Chapter Text
Whining loudly, Crunchy Chip recalled his haunting nightmare.
His childhood, specifically that portion, was something he wished to leave in the past. He was more than grateful to the King for finding him after that fire, rescuing him. King Dark Cacao aided him to shape his life for the better.
Nightmares like these made forgetting impossible.
He frantically looked around. With blurry vision and a darkened room, he was able to make out various blobs colored in pinks, reds, and golds. Good. He was still in Wildberry’s room. But the longer he was awake, the more panicked he seemed to get.
The jolt from the Wolf Commander awoke his best wolf friend, who Crunchy Chip never realized was on the bed. The Cream wolf’s attempts to calm his friend were pointless.
The two hundred pound animal licked his face with kisses, nuzzled his bare chest, and tried laying himself on top of Crunchy Chip, all of which failed. The wolf whined, grunting to communicate his worry.
Crunchy Chip attempted to wipe the tears from his face, but they continued to stream down regardless.
Breathing unevenly, he looked to Wildberry’s side of the bed. It was empty.
Empty?
Where was Wildberry?
With another rush of panic, Crunchy Chip threw off the covers and sprang out of bed. Confused, the Cream wolf rapidly followed his friend as he ran out of the room sobbing.
“Wildberry!?”
Crunchy Chip ran so fast he slid across the hardwood floors with his socks.
“Fuck, Wildberry!? Wildberry, where, where are you!?”
Sprinting from room to room, Wildberry’s small size home became a maze. The cute nickname Crunchy Chip gave Wildberry was replaced with the raw begging for his lover, for some sort of comfort.
The wolf barked and whined at his friend, trying to figure out what was going on while running after him.
Crunchy Chip fell to the floor, tears slid off his face onto the cold wood.
He had given up.
The headache from his nightmare only got worse from running and sobbing. Phantom pains from the beating and fire made his body ache. He subconsciously rubbed his arms.
Looking down at them, faded burn scars decorated his arms and torso.
Crunchy Chip hugged his knees to his chest, tucking his head between his legs, he made himself as small as possible.
“Damnit, Wildberry…where, where did you go?” His whispering voice cracked as his cries filled the quiet house.
“...I need you.”
His words were muffled.
Being as smart as he was, the Cream wolf quickly ran back to the bedroom. Getting to the little nightstand on Crunchy Chip’s side, he carefully bit a piece of paper into his mouth, holding it. He then found Wildberry’s discarded t-shirt. Dropping the paper onto the shirt, he picked up both objects, and ran back to his friend.
With tired eyes and quieting cries, Crunchy Chip watched his wolf return with the objects he hadn’t had before. Swallowing his dry throat, he ran his trembling fingers through his wolf’s thick coat.
“Wha’dya have?”
The wolf dropped the shirt and paper at the Commander's feet. Then, he curled himself up against Crunchy Chip, wiggling his head between his chest and legs, to comfort him.
He picked up the piece of paper and the shirt quietly. Smelling the shirt, he smiled slightly.
“Good boy, Buddy…” He put the much larger shirt on, feeling a little better than before.
Squinting, he studied the piece of paper, which happened to be a note.
He read the note in the darkness of the house, his only light was the small amount of moonlight peaking through the closed blinds.
Dear Crunchy Chip,
I have been asked to report for an emergency duty. I will be back as soon as possible, so please do not worry. I have left you this note with hopes that you will see it if you happen to awake while I am away.
I love you, cielito. Rest well.
- Wildberry
The letter was scribbled out in fast handwriting.
For Wildberry to be leaving in the middle of the night, it certainly had to be an emergency. Wildberry enjoyed his sleep.
While the note itself was endearing, and made Crunchy Chip’s heart much lighter, it didn’t work for its intended purpose. He snickered quietly at that.
Reading over the letter a few times, Crunchy Chip imagined his lover’s deep, soothing voice. He thought about how he would hold him, half asleep, and whisper barely audible questions to ask if he was okay. Sometimes, his lover would mumble in Spanish, half-asleep, forgetting that Crunchy Chip didn’t know Spanish.
The Commander chuckled at the thought. He clicked his tongue, looking around the dark house. His chest felt tight, like someone was crushing his ribs.
He bit his lip.
Instead of making him calm, thinking about his lover brought another wave of tears. He missed him, and needed him more than ever.
Sighing deeply, he felt the tears in the corner of his eyes. He laid down, in the middle of the floor, cuddling into the large shirt and the warmth of the Cream wolf. The animal licked his teary face, whining, then settled down next to him again.
Crunchy Chip hiccupped. The note was crinkled between his chest and the wolf’s fur. He buried his wet face into his friend, whimpering, as he cried himself to sleep.