101 Dalmatians 2

XXIV - Brothers

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Tommy was not just angry. He was livid. "Oho man, did you ever make a mistake!" He bared his jagged sharp teeth and crouched as though he were preparing to spring.

Ryder did not even flinch.

"No," he growled, crouching as well. "But you did."

Tommy sprang and very swiftly, Ryder caught him by the belly in his teeth and with a spin, tossed him over the iron fence of Regent's Park.

Ryder watched as the Bull Terrier landed on the other side with a soft thud, right on his head. Tommy groaned before attempting to pick himself up, only to fall back to the ground unconscious.

Ryder turned towards the pup who stood beneath him, shaking like a leaf. "Where's your friend Patch?"

"He took her," Patch squeaked.

"Who took her?"

"N-Nero."

Ryder clenched his jaw. "Do you know where they took her."

Patch shook his head. His lip was trembling. He looked like he was about to cry.

"Be brave Patch, she is counting on you."

"Precious," Patch said firmly. "Her name is Precious."

"Good name. All the same, you must keep your head Patch."

"How did you find me so quickly?" Patch asked.

"I smelt you out...and...I saw you on television."

Patch raised an eyebrow. And then a cold feeling went up his spine. "The auditions were on the telly today?!"

"That's right."

Patch frowned so deeply it looked like his mouth might fall off. "Did anyone else see it?"

Ryder looked at him pityingly. "I really couldn't say kid. But don't take it so hard, my bark wasn't all that impressive when I was your age either."

Patch laughed. "That's what Thunderbolt said."

Ryder's look became severe. "Speaking of which, where is that show dog?"

Patch gave Ryder a funny look as though he didn't understand why he would be interested in his personal hero. Before he could even answer, something brown and black shot out from some nearby bushes.

Ryder, on pure instinct, protectively stood between the newcomer and Patch. But he immediately stood down once he saw who it was.

And he frowned distastefully at him.

And Thunderbolt returned the same look. "Ryder," he said curtly.

"Thunder, how you been keeping?"

"Peachy. Yourself?"

"Same."

"I knew it! You two are brothers, aren't you?"

Ryder and Thunderbolt looked towards Patch, who was wagging his tail with delight.

Thunderbolt sighed. "It's that obvious huh?"

Ryder scoffed. "We may look alike but we are as different as night and day."

"You can say that again," Thunderbolt said bitterly.

Ryder fixed his brother with a seething look. "And you should be ashamed of yourself, mocking a fan like the way you did and on live tv no less."

Thunderbolt's ears flattened. "How do you know about that? You don't watch my shows."

"Maddock called. Told me he saw Patch on television so I had to see for myself. I tuned in long enough to see what you did after he tried to bark for you."

Thunderbolt said nothing. He just bowed his head shamefully.

"As much as I want to tell ya off little brother, as much as I want to say how you haven't changed, that's not what I came here to do. Watch Patch and his siblings for me until his parents come. I'm going to find his friend. And another thing…" Ryder bent his head to whisper in Thunderbolt's ear. The show dog registered it well enough and nodded glumly.

And with that Ryder dashed off, trailing the scent of his newest quarry.

Patch watched him go with a stricken look on his face. Thunderbolt kept his head down, still looking at the ground with shame.

Patch looked at him. "Thunder? Are you ok?"

Thunderbolt sighed. "He still hates me."

Patch gasped. "Hates you? But he's your brother."

"And my brother is a stubborn piece of work, just like our old man."

"Old man?"

"Our father, Old Thunder is his name."

"Thunder...whatever has happened between you two, it's not worth hating each other for it."

"I don't hate him," Thunderbolt said meekly. "But things have been said in the past and...it still hurts is all."

"Like what?"

"Never mind that Pooch, let's get back to your family, alright?"

Patch eyed him with annoyance. "It's Patch."

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"Shouldn't we have gone after him?"

"Cadpig, the best thing right now we can do for Patch is to wait here," Penny said. "Thunder's gone after him, he should be fine."

"Do you think his friend is ok?" Roly asked.

"Her name's Precious isn't it?" Pepper asked.

"That's what Patch said," Freckles said, scratching behind his ear. "Good name."

"But if she has a given name, doesn't that mean she has a pet already?" Lucky asked anxiously.

"She wasn't wearing a collar, just an old bandana," Penny said. "Besides, she didn't look like a house pup. Poor thing, how long must she have been on her own."

"I can't imagine what it must be like to be in London all alone," Cadpig said.

"If she's been in London for Heaven-knows how long, I'm sure she'll manage," Lucky said.

It had been more than several minutes since Patch had left his family. They had wanted to follow but Thunderbolt restrained them. Having heard of the danger they had faced in the past few days from what was said in their conversation, he had told them to wait in his trailer and that he would collect their brother.

Since then, they have been quite anxious. For they knew of the peril of their circumstances and for the moment, no dog in the city can be trusted implicitly. Not with Nero on the move, swearing revenge for his brother's death. If he ever learned that Patch's siblings were here in London, they'd be in graver danger.

They did not know this however, not yet anyway. But somehow, Cadpig, as discerning as she was, felt in her stomach, that there would be greater peril still. Though, she did not voice this aloud as she did not wish to frighten her siblings. No, she would wait until it was practical to tell them.

But she won't have to wait for much longer.

"Peppermint cream."

The pups nearly jumped when they heard the word. That was the code word that was agreed between them and their parents for if something unthinkable were to happen, that a password kg sorts would be decided between them and a dog they could trust if not family. Their mother loves peppermint cream so it was decided that that would be their code word until a new one would be needed.

"Is that you Thunder?" Cadpig squeaked.

"Yes kids, it's me."

Thunderbolt came in through the doggie door. And Patch followed him through.

No one else came through.

"Patch? Where's Precious?" Lucky asked.

Patch clenched his eyes and wrinkled his nose, something he often did if he were under severe emotional pressure, be it anger or fear. His lip was trembling but he was trying so hard to be brave, to not lose heart. "He took her."

"Who took her?" Penny asked fearfully though she had an inkling of who was responsible.

"Nero."

Freckles raised an eyebrow. "Nero?"

Tears started to drop from Patch's eyes. "Neville's brother."

Heavy silence reigned and yet it seemed quite loud to those who in the room.

"P-Patch," Penny whispered shakily. "This is a terrible joke."

"I wish it was," Patch said, his voice dreadfully hollow, as though all the cheer had gone out of his life. "I left her alone. And she came after me. And when her back was turned, he took her. Nero took Precious! And it's all my fault!"

Penny was immediately by his side and she said sternly, firmly but not unkindly, "That's not true Patch!"

"Yes it is!" Patch snapped in tears. "I knew that Nero would come after me. I put myself in danger and then she came after me-!"

Patch's words were cut off when Penny covered his mouth with a paw. "Enough Patch! Not another word! You couldn't have known what would happen! And first of all, how do you know Precious was taken?"

"One of his goons, an English Bull Terrier. His name's Tommy. I smelt out Precious and then I smelt Neville's scent except it wasn't his scent. Tommy all but made clear what happened."

"Why would Nero be after you?" Freckles asked.

"Because he blames me for his brother's death."

"That's insane! Ryder was the one who killed Neville! Wasn't he?"

"He was," Patch said nodding. "But Nero blames me all the same because Neville was pursuing me before he was killed."

The pups were mortified by this revelation. The boys all seemed to gulp in unison. Penny's mouth had dropped open. Everything Cadpig had feared in herself seemed to be spot on so to speak. She bit her lip, so hard it almost bled.

No tears. No tears. It won't help.

Freckles purses his lip indignantly. "Sounds to me like this Nero is more than just strange in the head."

"Freckles," Penny said piercely. "This is very serious."

"I know Penny, I'm just stating what we already know…and frankly, I'm rather beside myself."

"You're not the only one," Patch said, eyes downward.

"What do we do now?" Roly asked.

Thunderbolt cleared his throat, getting the puppies' attention. "What we're going to do is wait here. Ryder left you under my care, at least until your parents get here."

"But what about Precious?" Lucky asked.

"Ryder is going after her right now. And in case you're wondering, he was the one who shared the code word with me and he wouldn't have done it unless he had your parents' permission."

"So Ryder is your brother after all," Penny said. It was not a question.

Thunderbolt sighed. "Yes...he's...my brother."

"You don't sound very happy about it," Pepper commented.

Thunderbolt pretended not to hear that. "For the time being, make yourselves comfortable but please don't touch anything, alright?"

Taking a moment to yawn, Thunderbolt shook whatever tiredness there was in his system. Being a show dog was exhausting after all. When he looked at the pups again, he saw that they were staring at him, with those big puppy dog eyes of theirs.

Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Alright, just put them back when you're done alright?"

The pups looked absolutely delighted, all except Patch who still looking downward shamefully.

The pups went in all directions to have a look about the room. But not Penny or Patch.

Penny remained by Patch's side, affectionately nuzzling him while he sobbed quietly.

Upon seeing the state of their big brother, the other pups halted with whatever Thunderbolt merchandise they were admiring or playing with, and they moved in to be by Patch's side.

Cadpig was the first to join in.

Lucky came next, who was followed by Roly.

Freckles and Pepper looked at each other and suddenly felt ashamed for thinking of playing when their older brother was so broken down.

Patch always went out of his way to keep the spirits of his siblings when there was trouble. It was only fair that they do the same.

"Patchy," Penny whispered. "It's nobody's fault, none but Nero's. You're not to blame and from what little I know of Precious, she wouldn't blame you either."

"But-"

"No buts Patchy!" Penny snapped. "I will not hear you blame yourself for this!"

"Nero, he'll hurt Precious."

"He'll keep her alive Patch," Pepper said. "As long as she's the only one he's got, nothing will happen to her."

"Nero wants you right?" Freckles said. "So that means Precious will be relatively safe until he has you in his clutches."

"What are you saying?!" Patch wailed. "That the best thing I can do for Precious is to keep away from her?!"

"Patchy calm down," Cadpig said barely above a whisper.

But Patch did not calm down. He started hyperventilating. "I have to save her! I have to-!"

But before Patch could finish his panicked rant or even make for the door, his siblings in unison sprang onto him shouting, "NO!"

Patch was immediately accosted by his brothers and sisters in the notorious puppy pile.

He wheezed, having had the wind knocked out of him.

Thunderbolt watched the entire spectacle with abject bewilderment. I wonder if I should intervene.

But for some reason, he stayed put. All the better as children were not his speciality and he knew it.

Patch struggled and struggled and struggled. But he could not disentangle and escape his predicament. His siblings were not simply on top of him, they were holding on tight to each other, making themselves a single counterweight with the intent of holding Patch in place.

"Get off of me!" Patch cried.

"Sorry Patch," Lucky said through clenched teeth. "But this is for your own good."

"But...Precious…"

"Ryder managed to find both of you at the circus Patch in less than a day," Pepper said. "He crossed a quarter way across the country by himself to find you and he did. He'll do the same for Precious. He said that he would do it, didn't he?"

Patch stopped struggling and he slumped on the floor. His breathing started to return to normal and he relaxed.

"Ok," Penny said sternly. "We're going to get off of you. And when we do, you have to promise you won't run away again. We just got you back Patch, we don't want to lose you again."

Patch sighed. "I promise."

One by one, the pups removed themselves and Patch got back up, shaking himself off.

"Better?" Penny asked.

"Better?" Patch said. "Not really but I'm at least not panicking."

Cadpig approached Patch and laid her head on her brother's. "We're going to get her back Patch."

"How can you be-?"

Cadpig interrupted him. "Remember what you always said when we were worried about what-it's?"

Patch looked up at his sister and he smiled softly. "That they are useless and not practical."

"Right."

Patch chuckled. "You use my own words against me?"

Cadpig smiled slyly. "Naturally. But those were dad's words first, weren't they?"

Patch shrugged his shoulders. "Fair enough."

The two smiled as they laid on each other like good brother and sister, enjoying each other's loving presence and touch.

The other pups smiled lovingly as they surveyed the touching family moment before them.

Until one of the more observant pups took a quick look about the room and then broke the silence.

"Where'd Thunder go?" Freckles asked.

Patch blinked and he looked at his brother. "What was that?"

"Thunderbolt, he's gone."

Patch looked towards the spot where he last saw the show dog and then all over the room. The Wonder Dog was indeed nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe he's just keeping watch outside," Lucky said.

Pepper hopped onto the sofa and stood up on it so he could look out the trailer's window.

"He's outside alright," he said. "But he's going to have a hard time keeping watch with his head down."

Patch raised an eyebrow and he looked at Lucky who was looking equally confused. They both got on the sofa and looked out the window to see Thunderbolt on his haunches, head bowed.

Lucky frowned. "He looks sad," he said.

"But why would he be sad?" Pepper asked out loud.

Patch furrowed his brow and looked down as he thought for a moment. Then his mouth parted and eyes opened slightly as he remembered something. "I think I might know why."

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"I have half a mind to-!"

"Perdy please, I'm quite angry myself but violence won't solve anything."

"I don't intend to hurt him Pongo but make no mistake when I cross paths with that...that...show dog, I will have words!"

Perdita was angry. Livid actually. Having taken a rest since last night's search in their room at a local London inn, they thought a little television would do some good.

That is until, they had received a call from Ryder telling them to tune in on a certain channel. Not bothering to ask for an explanation as they already knew the reason, they did as he suggested.

But in their haste, they hung up the phone before he could say anymore.

To their astonishment and joy, it was Patch. There he was on stage with his hero, the notorious Thunderbolt.

How happy the Pongo's were to see their boy safe and whole. But what he was doing there in all places they could not guess, other than the fact that if Thunderbolt was in town, Patch would not be far behind.

But even they were not prepared for what would happen next.

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"Oh Patch, he's alright," Perdita cried joyfully. "He's in Regent's Park at this very moment."

"What a pity that Roger and Anita aren't here," Pongo said regretfully. "If they hadn't gone to Scotland Yard, they could drive us there at once."

"Then we'll have to walk, run even."

"It's a good thing that our pets have left the window unlocked and ajar so that we could leave if need be."

"Then let's hurry," Perdita said hurriedly. "Patch might not stay at the park long so we must be quick while his scent is still fresh there."

The Pongo's began to move towards the window but a rather odd sound stopped them in their tracks.

A bark.

Actually it was more like a squeak.

It was coming from the television.

Pongo was aghast. "That was Patch's bark."

Pongo and Perdita both looked towards the television.

On the screen, on the stage in Regent's Park, Patch looked like he had just been shot.

Thunderbolt looking at him oddly.

And then he started laughing.

As a matter of fact, there was raucous laughter all around as if they were surrounded by it.

And they were.

The picture appeared to be shaking as though whoever was manning the camera was struggling to keep the camera still due to their own laughter.

Patch looked like he was breaking down inside.

"Oh no," Perdita whispered, sounding quite heartbroken. "Oh no."

"Good Heavens," Pongo said horrified.

It only got worse from there.

"Hey, who sat on a squeaky toy?" Thunderbolt had said and on live television no less.

The Pongo's gasped inwardly

Patch looked up at his hero with confusion and hurt betrayal. Gasping, he bowed his head.

Even though Patch's eyes were hidden, even though this was through a television screen, the Pongo's could still make out the stray tear that dropped off his nose.

Perdita sobbed. "Oh my poor boy." And then she growled menacingly. "Who does that unprofessional brute think he is?!" she snapped with a snarl.

Pongo's face was mottled with rage but he managed to calm himself before speaking.

"And all those people and dogs alike, laughing and ridiculing a pup, and worse yet, for it to come from his hero? The Wonder Dog he looked up to? Despicable."

The next thing they heard was a wicked loud yelp of pain. The Pongo's placed their attention back on the telly and what they saw left their mouths open.

It was that girl whom they saw yesterday on the telly. The little Dalmatian who accompanied their Patch. The one whom Patch saved from getting crushed by a circus elephant and then stood up to that dreadful Neville in order to protect her.

She had just stomped on Thunderbolt's paw, silencing his laughter and replacing it with a cry of agony.

Everything was silent until Precious started tearing into the show dog.

""You think that hurt?! Can you imagine what you just put Patch through?! I knew you were bordering on egomania but I never thought you could be so immature! Do you have any idea of what that boy had gone through just so he could meet you today?! HOW DARE YOU?!"

The Pongo's open mouths seemed to drop wider. They could scarcely believe what they saw and heard. This girl, this stray most likely, who hadn't known Patch for more than a day was standing up to this show dog.

Her words seemed to hit home as Thunderbolt's visage of insolent pride turned to shame.

Pongo smiled. "I like her."

Perdita chuckled. "I'm almost cross that I didn't get to set him straight myself. She beat me to it."

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"You don't think Roger and Anita would turn her away, do you?"

"Not a chance Perdy!" Pongo said firmly. "I heard how they spoke of Precious earlier. They said and I quote, 'What a darling pup. An excellent match for our Patch.' I'd say Precious is as good as family."

Perdita smiled but then sighed deeply.

"Are you alright Perdy?"

"Yes Pongo, it's just...our dear Patch is growing up."

Pongo sighed as well. "That he is, but he's still much too young to...you know, meet someone."

Perdita nodded. "Much too young indeed." Besides, even if he were of age, it's still soon.

Her heart ached with sadness and pride. My boy, my sweet, brave boy.

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"Ryder said what?" Cadpig asked.

"He said that Thunder hadn't changed at all," Patch said. "And when Ryder left, Thunder said that he still hates him."

Penny gasped. "Surely not!"

Lucky nodded. "They're brothers, that just can't be."

"It's just what I heard," Patch said warily. "There's more to it I'm sure. They must've had some kind of fight and never settled it."

"They should settle it then," Lucky affirmed. "Or else this separation will leech on them forever."

"They'll be so miserable," Pepper said.

"Seeing how Thunder is brooding, I'd say he already is," Freckles said.

"I'm hungry."

The pups looked at Roly with deadpan looks.

Roly chuckled sheepishly. "Well I am."

"Actually," Patch said. "A snack sounds pretty good right now. I haven't had a chance to eat since this morning."

"Do you think Thunderbolt has anything decent to eat here?" Lucky asked.

"I don't see why he shouldn't. I'll go ask him."

Patch leapt through the doggie door and approached the Wonder Dog. "Thunder?"

"Yeah kid?" he said wearingly.

"My siblings and I are hungry, do you-?"

"There's Kanine Krunchies in the cupboard just below those bobble heads of me. Help yourselves. Don't worry about making a mess, the cleaner will take care of that."

Patch smiled. "Thank you Thunder."

The show dog didn't even look at him. "You're welcome Patch."

He got my name right.

Patch looked at Thunderbolt for a long moment. His heart sank as he saw how sad the Wonder Dog looked.

He wasn't sure how to react to this. This wasn't his hero. Nothing could weigh him down.

Dad said that no living dog is invincible, not even Thunderbolt. Did I really think that he was better than Dad?

Patch immediately went back into the trailer without turning back.

In a matter of moments, Thunderbolt's keen ears perked up and a most unusual smell reached his nostrils.

Smells like trouble.

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"Wow, these Kanine Krunchies are fantastic!" Roly cried as he took another bite from the delectable pile of kibble on the trailer carpet. "These must be special or something."

"Just don't overdo it Roly Poly," Lucky said. "We might have to shake a leg soon."

"Caddy?" Patch said with his mouth full. "Aren't you going to keep eating?"

"Sure sure," Cadpig said as she continued to chew what was already in her mouth before swallowing. She seemed to be in her own little world as though something was nagging at her subconscious.

Penny knew what this meant, judging by how the hairs on Caddy's back stood on end and how her tail seemed to wag as though it were a malfunctioning metronome.

"Caddy? Something's wrong isn't there?"

Cadpig looked Penny in the eye, foreboding clear as crystal in them. "Yes."

The boys stopped eating at once, even Roly (Even he was not so gluttonous that he would dismiss a sense of foreboding from Cadpig).

"Maybe we should go talk to Thunder," Patch said.

"Kids."

The pups turned to see Thunderbolt slipping through the doggie door. He bolted the door with his teeth and then hopped onto the couch to shut the window's blinds.

"Thunder? Are we under attack?" Patch asked.

Thunderbolt spoke without turning his head. "Don't know. I smell trouble."

Cadpig started breathing fast. "He's coming. It's Neville!"

Penny was by her side in a flash. "Neville is dead Caddy, you know that."

"Then it's his brother Nero!" Cadpig cried. "We need to escape!"

"No!" Thunderbolt said firmly. "Where you are is as safe as you're gonna get. Just stay in my trailer and hide yourselves. I'll handle this. Patch, c'mere!"

Patch approached the show dog. "Yeah?"

"See this latch by the doggie door?"

Patch observed the little door and saw a silver latch above which was apparently some kind of locking mechanism.

"Yeah?"

"Lock it behind me and keep away from the windows."

"Is there another way out?" Freckles asked anxiously.

Thunderbolt looked at him. "No."

And he swept out the door.

Patch locked the latch in place without hesitation.

He turned towards his brothers and sisters.

"Quick, hide!"

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Thunderbolt stood his ground. He could smell them. They were closer now.

Selfish coward am I? Well...we'll see about that big brother!

Thunderbolt winced. What am I doing? I'm an actor! I haven't been in a scrap in years! How many are there?

Thunderbolt inhaled the air. His heart sank. Four? Oh sweet mother of pasteurized milk, what am I going to do?!

If they kill you, those pups are done for.

Thunderbolt winced. He's over a thousand miles away and I can still hear my old man.

"What have we here?"

Thunderbolt snapped out of his frightened stupor and saw that he was now face with face about four dogs that were clearly not here to make friends.

Three were Bullmastiffs while the fourth taking the lead was a Rottweiler.

"Nero I presume?"

The Rottweiler grinned madly, showing his jagged teeth. "Step aside show dog, I got business with the runt."

"How about no."

Nero frowned. "Get lost Blunderbolt, no need for you to get involved."

Thunderbolt grinned his signature grin. "A little late for that ugly."

The Bullmastiffs gasped sharply.

Nero growled. "You got a death wish?"

"That's a question you should be asking yourself pumpkin." I really do have a death wish.

Nero stopped growling. Then a sadistic smile stretched upon his face. "Ryder's your brother, isn't he?"

Thunderbolt raised an eyebrow. "What of it?"

"Good. Boys?"

All three Bullmastiffs showed their teeth and then they sprang.

Thunderbolt thought to himself that he should be afraid, and yet he was strangely calm. I must've knocked a screw loose in my last stunt.

They were upon him, a whirlwind of claws and teeth. But Thunderbolt wasn't afraid. He thought to himself that he should be, but he wasn't.

He was angry.

And in a flash, his teeth found the neck of one particular Bullmastiff and he yelped in exquisite pain, recoiling and thus giving Thunderbolt some breathing room. He turned on the next Bullmastiff and started biting into his foreleg as though it were a knob of bone. The Bullmastiff squealed in pain and rage.

Thunderbolt was out of breath but he kept going. He was in pain. He was bleeding but he kept going.

What happened to security? Where in the world are they? Don't tell me these guys snuck past them!

Thunderbolt was just about to pounce the last Bullmastiff when he felt something jump on his back and then great pain in the back of his neck. He howled in pain and he tried to shake off whatever it was that latched onto him.

"Don't be quick about it Tommy!" Nero said with vicious glee. "Make it hurt!"

Thunderbolt heard insane giggling in his ear as though it were coming through clenched teeth. What is wrong with these dogs?! This isn't normal?!

The Bullmastiffs cheered as Tommy tore into Thunderbolt's neck with his teeth. The Wonder Dog bucked and howled trying to throw him off.

Nero sat up straight. "Pin him."

The Bullmastiffs acted without hesitation and together, with their size and strength, brought Thunderbolt to the ground.

"Hold him still," Nero commanded.

The Rottweiler, triumph gleaming in his eyes, approached the trailer.

"Patch!" He called out. "That is your name isn't it? I know you can hear me! I have your so-called hero and your adorable lady friend! If you come quietly, I'll let them go! If you don't, I'll kill you, Precious, your hero and your siblings, starting with the runt! And I'll make you watch!"

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Patch felt numb. If I go with them, what's to stop them from hurting the others anyway?

"Patch…" Penny said with an edge. "Don't. Even. Think about it."

"We have to escape," Patch said suddenly. "That's the safest thing to do."

"What about Thunderbolt?" Roly asked.

"He'll be fine, for the most part," Patch answered. "Those dogs wouldn't dare kill him."

"How do you know?" Pepper asked.

"Because Thunderbolt is too important to kill," Lucky said.

"That's right!" Freckles exclaimed. "If they killed him, those dogs would become outcasts for killing everyone's favorite Wonder Dog! They'd not only have to face Thunder's fans but his brother too!"

"Precisely!" Patch said with an enthusiastic nod.

The other pups stared. Patch grinned nervously. "I saw Thunder say that a while ago. I thought it was champion."

"Anyway," Cadpig said, seeking to move the conversation in a more productive direction. "What's the plan?"

"That doggie door is the only way out," Patch said analytically. "We need to make another way out."

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"I can't hear anything in there but I can smell them alright."

"I can smell them too Tommy," Nero said inhaling the air. "But something else."

"Yeah, smells like Neville. No surprise there as the kid was with him yesterday at that circus."

Nero rolled his eyes. "I am aware of that. But I'm talking about another one among them except it smells older, perhaps three days or so."

Tommy furrowed his brow. "Hey yeah, around the time that he was in that countryside in Devon."

Nero grinned savagely. If it is who I think it is, then I can finish what my brother has started here and now.

"Patch!" He called out once more. "I changed my mind, if you refuse my terms, I won't start with the runt, I'll start with the one that had out maneuvered my brother on your little farm. Cadpig is her name, yes?"

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Cadpig covered her mouth with her paws and she burst into tears. Roly held onto her and she buried her face in his shoulder as he tried his best to console her.

Patch, seeing how distraught his sister was, bared his teeth and growled. "Why that miserable-!"

"Patch no!" Penny exclaimed. "He's trying to trick you!"

Patch didn't seem to hear her. He had started to slowly advance toward the doggie door until Lucky stood in his way.

"Patch!" He shouted. "Stop! If you open that door, we're dead!"

Patch's furious persona softened and he clenched his eyes as though expelling the anger was painful.

He sighed, letting all his frustrations out in one breath. "We stay here and wait. Where we are is as safe as it's going to get."

"What do we do in the mean time Patch?" Pepper asked.

"We keep quiet and hide. No matter what that devil says, we don't respond. We don't give him anything."

"Right," Freckles said. "As long as we stay here, we'll be fine."

There was a crash and the pups jumped. They looked and saw that the doggie door had a convex dent in it.

There was another crash and the dent was starting to crack open like an egg.

That door won't hold, Patch thought to himself, his mind working like a locomotive. Another way out it is then.

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Nero continued to slam into the door with all his might, snarling while doing it.

"Last chance Patch!" He roared. "Come out now! If I have to come in there, I'll make sure your brothers and sisters die screaming!"

There was no reply.

Nero barked in rage. "FINE! I DON'T MIND DOING IT THE HARD WAY ANYWAY!"

Thunderbolt, weak and hurt, peeked from beneath the Bullmastiff paw that pinned his head to the ground. "You...monster! If you touch them-!"

"You'll lay there and watch," Nero said mockingly.

The mad dog slammed into the doggie door once more and it gave way.

Scanning the trailer's interior, Nero could only spot one of the pups. The rest were nowhere to be seen.

Nero almost laughed. No use hiding. There's nowhere to go.

The lone pup was trying to claw his way up the wall towards a window, clearing making a feeble attempt to escape.

"You're mine now pup," Nero snarled.

Patch turned around and he crouched down fearfully. "W-Why don't pick on someone your own size?" He stammered nervously.

Nero grinned. "Like you?"

"No, like Ryder stupid."

Nero's arrogant look fell into one of bewilderment and shock, as though ice water had been dumped on him.

His eyes narrowed. "Say that again."

Patch's look of fear became impertinent. "You heard me."

"I have torn dogs to pieces for less than that."

"You want a medal champ?"

Nero bared his teeth, he growled and spittle sputtered from his mouth and down his chin. "Keep up with the insults and you'll regret it boy."

"Rather thin-skinned aren't you?" Patch said smirking. "But what else can I expect from a dirty, no-account, yellow-livered, warthog-faced buffoon with the brain of a pigeon and the manners of a sewer rat."

"THAT'S IT!" Nero roared. "YOU'RE DEAD PUNK!"

The Rottweiler made a dash for Patch in a mad rush, determined to tear his prey apart limb from limb.

Before he made it halfway however, he heard a creaking sound, the sound of metal falling and crashing, and then a great impact.

There was a terrible ringing in his ears.

And then darkness.

00000

"Nice work guys."

"That was a very dangerous move Patch," Penny scolded.

"Sorry, I was short on options."

"And using yourself as bait was one of them?!"

"Well it worked didn't it?" Lucky said. "Dropping that trophy case on him was risky but what choice did we have?"

"We need to go now!" Patch exclaimed. "Quick! Out the window! Roly, you go first!"

00000

The Bullmastiffs still pinning the Wonder Dog down all turned with a start when they heard it.

"Did you hear a crash?"

"Yeh, I sure did Lenny."

Tommy approached the doggie door, which had been breached just moments earlier.

"Hey Nero?" He called out. "You ok in there?"

There was no answer. Not a sound.

That was enough for Tommy to investigate.

He hopped through the demolished doggie door and was aghast to see that there was no one sight. He was stumped but it soon occurred to him based on the fact of what looked like a large bookcase had crashed to the floor. It was clearly a trophy case judging by the trophies strewn across the floor and underneath the case.

Tommy inhaled the air and he gasped inwardly. Those runts dropped a trophy case on him?! Oh, they're in for it now.

Tommy felt a mild breeze and looked up to see an open window opposite of the trophy case, just above a couch.

Judging by the smell leading to the couch and out the window, it was clear that the pups had escaped.

Tommy felt his blood run cold. "Nero is going to be so mad when he regains consciousness."

Tommy heard the sound of wood and metal shaking as it had been hit by an earthquake that was gaining strength. He turned to see the trophy case shaking as though there was indeed a tremor.

Tommy gulped. "Nero?"

The trophy case exploded.

And Nero roared with unfathomable rage.

00000

"Just keep running everyone and don't stop!"

"Where are we supposed to go from here Patch?! What now?!"

"Right now Pep, we get as far away from here as possible!"

"How did he find us so quickly?" Freckles cried. "He can't have just smelt us out. We weren't in London for a day!"

"I don't know!" Patch shouted. "Let's just get out of here!"

He must've seen me on the telly and tracked me here. The fact that my brothers and sisters are here was just really bad timing. This is all my fault.

The seven Dalmatian pups, led by Patch, ran as fast as they could through the park, cutting through bushes and hedges in order to stay out of the open as often as possible in order to avoid being seen.

It was a miracle none of them got snagged by their collars, the ones that still had their collars, unlike Patch.

They finally reached the peripheral of the park but they all stopped short, skidding on the pavement of the sidewalk and bumping into each other, but narrowly staying out of the very busy street.

"No!" Patch cried. "Of all the times for there to be rush hour!"

Cadpig turned her head and she sniffed before she cried out in a panic. "He's coming! Nero's coming! I can smell him coming!"

"Don't panic Caddy," Penny said before turning to Patch. "What do we do now?"

"There!" Lucky cried, pointing to an opening in the gutter of the curb.

It was a storm drain, a narrow opening into the sewers of London. It was big enough for a pup to squirm through but too small for a fully grown Rottweiler.

"Brilliant!" Patch cried. "Good one Luck!"

"But that's the sewer!" Freckles shouted in disgust.

"No choice!" Patch replied firmly. "In! All of you!"

Penny prodded Cadpig to go first. With some hesitation, she slipped through. Freckles went next, much to his displeasure. Lucky followed after him. Roly, after much prodding managed to squirm through the narrow opening. Pepper slipped through with no problem at all.

Patch was about to insist on Penny going next until she shouted, "Here he comes!" And she not too gently shoved Patch through the drain. She followed after him but-

Penny screamed but her scream of terror then turned into a choked screech.

Nero had caught her by the collar in his teeth and was effectively choking her.

However, the reason he failed to pluck her out of the storm drain was because Patch and Pepper had caught her by her forepaws, preventing her from leaving.

And of course, Penny was using her back paws to plant a foothold on the concrete borders of the drain in order to prevent herself from being pulled out.

They were holding but Nero, even after being crushed by a trophy case, was still much stronger. The pups would not be able to win this deadly tug-o-war with strength alone.

"Hang on Penny!" Patch shouted.

Penny didn't answer. Her words were strangled at best and her tongue was hanging out and spasming like a maggot in a frying pan.

"We have to get that collar off of her!" Freckles cried.

Nero was laughing through his clenched teeth. The savor of managing to catch at least one of these pets was just too sweet and evil laughter bubbled out from him like a steam from a pot.

"STOP IT!" Cadpig screamed. "LET HER GO!" She sprang with all her strength and she latched onto Nero's right ear with her teeth and chewed on it like bone.

Nero groaned in pain and glowered at the pup. Oh, you will pay for that!

A burning pain suddenly erupted in his right eye as something small and sharp scratched against it and Nero immediately opened his mouth to scream and on reflex stood on his back legs in recoil.

Penny dropped into the sewer.

Cadpig had the good sense to let go of Nero's ear before she was taken out of the drain with him.

"MY EYE!" Nero roared in rage and pain. "MY EYE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!"

As Nero continued screaming, Penny was coughing violently, trying to catch her breath.

"Are you ok Penny?" Patch asked anxiously.

"I think so," Penny almost whispered.

"That was wizard Lucky!" Freckles cried.

Patch looked in his younger brother's direction. He was just sitting there, looking quite bewildered and staring at his right paw, as though he had done something he couldn't believe.

There was blood on it but it was clear that there was no wound on Lucky that he could see. Did Lucky do what I think he did?

"MY EYE! MY EYE! I CAN'T SEE! I CAN SEE ANYTHING!"

Nero was still screaming his head off.

"We have to go, now!" Patch said firmly.

And with that, the pups all ran down the path leading into the inner chambers of the sewers of London. As they descended into that place, in the distance, they could their pursuer calling out to them with grievous malice, "YOU LITTLE MONGRELS! I'LL FIND YOU ALL! I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND EAT YOU PIECE BY PIECE!"

Patch scoffed under his breath. His bark is certainly worse than his bite.

To be continued...