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Chapter 9

"Complications"

2239

(Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 Soundtrack - 09 - The Crack of Dawn)

Ethan Winchester woke up to the most horrible morning that he had experienced during his life. The red line was over, and the dawn had arrived. The number of bodies was...

Unimaginable. The city ruins reeked of death. Buzzards were everywhere. Smoke danced on the rooftops. Some of the building windows were on fire. Women and men of Febris army were either shot bloody or turned to piles of ash.

It was clear that Ethan had passed out due to blood loss on the rooftop of the HQ, the remaining soldiers running for his rescue just in time. Laying on the hospital bed after multiple stimpak shots, and surrounded by his fellow soldiers...

He had never felt more lost.

In everyone's eyes, Ethan was the commander and leading general of the Febris army now. It was too much to take all in once.

The man he had loved, General Allen, was dead. The moment the soldiers around him started to speak of a grand funeral for Allen, it broke Ethan apart. And they silently out of respect and sympathy, left him to emotionally deal with himself. He had to do a lot of soul searching on that bed.

He thought about his memories and his life through. Everything up in this moment had gone just like it all had a meaning. What was the meaning now? What was the purpose?

Ethan felt that part of him had died completely with Allen. He was there as his mentor, his guide... And his everything. The man had given Ethan a purpose and vision of new, united and safe wasteland.

That vision had been torn into pieces within one day. If only Allen had listened to his hunch about the president...

An hour later, Ethan stumbled out of the medical tent, leaning on his crutches and slowly joining the most memorable funeral of his life.

The speech Ethan gave was something the soldiers would never forget... And he had to keep himself collected and strong as a fine soldier... Which he couldn't bare himself to do.

The husky looked as the old tiger was lowered into his grave, his uniform remaining on him. The moment a memorial song came in Allen's honor from a commoner woman, the beautiful and sorrowful tune was the last thing Ethan could handle, before storming out of the funeral.

The responsibilities were waiting for him more than they ever had right now. People counted in him to choose new commanders from their ranks. They counted him on everything, along with the fate of Chester city.

The Febris army had one functional, yet old vertibird on their use. Ethan was scheduled to be on board and travel to Febris base on the mountain for an emergency council meeting to discuss the continuation of their plans. It was clear that the war was officially set against The Enclave. But Ethan was vitally needed where he belonged. There was not much he could do in this place any longer.

The critical decision had to be made. They didn't have enough manpower anymore to keep Chester city safe nor alive.

The word about this battle would reach far within days, and it would invite every hungry raider army or multiple hostile factions to fight over the control of the city, now that they had the chance for it. This was no longer a green zone. Chester city was a burning pile of rubble, with Allen's memorial city it's quietly pulsing heart, reminding of what happened here. Everyone would hear about the Red line day.

The base was contacted, and the preparations in the base were in full effect... Along with the sorrowful mourning ceremony for the fallen. But their last hope still remained.

Everything... Relied on Ethan.

Within the dawn of the next day, Ethan was still giving final silent moments at Allen's grave, no one bothering him. The soldiers were loading Humvees and trucks full of wasteland civilians and injured soldiers, preparing for the long march back to the Guadalupe mountains.

It would be a long journey... But there, they would be more than safe.

Aside from touching and romantic words of honesty that Allen had shared with him, the numbers kept bothering him. It felt like they had some big meaning to them... But he felt like he was too scared to know what they would open. Allen's face while talking with the president about them had told it all.

The towns and villages they had assisted and stationed with some garrison, were told by radio frequencies to stay strong and try to do their best work to maintain safety, as the Febris army would fall back to base and get time to heal.

It was strike on the morale at cost, even if the orders were received by every outpost. The man they once thought as their true leader towards a better future, was dead in the ground. They would most likely have to wait for months in these towns, outposts, and villages before there would be patrols or commands of progress, meaning some of the most notorious war crimes happened with Febris base knowing, during this time. To some soldiers, this meant loss of hope. And when some of these soldiers lost hope due to the tragic news and uncertain future, they moved on... Or showed their true colors.

Meaning that if you were trained and armed soldier in your spot... It gave some privileges and ways to see that protection should be more rewarded in these hard times, now that times were more dangerous.

Rapes, fights, and few murders were the inevitable results, along with abandoning arms and duty... "War crimes", but their most simple definition.

But still, most Febris forces remained loyal...And waited for salvation in hopes of trust for Ethan to save their army.

Ethan was mostly silent as the vertibird ride went on. They were over halfway done with the journey... So, the pressure was building in Ethan. Yet... The burning hate for the Enclave kept his spirt going. He wanted revenge. Restoring and focusing their order and coming up with a plan was hell of a good start.

Until... The things went complicated.

The sandstorm came. One of the fiercest sandstorms that Texas ground had seen in a long time.

Vertibird was taking damage. Sensors started to scramble. Altitude started to switch levels dangerously.

The pilot couldn't see a thing. Landing was their only option.

The contact line was too muffled to go through for the possible febris army members on the ground level, miles behind them. And then...

Crash came without warning.

The vertibird smashed against the mountainside, head-on.

The moment this had happened, Ethan had blacked out... And he thought that maybe it was meant to happen.

If there was god... Then the only thing he wished was to see Allen already waiting for him on the other side.

There was nothing but darkness... Along with flashing lights, echoes and sounds... Sounds of gunshots... A lot of them. Brief blinks of sun... And some words he couldn't understand... Pain in his body... Images of some unknown bunny looking at him in judgment... Arguing... Sounds of gunshots... Lots of gunshots...

Ethan remembered... Begging... Talking... Threatening someone... Everything was so blurry...

And finally,... An image of him, throwing a knife at someone.

I...

The memory was so strong that it pulled him out of darkness.

Ethan finally opened his eyes, raising his body up with furious breathing out of panic.

He wasn't either in heaven or hell...

He woke up in a cave. There was a campfire nearby.

The dog kept looking around himself cluelessly. The cave was covered in some kind of... Finger paintings. They glow. The dust was floating in the air, a small hole in the wall sending small, almost heavenly light around the place. If Ethan wasn't in such a panic and confusion about everything, he would have almost thought that the place was beautiful.

The burning torches on the walls along with paw painted, rather primal marks, made him more confused than ever. He had no idea where he was. There was no pain... He... He felt somewhat light. Like a feather... He was clearly under the influence of some drug.

"H-hello?" Ethan asked scaredly, rubbing his shoulders and looking around in the darkness.

The answer came to him after yelling with a scared tone a couple of times for someone. Someone approached him slowly.

(Gheorghe Zamfir - The Lonely Shepherd)

A grey-furred husky girl without clothes was walking from the darkness, covered in paintings of red and yellow all over. The stunning vision of a female made Ethan speechless, as the figure slowly approached and looked at Ethan like she was relieved of him being finally awake.

The alluring female with a beautiful body slowly sat down right next to the dog.

Ethan couldn't take his eyes off this beautiful person but slowly looked away as he didn't know if it was appropriate. He could literally see everything. Why wasn't she wearing any clothes?

The female husky was clearly amused by the odd look and manner, then staring to slowly speak with an angelic voice.

The accent was clearly off to some degree, sounding very broken to Ethan's ears.

"You... Wounded... You hurt. No more. Healed."

"...W-why are you speaking like that? W-where am I, miss? Why are you not wearing any clothes?"

The girl just smiled with a puzzled expression, speaking quietly back after a while.

"The holy mother... She sees a vision. She tells riders... Seven suns and stars they walk... Seven sun and stars... Then home... Only one return... With you. He became Raturu. Great warrior. Seen beyond. Survive land unknown. Save you. Bring here... Home. The holy mother will it is."

"... That... I'm sorry, miss... But that made absolutely no sense."

"... Sense? What this word?" The girl asked innocently, her curled tail wagging.

"... Look, mam, I need to leave. H-how did I even-?"

"You leave no? Me...? Me sorry." The girl said, suddenly looking sad.

"... Wh-what?" Ethan asked as the girl gave a paw reach at him, trying to clearly signal Ethan not to get up.

The husky tried to, anyway... And it only led to realization, why he felt odd in the first place.

The girl removed the big leaves from the pile... And it showed the injuries. Ethan had been stabbed by someone in his stomach. The fur had been cut from the area in order to treat the wound. But he had indeed survived by the help of someone unknown medicines.

As if he hadn't already taken enough injuries lately. But this one was not quickly healed by stimpak. This was some long handwork.

He spoke with a trembling voice, the question being something he really needed an answer to.

Because now he remembered the crash... And he remembered everything before it.

"How long... Have I been here?"

The sympathetic girl spoke soothingly.

"Seven sun and stars three men look for you... Seven sun and stars only one man come back with you... Another four you rest here..."

Eleven days. Ethan was in a loss of words. He still saw the same flashing images, now even slightly more vivid as he took the time to close his eyes. He remembered names... Tesshin... Quan... But...

Something just felt wrong. Something bad had happened. The gunshots. The yelling. Him throwing a knife. Hurting someone badly.

Nothing made sense at the moment... But one thing was true.

Febris army was doomed. Ethan had been their last remaining hope. And after taking a bullet and clearly having no idea where he was, most likely ton of miles away from the base... There was no going anywhere anytime soon. He felt weak and delirious, his knees out of strength to travel. The place around him was warm, so it could have been Texas ground still... But where in there would be a better question. What was there left for him to live for or to do? When he lost Allen, he felt lost... But now because of what happened to him... He ended up causing possible end of hope for the Texas wasteland too because of his disappearance.

Surely, Febris army would just continue their usual system to have someone replace Ethan as the head general of the army... But the difference was, could he succeed Allen? Ethan in itself was a gamble, but shining hope due to his skills and reputation and experience because of Allen. But no one was most likely going to be happy to choose someone else out of the ranks... But it would be their only option.

Ethan was crying, not even bothering to have effort from his mind to ask more questions, as everything weighted him down all at once. Until his line of thought was broken when the female came closer, giving the warmest smile Ethan had ever witnessed, and the female laying her paw gently on Ethan's chest. And she spoke.

"You mourn... You sad. Me sorry. It not your fault. We help. You us now. You live here."

Ethan saw only from these gorgeous females' eyes that her eyes and expression spoke more than her stumbling words... But it somehow made him feel so much easier... And the next words she was speaking would change his life and future forever. She slowly took Ethan's shaking paw, talking with an alluring tone.

"The great sight... The holy mother... The spirit lives in my mother... Her child... Me... The vision is all true... Your fate... Everything. E-Ethan Wiiinchester?"

"H-how do you know my name? What holy spirit? What do you mean my fate?"

"... You destined to be in the tribe. Destined to be with me. Vision tells. Holy mother. The Shinui that was promised. Countless suns and stars ago... You here now. You become my mate... And we become one... The holy mother has seen... You give me a son in my belly."

"W-what?! A son?! Wooooa, you are attractive and all, miss! But I am not going to put a baby in anyone, no offense. It's nothing against you, I mean you are beautiful and all... But I'm more into males. Just my preference... And someone I was in love with just died so... Don't take it personally." The husky defended.

The husky girl now looked slightly a bit down, speaking.

"M-me sorry... You lose... You loved someo-?"

"... I don't want to talk about it."

The girl nodded quietly now, looking a apologizing. Suddenly, the girl tapped her legs and spoke happily.

"W-when you... Healed... By heart. You can lay with both. We have men too." She said innocently with a shrug.

Ethan was shaking his head, being rather mindfucked by such a random answer to his rambling, so he ignored and continued speaking.

"A-and wh-who the hell is this holy mother?"

Ethan was just as much in full of panic as he was full of questions, as the barely twenty-year-old girl was looking at him like food almost.

Until the girl spoke back calmly with an innocent smile.

"I'll have you carried to meet her. She is waiting for you."

"Carried?" The dog asked like how on earth was she gonna carry anyone anywhere?

And Ethan was looking suddenly even more bothered, his eyes widening totally as he realized that not only he got to experience witnessing such a beautiful woman, but only with a quick whistle by the girl, he ended up staring something else now.

Two incredibly built up, NAKED men came into the cave, looking at Ethan wide-eyed like he was a god, both kneeling and closing their eyes in front of leaf-covered Ethan.

"The great Winchester." They both said simultaneously.

Two warpainted men, both muscly bear and a tiger, had their privates hanging without shame, Ethan turning red and looking away, yelling them to put on some clothes.

They didn't clearly know what that meant... But before Ethan could stumble any more words, the tribesmen lifted Ethan on their shoulders like he was held on a throne.

The husky kept yelling for them to lay him down, the giggling husky girl walking behind them and trying to catch Ethan's tail on the process.

Needless to say,... The crazy day turned out things for him forever.

Ethan was brought into a long-lasting cave with at least two minutes of walk down the hallways... seeing glowing paw paintings around the walls. This place... and it's aura, gave Ethan shivers like crazy. What was this place?

He was laid on the hay seat gently... And in the darkness, a robed woman sat right in front of Ethan in silence. The men took their leave, along with Tisha.

The conversation that was being held with Maya was one of a kind... But it was something Ethan would never forget during his lifetime.

Once Maya took the robe hood off, Ethan was even more full of questions.

Maya... Was a ghoul. It explained the raspy voice and burned looking paw... But Ethan clearly wasn't afraid of her for some reason. Her presence... And her words... They were so enchanting that all he could do was talk like a hypnotized child.

It was her time to explain everything... And she did.

This was the story... Of Maya.

(Born Unto Trouble - Red Dead Redemption Soundtrack)

Her name was Maya, and her mother before her was named Lilly. Lilly had been an infant survivor of the great war among few, her parents had managed to escape into a vault located in San Antonio. The survivors of the vault had grown restless, leaving the vault after habiting it for forty years. As one could assume, the radiation was heavy... But so was the raider presence. Forty-year-old Lilly was killed soon by raider ambush along with other vault residents... But her daughter, Maya had been the only survivor, is still just a baby. One of the raider females took the baby in her care out of sympathy... But within the first three years, the raiders got into a scuffle with a group of mercenaries in the place called Fort Stockton. The three-year-old girl once again survived, taken in by a mercenary group that was occupying in the fort. Her new father figure called Tom gave her the name of Maya. She managed to grow into the age of Thirteen in the fort, starting to learn shooting and helping the mercenary's work by keeping track of gun and ammo shipments by being their inventory manager. She soon learned to count and read in the process. And she was seen as almost as a little mascot for the old men, as a respectful part of the family.

Until one day, a fight broke out in the fort as the result of gambling and heavy drinking. Guns started to blaze and people started to die. Maya's protector, Tom, died in the gunfight to save her life, as in the middle of the chaos some of the sickest minded mercenaries had tried to rape her in the corner.

She managed to escape because of the noble sacrifice... And she kept running South. She ran and she ran... Until she couldn't run no more. She was starving and feeling weak. And soon enough... She found her way to a small farming village by the place called "Rosenfield".

She settled into the county soon enough as they took her in... And during the years, she fell in love with a farmer's boy called Callum.

She soon learned how to shoot properly, along with making the area safer soon enough with her tactical skills, learned from her mercenary mentor.

For many years she lived in the village, feeling like everything was finally going okay with him. There were multiple fights against the wondering raider and super mutant groups, but the village kept them off.

Maya married Callum at the age of twenty-seven.

Callum ended up having a child with her. A daughter. Maya had read a fascinating book that had a heroine named Julia in it... So that's what she named her.

Unfortunately, even as blessed as Maya was with the continuing years of family life in a growing and prosperous village, things always tend to take a turn. And they did, six years after her marriage.

It was the year 2150, June.

One day, while Maya was out in the nearby riverside, playing with her six-year-old daughter, a mysterious trader had approached the village in the meanwhile.

All without Maya knowing, the trader sold countless things for the villagers... But what they didn't know, was that the man was a raider in disguise. He was on a revenge, having his raider father and younger brother slaughtered in a scuffle with the village year ago. He took it upon himself to bring as many as he could into the grave with him. They soon realized the hostile behavior of the merchant, as the man was clearly drunk and full of rage, yelling at everyone for killing his family members. He had then pulled the lever... Which was leading into his bag.

He had been storing a whole mini-nuke ammunition with him, knowing he wasn't going to make out of this attack alive. So, he sacrificed himself.

The village, along with the villagers blew up into ash.

Fortunate for Maya, she and her daughter were not on a deadly range... So, she told her daughter to stay put as she ran in total horror over the grass hills to see what had happened.

There were no survivors. What used to be the farm site and the small lands around it, were just a crater of smoke. She had no idea what truly had happened at all... But she knew that everyone... Her husband... They were all dead and gone.

As she was about to fall on her knees and cry and scream. But she soon realized something much worse and overwhelming for her body.

The radiation. The nuke had created so much radiation in the air, that it started to take the deadly effect on her by the minutes.

She started puking, shaking and running, her head spinning. She was running back to her daughter, the scared and crying little girl not able to understand what was going on. Her mom looked sick as one could, and she had fallen right in front of her, falling unconscious.

Her last words for Julia... Was "help".

And the darkness came.

What felt like an eternity of darkness, turned as a light onto her.

Julia, her brave and barely six-year-old daughter, had used their cart to drag her luckily light body having a mother with her. Confused of direction, she headed to more south. To the unknown hills and mountains, that earth shifting had caused due to nuclear bombs around America. Soon enough before getting to the top, she had passed out due to losing her strength.

Maya had woken up in a cave... And her daughter was right beside her.

The tribesmen. The Suturu, had found them. By that time, the tribe was consisted only out of twenty people. They had taken the two in care out of sympathy.

But the radiation was something they couldn't heal. It had spread... And affected her body permanently. She was now a ghoul.

She was mutated, having lost half of her fur around the body and looking... Terrifying. But yet, she could talk and act normal to some degree... And in the eyes of the tribe, she was a god of some sort. And that theory only proved along her years in the tribe... Because she didn't age. She had learned during her years as she had med some non-feral ghouls, that the aging process stops if you are lucky enough to turn into a ghoul without going feral.

Now she was like a peeled dog, being the only person in the tribe to be allowed to be fully covered in ritual robes, while the tribesmen wore rags to cover their privates. Even after losing her beauty, she became something in return. A godmother for her tribe, staring to guide their ways. The responsibility of leading the tribe was overwhelming at first, and the tribe was small, only having ten females and fifteen males in it. She had no choice... These people believed in her for some reason... And she believed in them. But getting used to uncivilized ways was a challenge.

(03 - The Storyteller's Dreams - James Horner - Apocalypto)

The tribe wielded no guns, nor spoke the common tongue almost at all. They had their own language completely. Primal and rough.

Also, these mammals were spiritual, believing in some sort of male hero figure that was long gone dead but among them as a spirit of a ghost. And that Maya was the holy female hero that was promised to be another half, their spiritual presence, but a living one. Maya and her daughter were to be protected by all costs... So, they had no option leaving this hidden valley and return to remnant lands of civilization if you could even call it that.

Soon enough...Maya started to change.

She started to forget her old life... And she started to be fully devoted to her new life and position. She started to dream and see... Visions. Almost like guiding, vivid whispers.

These visions were something that the tribesmen and women would follow, interpreting them as best as they could. Over the years, Maya kept seeing things in fire... Stars... And the clouds... And the water. She started to soon realize...

That the tribe was right. She was not an ordinary woman. There was something supernatural about her.

Maya saw a vision after vision, shaping the tribe with them into spiritual rules.

There would be no wearing clothes in the tribe, after the person turns eight-teen, as a sign of humble living and nothing to shame. There would be no trading or contact with the outside world, at a risk of being discovered. There would be a ceremony that would offer grim, but radically beautiful sacrifice to the gods. Once a tribal member would be sixty years old, his or her time would come to join the sky spirits and live in eternal happiness. They would have to inhale purple powder from the top of a leaf that you could get from local plants. It would cause quick, and painless death overnight. This way, the tribe wouldn't expand into a concerningly huge community either, which would be harder to control. Also, visions told that even if same-sex intimacy was allowed, it would anger the sky spirits if the bloodline was not continued. So, giving a female a child was a necessity during one's lifetime before having to inhale the purple powder. Final visions were, to never ever kill another tribe member no matter what... And the last one was something so odd that tribesmen didn't know what to think of it... But they sure wished they could witness it during their lifetime.

That one day... A man... A brown-furred husky by the name of Winchester... Would arrive into the community... And was destined to be someone the tribe would need to protect, no matter what.

Twenty-four years later, Julia gives birth to a girl. No one knows the true father of the child, due to constant ritualistic orgies being held each month by the tribe. The girl is named Akira by Maya herself out of godmother's right. The year is 2174.

Within future years, first life taking rituals are performed by the oldest members of the tribe in order to follow the spiritual visions of Maya, the purple powder painlessly claiming lives from the tribe. Each one of them succeeds in continuing the bloodline.

forty-six years later, sixteen years after Julia takes her life to join the spirits of the skies, Akira gives birth to two children. Twins. Two girls.

Maya names them Tala... And Tisha.

The year is 2220

Incident happens by the end of the very same year Sakura has given birth to the twins. One day, as she was fishing with nothing but a spear and a knife, something attacks her. A legendary monster, a glowing deathclaw that has been threateningly close to their village and caves for past months.

Sakura, being one of the most skilled female warriors, kills the beast... But dies after being slashed by the monster lethally during the fight.

Sakura, the great heroine, is burned in a pyre later for their bravery, having defeated the monster with the cost of her life, joining the sky spirits. Just like Julia's death, Sakura's passing takes toll on Maya, having already witnessed her two daughters die... But trusts her visions, believing there are in a better place with the sky spirits, living eternal happiness.

And just like the prophecy told... Nineteen years later... The year 2239 would arrive.

Ethan is seen in Maya's vision. She wakes up the village. The time has come. Great vision tells to send three of their best fighters into the Texas wasteland for the one and only time, to bring Winchester into the village and to be wed with Tisha. Three of the best riders do as they are told. The men are called Niro, Tesshin and Quan. Two weeks after the most important task of the Suturu tribe has been completed... And only one of them survives, managing to bring Ethan to the village. A husky man named Tesshin. He injured himself by many seemed conflicts on his journey, and carried Ethan, who was also bleeding from his stomach due to a stab wound as well.

Which would bring us in the present part of the memory.

And that... Was the story of Maya... The forever living ghoul godmother, and leader of the Suturu.

As we return back to 2239...

Ethan was... Well, awestruck by the intense and vivid tale. He had never believed in a higher power, but Maya sure felt like a true spiritual mother in a body of a ghoul. Everything about her was supernatural.

Ethan still didn't understand why on earth the sky spirits saw him as anything worth saving... Or possibly even useful in any way. He was badly injured at the moment due to being stabbed, dehydrated and having not eaten properly in days. Along with problems of his mind. He had the worst two weeks of his life behind him.

In the mind of Maya, it didn't matter. Even she didn't know why Ethan was so important... But she just knew that he was. And his only request was that Ethan would marry her daughter, Tisha. Just like the prophecy told.

It wasn't like Ethan had a lot of options. Somewhat out of his comfort zone, he still said he would accept if Tisha really wanted marriage. But Ethan couldn't fully promise he would be her dream husband since he personally was into men. To which Maya had laughed, telling she knew that by the visions... And knew that Tisha would bring out something from Ethan that he didn't even know himself.

Ethan couldn't help but hear the sounds of partying and dancing echoing from outside, asking from Maya what on earth was going on there.

To which Maya explained, that it was a party for the man who saved Ethan's life, along with a respectful memory song for the two other men who died trying to rescue him. Quan and Niro. By Tesshin's words, both had died. The last returning warrior from the great unknown was now the title Tesshin would be carrying... And his reward would be to share a tent with Tisha's sister, Tala. Equally beautiful, a black-furred husky girl. This ritual would also conceal lasting marriage between the two.

As little as memories Ethan had, being most likely passed out most of his journey here, he we were happy to know that the man who saved his life was getting at least something in return.

After a conversation that lasted almost an hour, Maya saw that Ethan needed more rest. It was clear that his other leg being a stump wasn't something he was going to soon get over with. Nor the small lingering pains.

Ethan had no choice really but to accept staying with the tribe, as Maya so clearly wanted. And how could he escape anyway, in his condition?

No... All he had to do... Was trying to move forward... And wish that this new life and opportunity to be someone this tribe wanted... It would be worth it in the end.

And so... Thus, it began a new day for Ethan Winchester.

(Empire Total War - Warpath Campaign Eagle Totem Song)

Ethan started to learn how to walk with crutches first, taking his time to heal. He began to crawl on land and be helpful during hunting trips with the tribe members. As stunningly beautiful as the place around them was, the danger of the mutated wild monsters was an everyday threat.

But for his luck, Tesshin, the man who had saved his life, became his best friend very quickly.

Tesshin had explained soon the adventure he had to go through with Quan to bring Ethan home... And explained what had happened. Ethan had actually saved Tesshin's life, due to Quan having attacked both. Quan had betrayed the tribe and was most likely dead right now already far away from here. The vision of Ethan throwing a knife, was him aiming it at Quan. Apparently, the whole fight between the two tribesmen had happened due to an argument over marrying Tala... But Tesshin didn't want to speak about what had happened anymore after telling about it once. It was clear that he was still wounded by the soul over Quan's fate. Betrayer or not. Ethan understood that.

Maya was more than pleased by Ethan's dedication to try his best to become one with the tribe. During his first days, he was more than sad and grumpy, killing enclave soldiers in his nightmares and wishing he could have prevented the red line day from happening.

But the more he gave in... The more he started to change as a man. His inner demons, thoughts of escape, and depression faded as more of the months passed by.

He became rather good with a bow and arrow over time, along with river fishing. He started to craft spears over day, along with earning the trust and friendship of everyone else, despite being still a bit slow due to his recovering wound.

And what he soon realized... Was that marriage was different in this tribal culture. Despite being promised to marry Tisha within the upcoming months when it was time, it didn't mean that they were not allowed to be intimate with someone else. Here, the marriage was open. This tribe had it's freaky side out without shame, and as overwhelming it was for Ethan first and almost inappropriate... He soon realized that it wasn't perversion to these people. It was a harmonious way for some to keep their heads clear. To grow affection and bonding. To reward yourself, since every day in the dangerous wild could claim a life. And soon, Ethan started to realize that he had to move on from Allen, as hard as it was... And by month five, he gave in. Having slowly earned his place and become loved by some, he soon started to enjoy the fruits of life, sharing tents with his fellow tribesmen at nights. And Tisha was more than fine with Ethan's tastes since she knew that Ethan still belonged to her by prophecy. And Ethan intended to keep that promise, once the day of marriage would come. It was a fair deal that he ended to keep, no matter what.

Ethan felt more and more addicted to the amazing culture the tribe had, almost every night feeling like a celebration of life for them. Like every day needed to be celebrated as a blessing after the day was spent doing hard work for the tribe. They knew how to reward themselves. Ethan was spending his nights partying and dancing with others, enjoying a lot of drugging fruits and herbs with others, and getting shared by his fellow tribe hunter men in the tents. These tribal people were wicked and shameless. Orgies were like their weekly custom.

Ethan began writing memoirs, practicing the common tongue still as he knew that soon he might even forget where he came from. He started to teach others from the tribe with Maya's permission, and soon many of the tribe started to learn the somewhat the average skill of English within the first four months. These people were not as slow as Ethan had let himself think at first.

Ethan started to earn titles, walk with a wooden leg that would replace what was lost, and be more and more bold and leading character, along with Tesshin.

In fact, the very man who saved his life became his best friend rather quickly. Ethan mostly felt that he at least owed Tesshin any help, education or hunting protection he could for all he did for him.

Tesshin, the husky, was the ritual leader the moment the day came, after Ethan being in the tribe for a full year.

2240, January 1th...

The wedding came... And Tisha and Ethan were to be married. Ethan being stressed and scared was putting it mildly... Even if he spoke with Tisha almost every day... But this was different. He would have to lay with a female for the first time of his life.

And together, they surely did become that night intimately, Ethan realizing that being with a female in bed was far from being as difficult or disappointing as he had thought. Quite the opposite. Tisha was more than talented and passionate, giving Ethan one of the best nights of his life. What first seemed to be just necessary fulfilling of a promise to marry out of no real say... Was becoming something much more than Ethan could have imagined. Soon, Ethan started to join Tisha's tent frequently at nights instead, spending more time with her...

He fell in love with Tisha... And Tisha fell in love with him.

His hatred and care and worry over his life and the fate of the Texas wasteland... Was all gone. He had a whole new life now... And no more intent to return in his old one.

Nine months passed after the ritual... And soon enough, the final part of Maya's prophesy came true.

Tisha had a child, being brought into this world by the campfire, under stars and the glowing moon, a circling, and singing and yelling parade around them witnessing and praising the joy of life. Ethan would remember the intense drums as his wife gave a final push... And out of respectful sign, Ethan gave the child for Maya to hold after holding his own son for a while.

The ghoul in the robes looked down at the child with a gentle smile, whispering.

"And the prophecy is fulfilled... Whatever your fate is, dear child... It is something this world hasn't quite seen... I can feel the energy of the spirits from him... He... Will be the true, greatest warrior. By the sun... And by the moon... Ethan Winchester... What name with your son carry? Let his name be spoken!"

Ethan, slowly stood up, taking the boy with a proud smile into his arms, every tribesman and the women looking at him, holding their breath.

And slowly after looking at the bright blue eyes of his son... He spoke the name.

"... Charlie. Charlie Winchester."

ACT 2

(The Temptations - I wish it would rain)

"Noooo, Sam you are talking some stupid shit today, what is that?!" Ryan asked with an amused laugh, arguing with Sam in front of him.

The chubby cheetah was sitting on top of the pile of metal crates, wagging his legs with a confident smile as he spoke right back.

"The astoundingly awesome tales' issue eight is best by far out of the whole series-"

Ryan kept shaking his head the more Sam spoke, cutting him off.

"You are SOOO fucking wrong Sam, how long have you felt this way?!"

Sam waved his paws in defense as Ryan was about to commit a friendly bounce and attack.

"Okayokay, point out your favorite and let me have my opportunity to equally roast!" Sam said back in challenging smirk, shooing Ryan away as the fox was giving light taps at him.

"The Giant Insects Invade was easily the most rad-" Ryan began as he kept tapping, making Sam yell before he could finish.

"Nooooooo, Ryan how long have you been a weirdo?! That issue was ASSSS!-"

"Take that back! You just fucking with me right now! Okay, I chill, I chill..." Ryan laughed, taking a bit of distance with light footing and clearing his throat as he pointed at the hyena with finger gun.

"The second-best issue was the Invasion of the Zetans. Got something to say?! Come on please say I'm wrong and you are disqualified-"

"Relaaaaax, I got you. You are right, The invasion of Zetans was off the top. Come on, keep going with your poor list. You got lucky this time; I want to hear the third one." Sam snickered; Ryan pleased that they at least agreed this time.

The fox smiled and kept walking slowly towards the yeen with a confident tone.

"The third best issue... Is Attack of The Fishmen, aka issue sixxxx-"

"Deeeeebaateeaableeeee-" Sam started singing and rolling his eyes as he leaned his back against the box to get comfier.

"Okay, smartass, tell me what is challenging my third choice that hard!" Ryan yelled with a smirk, stopping his threatening steps.

Sam cleared his throat and tried to keep a straight face under Ryan's pressuring face as he began calmly.

"The man who could stop the time is by its imaginative value much more-"

Ryan cut off the talk with a smile, copycatting the hyena.

"IMAGINATIVE VAAAAALUUUEEE. Are we making up big words now in a defense of your disqualified argument-"?

Sam just shook his head, cleaning up the smirk and talking with genuine opinion.

"You just can't admit that I am right, the plotline in the man who could stop the time is way more rad than attack of the fishmen, that I would place personally as the fifth-best-"

"Gooood give me strength listening to this hyena and his twisted mind-" Ryan groaned, not able to even look at Sam.

"Hey! Okay, fourth one then!" The hyena yelled with a frustrated smile.

"Okay, hit it. And don't fuck this one up." Ryan said with closed eyes, nose towards the ceiling.

"Rise of the Radiated-" Sam began, Ryan, not giving him a chance as he quietly spoke.

"How long have you been a fucking psychopath-"

"Duuuuude, you are killing my vibe here, what are you talking about?! Tell me how the Rise of the radiated-"

"You just like that one because it has the hot skunk chick in the story and her breasts almost show one of the panels-" Ryan began with eyeroll like it had been somewhat a subject he had heard from more than few youngsters in the vault.

"That is soooo not the reason, you are reaching straws!" Sam began in his defense, but not sounding convincing.

"And you are thinking with your dick, that issue was the seventh-best at max!"

"AT MAX?! Yo, maybe that hit Niles managed to give you two days ago really did scramble your brain! Not that foxes are known to be smart anyway, but-" Sam began, knowing that now he had hit the nerve spot.

"OOHOOHOooo, getting kinda speciest here are we?!-" Ryan said with an evil smirk, showing a middle finger to his friend.

Sam just grinned back, knowing he had been slightly inappropriate but it was usual with the banters that went on daily with this friendly group of theirs. Sam waved his paw to have a timeout as Ryan was clearly about to mock right back.

"Okay, forget all that. The fifth best one is the rise of the mutants-"

Ryan shook his head and walked closer, ready to leap attack as he spoke.

"I am so about to whoop your ass, I am not listening to this blasphemy a second longer-"

Before Sam could yell anything in defense, Ryan bounced on the hyena, making him fall from top of the crate and to the floor. Sam started laughing hysterically and trying to desperately fight back at the strong fox with poor success, he started yelling at the fox.

"You freaking ninja fox, get off me! Ryan! Your list of best comics sucks-" Sam still argued, laughing.

"Whatever fatso! Fight back!" Ryan yelled.

"Hey, I'm not fat!-"

"Oooohh, so this extra fifteen kilos in your body is just an illusion?!-" Ryan laughed hysterically as he took a good grip of Sam's stomach and squished it.

"SHUT UP, DUDE, FUCK OFF!" Sam yelled in a desperate tone, not able to stop laughing as the squishing just tickled him.

"Try to fight back then, jiggly ass yeen!-" Ryan yelled.

"Ryan."

Somewhat a serious and firm tone spoke.

They both stopped fighting, Ryan looking at the newcomer that had arrived in the room.

It was Niles. He was looking rather down for whatever reason, rubbing his shoulder a bit and muttering something Ryan nor Sam could hear.

Ryan made an agile move, freeing the hyena from the ground hold, a familiar smile lighting up on the fox as he patted his vault suit.

"Niles. Where have you been? I've been waiting here for like... Half an hour and a half extra already? I would have been bored to death if Sam wouldn't have gotten here after my dad's class. For some odd reason, Jacob is not here like he usually is, and Tio is being tutored by the weirdo weasel, and Dion is at his damn date... Sheesh, everyone is somewhere but here. So, what's up with you, Niles? You have never been late. I didn't see you are the breakfast either." Ryan hassled, clearly just puzzled over such absent behavior. But it was clear that he was also frustrated with not having his usual friend audience in the same room as well.

Niles looked tired as he spoke back.

"... I wasn't hungry. And I... Sorry for being late. I think I overslept... Look, Ryan..." Niles began, Ryan, shaking his head.

"Niles, we have a routine. You never oversleep. And you need your breakfast to have energy for our training, what's going on?"

"... Yeah, everyone was a bit confused that you didn't join the breakfast." Sam added, climbing off the floor.

"... I just... Look, I don't want to train this morning."

"... What?" Ryan asked like it was the most bizarre thing he had heard in a long time.

"... I didn't bring my sword either. Ryan, I just... I just feel tired this morning. And I have a headache. I want to go back to my room and sleep it off. I just came to tell so you wouldn't be worried about where I am." Niles spoke, almost like eager to get out of the room. He even had a hard time looking at Ryan for some reason.

"... My ears are hearing things now. Dude... I was working out the whole morning and was all hyped up. This was going to be a good day for training, and suddenly you just feel tired? Why didn't you come to eat to feel better then?"

"RYAN... I'm going back to my room now. I'm sorry, okay? You want an apology. Sorry for making you wait for nothing. But I'm not here to train. I... I got some painkillers from Doctor Waldi, so I'm fine."

"You went to Amir because of a headache? That ain't very warrior of you."

"I... I'm going now, okay? I need to go to my room. And I...-" Niles tried to argue back, just wanting to clearly leave quickly. But Ryan was not seeing it, even if the excuses and behavior was rather odd.

"Look, if I'm not going to train here for the rest of the day, I might as well come hang out with you for the rest of the day. You wanna come, Sam? We can continue our debate silently about the awesome tales while this lynx takes his nap." Ryan began, almost like it was the only possible solution to this turn.

The cheetah just shrugged his shoulders, nodding.

"I'm fine with that if Niles is-"

The lynx closed his eyes in frustration.

"I am not. I don't want either of you in my room. I want to be alone today, okay?" The lynx spoke, almost sounding begging now.

"... Yo, Niles, we promise that we are quiet. Aight? Like, what am I supposed to do for the rest of the day?-"

"I don't know! Okay? Just... Figure something out, hang out with someone else but me today. I want to be alone and I want to rest. Don't come to my room today, and say it to everyone else as well."

Ryan shook his head in frustration, starting to walk at the lynx. The moment Niles realized that Ryan was now actually getting concerned, he started to get anxiety.

"Niles, what is going on?" Ryan asked now, slowly realizing that something was going on with his boyfriend and it didn't clearly suit him.

"Don't... Just..."

"Hey, Ryan. If he wants to chill alone today, I get it. We can go find Jacob.-"

"Shut up, Sam," Ryan said quickly, studying the somewhat startled looking lynx with his gaze. Sam huffed back from behind the fox in eyeroll.

"Just trying to help, don't need to be rude. Just go, Niles, we can manage. Feel better, okay?"

Niles muttered something, agreeing with Sam and clearly hoping that Ryan would as well. But the fox instead just came a bit closer than needed, whispering quietly from the lynx so that Sam couldn't hear.

"Babe... Tell me what's wrong. Did Farin or Maurice say some shit again? Or someone else? Why are young looking so scared? You are not scared of anyone; you are a warrior-"

"Ryan... Sam is right there." Niles said with an alerted tone, Ryan acting too intimate.

"Just tell me... I'll care of it, let's go to your room and talk-" Ryan said, laying his paw on Niles's shoulder. And it was one of the spots where his father's strikes had landed, the warm spike of pain driving Niles off the rails as he smacked Ryan's paw away and yelled with emotional tone.

"YOU ARE NOT COMING TO MY FUCKING ROOM; DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND?!"

Ryan literally got so jump scared by the scream that he took few steps back, looking at Niles with wide eyes and bristled up fur over the strong reaction. He was in loss of words. Niles had never spoken to him like this, nor anyone else. He didn't even curse, being heavily Christian mannered due to his father's profession, even if he was breaking god's laws by being intimate with Ryan.

"Yo... Niles..." Sam spoke from the background, looking just as startled.

"Niles... I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"YOU NEVER MEAN TO! YOU JUST THINK OF YOURSELF! YOU ALL JUST!... FUCKING STOP! LEAVE ME ALONE! DON'T FOLLOW ME, DON'T TRY TO COME TO MY ROOM AND DON'T... Don't go telling everyone that something is wrong with me like I know you both will! I WANT TO BE ALONE JUST FOR ONE DAY! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!"

"NO, it's not! But, Niles! This is not like you at all, you don't need to yell at me-"

"WELL, MAYBE I SHOULD MORE OFTEN TO GET MY POINT ACROSS! I'm going now!"

"Niles..." Ryan began with an emotional tone, reaching his paw to grab Niles's paw in total worry over the situation, Niles shooing the gesture away.

"WHAT PART OF DON'T TOUCH ME YOU DON'T GET?!"

Niles asked furiously, huffing and looking at Ryan with deep, apologizing look soon after. Almost like he wanted to hug him right now. But he didn't, putting up the angry front back into display, looking at Sam to make sure he had nothing more to say. Hyena sure didn't. He was just as shook as Ryan.

Ryan didn't attempt to touch Niles after that, just following with wide eyes and open mouth as the lynx was on the verge of crying over something, quickly turning around and tapping the door button rapidly.

Sam and Ryan were too startled to say anything anymore. Niles had made it more than clear that he wanted to be left alone.

The metallic door opened, and Niles left as fast as he could, closing the door right behind him.

The area was no silent, Sam speaking quietly.

"What on earth is going on around this group recently?" Sam asked like this question had been on his mind for a while now, almost like not having any better timing to be released.

Ryan was still stunned by being cussed out and yelled at by his boyfriend, feeling just confused as one could. The fox had not even heard Sam's question, as he was trying to handle what had just happened within two minutes.

The fox just kept fighting internally as he looked at the door, thinking about storming right after the lynx. Sam saw this inner struggle and spoke with a louder tone so Ryan could snap out of it.

"DUDE. Just let it go. Niles clearly is going through some shit and doesn't want people around him. Everyone has that sometimes."

"... Not like that. He looked like... He was scared of something."

"... Well, what is going on with him is not our business, even if we are his friends." Sam pointed out.

Ryan turned around, speaking back with a tone that made Sam sound like a hypocrite.

"His BEST friends. And I'd say that already gives us the right to know what is going on with someone we care about. We don't just leave each other hanging."

"I didn't see you care enough to walk after Jacob yesterday, nor Tio that one time-"

"Tio has always been quiet and independent and Niles was already after Jacob, and he was fine and back to himself this morning, joking around like always. That argument with Tio was most likely Jacob's ADHD doing its tricks or something. Or for all I know, just wanting to be a center of attention like always."

"Ryan, I know what you are saying here, but sometimes you just need to shut up and leave someone alone. This is one of those moments. You just heard the Christian guy of the group curse you out. If that ain't red light, I don't know what is. I ain't running after him even if I wanted to, because I want to keep my teeth intact. You know? I'm sure he is ready to talk tomorrow." Sam tried to reason.

Ryan was now quiet, somewhat agreeing with the facts that Sam stated, but it still surely bothered him. Ryan sighed, walking over next to Sam and sitting on top of one of the metal crates. The fox slowly looked as the hyena next to him sat down as well, both staring at the metal door Niles had passed through.

After the awkward silence had settled in some, Sam quietly spoke the question again, making sure Ryan heard this time.

"So, what do you think is going on?"

Ryan slowly turned his whole posture to look at Sam with judging eyes and speaking with a disappointed tone.

"Oh, so we shouldn't have enough in ourselves to follow our best friend who is emotionally struggling over something, but once they leave, we start to gossip? Is that where we are now?"

Sam's eyes widened and he spoke back with an annoyed and defensive tone.

"What? No! That was not... Okay, I could have been more detailed on what I meant... Besides, isn't that what we all did when Jacob had his issue with Tio just yesterday, instead of going after him?"

"Jacob has ADHD and was probably just off his meds or something, that wasn't emotional breakdown-"

"Dude, Jacob never behaves that way. He is always laughing and teasing everyone-" Sam argued back.

"Niles went after him, and I'm pretty sure that calmed J down. I didn't care enough to ask questions since Jacob was just fine again when I saw him later." Ryan spoke, turning away from Sam like the discussion was pointless.

Sam muttered in annoyance, not liking the high road Ryan was taking.

"Okay, well what about Tio? You didn't go after him when he stormed out of the dining hall after that-"

Ryan sighed in frustration loudly, turning back to look at Sam.

"Neither did you. And Tio is independent. You know that. It would easier to make a can of beans form intelligence and speak English than get something emotional out of Tio, or have him open up about any inner issues he might have. Besides, none of those emotional little bursts were nothing compared to what Niles just did. Like, come on. Not comparable. He is going through something big and I want to know what."

"... Fine, you win. Yeah, maybe we should have... Went after Niles. But you saw how aggressive he was. He would have most likely kicked my ass." Sam admitted without shame.

"... He just never has been this angry. He freaking cursed." Ryan spoke quietly, looking at the door still. But Niles's gaze had made it pretty clear earlier. He really wanted to only speak to Ryan tomorrow, today being off-limits. Maybe he just really did have a killer headache, who knew?

"Yeah, you don't ever hear that from him... But just... Look, dude. About the question, I asked... Don't you think that something odd is just going on around our group?" Sam asked as it had now started to bother him.

"... What are you talking about now?" Ryan asked with eyeroll.

"Okay, think about it. Dion's odd behavior. He barely speaks that much anymore, and barely eat in the mornings. He doesn't participate in conversations anymore. You are his brother, and I know you have noticed it. Then there is Tio. Even if he is quiet, you can clearly see he is somewhat stressed over things. And you can say it's Jacobs ADHD all you want, but something is going on with him and Tio. Something we don't know about. And then there is Niles, who suddenly is ready to beat someone who touches him, yelling about headache. Look, I don't say it's all connected but... This has all happened within ONE MONTH. Every single one of us beside you and I have behaved with all this drama when it's not normally in our nature. Don't you think it's getting a bit freaky?" Sam asked, taking a rather serious tone and wishing for a serious answer.

"... Maybe you are onto something here, now that I think of it... But it's not too unordinary to be alarming." Ryan muttered, starting to think.

"... I don't know about you, but I'm slowly getting alarmed." Sam added.

Ryan rubbed his nose bridge and talking genuinely.

"... I can't say that I really am. There was bound to be drama in our group at some point. Hell, its fucking surprise we lasted this long. Have you seen other groups? Sometimes it feels like people of our age live off from drama like they need it. We are the cool and chill guys, you know?"

"... If you say so. But... It just makes me uneasy. I wish we could rewind two months back when everything was still normal, and Dion, Tio, and Jacob didn't act weird." Sam sighed.

"... I have a feeling that things will return back to that in the end." Ryan assured, not clearly wanting to bonder on the subject that much.

"... What if they don't?"

"... You mean that this group of ours that has lasted since we were like twelve, is going to fall apart?" Ryan asked like it was not possible.

"... Tio is already falling away from it. Dion is all daydreamy and absent and spending more time in his room-"

"Look, I know that things will return to normal before long. My big brother has always been somewhat of a weirdo-" Ryan talked like it was known by everyone.

"That is rude, man-" Sam began with a judging tone.

"I say that about him all the time. And Tio?... Be honest with yourself, Sam. Jacob maybe even had a point in his rant. Some part of me agreed with him. Has Tio truly been our friend?" Ryan asked now, taking Jacob's side of the things.

And it clearly had a reaction on Sam, the hyena sounding offended for Ryan even saying such out loud.

"WHAT?! Of course, he has! I'm always having a blast with Tio!" Sam tried to state.

"Are you, really? I've only hanged with Tio alone a couple of times and it's like the time is dragging. He doesn't talk almost at all. He doesn't give out much from himself. And sometimes it feels like that even if he is hanging around us, he is silently maybe judging us or just bored out of his mind... Or feels like it's a necessity for someone of his age to be social, and doesn't want to be bullied for being a loner-"

The more Ryan spoke, the more desperate Sam was looking like, almost like feeling horrible for silently realizing Ryan was speaking sense. But he still tried to hold Tio's side.

"Dude, you are violating him right now. Tio is an amazing person. He cares about us."

"But Jacob said it the best. He NEVER expresses it. When have you heard Tio say how much our friendship means to him? HELL, answer the most important question. When has Tio smiled or laughed with us?" Ryan asked, now actually trying to make Sam see the truth.

"... Dude." Was all Sam could say, feeling sad now, not clearly wanting to hear Ryan.

"When was the last time you saw that? When was the last time he said what a great friend you are, Sam? Or how much fun he is having with us? How good some joke you made, was? Has he ever even hugged you? Would he forgive you if you accidentally lost his book somewhere? Would he-"

"OKAY, OKAY! You got your point across! Tio is not overly friendly happy or social person, but that doesn't mean-"

"I am not trying to say that Tio is a bad person or doesn't deserve to hang around. I am just saying... that I understand Jacob's annoyance the other day. Was it rude? Yes. Was it over the limit? No. All I'm saying is that Tio doesn't let anyone truly know him. He is always on defense. I wouldn't be surprised if we actually ever even knew the real Tio. Maybe this overseer thing really is his calling. At least he doesn't have to deal with too many people anymore. He can just control everything from the office. I only hope that he remembers our kindness to him in the future, in case we need favors." Ryan admitted with a shrug.

"... I never knew you felt this way about Tio... You and Jacob..." Sam said, sounding sad but thoughtful, clearly feeling some sort of way about Tio now.

"... Sometimes you need to learn to read people. Just like my brother, Sam... You two want to believe the best in everyone. When things just tell the opposite." Ryan said quietly.

"... Gee, thanks."

"I didn't say that it makes you lesser. But it makes you a fool." Ryan sighed.

"... Doesn't being a fool make you lesser?" Sam pointed out.

"... Not always... Sometimes ignorance can be a bliss." Ryan added.

Suddenly Sam started to smile slightly, changing the heavy and serious discussion a bit lighter.

"... Like in your case, since you think that Rise of the radiated wasn't-"

"OH, FUCK OFF!"

ACT 3

Tio was walking down the stairway from the overseer's office with heavy steps, his face absent from any kind of joy. He had expected his first day to go so much better. He really trusted in his capabilities on this, yet Calvin was a difficult man to please. Right now... The only emotion in his mind right now... Was regret.

Had this been a mistake? Had he really prepared for this job fully? Was he as naïve as Calvin had painted him as? Was this really his calling?

Or more importantly... Could he even mentally handle another day of the same treatment, let alone a week or a month? The training to be the new overseer was a yearlong training process. Calvin was going to make sure that it wouldn't be a pleasant time for him, that much was clear. Maybe, within a few weeks he could manage to create a better bond between the old man, but... So far, this rocky start had done nothing but damage Tio's motivation rather harshly. What could have he done differently? Should I have taken a more humble approach? Or more silent? Or more...

The visible, sharp emotion of anger on Tio's face was furious, the wolf wanting to hit his head against the wall. He wanted to make his father and mother proud... So far, it wasn't going well.

Right, now everything felt so depressing. He honestly didn't even want to hang around with his friends either. The explaining he would have to do for being released this early...

No. Just go to your room and think. Peace and quiet. Books. Perfect time to ponder better preparation for tomorrow. You need to be ready to face another day with him.

Tio started to pick up the pace and walk faster so he could avoid any possibility of bumping against any of his friends.

Just as Tio was taking a quick turn, his steps being fast and his mind not totally awake on the situation, he bumped right against someone, giving out freaked out grunt as he fell down on the floor.

The person he had bumped into, had not fallen down, but clearly had been startled, meaning to apologize right away as he was forced to take a footing back due to impact.

"Yo, I'm sorry!"

"It's my fault, I was not looking in front of-"

Tio stopped his explanation of his stumbling right away, after realizing the familiar tone and looking up.

Jacob was standing in front of him, looking at the wolf with puzzled and confused expression, still smiling slightly at the situation.

"That is what I call a Mexican trip over. Literally." Jacob said with a sneaky smile.

Tio took a moment to process what had just happened and the fact that it had to be mockery against his luck today to stumble against Jacob right after being kicked out of the overseer's office. He wanted to mouth off right back at Jacob, especially after that self-satisfied smirk after the poor joke, but for some reason...

He didn't want to. Part of him, even due to his aggressive and sad state, felt slight happiness at seeing Jacob, no matter how annoying the dog was.

"... Come on now, it was funny. Admit it? No. Typical. Always grumpy... Why are you looking at me like that?" Jacob asked, Tio, looking at him somewhat longingly and looking rather dreamy. Almost as he was more tired than annoyed.

"Lo que sea, perro... Are you going to help me up?" Tio asked, giving out his paw and putting his usual annoyed face on, but his voice was absent from being actually angry at Jacob.

The dog chuckled, giving out his paw without hesitation and pulling Tio back on his feet.

"Whatchu doing here anyway, Tio? You supposed to be at Calvin's office. Did he send you on an errand boy run or something?" Jacob asked, clearly confused why Tio was here.

"... Whatever. What do you care anyway? And why are you lurking around here?" Tio asked, patting his vault outfit slightly.

"... I'm not lurking around. Was just... Nothing. Just... Happened to be close by." Jacob muttered, now sounding a bit unprepared for the question to be reversed.

"... You just happened to be close by." Tio muttered back like it made no sense.

"Yeh, that's what I said," Jacob said, putting on a convincing smile.

"... During this time, you should be hanging out with others." Tio said quietly, Jacob's presence here clearly not making any sense.

"... I uhhh... Maybe. I guess. But Dion is on his date and... Yeah."

"... So what? Why are you not at the maintenance deck with Ryan and others then?"

"... Look, you didn't even answer my question. Why you out here? Isn't your training at least eight hours a day with a dining break or something?"

"... " Tio didn't answer, just looking down now with tired expression and rubbing the back of his neck.

"... Hey, what's up? It's not like I asked a hard question." Jacob chuckled.

"... It didn't go well." Tio just admitted but was immediately about to take his leave after that. He didn't want to talk about what had just happened. Not with Jacob of all people. He would just make fun of him and the situation. Just as he was walking past Jacob, the dog quickly laid his paw on his shoulder, making Tio freeze and look at Jacob with puzzled expression.

"Wh-what do you mean by that? Don't just scoot away man. What happened? You good?" The dog asked in concern.

Tio just looked down at the floor again, avoiding eye contact and muttered quietly.

"... It just didn't go well. That is all. I am going back there tomorrow... I'm just... I'll be going now. See ya around, J."

But Jacob had no intent on letting Tio off that easy.

"Naaah, you can't just say it didn't go well and leave it that, man. You clearly ain't all okay." Jacob said.

Tio sighed and took Jacob's paw off his shoulder in frustration.

"... Jacob, what have you ever cared about? It didn't go well and that's it. Why are you trying to act all...? Like your usual self, when you just flipped on me yesterday and said all that shit to my face-"

"Look, man. I told I was sorry about it. Let's just forget that the whole thing happened. Okay? I talk dumb shit all the time, you know that. Don't be sending Mexican curses on me for that one." Jacob said, giving an awkward smile.

The wolf could not helot but to eyeroll at that, sighing.

"Whatever."

"... Just tell me what's up. I'll listen." Jacob said with a genuine tone.

"... Jacob, I'm not going to talk about it with you. Or any worries for that matter." Tio said bluntly.

"Why on earth not, dude?" Jacob asked with a puzzled smile.

"... Because you are... You." Tio said, not able to put it any other way.

"I am a good listener. Give me a chance, man." Jacob assured, wagging his tail.

"... All you ever do is bully and annoy me, there ain't nothing good coming out if I talk with you-"

"Tio, you can't say that. Give me a chance. Who else would you talk with? I am your friend." Jacob pressed, clearly feeling sad that he really had left this impression so roughly on Tio.

"... You say that as if you believed in it-"

Jacob cut off Tio, then poking at the wolf's nose quickly with his finger and smiling, the wolf blinking in annoyance.

"Hey, have you just forgotten how fun we had hanging out with your room that one day, talking about books-"

Tio right away started to speak louder, remembering very damn well.

"YOU! You said at the table that... You shouldn't have talked about it the way you did! -"

Jacob realized he had hit the hornets' nest, closing his eyes briefly and waving his hands in surrender.

"I know! I know... Look. What do you want me to say here? I am how I am. I slip things out and I... Might be a bit of an ass without noticing-"

"Understatement of the year-"

"Oh, come on don't rub it on my face, dude. I know you can handle all that. Look, hombre-" Jacob began, wrapping his arm around Tio's shoulder, making Tio tense up and close his eyes as he spoke with an intimidating tone.

"Don't call me th-"

"How about we chill, and just hang around like that again? You can talk about whatever you want, but I'd really prefer that you would at least tell me what happened back there since you looked so sad-"

Jacob couldn't even continue, as the wolf shrugged his arm off from him and spoke in a warning tone.

"J, I'm not inviting you to my room again-"

"Then let's go to my room then. What's the problem? It's way more spacy than yours anyway, and my folks are in their jobs at the moment. Ain't no one bothering there." Jacob said with a shrug like it was the perfect solution.

"... I've never been in your room." Tio muttered like this idea made him somewhat uncomfortable.

"Well, what do they say, dude? First time for everything. Come on now. Do you really have somewhere else to be right now, if you ain't returning to office up there? I'm not letting you just go to your room to sulk around; you have done that enough for one lifetime." Jacob chuckled.

"Fuck you," Tio said back bluntly.

"... Come on, man... I won't make you regret it; I keep my jokes on the minimal." Jacob assured with goody expression, placing his paw over his heart.

"..." Tio was looking more than suspicious of all this, not buying it.

"... By the way, before you answer that... I read that book." Jacob suddenly said, clearly slightly embarrassed that he said it out loud.

"... What?" Tio asked in confusion.

"... The old man and the sea." Jacob said back quietly, looking away with a shy smile and clearing his throat.

"..." Tio looked somewhat surprised and longing now, not really knowing how to feel about that. That discussion with Jacob about the book and the sea had been something really important to him. He didn't know Jacob had felt so as well after all.

"... yeah, I... I kinda liked it. Just... Binge read it through. It... Yeah. I understand why you wanted to see the sea someday. It... Yeah. Sounded something alright..." Jacob muttered awkwardly.

"... Okay." Tio suddenly said firmly like he had to gather the courage to say it.

"... Yeah, I couldn't find anything else to say to that either. Like... It was actually so much better story than I expected. And the whole rain and storm sounds so exciting..." Jacob muttered awkwardly, even squirming a bit as he clearly had enjoyed the experience.

Tio couldn't help but to peak a short smile without Jacob noticing, but quickly looking serious again as he spoke more clearly.

"I meant that I can... Hang around. I'm... Okay with that."

"... Wait, really?" Jacob asked, his face lighting up with a smile and the awkward body language going away in an instant.

"Don't make me regret it, J," Tio warned with a sharp gaze.

"... I won't dude. Awesome. Ballin! Let's go." The dog said happily, giving out a paw up and waiting for high five.

The wolf just looked at the paw with bored expression and started walking past Jacob, talking.

"This way, right?"

"Yo, you really just gonna leave me hanging? Not cool." Jacob huffed as he quickly started walking after Tio.

What he could not notice from behind, was that Tio was actually for the first time in ages, smiling warmly and feeling somewhat pleasant after otherwise horrible morning.

LATER IN JACOB'S ROOM

(Al Green - Let's Stay Together)

"What the fuck!? Tio, he can't talk to you like that!" Jacob yelled, clearly more than offended, after Tio had indeed opened about his earlier situation.

The wolf felt sad, yet bothered that Jacob really did care. The dog was more than angry about the situation Calvin had put Tio in. It was unethical behavior from the overseer. And Jacob really would have otherwise thought that Tio was overdoing the story, but the fact that he never did so about anything, made his story truly believable.

"Maybe... It will go better tomorrow. I have fate in that." Tio said, trying sound calm and collected as he was sitting against Jacob's bedside, looking around restlessly as he really felt heavy for even opening up about it like this.

He had truly not expected Jacob to care. Or most likely laugh and tell that he deserved to be treated like that, joking around. But Jacob was genuinely worried and angry.

"Tomorrow?! That is some bullshit, Tio! You have to like... You need to tell Charlie!" Jacob pressured, not understanding why Tio was feeling so defensive in Calvin's behalf.

"... No. It would only make things worse for me. The fact that he had spoken beforehand I my defense most likely by accident made things worse for me anyway. Lo dejaré ser." Tio muttered, drifting away with his thoughts and clearly wanting to change the subject.

"... Dude, I knew that he was never the friendliest person, but the shit you have told is not cool. Not cool at all. How are you going to mentally get thru this training if he already hates you?" Jacob asked like Tio was torturing himself.

"... I doubt that he hates me, he just... Needs time. I can respect that." Tio tried to convince.

"Well, I can't. And neither should you. That old fuck is most likely just hateful that his time in charge is over soon and someone like you takes his place." Jacob said with an angry tone.

"Someone like me?" Tio said with a bothered tone, rubbing the back of his head and looking around the room, just wishing Jacob would let this one go.

"You know, dude. Someone wiser and kinder." Jacob said genuinely.

"..." Tio took a moment to process what Jacob had just said, slowly looking back at the German shepherd in question.

"What?"

"... You know what I mean dude, just take the compliment, since I give them so little anyway." Jacob said with an awkward smile and waved it off with his paw.

Tio just observed Jacob quietly and sighed as he looked down at the floor.

"I can say that I am more polite for now in this age but wiser I am not. I'm sure mister Marston is a very intelligent man, but he just has his nerve spots. And I have a whole year left to watch around my footing during conversations. I just really want this job, and... I am going to suffer it through, no matter his personal opinion of me. Besides, I can't know the struggles on a full scale when it comes to his life. I need to respect my elders. And who knows, maybe I grew up to be just like-"

"No, you fucking won't. You are a better person than you let on and I know that. You will never grow up to be like that grumpy piece of shit, dude. Look..."

Jacob took a breath and cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly as he continued.

"I care about you, even if I... Even if I suck at showing it." Jacob said with a genuine expression like he was tired of hearing Tio's excuses.

Now the wolf lifted his eyebrows due to intense tone.

The way Jacob had just spoken had without a doubt made the wolf feel flustered, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden emotion hitting him. It had already been holding inside him through this whole conversation because of Jacob's passionate defense of his side in this matter, but now he just felt slightly warmer as his heartbeat a bit faster.

Tio slowly looked away from Jacob, not able to say anything back as he was feeling the fluster on his cheeks still, begging internally Jacob not to notice.

"What? You think I don't mean that? Are you going through scientific diagrams in your head and placing together percentages and shit to make sure that I didn't lie?" Jacob asked with a teasing grin.

"... J-Jacob, what is it with you all of a sudden?" The wolf finally squeezed out, like he had been holding the question for days now. And it was clear in his tone.

"Whatchu mean, man?" Jacob asked innocently.

"YOU. Just... It... Fuck it, just give me a second here." Tio muttered awkwardly as he needed time to think.

The dog just tilted his head with a puzzled expression, not understanding why Tio felt so bothered about the eye contact. The wolf took a moment and finally looked at Jacob as he spoke with a serious tone.

"For these past years that we have known, you have acted like a complete cunt against me-"

"Wooo, I wouldn't go as far as-" Jacob began in his defense.

"Shut up and listen, maldito perro..." Tio said right away, cutting the dog off. Jacob could not help but to smile a bit, as he always got some odd kicks from making Tio so annoyed that he switched languages. The wolf continued right after.

"You just... You act like that for years towards me, making fun of me reading, being quiet, being alone, being wiser than others... And then you all of a sudden come hang around in my room, talking all friendly and acting all... Not as annoying as usual when around the group. And then, when I take the job to be the overseer, you just start acting all... Weird and talk to me so different. And that hurtful speech of yours in the dining hall? Yelling to me over the table like you hate me? Storming off like that? And then right after that, you try to desperately hang out with me again like nothing happened again in class, and now you invite me to your room, and talking all nice again and give compliments? What is going on with you?!-"

"I'm sorry-" Jacob began with now genuinely sad expression, realizing hard it really all must have been for the wolf to through. But Tio kept going despite a quick apology.

"I am really trying to understand here! I can't read you at all, and to be frank, it is slowly driving me insane. So, can you just... For once, Jacob. Can you explain yourself? Because you really worry me."

The German shepherd had lost his smile and turned into an awkward and squirmy mood as the wolf had laid out something for him that really needed an answer. Jacob had been expecting this conversation to come at some point, but not so suddenly. Jacob had turned quiet as he could, clearly wondering deeply how to answer to everything that had just been said. Now in turn of tables, he was the one who wanted the subject to be pushed under the rug. Tio waited patiently, looking at Jacob in concern and just wishing any kind of answer at all.

"... Look, what do you want me to say, Tio? I'm sorry, okay? I just am the way I am, the same way you are the way you are. I just trip off sometimes and act stupid. Just because I can be annoying to you most of the time, don't mean that you ain't important to me. You are my friend. You are a total nerd, yes. But so what? At least you are self-aware and own it. Can we get back on the possibility of talking to Charlie about your problem-"

"No. I am finished with that subject. We are talking about you now. And what you are saying sounds like total avoiding of what I am asking. You can't just shrug it off by saying it's Jacob like behaviour when it's not. You never wanted to hang out with me this badly before I took the job to be the overseer. -"

"WELL, maybe that is because I didn't want you to become the overseer. In my opinion, Niles should have taken the job."

".... What? But why? He clearly didn't want to take the job. And besides, he is more friend to you than I am. Would have you been like this to him, if he was the one who took the job-?"

"NO, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO YOU, OKAY?!" Jacob now said loudly out of being cornered by Tio's reasoning, and when he realized what he had just pretty much yelled, he looked away from Tio right away with wide eyes, tensing up totally.

The wolf felt his heart race after the answer was blurted out so harshly and with such honesty that he couldn't help but to feel scared the same time as he felt butterflies in his stomach.

Now Jacob was the flustered one, visibly regretting on opening his mouth. His whole energy changed to a total uncomfortable state under the wide and confused pair of eyes.

Tio spoke quietly to the dog with an emotional tone.

"Jacob..."

Jacob didn't answer, the tone in Tio's face making him feel weird all over.

"... Why is it different when it comes to me? What is that supposed to mean?" Tio asked quietly, trying to make sense of this attitude as his heart kept beating fast.

"... Look, I don't know, bruh... I just felt annoyed that you took that job without thinking of us first... We care about you. And if you would become an overseer, you wouldn't be around anymore... You would just... Forget us. And end up remembering nothing good about me, and I would totally get that. But man, just because I mouth off doesn't mean I want to leave that as the only picture of me. I am a cunt to you, just like you said... But I don't want you to leave our group, amigo. You know... And besides, we are all American. We need some spice in our group-" Jacob was cut off when he could see the small annoyance from the word, Jacob giving apologizing look and awkward smile after trying to steer away from the convo with jokes like always.

"... Keep going. And no more jokes."

"Dude... You know what I'm trying to-"

"No. Just... What about Niles? Why would it be better if it was him?" Tio asked with a serious tone.

The dog sighed, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes. He tried to not feel awkward by talking so openly about his feelings like this to the wolf, but he was going to need more.

"Niles had the responsibility and stuff to do as his kin wants, and he is too social to shut himself from others into that office, and Ryan would never let that happen. So, he could have still hanged around with us even to some degree like he used to, but you... I just feared that you would distance yourself totally... And I don't want that. Okay? That is all I am trying to say." Jacob said, feeling like he could finally breathe slightly easier after getting all that off his chest. But the way Tio was looking at him, made him feel like conversation was still far from over. And it made him even more anxious.

"Is... That all?"

"... Tio, man... Look... I just care about you. And I wish you could... Reconsider this whole overseer stuff... Maybe it's not meant for you."

"It sounds more like that you want to believe it's not meant for me. Just out of fear of me forgetting all of you?... Jacob... That can't be your only concern here, you need to-" Tio was shifting a bit against the bedside, trying to make Jacob look at him in the eye, the dog shifting a bit further away from him and shaking his head.

"Look, I'm done explaining myself-"

"No, you are not. You invited me to your room. Do you want me to leave?" Tio asked, but now asking it just out of frustration when he clearly didn't want to leave now that he was finally reaching a deeper level of conversation with the dog.

"... If you wanna get back to reading your damn books, it's your choice-" Jacob muttered, but the wolf could hear the sadness in his tone.

"J, why do you want to be my friend so badly?!" Tio now asked loudly, not able to hold the frustration in anymore.

The wolf was feeling emotional, and now he couldn't brush off his senses anymore. The feeling that was tingling inside him, like suspicion. The more he looked at Jacob squirm and the way he was talking to him right now... He wondered if he was truly reading into things too much now... But... He wanted to believe more than anything that there was something more in there. That Jacob was feeling that same spark inside him, that Tio was feeling right now. He felt like he was about to pass out from this heart rate that he was going through.

Jacob spoke back quietly.

"Because I like to have you around."

"I don't think you have trouble on starting to torment someone else from the group once I leave-"

"Tio, come oooon! It's not... It's not like I... Fuck, man. Just do your overseer stuff then, I don't care anymore. Just don't forget us once you rule this place." Jacob said back in defense, stumbling on his words and feeling like he just couldn't get the courage to say what he really wanted to say.

Tio slowly spoke back with an honest tone.

"... I would never forget all of you."

"... How could I be so sure? You just... I didn't say the things at that breakfast just because I have a muzzle. I said what I felt. And I was scared that my suspicions would be true. That you never cared about us in the first place-"

"BUT I DO CARE, JACOB! I Am just not good at-"

"Showing it. I know, Tio! I know... That is why I felt like more of an asshole after saying all of it because I said it out of anger and desperation. Dude, I can be... I can be so fucking stupid sometimes. Can we just... Settle this?" The dog asked desperately while looking at Tio with the nervous gaze.

Just as the wolf was about to say something back, Jacob looked away from Tio and spoke with a hopeful tone.

"Just... Years from now... When things have changed... I just hope we can still be like we were. You know? I could visit the office sometimes when you ain't busy with science and stuff... That's... I just hope that you... Yeah.." Jacob drifted off, struggling with his words due to emotion. Slowly, he cut off the intense gaze between him and the wolf.

Tio went quiet now, the last of his frustrated attitude going away after hearing that. He couldn't really help but to internally shook his head and smile at Jacob thinking the job of the overseer was "science and stuff"

Tio still was looking at the dog, somewhat now having an endearing expression from hearing that Jacob had planned so far ahead that he was talking about visiting the office from time to time.

"...Jacob." Tio suddenly said back with a quiet tone, quickly shifting from his position and closer to Jacob, the dog flinching a bit nervously but not moving away, as the dog was sitting much closer now, looking at him with a gaze that made him feel more and more anxious... And still, his mind didn't want this to stop. The whole situation was like a train that was heading for somewhere very soon. The dog spoke quietly.

"And just so you know, man... All of the times that I've been the way I am, making fun of you... You know that I never mean it in a way like I would want to like... Really hurt you. It's just what guys do, right? You must know that I don't hate you-"

"I don't hate you either. I never have. Even as annoying as you can be, you just... J... I like this side of you way more." Tio said, accidentally a bit more gently than he meant. He kept looking at Jacob, never having felt this emotional before when it came to this dog. This was the most honest talk they had ever shared together, and Tio wanted to keep it going as long as he could... And slowly, as Jacob relaxed slowly... he wasn't alone in that mood anymore.

"... Why? You would have every reason to hate me..." Jacob answered quietly with a smile.

"Sometimes I am allowed to want to hit you, been rather close many times," Tio said, not able to give a slight smile back.

"Hahha.. Yeah... You should have." Jacob muttered, not able to help a warm smile as he looked away from Tio a while, feeling so uneasy in the best way possible. The feeling was so good, as it was scary.

"Jacob... Thanks for inviting me to your room and listening to me like this... It... It really helps."

Tio said, wondering if he was making Jacob uncomfortable by talking the way he was... Since Jacob's expression was getting a bit bothered, the dog still yet smiling.

"I just wanted to hear your worries; you know. That's all... It's what friends do, after all." Jacob waved it off again, clearing his throat and muttering.

The wolf was just staring at the dog, almost trying to read him like a book in a somewhat dreamy way.

"T-Tio, man. Why are you looking at me like that? D-did I say something wrong?" Jacob asked with an awkward smile.

Tio felt the burning heat inside him as his shoulders tensed up, the emotional roar inside him wanting to strictly just ask the question out loud; "Just friends?" but he managed to hold back. He didn't know if the signals in this situation where what he thought. But so far Jacob's behavior and expressions and everything about him spoke in his favor, and it was making him go crazy out of hopeful, dreamy idea, that Jacob could be going through the same emotions at this moment. He really wanted to believe that more than anything. It was selfish maybe to think so... But right now, his rational and careful, calculated way of thinking was dozing off and he was doing something out of feelings he couldn't explain.

"... But why? You didn't need to hear me out on all of this." Tio said quietly with the questioning smile coming on him.

"... I felt like I owed it to you. And you know... I'm glad that I managed to get it out of the way this soon today, instead of like six hours later. Waiting on that hallway was getting boring as fuck, but I still would have waited-" Jacob cut off his own talk, after realizing what he had once again said, Tio's reaction not helping as he caught on quick.

"Wait, what?" Tio asked right away quickly.

"What?" Jacob asked, pretending he had not said what he just did.

"... You. You were... Waiting for me on that stairway?" Tio asked with confusion.

Jacob couldn't help but to mutter something by himself.

"It's whatever. Was just chilling. That's' all. I had a holotape game on my pip-boy to pass time with." Jacob muttered, giving playful shove at Tio's shoulder. The wolf didn't even budge, his tail starting to wave around as he spoke.

"Jacob... Where you... Were you going to wait for the whole day for me to come out of that office?" Tio asked, the butterflies in him just keeping on with the buzz.

"... Maybe. But I had time to pass, and Dion had his date with you know who, so I just needed something to do." Jacob said, trying to play it off as nothing.

"... But why were you not with Ryan and others instead?" Tio asked.

"... Because..." Jacob sighed, feeling flustered about how close Tio was next to him, feeling the eyes beg for honesty as they stared at him.

"... Because what? Jacob..." Tio began quietly. Until Jacob sighed and spoke with a heavy tone, looking at the wall with a sad gaze.

"... I owed you an apology. Look, I don't know if you have caught up on what I've been trying to say here, but I felt shit about what I said at that breakfast. And overall just... Stuff. I wanted to apologize to you face to face... And shake paws on it. I know it was a bit extra to be ready to wait for so long. But it all just bothered me. Just trying to sometimes do the right thing." Jacob admitted with an honest tone.

"..." Tio couldn't say anything no longer, as the apologizing smile turned to look at him with a warm gaze, Jacob continuing with a genuine tone.

"Look... You've already decided that you want to be the next overseer, and I have to just accept that. But from now on, if it's okay for you... I want to hang out more. If you are not too tired after all your daily learning and all that shit. I know I wouldn't be able to learn all that smarty stuff that you are, so if it all makes you too tired..."

"..." Tio still couldn't say anything back, his cheeks still blushed.

"That doesn't mean that I am going to be any less annoying. I'm not going to change my ways, hombre." Jacob said with a snappy attitude, giving two light elbow taps at Tio's side, from calling him with the name he hated.

And yet, the wolf still said nothing. He was about to let his heart make a move he had wanted to do for many years now... It was all about gathering the mental courage to do it.

Jacob tried to keep a straight face, smiling awkwardly as Tio looked at him so intensively, just like the last time they had a conversation in a room together.

"... Dude, you are free to say something any moment now... You making me kinda uncomfortable." Jacob chuckled awkwardly, confused about Tio's behavior.

"I... I forgive you." Tio said quietly, trying to hold back.

The dog sighed finally with relief and felt like a weight had been lifted over his shoulders.

"... Super cool. Thanks, Tio. Hey... Shake on it?" Jacob asked with an innocent smile and handed over his paw as suggestive, sitting really close to the wolf right now.

Tio looked at the paw in hesitation...

And he couldn't take it anymore.

Slowly, Tio's eyelids lowered down, the hazy feeling taking over his brain and his heart hammering, as he slowly started to approach with his muzzle towards Jacob.

The dog felt his eyes just spike up in confusion, his blush suddenly going out of control as he was about to get something else than a paw shake.

He started to stumble quietly with his words in a slight panic.

"T-Tio, wh-what are you d-doing-?"

Tio didn't have the intention to answer. He was done talking and listening.

He kept slowly coming closer, and could almost feel like he heard Jacob's heartbeat, the soft and warm breath bristling against his muzzle, Jacob's eyelids slowly starting to lower as well as his body shivered.

"T-Tio..." Jacob still whispered, and yet...

He had zero intention to jump out of the way, even when his brain was screaming him to do so for pretty much every reason.

But he didn't move. He just couldn't. His body didn't allow it.

And slowly, but finally... Last whisper Jacob was able to give, was Tio's name one more time, before their muzzles met each other, setting their mind on fire.

The feeling was so overwhelming. Jacob couldn't help but to close his eyes as well.

Tio and Jacob felt vivid and sparking bristles under their fur, as all these swirling emotions hit them both at the same time, their hearts racing together so fast. They stayed like that for a while, giving in to the kiss slowly, Tio noticing that his eager effort to signal Jacob to open his mouth more for the more intimate type of kiss with tongues, was not happening. The dog was clearly hesitant and not giving in that much.

After a quiet, intimate moment, Jacob pulled away rather quickly, Tio's heart jumping after realizing Jacob had stopped. They slowly opened their eyes just slightly to look at each other.

And after a second of hesitation by both...

Jacob's eyes slowly opened all the way up, the dog looking spooked as one could. Almost like the reality of the situation had just come to him. He slowly tried stuttering his words out, Tio quickly scooting away from Jacob in a fear of the dog freaking out. When at the same time, he was feeling panicked after getting lost into such emotions over his usual, rational thinking. What he just did, was considered wrong by so many ways. And yet, it felt so intoxicating that he had felt like he had been somewhere far away from here just from doing that.

"T-Tio... D-did... D-did that just happen?... Wh-where did that come from?" Jacob asked with a shaky, freaked out voice, looking at Tio in total shock.

The wolf quickly scooted up from the bed with a shaky body, looking away in scare and starting to speak back with apologizing voice, staring anywhere but at Jacob. "I-I didn't mean, it just h-happened, Jacob... Dios mío, por favor no me mires así ... No debería haberte besado..." The wolf drifted off, visibly sweating.

The wolf spoke in hesitation, quickly giving freaked out look at the stunned dog, still sitting on the floor.

"Y-You need to forget what happened. It was an accident. D-don't tell anyone about that! I-I have to leave. I'm going back to my room. I... I need to go. O-okay? I didn't think, it just happened, and I-" Tio couldn't even bear himself to stutter back anything anymore. He felt like he was about to get a heart attack, the washing feeling of regret hitting him all over.

The wolf started to take quick steps towards the door of Jacob's room, wishing to escape the situation before facing anything Jacob had to say. He had just totally screwed up.

Just as he was about to open the door, Jacob quickly stood up, looking at Tio with wide eyes as he spoke hesitantly.

"Tio! W-what the fuck was that?!" The dog asked, clearly shocked out of his mind.

"..." The wolf didn't answer, stopping at the door and his finger on the button, ready to push it. He was visibly sweating, his fur all spiked up from anxiety. He didn't have the courage to speak anymore.

Jacob swallowed loudly, his voice speaking in concern.

"Yo, DUDE! You just fucking kissed me! Have you been gay or something this whole time?!"

The wolf now felt like a lump just cached his throat totally, not able to answer anything to rather aggressive question the dog had blatantly asked from him.

"I..." Tio could only meep, his finger shaking towards the panel.

"You literally just kissed another dude, Tio-"

The wolf now turned around in panic, his face covered in red glow as he yelled loudly.

"I SAID IM SORRY! FORGET THAT IT HAPPENED!" Tio let out, panicking and quickly turning around, tapping the button and getting the door open.

The jump scared dog was totally riled up, but it looked like he was more filled with a thousand questions at once.

Tio didn't hesitate. He stormed out of the room like a lightning, Tio quickly following up to the doorway and yelling after the wolf.

"TIO! Don't just run away like that, wait up!"

"I'm sorry!" Tio yelled in panic one more time after himself with a sorrowful tone, having zero intention on staying and chatting about what happened, feeling a storm of guilt and shame roar inside him.

And before Jacob could bring himself to pursue the wolf... He was already gone.

The German shepherd was feeling shaky still, looking after the direction the wolf had gone in total worry, mumbling my himself and mentally questioning the whole situation under the adrenaline.

Did that really just happen?

And why did it make me feel the way it did?

END