I wake up sometime in the middle of the night. I am in so much pain. I can't even breathe. I can feel tears pricking my eyes. I look around. I see Buck and the kits sleeping nearby. I groan. "Buck!" I call out in a hoarse whisper.
Buck squirms a bit as he wakes up. He comes over to me and sits down beside me. "Sophie, are ya alright?" He asks.
"No…It…it hurts…" I moan, whimpering with the pain.
Buck strokes my forehead. "I kno' 't does. Jus' stay still an' try ta ge' some sleep," Buck smiles softly at me.
I groan. "I…I'll try. Just…stay with me…please?" I ask, reaching out to take Buck's paw.
"Don' worry. I'll stay right 'ere wi' ya," Buck assures me. I smile. I close my eyes with a yawn. Soon, I am fast asleep.
I find myself back home in the world above. I am with my three kits. We are in our cave. For a change, we are happy. I am confused by that. Considering where we are right now, I wouldn't think that happiness would be possible.
Suddenly, the reason for our unhappiness appears. It is Neon. He bursts into the cave. "Sophie! What are you doing?!" Neon shouts.
"Neon, please! We aren't doing anything wrong!" I wail. Fear is very much clear in my eyes.
Neon raises his fist and begins beating me. I scream with each hit. "Take that, you foul wretch!" Neon laughs cruelly at my pain.
"Help! Help!" I call, despite knowing that no one can hear me. I continue to cry out as Neon's rage is unleashed full force.
Suddenly, the hits stop coming. I look up to see Neon turning his face towards the kits. "Now, you will know true suffering!" Neon growls. He lunges at the kits.
"Noooo!" I shout as I am forced to watch my kits being torn to shreds…
"Noooo!" I scream, bolting upright in my nest. I am breathing heavily with one paw on my chest. My eyes are wide with fear and desperation. I look around frantically, barely noticing Buck, as I seek out my kits. I sigh in relief as I see that my kits are asleep, safe and sound.
The feel of a paw on my shoulder finally makes me notice Buck. I look over into Buck's eye. Buck is concerned about me, I can tell. "Are ya 'kay, Sophie?" Buck asks me softly.
I slowly nod my head. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a nightmare, that's all," I answer with a fake smile. I'd rather not tell Buck everything concerning my past with Neon, or my current fears.
"'t was worse than tha', wasn't 't?" Buck asks knowingly.
I sigh. "Yeah. I saw Neon. He was beating me. Then, he turned on my kits and…and…murdered them…" I whisper. I look down, my ears pressed against my head. I can feel tears gathering in the corners of my eyes.
Buck strokes my forehead. "Hush, Sophie. I's alright. I kno' 't must be scary, bu' don' worry. Yer kits are jus' fine," Buck smiles comfortingly at me.
I turn my face upward towards Buck. I throw my arms around him and hug him. I bury my face into Buck's chest as I feel my tears fall from my eyes. "I…I just…I'm afraid for them, Buck! I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost them!" I sob.
I feel Buck pat me on the back. "Nothing will 'appen ta them. I'll make sure ah tha'. I promise," Buck whispers into my ear.
Buck continues to hold me as I cry. When my sobs die down, I pull myself away from Buck's embrace. I sniffle and wipe the tears away from my eyes. I look up at Buck. A blush begins coating my cheeks. "I…um…" I stutter.
Surprisingly, Buck appears to be suffering from the same predicament. I can see him begin to blush, too. "Are…are ya 'kay, now?" Buck asks nervously.
I smile. "Yeah. Oh, and Buck? You kinda look like a tomato!" I laugh at his reddened face.
Buck chuckles. "Ha! Tomato yerself!" Buck points to my face.
"Yeah, that's true," I nod my head with a thoughtful look to my face.
Buck smiles at my much brighter mood. "Well, maybe we should ge' back ta sleep," Buck suggests.
"Good idea. My kits will probably wake me up early, wanting some breakfast," I comment.
"Well, I c'n feed them when they wake up. Jus' ge' some sleep," Buck offers.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"Yeah, 'm sure," Buck answers.
I'm surprised by Buck's offer. However, I just nod my head with a grateful smile on my face. I curl back up on my nest. "Thank you," I whisper. I yawn and close my eyes.
As I fall asleep, I swear that I hear Buck whisper, "Yer welcome." Then, I am in the firm grasp of sleep.