Dasher sniffed at the ground, growling in frustration. I smelled it just a moment ago! He lifted his nose and sniffed the air, searching for the scent. Maybe it was carried by the breeze. But surely that means it's close? His stomach rumbled. He hadn't eaten since yesterday's sunrise, and the sun was now at it's highest. Hopefully I didn't just imagine the scent.

Every since the huge fire, food had become next to impossible to find. Yesterday he had been lucky to find a non-burnt "trash can" as the humans called them. Dasher liked to call them food cans. Right now he was sniffing around a burnt human house that smelled faintly of dogs. And whatever food there is, those two packs take! Dasher knew he could just leave the city in search of more food, but the thought of leaving the place he'd lived all his life scared him.

Concentrate on finding food, he told himself. Abandoning his search for the lost food scent, Dasher jogged over to a not-as-burnt human den. The front looked perfectly fine, but when Dasher circled around on the other side, it was scorched. Dasher whined. Is there anything left at all? Then he noticed the door was open. His ears perked up. Maybe there's food in there! I mean, where else would humans get the food to put in the food cans? Dasher backed up a few paces, and jumped over the low wooden fence. He carefully trotted over to the entrance, muscles tense and ready to flee at the first sign of danger. He gave the air a sniff. Nothing. Relaxing slightly, Dasher padded into the den.

Most of the wall and floor near the door was completely burned, covering his paws with ash and soot. As Dasher continued to explore, the area became less burnt until it wasn't at all. He came to the kitchen. He knew it was the kitchen because there was a huge cold container that smelled like spoiled food that dogs couldn't open. Dasher hadn't lived with humans since he was a puppy, so he forgot what most things were called. Dasher spotted the sink- he remembered that. He stood up on his hind legs and gave the spout a sniff. It smelled like water! Maybe it still works. Using one front paw, Dasher pulled one of the handles toward him and water trickled out. It wasn't a lot, but it was a steady stream, so Dasher balanced there, lapping up the water until he wasn't thirsty anymore.

Much better. He hopped down, licking the water droplets off his muzzle. His stomach growled again, reminding him he still needed to find food. At least I got water. Water is more important. Dasher had learned that the hard way.

Dasher recognized the scent of stale bread. Where is it coming from? He located the scent, it was coming from.... what was it called? A cab net! Dasher managed to reach the handle, pulling it open with his teeth. Inside there were packages of stale bread. There was only one on the bottom shelf that he could reach. He pulled it out, letting it fall on the floor. He then ripped open the bag, and devoured the bread. It wasn't meat, but at least he wasn't starving. His stomach made a weird sound. It didn't like the bread anymore then his tastebuds did. Deciding there was nothing left for him in the house, Dasher exited through the back door. He leaped over the fence, and started down the street. Maybe he'd be luckier in a different part of the city. To caught up in his thoughts about food, he didn't notice the dogs until he heard a threatening growl.

Dasher froze, and as soon as he did, something slammed into him. Dasher yelped, scrambling to get up before a heavy weight landing on top of him, pinning him to the ground. He looked up with a whimper, at a fox colored lab snarling at him. "Who are you?" she barked. "What side are you on? Are you one of Sword's dogs?"

"No!" Dasher yelped. "I'm a lone dog! I'm on no side!" The lab growled, making Dasher flinch.

"There are no lone dogs!" She barked. "Everyone is on a side! Living in the pack or not!" The dog was barking so loudly it was making his ears ring.

"I'm not on a side," Dasher groaned. "Please believe me!" That's when he noticed the fox lab wasn't alone. She was with a Border collie, Burmese Mountain dog, and a Labrador Retriever.

"You smell like food," she growled. "Where did you find it?"

"In the cab net," Dasher whined. "Four dens back." The lab rolled her eyes.

"You mean cabinet. Boots, Cookie, go see if he's telling the truth." The Burmese Mountain dog and the Border Collie ran off. "Now I'm going to ask you again, who's side are you on?" The fox red lab growled. The Labrador Retriever padded closer to them.

"Pumpkin...." she began hesitantly. "Maybe he's telling the truth. Maybe he really is a lone dog. He definitely doesn't seem like a fighting dog," she whined. Dasher was too terrified to be offended.

"We'll see when Boots and Cookie come back," snapped Pumpkin, lips peeled back to reveal all her teeth. Dasher lay limp like a piece of prey. When the dogs Boots and Cookie returned, they each held a bag of bread.

"He was telling the truth," barked the Burmese Mountain dog after setting the bread down.

"It's just bread, but all food is welcome," added the Border Collie.

"Thank you Boots, thank you Cookie," Pumpkin nodded at the dogs. Dasher realized Boots was the Burmese Mountain dog and Cookie was the Border Collie. "This dog continues to claim he's on no side," Pumpkim growled, with a glance at the Labrador Retriever. "Lucy believes him."

"Should we take him to Alpha? He'll know what to do," barked Boots.

"But then we'll be leading him right to our den," Cookie argued.

"Sword already knows where our den is," Boots barked.

"That is true," Pumpkin growled. "What do you think, Lucy?" The Labrador Retriever tipped her head thoughtfully.

"I think we should bring him. Alpha can question him." The other three nodded.

"Then let's do this," Pumpkin barked, getting off of Dasher. He quickly scrambled to his paws, looking for a way to escape, but the dogs had already blocked any escape. Boots and Cookie came up on his right and left side, holding their bread, with Lucy behind him and Pumpkin in front, leading the way. They set a brisk pace, leading him in the direction he was going. Oh no. This is the last thing I wanted, to be caught up in Pack business!