Another Day, Another Bone: Meeting of Shadows

  It was a chilly dawn when the plane touched down. Clad in the green camo of a soldier a man stepped from the plane with a dog, a German Shepherd, black as a shadow, beside him. The dog looked around and sniffed the new air with interest. It was a clean scent, free from smoke, blood, and heavy metal, the sounds merely cars driving by to get to their jobs, no bombs or gunfire. The soldier looked down at the dog and gave a small smile.
  "Well, we're home Mack." He said, then starting to walk, and the dog stepped beside him. As they passed through the airport, they stopped frequently as people wanted to shake the soldier's hand, scratch the dog behind his ears, which made his tongue loll out in delight.
  I wish that I really had done what they are congratulating me for... The dog thought. He wasn't Mack, the soldier's dog. He had killed that dog when he made fun of him and tried to stop him leaving the army. The dog sitting by the owner was Chandler, a young German Shepherd who was training to be a true war dog.
  During the fight, his ear had been torn in two places, but that didn't matter to him. He had taken Mack's identity as his to hide his own, wanting to be praised instead of scorned for being a coward, but he didn't expect so much! He pained inside that he was getting this much praise, but on the outside he kept on his proud mask and dopey expression as he was pet and scritched by adult and child alike.
  "Such a strong fellow, what has he done?"
  "Double duty, bomb search dog and watchdog, dodged a few close hits."
  "It's kinda funny how after being a war dog his fur is still so smooth."
  "Gave him baths every night so his fur wouldn't stick."
  "Glad such a good dog got to come home."
  "Yeah, he loves it here."
  On and on the praise came and went. Chandler wished it would end, because it hurt to get compliments he didn't deserve. To get the soldier to hurry up, he whined. Looking down at him, the young war hero understood that Chandler didn't feel like staying. As more people started to come, he waved his hand.
  "Sorry, mine and Mack's dogs are tired and we gotta get home to rest up for tomorrow." He said, and everyone smiled and departed. The black dog was grateful to get out of there, and as his false owner hailed a cab he hopped in, glad to take the chance to rest. He was gonna chill out awhile, stay home, and then explore the city. He wanted to tell of his false antics, but he was also hoping to find someone, anyone, who would understand him, someone he couldn't find in the army.

  It was hours later, and Zero was still asleep in his room with his roommates Zak and Duncan. He woke up as he heard their door open, but he stubbornly kept his eyes shut, wanting to continue sleeping. But soon he felt the rough-padded paws of Charlie B. Barkin shaking him, and he grumbled in acknowledgment.
  "Hey Zero, there is a war dog at the Fleabite right now! I know how much you like hearing about them, now you get to meet one in person." He said, a tinge of excitement in his voice. Zero's head shot up, and he blinked at the mutt.
  "... You're serious?" Zero asked, a bit groggy even though he seemed alert.
  "As a bar fight." Charlie replied, chuckling. Zero stood up and hopped off his shared bed, stretching.
  "Let's go then." He said with a grin, then racing out. The older mutt followed him, rolling his eyes. The two raced down the stairs, two at a time for Zero, and out the door, heading towards the Fleabite. When they got there and head inside, they easily saw the small crowd and heard the voice from the middle.
  "... And after I sniffed the bomb out, I had only three seconds to get away from it. I took off, dragging the wounded soldier with me and was forced to duck down as it went off. Two pieces of metal tore through my ear, making these two beauts." Over the heads of the dogs the two saw a black paw hold a black ear up, where a middle piece of ear fell limply between the two deep cuts into it. Zero looked in amazement, then the paw and ear went out of sight, and he tried to find a way to see the war dog.
  "After that, they let me rest for a day or two, and then it was back on duty." Soon he and Charlie found a clear space to the right, and sat. They saw the dog was a German Shepherd, and he was similar to Zero's build. Soon the dog was about to start another story, and he turned as he saw the newcomers, a grin on his face at the attention. Then the grin slowly faded into a look of surprise and thoughtfulness.
  To Zero, his face looked familiar, and his eyes narrowed in curiosity. Where had he seen this face before? Charlie looked from one to the other, and he blinked, wondering why the two were staring at each other. The military dog soon walked up to the two, and he was just as tall as Zero. After a few moments of staring, he offered his paw.
  "Name's Mack. What's your name pup?" He asked, smiling a bit. Zero grasped his paw and shook.
  "Pup yourself soldier. Name's Zero." The marked dog said with a grin. Something flashed in Mack's eyes, but Zero couldn't quite tell what it was.
  "Pleasure meeting ya." Mack said, releasing their paws. "You come to this place often pup?"
  "Work here." Zero replied, chuckling. The war dog blinked at him.
  "I like ya Zero, we should talk sometime." He said. Deep down, he wanted to get to know him to see if this was the same Zero...
  "We could talk now if you like." Zero offered. "I don't have work, and I bet you have nothing to do." Mack gave a grin and nodded. He turned to the dogs he had been telling military stories to.
  "Alright guys, that's all for today. Gonna go for a walk-n-talk with my new pal Zero." He said. Most of the dogs groaned, wanting to hear more, but they respected him and let him and Zero leave. Charlie, however, decided to stay and have breakfast, waving Zero off as he and the war dog left.

  Zero led the dog to the park, knowing that it was pretty abandoned at this time in the morning. Afternoon was when it really picked up. The two black dogs, blending almost perfectly with the morning shadows, went across the park and sat under a tree.
  "So Zero, tell me about yourself." Mack said, a slight eager tone in his voice. Let this be who I think it is... He thought as his tail wagged slowly. "Y'know, family and such."
  Zero gave it some thought.
  "Well... I don't know much about them..." He said slowly. "My family was taken when I was a pup, almost a teen. They made me run... My parents..."
  Mack blinked at him, nodding to urge the young dog to continue.
  "We were just playing tag in the alley, and then these humans came out of nowhere... They grabbed two of my brothers, and my sister. My other brother, Chandler, ran down the other end of the alley, and I ran the other way while our parents protected us before they were taken also. But Chandler yelped, showing he got caught..." Zero's ears flattened and he looked at the ground.
  "... I never saw you get captured..." Mack said slowly. Zero glanced up.
  "What?"
  "Zero... I wondered what happened to you..." The war dog continued.
  "Mack, what are you-"
  "Zero, it's me. Chandler." The other dog said, ears flattening. Zero gaped at him.
  "... Chandler?" Zero said softly. When Chandler nodded, Zero hugged him, tears in his eyes. "I thought I would never see someone from our family again!" He said, muzzle on his brother's shoulder.
  Chandler began to pat Zero's shoulder, giving his ear tip a small nip. "Zero... I wouldn't be so quick to hug... I've done some pretty bad things..." He muttered.
  "Like what...?" Zero said, looking at his brother.
  "I... Killed a dog to get back here..." Chandler said, ears flattening. Zero looked at him in disbelief. "I wanted to leave the army, but the dog, he looked like me, wouldn't let me go, so I had to..."
  "Why did you want to leave?"
  "... I was... I was scared..." Chandler looked ashamed. Zero stared at him for a few moments before giving his nose a lick. The war dog blinked.
  "I'm not happy to hear you killed someone Chandler..." Zero said slowly. "But I'm glad to see you again... I'll ask Charlie if you can move in with me." He started to wag his scruffy, black tail.
  "... Bro, are you right in the head?" Chandler asked, surprised. "You just heard I-"
  "You're my brother Chandler, who I haven't seen in forever." Zero cut him off. "I can... get past that fact... Can you please just live with me?" He said, looking hopeful.
  Chandler stared at him for a few moments, then smiled. "If you want me to Zero." Zero gave a happy bark.
  "I'll pay your rent for ya bro, until you find a job here." He said, grinning. Chandler gave him a hug, patting his back. Zero growled in content, licking his brother's cheek like any puppy would to a sibling. "Welcome home Chandler..."
  "Glad to be home Zero." Chandler said, ignoring the ringing sound as his tag and collar ring clinked together; it was a false