Huh?

The woman suddenly pulls out her six shooter and points it directly at Rocinante.

Oh heck no.

WHOLLUP!

I sock her straight in her no good schemin’ little chin and she falls to the floor splat like a hardy sack of red potatoes. What tha heck was that all about? Mighty rude to point that double barrel at someone’s friend, not gonna lie. Why I outta give her the ol’ one-two again for this cuckoo crazy little hussie…

Woof ٩(•̤̀ᵕ•̤́๑)

No, no. It’s not your fault, Rocinante. There are just some people in this world that are rude as crud. Pay them no heed.

But, uh, yeah. She’s, like, out out. Think I’m starting to hear some snores too. That’s weird.

Anyway, I’m starting to think otherwise about this whole excursion. That hug she gave me was pretty nice, but I ain’t moving into no community that shoots up nice little doggies for no darn good reason. I’m gonna find the head honcho of this shindig and give him a piece of my mind!

As soon as the woman wakes up, that is. I’m no rude little lady. I properly watch over the victims of my assault like a civilized member of society, though I am confiscating her boomstick first just in case she goes trigger happy like before.

Yep.

Just waiting.

And waiting.

Snooooooozzeeeee.

”H-Huh? What just…” the woman says after an ETERNITY of waiting waiting waiting.

Finally woken up now, have you? I don’t take kindly to sudden acts of violence, mon ami. Say sorry to Rocinante!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

”R-Rocinante? Who… nevermind. Sweetie, walk over to me very, very slowly.”

Why?

“Why? That… that thing right next to you is dangerous. Very dangerous.”

Rocinante’s not dangerous! He’s a good pupper!

“I-I’m sorry. Was he your dog before the Red Night?”

The whattahuh? No, I just found him like seven days ago. But he’s a good dog! Just look at those cute little eyeballs of his!

“C-Cute? Um… I don’t see any eyes. I don’t think it has eyes.”

That’s because you’ll turn into mush if you look at them directly.

“Then how do you know they’re cute?”

I just do.

Anyway, point is you dirty down scoundrel, Rocinante is NOT dangerous. He’s a very nice and kind and special boy, aren’t you?

Bark ‧⁺◟( ᵒ̴̶̷̥́ ·̫ ᵒ̴̶̷̣̥̀ )

See? Now say sorry!

“O-ok. Sorry, um, Rocinante.”

Hehe, alls well that ends well. Now can we go see the other flesh bags?

“…I’m not sure, sweetie. I don’t know how you’ve managed to stay uninfected while traveling with one of the Pallid, but we can’t risk letting that… dog contaminating us.”

It’s fiiiiiiine. Blue things don’t contaminate people.

“Blue?”

Huh? You never noticed?

“No. Because we’d be dead if we went outside.”

Really? Sheesh, what a bunch of drama queens. Anyway, if blue did actually infect people, then it would’ve already gotten rid of this red inside me a loooooong time ago.

Her face goes pale and she suddenly jumps up and slams herself against the wall. What an odd, odd person.

“You’re infected with the Influence?”

What? You mean the red? Yuh-huh.

“S-Since when?”

Since that big ol’ guy popped up in the sky. It’s really annoying sometimes, but that’s just life I suppose. We just gotta keep keeping on.

“What? But that was… you’ve been enduring the influence for that long?”

Don’t be such a big baby. It was only, like, a few days ago. Or was it a year ago? Or maybe it was tomorrow. Or maybe it hasn’t happened yet. I dunno.

She looks at me like I’m speaking utter nonsense (meanie!) but suddenly softens her expression for some reason.

“Oh, honey. You… I see now. You’ve been suffering all this time without turning into one of them. I can’t imagine how much pain you’re in.”

Honestly, it’s not that bad. My brain goes red sometimes and it feels like every piece of my body is being ripped apart piece by piece, but other than that it’s pretty chill.

So… you gonna let us in or am I gonna have to go back home? I don’t really want to since mom is still there, but it’d be rude of me to keep bothering you fine folks if you don’t want me.

She pauses for a second, carefully looking up and down Rocinante, before sighing and waving us in. Score!

“Alright. But I can’t let you into the main base right now. I have to let you meet someone first.”

That’s A-ok! Let’s see who really runs this stinky place.