Caidoz

Chapter 20

   Cancer looked interested. "Boötes? Who is he?" She asked. I though about how to describe the strong, powerful man. All of a sudden, thinking of Boötes allowed the blocked stream of memories to come at me full blast. 
  "Grraro!" I cried as the giant bear tumbled over me, roaring, swatting his enormous white furry paws over my small slender body.
  "Grooarrrr!" It let over a giant roar. I chopped down on his ear and dodged another furious throw to my skull. I saw his unprotected furry neck and attacked bruatually, shaking it hard. The bear whimpered slightly in pain. I quickly released.
    'Are you okay? Sorry I didn't mean to-' The bear cub swatted me again with sheathed claws and then put a paw on his neck and massaged the spot. It roared, but as in a way to make conversation. I didn't known much bear, though I had the basics. Like dog, it was very complicated to understand, for one word meant a million different words and the different tone meant different things. I only managed to catch
   'do again, you regret.'' I only wagged my powerful tail. My head turned to where two females stood in conversation. One had thick dark brown hair down to a bit past her shoulders, so dark it seemed black at a glance. The other had long black hair that fell down to her elbows. I woofed happily and ran to her. The women stopped their chatter and turned my direction. I jumped on the black haired one.
   "Auguroo!" I cried which she was able to translate to 'Mommy, I defeated the evil bear!' The woman I knew as my mother smiled and ruffed my thick fur.
    "Looks like I win the bet, Ursa Major." The other woman huffed in annoyance.
   "It isn't over till the fat lady sings." Ursa Major thought a bit. "Well, I ate her a long time ago." My mother and I cracked up falling onto the ground in a heap, laughing over heads off. My mother first surfaced, gasping for air. Soon, I did the same. Ursa Minor came to his mother's side. He grumbled in bear. The strong woman lifted an eyebrow. I wondered what trouble I was about to be into. I was often caught by our pranks. We enjoyed playing epic jokes on the two women and he loved to place the blame on me. To make this worse, it was usually his ideas. Not to say I wasn't innocent. Oh yeah, I loved pranks, jokes, anything funny, I was in on it in some way, big or small. But that didn't mean Ursa Minor could blame me for his part. The bear cub snorted. Believe it or not, snorting was another word in both bear and dog.
    'He cheat.' I laughed in my usual dogish way. It sound similar to "her her her." I panted a smile. The sore loser.

    "Aaaarrrgggghhh!" I fell into a kneeling position. Cancer was shaking me hard.
   "PROCYON! SNAP OUT OF IT!" I blinked. We were in the inn room. We were near the door. We were alone. I swallowed hard. "PROCYON!"
   "I'm... back." I shakly rose to my feet. "I just need to wash my mouth." Cancer was silent. She seemed very distressed and disappointed. I entered the bathroom and refreshed my mouth from the horid taste. I felt very touched that she didn't ask questions of my attitude. That she was kind enough to be silent. Though I knew it wasn't acceptable. I came out the small opening and I opened the door. "While there's still daylight, we should go." Two fresh owls flew out of the small hole in the wall. Thus was the programing in them. When a door opened, two owls flew outward to lead the guests back to the lobby. The halls had not stopped their gloomyness and we passed by several Questors. To call them others would be a fib. I was NOT a Questor. Not a believer in the common lie. I scarcely put thought to the fluke of a tale. I pulled Cancer away from the people. To have her gain another unreachable dream... when Ali saw the truth, she would be worse than I. I knew what hardship does. I was hardship. I was pain. I was broken. I took an unsteady breath inhaling the dusty order of the circular room. Cancer had again stopped at the stairs. Her body began to shudder. This at least made me forget. To be kind to her. I hadn't felt responsibility for others nor dedication in a long time. Pulling out the scrap of material I called a blindfold, I wrapped it around her eyes. "Better?"
   "..." The princess allowed silence to answer for her.
   "It'll be fine. Don't worry, I am here." Her head snapped around and I couldn't tell what her eyes told.
   "The stairs... I almost fell for the second time in my life Procyon. You were not there. I cannot describe this fear. It is animal to the point. More animal than your dog self. More than you will ever feel. I will never be able to stare down without remembering." Her words almost force a whine. I wish I could flatten my ears again. It made me feel good to do things as so. More animal then I? What did she possibly mean by that? She could never feel wild. NEVER would she feel the flow of different blood in her veins. I suppose it was a female thing. To feel different. Ha. Well she wouldn't understand.  I watched her body language. This was my only help. I was starting to understand it a bit better. A twitch of the head could mean everything. Kind of like dog.
   "First step." We start up quickly, to the light of the owls' glowing blue eyes. I frowned when I saw they were  flying in a direction away from Cancer. "Don't do that." I whispered to them. "That's kinda cruel." They only whistled out giant puffs of steam in my face. I coughed as it got into my lungs. I carefully made certain I was beside Cancer the entire time. When we reached top, I walked in front of her. Gently, I removed the blindfold. She had her eyes again closed. She must feel exhausted. I studied her sleeping face. Her features were so different than what was treated 'normal.' Yet how could I describe the difference? It was as though a ray of inner light shone through and beaconed on her countance. Nothing like the faces in Simeh. Most definately nothing like mine. I hadn't realized how close I had leaned in and I felt something warm. It was her steady breaths. I backed away and triped over myself, falling to the ground with a loud tumble and felt the painful sting of the hard rough floors on my palms. She woke with a start.
   "I did fall asleep again?" Cancer asked. I felt a crimson blush creeping up on me.
   "You just need some rest, that's all. In fact, maybe you should stay here to refresh yourself." I knew she desperately needed it. She had said it herself. Sleep was one of the ways to restore Caidozain energy. Ali however, shook her head.
   "No, I'm coming with you. " Cancer said.
   "Come on Ali, even aliens like yourself need to close your eyes for a bit." I said.
   "I am not an alien. When I said that I meant-"
   "You really should stay." I said abruptly. "I think you did more than what I ever would even think of you today."
   "I should continue to surprise you then. I ate already so I have enough energy. How do we get out of here?" I sighed. Twas a lost cause. The princess would never agree to relaxing. I suppose it was what I expected. Her grandfather was my idol. If any child was as devoted to the Crab king as I, I would like to see it. He was a great leader, full of heart, loyalty, and kindness. I only wished to live up to his standards when I was small. The black-haired man had spikey hair that was always wet and damp. He smelled of the sea, the stories say. He was never weak, if only in his strengh, never it set aside his generosity. His eyes were seen in the girl before me now.