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Despite only just meeting Dozer, GingerBrave felt an intense connection to the little boy almost instantly upon seeing his face.
It was not just their briefly mentioned similar appearances that Strawberry had brought up, he knew this.
It felt as if there was a string tying the sudden duo together.
Protecting this little Cookie was all he wanted to do for the shortest while. Like how a collector handles a porcelain doll, he wanted to keep him close, out of the way of any slight threat.
It was as if GingerBrave had a family of his own, yet only briefly - perhaps a little brother. That's what it felt like.
It was so overwhelming he could barely sleep that night they had first met.
He was…joyful, excited to know Dozer, to know this little Cookie, to escape the castle with him as well as his companions. To build a life of joy and gratitude, out in the fresh air where the sun beat down on their face and the wind whisked past through their ears.
He was excited to mould and shape their lives into any shape they wanted them to be in.
But the Shadow Witch took him.
She took him as he cried, tears streaming down his face.
And GingerBrave knew, he tried his best, he really did, and so did the others, but it ultimately, inevitably, wasn't enough.
What's four tiny Cookies against a Witch?
The string was severed, and for a moment, it felt like GingerBrave had lost what made his journey feel worthwhile.
For a moment, he felt helpless. He had quickly, wordlessly, sworn to himself and Dozer that he would protect him from all the harm the harsh world would throw at them.
And yet he failed. As Dozer was now gone. Into the shadows with the Witch.
He wanted to cry, to shout, to simply get him back but he knew it could not be that simple. He knew.
It was going to be arduous. Endless. Only Fortuna knows if they will even get him back at all.
So much had happened already that all he wanted to do was scream. To sleep forever and pretend that nothing was happening and Dozer was fast asleep right next to them just like the night prior.
But,
He does not give up.
GingerBrave’s determination is an excerpt of syntax code.
He felt despaired. But he got up.
And he went.
For Dozer.