Caidoz

Chapter 28

   A soft knock came from the wooden white door. I only hid myself further under Cancer's bed. I felt lonely without her presence and it helped to be in the dark awhile, beside her. "Procyon? Are you coming out now, boy?"
   Boötes had been trying to coax me out every few hours. I couldn't move, however and I closed my eyes. I couldn't leave Cancer alone by herself, for he may decide to bury her now instead of the time of which he previously said. That and I had taken an oath. An oath of which I would keep. I growled as the knocks came again. I had long failed to care for the fact of growling while human.
   "Are you hungry? I made something I think you may find to your taste."
   I only snuggled in the darkness. My appetite seemed to have long deserted me.

   I then realized something. Sharply, I checked myself for sickness and found nothing. No fever, no stomach bug, no common cold. What's wrong with me? I thought in the darkness with the question burning itself in my head. With this grew a giant worry for Ali's current state. When will she wake? Will she ever wake? Oh I wish I could help her. If only I had something in my satchel I could give her. But for the least of me, who had a cure for a Caidozain Coma?! 

   It was otherworldly and believed a child's tale. A tale I always believed in. Or at least, used to. Stop! My brain screamed and I tried to stop thinking about it. About the horrors. But the more I tried, the more they came, the memories I so long tried to keep inside. The coldness that threatened to overwhelm me. I need someone beside me to calm my thoughts and it was usually Cancer, but she was in her Coma. At least, I hoped she was. I uneasily force myself to sleep. But dreams are sometimes a path to our past. Only a child's tale...

   I ran from the pounding of Simeh's vibrations, my heart pounding in my chest, green eyes wide. The animal was after me, but I wasn't going to allow myself to be caught. I was fast, faster than the winds of Queen Libra, the lady of Justice. My water enegry was strong and mighty. I could take it. I spun around. "You can't stop me!" I jeered.
   The pawsteps came closer in the darkness, louder and louder.
   "I'm King Cancer, the Crab!"

   A furry face shoved me up in the air, and I landed on a soft back. The black dog dog-laughed at me.
   "HERHERHER. ARFAWOOF!" The words were only too easy for me to translate.'You're my son, my pup, not a king. And for that, you are special.'
   I pouted, pulling back my lips to show my teeth.

   "But mommy, I'm the Crab King! I'm King Cancer and I have Caidozian energy powers! I live in Caidoz, and I defeat all whom dare to oppose me!" I said.
   The shaggy body under me dog-laughed again. 'I find myself shaking in my bones! The terror of a small pup whom can hardly bark!'
   I growled, biting her back fur and shaking it as hard as I could. It barely was felt.

   "GRAARROOOOUUUFFFF!" My mother barked as she started to trot through the forest.
   I hung on to her black fur with my human hands, grinning in happiness. She then excited me more by breaking into a run. My bare fingers gripped her shaggy mane of soft hair, my legs squeezed firmly to the panting chase, my eyes shutting in the wind, enjoying the feel. Everything was perfect. What could go wrong on such a beautiful night?

   My mother slowed down after racing through the wood for a long time of which I could not possibly know, for I had fallen asleep. Her breathing was what must have woken me.
   I opened one eye and then the other. I saw we were in a clearing of which we could rest.
   Her body laid down for me to get off and I did, dragging myself off the giant black dog.

   She then rolled onto her back and allowed her tongue to plop out of her mouth, spreading her features in a goofy grin.
   I landed myself beside her, laughing as she drenched me entirely in drool.
   "WOOFAROU?" She asked me.'Do you want to hear another story about King Cancer?'
   I clapped my hands in delight and said, "Tell me, tell me!"
   The enormous black dog growled loudly. Not to be mean though, of course. She was obviously clearing her throat. She then said, 'Hand me that satchel, my son.' 
 
   I fumbled at the strap of the bag dangling at my neck. I had to push it off as it was very large and heavy. She went behind the nearest tree with it balanced on her nose. Cracker and groans were heard. The fleshy sound of muscles regrowing.