This is gonna bring a more emotional fic and it begs the question; what would you do if tomorrow was your last day on earth? Also, in every bad situation you face in life, always look at it with a smile. This fic will tug your heartstrings. Enjoy! This is a special dedication to my awesome friend, vampire1031 and Joe 'Po' Navark. He helped me with it too. Anyways...onto the story!

When Tomorrow Will Strike

by: Terrell James

Chapter 1: Quiang's Beginnings

Long ago in China, deep in parts of the forest on a small village of Zenghiou came two sets of dogs; one male German Shepard and a female white wolf that just gave birth to a healthy puppy; half German Shepard and half wolf with white and brown fur and brown eyes and the parents looked at the buby cub and the father picked him up and he looks into his eyes and said, "I'm gonna call you...Quiang, because I see that you will possess great strength."

The mother looks at his son and she licked his face to clean him up a little and the young pup went to his mother's paw and nuzzled her paw and she puts her muzzle to his as well and the father patted him on the shoulder and told his wife, "Our son will achieve great things in his life."

They expected a lot of high hopes for him and that one day, he would touch a lot of people's lives and inspire them to have a lot of strength and courage no matter what life hits them.

As the pup grew, so did a little bit of scrunity that most of the villagers took a glance at Quiang and realize that he's a wolfdog hybrid that there might be something different about him. A few whispers from the villagers assumed that he's not a full German Shepard, but would think of him as a 'halfer' and that he never belongs there and completely blames the parents for giving birth to him.

As the parents look walk around the village however, they faced something devastating; people glaring at them because of their son and wanting to ban from their their own home village. As if that wasn't bad enough, most of them took their rage and hate out on Quiang, but their surprise; it didn't seem to bother the young wolfdog at all. He never understood what it meant, but it never bothered him for a minute.

Both parents were a little stunned by that, but they were determined to just ignore every comment they may face. But as time went on, every villager recieved massive amounts of death threats, showed up at their home unattended with torches and swords and plan to actually harm the young wolfdog, but no matter what happened, they dealt with it.

Until a mere two years later that when the wolf mother gave birth to another wolfdog offspring and when Quaing looked at him for the first time, he scooped him in his arms, smiled at him and said, "Hello, little brother."

Then, his father looks at Quiang and with a smile, he told him, "You like him, huh?"

Quiang started laughing and replied, "Yes, baba."

The mother wolf saw Quiang getting along with the newborn and all the joys of him being a big brother and then, she told him, "What will we name him?"

Suddenly, Quiang quickly came up with one that'll stick with him and he said, "How about...Travis?"

The German Shepard father looked at Quiang like he said something weird and lets out a chuckle, but suddenly, the wolf mother stared at the newborn and sees that Quiang picked the perfect name and she said, "That sounds beautiful."

Quiang then gives the baby back to his mother and cuddles him deeply and as the newborn opens his dark blue eyes and sees his mother for the first time and she nuzzled his cheek and said, "Hello, little Travis."

Travis grabs his mother's muzzle and she started laughing affectionately and the German Shepard dad came in and he looks at his second son and became immediately attached to him as he grabbed his nose. He holds him directly in his arms and said, "I guess Quiang made the right choice for a name. Hello, Travis."

Travis looked at his father and sees that he got his face and his blue eyes and he got his mom and dad's fur along with his dad's ears and mom's paws. He chuckled softly and looks at the mother wolf and said, "This will be the best time of our lives."

The mother wolf nuzzled the German Shepard dad lovingly and she said, "I love you."

"I love you too."

Just then, the mother wolf looks at Travis and sees him falling asleep in his mother's arms and both of them let out a smile and the German Shepard dad said, "Just astounding."

"Beautiful Travis." the mother wolf said.

Looks like everything was going smoothly with the family with this newborn puppy around, like life was gonna be pretty good...until a mere 5 hours later would change everything.

While bringing the newborn home, the mother wolf could see a drastic change in Quiang as she saw him getting a little thinner and saw some patches on his leg, which alarmed her. She quickly went up to him and she could tell that something's wrong with her son. She picked him up and Quiang asked, "Where are we going?"

"Are you okay, son?" she said, in a panic.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Quiang replied, calmly.

She didn't expect that type of reaction from Quiang and then, the German Shepard dad looked up and he saw her with Quiang on her back and he came to her and what met his eyes was a pure load of shock when he saw some purple spots on his legs and he asked, "What's wrong with him?"

"I-I don't know." she replied.

Quiang started panting weirdlike and both parents didn't know what's happening with him and decided to take him to the hospital.

In a treatment room, the German Shepard dad, mother mom and Travis all looked in worry and fear to know what was happening with Quiang and they all were anxious to know what's gonna happen and they looked over at a window while everyone was working on Quiang to see what's happening with him, all the while he seemed extremely calm.

Couple of minutes later, the doctor came towards them and all the parents could do is just wonder if he'll ever be okay. Then, the doctor said, "Your son...has leukemia."

Both of them were in deep and utter shock and disbelief to know that Quiang was sick and the German Shepard dad didn't believe it for one second and he said, "How is it possible?"

"We don't know for sure, but apparently he's gotten some muscle pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweats at night and purple spots on him. How many in your family has cancer?"

Both parents raised their paws to answer the question and unfortunately for them, Quiang is one of them. They looked at their son and emotions started to run a little higher. The doctor then went on to say, "Many children die from this disease more so than adults and most kids don't even make until they're at least 10 years old or even younger."

The German Shepard dog looked at him and he asked, "You mean...our son could possibly...?"

The rabbit doctor nodded his head and the German Shepard could do is just lower his head down in disbelief that Quiang would possibly succumb to the disease. All the wolf mother would do is just cry and she asked, "Is there any treatment?"

"We might have to give him some chemotherapy to see what the problem is and probably a bone marrow transplant."

It just made the parents more shocked and also fearful for their son to go through such things like that and when they looked at Quiang, they saw him smiling and he waved at his parents and they didn't know how unafraid he is and the German Shepard father could do is just put a paw on the window and Quiang went over to the window and puts a paw on the window as well.

Another doctor came in and said, "We may have to keep him overnight to get started on the chemotherapy process."

Quiang looked at his father and sees him shedding one tear and his son just smiled and said, "I love you."

The German Shepard dad tried his best to be strong for him and he said, "I love you too, son. They're gonna take good care of you...and we'll be back to see if you're okay."

He nodded his head and went back to his hospital bed while his father lets all the tears fall from his eyes and said, "Be brave."

The family decided it was best to get home and hope that Quiang will be fine all the while the doctors are preparing for the process. All of them went around Quiang and they were surprised to see him calm and one doctor asked, "Are you scared?"

"No." Quiang answered.

In turn, Quiang was ready for whatever hits him and they put a little bit of medicine on him that put him to sleep and they began the chemotherapy process immediately.

The next morning, Quiang woke up with a few surgery scars on him and when the doctors came to check on him, one asked him, "How's our patient?"

"I'm great."

"Okay, so we've tested you and you are positive for leukemia."

Quiang couldn't believe what they just said and when the doctor explained it to him, the young wolfdog was a little shaken, but it didn't get in the way of how strong he was throughout the entire thing and he said, "What are the odds of me living?"

"Uneven."

Quiang felt like he could get through this really well and he said, "That's cool because I'll take it one step at a time and I might defy those odds one day."

The doctor was stunned by Quiang's determination and spirit that he might live to see 10 years of age and suddenly, another doctor came in and said, "The boy's parents are here."

Quaing went out of the patient's room and was happy to see them as he went over to his parents and hugged him deeply. The wolf mother saw some surgery scars on him and she asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, didn't feel anything at all." Quiang answered.

The German Shepard father couldn't help but worry about him and he said, "You sure you weren't scared?"

"What would I be scared about?"

Pretty soon, Quiang positive attitude and brave spirit showed his parents that he's much stronger than anything. Within the next several months, the parents wanted to spend as much time with both Travis and Quiang as possible while dealing with the fact that he has leukemia. Travis and Quiang would often play with each other while the parents look over both of them. The German Shepard started to worry for Quiang and not once has he ever complained or felt sorry for himself, but is hopeful that he'll get through with it.

When news of Quiang's leukemia came out in the village, a few of the villagers were sympathetic towards him, but the rest of them has yet to concern for him as they looked at him based on his breed and his disease, causing the villagers to turn away from him because of his illness. Both parents just couldn't take the fact that Quiang would somehow be a victim of ultimate discrimination and didn't want their boys to grow up in that environment, so they decided the best way possible is to leave the village for good and head to another place.

They remain secluded in the small sleepy village of Jingmiou for a while and soon enough, they loved the new life and everything was going great...until one day, Quiang had a little heart attack and both parents were fearful that something's gone wrong. When they took him to the hospital, doctors decided to give him a little bit of a heart surgery and all the family could do is watch as he lay there lifeless and it had the most impact on Travis, as he watched his big brother get surgerized.

But it didn't seem to mind him at all and dreamt that he was in a huge light, smiling and happy throughout. He felt like everything was gonna be okay no matter what.

After hours of surgery, Quiang woke up and he had his surgery scar on his stomach and the doctors were shocked at the fact that he was alive and they looked at each other and thought that it was all a coincidence and they looked at the young wolfdog and he asked, "Why's everyone looking at me like that?"

It was apparent...Quiang cheated death, which shocked his family but was also relieved too.

But that joy was short-lived when villagers from Zenghiou came for Quiang and wanted to put an end to his life. The German Shepard immediately defended his family and he fought them off and the mother wolf did her best to guard her young sons until some villagers tried to stab Travis and Quiang with a knife, but the father beat him to the punch. The fight lasted for nearly an hour until all of them went back, but not before one yelled out, "Your sons will never belong in our kind or any other kind in China!"

At this point, the parents looked at their sons and felt like if this is how it'll go, it's not worth letting them grow up in a negative environment where no one will accept two wolfdog pups, so the hardest part for them...is to just give them another happy life with another family.

It was too much to bear for the German Shepard dad and the wolf mother to make that choice, but they wanted to do it for them. So, they went on a huge journey out of their village and traveled a lot of miles until they reached the Valley of Peace. As soon as they walked in, everyone greeted both the German Shepard dad and wolf mother and they felt like it might be the best place for their kids to grow up in.

When they reached Bao Gu Orphanage, they dropped them off, but not before giving Travis and Quiang a hug and the German Shepard dad held on to Quiang as he broke down crying and he said, "I wish it didn't have to come to this."

Quiang could tell that he wouldn't see his father again and he hugged him as well and he said, "We'll be fine, dad."

His father continued to hold him like he would die any second and he said, "I love you. Take care of Travis for us."

The wolf mother hugged Travis and the young pup looked in his mom's eyes and he shed a tear as well and he let out a few whimpers, begging her not to leave. The mother couldn't help but hold him so closely and she said, "Quiang will take care of you now and...I hope you'll be good and look out for each other."

Tears filled Travis' eyes and when they actually left, all Travis could do is cry. Quiang looked at Travis and he hugged him deeply and he said, "Don't worry, I will be right there beside you. I promise."

Travis looked at his big brother smiling and he continued crying as Quiang held him deeply as they entered the orphanage. Most of the kids had mixed feelings seeing two wolfdogs and it could be a challenge to adapt for them.

As the years went by, Quiang's leukemia went up and down and with his health, he's been to the doctors more and through it all, he's been through several ounces of chemotherapy, radiation treatments, bone marrow treatments and heart surgeries, all in which became Travis' big fear that he might lose his older brother and that would grip him throughout his life. Quiang cheated death several times most of his life and one thing remained the same; he never gave up hope and believed that he can survive leukemia and whatever negative things come to light, like bullying and being ridiculed. It didn't seem to bother him one bit and he knows that it's their problem. Travis...is another thing, because he's been a bully victim as well and it made the hugest impact on him and would defend Quiang if someone bullies him and fight with them.

12 years later...

Quiang was on the roof of the orphanage, playing the flute in the moonlight to calm himself down. He grew into a teenage wolfdog at 14 years old and he reached his common goal; beating the odds of living through 10 years old and is still standing. Suddenly, he hears someone coming in and when he turned around, he saw Travis, who's 12 years old coming in behind.

"What are you doing up?" asked Quiang.

Travis sighed sadly and walked up to his older brother and he said, "Had another nightmare."

Quiang sighed heavily as he rolled his eyes and asked, "Again?"

Travis nodded his head and he sat down next to him and he looked at Quiang and said, "I had a nightmare that I might be left behind and that I wouldn't see you anymore. It felt like it could happen anyday now."

Quiang looked at his little brother and he could tell that it's been bothering him for so long and he said, "I've told you a couple of times...you'll never lose me. Besides, life's too short to be really miserable and sad all the time."

"But you've been through a lot and you never complain. I don't know how you do it, but I wish I was brave like you." Travis admitted sadly.

Quiang told him, "Travis, don't worry about what happens tomorrow or maybe in the future. The most valuable time is now. I made a promise that I'll take care of you, right?"

"Yeah."

"And have I ever broken that promise?"

"No."

Travis lowered his head down and then asked, "Why does everyone pick on us because we're halfers?"

Quiang puts his hand on Travis' shoulder and told him, "Sometimes they can't understand on who we really are on the inside rather than the outside. They only pick on me because I have leukemia and that I'm part German Shepard and part white wolf, but it doesn't mean that we're halfers. I'm me and you're you and as long as you're happy with who you are, that's all that matters. They sometimes don't want to accept it, but it's their problem, not ours."

"But sometimes it feels that way." Travis said.

Quiang chuckled softly and said, "You worry too much. Just live in the moment."

Quiang continued playing his flute and Travis stayed with his brother, fearing of losing him any day as he kept hearing Quiang's music spreading across the moonlight.

Great way to start off this story, huh? Hopefully, this is the best one I've done so far. There's more coming up. So, what did you think of Quiang and Travis? Also, I need your help later in the story; will Quiang die from leukemia or survive through it? There's a poll in my profile for that question, so please feel free to vote/ Whatever has the most votes, the choices will make the story. Laterz!