A/N: Just trying to make up for how late I was. Two updates in a day should bring me back into the good books, but if not… well I deserve that I guess, after such a long absence but here is chapter 10! Hope you like! Now there are no fights in this chapter so you don't have to skip anything, but I make fair warning there will be more in the coming chapters. And don't worry I won't take so long to update next time but just know they will not be coming this quickly again either. So on with the chapter and the story!
After the "practice run" against Black, Pete was brought to a closet sized room with nothing but a battered table and cabinets standing in it. The muzzle had been replaced as well as loop pole, but they weren't really needed. Pete was too tired to try and take on the men holding him, even if it meant possible escape. The older man was surprisingly gentle as he lifted Pete onto the table, and pulled out tools to help stitch him up. "You are just full of surprises aren't you?" he said cleaning Pete's leg with some rubbing alcohol.
The sting made Pete whine, but he didn't move. If the wound became infected he had no doubt he would be killed in favor of not wasting valuable and expensive supplies. "Then again you were only up against a half trained pup, would you do so well against a real opponent?" the man shrugged answering his own question. "Maybe, maybe not; but I think we'll get some use out of you yet."
As he finished wrapping some gauze around Pete's leg, Pete decided on giving his captor a nickname. Since he had heard no one being called by name, he saw no reason not to give them names himself. The father would be Warden, for he was the one in control and was holding all the keys to the cages. The cruel boy was Ringer, while his more submissive brother got saddled with Runt. Pete knew it was a harsh name, but the boy would never know and he was treated as such by his family. The runt of the litter. "Now don't chew that off or you'll come up lame, and then you're useless to me."
It occurred to Pete that Warden spoke to him as if he knew that he could understand him. And then it hit him, he did know. Warden had the collars and knew what they did, the question was why? Why change people into dogs and put them in a fighting ring? It just didn't make sense! But then again when did they ever make sense? Pete was lead back to his pen in the secluded room with what he assumed was the other human/dogs. As Pete scrambled to remember their names his muzzle was removed and he was locked in again. The red female whined at him. They fought you.
Why deny it? Even without the bandage as proof he no doubt reeked of blood and death. Yes. Have they fought you?
No. The boy won't let them. As much as I hate him for what he did to me, I owe him for that. She growled harshly in anger, but it soon died in her throat at the whimper of one of the other males.
Were they human once too?
Yes. The one next to you is Paul, and Declan is here next to me.
They're a little worse for wear, how bad was the fight?
I wasn't there so I couldn't tell you but I worry for Paul, he's in a bad way. I don't know how much longer he'll last. He's scheduled for another fight tomorrow but he isn't fully recovered from the last one. He won't survive another match.
The keening cries that escaped the female said she cared for him but she knew there was nothing she could do to help him. What's your name?
Anna, my name is Anna. And yours?
Pete, and Anna my friends are looking for me, and I have no doubt they will find us. And they will help all of us change back to who we used to be.
Don't you mean what we used to be?
Does it matter? We'll be human again.
Anna huffed and Pete cocked his head in confusion at her reaction. Then he realized she was laughing. I'm not sure I get what's so funny?
Oh nothing I was just reminded of the song 'Human Again' from Beauty and the Beast.
Pete felt his ears flatten against his skull. Either she was afflicted with severe ADD or was losing her mind. Neither option was all that appealing considering she was his only company for the next several hours if not days. Pete heaved a heavy sigh as he laid his head down on his paws, in that moment he caught a whiff of Myka and Claudia in his fur. Under the blood, sweat, and grime of his surroundings he still had a tiny piece of those closest to him hidden from all others. Burying his nose into his own pelt he greedily inhaled the scents. Clove, vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, blueberry muffin, and lilac all registered in his canine brain.
They had eaten muffins for breakfast that morning and Claudia still being mad at him for stealing her beloved garlic bread the night before, was not in the mood to share. Surprisingly, it was Myka who split the top of her muffin to share with him. Pete had licked her fingers clean even after the crumbs were gone, much to the disgust of Claudia. Though she made no comment as to why when Myka asked her about it, she let Trailer lick her face so why the repulsed look? "Not the same" was her only response. A faint rustling in the cage next to him brought Pete back from his memories, looking over he saw Paul twitching. But this wasn't a dog dreaming twitch this was more like a seizure, the boy was dying. Panic seized him and he started to bark as loud as possible trying to get someone's attention. Anna joined him her higher pitched barks adding volume to his, but no one came. Snarling Pete attacked the door of his crate, yanking the wires till his teeth hurt, paws bloodied from scratching at the metal. Still no one came.
Anna hadn't stopped barking but her voice was growing hoarse, Pete began to bark again as well but he stopped after looking at Paul. His movements had stopped, as had his breathing. The strain had just been too much for him, and his heart had given out. Anna…
No. No! He's fine, he just needs to rest. He's fine he has to be!
I'm so sorry… he's gone.
Anna keened and whimpered; Pete's stomach hollowed and his chest ached, but his lupine body had no tears to cry. His grief over the second casualty today made something in him snap. He let the sensation of anger, sorrow, and pain; fill him to the brim with emotion. When it spilled over he tipped back his head, and howled. It was long and loud. Anna added her voice to the chorus and soon Pete heard other dogs outside his room joining in the wail. The raw emotion in the howl reached into all who heard it and understood its significance. This was for the fallen, and for all the lost souls unjustly taken before their time. When the howls finally ended silence reigned in the kennels, curling back in on himself Pete tucked his nose into the sweet scent of his lost family. With every inhale memories played like movie clips behind his eyelids. All the good times, all the bad times, it didn't matter as long as he was with everyone he loved. Claudia, Leena, Artie… Myka.
He begged with whatever God was willing to listen, that he would do anything to make this all be a horrible dream. Still silently pleading Pete succumbed to a dreamless sleep.
A/N: Wow I do love torturing poor Pete don't I? I guess I just like the drama, but I'm too much of a softie to let him flounder forever. He'll get his happy ending I promise. I can't promise when that will be exactly but… Hope you liked and will leave me a review, I know I was seriously late but I think I made up for it :) till next time loves!