Before Perfection
by The Great Red Dragon


Chapter 13
Well, I guess I should get right to the point: to Hell with my damn promises!

Like I flash, I was down the side of the building. And just as that over- grown freak Jason raised his fist for the first punch, I let loose a roar that surpassed both my lungs and my voice.
Before Jason and the rest of his cronies could even turn their heads completely, I was upon them.
Like the ninja-warrior I had envisioned myself, I sprang swiftly into the air and kicked Jason heels-first in the face. He took so much force that he flew back a fine few feet and smashed his head violently on the edge of the sidewalk.

He was out-cold instantly.

His buddies, lacking both fighting experience and co-ordinance, made a dive for Riley, who had been knocked down again by my first attack. I made another leap, this time at the nearest lackey and connected with both of my right fists. Before he fell, I pushed off his shoulders, and performed the same operation on the next guy.
I was able to do this for most, until only one was left. He gave a frightened look around, probably believing there to be a poltergeist at work, and immediately took to his heels. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the 'battle' to be over and turned around. Riley was halfway up, and looking around for who could've done this kind of damage.

I began to move towards him, confrontation [refer to that as a greeting] seemingly impossible...but then I noticed something.
Some guy, sporting a greasy mullet haircut and goatee hadn't been completely knocked out. He arose quickly, and the glint of metal that he pulled from his pocket clearly told the fact of a knife.
He charged at Riley, a mad look burned into his evil eyes. I was too far away. Even if I performed another acrobatic leap, I still wouldn't make it. I wouldn't be fast enough-!

But The Shark had a few tricks up his own sleeve; he hadn't been a pro wrestler for nothing.
Just as his assailant came within arms range, he grabbed the greaser by the wrist in one hand, and with the other he grabbed the hem of the jacket. In a motion that even I couldn't see, he flipped this guy over his head, let go, and allowed him to soar several feet farther before he hit the ground with a sickening thud. He had dropped the knife, and as quickly as he could get back up, he made a run for it.

"Wow...", I thought in awe.
Riley stood back up, still looking in around to see his savior. I remained quiet and still, but the glinting of the scorpion necklace eventually gave me away.

"Who's there?", Riley asked quietly as he caught sight of the glinting.
"Who is it?"

I walked forward a few steps and stopped once I was in sight.
Riley's eyes twitched when he saw me.
Was it really me; the small, blue 'dog' that had escaped the pet spa two weeks ago?

"Wha-is...is it you?"

Who he meant by 'you' I'll never fully know, but I began to take a few more paces towards him. He looked at me, somewhat in awe and disbelief, but then bent down to his knees.

"Come here, buddy", he called like, holding out a hand to me.
"Come here...come here...please..."

I took more steps, and at the same time I reached behind my neck and undid the necklace.

"Come here, little guy. Come here...", Riley continued in his usual soft and gentle voice.

I held out the pendant, and came just so that our arms were within reach. Riley looked down at his pendant, and his expression turned to near amusement.

"I was wondering where that went", he said, smiling.

He looked back up at me.

"Thanks a lot for helping me there. If there's anything I can do..."

He reached out his hand again, and once again I felt his gentle stroke on my head. I stood there for a moment, and just enjoyed the feeling. I closed my eyes, just sucked up the affection.
I opened my eyes again, just in time to hear Riley ask me;

"You wanna come over to my house?"