Acquaintances
[We open with a fade into the sky, before panning down on the forest. The sounds of birds and the soft breeze accompany the scene as the camera pans over several shots of the otherwise peaceful environment. Unlike the busy, bustling city or the railway that runs like clockwork or even the marine vessels running up and down the coast, the flora and fauna of Anima are one of its most sacred aspects. So much so that anyone could live it if they choose to. Although some people don't have a choice in the matter, such was the case of Drago Wolf. Following the events of "Retaliation", he and the other members of the Destructix and the Anti-Mobius gang split up after the authorities raided their old base at Hemlock. The group was now scattered around different parts of the island, Drago, along with Sleuth Dawg, had taken refuge in a cave close to the mountains. It had been a long time since either of them had seen society, let alone anyone who wasn't each other. Then again, if they were to go back, it's safe to say that things would not go smoothly, given their reputations speak for themselves]
[The scene cuts to the white wolf and brown dog waking up in the morning. Drago is the first to awaken and mumbles himself into action]
Drago: [yawns and then smacks his lips groggily] Oooooooh, god, what a night…
[Drago looks over at Sleuth laying down next to him, and gives him a nudge]
Drago: Hey…wake up…time to get us some breakfast…
[Sleuth stirs sleepily]
Sleuth: Hrrrrrrr…it's your turn, I'm still sleepin'...
Drago: Oh, c'mon, I'm too tired to go out now…
Sleuth: I don't care…just get out there…
[Sleuth turns on his side away from Drago. The white wolf sighs dramatically]
Drago: Fine, I'll get it…
[Reluctantly, Drago pulls himself up and heads towards the entrance of the cave. He looks back at Sleuth and sneers]
Drago: Lazy bastard…
Sleuth: [without opening his eyes] I heard that!
Drago: Aaaaah, shut up.
[With a moody disposition, Drago snorts out of the cave and heads out into the forest]
[Meanwhile, further to the West, we see a log cabin sitting in the middle of a ring of trees, smoke is seen coming out from the chimney. Inside, it's a rather quaint place, with makeshift furniture including a table, chairs, couch, and the whole nine. A bed with straw as a mattress and a collection of leaves as a pillow can be seen to the right while to the left, a fireplace has been stoked with a pot made of stone hanging off to the side. At that moment, someone steps into frame, we only see their legs as they don a pair of green boots with yellow socks, before the camera pans up to reveal a reddish-orange furry body accompanied by a green jacket, the full reveal shows an arctic wolf holding out a spoon to taste whatever's inside of the pot. A notable feature is the letter "G" embedded on the side of his jacket. The wolf smacks his lips and then nods]
Guntiver: Right, that's good enough, I think…
[Guntiver reaches over to the counter to pick up a mug and then uses the spoon to reach into the pot. He then pours the liquid into the mug, stirring it a little bit before putting it to his mouth for a sip. The lupine smacks his lips when he removes the drink]
Guntiver: Heh, not bad for a morning brew.
[Guntiver sets the mug down on the table and gives a sigh. He then looks out the window, open to let the fresh air in]
Guntiver: You know, it's not all that bad out here, at least it's peaceful.
[He pauses, as if to reflect on something]
Guntiver: Then again, it is a bit lonely…
[Guntiver looks over to a shelf, several items are placed from left to right; tool kit, watch, goggles, spare gloves, and a necklace with a photo inside. The wolf approaches the shelf and looks down at the necklace. The oval picture contains himself in the center; to his left, Augustus the Polar Bear, and Sealia the Seal, to his right; Erma the Ermine, and Flip the Penguin. He sighs looking down at his absent team]
Guntiver: Wherever you guys are…please be safe…
[At that moment, a rumble is heard. Guntiver turns up, and then looks down as the sound comes again]
Guntiver: Aaaaaah, that explains it…
[Guntiver looks over to the cupboard to find any reserve food left, but it's completely empty]
Guntiver: Well…guess I'd better go out and fetch it myself.
[With that remark, Guntiver goes over to the shelf to pick up his kit, and then goes over to his bed to collect a basket. He then proceeds to the front door and out of the cabin, walking down the steps and into the forest]
[The scene cuts back to Drago as he trudges through the trees]
Drago: Honestly, you'd think after getting my old body back, things would finally start looking up. But nooooooo, I have to be on the run once more living like a caveman. It's a disgrace, I swear, if I see any doctors again, I'm gonna give 'em what for!
[Drago gives an incredulous huff to make his point clear, and then notices that no one else is around]
Drago: Great…how far have I fallen that I'm talking to myself? Well, I suppose it can't get any worse than being everyone's punching bag, at least that's settled down. What I wouldn't give to see them again, just so I can knock the lights outta their eyes…
[Drago's complaining can be heard from about a few yards away. Two robins in a tree look down on the white wolf, one of them mimics the lupine's rattling while the other tries to hold back its laughter]
Drago: …And on top of that, they can't stop bootlicking the monarchy, as if they don't stick their noses into other people's business or act holy than thou. What good have they ever done?
[A squirrel in a tree hears the wolf coming and casts an annoyed look at his wincing. It reaches into its burrow to grab something]
Drago: I tell you, if I ever go back, there's gonna be some changes while I'm around, first, I'll-AH!
[An acorn hits Drago on the head]
Drago: What the?!
[Another acorn lands on his forehead, and then another on his nose. It cuts to the squirrel chittering something that Drago can't make out before going back into its burrow]
Drago: Gaaaaah, stupid squirrels…stupid birds, stupid…everything…
[Drago pouts as he continues on his way, more subdued than before. It cuts to him arriving at a river, several sticks have swept up on the shore]
Drago: Oooookay, time to get to work, or else Sleuth will never let me hear the end of it…
[Drago steps into the river and begins to look around for any fish to carry back. For a while, nothing seems to catch his eye]
Drago: C'mon, c'mon, you gotta be kidding me, there's gotta be some fish in this stupid river…
[Following no further success in his current position, Drago groans dramatically]
Drago: Uuuuuuuuuuuuugh…maybe upriver will have more luck, I'm starvin' here.
[Drago pulls himself out from the water and makes his way down South. The scene then cuts to almost a mile away where Guntiver is picking berries from a bush, and setting them down in the basket. His ears flicker at the sound of audible grumbling coming from behind him]
Guntiver: Huh? What's that?
[Guntiver picks up the basket and kit and slowly makes his way over to where he heard the noise. From behind a set of bushes, Guntiver sees the river, and from his left side, no one is there. That is until he looks right and notices a tall white wolf muttering to himself as he tries to collect fish from the river]
Guntiver: Oh…who's he? I don't think I've seen him around these parts…perhaps I should…go over…
[Cautiously, Guntiver steps out from the brush and stops before the other side of the river. Drago is several feet away with his back turned, so he doesn't notice his eavesdropping company. As Guntiver slowly walks closer to Drago, his eyes look the other lupine over]
Guntiver: Huh…not bad…he surely looks the part…
[Guntiver pauses at what he just said]
Guntiver: I hope I didn't say that out loud…uh, hey there!
[Drago suddenly turns up, and then reels back at the voice]
Drago: What the?!
Guntiver: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you like that.
Drago: I wasn't…startled.
[Drago looks over the red wolf with a curious eye]
Drago: …Don't recall seeing your face around here.
Guntiver: Heh, could say the same for you.
Drago: [thinking] "Looks the part…yeah, I can work with this…" [speaking] AHEM, yeah, as I was saying, where do you come from, stranger?
Guntiver: Well, I'm further West, just a mile away from here actually.
Drago: Really? Surprised I haven't seen you then.
Guntiver: I am fairly secluded, my cabin's nestled in between the trees.
Drago: Wait, you've got a cabin? Out here?
Guntiver: Well…yeah, I do. Built it myself.
Drago: …Uh, yeah, you wouldn't mind showing me this place, would you? Well, after I catch myself some fish, been having the worst luck with them.
Guntiver: Is that so? Perhaps I can lend a hand if you wish.
Drago: You'd do that? Wait, this isn't a joke or anything, is it?
Guntiver: Nooooo, why would it be?
Drago: Uhhhhh, nothing, forget what I said. You said you'd help?
Guntiver: Oh, of course, lemme just set my things down here, and I'll be right with you…
[With that remark, Guntiver places his kit and basket on the side of the river and then steps into it to assist Drago. The white wolf reaches down and notices a school of salmon coming their way. He perks up at the sight, but when he tries to catch it, the fish just wiggles up in his hands before slipping back into the water]
Drago: Agh, damn it!
Guntiver: Hold on, just watch me…
[Guntiver leans down as the fish swim towards him…with a careful swipe, two salmon are caught in his paws]
Guntiver: Ah, see! Nothin' much to it.
[Drago snorts, but does appear appreciative of the help regardless. He decides to copy the red wolf's method, and before long, a pile of fish is stacked on the shore]
Guntiver: Right! That looks like it'll do, won't it?
Drago: Huh, not bad, stranger, not bad at all.
Guntiver: Oh! Where are my manners, we didn't get each other's names.
Drago: Yeeeeah, we didn't…
[Drago looks away in a manner he thinks doesn't look awkward - it does]
Guntiver: Well, I'll start; I'm Guntiver, Guntiver the Arctic Wolf.
Drago: Guntiver? Never heard a name like that before…oddly suits you.
Guntiver: Why, thank you, what about you, what's your name?
Drago: My name? I'm Drago.
Guntiver: Drago, eh? Huh…that's an interesting name, I think it suits you too.
Drago: Oh…well, of course it does, after all, someone like me deserves to have a name that fits.
[Drago sticks his muzzle up in a pompous manner. Guntiver chuckles at this]
Guntiver: Hehe, you're a funny guy, aren't you?
[Drago looks surprised by this, but tries to play it off casually]
Drago: Yeeeah, I would say so, my old pack used to call me the regular ace because of how I'd entertain the masses.
Guntiver: Oh, wow, I didn't know that, I can see why.
[Drago is internally flattered, but feels awkward showing it to a stranger, even if he is giving genuine compliments]
Drago: Well…thank you, anyway, shall we get this lot over to your place, I'm dyin' to eat.
Guntiver: Of course, of course, follow me.
[Guntiver and Drago step out from the river and back onto land, where the former leads the latter back to his cabin after he takes his kit and basket while Drago carries the fish. The white wolf is surprised when he first sees the building, let alone how Guntiver seemingly made this all on his own]
Drago: This is yours?
Guntiver: Yep, made it from scratch. Cozy little place, it is.
Drago: I can see why…
[As the two step into the cabin, Drago sees more of the quaint details around the place, a small smile comes across his face]
Drago: Nice place ya' got here…
Guntiver: Thanks. I know the city is several miles away, but I prefer the atmosphere of the forest, it makes me feel more at home, ya' know.
Drago: Yeah…I get that…
[Guntiver sets his things by the table and then removes some of the fish from Drago's hands to place them over the fire to be cooked]
Guntiver: Where did you say you lived?
Drago: Huh? Oh, I live to the East, in a cave, actually.
Guntiver: Oh, is it alright?
Drago: I mean, I've lived in there for a while now, I've gotten used to it. I mean, I'm not alone, I do have a roommate of sorts who I share it with…
[It was at that moment Drago realized he'd completely forgotten about Sleuth and mentally kicked himself]
Drago: Oooooooh, shoot.
Guntiver: What's wrong?
Drago: I was supposed to bring this fish to our cave, but I forgot till just now. [thinking] "Just wait till I get back, I'll get the real ribbing then."
Guntiver: Oh…well, tell you what, I'll finish up with these and you can take the fish back to your place.
Drago: Really, you'd do that?
Guntiver: But, of course, you're my guest, and I wanna treat you like such.
[Guntiver goes over to another basket kept beside his bed, and, with his gloves, puts the fish into the basket for Drago to take back]
Guntiver: There you go, a meal for takeout.
Drago: Huh…thank you…
Guntiver: No problem, have a safe trip back.
Drago: …Yeah, will do.
[As Drago heads out the door, Guntiver watches him go and gives a sigh]
Guntiver: Woulda been nice to share a meal…
[Drago is a few feet away from the cabin as he shares similar feelings. He then looks down and sees several stones on the ground]
Drago: Perhaps…
[Drago picks up the stones in one hand and then begins to set them down behind him, creating a sort of stone trail, using other rocks to keep the trail going before he gets to the river. Upon wadding to the other side, he uses some more rocks along the way, even using a few branches and twigs until he reaches the spot he originally came from. The scene cuts to Sleuth back at the cave chewing on a set of acorns]
Sleuth: For crying out loud, where's the marshmallow gone off to? If he got lost in the woods, it wouldn't surprise me…then again, he'd hardly get far with his sense of direction…god, these acorns are stale.
[At that moment, Drago steps back into the cave and Sleuth looks up at him]
Sleuth: Where the actual hell have you been?
Drago: Would you believe; finding the ticket to a better shelter than this cave?
Sleuth: What are you talkin' about? And where did you get that basket from, and…[sniffs]...is that cooked fish?
Drago: Yup, I just so happened to run into a stranger further west, he helped gather some of this fish, we cooked it, and I brought some of it back here.
Sleuth: Huh, would you look at that, you didn't piss someone off for once.
Drago: Well, when you know how to charm someone, they fall right into your hands just like that.
Sleuth: Yeah, I'm sure, sweetheart, anyways, about time you got the food. Just pass it over here so we can dig in.
[Drago sets the basket down by the bonfire and Sleuth takes a couple of fish out to start eating]
Drago: You know, I was thinking, we should head over to the guy's place for a 'surprise visit' of sorts, repay him for his worth.
Sleuth: You're not planning to make another decoy, are you?
Drago: I thought we were never to speak of that again!
Sleuth: I dunno, it's kinda amusing to see your face when I do.
Drago: We're not even in Mobius anymore! Look, that's not the point, this guy has a cabin, we could make use of that, and from the looks of things, he doesn't mind guests.
Sleuth: Ah, that's something I guess. But what I wanna know is, are you going to keep his trust, or pull the wool over his eyes?
Drago: I'm not as reckless as I was before, I'm planning our moves more carefully, and if we play our cards right, we'll be living the good life again in no time.
Sleuth: Well, in case all else fails, I'll be the one to bail us out…sure, why not? By the way, who's the guy?
Drago: He says his name's Guntiver.
Sleuth: Huh, you know, I coulda sworn I heard one a' them Freedom Twerps mention someone like that, but it's been a while…aaah, who cares, we goin' or what?
Drago: Once you're done stuffing your face like a hungry hound.
Sleuth: You know I can stuff your face with something else if I wanted to.
Drago: You wish you could.
Sleuth: I know you like it.
[AHEM-obvious context aside, the two are then shown making their way back through the forest, following the trail that Drago had left behind, right up to Guntiver's cabin]
Sleuth: So this is the place, eh?
Drago: Yeah, I know it's not much, but then again, those huts weren't luxury palaces either.
Sleuth: Yeeeeah, I suppose you're right. Ah well, might as well get the introductions out of the way.
[The white wolf and brown dog go up to the cabin door. Drago knocks on it and a shuffle can be heard from inside. The door is opened, revealing Guntiver looking quite surprised]
Guntiver: Oh, Drago! I didn't expect to see you back so soon…is this your friend?
Sleuth: That's putting it lightly, the name's Sleuth Dawg.
Guntiver: Huh, judging by that twang, the name checks out.
Sleuth: Smartass, isn't he?
Drago: Aaaaah, he's alright. Yeah, I wanted to show him your place…and strike an offer with you.
Guntiver: An offer? What kind?
Drago: Well, we were thinking amongst ourselves, and we wondered if you would, perchance, take us into your humble abode?
Sleuth: Smooooooth…
Guntiver: Oh, well…you'll have to make do with the space.
Drago: It's fine, we've been through worse.
Sleuth: Much worse.
Guntiver: Hmm…well, I wouldn't mind having a bit of company around this place…I'm sure we can make some arrangements about where you both wanna sleep.
Sleuth: In that case, are we on board?
Guntiver: Oh, of course, make yourselves at home, I'll just get everything ready.
[The duo step inside Guntiver's cabin, and Sleuth gets a better look around the place]
Sleuth: Huuuuuuh, I'd say it'll do.
[The scene transitions to evening as the sky reflects this with an orange hue. Guntiver is shown preparing something in the pot while Drago and Sleuth sit at the table]
Drago: What's on the menu?
Guntiver: It's acorn soup, mixed with mint leaves.
Drago: [under his breath] Sounds like something the royals would eat…
[Three bowls have been placed for each of them to eat out. Guntiver brings the pot over to the table and sets it on a wooden coaster before pouring the soup into each of the bowls. Sleuth is the first to have a sip as he smacks his lips to adjust to the taste]
Sleuth: Not like any soup I've ever had, but I suppose it'll do.
[As Drago eats, he notices Guntiver occasionally glancing at the necklace he set beside him and then back to his soup]
Drago: See something interesting?
Guntiver: Huh? Oh, just looking at a frame of my old crew.
Drago: Ah…
[Drago is tempted to ask about the whereabouts of Guntiver's crewmates, but something inside of him keeps him from bringing it up, whether out of pity or not wanting to make the situation awkward - he doesn't really know. The scene cuts to the group settling in for the night, Guntiver has arranged some extra straw around the house for the others to get more comfortable]
Guntiver: I hope this will be enough, I didn't exactly plan on having…well, any people over here.
[Sleuth lays down on a set of straw by the table, giving a sigh as he does so]
Sleuth: I suppose it's better than sleeping on the cold hard floor, that's for sure.
[Drago lays down on the couch, kicking his shoes off as he does so]
Drago: Aaaaaaah, now that's better…
Guntiver: Well, hope you two are cozy…[yawns]...I'm gonna pack it in for the night…
[Guntiver makes himself more comfortable on the bed before slowly drifting off to sleep, indicated by his soft breathing. Drago and Sleuth stay awake for a little bit longer]
Sleuth: So, what's the deal with this one?
Drago: Since he's not familiar with us, best keep on a low profile, that way, we'll have an alibi in case something goes amiss…plus, I'll admit…it's not too bad being spoken in a polite manner…been a while since either of us has gotten it…
Sleuth: Yeah, that checks out…so…not a word…
Drago: Yeah…keep it dark…
[As Sleuth settles into sleep, Drago takes a glance over at Guntiver before giving a sigh, laying down, and slowly drifting off to sleep himself]
[In contrast to the canines, the scene cuts to the entrance of a cave where heavy breathing can be heard from within…it shows Geoffrey with his back turned, his body language implying a struggle, cutting to him from a frontal view, visibly distressed, bits of fur sticking out, and clutching his arms as his eyes flash for a moment]
Geoffrey: Oh god…keep it together…keep it together…stay inside…[strains]...not again…
[The scene quick-cuts to black with an ominous note]
Character Guide:
Drago Wolf, Guntiver the Arctic Wolf, Sleuth Dawg, Geoffrey St. John, Augustus the Polar Bear, Flip the Penguin, Erma Ermine, Sealia Seal - Sonic the Hedgehog