding it difficult to keep their focus. Lexi placed her paw upon his arm, and he turned towards her. “I agree. But, what about after tonight?”, she challenged. A small tear attempted to escape her glass pupils. Small tension began to spread through her paws. Doing everything she could to remain calm. But, Marcos clenching maw was just a reminder of the heartache they both shared.
“My plan is for him to stay. He cannot live...on his own” Marcos mind was consumed by the image of my body. He wanted to refrain from showing his disgust over the treatment, but it was too much. He started to clench his teeth, they gnashed together. Marcos whispered a preview of my body’s condition, trying to refrain from going into depth. Lexi wrapped her paw around her wrist. Trying to ease herself.
They both leaned towards one another, wrapping their arms around each other. Maneuvering her head towards his lowered ears. “He seems like such a nice guy; he doesn’t...deserve that'' she offered a gentle smile to Marcos. “P-Please. If there is anything you need...let me know” she stroked her friends back. He merely lowered his chin onto her shoulder. Marcos too lowered his paws, stroking Lexi’s fur.
“For now, just...don’t ask...questions”, Marcos responded with strong conviction.
Lexi nodded “I-I...won’t”.
“I j-just, wish...” Marcos sighed deeply, before Lexi immediately withdrew herself from Marcos. She stared at him intently. Clenching clothes tightly, lifting them off his fur lightly in her grasp. Her eyes fired at him.
“Marcos! N-Never...SAY...that word!” she grunted, but Marcos gasped as he realised. His tail froze. Both his ears fell as he watched Lexi’s maw contract towards her. Lexi took a deep breath. Marcos whimpered at the sight, afraid at his choice of words. That he had hurt his best friend. “I-I know, s-sorry. You know what that word means...to me” she insisted, with a shallow smile. Marcos lowered his paw to stroke her arms trying to help calm the fox. He sighed, struggling to speak. Lexi faced him, her visage easing. “We better get back to him” she told Marcos as she walked towards me. Lexi was first to leave, Marcos stood behind.
They both tried to maneuver their tails as they walked towards me. They turned the corner to realise I laid asleep. It made Lexi smile. “Aww, he’s asleep, how cute" she whispered as her ears dropped slightly, whilst her tail wagged. This time with intention. She approached the table, leaning forward, getting closer at me. "He is adorable...Marcos" she projected, with a whisper, towards Marcos.
Except, she moved her eyes towards my chest, it was not moving. Her eyes shot open, as she moved her head closer to me. Lexis ears near touching my maw. She gasped. “W-W...Wait! MARCOS! C-CARLOS ISN’T BREATHING!”. She tried to listen to the sound of air escaping, but nothing. Even when she shouted, I did not flinch.
She instantly ran towards Marcos to drag him out quicker, “W-WHAT!” Marcos shouted. They both ran towards me, thunderous footsteps shook the ground. Still, I did not move.
Lexi grabbed his arm pulling him towards the countertop, she crouched down and started to panic. She had no idea what to do, anything she thought of was accompanied by thoughts of her potentially hurting me. “HE...I-ISN’T BREATHING!”. Lexi started to tremble, her voice and body shaking in sheer fright. But before Marcos was dragged in, I started to awake again. “COME ON CARLOS! P-PLEASE...WAKE UP” she begged as she watched my lifeless body on the table.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
My eyes gently opened, and I began to sit up. I awoke to see both Lexi and Marcos skirmish. “Are you two...okay?”. Placing both my paws flat on the countertop, applying pressure, I shifted my body up. Standing in front of them. All I saw was Lexi's chest expand and contract in quick succession. She was hyperventilating. Lexi lowered her head, and shook it. Attempting to chase away the memory. Taking slow steps to meet her, I placed my paw upon her maw. Stroking her muzzle. “I’m okay, I promise” but that was not enough to ease Lexi. She leaned her muzzle closer, almost knocking me in the process. But, Marcos too joined in. I felt his digit start to stroke me. They both closed in on me. No escape. I gulped. Then, I felt a jolt of pain coming from my arm, realising the damage my paw had yet again inflicted onto me. Not seeing blood was a relief. “I j-just...fell asleep...”. Marcos muzzle started to pick up a scent, the same scent he noticed when he first met me. I tried my best to contain it. Yet, it seeped through fissures of my form.
“That doesn't explain why you weren't b-breathing,” Marcos replied. His digit now locked into place against my back, whilst Lexi’s maw retreated. “We are... worried...about you,” he whimpered. “What happened?”
“The D-Dark Dream” I whispered. Marcos and Lexi thrusted back. Both turning towards one another. The eerie silence was filled by the sound of my breath and beating heart. I took a small breath. “I call it the…Dark Dream”, but that just made it worse. Lexi twisted her head away from my view, whilst Marcos leaned back towards me. His shadow smothered me.
“D-D...DARK!” he grunted at me, at this time Lexi would usually keep Marcos’s calm but even she was finding it difficult. My eyes shifted past Marcos' side, and watched as Lexi clenched her paw too. I could only witness as two behemoths that could crush me with their smallest digits, were both clenching their mighty fists. The next words that vacated my maw were vital. I knew that.
I raised my head and called them both. Lexi and Marcos faced me, taking in large breaths, easing the pains that consumed their chests. “R-Remember when I fainted, Marcos?” and Marcos lowered his head at the thought of that. Lexi raised her paw to stroke Marcos shoulder, and looked towards me.
“Yeah, I thought...you were…” he gulped, but I interrupted. “Luckily, I wasn’t. But, anyway, I entered the Dark Dream, then”. Marcos raised his head up, Lexi continued to comfort her friend. Their maws facing me. Neither one’s teeth chose to present itself. Lexi leaned closer, and took a breath. Her chest expanded, until collapsing delicately.
“Why call it the Dark Dream?” she wondered.
I turned towards her. “Darkness...is the absence of light.This d-darkness was...different. It was the absence of g-goodness”. Her jaw dropped, and her paw began to tighten against the edge of the counter. Marcos stares intensely at me, trying to remain calm. They grew before me. I felt my stomach twist and turn, forming knots. Then, it pulled. The clothes on me began to stick to my fur. Dark patches re-appeared, and consumed more of my fresh clothes. Tiny trinkles of objects collapsed in front of my eyes. My eyes focused on them, the world around me became blurred. It was my fur. Turning my attention back to Lexi and Marcos. I witnessed as they twisted and turned, like Marcos did in the elevator, and expanded before me.
“C-Carlos…”. I jolted. The world snapped back to normal. The knot unravelled. Marcos' digit stroked against my arm, it shifted at first, but then accepted his gesture. “We don’t need to talk about it, if you don’t want to” he cooed towards me. Lexi and Marcos released a light smile towards me. The fur on my head stopped falling. Marcos turned his gaze towards Lexi, “we can change the topic” he raised himself up, his chest flew over me as he reached towards the colossal white box entitled ‘Concordia’s Pizza Plaza’ on the side. “Are we going to eat this pizza, or what?” he grinned towards me, dragging the box closer.
Lexi nudged him softly. “Sure, let's...dig...in” Lexi sounded enthusiastic. “I get the biggest slice,” she insisted. She was about to reach towards the box. But, Marcos shot Lexi with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. He released a light cough, drawing her attention towards him.
“No, you don’t Lexi. I paid!” Marcos smirked at Lexi. She chuckled back, her paw surrendering. Marcos instead opened the box, and grabbed a colossal slice. It towered over me. An aircraft wouldn’t come close to describing its size. “I will be okay with the smallest” I interjected. They both looked towards me, ears at their sides, but gaping smiles smothered their maws. The sound of my rumbling stomach made a return. I placed my paw against it in hopes of silencing the monster. A shadow started to appear over me. Craning my neck up, seeing Lexi face me with a smirk across her.
“You’d have to compete with me, anyways” Lexi looked at me mischievously. A light chuckle followed as she stood up straight. Emphasising the already colossal height she had over me. That gaping maw was drawing in closer. I shrank before it. My instinct tried to surface. But, I held it back this time.
“I will lose...anyways” I put my head down in defeat.
“Oh, don’t let that get you down. I would let you win, anyways” Lexi tried to cheer me up. She slowly, trying not to startle me, placed one of her fingers down my back stroking me. It did help, in all honesty. As the evening went by, me and Lexi seemed to get on. I started to get more comfortable being around her. It did help that Marcos was there and that he trusted her. That definitely made things easier for me. We all nuzzled on our pizza slices. Lexi and Marcos devoured each slice, with little effort. I only watched as I struggled to eat even the smallest slice. My stomach groaned in pain, as it expanded. After only a few bites, I dropped my slice in front of me. I gave in. It seemed I needed to train my stomach to eat more than a few bites a day.
Lexi watched as I dropped my slice, and started to lie down slightly. Both my paws touched the cardboard box I rested on. And, sighed. "Awww, is someone full?" She winked at me, as Marcos turned to face me as well. I did not speak, I still felt my stomach groan in pain, as it pushed against my skin. It was on the brink of exploding. I stared at the pair who seemed to release a light giggle. As I rested, Lexi yawned. “Well, it’s getting late. I better get going” Lexi started to get her stuff together and placed it in her bag. Before she left, she waved goodbye to me and Marcos. She opened the door and left. “Goodbye all, great meeting you, Carlos”, she smiled towards me.
“It was nice m-meeting you too, L-Lexi”. I waved goodbye to her as she closed the door.
“See ya later Lexi, take care” Marcos walked back into the kitchen, smiling, and then looked directly at me. With the pizza gone, the only smell that remained was my own. I pointed my nose down to my left arm, ‘oh god I stink’. I shivered at the smell. Thrusting my nose away from my arm. Goosebumps perpetrated to the surface. Marcos raised an eyebrow after seeing my reaction, he was perplexed. “Everything, okay?” he moved his paw back and withdrew his finger. I took a few steps away and swung my head back down away from him in shame.
“I-It is...I kind of smell” I hesitated. The release of those words had never proven more difficult. It was a challenge to even face Marcos as that word vacated my maw. But, all I could do was face him. My head was glued to meet him.
Marcos did not even smile; he just offered a paw “here, let me” he whispered. I walked towards his paw continuing to look at him. As I got on, Marcos and I never said a word, he just turned towards me to ensure my safety. After, he raised his paw as he stood up and turned to the hallway. Throughout, I tried to listen to my heart. Anxiously anticipating its arrival. Yet, it was silent. Marcos stopped outside a large white door and placed his paw on the handle, turning it. It revealed what Marcos was doing. He had taken me into his bathroom. I felt his paw lower onto the top of the sink between the two large taps. I just stared at him as he began to plug the sink and then place both of his paws on the taps, turning them. There was a thundering sound of water as the sink began to fill. It almost deafened me.
“M-M...Marcos?” I asked, I knew what he was doing but I was nervous as doubts and instincts continued to fester. But, he did not hear me.
Once the sink was filled, Marcos grabbed the bar of soap at the side of the sink and dug his large claws into it. Breaking a small part of the soap off and placing it next to me. I watched it. Marcos then lowered his head to look around the area around me. Rubbing his paw across his neck, he scanned the room. WIthout warning, his smallest digits made contact with the water. Ripples circulating away from it. “M-Marcos? Please...t-talk to me?” I repeated, more firmly this time, and that snapped Marcos out of his concentration.
“Oh, sorry Carlos. Would this be okay for you?” he sounded apologetic, he was so preoccupied in ensuring he could makeshift a small bath for me. Marcos’s gesture, and dedication to ensure it was okay for me warmed me, I was lost of words.
I gave him a light smile “Oh, Marcos. T-T...Thank you so much!”.
He just nodded his head, “I will give you some privacy. I will be by the side of the sink. If you need anything, let me know. Okay?”. After I heard a gentle thump as Marcos hit the ground, I started to place my hands on my clothes to take them off. I rubbed my paws across my body, feeling my bones. My body convulsed. ‘I am safe, DO NOT think about that. You hear me’, I clenched my fist and then released it.
It took me a few moments, but after contemplation, I approached the water in the sink. The steam hitting my fur. The heat of the water hit me like a wave, providing a sense of calmness. Crouching down, I placed my foot in the sink. Releasing a sigh of relaxation. Then, shuffled my body even more into the water. Up to my shoulders was under the water. I felt every inch of my muscles begin to sooth. I watched the fur on my body begin to soften. After letting the hot water ease me, I shuffled my body around to grab the soap at the side and rub it across my body. Cleanliness was a feeling I longed for. It took a while to rub off the cocoon of dirt. But, my fur felt so much softer.
Then, my pounding heart decided to interrupt the calmness. Using the soap, I noticed parts of my fur falling off. Revealing more of my bare skin, my bald patches expanded their territory. ‘No, no, no!’ I yelped, rushing around the both. Scrounging for anything to hide the greater patches. “How are you, holding up?” Marcos projected up towards me, it took me by surprise.
I turned my head down towards him, “I-I’m..okay. A few more moments”. I realised that the water surrounding me looked dirty, ‘wow it was that bad’. My head hung low, and my body shuddered at the sight. The once transparent water was full of dirt and fur. I refused to give the water satisfaction of a second peak.
“Would it be okay for me to get your towel?” he whispered towards me.
“Umm okay. P-Please...don’t peek” I spoke with a nervous and trembling voice, biting my lip in the process. Marcos proceeded to stand up. All I saw was his large back. He walked towards the towels near the bathtub opposite the sink, and he grabbed a makeshift small towel on the side. “Wow, you have really p-prepared, haven't you?” I mocked as I saw the towel. Like my clothes, doll-sized. He giggled. When he grabbed the towel, Marcos refrained himself from looking. He may not have noticed but, my body relaxed at the sight.
Except, as Marcos lowered the towel towards me he accidentally noticed the condition of the water. His jaw dropped in surprise, and that struck a chord inside me. Marcos' visage matched the bystanders who snarled and looked down on me. “Here, you, go?” he said as he passed the towel to me, dropping it at the side of the tap next to me. “If you need anything else, let me know. I will lie back down against the sink again, okay” he crouched down. I stared at him, perplexed. I gave off a radiating smile as I walked towards the towel, picking it up in the process. Once I cleaned myself, I realised that I had no clothes ready. As the towel wrapped around me, I held onto it tightly, letting out a small cry for help.
“M-Mar...c-could you...if you...don’t mind…?” I was stopped by the sudden movement of Marcos as he started to stand up and this time he looked towards me.
“I will grab you some clothes, okay. Be right back” he sang, walking out of the bathroom. I was left there, clinging onto the towel, shocked at the sudden insistence from Marcos. The doubt that my luck would end sent goosebumps through my body. That single notion bothered me when I asked him for something. Those thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Marcos walking through the bathroom doorway, in his paw laid a nice set of clothes for me. But Marcos' smile disappeared after noticing that something was bothering me. “What is it?” he asked delicately as he crouched towards me. I tried not to meet him eye-to-eye, I just focused on the clothes in his paw. Marcos maw rested on the edge of the sink.
“I swear, I’m in-dependent. I’m sorry...being so reliant...on you”I began to bite my lips as my legs trembled like jelly. Crossing my arms did nothing to ease the shaking.
“Shhh” he cooed to me. He would have stroked me if I were not trying to cling on to the towel wrapped around me. I froze. “I am more than happy to help Carlos” he insisted, adamant to help. Despite that, the thoughts continued to circle my mind, it would take me a while before they settled. Marcos unplugged the sink. I refrained my eyes from watching the dirt and red fur encircle the drain. Moving my tail, I raised it to cover my chest. I clinged tighter to my tail, hiding as much of my body as possible. ‘Please stop looking, Marcos’ I pleaded, but I lacked the courage to speak.
I yawned.
“Awww. Is someone tired?” he spoke in a soft and silky voice. Like a mother. “Want to see your new bed, little one?” was all he said as he crouched towards me with a gentle light in his eyes. That word still sends a twitch down my spine. I got into those clothes Marcos brought. Marcos refused to glance throughout. But, once I was ready, Marcos' paw lowered.
I walked towards him, “umm, o-kay” I stuttered. He then gently lifted me up and walked me into his bedroom. He pointed to a doll house mansion. I raised my head towards his chin, “this is where you got those clothes” Marcos nodded in reply. Marcos gently opened the doll house revealing a giant king size bed. Seeing the doll house only reminded me how I thought he saw me. ‘Guess I am part of his collection’ I muttered. But, I elevated my head towards him. “T-Thank you. I don’t know...what...to say”. Marcos placed his paw down outside the doll house mansion and I walked off it. After getting off, I approached the mansion and walked inside. Everything looked so life-like but I knew it was not. It was weird. I then walked up the stairs towards the bedroom and stared at the massive bed. I then lifted the covers and laid it in. “Oh, this is c-comfy, ''. I said with delight.
“You, like it”, he beamed with joy. I took a long moment to just admire what I was looking at, letting it sink in.
“Y-Yes, I...really do”, I shouted. I looked towards the window from my bed, and I noticed a giant eye looking right at me. It was a kind eye. I was about to raise the covers, trying to hide away from the monster on the outside. But, I paused. It was Marcos. “P-Please, don’t...stare at me...like that” I whispered under the covers that surrounded my maw. Only my eyes and ears were shown.
“Oh, sorry. I won’t, do it again” Marcos took a step back and moved himself away from the dollhouse.
Giving a light smirk towards him, I then yawned and lied back down. The pillow felt like a marshmallow as it sunk into it. The world was fading away, becoming distant. My body rose above Concordia, and later the world of Tellurian. I stared at the world I called home. Merely spectre in space. A minor smile covered my jaw as I watched the stars scatter around me. They were little suns that struck each corner of my body. But, my jaw dropped and my eyes went silent. I watched as each star around me started to disappear. Turning off as if it were a light switch. Darkness surrounded me.
I awoke back in the Dark Dream but, this time there was not just one shadowy figure. There were eight. All of which were encircling me. “THE PROPHECY, THE GUARDIAN, THE SWORD, THE TRAVELLER, THE SAVIOUR, THE FALLEN, THE WARRIOR, THE SEER” chanting the same eight words I heard earlier. They repeated the words over, and over again. Acting like a stuck record. Their voices became distorted. Then, I felt something startle me. Before I saw it, I woke up. The clothes Marcos gave me were soaked to the core. The mattress cover too. Surrounding me was a rim of fur, and on my right arm. Claw marks. I was breathing heavily; my hands were shaking, and my chest felt tight. I tried to breathe but something pushed it to the ground. Eyes turned towards the dollhouse window. I saw a giant eye, facing my bed. I yelped, diving under the covers.
“C-Carlos, it’s me...”. I carefully placed my right paw upon the cover, and folded it back. I snuck a peek with one eye towards the window, releasing it looked familiar.
“Would it be...o-okay? If I sleep with you t-t...tonight?”
“You mean, in my bed? Only if you’re comfortable with it”. Moving the cover to reveal my head, I nodded my head. Marcos leaned back, “okay, Carlos”, he gave a soft reply. I got out of my king-sized bed and walked downstairs, exiting the dollhouse. As I left, Marcos had laid his soft black paw out for me “here you, go”.
I moved my head up to meet him, “t-thank you” I replied kindly as I stepped onto it, smiling at Marcos. Once I got on, Marcos slowly lifted his paw up and then walked towards his bed. He held me up high as he got into the bed. Marcos lay on his back with his head facing the ceiling. After getting comfy he placed me on his soft furry stomach, and placed his soft paw upon me.
“Good night, Carlos” Marcos whispered with a soft tone, and my heart warmed in comfort at the kindness and gentleness of Marcos.
“G-Good...night, Mar-cos”, I whispered as I closed my eyes.
After closing my eyes, I realised I was not in the Dark Dream. One of random images that made no sense. One was of a big car that seemed to have suffered damage. Another was of photos falling out of the sky, like rain. There was one of the steps on the beach that faded as the tide came on. There were many more, but I could not make sense of them. I tried to shake them. Focusing on any attempt to attain tranquility.
Chapter 2: A New Beginning, Part II
Marcos started walking at a slow pace, holding onto his fur to be sure. Focused on my thoughts, I was silent to Marcos. "You okay up there, Carlos?” he interjected with a silky voice anchoring me back to reality. A small blush materialising across my cheeks. Tail drooping across his head. I sniggered. Craning my head around, I watched as his large grey tail swooped side-to-side. It was hypnotic.
“Y-Yes. Sorry…zoned out” a small jostle from his head was accompanied by the sound of Marcos chuckle. My cheeks turned a greater shade of pink.
“That’s okay. We are nearly home...”, he sang as he strode across the walkways. As he did, I kept looking down to see the former pathways designed for furs like me. Cracks and rust smothered the once proud landmark of Concordia. At least that's how Marcos presented it as. Now abandoned. Then, we passed an alleyway that cared for me that night. I almost felt the paper blanket wrap around me. Shielding from the cruelty of the world. It called to me. Shaking my head, rejecting any attempts of persuasion. The alleyway was not my destination. “...Not far now”. Looking down merely emphasised the size difference between us. The walkways only approached his waist. An interrupting jolt from my heart was all I felt. But in time that faded.
I took a deep breath. “Are you okay? Tired? Cold?” he queried. His voice warmed and protected me more than the old newspaper. Slowly lowering my paw, I felt it rub through the fur on his head. Then, patted it. My rough and beaten pad made contact with his clean and cared for fur.
“Oh no. J-Just, taking in the sights” I looked around at the amazement of these mountain-like buildings. Surrounding me. Baring no mind to the alleyway or shattered doll-like walkways lurking below. But Marcos still laughed softly. Head standing firm.
"You certainly seem more cheerful, Carlos”, he smiled. I looked back down towards him, stroking the fur on his head. Barring no mind to the window, push through my fur. Agitating the potent smell. My maw clenched at the imaging of this wolf's incredible smell picking it up.
“That...is because of you”.I looked back up, and I began to feel a paw stroke my head. I leaned softly towards it. Embracing its welcoming embrace. His digit tells me, I'm safe.
“Awww! Any time, my pleasure...”. Whilst the digit caressed me gently, it started to tilt and move around me. “And...we’ve arrived,” he sang. Paw acting like a platform before me. I crawled towards it willingly. As soon as I sat in the middle of his paw, he lowered it. It thawed my heart. Marcos paw leveled with his maw, and remained there. I stared at his smile and large puppy eyes. Marcos stepped into the elevator and looked for his floor number, until I noticed he pressed the top floor button. I did not know how to react.
“P-P...Penthouse...Suite?” I stumbled. His cheeks turned pink. A metallic clunk followed. The colossal gates sealing us in. The rhythmic thump returned.
Turning at the golden-brown walls, they started to close in on me. Slowly, at first. But it picked up, matching the pace of my heart. I turned to Marcos in hopes for help. I gasped. From his waist upwards, his form started to stretch. Taking a fun house mirrors-esque shape. It twisted and turned in front of me. My eyes focused towards its maw. The furry confinement started to open. Great white blades faced me. My idle paw making another attempt to release its internal fright. I felt my legs struggle to sustain my weight, shaking. My eyes watched as his paw expanded to fill my vision. His digits closed in on me like a living, furry wall or flesh and bone and sinew; the horizontal columns arching round me with a soft, yet firm and unyielding grasp around my whole body. Encasing me. Sealing me in its grasp. When his other hand, and by extension, the floor I had been standing on just a few seconds prior, fell away to take its place beside his thigh, the sheer scale of this world hit me. Over the edge of the knuckles encasing me, I could see well over a hundred feet below me, maybe closer to two hundred. Just seeing the vast distance between me and the ground made my head spin; my knees went limp, but fortunately I was already securely held by the room sized fist of my host. Craning my head back up, facing the walls merely a few inches away. Then, Marcos digits covered my view. He was about to grab me before...
*ding*
I let out a heavy sigh, eyelids blinking rapidly. Rubbing my paws against them to confirm my vision. The golden doors opened. All manner of normality returned. Craning my neck upwards. Resisting the strain exerted on my muscles. I was astounded to realise Marcos didn't notice. The wolf's sense not picking it up my tic. The lift doors slowly opened and, across the hall there was a big white door with a golden bronze handle. Marcos got his keys out and unlocked the door. Then, Marcos opened the door slowly. I sat in awe at Marcos' apartment. “Welcome home, Carlos" he winked. Marcos walked through the expansive apartment, and paw slowly lowered it. He placed me on a large marble table top in his kitchen.
Marcos then sat down and placed his head down to face me, looking at my ragged clothes. A light bulb appeared above his head, until he walked away. I swung my ears to its side, watching Marcos turn around the corner. “Be...right...back” he smirked as he left me. A thump echoed from my chest.
I was left to my thoughts, the last thing I needed. My insides in disarray as I moved my eyes around the apartment. Until my idle paw seized the opportunity to react, he returned. Marcos’ hands behind his back. I pointed towards them, arm shaking. “W-What is in your...?”. He puts his hands down to the table and opens them. I was stunned. It was a set of clothes, my size. “F-F...For me?” his face lit up like a Christmas tree. Treating me like a new doll to add to his collection. My eyes shooting open at the revelation. But, I surrendered to the wolf. Accepting my place in this world. He lowered his paws down to the countertop and dropped a pile of clothes. “T-Thank you...so...much". I stared at the clothes, jaw touching the countertop below. Then it hit me. I curled my body together as I tensed up. Struggling to make eye contact with the wolf.
“I'll turn my back" he gave a flirtatious look, and then Marcos turned. I started to get changed. I took off those old, ragged clothes. It revealed a tapestry of scars and bruises. Tattoos without consent. My bones were on display, even from his height. Then, I watched as his ears collapsed and his fists tightened. Realising he saw. A slight shift in his head revealed wiped tears at his sides. Eyes that reflected myself.
“M-M-Marcos...”. I started to tilt my head, but Marcos focused on me and my marks.
“I didn't mean...to pry. But, your...b-b...bruises” he gulped. A small digit peaked around his waist, pointing towards me. My body collapsed. “I-If...I was there...” his fists shook, veins under immense strain. Marcos muscles hypnotised me. “HOW COULD SOMEONE DO T-THAT...TO YOU!” He shouted and slammed his fist against the table. The impact was a meteor strike. Striking me off my footpaws. “S-S...Sorry" he retreated with a stutter, paws attempting to move towards me, but they held back. Seeming humiliated. "I just can’t understand”. I tried to calm him down, lowering my paws up and down in an attempt to sooth Marcos as I approached him. But my throbbing heart let me down.
I craned my head towards him. Moving it higher and higher as our distance shrank. The bruises and marks only hint at half the story. The remnants of the rest lurked below. "I’m...a punch bag. Nothing...after all...”. Marcos maw retreated towards himself, creases surrounded it. Until shooting out. He thrusted himself forward, placing both paws on either edge of the countertop. Filling my vision. His eyes confronted me. “Carlos, you are not nothing” he clenched his jaw tight as he focused his eyes on me. The pain in my chest amplified at the sight. I could already feel my lungs quaking as I stood there, immobilized.
“I am...” I fired back with a screech infected voice. Dismissing the comment immediately with a straight face.
“No! YOU ARE NOT!"” he interrupted, lowering himself further. Both his pupils fired at me. A small gaze towards his arms revealed his muscles applying pressure towards the countertop below. For a moment, Marcos leaned his head down to face the ground, emitting a light snarl. Any attempt to hide the anger and frustration failed. That is when I saw his teeth, and the large pink monster that could swallow me. Small dark patches started to surround my new clothes. My arm-pits and upper chest were the first to fall victim to the sweat. It penetrated every corner of my anatomy. I only watched as his maw filled my vision. His pupils phased as they widened. A slow tilt of his ears and lowered eyebrows revealed his concern. He noticed.
Marcos’s finger started to approach me as he stroked the top of my head all the way to my back, “S-Sorry, Carlos. Look, I'm here for you". Marcos looked at me and started to smile. I raised my paw towards his muzzle, and placed it on it. Feeling the warmth of his breath dry my clothes, I started to pat his muzzle.
“A-And I, y-you” I smiled, cutting through the darkness that attempted to fill the void. “I am so t-thankful I have y-you…”
A familiar rumble disrupted my thoughts. “Are you...hungry?”. Before I could reply, he asked “How does pizza sound?”. I looked to face him. My mouth reminisced the last taste of pizza. By the street, cold and soggy. But it helped for the night ahead. I nodded. Marcos leaned back up from the countertop, standing tall. “Okay, give me an hour. Would you be okay...on your own?'', he asked as he tilted his head back.
I smiled at the consideration and care Marcos had for me, “yeah, I’ll...be fine. I won’t go anywhere”. He laughed. As he began to walk out of the apartment, he turned to me waving goodbye. The door was sealed. I decided to sit down on the great marble counter, close my eyes. Darkness surrounded me. A flutter convulsed my delicate body. Sending it into overdrive.I felt a familiar presence. This time stronger. "HELLO AGAIN” the shadowy figure spoke with an echo. It diced through my body, scraping through every corner.
My maw folded back, and slammed my footpaw against the shady floor. “W-WHY! WHY CAN’T YOU JUST…!”. What felt like spikes running down my spine as it thrusted upwards, already preparing to pounce at the figure. A frightening growl echoed across the space, ringing it like church bells. The figure remained unfazed. It stood there, waiting. I was about the pounce, but a force held me back. Snapping out of my feral-state, staring at the figure. My instinct wrapped its rope around me. Holding me in place. A white puff of smoke exited my maw, my body shivering. "...leave me...alone!”.
“UNTIL YOU FULFILL, THE PROPHECY...” I clenched my fist tighter.
“W-WHAT...PROPHECY!” I shouted while my stutter attempted to take over. Overwhelming me.
“THE PROPHECY, THE GUARDIAN, THE SWORD, THE TRAVELLER, THE SAVIOUR, THE FALLEN, THE WARRIOR, THE SEER” was his only reply. I struggled to move, to attack. My instinct still restrained me. It proved difficult to speak, to breathe. A cement like mixture started to fill my lungs, My throat swelling, blocking any access of air to my lungs. Any vision started to blur. A glimmer of light filled the centre of my vision, expanding to chase the darkness away. I opened my eyes.
Curling my eyes towards the door, a slight exhale left my maw. Marcos was not home. “M-M...Marcos, cannot...see me...l-like that” I muttered. Those words of the shadowy figure lurked in my mind. Acting like an endless ringing. Lowering my gaze towards my finger. I stared at the only answer I had. I held the ring in front of me, hoping for it to reveal its secrets. It did not yield. The ring mocked me. ‘TELL ME!’ I clenched my digits tightly around the ring, trying to crush it. ‘Please’ my paw wobbled under the strain, my eyes close to watering.
I jolted out of my thoughts, hearing the sound of thunderous clunking emanating from the door. Someone was unlocking it. Then, the door handle moved. It was Marcos. But there was someone else behind him, hiding.
“Hi Carlos, I got the pizza you wanted. Pepperoni okay?” I nodded in reply. “Good! Also, my friend wanted to come over”. He looked at me with calm eyes. Marcos was a child begging to open his christmas presents early. I leaned towards Marcos' right shoulder, a figure lurking behind. It revealed the tip of a red furred ear, rivalling Marcos. I squinted my eyes to get a closer look, but no luck. It appeared they were deliberately hiding themselves from my sight. I gave a hesitant nod, almost feeling my heart scratch my chest. “Lexi, it’s okay” he cooed behind him. Marcos’s friend started to crouch up, standing at full height. Matching Marcos. Lexi was a giant red fox with a white and orange tail. She wore a white top and brown leather jacket, with navy blue jeans. “Carlos, this is Lexi. Lexi, this my friend Carlos” He then turned to close the door and place the pizza on the counter to divide up slices.
The red fox, Lexi, began to approach me ever so slightly. Her ears lowered and tail slowly wagged slightly as she let out a large smile. She then sat down with her head placed on the counter and leaned towards me. A beam of delight covered her face. She slowly opened her mouth, and like Marcos, not revealing her teeth. “Well hello, little one” an ember of anger tried to set alight inside me. That word attempted to trigger me. “You're cute, aren’t you”. I watched as her right arm shifted, raising. My heart raced into overdrive. A mighty digit travelled towards me. I withdrew to the side, attempting to avoid it striking me. But, it curled to lay at my waist height. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Carlos”, her eyes levelled with mine. I raised a paw, placing it on her digit. Shaking it. Both my eyes set on facing hers. She had large green eyes, they felt inviting. The fox was locked in place in front of me. She was about to turn her head towards Marcos, until I squeaked. Her head thrusted back to me.
I just stared at the large fox, “uh...h-hello there” I was shaking. Legs turning to jelly.
“Hey, relax. I'm not going to harm you. I have heard so much, about you” she insisted with delight. Withdrawing her digit, she crouched down even lower. Her maw was now meeting the tip of the countertop. I watched as her eyes remained fixated on me. Then, her vision changed drastically. Those gentle eyes started to glisten towards me. A shiver travelled through me. She noticed the pink craters that smothered my body. ‘I should have gone with the long-sleeved top’ I chuckled to myself, trying to drown the despair that sought to devour me. An urge to give in to my tics started to take over.
I took a small step back, whilst still looking at her “W-What did Marcos...t-tell you” I gulped. I waited anxiously for a reply. Those tics began to bubble and build within my confinement. My body was a barrier, sealing the conflict and anxiety lurking within. It got harder to contain every passing second. Gradually, cracks started to form, the barrier becoming unstable. It started with a quick shiver across my right arm and both my legs. Both my ears collapsed behind. All thoughts turned to running and hiding overwhelming me. The dread of my secret being revealed was all that followed.
Unexpectedly, she started to giggle. “That you both met on the beach, and watched the sunset together. It sounded...ro-man-tic". The tension monopolizing my body, left. The contraction in my chest dissipated. ‘Phew’ I sighed. Both her paws covered her maw, trying to contain the laughter she struggled to hold within. I wanted to join but found it hard. I had not earned that right. Both my shoulders shrugged, whilst the tip of my right footpaw drew circular motions across the countertop. Pink lines appearing across my maw.
“The sunset was beautiful...W-WAIT! D-D..Did Marcos say...‘r-romantic’?”. To face Lexi was a difficult task, I could only imagine her visage from the sounds of her chuckling. Turning my head towards Marcos, worried. ‘Did he feel that way?’ the shaking on my right arm extended to the left. Taking over me piece by piece.
“Why?”, she responded directly. Leaning closer towards me, a flirtatious look smothered her. “Do you like him...?” she grinned.
“N-NO” I blurted out to her, the sound forcing her body to retreat from me. Her expression changed drastically. It then hit me. I shifted my gaze to Marcos who was still cutting the pizza, unaware. It was a relief. “S-Sorry. I don’t...Please, tell me. D-Did he say ‘romantic’?” I repeated. This time, facing her. I almost felt my neck buckle and crack under the strain it was not designed to withstand.
“No. He told me you ‘both watched the beautiful sunset together’. Sorry...didn't mean to imply anything” her maw pointed to the ground. Whilst her eyes faced Marcos, she began to quiver. “I just...want him to be happy. He seems lonely...sometimes”. Her eyes were now gazing at me. Inspecting my reaction.
“That is very kind of you Lexi. But, what about you?” I replied. Those warm expressions disappeared. I quickly glanced towards Marcos and I noticed him starting to approach us. His ears twerked upwards, what I assumed, allowing him to listen in to the conversation.
“I am happy as it is. It didn’t end well...last...time”. Her smile looked familiar. It mimicked the veil I wore for Marcos. The cracks appear more visible. Her eyes being the biggest clue. They were trying to contain the waterworks. “S-Still...what about you? Tell me about yourself?”.
Lexi caught me off guard. I tried to reply but my stutter returned. All nervous tics attempting to find release. It was getting too much, but Marcos appeared to quicken his pace as he approached us. His face distressed. Marcos nudged Lexi and so she turned to him. Marcos was signalling for Lexi and him to talk in private, so she did.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
Lexi walked towards Marcos’ bedroom, and closed the door. Marcos placed a paw on her shoulder, looking straight at her. “Lexi...stop asking him stuff, like that?” Marcos whispered. Lexi was startled by the comment. Lexi froze. The last time she saw her friend struggle with his words, and act protectively, was the day they met. A firm stare escaped his vast pupils. His paw started to gently squeeze her shoulder. Lexi watched as her friend struggled to remain calm. But she knew it was not because of her. Lexi raised her paw and placed it upon his arm. Marcos eyes darted upwards, locking with hers.
“Why?" Lexi wondered. She watched as the leather of her jacket creased under Marcos strain. But, he withdrew himself. Taking a few brisk paces away from Lexi, his maw struggled to stay up. Marcos chest buckled under the pressure his heart exerted.
“In...the elevator, he had a…p-panic...attack. When I-I...I tried to stroke him he...panicked. The poor thing was terrified” he raised his maw. Both eyes were targeting Lexi, whilst his shoulders shot upwards. Marcos struggled to contain it any longer. He knew in his heart that he had to say it. It was the only way to stop Lexi’s curiosity. “Lexi, he is h-h...homeless” he shot out. Lexi gasped as she raised both her paws to cover her widened maw.
Lexi’s eyes widened, caught completely off guard. “H-Homeless? W-W..What?”. She spoke in shock but refrained from raising her voice. Marcos nodded. Lexi just stood there. She was now facing my direction. A twinkle appeared in her eyes, whilst her maw struggled to remain still. “Wait! Where is he staying...?” she looked back at Marcos. Lexi’s parental instincts kicked in. But Marcos didn’t face her, his eyes were too focused on me.
“Here. I couldn’t have him sleep...on the streets, again” a light exhale left his trembling maw. Both eyes collapsed, finding it difficult to keep their focus. Lexi placed her paw upon his arm, and he turned towards her. “I agree. But, what about after tonight?”, she challenged. A small tear attempted to escape her glass pupils. Small tension began to spread through her paws. Doing everything she could to remain calm. But, Marcos clenching maw was just a reminder of the heartache they both shared.
“My plan is for him to stay. He cannot live...on his own” Marcos mind was consumed by the image of my body. He wanted to refrain from showing his disgust over the treatment, but it was too much. He started to clench his teeth, they gnashed together. Marcos whispered a preview of my body’s condition, trying to refrain from going into depth. Lexi wrapped her paw around her wrist. Trying to ease herself.
They both leaned towards one another, wrapping their arms around each other. Maneuvering her head towards his lowered ears. “He seems like such a nice guy; he doesn’t...deserve that'' she offered a gentle smile to Marcos. “P-Please. If there is anything you need...let me know” she stroked her friends back. He merely lowered his chin onto her shoulder. Marcos too lowered his paws, stroking Lexi’s fur.
“For now, just...don’t ask...questions”, Marcos responded with strong conviction.
Lexi nodded “I-I...won’t”.
“I j-just, wish...” Marcos sighed deeply, before Lexi immediately withdrew herself from Marcos. She stared at him intently. Clenching clothes tightly, lifting them off his fur lightly in her grasp. Her eyes fired at him.
“Marcos! N-Never...SAY...that word!” she grunted, but Marcos gasped as he realised. His tail froze. Both his ears fell as he watched Lexi’s maw contract towards her. Lexi took a deep breath. Marcos whimpered at the sight, afraid at his choice of words. That he had hurt his best friend. “I-I know, s-sorry. You know what that word means...to me” she insisted, with a shallow smile. Marcos lowered his paw to stroke her arms trying to help calm the fox. He sighed, struggling to speak. Lexi faced him, her visage easing. “We better get back to him” she told Marcos as she walked towards me. Lexi was first to leave, Marcos stood behind.
They both tried to maneuver their tails as they walked towards me. They turned the corner to realise I laid asleep. It made Lexi smile. “Aww, he’s asleep, how cute" she whispered as her ears dropped slightly, whilst her tail wagged. This time with intention. She approached the table, leaning forward, getting closer at me. "He is adorable...Marcos" she projected, with a whisper, towards Marcos.
Except, she moved her eyes towards my chest, it was not moving. Her eyes shot open, as she moved her head closer to me. Lexis ears near touching my maw. She gasped. “W-W...Wait! MARCOS! C-CARLOS ISN’T BREATHING!”. She tried to listen to the sound of air escaping, but nothing. Even when she shouted, I did not flinch.
She instantly ran towards Marcos to drag him out quicker, “W-WHAT!” Marcos shouted. They both ran towards me, thunderous footsteps shook the ground. Still, I did not move.
Lexi grabbed his arm pulling him towards the countertop, she crouched down and started to panic. She had no idea what to do, anything she thought of was accompanied by thoughts of her potentially hurting me. “HE...I-ISN’T BREATHING!”. Lexi started to tremble, her voice and body shaking in sheer fright. But before Marcos was dragged in, I started to awake again. “COME ON CARLOS! P-PLEASE...WAKE UP” she begged as she watched my lifeless body on the table.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
My eyes gently opened, and I began to sit up. I awoke to see both Lexi and Marcos skirmish. “Are you two...okay?”. Placing both my paws flat on the countertop, applying pressure, I shifted my body up. Standing in front of them. All I saw was Lexi's chest expand and contract in quick succession. She was hyperventilating. Lexi lowered her head, and shook it. Attempting to chase away the memory. Taking slow steps to meet her, I placed my paw upon her maw. Stroking her muzzle. “I’m okay, I promise” but that was not enough to ease Lexi. She leaned her muzzle closer, almost knocking me in the process. But, Marcos too joined in. I felt his digit start to stroke me. They both closed in on me. No escape. I gulped. Then, I felt a jolt of pain coming from my arm, realising the damage my paw had yet again inflicted onto me. Not seeing blood was a relief. “I j-just...fell asleep...”. Marcos muzzle started to pick up a scent, the same scent he noticed when he first met me. I tried my best to contain it. Yet, it seeped through fissures of my form.
“That doesn't explain why you weren't b-breathing,” Marcos replied. His digit now locked into place against my back, whilst Lexi’s maw retreated. “We are... worried...about you,” he whimpered. “What happened?”
“The D-Dark Dream” I whispered. Marcos and Lexi thrusted back. Both turning towards one another. The eerie silence was filled by the sound of my breath and beating heart. I took a small breath. “I call it the…Dark Dream”, but that just made it worse. Lexi twisted her head away from my view, whilst Marcos leaned back towards me. His shadow smothered me.
“D-D...DARK!” he grunted at me, at this time Lexi would usually keep Marcos’s calm but even she was finding it difficult. My eyes shifted past Marcos' side, and watched as Lexi clenched her paw too. I could only witness as two behemoths that could crush me with their smallest digits, were both clenching their mighty fists. The next words that vacated my maw were vital. I knew that.
I raised my head and called them both. Lexi and Marcos faced me, taking in large breaths, easing the pains that consumed their chests. “R-Remember when I fainted, Marcos?” and Marcos lowered his head at the thought of that. Lexi raised her paw to stroke Marcos shoulder, and looked towards me.
“Yeah, I thought...you were…” he gulped, but I interrupted. “Luckily, I wasn’t. But, anyway, I entered the Dark Dream, then”. Marcos raised his head up, Lexi continued to comfort her friend. Their maws facing me. Neither one’s teeth chose to present itself. Lexi leaned closer, and took a breath. Her chest expanded, until collapsing delicately.
“Why call it the Dark Dream?” she wondered.
I turned towards her. “Darkness...is the absence of light.This d-darkness was...different. It was the absence of g-goodness”. Her jaw dropped, and her paw began to tighten against the edge of the counter. Marcos stares intensely at me, trying to remain calm. They grew before me. I felt my stomach twist and turn, forming knots. Then, it pulled. The clothes on me began to stick to my fur. Dark patches re-appeared, and consumed more of my fresh clothes. Tiny trinkles of objects collapsed in front of my eyes. My eyes focused on them, the world around me became blurred. It was my fur. Turning my attention back to Lexi and Marcos. I witnessed as they twisted and turned, like Marcos did in the elevator, and expanded before me.
“C-Carlos…”. I jolted. The world snapped back to normal. The knot unravelled. Marcos' digit stroked against my arm, it shifted at first, but then accepted his gesture. “We don’t need to talk about it, if you don’t want to” he cooed towards me. Lexi and Marcos released a light smile towards me. The fur on my head stopped falling. Marcos turned his gaze towards Lexi, “we can change the topic” he raised himself up, his chest flew over me as he reached towards the colossal white box entitled ‘Concordia’s Pizza Plaza’ on the side. “Are we going to eat this pizza, or what?” he grinned towards me, dragging the box closer.
Lexi nudged him softly. “Sure, let's...dig...in” Lexi sounded enthusiastic. “I get the biggest slice,” she insisted. She was about to reach towards the box. But, Marcos shot Lexi with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. He released a light cough, drawing her attention towards him.
“No, you don’t Lexi. I paid!” Marcos smirked at Lexi. She chuckled back, her paw surrendering. Marcos instead opened the box, and grabbed a colossal slice. It towered over me. An aircraft wouldn’t come close to describing its size. “I will be okay with the smallest” I interjected. They both looked towards me, ears at their sides, but gaping smiles smothered their maws. The sound of my rumbling stomach made a return. I placed my paw against it in hopes of silencing the monster. A shadow started to appear over me. Craning my neck up, seeing Lexi face me with a smirk across her.
“You’d have to compete with me, anyways” Lexi looked at me mischievously. A light chuckle followed as she stood up straight. Emphasising the already colossal height she had over me. That gaping maw was drawing in closer. I shrank before it. My instinct tried to surface. But, I held it back this time.
“I will lose...anyways” I put my head down in defeat.
“Oh, don’t let that get you down. I would let you win, anyways” Lexi tried to cheer me up. She slowly, trying not to startle me, placed one of her fingers down my back stroking me. It did help, in all honesty. As the evening went by, me and Lexi seemed to get on. I started to get more comfortable being around her. It did help that Marcos was there and that he trusted her. That definitely made things easier for me. We all nuzzled on our pizza slices. Lexi and Marcos devoured each slice, with little effort. I only watched as I struggled to eat even the smallest slice. My stomach groaned in pain, as it expanded. After only a few bites, I dropped my slice in front of me. I gave in. It seemed I needed to train my stomach to eat more than a few bites a day.
Lexi watched as I dropped my slice, and started to lie down slightly. Both my paws touched the cardboard box I rested on. And, sighed. "Awww, is someone full?" She winked at me, as Marcos turned to face me as well. I did not speak, I still felt my stomach groan in pain, as it pushed against my skin. It was on the brink of exploding. I stared at the pair who seemed to release a light giggle. As I rested, Lexi yawned. “Well, it’s getting late. I better get going” Lexi started to get her stuff together and placed it in her bag. Before she left, she waved goodbye to me and Marcos. She opened the door and left. “Goodbye all, great meeting you, Carlos”, she smiled towards me.
“It was nice m-meeting you too, L-Lexi”. I waved goodbye to her as she closed the door.
“See ya later Lexi, take care” Marcos walked back into the kitchen, smiling, and then looked directly at me. With the pizza gone, the only smell that remained was my own. I pointed my nose down to my left arm, ‘oh god I stink’. I shivered at the smell. Thrusting my nose away from my arm. Goosebumps perpetrated to the surface. Marcos raised an eyebrow after seeing my reaction, he was perplexed. “Everything, okay?” he moved his paw back and withdrew his finger. I took a few steps away and swung my head back down away from him in shame.
“I-It is...I kind of smell” I hesitated. The release of those words had never proven more difficult. It was a challenge to even face Marcos as that word vacated my maw. But, all I could do was face him. My head was glued to meet him.
Marcos did not even smile; he just offered a paw “here, let me” he whispered. I walked towards his paw continuing to look at him. As I got on, Marcos and I never said a word, he just turned towards me to ensure my safety. After, he raised his paw as he stood up and turned to the hallway. Throughout, I tried to listen to my heart. Anxiously anticipating its arrival. Yet, it was silent. Marcos stopped outside a large white door and placed his paw on the handle, turning it. It revealed what Marcos was doing. He had taken me into his bathroom. I felt his paw lower onto the top of the sink between the two large taps. I just stared at him as he began to plug the sink and then place both of his paws on the taps, turning them. There was a thundering sound of water as the sink began to fill. It almost deafened me.
“M-M...Marcos?” I asked, I knew what he was doing but I was nervous as doubts and instincts continued to fester. But, he did not hear me.
Once the sink was filled, Marcos grabbed the bar of soap at the side of the sink and dug his large claws into it. Breaking a small part of the soap off and placing it next to me. I watched it. Marcos then lowered his head to look around the area around me. Rubbing his paw across his neck, he scanned the room. WIthout warning, his smallest digits made contact with the water. Ripples circulating away from it. “M-Marcos? Please...t-talk to me?” I repeated, more firmly this time, and that snapped Marcos out of his concentration.
“Oh, sorry Carlos. Would this be okay for you?” he sounded apologetic, he was so preoccupied in ensuring he could makeshift a small bath for me. Marcos’s gesture, and dedication to ensure it was okay for me warmed me, I was lost of words.
I gave him a light smile “Oh, Marcos. T-T...Thank you so much!”.
He just nodded his head, “I will give you some privacy. I will be by the side of the sink. If you need anything, let me know. Okay?”. After I heard a gentle thump as Marcos hit the ground, I started to place my hands on my clothes to take them off. I rubbed my paws across my body, feeling my bones. My body convulsed. ‘I am safe, DO NOT think about that. You hear me’, I clenched my fist and then released it.
It took me a few moments, but after contemplation, I approached the water in the sink. The steam hitting my fur. The heat of the water hit me like a wave, providing a sense of calmness. Crouching down, I placed my foot in the sink. Releasing a sigh of relaxation. Then, shuffled my body even more into the water. Up to my shoulders was under the water. I felt every inch of my muscles begin to sooth. I watched the fur on my body begin to soften. After letting the hot water ease me, I shuffled my body around to grab the soap at the side and rub it across my body. Cleanliness was a feeling I longed for. It took a while to rub off the cocoon of dirt. But, my fur felt so much softer.
Then, my pounding heart decided to interrupt the calmness. Using the soap, I noticed parts of my fur falling off. Revealing more of my bare skin, my bald patches expanded their territory. ‘No, no, no!’ I yelped, rushing around the both. Scrounging for anything to hide the greater patches. “How are you, holding up?” Marcos projected up towards me, it took me by surprise.
I turned my head down towards him, “I-I’m..okay. A few more moments”. I realised that the water surrounding me looked dirty, ‘wow it was that bad’. My head hung low, and my body shuddered at the sight. The once transparent water was full of dirt and fur. I refused to give the water satisfaction of a second peak.
“Would it be okay for me to get your towel?” he whispered towards me.
“Umm okay. P-Please...don’t peek” I spoke with a nervous and trembling voice, biting my lip in the process. Marcos proceeded to stand up. All I saw was his large back. He walked towards the towels near the bathtub opposite the sink, and he grabbed a makeshift small towel on the side. “Wow, you have really p-prepared, haven't you?” I mocked as I saw the towel. Like my clothes, doll-sized. He giggled. When he grabbed the towel, Marcos refrained himself from looking. He may not have noticed but, my body relaxed at the sight.
Except, as Marcos lowered the towel towards me he accidentally noticed the condition of the water. His jaw dropped in surprise, and that struck a chord inside me. Marcos' visage matched the bystanders who snarled and looked down on me. “Here, you, go?” he said as he passed the towel to me, dropping it at the side of the tap next to me. “If you need anything else, let me know. I will lie back down against the sink again, okay” he crouched down. I stared at him, perplexed. I gave off a radiating smile as I walked towards the towel, picking it up in the process. Once I cleaned myself, I realised that I had no clothes ready. As the towel wrapped around me, I held onto it tightly, letting out a small cry for help.
“M-Mar...c-could you...if you...don’t mind…?” I was stopped by the sudden movement of Marcos as he started to stand up and this time he looked towards me.
“I will grab you some clothes, okay. Be right back” he sang, walking out of the bathroom. I was left there, clinging onto the towel, shocked at the sudden insistence from Marcos. The doubt that my luck would end sent goosebumps through my body. That single notion bothered me when I asked him for something. Those thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Marcos walking through the bathroom doorway, in his paw laid a nice set of clothes for me. But Marcos' smile disappeared after noticing that something was bothering me. “What is it?” he asked delicately as he crouched towards me. I tried not to meet him eye-to-eye, I just focused on the clothes in his paw. Marcos maw rested on the edge of the sink.
“I swear, I’m in-dependent. I’m sorry...being so reliant...on you”I began to bite my lips as my legs trembled like jelly. Crossing my arms did nothing to ease the shaking.
“Shhh” he cooed to me. He would have stroked me if I were not trying to cling on to the towel wrapped around me. I froze. “I am more than happy to help Carlos” he insisted, adamant to help. Despite that, the thoughts continued to circle my mind, it would take me a while before they settled. Marcos unplugged the sink. I refrained my eyes from watching the dirt and red fur encircle the drain. Moving my tail, I raised it to cover my chest. I clinged tighter to my tail, hiding as much of my body as possible. ‘Please stop looking, Marcos’ I pleaded, but I lacked the courage to speak.
I yawned.
“Awww. Is someone tired?” he spoke in a soft and silky voice. Like a mother. “Want to see your new bed, little one?” was all he said as he crouched towards me with a gentle light in his eyes. That word still sends a twitch down my spine. I got into those clothes Marcos brought. Marcos refused to glance throughout. But, once I was ready, Marcos' paw lowered.
I walked towards him, “umm, o-kay” I stuttered. He then gently lifted me up and walked me into his bedroom. He pointed to a doll house mansion. I raised my head towards his chin, “this is where you got those clothes” Marcos nodded in reply. Marcos gently opened the doll house revealing a giant king size bed. Seeing the doll house only reminded me how I thought he saw me. ‘Guess I am part of his collection’ I muttered. But, I elevated my head towards him. “T-Thank you. I don’t know...what...to say”. Marcos placed his paw down outside the doll house mansion and I walked off it. After getting off, I approached the mansion and walked inside. Everything looked so life-like but I knew it was not. It was weird. I then walked up the stairs towards the bedroom and stared at the massive bed. I then lifted the covers and laid it in. “Oh, this is c-comfy, ''. I said with delight.
“You, like it”, he beamed with joy. I took a long moment to just admire what I was looking at, letting it sink in.
“Y-Yes, I...really do”, I shouted. I looked towards the window from my bed, and I noticed a giant eye looking right at me. It was a kind eye. I was about to raise the covers, trying to hide away from the monster on the outside. But, I paused. It was Marcos. “P-Please, don’t...stare at me...like that” I whispered under the covers that surrounded my maw. Only my eyes and ears were shown.
“Oh, sorry. I won’t, do it again” Marcos took a step back and moved himself away from the dollhouse.
Giving a light smirk towards him, I then yawned and lied back down. The pillow felt like a marshmallow as it sunk into it. The world was fading away, becoming distant. My body rose above Concordia, and later the world of Tellurian. I stared at the world I called home. Merely spectre in space. A minor smile covered my jaw as I watched the stars scatter around me. They were little suns that struck each corner of my body. But, my jaw dropped and my eyes went silent. I watched as each star around me started to disappear. Turning off as if it were a light switch. Darkness surrounded me.
I awoke back in the Dark Dream but, this time there was not just one shadowy figure. There were eight. All of which were encircling me. “THE PROPHECY, THE GUARDIAN, THE SWORD, THE TRAVELLER, THE SAVIOUR, THE FALLEN, THE WARRIOR, THE SEER” chanting the same eight words I heard earlier. They repeated the words over, and over again. Acting like a stuck record. Their voices became distorted. Then, I felt something startle me. Before I saw it, I woke up. The clothes Marcos gave me were soaked to the core. The mattress cover too. Surrounding me was a rim of fur, and on my right arm. Claw marks. I was breathing heavily; my hands were shaking, and my chest felt tight. I tried to breathe but something pushed it to the ground. Eyes turned towards the dollhouse window. I saw a giant eye, facing my bed. I yelped, diving under the covers.
“C-Carlos, it’s me...”. I carefully placed my right paw upon the cover, and folded it back. I snuck a peek with one eye towards the window, releasing it looked familiar.
“Would it be...o-okay? If I sleep with you t-t...tonight?”
“You mean, in my bed? Only if you’re comfortable with it”. Moving the cover to reveal my head, I nodded my head. Marcos leaned back, “okay, Carlos”, he gave a soft reply. I got out of my king-sized bed and walked downstairs, exiting the dollhouse. As I left, Marcos had laid his soft black paw out for me “here you, go”.
I moved my head up to meet him, “t-thank you” I replied kindly as I stepped onto it, smiling at Marcos. Once I got on, Marcos slowly lifted his paw up and then walked towards his bed. He held me up high as he got into the bed. Marcos lay on his back with his head facing the ceiling. After getting comfy he placed me on his soft furry stomach, and placed his soft paw upon me.
“Good night, Carlos” Marcos whispered with a soft tone, and my heart warmed in comfort at the kindness and gentleness of Marcos.
“G-Good...night, Mar-cos”, I whispered as I closed my eyes.
After closing my eyes, I realised I was not in the Dark Dream. One of random images that made no sense. One was of a big car that seemed to have suffered damage. Another was of photos falling out of the sky, like rain. There was one of the steps on the beach that faded as the tide came on. There were many more, but I could not make sense of them. I tried to shake them. Focusing on any attempt to attain tranquility.
Category Story / Macro / Micro
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 118px
File Size 158.5 kB
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