In an immediate flash, Laika had scrambled to all four paws. She seemed much more confident now; her tail curled highly over her back like a flag, her head lifted tall, and her eyes alert and focused.

"Thanks," she managed, breathless, to Afore. Turmoil surrounded them.

"We need to get out of here," he said, obviously.

"Right," she nodded. With no hesitation, she and Afore ran. They didn't bother going for the entrance to the arena; Laika, being an agile Saluki, slipped beneath the fence while Afore leapt over it with power. A surge of dogs rushed after them, and they both had an uneasy sense of Deja Vu.

But The Baron of Castimun Tribe was truly like no other, and Castimun Tribe was truly like no other.

They ran like fury, pumping legs and rushing adrenaline and panting wet. And yet, Afore was knocked over by a domestic canine running at him from up ahead, somewhere in the tribe's main living areas. The large black guardian breed bowled into Afore and they both knocked over, rolling onto the ground with a mighty, dusty thud. Afore yelped as he hit the ground, and his shoulder felt a mighty pain as he landed on it, but he ignored it to the best of his ability and pushed through, pulling himself to his four feet.

His foes were just as quick to recover, and before Afore was even standing up tall, he was hounded upon by a large group of dogs, all snapping, biting, and tugging. He had lost track of where Laika was, but he could still hear her running feet and several canines that pursued her. Afore had to catch up to her; he couldn't let her go all by herself, all alone, and with no one to protect her. He shook off two dogs, and then was pulled back by another three bites on his tail and haunches; snarling, fiery, Afore flipped around and aimed at a white bull terrier's large, rounded face, and struck his mark immediately, shaking the screaming dog vigorously and then tossing them aside like discarded carrion. Blood splattered across the ground, then remained flat. The moon still gleamed overhead.

A shry yelp echoed somewhere down the street, and Afore lifted his bloodied head and perked his ears. He could hardly see over the bustling of growling dogs, but he knew that Laika had been caught. His skin was set aflame once again.

Afore leapt on another, fluffier male, and crunched down with molars on his spine, rendering him useless from the head down. Afore felt a stabbing pain in his scruff, and glanced back to see the sleek expression of The Baron digging his fangs through his pelt.

"I'll kill you!" Afore snarled, flipping around to target The Baron; but he was held back by a squabble of other, strong canines, tugging on his skin and fur, and though he fought ferociously and killed several and spilled blood, they, combined, outweighed him. Afore was shoved to the ground and then held there by a huge pack of dogs, and The Baron loomed over him with a smirk.

But Afore refused to go down so easily while Laika was in danger. The Baron knew this much already. As Afore heaved, buckling and preparing to stand and slaughter the dozen dogs around him, The Baron coolly spoke.

"Wolf," he said, "If you do that, then we will release your pretty little friend over there." His nose pointed in the direction of where Laika had been captured and was now held by several domestics.

Afore hesitated. For once, he hesitated to kill those around him.

"You should release her," He slowly said, after some time of thought, laying there on the ground, all of those dogs pressed against him.

"Is that really what you want, dear wolf?" The Baron hissed. "Do you really want her to run away, while you're stuck fighting us here? What if she gets into danger? What if she gets lost? Or what if she never sees you again?" He paused. "What if she doesn't care if she sees you again? Is she really going to need you once you're out of this mess?" He chuckled, then, shaking his head concernedly, "You were better off having that pesky rope between you two that you came in here with. You'd always be close enough to keep an eye on her, to keep her safe. I know you could've broken it with those bone crushing jaws of yours. You didn't, and you did that for her."

Afore allowed himself to submit. He allowed himself to lay, deadweight on the floor, a slight whimper escaping his throat. Everything that The Baron was saying was true. If Afore struggled, escaped, and killed these dogs now, then there was a big chance he would never see Laika again as she escaped and ran away. He wouldn't be able to protect her, and there was no rope binding them.

That fact still hurt his head to think about. After so many weeks of being together 24/7 and unable to part, it was strange to be without her, to not be in proximity to her.

"How would you like it, Wolf," The Baron suggested smugly, "If we tied you up with a female for breeding? Would you cooperate then? I imagine that is what your last tribe was trying to do, wasn't it?"

Afore grumbled, glancing away.

The Baron chuckled, amused, a sly smile spread across his snout, "But if I do this for you, then you must provide me with puppies of anyone of my choosing. But you and your saluki friend will stay together for as long as you are here, and you can protect her."

Afore knew this was wrong. He knew that Laika deserved her freedom. But his fear for her safety was too great; his need to be with her too great; and his fear of being alone too great. With defeat, he sighed, looking up at The Baron, obscured in the dark.

"Alright. I'll do as you say."

The Baron smiled, "Perfect. Just what I wanted to hear."

Afore couldn't help the nervous, sinking feeling swelling in his gut, but he would not revoke his answer, no matter if it made him a little queasy. Laika was too important, and that rope that had bound them both to begin with was a blessing to Afore, not a curse as he'd once thought. He wished her safety, and he wished her for himself. As he considered this and thought of Laika, he came to terms with his decision to keep her bound to him, in the safety of this awesome tribe, and in the safety of his presence. He was doing her a service, he thought. He was protecting her and helping her.

And Afore knew that Laika liked him, too. She had to, to some extent. She cared for him, too. And that was enough.

Afore, with distaste, allowed himself to be yanked to his paws and dragged along by the guard dogs. From afar, and over their heads, he could see the black outline of Laika as she squealed and protested against the dogs restraining her, pulling her along. Afore bristled. His blood boiled to see her treated such a way, but he knew it was for the best. He slowly allowed himself to be led along. One of the terriers wrapped the wolf's neck and muzzle again in leather straps; then, with a leather leash, he pulled him back to the dusty, moonlit arena. The moon had begun to sink deeper into the sky, and a gentle pink horizon was breaking the black sky.

Afore was tied to three middle posts in the arena, ensuring no escape; then, his leather straps were reinforced with thick, twisted rope, which was also used to tie him and Laika together once again. She was pulled into the ring, muzzled and tied up with about few feet of rope and leather. Suddenly, the two found themselves in that same situation; tied up together and confined to a small area in a hostile territory. Laika seemed... sad. Her eyes were looking up at the stars, widely and wetly, and the galaxies reflected in them. Afore only watched, relieved that she was here with him and safe. She would be here with him forever, now. There was no getting out of these heavy ropes. It was a relief to be back to this familiarity, to be able to always keep his eyes on her. She was safe.

The Baron approached, and several dogs stood around as guards. With a head held high, he spoke, "Now, now. There's going to be a bit of change around here." A crowd had built up once again surrounding the fenced arena, dogs in awe. Other dogs, presumably workers, dragged Afore's victims' bodies off of the street and away from the town. He wondered what they would do with them.

Laika seemed defeated, depressed even. She laid down in the dirt, utterly exhausted and terrified, panting warily, and with a dusty, dirty, bloody pelt. Adore felt for her with empathy, but he knew it was better she be sad than unsafe.

The Baron addressed Laika and Afore, "From now on, you two will stay here. You will never be separated... However, while you are our prisoners, you will help us." He pointed his nose to a disinterested Laika, "You, the saluki." She lifted her head, pricking her floppy ears. "You are an elegant, fast breed. I can see why Veal Tribe's Baron chose you to mate to this wolf. Well, I can't say I disagree with that decision. You can't outrun this fate as long as you are bound together... and thus I will expect a litter of healthy pups from you in two months time." Laika groaned, rolling over onto her back and letting her bent legs hang in the air, as if she was annoyed rather than afraid. She had thought, "This again?" And her frustration expressed itself in a short growl.

The Baron's black nose and dark eyes then turned to the wolf, "And you, Wolf, will be a strong breeder in our tribe now. As Baron, I hold the sole dictatorship. In Castimun Tribe, I don't allow anyone to breed freely. Most females have their chance... but males must be picked by me and must submit to me first. You have been chosen an amazing honour to be a breeder in Castimun Tribe, dear Wolf."

Afore's ears were pressed against the back of his head, eyes watching The Baron carefully and silently. He wasn't sure what to think, but his body felt hot with something like guilt, or perhaps embarrassment. The Baron then turned around to address the rumbling crowd once again.

"Castimun!" He called triumphantly, "As you can see, we have tamed this mighty wolf, and he truly cannot escape us now!" The crowd cheered in a jest of response. "His blood and progeny will make our tribe ever the stronger!" More cheers. Laika, wide-eyed and calculated, met eyes with Afore, who seemed only discouraged and embarassed. Her gears were turning, and she was considering of any way to escape or get out of this mess. Afore, really, wasn't thinking much of anything; he just felt emotional, and somewhat relieved. Laika was safe. Laika was safe. That was all that mattered then. And he was all hers.

He shook that last thought away, the embarrassment stronger than ever.

"First, he will sire a litter of pups to the fast sighthound!" The Baron continued with a pleasurable smile spread across his snout, showing glinting fangs in the lowering moonlight. A bit of pink twirled in the sky as the sun slowly began to rise. The wind rustled. He spoke loudly, "And you all will be the ones to witness it! To ensure conception," he turned to glare at Afore and Laika, "You will breed on this stage for all of our tribe to witness."