Eyes on the Prize (Open)

[Nachty]

Anthony laid sprawled out on the hard floor of the butcher shop next to the counter as he always did. Just because he was in a new village didn't mean he had to change his routine. He picked his head up from time to time as a new customer would enter the shop, brown eyes analyzing the situation. Nothing interesting today and the mutt was starting to fall asleep, cropped ears drooping slightly. Anthony was just about to drift off into dreamland when a sudden noise distrurbed the lull.

"Puppy!" the noise was accompanied by a rough pat on his head. Startled he yelped and looked up, glaring at whatever it was with annoyance. It was a human pup, here with it's mother, and Anthony immediately calmed down. It was only a pup. Not a threat at all. He tolerated a few more pats on the head before the human pup left with it's mother, and Anthony decided to watch them go out.

"Time to close shop, boy," came his master's familiar voice. Anthony knew what those words implied and hopped up onto his paws, docked tail wagging excitedly. It was the end of the day. Time for a treat. He watched his master walk to the back where the meats were stored and the dobe mix began to salivate. What special scrap was he getting today? Some lamb? Veal? Or perhaps his favorite, a bit of sirloin steak! Then his master came back holding a ham bone with some bits of meat still in tact and definitely some marrow locked inside. With a happy yip Anthony took the prize and trotted outside holding it up as high as he could.

He found a spot outside the shopp, laid down and began to naw at the bone, savoring the taste and just having a good bit of fun watching as people passed and eyeing suspiciously any other dogs that might steal his prize.

[Squeeji]

Stevie licked at a wound on her fore paw with a grunt, the gash had been caused when a particularly rowdy hybrid had tried to start something with her. Which she had made certain she ended it. The mutt smirked, running her tongue over her teeth all too pleased. If someone thought she looked bad, they should have seen the other guy.

By now, she was considering the numb pain as a bit of a trophy, her ears and tail held tall as she high stepped through her new pack's territory like she owned the place.

Perhaps she would have gone on, bypassing Anthony completely, if it hadn't been for his protective behavior, as the female took a few steps past the male, and then, took a few steps back. "Whatja got there?" she tilted her head, looking at him, and then the bone intently, a faint little smirk passing over her muzzle as her tail started to wag lazily. "Hmmmm?"

She really didn't recognize Anthony at all, which made her all the more up in his space, a bit of a wuh coming out of her throat. Wuh, wuh wuh...

[Nachty]

Anthony picked up his head slightly as the female passed, pausing from gnawing on the bone for a moment. He moved his head over his bone and growled "None of your business, nosy." No way was anyone touching his bone. He'd worked hard "guarding" the shop to get it. He raised his hackles defensively trying to look bigger. However, as he allowed his initial defensiveness to subside Anthony could tell the other meant no harm so he eased up ever so slightly.

"Say...who are you anyway?" he asked, tail twitching in curiosity. Anthony saw the female's tail wagging now and let the twitching turn into more of a thump. He picked his head up from the bone a little more but still rested a large paw on top of it just in case. He still had no idea who this dog was, regardless of their seemingly friendly tone.

[Squeeji]

"None of your business, nosy."

"Relax Fido, I didn't want you little...whatever you got there." Stevie rolled her paw around at Anthony as he made a big production about how he was protecting his bone. She had already eaten, and besides, if she had wanted his food, she would have taken it already.

But still, she hrumphed a little, obviously insulted, not so much that he thought she was thief, but more that he would ever imagine she'd want his human's castoffs. "Besides, I know how to get real meat...not scraps." she whipped her head about, bristling a bit and flicking her feathery fur out of the way.

Though as soon as it seemed she was upset, she just rolled her shoulders and with that...it seemed the anger went with her. "I'm Stevie, one of the scouts here...now, more importantly, who are you? I haven't seen you around." She spoke with authority, perhaps authority higher than her station, but the confidence was there.

[Nachty]

Anthony's ears laid flat on his head, not at all enjoying being talked down to. Especially having his bone called scraps. He wrinkled his maw in a half snarl but with no noise. "I could get 'real' meat if I wanted to..." he mumbled almost inaudibly to himself, not wanting to sound more defensive than he was already feeling. He was about to whip out a nasty comment when Stevie's mood completely changed, throwing the male through a bit of a loop. Did all females' emotions changes like this?

Pricking his ears forward the black dog replied, "The name's Anthony, and I just moved here not that long ago." His expression was much more relaxed now but something Stevie had said made him wonder. "And you said you're a scout. You mean with that pack of dogs around here?" Anthony's defensiveness had given away to genuine curiosity. He remembered the packs of dogs that lived in his old town, and he didn't remember them being exactly peaceful.

[nightblood]

Logan eyed his master greedily. Jeremy had just layed down for a nap. He always slept for a long time in the afternoon. The red dog inched forward, careful not to scratch his claws noisily across the floor. Closer... ever closer... It was almost time. One more moment... He'd waited for so long...

"HNNNNNNH...!"

The Irish terrier almost jumped out of his fur at the sound of it, both of surprise and of joy. Jeremy had left the latch up on the doggy door. Now was his chance to tour the village again! Logan ran full-out through the house, taking no notice of whatever he bumped into. There was absolutely no sound that could ever pull his master out of that deep slumber. The pup was out the door and tumbling over the stairs in an instant.

Logan breathed in the cool autumn breeze as it ruffled his fur. It was a wonderful change from the stuffy air inside. Without a moment to lose, he bolted across the street and down an alley way, the same alley where he had seen his first stray, the blind alpha called Wesley. He had been around the village enough now to know most of it by heart. Wes was usually the one who accompanied him, but this time he was no where to be found. Probably off doing important alpha stuff. Maybe Stevie was around?

No sooner had he thought the name, the big female appeared in his peripheral vision. Logan stopped and wagged his tail and was about to call out to her when he spotted the big black dog with a- WAS THAT A BONE?!

Logan's mouth started to water as he eyed the meat-covered skeletal fragment. He was full from his puppy chow, but that didn't stop him from wanting to sink his fangs into a nice, juicy butcher's bone. Then again, as he began to remember exactly where he was, he began to notice that they were both right in front of the butcher's shop! What? Were they suicidal?! Logan whimpered in concern and trotted over to the pair, creeping up and keeping a good distance between him and the strange male. He didn't know him and he liked his face the way it was currently arranged. He paused behind Stevie's hind paw and watched the scene for a moment, wondering when it would be a good time to speak. That bone, however, was making it hard to keep quiet and his mouth started watering again as he wagged his tail.

[Squeeji]

"Um...yea, that pack." One of Stevie's ears flopped over a little as she was snuffling a bit, just scenting the air as she was chatting, sure she was more than happy to converse with the local pets, but she was still mindful of what was going on. Just because she wasn't sure if this Anthony was a friend...or if he was just acting like it. "Just keeping the streets safe...y'know?"

Really that was something she took great pride in, she was good at keeping the brick-a-brack out of the village, keeping both dog and human from harm at ruffian's jaws.

She smiled a little at the black male as she felt something creep up along her hock, she turned and wagged her tail, "From little monsters just like this!" she looked at Logan and laughed, huffing over the pup as she sniffed him over, a bit rough, but friendly-like

[Nachty]

Anthony listened intently to Stevie. So she WAS part of Hallow's local pack. Interesting. Very interesting. And guarding the streets too? This just got better by the second.

Anthony was about to make a remark when he noticed movement behind the female. The black dog watched the red mass of fur carefully but then eased up as he realized it was a pup. He had never been able to get riled up at pups. They were just too...well they were just too darn adorable.

"A little monster, eh?" he grinned, amusement apparent in his voice. He could see the pup was staring at his bone but he didn't feel as protective. It was a pup after all. He wasn't going to pick on a pup. That just wouldn't be nice, and he wanted to keep as good a reputation up as he could.

"He looks vicious," he added, feigning worry. "I'd better watch my tail." Anthony whimpered jokingly but couldn't help letting out a small laugh. Pups always made him want to act like one of them, and he wasn't sure whether that was good or not.

[nightblood]

"Just keeping the streets safe...y'know? From little monsters just like this!"

Logan gasped as he suddenly realized he had been noticed. He looked up at the big female, ears pinned to his skull. Despite the joke, it was still possible that he had interrupted something important. He walked stiffly forward, keeping close to Stevie's legs. As much as he feared punishment from her, he was still in the presence of the stranger. He'd like to keep all five limbs if possible.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the retriever mutt started to sniff him all over, pushing him around with her muzzle. The terrier giggled and batted at her nose, shooing her away. It was now apparent that he wouldn't be getting a reprimand today. Even the big stranger seemed to take a liking to him. Gosh, he was glad he was so cute!

"A little monster, eh? He looks vicious. I'd better watch my tail."

Logan growled and stood up sharply, though still wagging his tail in play. He knew from his voice that the male was joking. He'd play along. Act the tough puppy for him. It was all fun and games till the black dog lost a slice of meat. Then it was victory!

"Grr! That's right! I'll hang your tail by my master's fireplace if you don't do what I say!" he snarled, trying to hide his laugh.

It was no good. The pup couldn't keep up with the act. That bone was distracting him. He relaxed his muscles and perked his ears forward again, letting his tail swing back and forth behind him.

"Can I have a piece?"

[Squeeji]

As Logan kept pushing at Stevie's nose, the big female snorted, laughing a bit as she wrinkled her muzzle a bit and sneezed. "Well, he's certainly a trouble maker...that's for sure." For a moment she gave the pup a more appraising look, wondering how, and why he was out unsupervised.

But for now she let it pass. At least he wasn't harmed, and that's all Wesley or Echo would be concerned about...the pup's safety.

Stevie watched on with a passive look on her face, not certain if she should bother intervening with the pup's play, it seemed Anthony didn't mind, so she wasn't about to haul off and deliver Logan back to his home...yet.

[Nachty]

Anthony looked down at his bone for a second then looked back up at the pup. Sitting up he removed himself from the bone and nodded. "Yeah sure, you can have it. My master's got plenty of them anyway." It was those damn puppy eyes. They did him in all the time, and he couldn't say no. Anthony shook his head. He was one sorry excuse for a guard dog. The mutt looked back up at Stevie who had spoken again.

"Well, he's certainly a trouble maker...that's for sure."

Anthony just smiled, "Well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him. Don't want him makin' a mess or anythin'." He returned his attention to the dog he'd given up his prize to, "So what's yer name anyway, pup?"

[nightblood]

"Yeah sure, you can have it. My master's got plenty of them anyway."

"Just a taste..." the pup assured as he jumped forward to sink his teeth into the meat.

"Well, he's certainly a trouble maker...that's for sure."

"I am not!" Logan shouted indignantly at the blonde mutt, "Big meanie..."

"Well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him. Don't want him makin' a mess or anythin'."

He placed a paw over the large bone and started tugging at a particularly tough piece of meat, tail starting to wag as he enjoyed the taste of the treat. It was wonderful! He'd only gotten a few table scraps in his entire life. Most of his food was comprised of soggy kibble and week-old water. He didn't need soggy kibble anymore! He had his grown-up-teeth already! He took out his frustrations and growled at the meat as he struggled to pull it off the bone. Finally it broke off and he was sent tumbling toward Stevie's front paw.

"So what's yer name anyway, pup?"

"Logan," he answered, slightly distracted as he batted at the meat in his mouth. It was stuck to his teeth, so his name sounded more like "Lougahnh". Finally, the treat dropped to the ground and he instinctively jumped for it, trapping it in his paws. "How about yours?"

[Squeeji]

"Say please, and thank you."

Stevie grumbled as she reminded the pup on his manners so he didn't get himself eaten. And yet she was still called mean! Hell if it had been her pup, she'd have given him a nip already for being so rude, then again, she was just brought up rough that way. She always knew her place growing up.

"Well, I'll be sure to keep an eye on him. Don't want him makin' a mess or anythin'."

"Ehhhh, the way I see it, if he gets too far from his people and someone who'd look out for him...not much I can do." Maybe that was just a little reminder to Logan. Maybe a bit of a threat, who knew. But if the blond was angry, she certainly didn't look it, a slight smirk stuck to her muzzle as she watched the little monster play.

[Nachty]

((going away for the weekend so won't be able to post. I won't has no computer D: ))

"I'm Anthony, Tony if ya like," the large male grinned. "An' you can keep the bone. I don't mind really." Anthony's cropped tail was wagging slowly now that he was certain that he was surrounded by some friendly dogs. At least now he knew of some other dogs besides himself.

"Ehhhh, the way I see it, if he gets too far from his people and someone who'd look out for him...not much I can do."

Anthony shrugged as much as a dog would be able to. "Best not let that happen then,eh?" he replied with a confident grin and shifting his weight onto one haunch. "So, Stevie, I figure you'd know this, what exactly does this pck of yours do in a village anyway? With people around I don't really see the point to it." The large black dog tilted his head ever so slightly in confusion. Being a house pet he just could not wrap his mind around the thought of willingly avoiding human contact.

[nightblood]

"I'm Anthony, Tony if ya like. An' you can keep the bone. I don't mind really."

"Say please, and thank you."

"Please and thank you, Tony," Logan growled as he tore into the meat.

"Ehhhh, the way I see it, if he gets too far from his people and someone who'd look out for him...not much I can do."

Logan picked his head up sharply in surprise. The female was that cold?! He turned his head and snarled up at her, sticking out his tongue in disgust before turning back to the meal.

"Best not let that happen then,eh?"

The Irish terrier grunted in reply. He could look after himself, after all. He was almost a whole year old! He didn't need a bunch of sour-pusses tailing his every pawstep.

"So, Stevie, I figure you'd know this, what exactly does this pack of yours do in a village anyway? With people around I don't really see the point to it."

The pup wagged his tail and turned an ear toward Stevie, trying to hear her reply over his chewing. He was keen on being a scout one day and wanted to know how to handle these questions.