I'm hewe fow you.

The words echoed around him, mocking his very essence of life. In an attempt to exterminate the voice, he pawed at his head, bruising and scratching it in the process. It didn't work. It never did.

I will always be hewe.

Fow you.

He growled and pawed harder. He would've continued had the smell of a copper not engulfed the air about him. He brought his paws over his eyes. He saw nothing. He wanted to see nothing. He wanted the same for his hearing. But that never came to him.

I will never leave you.

Fow any weason at all.

I will always be youw's.

He brought his paws down with such force that a cloud of dust surrounded him. As they began to settle back down their place on the ground, he noticed something within the small particles of dirt. A memory.

He saw himself, alongside another, a chocolate lab, at the beach. It wasn't like him to go for a swim, but the lab had mustered up the courage within the mix to do such a thing.

"You can do it, Wocky," the lab said, his voice as majestic as ever. "I'm wight hewe beside you."

Although he hated the touch of water against his fur, the company of the lab soothed his nerves. He slowly, but surely stuck his paws into the saltiness that is the ocean, until all four of his paws were in. He shivered, but was other wise okay.

He stared at Zuma, a small smile plastered across his muzzle. Zuma smiled too and came up beside him. "See? It isn't so bad!" The lab said, his smile growing.

"Yeah, but that's only because you're here," stated the mix.

The lab giggled, a slight blush painted his cheeks. "You weady to get in deeper?" He asked, his tail wagging enthusiastically.

"I-I think so," replied Rocky, although unsure as to whether he could do it or not.

As if reading his thoughts, the lab put a paw on the mix's shoulder, "You don't have to wowry, Wocky. I'll be wight hewe with you."

The memory faded once the dirt rested on the ground. He growled again, "Liar."

"Liar!" The instant he said this, a slew of voices engulfed his thoughts.

You awe my only.

I will always be with you.

No mattew what.

A pain erupted in his head, but he knew there was nothing he could do to stop it. His head felt as if it were in a twister, spinning round and round for all eternity. He whimpered, and pleaded for it to stop. And as if on command, it did, followed by four words.

I love you, Wocky

The mix gulped. The backs of his eyes burned, and he knew what was to come. He couldn't stop it, he didn't want to stop it. He bent over, paws covering his eyes, and wept.

"I. I love you too, Zuma," the mix croaked. All his memories. All his conversations. All flooded into him. He couldn't stop them. He allowed them to overtake him.