"Hurry up, please. They'll be awake soon." 

Flare kept watch in the shadows, peering from Shadow's moonlit, silvery back and then over at the expanse of yard simultaneously. Her nerves were on edge, and she was incredibly worried. Any of the dogs could hear Shadow's digging, wake up, and ask questions. That would no doubt get Crow's attention, and who knew how the menacing male dog would react?

Constantly calling himself the Alpha. Forcing everyone to eat his leftovers, monitoring our drinks... It's degrading. As if he actually has the potential to be an alpha. Bullying everyone and taking everything... 

Flare's fur prickled with anger as she thought about him. She shook it out quietly and pricked her ears. I mustn't get distracted right now.

She listened for the sound of snores and found the loudest coming from Grey Dog. Now that his tire had been taken over, as well as Mocha's old one, he slept in the grass nearest to them. 

But Flare was more worried about Crow, whom she could also hear sleeping. He slumbered in the tall grass next to Grey Dog's tire, and had flattened it out to make a nest for himself. We've been doing this for days now. I can't believe no dog has woken up yet. Jax and White dog were on the opposite end of the yard, too far away to be heard or seen.

Shadow's digging suddenly became louder, and more frantic. It sounded like his claws were scraping the fence rather than dirt. 

"Shhh!" Flare cautiously stepped into the weak moonlight that was cast next to this side of the fence."What is it? Did you reach the other side yet?" Hopeful, she wagged her tail. 

Instead of answering, Shadow turned his body around in the tight space several times. He was below her by a couple of feet, down inside the hole he had been digging at for the last three nights. The brown dog paused in his turnarounds to scrape at the dirt, or fence. Finally he stilled, breathing hard. 

"No. It was all for nothing." Shadow hopped out of the hole just a whisker away from Flare. 

"See there. I can't dig down at that angle- my claws just hit the fence. Unless I widen the hole and the other dogs notice it." Flare arched her head over the hole, just wide enough for a large dog to fit into and turn around in. On one side, she could see the dirty but exposed fence. It went all the way down into the earth, and showed no signs of ending further down yet. Though it was a deep hole, it was narrow. Discouraged, Flare didn't need Shadow to say anymore. 

"You'd have to dig a trench, rather than a hole to go deeper."

"I could do it, but the other dogs would have to know. The tall grass won't be enough to disguise a hole that large."

"I know," Flare said. She was thinking about any other solutions, but kept coming up stumped. 

"I have another idea. We could use the trash can to get on the roof." Shadow's eyes now held the same determined gleam that Flare had seen a few minutes ago. Implored, she wondered if it might work.

"But then what?" 

The coon-dog's kind brown eyes stared intently up at the roof's overhang. It was quite a few feet from the top of the trash can's lid, which was far from stable. 

"We jump off the roof, out of the Yard. It looks like it stretches all the way around the den's front, too." His tail wagged. "We have just about an hour until dawn breaks. Let's try it now." His enthusiasm seemed to rub off on Flare. She began studying the roof as well, and walked over to it with Shadow beside her shoulder. 

"Just think." She breathed. "We could be out of this yard today!" Shadow's eyes were shiny with hope as he looked at her and nodded. 

"I'm larger, so I'll go first. If it can hold me, then it can definitely hold you up." Flare had a feeling that this wasn't the reason, but she didn't point it out. Rather, she pressed her flank against the trash can to steady it while keeping watch.  Her brown eyes scanned the yard for movement, but the she-dog found none.

He probably doesn't want me to get on the roof before him, then leave him behind if he can't make it. I wouldn't do that, though.

As Shadow placed his paws against the trash can, it wobbled in the slightest. 

Would I?

Suddenly the trash can was shaking everywhere, and almost tipping over Flare's back. The tan female backed a pace away, alarmed at all the noise that Shadow was making. "That's going to wake them up!" She said tensely. 

"I'm sorry, I just-" Shadow's legs were wobbling as he struggled to keep the trash can center. The lid was sliding out from under his paws, and Flare could tell that at any second he would fall completely.

Then Shadow leaped with a huff of effort. He thrust his back paws out so hard that the lid spun from underneath them, providing no leverage. Instead of hitting the edge of the roof, he came up short and hit the house paneling below it. After his shoulder and snout tumbled into the hard surface, he fell straight down like a rock. The brown dog landed in the weeds and thorns that grew next to the porch, immediately trying to stand and step out of them. 

The trash can falling had made a huge clang. Flare whipped her head around, staring into the milky darkness. She could hear some dog waking up, stretching in the grass. 

"What was that?" An overly suspicious voice called towards them. Before Flare could even think of what to say, she heard the paw-steps coming closer. 

"And why is any dog awake at this hour? It's too hot to sleep during the day." Crow's voice sounded grouchy and condemning as he came closer. Flare could make out the angular edges of his ears and muzzle, very much like hers, as he stopped in the shadows.

"Nothing, just us getting in the trash." Shadow said dismissively as he untangled his legs from the plants. Flare unpinned her ears. That's the perfect excuse, Shadow.! You smart dog.

But Crow still had a suspicious narrowed gaze. He turned his head, mildly stepping closer and gazing at Flare with one side of his face. "She helped you?"

"Well, tried." Shadow spoke once again with a dismissive tone, but it sounded more impatient this time. He stepped up to Flare's shoulder, and now she felt uncomfortable with both male dogs sharing her space. 

There was a long moment of quiet in which Flare just wanted Crow to turn away and leave. Rather than doing so, he stayed still and watched Flare. Only right before he spoke did he look at Shadow. 

"Well, she's going to start helping me now. Come on, she-dog."

"Excuse me?" Shadow pricked his ears hard, as if he hadn't heard correctly. Flare did the same, because whatever he'd said before had come off as extremely commanding. 

Crow sat down, tail twitching, and looked up at the sky in exasperation. 

"Want me to explain it to your little pea-sized brain? Fine. Since I'm the leader, I get the female's company. Now, if the world were perfect I would pick and choose which one I personally prefer the company of, but...." As the black dog leaned down and pulled a spike-ball from his tail, Shadow still looked astounded. His eyes were large enough to show the whites, and his muzzle was wrinkled in contempt. 

"There's only one she-dog here. So, naturally, the Alpha gets her company." Flare almost showed her teeth. The arrogance of the young black German Shepherd was infuriating. 

"No wonder they say your antics are dung."  Right! Flare agreed. 

Shadow flipped his head towards the general direction of the other dogs, who were still asleep. His legs were taunt and his hackles raised. "You come up with reasons to take everything. Whether you believe in them yourself or not, I don't care- But keep your antics far away from us."

"No, I can't do that. You see, you have no control here." He flicked his furry black tail to and fro then stood up, curling it over his back. It was more visible outside now, with dawn soon breaking. The Yard was covered in a thin mist, the sky just a few shades lighter than blue-black. 

"Come on... Flare, isn't it? The sun will come out soon, and there's shade next to the tires." 

There's no way I'm doing that.  Stubbornly, the tan female dog planted her paws where she stood. She didn't raise or lower her tail, just kept it level with the wind.

"I don't care about shade," Flare said gruffly, muttering it under her breath. She was feeling a lot more irritation than usual, and could feel it flushing her skin. She had the impulse to show her teeth, if anything just to keep Crow away from her. 

But Shadow was already there doing it. His lips were raised well beyond his pink gum-line. His pupils had shrunk from his enthralling rage, and the young male's hackles were way up. When Crow turned around, he seemed to try and copy Shadow's intimidating stance. Only his cocked-back ears gave any sign of infirmity. Flare despised feeling like a bone between two dog's mouths, and could sense a fight soon befalling. Both males began releasing throaty growls towards each other, until they turned into gratingly loud snarls. Crow wouldn't show his back, though- and had his head and tail tucked to protect those areas of his body. Shadow, by contrast, had his head high and angled sharply towards his enemy.

Crow never seems to be as confident as his physical abilities allow. He drags out his words, but he could always just get straight to the fight. Why? Flare couldn't figure him out. I'd have to do what Shadow does and ask him about his past... But I'm not doing that. 

And they're going to fight. I hope Shadow doesn't get hurt again.

"You aren't even a real male dog. You smell more of a female," Crow ridiculed with a crude laugh.

"You can't have pups with this female or any other. And you're weak. It's time for Flare to stop settling for Second Best kind-of-dogs."

Shadow's eyes slowly fell upon the ground as the German Shepherd's words soaked in. They peered softly over at Flare a moment afterwards, though. 

"He's not, though-" Flare said instinctively.  She had meant to say more, but once again felt her tension get the best of her. But Shadow's chest had already puffed out, and his tail moved to straight and stiff once again. He walked towards Crow while jerking his head tauntingly at the male. 

"You're a seed of a dog. You behave like an immature greedy pup. In fact, you behave so selfishly- you act like a human." He narrowed his eyes further at Crow, who had his long snout pointed towards Shadow's, listening. Truer words were never spoken! Flare felt a flush of admiration for Shadow, who could use his words perfectly. Unlike you, who can't finish half your own sentences, the tan dog scolded herself harshly.

"Bull-"

"No, it's true. Like a human, you force us to live your way. You're trying to take dog's choices about how we eat, drink, sleep, when we wake up, and now who we get to spend time with? It's just like a human." 

Flare heard movement behind her. It was Jax, who had awoken and came to a halt close by. He was nodding his head behind Flare, agreeing with Shadow of all dogs. 

Crow's gaze moved over to Flare, the American Bully next to her, and then the ground. He thought for a moment before tensing his shoulders and then thrusting forward like a bat out of hell. 

Flare watched as Shadow jerked his head back in an explosion of movement, and Crow followed like predator on prey. Flare could hear his teeth snap together as they missed Shadow's eyes, muzzle, and cheeks. The brown dog's eyes were shut tightly even as he frantically moved away, so his head became a blur of motion as he thrashed and twisted backwards.

"Black Dog is nasty for a fighter. He's trying to bite Shadow's eyeballs!" Instead of sounding alarmed, Jax sounded as if he was pointing out a casual fun fact that his dog friend may want to hear. Concern echoed throughout her body, but it was wiped away quickly as she heard a howl of pain. It sounded similar to ones she had heard coming from The Shed, and it had come from no other hound than Shadow. 

Crow had him heavily pinned against the ground with one paw. Shadow probably could've thrown him off, but it looked like he didn't want to. The brown dog's bad ear was being firmly gripped at the top by Crow's front teeth. Flare could see his tongue and lips moving as he began to speak.

"I'll bite your ear off if you don't comply with your Alpha's laws." The threat sounded real, although it was slightly muffled. As the tan dog gauged the situation, her eyes grew wide. She pinned her ears again her head, heart hammering for Shadow. 

"B-but I can't..." Shadow tensed and tried to shimmy backwards, but he only ripped his own ear through Crow's teeth. Blood sprouted from underneath the white canines, and Flare shivered with fear as she heard Shadow whimper. Crow's going to bite hard enough to rip it any second now!

"Wait!" She yelped out fearfully. On shaky legs, she walked towards the two dogs. 

"It's fine, Shadow... I'll go with him."

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Shadow