A/N I finally decided to write a story on Thrax's childhood. I'll also continue through "Almira's Story", showing his POV on meeting Almira. I don't own Thrax; he belongs to Warner Bros. I DO own his surname, his family, and other characters you don't recognize from Osmosis Jones.

thebigcrunchone9: Thanks :) Fine by me.

Chapter 17

When they got back to the warehouse, Preemer, Hangnail, and Puncher were gone. Thrax figured they had gone to a bar on the finger scar, as usual. So he decided to spend some time with Almira. They spent the whole day sitting on a hill together; she had crawled onto his lap at one point. Thrax also told her about his occupation, his chain, and the role it plays in killing a body. She listened intently with perked-up ears and wide, curious eyes.

That night, he was sitting in a bar with Preemer. Hangnail and Puncher had returned to the warehouse and told the Red Death virus Preemer wanted him at the bar, and that they would watch the hyena. Thrax figured it would be more of Almira watching the thugs than the other way around, but he didn't say anything. He just gave Almira a goodbye-pat, and left for the bar.

Preemer had a highly-alcoholic drink, while Thrax chose an Insulin Shot. Preemer gave him a funny look, but shrugged it off. "So, you takin' care of my hyena, hmm?" Preemer asked.

"Yep," Thrax nodded, fiddling with his chain; it became a habit for him to play with his chain. "She's doin' real good. She's not so skinny, an' she's buildin' muscles. She has her scars, but I think that'll make her intimidating."

"The boys told me you've given her a name too," The cowboy germ said slyly. "'Almira,' was it? An' a purple collar?"

Thrax sighed softly. "Yeah, so what if I did? Ya didn't say I couldn't name her, or that I couldn't put a collar on her. You just said I had to help care for her."

"Yer right; I didn't. But I also never wanted ya to soften her up."

"She ain't soft. She still tries to bite you an' yer 'boys,' don't she?"

"But she don't try to bite you anymore."

"So? I'm the one who's takin' care of her. If you or the others had cared for her for the past few weeks, Almira'd be tame 'round you too. And yeah, I've decided to name her. Problem?" Thrax gave Preemer a challenging expression.

"Yeah, it is! An' fer two reasons: one, she's my hyena; two, if ya name her, yer gonna get attached, and wanna take 'er with ya!"

Thrax was about to say something, but the words died before they could leave his mouth. Preemer was right; he was becoming attached to Almira. He had been considering her as his pet, even though it wasn't the case. And when Preemer brought it up, Thrax felt somewhat crushed that he wouldn't be seeing Almira ever again. Because he couldn't take her with him.

Seeing Thrax's conflicted expression, Preemer gave a nod. "I knew it. I knew havin' you care fer the hyena was a bad idea. But I somehow trusted you, an' then you go an' tame 'er. I oughta turn you to the Immunity."

Thrax didn't think much about the threat at the time, thinking it was drunk talk.

The next morning, Thrax found himself standing near Almira's training pen with Preemer; Almira herself was lying near the open gate. Preemer herself didn't realize it, nor did he care. "So, it's finally happenin' huh?" He asked with a grin.

"That's right," Thrax nodded. "Almira's feelin' better, so I'm gettin' back on track."

"Almira?" Thrax rolled his eyes and nodded at the hyena; even sober, Preemer didn't like referring to the hyena by her given name. "Oh, whatever. Well, don't get caught by the coppers."

"I'll try not to." The Red Death virus chuckled, swinging his chain around his wrist. "Well, better get goin'." But as he began to walk away, something held him back by the back of his coat. When he stopped and looked over his shoulder, Almira was gripping the bottom of his coat in her mouth, staring up at him with a sad expression.

Crushing the guilty feeling, Thrax turned around, causing her to drop his coat from her mouth, and bent on one knee so he was at her level. "Aw, Almira," He sighed, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You knew this day was comin'. An' anyway, I can't take you with me. You belong here, fightin' dogs; not runnin' from cops 24/7." He stroked her head. He felt horrible for leaving her here to get abused again, and for saying she was only a fighting animal. But what else could he do? This was the right thing to do. "Just remember what I said: be tough and alert, and stay on your toes. Can you do that?"

She nodded solemnly, not seeming offended that he said she belonged in a dog-fighting ring. "Good." He nodded, smiling. Then, surprising Preemer, and himself, he wrapped his arms around Almira's neck and shoulders. Almira laid her paw and chin on one of his shoulders, and leaned the side of her head against his. "Make Big Daddy Thrax proud." He whispered, letting her go and standing. Petting her head for the last time, he turned around to finally leave. He felt tears beginning to fall down his cheeks. Sniffling slightly, he wiped his face and just kept walking away, never looking back.

Thrax kept his mind off of his sadness by going through his plot to get another hypothalamus bead into his collection. While his germ thugs made a distraction—he honestly didn't care what the distraction was, as long as it was good enough to keep the guard cells busy—he ran into the brain, rode the elevator to the appropriate level, and made his way through the shadows to hypothalamus gland. But once he sliced open the door, he got a big surprise. Two big Immunity white blood cells were there to meet him, as though they knew he was coming.

"We thought we'd find you here." One of them said, brandishing a plasma gun.

"Keep your hands in the air, and nobody gets hurt." The other said, copying his friend.

Thrax only gave a crooked grin and said, "That sounds fine…not!" With that, he ran for the chamber.

The Immunity cells shot at the swiftly-moving virus, though being careful not to hit the hypothalamus chamber. At some point, Thrax managed to get to the chamber. When that happened, he quickly made a hole in the protoplasm; by luck, the bead was right there for the taking. But when he grabbed it, one of the Immunity cops punched him across the face, making him drop it.

Thrax jumped back, briefly rubbing his jaw. Forgetting the bead, he fought back, temporarily forgetting he had his claw; instead, he used his fists. as he fought, one question ran through his head: how did the Immunity know he was going to come here? Ignoring the question, he finally raised his burner claw up high over his head. But just as he was about to kill the cop, something came thundering into the room. All three of them looked to see an orange and red hyena run in. Almira!

A/N I know it's short, and I left out a scene, but I didn't feel like writing out the latter, and I'm trying to get this and "Queen of the Sanctuary" finished.