Ace's throat swelled with emotion as he headed away from the animal shelter. Somehow, he knew he'd never see Finn again.

Not in this life, anyway. His ears fell flat with despondence.

The husky-mix walked up the sidewalk a little ways before crossing a crossway. He'd cleverly learned how to use the street paths since living in Bronx's pack.

He then made his way carefully back towards Gypsy's body, which had gained some attention from the passerby's. One person among a pair of young females was several yards away, standing and talking into the box on her phone as she gazed at Gypsy's body with her companion.

Ace lowered his head and flattened his ears, jumping off the curb into a loping run before he halted next to the bruised and bloodied body. The dark red pool beneath it stained the concrete, seeping out from beneath her- and some was smeared several inches across the road.

Oh, no. Be strong, Ace. Be strong, he pleaded with himself, choking back the outraged sobs.

He dragged her body off of the road and into the grass, before lifting his head and looking around.

There was nowhere in sight that the male could find to bury her, at least nowhere respectful enough. He kept his eyes averted from her sightless gaze, tail lowered with pity.

She will never see with those eyes again.

Then, the young black-and-cream dog grabbed her scruff in his teeth again. Her body was already stiffening and losing its warmth. Not a hair twitched along Gypsy's body, in response to Ace's movements.

My beautiful she-dog. My one true mate, that I never got to have. He sighed through jaws that were sunk into scruff.

White and flitting as a dove. Gentle as grace. Fiery as a thousand suns, and yet... You have the love of a million angels in your heart.

I'll bury you beside the lake, no matter how long it takes. No matter what pain it causes.

And so, Ace did just that. He dragged Gypsy over rock, road, grass and hill. He crossed lawns and parking lots, dodged parked cars and slunk around fences. All the while at the pace of an old, broken dog.

Gypsy was not old, but she was broken. From the corner of his eye, he saw her limbs twist to unimaginable angles against the earth. One was attached by skin and sinew, but nothing else.

He felt his stomach grow grotesque and hot with anger. A simmering boil of blame hissed in the male's dark brown eyes. A line of fur lifted along his spine, flared and spiky.

I have to kill Bronx, don't I? Now that North and Gypsy are dead, he'll search harder than ever for a she-dog to build his pack with. Ghost had told Ace everything. And now, Ace didn't know what else he could do.

But... Killing another dog was difficult. And one of Bronx's size... How would he even manage that?

I'll just injure him, and chase him away. That seemed at least half-good enough. I have to get revenge. I won't let him kill another dog's pups, and lead them down the same path.

Ace thought about how he would do it as he dragged Gypsy from the forest tree-line. However, he had to halt before he reached the sand. Digging in dry sand was nearly impossible, since it was loose enough to fall back into all his dig-holes.

I'll tell him what he's done, but I won't let him speak after that. Maybe, for once... Something will go right for us.

After all, Bronx had ruined everything. Ace should've been able to run away with Gypsy and Finn, becoming a family of their own.

When we discussed it that night. We should have just acted on it.... And now it's too late.

What seemed like a reckless fling of a mild solution could've saved Gypsy's life. Shame began crawling up and down his pelt, like parasites in his fur.

Ace dug frantically, even with his muscles screaming at him to stop. His white paws became stained black and clotted with dirt. The area of his back between his shoulders burned with resolve to stop. And yet, Ace wouldn't stop. He tried to drive out the image of Gypsy's dead face behind him.

I'll make sure he pays for this, Gypsy. I swear. Tears filled the dog's eyes, splattering onto his furry chest as he grabbed her body, once again without looking. Keeping his eyes towards the skies, as the rain began to fall. Low, saturated clouds were gathered and clutched together in fistfuls above the earth.

The thin-legged husky had a hard time dragging Gypsy into the hole, because his body was so spent and tired. He'd followed Gypsy and North all the way to the shelter road, then watched them both get hit from afar. Ghost had initially tried to calm him down, and explain... But yet- how could he get it?

I know she saved someone. Water-droplets hit his forehead and slid down his cheek-fur.

But the point is, I'll never see her again. Is it wrong to be that selfish? That I'd rather she just... Stayed on that curb. Stayed with me, no matter the cost of someone else's life, Ace thought bitterly.

He stepped back, and took a long moment to think, as rainwater began filling the hole.

Then, with a push, the body fell into the grave with a few settling thuds. It once again landed at an odd angle. Ace shuddered, teeth clenched and shoulders hunched against the melancholy.

~

For the next rainy night, he rested. Ace awoke when the sun was at its highest; although today, a blast of cold wind tromped the forest. It swirled through his fur, deliciously cold as the leaves crunched beneath his paws.

The young husky left his makeshift den and headed straight for Bronx's. However, Bronx wasn't there- which, was partly expected.

He tracked the brown-and-white guardian dog down to the lake, and was surprised when it suddenly veered off to the side of it.

He's going around it. To the other side of it... Is he looking for Gypsy and North?

Ace soon found out, spotting the male on the edge of the sand as he trekked through the smacking wind with his head down. Bronx's figure was outlined with the yellow morning light.

He looks tired, The husky observed the male's hunched shoulders and drooping, dirty tail. Has he been searching for them since they both ran off?

The clouds briefly covered the sun, casting shade across the tall grasses of the dipped land while Ace flanked the lake. He kept off the sand and slunk through some tall grass among the foliage beyond, knowing the black parts of his pelt would contrast too greatly against it.

After an hour or so of pursuit, Ace watched Bronx suddenly veer off again; heading towards some houses as if he were stopping to look for food at some of them.

Oh, no. I'm not waiting, Ace thought maliciously. His lip curled as he pictured his teeth sinking into Bronx's throat. This is the perfect chance to drive him far from the camp, and the lake. While he's still on the opposite side of it!

Without hesitating, Ace jumped out from the the grass he was crouching in. He was still a ways away from Bronx, and had to flit over the sand on rabbit-fast paws to catch up and startle him.

I'll avenge the lover I never got a chance with, and her dead pups.

His icy-blue pupils shrunk as they locked onto the back of Bronx's head.

____________
Ace