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Welcome to part 3 heres the PDF link

As you walked down the hall with Commander Brigham, your mind began to wander. Who were these two people he wanted you to meet? He referred to them as special guests, and what that could infer applied to many things. You wanted to ask him questions about who you were to meet, but because the lion ignored your previous questions and only responded with an airy smile, you thought better of it.

As the lion approached the door, you noticed how different it was from the previous two you had encountered. Though worn down, it still looked a little clean, as if someone wanted it to keep its appearance but gave up halfway. That had brought a chuckle from the Commander.

“Weww, hewe we awe! I hope uwu enjoy the convewsation with these guys. They duwu tend tuwu get a bit. Bowing, but i’m suwe you’ww enjoy iwt!“[“Well, here we are! I hope you enjoy the conversation with these guys. They do tend to get a bit. Boring, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!“] You glared at the lion as you walked past him, his eyes trailing you with every movement, his sinister smile still plastered on his face.

As you went down the hall, you came across a few bodies. Many of them were either drooling from the mouth or had vacant eyes. But one thing was sure: none of them looked to have any signs of consciousness.

You spotted one of the men who came with you. He was chained to the wall, drooling from his mouth. You want to ask him questions, but he seems as far gone as the others. As you walk off, something tugs at your pants leg.

Looking down, you see a barely conscious man grabbing you.

“Whatever you do, don’t drink whatever they give you…it’s-”

The man passes out before he could even finish his sentence. His lifeless body still holding on to the last thing he could.

You did your best to shake off what just happened, and it didn’t take long for you to meet the hosts of this room. Sam and Resnick sat across from each other, with an empty chair between the two soldiers. You took a seat between the wolf and the coyote. It didn’t hit you before, but it seemed like a noticeable distance was between all three of you. Both men appeared to be an equal length away from the center chair, yet you couldn’t move the chair freely. It seemed like something was locking it in place.

“Welcome!” To your surprise, the chair turned automatically to face Sam. You used this time to get a good look at the coyote. You already had an image of Sam’s appearance, but this wasn’t it.

Sam, the usually stricter soldier, was wearing a shirt covered in stains. His shorts had a massive hole near the right knee. His usually neat hair was messy, and his sideburns had turned into an unkempt beard. If there was food caught in there, you were confident he would eat it.

“Sorry if we’re not what you expected. We’re used to it by now,” the chair swerved, and now you faced Resnick.

Though in uniform, Resnick had a more somber appearance, as even his uniform was partly done. He seemed to know what he should look like and how to get it done, but he just gave up halfway and said good enough. The wolf looked somewhat out of it.

“So what brings you here today,” asked Sam. You turned only to be greeted by the sight of the coyote scratching his balls.

“Um…well, after dealing with Ludwig and Jayden, the Commander thought it best for me to talk to you two.” You tried your best not to look at the coyote as you weren’t sure of his intentions. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the guy who came here before me?”

Sam and Resnick shared a knowing look but said nothing. Sam gives you a neutral smile but refused to look you in the eye.

“So you’ve gone through two already? You seem to be causing a lot of problems for the Commander. Why?” You turn to face Resnick. His cold stare felt like it was draining any warmth you had.

“I’m not trying to cause Commander Brigham any trouble! I want to, you know, leave.”

“Well, even if you don’t try to cause others harm, the actions you take tend to hurt those, even if you didn’t mean to,” his empty stare bored into your soul.

You wanted to say something, but the uncertainty of what happened to Ludwig and Jayden weighed on you. You didn’t want any harm to come to them, but Ludwig was still shocked by the collar when you left for not being scared of him. And you still don’t know what Jayden’s fate was. All you knew was that he feared the Commander punishing him.

You met the wolf’s eye. Sorrow and regret were all you could see.

“You know, when I pictured meeting you, I wasn’t expecting this. You’re not what I was expecting!” You tried to laugh it off, but that only brought a growl from the wolf.

“Then what were you expecting? Sorry if I didn’t meet your expectations of how you pictured me in your head.”

Resnick, baring his fangs, nearly caused you to fall out of your seat, but something kept you in place. As you looked at the wolf in horror, he calmed down, almost as if he scared even himself, and hugged his head in shame.

The room stayed quiet. Not a soul moved. Everyone wasn’t sure what to do next. You wanted to ask Resnick a question and see what was eating at him, but you couldn’t find the right words. It wasn’t until the sound of the coyote laughing, catching you off guard and bringing you back to reality. Facing the coyote, you watched him pick at his toenails before addressing you.

“You know, sometimes it’s better just to give up,” Sam gave you a solemn look. “Lord knows we have,” he sheepishly looks at his feet.

“What are you talking about? Why would you give up?”

Sam could only rub his head as he tried to avoid your gaze. Letting out a chuckle under his breath, he met your gaze.

“What’s the point of doing anything? I gave up on the thought of being a top soldier. I saw no future in it. What once drove me no longer does. What’s the point of doing something that no longer brings you joy?”

Sam’s words cut you deep as you sat back in your chair. The thoughts of what once brought you joy rushed through your head. The hobbies you once had and stopped, the times you wanted to do something new and stop because you felt no motivation.

“It’s funny, you know,” this time it was Resnick’s turn to talk. “People build up this image of you in their head, and when they find out you are nothing like that, their whole view of you changes. Making you out to be the villain in the story they created.”

Resnick let out a slight chuckle. Looking closely at his face, it seemed that the young wolf was crying. You wanted to get up and hold him but couldn’t bring yourself to move.

“Are you okay?”

The wolf solemnly looked at you and gave his best smile.

“No matter what, the moment you change, people change, and nothing can return to how it once was… Tell me, do you like me, or do you like lust me?”

“What do you mean? Why would I not like you?

The question caught you off guard. How much does the wolf know about the game? Does he resent it? Does he have an identity crisis from such an event?

“Sometimes, it's hard to tell who people like. You try your best to be yourself no matter what, but sometimes, the new you is you everyone knows, and the old you tend to fade away into obscurity.”

You wanted to comfort the wolf, but something kept you from getting up. As you struggled to get out, Sam burst out laughing. Being forced to face the mad beast, he looked like he was having the time of his life as he watched you.

“You know, it’s just a simple question. I don’t see the point in stressing over it,” Sam rubs the back of his neck while avoiding your gaze. “Look, sometimes it's better just to ignore a difficult question. Nothing good ever comes from answering those.”

“You’re wrong,” you felt both soldiers staring at you for the first time. “Just because they are difficult doesn’t mean you should avoid them.”

Though neither said anything, you saw both canines’ ears perk up.

“It’s not a simple question. It’s something that is bothering him. In fact, by the looks of it, something is also bothering you. You are usually more… refined than this, like the perfect soldier. What happened to you to make you like…?”

Sam laughed like a broken man.

“You know, being the perfect soldier takes a lot of effort, and sometimes, it gets to the point where you’re done. No matter how hard you try or how much effort you put into it, you don’t feel like you’re moving anywhere at some point. Why continue down a path you no longer feel joy in?”

“Stress over something isn’t a reason to just quit it. No one said doing things was going to be easy. Sometimes you have to put in a lot of effort-“

“Even if you don’t get anything in return, sorry, but at some point, there is no point. What's the point of moving forward when you no longer see changes or improvements in what you love?”

“What do you like me?”

Resnick didn’t give you time to think about Sam’s question before forcing you to face him.

“People seem to be interested in my more lustful side. I don’t think I met anyone who cares about who I actually am.”

You gave the wolf a curious look. His sunken shoulders as he looked at you with pleading eyes for an answer you’re unsure of.

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you think you are the first person here? Everyone comes and goes talking about how they love my more lustful nature, and yet when I asked about myself, no one seemed to find the words. Is that all I am to these people?”

The wolf looked generally upset. How many people have been here, come and gone, only to leave him a shell of his former self?

“Well, I don’t know about the others, but I can tell you that I, for one, like both versions of you. Sure, the lust version of you is fun, and I have fun with it, but I like how you get flustered with things. You want to be the best even if you’re uncertain how to do it. Your shy but kind nature is what brought me to you. From what I see, the lust version is still you but just giving you an out so you’re not too overwhelmed and stressed by the choice you make.”

You hugged the wolf. Embracing his muzzle in your chest. His soft fur tickled your arms as you rubbed his back.

“Sure, people may like a version of you that isn’t the true you, but who cares? You will meet people who like you for who you are. Cherish those people. And even if you’re still uncertain about those, try to enjoy your time with the few who enjoy your company. You’ll eventually find people who like you.”

You sit back down in your chair, looking back at Resnick. The wolf says nothing, but you notice a slight wiggle from his tail.

The sudden burst of laughter caught you off guard. As you turned around to face him, the coyote smiled at you.

“So what you’re saying is even if no one cares, I should still do what I’ve been doing? Is the thought of doing something no one will recognize worth it?”

“Who cares if people don’t notice what you’re doing? Everything takes time, and I’m sure someone will recognize your hard work one day.”

You stood before the coyote, who just looked at the floor. His ears dropped as he was hunched over in his chair.

“Why continue to do anything if, in the end, you’re left exhausted? If you spend time pouring hours into becoming better, and people still hate it?” Sam looks up to you, pleading for some answer.

You look the coyote in the eyes, unblinking.

“Sometimes you do things because you find them fun. Even if someone doesn’t see the efforts it once brought you joy, don’t let something like the lack of others motivating you stop you from doing what you love.”

You placed your hand on his shoulder. He leans his head into it, rubbing it along your arm. His brisk fur coated your arm as he moved it.

“What brings you fun doesn’t always have to make you happy. It's okay for you to be upset with it and even hate it, but you should always remember why you liked it first.”

“But it easier to just quit. To leave what once gave you joy, and that is now replaced with hatred and contempt. Giving up makes things so easy.”

“You’re right! Giving up does make things easier,” Sam looks up at you, and you smile. But just because it’s easy doesn’t mean you should do it. If you feel tired of doing something you once loved, it's okay to take a break, but stopping altogether might make you resent yourself in the future, and then you’ll find yourself in the same spot as you are right now.”

You wiped away the tears in the coyote’s eyes before kissing him on the head.

As you sat down, you watched the two canines. Neither one had said a word for the past few minutes. Instead, the two would stare at each other and then back at you. It seemed they were having their conversation. Whether it was good or bad, only time would tell.

Sam gets up from his chair and stretches out his back. “I’m too tired for this… I think I’m going back to sleep.”

“We didn’t do as the Commander asked.”

Sam stops mid-track. He gives you a look before continuing down the path he was walking. “Yeah, I’m just not up for it anymore. At least not right now. I have some thinking to do.”

Sam leaves you and Resnick alone. The wolf watches you as you sit in the chair and says nothing. His eyes hold no contentment, resentment, or malice; they are tired.

After staring at the wolf for an unknown time, you got up to leave.

“If the Commander ever takes you to Edwin, it's better for you to run. He’s not the same as I remember him.” With that, Resnick gets up and leaves you alone.

Much to his dismay, the Commander sees you leaving the room.

“Weww, I wouwd say i’m suwpwised, but honestwy, I expected too much fwom two faiwuwes wike those two.”[“Well, I would say I’m surprised, but honestly, I expected too much from two failures like those two.”] He let out a hearty laugh

“They aren’t failures!”

You spat back. He just smiled at you, the smile you’ve known all too well.

“Suwe. Come now, wet’s take uwu tuwu a new woom.”[“Sure. Come now, let’s take you to a new room.”]

As he walked off, you stood in place.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on! Why are you doing this? What happened to Ludwig and Jayden? Wh-“

Commander Brigham grabbed you by the neck and slowly lifted you. You clawed at his arm as you tried to gasp for air.

“Listen here. I do not care for your questions, but you will not shout at me,” the lion wasn’t speaking in the tone you have come to know. He bored his teeth at you. He looked ready to kill you. Upon seeing the fear in your eyes, his smile snapped back on his face. “It seems I was too wenient with uwu awnd ovewwooked youw poow mannews. Wet's fix thawt.”[“It seems I was too lenient with you and overlooked your poor manners. Let's fix that.”], and he drags you to your next room.