Fairy watched nervously as Sword paced back and forth, his other pack members surrounding him. "I expected Flash to attack back by now," he growled.

"Maybe he's too scared?" Hail suggested. Sword snarled, slamming into the pit bull and pinning him to the ground. Fairy flinched, even though she wasn't the one being tackled.

"Did I say you could talk?" he demanded.

"No, Alpha," Hail whined, and quickly scrambled to his paws as Sword got off of him.

"They're probably planning, if I know Flash right," Sword continued, as he resumed his pacing. "That stupid human-licking murderer!" Sword snarled, using one of the biggest insults a Free Dog could call another dog. "Sleet, what did you say about them recruiting more dogs?" the Alpha asked.

"A Dalmatian, Alpha. The others called him Dasher. He's useless, can't fight to save his life, and isn't the brightest, either," Sleet told Sword, dipping her head submissively after she finished speaking.

"If he's so useless," Sword growled. "Why couldn't you and Hail defeat him?" he asked.

Sleet and Hail whined, dipping their heads low and tucking their tails. "It's not our fault," Sleet barked. "Oz and Pumpkin showed up." Sword snarled at them.

"I'm disappointed in you two. Both of you will get last pick off the prey heap tonight. You're lucky. If this had been a real battle, you would have found yourself with no food tonight. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Alpha," Sleet and Hail whimpered at the same time. With last pick, Hail and Sleet would get hardly anything. Food was short. Sword turned away from them.

"I see no reason to punish the rest of you. As far as I'm concerned, you did well," he barked, giving a nod to Gobbler, who lead the attack. Fairy had been relieved when Sword chose Gobbler to lead the attack, because that meant the attack wouldn't be too harsh. When he chose someone fierce like Gunner or Bone to lead the attack, Fairy knew the attack would be brutal. Fairy's heart leapt in her chest as Sword turned his piercing blue gaze on her. "I am tired. Fairy, come rest with me before we eat," he barked, and started to pad over to his den. They lived in an old human mall, and Sword's den was a large closet with piles of clothes to sleep on. Fairy followed him obediently.

Sword lay down on the pile of clothes, and Fairy lay next to him like she was supposed to. Sword buried his nose in her fur, which always made her shiver in fright, though she tried not to show it. Fairy had been chosen as Sword's mate, just because she was a pretty Shiba Inu. She had always considered running away, but was too terrified of being caught. All she could do was listen to what Sword said and hope that he wouldn't decide she was too useless. After all, she didn't fight. She only hunted because food was short. Fairy rested her head on her paws, as Sword licked and nuzzled her head. At least it's not so bad here... besides the fact that I'm always terrified. I'm never hungry because I share food with Sword. I don't have to fight and get hurt.

She repeated those thoughts in her head, but they were hardly comforting. Fairy tried to stay awake so she wouldn't be caught off-guard by anything that happened next, but before she knew it she was dozing off.

                                                                                  ••••••••••

"Get up! Get up! Time for roll call!" Dasher lifted his head at the howl, and began to get to his paws. His sore muscles howled in protest and he sank back down. How early is it? He had fallen asleep in a small and shallow dug-out hole. It was small because it had been Dixie's, so with Lucy's help he had dug it out some more. Lucy is the only dog here that isn't super weird. Each dog seems completely different but exactly the same at the same time! The shallow dip had been uncomfortable because all the moss and leaves had been removed.

Other dogs around him were already getting up, and Dasher heard another sharp bark. "Get up everyone! Get up!" Dasher spotted Frost, Flash's mate snapping at the dogs to get up. Peanut Butter covered his face with his paws.

"Just a few more moments," he whined. Frost growled and tugged his ear, making Peanut Butter yelp. "All right, all right! I'm up." Dasher turned to look at Lucy, who was shaking scraps of leaves out of her pelt.

"Good morning, Dasher!" she greeted him happily, wagging her tail. Lucy's nest wasn't next to Dasher's to his disappointment. Dixie's nest had been towards the back of the cluster. In front of him was Cookie's nest, and Sadie and Mikee's. The two smallest dogs slept together. Lucy waited for Cookie to leave before walking over to him, and licking his face. Dasher licked her muzzle in return.

"What's roll call?" Dasher asked Lucy once both of them got out of the sleeping area.

"It's when Alpha calls out our names to make sure we're all here. If someone got captured in the night, we'd know about it first thing in the morning," Lucy replied. Or if someone ran away. Did she even think about that? He gazed at Lucy's happy face. Nope. Probably not. Dasher followed Lucy over to the clearing where dogs were already lining up. Dasher lined up next to Oz, Lucy on the other side.

"Good morning," barked Oz. "How did you sleep?"

"Not so good," Dasher replied.

"Why is that?" Oz asked, cocking his head. Dasher shrugged.

"No leaves or moss in my nest, I guess," he answered.

"Ah. I'm sure Lucy will help you find some," Oz replied. Dasher looked back over at Lucy, who was talking to Pumpkin. Dasher caught Pumpkin's eye, and she glared at him.

"Dogs!" Flash howled, and the pack quieted. Trip and Frost were standing next to him. Dasher gazed at Frost's large belly. He had never seen a pregnant dog before. "Let the roll call begin. Sadie!" he howled.

"Here!" the little white dog yelped.

"Mikee!"

"Here!"

"Oz!"

"Here!" the collie woofed.

"Popper!"

"Here!"

"Dasher!" Oh! That's me!

"Here!" Dasher called, rolling on his back.

"What in the name of ancient wolf are you doing?" Pumpkin whispered fiercely.

"Rolling," Dasher replied. "And calling."

"Get up!" Lucy barked. "We only bark our names. We don't have to roll!"

"Oh," Dasher replied. Then why is it called "roll call?" He noticed that every dog was looking at him. Oops. Dasher ducked his head. "What's the ancient wolf?" Dasher asked Pumpkin when the roll call finished. Pumpkin sighed.

"We're descended from wolves, dumbie."

"Oh," Dasher barked. He didn't know that. Pumpkin sighed again.

"You'll never learn," she muttered, and walked away. Dasher whined. Does Pumpkin really have to make such hurtful comments all the time?

"Let's train some more," Lucy barked. Dasher's stomach grumbled. She cocked her head. "You'll get used to that. Alpha Flash will send out a hunting party and then we'll be able to eat. Now, you've heard all the dog's names, but you haven't heard about them," Lucy barked. Dasher wasn't sure where she was going with this. Lucy started walking around camp, pointing out dogs. "You already know Flash. Trip is his beta, and best friend. He's a Siberian husky, and one of our best fighters. He's very loyal to us," she barked. When Trip looked up at her from where he was talking with Flash and Frost, Lucy nodded respectfully.

"Frost is, as you know, Flash's mate. Frost is a German shepherd. She's very smart, and strict. You don't dare back talk her. She's fair, though. You don't have to worry about her choosing another pack member over you if you get in a fight just because she likes them better," Lucy barked, then brought him to a group of dogs. Dasher noticed Oz among them.

"You know Oz. He's a rough collie. He's very good in battle- he was strictly trained by his owners, and the thick fur around his neck make a great shield against dog fangs. Then there's Jessica, a Doberman. She has a brother, Bone, in Sword's pack." Lucy's voice dropped to a whisper. "She's usually glum because she left Sword's pack while he stayed, and now Bone wants to punish her. We always try and help her out if he's here during a fight..... but anyway, Jessica's a great fighter. Her type are used as guard dogs," she barked. "The Boxer is Sam. He usually keeps to himself and is rather new, I don't know much about him, but he pulls his weight. The greyhound is Streak. She's incredibly fast! The fastest dog in the pack! She's very modest, though, so she'll probably deny it," Lucy barked. It sounds like ever dog has a place in this pack. I wonder where I will fit in.

Lucy continued on, telling him about how smart Popper was, what a great hunter Pumpkin was, what a great job Cookie did keeping patrols together, and so on. Dasher started to get bored, and even more hungry, but didn't complain. Apparently complaining wasn't tolerated in packs.

"Lucy!" Flash barked. "I need you on a patrol. Dasher, you should come too. It would be no use putting you on a patrol of the territory if you can't fight yet.... so, can you hunt?" Flash asked. Dasher realized he was talking to him.

"Oh- uh, you mean scavenging? For stuff in the food cans?" Dasher asked.

"Um.. no, like catching squirrels and rabbits?" Flash asked.

"Oh," Dasher barked. "Well, I do that sometimes. Usually I just rely on the food cans....." he trailed off.

Flash sighed. "I honestly don't know how this dog survived. Well, Dasher, you can join Frost's hunting patrol," he barked.

Dasher frowned. "Frost hunts? I thought she was carrying your pups?"

Flash frowned too. "She is, but she still insists on hunting. She doesn't want to be a burden to the pack. Now, when you go on the patrol, listen to Frost. She is the leader of the patrol. Understand?" Flash asked. Dasher nodded. "Lucy will also be there to help you out. I also expect to see you working on the case soon," he woofed, then trotted away.