Feeling on the verge of depressed, Flare dragged her paws towards the rubber-scented black tires. She collapsed with her back turned to Crow in the center of one after climbing in. It was the safest she could feel around crow, barricading herself off from him with the tire's thick black walls.

"Come on, don't be like that. I am the strongest male. I'm the Alpha, and I get the female I choose." Flare was thouroghly annoyed even just from the amount of "I"'s in his sentence.

Besides that, she felt bad for Shadow- who had literal holes in his neck from Crow's long teeth. She hadn't even been able to check on him. Crow just shuffled her away as if she was a sheep meant to be herded. Shadow's sitting alone right now- after he just came back for me! It was both infuriating and maddening. And I'm not Crow's mate, whatever he claims.

"We ate it all," announced Jax quite loudly from across The Yard. His voice sounded slightly boastful, and envious. Flare realized she wouldn't get to eat today- The Man had retreated back inside.

"Don't get used to it," the black shepherd stated with a warning growl. She heard his haunches lower into the grass beside the tire she was in. Flare sighed aloud, extremely fed up with his company. Why can't he at least go away now?

"What do you see in Shadow, anyways?" He growled, using the young male dog's real name for once.

"Besides the fact that he fights almost as well as I do."

At first Flare thought about whether she wanted to answer. Then, when she decided she would, the words were as fast and naturally occurring as flowing water.

"Shadow is highly intelligent," Crow gave a quick huff of disbelief through his nostrils, but was ignored.

"And naturally sympathetic, unlike you." Crow hackles rose a bit, so Flare quickened her words.

"He always tries to figure things out, and other dogs. He has a strong sense of right or wrong- and was the only other who seemed to have a thought about life beyond The Yard. Instead of accepting life as it is, he tries to change it."

Flare knew she couldn't add in the fact that Shadow's eyes were a soft shade of brown, his pelt extremelely smooth and soft, and his shape lean but muscular. But she could say one more thing.

"And he's very protective," she mumbled at last.

"So am I," Cut in Crow defensively. Not in the right way, Flare thought. But she kept it to herself.

"And I've changed things too, Flare. What I haven't changed, I want to change." Flare's ears lifted up as she heard real concern in his voice. He was becoming emotional.

"I've tried to feed you better these last few days."

That's true, but... She couldn't finish the thought as she listened to his breath shaking.

"I'm trying to keep other male dogs away from you so they don't bother you. And I've asked you to play, and tried to be close." The Black Dog quieted from beyond Flare's enclosed tire. Most of what she could see was the sky above her, and she pricked her ears as she listened closely.

He's not evil or bad... He truly just wants me to like him. That's not wrong or horrible. But the way I get treated sometimes is.

"You just don't respond to any of it in a grateful way," he finalized, a bit retortful at the end. The dog was reaching out for emotional connection, and Flare drew a shuddering breath before her reply. I hope I don't lead him on, or upset him worse either....

"I may be able t-to try... She began nervously, studdering over her words. She heard Crow's tail thump in a wag, knowing it would stop with what she had to say next.

"But not when you act so agressively to my closest friend- and change things to better yourself-" she corrected.

"-not me or the other dogs. Just because I'm not hungry doesn't mean forbidding me from Shadow doesn't come into play," she spat rudely.

Seeming to hold his temper, Flare heard the male dog shuffle his limbs and bedgrudgingly bark a crude remark towards her.

"Heavens, and I thought my sisters had attitude." It sounded a bit affectionate, though.

"Like it or not, I want you more than Shadow or you want each other. And you were treating each other like a bit more than just 'friend's today." He now sounded ticked off again.

Flare's pelt grew hot and embarrassed as she curled her tail around herself. It was true that she'd been feeling a bit more for Shadow lately, but she didn't know what.

"However..." Flare heard the grass rustle as he stood up and tipped his head over the side of the tire, looking down at her.

"I'd like to be a bit nicer to you if you could just forget about Shadow. For now, at least."

I'll never just 'forget about Shadow', her inner dialogue spoke up rebelliously.

But although Flare didn't want them too, she could feel her walls dropping down. Her chest unclenched a bit at the prospect of someone helping her feel a bit less depressed, even if it wasn't Shadow. The tan dog truly didn't want to lay in a tire sulking the entire sunny day away.

Still, Flare knew very well that the dog who'd caused her problems was standing right before her. As she climbed out of the tire, Flare didn't feel cheerful.

"I'd prefer it if you'd allow me to lay next to you and groom your fur- if you're comfortable with that." He added on at the end. Flare watched him, her ears nervously flat. Crow was clearly trying hard to be overly kind. She did not want him near her, but she now knew him well enough that she expected an outburst if she declined.

He's persuading me to do things I'm not comfortable with yet... Flare thought even as she let it happen. She sat and examined the Yard with Crow's sleek fur touching hers. It wasn't too soft, prickly or uncomfortable. In fact, it felt much cushier than Shadow's sleek pelt. Flare could hardly believe herself as she pushed her muzzle into his chest fur, seeing how soft he was. His scent didn't seem so unfamiliar after days spent with him. Matter of fact, it was musky and entralling as a male dog's should be.

Crow shifted closer in response, dropping his muzzle nearer to hers. Suddenly Flare's adrenaline spiked through the roof- she felt extremely guilty as he licked her ear. Her heart pounded, and she was now extremely uncomfortable with his presence. It had drawn her in like a warm, dark cloud.

"I knew you liked me," he breathed quietly. Flare trembled nervously, but it only made Crow press his pelt against hers harder. She tried to hide her fear and uncertainty, avoiding his gaze to the fullest.

"It's okay."

Flare sighed and closed her eyes in turmoil; because none of this was okay. She couldn't even understand herself, or what she wanted. The young dog had no desire to be forced into situations like this.

Perhaps I do like dogs like this, when they're nice... But I do miss Shadow. He'd been a much calmer, less threatening presence.

Flare was at war with herself. She couldn't calm down, and her heart continued hammering in her ribs until she laid down, curling her forepaws underneath her.

What if Shadow sees us like this and thinks its my idea, or that Im allowing it? He may feel betrayed. The tan dog couldn't put Shadow out of her mind, and lifted her head to look for him. She tried not to appear too willful on finding anything, in case Crow became jealous of her fawning over Shadow again. Even after she spotted the brown male watching them from next to their old spot beside the porch, she kept turning her head as if just looking around.

But inside, her nerves were jumpy. If Shadow was watching them, he'd probably seen their brief exchange of affection. Shame crept through her pelt like crawling fleas. Why did I do that?

Since she was unable to look at Shadow for longer than a few heartbeats, she lowered her head to her paws. Soon after, Crow began nibbling bits of grass and clumps of dirt from between her tufts of fur. Flare kept her belly and nose towards the ground so that her weak points weren't exposed, refusing to allow herself any trust towards him again.

But however much the she-dog grasped onto her stubborn side, she had to admit that his grooming felt good. No dog's ever groomed me like this before, she thought drowsily. And I didn't even know I had so much stuff stuck in my fur- I guess us long-pelted dogs get used to it...

Flare jerked herself awake as she almost fell asleep. She wanted to lift her head higher and check on Shadow again, but Crow was now grooming her neck.

"You can sleep if you'd like," he offered with a single drawn-out lick over her ear. Flare sassily flicked it off, but it had felt nice. Her pelt soaked up the warmth of the mid-day sun as she tried to stay awake.

I'm sorry, Shadow. I hope it doesn't make you jealous.... And I miss you.

~

The rhymic chirping of the evening crickets softly awoke Flare from her sleep. She stretched her paws out, marveling at how long and how well she'd slept through her hunger pains and worry.

"Good evening," grunted Crow. He whisked his tail back and forth over the dirt, seemingly delighted that Flare was awake. The black shepherd let his tongue loll out in a playful gesture. His furry ears cocked as he tilted his head, a very un-Crow-like behavior.

"If you'd want to, we can get a drink and then play in the yard together before it gets dark." Privately, Flare wasn't so sure about the 'playing' aspect. But as she got a drink and halted alongside the taller male, she tried not to spoil his good mood with her obvious distain.

"If I touch you, then you have to chase me," he stated with parted jaws. "But if you nose me, then I have to chase you. Me and my siblings called this game 'Chase.'" Flare's heart wasn't really in it- and she loped around in a meager trot when she was the dog who was 'it.'

But then, Crow began licking her when he came close enough to tag. It sparked annoyance as well as mischief in her, and Flare in turn began nibbling his neck or ear-fur gently. Soon enough the game of tag was over with, and both dogs simply bounded around each other licking and nibbling playfully. Flare showed her teeth in a mischievous way, just barely raising her lips. Then she turned tail and raced across the yard to the opposite end of it- towards the house and it's back porch.

Except something halted her. Shadow was there, and his face was twisted into one of pleading question. He flicked both of his ears hard, and tilted his muzzle just slightly. But Flare was already backing away, because she could hear Crow's rapidly pounding pawsteps approaching.

As he bounded up to her, he continued playing- but Flare had already begun loping away. Her ears fell flat and she tucked her tail as she walked away, heart hurting for Shadow. His expression had been anguished.

Thankfully, Crow didn't try to interrogate her into playing any further. He joined her as she chose a flat resting spot near the tires. As Flare settled, she sighed deeply. I'm sorry, Shadow. I'll be able to explain everything soon. Even though I'm not fully sure how...

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Shadow