CHAPTER 4-True Colors & New Home

Reagan admired his reflection in the water.

"Nice," he said to himself. "Really good."

He began walking to Suzie's den, with nothing on his mind except avoiding Roger. He wanted nothing to spoil his evening.

He entered Suzie's den to find her sitting there. She looked up and smiled.

"Hello there, handsome," she said.

"Hey, Suzie."

"Are you ready?"

"Oh yeah. Are you?"

"Yeah. I've been ready for this."

She began moving towards him slowly.

"Whoa," said Reagan. "What are you doing?"

"Shut up," she said, hitting him on the head and sending into sub consciousness.

Don led his group through the forest not too far from Chelsea and Tyler's pack.

"What are we looking for, Don?" Chris asked.

"A place that can be our home," said Don, "and isn't too visible from the outside so no one harmful can enter."

"Why?"

"Because," Don explained, "this group is getting too big to continue traveling all the time. We'll find a place for our base and be able to send out smaller groups when needed."

All of them seemed to agree, especially Chelsea and Tyler. They didn't want to travel far to keep their promises of visit.

"Let us keep moving."

"Don!" Dwain said. "There's a rock over there. Maybe we could see if we could find a valley in the middle of it or something."

"Very well," said Don. "Let's investigate."

They walked over to where the rock stood tall against them.

"Very nice," Don complimented.

Tyler looked over and walked to the rock. He noticed a crack along the side that wouldn't be visible from the outside unless you looked closely at it.

"Don! I found an opening!"

Everyone came over. Don stepped forward.

"Wait here," he said, walking inside.

After about ten minuets, he reemerged.

"Come inside," he told them.

They followed him in and came into a large cavern with a decent sized hole at the top for sunlight. They were amazed.

"I've given this place a good look," Don said. "I think we've found our home here. There are many tunnels that lead to smaller caves. There should be enough room for all of us to have a place to stay, but I don't think we'll have enough room for everyone to have their own private den, so we'll share."

"Will you get your own den?" Tyler asked. "I think you should."

"It depends, Tyler," said Don. "It depends on how things work out. If I need to share my space, I will."

They all nodded.

"Well then," said Don. "This is it. Welcome home, you guys."

"This is awesome!" Tyler said. "We're an official group, now!"

"Yeah," said Chris. "We're the Peacemakers!"

"Indeed," said Don with a smile.

Reagan stared through a foggy vision at the ceiling of Suzie's den. He tried to move but his paws were still tied. He tried to speak but his mouth was still trapped shut. The vines were heavy. His left arm was bleeding heavily; when he made an attempt to escape, she ran her claw down the length of it. Her voice, her true a shrill voice, still echoed in his head. Everything they had been through was a lie...all a lie.

She continued to sleep next to him, expecting to see him just like that in the morning, for the rest of his life. She wanted him to be hers, but he wasn't looking forward to that. His life as a sex slave didn't look pretty. He needed to get out...but how?

He tried moving, but nothing happened. What was he going to do? He felt restricted at night because of that fact that he couldn't make much noise. At the same time, this was going to be his most free moment.

If only he could speak. Somebody help me! He screamed in his mind. Please let someone find me. Please let someone find me.

Nobody came. Everyone was asleep. He groaned.

This is just great! he thought. First my parents die, and now I'm a sex slave! Just great. If only my dad was here now.

He froze. Wait a minute, he thought. Didn't Dad say something about vines?

Yes, it was clear to him now. He remembered his father showing him a tree in the woods with vines all over it.

"See these, son?" he had said. "These are very strong. You don't want to get tangled up in some of these. The only way you'll be able to get out is if you cut them on a sharp rock. IF you ever do get tangled by one of these, look for a sharp rock, okay?"

Reagan's eyes starting darting around Suzie's den for something. After a few seconds he found it. A sharp rock was located near the entrance to the den. No doubt Suzie would use it as a weapon in case she wanted to draw blood. She must have tried to hide it behind a larger rock, but she was hiding it from the outside. She didn't care who saw it on the inside, especially him. He edged over to it slowly. He reached up and began sliding the vines on his front paws back and forth across the rock. The sharpness of the rock began sawing through the thick vine. After about ten minutes, the vine snapped and his front paws were free. He then carefully worked on the vine around his muzzle, using his now free claws to help him. Afterwards, he cut through the vines on his back paws. He was free.

He took a look at Suzie. She would never see him again, and that's the way he wanted it. He would leave her. He began walking away, and Suzie stirred.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

Reagan stopped and turned. "I'm leaving. I'm not your personal sex servant. I may be a fool for letting you do this to me, but I'm not your fool. I'm not coming back."

Suzie's face hardened. "FINE! LEAVE! SEE IF I CARE! YOU'RE SO STUPID ANYWAY! RUN BACK TO ROGER! I HATE YOU! I NEVER LOVED YOU, AND NO ONE EVER WILL! YOU'LL DIE ALONE OUT THERE! I KNOW YOU WILL! GET OUT OF HERE AND DIE NOW, GET IT OVER WITH! YOU STUPID WRETCH!"

Reagan's heart shattered. Was she right? Would anyone ever love him? Would anyone ever care for him, either? He took off running out of the den and into the woods as fast as he could. This was his fault. His selfishness had caused this. He deserved to die. He would be a lone wolf; that would be best for everyone...right?

"Reagan!"

It was Roger. He looked at Reagan's condition and seemed to guess what happened.

"Was it Suzie?"

Reagan looked down and continued running.

"Reagan! Come back!"

He kept running. Roger tried to follow him, but Reagan was running from side to side, all over the place, trying to avoid being caught.

"Reagan! You don't know where you're going!" Roger shouted after him.

Reagan jumped down a hill and began rolling down it, picking up speed. He regained himself and continued running from behind a rock. The rock obscured Roger's vision, so he couldn't see him. When Roger finally checked behind the rock, Reagan had gone too far ahead. Roger coldn't see or hear him anymore.

Roger closed his eyes as tears began rolling down his face.

"Please let someone find him. Someone who will take care of him. Please."