with her?”

Ambyr growled louder. “Blitz doesn’t need any ‘friend’ like you, who forces him into making stupid decisions, and pressuring him into doing things he wouldn’t normally do. And quite frankly, I don’t care how long you’ve known him!”

Gill and Ambyr stood glaring at one another. “Well, Blitz knows that I only do it for fun. That’s all it is. If you can’t take it, move out, Princess.” He then turned again to Blitz. “Well? Who’s it gonna be, Blitz? Me, your lifelong friend, who knows how to actually have some fun and excitement around here, or Miss Gloryhound over there?”

“Augh!!” Ambyr stamped her paw on the ground. “Blitz! You don’t believe this crap, do you?”

“Blitz!!”

“Blitz!!”

Blitz’s head was whirling around so fast, he felt his brain and body ready to shut down any moment. He suddenly felt very dizzy. Ambyr...Gill...Ambyr...Gill...Haywire... He was confused to a point where he almost forgot he was the one who was supposed to make the decision on who he trusted and relied on more.

Ambyr...so caring and hard working, yet bossy and often self-centered. Gill...fun and out-going...but ruthless and somewhat selfish. He couldn’t think properly.

In a sudden flash of white light in his head, Blitz was taken back by a flood of memories. He saw he and Gill laughing at their owners...how mad they seemed at them...but how much they seemed to enjoy causing them pain. He saw how in a desperate attempt to have them stop, they were ordered to move to Alaska...and how he never saw Gill again until now.

Once there, he saw Ambyr. He saw her only challengingly smirk as she raced at Blitz’s side, through every mail run and adventure they ever endured together. There he and she were...laughing at Haywire when he always had something incredibly smart to say. There they were...together...when he always felt he needed someone to ask advice from, help get him out of sticky situations, or maybe even to gamble a few bones with...there she was...

...but where was Gill?

Suddenly, in a frantic attempt to save his sanity, he clamed his paws over his ears and howled, “STOOOOOOOOP!!!!!”

Ambyr and Gill instantly stopped their bickering and looked over at him.

Gill suddenly walked over to Ambyr’s side and faced Gill, a hardened expression on his face. “I don’t believe it.”

Gill’s mouth fell open.

“All these years, I thought it was you that was beside me, through thick and thin...through good and bad, Gill.” Blitz said. “But I was wrong; It wasn’t...it was Ambyr and Haywire. THEY are my friends. THEY are the ones who wouldn’t force me into doing things that would hurt either myself nor others.”

Gill still gaped at him.

“I’m finished, Gill. I don’t know you anymore...you’re no friend of mine.”

Petrified with shock, Gill stared at him a little while longer. “Blitz...but why?”

“So sorry,” Blitz simply said. “But it’s time for you to go now.”

With an angry rush, Gill’s confusion and shock turned into anger. “Screw you, Blitz!! You and your stupid friends. I can’t believe you’ll just throw all the good times we had together away.”

“I’ve had better times with them,” Blitz replied. He walked over and opened the door for Gill.

As Gill left the boiler room, he turned back to snarl loudly in Blitz’s face, but Ambyr quickly slammed the door shut on him. She then turned back to Blitz, and gave him a quick smile.

“Despite all you’ve done today...I’m proud of you, Blitz.”

Blitz lowered his ears. “I wish I could say the same...I feel absolutely awful.”

Ambyr sat down in front of him. “I know it took a lot for you to stand up to Gill...and that took way more courage than stealing some silly ball.”

Blitz looked up at her, then smiled. “Thanks, Ambyr.”

“Aww, come on, that Gill mutt got what he deserved. I mean, no offense to you or anything, but –“

“No,” Blitz interrupted. “Not just that...for everything. Mainly for just being there when I needed you most.”

Ambyr walked over to him, and gave him a playfully punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Alright, alright...enough of the cheesy talk...you’re making me feel old. I’m just glad you decided to stop before we all lost our jobs.”

Blitz snapped his head up to her. “WHAT?! What do you mean? Are we fired? Oh, no...this is all my fault, isn’t it?” He whimpered as he put his head to he ground and covered his face with his paws.

Ambyr waved her paws in the air. “No, no, not at all!! I mean, now that Gill’s gone I’m sure we can all sort this whole thing out if –“

Suddenly, Ambyr was interrupted by a loud banging on the door.

“Oh, no, no, no!!” Blitz moaned. “It’s him!”

Ambyr growled and swung the door open. “GET LOST, YOU MUTT!!” She shouted.

Haywire stood, completely appalled at the doorway. He blinked a few times. “Tell you what,” he said. “I’m going to close this door, and knock again. You’re welcome to try that one more time.”

Ambyr stood just as appalled as Haywire as Haywire leaned in and slowly closed the door again. In a few seconds, there came a knocking sound again. Ambyr swung it open again. “Oh, Haywire, I’m so sorry!! Oh, my goodness, I’m sorry, sorry, sorry!!”

Haywire shrugged. “Don’t sweat it. I saw Gill taking a hike as I got here. He looked pretty pissed.”

“I’m sure he’ll find someone else,” Blitz said glumly.

“Hey, did you get those kids to settle down?” Ambyr asked him.

“Of course I did!! I found another ball...gave it to them...and in only a matter of seconds, those kids were all smiles and laughter.” He grinned.

“Oh, that’s good,” Ambyr said. Suddenly, she spotted the ball Gill took laying on the floor. “Wait a second,” she said. “Where did you get the extra ball?”

Haywire continued to grin.

Suddenly, there came the bellowing voice of Mr. Drago that made all three dogs tremble at the sound of his angry tone.

“Haywire!! Blitz!! You two, over here...NOW!!”

Blitz walked over to Haywire’s side. “We’re...hosed.” Haywire winked at him. “Lighten up...at least we’re not fired!!”

Ambyr shook her head. “Tsk-tsk, Haywire.”

As Haywire and Blitz walked over to Mr. Drago to receive their just rewards, Ambyr watched sadly as her friends were grounded and caged up for a week, but despite their punishment, she couldn’t help but feel that all this was necessary for them to learn their invaluable lessons.