Riley, Zak, Duncan

Riley, a sable, trotted into the backstreet of the stores. He was followed closely by a couple of his pals, Zak and Duncan, as he took long easy strides along through the dark. It was near midnight, human clocks almost striking 12. They had seen this as the perfect oppertunity to find some snacks, while most of the humans were asleep.

Riley soon turned his head, and his eyes landed on a nearby trashcan, sitting idley by the back of a store. To the dogs' right, there were the buildings, and to their left, there was nothing more than a tall wooden fence. In other words, they had nowhere to escape if they were caught. Sneaking back under a broken blank of fence would be something, but none of them felt like pulling a stunt such as that at such a time. Unless...
The sable canine pricked his auds and he changed course, claws making clicking noises against the hard stoned ground. "Over here!" he whispered, voice loud in tone.

Zak lifted his head at Riley's voice, and he drew in a deep breath. Finally, food! "Let's try knocking that can over..." he stated, following his companion eagerly, as they both ended up toppling a tall metal trashcan that had been gleaming in the moonlight. It made a loud clanking noise as it hit the ground, causing both of them to back away slightly, clammoring to their paws. Then, looking around, they started back at the opening of the can and began to dig through the trash. Ham, burgers, steak, everything a dog could dream of. And it was all theirs for the night. Hopefully.

Duncan, usually not so behind, finally came up. The whole reason for his belated arrival was all about his leg. One of his hind legs, which had the paw slightly pointed outward instead of forward, had been bitten down on by some unknown canine, and broken. It was beginning to heal nicely, yet it eased the pain to keep his paw out.
Grumbling from both hunger and a bit of pain, his auds actually perked up at the sound of "food." He hadn't eaten in a while.
As he turned and started toward Riley and Zak at a rather quick pace, he suddenly hopped straight upward at the loud metallic noise of the trashcan hitting the ground. Once he landed, he growled instead of paying attention to his limb. His fur stuck up like he had been struck by lightning. Soon regaining himself and limping easily to the fallen trash, he began to dig through as well, finding some good food and suddenly forgetting about his misfortune. "Ah, a meatloaf!" he quickly yipped, not noticing how loud he may be. His head was completely inside the trashcan, as was just about his whole front half then, as he searched around and gobbled up anything edible he came across.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

The sound of yipping and barking and claws hitting the ground echoed through the alleys behind the stores as three African Wild Dogs turned corners. Trashcans fell as they bumped into them, making a lot of loud noise. They sounded like a hunting group running across the African Savannah. In fact, this was a hunting group, only without the African Savannah.

It wasn't long before the group reached the Border Collies. Underdog held his head in a sideways position, curious of these 'new' creatures. They looked like fluffy versions of him. "You there!" He shouted. "Is there anything good to eat?"

Crimson immediately began sniffing the trashcans, while the blind Undone sat and listened to the noises of the alleys.

Riley, Zak, Duncan

Riley was the first to notice the other group. He lifted his head from the ground, auds pricking, and drew in a deep breath. It must be an awfully small world. Tilting his head to the side just a slight amount, he swallowed the food in his mouth. "Um, the trashcans are full of food." he stated in reply, a bit shocked to see such canines around here. Everything was so dull.

Zak took notice to the wild dogs a little later, after he finished a pile of meat he had been working on. He turned his fluffy head toward the bunch and simply stared, unmoving. He didn't know what to think of such unusually colored canines. And they were so small and skinny looking!

Duncan, on the other paw, was completely unaware of everything. Still with his front end inside the can, he sniffed around, gobbling up everything. Sooner or later, he'de eat himself sick.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

Underdog yipped, then turned to the trashcans. He rammed into one and it tipped over. He jumped back when it hit the cement, then began digging through the smelly garbage. He called to the girls when he found a pork chop. "It tastes like warthog!" He exclaimed with meat hanging out of his mouth. He looked at Riley. "I'm Underdog. Who're you? He asked, still eating his meal.

Crimson pulled a piece of salmon out of the can, then walked to Undone with it. "Here. I have some fish for you." She said softly.

Undone turned her head to Crimson, ears swiveling to catch all the things her eyes couldn't. She nodded and began to eat the fish meat.

Riley, Zak, Duncan

"Name's Riley," he stated in reply, watching curiously as the canine knocked a trashcan over. He winced slightly at the loud clashing noise, but then shook it off. His fur seemed to stand on end, though, from the metallic sound. He then drew in a deep breath, and slowly started to eat his meat again. "Are you new to the valley?" he then asked, having never seen such creatures before. They looked out of place here.

Zak sat up, watching the group curiously now. His reddish eyes twinkled in the overhead moonlight, shining brilliantly against the darkness. He then gave his tail a small wag, before going back to munching on the pile of food he had in front of him.

Duncan, as usual, was still in the can. However, he was stopped now, and little snorting and gurgling noises could be heard. He was obviously enjoying whatever he was eating.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

Underdog nodded. "Hey, Riley." He said happily, wagging his tail. "Yeah. We're new. Crimson loves it here but poor Undone wants to go back to Africa." He glanced back at the girls, who were happily eating the fish.

Crimson left Undone to meet the strangers. "My name's Crimson. My friend back there is named Undone." She said.

Undone lifted her head when she heard the others talk. "W-Who's there?" She asked timidly.

Tahti

Tahti turned the corner to reach the alleys full of smelly trash. She was like Vicious now. Evil. But, like her one-time mate, only one of her eyes was functional. She held he right eye closed so the nice little puppies would not see the damage Kalaber had done to it. She sat down a ways away from them and watched for a while. What gluttons... She thought, wincing when she saw the dogs gorge themselves. She walked closer to the Borders and the Wild Dogs. "Allow me to introduce myself..." She began. "I am Tahti. And why would creatures so elegant be eating the humans' leftovers when we could be feasting on a meal of deer? She was taking up her duties as a Converter for the Shadow Haunters, but she would not tell them who she allied herself with until the right moment came.

Riley, Zak, Duncan

Riley gave a small nod to Underdog, though wondered what this new place was. At least he figured it was a place. "Africa? What's that?" he then asked, auds pricking. He was about to say something more when the coyote suddenly appeared. Now who was this? Hopefully a friend of the wild dogs, but he doubted it. She didn't seem very... Nice. He didn't speak, though, sending a questioning glance to Underdog for a moment.

Zak sighed, feeling his stomach fill up with the food. "I'm Zak. And that dog's Duncan." he stated, giving a nod to the canine who was still half-hidden in the trashcan. His eyes then turned to the coyote, and he became a bit defensive. He tried to keep it cool, though, and simply sat there. "What." he asked, though not much like a question.

Duncan was still eating.

Tahti

Tahti sat down and wagged her tail to show that she was not a threat. "It was only an introduction..." She said, seeing that the dog seemed suspicious of her. "Well then, how would you like to join my pack? It's quite large, and there's a home large enough to hold a few average sized wolf packs." She feared that she may be getting to the point too quickly, but she kept her cool.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

Underdog looked at Tahti. He had never been good at making decisions. "We're...uh...us African Wild Dogs are loners right now..." He said, dropping his piece of pork chop on the ground.

Crimson walked closer to the Borders. "Africa is across the great water. It's huge and there's a bunch of prey there for us to eat. I'd offer to take you there, but that's impossible. It's too far." She said, proud of her heritage.

Undone simply kept her mouth shut. She didn't want to get involved in anything. Though the coyote did seem odd.

Riley, Zak, Duncan

Riley tilted his head at the wild dog, and then opened his eyes a bit wider before they returned to normal, "I bet it is," he stated to the "across the great water" part. He had never heard of it or anything, so it'de probably be a no brainer on that one. Yet, he wished he could see it.

Then he turned his attention to the coyote, and he gave a shrugging motion. He had picked up a lot from the humans. "I dunno. We're more like "pets," persay." he stated, wondering how animals around here took to the word "pet." Either way, he was proud of living with humans.

Zak stayed silent, listening to the canines converse. He didn't care much, he would let Riley do all the talking. He did tend to be a bit more mature in these kinds of situations, and for once, he was actually glad for that.
Sighing, he lowered onto his belly and thought about life in a "pack." A pack, what was that? Little did he know, he ran with that bunch of Borders just like the wolves did. He didn't know it, of course.

Duncan was still digging through the trash, eating. He could feel his stomach becoming filled, but he simply kept going. Little or no thought could even conclude that he'de have one bad ache afterwards.

Tahti

Tahti stood up. "If you're absolutely sure, I'll be on my way." She said, then turned around and exited the alley.

Sacrifice

A small she devil appeard from behind a trash can some yards away. When Tahti left she came up to the group with a wide grin spread across her muzzle. Tail lashing out behind her with arrogant glee. "So you are from Africa hmm? We use to have another member from africa... called herself a maned wolf... But that is beside the point." She looked off the direction that Tahti had left then back to the group with her icy colored eyes. Her face was split right down the middle, dividing one half for the light gray of the rest of the her body; the other black that ended just behind her ear. With a low sugar like voice she spoke.

"Loners do not travel in groups of three. We have an allie pack of that many." Her eyes flashed to both groups. "And how about a proposition. Instead of members, how about allies. We are quite busy and for some reason the valley thinks we are against them. Nay, we are not against them. But they persist to think we are, and we need as much help as we can to keep our little ones safe. We would offer you shelter in any of our home lands. The chance to hunt and dine with us as a group. We even have left-overs of a feast who filled all of us up and more. What do you say, Handsome?" Her eyes landed on underdog at the last statement. Smiling like and angel gone wrong.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

Underdog smiled. "You make it sound so great." He said, still unsure. "Let me speak with the girls." He walked off into a corner and spoke in a whisper. There was some argument, but they all seemed to agree on something in the end.

Crimson stepped forth, wagging her tail. "We'll be your allies. The three of us. As long as we can hunt sheep and such at the Ranch, and roam where we want."

Undone's ears swiveled in every direction to pick up what her eyes could not. "Then we are friends." She said. "My name is Undone, and the others are Underdog and Crimson."

Sacrifice

The dainty fea smiled with pleasure. Nodding her head with a business like charm. "You may hunt where you like, and roam at free will. You will be happy to know you may come and eat when the winter months come, for we will have food even then. You may also stay on any land that is owned by the Haunters, as well as come to us when you feel threatened, tired, or are injured. We have healers, a small group of them, that know what they are doing and will give proper care to your wounds. We will fight your fights, and all we ask in return is that you help us fight ours." she paused for the moment, letting her hearty words dance among the ears. "It has been a very great pleasure to meet all of you as well as gain your alliance, you will be held in high respect as the rest of us are. The only rule is among haunter and ally. We do not fancy fighting amongst the "family" members. All who side with the Haunters are treated with respect and are not to be harmed nor harm one another. Our leader is Risen, I will inform her of our new alliance. Myname is Sacrifice and I hope you have a wonderful afternoon." She dipped her head. Then spoke with a gentle fire licking through her vocals. "And will there be any questions you would like answered before I leave?" She smiled, strength radiating from her essence, proud and filled with dignity for she knew what she was doing as if it were bred into her.

Underdog/Crimson/Undone

Underdog smiled. He felt so important to not be a member of a pack, but to be allied to a pack. "We will fight to the death!" He said happily. His white tipped tail brushed against the ground as it went side to side.

Crimson stood by Underdog and watched Sacrifice with gleeful eyes. They were fierce fighters in a time of war, but loving mothers (and father) when they needed to be. They were like parents to Undone, who could barely take care of herself. "It's good to meet you, Sacrifice, and we will love aiding you in your wars." She said.

The blind female listened from her corner, somewhat excited and somewhat unsure about all this fighting she would have to do. "We have no more questions." She said softly.

Sacrifice

Two faced nodded her head acceptingly. "Thank you, and now I must bid you adue, we are located in the Ruins, come to us when you have questions." With her final bow she turned and trotted gracefully away. Two beat was more than a angelic, but more as a ballet dancer as she excited the stage.

She was one full of mystery, but no one had to know.