Frisk was in a garden of golden flowers. They stood among them and loved each one of them. They named each one. That one was Toriel. Those two that were next to each other were Sans and Papyrus. There was Alphys, shying away from Undyne. And there was Asgore.

That's when they realized one flower was missing. Asriel. Where was that darn flower? In its place was a weed. A stupid weed. However, they knew better. This weed was Asriel. They need to save him. Frisk went up to the flower and touched its leaf. They recoiled in pain. Those leaves were pointy and they had just cut themselves. A tiny drop of blood landed on the flower.

As Frisk put their finger in their mouth to stop the bleeding, they noticed the weed change. At first, it sprouted a stem with a golden bud at the end. However, the golden bud and its green leaves became red as its vines grew out like tendrils. Frisk stood up and watched in horror as it went straight towards their favorite flowers.

"No no!" They shouted as its vines wrapped around the golden flowers. Some were wrapped around so much that they seemed to choke. These flowers lost their golden sheen as their petals turned a blood red. Others were subtly wrapped around. Their petals only subtly turned red, but it was still there. The corruption was still there.

"Don't do this! Please!" Frisk pleaded with the weed. The weed seemed to laugh as it started to come after them. Frisk ran from the vines until they jumped over a fence. The weed stopped and, for some reason, couldn't go any farther. Frisk rested against the fence, panting. Then, they noticed a single golden flower. It was uncorrupted. All around this single golden flower was many different kinds of flowers. Lilies and roses surrounded it, but didn't overtake it. None of these flowers were corrupted. They survived.

Then, the weed howled from beyond the fence.

Frisk woke with a start, hoping the howling would stop. They panted heavily before looking around their room. They had fallen asleep at some point. A piece of pie was placed on a bedside table with a note from Toriel. Frisk picked up the note and read it.

Dear Frisk,

I brought you this piece of pie but you were fast asleep. I couldn't bring myself to wake you up after all you've been through. Besides, it was pretty close to nighttime anyways. If you wake up before morning, have some delicious pie and get into your pajamas, so that I may wash your clothes. They are covered in dirt, and I want you to have nice clean clothes.

Love you to the moon and back.

XOXO

Mom (AKA Toriel)

Frisk smiled at the note. Before they did anything, they took off their dirty clothes and put on the fresh pajamas on. At first, the pajamas were too big for them, but then, some magic aura came off of the pajamas for a bit and soon, the pajamas were just the right size they wanted. Sitting on their bed, they took the pie and took a bite.

That's when they heard a howl. Frisk paused and put their pie back on their bedside table. The howl echoed through the castle again. It sounded so similar to the howl in their dream that, finally, Frisk thought back on their dream. Clearly, there was some meaning behind it. Corruption. Corruption from something they had done in order to bring back Asriel. But what did they do?

Suddenly, a thought occurred to them. They hadn't seen their soul ever since the time before the reset. Maybe it was just an irrational fear, but Frisk just felt like something was wrong. Closing their eyes, they put out their hand and focused to bring their soul right before them. When they opened up their eyes, they let out a tiny gasp. Their soul was no longer red. It was now white. Frisk shook their head. What had happened? Where was their original soul?

Then, another howl rang out. There was no time to complain about their soul. Maybe their soul was different, but right now, howls were more disconcerting than their change of soul and soul color. Keeping their piece of pie on the bed table, they took their dirty clothes and went out of their room to find the source of the howling.

After going downstairs, the castle was like a candlelit labyrinth. How quick they forgot their way through the castle. There were barely any servants at this time of night, which was both a blessing and a curse. Occasionally, a howl would resound and Frisk would get closer to their destination. It was almost a relief when they found themselves in the familiar hallway that lead to the living room and kitchen. That's when they heard talking in the living room.

Cautious because they didn't want Toriel to know they were up, they peeked around the corner and took notes in their head what they saw. Toriel sat in her chair, rocking silently. A fire burned in the hearth, lighting up her scarred face. However, not only did she seem to be stoically listening to the howls, but she also held a spear in one of her hands. Looking at her and hearth was a familiar dog. He was one of the married dogs. Dogamy, if Frisk remembered correctly. Unfortunately, he looked worse for the ware.

The black cloak he usually wore was tattered, full of rips and tears from claws. His ears were partially bitten and his entire body looked scratched and beat up. Most notably of all was the fact that one of his eyes was covered with a black eyepatch. With scars from what seemed to be claws peeking out from behind the eyepatch, Frisk knew how this came to be. However, the one eye that did show was full of pity and the love of a dog. He looked at the queen as she listened to the howls.

"Dogs," Toriel murmured in a hushed, yet serious voice. "They can smell them."

"A newly fallen down human always smells like a human for a few days. After a while, they'll go back to their den," Dogamy replied, though he seemed to shake and cringe when talking about the dogs.

"They'll do anything to get them," she continued, finally looking to Dogamy. "They'll break down the rubble wall if they have to."

"My queen, will you stand vigil all night?" He asked politely.

"If I have to. Did you tell them to put up a more powerful barrier?"

"As usual, my queen," Dogamy replied. "Rabid or not, those dogs can't reach them."

"Then we are still quarantined. Frisk is safe. Everything is fine," the queen reassured herself as she tried to relax in her chair. However, she couldn't bring herself to drop her spear. "I just can't help but wonder if I'll lose another one."

Dogamy let out a whine accidentally, before looking up. "I'm sorry, my queen. I understand if you want your privacy. Besides, why would you want me to be around?"

"You have been by my side for centuries, Dogamy. You have proven you are trustworthy and genuinely sorry. Why would I push you away?" Toriel asked, sadly. "I just don't want more to find themselves in the same position that you are in."

"I could do it, you know. I could cross the barrier and-"

"It would not be wise," their mom responded. "Breaking the barrier would only lead to war, death, and destruction. If the humans were so kind long ago, I doubt the humans would feel so generous when they are slaughtered by them. It is better to be quarantined with them then to be killed."

"Yes, Toriel," Dogamy replied, lowering his head.

"If you don't mind, General, I will go to sleep. If any dogs sound as though they have broken in... you know what to do," Toriel ordered as she placed her spear across her lap and closed her eyes. Dogamy merely nodded in reply as he, too, started to listen to the howling. Frisk didn't dare assume what they were talking about, but they assumed it wasn't good. Something was wrong here. Frisk could've turned back, but they decided to continue. Besides, you couldn't spell Frisk without risk.

Listening to the howls, they continued down the hallway, trying not to make a suspicious sound that would alarm Dogamy. As they reached the end of the corridor, steps led down to the basement. Without any hesitation, they took steps down those stairs and walked through the passages in the basement. That's when they reached the end. The howling had stopped when they approached the end. It was the usual doorway out of the Ruins, but it was blocked by giant rocks and debris. If it weren't for the fact that there were clearly something or someone on the other side, Frisk would've believed the cave collapsed.

They put a hand on the collapsed rubble and out their head against the rock. Frisk listened carefully. Sniffing. Something or someone was sniffing the rocks on the other side. The dogs, no doubt. Suddenly, a ferocious bark sounded as the thing on the other side scratched at the rocks with renewed vigor. Frisk jumped and took a step back as howling and snarling came from the rocks, which glowed with runes that made a magical barrier against the beast. They tried to calm down, but the fact was, the snarling and barking shook them to the core. Putting a hand over their heart in order to try and calm it, they quickly, but quietly, ran out of the basement into the main corridor.

They passed by the living room before the paused to look in once more. Toriel was fast asleep with Dogamy keeping silent vigil, keeping his eyes closed, but continuously shifting his ears. Then, he sniffed and turned towards Frisk. Knowing better than to try and hide from a dog, they came out from the shadows, trying to act as though they just came out of their room.

"What are you doing up, human? You're supposed to be in bed," Dogamy asked, still listening carefully to the howling.

"I woke up and thought it was rude of me to go to sleep without saying good night to Mom," Frisk replied sweetly.

Toriel woke up right then and smiled at Frisk. Maybe she was half asleep and heard the whole thing. "Don't worry, my child. I don't mind."

"I guess I also came to give you my dirty clothes, since you wanted them," Frisk added, putting the dirty clothes on the ground before standing up and looking at Toriel. "I also was a bit startled by the howling."

Toriel gave a concerned glance towards the direction the howls were coming from, before looking at Frisk. "Those howls are just the wind coming through the collapsed caves."

"I know. I just..." Frisk thought for a while. They felt strangely vulnerable. They felt alone at the beginning, and now, like a younger child, they wanted to be with their mom. "Can I sleep on your lap?"

Toriel gave a surprised look, before smiling. She nodded as she stretched her arms out to hug her child close. Frisk sat on Toriel's lap, resting on their head against her body. She never dared to let go of Frisk, nor did she smother them with a hug. They simply kept each other company.

Their mother hummed a sad lullaby to them. Frisk recognized it immediately. It was his theme. It was Asriel's theme. Still, she hummed it to them softly as she rocked them both. The howls were drowned out by her entrancing voice. The fire crackled in the fireplace.

When Frisk was half-asleep, Toriel whispered to them softly. Maybe she didn't know they could hear her. Maybe she did. No matter what it was, she did whisper anyways.

"Oh, Frisk," she started quietly. "I have so much I want to show you. I have so much to teach you. I could show you the town. I could teach you everything I know. I could show you how to bake. I could read you my favorite books."

"You could teach me about the Surface. We could sing Surface songs together. We'll garden together. We'll tell each other jokes. I will teach you so many things. We are a family now, and I am grateful for that. I'm grateful that I have you."

Frisk smiled at the thought. Maybe, just this once, they could stay here for a while.