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"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." - Rainer Maria Rilke

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I had no idea what was happening, but I could tell it wasn't good.

Four stood towering over a single husky who was backed up against a wall and on the verge of crying. They laughed at him, shoved him, threw cruel insults at him, and there I was, standing off to the side watching. I had only just arrived to witness the bullying; otherwise I would've done something already.

"I'd shove my foot up your ass, you little fag, but I'm scared you might like it," laughed a hyena by the name Russell.

"Why not shove it up your own and discover a little more about yourself?" I suddenly snapped across the hallway and with a bit of a smirk.

All eyes turned to me, and then an awkward silence fell in the hallway as the bunch turned their heads.

"Brian?" said another in the group - a lion named Jared - then followed by a long pause. "Why're you looking out for this guy?" he nudged his head at Darrien, the victim of their bullying.

"You know me, I help who I can," I said confidently while approaching them.

"Yeah, but..." Jared hesitated for a moment and then continued speaking, "he's gay."

"Oh, and what makes you so sure that you aren't as well?" I grinned and pushed my way past them, blocking Darrien from the four, and turned to face them. "I mean, look around yourselves. You're always hanging out with a bunch of guys, aren't you? It means you surround yourself with those of the same sex, and I'm sure that makes you gay to an extent as well."

This forced a few quiet giggles and chuckles out of the others watching us.

"You--we--" Jared hesitated again, but fell silent this time instead, clearly defeated.

"Exactly, my friend," I grinned wider and gave him a pat on the side of his arm.

"Y'know, Brian," said Cameron, another lion who was a part of the four. "You're lucky that all four of us are your pals because you've helped us in the past. Don't let us catch you with this fag again. Otherwise, not that lucky of a wolf anymore." The tall lion glared at me for a bit before turning to Darrien. "And husky too."

"Well then, I'm glad that I got to know you all beforehand, aren't I," I bowed a bit, still grinning. "And there's nothing wrong with being a little assertive."

"For now, but we've got to have our fun sometime, so you should watch yourself next time. We'll be keeping a close eye on you." Cameron turned his back on me and started to walk away. The other three began to follow.

"Ahh, but you see," I called out after him as he began to walk away. "It will be you in the future who should be watching yourself. You know that you can't harm me."

After saying that, the bystanders began to murmur amongst themselves, probably asking each other what I had meant just now.

Cameron stopped for a second and twisted his head back towards me for a second and then growled a bit before storming off with his buddies. Everyone else who was watching in the hallway returned to taking textbooks in and out of the lockers, socializing, or whatever it was that they were doing before.

"And this is why you're lucky that you get to call me 'pup', pup," I slowly spun myself around on my toes and smiled down at the husky. His eyes were no longer teary, but those sapphire orbs still glistened beautifully. All he did was shrug, not making any eye contact with me.

"Come on, Dare Dare, I'm not the enemy here," I extended a paw out to him. "Plus, I was only teasing."

While still avoiding eye contact with me, Darrien slowly outstretched his arm and took ahold of my paw. I held his firmly in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze before leaning in to quickly whisper into his ear before anyone saw. "I love you, Darrien, my husk husk, and I'll always be there for you. I promise."

"I love you too," I heard him whisper back weakly, and then I felt him squeeze my paw in his too.

"Atta'boy," I pulled my head back to smile at him again. This time he was looking back at me and a smile began to slowly spread across his lips too. "There's that smile I've been looking for."

This caused Darrien to wag his tail slowly but playfully.

"And here's that cute little puppy I've been looking for," he giggled to himself and squeezed my paw once more.

"Huh?" I grunted, playing dumb. "That one, over there?" I pointed at another wolf who was passing by.

"Nope," he giggled, "this one."

He squeezed my paw yet again.

"Ooh," I chuckled, "I know who you're talking about now. This one, right?"

I moved my jaw as far to the side as it would go, lolled my tongue out the opposite side, went cross-eyed, furrowed my brows, and wiggled my ears around.

"Mmhmm, that one," Darrien giggled uncontrollably and had to let go of me for a second and put his arm up onto the wall for balance.

It made me happy to know that I cheered him up; his happiness was my happiness.

A few others around us were staring at him due to the attention he had drawn again.

"Alright, enough fun for now," I chuckled, and urged him to move by pushing him lightly. "Shall we?"

"Oh, but of course, Bri," the husky said enthusiastically and let me lead the way.

It wasn't a long walk from where we were to arrive at the Performing Arts Department again, like last week before the weekend. As usual, I opened up the practice room and locked myself inside, Darrien waiting outside. Wondering what I was going to sing for him today, I looked back and forth between the piano and the guitar, my arms crossed and my brows furrowed in deep thought.

What song could I play today that was different but also something that Darrien liked?

"Well, Bri?" I heard Darrien call out to me with a light chuckle.

"One second, Dare Dare, I think I've got something good," I called back out to him and picked up the acoustic guitar, but I was actually still unsure as to what I was going to play.

"Take your time, pup," he chuckled a bit harder how, probably from calling me 'pup'. He was probably smirking too right now. "How sweet it is already that you do this for me."

"How sweet it is," I whispered to myself and looked up with an eyebrow raised, thinking. "How sweet it is. How sweet it is... How sweet it is... How sweet..."

I knew what song to play now, but I was trying to figure out how to play it as well as remember how it went.

"Alright, Dare," I called back out even though I wasn't quite sure what it is that I was going to do with the guitar in my paws. I just didn't want to keep him waiting. "I've got it now."

Picking up the guitar pick, I stood facing the door and started to strum and sing the cheerful tune, however, going on instinct as to how to play it.

"How sweet it is to be loved by you. I needed the shelter of someone's arms, and there you were," I kicked the door lightly with my foot as I sang that last line, hinting at Darrien, and grinned as I continued. "I needed someone to understand my ups and downs, and there you were," another light kick. "With sweet love and devotion, deeply touching my emotion. I just want to stop!" I went dead-silent for a few seconds before going right back into it. "And thank you, baby. How sweet it is to be loved by you."

To my surprise, the chords I played went well with my singing and so nothing sounded off. But that was just my opinion. I perked an ear up and listened closely for a knock of approval, but none came.

"Brian, open up!" I heard and then cocked my head back with my eyebrow raised again.

"Open up?" I asked, scratching the back of my head. "That's not the cue, my silly husky."

Then, a louder and deeper voice called through the door instead, and one which sounded hostile. "What, this cue?" A very loud and forceful knock came from the other side of the door.

My heart suddenly stopped and I froze. I think I turned pale, but I wasn't sure. I was just completely frightful that someone had discovered my relationship with Darrien. But that voice, I recognized it. But whose was it? I couldn't remember.

Then, like a giant ship, it hit me. Cameron.

Instantly, I unlocked the door and swung it open to find Darrien missing and two towering lions who had replaced him.

"Where is he...?" I growled lightly and glared at the both of them with my head lowered a bit.

"We said we'd be keeping a close eye on you, did we not?" one of the lions spoke. It was Jared.

I didn't answer him and just kept glaring at them, the two lions with their arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe.

"Not so lucky, Brian," Cameron said in a low voice, and then stood up straight.

"And what're you going to, if there even is anything you can do to me?" I growled a bit deeper and slowly shifted a foot back, readying myself for anything.

"Oh, we've already thought this one through," Jared said with a wicked grin, looking down the hallway where I couldn't see since I was still inside the room. "We may not be able to harm you physically, but that doesn't mean we can't hurt you in there," he pointed at my chest, "by hurting your friend over there." He nudged his head down the hall, obviously referring to Darrien.

"Don't you dare," I said slowly but aggressively, "or I swear--"

"We won't, but only under one condition," Cameron cut me off.

I waited for a few seconds to hear what their proposal was, but we just kept on having our stare-off.

"Yes?" I then said, easing up a bit.

"Although we don't agree with gays, like the two of you, we still respect you to a degree and will let him go. But, you have to take his place and offer no resistance. We all know what you're capable of." Cameron turned his head to look down the hallway for a second and then back at me, awaiting my answer.

I would never let any harm come to Darrien, and so without giving it a second thought, I nodded and shoved past the lions to walk out into the hallway. Darrien was at the other end of the hallway, accompanied by Russell and a dragon named Blaze. The two had the husky backed up into a corner in fear and they stood over him.

"Brian!" the husky cried out. He was shaking and whining quietly with flat ears.

"Don't worry, Dare, they won't hurt you," I said soothingly to him and looked up to meet his eyes which clearly showed signs of anxiety. They didn't make them any less beautiful though.

Cameron gave the two who were watching Darrien a nod. Obeying his command, they dragged the husky out of the Performing Arts Department and arrived back in the hallway moments later.

"Well, Brian, I must say," Russell said as he approached me. "You really are selfless."

Then, I was suddenly stuck by a fist on the right cheek, one that I saw coming and could've easily dodged but did not, forcing me to stumble into the wall. And then came another blow, this time harder and in my gut, causing me to collapse onto all fours and gasp for breath. It became hard to breathe and the pain made it feel like there was a giant hole being torn in my stomach along with a sort of strange tingling sensation.

"Fuck," I breathed, rolling over onto my side and coughing, still gasping too.

"Self-sacrifice, you're a good fur," Cameron said and stomped on a shin, causing me to cry out in pain for the first time in a long time.

Russell was laughing that really annoying laugh of his and although it had only started but I was already frustrated at this point. I could easily trip Cameron from here and stand up in one fluid motion, punch the distracted hyena, counter a blow from both Blaze and Jared at the same time.

But I didn't.

I felt someone grab me by my headfur and pull very hard on it, somehow forcing tears into my eyes, and they forced me onto my feet. And without getting a moment to rest, another punch that was even harder and from a scaly fist had hit me right into my nose.

I stumbled backwards and began to fall, but then I felt someone catch me. For a second I thought that someone was here to intervene, but then I realized that the arms that caught me were hooked under my arms, keeping me in a tight lock. And like the last time, a blow was delivered to my gut again while blood trickled down my nose from the previous.

I slowly opened an eye to see the three who weren't holding me up. They were all towering over me menacingly. I was helpless as I watched their fists cock backwards, unless I wanted to risk Darrien's safety. This was probably the grand finale.

And then just a second later, I felt like it was being trampled on by a giant stampede. I was hit several times, non-stop, and it was like being pulverized by some kind of meat tenderizer, and quite frankly, it sucked. It went on for around maybe thirty seconds only, but when you're being beat to a pulp, thirty seconds felt like a whole hour.

After the beating had ceased and the arms that held me up had let go and let me drop to the floor, I curled up and whimpered like a scared little wolf cub, twitching slightly in pain.

Then Cameron spoke, bending over me who lay weak on the floor. "Thanks for looking out for me two years back." I shivered a bit as I listened to him speak and tried to stop whimpering to show as little weakness as possible. "As a way to repay you, especially after this, consider you and the husky under my protection as of now. I can't guarantee you the same with the others though."

I simply gave him a slow nod without giving him any eye contact and remained silent.

After the lion had mentioned this, I had the image of him in frustration and desperation stuck in my head. When Cameron had first come to this school, he was picked on a lot for just being the new kid, I guess, but I'm not exactly sure if that was the case. The ones who bullied him made him miserable on his first few days of school but then I stepped up and stopped it all and helped Cameron climb up the social ladder. We were good pals for a while, but things change.

The lion's shadow which was looming over me had disappeared and I heard several footsteps becoming more and more distant. I wasn't sure how long I had spent lying on the floor in the hallway, but I really didn't want to move. It could've been because of the intense pain coursing throughout my body, but I felt peaceful there for some reason, even though I probably looked pathetic there. I don't know why, but I wanted to just fall asleep where I was.

"Brian..." I then heard a voice whisper weakly. It was Darrien.

"Why did you let this happen...?" Darrien was whimpering and whining. He dropped down onto his knees and pulled me into him as he sat back against the wall, trying to be as gentle with me as possible. I could only imagine how anxious he was while waiting for me and how worried he was now.

I stayed silent for a moment, staring ahead into the space. But then I spoke, tilting my head back to look up at him and I smiled warmly at him to hide the fact that I was in pain. "Because I love you and I will stand between you and anything that dare harms you. I'd never let anything harm you, Dare. I promised I'd always be here for you, and I was. I'll always protect you and never let any harm come to you, even if it means going beyond all boundaries just to keep you safe." I reached a paw up and brushed it lightly against his cheek.

Darrien didn't say anything but just held me tighter.

"I love you, Dare Dare," I spoke again, bumping the tip of my nose against his chin.

"I love you too, my little puppy," he whispered back, frowning, and that was all he said. But, that was all I needed to hear. "I love you so much..."

I could feel Darrien's heartbeat against the back of my head. It was pounding violently against his chest, quickly too. I couldn't tell if it was because of what I had just told him or if it were because of how worried he probably was for me right now. Regardless, it was nice to know that he cared, but I didn't want him to worry, so I made an attempt to ease him.

"C'mon Dare, just earlier today I was looking for that smile of yours, but I can't seem to find it anymore," I said playfully, letting my tail flick a bit. "Can't you help me find it again?"

Darrien kept frowning at me for a while but then he sighed and a slight smile began to spread across his lips.

"Hmm, almost, but I don't quite think it's that one," I grinned at him and licked at his chin.

"No, Bri, I believe it is," he smiled a bit wider and licked the tip of my nose.

"Ahh, yes, there it is," I chuckled lightly and then tilted my head back down so I could lay back comfortably against his soft and warm fur.

Feeling weak and tired, I closed my eyes and let my mind blank out as Darrien held me close to himself with his muzzle resting on my head, between my ears. And just like every other time I've ever closed my eyes, the image of his smile burned into the back of my mind, lighting me up inside. An everlasting pleasure, the existence of true happiness.