The crowd dispersed, though bystanders came and went to observe the mystical wolf in a mixture of awe and mocking. The colourful morning turned to bright yellow day, and then faded back into deep blue evening and dark. Laika and Afore did not talk much, and laid in the dust a few feet away from one another, despite the thick rope that connected them both, and the straps tying them to their each individual posts. A guard dog brought them food and water, which they gratefully took.

The arena's fencing was surrounded by large domestic canines to act as guards and prevent escape, but only a few actually stood within the walls of the fencing. Afore, exhausted, slept peacefully, curled up in the dust by his post.

As the night grew longer, another guard dog approached. He was lighter in colour, and much smaller than the rest. Laika identified him as a Basenji, orange in colour with white feet and chest, a tightly curled tail, and a sleek, athletic build. His eyes were dark brown, glinting in the night. The moonlight draped over his back, painting him blue. Laika stood up defensively, towering over the small dog. He stood a few feet away with wide, pricked ears, observing gently. His expression was soft, but strong.

"What are you here for?" Laika growled, lowering her head to meet his gaze. She was like a horse or perhaps a deer, long and large in body, yet slender and finely built; elegant, with a long, flexible neck and a long snout to match, hair that was short on her body but fanned and fringed out along the edges like a mane. Her tail even looked like a horse's tail with the flag of black and orange hair upon it. Her shoulders were strong, but thin in the chest, allowing her agility and the ability to move in tight spaces. If she had been a gazelle, one could think she was about to drag a front hoof in the sand and huff from strong nostrils, then charge whoever was in front of her with a powerful, elegant grace. The basenji must have thought as such, for he took a few small paces back. His small feet made pitter-patter sounds against the grain like raindrops.

"I'm just here to be your guard."

"You're watching us," she said.

"No," he corrected, "I am watching you." His voice was different from hers and from Afore's. It was cleanly cut, precise, and punctuated well, with good pronunciation of his T's and D's and strong beginnings and ends to syllables.

Laika's own voice seemed to flow smoothly compared to his abruptness, "Why?" She was on edge, hackles raised.

"I feel bad for you," he said plainly. "I think it's wrong what our Baron is doing." He lowered his voice slightly, so that the surrounding guards could not hear.

Laika softened slightly, but still remained cautious, "You do?"

"Of course I do... Not everyone in Castimun is as evil as our Baron. And I'm sure you can understand that... have you had a fowl Baron?"

"I did," she admitted, thinking of Veal Tribe's mighty white Baron. "I wished I could do something to stop him and save my tribe." It pained her to think of her tribe, and all that she had been forced to leave behind. It had been partly her decision, true, but she wished for a better life for the dogs of Veal Tribe. She wished for things to go back to the way that they were before Afore was ever in her life. She turned and looked at his peacefully sleeping self, not aware of the look of disgust on her face.

"Do you hate him?" The petite basenji asked, stepping closer, and looking at the wolf himself. His expression was unreadable, and Laika became curious of him.

She shook her head, "Of course not. He's protected me so far..."

"But?"

She shook her head again, as if she could shake the thoughts away, "I just grow worried sometimes."

"What are you worried about?" He didn't look at Afore. Now, he just looked up softly at Laika. She wasn't sure if she could trust him, and felt reluctant to.

Despite this, she decided to speak, "I'm just worried that Afore is enjoying all of this more than he lets on."

The basenji nodded thoughtfully, with no sarcasm or remark, and said, "I would agree with that. I watched the display yesterday, although I didn't quite want to."

Laika finally sat down, feeling a little more comfortable, "I feel ashamed." She lowered her head with it. The basenji clearly didn't know how to comfort her, but he respected her words nonetheless with a thoughtful silence and stare. "I know his jaws can break through anything if he has the will. Has he lost his will?"

"Castimun Tribe can break even the strongest," the basenji said. Laika stared at him in the dark for a moment.

"What's your name?" She asked, tilting her head to one side.

"Bellamy."

"I'm Laika."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Laika. I wish it were under different circumstances."

"I wish that, too, Bellamy. But I will escape here, soon. I know it."

He smiled gently, "I wish that for you. I wish I could say the same for myself."

Laika shook her head, "Come with me, then. We can get out of here together, and escape with me to Veal Tribe. I'm going to take down The Baron and become the new leader of Veal Tribe. I'm going to turn the place upside-down, and make it a great tribe for everyone in it. You can help me make that happen."

"I'm intrigued," Bellamy said, smiling bigger now. His eyes were kind and glittery, despite his overall serious disposition.

She sighed, "Not that I should tell you that, should I? How stupid of me to trust so blindly."

"Maybe," Bellamy said, reasonably, "But if I help you, then your trust will have been well-placed, and I will have to trust you, too." Laika smiled softly, deciding that she quite liked this queer little dog.

"I need a cutting stone," Laika said. "I need to cut these ropes."

"I'll see what I can do, Laika."

"Thank you," she said, although she wasn't quite sure if she believed him yet, and eyed him closely. Bellamy took a careful seat beside her, just out of her reach on the lead. Curious, Laika asked him, "Why don't you like it here, anyways? It seems like you're in a good position of power."

"Unlike most of the dogs here," he said, "I have a sense of morality." He said it so matter-of-factly, like a teacher would. Laika wondered how strange he was, how he could be so seemingly emotionless and strict, and yet so caring and soft. Already, her impression of him was well. "Tomorrow, I'll get you a cutting stone, Laika. But we need to wait for the right time to use it."

"The right time?"

"You're intelligent," he said, "But unlike other tribes, so is Castimun. They have guards every five feet along the border in case you try to escape."

"How will we get past them?"

He considered her question well, "Well, we will have to devise a plan. And it will have to be a good one."

"What were you thinking?" Laika was intrigued, and excitement itched at her paws. She was ready to be free. She was ready to go home and make Veal Tribe a safer place.

"The guards here are going to be watching out for the wolf, Laika. Sneaking out, or perhaps plowing his way through. But you? You're just a dog with an unusual scent, and soon, your scent will mingle well with ours. If you slipped out of your chains and snuck out of this stage, then you could very well act confident— act like you've lived here your whole life— and I doubt any dog here would recognise you. Especially if you were a little dirty, or had some familiar scents on you."

"But what about Afore?"

"Well," Bellamy smiled, "I expect he can just plow through as they expect him to."

She chuckled, "Yes, I'm sure he could. Nothing can take that beast down."

"Which is why I must wonder how our Baron convinced him to submit without a fight." Laika glanced at Afore's sleeping form. Even now, he seemed huge and muscular, curled up on the ground just a short ways away. Bellamy reasoned, "Perhaps The Baron threatened you, Laika. It seems that's the only thing that will get this wolf to do anything."

Laika nodded, but secretly she knew that if she had been in any danger, Afore would have slaughtered those that put her in it. She knew, in a wicked way, she was safe here. As long as she could have puppies, she would be untouched by anyone but Afore. She doubted even The Baron would try anything with her, with Afore threateningly at her side. A cold feeling crept up her legs and sent shivers down her spine. She felt her hair stand on end as she considered the possibility of Afore wanting her here.

She liked and appreciated the wolf, but the truth was Laika still didn't know him that well. He was still a stranger to her. Then, staring at his warmly sleeping form, she felt a little more afraid than before.