{Part 1: Chapters 2-3}

by Doverstar

The streets of a certain little town were normally busy, children scuttling about, playing with various items. In a deserted alley, a trash can had objects flying out of it, and the tin rattled. Something--some kind of creature--was inside the can.

The trash can tipped over with a clang!

"Oop--ahh, here we go!" Came a muffled bark. A furry, golden tail appeared out of the toppled-over trash can. The tail wagged, and out emerged a scruffy male stray pup, a Golden Retriever male. In his unusually large-for-a-puppy teeth he held an old steak, a piece of raw meat some human had thrown away by accident.

The Golden Retriever puppy snickered. "Nothin' but the best for Fang, ha ha!"

He retreated to a corner, dropping the steak at his paws. As he bent to eat it, he heard the wails of a female dog.

Fang--for of course that was his name--pressed himself against the alley wall, baring his uncanny sharp teeth. The dogcatcher's truck screeched past the alley. The cries distress came from the truck. Fang leaped out of the alley and into the dusty road, intrigued.

There, in the back of the dogcatcher's truck, was a pale-gold-furred pomeranian pup, about Fang's own age. Around her neck was a yellow collar, and she was sticking a cream-colored paw out of the wire-fence strung to the back of the truck.

"Help!" she cried.

Fang arched a brow. "She's off to the pound, huh." He shook himself. "Not much I can do about it."

He turned to go back into the alley and finish his steak. Although, as he walked, he couldn't get the pomeranian's picture out of his head. She had been pretty. With blue-violet eyes, he'd guess. He was partial to blue eyes. And fluffy tails.

Before he knew it, Fang was following the dogcatcher's truck. Then again, he thought cockily, rescuing damsels in distress is my specialty.

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Fang snuck into the pound when the dogcatcher had checked the pomeranian's licsense on her yellow collar. The dogcatcher had walked out, presumably to phone the pomeranian pup's owners. Fang snorted. House Dogs. They were all the same.

But this one, he reflected, studying the female pup from the doorway, where he stuck his head out of, this one's different. She sat close to the bars of her cage/cell, ears drooped and her muzzle set in a frustrated line. She didn't seem scared, just angry. She obviously didn't think she would wind up here, in the pound, and didn't intend to return. She just wanted out, Fang concluded, and he was going to be the one to free her before the dogcatcher could take her back to her snobby little family.

He padded into the pound cautiously, trying to ignore the pitiful wails and stares he was given from the other dogs caged up. His eyes were on the pomeranian.

"Psst!" he whispered.

The girl pomeranian pup didn't glance his way.

"Hey! Pssst!" Fang repeated, taking a few pawsteps toward her cell.

The pomeranian finally looked up, eyes lighting up when she noticed him padding toward her. She stood up, curled tail wagging. Her eyelids drooped halfway.

"Hiya, Street Dog," she barked in a middle-toned woof. "Who're you?"

"Name's Fang, missy," Fang winked flirtatiously in her direction. "But you can refer to me as your hero."

The pomeranian snorted a laugh. "Keep telling yourself that. Here to get me out, are you?"

"Seeing's as I'm the only one here who knows how to pop the lock," Fang answered smoothly, padding up until he was directly in front of her, with only the bars to keep them apart.

"Well then, Fang," she said, rearing up onto her hind legs, "don't hold your breath." With a flick of her nose she shoved the lock off its holder and butted the door open with her head. It swung slightly, and Fang leapt out of the way, eyes widening in admiration.

"He-hey," he chuckled. "I like you already." He escorted her to the door. "Like I said, my name's Fang."

"Angel," she replied, pushing her way out of the pound doors and making her way across the dirt road to the nearest line of trees and bushes.

Fang followed, moving quickly. He didn't want to be there when the dogcatcher found Angel missing.

They took shelter in the woods. Fang sat down and scratched an ear, but Angel kept walking, obviously determined to get to the town, which was only a good 20 minutes away. Fang sat up, walking alongside her.

He sprang in front of her, so that she halted.

"So, uh," he sat down again, refusing to let her keep walking. He wanted to make conversation; make an impressive first impression, as it were. "If you could've gotten out yourself, doll, why'd you sit there moping?"

Angel shrugged. "I figured I'd let the dogcatcher take me home, but thanks to you, I'll be walking."


Fang grunted good-naturedly. "Happy to help."

Angel laughed, but only slightly. She tried edging around him. "Thanks again, huh? I've got to get back to my family, so..."

"Woah, woah, woah," Fang stood now, still blocking her path. "Why not stick around?" He wiggled his eyebrows, grinning, showing his infamous fangs. "I can show you life on the streets."

Angel's blue eyes darkened. "Thanks, Street Pup, but I already know that life," her voice hardened and she got past him, walking determindely in the direction of the town, "and I'm never going back."

Fang's tail wagged. He seemed to be falling for this female more than any of the others he'd met. She was similar to him, and he couldn't help but admire her. She sure was cute, too.

"What d'you mean?" he asked, walking with her.

"The streets aren't for me." Angel replied steadily. "I have a family--I've had five, but the Darlings' are the ones I know won't leave me behind."

Fang panted, laughing. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."

Angel glared at him. "They won't! They have more dogs than most families, and I'm one of them. You can't convince me otherwise, so back off."

Fang stopped laughing and grew serious. "Hey, hey, doll, I didn't mean it like that." He began scratching an ear with his hind paw. "It's just, I've met dogs--" he didn't mention they were all mostly girl dogs "--who've been out on the streets so long they've forgotten they ever had a family. One day," he stopped scratching and looked at her, "it could happen to you. Better to save yourself the heartbreak, eh, doll?"

Angel scoffed and pushed past him, heading to the spot between the trees where you could see the little houses and fenced-in trees. Fang watched her for a moment, confused. He didn't get it. Why would any dog, much less a class-act gorgeous one like Angel, want to stay with humans? They were nothing but trouble.

But he decided he'd at least escort Angel home. Maybe she'd change her mind on the way if he threw on a little charm.

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"This is where you live?" Fang asked Angel as they strolled through her neighborhood, keeping onto the sidewalk.

"Home sweet home," said Angel. "Snob Hill, right?"

"I wasn't gonna say it," Fang grinned.

Angel chuckled and the two pups kept going. As soon as they got to the fence of Angel's house, barking could be heard. Fang crouched, trying to make himself small. He hid behind the white fence and blinked, peeking through the cracks of the fence's wooden boards.

Dogs streamed into the yard, barking hysterically and surrounding Angel, along with two humans and their little toddler son, Junior.

It was clear to Fang that Angel most certainly wasn't the only dog living there. There was Lady, the pretty Cocker Spaniel mother, Tramp, the mutt of a father, the three triplet Cocker Spaniel girls--whom Fang thought were stunningly gorgeous, but not quite as beautiful as Angel--and if things didn't work out between he and Angel, he had a few opening lines to deliver to the one in the red collar--Colette, wasn't it? Then he saw Scamp. The pup was out of control, in his opinion. But Angel seemed to adore him. Fang bristled. She already had a love interest? This he had to fix. He wasn't going to lose Angel without a fight. 

Then something hit him. He stared at the dog called Tramp. Could it be? Could the dog he had heard so much about be alive and well--and living the House Dog life? It couldn't be true! The Tramp was Fang's hero! He couldn't have chosen the life on the end of a chain. Fang narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth at the sight of the red collar around Tramp's neck. His opinion of the Tramp dropped to his toes and he let out a growl. He would never plant idolization on anyone ever again. He couldn't trust that person to be what he thought they'd be. From now on, the only dog to look up to in his mind was himself!

The dogs began to go inside, with the human called Jim Dear clapping his hands and saying it was time for a bath. Fang snorted. Baths! Who needed them? Soap, water, the whole nine yards was a waste of time. Gimme