Gregory gave a deep sigh as he watched the world outside the window, feeling a fatigue that even thirty hours straight of sleep wouldn’t have been able to relieve. For a moment, he saw the reflection of his eyes on the glass; there was a mortifying sadness in them, one he hadn’t felt in a long time.

A difficult task was waiting for him. Difficult, but most of all… ungrateful.

Then, he heard steps behind him. Light, oddly slow steps. The boy those steps belonged to would’ve never walked that way, under normal circumstances. ‘But these are not normal circumstances for him neither, after all.’

Gregory didn’t wait for him to talk. Instead, he turned to the hare and said: “Jack, my boy. How are you?”

Jack Turner – or Savage, how he had taken to call himself recently, was small; small his stature, small his experience. And his heart? Judging by the concerned look in his eyes… no, that wasn’t small at all. Yet, not large enough to contain the evil inherent in this world. “I… I don’t really know” Jack answered. “I’m not injured, but… I’m not feeling ok neither. I’m sorry I can’t explain my condition properly, I’ve never been good with words, sir.” The hare shook his head, as if he wanted to hunt down some unpleasant thoughts, and asked instead: “The young vixen. The one I’ve saved… no, I’ve found in the camp. How is she?”

“Physically speaking, she suffered no serious injuries.” Gregory opened the folder he was holding under his arm and flipped through the first pages. Even though he had already read the vixen’s name several times, he found himself struck by it again.

Cynthia Walker. Walker… was quite a meaningful surname, in Gregory’s opinion. Walker, the one who walks. Walks despite adversities, uncertainty and pain. That was the message the word conveyed to him. A wonderful message, indeed. But… what was Cynthia’s opinion in this regard? Would she have been motivated to walk the path her life had taken? That was a question nobody could answer. A question which instinctively invoked fear, because of its unfathomable nature.

“Have you already got a hold of her family?” Jack asked.

“You see…” Gregory started, then turned his gaze to the door beyond which Cynthia Walker was, lying in a hospital bed as comfortable as useless. No litter, as warm and soft as it could be, would have been able to prepare the vixen for the raw truth that was waiting to be revealed to her. “Sadly, it looks like Cynthia Walker has no longer a family to come back to.”

Jack’s eyes widened. “What does that mean, sir? Are they…”

“Dead? No, I don’t think her parents are dead. They just… well, disappeared.”

“Do you mean you can’t contact them?”

“According to our investigation, Cynthia’s parents moved four years ago, and nobody knows where they headed” Gregory explained. “So, at present, Cynthia is orphaned as a result of the disappearance of her household. In other words, the poor creature you brought to us, Jack, doesn’t have a home anymore.”

The hare made a discomforted expression. “That’s terrible” he murmured, then turned to Cynthia’s room and asked, “What will happen to her, then?”

“In cases, such as this, you usually try to put them in an orphanage. However – and now I’m going back to what I was previously saying – although Cynthia’s physical condition is stable, the same cannot be said about her psyche.” Gregory closed the folder and frowned, then added: “If she could have got back to her family, perhaps the situation would have been under control. But this way… it’ll be traumatic for her.” He could already imagine the consequences that a placement to an orphanage would have caused, and his heart ached.

“Aren’t there other alternatives?”

“Finding a family who is willing to take care of her, for example” replied the dog, “in other words, adoption. But even this solution involves risks, not to mention the difficulties in carrying it out quickly.”

Jack wrinkled his nose, obviously intent on some profound elucubration – which was probably something he wasn’t used to do, judging by the painful way he was clenching his jaw.

Gregory kindly laughed at that extreme concentration. “You know, I wonder why I’m telling you these details. After all, you have no right nor permission to know them.” The dog leaned a paw on Jack’s little shoulder and, looking straight into his eyes, inquired: “Do you know why, Jack?”

The hare didn’t seem intimidated by that vis-a-vis. ‘He’s got guts’, Gregory had to admit. ‘I like this kid.’ Jack lowered his eyelids for a moment, then shook his head. “No, sir” he honestly admitted, “I don’t know.”

“Of course you don’t” Gregory agreed, before moving away from him. Jack Turner was nothing, technically speaking. But that night, in that camp, something important had happened; a bond was born, that important bond that is formed between the savior and the one who is saved. Gregory respected that bond. Therefore, in his eyes, Jack had the special privilege to know every detail of Cynthia Walker’s situation, the first creature he had ever placed – consciously or not – under his wing.

… Obviously enough, it was clear as day that not only such a talk wouldn’t have penetrated Jack’s skull – skull which, for the sake of truth, seemed extremely thick – but also, there was a risk that it would have blew his head apart. “Listen, Jack.” Gregory finally spoke; his voice became deeper, and this time the little herbivore showed an even so slight hint of submission. “What I told you about Cynthia’s situation… has to be a secret between me and you. If I found out you intentionally or accidentally divulged them… you can already imagine what would happen in that case, can’t you?”

“… You would prevent me from officially enlisting in the GSD, right”?

“Precisely, my boy. So, you’ll hold your tongue tight.” It wasn’t even a question, but an order. The first order Gregory gave Jack Turner who, in the future, would’ve became one of his best agents. “Understood?”

Jack nodded. There was no hesitation in him, as if he was ready to do so from the very beginning. After all, the mere fact Jack was here meant that he was willing to do this and more; such a light order was nothing but the first step to climb in order to achieve his objective. A trifle not worth wasting even a split second to think about it.

Jack Turner was there because he wanted to become a GSD agent. His belief was as solid as a rock, and Gregory was certain it would have taken him far. Farther than anyone else. ‘Only death could make this guy desist. Death… or love’ the dog thought. Then, a sincere laughter left his mouth. “Very good!” he said, and the heavy atmosphere was swept away in a moment. “I really like you, Jack. I can’t wait to have you among my agents. You’ll have to work extra hard, you know that, don’t you?”

And, for the first time since the day he had met Jack, Gregory saw him smile. “I know that, sir. I can’t wait either” he replied. And in those words, was the very essence of the creature known by the name of Jack Turner… or rather, Jack Savage.

Gregory smiled too. Perhaps, that nickname suited Jack than he had thought, after all.

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The little story you just read happens right after Promise and describes Cynthia’s situation on the family front. Also, it shows a young Jack Savage (Turner!) after his first, unofficial mission. Not exactly the keen&cool Agent Savage we’re used to see.

For the other stories and comics, please visit this page: AoiRemArt comics & stories!