A Friend in Need, A True Friend Indeed by Dylan Rinald Dylan, Jake © Dylan Rinald Bayson © Eric Hunter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oftentimes a true friend is worth risking your life for..." - Dylan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Were-Mountain, noon. Dylan is seen heading towards the direction of the Werewolf community. As he goes along, he admires the landscape before and around him. DYLAN - Man...you know, I have to admit that nature can be so gorgeous in places rarely seen by people. He smiles, then looks around. He sees a tree with a large hole at its base and stands next to it. DYLAN - Bayson said he'd meet me here. Now where is he? He suddenly feels a tap on his shoulder and leaps up, frightened. He whips around to see Bayson happily grinning and laughing. BAYSON - Got ya! Haha! DYLAN - *grins and shakes his head* Yeah, you did. Almost made me have a heart attack though. BAYSON - Oh? Dang I'm good. *They both share a small laugh* DYLAN - Anywho, let's get going. BAYSON - *nods* Yeah. C'mon. I'll show you around. Bayson continues up and Dylan follows close behind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Werewolf village, 10 minutes later. As Bayson and Dylan walk around, Dylan looks behind and to his side here and there. Others seem to take notice of him and talk amongst themselves about him. He begins to feel a little uneasy. Bayson looks back at Dylan. BAYSON - Something wrong? DYLAN - *quietly* I feel kinda out of place, dude. Bayson grins. BAYSON - Nothing to be worried about, Dyl. We don't bite. *laughs a bit* They're probably just surprised to see someone different. Dylan nods. DYLAN - Yeah, I suppose so. Still kinda weird though. Bayson puts a hand on Dylan's shoulder. BAYSON - Hey, nothing to worry about. Come on, I'll show you the high school. DYLAN - *blinks* Pardon? BAYSON - *smiling* High school, Dyl. You know what that is, right? DYLAN - Well yeah, but here? BAYSON - Why not? No different than other communities, other than citizens. DYLAN - *sighs* Good point. BAYSON - C'mon. I'll show ya. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Werewolf High School. A few students are around, talking with each other. When Bayson and Dylan enter, most stop and stare at them, Dylan in particular. Dylan swallows hard. One student approaches them. STUDENT 1 - Hey Basyon! Who's that with you, huh? BAYSON - Oh, this is Dylan. He's a good friend of mine. *turns to Dylan* You can say hello, Dyl. DYLAN - Um, hi there. STUDENT 2 - He's a weird-looking werewolf, if you ask me. STUDENT 1 - Yeah. Bayson shakes his head. BAYSON - He's not a werewolf. STUDENT 1 - Not a werewolf? What is he then? BAYSON - He's what's called a canosapien. A humanoid canine. STUDENT 2 - Pfffft! And a freaky one at that. A look of hurt appears on Dylan's face. Bayson takes notice and gets annoyed. BAYSON - Hey! He is not! Take that back! STUDENT 2 - Well just look at him. Totally discolored. Ears are different ways and that one over there is bitten out of. He looks weird enough to me. BAYSON - *ticked* Just back off, okay? He's my friend and that's that! Got it? STUDENT 2 - *shrugs* Whatever. The student walks off. Bayson turns to Dylan, who still looks hurt. BAYSON - You gonna be okay? DYLAN - *nodding a bit* Yeah...I guess so. Bayson pats Dylan on the back. BAYSON - Don't worry about them. It's their loss. He smiles, and Dylan returns it. DYLAN - Thanks. BAYSON - Come on, I'll show you where we practice our magic abilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mage Hall. The room consists of merely four walls. Nothing else. Bayson and Dylan enter and see another student farther off practicing. Dylan looks around. DYLAN - How do you practice magic in here? BAYSON - It's a special field, Dyl. Using magic in here won't really harm anything or anyone, so it's perfectly safe and all. STUDENT - Fireball! A ball of fire blazes from the student's hand, but goes only a few feet away, then dissipates. Bayson grins. BAYSON - You're getting better, you know. The student turns to face Bayson and grins. He runs over to them. STUDENT - Hi Bayson! Came to practice with me? Bayson shakes his head. BAYSON - Not today. I'm showing my friend around the place. STUDENT - Oooooh! *turning to Dylan* Hi! You're an interesting-looking werewolf. BAYSON - He's not a werewolf. He's a canosapien. STUDENT - Ooooooh....that was my next guess anyway. Can he use magic? BAYSON - Not really, no. *turns to Dylan* Unless you want me to teach you, Dyl. DYLAN - *surprised* Um, is that even possible? BAYSON - Well, I dunno. Worth a shot though. Want to give it a try? DYLAN - *shaking his head* Maybe another time, Bay. BAYSON - *shrugging* Okay. No problem with that. *turns to the student* We're gonna get going. Keep at it, okay? STUDENT - *smiling* Naturally. *running off* See ya! Bayson and Dylan wave, then leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Over the next hour or so, Bayson shows Dylan around the entire village, stopping to talk with others, viewing the sites, stuff like that. ;) When they are all finished, the two exit the village and go back down the trail. BAYSON - Well, it's a nice enough day. How about a little nature walk around the mountain? DYLAN - *nodding* Sure. I'm game. They walk along the side path around and near the mountain....but as they walk, a dark figure is seen up in the trees, peering at them through binoculars. FIGURE - Yes, take your little walk. That's it. He puts down his binoculars. The figure is none other than Jake, Dylan's brother. He has a menacing, sly grin on his face. JAKE - Heh heh. You enjoy your little hike....while it lasts. Hahahaha!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Were-Mountain, west. Bayson and Dylan continue to walk along the stone path aroudn the mountain, taking in the views and sights. Bayson turns back to Dylan as they walk. BAYSON - Nice, isn't it? DYLAN - *nodding* Very. It's just amazing to me, really. BAYSON - *grinning* I knew you'd feel that way. I admit that coming out here can really relax a person. DYLAN - It does. You feel calm and carefree. As they walk, on a ledge above, Jake is preparing to make his move. In his hand is a grenade. He looks down at the two and sneers to himself. JAKE - Carefree, eh? Try this on for size! He pulls the pin from the grenade and drops it. Seconds later it explodes and causes the nearby rocks and boulders to roll and rain down the side of the mountain at Bayson and Dylan. They look up in shock. Dylan is petrified. DYLAN - Rockslide! BAYSON - Dylan! Look out! A huge boulder soars directly at Dylan. Bayson tackles Dylan to the side and away from it and the rest of the rocks. The debris rolls down the mountainside...Jake lifts his head up to see, and notices they are still alive. JAKE - Crap!! Bayson gets off of Dylan and helps him up. BAYSON - Dyl, you all right? You almost got crushed! DYLAN - *coughing* Yeah, I'm okay. *looks at Bayson* If it werent' for you, I'd be a goner, bud. *smiling* Thank you, Bayson. BAYSON - *smiling* That's what friends are for, Dylan. *pats Dylan on the back* C'mon, let's keep going. DYLAN - Yeah, but why'd that happen all of a sudden? Bayson thinks for a moment. BAYSON - Yeah, you're right. I thought I heard a bang or something too. I have a bad feeling about this, Dyl. JAKE - *from above* Oh do you? He flips off the ledge and lands behind them. JAKE - Then I'm sure you won't mind me adding to the troubles, hmm? DYLAN - *wide-eyed* Jake!! What the heck are you doing here? JAKE - *grinning* Must you always ask for a reason, little brother? *taking out his gun* How about a little game of tag? He aims his gun. BAYSON - RUUUUUN!!!!!! The two take off as Jake fires, narrowly missing them both. They continue to run and Jake gives chase, firing often. BAYSON - There's a cave this way! Hurry! Bayson and Dylan run until the path branches to the right. Bayson turns down it and enters a large cave. Jake gives pursuit. BAYSON - Follow me! He runs through a fork in the cave's path. Dylan follows close behind and they run for a time. Soon they reach an exit from the cave and reach another path. They stop and look behind. DYLAN - I don't see him anywhere. BAYSON - I think we lost him. A gun fires, just missing Dylan. JAKE - Guess again! BAYSON - Keep going! They run down the path, but soon reach a cliff and stop dead in their tracks. Jake catches up with them, then slowly walks towards them. They turn to look at him. JAKE - *grinning menacingly* Nowhere to run, you two. Can't hide from me this time. DYLAN - *growling* Just quit it, Jake! What business do you have with us?! JAKE - Only this. He aims his gun at Bayson. Dylan's eyes open wide as Bayson gets worried. JAKE - Sayonara! He fires. DYLAN - Bayson! Watch it! He leaps in front of Bayson and takes the bullet to his stomach. Blood slowly flows from the wound as Dylan cringes in pain and edges backwards. DYLAN - Aaaaaaagghhh.... BAYSON - *in shock* DYLAN!!! Dylan falls backwards, loses his footing, and falls clear off the edge of the cliff. Bayson reaches to catch Dylan but misses, and watches in fear as Dylan falls. BAYSON - DYLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!! JAKE - *laughing insanely* Hahahahahahahaha!!!! You got lucky, wolf boy! This time I won't miss! *aims his gun again* BAYSON - *growling* NO ONE hurts a friend of mine and gets away with it!!! The winds begin to kick up around Bayson as he builds up with anger. Jake still has his gun ready, but watches... BAYSON - WIND BLAST!!!!!!! Huge gusts of wind soar at Jake, pushing him back. JAKE - Hey!!!!! What the hell?! The winds kick up higher, soon lifting Jake into the air and away!! JAKE - *yelling out in anger* HEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!!!!!!!! WHY YOUUUUUU..........!!!! The winds blow him clear over the mountains. Bayson ceases the spell and blinks. BAYSON - Whoa....doesn't usually work that well... He quickly turns to the edge of the cliff and swiftly climbs down till he reaches the bottom. Not far off he sees Dylan, lying on the ground, still hurt badly. He rushes over to Dylan's side and props him up. BAYSON - Dylan...Dylan, you okay? DYLAN - *weakly* Ugh.....yeah....I guess so... Bayson looks at Dylan's stomach, which is covered in blood. BAYSON - God, you're badly hurt! C'mon, we need to get you help. DYLAN - *weak* Heh....yeah.... He sighs and closes his eyes...Bayson looks at him, worried. BAYSON - Dylan? No reply... BAYSON - Dylan! A tear forms in his eyes... BAYSON - Please.....Dylan.....don't...... He lifts up Dylan, tears rolling down his furry face. He carries Dylan off.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bayson's place, two hours later. Dylan slowly starts to awaken and opens his eyes. DYLAN - Wha.....what happened? He turns his head and sees Bayson, sitting next to him. Dylan slowly sits up in the bed. Bayson quickly hugs Dylan. BAYSON - Dyl! You're okay! DYLAN - *confused* Bay? What happened? BAYSON - Jake shot you off the cliff back there. I found you at the bottom of the cliff after I blew him off the mountain with my magic. DYLAN - *moans* Shot...yeah...but how is it I'm still alive? BAYSON - I had the medic come as soon as possible. Nothing a little magic and standard medical attention couldn't handle. He smiles. Dylan returns the smile. BAYSON - I'm just glad you're okay. You risked your life for me, Dyl. *hugs Dylan again* Thank you. DYLAN - *smiling* That's what friends are for, Bayson. BAYSON - But why? DYLAN - Oftentimes a true friend is worth risking your life for... BAYSON - *touched* Thank you... Dylan just smiles and nods. BAYSON - *smiling* Oh, I almost forgot. I noticed on our walk you have some trouble walking around on the rocks and such. So next time we go on a hike or come by, you might want to have these. He reaches behind him and pulls out a pair of silver boots. On the front of each is a diamond-shaped patch of red. On the patches are Road Rover "R" symbols. He hands them to Dylan, who's a bit surprised. BAYSON - Had them made for you. They give much better traction that your sneakers. He smiles at Dylan. Dylan is rather stunned. DYLAN - For me? Really? Bayson nods. BAYSON - It's a way of saying "thank you" for risking your life for me. Thanks, Dyl. Dylan smiles, overjoyed. He grabs Bayson and hugs him tightly, a tear rolling down his face. DYLAN - And thank you, Bay. BAYSON - For what? DYLAN - ....For being such a good friend to me. BAYSON - *smiling, happily* Anytime, Dylan......anytime.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Were-Mountain, west. Dylan is standing by the same cliff they had gone to before, looking out over it. On his feet he is wearing the silver boots Bayson had given him. He sighs, then looks down at them. DYLAN - I can't believe he actually went out of his way to have these made for me. He really didn't have to.... VOICE - *from behind* I wanted to, Dyl! Dylan turns around to see Bayson coming up the way towards him. He smiles. BAYSON - I did it because you're my friend, bud. *laughs a little* So, you like them? DYLAN - *grinning* Absolutely, Bay! I honestly can't thank you enough. Bayson smiles happily. BAYSON - I'm glad you do. Dylan grins, then turns back and looks up at the sky. BAYSON - Something wrong, Dyl? DYLAN - It's nothing, Bayson. Just......I really wish I could give you something in return. Bayson comes up to Dylan and rests a hand on the mutt's shoulder. BAYSON - You're my friend, Dyl. That's more than enough to give me. DYLAN - Thanks dude. *reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper* Here. BAYSON - What's that? DYLAN - *handing it to Bayson* It's a little something for you. Best I could do to say thank you for now. BAYSON - *taking it* But you didn't... DYLAN - Just as you had reason to give me these boots, I have reason to give you this: because I wanted to and you're my friend. He grins happily, as does Bayson. Bayson opens up the paper and looks at what's there. In it is a poem. It reads: "A true friend. What is that? A thing? A place? A time? No, it is a person. A person who cares. A person who loves. A person who is there for others. A true friend keeps his heart open and warm through the good and the bad. He helps in need, and comforts in pain. Never giving up on those he cares about. An ally for all time. An friend for life." Included is a drawn picture of Dylan and Bayson. Below it reads: Bayson, thank you for being a true friend to me. Thank you for everything you've done for me. You're the best. -Your friend, Dylan Bayson looks over the poem again, as well as the picture, and he smiles. His eyes fill up with tears and he looks up at Dylan again, who gives a warm smile. Bayson sniffles and gives Dylan a big hug, and Dylan happily returns it. BAYSON - Thank you, Dyl! Thanks so much! DYLAN - *smiling and hugging back still* Anytime, Bayson.....anytime..... ~The End~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This fic is dedicated to Eric Hunter. Dude, you've been such a great friend to me no matter what. I always look forward to talk with you everyday. Thank you for your kindness and generosity, bro. It means so very much to me. You're a terrific guy and I'm glad I got the chance to meet you. Thanks, dude, for everything.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~