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Tala looked at Todd. Oh how she wanted to hit this guy. He was about five six, not much taller than her. He had greasy hair with long sideburns. He was paper white, looking as if he had never seen the sun. He was skinny and slightly dangly. She figured she could take him. The only reason she didn't was because of the guy right next to her, Jeff.

Jeff was the complete opposite of Todd. He was tall at about six two. He had to weigh at least two hundred pounds. Jeff kind of reminded her of the hit guy type. But he was harmless. Actually he was kind of sweet, but he was good friends with Todd.

She rubbed her arm where a big black and blue bruise had started too form. She was not looking forward to going back into the danger room. Not if it was going to be like it had been this morning.

"I'm going to change the water." Tala said. Jeff started to get up to help her but she waved him down. Todd just looked at her. She left their little office and went to the aisle she had been just two days ago. Walking to the cages that had once been hers and Rahne's she growled softly under her breath.

Inside the cages were two new dogs, Great Danes. They were both black and both male. They didn't have the glossy eyes yet. Tala opened the cage and went in with the bigger one. It growled and she put up her hands. She knelt down and reached for the dog with one hand. It came to her warily. She let him sniff her hand then rubbed his head. She rubbed his neck finding the collar. I knew they looked too nice to be street dog. She called to Jeff.

"No need to shout." Tala whirled upsetting the dog. Todd was standing there. How did he sneak up on me? "You are pretty brave to go in there. That dog tried to bite off my hand when we put him in there."

"Did you notice his collar?" She asked coolly. Still slightly upset she hadn't heard him. Todd shrugged. Tala stood up and opened the door. "Sit. Stay" She commanded to the dog. It did so. Todd looked strangely at her. "They are both show dogs." She informed him.

"How did you know that?"

"Any one could tell you that." Especially one who reads the Kennel Club tag he has. "I need the phone." Jeff walked up to her and handed her the phone. She dialed the number and gave instructions on how to get to the Bayville pound. She hung up the phone, gave it to a stunned Todd then walked to the first dog in the aisle.

She checked all of the dogs the same way she had just checked the Great Dane. Almost half of them had tags. Stupid idiots. Many of the dogs had been in here for months. They spent the rest of the day calling up relieved owners and having the dogs get picked up. After the last dog had gotten picked up Tala looked at Todd.

"Next time check for collars." She said disgustedly. How could they let these dogs be stuck here for so long without even looking for if they had collars? That means they haven't left those cages for who knows how long. She went to give the dogs food before leaving when she realized that she hadn't checked the water yet. Tomorrow she promised.

Tala looked at the door with dread. It was metal with an x on it. The only comforting thing was that Rahne would be doing this with her this time. She touched the door opening it. They walked into an empty metal room. She looked at the control room above them and gave them the thumbs up. Then she changed into her dog form. Rahne was a second behind her.

They watched as the hologram took the image of out in the woods. She smiled your back yard. From behind the tree emerged five guys. They all had branches. Tala crouched. She felt for her power and called for sharper and longer claws. She felt her claws growing. She jumped at the end guy with Rahne next to her. Together they scratched, clawed, and bit the guys to a bloody mess. Tala sat down panting.

The scene changed. They were inside a wear house. In front of them was a woman who was literally blue. Rahne growled but Tala didn't understand. Who is she? Rahne jumped at her but Tala didn't move. Rahne can take her. The woman changed into a man Tala had seen around the grounds. He was the guy who had taken her to the professor. Logan? From his hands he produced three blades for each hand. He slashed at Rahne. Tala watched transfixed as he hit her squarely throwing her across the room. Rahne was now on the ground tail between her legs.

Tala snarled and lunged for him. He swung his blade to meet her. She quickly sunk her teeth into his wrist. The other arm came towards her. She clawed at the hand ripping the flesh. Then she let go of the wrist and grabbed the throat. She felt the wind pipe break beneath her grip but not before one of the blades cut her shoulder. The hologram ended and Tala limped over to Rahne trying not to put any weight on her leg. Rahne looked at her. 'Did we win?' Tala nodded. Not even realizing she had understood her.

Tala changed back to her human form and helped Rahne up. They walked and limped out of the room to the control room. There they were forced to watch what they had just done and tell Logan what they could have done to have done better. When they reached when the woman had appeared Logan stopped the tape.

"This Tala is where you screwed up the most. With your guy's powers your strength is stronger together. You left Rahne to fend for herself."

"She didn't have any type of weapon, how was I supposed to know that you would pop out."

"She is a danger with or without a weapon. Her name is Mystique. She is a shape shifter, making her a more powerful enemy than you know. Don't leave Rahne when fighting, got it?" Tala nodded.

After getting bandaged up they walked down the halls Tala looked at Rahne. "I'm sorry that I well you know." Rahne shrugged. "Are we friends?" Rahne stopped walking and looked at Tala.

"Well you said you wouldn't leave me. So I guess that it means that I have no choice, right?" Rahne grinned. "Of course we are friends silly." She put her arm gently around Tala's shoulders and they walked to go raid the kitchen.