{!}Dog Days{!}

{!}Chapter One{!}

Loud booming erupted in the sky. Foamy liquid drizzled from a hanging jaw. Blood leaked from its ripped skin. Teeth only hanging from nerves. The coyote lifted his head and stared at the wounded dog. A growl slithering its way out of the throat of the dog as their eyes met. "Not so tough now, huh?" The coyote chuckled. The dog only hung its head in a deep shame. "Next!" A deep voice barked. The red coyote only replied with a glance behind him, seeing a black wolf.

The wolf was mangy and was only veiled with patches of matted fur. Another dog- a puppy stepped up. It only looked up to them with a pleading gaze. The coyote only turned his head and looked at the wolf.

"Well, Ardvick?" His taut voice only wavering as the wolf hardened his gaze. He sighed and turned slowly toward the pup, surprised to find another standing by it. He choked with a breath as he stared at the two, dreading what he knew needed to be done.

He took one step forward, and then a yelp was heard. He looked down to the pups and they were quivering. Their fear scent was the only thing the coyote could smell. They looked up at him with a small bit a hatred in their gaze, but mostly fear. The red coyote streaked forward and clamped his jaws around the pup's neck, hearing its cry almost breaking his ear. Canines screamed and wailed as they watched him slam its head on the rock below them. The other puppy darted away while letting out a shrill cry. Ardvick barked an odd order at a maned wolf and it darted after the fleeing young.

The crowding canids turned their heads to stare at the coyote. "How could you, Epidemic!?" A fox wailed. He lifted his chin and gave them a cowld stare as a reply. The fox spat out some curses and turned and slithered away out of sight. Epidemic lifted his head to the sky, only seeing the stars and moon in the big, black sky.

"Don't you think it's quitting time?" he asked as he turned toward the wolf. Ardvick looked away, thinking. He then nodded and stood.

"Quitting time! So scram until tomorrow!" He announced and immediately the canines dispersed from the clearing. Epidemic began to pad away until he heard someone call his name.

"Epi! You leavin' already?" The maned wolf from earlier asked in a teasing tone. Her dark muzzle fur coated in a crimson liquid. She leaned forward and licked his muzzle. "Why so silent, hm?"

"I don't know. This just ain't right! Killing the young and weak? I'd be fine with killing the young if we could eat them, don't get me wrong! But seeing them plea...." He trailed off and looked up at the maned wolf. Her face looking as if she wasn't convinced. He looked down, feeling embarrassed by these feelings. He'd always see the killings as normal until now.

"Epi...." She began to speaking until Ardvick jumped from his over hanging stone. He glanced at both of them and let out a low growl. Epidemic and the maned wolf dropped their gaze. The dark furred wolf then scoffed and dropped a gnarled dog leg.

"Eat. Might be the last time you do with all of this nonsensical chatter!" He snapped in Epidemic's face. The coyote looked the wolf in the eyes, almost as a challenge. He lifted his head and growled. The maned wolf slowly stepped forward and lifted her head. "You too, Wine?" Ardvick spat. Wine nodded and lifted her tail.

"This is a bad business, and that's coming from me, Ardvick." Epidemic whispered. Ardvick only looked at them with a gaze full of hatred. A gaze that could make any dog's stomach twist into a knot. He then dropped his gaze and walked away. Epidemic looked up at Wine. Their mouths both hung open. They both stood in silence for a moment until a drop of cold water dropped onto Wine's nose.

"It's about to rain. We should get somewhere seeing that Ardvick won't want us back after that." She murmured. Epidemic nodded. They both trotted from the stones, seeing their old acquaintances and home fade from sight.