With Dreaming Eyes of Wonder, (All Welcome)

[Rocco]

We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.

Rocco walked through the maze of forest that seemed to grow ever larger with every day he spent in them. He found them so wondrous, really. Even if he didn't know where one path would take him, he still seemed to like the forest all the same. The young mixed breed sat in the center of a few trees that encircled him. He stared up at their branches and leaves that were still green, 'soon they'll be orange..' Rocco tilted his head, 'and then gone.' He didn't find this transformation sad. He seemed to enjoy it, how the trees reacted to the change in the temperature. Still, he had to admit, it was rather sad to see them lifeless when the months grew cold. It was warm today, though the clouds overhead told Rocco it would rain soon. 'Or maybe it has,' he continued to think, 'only the trees have caught it, and so I haven't felt a drop.' Rocco still had a rather immature mind. As much as he would like to consider himself an adult, it was hard to do. He hardly remembered the violence in his past, sometimes he had small flashes of it, but otherwise he lived in the reality that he was too young to remember-and that was for the better.

Rocco also wondered, if his mother had died. She had never been in a good shape, even when he knew her. He missed her, yes, but he didn't linger on such thoughts long. He moved on, he always told himself to. Even if it was ironic-a rock should stay in one place, not move along. 'But what if it rolls?' Rocco thought to himself. He still had the child-like thoughts of things that made little sense. He understood them, but someday soon his true personality would shine through and he would forget them. He didn't worry about that much, either. For a pup with a path filled with more holes than Swiss Cheese, you'd think he would have a lot of worrisome problems. He didn't trust others, yes, and he always believed that they would die around him, but other than that he had yet to show any signs that his past was going to affect him. And that was all the better, for Rocco.

He hadn't moved since taking his seat within the circle of the trees. He seemed almost like a statue, as he was mostly black from every angle with the brown underside that seemed to be the only other color in him. He didn't really care nor mind. He was lost in his fantastic thoughts, and Rocco wondered if any of them were half-true or not. His tail wagged slightly, before it curled on him like a mock Akita's tail. In truth, it was not thickly furred enough to do such a thing, and so it sat like a sickle on his back. His ears flicked this way and that, and he kept his attention on the trees. He seemed almost mesmerized by them. They held such mystic beauty really, that Rocco had trouble seeing how he had never payed them mind before. 'They all look the same from below,' he thought, blinking his bluish-green eyes. 'But, are so different when I take the time..' He yawned sleepily, 'to look at them..' His eyes blinked, and the young pup found himself gently nodding off.

As he fell asleep, he fell over from his sitting position to laying down, half curled up with the trees around him. He looked so peaceful laying there, almost like he was a statue that some human had come along and carved out of rock. The pup twitched a little in his sleep, but otherwise he seemed at ease. He didn't notice or even think to care about sleeping with one eye open. He knew evil existed in the world, but hardly knew just to what extent and how dark it really was. He was too serious a pup to be as playful as most growing dogs were, and yet he was too ignorant to be a grown dog willing to sell his life away for something he believed in. In his child-like mind, he did indeed think he could, but life and death were two extremes that not even adults comprehended, and children even less. Even if they thought they knew.

The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

[Star]

Since they had come back to Gajou, Star had scarcely left the enclosed rock structure. This time it was of her own will. Sabin had needed looking after and keeping four puppies in line was a little easier when they were inside. Plus, there were more dogs to look after them. Their "grandpa" Ben often would watch over them, her brother, some of the other dogs. It made for an easier time and let her focus on making sure that the mountain dog healed up well.

You couldn't stay locked up forever. The thought was a bitter irony, in a way. She and Sabin had almost been doomed to be locked up forever. They could still have remained within the stone walls and chambers of Gajou, being fed whatever the other dogs could bring them and entertaining themselves in whatever way they could until they went mad, the supposed disease took over or something else interfered in their imprisonment. They had been relieved of that hell, though.

It was not wise to go out alone. There were monsters out there; things of nightmares. She knew it very well but Star couldn't stop herself. She needed to get out if only for a brief amount of time.

Were the mountains any safer than the way they had come from? Probably not. She doubted the car-dog and the white monster dog remained in the same place, after all. Yet she couldn't help but feel at least a little safer. It probably wasn't wise but there you had it. Star had always been cheerful and optimistic in nature. She would rather assume the best than the worst; she didn't want to cause herself to startle at shadows.

The female made her way through the winding paths and lowered her head, inhaling the scents about her. There was a trace of another canine and she followed it. She was better about tracking than she had been in the past. She had to be to follow her puppies now. The scent lead her to a copse of trees where a younger dog was curled up, peacefully asleep by the look of the rising and falling side. She did not want to disturb anyone's slumber, really, but just the general glimpse was of a much younger canine.

Perhaps he was lost or waiting for someone; maybe he needed company. Even though she did not want to panic a younger creature he should know there were dangers out here and if he had someone he should always travel with them. "Hello there," she pitched her voice low and gentle. Star had never been threatening except once in her entire life and she didn't think she would overly threaten the younger dog now either. It was always good to be cautious, though.

[Rocco]

We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.


Rocco shifted in his sleep, his tail flicking and attempting to curl again as he lay on the ground. It was hard to tell if he was having a dream, or if the pup simply shifted upon hearing the older dog come toward him. It was odd how the pup was: a mixture of someone who had been alone most of his life who would wake up easily, and a youngster who still slept soundly and took far too much in order to wake him up. He didn't react as the Shepherd came toward him, so he must have been dreaming.

Images floated in Rocco's mind of many colors he had not seen since spring. Newly opened flowers and insects abound. The migrating birds returning for their nests, and there Rocco sat as he had sat in the forest. Simply watching them and not disturbing them. He didn't really seem interested in the trees that were off in the distance, for now he sat in a field. 'Where am I?' Rocco thought curiously, 'I don't remember ever seeing this.' Rocco stood up from his sitting and he walked forward without pausing to examine the flowers. He didn't at all know what to do or where he was. It was a very boring dream, there was no plot, no danger, simply a scene that Rocco was free to roam in.

"Hello there,"

Rocco's ears flicked, and he turned to face a figure that seemed to suddenly enter his dream. The face was new to him, and much older than he. "Where-who-", Rocco tried to speak to the figure but found his voice give way. He had lost all ability to speak, or at least had lost his voice. The figure was patient and seemed to wait for him to find it again. Rocco found it impossible to speak, and so walked closer to the figure. The dog was female, and seemed almost motherly. Had he seen her before? No-Rocco didn't think so. He didn't recognize her voice, this certainly wasn't his mother. He couldn't even make out a true shape to her. She had pointed ears, and very intimidating and welcoming at the same time. "Please..tell me, who are you?" Rocco tried again to speak, and this time the figure smiled. She was almost cloud-like.

But she didn't give him an answer, which confused Rocco. He tilted his head slightly, his ears flicking trying to see if she was indeed speaking to him. Rocco blinked, and suddenly the figure moved away from him. Rocco moved forward, and she moved backward. "No!-Please come back!" This time, his words were said aloud. The dog who came upon him would hear him. Rocco ran forward at the ghostly figure until suddenly Rocco's eyes snapped open and he jumped up to see Star. He seemed very surprised to see her, "You? Were you in my dream?" Rocco sat up and kept his attention on the older dog, "or you look like the dog who was in my dream." He didn't at all seem to realize that the dog who had spoken to him had no idea about his dream.



The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

[Star]

Star stood in patient silence as she waited for her words to slowly invade the pup's dreams and pull him into wakefulness. The brown eyes watched intently at the sleeping figure. He didn't immediately awaken and that was worrisome. She could see his sides moving up and down as he breathed, though, so he wasn't dead. Perhaps he was a sound sleeper. That was also worrisome. It was easy enough to get the jump on awake, aware dogs. Sleeping so deeply...

Then the young dog cried out, still in the throes of the dream; asking for someone to come back. Then the bright teal eyes jumped open and stared across at her. The younger male was startled, the bright eyes still looking at her with rapt confusion. He was still caught between sleep and wakefulness; dreams and reality. Her own head tilted just slightly as he asked if she was in his dream.

"No, I don't think so." The words were kind although they were denying his statement. So far as she knew she had never been in anyone's dream. She gave the younger dog a small smile and a few wags of the tail. She took a few steps forward slowly; she didn't want him to think she was charging on him or anything of the like. While her instinct for mothering wasn't really that large she still wanted to get closer to him. Perhaps he needed a kind word or two.

She paused once she got a little closer, giving the same brief wagging of the tail. "I haven't seen you around. What's your name? You're not lost, are you?" The shepherd cut herself off before she flooded him with a torrent of questions and then reprimanded him for being out here all by himself. It would do no good to bury the young canine in words and leave him struggling to answer everything.

[Rocco]

We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.


"No, I don't think so."

"Oh-"Rocco's ears flicked back, he seemed disappointed. 'I could have sworn-' Rocco only became more and more lost at the fact that the dog before him wasn't the one in his dream. Her voice sounded the same, but if she hadn't been the one, then who was it? Rocco made a note to try to look for another dog like the German Shepherd in front of him sometime in the future. Until then, he had to deal with the fact that this dog was not the one his mind had created. Maybe he'd realize a few hours after waking up that his dream was simply relaying the sounds around him. Or maybe he wouldn't, maybe he would forget the dream even happened-which often does occur. "I'm very sorry to have mistaken you, then."

"I haven't seen you around. What's your name? You're not lost, are you?"

'Am I lost?' Rocco wondered, 'I know where I am. And I know where I want to go. No, I am not lost.' In truth, Rocco simply knew he was in a forest. A nice, calm forest somewhere in the Ohu Mountains. He didn't mind, really. He'd wander around aimlessly for ages as long as he had something to wander about for. "I wander around, I don't like to stay in one place too often." Rocco answered, even though he had fallen asleep and stayed there, it wasn't like him to fall asleep randomly. "It's far more interesting to wander around than it is to stay in one place, but I don't know why I fell asleep." Rocco wondered if he was making any sense, he still was trying to get over his dream, and the more Star spoke the more he believed she had to have appeared.

"I'm Rocco, and no I-I don't think I'm lost. This is a forest in the Ohu mountains, right? If so, I'm not lost at all-just not sure where exactly I am." Rocco rather liked the trees in this area, he liked how they seemed to circle around him. He took his eyes off of the other dog and gazed up at the trees. "The trees here are spectacular, have you ever taken the time to look at them? Maybe that's why I'm not sure where I am, I kept walking with my head looking up instead of down." Rocco smiled and chuckled softly, turning his attention back to Star. "..I thought I heard you in my dream, and you seem familiar." Rocco didn't know if he could trust the other dog. He rather thought he had said too many things, but he was still lonely here. He had never seen the German Shepherd before him in his life, but the dream made her appear as if she had, and Rocco was very confused by this. He didn't see the reason why she appeared in his dream, and did not realize that she had crossed into his dream by speaking to him, the rest was simply the way his brain formed the voice.





The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

[Star]

The pup was a curious one. Then again, Star was used to dealing with puppies lately. She knew their minds jumped into interesting places when they were wide awake. Waking one up from a dream was bound to get you some odd statements. The young male seemed horribly confused but quite willing to speak with her and was perfectly polite. She wondered if he had been here or was a recent arrival. "It's okay. I'm sorry I'm not who you wanted me to be," she offered with a smile and another brief tail wag.

She listened as he told her that he wandered this area, that he found it more interesting. He had a point. Staying in one point could be boring, especially to a younger mind. There was so much to do and see when you were young. Still, it was dangerous nowadays. Maybe it had always been dangerous, though, and just because of her recent run-ins with things that weren't quite of this world she was being extra paranoid.

"It's nice to meet you, Rocco. I'm Star. Maybe you've seen me around Gajou." She wasn't sure, though. After all, she had never seen him around Gajou. She had also been locked up for quite some time and then gone when the pups came. There were many faces around Gajou that she didn't know and old ones that she recognized. Rocco could have come and left while she was trapped with Sabin. She gave him a little grin after a moment. "All of us shepherds look alike after awhile, though."

She was well aware that her coloration was different than most of her breed, of course, and that her floppy ear set her apart. It was true though. Those that were purebred looked mostly the same. It might have been easy for the young pup to see one and confuse another.

[Rocco]

{OOC:..Somehwere while writing this my creativity died. Yay}

We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.


"It's okay. I'm sorry I'm not who you wanted me to be,"

Rocco nodded, he seemed to accept her 'apology' if one could call it that. He also wondered then who he had seen in his dream, if not her. Still, Rocco decided that knowing this dog was much better than forever wondering who the mysterious dog was. And maybe, Rocco would meet that mysterious dog later on and be able to ask him or her why they had run off like that. Rocco decided to make the best of meeting Star, it was certainly better than being alone.

"It's nice to meet you, Rocco. I'm Star. Maybe you've seen me around Gajou. All of us shepherds look alike after awhile, though."

Rocco nodded, "I've been around Gajou, but not long. What is it like there? It gets lonely wandering around, I'm sure it must be nice to see other dogs every day." Rocco then thought maybe he had seen another Shepherd around. It would be easy to mistake Star for another one, even though Rocco thought he would remember a dog like her. 'Maybe I saw my mother?' Rocco hadn't seen his mother since he left, and he never thought to ever go looking for her. He was happy wandering around without a care and he rather liked that. If it was his mother, certainly she would have known better than to invade his dreams like that. Rocco wouldn't have minded getting a better look at Ohu. After all, if he didn't he would probably end up wandering the forests without going much of anywhere. "It is nice to meet you as well, Star." Rocco added, as it seemed to him he had forgotten to address her. "Are you part of Ohu, Star?" Rocco had not thought of this before, and the thought that Star was a part of Ohu greatly captured the young pup's interest. He never thought that he'd meet a dog from there unless he went looking, but the fact he had met a dog from there by the odd chance they found him? Rocco wasn't sure what to think, really. He half wondered if he was still asleep, and if this Star was another dream-dog that had happened upon him to erase his memory of the other. 'That can't be true,' Rocco thought, 'I know I am awake now, I am certain of it.' He saw no reason why he would still be asleep, his dreams were never so long and progressed, so he had to be awake.


The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

[Star]

"What's it like?" Star considered the question. It was nothing like she had dreamed it would be when she had first set out. There were no battles going on constantly, there were no huge leaps of faith for glory; it was, all in all, a normal life. You had to find food, you had to live with many other dogs and there were more dangers. All in all, though, she didn't find it too different from how life had been with the humans in terms of things around Gajou happening. It was an idyllic sort of life when you looked at it that way. Yet she knew there were dangers and that things out of the ordinary occurred as well -- look at what had happened to them on their trek back to Gajou! "If you're lonely, I think it's a good place to be. There are many dogs there. Of course, there are lot of them older than you but there are younger ones too. I'm sure many of them would enjoy another friend."


You couldn't make someone come back with you, though. Not even a young pup like Rocco. Star could have pulled on her new found motherly instincts and herded the younger dog back to the rock monument with very little problem. However, that didn't guarantee he would stay or even fully enjoy it. Better if he came on his own.

She paused at the next question, thinking it over. There had been no formal bit of acceptance but she supposed she was a dog of Ohu. She had been there awhile and no one questioned her presence. She would never be a soldier, though she had proven that she could fight if it came down to it, but she was still accepted and considered a part of the group of dogs that lived there and called the Dog's Paradise their home.

Star tilted her head just slightly before giving a nod, "I am. I'm no great warrior or legend, but they've let me be a part of their ranks. If it came down to it, I would fight for Ohu and for my friends and family to help keep them and the way of life safe." It was the truth but it was something she would have never said in the past. She had always lived in a peaceful sort of manner. No dogs ever threatened her because most dogs couldn't find any reason to be angry at her. Her jokes were never cruel and she was just a happy dog. "It's truly a place where someone can come and be accepted for themselves."

[Mort]

Why should it matter, your dreams of a child?
Innocence is gone. Only fear to play with

Why he spent so much time stalking around in and near Ohu, he had no idea. Perhaps it was all the good-natured, gullible dogs that seemed to gather around these parts that made him stay. It did make his job a little easier though it hardly provided him with any challenges, which was very dull. Still, it gave him the satisfaction he needed. It had completely eluded Mort that Ohu had been housing other evil characters aside from himself - oddly enough he had managed to be very subtle, not bringing too much attention to himself yet, and so he was not a known threat for the Ohuians. This suited the black German Shepherd just fine. Let them think that they're safe in their pretty paradise, when there's a phantom moving through the darkness of the night. Perhaps they'd see an ominous shadow in the corner of their eyes now and then, but never would they know what had struck them before they were dead. That shadow could choose whether he wanted to start a conversation with them and so he would be able to gather any information he needed, by talking, deducting and establishing facts out of what he had observed. It was usually child's play for him and aided him perfectly in his evil schemes. Today was another lucky day; he could smell the scents of two dogs, one male and one female, nearby and hear their voices. He caught parts of the conversation.

"It's truly a place where someone can come and be accepted for themselves."

The corner of his mouth twitched though the smile quickly disappeared, his muzzle became as perfectly black as it had been before. It seemed as if the mere thought of a smile existing on his face was absurd. 'Well, I am not so sure if that applies to me.' But this didn't stop him from striding into the grove without the slightest ounce of doubt in his chest. There was a young male, a mutt of some sort, there with bright, teal eyes whose liveliness greatly contrasted Mort's dark, lifeless orbs. And there were another German Shepherd who was clearly older than the bright-eyed male but probably younger than Mort himself. He noted the warm, motherly tone in which she spoke. "Good day," he began carefully, almost nervously. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and so thought I could join in..." He squirmed anxiously and dipped his head briefly. Always being the one with the good manners. "I've walked alone for a while now, and I'm in need of some company." This wasn't a complete lie, not at all! He was an actor who longed to have an audience (although one that was unbeknownst of this) and here it was. Mort's tail wagged slowly, a gesture that was perhaps not the most fitting one for the dog to make - at least not over such a normal reason.

Mort wasn't a monster per-say, at least his exterior didn't seem to be that of a monstrosity if you didn't count the deep abysses that were his eyes. The thoughts that resided inside his head though, were far more obscure and sickening than the average dog could ever guess. While the winds ruffled his fur he was sitting quietly, all ready thinking of what he could do with these two in order to entertain himself today. There were other exciting things to do apart from killing. What game should he play?


Faces are changing, but nothing is changing the pain
Too late

[Rocco]

We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.



"If you're lonely, I think it's a good place to be. There are many dogs there. Of course, there are lot of them older than you but there are younger ones too. I'm sure many of them would enjoy another friend."

A smile flashed onto Rocco's face, he would like a friend. More than he had, anyway. When one wanders, sooner or later one comes upon another wanderer. Rocco could place some names, very faintly, in his memory. But he had no real idea where any of those names had gotten off too, or if they even remembered him. It would be a nice change of pace to have someone to talk too, instead of staring up at the trees. Instead of having dreams where you simply found a figure you could not explain, and always wanted to find it. "I think I would like that, hardly any of the dogs I've met in my travels stay with me for long." As such, Rocco learned quite easily not to trust others. He always had some sort of fear, as most children do. Still, he enjoyed any company that the universe gave him.

"I am. I'm no great warrior or legend, but they've let me be a part of their ranks. If it came down to it, I would fight for Ohu and for my friends and family to help keep them and the way of life safe."

Such dedication filled the young pup with awe. He may have said, or thought, perhaps even believed that he could die for Ohu or some other paradise. But he was only a puppy, and even with all his trials and tribulations he had only seen half of the world's troubles. He had no experience, and had so few brushes with death that he probably didn't even know when he encountered it. And that was the way it should be, even on his own Rocco seemed to be an average puppy. Maybe he was growing up too fast for his own good, but he hardly knew or cared about those things now. "That..that sounds...amazing." Rocco stated, his tail wagging once or twice. It wasn't rare that a young one's imagination was captured by such stories. Even if Star wasn't a legend, she certainly was inspiring to Rocco who aspired to be a legend.

"It's truly a place where someone can come and be accepted for themselves."

"Good day, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, and so thought I could join in... I've walked alone for a while now, and I'm in need of some company."

Before Rocco could even speak, or think about the words that Star said, he was interrupted by the scent and voice of another. Rocco looked to see another Shepherd, but of a much different colour. This one was black, a shadowy black at at that which Rocco had not seen before. Even though Rocco was mostly black himself, his fur did not even come close to matching the shade that Mort's did. Rocco was excited to meet another dog, especially so close to Ohu. It meant that he might see the dog in Ohu more often, as Rocco seemed to assume that he was friendly. He certainly seemed as such, nothing at all was monstrous about him. Rocco never heard of the monster with manners, all the ones he had ever dreamed of had some fault to them. Maybe they walked with a limp, missed an eye, or carried some other sin marking their dark hearts like being blind or mute. Rocco saw none of this in the new appearance, and he had nothing to fear. Not now, not anymore. Certainly, Rocco believed that with Star there everything was safe. He still couldn't truly trust either of these two, but he felt more at ease. He felt safer with them there.

"Hello there mister," Rocco began as quickly as he could, distracted from the sentence which Star had added, perhaps he had not heard it at all. "It can be lonely wandering around on your own, I'm glad you were able to find us." Rocco smiled again, his bright eyes standing out as he childishly welcomed the newcomer. It was a false sense of security, and perhaps an almost surreal warning. Rocco was again reminded of his dream, and felt certain that the apparition had been female. Even so, he may have heard the voice wrong, or remembered the canine wrong. Perhaps this wandering fellow, whom Rocco sympathized with already, had been the one to appear? Rocco found this to be a reasonable guess, but he didn't say anything. He may have not known that Star wasn't in his dream, but he knew this dog was not near him when he had the dream, and so there was no way that the black Shepherd knew of his 'phantom' dog appearing. Still, this made Rocco curious about Mort. He seemed kind enough, maybe they would join Ohu together? Rocco began to believe more and more, that this black German Shepherd was important, whether or not they would be in Ohu together, the dream had to have meant something.

The magic words shall hold thee fast:
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

[Star]

"I'm sorry to hear that," Star told Rocco. It wasn't just some platitude or empty words, either. She knew what it felt like to be alone. She was an incredibly social dog and very rarely had she ever wanted to be alone for any length of time. Having someone be with you for a short while and then leave was almost worse than to just simply be alone. Then you got used to their company and the loneliness crept up on you even harder than before. It must be ten times worse when you were so young. How had he survived all this time?

She nodded in agreement with his amazement. Ohu was amazing. Equally amazing was how it had changed her, changed so many other dogs. Wild dogs, pet dogs; those that had been willing to harm others, lazy hangers-on, who fought... all of them could be and had been changed by Ohu and its Leaders. If even she could make such a statement then it was truly an amazing feat. Rocco could find something there, she knew; a friend, a purpose, a home. You were never lonely within heart of Ohu, within Gajou.

Before she could continue though, the sound of another coming near and then the words being spoken interrupted them. Another German shepherd appeared and Star couldn't still the brief wag of tail at seeing another of her breed. He was as black as a moonless night and he approached in a generally confident manner, although there was some slight hesitation in his tone coupled with a slow tail wag. Confident that he was allowed within Ohu and its borders, but unsure of how they would accept his interruption; that was what it seemed like.

Certainly Star was no idiot but her's was a trusting nature. If Mort had slid in with threats or with an obvious threat towards Rocco, she might have let the very rare anger that she had experienced before when Tohvi was in danger take over. The other shepherd would have found himself facing a sudden whirlwind of motherly rage. If he had been overly confident and boasting, she might have made polite excuses and steered herself and Rocco away. But because -- though she didn't know it -- Mort was an old hat at this he had given the best act guaranteed to assuage those types of fears and situations. As it was, he looked like a newcomer who wanted to join and Ohu was always open to those.

The liver colored female dipped her head in greeting to the male, "Please, join us. It's always nice to have someone else to talk to." She had no reason to turn him away and perhaps it would help ease his loneliness for a bit to have another older dog and a pup who was just as lonely as he was.

[Mort]

Why should it matter, your dreams of a child?
Innocence is gone. Only fear to play with

"Hello there mister, It can be lonely wandering around on your own, I'm glad you were able to find us."

His appearance had been flawless, just as expected. Mort nodded with a relieved smile on his face in response to Rocco's naive smile. The young dog had such an innocent air about him - such childishness Mort had not felt in years, and if he was ever seen not acting his own age it was of a much more sinister, and not quite as adorable, kind. "I'm glad too. It's difficult to get by on your own, I've realized that we all need the company of others, for one reason or another," his voice was calm and he spoke with confidence, though he did not sound over-confident. Of course, Mort knew nothing about the dream Rocco had recently experienced and perhaps that was for the best for the German Shepherd mix. The black stranger was sure that he had appeared in many other dogs' dreams before, but more like a demonic shadow following them through their dream landscapes, probably vastly different in appearance than the dog in Rocco's dream. "At least in Ohu one doesn't have to worry about running into mean bullies..." he said and quickly scratched the back of his ear, as if such a thought was very unpleasant to him and made him scratch himself because of nervousness.

"Please, join us. It's always nice to have someone else to talk to."

Mort dipped his head slightly. "Indeed, and one won't run out of subjects as quickly as one does when talking to oneself," he said and the brief, almost invisible smile appeared again. "My name's Jack, by the way." It had been a while since he'd used this alias, and it wasn't really a lie since it had served as his real name back in the days. It was easier for him to use this name rather than a completely made up one - though there were times when he did that too - since it had been used in the past, and it somehow made it easier (ridiculously easy) to distance himself from those he met. It wasn't as if he really needed it, Mort didn't have an ounce of sympathy or empathy left in his body and if it seemed like he did, it was most likely fabricated, but using the old name also helped him by feeding him rage. It was a name that, upon hearing or thinking about it, made him remember the times when people had called him that and there were far more negative memories associated with the name than positive.

So being called 'Jack' made him recall these nearly forgotten moments, and it felt like those who uttered his name did it in voices of despise, no matter how jolly they might sound in reality. It was all part of his plan to make his work easier; for God forbid if he would let someone's kindness truly get to him. No, he had to create the illusion that everyone was just looking down on him and that they were all out to get him. It had all worked perfectly so far.


Faces are changing, but nothing is changing the pain
Too late