Chapter 1
10/18/2038 - Omigard, Alaska
"Happy Birthday Dixie!" says everyone at Steeles and Dixie's apartment as she, Steele, and Shea enter. Everest, Sylvie, Kaltag, Skye, and Bolt even were all there to celebrate her 37th birthday. "Gaw guys," Dixie says to them. Skye presents her with a red velvet cake and a card from her and Chase. She opens the envelope to see a blue card with the words "Happy Birthday Bitch" on it. Dixie chuckles and opens the card with the initials of Skye and Chase written on it along with forty dollars. "Thanks, Skye, Where's Chase?"
"Right here Dixie Wo... I mean Hams." Chase comes around the corner with a bottle of mead and wraps his right arm around Skye's hip.
"And this is from myself." Bolt gives Dixie a medium-sized Amazon box. She opens the box to see a cup in the shape of a pair of breasts, Modeled after her breasts. Everyone laughs including herself and Shea. "Why thank you Bolt for this mug. How did you make this?"
"I still remember a few things from my time with my lovely Amanda. I still have her clay kits. Also, it took me a week to make this." Bolt describes his experience with clay work when Everest tells Dixie that Marshall should be here with their gift to her in a moment. Dixie asks about him and Everest says that she sent him to get her birthday dinner.
The door opens, revealing Marshall with four boxes of Pizza and two boxes of cheese bread from Pinnochio's pizzeria. "Happy birthday Miss Hams, Say I sorta brought the new neighbor to come if you don't mind?" the Dalmatian says as Dixie asks for the identity of this person. After he enters, a stranger also comes.
She's a Siberian husky with Dark gray fur and a small patch of white fur on her small hair. She dressed like a mix between a mechanic and a goth high schooler. Her brown eyes met Everest's blue eyes. She's wearing a brown vest and wearing a spike bracelet on his left wrist.
"You must be new huh, Name's Dixie, Dixie Hams." The twilight Pomeranian introduces herself to this person who identifies herself as Gasket Kendyrdottir.
Everest goes up to her and introduces herself as Everest Thoricdottir of Issgord. Gasket makes a remark about her stating that she thought Issgord Huskies never leave their frozen home. "Well that's sorta not true, I'm here and my now deceased father was deployed to the Solomon Islands to face those Solomon Island giants."
"Impressive, sorry for your father Everest." Gasket gives her condolences before introducing herself to everyone else. Yet Everest felt strange around Gasket as if she was a walking red flag. She kept this feeling to herself and went on to sing Happy Birthday to her friend.
They sang their happy birthday to Dixie as Sylvie lit the candles on her cake with her lighter. All but Dixie and Gasket sang the song and when the song ended she blew out her candles they all cheered. All except Gasket who stood in silence and with a face of annoyance. Everest didn't pay too much attention and got a slice of cake from Dixie.
Around eight pm, Dixie, Kaltag, and even Chase got drunk. Steele was passed out drunk and Gasket sat on the couch with Marshall drinking mead. While Shea helps Sylvie with Kaltag. Everest helps Skye with Chase, returning them to their apartment before going back to get Marshall. Upon entering Dixie and Steele's home, She sees Marshall drinking with Gasket and tells him that it's time to get home for the night. They agree and together they give their good nights to the hams and give their welcome homes to Shea. Shea thanks them as they leave and she returns inside.
They walk Gasket to her apartment which is next to theirs. Gasket thanks Marshall before walking inside. Everest and Marshall enter their home for the night. Minutes went by, and Everest was in her room praying to a statue of her god Ullr. Marshall exits the bathroom and walks towards the door.
"You look tense up Everest, What's up?" The Dalmatian asks her as Everest confesses that she has a bad feeling about Gasket. "What do you mean?"
"I just have this bad feeling about her you know. The way she talked to you and the story she gave about her escaping a toxic relationship from the north where Axefang is. Marshall, you don't think she's from Axefang do you?"
Marshall lifts his right eyebrow and says that he doubts it. "If she's from Axefang then the Axefang Imperium wouldn't be too far from behind and before either of us knew it, that would be the end of Omigard."
"Well, I guess I ought to be mindful of her even if she gives off a strange vibe," Everest says as she lies on her bed before telling him good night. Marshall also tells her good night before walking out. She lies in silence. Her eyes were wide open and her hands sat on her breast. She couldn't get the thought of Gasket out of her head so she decided to get off of her bed and walk towards her Alienware gaming pc. The large box illuminates teal lights from its left side via a clear glass window.
Everest boots up Dawn of War: The Crusade of the Damned and played the Battle Brothers faction to take her mind off of Gasket. Minutes later while she played through the Thur'abis island level. She played against the Havok Brothers from the Blooded Sons legion when she noticed that these NPC on her video game had a similar scheme to the real-world Axefang conclave located in the Mourning Vale. Brown, gray, and red. Unlike in real life, the Blooded Son worships a fictional Havok god Karneth the Blood Lord.
Everest remembers reading a "Gamer's Front" Magazine from her childhood about this game and how Games-Hellshop took inspiration from an alleged god "Volkerh the Blood Monk" for their fictional Havok god. Volkerh is one of a few Outer Gods worshiped by the Axefang Fallen caninoids. She remembers learning about the god in high school back in Issgord. Its influence on the Axefang Caninoids, Dwegord Dwarves, The ancient Zulus tribes and even deserted Spartans view the Eldritch entity as Ares during the Greco-Persian war.
Something about Gasket felt off the moment they both laid eyes upon each other. Everest once more felt wary of Gasket but she would felt wrong to accuse this new neighbor of coming from the cursed Axefang Imperium. Regardless, She destroys the enemy stronghold in the game. She saves her game for the night and shuts off her computer before attempting to sleep again.
The next morning, She wakes up at eight o'clock am and gets ready for the day. She takes an eight-minute shower, brushes her teeth, and gets dressed for the day. Putting on her police uniform. Placing her bulletproof vest over her teal Omigard Police Department issued a long-sleeved shirt. She followed up by wearing her jeans and issgordic fur trim boots.
She goes towards her gun safe and pulls out both her H&K 10mm pistol and Thordryn, her family sword she earned after slaying Gerlintr. She placed her sword in its sheath on her back and her pistol in its hostler on her right hip. She places her badge on the right side of her vest before walking out the door. She notices that Marshall's door is still closed meaning he's still asleep.
She would walk out from the front door and shut it behind her, using her key to lock it before taking a look at Gasket's front door. That strange feeling came back to her but she walked towards the stone stairs and walked down towards the parking lot to find her car seated next to Steele's truck.
She opens the driver's door and enters her vehicle, turning the car on and backing outwards before she sets the knob on D and drives forwards towards the exit of the apartment complex. Her first thought is to drive toward Zeus's palace of Burgers for some breakfast. She drives towards the Drive-thru as an employee over the radio says "Good Morning Mortal, How can the servants of Zeus serve thee?"
Everest chuckles at the comedic accent that the employee put on. "Can I get a number one, The Elysium Sausage biscuit with cheese and a side of hasbrown?'
"Would it be all mortal?"
"Yes, that's it," Everest says when the employee tells her that it'll be six dollars and eight cents. Everest drives up to the window and gives the Amuntilian hound her ten-dollar bill. In return, the cashier gives her three dollars and ninety-two cents along with a recipe for her order.
Everest waits when the cashier returns with a small bag that contains her food. Everest gives her thanks to the Afghan hound before driving off. Minutes later she arrives at work. Seeing Nikki walking in. She parks her car in the parking lot, turns her vehicle off before exiting it, and walks towards the front door with her food.
"Hey Everest, Since Kaltag and Chase are suffering a hangover from Dixie's party last night, the boss asked for us to fill in their hours you know." The large brown fur husky says to Everest.
"Good, I want the extra money," Everest spoke as if something was wrong. Nikki looks at her with concern and asks if she's ok. "Yes, I'm ok. I'm also tired from last night. So many people drinking you know. Too bad you nor Star couldn't make it."
"I was too busy with arresting some crooked teens and Star never leaves his house. He's been quiet for a long time since all those years ago after the second Diphtheria crisis. Once Steele left us and we all came to Omigard. Star has shelved himself in his home. Only leaving for groceries and work. Poor guy, Kaltag was pretty hard on the young guy when our years on the front line."
Nikki reminisces about his military years as he and Everest walk inside the building. They would go to their respective offices. Everest enters hers as she goes to sit at her chair to eat her food.
Chapter 2
It is now noon and Everest returns home for a moment for her lunch break to see Marshall and Gasket talking in the living room. "Hey Everest, here for lunch huh?"
"Yeah that I am," Everest tells him as Marshall says that hopes she didn't mind if Gasket was here. Everest says that she doesn't mind as Gasket asks "What part of the police force do you serve?"
"Patrol unit, Although there are rumors of a Pinkerton detective moving into Omigard soon," Everest tells her as Gasket asks for the name of this Pinkerton. "I don't know their name but they originate from Georgia. Detective Azhir is the identity of this person that is all I know."
"Pinkerton Caninoids, I thought that was more of a human organization?" Marshall questions as Everest states that the Pinkertons were bought out by the Global Paranormal Investigation Agency back in two-thousands and ten and as far as she knew, this detective isn't on Pinkerton records at least officially.
"But again Global Paranormal agents are just fancy assholes who seal off our existence from the rest of humanity as they will do with the Dominian blight." Gasket utters.
"I think the Dominian clones are worse than the Global Paranormal besides it is because of them is how we knew of the existence of the Dominians and it's also them that keeps the relationship between cynoea and humans stable," Everest replied to Gasket who would scoff at her words. "It's just that I don't trust them is all, They allow my people to be slaughtered by Alasians where I used to live."
"And if you don't mind me asking, Where did you use to live before coming here?" The Issgord husky asks Gasket who refuses to elaborate. Everest goes towards the kitchen and opens the fridge to take out a box of pizza from last night. She takes out a plate from the cabinet and puts two slices of pepperoni pizza on it and heats it via a microwave.
She waits for thirdy seconds before the timer stops with a loud beeping sound. Everest takes out her plate and eats her lunch. "So Gasket, where do you work at?"
"Nowhere as of now but I seek to work as a mechanic. I'm one albeit as an amateur." Gasket revealed little about herself. Everest sat at her maple-wooden chair and continued to eat before asking if she had friends where she used to live. Gasket refuse to answer properly and said that she work for an asshole named Hipcup. An English bulldog from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
"Strange, We aren't supposed to live in human cities without revealing our existence to them," Marshall tells Gasket when she questions who authority. "On the director's authority if you must know. He's the one who runs everything in the Global Paranormal Investigation Agency."
"Have you ever met him, Everest?" Gasket asks with a sense of exasperation in her voice.
"Not directly but I have a long-time friend who works as a G.P.I.A. agent who helped me in killing the same wyvern who killed my father in battle." Everest started to get defensive when Marshall spoke out. "Hey let's bring down the heat, Let's talk about something else that doesn't involve the Global Paranormal or home."
Everest looks at her phone and tells them that she's needed back at the office. She puts her plate in the dishwasher before cleaning her hands with napkins. Everest tells Marshall that she'll be home by five as she walks out the door.
By three pm, Everest was in her police car, driving around the Omigard Elementary school as the students got out for the weekend. Everest sees some of the facility members escorting students across the streets as she continues to drive toward the police station. She parks at the police lot before exiting her vehicle and entering the building.
She goes to her office and goes over some documents when she gets a message from Skye on her phone. She checks it to see Skye sending her the following.
"Hey, since I'm working late tonight, Can you check on Chase to see if he's ok?"
Everest messages her back saying she will before asking her for an opinion on Gasket. Skye messaged her back saying she seemed ok when Everest asked if she gave off a weird vibe. Skye asked what she'd meant by that as Everest asked if she had given off red flags from the party.
Skye mentioned that she didn't talk to her all that much as she was drinking. Everest asks Skye about her thoughts on Axefang and seconds later, Skye asks if she's implying that Gasket belongs to the Axefang Imperium. Everest says no and just wants to hear her opinions on Axefang.
Skye mentions that like all pureborn, She sees Axefang as a blight on Cynoea kind. Everest sighs before saying she'll check on Chase for her when she gets home.
At seven pm, Everest gets off for the day and returns home. Upon arrival at the apartment complex, She goes to her apartment and enters only to see Marshall and Chase playing Xbox, They're playing the new EA Star Wars video game that came out three days ago.
"Hey Chase, Skye wanted me to check up on ya. Marshall. Where's Gasket?"
"Oh, she's at her apartment. She left a long time ago after you left. She got a call from a Dwayne whoever that is and she never came back. Probably her ex-boyfriend." the Dalmatian laughs. "Hey Eves, check this out, So this new Star Wars game even if it is mostly single-player still has loot boxes and overpriced microtransactions. I mean for five-hundred credits, it is eight dollars." Chase tells Everest as she replies "Star Wars is awful. I'm more of a Dawn of War and Realms of Sigmar gal. Never been into Star Wars."
"Older Star Wars is awesome but everything after Return of the Jedi just sucked, especially the Prequels. But it is what it is." Chase says as Everest goes to her room and changes her clothes from her police attire to a simple Astral Wolves t-shirt and her blue jeans pants. She gets on her computer and researches the Axefang Imperium. Of course, on the surface web, nothing comes up except for some conspiracy websites briefly touching on the subject of Axefang but only basic topics like the history of Axefang and the sightings of Axefang Caninoids raiding camping sites.
Everest uses the Global Paranormal VPN and gain access to hidden websites on the Mariana web. She comes across various videos of people getting killed by Axefang Caninoids and hikers encountering Pureborn caninoids. It would be illegal to leak these videos out on Vidtube as they are meant to be classified.
Everest would look up Gasket Kendyrdottir on the web to come across nothing. No social media or any records of her existence. Everest had this strange feeling again and so she decided to get off of her pc and went to the living room where Marshall and Chase were still playing their video game but they started playing Ways of Kombat.
Chase played as Snowwraith, an ice ninja and Marshall played as Rayden the lightning god. "Loser must pass up their controller!" Everest tells them as they agree. The doorbell rings and Everest goes to open the door to see Gasket. The Siberian Husky walks in giving a quick hello to Everest in an antipathic voice but warms up to Marshall. "Hey Marshall my dude." Gasket says in a more friendly voice that gives Everest whiplash from her almost rude vocal tone.
"Hey Gasket, If you remember Chase from Dixie's party," Marshall tells her as Gasket gives Chase a friendly What's up. But Everest sucks it up and joins the group. "Snowwraith Wins, Fatality" shouted the announcer's voice from the TV depicting Snowwraith holding the head of Rayden with his spinal cord still attached to the head.
"You damn spammer Chase." Marshall seethes with annoyance at Chase's victory and passes the controller to Everest. She takes the controller and the TV brings up the character select menu. She chooses Snowwraith as her main and Chase chooses Kang Lin. Chase picks the Pit stage and waits for the game to load up and two seconds later their characters speak in the game as the announcer says "Round one, FIGHT!".
Everest immediately gets beat by Chase who uses the flying kick move. "You asshole," Everest murmurs as she performs a combo attack on the game. She does beat Chase in the first round leaving him accusing her of spamming. "Round 2, FIGHT1" shouts the announcer as they play. While playing Everest sees Gasket on her phone, checking on something. She ignores it and continues to play the game only when Chase performs the bicycle kick move and a long combo attack would be when Gasket remarks on her gamer skills.
She ignores it and plays the game only until she gets beat by Chase as he starts the Dragon's Breathe fatality. "Kang Lee Wins, Fatality."
"Better up next time Everest." Gasket says as she looks back at her phone. This causes Everest to become frustrated with her and passes the controller to Marshall. "Are you ok Everest?" Marshall asks as the Issgord husky nods to him. Everest watches them play their game as she looks up some painting schemes for her Astral Wolves army for the tabletop Dawn of War game.
"So Gasket, Did you go job hunting yet?" Everest inquired a question from the gray fur Siberian husky, She turned to face Everest and replied with a not yet and said she applied online. Everest ask about Sudbury and what it was like staying there.
"The locals were assholes and filled with Radical teenage freaks and fanatic Cryptid hunters." Gasket gives her some info on Sudbury as Everest inquires more about her home life and Gasket refuses to answer.
"You know it's rude to ignore someone's question," Everest tells her as Gasket would say that she doesn't want to talk about her old life because she barely knows them. "It's how we open up to each other, Earning trust by talking about ourselves."
"Don't push it, Everest, I don't want to talk about it."
Chase chimes in and subdues the situation by telling them to chill out. Everest agrees with Chase out of respect for him. "Say Gasket, if you got anything that you need to bring in, Me and Marshall can help you," Everest advises in a more friendly tone to her voice.
Gasket says that she has a van coming in from Sudbury coming in tomorrow. Everest asks if they're hungry and Chase and Marshall suggest tacos. "Alrighty," Everest says as she gets up to cook tacos. She gets out some ground beef and cooks it using taco seasonings. She cooks dinner when messages Skye about coming over for Dinner. Skye asks about Chase when she says that he's playing Ways of Kombat with Marshall.
Skye tells her that she's with Bolt at the Games of the Arena store picking up some models for Clash of Kings then she'll be there. Everest replies with an ok on her phone. She sends her the message as she goes back to cooking. She gets out the lettuce, Onion, and Tomatoes and cuts them up with her Issgordic kitchen knife.
Her ears perk up and turns to see Gasket standing at the entryway. "I would like to give an apology to you for being rude seconds ago. I just don't like to talk about my past is all." Gasket tells her as Everest says it's water under the bridge. Gasket tells her that she'll be back and is going to get some beers for dinner. Everest nods and as Gasket walks towards the front door and opens it to see Skye walking in and saying hey to her.
"SKYE MY GAL!" Chase says as the Yellow fur cockapoo enters. "Aren't you supposed to be relaxing from your hangover?"
"I got bored and wanted some company," Chase says to her as he continues to play Ways of Kombat with Marshall. Everest asks for Skye to keep an eye out for the Taco shells baking in the oven as she goes to check on Gasket. She exits her home and walks over towards Gasket's door. She attempts to open the door when the gray fur Siberian husky opens it. She has a bottle of beer in her left hand as she says "I was just looking for the beer."
"I was just coming to check on you, that is all. Dinner is about to be ready."
"Alright, I'm fucking starving."
Chapter 3
Everyone went home after eating dinner, Marshall played more video games in the living room while Everest went to her room to change into some PJs before returning to Marshall. Sitting next to him and asking him about Gasket.
"She's nice for a grumpy husky. She seems like she's been through a lot like Dixie or Steele." the Dalmatian says as he plays Doom.
"Yeah, even if she was rude earlier at least to me. Even all of that I still get the feeling that there is something off about her."
"Well, I don't know if I agree Everest. If she was Axefang she would find a way to kill us off." Marshall assures her. "Axefang Cynoeas are crafty in their plans, They're subtle about the things they do. To non-Axefang cynoeas and even humans alike."
Everest states her feelings to Marshall as he asks if she has ever faced an Axefang Cynoeas. Everest tells him that her father and uncle fought them when they attacked Issgord and of course, there are rumors that a girl by the name of Aleu was killed by an Axefang Cynoea.
"Doesn't Sylvie and Dixie know an Aleu?"
"Maybe it's a different Aleu and not that one. Of course, her red fur husky momma is a bitch but I would've gotten something from them if it was Aleu. Thank Ullr that I don't talk to that red fur..."
Marshall tells her that it is ok and changes the subject back to Gasket. Marshall is confident that Gasket is nice while Everest shows some concerns towards the husky. From her stance on the Global Paranormal to how she treated her earlier of course she did apologize but it came across as fraudulent. She knew that living in Sudbury would be impossible due to the population of humans living there.
Saturday morning has come, It is now the twentieth of October. Everest, Marshall, Chase, and even Bolt help with Gasket, moving her furniture to her apartment. Everest studies her home. The walls were painted black with some creepy canvas art prints hanging on the walls of her hallway and living room all depicting eerie images of people dying and crosses.
"Everest," Bolt says as he and Chase walk in carrying Gasket's couch. It was at least ninety feet long with green fabric. "Hey Eves, can you move that box towards the hall?" Bolt asks as Everest goes to pick up the medium cardboard box and takes it to her bedroom.
She felt uncomfortable carrying the box yet she built enough courage to open the door to see a dankly lit room with black curtain covering the window that led to the left side of the room. Otherwise, there was a mattress with a phone charger next to it. Everest looks inside the box to see a few photos of Gasket. Some photo has her as a pup and others as a adult.
One of these photos caught her attention as it depicts Gasket at twelve years of age in a forest with other female cynoeas. They look to be in a girl's scout camp based on the uniform they wore. Wearing a brown shirt with a tan leathery bandana that almost looked like flesh. The pins she wore on the left side of the shirt depict the Sigil of Volkerh. Everest's heart rapidly beats and her hands shake at the sight of the sigil.
All she needs to do is put the puzzle together, She hears Gasket's voice and quickly puts the photos back in the box, and exits her room before Gasket can catch her. She goes to help Gasket and Marshall move her boxes to her apartment.
Everest asks her if she was ever part of a summer camp program, The Siberian husky tells her that she was but it was more of a military camp. Everest kept quiet for a while before Gasket asked her if she looked at her old photo. Everest saw herself in a corner yet she came clean and told her that she saw a glance of the photo.
While she didn't say anything, Everest could just tell by the look of Gasket that she didn't want her to look at her old photo. Everest would remain quiet for the duration of the help. After they get all of her belongings inside, Everest tells Gasket that she's going to the store for a drink. Gasket tells her no with resentment in her voice. Everest then goes to ask Marshall, Chase, and Bolt if they want drinks as Bolt tells her that he's going to the Games of the Arena with Steele.
Chase asks for Sweet Tea and Marshall asks for Coly-Cola. Everest nods at them and leaves to her vehicle and drives out from the Apartment complex. She shouldn't have asked Gasket anything since Gasket's face was that of sneer.
Everest reaches the corner store and grabs the sweet tea, Coly-Cola, and a white can Beastcore energy drink for herself. She paid for the drinks and went off her way. Upon return to the apartments and to Gasket's home. She gives Chase and Marshall their drinks while opening her Beastcore can.
They drink when Gasket comes from her room and shows them her Greatsword. The hilt is brass as is the long great blade, the handle is wrapped with maroon leather and the pummel is made with Bloodstone.
"Isn't bloodstone from you know?"
"Axefang?" Gasket answer
"Perhaps I took it from an Axefang Infiltrator," Gasket says followed by a chuckle. Marshall and Chase laugh while Everest remains quiet. "Are you sure about that?" the Issgord husky questioned as Gasket raised her eye and retorted "What are you Implying?"
"Because isn't that greatsword an Axefang forge weapon?" Everest questions her when Marshall says that he and Chase are going next door to play some video games. Gasket thanks them for the help and asks for Everest to stay.
"Will you be coming with us Gasket?"
"Give me a moment with her." Gasket demands as Chase and Marshall nod in agreement. The second they walk out Gasket tells Everest the truth.
"Yes, I'm from Axefang itself but hear me out, Everest." Gasket said as Everest told her to go on or to give her a reason not to turn her in.
"Yes Everest, That's why I didn't want to tell you my past because of people like you who are so blind to... *sighs* It doesn't matter anymore. I left the Axefang Imperium on my own. The only person who still remains is a Dane by the name of Dwayne. I was part of the Ruff-Ruff Pack who served the Blood Dog Conclave in Mourning Vale. I left that life to seek out hope. I was accused of heresy against Volkerh by Hiccup, My old boss and Varangur guard. I actually was in Sudbury, We got into a fight with the Dominian clones when I got critically injured in battle. While I was unconscious, I saw my parents in Niflhel. My father begged for me to leave the Imperium for a better life even if I still held my Ideals he wanted me to be better. The moment I woke and told my old friends, Hiccup and the Mourning Vale Lord accuse me of Heresy against them and I've been on the run from them since. This happened a few years ago and I've reached Omigard, not to bring ruin but to have a better life. Yes I still uphold the worship of Volkerh but I cannot and will not spill Omigardian Blood."
Everest still remains skeptical but offers her a second chance before warning her that if she gets near Marshall or anyone else to give blood to Volkerh, She's bringing the ice of Ullr upon her. Gasket looks at her with contempt at Everest's threat.
"Do worry Everest, I do have something for him as he's the first to welcome me here." Gasket informs the Issgord husky and yet Everest still remains skeptical but she drops it and asks if she's coming next door. "Give me a moment and also let's pretend we didn't have this talk."
Everest leaves her home and goes to her apartment to see Marshall and Chase watching Omega and Alpha. "This movie, really?" Everest questions them with annoyance when Chase tells her that he made a deal with Bolt that he and Marshall would watch this movie. "This movie is dumb, I've seen this as a pup in Issgord. It's just two wolves who fall in love to prevent a war."
"Wow, way to spoil the movie Everest."
"So fucking what." Everest snaps at Chase as he asks if she's ok. "I'm sorry Chase. I didn't mean for that, I just feel stressed out is all."
"Hey, Chase we could just lie and say it's great." Marshall pleads with him but Chase declines and states that they need to get through it. Everest goes to her room to chill out and process Gasket's revelation. She sat in her chair and thought about Gasket and her history with the Axeafang Imperium.
"Why all the lies and not come out with the truth?" Everest said to herself as she came across as paranoid and seeing how friendly she could get with Marshall based on her observation from the last two days of knowing Gasket. Everest for a while had a crush on the clumsy Dalmatian since they moved in together and even went out.
Everest waited for a long time to express her true feelings towards him since the day they left their military life for a peaceful one in Omigard. She has a new mission now and that's to protect Marshall from the former Axefang cynoea.
Chapter 4
Sunday 23rd of October. Everest, Marshall, and Gasket are at the park. The sun shines and the cool autumn wind breezes through their fur. Everest, Marshall, and Gasket walk the gray rubble path. Gasket asks Marshall if he or Everest are hungry. They both said no and Gasket told them that she'd be ordering a pick up from Zeus's palace of Burgers.
She pays for her meal as she'd get a message saying her order would be read within ten minutes. They continue their walk around the park for about five minutes as Gasket gets out her phone and says that she'll be back and is going to pick up her order. Marshall nods as the Siberian Husky walks away.
Marshall looks over towards Everest who seems on edge. "OK, there buddy? You look like you've seen a ghost or Adhur Kjovtesson."
"Sorry Marshall it's just that Gasket is..."
"Hey, you aren't jealous of her right?" Marshall asks her with concern. "Wait, no Marshall. I don't get jealous of other girls. It's not in my nature any more than adultery is. But Gasket just let's say scares me." Everest replies to him as Marshall looks confused and says "Really, I thought Issgord Huskies didn't fear since you grew up in a land of Monsters."
"A different kind of fear Marshall. The fear of losing someone I care for." Everest tells him when Gasket returns with her bag from Zeus's Palace. "Say let's go back and watch a movie or something." Gasket offers when Marshall looks at Everest and she agrees with less enthusiasm.
seven minutes later they return to their apartment and Marshall turns on the TV and Xbox. Everest sits on her chair after taking her shoes off. She grabs her phone from the right pocket of her pants and scrolls through her One-Sec app.
She taps on the message board and asks Kaltag if he wants to play some "Clash: The Last Kingdoms" at the games of the Arena. Kaltag replies that he can't because he and Sylvie are going to the movies.
She messages him that it is ok and tells him that she'll see him tomorrow before putting her down on her desk. He returns to the living room to see Gasket and Marshall next together watching Disney's live-action remake of Atlantis the Lost Empire. They looked bored watching it as Marshall says "This movie sucks Donkey Kong Dong."
"I thought the original from 2001 was decent," Everest said to Marshall. He acknowledges her before making his focus on the TV. Everest sat in her chair absorbed by the TV. She nearly shut her eyes a few times but not before seeing Gasket wrapping her thick gray tail around Marshall's waist. Everest asks Marshall if he wants to make dinner.
"It's only three pm, Too early for dinner."
"Well want to come to the store to pick up stuff for dinner?" The husky asks him when Marshall asks if she is ok. "Yeah, I'm fine. Forget anything I said. I'll go myself." She tells him angrily. She gets up from her chair and walks towards her room to grab her phone. She slams her door so hard and walks towards the door.
"Hey, Everest?" Marshall asks but the Issgord husky ignores him and leaves. "What's her problem?" Gasket asks him but Marshall tells her that he doesn't know.
An hour passed by. They watch Spirit Busters when Everest comes in with groceries. Marshall asks if she wants help when Everest says that as long as it's not from Gasket. This causes Gasket to be annoyed rightfully as Marshall gets up and asks Everest what's wrong.
"Marshall, I just need some alone time here. Let me clear my thoughts." Everest says to her Dalmatian friend. Marshall turns to see Gasket go out to the balcony. "Everest looks and asks for Marshall to follow her to her room. They both go and Everest says that she doesn't like Gasket. Marshall asks why not when Everest tells him her truth.
"Don't say anything to her but she is from Axefang itself. She told me when I asked her."
Marshall's face became disheartened and if she had proof. Everest said that Gasket went rogue and yet even then she doesn't trust her and she also doesn't want him to date her.
"Woah Eves, Me dating Gasket? Nah Eves I couldn't we are friends and nothing more. Besides I just don't know if I can date anyone right now." Marshall tells Everest when she asks why not only to realize within seconds what he'd meant by that.
"Marshall, I shouldn't have started this conversation. I just caught on to what you mean and I'm sorry for that."
"I think you just worry about me and I understand and yet Gasket hasn't done anything to us. Maybe she's good or misguided. I remember my old mentor back when I lived in the Fell Isles he remembers his mentor telling him that anyone regardless of origins can change.
"And he said this before I left home and came here to Omigard and met people like Skye, Chase and you of course," Marshall tells her as Everest takes a deep long breath before sighing.
"I'm thankful to hear that it's just that I am just fearful of Gasket. I don't want to wake up one day and see her people attacking Omigard." She spoke with dread, She knew the threat they could hold to her, her loved ones, and Omigard.
Marshall assures that it will be ok and that if anything he and Chase will keep their eye out on her and any Axefang cynoeas that come even if he's only a medic.
Everest nods and gains confidence in herself. "Alright, Marsh. I better get to making dinner huh."
"Yeah, Yeah you should." They exit her room, as Marshall and Gasket watch Xenos, a late 70s sci-fi horror movie while Everest cooks. Even though she trusts Marshall, she still hold some dread for the Axefang Siberian Husky. Will Gasket live in peace or will she be found by her former allies now turned enemies?
The End... For now.
