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The two were silent awhile, until Zak looked over at Zero. He seemed pretty down... So he tagged him. "Tag, your it." He said, trying to cheer Zero up.

Ricky kept on contemplating what he said to Zero and how he really hurt him. It just kept wearing and wearing on him, it was like a giant boulder was placed on his shoulder and the only one who could remove it was his guilt being let free.

Zero looked over at Zak. "I don't really feel like it..."
"I said tag." Zak replied, poking Zero again.
"I'm serious."
"Tag."
"Alright, fine, tag." Zero said, trying to tag Zak back but he hopped away.
"Gotta be faster than that Zero!"

"Do you think he'll forgive me?" Ricky asked Charlie in a depressed mood.

"Honestly I don't know you really hurt him."

Zero tried halfheartedly to tag Zak again, and the older dog bonked him. "For every time you don't try, I'll bonk you."

Ricky sighed still in a hazy fog.

Zero determinedly tried to tag Zak. "Now you're trying." Zak said, dodging again, smiling. Zero's mouth twitched into a small smile as he kept trying to tag the elder. Eventually Zero was chasing Zak.

The trio were starting to come upon the spot where the note and collar were.

Charlie noticed something in the dirt lying ahead "I think that it his collar" he said pointing at it.

Zero eventually jumped onto Zak. "Tag!" He said, then racing off, Zak getting up grinning and going after him.

Charlie trotted over to the collar "Look there is a note etched in the dirt."

(What does the note say)

To anyone who reads: I've taken Zero off. Where, I dunno where we're going. But we need time off, and let Ricky mature in sensitive matters like what he did (If Ricky is reading this, well you got the message.). But he'll be with me at all times and I swear I won't let anything happen to him. I hope Ricky grows up a bit if we ever see each other again. ~ Zak

If it's Charlie or Itchy reading this, I'll miss you guys. What Ricky did was hurtful, and he just doesn't get it. I'll be safe, don't worry about me. I left you guys something to remember me by. (Here, there is an arrow pointing at the collar.) Take care you guys, I'll always be thinking of you. Hope we see each other again. ~ 0

Charlie looked at Ricky angrily "Thanks for ruining it."

Ricky's ears drooped realizing that one joke hurt so many and can effect so many in such a short time he too read the message. And some of the dirt was darkened from his tears falling from his face. "At least I have to say I'm sorry, I can understand why they don't want to see my face again. I don't want to see my face again anymore. All I want to do now is curl up into a little ball and die again."

Zak tagged Zero's tail. "Just try tagging my tail!" He said, holding his stub-of-a-tail up and wagging it a bit for fun and taking off.

"I'm sure he'll forgive you" Charlie was able to tell Ricky fully understood the magnitude of what he said. "C'mon they're not much further ahead than we are."

Both Ricky and Itchy followed Charlie hoping to find Zero and Zak.

(Don't forget the collar. Ricky could return it as an apology present.)

Zero and Zak continued their game, pretty far from the other three due to their running.