At school, I continued to focus on my studies. The mark has been bugging me lately. Can I get that filled? I really don't want the others finding out.. but.. we were dating now.. it's been so long.. I should tell them. They'll hate me if I do. They deserve to know. They will cast me out. They love me. They will hurt me if I do. I can't keep it a secret forever, Nightmare knows and he still loves me. Does he? Or is he just making sure I don't tell Dream his secret? Dream. Him and Ink haven't been at school lately. Was something wrong? Did they.. did she.. do something to them? I sighed. "W-wh-at-s wro-ong boo?"
"Just stressed. My thoughts are a little jumbled from to much school work."
"Maybe you need a break? Wanna race after class?" Dust challenged. "Oh please. I'll leave you in the dust, Dust."
"Oh?" Horror was interested. "10 on Taco."
"Tiny but mighty. 20 on Ao." Dust gawked. "What? No bets on me?"
"I don't do betting."
"K-e-ep m-e ou-ou-out of i-it."

☆☆☆

Dream POV

Ink and I decided it was about time to visit Blue, but.. the mansion he'd once lived in was overgrown and long since abandoned. That was concerning to us and add that in with him suddenly spending all his time with those street boys.. we were concerned that he'd gotten involved with something bad. I know he won't tell us what, so the next best thing was looking into his past and finding out where he lived now so we could inform his parents of our worries. "Dream.. look at this.." Ink handed me his laptop. On it was an article. It's headline was Third Richest Family Murdered By Known Crime Sinct. "What?" I skimmed through it, sockets widening. "W-what..?" Ink showed nothing after I read it. "He didn't say anything."
"B-but.. remember that one year he missed nearly an entire month of school? And he was.. I don't know.. different after that? What it was because they were all.." I trailed off. "Maybe.. still, he should have said something. If his family meant anything, if we meant anything as his friends, he would have said something."
"That's not fair, Ink! If your parents had been murdered, would you have said anything?"
"Of course." I crossed my arms. "I doubt it." He sighed. "Let's just look into these 'Savage Hounds'.

☆☆☆

Blue POV

This is what I need. A distraction. We walked out to the Track. Nightmare, Error, Horror, and Killer took their places on the bleachers as Dust and I lined up for a run. Sparks shot between us as we waited for the competition to start. "Go." We shot forward. I paced myself while Dust was giving it his all. Tsk tsk tsk. Doesn't he know anything? He was going to exhaust himself like that. As the race continued, he started to slow down. He glanced back to see me catching up. I waved, cheery smile on my face. He knew I was teasing him. "What the hell-" As I passed him, I gave him a wink. "Bye, bye sweetheart~"
"Ah-" I left him in the dust, just as I said I would. "MWEH HEH HEH HEH!" I laughed as I finished first. "How-" He panted. "I used to race every day after school. I was actually finishing up when I helped you the first time."

☆☆☆

Dream POV

It's been a few weeks now. The Savage Hounds were a mostly dog monster organization with a huge wrap on murdering, dealing in the black market, stealing, pretty much any crime heard of, they have done. They had friends in high places which is why they weren't taken down. I was walking home when a voice came from an alleyway. "Hey kid, spare a dog some food?" He looked old and poor and hungry. He was giving me big puppy dog eyes and his ears were down. How could I refuse? I grabbed an apple from my bag and went to hand it over when he grabbed my wrist. "Sorry kid, don't make deals with devils." Someone came from behind and put a cloth over my mouth. Then it went dark.

☆☆☆

Blue POV

We were at home now. Dust was showering after the race. Horror and I were cooking. Someone knocked on the door. Either Killer or Nightmare had it so I didn't bother. "Blue, it's for you!" Who wanted me? "Brb." I walked out to see a familiar canine at the front door. "Marley?"
"Blueberry, we have a problem." Uh-oh. I went dead serious. "What is it? What happened."
"They took one of your friends." What?! "Who?"
"Yellow clad guy. Cheerful." Dream. I clenched my fists. "Where?" Nightmare cut in. "Oh no. You're NOT in on this. I'll be getting Dream back."
"I won't allow you to deal with them. Not again. Dream is my responsibility."
"He's my friend!"
"He's my brother!"