I begin waking to a major headache. I groan, shifting slightly to the right. I open my eyes to almost complete darkness. There is only a little light filtering in through steel bars. I am in a metallic cage in what appears to be an earthen chamber. There are no doubt other tunnels in this place, wherever 'this place' is. I sit up, clutching my head in pain.
I look around. I spot Shade laying a few feet away, still unconscious. I crawl over to him and begin shaking him. "Shade, wake up!" I whisper.
Shade groans. He opens his eyes, wincing with pain. Shade looks at me. "Whisper, are you alright?" He asks.
"Well, my head hurts, but I'm fine. What about you?" I ask.
"Well, I…" Shade breaks off with a gasp. He clenches his eyes shut and curls up tightly, obviously in pain.
I place my paw on Shade's shoulder. "It's okay. Thank you, for saving me," I smile softly while trying to comfort him.
"You're welcome, Whisper," Shade replies. He tries to get up only to fall back with a gasp. A whimper forces itself from Shade's throat. "It hurts…" Shade moans. From how tightly Shade's eyes are closed, I can tell that he's trying hard not to cry.
"Shade, you'll be alright. I love you and I won't leave you. If you want to cry, go ahead. It's alright," I whisper into his ear.
"No. I'm okay. I'm used to pain. I'm not weak," Shade argues while trying to compose himself.
"I know you're not, but you don't have to hold your feelings in. It's okay to cry," I stroke Shade's forehead.
Shade turns his head against the ground as he begins crying from the pain. Shade covers his face with his paws as his cries soon turn into sobs. I stroke his back, trying to soothe him as Shade whimpers and cries.
After a while, Shade finally stops crying. He wipes at his eyes, still whimpering slightly. He looks up at me, a light blush coating his cheeks. "I…I'm sorry for crying…" Shade mumbles, looking away.
I place my paw on his shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with crying. Everybody does sometimes," I smile softly at Shade.
Shade smiles. "Thank you."
I smile back. "You're welcome," I reply.
Just then, the door at the end of this chamber opens to reveal Thomas. He has the same evil smirk I saw on his face when he abducted us. He comes to the front of the cage and presses his ugly face up to the bars. "'ello, ya fools! Sleep well?" Thomas asks.
"I slept fine, until I saw your ugly face!" I snarl the insult, hoping to goad him into a fight.
"Shut up ya li'l runt! Now, listen 'ere! Yer no' th' only ones I caught. I also got Raska, Frost, an' that li'l sistah of yers!" Thomas laughs at my horrified look. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I 'ave torture ta prepare! I'll let ya enjoy yer last night together. After all, I 'ave big plans fer yer new boyfriend," Thomas smiles wickedly at me before leaving.
Tears begin falling from my eyes. I collapse against Shade as I begin sobbing. Shade wraps his arms around me, trying to comfort me as I cry. I keep crying until I have no more tears to shed. I feel Shade stroking my back. I rest my head against Shade's chest, exhausted from all of my crying. I close my eyes. I fall into the peaceful bliss of sleep.