Furry Survival Chapter 1: Please Let This Work! Failure Is Not An Option (Patreon)

Braden Baum cherished the days when simplicity defined my world. In his youth, he was merely a boy, accompanied by his beloved dogs, Camille and Skye.

These two loyal companions were not just pets; they were his lifetime friends, woven into the fabric of his existence. Fond memories linger, like the soft touch of Camille's black fur and the radiant glow of Skye's white hair, resembling delicate smoke flakes in the morning sun.

Though time has passed, the joy those moments brought remains etched in Braden’s heart. Yet, a melancholy day arrived when he had to bid farewell to his cherished family, Camille and Skye, the ones who illuminated my days with warmth and companionship.

Braden Baum's once hopeful eyes were now clouded with the weight of sorrow. Years of relentless effort to defy the natural order, to bring back his beloved dogs Camille and Skye, had left his mind on the precipice of breaking.

The room echoed with the hum of machinery as Braden, surrounded by scattered notes and failed prototypes, stared at the culmination of his desperate endeavors – a machine designed to defy death itself. The countless nights of sleepless determination, the ache of loss gnawing at his soul, were etched on his weary face.

"Camille, Skye, I can't accept a world without you," he muttered to himself, the words carrying the weight of years of heartache. The room seemed to respond with a somber silence.

After five grueling years of study, Braden had finally mastered the arcane knowledge required to construct the machine. It was his life's work, fueled by an obsession to reclaim the joy that had been stolen from him.

One day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over his dimly lit laboratory, Braden's breakthrough came. The machine, a culmination of his tireless efforts, stood ready. Excitement coursed through his veins as he envisioned the reunion with his beloved companions.

With newfound hope, he invited his new dogs, Balto and Tilly, into the room. Their tails wagged enthusiastically as if sensing their owner's excitement. Braden, eyes gleaming with anticipation, couldn't wait to share this triumphant moment with them.

"Today is the day, my friends! The day we rewrite the rules of life and death," he declared, his laughter ringing through the lab. Balto and Tilly joined in, their barks echoing a chorus of joy.

However, the true test lay ahead. Braden, overcome with a mix of excitement and trepidation, unearthed the remains of Camille and Skye. The once vibrant fur now clung to bones, and the scent of decay hung heavy in the air.

Braden winced, the reality of death confronting him in its rawest form. "I promise to make it right this time," he whispered, a solemn vow to the departed souls of his faithful friends.

The grotesque sight before him did little to deter Braden's determination. With a deep breath, he placed the remains into the machine, his hands trembling. The clinking of bones and the repulsive odor intensified as he initiated the process.

Hope flickered in Braden's eyes as he powered the machine, a desperate plea echoing within his soul. "Please, let this work. I can't bear another failure."

The room bathed in a blinding light, an ethereal glow that seemed to hold the promise of resurrection. Yet, in the midst of the brilliance, everything went dark. A deafening roar echoed, drowning out Braden’s desperate whispers. As consciousness slipped away, the last coherent thought echoed in the void—had he succeeded, or had he merely ventured deeper into the shadows of his own despair?

“What’s happening?”