Characters so far that I drew; excluding North's puppies

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Tightly-packed clouds created an even darker atmosphere as Gypsy approached Ace. His light blue eyes flashed worridly in the night, a sheen of white light reflected in them by Ghost's impenetrable glow.

"Gypsy, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

She tucked her tail and turned her face away. Gentle Ace never raised his voice at her.

"Do you know how FRANTIC I was? That you got lost, or was starving or dead? And you LEFT me there alone!" His accusatory tone had Gypsy unable to look up at him.

"I know. I'm sorry- but you should've been worried that I had died there, not out here." She whispered the last part, still out of breath from running.

Exasperated, Ace jerked his paws and sat down as if to say; we're gonna be here for awhile. He glanced over at Ghost, who kindly just gave an awkward smile and stayed silent. The hilltop was growing darker, deep orange shadows fading to purple around them.

"Did you know I had to cross like, three roads to get here? And lost your scent like five times along the way... Ghost got one vision showing me where you actually were, however! How helpful is that?" He said sarcastically, tone dripping with dissapointment.

The white dog felt that she had messed up badly, if Ace was this angry. She turned her face away from him, wallowing in her shame.

And she knew the words he wanted to say, the words he wasn't saying yet.

How would you feel if I abandoned you? The answer to that question shrank away from her to an irrefutable distance. And so, she refused to answer it.

"I thought you wanted another family, Ace. You made no show of wanting to leave with me one way or another- after I asked you, that night..." She trailed off and hoped he'd understand.

But Ace still had a striking blue gaze planted accusingly on her. She swallowed defensively and raised her head, but Ace was already crowing on.

"I was half-asleep, Gypsy. When I awoke I actually thought that ghost, and you being gone was all a dream I was still taking part in. After I realized this was real, I had him tell me how to escape. And I followed you." She stared at him. The white pitbull hadn't expected Ace's voice to now grow thoughtful.

"I wanted to be where you were without a second thought. I never once considered that having a new family was better than being anywhere with you." The male gave a feeble smile. His black-and-cream fur shone even under the grey-black sky.

"I missed you," Gypsy said with an explosion of relief, and bounded forward. She rubbed cheeks with Ace, tail wagging a mile per minute. He reciprocated by licking her face, but his movements were still stiff.

"Gypsy, you know I'll always care for you." He began again with no trace of condemnence. Then his tone switched to serious.

"But you can't ever do something like that again. It's just... hard to forget, you know? I'm trying hard to forgive you." He sounded as if he were steeling himself against negative emotions.

Yet she once again felt condemned. The white she-dog stepped away with bitterness blackening her mood. "Yeah, okay. Just let me know when you find out how you can forgive me," she commented selfishly.

In her opinion, friends were for life. So what if one friend made a drastic mistake? Mistakes were just that; accidents without any malice intended.

Then why did I feel bad even before he scolded me? She tossed Ace a stubborn glance, and he did the same with hunched shoulders.

"I found a pack!" Gypsy exclaimed excitedly before Ace could say something about her actions once more. Spinning in a quick circle, she then bounded around him.

"Want to come meet them? They've already accepted me," Gypsy boasted eagerly, barking loudly into the early night. She peered past Ace's head as he spoke, looking at the fireflies as they flicked on or off atop the hill.

"Oh-..." Ace seemed surprised, but he rose to his paws. He was taller than the she-dog, but thinner and longer-legged. His white-tipped tail flowed out behind him, similar to that of a wolf.

"I suppose I don't see why not. How many dogs is there?" Ace asked curiously with a sidelong glance as they began walking down the flower-speckled hill.

"There's North and her three puppies, but they'll probably all be asleep by now. Then there's Obelisk, a really old brown male dog. And his grandson Bronx- Bronx is the leader."

She felt her fur flush as she though of Bronx and his obvious crush on her. Or, at least an urge to be near her more than other dogs previously had. And I'll see him in the den tonight. Or... will I sleep with Ace?

It fell into uncomfortable silence as Gypsy worried over that. Ace obviously had his own nervous thoughts, as his ears were pinned while he walked.

Their paws flattened the grass soundlessly until they reached the forest. It became slower going, as the trees blotted out even more of the moonlight.

Gypsy wasn't bothered. The night's breeze and gentle swishing of foliage was soothing and cool. She scented the sap of the trees all around her as she passed through with Ace just behind. The white dog was nearly blinded until they reached the looser expanse of trees, where the stunted moonlight from the clouds above provided a weak milky haze of vision.

To her surprise, a racious voice barked scornfully from below a tree, "Who have you brought here, stupid she-dog? Goopty, was it?"

Two eyes flashed as they turned blatantly towards her. Gypsy couldn't make out North's form among the dark edge of the shadowed trees.

"He's my friend, Ace. He came from the same place I came from and wants to join," the female stated solemnly. She'd hardly finished before the North spat a high-pitched reply.

"He shouldn't be here! No full-grown males! They might hurt my puppies!"

Confused, Gypsy almost said but Bronx is a full-grown male. However, Bronx himself barked a viable warning to all the dogs before he appeared from the entrance to his den. A hush fell upon all the dogs.

"I'm Ace and I'm... interested in joining," Ace said nervously as he made out the hulking form of Bronx's figure. Gypsy wagged her tail and stepped near to him, but Bronx's hackles were lifted. His muscles were tense as Gypsy brushed his shoulder.

"I vouch for him. He's young and strong, like you..." She trailed off as she focused on Bronx's quelling, hostile gaze.

"What could you possibly want here?" He lifted his teeth at Ace, exposing dark pink gum and glinting white fangs. Gypsy herself was intimidated and took a step back.

But the male glanced at her and lowered his lips. He flipped his tail to the side and stepped closer to Gypsy, as if responding to her earlier attempt at touching him.

Ace's eyes seared with jealousy in the darkness, but the young pitbull hardly noticed. She was looking up at Bronx with delight.

I know he'll listen to me... just watch! Boldly, Gypsy opened her jaws and began persuading away.

"He's a really loyal and thoughtful dog. He knows how to solve problems, and he'll do anything he has to for the pack."

"Anything? Really?" Bronx muttered and laid his tail across Gypsy's back reassuringly.

She nodded eagerly, and turned her head sideways to look at him. "He followed me all this way. That's proof enough that he's loyal, and will put loyalty into The Pack."

But before she was done speaking the huge brown-and-white male stiffened. He took a small step away as if offended.

"Are you her mate, then?" Bronx raised his voice in condemning authority. His huge white muzzle swung towards Ace, eyes unblinking.

"N-no," Ace stated uncertainly. He looked away and up towards the stars. Gypsy almost rolled her eyes at the unnecessary male tension in the area. She leaned down and nibbled her forepaw awkwardly.

"Why do you ask?" It was Ace's turn to sound defensive. Gypsy wished he hadn't spoken... that comment sounded like asking for trouble.

"Well, for one you followed her. And for two-look at her;" Bronx replied breezily. "She's a beautiful she-dog with witts out the wazz-oo. She found her way here, traveling for nearly two days all by herself. And she's very loving and caring," commented the male with an expressive lick to Gypsy's forehead.

She tingled with delight until North burst out laughing. The she-dog hovered farthest away from the other dogs, guarding her den entrance protectively.

Silently, Gypsy glared across at the snickering she-dog even though she could barely see her. I wonder if North is going to be a problem for me. And will either dog accept Ace?

There was a long, thoughtful silence as Bronx looked on. Eventually, he glanced down at Gypsy then back at Ace. Though his gaze traveled dissaprovingly over the smaller male, he gave a tiny nod.

"I've decided you can stay, IF-" he paused with his tail swishing as Gypsy gave a skyward leap of glee.

"You carry food back for Obelisk every day. I can show you how, tomorrow. And you'll also have to dig out your own den.... Over there."

He pointed his nose towards an empty space opposite of their den. It was several feet apart from the other dens, but Gypsy hardly glanced over there to notice.

"This is great! Thanks so much, Bronx." She sidled up to the male and nuzzled him in appreciation. She had already made a new friend in Bronx, and he trusted her enough to allow Ace to join.

"I... thanks." Ace nodded uncertainly and peered imploringly at Gypsy.

However, she had just noticed Ghost right over Ace's shoulders. It was odd, but no other dogs had claimed to see him.

Why is Ghost still here? How did he find out how to walk? I didn't see him a minute ago... so does he just appear rather than move?

Uncertainly, Gypsy stared at the ghostly man as he stared in wonder back at her.

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North