Blows

[Flank]

I couldn't believe how badly my luck was going today. It had started out normally. Crawling from the hide-away spot I had near the edge of town, I had shaken the dust out of my fur, before looking towards the basic means of living. Food. I knew a few reliable sources of left-overs, and had counted six moons since the last time I'd been to my favorite. That meant it was time to go back.

When I got there, however, I was stunned to see some other dogs already getting scraps. That was blow number one of my day. Blow number two came immediately after. As I was slinking away to go somewhere else, one of the other dogs, a pit bull, looked up and decided to pick a fight with me.

My back was turned, so the only warning I had was the sound of his overly-long nails clacking on the pavement, and the stench of disease, before he barreled into me, his teeth ripping into my shoulder.

I quickly rolled onto my back to show my belly, and that was when blow number three came. He didn't stop attacking me. And all though he never managed to get in a bite that would be fatal, he left me bleeding as I clamored to my feet and turned tail to run. I didn't know what was wrong with him, but he was raving like a lunatic about blood and death and killing.

I left him behind as quick as possible. I think he lost interest after two blocks, but it never hurts to make sure.

I headed towards another one of my food suppliers, and blow number four hit, in the form of a dog snatcher hanging around the alley behind the butcher's shop.

Deprived of my second food source, I started towards the third. It was a last resort for me, because it was clear across town from my 'den,' in a part of town where the humans lived. I got to my last chance for food, and couldn't believe my terrible luck. There was no garbage in the alley behind the human's den, and by the smell of things, there hadn't been for a few months. Ears lowered, stomach pangs setting in, I started towards home, defeated.
And that's when blow number five barreled into me again. That crazed pit bull again! As he started tearing into me, something inside me snapped.

With a snarl, a bark, and a few lucky bites, I left him dead in the alley, and ran off. My day was getting worse and worse.

I was hungry. I was thirsty. I was tired. I started towards my single steady supply of water, and that was when the sixth blow hit me. The heat had been bad these last few days, and it had dried up the small pool of water on the edge of town. With a groan of defeat, I crawled back into my hole, not thinking that my scent might attract another dog.

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] Strolling through the high street, locks of ashy fur wavering in the noonday breeze as she held her tail high with pride, Tovaritch Evengenii dodged the speeding cars and crowds of people. They all seemed to be outside enjoying the heatwave. A grimace of discomfort on the vixen's delicate features indicated to anyone she was much less pleased by the heat than these two-legged creatures. Waiting for a break in the traffic, she listened to the racket of the city. Dashing across at the first chance she got, the saluki made her way through the alleyways, listening to the angry rumble of her stomach. A lonely dog picked at scraps of a restaurant, and she joined him in his search. He at least was civilised, and she talked to him for a bit as she satisfied her need. After filling her stomach, she said farewell to the shepherd and headed to find somewhere to escape the heat. As she trotted through the streets, she came upon a dead pit bull. Frowning, she looked at the bitemarks on the dog and noticed his death was recent. Then, scenting the smell of blood on the breeze, she walked off again. The scent grew stronger as the vixen approached inquisitely. She was curious about who had gotten into trouble and she was also concerned, wondering if someone needed help. A groan alerted me to the presence of a dog that had just slinked down a hole. He was injured, she could smell that. Cautious, she peered down into the hidaway, her soft features concerned. "You okay down there?" she asked, without going down the hole. Not wanting to be attacked, she stayed in flight mode, ready to run if this dog tried to bite her. [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

I opened my eyes, looking up at the exit to my hole. Stupid me, I forgot to have a back way out. But this dog didn't seem threatening.

"I'm fine," I said quietly, slowly rising to my feet. "Just a bit hungry and thirsty." Tilting my head,I observed the other dog quietly. "How'd you find me here?"

Then it hit me. Stupid, stupid me. I hadn't covered my scent! I probably smelled like blood and whatever disease that stupid pit bull had had. In fact, I could smell it now. I just wanted to get out of this confined space and breathe.

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] The doberman looked up as Geni spoke, a flash of insecurity fading into a look that indicated he didn't see her as a threat. She smiled, tan lips pulling back to reveal sharp fangs, but not in a aggressive way. It didn't seem that he was going to attack her. No instead he rose slowly to his feet and said he was fine and only a little hungry and thirsty. At his question, the saluki laughed. "You're pretty lucky I'm the one that found you and not some other evil intended dog. As for how I found you. . . I think you've figured that out by yourself." a small smile now appearing on her features. Then she smelled the canine odor that lingered around him. "Are you the one that got attacked by that crazed pit?" she asked, Scottish accent sweet and melodious on her tongue. She eyed the deep wounds in his shoulder and chest, her blue eyes concerned. The smell in the hole was beginning to get strong, and she backed out slightly, wrinkling her nose a bit. "You might want to get out of there." she added, "I know a place where there's food and water, if you want to follow me," she offered. Words: 220 Dx blah Muse: 4/10 Notes: Tagged Flank. Status: Complete. [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

"Yeah, that Pit was sick or something." I quietly padded out of the hole. At her offer of leading me to food and water, my docked tail wagging as much as it could. "I'd appreciate that."

I finally managed to get a good look at the dog and was somewhat impressed by her appearance. Seemingly untouched by disease or hunger, she was in a lot better shape than any other dog I'd seen in this city. I was lucky for my own short fur which didn't get tangled or matted, but I wondered how she kept hers as such. Maybe I'd ask her later.

"I'm Flank."

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] Geni back out of the hole as the doberman padded out. She shook the dust off her short fur, feathered tail and ear fur flailing. The dog's tail wagged as fast as it could go, obviously happy to go to food and water. She smiled sweetly and turned toward the pond she always went to. She smiled as he introduced himself. "I'm Tovaritch Evengenii, but to shorten that ridiculously long name, you can call me Geni." she said, Scottish accent tinting her words. She started trotting into the alley, looking back to make sure he was following. Her ash grey tail held high, a flag wavering in the noon breeze, her long thin limbs gracefully covered the distance between the pond and the hole. She turned into an alley, stopping at a fence. It was closed, but not locked. "There's a nice clear little pond here, where you can drink and have a bath." she indicated, closing her jaw on the fence. She sank her paws into the dirt and pulled the fence open, making it creak slightly. She let go and trotted into the backyard, where the little lake shone in the sun. "The owners of the house don't like me coming though, so we have to pass right along the house so they don't see us." she said, a mischievous grin stretching her lips. She slipped her willowy form across the distance separating her from the house, looking back to make sure Flank was following. Her shoulder skimming the brick wall of the house, she came to the pond and bowed her head, tongue slipping out of the jaw to lap up the cold liquid. When she had drunk enough, she folded her long limbs beneath her and lay down on the grass. She hoped Flank wouldn't catch the illness the pit had carried by washing his wounds there. Words: 323 Muse: 7/10 Notes: Tagged Flank ^^ Status: Complete! [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

Following her, I smiled a bit. My ears perked forward at the pleasant sound of her accented voice. I followed her quietly, and stopped at the gate with her. My heart fell a bit. I was about to suggest going somewhere else, when she did something I never would have thought of. She opened the gate.

"Wow." The utterance slipped out without my permission, and I hoped desperately that she didn't hear it. When she mentioned skirting along the sides of the house, I couldn't help but look up nervously. I had to admire her courage though, and followed her.

We came to the pond, and as she dipped her head to lap delicately at the water, I waded in, shivering a bit at the coolness of the water in stark contrast to the unbearable heat.

"So, Geni... Where'd you get such a long name? The only time I've met a dog with a name like that was when I met with pets."

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] A smile crept onto the tan lips at the slight exclamation of admiration when she opened the gate. He looked up nervously as Geni mentioned the owners. It only made her smile even more. He did follow her as she slipped toward the pond. He slipped into the water and she saw him shiver, at his question she gazed off into space a little smile on her maw. "I was a pet that's why. Actually, I was born at a breeder's house in Scotland. I loved it there and I was happy. When I was a few months old, the human sold me to another one, a pair and their children. I loved them very much. I played with the young ones all day. Then they had to go away somewhere, and they couldn't bring me. So they gave me to a tramp, a person with no home and no money, always on the move. So I traveled with him for a long time and he was a very friendly human. He used to talk to me as we walked. We embarked illegally on a cruise ship, and made it to the US. That's what they call this place. But then one day, it was very cold, and I woke up to find the human dead. So. . . Since then, I've become a stray." she said, her eyes sad at the last words. She had gotten over it though in the past few months, so it hurt less to talk about it. Words: 258 Muse: 4/10 Notes: Tagged Flank! Lol, a five hour night isn't exactly good for muse Dx. Status: Complete [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

I tilted my head. "Sorry, I should have thought about that..." Quietly, I thought over my own past and how different it had been from hers. Then I shook the thoughts out of my head. Reliving it wouldn't do me any good now.

With a sigh, I dipped my head to lap noisily at the water, drinking as much as I could. This felt off, being in a human's backyard, enjoying their fake pond without any sort of cover if they came out.

Looking up at Geni. "So, you said something about food, too, right?" It felt like it'd been days since I'd last eaten, and I was getting fatigued from lack of nourishment.

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] Geni's eyes cleared from the veil of sadness that oppressed them as Flank apologised, distracting her from her past. "No it's fine. You couldn't have known." The good mood came back to her features. Flank started lapping the water, drinking as much as he could, and she had a wave of pity for the starving dog. She was distracted by footsteps inside the house, but they soon faded away. If they came outside, they would have no cover. At the thought, she smiled inwardly, thinking of the excitement that would bring. Dare-devil, she teased herself. She brought her gaze back to Flank, who had finished lapping up the water. "Yes I did say that," she confirmed with a smile. She got up and trotted around the pond, heading back the way they first went. After making a quick dash across the bear surface of the lawn, she slipped through the gate and waited for Flank to pass. She then smiled and pushed the gate with her shoulder, closing it. "We don't wanna arise suspicion right?" she said with a wink. After a few minutes walking in the alleys, they came to the back of a restaurant on a little paved road. Restaurants had the nasty habit of trowing away anything that wasn't to their standards of quality, and that often meant throwing out foods that were perfectly good. "Serve yourself," she said with a smile. Words: 259 Muse: 5/10 Notes: Tagged Flank Status: Complete. [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

I followed her quietly. At this point, I would follow her anywhere. I passed her and watched as she closed the gate, another thing I wouldn't have thought of. She led me through back alleys until we got behind a restaurant. I normally avoided places like this, because you never knew who else might be hungry. I'd been bitten by other dogs, clawed by cats who were almost my size, been gnawed on by rats....

But, this place seemed empty enough, and at her word, I tucked in. Even though I was starving and not exactly picky, I was careful. The meats were no problem; I could smell which ones were starting to rot and which ones were relatively fresh. I ate the bread with a bit of reluctance; I didn't like the way it felt in my mouth, especially if it stuck. I avoided cheese at all costs; this was firstly because it blocked up my digestive system, and seemed to dull my sense of smell. Secondly, if spoiled milk that humans ate on a regular basis was thrown out by them, then there must be something seriously wrong with it.

I didn't speak as I ate, but my ears were pricked upwards, ready to snatch any sound of her melodious voice from the air.

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] Geni watched in silence as Flank tucked in to the feast in front of them, a smile dancing on her lips as he ravenously ate his fill. She started rumaging through the thrown out food as well, hoping to find a little morsel. Using her acute sense of smell, she detected the scent of fresh meat a little further off, she trotted up to the source and started pushing aside bags and other produce. She quickly found the meat in question, a nice fresh chicken, plucked and all. "Jackpot." she murmured, a smile on her maw. She sniffed it again warily, wondering why in the world the humans would throw a perfectly good chicken out. And so what, it seems perfectly good to me, she thought with a shrug. She picked it up in her jaws and went over to Flank. "I found this. It looks perfectly good to me if you want some." she said with a warm smile. She herself tore off a leg and left the rest in case the doberman wanted it. Words: 182 Dx Muse: 3/10 Notes: Tagged Flank. Status: Complete [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

I looked up as Geni started rummaging past trash bags, and frowned when she came out with what looked like a perfectly good, freshly plucked chicken. She set it down, and I shook my head.

"I don't trust it. It's too..." Before I could finish, she had torn off a leg and started eating it. I went back to the spoiled food and finished it off, watching her carefully. "What if it's a trap? Humans are sneaky, and you never know what they might have done to it to get rid of strays." I knew only too well how cruel humans could be when they wanted to.

[Snow]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,266,true][atrb=background,http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae113/gimble2355/dogs/tovbg-1.png] [scrolly:h(298),w(185),sy] Geni smiled as he watched her eat the chicken leg, knowing what he was about to say. She didn't know why it was thrown out, but she didn't taste or smell anything suspicious in it, so she kept on eating. Full from having eaten such a big meal in the morning, she left the rest untouched and lay down on the tarmac. "Then I die." she said shrugging. If that was the mistake that would cost her her life, well heck, she would die and there was nothing she could do about it. Geni wasn't exactly afraid of dying. She lived life to the most, and if she had to die, well the world wouldn't exactly loose anything. Her oceanic gaze met with Flank's and seeing he was done she asked, "Are you done?" Words: 143 Dx Muse: 3/10 Notes: Tagged Flank. Looking forward to v3. . . Status: Complete [/scrolly]

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[Flank]

I shook my head, not believing how laid back she was about death. Death was something I'd been avoiding for too long to talk lightly of it. "How can you be so calm about this?! Death is the end! You can't do anything for anyone if you're dead."

I shook my head again, trying to clear my thoughts out of it. Reluctantly, I sat down in the gravel, quietly bringing one strong back leg up to scratch behind my ear. It was a nervous habit that showed whenever I got over-excited about something.

"Sorry about that... It's just that I don't want you to die, and definitely not because of carelessness."