Cynophobia

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       When I opened my eyes, I caught a direct glimpse of the sun before shutting them again. I tried slowly adjusting to the light. Being in caves for around a week really did a number on my retinas.

I heard Loki's happy voice say, "Good morning." It was the first time he didn't sound worried or depressed since yesterday.

"Morning," I said sitting up in the blankets. Cairo was already up, sharpening his axe against flat stone.

Rags was laying a few feet away from me. He kept his eyes on me while eating a chunk of meat Loki brought back. Normally I would be creeped out, but he was a robot and didn't really understand. I stared into his emotionless black eyes.

"How's little Loki?" I asked.

"I saw them twitch earlier," Loki barked proudly. "I know they will be strong when they grow up."

Obsidian's eyes were still off. They were black pools of darkness that would only reveal their irises when he powered on. Their gender would also be revealed. 

"How much further until we reach the base?" Cairo asked as he ground his axe against a rock.

Rags looked into the distance. "By the end of the day, we will encounter the Watchers sent to meet us. By next daylight we will have arrived at the lab."

"I'm interested in meeting them. Why weren't we told they existed?" Loki asked.

"It wasn't necessary, your only purpose was to follow your functions," he replied. "They don't leave their compounds other than to get food for their charges. Each Watcher can have up to three charges at once. It is against your programming to kill humans under the age of twelve months."

"Really?" I asked. "So Strikers don't just kill everything in sight. Are there any other things they aren't allowed to kill?"

"You," Rags said. "Earlier Alpha attacked you, but he is unable to preform any malicious actions that could threaten your life."

I frowned. "But... this entire time I've been running from them. At the beach they attacked us."

Cairo was now listening into the conversation. He set his axe down and leaned on the handle. "Now that you mention it, they have never targeted you. On the beach they were following Ray, Rose, and myself, but they never lunged for you personally. That's also why you never got caught scouting."

I immediately felt guilty. Ray, Rose, and Cairo were constantly risking their lives while I was never in any danger. "I'm sorry, if I had known I would have-"

Cairo shook his head. "We never could have known. You would have had to throw yourself at a Cynoid, which would be a waste. Plus you took one of the most dangerous jobs as scout, going ahead of the group."

"We should head out," Loki suggested. "I want to get there as soon as possible to shut down Alpha before he can interfere."

"Out of everyone in the world, why me? Did my mother wake me up and give me this protection before leaving as a good bye gift? Is my father still alive? Or did he die because my mother didn't warn him?"

I finished packing and ate the jerky Loki prepared while riding Rags. I had Obsidian safely in my arms. I could feel their insides moved as they prepared to grow and allow the little pup to finally move.

"Ragged fur, what is the creator like?" Cairo asked.

"The creator is wise and unwise," Rags told him. "They created a new life for so many canines, yet they made the mistake of giving power to the Jealous One. They wanted a strong leader that would follow orders yet make his own decisions. But the Jealous One's ambition overpowers his intelligence and the program's goals."