The Difficult Task of Raising a Weapon

Shadow: A Tag and a Test

"Shadow! Stay still!" Topaz exclaims, firmly gripping my arms.

"It hurts!" I yelp back, trying to yank myself away from her. "I don't want an ear tag! I already have the stupid bracelet!"

"It does not hurt; Miles hasn't punched it in yet! Now, hold still!" I refuse to listen, squirming and yanking my head from side to side. Topaz and Wright struggle with me for a few moments longer, but, eventually, Topaz realizes I'm not going to give up anytime soon. "Ugh. Shadow, if you're going to be a pain about this, then I'm going to have to put you under until we're done."

"No! I don't want an ear tag!" I insist, my eyes pleading and large. Topaz groans, rubbing her forehead as if to dispel a headache.

"Why? Why are you so opposed to this? That bracelet isn't permanent, and it won't tell people everything they need to know about you. This tag will. Besides, I know it's not the pain you're fighting; this is only going to hurt for a few seconds. So, tell me why you won't let us put this in already."

"I-I... For one, it's my ear, and I don't want to have things stuck through it! Ear tags are for animals; it's not like you wear them! I don't want to be put beneath humans more than I already have been!" I plead, my ears completely flat in an effort to protect themselves from the evils of getting punched with a tag.

"Shadow, humans get dog tags for identification. This isn't that different. This is just to make sure you can be found and identified should something untoward happen, alright?" I gulp, casting an uneasy look at the steel tag that's causing me so much stress.

"I still don't want it," I proclaim, glaring at it.

"Will you stay still long enough for us to put it in now, or will we have to knock you out and create more trouble for everyone?" Topaz asks, sighing. I look down, feeling mixed emotions on whether to listen to her or continue to be stubborn. After a brief mental battle, my good sense wins.

"I'll let you put it in..." I grumble, not at all happy about the prospect. I lie down again, Topaz holding my head still and Wright pinning me to the table. I feel a brush of metal on my right ear and prepare for the pain that will inevitably follow.

"OUCH!" I yowl as discomfort shoots through my head. I whimper as Topaz applies an ointment to the wound. At least my healing is still faster than normal; I won't have to deal with this very long. I scowl angrily as I'm lifted off the table, determined to stay grumpy about this incident as long as I can. Reaching up, I cautiously poke my still-bleeding ear carefully.

"Shadow! Don't touch it until it heals!" Topaz scolds, swatting my hand down. "I'll tie your hands to your waist if you don't promise here and now not to mess with it."

"..." I don't reply, instead letting my arm relax again. Topaz glares at me suspiciously, and I pout at her. She sighs, grabbing my arm and tugging me over to my bed. She tells Miles and Wright to pack up the foldable table and makes sure I'm sitting comfortably on my bed with the small, light olive blanket I've now been granted. She tucks the blanket in around my shoulders, easily calming me with her motherly touches.

"Get some rest, alright? Tomorrow is your first day of training, and you'll want to be alert. Don't fiddle with your tag; I don't want to have to give you a new one in the other ear. Just go right to sleep."

"Mmm...okay." I yawn, my mouth opening substantially. Topaz smiles softly, rubbing me behind my uninjured ear.

"Goodnight, Shadow," she says, leaving the room along with the two men. I lie down as the lights dim, making sure to lie on my left side so I don't put pressure on my ear. I curl up, snuggling into the blanket and relaxing. I can't believe I was going to be killed by these people only a week ago. Now I'm treated like a normal Chaos Creature child by G.U.N...with the exception of the ear tag. I'm still not happy about the ear tag. Not that it matters, anyways... Before I know it, I'm asleep, passing the time until tomorrow with ease.