If Gadget believed the shade provided by the towering palm fronds would be enough to ward of the blistering early morning heat soon proved him wrong. The sweat slipped through his fur he was already sweating with the hot sun overhead. To his slight irritation, Zerinn and Kaito weren't even affected by the heat. Their ebony black and white fur had no sheen of sweat sitting underneath the palm fronds.

They acted like the heat wasn't even bothering them too much. In fact, the jackals looked perfectly fine. In fact, most of the other residents of Saharais went about their daily business, ignoring the heat, which Gadget figured that they were used to it.

There were a few early risers Gadget noted. Turning his attention towards the rest of the square Gadget noticed a few shopkeepers were leaving their tents to get ready for a new business day. Zerinn and Kaito pushed up from their sitting positions beginning to head in the direction

"Gadget! You need to keep up with us!"

Gadget heard Zerinn's voice. He hurried over to the pair of jackals a loud commotion could be heard coming from one of the tents to his left. An older fox exited his tent holding in his hand an equally skinny young kit upside down by his tail. Cocking back his arm the kit was hurled onto the hard desert ground swiftly hearing the small thud of a knife being thrown onto the sandy ground whimpering in pain.

"And don't come back until ya have money or food! Yer constant whimpering's getting' to me!"

Gadget felt his heart go out to the small kit which ran back tears in his eyes pleading with what Gadget assumed to be his father slamming the door shut in the kit's face ignoring the plaintive whimpering. Gadget took several steps only for Kaito to run in front of him.

"We can't get involved. It's what the grownups do here. It's every pup for themselves."

"That's awful." Gadget breathed in sadness watching the kit scratch at the heavy tent flap risking his Father's wrath begging for water.

Zerinn had stopped as well noticing the scene playing out in front of them all for the kit let out one last whimper before he got to his feet, wiping his hand across his eyes before setting away fingering the small knife he'd stolen setting of a determined expression lined his face.

"That's the way things are in this camp," Zerinn said stoically. "If you're not strong, then you perish. It's just that simple."

Gadget's ears dropped against his skull. He had to wonder if Zerinn thought that he was weak. He pushed the thought down following Kaito and Zerinn. Everywhere he went he saw the same scenario he'd seen with the fox kit play out. Mothers or fathers would push their children outside on the warm desert sands ignoring their pleas.

"Ah, here we are."

Zerinn's voice snapped him out of his ruminations as they'd snuck behind one of the tents a warm, savory smell wafting out of the open tent. The scents of something was cooking, making Gadget's stomach rumble in anticipation the two half-brothers looked around the corner to see if anyone else was coming to steal their breakfast potentially.

"Alright then the coast is clear," Zerinn said smiling at Gadget. "I hope that you have a strong stomach."

"Wait, what do you mean a strong stomach?"

Gadget noticed Kaito smile and pointed to a row of silver gleaming trash cans that stood in a row.

"The best parts of the food are at the top in white bundles!"

Kaito and Zerinn hurried over to the garbage bins knocking off the lids a pungent odor filled the air. The vomit rose up Gadget's throat, causing him to rub a pair of fingers over his throat swallowing the vomit making his way over to the garbage cans.

"Score! I got us some fresh chicken!" Kaito exclaimed, holding up a chicken that looked perfectly fine. Kaito placed his nose, inhaling deeply. "It doesn't smell rotten!"

"Wait so we're not eating trash, then?" Gadget asked cautiously optimistic.

"Heck no!" Zerinn snorted in amusement. "This is a training exercise the adults like to do, to help the next generation learn to fend for ourselves. Freshly cooked meals wrapped up in white bundles are hidden in the trash cans, so the kids who find them first get to eat."

"Oh, so if I find the white bundles of food, it's fine then?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Kaito said. "Just keep an eye out for thieves."

The campsite may have been a peaceful place at first glance, but in reality, a different set of rules were in play. Gadget sorted through the trash his eyesight struggling to pick out the white bundle of food that would ensure him and neither of his two adoptive brothers were going to go hungry tonight.

"Okay, that's enough," Zerinn said smiling. "We've got quite the haul."

Zerinn held onto several white bundles that contained food. Kaito replaced the lids on top of the trashcans the three of them left the alleyway clutching their meal. Gadget knew that his mouth was watering with the smells.

"Okay, here's a good place to stop."

The three of them found a secluded spot to settle down to enjoy their breakfast. A whole chicken, several apricots, several slices of ham and for dessert several honeycombs giving off a sweet smell.

"Dig in then" Zerinn invited Gadget with a smile. "This food won't eat itself."

Gadget took a piece of chicken sinking his teeth into the warm, succulent flesh his tongue, savoring the warm juices dripping down his throat. Zerinn took a bite of the Apricot his teeth sinking into the flesh spitting out the stone. Kaito consumed the honeycomb getting the sticky substance on his mouth and hand.

"You know there's a funny story that happened with Zerinn and a beehive."

Gadget saw the blush of embarrassment creeping up Zerinn's muzzle. There was a story here that a mischievous glint in Kaito's eyes. Kaito swallowed the bite of honey ignoring the frantic gestures from Zerinn telling him to be quiet.

"Well, a few ye—"

"That's enough of that. Here you need to have some protein!"

Zerinn hastily shoved a piece of ham into Kaito's mouth, silencing, him ignoring the glare Kaito shot in his direction. The three of them took their time savoring their bites having decided to save the combs of honey for last when a new voice broke the silence.

"Well, look at this a free meal guys."

The owner of the voice turned out to be a jackal pup slightly bigger than Zerinn that looked well fed, six more jackal pups sunk out from behind him mischievous smiles on their faces in expecting a free meal.

"Back of Dune!" Get your own food!"

Zerinn growled pinning his ears back, taking several strides forward his ears flat back against his head. Zerinn clenched his fists for a fight. Gadget saw the sneer gracing Dune's face looking up his younger brother, his tail swishing from side to side in a sort of restrained excitement.

"Look at this, my followers. My weak, defective runt of a brother thinks that he can stand up to me," Dune snarled. "Have you forgotten that you're speaking to the future leader of the Jackal Squad?"

Several jackal pups made a symbol to ward off the evil eye some of them smirking as they did so. There were a couple who bared their teeth, making low growling noises at Zerinn. The hostility that these pups were displaying seemed a little unwarranted.

"Cursed!"

"Big tail freak!"

"Weak, pathetic runt!"

Zerinn growled trembling with rage at the insults, especially the word weak set his nerves on edge. Kaito came forward, placing a gentle touch on Zerinn's arm. Gadget inhaled making his way towards him a hand on his shoulder as a silent show of support. Zerinn kept his attention trained on Dune his older brother watching his every movement.

"Who is that and why does he hate Zerinn so much?" Gadget asked Kaito.

"Dune is our older brother. He resents Zerinn because he's the oldest he gets to become the next leader of the Jackal Squad," Kaito whispered to Gadget. "Zerinn will do anything to prove to our Father he would make a better leader then Dune ever would."

I'll fight you for it."

"You won't be able to beat me in combat weakling."

With a sudden burst of speed, Zerinn felt the adrenaline building up in his body, and the word weakling allowed him to scream in anger as he made a beeline for Dune who crouched down charging forward to meet him. Dune grabbed his younger brother's tail stomping on it, prompting a yelp from Zerinn. Zerinn growled at himself for showing any form of weakness kicked out at Dune's shin landing a successful hit.

Kaito and Gadget cheered seeing the bigger jackal pup stagger. Zerinn was on his feet, his tail twitching from side to side trying to predict his brother's next move. Dune smirked, taking a step forward feinting left as Zerinn made another run at his brother only for Dune to bend down on one knee, his claws digging into the sand throwing it right into Zerinn's eyes.

Zerinn let out a gasp of pain, dimly aware of a pair of strong hands grabbing him around the shoulders being forced against the hard ground his jaws nearly slammed shut from the impact nearly knocking his teeth lose his hands frantically rubbing at the sand in his eyes when he felt Dune's foul breath in his ear.

"This is the end. Such a shame you have to die like this bro."

Zerinn blinded from the sand did the only thing any trapped jackal found themselves doing. Blindly he lashed out with his teeth; the soft flesh met his tongue, he heard Dune scream in pain as he dragged his teeth through his brother's left ear the metallic tang of blood rushed into his mouth.

Dune's screams of pain rang through the air as Kaito raced forward towards his fighting siblings. Gadget stared horrified at the scene; he was witnessing. Dune scrambled back his left ear sporting several deep gashes in it as Zerinn released his grip on his brother's ear. He sat down, his mouth open, gasping in pain.

Zerinn got the last of the sand out of his eyes. The jackal froze seeing the damage he'd inflicted on Dune's left ear the two of them were panting the silence fell on the area as no one said a word.

"Zerinn are you okay? Dune's ear, he..." Gadget trailed off seeing the blood continuing to trickle down Dune's ear the look of horror on his face.

"M-my ear! Zerinn he bit my ear!" Dune gasped out in shock; his followers began to form a defensive line between Dune and Zerinn their teeth were bared in aggression preventing anyone else from getting closer to Dune.

"What in Chaos is going on here?"

Everyone flinched seeing Cassius make his way standing at the entrance of the alleyway the crimson red short sword hanging in a holster around his waist. His eyes darted over to Dune his eyes widening at the sight of the mangled ear ignoring his son's sobs.

"Stop crying! It's weak." Cassius smacked Dune on the back of his head.

"Zerinn and I were fighting, and he ripped my ear!" Dune howled in anguish. Cassius took several steps forward in Zerinn's direction roughly grabbing his son's mouth, forcing his jaws open hard ignoring his whimpers seeing the blood stains on Zerinn's teeth he closed his son's mouth.

"Zerinn, you need to learn that your actions have consequences," Cassius growled. "Dune and Zerinn, both of you, are to come home at once. No ifs or buts about it."

"Wait! It's not Zerinn's fault."

Gadget protested only to have Kaito kick him in the shin hard silencing him. Both Dune and Zerinn have been led away with the latter looking at them both forlornly following his family members.

"We'll take that!"

Gadget turned around only to see several black and white blurs grab their food running off with it ignoring Kaito's protests. One of the jackals turned around to pull at the corner of his eyelid sticking his tongue out before hurrying to catch up with his cronies.

"That was ours."

Kaito let out a low dejected sigh. It was common for something like this to occur. It was a standard rule in Saharais. When two individuals fought over food, the stronger one was allowed to take the bundle of food.

"We'll have to find some more food," Kaito sighed wearily. "Come on Gadget."

The two of them spent the rest of the morning and afternoon searching through the silver trash cans looking for any scraps of edible food, but much to their disappointment all of the trash cans had been raided leaving both pups to go hungry for the rest of the day.

Several hours passed it was late evening by the time Gadget, and Kaito arrived back to their tent tired and hungry. And there was still no sign of Zerinn. Gadget and Kaito took turns keeping an ear out for Zerinn having gone hungry. On occasion, they would hear a faint howl of pain coming from the direction of Cassius' tent.

Gadget lay on his back on the makeshift sleeping bag. Kaito immediately went to sleep the second his head hit the pillow, his soft snores filled the air. The tent flap rustled announcing Zerinn's presence. Zerinn limped into their shared abode. His body had several bruises which were hard to see on his ebony fur. A black eye was beginning to form around his left eye. The Jackal looked around dazed, having suffered the punishment his father promised him for mutilating Dune's left ear.

"Dad ordered both of my siblings to attack me, and he tied me down, so I couldn't fight back," Zerinn said by way of explanation to Gadget."I also I had to say that I was weak over and over again. I'm not weak."

Gadget sat up in stunned silence, taking in his adoptive brother's words. Zerinn stumbled slightly before regaining his balance heading towards his sleeping bag aware of Kaito's gasp his hand over his mouth.

"I can help you." Gadget said beginning to sit up. "We'll help you."

Gadget and Kaito hurried over to Zerinn both of them slinging their arms around Zerinn's shoulders helping him walk over to his sleeping bag aiding the older jackal child to settle onto his sleeping bag, the young jackal wrapped his tail across his lap, wincing at the movement.

"Well, I did something stupid," Zerinn said hoarsely, his voice beginning to crack. "I am weak and pathetic."

"You're not weak nor are you pathetic."

Gadget slowly reached out with his left hand rubbing small circles on Zerinn's back in a gesture of comfort. The jackal quietly reached out to him not saying anything burying his head into Gadget's shoulder merely crying in silence. Gadget was holding him close continuing to stroke his back a warm lump gently wrapped his arms around them both with Kaito letting out a low sigh.

Gadget embraced both of half brothers with h, the three of them leaned into each other for they comforted Zerinn late into the night. The wolf knew he would have to be careful since he couldn't shake the feeling things would become worse.

Author's note, First of all, I would like to give a big thank you to SpiderDom321, SharpDragonKlaw, Zerofullbuster and Turquoise Triangle for leaving a review. I genuinely appreciate your support as it motivates me to keep going with this story.

Well, this chapter was a fun one to write. Expanding on what the campsite where the Jackal Squad is living in was the most fun part since it may look like a paradise from the outside the harsh reality is that it's everyone for themselves. I headcanon that Zerinn/ Infinite didn't have the best of childhoods and believe me while there are some cute friendship moments in this fic things will get a little darker from here on out.

Also and I'm deeply sorry about this. This isn't set in stone yet, but I may be taking a trip, and this might be my only update for the week. I will be gone for a few days or possibly a week, but I promise you the second that my trip is over I will be able to have the next updates to The Illusionary Resistance and the Wolf and the Jackal as soon as I can.

A fun little fact about Jackals. A jackal will eat anything and are known to frequent rubbish dumps for food since they are disgusting.

Lastly, Thoughts/constructive criticism and reviews are welcomed and appreciated.