{Paloma}
Down the street was a fast-food restaurant that the others called McDonald’s. I had heard of it before and sort of recognized the yellow symbols on the front of the building, but differentiating this place from the tons of others that looked and smelled just like it was difficult—being illiterate didn’t help either.
We slowed down for a bit so everyone could look-over the parking lot for clues of that the captured halfers had passed through. There were strong scents that smelled unmistakably of halfers. Trails of a few individuals twisted and intertwined together, but I recognized Jethro amongst them; which made me worry for him and hope he was okay.
I appreciated the stop because behind the McDonald’s there were a few half-eaten burgers and discarded fries, which was enough to fill me up for tonight.
The six of us continued down a long stretch of road, following the scent of halfers and the van that took them, until we reached a big house. Lights from inside a dozen windows on its side wall cast a yellow glow on the snow, as though the house had its own sun shining from the inside. I knew they were just house lights, but their beauty and novelty had never worn off for me.
Claudia sniffed at the sight of it, undaunted by its tall height. Prince, I thought, seemed a bit uneasy at first, but he obviously wanted something of value inside the house. Ren’s emotions were a bit more difficult to figure, though, I trusted that he was just as confident as Claudia. The two siblings, Zack and Zoey, put on brave faces and stared at the house as though challenging it. They were all so sure of themselves.
A negative aura coming of the house grew stronger as we approached, ebbing away at what little will I had to fight, but the others looked unaffected. How could they be so strong? Maybe it was the trust they had in their own species, or our pack—that is, if our group could even be called a “pack.”
Claudia stood at the doorstep and huffed as a chunk of snow slid of the edge of the roof and crashed on her head. Her face turned red with irritation and Prince stifled a laugh. As Claudia’s hand touched the door knob, the door swung wide open and we came face to face with Jethro, and two others: an older, delightfully cat-scented silver-haired girl, and a surprised child with vivid burgundy eyes.
Another young pup—a girl with pretty, wheat-colored hair—craned her neck over Jethro’s shoulder and caught Zack’s eye.
“Belk!” Zack shouted with joy. Zack and Zoey ran forth to reunite with the girl and tackle her with love and hugs.
Jethro looked tired and disheveled, but it was so good to see that he was okay! I wanted to wag my tail and jump around him to show him how good I felt, but I kept under control in front of the others.
He tugged on the older girl’s silver hair and gestured towards us, “Coming?” And she nodded in reply.
Jethro and his three friends walked out the door to meet us. Claudia lunged at Jethro and slapped him across the face.
His eyebrows knitted in confusion and he rubbed his tender cheek. “Ouch,” he hissed.
“Do you know how worried we were?!” Claudia fumed.
“Aww, you were worried?” He smirked.
Claudia’s face flushed a bright shade of pink and she looked at the ground in embarrassment, “I wasn’t particularly….”
Jethro focused on Ren and I, “It’s good to see ya’ll safe.”
I tilted my head innocently to the side and Ren flashed a friendly smile.
“Paloma, he didn’t do anything creepy, did he?” Jethro asked jokingly.
“Wh-What?!” Ren stuttered in confusion and I shook my head.
“Dude, I’m just kidding with you!” Jethro said as he nudged Ren’s side.
Despite being his normal, cheery self, Jethro looked ill. His knees buckled for a moment and his breathing grew more labored, but he steadied himself to give Ren a hug. There was the disturbing smell of blood on him.
“Thank goodness ya’ll are safe! I was a bit worried ya’know? I saw some of your moves though, dude. Pretty cool!” He leaned on Ren’s shoulder and started panting heavily.
“Jethro, are you okay?” Ren asked worriedly.
Jethro’s brown eyes rolled back and he collapsed onto the snow.
“JETHRO?!” Ren and I exclaimed in unison.
Everybody gathered around him.
Claudia leaned down and tapped his shoulder a few times. “Jethro? Jethro! Wake up you stupid mutt! Why do you always become unconscious when we’re around?! Get up!”
In the corner of my eye, I saw a young, human guard watching Jethro intently with a cruel smirk on his face.
......................................................................
Plot advancement fail >> Oh, well. Continue?
To Abyss, I'm sorry I don't post when I say I will -.- *shot* Also, I'm really looking forward to that bonfire ;)
~Featured (in order of appearance)
-Paloma
-Claudia
-Prince
-Ren
-Zack
-Zoey
-Jethro
-Kari
-Makina
-Belk
=Hugh
