Refined Freedom

Immediately after, sirens blared wildly throughout the facility. Shrieking, ear splitting noises could be heard echoing from down the hallway as voices of both terror, anger, and confusion were swallowed by the sounds of the alert systems. She quickly exited the boardroom, only to run into a fellow female colleague, who just transferred to the medical staff on the west wing of the facility.

"What's going on?" Cher asked, as she grabbed the woman's wrist.

"D-Dr. Harrison! It's the Dogs! They've escaped!" the woman delivered the unfortunate answer.

Cher quickly began to make her way back to the observation room. What could've happened to them? To him? The Wolves had always been under very close surveillance, ever since their arrival. So what could've possibly gone wrong for them to escape now, of all times? As she rounded the corner that led to the observation room, she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide with surprise.

Sprinting past her further down the hallway, were a couple of Wolves. Kira and Riku. Their faces were focused, as they refused to acknowledge the existence of their current surroundings or situation. And right behind them was Tazuna. The species of her devotion to life itself. Cher gasped suddenly as she remembered how to breathe; it was as if the sight of seeing the Arctic Wolf gain his freedom had taken the very essence of life from her lungs.

"Tazuna!" Cher called out, as she rushed towards him.

But as she rounded the corner that was in the opposite direction of the observation room, she came to an immediate halt upon entering the hallway. The Wolves had vanished as if they'd been only hallucinations from Cher’s own imagination. Kim Yeong hurried from the opposite end of the hallway, his breathing could be heard from the quietness of the part of the building. He was still wearing his medical coat, as his name tag bounced from his neck with every step.

“Dr. Yeong.” Cher spoke to herself, as she turned to meet his gaze.

Their initial plans for freedom were met with a series of unanswered questions. The main one being: How were they going to escape a prison that had the top rated security system known to Mankind? The Wolves’ heaving breathing could barely be heard over the relentless sirens that filled hallways. It was in this hallway, they were able to take a few minutes to gather their thoughts as they'd been sprinting down the maze of hallways.

“What should we do, Tazuna?” Riku asked, his loyalty lying solely on the Arctic Wolf.

“We should trust them! That male Human even helped us escape!” the Red Wolf barked with excitement.

“That’s not your call to make!” Riku warned, his voice both husky and aggressive.

“There's a staircase up ahead.” Tazuna informed, after taking a few seconds to process his next plan.

“Let’s go!” Kira barked, his eyes glinting with a hint of excitement.

“That female Human. I hope you can sever that bond with her after this.” Riku questioned, his peridot eyes periodically glancing at the Arctic Wolf.

“We don't share a bond.” Tazuna corrected, his tone monotonous yet stern. “It's mutual respect.”

“Hm...”

Soon the Wolves made it to the staircase. However, they were now chased by a group of armored troops, who unleashed a flurry of bullets. The primal instincts that were subconsciously buried inside them had been unlocked. And like an acrobatic gymnast, he sped straight up the staircase and onto the sixth floor! Tazuna and Kira followed immediately, their speed left the troops stunned.

“Where the hell do they think they're going?!” asked one of the troops.

“We're not going anywhere and neither are they!” shouted another, who immediately started to bark orders to his subordinates. “Fire at will! I repeat! Fire at will!”

Cher and Yeong had been trailing them the entire way, choosing to take the elevator. Her heart felt like it dropped to the floor as if it had been ripped out of her chest. She could hear echoing gunshots rattling the interior of the research center; shouts and screams of panic could also be drawn to her ears. Cher had no idea whether she'd meet the Wolves alive or dead!

As the two researchers hurried through the facility, they only just managed to make it out the emergency exit of the research center, when they heard a loud shattering sound. Glass shards rained from the sixth floor window, each piece glittering like diamonds under the moonlight.

And there, appearing directly in front of them, were the Wolves. They managed to escape the facility. But despite their daring escape, they were still targeted by the troops, who continued to rain endless bullets from their guns.

“Damnit!” Yeong cursed, as he could do nothing but watch from the ground. “What the hell do those bastards think they're doing?”

“Tazuna!” Cher yelled. “Run!”

A stray bullet ricocheted off a piece of pipeline and barely missed Cher’s body by mere inches. Yeong took matters into his own hands and grabbed Cher, as he led her to safety. However, he'd been inadvertently grazed on his arm by a stray bullet. It didn't matter how much yelling either of them did, the troops were determined to stop the Wolves from escaping the confinements of the facility at all costs. Even if it meant, the Wolves had to be killed in order to accomplish this goal.

“I got an idea.” Cher ordered, an idea already formed in her mind. “Ready your gun.”

“Right.” Yeong agreed, his hand touching the cold steel of his pistol.

The Wolves dodged the bullets with near supernatural reflexes. Their bodies’ flexibility allowed them to perform stunts and acrobatic feats that would've been deemed much too dangerous for anyone brave enough to attempt. But, in the midst of their escape from the shower of scorching hot bullets, the Wolves became disoriented and ended up getting separated from each other. Kira felt the shards of bullet casings bite and snap at his heels. This made him accidentally stumble in his attempt to get to safety. Looking around, desperately, the Red Wolf felt his lungs burn from the fresh gunpowder that hung in the air.

Tazuna! Riku! Where are you?!

“Kira!” Tazuna barked, as he appeared from out of nowhere.

Kira immediately whirled around. Tazuna stiffened the powerful muscles in his hind legs. With a single leap, he launched himself over the Red Wolf. Tazuna flew towards the first troop he saw from the high vantage point. And running in conjunction with the Arctic Wolf was a singular bullet that delivered a headshot to the armed Human. And now his lifeless body fell to the floor with a solid thud. The bullet belonged to Yeong, who helped assist Cher with taking out as many of the troops as possible from their current hiding position.

Riku dove through an open window and unleashed every ounce of fury onto the unsuspecting troops, who were conveniently caught in a small room. Loud gunshots could be heard from the room, as the troops unleashed blood curdling screams for mercy, as Riku answered with his killing instincts.

“Riku!” Kira howled in fright.

At that moment, Tazuna emerged from a random location. His large, muscular frame rippled with raw strength as he propelled his body towards the Red Wolf. With a simple toss of his head, Tazuna threw the Red Wolf on his back and sprinted straight towards the wall that surrounded the research center.

“Hang on!” Tazuna growled.

Tazuna steadied himself and with a powerful push off with his legs, he hoisted Kira over the wall. The heat of a stray bullet barely scraped his heels. Kira crashed to the ground, before he tumbled through the underbrush of the forest. Kira was only a few feet away from Riku, who somehow managed to escape himself.

“Riku!” Kira barked, as he hurried back to the Gray Wolf, who was just starting to stand up. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah.” Riku answered, as he felt Kira support his body with his own. “Where’s–”

BOOM!!!

Suddenly, a large explosion echoed through the facility. Despite the strength of the reinforced concrete wall, it wasn't enough to contain the blast. Concrete rubble, and fiery embers plummeted to the ground like meteorites; plumes of black smoke choked the air as screams of terror could be heard from the research center. Or at least, from those who managed to survive. Ghostly wails and groans were muffled under thick concrete rubble. Waves of intense heat from the blast felt like an invisible fire that burned the Wolves’ skin, as claw shaped flames stretched towards the moon.

“Tazuna! Tazuna!” Kira barked loudly, his eyes burning from the smoke.

No! Not again! Riku mentally begged, the once suppressed memories of the tragic event reappeared in his mind once again. Where are you…? This can't happen again?! I can't lose you! Not again! Tazuna!

At that moment, Tazuna emerged from what could only be described as a fire out of the deepest pits of Hell. His snow white fur was heavily dusted with the burnt ashes. Yet, even with this eerie sight, the Arctic Wolf continued to stand with his head held high.

“Tazuna!” Kira gasped breathlessly, before his tail began to wag uncontrollably. “You're alive! Riku! Tazuna's alive!”

“You’re… alive.” Riku spoke under his breath, just before he unleashed his anger. “Just what in the name of Oū were you thinking?! Have you lost your mind?!”

Kira promptly ignored Riku's rant and hurried to Tazuna. The two Wolves exchanged a series of nuzzles and tail wags to reinforce their safety with each other.

Meanwhile, Riku seemed to be more focused on the destruction of the Black Lotus Research Center. His eyes stared at the burning remains of the building they were forced to call “home.” An unreadable, darkened expression flashed in his green eyes, as he felt his lips curl back with anger. After all those months of indescribable torture now laid in scorched ruins and crumbling concrete. He and his friends were finally free.

“Riku?” Kira asked, his eyes focused on the Gray Wolf, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.

“Let's go.” Riku ordered curtly, as he turned away from the still burning research center without a second glance.

“Wait! What… about those two–”

“They don't matter! None of this matters. Not anymore.”

“Riku…”

“The sooner we get away from this place, the better.”

Riku silently walked through the frigid cold forest. Kira stared longingly at his paw prints that began to guide him in an unknown direction. Now wasn't the best time to offer comfort. So he simply tucked his tail near the back of his legs and followed the Gray Wolf.

Tazuna took a few steps towards the same direction. Then he suddenly stopped. He remained quiet. Much like his caretaker, Cher, he too began to wonder if there was something that had triggered these events. After all this time, there wasn't a single word spoken about an escape plan from the Humans. And this is despite him and Cher having a mutual understanding of the other.

Yet, within a span of an hour, their mutual respect for each other had crossed paths unexpectedly.

But why?

He wanted to remember her. He wanted to remember the face who saved him. The same face who showed him the first ounce of compassion he ever received from any Human. His ears perked up, as the ghostly screams of a familiar voice echoed from just on the other side of the now crumbled concrete wall.

Cher trudged through the rumble, the icy winds sending chills up her spine but warmed her heart. But in her desperation, she lost her footing and tripped, landing on the hard, cold ground; all the strength in her body had almost depleted entirely. Her disheveled hair fell along her face, as tears stung in her eyes. Her twisted face of emotions threatened to burst to the surface. The begrudging reality had begun to set in for both of them. This would be the last time Wolf and Human would ever see each other.

“Are you alright?” Yeong asked, as he knelt beside his colleague.

"Tazuna..." Cher spoke suddenly, her voice cracking as she ignored the immense pain from her injuries.

Tazuna turned around to see his Human caretaker only a few feet away. His instincts screamed at him to do something –anything– to put distance between them. Yet a part of him begged him to stay. Even if it was for just a little while longer.

Yes, she was a Human. Yes, she performed endless experiments on countless Wolves. On him. And even on his companions. But, even through all of that, could Tazuna really put all of the blame on her?

Cher had only been following the orders of her higher-up superiors. As a matter of fact, if they hadn't had that fateful meeting on that tragic day, Tazuna would've died long before his first birthday. All of his best memories, regardless of the physical and mental pain and torment he suffered, were also with the same person who was laying right in front of him.

Cher could barely see in front of her face, her tears filling up the wells of her blue eyes, before streaming down her cheeks. She'd never felt such a strong connection with anyone. Whether it be with Humans or animals. Yet here she was, being confronted with the gut wrenching pain of losing the one thing that brought light into her dark, bleak world. Cher felt a stabbing pain of remorse grip tighter onto her.

There are so many things I want to say to you. Cher thought to herself, as she painfully reached out towards the Arctic Wolf. I don't know why… but seeing you standing in front of me feels so surreal. Have you always been this strong? Even if you are just a Wolf, I want to be with you. But, I know… for some reason…this is something that can't happen.

Cher felt Tazuna's forehead on her cheek, causing her to lift her head slightly as she pressed her forehead against his own. She chuckled slightly when she felt the warmth of his thick winter fur caress her cold skin. Even in his sudden departure, Cher felt the bittersweet emotions Tazuna tried his best to convey, even when they couldn't verbally communicate with each other. But from Yeong's point of view, words weren't needed to see the bond they formed for each other.

"You're gonna cause us to be in a shit ton of trouble.” Yeong spoke, as he stared at Tazuna. “So you better not die out there. You hear me?”

Cher allowed her hand to slowly slip from Tazuna's fur, as the faint sounds sirens their way could be heard from the near distance. Tazuna took one last look at his caretaker and suddenly vanished into the forest. Both Yeong and Cher stared into the darkness of the forest.

Tazuna quickly reunited with Riku and Kira. While one was relieved that he was fine, the other was pissed he'd chosen to stay behind to say goodbye to a Human who could've killed them at a moment.

“What the hell was that all about?” Riku asked, his voice demanding an answer.

“What's done is done.” Tazuna answered, his voice surprisingly calm and docile.

Kira silently trotted after Tazuna, knowing Riku wouldn't be able to win against the argument. As the Wolves walked further into the forest without any clear idea on their next destination, Kira looked up at Tazuna, who silently walked next to him, his breath being seen in the cold air.

“Where do we go now?” he asked with curiosity.

“Home." Riku answered sternly.

The Gray Wolf led his two closest companions away from their lifelong life of torture to a life of freedom.