not far behind her, three dogs watched her go, two of them with narrowed eyes.
  “That’s her.” Growled one of the trio, a dark grey male Norwegian Elkhound with cold blue eyes.
  “Yeah, one of the Barkin bunch; so adorable isn’t she?”  Another breathed, hate tinged in his golden-orange eyes. He was a Belgian Malinois, mainly orange in color, but his face was a black in contrast to the white on his chest and tail.
  Another of their gang, a Japanese Akita, looked nervously at them. “Bane, do we really have to do this?” He asked. “I mean, don’t you and Ashton realize that this revenge is pointless? How could you two not realize Carface was just-?!”
  “Oh shut it Phillip. We’re here, and now someone is going to pay. Charlie killed Carface, and he’s going to suffer through her.” Ashton, the Elkhound, said as he growled deep, frightening Phillip into silence.
  The trio watched her awhile longer before padding along behind her in silence. They saw her turn down an alley and nearly sped up, when they heard her give a light groan.
  “This would be a dead end… The shortcut way was a bit farther down.” They heard her say exasperatedly. This was the chance Ashton and Bane had been looking for, and the one Phillip dread.
  They all dashed in, Phillip in the rear, growling at Mel, who was just starting to work her way out. Phillip felt a pang in his heart unlike any he had felt before, and he really didn’t want to hurt her. She was too beautiful, so precious…
  His thoughts were cut off sharply by Bane speaking harshly. “So boys, what do we have here?” He growled lightly, eyes flashing dangerously. “A little Barkin girl, all on her own just for us?”
  “For us to take our vengeance on I should think.” Ashton added, smirking maliciously. “Such a pretty thing, too bad she was born into Charlie’s crew of mutts.”
  Mel, not knowing these dogs, tried to be bold, but felt her confidence failing fast. “Let me through, I got to get home.” She said, her voice firm but her legs shaking. Ashton just smirked wider.
  “Oh no, you aren’t leaving.” He said softly, his tone dangerous and filled with subtle venom. “You see, we have a score to settle with a dear relative of yours. And it’s a death we’re repaying. So you have three guesses how this will end.”
  Mel stared at them, and then the trio began to advance. She backed away a bit. “No… No, get away from me!” She whimpered. The poor young girl didn’t stand a chance against three fully grown, vicious dogs. At least Bane and Ashton thought it was three.
  Phillip was holding back, barely nipping and scratching her, while his partners went at her viciously with all the pent up hate and contempt for Charlie they had built up. The clawed and bit her deep, causing major damage. They went on a long time, seconds feeling like minutes, minutes like hours, all in a whirl of agony.
  It was over after awhile, all three panting deep. The Elkhound and Malinois looked satisfied with themselves, starting to walk off. Phillip seemed calm, but inside of his mind he was horrified. He watched Mel awhile before he started to turn, then he saw it.
  There was a twitch of her ear, a sign of hope for living; a sign that she had a chance to live on. He went close to her head, hearing her breathing lightly. Barely, but still breathing was a good sign. Moving his muzzle to where it hovered over her ear, he said gently and quietly so his companions wouldn’t hear, “Live on… Don’t give up on life just yet, hang on.”
  “Phillip, what are you doing back there?” The Akita heard Bane calling impatiently behind him.
  “Just making sure it’s all done!” He called back, turning and kicking a bit of dirt on Mel’s stomach, but feeling bad for doing it. The trio fled the scene, two filled with darkened happiness and the last with despair.

  Meph came by minutes later, panting lightly from his run, but he had slowed to a walk when he felt he was far enough away. He passed by the alleyway that the vicious trio had left, minutes after they had gone, and he heard a sound. It sounded like moaning, towards the back of the alleyway.
  Curious but just as cautious, Meph stepped into the alley, walking forward slowly. He didn’t have to go far before the bag of bones dropped from his maw in horror. “Mel!” He howled, dashing forward, carefully sniffing her, nudging her with his muzzle, whining as he never had before. “Mel wake up…!”
  She slowly opened her eyes, whimpering. “Da… Daddy…” She whimpered, “Mom… Uncle… Uncle Zak… H-help…”
  “Sis…” Meph’s good eye watered a bit as a tear formed. “I’ll get help, just stay awake Melanie!” He ran off, his paws pounding the cool concrete, the night air whistling through his erect ears. He pounded through alleys, knowing where to go even in his hysteria.
  Soon, he ran slap-bang into his father, who was walking with Koko. “Woah son, you trying to run your dear old dad over?” Joey said airily, smiling. But his smile was quickly diminished with one look over his pup. “Meph, what happened to you?! Who did this?!”
  “N-not important dad! Street fight! Just come with me!” Meph spoke frantically. Joey nor Koko had ever seen Meph’s cool nature shattered before, and he was in a panic.
  “Meph, explain what-!” The Doberman started, but being cut off by Meph’s loud, bark-like shout.
  “Now!”
  The wolf and Doberman were silenced in their questions, chasing after Meph as he ran fast back to the alley where Mel was. Seeing the scene, Joey quietly walked up to his daughter, muscles stiff. “Is she…?”
  “She’s alive dad…” Meph panted, legs shaking. “Get her home… Get… Help…” Due to his bleeding from the match and his exhaustion, the torn-up mutt collapsed. Glancing at one another, and with only a nod, Koko took Mel gently on his back while Joey lugged his son onto his own.
  They trotted speedily back home, where questions were asked but unanswered. Charlie and Sasha offered their room for the two injured dogs, having the softest bed in the place, and everyone was shooed out as Charlie and Itchy began to work on reviving the former’s grandchildren.
  It took a few days, but the two were awake soon enough, and Mel recounted what happened. Meph listened in stony silence, his calm demeanor back, listening to the descriptions of the three that attacked her. He would make them hurt for her, every one of them.
  Charlie knew who his family was facing now: Carface’s old gang, Silencing Darkness. And whatever Hell they raised, his family would counter in their own way. His family had to stick together more than ever now.