It almost felt like a dream with how messed up everything turned out to be later that day. It was 8:12 at night and Saoirse was hiding in the alley, alone. She held her leash tight, not daring to take it off her collar. She hardly felt brave enough to venture out this late from her hiding spot – which was only becoming more dangerous as the night fell.

The building she had run from was a block or so away. Katz was still in there. What was he doing? It had been four hours since he decided to slip in. It was the primal time, he said, since everyone was going home. He thought the Terriers might be there, somewhere.

Why? Saoirse had been so thrilled at the prospect of her owners that she didn't think to ask. Hope and excitement had traveled through her veins, replacing her blood – reasoning and logic would only dampen it. Now, however, she was wishing she had asked Katz.

She was wishing she had asked Katz quite a few questions, like what to do in an event like this.

Truth be told, she didn't recall the exact location of the motel, which was a few miles outside of town. It made sense that it should be, given that it was full of horrifying spiders and a front for Katz' real business – whatever that was at the time. Even if she did know the location, she couldn't roam this cruel, harsh city without an owner on the end of her leash. She'd only wind up in the pound or worse.

As horrible and stupid as it sounded…she needed to get Katz.

The next question to her solution was, how?

The answer would later be seen as an adventure, but, at the time, a suspenseful event. Through much daring and even more luck, Saoirse managed to sneak into the building, fool some guards, and free Katz. Yes, 'free' him.

When she had entered the room that had been guarded, he lay on the floor in a makeshift lab-cell. It was horrifying and eerie to see. For better or worse, he had been mostly unconscious when she unlocked the cage. Thankfully it didn't squeak. When she had pulled him out, he had just enough awareness to move his feet although he had to rely on Saoirse to guide him.

Once with him tossed into the truck, the human took the driver's seat and sped off without much of a destination in mind. She had no idea where the hotel was – there was no way she'd recall landmarks at night – but they couldn't just stay still.

A fourth of a tank later and rounding another curvy, woodsy road, there was a noise next to her. Saoirse looked over to see Katz slowly come to back to normal self. There was an odd sensation of relief in her. "Where are you going, you blasted girl?" Katz managed to groan out as he sat up, no longer slouching uncharacteristically against the seatbelt.

The moon was higher than before – how long had she been mindlessly driving? "I don't know." She confessed, grimacing at how her voice cracked. In between the terror and the physical activity, Saoirse really hadn't had a chance to parch her thirst. "I didn't know where the hotel was. I just knew we had to get out of the city after…" She dared to glance over at him. She startled slightly to see his glowing yellow eyes studying her in the darkness. Damn him.

Neither spoke for a few minutes. It was only when they passed a sign that Katz nodded, then winced in regret. "Take that exit."

"To where?"

He gave Saoirse a dull stare. "To the motel, of course."

Much to both of their displeasure, Saoirse had to help Katz walk from the truck to the room. Luckily for her and her frayed nerves, no spiders greeted their master. With the door locked and Katz resting on the bed, she went to the bathroom to wash. She felt filthy from the dry sweat and humidity.

"We need to talk." He stated as she walked past him. Whatever he had suffered – which she wondered if he'd ever tell her – clearly left him weak still. What poisons coursed through his system?

"I need to shower first, then I can help you with…" that was a thought she rather not finish speaking. To help Katz bathe? She crinkled her nose.

The human turned on the shower and went to grab a towel, glancing in the mirror to see how wild and filthy her hair was. She thought she heard Katz again – "Girl" – to get her attention, but she ignored him. If he was weak right now, she would take advantage of it, the future be damned. At least until she calmed down, that was…after all, there was still the matter of…

"Saoirse." Hearing her name leave his lips made her pause, towel just tossed over the shower rod when he spoke it. Slowly, she walked over to the doorway. There was something somber in his expression, cold but not quite his usual chill. "It's about the Terriers."

Saoirse's heart leapt. Shower and nerves forgotten, perhaps surprised even that he would so willingly speak of her owners, she stepped forward. "Did you find them?" Her throat felt dryer than before. If her owners were in that building, if she had missed them just by a room, a hallway, she was determined to go back – tonight. The more chaos allowed them a chance for escape. Given tonight, she was certain they'd tighten security now. "We have to go back, we…"

Before she could get too far in her excitement, Katz said plainly, "The Terriers are dead." Maybe it was a trick of the light and the mischief of the harsh shower behind her, but his eyes seemed to soften and a whisper left his lips. "I am sorry, dear girl."