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Pain. That was the first thing Dogday felt when he awoke. His whole body felt awful, his head pounded with a headache, his body felt hot, yet still shivered like he was cold. His nose was stuffed up, and his breathing was shaky. He was sick. He didn't need a thermometer to tell him, he already knew.
A cough rattled through his body, making him shake harder. Once it had died down, Dogday groaned. 'Great. Just great.' He thought. It had been so long since he was last sick. He'd almost forgotten how awful it was. Almost. As he laid there, he realized what time it must be. 6:30 the time he always got up. Before the sun had completely risen. The time he'd get up and start doing his chores around the farm, and anyone's chores who weren't awake if he finished his early.
So, with great effort, Dogday got up to start the day. Immediately as he stood, he could tell it might take him twice the time to finish his chores. With the way he shook and how everything still hurt. He should stay in bed. He knows he should, but the idea of him staying in bed while the others had to do not only their chores but also his. Made him feel bad even thinking about it.
So, he went downstairs after dressing for the cold and went outside to check on the sheep. He counts them, checks if any are sick or hurt, and makes sure that no threats are near before leaving. That's one thing down, but before Dogday is able to get to the next thing, he hears it.
"Why are you out here?" Ugh, HIM. He turns around and sees the Prototype standing there. Dogday still doesn't understand what Angel sees in him. In Dogday's opinion, he should have stayed in the factory, but of course, he'd never say that out loud. "I'm always out here this early. Do you have a problem with that?" He said harshly.
"I know that, I only ask because you obviously are sick." The Prototype responses. Dogday knew he was sick, but he wasn't going to admit it to him. "I'm fine. If I was sick, I would probably be passed out in the snow." Dogday turns around and starts to walk away.
Only to fall into the snow as he passes out.
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Dogday was upset. Not only did he pass out in front of the Prototype. He was now also being taken care of by him. As he was thinking that, he heard the door open as the Prototype stepped back in. "You don't need to be here." Dogday said, still upset. "You're sick, and no one else is awake, and I don't want you here by yourself." The Prototype said calmly. Dogday didn't care, though he was still upset he wasn't outside, tending to the farm.
"I don't need to be here, I should be outside," Dogday huffed. "I know you want to help, but please, if you try and work instead of rest, you'll only get more sick," the Prototype said, worry lacing his voice. 'He's right,' Dogday thought, he wanted to keep fighting it, but he knew he had to rest. Even if he hated the idea of not working. " Fine, I'll rest," Dogday said, finally accepting defeat.
"What are you holding?" Dogday asks, finally noticing that the Prototype is holding something. "Soup," He says as he holds it out for Dogday to take. Dogday looks at it suspiciously, before ultimately concluding it isn't poisoned and takes it. "Thanks, I guess," he says quietly. He hesitates for a second before scooping some up with the spoon and putting it into his mouth.
The taste. It was like nothing he ever tasted before. It was delicious, thick yet not too much. It was amazing, which was even more suspicious. Why would he make it taste good? Was he trying to hide something in it? DID he actually poison it? "I didn't poison it if that's what you're thinking," He said, as if reading Dogday's mind.
This was all so confusing. Why was he being nice? After everything that had happened, that he had caused, why was he being nice? "Why are you being so...nice?" Dogday asked hesitantly. That made the Prototype pause. He knew how most of the toys felt about him, but it still hurt being reminded of how he was. "I know you don't trust me. I don't expect you to, but that doesn't mean I won't take care of you. Especially when you really need it."
Hearing that made Dogday pause, he could tell he was being genuine. That he really did care about taking care of him, and that he was very worried. So, Dogday did his best to relax and let himself be taken care of. He could worry about what the Prototype was planning later. So while he was there he talked with the Prototype.
Until he couldn't stay awake anymore and fell asleep. As the Prototype got up and grabbed the bowl, he patted Dogday's head. "Rest well, child." Was the last thing he said as he got up and left.