Chapter One: The Legacy Continues
The ruffian, Dodger leapt across the hood of a taxi, the small mexican dog following close on his heels. The grey Great Dane lumbered through a garbage truck that drove close by, while the drama stricken Francis bounded onto a red Volkswagen. The guys were working alone, grabbing all they could get to take home to Fagin and their female companion at home. A number of months ago, Rita had be diagnosed pregnant, and Dodger forbade her from working until the puppies were born. Being a city dog, the father was unknown, but deep in his heart, Dodger wanted to protect his potential offspring.
The leader got a dark Corvette in his sights, and turned to his co-workers, "Tito," he began, leaning his face down to the the little dog's level, "Bound over to Francis and get him to set up a twelve o'clock Tchaikovsky at two lights," he said, pushing the "Taco Bell" dog off the taxi, and onto a stationary blue minivan.
Tito turned, "Hey man!" he yelled above the horn honking a few blocks away, "Swan Lake or Nutcracker?" the Chihuahua asked, whipping his face around to face the Dodge.
The mutt faced the tiny dog, "Sleeping Beauty," he said with a wink before leaping onto a Coca-Cola truck.
Tito inhaled and smiled evilly, dashing across the street quickly and onto the bumper of the red Volkswagen that Franics rode upon. He squeaked across the trunk and soon stood beside the Bull Dog, "Yo, Franky," the tiny dog interjected.
The drama dog's eye narrowed, and he growled down upon the pipsqueak pup, "For the last time, it is FRANCIS!" he hollered.
"Yeah, yeah, whateve, man. Hey, Dodger needs atwelve o'clock Sleeping Beauty at two lights," the Chihuahua concluded.
Francis sighed deeply, "How did my talent sink to such delinquent levels?" he said, jumping into the box of an oncoming pick-up truck, which lucky for him, was heading in the right direction.
Einstein's garbage truck soon stopped beside the taxi that Dodger rode on top of, and Dodger joined his dimwitted friend. The black corvette hit the red light, and the pick-up stopped beside it. Francis peered out of the box, and prepared for his entrance. Dodger gave the word, and the Bull Dog fell into the back seat of the Corvette. The driver screamed, and Tito made his move, following the drama queen's example, and plummeting into the front seat, slyly slipping a leather purse handle into his tiny mouth. The Chihuahua bounced out of the vehicle, and Francis followed suit, dashing behind the garbage truck and out of sight.
Dodger whistled from a nearby alley, and all the theives returned to his side, "Okay, guys what have we got to work with?" the mutt asked, scratching the back of his neck with his hind foot.
Tito and Francis dragged in the purse, and Einstein dropped a large fur coat, mint condition. Dodger eyed the coat, and Tito and Francis began rummaging through the purse. Francis found a container with red powder, "Hmm, Moulin Rouge Eyeshadow. Why don't you give it to your fair damsel?" the Bull Dog teased.
The tiny dog looked up in disgust, "No way, man. I can't give her this garbage," he said in his Spanish accent, pushing away the make-up, "besides. Red isn't her color. She's more a blue's girl, you know?" he added with a smile. Francis huffed in disagreement.
Einstein pulled out a shiny watch, and Dodger began flipping through the wallet, "Fellas, I think we hit the jackpot," he said with a smile, folding up the wallet, and tossing it back into the purse. The Great Dane slipped the purse onto his shoulder, and Francis and Tito dragged the coat closer to a wall, "You guys wait here. I'll go find Fagin," Dodger added, quickly dashing into the streets and back to the docks. Within moments, the two returned with Fagin's howling contraptions. The dgos loaded in their treasures, and piled into the back.
Fagin was laughed boistrously, and turned to Dodger, who sat comfortably behind him, "You guys are in for a treat tonight," he announced, catching a glimpse of the large wallet, "Ha. Good thing you guys struck it rich. Because tonight we are feeding ten!" he shouted, releasing the wheel, and causing the cycle to lose control, but was quickly regained once Fagin returned to his senses.
The dogs smiled at each other. The group usually consisted of six. The notification of four extra guests meant either the gang was expecting company, or Rita had her puppies. The canines quickly decerned the second idea to be true. The sun had begun to set as the four fidos walked into the room. Hidden in a dark corner, the Afghan hound lay in a close ball, surrounding four balls of fir. Dodger walked over, a broad smile on his face. He was positive they were his, and one look at the puppies deemed it to be true. The pups were near exact reflections of the famous scoundrel. Rita smiled, and lifted her face to see her companions surrounding her, "I've already named them," she said calmly. A white ball emerged out from under her paw. Though his eyes were shut, faint black markings were visible across the pup's nose, and around his eyes, "He's the eldest. Bandit," she introduced. Einstein's nose drew close, and Bandit began using what little senses he had to locate the new object. The curious pup found it, and after a brief, but wet encounter, he swiftly scurried back to the sanctity of his mother's chest. Francis drew nearer, and a pair of pups popped out from under Rita's stomach. The first, who was slightly bigger, was white with random brown patches, and prominent brown spot over his left eye. The second, slighly smaller, was brown with random white patches in similar spots to that of his twin brother, and a prominent white splotch covering his right eye. Rita licked the two gently, "Pick," she said, motioning towards the pup with the brown patch over his left eye, "and Pocket," she added, gently nudging the pup with the white patch over his right eye. Finally, as Dodger circled Rita, the last pup revealed itself. She was white, with brown paws and ears, simlilar to that of its sire, and a noticeable brown patch on her back. The pup sat behind its mother, playing with the bushy tail that lay twitching on the ground, "And last but certainly not least," Rita began, turning toward Dodger, "Your daughter, Evade," she said with a toothless grin. Dodger smiled, and nudged his daugher gently with his nose. Evade let out a tiny whine, which was soon quieted as the pup heard the familiarity of her mother's voice. Rita grabbed each pup, and drew them nearer to her, huddling them together more for comfort than for security.
Tito lifted an eye to Dodger, who still stood starry-eyed, gazing at his new family, "Hey man. When did you two get so close?" he said, naggingly prodding at the larger dog's shoulder.
Dodger sighed, and turned to Fagin, who had already bought a pizza on the way home, and was beginning to divide it. The man placed a piece in front of Rita, and she graciously nibbled upon it. Einstein was quick to finish, and Francis almost turned his nsoe up at it, but thought it unwise to turn down good food. Tito was wallowing in the cheesy goodness, and Dodger took his piece in his mouth, and took a place by Rita. The ruffian munched quietly, and occasionally glanced up at the pups that were now sleeping close to him, "Happy Birthday, kids," he said to his offspring, glad that his legact would be carried on by his future generation.