Chapter 9 - Dogs
Cloud pulled up to the house. "Well, this is my place." he said, helping his passenger out of the side car.
"It's . . . interesting." the woman replied, following Cloud up to the door.
"I'm home!" Cloud called as he stepped in. Without much thought, he caught the twins as they came running over and gave them both hugs. "So, how'd things go?" he asked.
"It went ok." Len replied. He spotted the girl. "Who's this?"
"This is Selphie, my girlfriend." Cloud replied. "Selphie, these are Len and Rin Kagamine."
"Hi." smiled Rin. She circled around Selphie once, then looked at Cloud. "Cloud, why's she have silver hair?"
Cloud winced, letting the girl know she'd said something wrong.
"My father had silver hair." Selphie replied. "It got it from him." She looked at Cloud. "So, who exactly are these two?"
"They're the twins I told you about." Cloud replied. "I've mentioned them every time I see you at work."
"Oh, that's right. I thought they were younger." Selphie said.
Len took Rin's hand. "Come on. Let's leave Cloud with his girlfriend for a bit."
"Ok." Rin followed Len outside where the dogs were playing. It was a warmer fall day, so there was no need for a jacket, and they were both wearing shorts. The dogs were lively, so there was no need to worry. Or think there could be a few extra . . .
"Aah!" Rin screamed as a wild dog jumped at her, snarling and biting her arm.
Len turned. "Rin!" He tried to get to her, but the dog wasn't alone. Another dog attacked Len, and even as Rin managed to beat the first dog off her, a third bit her upper leg.
Cloud came out of the house to see what the screams were about. Grabbing the broom, Cloud hit the wild dogs away from the twins, even as his own dogs tried to fight them off. Eventually, the three wild ones ran off, tails between their legs.
Cloud tried to pick the children up, but one child was already an armful. "Selphie, I need help! Selphie!" When she didn't come, Cloud realized she'd left him during the commotion. Desperate to get them in before the blood attracted other unwelcome guests, Cloud lifted each under an arm and hurried in.
"Come on." Cloud whispered as he put the twins to bed and tried to dial Reno and Elena. "Pick up." There was no answer. Looking over at the frightened children, Cloud turned to the only other person he could think of at the time.
"Hello?"
"Tifa I need help!" Cloud practically shouted. "They're hurt, I need help, there's blood everywhere!"
"I'll be right over." The phone went dead, and Cloud checked on both children again before leaving a first aid kit with Rin.
"Someone's coming to help you, alright?" Cloud said, brushing the hair back from Rin's face.
The girl nodded, just before the knock on the door. She watched him leave, and tried to stay calm.
Tifa was at the door. "What happened this time?" she asked.
"Wolves." Cloud replied. "They got in with the dogs, and kids got bitten. I can't help Rin, the bites are, well, not somewhere I should be touching."
Tifa stepped into the room. "I'll take care of her." she said, shutting the door. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she checked the bites. "Cloud was right, these are kinda high up." she said, noting the tears in the clothing. Taking a cloth and some antiseptic wash, the brunette began to clean the wounds.
"Ow!" Rin gasped.
"Sorry." Tifa kept cleaning the wounds. "This wouldn't have happened if you and your brother had just come to stay with me."
"Stop ragging on him." Rin said, sitting up a little so Tifa could properly tend to her arm. "Cloud's doing everything he can for us. It was our fault for not noticing there were more than six dogs."
Tifa was quiet a moment as she wrapped the bandage around Rin's arm. "Did he tell you about Denzel?"
"Yeah." The girl wobbled a bit where she sat.
"Lie down." Tifa instructed, leaning Rin back. "And?"
"He's trying to teach us. And when he knows he'll be away over dinner, he's got stuff ready for us, or someone comes to cook with us. He's trying his best." Rin blinked slowly, getting tired from the injuries.
"Rest, alright?" said Tifa. She stood and closed the first aid kit before stepping out. "Oh." she said, seeing Cloud standing out in the hallway.
"So, how is she?" Cloud asked.
"It was good that you called someone over." Tifa said, putting the kit down. "So, how's her brother, Len?"
"Kid's not as strong as he tries to be, but he should be alright." Cloud replied. "Thanks, Tifa."
"For what?"
"Coming out to help. I appreciate it."
"Well, you are trying to do better with these two, right? It'd be wrong to turn you away when you ask for help, then."