"Patches!" a voice called out. "Patches! Where are you?"
"I'm here Lucky." the pup's voice responded. "I have something to tell you."
"I've been looking for you all night Patches! Where were you?" Lucky was frantic.
"I was at an interviewing. For becoming an Agent In Training." Patches replied.
"Why didn't I know about this? And Patches! You're already an Agent In Training!" Lucky paced back and forth.
"No Lucky." Patches said sadly. "For Dog World Headquarters."
"What!?" Lucky gasped. "But how, why? I knew something was up. That Zap Wolf Bolt. He's the one who's going to be your trainer, isn't he?"
"Yes." Patches barked. "Lucky, it's what I want to do! I want to be a secret agent! I want to save the world! I want to get out there and be who I really am! You've got to except that! Zap is one of the best agents Dog World Headquarters has ever seen! And he's the most wild, tough stray dog ever known to dog history! That's not all, he's half wolf!"
"I know who he is Patches." Lucky growled. "I tried to place him when he was a pup. He didn't want to go. He didn't want a person! He goes against everything I believe in!"
"Well he goes towards everything I believe in." Patches snarled getting a little angry with Lucky.
"So you're telling me you've given up on all this Pound Puppy stuff. There's a pup for every person and a person for every pup! Once a Pound Puppy, always a Pound Puppy! Don't you remember?" Lucky shouted.
"What do you think I am Lucky? A moron?" Patches was burning up. "You can't control my life! I mean what's your problem?"
Lucky sighed. "Patches. It's not safe."
"What? Going to H.Q.?" Patches was still angry. "Are you insane? I'd probably have a better life there than I ever did here!"
Lucky gave Patches a disheveled look. "No, I mean you wandering the streets at night."
"Huh! I can take care of myself just fine, thank you very much! I mean, come on! I'm bigger than you! I've got a lot of fight! And you know what? I'm probably braver than you too!" Patches was getting more angry by the minute.
"Look, kid." Lucky was trying to remain calm. "Let's get back to the Pound and to bed. We'll talk about this later."
"Fine. But let me tell you this: The Alpha Dog Routine doesn't work on me anymore. I'm a new pup. And I'm not a pup anymore. I'm a dog." Patches followed Lucky down the alley way. "So don't call me that."