𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳 𝚂𝙾 𝙲𝙾𝙻𝙳

Two Days Later

Two days have passed since Benjamin was rushed to the hospital. The doctors told Amaria and Volkov he was alive, but in unstable condition and it was not known when he would wake up. Amaria and Volkov stayed close by Benjamin's side by his hospital bed for the entire time. Eventually, Benjamin awoke.

Volkov sat in a chair near the windows of the hospital room, observing up at the television set that was bolted to the room ceiling.

"Got any... eights?" Amaria asks, peeking her eyes over her cards and raising an eyebrow.

Benjamin gently squints his eyes and slowly adverts his gaze over to Amaria. "...Go, fish." He says softly.

"Dammit." Amaria gently protests, placing her chin on her knee as she sat in her chair.

Benjamin chuckles. "Luck is on my side today." He says, watching as the fox drew a card from the pile that rested next to the bed.

Amaria giggled, sliding the card into her own stack. "Don't worry, Benny boy. I'll get those numbers."

Volkov read the headlines that scrolled across the screen. The perpetrator of that night was identified and arrested, causing a political and media firestorm in both Amarok and the United States. In America, media portrayed stories of growing attacks against anthros in various parts of the United States along with the intensifying skirmishes between After Common Era and the Nation's Army as it advanced deeper into the hilly forests of the eastern protectorate. While in Amarok, media had portrayed many anthros and native human citizens marching in solidarity against the possible trial of the accused anthro.

Volkov could not help but to hear his father's words in his mind as he read each headline below each clip of footage, his head slowly lowering.

"Hey, Volk?" Benjamin asked, looking to Volkov as the wolf was lost in thought.

Volkov's ears perk up and he lifts his head, averting his gaze over to Benjamin. "Yeah?"

"Are you okay over there, man?" Benjamin asks, setting his stack of cards into his lap. Amaria glances over to Volkov as well.

"Yeah, I am fine." Volkov answered, raising his head. "Just thinking. I am the one who should be asking you that." He then chuckled, crossing his arms.

"Everything still aches but not too much anymore... what are you thinking about?" Benjamin then asks, bringing his cards back up to him.

Volkov pondered to himself for a moment. "...just thinking about that day in senior high when all of us started hanging out." Volkov answers.

Benjamin chuckles. "I haven't thought about that in years." he says, carefully glancing over his cards. "Got any sixes?"

Amaria giggled softly. "Go fish."

"Well, shoot." Benjamin says with a smile before slowly reaching over and draws a card from the top of the stack. "You think Lawson is still a turd?"

"I wouldn't doubt it." Amaria says, gazing at her cards.

"Me neither. For all we know, Lawson could be one of them." Volkov responds looking back up to the television.

"After Common Era?" Benjamin asks, gazing back to the wolf.

Volkov nods.

"I suppose that would be in character for him." Benjamin says, shuffling his cards around.

"Got any... threes?" Amaria asks, looking up from her stack.

Benjamin then grabs a card from his stack and slips it out. Amaria's ears perk up and she chuckles. "Yes. Hook, line, sinker." She giggled as she took the card from Benjamin, placing her matching card onto the bed with the others.

"You know," Benjamin then says. "I can read you, man. Ever since I woke up you've been glued to the television, watching the news. You've got something else on your mind." Benjamin says.

Volkov then sighs out. "Okay, okay..." He says, sitting forward in his chair. "I have been thinking... about some things my father talked to me about on the day we all got here." Volkov says, clasping his hands together.

"Like what?" Benjamin asks.

"He... wants me to join the Nation's Army." Volkov answers, gazing down to the tile floor. 

Both Benjamin and Amaria shot a glance over to Volkov.

"Really?" Amaria asks.

Volkov nods.

"What did you tell him?" Benjamin asks, placing his cards down to his lap.

"I have not given him my answer yet."

"Well, what are you thinking on doing?" Amaria then asked, crossing her arms upon the back of the chair.

Volkov hesitates, clearing his throat.

"Volk, look man. If you are worried about us, don't be." Benjamin says, looking towards the television. "I can tell what you are thinking about regarding all of this. I'd understand if you'd want to do your part."

Volkov and Amaria had gazed to Benjamin as he spoke, listening to him.

"I don't know exactly what happened over the past few days. But things seem to be getting worse before they will get better. After Common Era is... spreading terror. I'd understand if you'd want to go and fight for a greater good."

"Are... are you sure? But what about you two?" Volkov asks, glancing between his two friends.

"Like I said, we'll be fine." Benjamin says, reaching his hand over to Amaria. She smiles warmly to him and softly plants her palm in his own.

"We have each other. And we'll figure out what to do and make sure we will stay safe during all of this." Benjamin says, smiling to Amaria before gazing back to Volkov.

"I... I do not know what to say." Volkov says, looking back down to the floor. 

"We can't tell you what to do, Volk." Amaria said as he glanced behind her to Volkov. "But we will support you, no matter what. Just remember we will be here when you get back." She said, smiling to the wolf.

Volkov returned the smile and gently sighed out. "Thank you, guys. I really do appreciate your understanding."

"Of course, man. We all must do what is right." Benjamin said, gazing up to the television.