25 DAYS LATER

XXX

The black scraps of dust on small, twig like legs were alive.

He squealed with joy and surprise as they ran, creeping into cracks in the rocks. Were they gone? Or just hidden? He pawed at the sharp grey rocks, trying to get them to widen. Nothing happened. Annoyed and curious (mostly curious) he stuck his slick little wet nose into the crack. He sniffed, feeling some rock dust get inside his nose. But there was no more walking dust, only the smell of his mom, dad, and siblings splattered across the walls. He was used to this by now. Every time he rolled or jumped, his smell was also smeared around the den. His nose began to itch furiously with rock dust, making him suck in several short breathes.

"Ah… ah… achoo!"

A tiny, high pitched sneeze echoed around the den. The sneeze left the same black puppy sitting the ground, with a very frank look his face. Sniffing and snorting a few more times, he decided that was enough dust ball chasing today. He could always try it later, and maybe outside. Where there was less dust.

"Kuro! Come here!"

His mother's sharp voice came from outside the den. Kuro swiftly scrambled up from his seat, little claws scrabbling as they failed to find any friction on the smooth rock floor. Tumbling over again, Kuro pulled himself up, tiny ears flopping.

"Momma!" he yelped, running out of the den and into the bright sun. Momma did not like to be left waiting. If he didn't come, then she would come pick him up by his scruff and carry him out, scolding all the way. Being picked up didn't hurt, but then Mina and Wing made fun of him. And it wouldn't do for them to mock him over chasing dust balls with legs.

XXX

"Where is that pup?" Mayu clicked her teeth impatiently. She, Bat, and the other two puppies were sitting around in a sun dappled clearing underneath a grove of trees. Bat was relaxing, laying out on his side and sunning. However, he didn't put his head on the ground, as it required a lot of vigilance to watch the active bundles of fur. Near him, Wing and Mina tussled in a play fight. They bit at each other with tiny sharp teeth, growling shrill, whiny growls. Every now and then, they'd quit biting at each other and pounce on nearby leaves, tossing them about. After the fearsome leaf enemies had been destroyed, the two would turn their attention back to either other and begin biting once more.

Kuro had been missing for several minutes, and Mayu had decided he'd spent too much time away from her sight and Bat's ears. Despite being the more timid one of his siblings, you could never tell what mischief pups would get into when left to their own curious devices. Wing, for instance, had to be watched at all times or he'd go off and get himself lost. Exploring was good for the puppies– it showed that they were growing up– but there were too many coyotes and foxes in the area for Mayu's taste. Bat had caught wind of their stinking scents many a time when he'd been hunting; so had Mayu, but they hadn't bothered them. Vulnerable puppies, on the other hand…

"He's around the den. I can hear him coming now," Bat said to Mayu, trying to lift his ears out of Wing's reach.

"He had better come," Mayu remarked. "Kuro may be the best behaved out of this bunch, but he's still a trouble maker in his own right."

"All pups are," Bat replied. Wing had grabbed one of his ears, and Mina had grabbed the other. They were growling and snarling up a storm, and Bat raising his head simply made them bite down harder. Both of them looked like persistent little fleas, their miniature tails and paws barely brushing the ground. Bat gave them a small warning growl when they began to bite harder.

"Let go of your father's ears," Mayu snapped at them. Mina, hearing the command in her mother's voice, let loose and dropped to the ground. She shook her head once before beginning to attack a blade of dead grass, jumping about like a cat on a toy mouse. Wing, on the other hand, simply growled louder and bit in deeper. Mayu sighed, an un-amused look on her face. "He doesn't listen at all. You want me to come over and pull him off?"

"No, I've got it," Bat responded, growling slightly at Wing. He pulled his lips back a fraction, an action that plainly said, You, little pup, need to stop. Wing did nothing but stop his growling. He still kept his teeth set in Bat's ear. Just as Bat was about to give him a small nip on the belly to make him let loose, Kuro waddled out of the trees. Mayu turned to him.

"Come here, Kuro. Where've you been? The den? You should know to stick with your brother and sister. No, don't start to whine. Just come here so momma can pull a burr out of your ear. Hmm… a bit deep in there, isn't it? Never mind. I'll just give you a bath while you're here. Quit your squirming, you."

Bat finally had had enough of Wing hanging from his ear. He reached over and snapped at Wing's tender little underbelly, causing him to yelp and let loose. The snap hadn't hurt Wing; at least, not very much, but it was the dog equivalent of a small scolding. Puppies needed to learn where their boundaries were when they were very small, as the scolding snaps would get stronger with every week they aged.

Wing didn't spend much time sulking, however. He soon set his eyes on another target to antagonize– his brother. In a few energized bounces and prances, he'd come over to Mayu and began biting at his pinned down sibling. It was bad timing for both of them.

Mayu stopped thoroughly licking Kuro long enough to grab Wing by his scruff.

"You, little troublemaker. Come here. Since you have enough time to harass your brother, you have enough time for a bath."

Wing whimpered miserably. Mayu wasn't having any of it.

"I've heard that one before, you little terror. Now hold still. The more you struggle, the longer and worse the bath."

Wing hopefully looked towards Bat, trying to catch his father's attention.

"No," said Bat, as Mina pirouetted around his paws, playfully giving them a few bites and growls, "you do need a bath. You'd have gotten one sooner or later either way." Kuro fitfully squirmed in an attempt to wrest himself from his mother's iron grip.

Wing narrowed his small eyes. This was his father's revenge for something, he just knew it. He made a promise to give his dad a few bites on the tail after his bath was over. Kuro finally managed to struggle free, falling over his mother's leg face first. Mina gave a few joyful barks at her brother's face plant, tumbling and gamboling between Bat's outspread front legs. She paused to give her a father a few halfhearted snaps under the chin. He didn't seem to mind, just raising his head up. There was no scolding snarl from him. Wing growled, a high pitched tumble of pebbles in his throat. Playing favorites indeed! How did Mina get a few snaps in without being growled at? He didn't get the same treatment!

Wing's sulking fit was cut short when a sudden wet weight pressed against the back of his head. His little head was pulled forward and back by the movement, a tuft of his fur sticking up on the back of his head. Mayu licked him again, his beady little ears bulging out. "Hold still, darnit. This is just the beginning, Wing. Struggle later," she scolded.

Bat observed from a distance. "Dear, I may not be able to see, but don't you think you're licking him too hard?"

"Nonsense," Mayu scoffed. "He won't get a proper cleaning if I don't go easy on him, will he? By the way, I see you Kuro. Hiding behind your dad won't exclude you from the cleaning."

Kuro whimpered, crouching behind Bat's back further.

Mina simply smirked.

XXX

The bath had gone without much consequence. Wing and Kuro had gotten their baths, not that they much cared for it. Mina on the other hand was a perfect little lady, although her brothers knew she didn't like the pinning as well. She was just putting on a show for her parents. After that, the family returned to their home. Wing of course attempted to pay his father back via tail bites, although Bat was keen to his son's attempts. Wing pouted silently all the way home. He never got what he wanted! At least he thought so compared to his brother and sister. Those two always got special treatment. Mina was a daddy's girl, and Kuro was a momma's boy. A grumbling chorus of stomachs signified it was time to catch dinner. Bat knew it was his turn to catch something, while Mayu remained home with the children.

"Dad I wanna go!" Wing immediately whined.

Now out of all the puppy stomachs that growled, Wing's growled the largest.

"No Wing." Bat refused, "You stay with your mother."

Wing however wouldn't take no for an answer. "But I'm hungry noooooooooowwwwwww!" He whined even louder. Ever since he was born, Wing had a large appetite, so large it was unbelievable. It had simply started with his mother's milk. Wing would feed until his little tummy bloated, and now that he was weaned to meat, it had gotten worse.

"Why don't you let him go Bat?" Mayu suggested.

"What?" Bat said in surprise, yet he quickly caught on to his wife's tone. Both knew Wing would constantly whine till his appetite was stated. Mina and Kuro were already playing around till dinner arrived, and with Wing it would get even worse. This way it would be less of a headache for her. Bat was more than happy to give his wife a hand…or paw in this case.

Sighing, Bat finally relented. "Fine, come along son." Wing happily trotted over to his father, licking his chops in anticipation.

His pleased face was met with much displeasure as Mayu licked her son across the face, then her husband. "Both of you be careful."

Bat grinned and answered his mates lick.

"Come on let's go!" Wing pranced around impatiently. The little pup and his father soon left off into the woods, leaving Mayu to contend with the remaining litter. Suddenly she felt like a twig.

XXX

Bat stalked carefully through the foliage, or rather he would if not for the fact his on was talking up a storm. "Oh wow! I can't believe we're actually going hunting! Are we going to catch a rabbit Dad? No wait a hawk! No wait a bear!" Wing listed excitedly, and hungrily, all the animal choices of prey. Bat found it both amusing and annoying at the same time, amusing that his son had such enthusiasm towards hunting. That itself could be a good sign of being a good hunter, keeping his mind open as he prepared for the days he would fully be able to take down something large. Bat could foresee the pride of that day. He supposed every father would feel that way about their children, and anticipated it.

However annoying also factored in, what with Wing's incessant chattering, it would be a wonder if they would be able to catch anything. Bat could sense a lot of prey was about. The fluttering of wings and the rustle of the grass indicated they were being watched. At this rate, they wouldn't be able to catch anything.

"Wing!" Bat snapped, immediately Wing silenced himself. Rambunctious as he may have been, Wing knew when to stop. Or rather he knew when to stop when he was being yelled at and scolded at a repetitive basis.

"We need to stay quiet and keep low to the ground." Bat instructed softly to his eldest son.

The small pup nodded and followed his father's example, mimicking every step and every motion, only to trip over his feet. Bat chuckled softly to himself, helping his son up. They came to a bush, moving slowly into it, taking care not to make too much of a rustle. Luck would be on their side. One flock hadn't picked up on them, or believed the danger had passed.

"Perfect." Bat licked his chops.

Perfect indeed, for a flock of partridges stood unaware of the danger that hid.

Bat prepared himself mentally and physically, going over in his mind the steps that Mayu had taught him long ago. "Okay Wing, just watch me carefully." Bat instructed to his son. Yet no response came. "Wing?" Wing was too entranced by the birds before him to listen to his father. Those tasty succulent birds, like his mother, had a taste for partridges. Well any meat or food in general. A mixture of emotions welled up inside him. Partially it was hunger, while another half was a simple desire to show his father he could do this.

"Watch this Dad!" Wing proclaimed. The small pup darted off like a rocket towards the partridges.

"Wing wait!" Bat called, but it was too late.

The partridges reacted quickly; well save for one, a rather fat one who was preoccupied with the insects within the ground. It didn't bother fleeing at the incoming puppy, or didn't care. That is until Wing clamped down on its tail feathers. The partridge squawked in fury as it attempted to shake off the pup the best way it knew how, by flying. With the added weight, it faltered a bit as Wing hung on to his dear life. The partridge tried to maintain itself, only reaching certain heights as it tried to shake off its passenger. The bird only managed to reach certain height, and then faltered before it drifted behind a set of bushes. A great crash and clatter could be heard, along with a tumble and Wing's yells.

"Wing!" Bat called after.

There was a cliff, he could feel that. The path had suddenly changed, forming into a steep slope. For an adult dog such as Bat, it was no problem. He just had to descend and make sure he kept his footing. For Wing however, it was rather difficult. The partridge had managed to get away, albeit with some injuries. Wing himself was okay, yet his fur was covered in dust, which of course would mean another bath much to his dislike. Still it hurt going down that hill.

"Ow." Wing accentuated, shaking himself off. He looked up to see his father. Grinning sheepishly, he said, "Guess I need practice huh Dad?"

Wing's grin vanished as he noticed his father's angry expression.

"What were you thinking?" Bat bellowed at his son. Wing let out a whimper as his father continued to scold him. "You could have been killed! Don't you dare do anything that reckless again! Next time you stay put! You got that young man?"

Bat's breathing became heavy as his disappointment in his son increased. Then he sensed a shifting of paws, tiny paws that belonged to Wing. Wing backed away a bit from his father.

"I'm sorry Dad." He apologized in a tiny whimper. All he had wanted was to make his father proud, and he had done jut the opposite of that. It crushed his spirit to be honest. Bat raised up a paw, Wing braced himself as he expected a smack or something. Yet what came was a simple pat. Opening his eyes, Wing saw noticed his father's expression had changed. No longer was it angry, but rather soft.

"Don't scare me like that again." Bat said.

Scared? His father? Wing was taken aback by that. His father was the most fearless dog he had known, well his mother was pretty brave (and cranky), but Wing looked up to his father the most. Despite the time he would act like a little gnat, there was a true bond between father and son.

"Come on, let's go get dinner." Bat ushered his son along, who this time kept quiet and listened to his father's every word.

Bat was still disappointed, but not at his son. He was disappointed at himself for exploding at his child like that, even if it was out of concern.

XXX

43 DAYS LATER

XXX

Delicious little things they were, oh yes, hiding in the cave.

She trotted a little closer, smelling that delicate, growing smell. The other smells were sour and grown up– things that could hurt, or break, or bite. But the other smells, now, they were nice and harmless. She licked her lips, lowering her head to the ground. At most, she could only smell the precious things from the nearby hill, doomed to be kept away from them. It was always a dance of snapping jaws and leaping feet whenever the others– the adults– saw her. She would leap through leaves and run, pulling her bushy tail along with her. They didn't like her, oh no they did not. They didn't trust her marble eyes and feathery steps, light little trots that kept her prey from hearing her.

Nor did they like her black tipped ears, paper thin and sensible little things that they were. Or her needle teeth, which could shear open mice and birds quite nicely. They chased her, or bayed at her, and drove her away from their precious things. Three of them, as far as she could see. Three little bundles who had not seen her clever face disappearing into bushes, smelled her rank and sharp smell and shuffled their pups closer. Even the coyotes– who were much like her– tended their pups well when her brown eyes peeped from the bushes.

She slunk down part of the hill, watching.

One of the pups had come out of the den. He was alone. A little black scrap, tumbling around in the grass. She licked her lips. Precious, so precious. He jumped away from the den, rolling about. He was getting further and further away from the den. Her foot slipped down the incline, and she swiftly backed up. He couldn't be hers until he ran away from the safe place, away from the crushing and shaking jaws of his parents. She waited on the ridge till the puppy was called back with a few faint barks. Ears perking up, the small thing disappeared, running back into the den. It was gone now, and the parents were home. She flicked her ears back. Patience, patience, that was all she needed. Soon she would corner the little things and have them, no angry parents along with them. She just needed time, that was all.

Pulling back, she silently slipped into the woods, disappearing.

XXX

Wing snored, pudgy little belly rising and falling with his steady breathing. He lay sprawled out, belly up, looking like a dead goldfish in a stagnant pond. Next to him, Mina's lay belly down, nose poked into his ribs. Her little back legs were stuck out at awkward angles, one little foot standing cocked, toes pressed into the ground. She made a few snuffling sounds before adjusting her head, moving her front legs under it. A few inches away from her, Kuro remained completely still in his curled up form, a black cushion on the floor. A few rays of sun hit their backs, warming the small spots that touched.

Bat shifted in his position around the back of the den. He got up from his stretched out pose, sniffing the air. Mayu sat by the entrance of the den, tangled white ears dangling and catching most of the sun that was trying to fall on the pups. Though the pose appeared relaxed, she was watching the outside with sharp senses. Puppies did not come without their fair share of enemies. They were quite fragile, after all, though not near as much as human children or bird chicks. So far, however, Mayu had sensed no danger outside the den or around it. The family had been lucky enough to avoid predators sneaking into the home, though they'd had their fair share of close calls outside. Particularly with wandering coyotes or temperamental snakes, who were quite testy this time of year.

She breathed in the warm afternoon air. Bat walked up beside of her, careful not to step on any of the pups. He sat down on the other side of the den entrance. The fuzzy yellow light bent past him, speckling the cave. A cloud passing over the sun forced the usually bright element to shine down in little separate beams. Bat felt them slowly begin to heat his face. There was one on his check, and next to his eye. He didn't move. The habit to move his eyes out of the sun so that they would not be heated in their sockets was long past.

Mayu turned her head towards him. She said nothing, just watching. He tilted his head up, catching more sun in the face. "Did you see anything?"

He spoke quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping brood. Mayu looked back out at the sun dappled woods.

"No."

Bat didn't turn his head with her. Despite having several habits from when he had eyes, he no longer looked towards scenery when others did. It was a useless motion, one that only betrayed awkwardness in your blindness.

"They're getting far more active," Mayu added, glancing back into the cave. "Soon they'll be going out into the forest on their own. Mostly."

Bat drew part of his ears back, moving them. A tiny gnat had began to irritate them, buzzing away inside. His movement brushed it away.

"I don't think they should be let loose here," Bat said.

Mayu sighed, blowing out air loudly. "Bat, do you want to have this conversation again?"

Bat edged closer. "Mayu, I really don't think this is the best place. You think you can kill any predator that comes near them, which you can. So can I. But soon enough, they'll be coming to the predators, not the other way around."

Mayu turned towards him. The flecked sun slid along her sleek white fur like yellow and orange shining oil.

"You want to go to Ohu."

It wasn't a question.

"Yes. I do." Bat held her in his scarred shut eyelids the particular way he always did. "Normally, I wouldn't want to go back there, even with pups needing protection. But there's too many humans in the surrounding territory here, and this section of the woods is too risky for ones their age. If they were just a month younger, I wouldn't be talking to you about this. But there's too many coyotes here; too many foxes and snakes. You remember Wing and the bear? We looked away for one minute, and he gorged himself on its rotting carcass, never mind that it would have killed him had it found him while he was alive. He had no fear. Even some adult dogs flinch away from eating bear, yet he didn't. They don't because something clicks in them that says it's disgusting; reeking flesh from an animal that can tear them limb from limb. Yet Wing still ate it– not out of bravery, but because he didn't know what fear of death or fear was!"

Bat paused for a minute when Mina stirred. Both Saluki and Lab looked back into the cave. Mina had shifted her position, now no longer touching Wing. Kuro's body had gotten slightly slacker; sprawled out across the floor instead of being in a tight ball.

Mayu looked directly at Bat.

"If doesn't know what fear is now, the road trip to Ohu will certainly teach him, and not in a gentler manner than a stray fox!" she snapped. Kuro stirred again. Mayu gave him another quick glance before lowering her voice and continuing. "I wouldn't mind going to Ohu. Hell, if they help bring up Wing, I'll do anything to get there. But the road isn't right for them now. Can you imagine them facing hunger– not minor hunger, but roadside-how-long-can-you-last hunger? They'll die. You know that as well as I do. None of them can trudge on in the way they need to. And other moving predators won't make the road any easier."

Bat swept his tail across the ground.

"I know. But we still need to move when we can. There are "moving predators," certainly, but they're not moving in as fast the ones here."

Mayu darkly cocked an ear towards outside. The speckled light on the leaves and bushes looked as if it was trying to hide something– a pointed nose, a bushy tail, some sharp eyes.

"You've seen it, haven't you?" she asked.

Bat turned his head to face outside, lifting his ears. He heard nothing. But just mentioning it seemed like a way to draw it in.

"Getting closer every day, is she?" he said coolly. Mayu also turned to look outside. There was nothing. No moving bushes, no shaking limbs or cracking twigs. Yet Mayu did not trust her ears and eyes entirely. The vixen was crafty, well learned in hiding any traces she left behind besides her light, dancing footsteps.

"I've tried killing her before," Mayu said, trying to focus on the outside. Was that a glimmer of red fur, a twist of a thin body? "But she always escapes. If I could crush her head and break her spine in my jaws, I would be happy. Coyotes are nothing compared to her– they're not near as… slippery."

Bat watched the outside with her, using his ears instead of eyes. "She goes along quite well with snakes. Both are slick and writhe their way through bushes and over the ground, waiting for pups. Mina was almost bitten before–"

"I know. I grabbed her before it could strike. It was sheer luck it didn't then, and sheer luck when it didn't while I crunched its spine." Mayu interrupted. She stopped looking for movement in the forest. The sun was getting brighter, the cloud slowly moving on and dissolving at the same time. Mayu took a deep breath.

"I know you want Ohu. It'll help everyone. Running through the turf and hunting zones to get to Ohu just isn't an option right now. We need to wait just a bit longer, and keep everyone out of trouble in that time."

Bat touched her shoulder with his nose.

"Easier said than done."

XXX

"Wake up!" Mina heard the voice in her dreams. Her little mind tried to push it out, assuming it to be all a part of her dream. The little pup continued to immerse herself in her own minds wandering.

"Wake up!" The little voice, one she was very familiar with. Nevertheless, she slept away. That is until she felt a sharp kick against her side. That jolted her awake. Mina blinked her eyes. The small orbs adjusted to the dimness of their den. Their nap had started midday, and now it was evening. A small change in their family's routine, but for some reason, Mina noticed her parents wanted her and her brothers inside. Speaking of her brothers, Kuro currently napped away, where as Wing….

"Wing!" Mina snapped, but still kept her voice low as she noticed her parents were still sleeping. Her father let out a large snore, a gust of his breath hitting her back. Her mother lay near the front of the cave, her face turned to the front.

"Why did you wake me up!" She yipped.

"Shhh!" Wing hissed back at her. As he turned around, Mina noticed her brothers pudgy stomach had shrunken down. Earlier in the day, Wing had stumbled across the carcass of a bear. Being Wing he had gorged himself till he couldn't move. In fact their parents had to drag him back to the den. Wing always did that, and always after some rest, he would always return to his normal shape. She had grown used to it, but her parents always seemed to find it odd that their son would consume such large amounts. But they would dismiss it.

Wing sported a playful motion, as if he were about to pounce, and he did, right atop Kuro.

Kuro stirred for a moment, "Mommy?" He tiredly asked as he searched around. However he only saw his brother and sister. "Huh? What's going on guys?" He asked with a yawn.

Wing smirked as he looked about, making sure his mom and dad were asleep. "You guys ever wonder what it's like at night?"

Mina and Kuro looked at each other uncertainly. "What are you talking about?" Mina snapped, still irritated that she was awoken at this hour.

Wing flashed a cocky looking smirk upon his face, "I'm sneaking outside, you guys coming along?"

Kuro yawned again as he considered the question, "But, Mommy and Daddy said were not s'posed to go out at night."

Kuro was always a good little boy. Mina was well behaved to a certain degree. "Is that what you got us up for?" She hotly asked.

Wing's expression told her enough.

"Well Kuro and I aren't going! And you shouldn't either!" Mina continued, denying against the action her brother was taking.

Wing didn't seem to care, merely shrugging and turning to go his merry little way.

"If you don't stop I'm telling Mommy and Daddy." Mina warned.

Again, Wing seemed to shrug it off without a care, but he stopped at least. "Oh I know what' your problem, you're scared." He smirked again, "You and Kuro are a bunch of little cowards! You aren't brave like me. You guys can just stay home while I go explore." Before Wing trotted off, he turned his back towards Mina. "Bye babies!"

Kuro was too smart not to fall for his brother's taunts, while Mina on the other hand… The red that flashed upon her black furred face told Kuro enough what was going to happen.

"I'm not going to listen to him. I'm not going to listen to him." Mina chanted to herself. She wouldn't let Wing get to her. But the way he spoke, the way he looked, it just irked her to no end.

Kuro looked at his sister uncertainly. He didn't know what her motives were. "Mina?" He asked, hoping his elder sibling would provide a good example of listening to their parents.

XXX

Kuro let out a weary sigh. Mina had given in to Wing, and now here they were, outside in the dark forest. Wing did have his annoying ways of convincing the two of them to do whatever he wanted. Mostly it was just to shut up his teasing, but honestly, Kuro wanted to appear brave. His brother and sister were far braver than him. Sometimes it got to him, but he always had his parents to protect him, particularly his mother.

Mina cursed herself for letting Wing talk her into this. The trees and branches around them cast eerie shadows all about. She swallowed not willing to make herself appear weak. Weakness for a female was not allowed, at least in her mother's words. Thinking on that, Mina recalled how her mother seemed to be particularly scolding towards her, mostly if this pertained to her crying or being, well, weak. She didn't understand it to be honest. She simply wanted to be a puppy, not some warrior like her father. Maybe that's why she clung to her father so much, whenever she was in trouble Daddy would swoop in and save her, well Mommy as well, but she felt especially safe with her father. A chill ran up her spine. Something was here, but she couldn't see it. She occasionally got those feelings. Sometimes she could feel and sense things, but couldn't see them with her eyes. Something danced across her senses before it disappeared entirely. It was as odd as Wing's own monstrous appetite.

Speaking of which, the aftereffects were being felt, or smelt in this case.

"PU!" Mina exclaimed, placing her paw to her nose. "Wing why did you have to eat that rotten bear? You're making a lot of stinkies!"

Wing's digestive tract had worked off the bear, but it had given him a bad case of gas. Ever since he had started, he had let it out in continuous and occasionally spurts. Seeing as he kept the lead, Mina and Kuro got a full whiff of the scent from behind. Not that they wanted to, they just couldn't avoid it. It simply motivated them to walk faster.

"Well don't smell it." Wing called back to his sister, before letting loose another one.

Mina and Kuro shuddered as the rotten air hit them. "Well you could at least have some curtsy for us!"

Mina of course meant to say courtesy, but she was too young to get it right, and it made it even cuter. That was why Wing didn't think those two were fit to be warriors like him. He was the eldest and therefore he had the most potential. At least in his eyes that is.

"Aw it aint as bad when Kuro got sprayed by that skunk." Wing reminded.

Kuor whimpered at that memory. One day he was out playing and sure enough by chance, he ran into a skunk. He had never seen one before, so his natural curiosity got the better of him. Needless to say he got the expected result. Luckily Mommy was there to give him a nice, cold bath in the river. Actually, scratch the "nice" part. That part was rather uncomfortable.

"Kuro smelt so bad I thought my nose was going to burn off!" Wing exclaimed.

"Well not as bad as you, you smell like something died." Mina held her head up upon that exclamation. Well Wing did eat something that had rotted for a few days, so it was understandable.

CAWWWW!

The sound made every puppy jump. Wing jumped, but he hid whatever emotions he may have held. "You know maybe you two should go back. This place is too scary for little children like you."

Mina narrowed her eyes, "You're a kid too, stupid."

"Yeah well I'm braver than any of you little pups. I aint afraid of anything!" Wing trotted with his head high. That is until a rustle of bushes made him jump and whimper back to his siblings.

"Brave huh?" Mina sardonically replied.

Wing's face turned bright red, "Shut up! You jumped too!"

The rustle in the bushes died only to spread to another one. It came and went, making all three of the puppies huddle together. The three of them kept close as they made certain to keep their eyes open for any sight of what was stalking them. Within the darkness, they caught a twin set of yellow lights, before they pounced.

The three of them screamed.

XXX

"Mayu!"

Mayu turned in her sleep.

"Mayu! Get up!"

A grumble escaped her as she felt the nudge in her mind. Just a dream, that's all.

"The pups! They're in danger!"

The voice, the familiar voice, that mention of puppies got her up. It was as if her mind had dropped a bucket of cold water on her. Her eyes darted around the den. There was Bat at the back yes, but where? No! They couldn't have! Her chest started to tighten, her breathing grew panicked. They were gone.

"Bat!" Mayu bolted to her mate, jostling and shaking him.

"Huh?" Bat grumbled, "What? Mayu?" The Labrador could sense his mate as he awoke.

"Bat! The children!" Mayu spoke with urgency.

That got Bat fully awake. The alertness in his mate's voice told him something had happened. "Mayu what happened?" He asked, trying to maintain his calmness in a possible bad situation.

Just then, they heard the screams. They were coming from outside the den. The parents looked at each other, before they darted outside and toward the source. Their children were in danger, and they hoped they would get there in time.