Ghost Town (Any)

[Wesley]

Wesley sighed as he walked along the streets of Hallow. It had been quiet lately. Even the humans weren't as carefree as they usually were. He could sense children around him, but they dared not approach the alpha. Perhaps their parents had warned them of rabies? The dog shuddered at the thought. Rabies? In his village? Out of the question! Any dog carrying that dreadful disease would have been chased out of Hallow upon sight. No, something else was going on here. Perhaps the shadow of Sallin had finally reached Hallow. Or perhaps the borzoi was just being paranoid.

Still, it bothered the male that he couldn't hear the precious sounds of pups and children playing on the cobblestone streets, or the murmuring of pack members gossiping about one thing or another. And doggonit, he even missed the annoying sounds of new members asking streams of questions! Where was everybody?

Wes veered away from the street and sat down next to the open shack of the village blacksmith. This was one of his favorite places. It was nice and warm with plenty of different sounds to guess at. Although they could get annoying, it was the perfect place to sleep during the fall and winter months. Now if only he could find someone to talk to...

[Squeeji]

The sound of paws hitting pavement and an exuberant yip, seemed to break the silence of Hallow village as the big blond female was currently running from god knows what, but from the sounds of some human yelling, Stevie had gotten into something.

With a screeching slide, she stopped by Wesley and the blacksmith's shack, panting, a wide toothy grin on her face as she caught her breath. "Damn...that butcher is somehow getting limber in his old age..." she chuckled somewhat, and plopped down on her haunches all too cocky as she shook her head to swish her ears back into place. "But he still can't figure how to lock his rubbage pails for crap..."

The stray was a bit of a trouble maker, but unlike most of her ilk, she was woefully not afraid of the humans or dogs that called Hallow home. "Evenin' Wes...how's it goin'?" she gave the alpha a playful poke with her paw, which was a bit more of a shove than she had intended as her fringed tail hit the cobblestones with a muffled *thump thump thump* of a wag.

[Wesley]

Wesley's ears perked. The sounds of a far-off struggle were suddenly enhanced as they crashed into the streets. Within mere moments, the Alpha could hear the scratching of claws on cobblestones as a larger canine veered into his alley. The scent a a female wafted up to him. Stevie. The hound gave a wide grin. There was no surprise here. She was getting into trouble once again.

"Damn...that butcher is somehow getting limber in his old age..."

"His heart won't last long if you don't improve on your thieving abilities," he commented dryly.

"But he still can't figure how to lock his rubbage pails for crap..."

Wes chuckled, joining the well-muscled female for a sit-down. He could use a conversation. Perhaps he'd hear some news about the goings-on with the pets of the city or wether or not they'd had any problems at the edge of the town. Missing dogs were becoming quite frequent. Not in Hallow, of course, but the threat was there.

"Evenin' Wes...how's it goin'?"

"Going well. And yourself? Aside from your run-in with the town butcher... You realize, he has more weapons stashed in there than you can shake a paw at, right?"

[Squeeji]

"Pah...if it got easier it wouldn't be so much fun." Stevie smacked her lips, obviously she had gotten something, and had wolfed it down on the run, giving a bit of a swallow to make sure that everything went down right now that she was settled. "And if he fancies some weapons...well, just means I'm gonna be having a gas pretty soon..." she clucked her tongue as she smirked almost wistfully wishing that it had come to that.

"Good times, good times..." she trailed off for a minute, deep in thought until she noticed that the alpha had asked her a question. "Oh ah...me? Fine mostly, nothin' to complain about...well...cept that is boring as holy hell 'round here..."

The scout scoffed, making a slight woofling sound in the process, "Doesn't that get t'ya? Its too quiet...suppose a guy like you would notice that right off the bat. But its gettin' to me...I haven't seen any wolves or anything about either...so what gives?" Of course by this point she was already up on her paws, pacing a bit as she spoke, her course voice grumbling a bit as she was spouting off. "I think something is up."

[Wesley]

"Doesn't that get t'ya? Its too quiet...suppose a guy like you would notice that right off the bat. But its gettin' to me...I haven't seen any wolves or anything about either...so what gives?" Of course by this point she was already up on her paws, pacing a bit as she spoke, her course voice grumbling a bit as she was spouting off. "I think something is up."

Wesley followed the sound of her paws with his head, pointing his muzzle to where he guessed her head was. He could only picture her form in his mind. Color was a mystery to him, but he knew by the sound of her steps that she was muscular. By the sound of her fur, he guessed a long-haired breed. Akbash? She wasn't a Pyrenees. He knew that by her personality. As much as he enjoyed it, he through the guessing game aside and focused on her words.

"As long as our members don't wander off and get themselves into trouble with the canines outside our borders, Hallow shouldn't have much to worry about," he said, attempting to calm her down.

What he said was true, but that didn't stop the worry in his own mind. It was a constant fact that Hallow could be pulled into whatever was going on out there. Everything was so eerily silent, as if Arnlan's shadow had muted the forest. It would all come to pieces when they lost their first dog. And the pack would bare fangs at Sallin.

[Squeeji]

"As long as our members don't wander off and get themselves into trouble with the canines outside our borders, Hallow shouldn't have much to worry about."

Stevie just chuckled a little, shaking her head as she finally settled down some, of course, it was obvious her amusement was more dark than sincere. "So, you're saying...we should probably worry?" She wasn't so dumb to know that a stray dogs were bound to find trouble when left to their own.

That was just personal experience.

"Some pack outside of the villain has already been sniffing around you know...? Reeks of half breeds on the eastern border." The blond grunted, chewing a bit on her front claws as she hummed and hawed over the whole ordeal, it was only a matter of time before Hallow would have to break their vows of peace. Because the wolf wars would soon be in their own backyards. "Though...I haven't caught sight of 'em just yet..."

[Wesley]

"So, you're saying...we should probably worry?"

Wes laughed openly, taking great amusement in Stevie's humor. It was appreciated. The seriousness of the situation was, indeed, starting to wear at him. He had almost even forgotten the last time he had ever smiled.

"Some pack outside of the villain has already been sniffing around you know...? Reeks of half breeds on the eastern border. Though...I haven't caught sight of 'em just yet..."

"Yes, it seems that the trouble is starting to drive the wolfdogs out of their dens to move further from the Sallinian land," the alpha commented, turning his ears toward the eastern border. In his mind, he watched silently as gleaming white, bodyless eyes shined through the darkness. They would seek refuge. The world wasn't big enough to run forever.

"We should be prepared to help when the time comes," he continued, his ears and eyes focusing on where the bigger dog had been, "Just in case. Though, the last thing I want is for Hallow to participate in the war. Perhaps it would be best to train ourselves to be stronger. Sallin would soon back off if they found that we were a little more than pampered house pets."

[Squeeji]

Stevie's little chuckled soon turned into a full on cackle as the other dog seemed her joke was fit to be laughed at, but it was hard for her to get a hold of herself after wards, she was still snickering a bit as they talked about more pressing matters.

""Yes, it seems that the trouble is starting to drive the wolfdogs out of their dens to move further from the Sallinian land...We should be prepared to help when the time comes"

"You make it sound like Arnlan doesn't give half-breeds trouble, hell, nobody wants 'em...Sallin makes use of em...those shadow wolves chase 'em out...Synl tolerates em...and I don't think we even allow em." The blond cocked a brow, even if Wesley couldn't see it, she was trying to make a bit of a point, no one was innocent. "But...I know why we don't allow em much...humans find them...untrustworthy." Of course, an old fighter like her...they also looked upon her with weary eyes. Just another dangerous stray. "I'll keep an eye out for the upright lookin sorts, and let em in..." The big female laughed a little and then quieted down, her expression getting stony as the Bosnian Hound spoke.

"Just in case. Though, the last thing I want is for Hallow to participate in the war. Perhaps it would be best to train ourselves to be stronger. Sallin would soon back off if they found that we were a little more than pampered house pets."

After awhile Stevie let out a long drawn out sigh and could be heard pacing again. "If we take in those mutts, we'll no doubt put a target on our heads...but we're lucky really. Wolves are are skiddish and superstitious lot...humans make them nervous..." The wolves and hybrids of her old pack had rather died than enter a village, and in the end, they had...she shivered a bit and shook herself with a grunt. "But it never hurts to be prepared!"

Again, the mutt was sounding chipper again, her tail wagging furiously as she finally sat back down.

[Wesley]

"You make it sound like Arnlan doesn't give half-breeds trouble, hell, nobody wants 'em...Sallin makes use of em...those shadow wolves chase 'em out...Synl tolerates em...and I don't think we even allow em. But...I know why we don't allow em much...humans find them...untrustworthy. I'll keep an eye out for the upright lookin sorts, and let em in..."

"Hallow will allow those who can look and act the part of a common stray. Others will have to beg Synl for help or make it on their own. Maybe Rakine will offer assistance. I havn't heard from Faline in quite some time..."

Wesley frowned as he spoke of the Port's alpha female. Even the neighboring dogs have been silent. Stevie was right. There really was cause for concern here. Perhaps it would be best to send a scout their way with orders to be extremely cautious. He hoped no tragedy had befallen the sea-fairing pack.

"If we take in those mutts, we'll no doubt put a target on our heads...but we're lucky really. Wolves are are skiddish and superstitious lot...humans make them nervous... But it never hurts to be prepared!"

"If it comes to the worst, I suppose we'll order everyone to keep to the center of the village and the pets to stay indoors. Or, better yet, ask every stray to find a home for themselves. Or at least a human establishment where they would be safe and welcome..." he said, basically thinking out loud. Even if he hadn't meant for Stevie to hear his thought process, it was, perhaps, best that she know in case all hell broke lose.

[Squeeji]

"Hallow will allow those who can look and act the part of a common stray. Others will have to beg Synl for help or make it on their own. Maybe Rakine will offer assistance. I haven't heard from Faline in quite some time..."

Stevie nodded a bit, trying to think of something to respond, she was a fighter, and not much of a thinker if she had to be, already she had exhausted a lot of her know how. But still she would try her best to keep up with the other dog. "The sea dogs? I'm sure they got their ranks full of rowdy beasts that could hold their own." Though she didn't want to say it, or at the very least...didn't want to agree with Wesley, but Hallow wasn't made up of anything but soft pets...a few working dogs, and generally less than capable strays. "Of course, someone would have to brave it out there to go talk to them..."

The scout wondered if perhaps, he meant her, since she was almost certain there weren't any other scouts, the majority of Hallow were pets.

"If it comes to the worst, I suppose we'll order everyone to keep to the center of the village and the pets to stay indoors. Or, better yet, ask every stray to find a home for themselves. Or at least a human establishment where they would be safe and welcome..."

"Oh...Wesley, I've...never really had to deal with humans before..." This was where Stevie was out of her element, she wasn't the pet sort, and she was no working dog, she was a mutt, a feral one at that...never mind the mothers kept their human pups from her on account of the old fighting wounds.

[Wesley]

"Oh...Wesley, I've...never really had to deal with humans before..."

"Well it's easy as long as you don't steal from them right off," Wes answered, grinning at his own joke.

In truth, the hound couldn't really explain how to deal with humans. It was something that came naturally to him. As he thought more on the subject, he had an idea. Owners often looked or acted like their dogs. Maybe dogs also acted and looked a bit like their owners. Maybe Wes couldn't see, but there was no reason he couldn't be of some help.

"Maybe we can match you to someone in town. There's a lot of humans looking for good companions," he suggested.

[Squeeji]

"Well it's easy as long as you don't steal from them right off."

Stevie made a bit of a grunt and then rolled her eyes at the blind dog, frowning a little. "Oh...hardy har har." Of course, it was all in good fun, she didn't honestly take offense or for that matter care about Wesley's little comment. So eventually she was smiling again.

"Maybe we can match you to someone in town. There's a lot of humans looking for good companions."

"I highly doubt I qualify as a good companion..." There certainly was some hesitation in the way she spoke, even her ears dipped back a little thinking about it. "But...well..."

It wasn't long before that moment of uncertainty snapped the other direction, and the bold dog was thumping her chest and grumbling. "Of course I could, Hell, I mean it can't be that hard." After all, if Wes could do it, if Logan could do it...hell, she could do it -better-.

[Wesley]

"I highly doubt I qualify as a good companion... But...well... Of course I could, Hell, I mean it can't be that hard."

"That's the spirit," Wesley said, nodding approvingly.

The grin on his face slowly subsided as he thought his idea over. He had to admit, it was creative, but wasn't sure it'd work for most of them. Perhaps it would be a good idea to train those who were left on the streets after everyone else found a home. Besides, humans wouldn't really be keen on taking in a dog who they'd seen sparring with another dog earlier.

"Perhaps it would do well to speak with Echo about this first, but I really do think it's our best option," he mused.

Wesley stood up slowly. Now that the hound had something to do, the town itself seemed to be a bit more lively. He could hear human children getting their coats on for a run outside. If the bigger ones caught a pair of dogs on the streets, they'd be sure to be run off soon.

"In the mean time, Stevie, keep a good eye out on the border. Send away anyone who carries even a hint of Sallin on their pelts."

[Squeeji]

Wesley's enthusiasm was met with a hearty "Meh." from the large female, really, Stevie wasn't all too certain, but still, she could at least shop around when she wasn't too busy. However, she made sure that she was more or less busy most if not all of the time.

"Well I wouldn't want to bother your missus just because of something like that." She shook her head as he brought up Echo, "It's really not that important." At least it wasn't to her. "'Sides, I gotta keep the big bad wolf from knockin' down your door." A toothy grin passed over her lips as she thought about it. "Someone has to..."

As the humans started to mill about, Stevie froze, tensing up a bit while her mirth quickly, faded. "I should...probably make myself scarce..."she woofled, tail drooping as she caught first sight of one of the smaller human pups. "I'll keep the peace." she promised the blind alpha with a curt nod, and a swift retreat.