Where Hell Really Is

[RandomWiktor]

The Story So Far:
Baby, a starving street dog who recently lost her litter, and Skelt, a gentle mannered bait dog, cross paths in an alleyway and exemplify the old cliche of misery loving company. Driven by compassion for the sickly female, Skelt goes on a mission to steal some frozen hot dogs - an action which attracts the attention of a starving puppy, creating among the trio a very tragic little rag-tag family.
Origional Thread

Last Two Posts:
Baby:
The wavering whimpers that came from the wasted female were the canine equivalents of fighting back tears. Like she had with Skelt, Baby's eager licking of the air began before the pup was even within range. Once he was near enough of course, he was blanketed with loving, healing, desperate affection.

She didn't care who he was, where his parents were, or what had happened to him. It didn't matter. He had suddenly become one of her lost pups, a ravaged soul like herself who needed all the care and comfort in the world. Heartbroken and thankful and terrified all at the same time, the female was absolutely overcome with emotion. Doing her best to somehow curl her body around the broken pup and shield him from the rest of the world, she couldn't help herself from simply going about trying to fix every wound, clean off every bit of dirt. It was as if she could make up for lost time, for both herself and the orphaned pup. Food was the very last thing on her mind.

[RandomWiktor]

<Dozzer melted into Sally's ribby form, tail wagging and whines rising high in his throat. His tail thumped the ground in a frenetic cadence, paws kneading the soil eagerly as he was enveloped in the female's unconditional affection and acceptance. He was overwhelmed with emotion, unsure of how to even feel aside from just damn good, and suddenly the terror of the streets and the pain of starvation was gone. All that remained was the warmth of Sally's scabby, thinly furred sides, the scent of her sickly reek. They were both broken, but together, they could just possibly be whole.>
<Skelt watched the scene with a mix of emotions. He was very pleased that the two had found each other, but couldn't related to the overwhelming outpouring of emotion. He could sense the immenseness of what was happening between them, and see the pure elation they felt, but he could not understand it. It had been long since he had seen his mother, and the bond was forgotten behind years of violence and terror. Though he was always a cheerful dog, most of the joy had been long past leeched from his life.
And thus, in this moment, he also was confused by feelings of jealousy. Sally had been pleased to meet him, but not like this. He wanted that closeness, that blind adoration and love. It didn't have to be from Sally specifically, but from someone, anyone; another dog, a human master - he longed to have anyone finally care about him. Sitting here staring at the pair nuzzling and licking, he felt apart, seperate and neglected. Ears drooping, he lowered his head slightly.
And yet still, there was one conflicting, confounding emotion left. Though he had just met Sally and the pup alike, something about the scene of a mother dog - even a starving one - and a pup - even one that wasn't hers - stirred something deep and instinctive in the dog. It had a certain rightness about them, a feeling of pride and dignity. He suddenly wanted to protect them both, to make a better life for them. He wanted to watch the pup grow up, to teach it to hunt even though he didn't know how to himself. He wanted to claim a territory so no one would try to hurt Sally. Above all, he wanted to be part of this group, not just because he was moved by the scene, not just because he felt jealous, but because it had a deep rightness about it that just belonged.
And so Skelt inched closer to the two, tail wagging and ears flicking uncertaintly. He laid down close to Sally and the pup, his nose almost touching the female's feet, and closed his eyes, a slight smile on the corners of his maw.>

((Aw, this thread is so warm and fuzzy))

[Baby]

((Damn, I love this thread. <3 ))


It was perfect. Everything was suddenly perfect.

For--a little while, at least--she was a mother, and her pup was there, and...so was Skelt.

That instinctual rightness, the kind that--if they are deprived of it for too long--can cause animals to die from simply a broken heart, enveloped and surrounded and filled her soul. They existed suddenly as a family group, that thing which canines are meant to be sometime in their lifetime. And it wasn't only the duet of Baby and Dozzer, no...

Skelt was most definitely included in this, as a sacred little trio, regardless of the unexplainable 'outsider' feelings that he harbored. If only he knew where he stood in Baby's heart, right then. As wrapped up in the tidal wave of maternal bliss that she was, her next thought was Skelt, her strange little guardian. Only in a group so weak and battered would the bait dog be considered the alpha-protector...but, prized he was, here.

As soon as the male lay quietly near her, dwelling in his own solitary thoughts and instinct, he found himself suddenly bathed in a glimpse of the affection he so desperately sought. Thankful, loving, licks and nuzzles covered his snout as Baby reached out and shared some of what she couldn't communicate with words. She blamed him entirely for this wonderful new turn her tenuous life had taken, whether or not it was his fault at all.

The little burst of affection was just enough to show him that he was fully included in 'family' in Baby's mind, and then she returned her attention to the needy puppy at her side.

- Meet Baby -