Should he have been so cold?
That thought rang through his mind as he walked away from the freezer area to the lunch room. However he noticed something odd… there were a wall of crates placed in front closet route to his cage. "What the heck?" Fighter spout out. He'd have to take the long way. Still, it was concerning that the crates were here now. Not many of the inhabitants could lift these crates, his first thoughts would have been to assume that the humans may have moved it, but he knew better. He decided to walk back the way he came.
Back with Mike
"Damn it, I'm a-hole." Mike sighed as bit into his carrot.
He picked a sore spot for his companion and he just he had to push his buttons. But he felt that he needed to vent, not like anyone else there would care about him. He heard a rustle above him, a jackal jumped down from the crates, it had it's back toward the mouse. Clyde rose an eyebrow as he turned his head to face him. "What do we have here, aren't you supposed to be dead?" he asked.
"Freakin' perfect." Mike got up and readied himself.
The bear walked toward the freezer area. He sighed. This was...childish.
He knew that but he felt terrible not just for Mike, but himself as well. This problem stayed with him, he would try to be happy for not only himself, but Mike as well. He didn't always have to act out though, there were genuine moments of joy he felt with Mike, and to some extent others as well. But unfortunately for him problems like this lingered in his mind. His ears perked up as he heard a noise from the area mike and him were eating.
Clyde cornered the mouse, he had no where to run.
Damn it, I really have to stop getting cornered by these chumps. Mike thought.
"End of the line rodent." Clyde said as he got closer.
"Like I haven't heard that line before, got anything better, pup?" He smirked.
"You'll be dead soon." He replied sharply.
"Which is exactly what you'll be if you lay a finger on him." A low voice stated behind him.
Clyde turned his head and growled annoyed, Fighter was right behind them. Don't you have the perfect timing. He thought
"Look, I don't have time to waste—it's him or me—and like I me more than anyone else here, so..."
"I think I have a better offer, friend." he gritted his teeth in anger but he held his composure.
Unless he got an unlimited bag of dog treats, I ain't budging. He held out a cellphone. The dog tilted his head to the side quizzically, "You gonna take pictures of me mauling your friend or..." He turned his eyes to his prey.
"This thing has information that your boss would want, I'm trading it for the safety of my friend, deal?"
"You realize I could easily kill him and run right? Why would I-" He turned his head to notice Fighter managed to get unreasonably close to him quickly, he was staring face to face with him, he could be dead ringer for Malcolm if he wasn't …
"If you kill him. I don't care how far you run: it would only delay the inevitable. Why make your life shorter and filled with constant fear? Let him go and I give you the device, it's simple. Besides... ' His voice remained monotone as he had murderous glare, it was almost emotionless, his anger was noticeable and he gave a look that told the receiver: Don't test me.
"He's Mine." He growled.
Clyde stepped away from the bear slowly, "Good your smart. Here." He threw the phone at the dog and caught it in his teeth.
This better be worth it… Clyde quickly ran to the bathroom phone in maw. The bear turned to the mouse, his face still had the glare.
Mike watched him walk to toward him the mouse had worried expression on his face. He didn't know what to think. "If you think I'll go down without a fight your dead wron-" He saw his face and stopped, he had tears in his eyes. His ears drooped.
"All the shit we been through, you really think I'd kill ya?" He stated trying to smile.
Mike smirked, "When you make a face like that…"
"You shouldn't, I'm sorry... fratello."
"Huh? The heck's that supposed to…"
"Brother, your more than a friend to me and I've been a selfish dick. Also sorry for calling you property earlier." he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Don't sweat it, I'm glad your ok is all." The bear then picked him up and placed him on his head causing the mouse to narrow his brow.
"Dude, I can walk on my own, chill." he said.
"Not taking any chances plus there's something I gotta do and I need to make sure your safe."
"What are you-"
"Need to make a visit to the john."
"…" He clearly didn't get the lingo. "Bathroom, j-just let me have this moment."
"Whatever, you little weirdo."
….
The bathroom was in shambles as Malcolm held Tali by her throat,"I don't take failure well, Tali. We both know that."
Water trailed down the bear's feet it came from one of the stalls. A toilet was cracked down the middle as the water spurted from it. The tiles of the bathroom as well were scratched from the fray. She struggled as she clawed at his finger tips but he wasn't letting go. He sustained minimal damage at best from the fight prior, the most noticeable being the scratch around his right eye. She on the other hand was tired and battered. He tightened his grip as she glared at the bear, defiant till the end.
"Cheer up, Your brother should be happy when I-"
"Bppsss!" Clyde shouted with his mouth full as he came into the room. He looked at the damage and dropped the phone of out his mouth to speak."What couldn't reach the toilet in time?" He joked.
Malcolm gave a flat expression and nonchalantly threw the mongoose to the wall, the tile cracked upon impact and she was knocked out cold. "Is the mouse dead this time?" He asked spitting out blood on the groud.
"...Noooo, but I have something better?" He sounded unsure as he pointed to the phone.
"...A phone?"
Clyde nodded his head
"A phone?" He repeated.
"Yes..." He gave him a blank look, and picked up the phone to inspect it. "The only reason your not dead right now is because I'm curious myself..." He flipped open the phone and noticed the picture it was on. He stared at it pensively…He stared at it in silence—His brow narrowed and he then crushed the top portion of the phone. He threw it over where Tali's body was.
Clyde went wide eyed he noticed the mongoose unmoving, He tensed up… Shit. He slowly tried to walk passed him. Unfortunately for him Malcolm wasn't going to let him go so easily, he was grabbed by his neck. "I admit that phone was important, but you disobeyed me...I've decided that none of you will die today, you still have use. However, I think I need some...stress relief." He smiled grimly at his victim then looked at the crowbar in the bathroom, it had a bit of red on it. "Just like old times, my little pup". He reached for it and grinned.
….
Fighter sneaked back to the bathroom area as he hid behind some crates. He tried to listen from a far to hear anything from the room, but there was nothing? He hadn't bother going in because he didn't want to be alone with polar bear. He knew from the get-go he seemed off. He heard foot steps slowly getting louder.
Tap Tap Tap
He saw the polar bear walk out of the room, hands behind his back with bits of red on his paws as he walked away from the room with a satisfied smile. This didn't feel right at all. He had to wait just in case he decided to come back. Even if he knew Tali might be…He shuddered thinking about it.
He entered the room after some time passed and what greeted him made his heart sink. Both of his cohorts were beaten within an inch of their lives, Tali was unconscious, blood dripping from her head, even a piece of fur from the tip of her tail was missing leaving as pink portion out. Clyde could barely stand up, he was scratched up and battered moreover, his eyes were swollen...
The bear walked over to Tali first, he grabbed a piece of paper towel from a stall and crawled up to the tap and let the water run. He patted the wet paper on the mongoose's head before getting some toilet paper from the open stall to wrap on her head as he placed it on her head. This caught the attention of the jackal as he heard the tap run and paper being ripped from the roll… he paused then quickly responded: "Have you come to kill me?' he coughed dryly. "Hope...you...brought friends, b-bitch". He spat out blood on the floor. "I'm ready to die—On my terms...hehehe!" He chuckled grimly, the bravado was ignored by the black bear.
"I doubt Malcolm needs help to kill any of us off." Fighter stated as mater of fact.
"Oh, it's you." His tone grew sour as he recognized the who the voice belonged too. He looked at Clyde, he knew this was his fault. He walked toward the jackal.
"What, came to rub it in?" He stroked the back of Clyde's head as he looked over his head for any more bruises or cuts. He growled annoyed at the unwanted contact, but he didn't stop."If this is a pity party then you can just leave right now!" He scowled his eyes were too swollen to look menacing, Fighter could only see a single brown eye, it didn't stop him from trying.
Yet again, Fighter didn't flinch, nor did he try to leave. This felt familiar to him. No one deserves to be left alone like this. Let alone beaten this badly. He thought.
Clyde shook erratically but maintained his ferocity. He showed his fangs still bloody from his previous bout; his blood or his combatant's there wasn't a clear distinction, but the bitter smell from his mouth wasn't pleasant, it was a pungent aroma. "Nothing can change this, not you, not the rat or that bloody goose!" He stated with venom in his voice, but it sounded quavered. "Get it through your head. We are stuck here: Live with it."
Fighter let the words sink in, then immediately spat out: "So what? Get back up again." A fuse had been lit in the jackal's mind, but it didn't reach it's destination. Whether it was cruel fate or just bad luck the explosion didn't happen. Just a cheap, tired firework.
"Are you in your own little world or has your brain finally went rotten?" He laughed sardonically.
"What's the matter lost your bite?"
"You know why we can't leave."
"Because some poor old dog with his psychotic friend decided to quit and pull everyone down with him?' He patted Clyde's head. "I'd laugh, but there's nothing funny here." The jackal shook at the contact.
"One more, one more time. You do that again and I will bite your face off!" He growled his smoky voice cracked. "Do you think I don't see what's going on here? I don't give a damn if it's 'funny' to you. If you think this small display of kindness will win me over then your as dense as freakin' dodo". He coughed bitterly as he voice became hoarse. "Just because your a 'nicer' version of him doesn't change anything!" He spat out again luckily for him it was just spit and not blood this time.
"Brutality is welcome in a world like this,' He gave a wolf like grin. "In fact it's encouraged. If you think you can give me some friendship rousing bull than you can just leave me here, I don't need that crap." He paused for moment. Why—Why did you let this happen, mama? He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes. "You don't know how wretched this world can be…Just give up—No one will fault you doing so."
He remembered seeing larger jackals in a cage, they didn't even bother to look at him as he was as he was pulled away from them by a human. All while another small bear watched with an almost sickening glee across their face. The small jackal stared at the two as tears dropped from his eyes...They could do nothing as their child was pulled away.
"The world is...complicated, I'm not gonna tell you everything is going to be fine. It's terrible, but that's because we're stuck in difficult place," The bear responded. The jackal scoffed, it was obvious. The bear continued regardless. "We don't have much control here. As far he's concerned we're just toys in his little game," he referred to Malcolm. "But that doesn't mean we have to play fair, does it?"
"Huh?" Clyde responded confused.
"Use your head—it's the most powerful weapon you have that your opponent can't use." He gave a melancholy sigh, "I know you've given up, but let's look it this way: What to do you have to loss trying another time when things look so bleak?"
Failure, Death almost anything in between. Clyde thought as he shook his head dismissively, but then realized that was stupid because of the throbbing pain he felt. The bear noticed. "Do you know where I can find a first aid kit? I dragged on."
"Tch, the stupid humans placed it near the freezer." He nodded as the bear got up and walked out of the bathroom. Clyde held his head in pain, "Stupid cub." He heard groaning from beside him. "
"Ugh, I'm surprised—He didn't kill me?" She tried to stand up but fell back into the wall. She noticed an item next to her.
"Watch it, beauty. Prince charming ain't here right now." he stated.
"Remind me again why I haven't ripped out your ton-" She turned to see his battered form.
She realized that he must of intervened. "You-"
"Look like shit? That happens when a small polar bear with strength of an ox and a freaking crowbar beats the ever loving sh-"
"Why did you do it?" He asked.
He frowned annoyed. "Don't get it twisted, I came in at the wrong time and just took your place. It was a complete accident. And if the roles were reversed and I wasn't like this I'd leave..."
"At least were both alive." She sighed.
"If you call this living." He tapped his eye with his paw, it stung as he winced for a moment.
"Can you not be negative for one min-" She froze at the sound of footsteps.
Tap Tap Tap.
"I found the kit." They both relaxed as they heard his voice.
"Damn it, could you be any more stupid?!" The jackal shouted.
The bear walked up to Tali and gave proper treatment. He wrapped pieces of gauze on her head.
"Not the best, but it's the least I can do." He said.
"Thanks." she rubbed her head. He walked toward Clyde with kit in hand and pulled out an ice-pack. He carefully placed it on his head.
Clyde gave a content sigh. The cold sensation from the ice pack numbed his pain for a moment. The bear pondered for a moment as he looked at his allies. This was it, he knew what had to be done. His words echoed his mind: "No one can live like this do you understand? You deserve better, heck we deserve better!"
He saw the cellphone broken beside Tali and picked it up. "If you wanted a pizza, it's not gonna happen." Clyde said.
"I already said that, you dense dingo." Tali gave a closed smile.
"No, it's still good. Well, the bottom portion anyway. I can still get the voice mail on this thing."
"So?" Clyde shook his head. The bear narrowed his brow, he was getting an idea.
"When's the next fight?" he asked them both.
"This Friday." Clyde responded. "And for once Malcolm is going to participate due to the humans growing a brain and putting all of the heavy hitters first. I dobut they'd bring you though." Clyde tilted his head, he was dubious about where he was going with this.
"I need the both you, if we do this, everyone can leave here, it will take some time." He inhaled deeply, and turned his head to Tali. "Do you trust me?" She nodded and looked at Clyde.
"Got nothing better to do." he said. Pity party just got it's third member.
"I need your tail." Fighter said flatly.
"Buy her dinner first, hehe!" Clyde retorted as he chuckled in pain.
They both rolled their eyes."I need a piece of it...it's ok if you don't…." Without hesitation, she slashed the exposed bit of her tail off. Blood dripped on the floor as he quickly wrapped her tail up to stop the bleeding.
He was surprised she noticed and spoke. "I won't hesitate, if there's an opportunity to get out of here than I'm taking it. I trust you. Now."
He blushed for a moment,"Thank you. We have work to do till Friday comes, here's the plan…." He started to write something on the ground.
"What the hell is that?" Clyde asked as he saw the a few a words on the ground and a crudely drawn diagram.
"Just tell us, it'll be easier for him". Tali stated as the jackal scowled. The bear sighed as he started to tell them his plan.
Later that night.
The lone cub carried a small box with him as he enter his cage. The mouse stirred for a moment as he looked at him tired."Hey kid..." The bear sighed and looked at his companion addressing him.
Fighter responded first. "I want to apologize for before, I was… an idiot. I shouldn't have lashed out on you."
"It was as sore spot man, it's stupid for me to bring up." The mouse twirled his whiskers bashfully.
"Some scars don't heal I guess."
"They don't heal at all." Mike said flatly pointing to the one on his cheek. He sheepishly looked away from him a moment, then clutched his fist.
"I shouldn't have placed blame on anyone—Especially Locke before."
"And what about-' He paused but the bear picked up where he left off. Clearly avoiding the question.
"The others were badly injured but they'll manage.' He smiled. ' I have a plan chum, I just need you to do one thing." He gave a Cheshire cat grin.
"What?"
"Play dead." He was still smiling.
"… I swear if this is a euphemism for bitch, I'm punching you in the balls." Mike frowned annoyed.
"Eh, it's about your speed".
The mouse glared at his friend. "Sorry, wanted the last word".
"You lovable-ass". He stated.
