Repliwolves: Quick's Case

Part Three: Breaking the Ice

Night and Bejeweled settled soon after a heated conversation with Calamity. Quick couldn't feel more angry. He didn't want anyone sharing his quarters. Now that's just selfish, he told himself. Stop acting like Spear after he drinks too many E-Cans and get your head in the game Quick.

Just then, Night and Bejeweled walked in. Night looked confident and happy, but Bejeweled actually looked nervous. "Don't worry," Quick reassured him. "I'm not one for hiding secrets, or in my older brother's case—E-Cans—around my room."

After his two new roommates got settled in, Quick decided to try breaking the ice and getting to know them. "Okay, we're going to try something," he said to them. Quick told them to get into a circle and gave a list of things for them to list.

"I'll go first as an example. I'm Quick, I came from Lab 44. My favorite color is gold." He said to them. Night shuffled his paws and flicked his ear at Bejeweled, as if signaling for the younger repliwolf to start talking. "I-I'm Lia...Bejeweled. I'm from...A-Able City. My favorite color...I mean colors, are green and pink." Bejeweled said shakily. Night cleared his throat. "I'm Night, I'm also from Able City. My favorite color is red. Like my markings."

Quick smiled. "There. Now we know a bit about each other!" He barked brightly. Night looked thoughtful, though Bejeweled still looked uncertain. Perhaps they should do some exercises in the trading room to get them ready.

He lead Night and Bejeweled down the long corridor to the training center. Already, Spear and Heart were facing off against each other. Quick noticed how slow Spear's reactions and battle moves were and a weary sadness in his blue eyes. This wasn't the Spear he knew. It worried him greatly.

As for Heart, the blows he was inflicting seemed softer than usual, almost gentle. Finally, he noticed Quick and guided Spear towards the door. Heart shut the door and turned around, smiling mischievously. "You ready to show these new recruits everything we know?" He asked. Quick couldn't stop himself from grinning. "Bring it." He growled playfully.

Quick could only catch a glimpse of Bejeweled jumping back before Heart slammed into him. Quick ducked under swiftly, grabbing Heart's tail as he did. Heart let out a yelp as Quick yanked back, throwing his older brother off balance. "How was that?" He asked. "Better," Heart replied.

Night cleared his throat again. "Can I try? I'd like to see what I can do." He said. Quick hesitated, new recruits normally weren't allowed to practice until they had watched at least three basic training courses that the Hunters practiced on a daily basis. "Okay, I guess so." Quick said finally. He tried to ignore the fact that Heart was glaring at him narrowly.

Night stepped out onto the training platform, eyes narrowed with fake aggression. Before Quick could ready himself, his new roommate rammed his head into his chest. Quick fell backwards, gasping in pain. You can't do that! You're risking injury, he thought in a panicked manner. Night swung his body around, tail lashing. It collided with Quick's face and he yelled in more pain. Stumbling backwards, he fell to the floor. Night stood over him, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Quick's eyes widen with terror as the repliwolf drew a knife free of his pelt and raise it high.

"Okay, that's enough!" Heart barked angrily. "No weapons in the training area, especially if you're intent on harming your opponent!"

Night growled but backed away as Heart ran over to help Quick up. Quick didn't believe he could feel so much pain from one training session. When he trained with any of the reploids or his brothers, he was always sore for a little bit. Nothing like the pain pulsating through him now though.

Quick limped into Crow's room. The medic looked up angrily, before inhaling sharply and rushing over. "Dear lord! Quick, you look like you fought fifteen mavericks at once!" Crow exclaimed, running an expert eye down Quick's pelt. "What happened?"

An idiot roommate try to kill me, that's what, Quick wanted to say. But instead, he said, "Just some rough training that got out of hand."

But as Crow reached to grab a vat of oil that would help soothe the pain, Quick couldn't help but think about what happened today.

He knew without a doubt, Night had tried to kill him. He had failed this time, but what about next time? Quick already knew the truth. Night was out to get rid of him. And next time, he'd make sure he didn't fail. Next time, he'd make sure Quick stayed dead.