around.

''I think maybe she needs the toilet.'' the mother said.

Dakota's boy smiled, showing the gap where one of his teeth had fallen out recently, ''Come back safe!''

Dakota loved how much they trusted her. She slipped out of the doggydoor and stepped out into the crisp evening air. Despite being spring, it was still somewhat cold out at night. The red dog was thankful for her warm fur. She went off to stroll and found her way to the edge of town and sat beneath a streetlamp. As she sat, breathing in the cool air and listening to a far-off howl from a wolf, she thought about what had happened that day; the anger with Orca, the humiliation of slipping over, and meeting that new dog. He seemed really nice, she hoped to see him again.

''Oh dear, if I keep thinking this way I'll turn into Pride!'' she laughed to herself, ''There's only room for one of her in this town.''

Her ears pricked up when she heard a noise behind her. Immediately she thought of danger but then she shrugged that off and became curious as to who else was out this late at night. She turned round and saw the figure of another dog in the darkness.

''Hello?'' she said, wondering who it was.

She didn't have to wait to find out.

''Evening, Dakota.'' the voice replied.

The figure stepped out of the shadows and was revealed to be Orca. He had a smile on his face at the sight of Dakota. The red dog tensed at seeing him. Her expression turned sour and her ears flattened against her head.

''What do you want, Orca?'' she asked.

''Nothing much. I thought you were with your boy?'' he said, sitting himself beside her but not yet touching her.

''He let me out for a bit.'' she replied.

Orca nodded and scooted closer.

''Well that's good. Now we can have our little talk can't we!'' he said.

Dakota stood up and stepped away from him a little, ''I have nothing to talk to you about.''

Orca laughed, ''Of course you do. We're going to talk about us.''

Dakota stepped back again, preparing to make a mad dash back home. It wasn't far. Just a couple of short streets, it was close to the outskirt.

''Just picture it, Dakota.'' Orca said, ''Me and you, we'll be the most perfect couple in town. Me, the brave, the talented, the best-looking and strongest male. You, the most gorgeous female, my little prize. Think of how jealous everyone will be. Think of how they'll look up to us both. And the children!''

Dakota was starting to feel worried and a bit nauseous. She started to walk backwards, slowly.

''I'm sorry, Orca,'' she said, ''But you're just not the one for me. You can find someone else more...suited to you to be with. Someone who wants you back. But not me!''

Orca rose to his paws, his large size shadowing her from the street lamp.

''But you do want me, Dakota.'' he said, the smile gone from his face.

Dakota, suddenly fearful, turned to go home. But Orca just as quickly placed himself between her and the way back to her house.

''You aren't leaving yet. We aren't done talking!'' he snapped.

Dakota turned and fled in the opposite direction, further into town. Orca followed close behind. She couldn't shake him on this main road with all the street lamps. She had to do something stupid and fled into an alleyway, rushing down it and hoping he wouldn't catch her in this darkness. But he was clever and he followed her easily. Soon she came to a dead end in an alley on the opposite edge of town. It was dark and there were many crates and barrels. Dakota ran right to the back of the alley and hid right in the darkest corner, low to the ground, hoping he wouldn't catch her here. But he did.

''Dakota.'' his voice was low and menacing.

He stared down at the tiny frightened red dog with his dark pools of eyes.

Franz was also out that night. He was new to the town and, despite better judgement, he really wanted to get to know the layout of the town when there was no one around. He quite liked it here and he knew his master did too. So many pretty buildings for him to draw and paint. And so many interesting-looking dogs and people too. Franz then thought of that husky he'd seen earlier. She seemed quite nice. How unfortunate that he had to meet her in such embarrassing circumstances but maybe he would not have met her otherwise, so he should be thankful to that little patch of ice.

Franz laughed, ''I can't apologise to a patch of ice. How silly of me!''

At that moment he noticed that there were pawsteps in the snow. They looked franctic and from the messy way they were and the tiny prints crushed by much larger prints, it seemed as though someone had been chased. Was someone in trouble? Franz was worried and followed the pawprints.

He soon found his way in what seemed to be a labyrinth of dark alleys. He was sure it was just his mind playing tricks on him in the dark and he could just make out the prints in the snow still. He reached an alley right at the back of town and pricked his ears as he could hear something. There seemed to be something like a scuffle going on. He could hear muffled whines or sobs and heavy grunting as well as some crashing into the wood at the back. Slowly and carefully, Franz crept into the alley towards the back where the suspected scuffle was happening. When he reached the end wall he was shocked to his core and could have easily been sick right there.

Dakota was on the floor, scrabbling to no avail, while a large dark-furred dog was straddled over her, pressed against her with his muzzle clamping her's shut. Tears dribbled down her face, glistening in the dark and Franz could only watch for the moment. Suddenly, his instincts kicked in and a low growl was emitted from his throat. He launch himself at the larger dog, snarling like a wild rabid wolf and biting ferociously into his neck. The dog was surprised and released his hold on Dakota to turn and bite the other dog. He managed to get his teeth around the other dog's front leg and yanked him off his back. Franz quickly got to his feet and the two males circled each other. Franz leapt at the large dog, biting into his neck and chest and ripping out chunks of fur and flesh. Dark liquid made drips on the floor but was hardly noticeable in such little light. Eventually, Orca threw Franz off him and, after biting his face for good measure, fled the alley.

Franz stood, blood staining the fur round his muzzle. He was panting from the fight and a few cuts on his beck, legs and nose were stinging and blood seeped out a few of them. After collecting himself he turned to the tiny dog behind him. Dakota looked smaller than ever, cowering into the small crack between the crate and the alley wall. She was still whimpering, eyes wide, panting. Franz couldn't even begin to understand how she was feeling after what she'd just endured.

''Dakota.'' he whispered, softly.

She whimpered louder at the sound of her name and he approached her. At first she was terrified but nothing could make her feel worse than she already did. When she realised just exactly who it was she threw herself at him and curled up under him, against his warm fur. Franz had never been the crying type really. But just this was enough to break him and he cried into her fur as she did into his. After many long minutes had gone by, he patted her with his paw.

''Come on, let's get you home.'' he said.

He moved right after she began to budge and, with Dakota walking close against him, they made the walk back across town to her house. When they reached it she flew up the steps, glancing back at him just once as thanks. Franz couldn't blame her. He found his way back home and licked his cuts the best he could before going inside to sleep. He would visit Dakota in the morning.

Several weeks had passed since that terrible night with Orca. Dakota very rarely left her house, only to do her business if anything. She hadn't eaten or drank much and spent most of her time sleeping, if that's what it could be called. She had nightmares and would just roll around and whimper. Her friends had come to see her a few times. As much as they could really. Dusty worked almost all the time so she didn't see her much. And Pride was having to deal with a new addition to her family, a new pup who she had grown a motherly attachment towards. He only had three legs and was partially blind but her owners had bought him anyway and she constantly worried about him. Dakota sometimes saw her parents, but in her house other dogs weren't really allowed in and particularly her father, who despite being the town's hero was still a stray. Dakota's most frequent visitor was Franz, her saviour and right now, closest companion.

He snuck in when the family went out the watch the races. He found Dakota where she always was, curled up under her boy's bed. She thought it was safer down there so she hardly ever came out and always slept against the wall so nothing could get her.

''Hey, Dakota.'' Franz said, squeezing in under the bed next to her.

She snuggled against him, breathing in his warm smell. It was so comforting to her. They had grown close over the past few weeks. She held him very dear to her now and she to him. And to her relief her stomach hadn't changed, either in size or otherwise. Besides being skinnier from not eating. At least she wasn't having Orca's pups. She had decided, though, that she loved Franz. She