Heart of Titanium

Chapter 7: Run

*The Next Morning*

Bryson awoke and slowly stretched, looking around as his gaze meets Cherise, as she peacefully breathes in, and out. 

He smiled at her as he slowly brushed her head fur and her ear.

He then pokes her gently in the side of her head.

She blinks a few times before looking at him, and moving her legs to a fetal position. Her tail wagged furiously as she smiled at him, her still laying on her side, and Bryson still in the beanbag chair.

"G-Good morning.." She said, yawning as she stretched wide,.

Bryce chuckles as he takes his hand off her head, "Morning, silly. How'd you sleep?"

"Really good, actually. Best sleep I've had in the past few days." She pauses, "Plus...I didn't cry myself to sleep for once." She said, looking flustered, but smiling.

Bryce grew a concerned look on his face, "When I sat in here with you the first night you didn't cry...or at least I didn't see it..."

"Yeah...ever since I've slept on my own I've been so scared...I was tempted to come to you, but I didn't want to bother you..." She said, looking ashamed.

"You could never bother me. Plus, I'm the only one you know closely- er, I mean compared to others." Bryson said, correcting himself.

"Hm..." She softly hums as she closes her eyes, "Thank you for not being mean to me...I promise I'll make it up to you...somehow, someday."

Bryson then thinks, "You know, I was curious on your species. Do you remember if you were born an Alter or not?"

Cherise nudges her chin as she thinks, "From the vague visions I get here and there, I don't ever remember myself having human hands...so, I think I've been an Alter all my life." She said, looking back up to Bryson.

"And you asked my species? Honestly...I don't know. I feel like I should but..." Cherise tries to think but exhales. "Stupid memory..." She whispers.

"Hey hey, Its alright. We'll figure it out eventually, alright?" Bryson said, a hand on her knee.

She smiles and puts her paw on top of his hand, "Thank you." She says.

Bryson then leans back, "Is there anything else you do remember?" Bryson asks.

Cherise tries her best, "I do...remember one thing, from my childhood. Its very blurry...like I'm standing behind frosted glass. There's two men arguing, they both look really angry-"

Cherise then sees one of the men then point at her as his hand is right in front of her muzzle, and it not looking blurred. She jolts back as she shakes her head.

"What? Did you see something?" Bryson asks, curiously. 

"Y-Yeah...one of the men pointed towards me and said something...I can't hear exactly what he's saying..." she closes her eyes again.

"SHE IS MINE!!" Cherise hears, as her ears go down, and she says it to Bryson, "H-he's saying...'she's mine'...?"

Bryce sits confused, "Do you recognize his voice?" He asked.

Cherise shakes her head, "No, but when I hear it I get a sharp tingle in my spine. L-like...I don't know him, but I know what he can do..."

Bryce sits as he stares off, thinking hard. Cherise notices and speaks up, "I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to worry about this in the first place-"