Rigby Kinlor's Story

Light came through a small opening in the window but was soon diminished by the wooden board being hammered onto the frame. The room was now completely dark before the strike of a single match lit the way allowing for Rigby to light his lantern. In the room was a worn out couch with tattered blankets, a bowl of dog food, another with water, and a single backpack. However, in the room over, was an old wooden bed frame with a mattress and somewhat new sheets. Stacked against the walls were large amounts of food and other amenities Rigby had been collecting for months making it a safe room in his "safe house". His gun and ammo were spread across the bed as if he was taking inventory the last time he was in there. He was proud of the "resort", as he called it, that he had created and sometimes thought about never leaving it, staying there as long as possible until he needed more food and water.

After the last board was in place, Rigby stood at the window peaking through a small hole in the wood, Ben was there right beside him, as always.

Rigby knelt down next to his companion, placing a hand behind the dogs soft ear, scratching it. "I hope you like your new home. Hopefully we will be able to stay here for a while." He then stood back up, taking one last peak out of the window, "now let's go outside so you can do your business." At the word 'outside' Ben went wild, prancing around his master and howling with joy before making his way over to the door which had a chair shoved under the handle. Rigby followed before removing the chair. He then opened the latch followed by unlocking all the deadbolts and security door chains until finally, they were out. Rigby stepped out into the hallway, double checking to make sure no one had trespassed into their building. Not a single soul. Ben followed closely behind as they walked up to the main floor of the apartment complex going out the door which could only be opened from the inside unless buzzed in. Rigby kicked the door stopper in the way to prevent the door from locking them out, although he had alternate ways in just in case. Rigby and Ben quickly hustled over to the empty lot next to building where Ben would be able to run around freely for a while. As Ben played, Rigby kept an eye out making sure no one went into the complex.

Rigby then caught view of Nikolai and he couldn't help it as his brows furrowed, glaring at the other. He wanted to make sure that the other wouldn't see him and think of him as an easy target to rob or something, he made sure he stood his ground whether or not someone was after it. Then again, Ben was the real one to be scared of, no one could get physically close to Rigby without Ben standing in front of him, showing his big razor like teeth. Rigby then looked away, back over at his dog, laughing a bit to himself when he noticed Ben was sniffing a bunny, not growling but being very gentle. He shook his head before picking up a stick that had fallen off a dead tree. He sat down against the wall, pulling out his knife. He then beginning to sharpen one end of the stick out of boredom. He always found himself doing that though, spending his time doing something somewhat useful.

Rigby sighed, tossing the stick to the side after a few minutes and standing up, patting his thigh as he called out to Ben. The wolf hybrid came running over, sliding a bit as he tried to stop next to Rigby. The two eventually headed back over to the building, stopping in front of the door. Rigby looked left and right as if this building was a secret, he really didn't want anyone to see that it was actually occupied though, at least not at night. Rigby let Ben in first and then came in behind, removing the door stopper from the door allowing it to close. Making their way downstairs to the bottom floor where their room was, Rigby held his knife in his hand just in case someone had gotten in when he wasn't looking. The coast was clear however and the two made it safely into the 'resort', re-locking the door and jamming the door back up with the old chair.

Rigby sighed, as he trudged over to the old couch, falling down onto it, his arm resting across his head. Ben walked over next to the couch, circling a small area before laying down next to Rigby. Rigby reached his arm over the side, scratching the top of Ben's head before his hand relaxed as he fell asleep. The flame in the lantern still flickering strong lighting up the shadows of his face.

A little while later, Ben nudged Rigby, his wet nose leaving it's mark on the side of his owner's face. "Ugh, Ben!" Rigby groaned, wiping the side of his face off. He sighed and covered his eyes for a moment before sitting up to see Ben was looking up at him with his head slightly tilted. Rigby let out a deep exhale before pulling himself off the couch, walking over to the door with his minion following close behind. He opened the door with his usual routine before running into the other room to grab and load his gun. Within a few short minutes the two boys were next door in the empty lot as Ben did his usual business and then proceeded to dart around the perimeter of the lot getting out some energy. Rigby tried to call Ben in but the dog just was not ready. Instead, Righby sighed, the gun held close to his side, and walked to where the lot met the sidewalk, keeping watch. It was okay, Ben kept watch while Rigby did his own thing so now it was his turn to return the favor.

Rigby jumped, gasping once the rock landed in front of him causing him to back into the wall. "Ben, get over here." He half whispered half yelled to his dog who immediately came over to him when realizing his owner's tone. Rigby pulled the gun up, ready to fire if anything were to come at him, all seemed quiet though but he was sure someone else had to be out here but hopefully not one of them. Rigby tried his best to scan the area but it was so dark out that it was hard to see much, he only had the moonlight and a few flickering street lamps. Ben stood on guard as well before running to the side of the house where Nikolai was at after he had spotted him briefly. He then began to bark and scratch at the side of the house as Rigby came a little closer, the gun pointing up at the roof.

"And maybe I won't mean to shoot you." Rigby snapped back before putting his gun down, "Ben, sit." Ben sat down, letting his tongue fall out of his mouth. "Anyway, I wasn't actually planning on shooting you I just didn't know who the fuck you were or what the fuck you were for that matter so chill out." Rigby began to walk away and then stopped. "Wait. So you've been watching me? Well I'll have you know that my little barricade will probably keep me alive longer than your dumb ass." Of course, having little human contact and being in a completely fallen apart society, people tended to be very angry.

Rigby shrugged before walking over to the cart casually, peaking in it as if it was his business. "Well I see you are well prepared" he said as he shifted the items around trying to be an annoyance.

He then began to pick items up one at a time holding them out in front of Ben one at a time, "what about this? Does this look good?" Ben tilted his head and began drooling as he jumped up using his front paws to hold onto the cart as he sniffed around. Rigby smirked at Nikolai before watching his dog, satisfied.

Rigby stepped back before Ben jumped forward at Nikolai, sinking his teeth into Nikolai's leg but Rigby, however, saved the other from any further damage by yanking Ben away by his collar, "Go inside" he said as he waved Ben in the direction of the building, the dog slowly walking back to the front steps, waiting for Rigby. "Don't fucking pull that out around me." Rigby said in a threatening tone as he got in Nikolai's face.

Rigby darted his attention back to Nikolai, after hearing the other call out. "Shit." Rigby mumbled to himself readying his gun as he aimed, following the creature with his eyes as it almost danced around. Then, he closed his eyes and shot hitting the monster that had been aiming for Nikolai as is leaped through mid air. It then fell to the ground, twitching and shrieking before Rigby walked a bit closer, shooting it once more. Now it laid there lifeless.

Rigby let out a sigh of relief looking down at the lifeless creature as he pet Ben gently. He was, however, frustrated as if it were Nikolai's fault for the attack and the waste of a bullet. He had the 'I should've let you fend for your self you prick' idea swimming around in his head. He then began to walk back towards the dark building with Ben following closely behind as usual. When he got there he kicked the door stopper out of the way reaching an arm out to catch the door and keep it from closing. Ben ran in first and Rigby took one last glance at Nikolai before going inside himself, disappearing.

Rigby and Ben found themselves sleeping side by side on the mattress, with absolutely no trouble falling asleep. Rigby cherished every moment he got to spend on his bed in peace and quiet, then again who didn't? The night fell quietly with no more interruptions after that and Rigby was back out in the lot with Ben the next morning, bright and early. He sat down against the wall, Ben eventually making his seat right next to Rigby, this is how normal life felt.

Rigby leaned to the right a little bit so he could see out of the lot and that's when he saw Nikolai. "I think he's trying to get himself bit again, Benny." Rigby said in baby talk to his dog as he nuzzled into the dogs scruff. "No body is rude to my baby and get's away wif it. I'm sure he won't last much longer anyway."

Rigby picked up the same stick that he was sharpening earlier the night before, tossing it for Ben to fetch. Ben did just that darting over to the stick, picking it up and running it back almost as if this were an agility course where he wouldv'e basically taken over the competition. That is one thing Rigby took much pride in, the strength and immense intelligence his dog had, that's how he knew he could trust him. When there is no one else in the world but your dog, they become the highlight of your life more so than they would in a "normal" society. When Rigby was 17, back when the war first started and his parents were deployed, there was a homeless man whose dog had given birth to a litter of puppies and with the help of a local vet the dogs were raised until they were old enough to go to their new homes. One was left though, the runt of the litter. Rigby approached the homeless man one afternoon to stop and see the lonely puppy, the homeless man had grown very attached to this puppy though and held him very close. Being alone, Rigby raised the question of taking the puppy and raising him since the man could not afford to take care of himself and two dogs. The man reluctantly agreed, handing the runt over to Rigby. The two loners would now serve as the only company they would ever need.

Like said before, Rigby was a lonely boy throughout the majority of his life. He never really cared for parties or going to the mall or just "hanging-out" which is the reason he spent the majority of the next few years focusing his attention on his new puppy so that he would grow up and be able to show the world that this "runt" could be more than anyone would ever expect. As for his name, Ben. Rigby chose that name because the old Jackson 5 song "Ben" described their relationship perfectly, thus a fitting name was chosen.

Sometimes Rigby thought about killing himself. The world wasn't getting better and he would spend at least a few more years in fear until he could get out of the place or some type of cure was found for fallouts and society was restored. The only thing keeping him alive was Ben, someone needed to give him the love and affection he needed as well as feed him. There were many nights where Rigby found himself sitting up in bed crying only to be comforted by Ben nuzzling his snout onto Rigby's lap. Maybe the problem was that Rigby has too much time to think, and he did do a lot of thinking.

"I wasn't helping you. I sure as fuck didn't want him coming after me after he devoured your body. I don't need your help either." Rigby said putting a hand into his hair out of stress. "This is fucking great." He mumbled to himself as small flurries began to fall from the sky.

When Nikolai put it in the words that he did his eyes moved from Nikolai to the spot next to him, "just set it here." he said softly as his attention went back to Ben who was trying to eat each snowflake as it fell. "there is a wood stove in the basement of my place. so I will definitely use it." He then hesitated a moment before forcing out a thank you.

"Rigby. And that's Ben." He said quietly, looking down at his shoes. Not so tough anymore. Ben pranced over and sniffed Nikolai knowing that Rigby wasn't in any immediate danger. "Don't worry, he won't bite you again unless you try to pull a fast one."

Rigby looked up giving Nikolai a strange look like 'why the Hell are you saying more than you need to say'. Rigby then stood up, as he attempted to collect his new items in his arms, "well as much as I would love to chat I should probably be getting inside before Ben and I freeze to death."