Ice's mind felt empty. Where was she? What had happened? She felt another body pressed up against her. Was it Sound? ... Sound's head shot up. He stood for a moment, confused as to where he is, but then remembered and let out a sigh of relief. It had just been a dream. (he had a nightmare uwu) ... Ice and Sound were squished in a small cage. There was barely enough room for them, and Ice felt awkward since she was so close to Sound. ... He realized Ice was awake, and stepped back to give her some room. ... Ice opened her eyes to see Sound try to back up to give her space, but kept getting stopped by the confines of the cage. Suddenly the doorknob rattled. Ice gasped sharply. Then it swung open, allowing a young girl to slip through. The girl had brown, waist length, hair. She held a stuffed animal cat in her arms. She sang to it softly. She petted it gently. She hugged it carefully. She walked around the room, pretending to show the cat cages, and shaking her head in disapproval. She stopped, suddenly, at their cage. "Poor kitties." she said, frowning at the cage. "You look squished." she unlatched the cage, slowly and took Ice and Sound out, gently. She placed them in a bigger cage, with plenty of room. "There." she said, looking pleased. "Ehpral!!" and man's voice yelled. "Stay out of that room! I don't want you releasing the animals!!" Ehpral flinched and locked the cage door. "Bye, kitties." she whispered softly, She ran out of the room, clutching her stuffed animal. ... Sound trembled in the cage, even after the human was gone. Why had she done that? Were they supposed to fight in the new cage? Why would they fight in the cage though? ... Ice stared in wonder at the door. "So they're not ALL evil." she murmured. She stared, stunned at Sound. (ha you made a typo) ... "Most of them are. I've.. had experiences with them." Memories flashed through his head -- Dark, injured. Wolf, burning. Chestnut, burning. Howl, safe. Cloud, burning. Him, burning with Wolf. ... "Weird. I wonder why she isn't like the rest of them." Ice pondered this deeply. ... He stood, shaking slightly. Silver, burning. Wolf, screaming. Dark, safe. Him, screaming with Wolf. Dapple, safe. Cloud, dead. ... Ice noticed the weird look on Sound's face. "Sound?" she asked tentatively. "Are you okay?" ... Sound heard Ice's words as if they were a long distance away. He felt like he was floating in a sea of guilt and terror. The fox closed his eyes. "Rrrrgh." ... Ice's concern grew. "Sound?" she asked, shrinking back a little. She looked at his guilty and angry expression. ... "I'm fine." he said quietly. "Just thinking." ... Ice sighed in relief. "Okay. Good." ... He looked up to see.. no, it couldn't be Wolf. Wolf was /dead./ But it looked like him.. and he guessed dead animals did have stars in their fur, and were transparent, and came to help the living. ... Ice still stared at Sound in concern. He was staring off into the distance, a faraway look in his eyes. "What is it?" Ice asked. ... (eh me neither but hECK IT FITS CHESARK which obv you don't know about yet, i mean you can infer what it is based on my slow name reveals but uh yeah) "W-" Sound's voice trailed out, his eyes round with surprise. Wolf smiled briefly, then faded away. "Wait, no, don't go!" Sound said, stepping up and raising one paw, wanting to follow him but unable to because of the cage. "Wolf," he whispered to himself, then looked down, sobbing quietly. "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for leaving you, I'm sorry about running away, I'm sorry about everything, I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry." ... Ice looked befuddled. "What are you talking about, Sound?" ... He looked up again and stared at the spot where Wolf had been, ears pinned against his head. ... Ice slid closer to him. "Are you sure you're okay?" ... He looked down, tears welling in his eyes. "I saw a ghost. Of someone I knew." ... Ice paled. "A... A ghost?" She didn't dare to hope that animals could communicate with the living. What she wouldn't give to converse with a certain animal that she had lost. ... He looked at her with a pained expression. "Just of.. someone I knew. I'm fine now." ... Ice sighed. "Alright. Did... Did you see anybody else? Any cat behind him or something?" Her heart ached with a painful hopefulness. ... He shook his head sadly. ...
