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

[SkySmoke]

Yup, welcome to my world. This is what I do when I get bored; I write. I've never really been inspired to write a story about characters other than the ones that exist in my head until I started reading the stories in the CS Pet Pairs thread. So, forgive me if this isn't the most amazing thing you've ever read. Most things I've written before this have been about people, or at the very least characters I've come up with, not something inspired by something else. Feel free to read and leave comments. If you have constructive criticism that is always welcome as long as you word it nicely. Thanks for reading.

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**Psst. Interested in horses? Read my other story.Living Legend

Butterfly wolves more your style? Written in the Dirt

Interested in short stories? I've got those too Story Time with Sky

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
Part 18
Part 19
Part 20
Part 21

[SkySmoke]

MEET THE DOGS

(Characters added as they are introduced)

Black♂ ***********************************************************Mystic♀

Nitro♂***********************************************************Gage♂

Gia♀***********************************************************Max♂

Josie♀***********************************************************Haven♀

Inga♀***********************************************************Fall♂

Autumn♀*******************************************************Twist♂

Spring ♀**********************************************************Diesel ♂

Ringo ♂***********************************************************Reya (♀)


Mali (♀)

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The HellHounds

Kane ♂*********************************************************************Axe ♂

[SkySmoke]

INTRODUCTION

The year is 4010. The world is very different than the one we know today. Cloning, a technology once on the forefront of science, is now a thing of the past. The current trend is genetic modification; and humans have perfected it in a big way. Tattoos are no longer something you need to get done with a needle and ink. You can now go to a doctors office, they give you an injection, and the tattoo appears on your skin. “Designer babies” are also a thing of the past. Not only can you pre-determine the sex, hair and eye color of your baby, the newest technology is working on personality types. Of course, all this technology was not tested on humans. Before designer babies and inject able tattoos, there were designer pets.

True to most peoples natural desire to be different, these pets once sold for millions of dollars. As the technology evolved amazing animals in all colors and patterns of the rainbow were created. The traits soon became breedable and a purple dog walking down the street soon became as common as a poodle is now. As people became more and more reliant on technology and science to live they gathered in smaller places. Large cities like Los Angeles and New York city became abandoned in favor of smaller, more technologically advanced cities. It became cheaper to just build new rather than update the old. So, as it often does when nature is left to its own devices, the wild has reclaimed the larger cities. Trees have sprouted up between the cracks in the once bustling sidewalks. Vines have taken over abandoned cars and buildings. Wild animals have been left to rule the city streets. With the technology to clone anything, animal conservation has taken a backseat on the priority list. New cities are so heavily protected electronically that no animal control is issued.

Only the strongest, smartest animals can live in the wild now. The abundance of prey is scare and not many animals survive. When designer dogs lost their "wow factor" people started throwing the “ugly” designs outside the city walls to fend for themselves. Many of these dogs did not make it. Their flashy colors did not allow them security in their surroundings and their lack of instincts made them an easy target for predators. The few that did survive were not always welcome by the wild wolves due to their odd coloration and often perished because of the lack of security that comes from being in a pack.

In recent years however, there has been a new pack of wild wolves forming. They call themselves the Shadow Stalkers and they are willing to take in select “designer dogs.” Their plan is to use these dogs’ knowledge of humans and the cities to make it easier to access food and live more comfortably. This small pack of dogs understands that without learning to live around humans, they will eventually die off. And this is where my story begins

[SkySmoke]

PART ONE

Mystic ran along the sidewalk, her light blue/gray coats seemed almost a normal color in the twilight. Her pale blue eyes searched the street for signs of danger and her matching blue nose quivered at all the scents. There are so many different smells here, and none of them are like home. I don’t know what anything is. She thought to herself. At the thought of home her eyes started to water. She shook her head to stop the tears; it would be completely dark soon and she needed to find shelter. She could think about how sad she was to be away from home later. She slowed to a jog, then a walk as she approached a building. Her striped tail wagged slowly at the thought of maybe finding humans; then drooped between her legs when she remembered humans didn’t live out here anymore.

She stopped one of the openings to the building. It was a window whose glass had been broken out long ago. She poked her head inside and let her eyes adjust to the darker light.

“Anyone here?” She barked quietly. When no answer came she slowly stepped inside. It wasn’t totally dark outside yet and the rising moon was providing just enough light for her to see, but barely. She padded slowly to a far corner of the room. She didn’t want to sleep to close to the street since she had no idea what roamed around out there in the cover of darkness. She turned in a few circles then curled up in a ball on the floor, trying to make herself as small as possible. She put her head on her paws and closed her eyes. She had had a long, stressful day and just wanted to sleep.

A few hours later Mystic awoke to the sound of a deep, low growl. Her eyes flew open and she jumped up and backed against the wall in panic. The room was completely black and she could not see anything.

“I said, who are you?” The voice growled again.

“M-ystic.” She whimpered.
“Your name tells me nothing about who you are. What are you doing here?” This time the voice seemed to come from a different direction.

“I-I um…I was kicked out of the city. My owners took a trip and we got out of the car. I was running around playing and the next thing I knew they were driving off without me. I chased the car to the city entrance but without my collar there is no way in…please don’t hurt me.”

“So you’re one of those designer dogs then?” The growl seemed softer this time.

“Yes.”

“Well, come on. If you stay here, something will eat you. Follow me.”

"I can't see you..."

“Of course you can’t. Your night vision is horrible. It always is when you first leave the city. Look towards the window where you came in, you’ll be able to see me.”

Mystic looked towards the window where she had first entered the building and she gasped. All she could see was an outline, but the wolf had to be twice her size, with pointed ears, not floppy like her own.

“Come on, I know you see me now. I don’t have all night to babysit you City Girl.”

He turned towards her as he spoke and she noticed his eyes were a brilliant blue. As she got closer she realized that his eyes were the only thing colorful about him. His coat was as black as the night sky surrounding him. He waited for her to get next to him and then bounded through the window on silent paws and started running down the street.

“Lets go City Girl. The longer its night the more dangerous it is out here.”

“Stop calling me City Girl, my name is Mystic. What is yours anyways?”

“You’ll be City Girl to me until you prove yourself otherwise. My name is Black.”

“Well, how fitting.”

“I think so. Come on, keep up. I told you I’m not a babysitter. If something pounces on you to eat you, I’m not stopping.”

Mystic shuddered at the thought and picked up the pace to keep up with Black’s huge strides. The closest she could get to catching him was to run at his hip. As she ran alongside him she wondered who he was and where exactly he was taking her. The thought crossed her mind that she wasn’t sure she could trust him, but the reality was he was her only option.

[SkySmoke]

PART TWO

They ran for a while and just when Mystic thought she was going to collapse, Black slowed to a walk and stopped. Mystic looked around. From what she could tell they were at the edge of the city. They were on a street corner, but behind the building they were standing by there were trees and bushes. Mystic jumped and moved behind Black as she heard something coming towards them. Black crouched low and growled.

"Who's there?"

"It's us Black, relax."

Mystic blinked as two wolves seemed to appear out of no where. They were both smaller than Black; one not by much and the other was not much bigger than her. One was the color of a wild wolf; various shades of grays and black with amber colored eyes. The other had similar colored amber eyes but his coat was shades of a dark greenish gray color and had a faint pattern on it. He was smaller than the other wolf and Mystic could tell he had been bred by humans.

As they came closer the smaller wolf noticed her standing with Black and the hair on his neck and back stood up as he growled.

"Who is with you?"

"Another city dog."

"You can't keep picking them up Black, we can't afford to protect them all. We've told you that."

Black lunged and the smaller wolf, his teeth snapping just inches from his throat as he swiftly pinned him to the ground.

"Who are you to question me?" He snarled. Mystic backed up until she was up against the building. The other wolf launched himself at Black, hitting him in the shoulder and knocking him off the smaller wolf. He then stood between them, growling deep in his throat.

"Gage! Black! Both of you, knock it off. Gage, you know your rank. Do not question Black, even if you don't agree with him. That's part of being in a pack. Black, you need to take it easy on the kid, this is still new to him."

Black snorted and turned back towards Mystic as he mumbled,

"He might as well learn the hard way, I did."

The gray wolf came over to Mystic and nodded is head.

"Sorry about that. I'm Nitro. This is Gage, and you've met Black. What is your name?"

"Mystic."

"Nice to meet you Mystic. Gage, come say hello."

Gage slowly walked over to Mystic, his tail between his legs as he avoided Black."

"H-hi."

"Hello."

Nitro looked around and sniffed at the air.

"Its too late to head back, we have to stay in the city tonight. Let's hurry and find a place before it gets any later."

Black nodded and the three of them took off at a fast lope down a city street. Gage stopped when he realized Mystic wasn't following them.

"Come on!" He barked as he circled back to her.

"I'm too tired, I can't run anymore."

Gage sighed, his look softened.

"I know its hard. You aren't used to all this. I remember my first night too. It gets easier, honest. But you have to do this. You won't survive out here without them, trust me. Now come on, they don't slow down."

Mystic groaned as she pushed herself to her feet and trotted after Gage. They picked up their pace until they had caught up with Black and Nitro enough to be able to stay with them. Mystic felt better with Gage around, at least she wasn't the only one who had come from the city. If Gage could make it, then she could too. She just had to figure out how.

[SkySmoke]

PART THREE

They ran for quite sometime (or at least it felt that way to Mystic) and just when she thought she couldn't possibly run another step, Black and Nitro slowed to a walk. Mystic and Gage caught up with them and slowed to a walk next to them. The four of them stopped and quietly stared at the building in front of them. Nitro lifted his nose and sniffed. Black did the same, but in the other direction.

"Seems okay." Nitro said quietly. Black nodded and they moved forward quietly into the building. They entered through a small, floor level window that had been broken out. It was a tight fit for Mystic, which left her wondering how Black had gotten through at all. Once they were inside Nitro and Black slowly circled the room while Gage stayed with Mystic by the window.

"What are they looking for?" Mystic whispered.

"Bears, other wolves, big cats. Its a different world out here. Other wolves are probably the most dangerous, especially with you with us. They don't take kindly to city dogs; They see you as an easy meal."

"You say that like you weren't a city dog once."

"I've been out here for almost a year. Our pack has taught me to hunt, and fight. I would be as easy of a target as you would be. Besides, my markings aren't nearly as bright as yours. At night they might not even notice them."

Mystic's ears drooped as she looked down at her coat and its various shades of blue. She had been told she was pretty her whole life, to hear someone think differently hurt her feelings. It also made her think; she had never known life without humans and always assumed her life was the best kind to have. Hearing Gage talk about the pack, she considered that maybe she had a lot to learn.

"We're safe for the night. We'll have to move early in the morning. I want to get her back to our territory quickly and she will be more noticable during the day. Sleep well, we'll be moving before the sun comes up." Black spoke softly as he moved back over towards the window.

"Come away from there. Its safer to sleep away from the windows." Nitro ordered as he curled up next to the wall. Black and Gage padded over and curled up next to him. Mystic sighed and walked over to a different corner and turned in a few circles before laying down. She laid her head on her paws and looked at the group of them together. She hoped she found someone where ever they were going that she could be so comfortable with. Sadness filled her heart as she remembered her human family. This time of night she would be curled up in her cozy bed on the floor in their room listening to the soft snoring sounds they made as they slept. She wondered what she had done wrong to make them leave her. She had always tried to be a good dog and do everything they asked.

She had almost fallen asleep when she glanced over at the boys again. She saw Black pick up his head and look at her.

"You shouldn't sleep alone." He said quietly, not wanting to wake the others.

"I'm not part of your group yet...I don't want to be over there. Besides, what do you care?"

"What do I care?" Black's growl was deep in his throat, but quiet as he got up and walked towards her. "If I didn't care I would have left you in the other building, in plain sight through the huge window you were laying in front of, and about now you would probably be being eaten by something. But, you're right, I probably don't care." He turned in a few circles and laid next to her, but they were not touching. "Regardless of wether or not I care, I brought you to Nitro. He will see you as his responsibility, and I wouldn't want him to wake up and find you over here alone. So, I'm sleeping here. Deal with it."

Mystic curled in a ball so she was facing away from him, wrapped her tail around her so it was covering most of her face, and quickly faded into a deep sleep.

[SkySmoke]

PART 4

After what felt like five minutes Mystic woke up to someone nudging her shoulder. She shifted in her sleep, teetering on the edge of dreams and reality. She wondered why her people would be waking her up so early, and she was remembering a horrible dream she had been having about being left in the wild outside of the city. It had been a strange dream with other dogs and running to find shelter before it got too late in the night. She was trying to go back to sleep to forget that horrible dream, but the nudging at her shoulder grew firmer. She figured they must really want her to wake up. She opened her eyes, yawned, and then turned to see who was waking her up.

Reality hit her like a sledge hammer when she turned and looked into the face of a huge black wolf with starling blue eyes. It hadn't been a dream; the memories of the night before came flooding back to her and her ears drooped.

"No, it wasn't a dream. You really are out here, and we really do have to get moving again. We have to get you back to our territory before the sun comes up and you're really easy to spot."

Mystic huffed and got up to stretch. She winced as she did so because every muscle in her body hurt. She remembered all of the running from the night before; she had never run that much in her entire life. She glanced over at Nitro and Gage, who were already awake. Gage softly wagged his tail at her.

"Good morning. I know it wasn't long, but you'll be able to sleep more once we get home. Ready to run?"

Mystic glared at him.

"I don't think I will be ready to run for about a week. But, what has to be done has to be done. Let's go."

She was determined to fit in their world as best as she good. From what she could tell so far, that meant running...a lot of running, and not being a cry baby. The three of them squeeze out of the window and waited while Nitro and Black sniffed the air.

"Do they always do that?" Mystic whispered. Gage nodded.

"Usually. Sometimes not as much when we are home, but always when we come to the old city. Its dangerous here and you can always smell things before you can see them. They'll teach you."

When Nitro and Black and determined that it was safe they all started running back from the way they had come the night before. Nitro and Black ran out front and Mystic and Gage ran behind them. The pace wasn't quite as fast as it had been the night before, but it was fast enough that Mystic had to really work to keep up. She started talking to Gage, to keep her mind off the running.

"How did you end up out here?"

"Same as you. Same as any city dog who ends up out here. My humans abandoned me. I was a little different than just a pet though. There was a group of humans who were trying to breed designer dogs to look almost like a real wolf at first glance. That is why my ears are pointed and my pattern is kind of faint. They wanted us to blend in with the night and were training us to steal things and fight. The only reason for the pattern was so that no one asked them what they were doing breeding colorless dogs. They were cruel people; if one of us got caught, we were tossed out of the city. My sister is here too, you'll meet her when we get back to the pack."

"That's horrible! I can't imagine humans would do something like that. My people are always so nice to me. They love me and I'm part of the family."

"And this is how they show that they love you? They leave you out here to learn to fend for yourself or die? If that is family, I don't want one."

Mystic's ears and tail drooped as she realized what she had said. Her humans had always been nice to her and she thought they had loved her. All past tense. They ran for a long time in silence as Mystic thought.

She looked around as they left the old city's limits and were running though more open streets. Houses replaced the towering buildings. As they continued running the houses grew farther apart from each other until there were only a few here and there. At one point they turned off the paved street and started running across open hills. This made running even harder for Mystic. Even though she thought she was going to pass out, she didn't say anything and pushed herself to keep running.

The night gradually became lighter and right before sunrise, with the sky a muted shade of purplish gray, they slowed to a walk as they came to the edge of a forest. Mystic sat down panting the second they stopped.

"Welcome to our territory. We are safe now, but we still have a while to travel to reach the main den area that we call home. We just have to walk a little farther and there will be a stream where we can drink and rest for a little bit."

Nitro spoke softly and walked behind Mystic and nudged her to get up. She groaned as she got to her feet again.

"Resting for a week sounds more like what I need, but if a little bit is what I get, then I'll take it."

Gage laughed and walked next to her as they started into the forest.

"I know you miss your family. I also know what I said hurt your feelings and made you sad, and I am sorry, but it's true. The humans don't love you. They used you and then dumped you. A pack is different. You'll see. You'll love it here, I promise."

"I sure hope you're right, because it's the only hope I have left."

[Teacup-old]

I love it! Have any room for one of my dogs?? She's a brown wood dog named Ana.

[Gren]

[SkySmoke]

I love it! Have any room for one of my dogs?? She's a brown wood dog named Ana.

Aw, thanks! I don't really know where the story is going or what dogs i'm adding. I just kind of make it up as I go along. But if you want to post a picture of the dog I'll consider it