[parsnip]

Adopted

Username: Lierre
Name: HBK Meet Me in the Middle | "Maisy"
Gender: female
Height: 19 in
Weight: 34 lbs
Color: Black Merle Roaned Piebald
Genotype: ata BB CC DD EE hh Ii Kbky Mc+M spsp TrTr UU LL
Notes: petsafe dye/flag will not pass to offspring
This collie may only produce a maximum of two puppies per litter due to its genetics (Tr)
--
testing out a style of roan, we're work shopping here

Who is this collie's closest friend? Is there a special story on how they met?
Ends 3rd [July] -> 4th rollover

[Kenjaku]

Username: Kenjaku
Name: Cirrus
Gender: Agender
Name Meaning: [optional]
Prompt: Cirrus's best friend is a weird dog named Malfesant, Mal for short. (body horror warning) Sometimes he can't see him? He kind of seems to glitch in and out of reality, actually.. Cirrus has always chalked it up to Mal being a busy guy, too busy to be confined in one realm, right?
He met him at the church Mal guards, actually! It was a rainy day and Cirrus's first time accompanying his human. (He's a service collie) His owner released him of his duty and let him sniff around the premises and check it out, get used to it. He took the exploring seriously, and when he was out of his human's sight, he turned a corner and Mal was just.. there. Just looking at him. He just stared back. A lesser dog might've been afraid, but Cirrus was fascinated with this weird poodle! Mal doesn't speak back too often, mostly just listens to Cirrus yap and go about his life. He likes that in a friend.
Flag: Flag: asexual 2026, paint: hyperromantic

[broken*]

Username: broken*
Name: SGK Charting Horizons // Waypoint
Gender: male
Name Meaning: has to do with being a herding dog (lore-wise in my kennel) who is known for his navigation skills & always finding the right path.
Flag: bisexual flag colors please! can do paint if you want to!
Prompt: Waypoint's closest friend is a collie named Ulalume. the pair of them have known each other since they were young pups, both having been born around the same time on Windborne Ranch to mothers who were friends as well. everyone on the ranch knew that if you saw Waypoint somewhere, just keep looking because Ulalume had to be close by, and vice versa as well.

their paths started to separate a bit when they hit 6 months old, because Ulalume was selected to start specialized training to become an agility competitor, whereas Waypoint began getting exposed to the various livestock on the ranch and training in becoming a working herding dog. he showed such promise in this that only a few months into his training, their owners chose to send him off to this specialized herding dog training with this expensive/well-known trainer in a totally different state.

the loss of her best friend caused Ulalume to draw in on herself a bit, choosing to put on the mask of being completely indifferent and independent; at the core, she decided to start guarding her heart, not wanting to ever have to feel that level of pain or loss again. at the same time, Waypoint decided to completely throw himself into his training/his job, to become the best herding dog he could be. that way he was so exhausted at the end of every day, he could just fall asleep quickly and not have to think about how badly his heart missed his best friend.

both Waypoint and Ulalume continued to live their lives to the best of their abilities, but neither was ever fully as happy as they had been together as pups, a fact that everyone around them could see as clear as day. but then, one day, a few months before the two collies reached the age of 2, their paths crossed again, completely unexpectedly by the pair. you see, the rancher had spoken to the trainer, who had shared his concerns with Waypoint's behavior, and the rancher's wife had her own concerns about Ulalume's behavior. the common denominator? their separation from one another.

Waypoint assumed he was being taken to a herding competition or another training facility, so he didn't fight being put into the kennel in the back of the trainer's truck. Ulalume had done her morning of agility work-out and was simply resting on the front porch of the house-steps, enjoying the cool of the cement against her body. her keen eyes watched a large truck rumble up towards the house, but she didn't think anything of it, because she was used to various vehicles coming and going for whatever reason. only, Ulalume’s owner and her husband came out of the house, the woman patting her side and clicking at Ulalume to follow. so, despite not wanting to get up, she slowly got to her paws and followed behind her girl to the back of the truck, where her husband had already arrived and was chatting to the man that had been driving but had gotten out.

as Waypoint was taken out of the kennel and jumped down from the truck bed to the ground, he looked around as a familiar scent hit his nose; where was he that seemed so very familiar... his blue eyes landed on the nearby female collie and he felt every muscle of his body freeze. "Ula?" he called out softy, almost reverently, thinking it must be a dream. Ulalume heard her nickname, in the voice that had first used it, and her head snapped up, her eyes no longer looking at the ground but at the black and white collie across from her. "Ways?" her brown eyes widened before she tore off in his direction, barreling into Waypoint so hard that the two dogs hit the ground with a thud.

"told you they missed each other." the human woman said to her husband, bumping her him against his, as they watched the two dogs reunite. he shook his head with a smile as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "as always, you were right dear."

[Bianca,,,,,,,]

Username: Bianca,,,,,,,
Name: Marlin
Gender: Male
Name Meaning: A swift, sharp swimmer, a creature built for speed, instinct, and heart.
Flag: Blue gay flag (with paint if you would like to add it)
Prompt: Marlin’s closest friend is a collie named Harbor, and their story begins long before either of them understood what friendship meant, long before training, competitions, or expectations. Their bond was forged in fear, in instinct, and in the kind of moment that changes a life.

Marlin was a storm‑born pup. The night he was whelped, the ranch was swallowed by thunder, the kind that rattled windows and made the horses restless in their stalls. He grew up with that same wildness in him, bold, curious, always pushing past boundaries. Even as a tiny pup, he was the one who wandered furthest from the barn, the one who chased shadows, the one who wanted to see what lay beyond the fence line.

One afternoon, when he was barely old enough to run without tripping over his own paws, he slipped away during a sudden change in weather. The sky darkened faster than anyone expected. Wind tore across the fields, and rain began to fall in heavy, blinding sheets. Marlin tried to be brave, but the storm swallowed him whole. He darted under a broken fence rail, shivering, soaked, and terrified, a tiny pup alone in a world suddenly too big.

Harbor had been the one to find him.

She was older by a few months, already known for her calm, steady nature. While other pups panicked at thunder, Harbor watched storms with quiet fascination. When she saw Marlin’s tiny pawprints leading into the open field, she followed them without hesitation. She crawled under the fence rail with him, pressing her warm body against his trembling one. She didn’t bark for help. She didn’t leave him. She simply stayed, humming soft puppy noises, shielding him from the wind, waiting until the storm eased enough for them to be found.

That moment became the foundation of their lives.

As they grew, their personalities shaped their bond into something extraordinary. Harbor was thoughtful, observant, the kind of dog who could read a human’s mood from across the yard. Marlin was her opposite, fast, impulsive, emotional, always leaping before looking. But he trusted Harbor completely, and she understood him in ways no one else ever had. They became inseparable: two pups who balanced each other like tide and shore.

Their friendship deepened during Marlin’s early herding training. He was talented, incredibly so, but he pushed himself too hard. One day, he injured his leg trying to impress the rancher. Instead of seeking help, he limped behind the barn, ashamed and hurting. Harbor found him within minutes. She didn’t scold him or fetch a human. She lay beside him, nudged her nose under his chin, and stayed until he finally let himself cry. That was the moment Marlin realised Harbor wasn’t just his closest friend, she was the anchor he didn’t know he needed.

But life on a ranch doesn’t always let bonds stay simple.

Harbor was chosen for agility training, a path that demanded precision, discipline, and long hours away from home. Marlin was selected for advanced herding work, his instincts too sharp to ignore. Their schedules pulled them apart. Their owners tried to keep them close, but training took them in different directions. Marlin threw himself into work, exhausting himself so he wouldn’t have to think about how much he missed her. Harbor built walls around her heart, pretending she didn’t care, pretending independence was easier than longing.

Everyone on the ranch saw the change. Two dogs who had once been inseparable now moved like ghosts, talented, hardworking, but missing something vital.

Months passed. Then, one quiet morning, everything changed.

Harbor was resting on the porch after training when a truck rolled up the drive. She didn’t pay much attention, vehicles came and went all the time. But her owner called her over, and she followed, paws dragging with fatigue. The trainer stepped out of the truck, opened the kennel in the back, and a black‑and‑white collie leapt down.

Marlin.

He froze when he saw her. The scent hit him first, familiar, beloved, impossible. His blue eyes widened, his breath caught, and he whispered her name like a prayer.

“Harbor…”

Her head snapped up. For a heartbeat, she didn’t move. Then she launched herself at him, barreling into him so hard they both hit the ground. They didn’t care. They didn’t notice the humans smiling or the trainer explaining that both dogs had been struggling without each other. They only knew one thing: They were together again.

From that moment on, Marlin and Harbor were allowed to train side‑by‑side whenever possible. Their owners understood, some dogs simply belong to each other. Marlin regained his spark. Harbor softened again. They became whole in a way neither had been since puppyhood.

Harbor is Marlin’s closest friend because she was the first to protect him, the first to understand him, and the first to stay. And Marlin has never stopped choosing her since.

[Lierre]

Username: Lierre
Name: HBK Meet Me in the Middle | "Maisy"
Gender: female
Name Meaning: Maisy was named for her gentle, accommodating nature that's defined her since her puppyhood.
Flag: bisexual flag, sapphic paint if possible?

Prompt:
Raised on a ranch with many other dogs and farm animals, Maisy was well socialized from a very young age. Even as a clumsy puppy, she had an innate grasp of other animals' boundaries and wasn't easily shaken by a stray growl or stomp. She knew to keep her distance, but also had an unshakable need to build a positive relationship with every creature around her. This became especially true when she was brought to Hedera Bay Kennels. She was quickly welcomed into the overall pack, but, like with most new dogs that come to the kennel, Toro was not interested. Ever the peacemaker, Maisy was immediately drawn to him.

Maisy and Toro's first week did not go well. As soon as she'd enter the room, he was snarling and licking his lips as he stood guard over his favorite toy, a plush cow called moomoo. She always quickly stepped away from the situation, but her curiosity about the other dog was undeniably piqued.

By week nine, Maisy was attempting to play with Toro. She had gotten the message that his moomoo was off limits, so she offered her own favorite toy: an enrichment ball with high value treats inside. Even though Toro was unimpressed and put off, Maisy didn't let it get her down. She simply shifted to playing with it herself, leaving behind a few treats for Toro to find later.

Around week twenty, Maisy ate an entire bagel with lox that was left unattended. While restricted to the house for close monitoring, she ate her meals across the room from Toro. Due to Toro's resource guarding, he often has to be fed away from the other dogs during mealtimes, but to everyone's surprise, he only ever eyed Maisy from a distance as he finished his meal.

It took until week thirty for Toro to seek out Maisy on his own. Her excitement for his companionship nearly got her nose nipped, but it only took the one time for her to give him his space as they figured out how to meet each other's energy levels while playing in the yard.

After almost an entire year, Maisy and Toro now spend most of their time together. Though Toro is still a little hesitant to fully relax, his wagging tail is hard to miss: a true tell of their bond. While there are certainly other collies at the kennel that Maisy has much less complex and more positive relationships with, her friendship with Toro is unique amongst them all. Though he doesn't always make it the most obvious, Toro is grateful to have Maisy by his side- just as long as she doesn't touch his moomoo.

[parsnip]

Username: Lierre
Name: HBK Meet Me in the Middle | "Maisy"
Gender: female
Name Meaning: Maisy was named for her gentle, accommodating nature that's defined her since her puppyhood.
Flag: bisexual flag, sapphic paint if possible?

Prompt:
Raised on a ranch with many other dogs and farm animals, Maisy was well socialized from a very young age. Even as a clumsy puppy, she had an innate grasp of other animals' boundaries and wasn't easily shaken by a stray growl or stomp. She knew to keep her distance, but also had an unshakable need to build a positive relationship with every creature around her. This became especially true when she was brought to Hedera Bay Kennels. She was quickly welcomed into the overall pack, but, like with most new dogs that come to the kennel, Toro was not interested. Ever the peacemaker, Maisy was immediately drawn to him.

Maisy and Toro's first week did not go well. As soon as she'd enter the room, he was snarling and licking his lips as he stood guard over his favorite toy, a plush cow called moomoo. She always quickly stepped away from the situation, but her curiosity about the other dog was undeniably piqued.

By week nine, Maisy was attempting to play with Toro. She had gotten the message that his moomoo was off limits, so she offered her own favorite toy: an enrichment ball with high value treats inside. Even though Toro was unimpressed and put off, Maisy didn't let it get her down. She simply shifted to playing with it herself, leaving behind a few treats for Toro to find later.

Around week twenty, Maisy ate an entire bagel with lox that was left unattended. While restricted to the house for close monitoring, she ate her meals across the room from Toro. Due to Toro's resource guarding, he often has to be fed away from the other dogs during mealtimes, but to everyone's surprise, he only ever eyed Maisy from a distance as he finished his meal.

It took until week thirty for Toro to seek out Maisy on his own. Her excitement for his companionship nearly got her nose nipped, but it only took the one time for her to give him his space as they figured out how to meet each other's energy levels while playing in the yard.

After almost an entire year, Maisy and Toro now spend most of their time together. Though Toro is still a little hesitant to fully relax, his wagging tail is hard to miss: a true tell of their bond. While there are certainly other collies at the kennel that Maisy has much less complex and more positive relationships with, her friendship with Toro is unique amongst them all. Though he doesn't always make it the most obvious, Toro is grateful to have Maisy by his side- just as long as she doesn't touch his moomoo.

this adorable story really stood out to me, I loved reading about their relationship progression! I can't wait to see the Maisy and Toro duo around. I'll get her flag and paint updated and a item/dyeless ref up for you

[Lierre]

thank you so much!! i’ve had this concept ever since i got him and this design and contest was so perfect for it!