How long ago was it? One year? Two? For them, his face was the second thing they could remember seeing after Mama's. She always said when he was around she felt safe. She felt loved. Even after she died, Master Justin made sure to share that affection Gingee's way. How they missed that about him.

“It’s not going down! Somebody call the army or something?”

“Calm down, Rick! Just keep shooting!”

Gingee crushed the car between their teeth, the oily taste running down their tongue. It was a bitter flavor, but as squishy as their old chew toys. But Gingee wasn't intent on playing. Not now. The humans around the junkyard were no friends of Karla's. Or Master Justin's.

"Where the hell is our backup?"

"That was the back-up!"

Gingee's paw crushed a truck into pieces, the humans at their feet lying half-eaten and covered in drool. There were so many around, the flashing lights and screaming voices so numerous they stopped keeping track. Instead, the canine turned devildog simply knelt to the ground, a growl rising to meet the concession of humans trying to get into the junkyard. Trying to hurt Ghost Friend.

Protect. Must protect.

Master Justin was gone. Karla was all alone with the humans trying to hurt them. That couldn't stand. Even if it meant being a bad dog, Gingee refused to abandon the junkyard. No one would ever lay a hand on it as long as they drew breath.

Protect, Ghost Friend. I will protect Ghost Friend!

They lifted a paw, batting a car through the air.

The humans all moved away, Gingee jumping to another vehicle and ripping its roof off. Keep them out. Keep her safe. Their head jerked, metal launching out and nearly beheading several people in the process. Their bullets rained down, pellets bouncing off Gingee's fur. It stung a bit but did little damage. Stay away, bad people! They kicked the machine's remains.

A truck somersaulted across the ground seconds from crushing three humans into paste when it split in two.

"Officers! Stand down!"

The humans rose their heads, new scents drifting through Gingee's nostrils.

Vehicles piled in around the junkyard's entrance, all sporting the same flashing lights as the others. But that was where the similarities ended. While the first humans sported black uniforms fitted with bullet-shooters, the second group were all dressed in red and violet. Some sported blunt weapons at their sides, others brandishing sharpened tools as long as tails. It was one of them which had cut the vehicle in half.

A woman. She'd appeared faster than the others, though Gingee was more wary of the scent she gave off. They doubled back, stinging pain hitting their nose. What is that? Just being near her felt like someone was spraying pepper through the air.

"Who the hell are you?" asked one human.

"Paranormal Investigation Bureau," the woman said, flashing the circular disk pinned to her shirt.

"Para- What?"

"We'll take it from here," chimed another of the new arrivals. "Commissioner Welton should be radioing in to call you guys back about now-ish."

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As they said this, the officers all seemed to look at their sides, their talking devices buzzing with activity. The woman at the head pointed her sharpened tool at Gingee, the blade shining under the moonlight. They drew back further, stinging pain magnifying. Stay away! They waved their tail, dust and dirt thrown up in all directions. It made the scent subside, but Gingee could hear the voices growing closer.

"Spirit of the Gale, heed my call!"

"Spirit of Light, rend thine foe!"

Gingee rose, body jerking back on instinct. A ray of light slammed on the spot they'd been, dirt shredding apart as a dark chasm was dug into the junkyard on contact. Gingee growled, ears twitching at the ready. Protect. They ducked, a paw smacking away a sharp projectile. The demonling winced.

"Careful, it's a strong one!" someone called.

"Somebody hurry and bind it!" screamed another.

The voices were spreading, purple and red surrounding Gingee on all sides. Three came rushing forward, blunt weapons glowing, but they were knocked aside as the devildog spun around, tail batting them all away. Ow. They winced again.

It hurt. Why did touching the weapons hurt? Gingee slapped a blunt tool away to the same effect, pain pulsing through their paw pads. The stinging pain rose.

"Betty!"

Gingee's eyes darted about, but it was too late, pain cutting across their back. The devildog stumbled away, whimpering as liquid dripped down their back. Their blood sizzled as it evaporated from the sharp tool woman's blade.

She flung off the rest, the other humans going on the offensive again. Gingee roared, smashing and kicking as hard as they could, but something was wrong. The stinging pain. It felt like it was seeping through fur. Coursing through their veins. The demonling wobbled, trying to force the damage away. No. Protect. Must stand and protect. Paws stamped the ground, Gingee whirling with bared fangs.

"Got 'em!"

The devildog froze, a human in their face.

Two fingers touched Gingee's fur. The moment they did, their body seized to function, everything locking up mid-attack.

"Nice work, Betty!" someone shouted.

"Let's not start patting backs, yet," said the scarlet-haired woman, her fingers pressing against Gingee's scruff. "It's a fighter. I don't think I can hold it forever."

Gingee tried to move, but nothing responded. Not their tail. Not their nose. Not even their eyes. Their entire frame was paralyzed from the PIB woman's touch. No. Can't freeze. Save Ghost Friend. Must save Ghost Friend. Gingee pulled and yanked at their limbs, whatever strength they had focusing on just the act of movement. Of doing anything but standing there. The other humans were drawing closer, the sharp tool woman raising her blade.

"B-ar-k."

The humans stopped.

"It...can talk?"

Gingee felt the stinging pain intensify, the sharp tool woman glaring at them. But it kept fighting. Pulling. Their teeth began to chatter if only slightly.

"Pro-tect. Pro-tect. Karla."

Betty put another hand on Gingee's head, the chattering stopping instantly.

"Sorry," she said. "Didn't think it would be this stubborn. Should be fully bound now, though."

Gingee couldn't react. Couldn't speak. The world of around them became devoid of all sensation, events playing out like pictures before their eyes.

Ghost friend.

The sharp tool woman's blade rested against Gingee's fur, but even that gave off no sensations.

Protect. Ghost friend.

The woman's blade didn't move. In fact, neither she nor the humans surrounding Gingee were attacking. They all had their attention locked on something else. Something that Gingee could barely see given their paralysis.

Ghost friend. Protect. Ghost friend.

The pale spirit illuminated by moonlight hovered above the junkyard. She glared down at everyone, her voice an amalgamation of otherworldly tones as she descended upon them all.

"HUMANS! LEAVE NOW, OR I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOULS!"

None of the people moved. Even as Karla transformed, none of the humans tried to run. Gingee found sensations returning, the urge to move rising as they approached the helpless spirit. No. Protect! Must protect! Karla roared, her towering beastly form rushing forward to meet them all.