Another Day, another bone: Disaster

“… Come on Zak, one more drink!” A Labrador called across the bar, his eyes where everyone’s was: on the tan Doberman sitting at a table with a rivaling drinker, who looked on the verge of collapse. Zak was drunk, and he was about to pass out himself from all the beer he had been drinking due to the drinking game he was playing. His rival was a big Greyhound in a fedora, and he didn’t look like he could stand one more drink.
  It was Zak’s turn, and with a confident, albeit drunken grin to the crowd, he swept up his mug and drained it fast, his throat bobbing lightly with each gulp, and slamming the container down empty. His older half-brother, Joey, watched on, a big grin on his slim muzzle, a cigarette between his teeth. He knew as well as anyone that nobody stood a chance against his brother, a true Slumdog by blood, and they were a pretty strong set of Dobermans.
  “Well Dan? We’re waiting.” The tan Dobie slurred out, leaning his muzzle on one paw, the confident grin still on his face, nearly losing his elbow on the table and falling over but managing to stay up. Dan stared at him before looking at his mug, picking it up slowly and looking nervous. He lifted it and began to drink, but only made it halfway before he fell backward and passed out cold.
  A cheer rang out as Zak raised his free paw in victory. Joey chuckled and noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, and he saw a small shape lean by him and speak to him. “Your brother is quite the drinker huh?”
  Looking over, seeing the red and orange wolf Koko, a common drinking buddy they had met on New Year’s, as the speaker, Joey chuckled. “Always has been, it’s in our blood to be the best.”
  “Even to have the best hangovers?” said Koko with a smirk, knowing how bad Zak’s would be in the morning.
  “Even the best hangovers.” Joey said, taking a long pull on his smoke before he blew one of his famous rings, flicking the butt away from him and stamping on it to put any remaining burn out. He was so used to putting out cigarettes he wasn’t bothered by the burn on his footpaw’s rough pad. “We’re all big, so we can hold our weight in pretty much anything.”
  Koko was about to respond, but Zak called for him.
  “’Ey, Koko!” Zak slurred out, swaying in his seat. “You fancy a go? I could have a few more!”
  Shaking his head, the wolf shouted back, “I think you’ve had enough bud, let’s head home so you can see your nephew tomorrow.”
  At that, Zak nodded and stood up, looking eager at the thought of seeing his nephew. “Yerp.” He said with a grin. “Gotta see Dunc’n!” He took a few steps towards them, but tripped over his own paws and fell down. He struggled to get back up, then gave a shrug of hopelessness and went out, snoring.
  The two friends looked at each other a moment before walking up, picking up the drunk Doberman, starting to drag him out of the bar.
  “Well...” Joey chuckled, Koko opening the door for them to leave, “I won’t envy his headache tomorrow.”
 

  The next morning, Duncan, a young mutt, woke up with a stretch. His big ears twitched, adjusting to listen to hear for his Uncle Zak next door. The young pup was a teen, voice almost at full deepness that rivaled his father. But he was a puppy at heart, especially for his Uncle Zak, who was always ready to play with him.
  Hearing the snores, he smiled wide and his long tail wagged, eager to see his big lug of an uncle. Standing up, he stretched further until his toes were flexed out, then he straightened up, grinning as he hopped down from the couch. The young pup raced for his door, dashing out, heading to the door to the right of his. Pushing it so it swung lightly open, he tip toed in and looked at the tan Doberman on the bed, smiling wide at the relaxed look on Zak’s face, the morning light carefully pouring in through the tattered curtains.
  He hopped carefully up onto the bed, making it creak slightly. Zak snuffled a bit, but settled back into his sleep, head on paws, ears and stub twitching. Sneaking up to the large, Shepherd-masked face, Duncan gave the big muzzle a nudge.
  The big goof grumbled and rolled onto his side, head now on his over-stuffed pillow. Giggling gruffly, Duncan hopped over Zak’s head, forepaws on the pillow, and rear ones on the bed. He remembered not so long ago when he would only be on the pillow. Using his own head, he nudged the Doberman’s chin.
  “Come on Uncle Zak,” said Duncan soothingly, “time to get up, we were gonna play today!”
  The big Doberman moaned a bit, eyes opening halfway. Duncan could see they were a bit bloodshot. “Ugh… Oh hey Nephew…” grumbled the canine, rubbing his head, “Today we were going to play…?” He looked disappointed. “I’d love to Duncan but…”
  The young mutt knew what was wrong, pressing a paw to his uncle’s lips. “I understand Uncle Zak. Hard night of drinking, hung over, I understand.” He gave a good natured smile. “Just take it easy.”
  “Thanks Nephew.” Said the tired dog as he laid his head back down, closing his eyes once more. Duncan stroked the slight ridge between his uncle’s ears soothingly, helping him back to sleep. When he was sure his goofy uncle was back out, he snuck back out, long tail wagging lightly.
  Maybe someone else would like to play with me today… Duncan thought, sneaking downstairs to not accidentally rouse anyone still sleeping. When he was halfway down the stairs, he heard a creak from above him, and he turned around. Coming after him down the stairs, looking tired but awake, was Zero, his tag lightly tinkling on the ring hanging from his red collar. Barely behind him, and a bit more energized due to always being an early riser, was Itchy, a Dachshund wearing a green shirt torn at the edges and a red baseball cap, and he smiled up at Duncan.
  “Morning pup, sleep well?” He chuckled, receiving a smile in return from Duncan.
  “Yeah, I slept fine. How about you Zero?” He looked at the black-furred German Shepherd going into the kitchen, getting a grumble and a flick of the Shepherd’s tail in response.
  “Not a morning fella.” Itchy said, smiling.
  “Maybe we should talk after he gets his breakfast.” The mutt suggested, Itchy nodding in agreement, and they both went in the kitchen. Zero was at the counters, looking through the cabinets for food. Tail wagging slowly, he pulled down some bacon-flavored kibble, setting it on the table, and then going to get some water to drink in a glass.
  The two watched the dozy canine in silence, letting the sleepy hound take his time to wake up and get his food first, well aware he wouldn’t be speaking anyway. Returning to the table, Zero poured some kibble in a dog dish, sitting in his chair. The other two followed his example, remembering how hungry they were as well. They were soon all comfortably settled, eating in silence, Duncan occasionally glancing to see how much Zero had left. The black dog was eating his food slow, savoring it so he wouldn’t crave more when he finished.
  After his last gulp of water, Zero set down his glass, looking chipper, then looked at Duncan with a smile, his tail wagging. “So… Now that I’m awake, what’d ya need?” Asked the perked up hound, his ears twitching in attention.
  “Not much Uncle Zero,” the young mutt started, “just wanted to know if you wanted to play with me today. Uncle Zak is a little…” At this, Duncan looked up at the ceiling.
  “Ah, I see.” The German Shepherd chuckled, tail wagging in amusement. “Sure, I’ll play Duncan. What do you guys usually do?”
  “Hm… We play tag, hide and seek, I spy, we build sand castles, swim in the ocean, and…” The young canine went on and on, Zero chuckling. He was glad Duncan was such a pup at heart, and that he even wanted him as a playmate. “… Or we could just hang out.”
  “I feel like going to the beach today.” Said Zero, tail wagging. He could see the young mutt was eager to get going, and didn’t want to hold him up, putting his bowl and glass in the sink. Duncan finished off his meal and did the same, his smile wide and bright.
  “You want to come along Itchy?” Duncan asked the Dachshund, smiling wide. Itchy shook his head, chuckling.
  “Knowing you two, you’d bury me in the sand just for kicks.” The small canine joked as he hopped down from his chair. “But you two have fun, I’ll just go wake up Charlie so we can go to the Fleabite, we have business plans to discuss.” After that, he left the kitchen, the two hearing him heading upstairs. When he was gone, the two walked out side by side, heading for the door and leaving.
  It was slightly chilly, but the duo weren’t really bothered. Their natural heavy coats blocked most of the chill, leaving them cool but heated. Zero was humming a happy tune he had heard over the Christmas holidays when he noticed out the corner of his eye Duncan had a weird look on his face. Stopping his tune, he looked over, ignoring the buildings passing slowly behind the young dog as he walked, and asked, “Is something wrong Duncan?”
  “Nothing really wrong Uncle