{.street rat}

[{.naomi}]

Warmth. The sun hovered above the city of Basset, rippling illusions of water tricking many humans that had lost all hope to live in the harsh climates that would all too soon dramatically change for the worse, which was hard to believe, of course. The pavement was hot. The trees were dying. The city would soon too follow suit.

However, there was one content being in the seemingly lost and hopeless city. Her name was Naomi. She had been born and raised in the city, and had adapted nicely to the harsh climates that the humans had plagued themselves with. The elderly mutts had experianced the dramatic changes in climate that occured every summer. Now it occured ever day of their slowly dimming lives. It was a sad thought, really, so Naomi let it subside.

Naomi was a street savvy mutt. With a couple of scars, this could be well known, but she was also slippery and definately not an easy catch to pin down and scratch. She bared no marks of battle thus far. Her coat was a silky white, cloaked with a hooded back of beige that ran to her elbows and theighs, and just above her ears. The second layer of her mottled markings was a deep chocolate dotted marking that continued all over except for upon her white-as-snow chest and pink hued mug. The third layer was a striking orange that made up most of her facial markings and parts of her legs and ears. Her facial markings were split, the right side being a colorful colliage, and the left being a simple though beautiful snowy white. She had a square, pink and brown mottled nose. Her eyes were quite possibly her most remarkable feature, however. Both eyes were split diagonally, the upper half of each eye being blue, the lower half--brown. It was an extremely rare mutation that was supposedly most common in her breed.

Her pink-lavender and brown mottled pads were stung by the heat of the pavement, frying like a two pairs of eggs in the desert. A desert called Basset. She paid no mind to the burning sensation that would cause any other to bark out or squeel and keel over in pain before leaping off towards cooler grass. She trotted along the streets of the city, slowing when she reached an alley where shadows lingered, shifting according to the slowly moving clouds. This was where she would find that all-needed meal that she had posponed for too long. She was growing awfully thin, and starting to lose her strength gradually, though that part wasn't noticable just yet. She needed something, something to stop this strange change in her mass. It had never happened before. Then again, she had never fasted like this before, either.

The fem slunk along the side of the alley, pads clicking to the cool and shadowed ashalt. Her lustrous brown, slashed with a dash of blue in each eye as a strange and highly rare mutation in her breed, focused on a rat. Now, she was very oblivious to be so intelligent. A small piece of glass shimmered one step in front of her. As her foot came down slowly upon it, she realized what she had just done. Stepping back with a spin of her heels, and a loud squeel, she retreated from the back of the alley, twisting into a another to inspect her wound. She rubbed it on the asphalt, cringing as the glass broke more skin before finally becoming dislodged and dropping to the darkened floors. She walked away, small drops of blood marking her ever step as she bared a small limp. She had still failed in her mission to get lunch. She sighed deepy. What would become of her if she kept this trend of hunting failures up?

[TRaven]

*TRaven walked the streets of Basset silently.He had escaped the attack on the rest of his pack,and now he was here.Wherever here was he did not know.All he knew was that it was much hotter than the forests he was used to back up north.The asphalt made waves in the distance from its heat.Having a dark coat didn't help him too much either.

Then something caught his eye.There was something else walking toward him.No,not walking.It was limping.It was too small to be a human and too big to be some kind of cat or other city creature.That must mean it was a...dog!TRaven began to run towards the limping creature.He didn't know if it was friendly or foe,but it would be a companion.
His nosed sniffed out the air as he ran.It wasn't male either.That was good,he hoped.Males were usually very territorial now.He remembered one time back in his pack when their leader had gotten extremely defensive and began to put everyone else down.He knew it wasn't his usual nature,it was this heat.He wished it had stayed cold*

[{.naomi}]

She continued to limp towards her favored abandoned home, a place she called her own for the time being. At least it provided shade and padding, even if it wasn't of the best quality. Blood marked the already stained floors of the small home. The previous owners had left the furniture. They were probably headed north to find colder climates, but there would never be a promise of that until the second ice age. Then they'd be wishing for the previous. It was a time where no being would ever be satisfied with what the heavens had given them.

She trotted towards a couch, though it was no object of comfort anymore. Broken springs protruded from the torn fabrics. It wasn't a nap that Naomi was planning, however. She lowered her skull into the cottom, grasping a bit of it with her ivories while being wary of swallowing even a strand. She gently the ball of silky white fabric to the stained floors before placing her paw over it. The stinging slowly ceased after a few moments after placing it upon the bit of cotton, and it slowly worked as a bandage as it obsorbed the crimson liquid. She continued this routine until it no longer bled from her, and she was able to walk a little better, but still a slight limp could be detected from close up.

Once she was done, she lifted her mottled nose to the warm air. She growled lowly as something other than oxygen entered her nostrils. The fumes of a male--testosterone--proved to her that she was not alone in the area. Her strange trot was all she could give due to growing weakness and her limp, but she did manage to spot him. She stopped in her tracks, noticing his every feature. Only one struck her a threat. Damn it, she thought. He was bigger than her. This would always prove as an advantage in a street browl, and she had many disadvantages at the moment. She couldn't risk it. She emitted a low growl in bluffed warning before trotting back into the house.

She knew spring would come soon. She also knew the dangers of being alone with a male. Being a female street dog with no pack seemed to only lead downhill for her. The question came back to her. What would happen to her? Maybe he just wanted to chat. The way he was running at her, though. She had only seen that kind of energy towards her before she was forced into a high speed chase down the streets. A simple chat? She doubted it. But she'd been wrong before.

[ziff. ♥]

His head was held high as he smirked. Ziff wasn’t a new dog in town, and he knew that all the dogs talked of a second ice age. Well, he was ready for it. He was going into abandoned houses and taking blankets and the like and putting them in a cave that he found. He was ready for it, but was every other dog? Would they try to join him? If they wouldn’t allow themselves to help the worthless humans, then they were allowed to come and enjoy the warmth of his cave, but otherwise, no. If the humans wouldn’t rely on themselves to survive, maybe they weren’t meant to survive, right?

His fur was very thin, but he still looked like a Siberian husky, thank god. He wouldn’t want to look like some mangy mutt that didn’t take proper care of themselves. Ziff knew he was higher than most dogs by the fact that he actually cared about himself. Most dogs were too soft and wouldn’t survive the cold without helping the humans in return for food. Sad and pathetic, that’s all that it was. He stopped, sensing other dogs around. Maybe they needed some Ziff in their lives today? Smirking lightly, he trotted down towards the place he smelt the dogs. He black pads were being burned by the hot pavement, and he wouldn’t allow himself to scream and the like. That showed weakness, and weakness got you killed. He followed the smell of the two dogs into the abandoned neighborhoods, where many humans had left furniture to find refuge up north. Huh, a lot of good that would do them. Shaking this thought away, he walked towards one house in particular; the one that held the scent of the two dogs he had been searching for.

And soon, the two dogs took shape. A dog he had never seen before, a black lab and a dog he had seen around the city all his life, the female. He never talked to her for some reason, but he never thought of that reason. He had a reason now, didn’t he? He took a deep breath before walking towards the two. His tail was held above his back as he looked at the two, chuckling lightly. Before he could speak, the female went back inside. Oooo, party pooper was she? He looked at the male and shrugged before sitting down in the shade of the house’s shadow. “Name’s Ziff. And yours?”

He was going to make some small-talk for now. He wasn’t looking for babies right now, so the female had nothing to worry about. He wasn’t going to even try to have children until the ice age came and he had a pack of dogs to call family and they helped support each other like the family they would be known as. He looked to the house and sighed softly before talking loud enough for the female to hear him. “You know, it isn’t polite to leave house guests out in the heat, sweetie.” He wasn’t aiming to piss her off, but he knew he just might do that. He just wanted to talk to her and this male about the second ice age and get their input on the whole situation. He needed to know if the dogs of this city were even prepared like he was, and if not, he would be the nice guy he was and just give them a home to call their own.

Yeah, there was a bit of a catch, though. He was going to give them a home, but they had to share it not only with him, but with other dogs he offered a home to as well. He knew this wasn’t such a big deal to most dogs, but to others, it was. He looked back to the lab and then to the house, wondering if the female would come out. He was here on business, and a business man never left until he was finished talking to his clientele.

[{.naomi}]

The scent of testosterone grew greater as the scent of another filled the area. Great, she thought sarcastically. She stayed in the house. Her lustrous eyes were rolled, her facials showing a scowl of discontent as she slunk to the entrance of the house. She perked up as she saw a dog she had seen around town before. She had heard of him. She knew what he did, and this made her even more wary of the two. She leaned back towards scampering into the house, but refrained from doing so.

Her glimmering eyes showed signs of caution within them, and so did her scent as she looked them over. Her ivories were bared only so to warn them, but in a respecting manner. Her tail was lowered, recognizing the husky as one of a higher rank. Oh yes, she had seen him before. They had never spoken, and she wished to keep it that way. However, she knew that was not an option.

Slinking down the steps, muscles rotating mechanically and visibly beeneath her thin, silky furred flesh of which no scarring tarnished. She grimaced slightly as she pushed herself to walk fully, without a limp, though it was impossible to detect this expression beneath her scowl of a possibly temporary P.O. manner. They seemed to be already starting the introductions as she stood her ground a few feet away.

At the husky's statement, she sneered before walking forth about two feet from being in their direct presence, still a few yards from them. Her growl rumbled deep within her chest cavity, though ceasing as he spoke to her. "Yes, but it is also impolite to come lacking of an invitation, Ziff." She retorted. Of course she knew his name. The many females she spoke with often hissed it to her in many a conversation of the male race.

[Bleh. My muse fails me here.]

[TRaven]

*TRaven walked up behind Ziff and followed him inside.He couldn't be sure whether he was friend or foe so he had to risk him being friend. He kept wary as he followed to dog through,and then he heard the female's voice.So they weren't exactly friends.He wasn't sure what kind of action to take,the husky was bigger than he was and could most likely easily put him down.But he felt it his duty to do his best to protect the female.She was injured anyway and if a fight did break out she wouldn't be able to win it*
"What is your business here?" he asked as he cokced his head to the side slightly

[ziff. ♥]

Ziff smirked at the female’s reply to his little remark. “Ouch. You make it sound like I’m not well liked.” Ziff sighed as if he were hurt for a second, and then his face regained it’s cool look to it. He was really just a big actor playing his role, in his mind. He didn’t enjoy it some times, but if it was what it took to make people see him as a nice dog, hey, it was worth it. He looked over at the male and smirked lightly. The male seemed as though he were protecting the female, but why? Little crush on her, perhaps? Eh, why was it his problem at all?

He shrugged it off and looked at them both before speaking. “You hear of the ice age the humans ramble about, yes? Well, do you two have any place at all to stay during this supposed ‘ice age’?” He wouldn’t say more until these two answered. He wasn’t stupid; he wouldn’t let them catch his drift before he said it.

He looked at the female, trying to think of her name. N…something. He couldn’t remember the name of every female in the town, but he tried his hardest, because to work his magic, he needed to know certain things. He wasn’t going to do anything to the female, and he tried to make his body language state that. And even though his tail was held high, he was just looking for respect as he tried to form a little group. This wasn’t for the good of only himself, but other dogs as well, so don’t think him greedy and stupid.

He was looking out for the future generations. He was looking to ensure there were future generations by saving the dogs of today. Whoa. Now it sounds as though he were going to brainwash them, yes? He shook his head lightly, getting the thoughts out of his head. He wasn’t going to be their over-lord or anything. Just a helper, in his mind. He looked at the two, brow raised lightly as he awaited their answers.

[TRaven]

"I don't know about her but I do"
*He circled around the left of the other dog,watching him with every step.Still not knowing how to react,he kept his guard up.If he planned on offering them a home there had to be some kind of catch.Most dogs fought for land nowadays.TRaven didn't want to trust him,although he had no reason not to.A quick look at the female dog and back at the male was his way of quickly assessing the situation*
"Why would you offer us a place to stay anyway?What do you expect in return?"

[{.naomi}]

She stood before them, wondering what they were thinking. The lab seemed to be the more chivalrous of the two, but she didn't nee any protection. She took a step back with another growl in bluffed warning. She knew she wasn't an intimidating fem at all. She was all of a soft and attractive appearance, which didn't help in any situation around males. Something told her, however, that rape or kill was not in their intentions. She raised her skull only so, coming into a more normal stance as she husky speak. "Mind you, Ziff, I'm no fan girl of yours." She sneered.

At his speak of the ice age, however. Her stance changed dramatically. A soft smile came to her facials, and she stood up straight in a more contented stature. "The ice age, huh?" She asked him, only repeating what he had said to herself, though. "Alright, come on in." She invited, turning and giving them a welcoming wave of her tail.

She looked back at the labrador and rolled her strangely marked optics at them. "Coming?" She asked them both. "May we discuss all this inside?" She asked them again as the labrador continued to question her only offer for safety from the coming ice age. Her ears perked up once more as she heard that word. 'Us'. Us? He was talking of them both? Since when were they together as a duo, and since when did he give himself a right to speak on her behalf? She raised a beige hued brow slightly in small amusement.

She had forgotten about her wound to the foot. It would heal up quickly, as it hadn't created too much of a break in the skin and would not scar. Dried blood of the fem marked the stained wooden floors of the abandoned house in a trail of where she had stepped. A bloody pile of cotton from the couch lay near the broken television set.

[TRaven]

*Traven slowly walked in after she asked if they were coming.He laid down near the door,under a window.He hadn't meant to speak for the both of them.What if she wanted a place to stay?*
"What I meant was,why would you offer either of us somewhere to stay?"
*It wasn't perfect,but it sounded better than before.He didn't want to ruin things for her too.The male didn't seem to mean any harm to either of them,but it still didn't make since why he'd offer them shelter*

[ziff. ♥]

Ziff looked at the Labrador and raised his brow. What was this guy’s problem? Since when was he and whatshername together? “Well, my friend, I’m just that kind of dog for one. And as for your other question, everything will be answered at a later date.” His aqua eyes looked back up at the female as she stated something he would have easily figured out. “Duly noted.” He said with a soft smirk as he looked at her and then to the lab as the female told them to come on in. “Yes. Lets.”

Ziff stood once more, tail still held over his back as he walked into the house, looking over it. Blood stained the floors and it was in the shape of a paw-print, so he figured the female had been bleeding not too long ago. He wouldn’t ask about it, because it could very well be a sore spot for her.

He found himself a nice looking chair, ripped up a bit, but nice nonetheless. The shade of the house was very refreshing after being out in the glazing heat for so long. He sat on the chair, looking at the female, and then the male. The male spoke up once more, and Ziff sighed. “I have my reasons, good fellow.” Simple as that. He looked at the female once more and then he continued to look between the two as he spoke his little speech. “My fellow canines, I offer shelter to those who seek. There is no ‘worthy’ question about it, like with many ‘packs’. Why? Because this is not a pack, it is a family.” He stressed the word ‘family’ as he looked at the two before continuing.

“I have been preparing for this ice age my whole life, as my father had instructed me to. I have been gathering bedding and making a little home in a cave up in the mountains. All I ask from you in exchange for shelter is that you do not fight amongst the other dogs or myself and show as much respect for each other as possible. And always remember my number one rule; never write a check your tush can’t cash.” What he meant by that last statement was you don’t pick a fight you can’t finish yourself. He looked at the two to see if anything he said reached them and what their response to it was. He was hoping they’d at least try to survive, and if they were going to run off to the humans, so be it. There were many others who enjoyed living. No skin off his nose.

[TRaven]

*TRaven remained in his position under the window.He had lowered his head now and laid it in his paws.It wasn't that he wasn't listening,he was listening intently.He just didn't care.He had shelter,and now that his pack was dead it was all his.He had plenty of extra space,and due to it's location plenty of food to go with it.He had learned to hunt from his pack,but now that they were gone big game was out of the question.He kept his mouth shut for fear of messing things up for the female*

[{.naomi}]

A faint laugh came rumbling under her breath as the Labrador seemed to notice her expression and change his words. She shook her head at him. "Well, aren't you one to please," She teased with a soft smile before brushing past him into the house. It sparked interest in her the the lab would actually trade his words just to please another. It was kind, yes, but was it really what one would call 'street-worthy'? Not in her opinion, no. Of course, she appreciated a respectful one, but it would have been better if he had spoken for only himself from the begining. Changing his words to satisfy her was a sign of weakness, in her perspective.

Mottled ears perked to the husky, seeming to be the dominant one of the trio as she held his tail high as well as his head above others. Naomi would respect this, seeing as he had proved himself a friend, rather than a foe to her. She listened to him speak to the labrador once more. As she did so, she found herself a cushion from a chair that god knows went to. Laying upon it, she listened intently for the words of her possible land lord.

At his proposal, she nodded to herself. So, he would give them land for the simple will to preserve their future in the coming ice age? Alright, that sounded reasonable as well as a good offer. She nodded to him, pushing herself off the cushion and stepping up to him. "It sounds like a good offer. I'll think about it, and maybe I'll take you up on it." She said, softly, taking her place beneath him for the time being with a contented stance and voice before him.

She nodded as he spoke once more. So, he'd been preparing for it all his life? Well, he was more aware than she was. She only saw her intelligence spark in the spur of the moment kind of situation. She was rather oblivious to the going ons, and hadn't exactly been aware of the coming ice age until recently, perhaps a mere six months ago. Indeed, she was eager to have a refuge to hide from the stinging elements of the what was to come.

[TRaven]

*He noted her interest in a home,but didn't want to seem competetive with the other male so he kept his mouth shut about a free place to stay.The other male didn't seem to mean any harm so TRaven figured he could leave the two of them alone.He slowly stood and shook his body off*
"It was nice meeting the two of you,I hope our paths cross again some day"
*He turned and walked out the door and back onto the sorching asphalt.He wasn't sure where to go now,he could always head back home.But he hadn't finished looking around the city yet,he hadn't really looked around much of anywhere*

[ziff. ♥]

Ziff watched the two intently, wondering if they would answer any time soon. He felt that male wanted nothing from him, and Ziff was okay with that. He had a rule, though. Once you’ve turned down an offer, that‘s pretty much it for you, in his eyes. You come crawling back; you’ll have to prove that you honestly want this to happen for you. Shaking his head, he looked at the female as she spoke with a light smile on his face as he looked at her. So, he had his first family member did he? Well, that was pretty good. One wasn’t bad, as long as you weren’t alone anymore.

“Very well, then. Do tell me when you figure out what you want, then.” Ziff looked at her and nodded lightly to himself. And then, his eyes went to the lab as he left. Ziff merely nodded to him and watched him leave the house. So, now he and the female were alone, yes? Good. The male seemed to be a bit uptight, and that sort of got on Ziff’s nerves. Sighing softly, Ziff jumped out of the chair and walked in front of the female for a moment before stepping back a bit, just to be out of her personal space.

“So, you know my name, but what is yours? I don’t know how you know my name, either. I mean, it’s not like I’ve done anything significant in this town.” Ziff snorted lightly, as if he actually believed himself. He knew that he played with females’ hearts, but he didn’t know that they were stupid enough to talk with each other about him. Oh well. At least she trusted him enough to think about his offer, right?

Then, he thought about how he had been acting proper this whole time. Yeah. He knew he had a bit of ‘bad boy’ in him. He just preferred to put on a front to get people to trust him so he can slowly morph himself into his true personality. It’s better this way because they know you can have two sides at any point in time. Or so he thinks.