CHAPTER 74

The fall of Canis Major

Once again the furred creature fell by the cold merciless limb of the machine. The frigid metal slid inside the Evocanis gut, cutting away his vitality after every inch it penetrated. Blackness was all that followed. 

“Is this it?” He thought. But how could he? How can one retain consciousness after losing its

precious spark? What made him alive.

Cold suddenly invaded his body. The darkness and silence soon faded away to noise. If he had crossed to the other side, it was not logical to perceive these sensations.

“Husky! Wake up!”

The young Evocanis thought he heard a voice. Soon, sounds and that coldness became even stronger.

“Come on, buddy. Open your eyes!” Again, that voice.

The intense cold again. It came in bursts, one after the other. This cold wasn't really bad, but in fact felt refreshing for the young Evocanis.

“You can do it, brother. I know you can hear me. Open your eyes!” this time the voice came accompanied by a gentle patting in his face.

“What...” He tried to speak, but instead he was just able to drag his words.

“That's it, Husky.” The voice once again said. “Come on! Open your eyes for us.”

“An... Anubis?” Husky finally managed to organize his thought. He recognized that voice that called him and was now conscious enough to mention his name.

“Yes, it's me.” Anubis said. A sigh of relief escaped from him and wasn't able to hold a gentle smile.

Husky immediately opened his eyes and jumped almost as if extremely scared. His eyes were wide open, looking all around him in a desperate attempt to make recount of everything that had happened. How did he got there? Something didn't add up.

“No!” Husky panted in panic. He found himself in a corner of what appeared to be a very rustic shower. He sat on the ground completely wet. Someone had been gently throwing cold water at him.

“Calm down, buddy. It's over.” Anubis said. He tried to keep his distance to avoid making Husky feel cornered or in danger.

Husky immediately felt his chest as his memories soon revealed what had happened. He panicked, remembering the blade of the machine brutally impaling his chest. He knew that could've been the death of him. But there was no pain. And most surprisingly, when he looked down, he noticed there was no sign of any injury. What had happened? The memory of that incident happening was so clear, but his chest was completely intact. What was more confusing was the memory of him being shot by a human not too long ago. Not even the shot wounds were visible anymore.

“I... I need...” Husky trembled as he tried to get on his paws. He had nothing on and was completely wet. His head spun something was definitely wrong.

“It's okay, Husky!” Anubis gave him more room, and signaled those who surrounded him to back away. “Just breathe and try to calm down.”

“I... can't!” Husky was in a very strange state of confusion. He fell on the ground and threw up. He was so dazed and disoriented he couldn't even stand up. What was going on with him.

“Bring a towel!” Anubis ordered his crew. A stained piece of towel was handed to him. It was overused, torn and of an undefined color, but it was somewhat clean.

Anubis wrapped Husky in the towel gently wiping his muzzle as he carefully guided him outside of the small shower room.

“This is not real...” Husky kept on repeating. “Something is wrong...” Over and over again.

“You'll be okay, bud.” Anubis said as he helped Husky sit on that mattress he had slept the night before. “Look at me!” Anubis once again ordered Husky. The young Evocanis of gentle blue eyes kept on shaking as if in a state of shock.

“It's over! We won for now.” Anubis said with a smile on his muzzle.

“...we won?” Husky asked. These were words that should've brought immense joy, but for some reason they didn't sound like it should.

“They saw it all; the coordinators.” Anubis explained. “The humans were blamed for that riot and were severely punished.” All around Anubis and Husky, there were Evocanis that celebrated happily.

“I am very impressed with what you did, Husky. That bastard got what he deserved!” Anubis kept on talking. The sound of celebration and happiness was all around Husky; but why couldn't he feel it? He knew he was impaled by that metallic monster. He could feel the cold and razor-sharp blade going all the way through his body like a hot knife through butter. Why were his wounds nonexistent?

A flashback came to him. The feeling of danger invaded his body and senses. It was an immense pressure at the back of his head that told him something was not right. He saw in his memories how he had acted by pure instinct, side-stepping and avoiding an impact that would certainly be the death of him. That human attempted against his life for no reason. Husky could remember the wild rage he felt inside him, counter-attacking the human with no remorse.

“No...” Husky whispered in the verge of crying. “I took his life...” He remembered clearly now how his hammer had crushed the human's skull.

“What are you saying, Husky?” Anubis asked perplexed at Husky's sudden tone of remorse.

“I killed him!” Husky cried as he looked at Anubis right to the eyes.

Anubi's smile suddenly turned into an expression of discontent and disappointment.

“Husky, how can you feel remorse for that... TRASH!” Anubis showed a furious glare, but behind his aggression, his eyes flooded with tears of disappointment.

“It shouldn’t have been that way, Anubis!” Husky yelled desperately as he held his head.

“He tried to KILL you, Husky!” Anubis yelled back furious. “He and no human cares for you or any of us!” He scolded Husky.

“No, you don't understand, Anubis!” Husky now stood up to face him. “We are not like them! If we do this, then we are at the same level!”

“How can you say that?!” Anubis was furious, lashing at Husky. Anubis swung his fist at Husky, not hitting him, but the window behind, just inches from the blue-eyed Evocanis. “We are not like them, and never will!” Anubis yelled as hard as he could. He couldn't understand why his brother would feel guilt after doing what he did.

“I...” Husky couldn't find no words.

“He was going to kill you in cold blood, Husky!” Anubis kept on yelling at the shaking Husky. “No reason whatsoever, Husky! Just because they think they are superior than us!”

“Husky,” Another Evocanis intervened more calmly, “they feel pleasure when killing. He was doing it not only for fun, but because he thought that violence was the only way to prove his point.” He tried to rationalize with the scared husky.

“They don't even have respect for their own kind; how do you think they feel about us?” Anubis stepped in again. “They don't care! They think they are gods and that they are absolute. Nothing is above them or at the same level!” Anubis was incredibly irritated, but from his eyes tears still rolled down his furred cheeks. “With that mentality they even dared to invade us, desecrate our race with not a single ounce of remorse. They enjoyed it...”

“Husky...” After a sigh, Anubis now spoke with a softer tone, getting closer to Husky. He picked up the towel that had fallen on the ground, revealing the wet and trembling husky. “We do care for our kind.” Anubis gently placed the towel over Husky's shoulders to comfort him from the cold of being wet.

“We do care for you, Husky... I care for you.” Anubis very gently placed his paws on Husky's shoulders. “And that's how we are better than them...”

This was a pure sign of affection. Husky suddenly felt that coldness disappear from his body, instead being replaced by a beautiful warmth that invaded his whole body. He stared at his brother's eyes, and he himself couldn't hold his tears anymore. For the second time, Evocanis love was showing itself among all that coldness; all that fear and horror.

Husky couldn't resist anymore. He slowly but surely got close to Anubis and held him in a very gentle hug.

Anubis was confused. At first, he did not know how to react, letting his arms fall limp while Husky embraced him. But he never rejected Husky; instead, he once again placed his paws on his brother Evocanis and let the embrace happen.

“Husky... We need you. We don't want to lose you. You're are our brother and we care.” Anubis spoke with his heart. Husky knew and felt that his brother wanted to say something else, but years of suffering and violence didn't let him.

“That's why I...” He continued “We are not only proud of you, but also immensely happy that you beat that human to his place.” He said as he very gently separated from Husky. “Don't feel remorse, Husky. It was him or you.” Both now stared at each other right on the eyes. “That's how it works and it was fair.”

“Anubis... I” Husky tried to speak before being interrupted.

“It was HIM or YOU, Husky. Understand?”

Husky felt awful after taking a life. He didn't feel bad for the human, but it was the whole situation of having taken a life. But as shocked as he was, he understood that he did what was his right to do. That monster walked to him with no other intention but to kill him for no reason at all. They were like the metallic monsters that had always threatened their existence in such an unfair way. It would probably follow Husky for the rest of his life, but he slowly understood that it he was left no choice.

“And like I said, the coordinators saw it all. We have no guilt here; not you, not anyone of us.” Anubis said.

“The humans got their punishment. Not only they lost one of theirs, but they will be working for the next five days on their own.” Another Evocanis said.

“We also got new supplies, Husky!” this time, a German Shepherd spoke.

“Husky,” Anubis once again spoke. He looked at his friends and how happy they all were. “We got fresh food, blankets, mattresses and clothes!” The happiness on their eyes was like nothing Husky had seen so far in that nightmare. For the time that Husky had been there, he was seeing his brothers being almost Evocanis again. This somehow eased Husky's pain and confusion, but also broke his heart. It was so unfair that his brothers were now happy with this little improvement in their already awful life. They deserved this and a million times more; they deserved their lives back,

“And it's all thanks to you, Husky.” A Pit Bull Evo now spoke. “We feel stronger ever since you arrived down here, for some reason.”

“Brothers...” There was no more than Husky wanted than to tell them how wrong everything felt. But he couldn't find the words nor the explanation of what was happening.

Confused as he was, Husky just let himself be taken by his Evocanis brothers as they celebrated their small victory, enjoying fresh food around a warm fire. They all talked, ate, drank clean water and laughed. After all the suffering the Evocanis race had went through, they had that little moment of peace, and for a second they almost let themselves be Evocanis again.

As much as Husky tried to feel happy for his brothers, he was still consumed by this awful feeling that something was dreadfully wrong. The chattering around him blended in an homogeneous noise that soon faded away, being overpowered by his thoughts. Husky just sat there, semi-wet, wrapped in a towel while staring at the fire.

“Soon, Fx you and I will be back in Canis Major and this will all have been a nightmare...”

Husky unexpectedly jumped as if shocked by a thousand bolts.

“Are you alright?” He couldn't hear it, but he saw one of the Evocanis looking at him concerned and managed to read his lips. Everything moved like in slow motion. The room was again spinning and Husky felt very confused. Husky shook his head, trying to rearrange his thoughts, but it was not improving.

“Husky, you have to get up! Those machines are coming!” Again those voices that didn't come from any of the Evos around him. When he closed his eyes, he could see metal scraps around him. Sharp pain invaded his whole body. A vent not too far could be his only escape.

“Hey, mutt! Are you okay?” He thought he saw another one of those tough Evocanis speaking to him.

“I...” Husky tried to speak as he stumbled at every step after he abruptly stood up. The towel fell on the ground, as the young husky walked without going anywhere really.

“I am so happy I met you, Husky. It was an honor fighting by your side”

“Anubis!” Husky yelled, falling to his knees. He tried to call for his friend, He knew those words he just heard belonged to his dear Evocanis brother.

“What?!” Anubis jumped from the spot he sat and ran to Husky. “What's wrong with you? Are you okay?” The large black-furred Evocanis knelt down next to the struggling husky. He grabbed his head and desperately tried to bring him back to reason. “Listen to me!”

“No... you're not...” Husky tied to speak but chocked on his own saliva. His muzzle foamed. “You're not Anubis!”

“Wake up, Husky. You can do it!” Another voice. This voice was even stranger. It didn't feel like a memory; it came from everywhere. It was very strong, clear and made Husky's surroundings flash in total blackness for a brief instant.

It was too much. Husky felt unconscious...

There was darkness all around him once again. Confusing images which Husky couldn't identify as either real or just part of a dream. Voices... a thousand voices echoed in the dark, some calling to him, others blending in a indecipherable racket.

“Please, stop!” He yelled. Not sure if he was still dreaming, or in that harsh reality he couldn't identify as existent or not. He felt touched, but couldn't see by whom. It was suddenly too much for Husky to put up with. He felt like falling unconscious again, but wasn’t he already?

“We have to get to him!” Someone yelling. It was too loud and sudden for Husky to ignore. His heart beating as hard as a piston, Husky jolted upward, waking up from his confusing slumber.

Deep inside, he saw what he didn't want to accept as his reality. He was again in that horrible place, surrounded by scraps, wrapped around a damp dirty towel while he lied down on that torn mattress.

“Get your tools!” Another voice echoed in their lair.

“We won't let them get to him!” One of the strong Evocanis ran past Husky, carrying a large hammer.

Stumbling on his legs, Husky stood up and instinctively followed his Evocanis brothers. Some of them rushed past him, pushing him away.

“What's going on?” Husky barely managed to mutter, as everyone gain the lead, leaving him behind. No one responded, but ran towards the exit of their lair.

Husky was till in a state of total confusion. His head hammered in pain, his stomach threatened to empty itself again; his vision blurred and out of focus.

“Please stop...” He said at no avail. Husky tried to keep up with his brothers, but simply couldn't. Without even taking notice, he was already walking towards the darkness of that place they called the Bowels of Canis Major. Husky was still damp and wore nothing but his once soft fur. He held himself to walls as he tried not to fall due to how disoriented he was.

“He's got to be here somewhere. I can sense him, Husky. Fx is alive; I know!”

Those ghastly voices once again invade his mind, disorienting him even further. He wouldn't get any rest. What made him feel this way? He just wanted it to end. He couldn't put up with it any further. As harsh as it might've been, within the innocence of the Evocani's mind, even the peace that death could bring seemed a better choice.

He lost track of where he walked, or where he was headed to. He went from tunnel after tunnel, in the darkness of the bowels. He tripped and stumbled, as he continued to the nothingness. But it wasn't long until he picked up the scent of his Evocanis brothers. Soon, the silence of those tunnels was broken, as he heard a massive commotion.

Still holding his head, rubbing his eyes, trying to focus and understand what happened, around the corner he saw them.

“Damn you humans!” Some yelled. Husky couldn't understand, as he saw the large group of Evocanis just standing in front of a large gate.

“Don't you dare touch him!” Another one threatened. But what were they yelling at?

Husky's confusion soon dissipated as he got closer to the group of Evocanis.

“Don't think this will pay your debt, dogs!” The wretched voice of a human echoed form beyond the gate. Evos desperately tried to get passed it, but nothing would work. “After him, we will get the one who killed our partner!”

“No!” this powerful voice could only belong to Anubis. “You cowards! Fight face to face!”

as Husky kept getting closer, he saw Anubis trying desperately to reach the other side of the gate. “Not like this!” He let out an intimidating growl.

“You know the rules;” the human voice said “this is neutral territory. If we get to them first, they are ours to keep.” He now let out an evil chuckle.

Husky still didn't understand what happened. He pushed himself through the group of Evocanis that charged against the gate. He kept on going in deeper until he finally managed to get to the very front where Anubis and his strongest friends were. What Husky saw was confusing...very frightening.

“This will teach you a lesson not to mess with us, dogs.” He finally saw the human that spoke.

Husky's blood slowly started to boil with anger as he understood the situation. This was the same exact spot where he was first ambushed by the humans. He now stood where Anubis and his friends appeared from the darkness and saved him. But something was wrong now... Confused and angered, Husky saw in front of them how this massive gate blocked their path. But even more terrifying was what was beyond it.

Defenseless; this body lied on the ground, apparently unconscious.

“No...” Husky whispered. Pain struck his chest as he started to organize his thoughts and understood what there lied.

“You take one of us, we take two, you miserable animals!” The human yelled.

On the ground, surrounded by the monsters, a fragile body tried to get get up.

“Don't touch him!” Anubis again demanded. It was too late. The humans had already made their irrational minds. Nothing would stop them from doing whatever horrible thing they had planned.

“Fx...” Husky muttered. It was unmistakeable. The orange fur and unique pattern that belong to his beloved little brother.

“Watch very closely, dogs. This is what you're worth; nothing.” The human said. What happened next would hit hard on every single Evocanis that stood and watched completely impotent behind that gate.

“Don't you dare!!” Anubis yelled one last time at no avail.

Husky couldn't say anything. His soul and mind were both destroyed by that one last act of pure evilness.

All around Husky, everythign went mute and once again as if in slow motion. All he heard was the agonizing yelps of pain from his brother as he was mercilessly beat and stomped to death by those monsters. The sound of bones breaking were felt in Husky's own body, more painfully than when he was shot or impaled. It just wouldn't stop... The heart-shattering yelps soon faded until the body of his little brother didn't move anymore. The humans showed an evil smile as they slowly walked away from their lifeless victim; one of them kicking the innocent Evocanis one last time in his head. They way the head whipped by the impact made it evident that his neck was already broken.

Everything around Husky seemed irrelevant. He slid down to his knees staring at his brother. Fx was dead not two meters away from him. No sign of breathing at all. No words could be uttered; nothing that would make that horrible moment irreversible. It had happened and Husky couldn't do anything about it.

Soon the silence was broken by the furious growls of the other Evocanis. They were beyond irate, as if wild animals wanting nothing else but to shred those humans into dust. Husky had no reactions anymore. His body had even forgotten to breathe.

“Husky!!” Anubis again. He had managed to somewhat awaken Husky from his state of shock. “We have to go!” He yelled. His broken voice was evidence of not only the anger but suffering his heart experienced. “There is nothing we can do for now. But you can rest assured that they will pay dearly for this!” Anubis did what he could to hold his tears, but he was ultimately overwhelmed.

Husky still didn't react. He kept on staring at Fx as he lied dead in front of him.

“Don't worry. Fx is safe. I sent him on the ship and he should be fine.” another ghastly voice in his mind; or was it? It was Anubis, he was certain, but not the Anubis that desperately tried to pull him back into his paws at that moment.

“Let. Go. Of. Me!” Husky finally managed to breathe deep and speak. He pushed Anubis away and stood up by himself. He sprung to the gate once again.

“We are going back, Husky!” Anubis yelled at him. “They got away with it for now. There is nothing we can do!”

“No...” Husky cried while consumed by fury. “You saved him, Anubis. You told me you did...” He now lashed at Anubis, holding on to his shirt as he lost balance. “You told me you did... You liar!!”

“I don't know what are you talking about, Husky. We have to go!”

“No! You risked everything for my brother. You told me so down in that pit!” Husky said words not even he understood. A flashback of a dark pit with what seemed to be sand dunes suddenly interrupted his thought process.

“I don't know how they managed to lower this gate, but I will get to the bottom of this. They WILL pay, Husky!” Anubis still tried to gain control, but his whole body was shaking. This was definitely not the first time they had arrived late, but Anubis felt this reaction was new to him. Husky had changed them in a way he couldn't explain.

“He is my brother, Anubis!!” Husky now fell to the ground yelping in pain as he cried for his little brother's death.

“Husky... I'm sorry. We need to go!” Anubis knelt down to try and pick Husky up.

“You know him! You knew him before I even met you! Back in D.E1!” Again this pain shocked Husky's brain. Words he could not understand at the moment burned into his mind and made him speak without having control. Husky again pushed Anubis away.

“Anubis. We have to move. If the coordinators saw this and find us here, they will think we're part of this riot.” One of the strong Evocanis said as the rest returned to their territory; some infuriated, some crying.

Anubis looked back at him. “Go back. I'll take care of him!” Orders were given and obeyed. The last of the Evocanis walked away.

Husky now laid on the ground crying and clenching his jaw in a mixture of sadness, pain and anger. He was in complete agony. Anubis once again tried his best to pull him back at no avail.

“Fine, Husky!” Anubis finally had it. He stood up abruptly. “I am sorry that we didn't make it in time! But this could end up worst for us if we don't return now.”

“You lie... You DID make it on time. You told me so!” Husky spoke confused.

“We care for you, Husky!” Anubis yelled furiously. “But this is a war. It has been ever since they set their dirty limbs in our ship! We can't mourn one of us for too long, or we will ALL pay the price!”

“Then let's fight!” A furious Husky now stood up once more. “With us together they stand no chance!”

“They have killed thousands of us, Husky! If we do that, they will kill us all!” Anubis tried to rationalize with Husky, but he started to lose his strength and authority against the small husky that there stood defenseless, with no clothes and his fur wet and soiled.

“Then I will...” He looked straight to Anubis eyes. The determination in Husky's glare was incredibly intimidating. He was probably in the verge of losing his sanity, or all of it was lost by now. Anubis knew that husky was a force to be reckoned with at that moment. He feared for his life.

“I don't want them to hurt you, Husky...” Anubis said in a much calmer tone. “But I will not risk all of us for just one of us. As much as it hurts me...”

“Then go back. Protect your group and let me... destroy them.” Husky replied calmly but his tone was full of strength and determination. Even is his body could barely stand straight at that moment, he had one thing in his mind: end that nightmare.

“Husky...” Anubis took his paw to his eyes and could not hold the tears. “You brought happiness to us. You gave us hope... But acting harshly will only end up destroying us all.”

“You have made me take the hardest decision of my life...” Anubis continued. “I have no strength to fight against your will. If you feel you need to do this, then I cannot stop you...” Anubis kept on crying as he turned around and walked back to his territory. “We will always remember you, Husky.” One last time, Anubis turned around and looked at Husky. “You're our brother and we will miss you. I wish you luck.”

“Be safe... I will end this nightmare for all of us...” Husky managed to softly mutter as the large Evocanis disappeared into the darkness.

Husky's body and mind were still overwhelmed by confusion, anger, sadness and feelings that could easily end up killing any other living being with just the sheer intensity of them. He faced back at the gate, taking a glance at the body of his brother. He couldn't see him for a fraction of a second without losing all strength. He fell again to the ground, crying inconsolably. His baby brother was dead and so was a part of him thanks to it. How could he free this crumbling Canis Major by himself? His brothers were too frightened to fight and he was now in a deplorable condition.

“You are were so close, Husky...” that voice. It was not that ghastly voice that had recently been tormenting him with confusion; this was the sweet voice he knew well.

“You?” Husky barely managed to speak over his exhausted crying.

“You can't give up now, Husky.”

At the other side of the gate, walking towards the dead body of Fx, the hooded Evocanis made herself present again. She slowly approached Fx and knelt down in front of him.

“You can't let this defeat you, Husky.” She sounded sad and disappointed. As if she wanted to tell Husky something but she couldn't “Remember what you repeated not long ago? What you firmly started to believe in?” She took her hood and cloak of, gently placing it on Fx. She was now much more visible to Husky and he couldn't help to notice how... similar she was. But similar to what, or who?

“I don't want this to be my reality!” Husky cried.

“No, you don't!” The tender female Evocanis reaffirmed. “Then why are you letting yourself be defeated then?”

“My brother...” He whispered to himself. He reached across the bars, trying to touch his little Fx.

“What happened to Fx, Husky?” She asked assertively. She had wrapped Fx in her cloak now.

“Those monsters...” Husky cried as heart-breaking as a defenseless pup. “They killed him!”

“You are not telling the truth, Husky. And you know that!” The tender Evocanis now sounded very angry. This anger was more out of desperation. She was trying to guide Husky in some way, but Husky kept on being dragged by the shadows of that nightmare.

“I don't understand...” He was desperate.

“Our brother, Husky. You know he didn't die. What did Anubis tell you?” She now stood after gently picking Fx up and holding him in her arms.

For a second, Husky felt the confusion eat him from the inside out, but then he saw it.

“Fx will be alright, Husky. He's on a ship. He'll make it.” That voice again. But this time, he brought it back. It was him remembering those words. He looked back at the darkness where Anubis and his friends disappeared into their territory. Something didn't add up.

“That cannot be Anubis.” Husky said. “Anubis told me he had saved my brother, and I believe him!” He now yelled at the female husky.

“You know that for a fact, Husky. Then you know this Canis Major is not what you want.” She said. She turned around and walked into the darkness, while carrying Fx.

“Wait!I need your help. Please...” He desperately begged. “I can't do this without you!”

“Husky...” She now stopped and turned around to face Husky. “I'm already helping you. It is my duty to do so. But you got to help yourself as well, as you are the only one who can escape this nightmare.”

“Am I dreaming? Please tell me! I know this isn't right!” He kept on crying desperately.

“If you are capable of questioning it, then you know what the truth is, Husky.” She stared down at Fx's body that she carried. “If this is not the reality you accept; if this is not the Canis Major you know, then you must be strong and set yourself free.”

“How!?” Husky yelled at her, craving for an answer to end that madness.

“If this isn't the Canis Major you know,” She said “if your brothers have given up,” she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, “then this ship must be destroyed.”

“What are you saying?!”

“If you want this to be real,” She now faced Fx once again. “Then you will stay there in defeat. Your defeated brothers are holding you back and the more you back up, the more real this reality will be.”

“Please; what can I do?!”

“Destroy this reality that you cannot accept. It's the only way, Husky...”

The mysterious Evocanis that had been so tender to him now asked for Husky to do the unthinkable. She gave no more responses and walked away into darkness with Fx on her arms.

But somehow, Husky still felt warmness to her words...