~*~Designer Dogs (Part 21 added 9/19)~*~

[{ℓєσραя∂}]

LOVE!!! Keep posting!

[Wildmagic_warrior]

I wish I could say that I could give you that dog, but unfortunately I don't have one either ><

[SkySmoke]

I wish I could say that I could give you that dog, but unfortunately I don't have one either ><

Aw, well thank you for the thought anyways

[SkySmoke]

Part 13

Mystic quietly joined the group and sat behind Diesel. He turned and looked at her as she sat down.

"Are you done with Black for the day?" He asked quietly.

"I guess so, he left." Mystic answered sullenly.

"Don't feel bad, Black is like that with everyone at first. I used to be terrified of him. Truth be told, he still scares me a little bit."

Mystic smiled at Diesel then turned her attention to Nitro, who was giving the group instructions as a whole.

"We're working on stamina today. We will be running the hills. That being said, no one is to be left behind. We run as a pack. You know how dangerous it can be out there. Follow my lead, Diesel will be bringing up the back. Everyone will run between me and him."

Without another word Nitro took off at a brisk lope across the clearing towards the hills that surrounded the pack's land. Mystic got up to join the wolves already running with Nitro. She figured by the end of the exercise she would be back by Diesel, but she at least wanted to start off in the middle. Gia saw her and moved through the other wolves to run next to her.

"So, you decided to be a fighter?"

"I'm going to try."

"Thats good. But...fighters usually start with Black. What are you doing here? I don't know that you'll be able to keep up."

"Black left, I guess he was done with me for the day, so I came here."

"Does Nitro know?"

"I didn't tell him, but I didn't hide from him either. I was sitting behind Diesel when he started talking about the hill run."

"You should have asked permission to come. There is a process to being trained and it starts with the one on one training before you train with the group."

"Figures, I never do anything right around here."

"I'm going to tell Nitro you're here, he might not want you to come along."

Mystic huffed as Gia streaked along to the front to talk with Nitro. A few minutes later she saw Nitro circling back to her as Gia held his place in the front. He changed his pace and ran alongside her.

"Mystic, why aren't you with Black?"

"He left. So I thought I would come train with the group and get ahead..."

"You aren't ready. You will only slow the group down to the point of putting us in danger. This is a long, hard run. I'm going to have to ask you to stay behind. We aren't at the hills yet, you are safe to go back alone, but please go now. And in the future, please make your presence known in group activities."

Mystic's ears and tail drooped and she slowed to a standstill and let the rest of the pack run around her. Diesel hesitated, slowing as he saw her.

"You okay?"

"Nitro told me to stay."

"Oh..." He gave her an understanding look as he loped past her. Mystic sat in the grass, watching the rest of them run up the side of the hill and out of sight. She sighed and stared at the grass by her feet, wondering what she should do next. She breifly thought of running after the rest of the hunters, just to proove to Nitro that she could do it. Then she remembered what he said about slowing them down. It was going to take work for her to think like a pack member, but she was going to give it her best. A deep, raspy voice broke her train of thought.

"I told you we would meet again my dear"

Mystic looked up to see Kane walking out of the forest towards her across the clearing. Mystic leaped to her feet, snarling.

"What do you want? You've been told you aren't welcome here."

Kane laughed. "And who is going to stop me? All the pack's fighters just left. I watched them leave. I watched them leave you here, alone. How stupid of you to stay here? Thought you were safe? You're never safe, not out here."

Mystic's mind raced. She knew there was no way she could outrun him and make it to safety. She also knew there was no way she stood a chance against him in a fight. Her best bet was to buy time and hope someone from the pack showed up. She tossed her head back and half howled, half laughed, hoping someone would hear her.

"Never safe? Is that why you left the other day, without even challenging the pack? If I'm never safe, then why does the pack continue to live here?"

"Hm, you understand so little. Besides, where is the rest of the pack that you speak of. Just like I said before, all of your fighters are out in the hills. So, who is left here to protect you? A few pups and the wolves that care for them? Nitro is the main reason why this pack hasn't been done away with already."

As he spoke he moved closer. He was only a few feet away from her and just his size was intimidating. He started to circle around her and Mystic turned to stay facing him, remembering Black and Diesel's mock fight from earlier. Kane smiled; it was horrifying.

"I see they have started your training as a fighter. Would you care to practice on me?" He finished his statement with a snarl as he lunged towards Mystic, teeth bared. From the corner of her eye Mystic saw something streak across the clearing and hit Kane in the shoulder. It was Inga. She plowed into Kane's shoulder, using hers as a battering ram, and knocked him off balance. He hit the ground with a heavy thud and Mystic dove for his throat. She bit down hard and twisted. Kane yelped, she wasn't sure if it was from surprise or pain, but she held on as he heaved himself to his feet. Her back feet touched the ground as he stood up and she used the traction to tug backwards. Kane shook himself hard and sent Mystic flying. Inga was in front of her as soon as she hit the ground. She had all three of her tails fanned out behind her, making her look much bigger than she was. Mystic got to her feet quickly and stood beside Inga, snarling. Kane glared at them.

"I could kill you both."

"You would have to get though us first."

Black snarled as he walked over. Joining him was a wolf Mystic hadn't seen before. He was gray, with markings in lighter shades of gray, almost white. His ears and markings around his eyes were a dark brown. His eyes were a dark blue. Based on his coloring Mystic guessed he was a wild wolf. Black and the other wolf came and stood on either side of Mystic and Inga. Kane backed up a few steps and looked directly at Mystic.

"You got lucky this time, but there will be a next time. I promise you that."

He turned and loped away across the clearing. Once he was gone Mystic turned to Inga.

"Thank you so much! How did you know I was out here?"

"Max actually. He heard you howl, or...whatever that was."

"Yea, I heard that too. Just what did you think you were doing out here? Here you are again, putting more people in danger? Out here, alone? What were you thinking?" Black asked sharply, moving between Inga and Mystic.

"I...after you left I came over to group training. They were going for a run in the hills. I just joined them without asking. Gia told Nitro and he came and told me to stay here. This is just...where I stopped running. Kane came out of the forest after the rest of the pack was out of sight. I did the only thing I could think of...I tried to howl like Twist did yesterday. I had to make it sound kind of stupid or he would have known."

"So you stopped running and just...sat there? Are you trying to kill someone? I mean, do you-"

"Oh Black, cut her some slack. She's only been here a few days and she jumped right into the fight with Kane. She was hanging from his neck at one point. I knocked him down and she went straight for his throat. Give her some credit. Its not like she knows about this lifestyle. Obviously we are thankful you and Ringo showed up when you did, but its not like we weren't trying. Thats the point of a pack, to take care of each other. Looks to me like she'll make a damn good pack member once she gets the hang of it." Inga cut Black off in Mystic's defense. Mystic looked at her gratefully, then looked back at Black.

"You went for his throat?"

"Yea...I figured I didn't have time to try anything else, so I went for it while he was down."

Black huffed at her and turned to walk away. Ringo got up and followed him, wagging his tail softly at Mystic as he passed her. Black turned back to Mystic as they walked away.

"Maybe I haven't given you enough credit City Girl, that was pretty tough of you. I'll see you tomorrow morning for training. Try not to get yourself killed between now and then."

[ilovekahlee]

Score one for Mystic!!!

[{ℓєσραя∂}]

"Try not get yourself killed between now and then." Sometimes Black just gets under my skin! But I know he means well... Well kinda...

[Thickshake]

Gooooooooooo mystic!!!!!!!!

[Wildmagic_warrior]

Yeah, Mystic! Kick his butt!

[~Sky]

Yeah, Mystic! Kick his butt!

XD Go teeeam Mystic!

[SkySmoke]

Haha, you guys are too funny. I'm glad you're enjoying it

O.o look, a stamp.
Feel free to stick it in your sig if you'd like, the code is in the first post