{One x One } Charisma and Drift.

[Charisma.]

Two dogs, from two different worlds. One wants to be like the other. A stray, untamed, junkyard dog, and a house dog- who wants to be part of the stray pack, meet, and trouble brews. These two need to work together to stay together, or the lead dog will get the better of them. What will happen is up to their decisions.

{ Characters:
- My Character - Nero - Belgian Mallinois x shepherd
- My Character - Layla - Golden Retriever x Irish setter
-Drift's Character - Haiku - Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
- Drift's Character - Syra - Belgian Sheepdog.

Charisma and Drift.

[Charisma.]

{My Characters. wip. }

Name: Layla is this pretty girls name.
Age: Layla is about five years old now.
Gender: Well, as mentioned she is a female.
Breed: Layla is a golden retriever and Irish setter cross.
Appearance: This girl is indeed eye catching, depending how you look at her. She's got fur that is a deep golden- honey brown, and of medium length, that seems to gleam bright in the sunlight. It's not long, though its definitely not short either. Its long enough that someone would be able to run their fingers through it, though not long enough to look too fluffy. Her tail is long and feathery at the tip, and her paws seem dainty and small, however it definitely fits her small size. She is small, despite her breed, standing at only twenty inches at the shoulder, and weighing in at about fifty pounds. She was in fact the smallest puppy in the litter after all. Her eyes are a very deep milk chocolate kind of brown, and her nose is a very light black-gray, dotting the end of her face. Though she may seem like a smaller dog, she will still stand her ground. She's got her own spice to her.

Her personality the way she is: Layla is a sweet girl, often a bit too nice. She's always trying to look out for others, and often thinks on the safe side of things. She isn't timid however, and she always wants to know whats going on. Layla is the type of dog that will always tell you to be careful before you go out and about on your own, and when it comes to arguments or fights, she really doesn't like them. She really isn't one to fight physically for small things, and even if she does happen to lose her temper- which is indeed a rare thing to occur, she won't lash out unless its for a good reason. If another dog however, is threatening, she will defend herself , and try to defend others in the pack, but you'll never find this girl going around picking fights. She wouldn't hurt a fly if it came down to that.Often she's very mellow, or even soft spoken, but she is a good listener. You'd wonder what a sweet dog like her is doing out on the streets, right?

Her past: her story:

Her family: Layla had a mother and father of course, though she doesn't remember much about her father, let alone her mother. She was born into a litter of four puppies, her being one of them. She had two sisters, kaya, and Tara, and a brother, Ryne.

Relationship: Layla is not in any kind of relationship at the moment, though she does hope and wish that she could have pups of her own sometimes. She won't admit to anyone herself, but she does take a slight liking toward Haiku, the lead dog of the pack, however she tries to leave those feelings be, because she knows what he can be like. She'd rather have a home to stay in as well, but she'd never admit that either.

What she likes, and what she doesn't like: There are a few things Layla likes very much, like water, and laying in tall grass. She also enjoys the company of friends, and exploring. She doesn't like arguing over little things, being put down, and dogs, especially males who think they are the best of best, and on top of everyone else.

Wise words: "Haven't you ever been told not to take anyone for granted? You shouldn't, because they'll bite you back for it."

Song: Layla - Eric Clapton
Acoustic

---

Name: Nero is his name. Pronounced Nee-ro.
Age: Nero is about three and a half years old.
Gender: Male, of course.
Breed: Nero is a Belgian malinois x shepherd.
Appearance: Nero is a larger dog, with shorter fur, and a broader chest. His fur is a light brown and tan, and his face a combination of blacks, browns and tan. His muzzle is broader as well, and a deep black color, dotted with a pitch black nose as well. The black coloring on his muzzle fades as it reaches his face, surrounding his striking amber eyes. His legs are well boned, though not as thin, and he's got a long tail, that seems thicker at the tip and middle. His body is a reddish tan, with hints of black and brown through out, and upright ears that feel velvety to the touch.

His personality, the way he is:

His past, his story:

His family: Nero only remembers a bit about his father, though his mother died the first year that he was born. He was born into a small litter of three puppies, one of which did not make it. He was much closer to his brother as well, until they parted ways a while back.

Relationship: Nero is not yet in a relationship of any kind, and does not yet have any pups at all. He'll take a liking toward Syra of course.

What he likes, and doesn't like:

Wise words:

Song:Similar Creatures - Jeff Hardy

[t i r e d.]

=name
"Haiku."
=meaning
"It's a poem with a specific structure. My owner's
daughterwas a softie. Quit bugging me about it."
=age
"I suppose I'm around six years old. Not that it really
matters, dogs don't have the luxury of birthdays.
Not us strays, at least."
=gender
"Who else could lead these fools but a male?"
=breed
"I'm a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. My old owner had a
fondness for imports."
=colouring
"... Grey? I don't see why this is of any importance." X
=family
"What family?"
=talents
"Well, I've somehow managed to keep this misfit
pack of fools alive this long, so I suppose that's
some sort of talent."

Despite his gruff, serious nature, Haiku has managed to keep his
pack alive for nearly two years, and it appears that he's long since
decided that his stubbornness is the determining factor in the stray's survival.
However, he came to be the leader by mere incident. The human that had 'owned'
him had also managed to obtain several other large dogs with wild natures. Why
he went through the trouble became clear to Haiku only when he was shoved
into a smelly, rundown barn that housed fifty people who cared little if their
hobbies were illegal, and one very angry Doberman. From his first fight on,
Haiku proved himself in the fighting ring, but it wasn't long before his
aggressiveness spread to humans as well. It was this that saved his life.

City animal control, having trailed Haiku's owners and associates for several
months, finally came across the housing place of the dogs. They began
bringing the dogs out of the chicken shed they'd slept in for the last week,
dragging the more timid ones, but Haiku had already sensed that this was
his chance for escape. He stayed relaxed until his too-small kennel was open,
and then he was out in a flash, his snapping jaws catching the young man
who'd opened his cage off guard. His canine teeth slashed through the
man's hand, and snarling, Haiku backed away a few feet before fleeing,
slipping through the hole a missing board left in the fence. Haiku was no fool.
He knew how fighting dogs would be treated once they were captured.
Being taken by those humans would have meant certain death for him.

Slept on the streets alone for several weeks, sniffing through trash to keep
himself nourished enough to move from one sleeping place to another.
Had he been cute and cuddly, and less angry at humans, perhaps he could
have begged. But as it was, he'd rather starve. Besides, the recent dog fights
left ugly, still healing gashes all across his body.And it was in this state that
he began to collect other strays. He never wanted them to stay with him,
but they alwaysfollowed. Perhaps their inner animal sensed his knack for
survival, and knew that to stay near him, was to live. Regardless, he and
his pack began to prosper in the streets. Eventually they strayed out to the
farms to fell the delicious, stupid prey that lived in the fences.

=name
"Hi! I'm Syra!"
=meaning
"I guess my name probably means something...
but I don't know what."
=age
"I'm three. My girl says it's good because it
means I should finally calm down. Hah!"
=gender
"I'm a girl, just like my girl."
=breed
"I'm a Belgian Sheepdog. Pretty different, huh?"
=colouring
"I'm just black, and my eyes are brown." X
=family
"When my girl bought me when I was just a little
pup, I had to leave all of my family behind. I've
never met my father before, although I've been
told by my girl's parents that he was something
special, so I should be too."
=talents
"I keep the sheep safe! And whenever my girl is
lonely, I can cheer her up and lick her face and
make here feel better. That's all though, I suppose..."

Syra was conceived by two champion show dogs, she comes from a rather
prestigious line. However, the family that had bred and trained the parent
dogs were beginning to run low on income. Previously, they'd tried to keep
the dogs' bloodline in the family, but now they had no choice. They took
the most recent batch of pups, sure champions, they believed, down
during the city-wide flea market. Syra's girl, Hannah, and her mother
happened to be wandering through the streets, looking at everyone's wares
when a young Hannah sighted little Syra and her siblings in a cage under a
shady tent. She quickly pulled her mother over, and her mother, being the
wise woman she was, took once glance at the little pups and knew they
were taking one home. Hannah had been begging for a puppy for the past
month, and her birthday was coming up as well. However, even if all that
hadn't been true, the look on Hannah's face told her mother she was in love.

By the end of the first month, thirteen year old Hannah had taught Syra to
sit, lay, and clumsily play fetch. Even her mother had to admit, the little
pup cheered up the empty farmhouse. Her husband had passed away
several years ago, so it was only her and the foreman that tended the flock
of sheep that used to be the farm's pride and joy.

By the time Syra was eight months old, she'd already begun to help out
with the sheep. The sheepdog learned surprisingly quickly, and Hannah
knew her mother was pleased with her pup.

But recently, everyone could tell the young dog had begun to grow restless.
Instead of sleeping through the night with Hannah as she used to, she'd
begun to creep downstairs once the young girl was asleep and lay on the
windowseat, her gaze tracking canine forms through the darkness of night.

[Charisma.]

{alright! I'll have a bit of my characters up as well now. Working on the female. Would you like to start while finishing forms as well?}

[t i r e d.]

{I think I'll leave my forms alone for now, but I might update them a bit as we go on c: I'll go ahead and start though.}

The large male stood, looking on as his pack of strays slept on. The darkness of night had long since settled in, and he had taken up his rightful place watching the dogs for the first watch of the night. He'd long since decided this was the only way assure that everyone stayed safe while they rested on the borders of the city. Dangers lie in the form of humans to the north, and from wild animals to the east and south, and so his wariness was necessary.

Taking a break from scanning the horizon, he gazed over his packmates. All of them were strays, but all had such different stories. Not all of them as violent as his own, but others were tragic in their own right. His gaze came to rest on Layla, and he huffed. She was such a softhearted fool, he'd been surprised that she managed to survive long enough to find his little band of misfits. However, he couldn't deny that she was the first he would turn to when in need of advice. She was wise beyond her years, and therefor invaluable. Not that he'd tell her that, of course. No need for her to get the wrong idea and think he needed her. You couldn't need other dogs, out here on the streets. You could never be sure what danger was around the next corner, or who would fall victim.

Settling down on his haunches, Haiku made himself as comfortable as he could while staying vigilant. There were only two different night watches, so he wouldn't be able to rest until nearer to dawn. And even then, his sleep would be light and restless.

Syra raised her head, automatically turning her gaze to the open window. Her girl was sleeping softly, one arm resting on Syra's black fur. The dog's brown gaze strained past the wooden fences that kept her girl's family's sheep in, past the dirt road, and on towards the dark forest that contained deer and other things that were fun to chase. Recently however, Syra had begun to notice other animals. Dogs. Like her, but not. She'd never seen other dogs before, not since she was a pup and couldn't be taken away from her mother, and so the arrival of these others frightened her a bit. She hadn't seen them, only scented them while she was romping around with her girl. Hannah liked taking nature walks.

Syra took her chocolate eyes off the window and gave her girl a little lick before she rose slowly. The young teenager's arm fell off the Sheepdog, and before the girl could notice the dog's absence, Syra leapt to the ground. The door stayed cracked open, and she nudged it open with her nose. She no longer bothered checked to see if anyone was awake, she'd done this time and time again and the entire family was always asleep. Her toenails clicked against the wooden floor as she turned right and descended the stairs, headed for the back door. Her pawsteps were the only sound in the house save the grandfather clock in the living room, and the young dog could feel the quiet bearing down on her. It was so lonely that she yearned to race out into the night so that she might find those mysterious dogs, and they could run together, and they could chase the loneliness away with her.

The Sheepdog sat on her haunches in front of the back door. The glass pane allowed her to see all the way back to the forest, the trees indiscernible from one another in the darkness. The yearning grew stronger, and Syra began to eye the doggie door that let her come and go as she pleased. She'd sat in this same place many times before, and she'd never gone out before, but something about this time, this night...

Syra couldn't take it anymore. She stood, her head lowered, and padded out the plastic dog door and into the night.

[Charisma.]

[.Layla.]

Many would wonder how the soft spoken golden retriever, irish setter cross, laying soundly in the grass would survive being a stray, with no home or anyone to take care of her, but she did survive. At first glance, the dog looks as if she belongs in a home by the fireplace, however, as true as that may seem, she was a stray indeed. She was part of Haiku's pack. Even he was one to probably wonder of how she could make it as a stray, but she had learned ways to find food, and there was supposed to be some kind of creek or river in the area that they were headed for.

She was asleep, softly, breathing at a steady pace.Her honey brown fur swiveled softly as the breeze surrounded them, and she seemed at peace in that position. In her mind she was in another world, laying on a carpet in a warm home along with a few other puppies.The scene faded, until she was alone, out in the cold night, a stray, with no home any longer, running off, her stomach growling, and legs aching from running for so long. Before anything else became clear, she opened her eyes with a start, taking a quick huffing breath.

Glancing around her, she noticed Haiku, standing watch over the pack, and slowly lowered her head into the grass again, her gaze dropping for a moment as she shifted her position. She had no desire to move or stand up, though with no doubt Haiku may have noticed. She let a small sigh escape through her nose, as she turned her gaze toward the sky. What a world it was up there. By this point she knew he would have noticed her moving as well, though she couldn't avoid that. She just couldn't quite sleep.

[.Nero.]

A larger Malinois was sprawled across a patch of tall grass, beside a small, shriveling shrub, his ears back and eyes wide open. He couldn't exactly sleep in this newer area, and he was sure at least a few other dogs couldn't either. Tonight it was Haiku who was standing guard, but even in this case, Nero wanted to explore. It was late at night, stars shining in the sky, giving them the smallest amount of light, however he still wanted to explore this place they were to be staying in. After a few moments, and a few impatient breaths, he lifted his head, his black muzzle pointing towards Nero on the other side of the pack.

Slowly, Nero stood, shaking out his shorter, tan fur, and setting his gaze on the wolfdog. He was in no rush, or hurry, so his gait was slower, and steadier, as he made his way around to Haiku. "I'm going out. Is that alright?" He questioned in a gruff whisper, however didn't exactly wait for an answer. "Not too far, I just can't sleep and this new place has got me wondering." He added. "I'll be back in a bit, don't you worry your mind, mate." He smirked lightly, nodding slightly to the leader. Cutting short across the grass before he reached Haiku, he took off at a trot, stopping to glance over his shoulder. "Please?" He added, with a sheepish little smirk on his face. The lead dog knew this dog and his ways. He had his own mind, did his own thing, but he'd do what he could for the pack. It was this witty nature of his that got him through with things.

As he ventured out, he had his nose plastered to the grass, taking in every scent. There were new things here. He smelt wool, wood, burnt wood, fur, and other such things, and as he ventured further he nearly froze. There were scents of humans around here, not too strong though, and even more so, another more dominant scent, of a...dog. He lifted his head, his eyes scanning the area warily. Another dog....?

[t i r e d.]

Noticing that Layla was stirring, Haiku turned his piercing gaze on her. She was staring up at the sky, and Haiku's curiosity led him to tilt his head up and peer at the stars as well. Seeing nothing other than an ordinary sky, Haiku huffed. What could that silly dog possibly be looking at? She should be sleeping. Haiku's thoughts might have been harsh, but in his mind, there was no time for stargazing when the female should be resting up for tomorrow. He certainly wouldn't let up their pace to suit her if she was tired.

Rising, he padded over to her slowly. Perhaps she was trying to avoid his attention by staying still, but she'd already caught it. "What are you doing awake? You should be resting." If not for his gruff tone, his words might have been considered kind to someone that didn't know him. However, he was merely being realistic. The dogs all needed their rest. He was homing to set up a permanent camp somewhere, but the search for such a place had been grueling.

Frustrated as he might have been at Layla, Haiku couldn't deny that he was just a little pleased that someone else was awake during his watch. Guarding the pack was something he had to do, and so he didn't mind it, but the pack animal in him got just a little lonely during the night hours. So with a sigh, the Wolfdog settled on his haunches once again, his eyes scanning the trees around them for suspicious shadows.

It was then that Haiku noticed that Nero was awake as well. It was a good thing the Malinois was extremely useful, or Haiku might have given him up as a lost cause. The other male's curiosity was something the Wolfdog obviously didn't have the time for. However, he and Nero had been together a long time, so he knew the other dog's nature and merely nodded when he asked to leave. Once the dog had left his field of vision, nose to the ground, Haiku sighed. "Sometimes I wonder what could possibly be so interesting out that that he has to leave." he muttered, more to himself than Layla.

Syra's slender legs carried her quickly through the night. Although she had no way of knowing the dogs would be in the woods tonight, she felt compelled to go there. She was halfway to the trees before a thought caused her to stop in her tracks. And what if they are? She hadn't been around other dogs for so long.... Dogs were supposed to be pack animals, but her pack had been humans for so long. What if she didn't behave properly? A while of confusion slipped out of the black dog's throat. What could she do? She'd wanted to find others for so long...

Not making up her mind so much as following her gut, Syra set forth again, although this time merely at a trot. The light breeze that had been blowing at her back suddenly shifted, bringing scents from the woods towards her. Suddenly, she stopped again, but this time her ears perked up. Dogs! Others! Her tail began to wag, and she burst into a run, showing the energy her breed was famous for in the show ring. She dodged the small shrubbery and rocks that dotted the field, and all the while the scents grew ever closer. She could tell now that one was stronger, closer.

Syra didn't begin to slow until she noticed a slender silhouette in the trees. Coming closer, she began to make out the shape's large ears and tan colouring, along with the tail that trailed behind it's body. The dog! And just like that, her worries about canine etiquette were gone, and she raced to the form. She didn't slow down, just barked a cheery hello before charging into the dog. She could tell now by his scent that he was a male, but she didn't care. She was just so happy that she'd finally found the thing she'd been yearning to find for so long, that she couldn't even resist licking the stranger square across the muzzle. "Hi!" she panted at him, looking much like a tangle of limbs as she sprawled across the grass.

[Charisma.]

[.Layla.]

Layla nearly turned her head the opposite direction at the sound of Haiku asking her why she wasn't asleep. Its not like they were all programmed to sleep at this hour. She was only a dog not a machine, and just couldn't fall asleep at the time. Her eyes shifted slightly as she turned her attention to him. She knew he had a bit of a gruff tone at first, but she said nothing. Stretching her front paws, she then rested her head against her golden brown legs with a sigh.

"I just couldn't sleep." She shrugged lightly, her voice light, nearly a whisper. "I could say the same about you..." She smirked lightly to herself, though quickly shifted her attitude to a more serious tone. Her chocolate gaze dropped as she closed her eyes for a moment. A breeze circled her face, causing her to open her eyes once again, and glance toward the lead dog. At the wolfdog's last comment, she shrugged lightly once again, lifting her head ever so slightly.

"Well," she paused, realizing that he may not have exactly been directing that statement to her- rather just to himself. "Don't you ever wonder what's out there?" She added, as a sort of answer to what he was saying about Nero. "I mean, this being a newer place..." She paused, turning her head. She would have loved to explore as well, but she was almost certain that Haiku wouldn't allow her to leave on her own. She would have to be with some other dog as well.

[.Nero.]

Nero was certain now that this slender black figure was indeed, another dog. What was another dog doing in a place like this? Of course looking around he wouldn't be surprised, it was probably just a human pet. The thought made his muscles tighten as he took a breath. After a moment he quickly realized that this dog was not just slowly arriving, but running, at a very high speed, toward him, and this made him clench his jaw suddenly, his amber eyes widening.

This dog seemed to be hurdling itself toward him, and he wasn't quite sure whether it would stop or run right into him. The muscles in his legs tightened, and his tail dropped straight down, stiff. Before he could even take a huffing breath, this dog had collided right into him! He didn't see much of what was ahead any longer, but he opened his eyes to see the starry sky straight above him. He glanced to the side, seeing the black furred dog atop him, and squirmed. She was a female, and she was fully black furred. He seemed to be frozen for a moment, before the feel of a tongue licking his muzzle set him off. What on earth? At this he snapped his muzzle to the side, his jaws clasping shut near her own muzzle, and a sudden growl of a bark escaping his throat. He kicked his front feet forward to try to push her off, until he was at a position laying on his side, and his ears pulled all the way back. Kicking with his hind legs, he managed to squirm free and step back a few steps, his ears still back and amber eyes wide. "Whoa, watch it, kid! What are you doing?" He snapped suddenly, shaking off his fur. His muscles were tight and ready to spring. Not the most welcoming of meetings, though he was a stray, and he did not know this dog, so he had to be on guard. Haiku would have probably driven her off madly, or he thought.

[t i r e d.]

Haiku shook his large head, another huff escaping his jaws. "My duty is to keep this pack safe." The gruffness crept back into his voice. "As is Nero's. He's lucky that I let him wander as he does." Clenching his jaws, Haiku trained his gaze on where Nero had slipped into the shadows between the trees. "Whatever he finds out there is sure to be trouble. He'll likely come back with porcupine quills stuck into his face."

As much as Haiku talked down on Nero, the shepherd was basically what would be considered a beta in a wolf pack. The curious dog was reliable in times of distress, if not in times of peace. He was invaluable, and Haiku could nearly consider him a friend. The wolfdog, however, was not the type of dog you made friends with. Not really. However, worry over Nero made his shoulders grow tense, so he stood and stretched out, haunches in the air while his forelegs were stretched along the ground.

"We'll be there soon." he muttered quietly to Layla. She knew his ultimate goal, even if the others thought they were just traveling aimlessly. "Hopefully." He raised out of his stretch and stood. He'd been gazing after Nero for far too long, and he continued his watch, cool observant eyes scanning the trees.

Realizing that her enthusiastic greeting didn't have the result she'd hoped for, Syra scrambled to her feet as quickly as she could. Seeing the dog's aggressive posture, she backed up a few quick steps, her head and tail low to the ground. A low whine escaped her throat. "I'm sorry, I..." but what had she been thinking, really? What could she say? "I... I'm sorry." Crouching lower to the ground, her brown eyes glanced at the stranger's for just a second before darting away.

"I live nearby, and I knew other dogs were close. Or I thought other dogs were close. But I guess I was right..." letting her shaking voice trail off, Syra realized she was scared. Was this dog angry with her because of her excitement? Would he run her off and send her home? Would Hannah wake up in the morning to a bloody mess of a dog at her feet? "Please... I'm sorry. Don't be angry." Wagging her tail slowly, the sheepdog glanced hopefully up at the lean dog. "I just wanted to see what it was like to be around other dogs."

[Charisma.]

[.Layla.]

At Haiku's comment about Nero having porcupine quills in his face, Layla couldn't help but giggle lightly, before she quieted and lowered her gaze. Sometimes Haiku would sound very gruff, and others it would seem you could actually see concern in his eyes. He always seemed like he had such a tough, hard shelled outer skin, but every so often, Layla would notice his muscles tense with worry for the pack, or for a certain pack member. She'd never say anything, but if you looked closely, you'd be able to see that she wanted to smile at it.

The golden listened to the leader speak, saying that they would be there soon, adding a 'hopefully' at the end. "We will." She nodded, trying to keep positive.She sure did have a knack for trying to stay positive, even in the roughest of times. Stretching out her feet, she slowly stood, and shook out her somewhat medium length, golden fur, watching a few tiny dust particles swirl up into the air and settle back down on the ground. Stepping back, she sat down, turning her head in the direction that Haiku was looking. "Don't worry, he'll be back... he always is, isn't he?" She smiled lightly, before it disappeared as well.

[.Nero.]

Nero nearly snapped at her again, about to ask her what she was doing out at this hour, but instead of allowing his jaws to bite at the crisp air, he clenched his jaw as she spoke. Her voice was soft, and very apologetic, and he sensed she was nervous and very afraid. Those obvious feelings that he was sensing affected his reaction. As he observed her, he noticed she had a collar, which seemed pretty well hidden in the black fur, and he noticed her brown, pleading eyes as well. His insides seemed to soften as he watched her apologize multiple times, fearfully, nervously. His snapping at her had most likely frightened her most, but what could he have done at the sudden meeting they had?

"You're fine kid, you're fine." Nero finally sighed, after watching her closely. "You just shocked me is all." He added, watching her. His muscles were a bit looser, though not completely relaxed. "Whats your name sweet thing?" Nero lifted his head slightly, smirking at the last part, and his tail dropping calmly. "I think we can start this whole meeting over again. The name's Nero." He told her, taking one step toward her. "Don't be afraid okay? you just shocked me, and I think I may have done the same, right?" He offered a quick grin, before taking another step toward her.