.into the city&& {{Flicker

[` EMBERS]

There’s a lot of things to hate in someone. Haughty folks, selfish folks, cynics, and sadists, and pessimists. I’m really not one to pick on people’s qualities, seeing I don’t really have the best myself. I’m always angry, looking on the bad side of things, with expectations a little too high, so when I do pause to look at everyone gliding about on busy paws around me, I don’t bother to pick out the good and the bad; it’s unfair for everyone. But no matter the case, there’s one kind of dog I really can’t stand, and it’s not someone who’s weak, or grouchy, or cynical; it’s just the dog that can’t take the time to push through the tough spots, and eat away the rotted portions of life to get into the tender insides, the dog that always gives up.

She’d been optimistic, outgoing, bouncy, and all those really great features you always see in the person who ends up succeeding. Guess I poisoned her life with mine. Guess she stayed with me long enough to wear away. Guess it’s my fault that right then, she was failing. Guess she was just a little too tired to keep going. Guess not everyone has a great success story. I’m not heartless, and even though I was trying to pry my inner self from a sticky puddle of mud, I managed to throw a slight gaze behind my back, back at the companion I’d been beginning to piece together over my short time with her. And she was lingering. And then she was sitting. And then she was simply defeated, living there without a purpose in the world.

Didn’t take long for legs to stride over to her, standing in front of her like a father disappointed in his daughter. For a second, something flared inside of me, a tiny explosion of emotion. Taming the fire, I locked it in a cage, and forced my mouth closed. I wasn’t going to ramble at her like the idiot I was like my speaking had some sort of meaning to her. What the hell? Blinking profoundly, I encased myself in a dome of frustration, licking my lips trying to figure out what the fuck I should’ve been doing. Closing my eyes for a moment, I heaved a slight sigh, and let the breath escape me to flutter past her like a startled butterfly.

I began to open my mouth to begin speaking the word “okay,” but I let my jaws rest upon each other. Leaning forward a little, I gently touched the side of her face to my nose tip, hoping everything that had to be said could rest in a small gesture. I’m gonna get you some food, kay? I murmured quietly, so even if she could listen to the sounds on the wind, she couldn’t hear me. Breaking away from the touch, I pointed to her stomach, and then at the picnickers back the way we came. I smiled.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&NINETY-EIGHT
muse. SIX-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>I didn't see him come towards me, didn't know that he had turned around and moved closer to me until I felt his touch on my cheek. Just that small gesture, that tiny little bit of contact between his being and mine sent hope through my body and i turned my sad eyes towards his, to see what emotions they would have inside of them so that could try and figure out why he was doing this, why he was staying with me instead of just leaving like I would let him. He could go on without me and let life be easier for him, let it be the way it had always been for him before he had met me. But he was choosing not to, he was choosing to come to be and to give me his attention and his care. Did I deserve this?

I watch his movements, my eyes turning towards where the family picnicked when he motioned towards them and being surprised at their presence because I hadn't realized that they were there until this moment. I look back towards him to see him smile, it surprised me even more than the family having seemed to appear out of nowhere had. That small hope that had been planted inside of me at his touch growing to make me feel like maybe things could be okay and wouldn't be as bad as I had just thought it might be.

For that moment my pain disappeared, all the negative things drowning out of me like someone had pulled the plug from my mind. A small glimmer of happiness returned to my sad eyes, that optimistic nature that I had breaking through the pain and weariness that weakened my mind and soul as well as my body so that I could realize that things would work out if I just gave them a chance. If he wanted to go and get me something to eat then he was welcome to do so and I would appreciate it greatly and try to thank him in whichever way I could. I hadn't given up because I was weak, I hadn't meant to give up, but the tiredness had just overwhelmed me so much that I just couldn't fight it anymore.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 387
Muse;; very low
Tagged;; Ems with Rivalry
Notes;; suckeh post I know. -is ashamed-}

[` EMBERS]

I swept away quickly, afraid I’d become too caught up in the moment, flying only after I saw the sparkle in her eye that I’d been waiting to see, so I could know that the giddy little canine I’d met hadn’t deserted me here in the twisted city roads. Something about her happiness made me feel inexplicably emotional. Not in the way I was taken by mania, but in a different sort of way I couldn’t place, like a canary who’d just been set free from a perch within a small cage. I wasn’t the sort to ponder my feelings, as I’d grown so accustomed to experiencing them quite vividly, I felt rather lost, as I was unable to understand exactly what was rushing about inside of me.

Devoid of the knowledge I longed for, I looked quickly behind me often, searching for her face under the shadow of an elm tree I’d left her lingering by. Paws carried me across the grass, and yet I felt like I was walking on water. ’Curious, I thought. My tongue swiped across my mouth again. Yes, it was like…like trying to hold a wet bar of soap tightly in your hands, but it just kept springing up from your palms, and falling back onto the ground, leaving you with a tiny fistful of bubbles for you to look at, a fraction of the whole, not nearly enough to fathom everything your mind needed to encompass.

The little family looked almost like a cut-out from a magazine, parents splayed out on a checkered blanket, kids running around with bouncy-balls, little dolls, and live butterflies. In a way, it was so aggravatingly cliché, I had to calm myself for a moment before I moved any closer to them. The family of six, did indeed have quite a large basket of food with them, and I almost expected it all to be packed in a classic brown, wicker basket, but thankfully found they carried a number of plastic containers in two brightly colored tote bags that rested near their feet. They all jabbered aimlessly, hands making wild gesticulations around them. Quizzical and slightly unsure of myself, I was reminded I hadn’t attempting soliciting off of humans for quite a while.

They settled their children on their laps, and against their thighs, digging through their bags eagerly, prying open cheap, blue plastic lids to reveal neat little sandwiches, and small chicken nuggets. I wasn’t entirely sure they’d be a generous family, however the young age of the children gave me hope they’d have the heart. Unnoticed, I trod lightly, my endeavor simply to keep my focus from drifting from the food to the curious sensation that reverberated from my nameless companion. Pausing only slightly, I stopped several feet from, swallowing before letting out a slight yip, wiping my face of all expression.

At first, I wasn’t quite sure they had heard, but in moments, the smallest of the children turned to me with large blue eyes, pointed a chubby finger, and shouted an incomprehensible garble. Immediately, it began toddling toward me quickly, and I forced my tail to wag excitedly. My false enthusiasm would fool no one but a human. The parents immediately were on their feet, chasing after their little worry, but she had grabbed me around my neck with small arms before they even reacted. Letting another yip cross the wind, the matured humans exchanged looks, cooing at their child to return to their outstretched arms. Blinking, I paced forward gently, allowing her to slip slightly from her hold, and tumble lightly onto the grass. She let out a high pitched laughed, and scampered to her mother.

Sitting placidly before them, I looked into their flattened faces with large eyes. They too licked their lips, indecisive hands finally reaching into their tote and withdrawing a thick patty from between squished wheat buns. An uncertain toss had my legs pumping, and I caught it in midair with deft jaws. A bark was my thank you, and I was immediately drawn back to the waiting eyes of my companion, her prize expectantly hanging from my mouth.

[/size]

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. SIX-HUNDRED&NINTEY
muse. NINE-OUT-OF-TEN[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>I watch him leave, my eyes never faltering or leaving his form across the sea of grass. But when he reached the humans I couldn't stand to watch anymore, their ignorance of our situation just something that I couldn't bear to see. My eyes turned instead towards the big tree that was close by, following down its thick trunk to its system of roots that broke through the earth before diving deeper and deeper down into it in search of precious minerals it needed for survival. It was just like us, fighting for its life in this world where humans were in control, where humans were slowly killing everything but themselves. Though they were killing themselves as well.. It seemed as though they were just trying to turn the planet into a lifeless sphere floating in the solar system like all those other planets that could not sustain life.

Getting back up onto my feet wearily I slowly make my way to the base of the tree, laying down between some roots that seemed to fold themselves around me as I curled up into a ball. I seemed to be a perfect fit for the position that I'd picked, the roots feeling like comforting arms to protect me from the pain and the negative things that the world threw at me. I just closed my eyes while I wait for Rivalry to finish his mission to get some food for me. Just letting myself drift off into the peace and serenity of sleep. I tried to fight it off, tried to stay awake so that I would know when he came back to me but I couldn't, the sweet temptress of rest drawing me ever closer to her, drawing me into her arms and stroking my head. I can hear her voice whispering to me that everything would be alright and it put a happy and content smile on my face.

It was only a light slumber that had taken hold of me while I waited, one that I would easily be woken from. Though it seemed more peaceful to me because with my eyes shut there was nothing to trouble me, the throbbing pain now a dull shadow pushed away by the comfort of rest. Even my hunger seemed to have vanished, hiding somewhere in fear maybe.. I was just so tired that nothing mattered to my anymore except sleep, that's what I needed and wanted. And Rivalry.. He seemed to make his way into my thoughts, trotting into my quiet dream, there but yet not there. He was like a shimmering mirage in the middle of the desert, luring you with its beauty before it would vanish out of your grasp to leave you desperately desiring it, desperately wanting it back. But it would be gone for good.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 475
Muse;; a little better
Tagged;; Ems with Rivalry
Notes;; he'll have to wake her up.}

[` EMBERS]

Lids lapped over her brown gaze, small lashes curled against coarse white fur. Tucked among the roots of the tree, she looked so out of place, a weak dog in the midst of the lively park. If I hadn’t known she’d been deaf, she would’ve looked so exceptionally perfect I couldn’t have described her properly. Treading through the high grass, I let the patty roll from my mouth as I neared her. It settled in the dusty weed near her nose. She did not wake, and I stood stationary, inhaling her scent on brink of the wind.

The family, in hindsight, watched me carefully, small eyes burning with anxiety. Licking my lips, I swallowed and approached my companion quietly, unsure whether or not to leave her sleeping. However, I feared the arrival of more children would perhaps disturb her peaceful slumber, or perhaps she’d die hungry in her sleep. Inflated fears popped like a balloon, as I lingered in my approach, finally reaching out to her with careful muzzle to nudge a bony shoulder.

Drawing back slightly, I paused, breath in my throat before prodding her gently again, nose pressed against her neck. Through a hurt scent of wearing fear, she smelled vaguely of flowers and…kindness, I decided hastily. Feeling rather awkward, I moved away in alacrity, suddenly filled with the eager desire to stand alone. This abrupt relationship between the two of us had drawn me so close to her, I felt as if I could not breathe again, and I inhaled mundane air around me, absent of her warming aroma.

Quelling a rush of feeling threatening to snap my veins, I turned away, waiting for her to wake and consume the food her body needed so terribly. Perhaps then we could proceed somewhere where we could gather the dearth of humans to us and bask in the emptiness. Or maybe that was my own selfish wish, to be alone again. But I was happy with her, wasn’t I? I decided that the vagabond within me was bursting. When she was healthful again, perhaps I’d take some time to myself and wander the city unaccompanied. Though, somewhere, inexplicably, I still knew I’d return to her…

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. THREE-HUNDRED&SIXTY-SIX
muse. FOUR-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>Gentle nudges woke me up, my eyes opening to see my companion retreating from me. My gaze rested on him curiously, wondering what it was that he wanted and why he had woken me up from my peaceful sleep. I didn't spot the patty laying on the ground at first though my nose caught its mouthwatering scent, my hungry stomach rumbling and feeling as though it was tying itself in knots and trying to claw its way out of my body to get to the small bit of food. I find its shape on the ground, licking my lips as the saliva gathered in my mouth in anticipation of the food.. the glorious food. My eyes return to my companion though, questioning whether it was for me or not.

I slowly managed to get myself to my feet, stepping over the roots of the tree carefully and still almost stumbling over it in my weakness. I went to the patty, picking it up in my mouth before I turned towards him. Moving the patty in my mouth before I managed to bite it in half, near exact too. Letting half of it drop before savoring the taste of the other half and swallowing it, sending it down my throat to my anxious stomach to satisfy it at least a little bit. Maybe now it would quiet down and not be so annoying to me while I tried to rest some more.

Looking down at the other half, being tempted to gobble it down as well but I refused to do so. Picking it up almost gently before stepping close to me companion and dropping it in front of him, bringing my gaze to meet his before I motioned down to it with a smile. But I let my nose touch his briefly before he'd move, a happy and grateful expression on my face. How I wished I could thank him with words, to just tell him thank you for feeding me or anything really. I yearned to be able to talk to him still.

The little bit of sleep that I had gotten in his absence had made me feel a little better, the half of the patty that I had eaten giving me something to keep my stomach occupied with. It hadn't seen food in so long I wondered whether it even still knew how to digest it properly. I suppose it did, it was probably just like breathing, something your body couldn't ever forget. I waited to see whether he would eat the other half or not, I wasn't going to give myself the luxury of food and leave him to stay hungry when I could share it with him. Half a patty was still better than nothing and I wasn't so selfish as to eat the whole thing when he needed food just as much as me, and he had been the one who had gone to get it. He didn't need to try and feed me but yet he did and that made me care for him all the more.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 521
Muse;; better than I expected
Tagged;; Ems with Rivalry
Notes;; so cute. ^^}

[` EMBERS]

In waking her, it was as if I’d sinned. Eyes fluttered curiously, and she emanated a sense of questioning. At first, I did not meet her gaze, but spied at her through my long lashes from afar. Nose quavering, she looked to the patty on the ground before her, legs quaking as she stood with a sprig of enthusiasm held in her mouth. Looking to the ground, the grass suddenly became more interesting than I could have imagined, and I focused on the waning green color, as autumn was dawning. Tiny tendrils crept over my paws, and I listened silently to the tearing of the meat in my companion’s mouth, pricked black ears consuming noise greedily. For the first time, I wondered how my companion managed, without the ability to hear. It made her seem so saintly in an abrupt moment, my eyes turned to her sharply as she chewed the patty contentedly.

I’d been purged of hunger, and left with a tingling sensation that lingered in my gut. Unable to place the feeling, I looked away from my companion and brushed over the sight of the family in the distance. Their laughs frazzled me, and I blinked away emotions I couldn’t seem to label correctly. Lately, I’d been experiencing all sorts of things I’d never knew existed. All since yesterday, since I met that little dog in the blustery wood. Tempted to turn to her, I forged an image, instead, in my mind. Gaze peering at the roadside, it was then vacant and still, and the absence of cars prickled me, as if standing upon a garden of cacti.

Spinning around, I forgot to blink as the damp, leathery touch of my companion’s nose brushed against mine. Eyes burning, I forced them shut and swallowed, looking at her blankly. Licking my lips, I forced an expression upon my face, not even knowing what it would say to her. Locking stares with the ground again, I noticed the half patty lying near to me, and the expectant stare of her boring into me. Retracting my gaze, I looked left, then right again, and finally at her, shaking my head. No. I wasn’t craving the food she needed. She was weaker than I was.

Padding to it, my paw slid in closer to her, and I met her eyes with mine for a second before pacing a few steps away. Eye contact sent me to bed shivering. I only stared others down before I launched an attack…or readied to close in for the kill.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&TWENTY-THREE
muse. FIVE-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>As he refused to take it and pushed it towards me before pacing away I just let my eyes continue to rest on him calmly, not even looking at the patty. After a few moments I let a puff of air escape me in a sigh as I stood, lowering my head to pick the half of the patty up again, giving a few steps towards him before dropping it again. Looking at him almost stubbornly though I still had a cheerful smile on my face. Only dropping the patty in front of him before turning around and making my way slowly and a little painfully back to where I had lay only minutes before at the base of the tree.

Lowering my body back into the space that seemed to be there specifically for my use, encircled by the thick roots. Just curling up among them again so that I could continue my peaceful sleep that he had interrupted. Closing my eyes only for a few moments before I had to open them only enough to see how he had reacted to my own actions, guessing that he probably had not expected that. I wasn't going to change my mind though, I wouldn't let him give me something to eat without having something himself. It wasn't fair on him.

Laying down was making me relax again, my breathing slowing down as I slowly started to drift off again. My eyelids falling shut as my mind slowly headed into a slumbered state again. If he wanted to wake me so that we could go somewhere else then I'd get up and follow him wherever he wanted to go but for now I was just going to rest some more, let my tired limbs and my wounded body just recuperate from the day's events so far. So much had happened already and yet the day was nowhere near being over.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 321
Muse;; dead
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

Her persistence was both agitating and heartening at the same time. My courtesy went unnoted, and I gave in, drawing up the patty in my mouth and swallowing it like a lump in my throat, teeth barely scraping against the ground meat. I did not bother to savor the flavor of human food, and instead watched my companion again settle in the embrace of the tree’s roots, her small bodice fitting snuggly in it’s grasp. In a distant sort of way, it reminded me of myself the day prior, sitting in the roots of a tree back in the wood. However, of course, she’d tripped over me then, hadn’t she?

Padding lightly to where she lay, I did not bother to wake her, and took precaution as not to disturb her rest. Settling a few feet from her, my larger proportioned body forced me to squeeze into the small space. Sucking in my breath and clutching my ribs to me, I fit tightly into the trellis of thick roots. My companion was in no condition to move now, and I’d perturbed her enough in these past hours. We’d rest and regain our strength before finding a way out of the city so then, then maybe she’d regain her bubbly air.

I let my thoughts waft freely about myself, and a rush of exhaustion encircled me like a pack of hungry wolves. Overwhelmed, I let a few feeble blinks lie still, encasing myself in a dark mask of sleep. That experience then showed me how poor of a judgment I had, and I had grown into such a vexed state, I was quite sure my sleep would bring me dreams I would not appreciate upon my waking. Looking lastly at my companion to ensure her safety, I let the laughs of the humans drift into my subconcious, and left the waking world.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. THREE-HUNDRED&ELEVEN
muse. TWO-OUT-OF-TEN

notes. THIS IS THE WORST POST I’VE WRITTEN IN A LONG TIME. FORGIVE ME. SHOULD WE FAST FORWARD IN TIME, THEN?

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>Eyes opened to a peaceful world, the humans gone and the park seeming to rest in a state of relief as the sun made its way lower and lower in the slowly darkening sky. A pleasant smile resting on her face as she lifted her head and yawned, eyes closing for the moment that her mouth was open but then opening again to search for her companion, glad that he was still there as her eyes settled on his shape not too far from hers. She slowly moved her legs, her muscles pulling taught as she raised herself up from between the roots and then stretched lightly, biting back a yelp of pain as her skin pulled tight over her bruised ribs, quickly moving again to stop the pain before she turned her head, her nose brushing against her side lightly, feeling the heat emanating its painful existence before she sighed and turned towards the other dog, moving silently over to him to lie down as close to him as she could get and letting her head move to rest on top of him lightly as well.

She would just wait patiently for him to wake up though she had a feeling her moving close to him would do the trick. But she wanted to feel his closeness even if it was just for a few moments before he moved away from her again. She still didn't understand what it was that made him so hesitant about getting close to her, she wasn't scared of him, didn't believe that he would hurt her even if he thought he would. She didn't close her eyes again but rather just let them watch the world with a cheerful and relaxed curiosity while she continued to wait for him to wake up so that they could go and explore or just do something.

She felt safer when it was darker out and the world's busy days ceased to cause everyone to rush around in a senseless haste, when everything went quiet and the earth eloped with the moon as it cast its magical silver rays over everything to make it glow mystically. Nighttime just seemed to make everything better or at least appear to be that way and the darkness put her heart and mind at ease to let her observe and live her life without struggling through the difficulty of making compromise after compromise to attempt to remain happy. She got to be carefree, not having to fear that she'd walk into someone at any moment or that she might suddenly fall into a trap set up by the universe to capture her freedom and make her a slave of the unhappiness that seemed to have swallowed up so many others. She did not want to be a victim to the torturous way of living like nothing mattered and there was no reason to be alive. She always found reason, found something to live for. She turned her eyes downward to look at her companion, a loving and thankful smile on her face as she appreciated having him there as her reason to keep fighting for the moment.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 532
Muse;; odd
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

I was standing in a dark room, pelt dripping with blood. Fur lined my muzzle, and warmth lapped at my paws. Too afraid to look down, I tried to close my eyes, to snuggle the darkness closer to me, but I couldn’t even blink. My mouth tasted like sugar, the kind that was only sweet when I was in a furious rage. Gasping, I wheezed out, trying to cough the blood onto the ground. I couldn’t feel the fist of anger, and confusion enveloped me tightly. Backing out of the blood, I found I was in an infinite pool, and in my revulsion, spotted the body of my companion lying gingerly on her bruised side, breathing softly. Gasping, I ran to her, nosing her, trying to wake her. I wanted to speak to her, but my mouth was filling with blood, and I didn’t know why. Touching my nose to hers with a terrified flicker in my eyes, her head suddenly sprung up to face me, large pale eyes traced with reddening veins opened, and she said to me, face placid but voice in a sharp scream, ”Murderer!”

Waking with a start, I lurched upward, cramped body scraping against roughened tree bark. Yelping shrilly, my ankle twisted, caught in the bite of a rut in the ground, and I fell awkwardly. Blinking, I reminded myself coldly as to where I was, and immediately scrambled to my paws, looking to my companion. Unfortunately, I had the feeling she’d been right next to me. ”Damnit.” Batting my eyes to get the crust from them, I sprung to the aid of my companion that’d I’d most certainly flung out of the way in my waking rush, I apologized heatedly, mouth unable to stop moving. As I mixed a couple of cusses into the mix, furious at myself.

My irregular dreaming had not bugged me lately, as the unsteady combinations of dreams and nightmares had dealt me only good hands for the past couple of months. However, entropy had the best of me, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d wake again in a fit. Forcing my mouth to close, I spitefully told myself she couldn’t hear me no matter what I did, and I needed to shut my damn mouth. Being around someone else made me talk more…even though she could never understand my words. Burning away the leftover anger from my dreams, I calmed myself, looking to my companion steadily.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&THIRTEEN
muse. SIX-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>The sudden movements that he made underneath her gave her a fright and she jumped slightly as he got up from under her weight but then fell as his ankle twisted and even though she couldn't hear it she knew that he must have just yelped in pain. Her light golden eyes just watched him in slight confusion as he turned towards her and his lips started to move with all of the frantic words that he was speaking, all going unheard because there was no one there to hear them except her and she couldn't even if she tried her best to listen and make out what he said. When he stopped speaking she was still frowning at him, looking questioning and curious both because she was wondering what had happened to make him jump up so suddenly.

But she stood up slowly, moving closer to him to touch her nose to him reassuringly to tell him that she was fine and he hadn't done her any harm by pushing her away with his body when he had moved. Then she moved slightly closer still before she made an attempt to rest her head against his neck if he didn't do anything to stop her or move away, she just wanted to see if he'd let her try to comfort him in this way so that he would calm down and not feel so bad about what had just happened as she could see that he did. But she was fine, no harm had been done. Letting her butt lower onto the ground she sat and watched him curiously, wondering what he'd do now that he was awake as well. She was just assuming that he would want to go somewhere else now that they had rested and the stress of earlier that day had been washed away by sleep. Maybe she would be willing to try and face the city again now, while she didn't think it'd be as busy as it had been before. Maybe if he took her to explore it while she didn't need to worry about as many things accidentally touching her and scaring her then she would like it as much as he did. She didn't want to give up on sharing this with him, she wanted to know why he enjoyed the city so much and she wasn't selfish enough to try and drag him away from it when its where he wanted to be.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 424
Muse;; not woken up yet
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

Fingering my pounding heart, I stroked it gently, hoping to calm the weather beaten thing. My companion did not seem to be at all harmed by the uproar I’d caused, and scratched wretchedly at my beating insides scornfully. If she hadn’t yet been able to sense a chronic problem emanating from me, than she was dimmer than I would have though. Welts of pity for her scarred my body; of all those she could meet in a vast world, the dainty, deaf female stumbles across the likes of me, a carcass of what a real brute should be. And still she sees only my brilliant costume and makeup, concealing a mind wreaking havoc upon dear old Rivalry. I watched myself spin down the drain of sanity for a moment, resurfacing quickly as I caught her eyes in mine.

Thoughts returning to the plagued dream, I feared the worst; the prophetic voice exclaiming the murder of an innocent soul, the greed for blood and sin that would let my soul cave in upon itself. “Damnit,” She sat expectantly before me, and I lurched in a swamp of remorse. Perhaps if I’d simply left her while she slept, she’d have been better off in the long run. But there was no question now, if I was already dreaming of her death, she was in eminent danger; a nine, on a scale from one to ten. “Damnit again,” But no, I couldn’t leave her in the city, she was as helpless as a pup here, again, thanks to me. “Dame probably had a perfect life until I came along,” Miserable thoughts groped about an empty head.

I knew we needed to go quickly, now. Out of the city, maybe I could tell her…mime to her…that I needed to do something, that I’d find her again and then…never come back. “No, damnit, that’s immoral,” Rapidly glancing her over, she appeared rejuvenated from her rest. Standing quickly, I motioned brusquely to the silenced road and the simple, quiet nighttime noises of the city. All I could do was thank God we hadn’t been stuck downtown where cars zoomed by all night. No, this was good, we could cross the roads at our own pace now. More safely, yes.

Emerging from the dim shade of the tree, my eyes flitted about the empty city, wondering, now that I’d been in the company of my companion, what it would be like without her on my tail. It was like breaking off the keystone of an archway, and I knew my life would crumble into tiny bits again. Then nothing would stop me from climbing to the top of extremity, of feeling the blood between my teeth again. “Damnit!” No, maybe I’d stay with her awhile longer, it couldn’t hurt. I was pushing it, I knew, but, somehow, however dependent she had now become on me, it was almost as if I had grown dependent on her. But, yet, it was quite impossible, as I never made bonds, never tied myself onto someone else. The twinge of that…unfathomable feeling struck me again over the head. Furrowing my brow, I looked back to her, eyes searching her face. “What is it? Damnit.”

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FIVE-HUNDRED&THIRTY-THREE
muse. EIGHT-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>As soon as he started to move I followed, staying close by his side but not touching him still. I want so badly for him to just realize that the bad aspects of his personality did not matter to me, that it was not like me at all to focus on his problems. No, it was the good parts of him that subtly showed more and more by the second as I was with him that drew me to him. If he wanted to deny that he was a good dog then I'd just leave him to wallow in his own self-pity but I wouldn't go anywhere. I liked him and I felt comfortable and happy around him despite the car incident that left my side still a bit sore. None of it mattered to me as long as he was still there.

As he looked back at me I looked at him curiously, wondering why he was frowning so much. Suddenly I felt the urge to play though, to just loosen up and have some fun. It couldn't hurt could it, though how would he react? Won't know unless I try, right? I waited until he was looking ahead of him again, a now mischievous smile resting upon my face as I moved quickly to nip at his ear before letting a front paw push against him, my tail wagging playfully as I quickly turned away and created a small distance between us, getting away quick enough to be out of harm's way if he did react badly to my attempt at starting a game.

My tail continued to wag as I turned back to face him, lowering the front half of my body against the cool earth and watching him closely, willing him to play with me and have some fun. I was in a happy mood, one of those ones where you feel as light as air itself, where everything seems exciting and fun and the world is full of incredible possibilities. I continued to look to my companion, my tail still wagging as I wondered what the best way was to get him to play with me, a thoughtful whimper came from me before I let out a small pleading bark without realizing at first but then it suddenly hit me... I could still make noise! I just couldn't hear it myself.. I hadn't tried barking or anything of the sort after becoming deaf though maybe now I would. Who knows, maybe I could even tell him my name.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 431
Muse;; better
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

She pursued me with mischievous gleams dotting her eyes, and I spied at her curiously from afar. Creeping behind me like a pup at play, a flurry of ginger and white sprang at me buoyantly, her teeth catching my ear quickly before drawing back, bounding away. Quickly associating it as an act of play, I stopped myself as we bustled toward the street, and turned to her as she malingered about fervently, task ahead of us forgotten. For the first time, I wondered how old she was in comparison to myself. Was her vivaciousness next to my blunt nature a show of age, or perhaps our experiences had simply wrought our personalities quite differently.

Beseeching myself to withdraw a reasonable reaction from my mind-bank, my eyes focused gingerly on her wagging tail. The curse of being an only child fell upon me heavily, and the early death of my late mother deprived me of the priceless childhood experiences entailing the directions of “play.” Any attempts I could meagerly present to her would be immediately identifiable as ersatz, I knew, and as she drew from her an imploring bark, I shook my head sadly. Hoping my nature was not to entirely dismissive, I began to turn away before responding to her playful yelp. Digging through the dirt filling the hollow spaces in my head, I urged myself to remember; had she even made noise before?

Trailing back to her, I cocked my head slightly, a serious but inquisitive gape upon my face. In response, I merely barked, a low rustle emitting from my maw. Tilting my head the opposite way, I blinked, unable to fathom the situation. Could she, all this time, have been able to speak? Unsure of my reasoning, I awaited an answer, any answer, with words from her mouth. Perhaps the surprised look plastered upon her face explained she had dazed herself as well. Staggered thoughts pried at her hastily. Stowing away the mindset of escaping the city, I instead pulled out a different puzzle to put together.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. THREE-HUNDRED&FORTY
muse. SIX-OUT-OF-TEN