Collette lay curled under the hedge, alone. She was getting awfully cold, but she didn't want to go home. No, not now. Not with the family grieving. Not with Scamp angry at her. She didn't blame him.
The brown dog rubbed her eyes with a paw. They were terribly sore, and they felt puffy and swollen. Good. Suffer, Collette, you monster.
Collette heard a soft snuffling sound on the sidewalk outside of her leafy shelter. She perked her ears. The sound was getting closer. She was too afraid to move from her spot, and simply lay there, curled in the dirt while the bushes rustled.
What could it be? Who could it be? Collette's mind went dramatically wild with thoughts of vicious strays from Scamp and Angel's stories, of dogs that ripped men's flesh from their bones, and humans that took lost dogs to the pound to never be seen again.
"Who's there? I insist that you go away!" Collette demanded, while still trying to sound polite. She didn't want to offend it, whatever it was. Her voice, she realized,was not threatening at all. It was scratchy and raw, and it hurt to talk too loud.
"Well, I insist...different." A familiar voice made Collette's fears evaporate. It was only Scamp. The spaniel mix sniffled and rubbed her eyes once more.
"What do you want?" She prissed. Or at least, tried to priss. The tears in her voice made it hard. The bushes rustled and shook, and Scamp's head appeared under them.
"Can I...come in?" He said awkwardly. The grey dog cleared his throat. "Collette?"
Collette blinked another tear away. It rolled down her cheek and fell to the ground without a sound. She shrugged, even though it was incredibly un-lady like to do so.
Scamp squeezed under the bushes. He was almost too big to fit. His tall ears brushed the leaves overhead. He really was growing, Collette realized. Her brother was nearly as big as their father now. Collette scooted over to make room for the bigger dog. He settled down beside her and looked around.
"Smells like Annette." Scamp mumbled. "And...?" He didn't know the other scent.
"She used to meet that dog here." Collette replied, looking away from her brother. She was still wrought with shame.
"I never got to meet him." Scamp said.
"I did." Collette answered sharply. "He was nice." She finished her statement in guilt for the bitterness. It would do no good to be jealous now. Annette was gone.
Scamp coughed. "Ahem."
Collette didn't answer, she knew her brother well enough to know that he was mustering something up.
"Look, Collette..." She was right. She hesitantly looked at her younger sibling. "I'm sorry." His face was full of sadness and hope. He desperately wanted forgiveness. Collette knew the feeling.
"So am I, Brother." She laid her head on her paws and stared ahead at nothing in particular. "So am I."
Collette sighed softly. "Is she really...?"
Scamp was quiet. Collette took a peek at the grey dog and saw that his head was bowed over his own paws. She realized then that the bigger dog's feet were caked with dried earth up to the elbow. His ears drooped over his eyes.
"We found some bad stuff last night." He rasped. His voice was nothing more than a whisper. Collette felt a strong desire to reach out to her brother. She placed one of her pristine paws on his filthy one. Scamp flinched, as though he had forgotten for a moment that she was there.
He shook his head and closed his eyes. Collette watched him. Her brother had changed, somehow. It seemed as if it had happened in a moment, and yet, she knew that she had simply not paid enough attention to see him passing through time.
The grey dog's eyelids quivered, and then he opened them. Still, he did not look at his sister.
"Collette?" He said after a while. Collette hooked her paw around his in a kind of squeeze, a gesture to show him that she was listening. He understood. "Don't go anywhere, okay? Don't..." He cut himself off. He was being very careful with his words today. It wasn't like him.
"I won't if you won't." She said softly. He finally looked at her. His face was twisted with fear and grief. She forced herself not to look away, to endure the pain that was lashing into her heart.
Scamp was the one to break the stare. He turned away quickly to hide a tear that Collette already knew was there. But she would never tell him that. He still had his pride.
"I'm no street dog." He said with a soft sigh. Collette could see her brother's breath misting in front of his face. It was getting colder.
"What made you come back?" Collette prompted. She had always wondered, always felt angry with her brother for his deeds. He had stirred her heart in unexpected, vile ways, and left her with a harsh hatred for the outside world, even if that included family. She didn't want to feel this way.
"It wasn't what I expected." He answered, after a moment of thought. "Me and Angel were always hungry, or watching behind us for dogcatchers, and some of the dogs..." He trailed off, and then started again after clearing his throat. "Sometimes a friendly face will get you thrown in the pound." He finished.
Collette thought her brother's explanation over. A slow, creeping thought eased into her mind. She realized just how irrational she'd been about everything. Her heart gave another pang.
"I'm sorry, Scamp." She said. Her voice broke, and she had to pause to contain herself. The apology was heartfelt. It was for everyone, and it started with the dog who had come to find her. "I've been terrible...and angry."
"I know. It's okay, I'm sorry too." Scamp met his sister's eyes again, melting the last of her frustrations.
"Let's start over." Scamp said suddenly. "Everything will be better now, whatd'you say?" His eyes were alight with determination. He wanted to make things right.
"Okay. What should we do now, then?" Collette asked, agreeing. She understood her brother's desire. There had been too much sadness lately. Annette would still be gone, no matter what they did. There would be grief in thinking of the loss the family had suffered. But they were still a family.
Scamp tilted his head to the sky. Collette let her gaze follow. The sky was several shades of grey, as if it had been sapped of its normal sunset colors. Collette's breath mingled with Scamp's in a billowing cloud in the growing darkness.
"We go home." Scamp finally answered Collette's question. And with that, the two slipped from their hiding place in the hedge, and took the first step of healing, together.
Kilian hit Annette full in the chest, bowling her over. The wind was nearly knocked from her lungs. Nearly. She could tell that the brown and white dog had not used all of his strength to push her. It still hurt. Annette cringed when she hit the ground.
"Fight back!" Azriel called. He stood stiffly, watching the show. He looked as if he wanted to jump into it himself. Harley stood expressionless beside the mottled dog. A string of drool escaped his lip.
Annette channeled her hatred for the two into a well aimed kick. She pushed her hind paws into Kilian's ribs and lifted him off of her. She was no longer pinned. Kilian landed on his side to the right of her.
"Umf!" He grunted. Annette worried that she'd hurt him, until he rolled over and stumbled to his feet. She did the same. The two stared at each other, unsure of what to do next.
"Fight!" Azriel demanded, reminding them of their 'duty' to him.
Annette shook her head like a bull and made a run for Kilian. He stayed put, letting her push him over. In the next moment, she felt his teeth in her long ear. She bit back a yelp and instinctively turned her head to bite his shoulder. She could feel his muscles against her. His every movement was hesitant.
Annette could hardly bear the thought of hurting this dog, or the feeling of his skin and flesh in her mouth, but she knew that he would be hurt far worse if he didn't obey Azriel. She sunk her teeth into his shoulder as hard as she could. Blood welled in her mouth as the terrier's skin gave way under her teeth.
Kilian threw back his head and howled in pain. It was all Annette could do to keep her hold. She wanted to beg his forgiveness right there.
Kilian gave a fearsome snarl. Annette couldn't tell now if it was directed at her or not. Before she knew what was happening, she was on her back. Kilian had her pinned again. His teeth were bared, but his eyes gave away his true feelings.
The two dogs looked at each other for only a short second. In the next, they were locked in a vicious scuffle that had ash and dust flying through the air thick enough to make Annette's throat raw.
Azriel gave a loud laugh.
"Fight! Fight for your Father's love!" He cackled.
Bentley gave a booming bark.
"Do ye want em to kill each other, ya sick headed beast?" He roared. Annette and Kilian made impact with the grey dog's wobbly legs as each fought for the upper hand. He nearly lost his balance.
"Silence!" Azriel snapped. "Or they will die."
Bentley hushed. Annette could feel her life and Kilian's hanging on the edge of oblivion. She threw herself harder into the fight.
Kilian was the stronger dog. His muscles rippled under Annette when she pinned him, and tightened when he was throwing her off. He was going easy on her. She was covered in cuts and bruises already, but Kilian was worse.
The gash on his shoulder was bleeding. It ran down his leg in bright red streams. His fresh scars were beginning to split and peel open. Annette thought she knew why he was letting her win the battle. She didn't know a single fighting move and she'd never experienced a wild scuffle with any dangerous dog.
Annette had to change this. She was sure that Kilian would die if his softness for her showed.
"Fight me!" She snarled. Her own voice was raw. It tasted like blood and adrenaline in her mouth. It was frightening.
Kilian's eyes widened, but he understood. The slightly bigger dog threw himself deep into the fight with Annette. She tore into his foreleg with a vengance when he broke open the wound on the back of her neck. She could hardly feel it now. An ancient drive, something Annette never knew she possessed, was pumping through her blood, telling her to fight for survival.
She rolled over and over with Kilian on the gritty floor. The two were pulling each other open, piece by piece.
"Aha! This is better than I expected!" Azriel enthralled.
Harley stared.
Annette kicked Kilian's front paw away from him and he landed on his chin. His teeth came together with a sickening crack. She stood over him, waiting for him to get up. Her lips were locked in a semi-permanent snarl.
"Stop!" Azriel commanded. "Stop, children. The fun is over."
Annette tried to calm herself. Her heart was beating fast and her breath was coming even faster. The fight was over.
Kilian struggled into a sitting position and spat blood. His mouth opened in a hard pant and his tongue fell from his mouth. It was missing a small piece on the end, in the shape of one of his canines. Annette looked him over quickly. Her own blood mingled with his all over his body.
Azriel gave the bedraggled pair a smile.
"Father." Annette panted, bowing her head. Her ears fell on either side, and she saw that they were stained dark. The fur was matted.
"Father." Kilian repeated the gesture. "We will fight for you anytime."
"I can see that." Azriel answered, looking between the two. Annette couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.
"We wish to be blessed with your trust, Father." Annette murmured. She gave Azriel what she prayed was a hopeful look.
Azriel said nothing.
"Our loyalty-" Kilian began, but was cut off impatiently by Azriel then.
"Is to me, yes, I know this, Kilian."
Kilian quieted.
"Children are prone to disobey their parents, and what their parents want for them, even if it is for the best." The black and white dog lectured. He gave a heavy sigh.
"I just don't know if I can fully trust a pair of pups like you." He said, sounding almost genuine.
"You are dismissed. I give you my leave, and I do wish that you could bring something nice home to offer this evening." He shook his head, and his next words carried a strong hint of a threat in them. "We all know what happens if you don't."
"Yes, Father." Annette and Kilian said together.
"Go on. Hurry up." Azriel snipped. "Tell your friends to see me on your way out."
The two dogs nodded and hurried from the room as fast as their limping paws would carry them. Relief washed over Annette the moment that she was away from the staring eyes of Harley and Azriel.
They ran into Deedro and Pepper on the first floor. Pepper was inspecting the grey puppy's marked paw and Deedro was speaking quietly to Polly. She looked better today. She was actually sitting up.
"Be still, Smoky." Pepper told the squirming grey pup. "Let me clean this up, okay?"
"Hey, guys?" Kilian called. Pepper and Deedro both turned their attention to Annette and Kilian.
"What's happened to you both?" Pepper gasped. She began fluttering and fussing around the pair in an astonished panic.
"We were-" Annette began.
"Were you punished?" Deedro woofed quietly, cutting her explanation short. His eyes were wide with worry. He thought that their plans had been compromised.
Kilian held out a paw to quiet everyone, and then cleared his throat.
"We were...proving our loyalty to the Father." He droned. Deedro and Pepper's faces calmed. They looked at each other and nodded.
"Father wants to see you two." Annette told them. "Best not keep him waiting."
Pepper's eyes flashed fearfully, but she turned to head upstairs without a sound. Deedro looked after her and then leaned in close to Kilian and Annette.
"Are you two allowed out today? Boomer's not. Me and Polly and Pepper are going together if we can."
"We've been told to 'bring home something nice'." Kilian answered quietly. "Do you mind if we tag along?"
"Not at all. I have to go now. Go ahead and take Polly out now." Deedro told them. "Scoomp's been giving her the look." He turned quickly and bounded away to join his mate upstairs.
"Polly." Annette said gently. Polly, who had been looking at her feet, raised her head. "We're going outside. Come with us." Annette smiled at the depressed brown dog.
Polly stood without a word while Kilian rounded up the pups and led them off to a far corner of the building.
"Your mum is gonna go out for a while." He told them nudging one. "You pups stay right here for me, okay?"
The pups huddled together and watched him with wide eyes.
Annette trotted to Polly's side, encouraging her to keep going. The Labrador cast a longing look at the pups.
"They'll be okay, Polly." Annette told her gently. "We need to go find an offering for Scoomp this evening."
"Yeah, and soon Deedro and Pepper will be with us, so it shouldn't be too hard." Kilian said, trotting up on Polly's other side.
"I suppose..." Polly mumbled. She let the two dogs herd her out the door without the slightest protest.
The air outside was bitingly cold. Annette shivered. A sharp wind blew across her open cuts, slicing at them like a knife. She forced herself to keep going, to keep up with her companions.
Kilian ducked under Polly's belly to reach Annette's side. His sudden warmth against her was soothing.
"Hello, Ma'am." He said softly.
"Hi." Annette responded.
The three dogs turned from the small alley that held their shelter and found themselves back on the street. Snow had covered the ground overnight, but it had been scraped and trampled from the sidewalks and roads by human intervention.
"I'm sorry that I had to..." Kilian murmured.
Annette looked at him. "I would have taken that over watching you be punished any day."
Kilian shook his head.
"Always a giver, you've been." He smirked.
"Guys." Polly broke into the conversation. Her voice was raw, but suddenly alert.
Both of the younger dogs looked at her.
"What's the matter, Polly?" Annette asked.
"I smell food."