Chapter 3- Meeting A Friend
'THINKING'
"HUMAN TALKING"
"ANIMAL TALKING"
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Anatolian Shepherd- (Dog)
Large, rugged and powerful, with a superior ability to protect livestock. Belongs to the Working Group.
Because he was bred to make independent decisions while working, owner commands may not be followed. Instinctively protective, the Anatolian is a calm, reserved breed around strangers, showing his loyal and loving nature only to his family.
Size~ 29 inches, 110 pounds to 150 pounds. The breed's coat can be short (one inch) or rough (approximately four inches), with all color patterns and markings, including fawn and brindle.
Alert, intelligent, and observant. Instinctively protective, they are courageous and highly adaptable. They're also very loyal and responsive but highly territorial because they are born natural guards. Responsiveness with animation is not characteristic of the breed. Overhanding would be discouraged.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a guardian breed that originated in Turkey more than 6,000 years ago. The breed entered the United States in the 1950's.
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The dog...or what Desmond believed was a dog, sat up from its lounging position and looked him square in the eyes. Desmond was able to get a better view at the dog in the room next door when it was sitting up like that. It had light brown fur...or patches of fur that we obscured by bandages that were wrapped around it's midsection and left shoulder. Some, to which, had dried blood on them.
'Yep, that is definitely a dog. Desmond thought to himself as he kept staring. 'You know...just a really deformed looks-like-you-got-into-a-freak-ceiling fan-accident, type of dog.
The other dog shifted a bit as if it were trying to get comfortable while having this staring contest with the Min Pin. That's when Desmond caught sight of it. There was nothing but a stump left in place of the other's right hind leg. Desmond felt his eyes grow wider and wondered how they haven't fallen out of his head yet..
"You should take a picture kid. It'll last longer." the other dog said with a crooked smirk. "I mean damn. You've been staring at me with those fish eyes for almost ten minutes. Don't you ever blink?" Desmond blinked once he heard that. He sputtered for a second making the smirk on the other dog's muzzle widen.
"What's wrong pup? Cat's got your tongue?" The canine asked with mock innocence. Desmond closed his eyes and took a deep breath in order to get himself situated.
"Umm...no...I mean...uh..hi?" Desmond winced at how he sounded. 'What the hell was that?! I sounded so stupid.' Desmond thought. 'HI?! Hi is the only thing you could think of to say Desmond!? Really!?' To his surprise, the larger dog started laughing...well more like cackling.
"You've been...haha..staring..hic... at me for...for ten minutes Runt, looking...pfft...looking like you're about to...hahaha...piss yourself at any second...pfft...just to say HI to me...hic..?!" The dog in the other room was cackling so hard that it had fallen on its back, stub of a hind leg wiggling in the air, and seemed to be struggling to breath properly.
Desmond frowned at the word Runt. He isn't that short. "Well...no. T-that's not what I wanted to say. I mean...I did want to introduce myself! But..uh..yea." Desmond tried to explain, mentally slapping himself for stuttering.
"Well then Runt. Say what you wanted to say. Spit it out 'cuz I want to hear it." The damaged dog had stopped laughing and pressed its face against the glass of the see-through wall so quick that it shocked the Min Pin quiet for a good minute.
"I..umm" Desmond began. W-where are we?
The other dog snorted before answering. "You mean to tell me that you came along with these people not knowing what they do?" The larger dog asked while moving it's face from the wall and sitting on its one and a half hind legs. Desmond just tilted his head to the side at they question. "Poor kid" the dog whispered to itself before continuing. "Anyways, to answer your question. We are at a place called Abstergo aka Testing Facility aka H..E..Double Hockey Sticks for us animals here."
"Us animals? T-there are others here?" Desmond asked trying to ignore the fear that was sitting in the back of his mind.
"Of course there are others. Didn't you read your number on the door before you came in here?" The other questioned.
Desmond thought for a second before he responded. "It said...uhh..seventeen. So you must be...sixteen?" Desmond stated tentatively, remembering Vidic say something about a room next to Subject 16.
"No way! They didn't tell you my name?!" Sixteen barked loudly, making Desmond cringe. Sixteen's face soften at the sight of the puppy shrinking back from his loud bark. "Sorry about that Runt. Didn't mean to scare you." he apologized quietly.
Desmond sat up straighter and looked at the dog that was in the room beside his. He looked past the other's scared and stitched face, right into their eyes. He saw the sincerity in them and a tiny bit of...concern?!
'Maybe I'm just seeing things.' He thought to himself. But none the less, the look in those eyes made him feel more comfortable talking with the other canine. He still didn't like the new name Sixteen gave him.
"It's Desmond, Desmond Miles. Not Runt." Desmond said with a huff. "And I wasn't that scared. You just caught me off guard, y'know." He shrugged.
"Hmm...I was thinking Spot or Bull's Eye as pet names 'cuz of that funny lookin' blob that's smack dab in the middle of your forehead" the other dog smirked.
Desmond growled and opened his mouth to respond but was cut off.
"Clay Kaczmarek" Sixteen said curtly.
"W-what?"
Sixteen rolled his eyes. "Clay Kaczmarek is my name." He said very slowly as if he were talking to a child or someone who was just plain simple; which he basically was if he thought about it.
"Oh! Umm..Desmond Mi-...wait...I already said that, didn't I?" Desmond asked more to himself. "What the fuck is up with me today? I can't seem to hold a decent conversation for shit!" He growled at himself, forgot about the other's presence all together.
"Well I don't know about you Runt" Clay started, smirking at the glare Desmond threw his way for using that name. "but this is the most decent convo I've had for a while. Seeing how Fifteen is...well...never mind. Just forget that, I didn't say anything 'kay?" Sixteen said with a crooked smiled. "How 'bout we finish another round of 20 questions? Clay suggested. "'Cuz I can see it on your face that you still got some more to ask"
Desmond closed his eyes and tried to come up with a question. There were a lot of things that he wanted to ask but he couldn't seem to think of anything because of the jumbled mess of thoughts running around inside his head.
'How long has he been here? 'How long will I be here? Why did this happen to me? Why is he being so nice to me? What the hell did they do to him? What happen to his leg?' Desmond wanted to ask all of these questions and more but all that came out was,
"So..um..what type of dog are you...or..were you?"
"I'm still the same dog, well mostly" Clay chuckled motioning to his stump of a leg. "Just a bit banged up. Lucy patched me up as best as she could."
"Lucy?"
"She's Vidic's assistance. Y'know, the blond chick with the bun who carried you in here?" Desmond opened his mouth to respond but the larger dog cut him off. "Anyways, I'm an Anatolian Shepherd. I was a guard dog for a farmer out in Idaho until the bastard tried to have me neutered." Clay shuddered as if he were reliving the moment. "But I gave that bastard what he was askin' for." he said with an almost demonic smirk.
Desmond shivered at the look on the other's face. It looked scarier than he believed it should have due to the horrible scars.
"Do i want to know what you did to the poor guy?" The Min Pin asked, preparing for the worst answer he could possibly get.
"I nearly killed the bastard!" Sixteen howled with laughter. "I bit and tore his skin like it was paper! I'm surprised they were able to recognize him, let alone save his life. He howled even louder causing Desmond to look down and whimper.
"I really didn't need that mental image." Desmond whined under his breath.
Clay stop laughing so fast that Desmond thought he had killed over. Looking up to make sure that wasn't true; he was taken aback by the Anatolian Shepherd's glare. A glare that was being directed towards him.
"Wha-"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Clay said bitterly. "I didn't know defending yourself from getting your dick chopped off was frowned apron." He snarled.
"W-wha are you-" Desmond tried to say before he was cut off again.
"I mean seriously! Who would've thought I'd get myself locked up? Clay asked to no one in particular. "Let me tell ya, I sure as hell didn't!"
"Clay, you have to calm down." Desmond made an effort to soothe the larger dog.
"I wasn't a family dog from the beginning and they could tell from my 'vicious' behavior." Clay was up and pacing...more like hobbling in the room next door. "'Cuz of that little miss hap, they sent me HERE! They said they wanted me and my attitude fixed. WELL LOOK HOW FIXED UP I AM NOW!" he all but roared. "WHO THE FUCK IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANTS TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE ME DESMOND?! HUH...DESMOND?! WHO?!
Desmond shrunk back and flattened his ears against the thunderous bark of the Anatolian Shepherd.
"I don't know." he squeaked.
"EXACTLY!" the other dog shouted. "I'm what even the toughest, meanest, bad ass muthafucker sees in their nightmares! THEIR NIGHTMARES DESMOND! And it's all THEIR FAULT! AND THEY WONDER WHY I FIGHT BACK EVERY TIME!" Sixteen drew in a breath before continuing. "JUST WAIT RUNT. YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT SOON ENOUGH!"
Desmond had had enough of this shit! He shot up and raced to the see through wall before yelling back at the larger dog.
"JUST WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO THROW YOUR ANGER AT ME?!" he exclaimed. "I DIDN'T ASK TO HEAR YOUR LIFE STORY OR YOUR FUCKED UP PROBLEMS! YET YOU BARKED AT ME LIKE I WAS THE ONE WHO HURT YOU! BUT I'M NOT!" he finished a little out of breath. "Besides, I don't think you look that scary. Sure, you're not so easy on the eyes but that doesn't mean I can't like you." Desmond said with shrug.
Clay went quiet after that and just turned his back to Desmond and laid down. He didn't say anything to Min Pin for a long time; Desmond started to forget about the whole ordeal as he got ready for bed.
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Next Morning
Desmond shot up from his place on his doggy bed and looked around hysterically. He was breathing hard and shaking slightly due to the nightmare he just experienced.
'Damn...I can't even remember what it was about.' Desmond thought as only bits and pieces of the nightmare flashed through his mind. He shook his body, as if trying to shake off the fear the fighting dream left behind, before walking over to the doggy bowl filled with water and food. He lapped at the water tiredly, not really having the appetite to eat anything considering the situation he was in. Which reminded him about his friend in the room next door.
'Should I say friend? Does he think of me as a friend? Maybe companion? Comrade or buddy? Chum is a possibility...right?' Desmond mused as he turned to look at Sixteen.
The Anatolian Shepherd was still laying down, most likely asleep, with his back towards Desmond. Did the Min Pin really offend the larger dog so much? He just sighed before turning his attention back to the water in front of him.
"Y'know, no one's ever said that to me." Clay stated with his back still facing Desmond.
Not being prepared for the sudden statement from the presumably sleeping dog; Desmond said the first thing that came to mind.
"Uhh"
The larger dog rolled its eyes. "I swear Runt. You just want to hear me repeat myself, don't you? Fine then." He huffed as he got up and turned himself so that he was facing Desmond. He flopped down on his stomach before speaking again. "I said, no one's ever said that to me."
"Exactly what is it is it that no one's ever said to you?" Desmond asked, confused as to what Clay is talking about.
"No one's ever said that...that they like me before." The lager dog whispered, bowing his head to look at the floor.
Desmond was shocked. 'How could no one like him? Sure he looks a bit scary and kinda has a strange sense of humor, but i think he's cool.' Desmond said mentally...or so he thought he did.
"Oh stop~, you're making me blush. Clay teased with a chuckle.
"Did I say that out loud?" Desmond blinked rapidly at Clay. The other canine just nodded, looking away from the shorter dog. "Well...I meant what I said. Down to the last word.
"You're just saying that." Sixteen sighed
"Fine then, you're not cool." The Min Pin said nonchalantly.
"What did you say Runt?!" Clay growled out.
"Don't get mad at me! That's what happens when you don't accept a damn compliment! Desmond yapped back. Clay's eyes widened before he looked down again.
"You're right. I'm..I'm sorry" he apologized to Desmond softly. He heard a tap on the wall in front of him. Looking up, he was surprised to Desmond much closer than he was before.
"Hey, I really did mean what I said about you." Desmond started. "I've never had friends before and you're the only person..um..dog that ever took the time to talk to me. So what if you look fucked up." He recieved a glare for that. "The point is that I consider you my friend and therefore, I do like you. As I said before, I think you're a cool dog. He finished with a lop sided smile.
Clay blinked up at him and looked into his eyes in search of the lie that wasn't there. He looked at Desmond for a while and Desmond never let go of his gaze.
"Thank you Desmond. I-I like you too." The Anatolian Shepherd said almost shyly. Desmond's smile only grew bigger at the statement. He opened his mouth to respond but the sound of the door slamming open cut him off.
"Good morning Mr. Miles. Did you sleep well?" Vidic asked in an uncharacteristically cheery voice. Desmond just snorted. "Ah, that's good because you have a long day ahead of you." he said as two boy humans wearing those white uniforms walked into the room. Desmond backed away from the three humans, getting an uneasy feeling about the situation. "Grab him." Vidic instructed to the two boy humans. Before they could even take a step closer to Desmond, Clay began barking thunderously.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM YOU PIECE OF SHITS! HE'S TO YOUNG FOR YOUR FUCKED UP EXPERIMENTS! HOW CAN YOU ALL EVEN THINK OF DOING SOMETHING SO HORRIBLE TO A PUPPY! A PUPPY YOU SICK BASTARDS! he howled. Desmond heard a gasp from behind Vidic and noticed that Ms. Stillman..er..Lucy was also here.
"I've never seen Clay act like this!" she said stunned. "Maybe something changed. Should we take him back in to see what happened?" She asked tentatively towards Vidic with a tiny glint of hope for Desmond shinned in her eyes.
"Hmm, perhaps we should." Vidic said, snapping his fingers. The two boy humans turned and left his room, heading to the room next door. Desmond's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.
"CLAY! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" he yelled at his friend.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?! I'M SAVING YOUR LIFE!" Clay barked back as the two humans entered his room.
"B-but...WHY?!" Desmond shouted, feeling tears build up in his eyes as one of the humans wrapped a rope around Clay's neck and his friend didn't even try to fight back.
"Because...I always wanted a friend. And now that I got one, I won't let anything bad happen to them if I can do something about it." He said with a sad smile as they dragged him towards the door.
"Let's go Ms. Stillman." Desmond heard Vidic say. "Consider yourself lucky Mr. Miles. Seems like you get another day off." he said but Desmond didn't even acknowledge him as he was too busy watching his friend being drag out of the door like a sack of potatoes. He heard Lucy apologize again before his door closed shut.
"I guess I'll see you around Runt." Clay said, trying to chuckle but ended up coughing due to the rope around his neck. The sight caused Desmond's tears to run free. "*cough* Hmm..maybe not."
"C-Clay?...hic" Desmond whimpered.
"Goodbye Desmond." The Anatolian Shepherd said sorrowfully. One lone tear fell down his cheek as he was dragged out completely, the door slamming shut behind him and his captors.
That was the last time Desmond ever saw Clay Kaczmarek.
End of Chapter 3 (TBC)
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Author's Notes
So sorry for the late update. *Bows deeply* oTL
Grades for report cards were due on Friday so I spent most of the week turning in late work and/or retaking test in order to raise my grade. Got my report card today and got 4 C's! Not so bad in my opinion. *shrugs* But that's what happens when you do everything at the last minute.
YAY! FOR PROCRASTINATION!
Anyways, hope this chapter turned out well. Tell me your thoughts on it 'cuz I love reading comments. :)
[#]Hello this is her Editor (sister) also if you can review and tells us what she can improve on, that would be nice. Thanks for reading [#]
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