opposite side of the street. Oh $*!#! I quickly made for cover behind a fat trunked tree. A few minutes later I confronted the store. I  walked inside, sliding swiftly behind shelves and cages. I grabbed three bags of food, which was very difficult to carry, and ran back to the pack.

       " Well done. " said Bone. He was waiting on the outskirts of town. " You did marvelous." he praised. I respectfully dipped my head and brought the food into the house. The dogs shared equally, eccept for Belle and the dalmation puppy, and a few others. They needed to keep their strength up. The same routine, everyday: get food, come home to the pack, they eat, I sleep,..... Until the day of the first frost.

        I had gotten into town, and today I was followed by Budd, who wanted to come along. I was fine with that. When we rounded the corner, I saw the ominous dog catcher's truck. He was just leaving a neighbors house. Suddenly he looked in our direction. He saw us. " Run! Now! Just don't lead him to the pack!" I yelled. We separated, and the catcher followed me. I ran as fast as I could, but there was some thin ice on the road. I slipped, crushing my left fore-leg underneath me. I felt a sharp pull around my neck and looked up, in great pain. He caught me. Off to the pound, to be put down if no one claims me. I know my old master hated me.... I'm dead........ just a matter of time.

         chapter IV

                   The floor of the pound was cold, hard, and wet. My leg was twisted painfully, and I was only given a small bandage. That night I had a visitor. It was Budd. " Oh, Lei, I'm so sorry! If I hadn't come along-" " Don't blame yourself." Another dog walked in threw the hole in the wall. It was Bullet. Oh beaver dam! " Why, Leira! What on Earth happened!" Budd looked at his colar, then at me. " Do you know this pet?" I start to open my mouth, but Bullet interupts," Oh babe! I can't 'leive this! Where ye' been? Did you run away from your master?" Budd glares at me. " What?! I can't beleive you. You know Bones law.... I'm sorry, but I can't bring you back now." He walked away. " Oh Lei. We had so much infront of us beauty. Puppies! Don't cha think, beaut?" " No. Leave. Go. Now. Don't come back. Ever." " Fine darlin', but you're so hot, and I really wanted to h-" I turned away from that *******. " Fine."

            The following day, nobody claimed me. The day felt like eternity. Just sitting their, starring at the walls. I hate life. What's the flippin' point? Later, after the workers leave, I smell another dog outside. I can't reconize the smell though. A male dog walks into the pound through the crack. He's amazing. A german shepard. Pitch black, with strong yellow eyes. I look at him, and our eyes meet. All I could think at that moment was hotty hotty oh my God hotty! He walks over to me, bites the lock on my cage door and opens it. " Come on. I'll get you to my place, and I'll fix your leg, and we can talk." Something about his voice soothed me. It was heavenly sounding. I trusted him. I limped after him and followed him to a dark, but cozy alley way.

         He tells me that his name is Kerwin, and that his owner abandoned him, and that he had joined Bone's little pack. He thought it was ridiculous, and that he didn't help the dogs, he just provided shelter. That night he fixed my leg, which wasn't broken. YAY! It was just dislocated. He said that I had to go back, and that he would help me get through it all. I trust him. We talked some that night about ourselves, interests, lives,... I like him, we have a connection..... a strong bond. I feel that it will last forever, but I wish I hadn't gotten my self into this mess.