Loona the Caretaker

Another Talk With a Gentle Giant

Near the campfire, Cody was looking at the sunset in the Wrath Ring, and Chop was still next to him. It was like this demon pig and human boy had bonded into something special, something similar to Charlotte's Web a little. Cody honestly wished that he could keep Chop as his own pet, but even he knows an apartment was not really a proper place for a domestic pig, especially pot bellied or kunekune pigs.

A kid can always dream at least. The faint sound of cows mooing were heard in the pastures and the crickets were chirping in the night.

While he did win the race, the boy still could not believe it. It was like he was in a weird fever dream. But, alas, it was all too real. As real as the sun in the solar system. Still starring at the evening sky where the sun was almost done setting in, Cody heard the sound of thumping footsteps. When they stopped, it was Vortex. "Hey champ. Doing alright?"

"Yeah. I feel like..."

"A winner?" The male hellhound smiled

"Uh-huh. I never really won any race before."

"And look at all the money in the prize. Know what you wanna spend it it, Cody?"

"Well, there is something I would like to get. But I just need to look at them."

"Ooh, what is it?"

"Well, you'll see." Cody said. It was quiet for a little while, but the boy finally said: "Tex, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Cody. What is it?"

"Were you in the pound before? Like... in the same place as Loona was? But if you don't want to talk about it, I'm ok with."

"Nah, it's cool. But yeah. I did come from the pound that Loona was from. It wasn't exactly the best place. Think of it as like... Hell's version of a puppy mill, but probably worse."

"Loona told me that the place was like a jail a little."

"Kinda was. But with more freedom and privileges to have in your cell. Luckily, I got adopted by this nice demon family when I was only eleven, and I was one of the best pups in the facility. People recognized me for my muscles and called me the Tank Kid was I was younger."

Cody let out a little laugh. "Tank Kid?"

"I know, it sounds funny. But they called me that for my strong body and muscles. Hell, I was even the strongest kid in the place. Lot of people wanted to adopt me, but I just couldn't find the right kind of people I wanted to be my parents."

"huh. Have you seen Loona there?"

"A couple of times." Tex pointed, "but I didn't really interact with her so much or talk to her lot of times."

"Ah."

"any more questions?"

"Probably one more." The boy took a little breath in himself and asked: "Did you have any friends in that place."

"Not really... quality friends." Tex sounded a little embarrassed. A couple of people took advantage of me and my hospitality. But I did break a few bones... a necks as payback."

For the boy, it wouldn't surprise him that Tex would easily break someones' neck since his arms say it all. Only a complete and utter fool would want to fight or pick on Vortex (unless if the fool was bigger and more muscular than Tex).

"Didn't have any friends in that place?"

"It's not easy making friends in those kind of places, Cody." Tex remarked. "Especially if you just wanna get out of that literal hellhole. But i did have a few. They're probably living happy lives or, Satan knows what they're doing right now."