The Rottweiler siblings stepped to the side of their companion, sniffing at him gently but noting that he was in a bad mood. They'd watched Gunjin go, but they had not heard what was said and could understand the mood. But they had heard of John's death and Hougen's defeat, and they knew how it affected Scanlon.
"I'm sure he died a warrior, Scanlon." Kensell growled deeply, he turned his head to question his sister when Scanlon did not reply, afraid he might have said something wrong. But Tibelda gave a slow sighing snort of slight disinterest and yet uncertainty. Yet Kensell decided he might need to say more, some more meaningful to the younger German Shepherd. "You'll be a great warrior too you know, you'll end up in a position of honour here after doing some great deed against our enemies. It won 't be long now till you're pulled into a good rank."
"Thanks." Scanlon muttered and turned his head to his friends to reveal a cheeky grin. He then got a comforting lick on the cheek from Tibelda and she sat down close to him with Kensell following to sit on the opposite side. They looked at their slightly smaller, but bolder companion. Since they had been young the trio had stuck together when the bigger pups and older animals had ridiculed Scanlon because he was not like his siblings. But there was something spawning in the young shepherd's mind that he had to let out. Tibelda noticed this change in manner and quickly she questioned him.
"What's on your mind? Have you got a plan of action?" Tibelda queried with her nose twitching slightly with interest. As much as she was quite smart and sensible, nothing Scanlon had ever led them into had been safe and she enjoyed the adventure. If Scanlon was planning a game for them all to join in with, then Tibelda was going to do anything she could to be a helpful part within it. Scanlon turned to her and winked one eye, Kensell gave a gentle snort but his face was scrunched up in slight worry.
"I'm going to see our Boss and question him. I want a mission or a task at least, something to prove how keen I am to be a good pack member! Maybe then I might get a little respect, and we might all be fully accepted." Scanlon growled and then he lunged off the mound and hurried straight toward the boss's area on the opposite side of the clearing. With a shrug of their shoulders, shake of their heads, and a snort or two of "oh well", the two black and tan dogs bolted down after him, steady and fast.
Scanlon was quick with his excitement, but perhaps a little too quick. He had not considered nor remembered the rules around the boss's den, let alone the shifts in guard. As he neared the top of the ditch where the leader's sleeping quarters was located, he had to leap neatly to the side as another dog's head leapt at him. Giant jaws snapped on thin air as Scanlon steered over and cleared both ditch and the pit bull within. He paused on the other side, gasping from nervous panic at the sudden attack. The big red and white animal made no attempt to go after him, but merely growled ferociously out of the hole at him.
"What are you doing here pup? Only the ranked animals are permitted here. What do you want?" The beast growled. This animal was Tsumi, he was massive and terribly agile for a heavily built Pit Bull Terrier, he was not a nice animal either. Often he was put on guard duty because he was so mean and cruel. No animal was permitted near his charge. But for all his strength, he was not clever at all. At first Scanlon did not know what to reply, but swiftly his two companions were there and they gave him enough courage to question.
"I wanted to talk to the boss, I've got an important question for him. Can I please speak to him Tsumi, sir." Scanlon whined pathetically like a puppy. Another thing about Pit bulls in general was their self-esteem, it was a terrier thing really, if they felt they were being praised they could be a little selfish or over-zealous about it. Right now the big beast was puffing out his white chest and snorting gently he bobbed his head but raised a paw. They would have to wait for the boss's answer. Of course, Tsumi paraded into the hole that separated out into a wider chamber, all a former tunnel for some wild animal that was long ago extinct. Within there were the voices of two other commanding guards, a poodle named Nezumi and a greyhound known as Tōi. They were both quite fast animals but they were not as dumb as Tsumi was. Eventually there was the sound of a deeper voice and then Tsumi emerged to look at the three dogs with a proud look upon his muzzle. As he spoke he kept his head to the sky.
"The boss will see you and your two companions, but you must remember the rules and always address him as 'My Lord'." The big animal growled and then he stepped aside for the three bigger youngsters to hop down below to go see the boss.
Inside there was darkness but little else. The dogs would not be in there two long because already they could see that it got quite narrow and suffocating toward where the boss was. This was only because Akuma liked to make everyone around d him choke and cringe with fear of suffocation. This stopped long arguments and fights within his presence as well as foolish words from unwelcome, and yet welcomed visitors. Right now the three youngsters did not know if they were safe around him. Especially not when they were informed to sit by the white and black hound and the black poodle. They were not allowed to close to the hanging dewlap and sagging jaw of powerful teeth, but they did not need to be to hear his words.
"Ah, Scanlon, Tibelda, and Kensell is it?" The big mastiff questioned, obediently the three younger animals bobbed their heads after gulping a bit with fear. They looked to the commanders but nothing was said. Then the big dog quested, "What brings you to me so late in the day?"
"I wanted to know if I could have a task from you, my lord." Scanlon gulped nervously. At first he had not realised that the words had been his own, quickly he lowered his head shamefully but the big dog growled softly. It was almost as if he was laughing and the eyes turned to the two guards that grinned cheekily. They'd been expecting him to come to them.
"We've been waiting for you to say that young pup! But it's amazing how we had a feeling it would be tonight of all times." The big dog seemed to chuckle as he snorted each word. "Funnily enough I think I've got the perfect job for you, after all there are so few good dogs around I don't think I could trust this task to any of my 'bullying' commanders." Akuma growled his laughter and Scanlon's face lit up. He could not help but smile with delight, he was finally going to do something useful for the pack. But his two companions were slightly unnerved, they did not believe in coincidence, especially not in this pack and their hearts were beating fast. Something was up, with John dead was Akuma now going to get rid of his only faithful-to-legend son? But the great lug continued. After he'd spoken, Kensell was compelled to reply with questioning.
"With the whole Hougen event out of the way, I need a dog to go as an ambassador to the Ohu pack and gain them as allies, or at least to pledge our allegiance to them. It will be a hard task through hard areas of the Alps where Hougen's rebels are trying to set up residence. Most are loyal to the Ohu Leader, but there are some that are not inclined to cut you any slack. This job will only succeed if you are willing to gather bitches of fine stock on your journey to join them as a gift." Akuma growled softly, he settled back after speaking to look at the excited expression on the youngster's face. But it was then that Kensell had to interrupt.
"I thought we were enemies with them..." Kensell questioned and he got a swift cuff from the Poodle that growled at him angrily. "Sorry, I thought we were still displeased with them, my lord." With this added Kensell bowed humbly but with great irritation and annoyance at how he was being treated by these dogs. But the master did not seem angry at all and he gave a gentle snort.
"True, at one point we were, but I've decided to put that behind us. They did us a great favour in defeating the Great Dane brothers, its only fair that we accept their superiority and that we also extend a paw of friendship. With such good ties and allies, we will always have help when needed. But I want you to try your best to get in the Leader's good paws, so that they at least have some idea as to how courageous our pack really is." Akuma growled softly. At this Scanlon 's tail began to wag with joy. He was being complimented by the master and given a grand diplomatic mission, he even had a chance to find a few worthy females to give the Ohu pack! There could be no grander position. But then he pondered about it, he could get killed quite easily if he did not watch his tongue and step, how was he to get the bitches and expect to survive?
"I'll just choose the dogs most suited to accompany you, Scanlon. It's only right that you be around tough dogs and that you also have smart and strong animals. Its also a good idea if there ones that will work with you and under you." Akuma grinned and the bottom jaw of ragged and nasty teeth were just visible. Scanlon could not stop his tail from wagging with excitement, but both the black and tan siblings were a little more nervous. They did not portray it in their stance but there was real fear growing within their hearts. Why was Akuma being so eager to choose Scanlon's team and give him such an odd task? But before they would left Akuma tell of who would work with their companion, Tibelda had to ask a question.
"If I may so boldly ask, my lord..." Tibelda quested timidly but softly. Akuma turned to her and bobbed his head, pleased to hear something from the seemingly quiet bitch. Tibelda bobbed her head in thanks and then spoke again. "Why would you appease them with bitches? Surely that will only make them think badly of us?"
"Ah, my dear little one." The poodle spoke instead of his master, he was given the permission of course with a bob from the master, but both Scanlon and Kensell were eager to hear the answer. "It's easy enough to say that, but with so many males in that area and almost no bitches, it will give them the opportunity to have the families that they care about so greatly. Plus if you, for example, went, well you might find an Ohu warrior that you find yourself quite eagerly to serve under. There are no shortages of males. But what I heard was that there were only around seven or eight females in that whole region that stay there permanently." Nezumi growled almost suspiciously. But his inclusion of Tibelda in that instance made both Rottweilers growl in agitation, how much ruder or expectant could their pack masters be?
"Excellent to include that," Akuma growled almost playfully as he itched and ear and prepared to conclude the meeting. "You two will be joining Scanlon along with his sister, Akili, Kin, Hiroshi, Tamoshii, and captain Nezumi here. He'll make sure you all get there perfectly well. Now, go off and rest, you leave when you're ready and in secret. We don't want your brother acting cocky. I'll send Tōi along to fetch your friends and then Nezumi will wake you when he thinks it is best to go. Off you go now." With that, the three youngsters bolted off, Scanlon's tail wagging furiously and the sounds of his howls of excitement filling the air around him.
When the greyhound had also gone to go and tell the other recruits, it was only Akuma and the poodle left. But there was something very threatening about them suddenly. The great dog turned to the poodle and continued his words.
"With them distracting Ohu we can at least take over some of Hougen's old ground. But they need to be wandering in circles as much as possible. We need them to gather a lot of eager bitches to the ranks. They're to stay around Ohu till autumn as well, that will give our ranks time to swell. Already I've sent Kanchō and Kōgeki to go gather dogs, but Hougen cleared out most of the bitches around here when he scared them off. Not only that but his old commanders will also have settled down to have families." The poodle nodded and Akuma bobbed his head slowly as he took in a deep breath . He then remembered the other swift errand he needed his poodle companion to run for him, to find that Jack Russell. "Oh, and while you're at it find our little spy, Neko. I've got a very, very important job for him to do, and you'll need to be around when I talk to him. If all goes to plan then we'll be sitting happily in a land filled with bitches."