Tamao took a step back. "I think your mom is really, really sick. I don't think it was from the flu since it's getting worse. I'm sorry I can't be of much more help." Tamao apologized.

The far'fetchd let out a wail of pain. It hurt Tamao, he didn't want his dream friend to be worried over his mother!

However, life had other plans. Before Tamao could try to help in other ways, he woke up.

------

The light was bright as the door creaked open. Food was being put into cages. Did Tamao really sleep for that long? Did he oversleep?

Worriedly, Tamao looked at his food dish. It was empty, so he didn't oversleep. With a sigh of relief, Tamao watched as the scientist's put food in his cage. Tamao went over and sniffed it. "It's safe." He stated.

Then, Tamao realized he didn't need to tell Sakura right now, since she wasn't in the cage anymore. With a pang of sorrow, Tamao just buried his muzzle in the food. He ate a little bit before curling up by the vent. Of course, he was supposed to train for the escape plan, but he didn't feel like it, having remembered what happened.

Tamao closed his eyes, but it felt as though something whispered to him. "Keep going."

Tamao jolted up, looking around wildly. His heart beat rapidly. He didn't think that, he heard it. "Who's there?" Tamao asked, looking around. Nothing answered, and Tamao sighed. He was too energized now to go back to sleep, so he just started training.

He attacked the wall over, and over, and over again. With each hit on the wall brought more pain shot through Tamao. His body ached, yet he knew he couldn't give up!

The lights dimmed, yet Tamao needed to train! For Sakura and for a better future! For his first cage-partner and for his dream friend! For freedom!

Tamao attacked the wall over and over, collapsing but getting back up immediately after. 

His legs ached, his body ached, his paws ached... Everything ached, but everything had a price. A little bit of pain for permanent freedom sounded like a good deal.

Tamao attacked the wall once more, before giving up for the night. If he planned on experiencing freedom, no matter how far-fetched it seemed, he needed to be rested. He laid down by the vent, closing his eyes and waiting for sleep to overtake him.

-------

As the darkness consumed Tamao, dreams never seemingly arrived. Brightness encased him as he woke up in his cage. Inside the cage was Sakura! Were they reunited?

"Tammy!" Sakura exclaimed. Tamao smiled and tackled his sister. "Sakura!" He grinned, but suddenly, Sakura vanished. A plushie of an espeon took her place. The plushie was covered in a red liquid as grass grew on the floor. 

Tamao looked around wildly as he took in his new environment. He grabbed the espeon plushie, confused as to how that was his sister from a few moments ago. The red liquid covered Tamao's jaws as he dropped it. It felt as though Tamao had just battled someone.

He looked around, and he was now in a street, blood pooled around him. Tamao seemed confused. Why would he hurt anyone? Why was he covered in blood?

The dream shifted again. This time, the dream felt more real. Tamao wandered around, his paws feeling larger, and more uncomfortable to walk in, as though it didn't fit him yet. He didn't notice that his paws were now black instead of brown. 

Tamao stopped by a Sakura blossom and sat down. Why did he feel sad? Was he waiting for someone? "Why do you look so... familiar?" A sylveon asked, staring at Tamao. She had fur covering her eye, and an extra ribbon by her tail, her colors seemed lighter than what they should be.

Tamao was having trouble placing it, but the sylveon herself seemed familiar. "I don't know." He answered, his tone coming out more aggressive and snappier than what he thought it would. Anger seemed to boil inside Tamao's chest, and he didn't know why, after all, he'd never be angry at someone! "T-Tammy, can we- can we leave? I- I don't like her..." A small voice asked.

Tamao looked around, expecting to see Sakura, but instead, he only saw darkness. He turned around once more, only to find that the sylveon was gone as well.

-------

Tamao jolted up, he looked at his paws. He felt better, and less in pain. He was left confused from that whole dream and didn't understand why he dreamt it. It must be some weird affect of being sore.

He got up, his fur fluffing as he ate some more food. He felt as though the lights would turn on soon, and that would be when he needed to escape.

As he ate the leftover food from the previous night, he kept wondering how he would escape. Would he and Sakura make it? Would they get caught?

So much fear ran through Tamao, yet the food almost soothed his nerves.

Tamao sat down, finishing the remaining food and looked outside the cage, waiting. He needed to plan everything carefully, and he needed to escape! He needed to experience the world, so he and Sakura could have fun!

Perhaps, after escaping, Tamao could figure out why he dreamt of the far'fetchd he calls Knight, and he could figure out why Sakura hears colors.

Curiosity burned inside him, as his nerves got bad again. Tamao impulsively tapped his paws against the cold floor. He needed to make sure everything would work. Things may have been too good to be true, and too bad to be happening, but he needed to try.

After all, there was no harm in trying, right...?

Tamao took a deep breath as pressed his paws against the glass. His heart beat faster, and faster. He shook with anticipation.

Any moment, that light would turn on. Any moment could be the moment of freedom.

At any moment, he and his sister would be free, and reunited. Any moment, Tamao could see the sky for the very first time in his life.

Any moment... Click!