City Strays Dog RPG

Inigo led his family back to the warehouse, a bit surprised that Laurel had agrred to joining the pack of two canines for the safety of her two pups.  He watched Cobalt run through the hole in the fence and then followed behind his stepson.   Lucky for the family of five, they had gotten to the warehouse without any trouble from human or the cars they possessed that could injure or kill an animal.  Once Laurel and Onyx were safely inside he looked his family over before leading them to the door that gained entrance into the warehouse itself, not knowing of the trials that would await them by joining.

Cobalt had been silent as the family trotted through the streets, along a fence line and through a hole to see a large building before them.  He had followed Inigo into the house and his mother came behind him with Onyx in her maw.  The pup looked around with wide eyes until the sound of clicking nails caught the pup's attention and he turned his head to see a dog coming towards them, a dog that was different from the border collie and dalmation that Cobalt knew.    "Who are you?" Cobalt questioned as he stepped foward to stand at his stepfather's hocks while staring at the Doberman that walked towards them.   

Laurel set Onyx down at her paws as she looked around her before her eyes noticed the Doberman coming towards them. Yet the mother dog made no move towards the other canine, knowing her breed hadn't been bred for fighting unlike the other female.   As she looked around, she caught sight of another border collie.  These were the two dogs that Inigo had mentioned then.    "Inigo said you could offer us a home from humans?" she asked.  

Laurel kept her gaze on the Doberman as it approached and said that a compromise had been made between her mate of which she shot a glare to which he just glared back until she broke eye contact.  Turning her gaze back to the stranger, her eyes darting to the collie who stood by but didn't speak, saying that they could take ranks and she could care for her pups as long as needed before choosing a rank.   Looking at Cobalt and then down at Onyx, she thought over the offer before the female replied to her son's question, saying that she was called Tempest Sinclare though Laurel was unsure why they had last names and middle names. They were canines, not people.  

"I want to be a hunter," Cobalt said suddenly, causing a sigh to escape the mother dog.  Ever since he'd found out that Inigo hunted game and been taken on a hunting trip in the field nearby their den to catch a mouse, the pup had wanted to become a hunter.   

"Cobalt," Laurel snapped in her son's direction, causing the pup to look at his mother before his tail went between his legs at his mother's sharp tone.   Considering the question carefully and sparing another long look at her mate who nodded, the female sighed.    "Do you have need of a medic or whatever you call those heal others?"  Laurel asked.   It was what she could get as she wasn't sure if the rank of Delta existed.     After a moment she said, "...and thank you for letting us join your...the two of you," she said nodding a greeting to Conga.  

Conga watched the family as they began to decide their positions in the pack and find the paths that they would take as they embarked on a new journey. The sight left a warm but aching feeling in the collie’s devastated heart for she had been asked the same question long ago in the same alley that Tempest had found Inigo. The path she had chosen was painful yet undeniably beautiful, even in all of the death and despair the happy memories lingered above the dull ache reminding her of the love and companionship only found within a pack. Despite their weariness she knew that the family would not regret their decision, for they too would find their place, a place where their souls could rage yet still have a sense of peace. Perhaps this new start is what she had needed, not so that she would forget but so that she could remember.

Upon hearing her Queen’s introduction she stepped forward in a state of composure, to stand at the Doberman’s side as she always had. “It is truly a pleasure to have you and your family here. I go by the name of Conga Sicarius Elsinore. I look forward to the future of our pack with your presence.” The dame introduced herself with the dip of her head and words graced with her convivial tone.

Laurel looked at Conga as the female dog spoke, introducing herself as Conga which was an odd name but rather unique compared to her own and nodded as she finished speaking, saying she looked forward to the future.    Hearing from the Doberman that she could be the female dipped her head in thanks and then watched as the Doberman approached Cobalt before looking down at Onyx who had woken up with the chatter.  

Cobalt titled his head as the Doberman approached him, still not sure what a Doberman was though he had heard it mentioned he thought during the introductions.  The pup had been too busy looking around him for the sign of any more pups to play with but didn't see any.  Maybe they were sleeping?  Cobalt had been sleeping until Inigo came back and woke the pup up and he still hadn't had any dinner.  Looking at Inigo who shook his head, the pup sighed...apparently he would have to wait for his meal.   As the Doberman asked his name, the pup tilted his head.  Maybe she was deaf? "I'm Cobalt...Os...i..ris Nem...i...ses," he said, having to sound out his middle and last names.  

Inigo had remained quiet, only glaring at Laurel as she glared at him until the female turned away.   But when things had been said with his mate agreeing and voicing her own rank choice as well as Cobalt putting in his paw's worth, the Doberman looked the family over and then left after speaking briefly to Conga.  The male  border collie walked to his mate and set the chicken down before taking one of the hot dogs in his maw and tugging on it until the chain unwound from his neck.  Snapping the chain in half, he set one half before Cobalt and lay down to eat the other half.  Since Onyx couldn't eat meat yet, she would depend on her mother's milk until at least six weeks when she would begin to be weaned to meat.  

Assuming her Queen had set out to recover more potential members the collie simply dipped her cranium in response to the departure before sitting down while the family indulged in their meal. “Regarding the warehouse there is not too much to see other than our sleeping area and where we store extra food. It is up to you if you have the energy to explore the rest of our territory today.” She calmly articulated so they could think it over while eating. Her own stomach was filled from a hunt earlier in the day. She couldn't help but admire their two pups, she had never gotten the chance to have any of her own with her previous two mates with the exception of her adopted pup Cobra who had disappeared as most things in her life had.

"I think that we will retire after eating," said Laurel as she ate the chicken while Cobalt ate the hot dogs one-by-one that Inigo broke in half.   "It's been a long day and these two have to get to bed," she said looking down at Onyx and then at Cobalt.  

“That is quite understandable. Perhaps we can go explore the territory tomorrow. Inigo can help hunt and you could look for herbs, as we do not have a very big store of them currently.” The dame hummed out her proposition as she lowered herself down to lie on the warehouse’s cement floor, waiting for her Queen’s return.

The regal female walked without hesitation. She didn't care of the humans as she walked. She wondered if any other dogs would be out. If not she would return to the warehouse for the night. She felt better for the pack had grown just a tad. To her it was better than nothing. She walked into an ally and sat down. She began to think of the night when it was only her and Conga, laying in that box as rain poored. Both heart broken and dead inside yet the two stuck together. The memory made the Alpha's heart hurt. "Loyal to the end..." She whispered gently.

She wondered the streets for what seemed like hours but she finally returned to the warehouse in silence. Her body was chilled from the cooling night. She walked over to Conga and laid down beside the fluffy dog, the warm of her friend quickly taking over her.

Whilst the family was finishing their meal and retiring for the night Conga remained sprawled across the floor, kept awake by a wandering mind and a worried heart. Tempest had been all Conga truly had for her entire life, she was the first to accept her when no one else ever had. Not only had she given her a home, but she had also given her hope, something no one else could have offered. Even when the pack had dispersed and left them alone and numb with despair the Doberman had always been there for her. The collie had been beaten and abused, she had watched her friends and first love die, and been abandoned by her second, but her Queen had always allowed her to remain by her side. If anything were to happen to her the enchantress was sure her walls would break, for they had already been worn thin. This apprehension was what kept her awake until a familiar scent filled her nares and a body frozen by the night rested against her side. Finally at ease she began to drift off to sleep, pressing closer to her one and only Queen.

The Dark Queen did not so quickly fall alseep. She listened to the world around her. She watched the small family. She looked down to the collie laying beside her. This was happening. The Doberman watched, and just listened. For she had grown wise in her four short years and learned the world around her best at night. She couldn't seem to get her mind to rest. She also wanted to get up again and walk back out into the city but the sleeping collie at her side stoped her. Finally, resting her head down on her paws, The regal drifted off into a very light sleep.

Yet morning quickly came to end the peace of sleep. Standing she walked over to the other sleeping collie, Inigo. She gave him a nudge. "Time to hunt." She gave a whisper to him as he awoke and walked outside to wait on him. The cool air took over her body as she looked around the early morning.

Inigo yawned as he woke, having been curled up beside Cobalt all night after their meal and raised his head to see Tempest vanishing out the door.  Getting to his paws, he  made his way to the door and with a last look at his family disappeared outside where he stretched out his body and legs.  "I guess this is a time to see the territory as well," he said with another yawn.  

Inigo followed Tempest through the hole in the fence only they ended up turning left instead of right towards the city.  Puzzled, he followed her, having not caught the bit about the forest as he was still a bit sleepy.  The question made him stumble though as he was surprised by it.  "Two and a half weeks," he said.   "Onyx wasn't born until half a week after we arrived but Laurel was close to her time which is why we made our den where we did.  She's two weeks old now though."