No heroic entrance?"

"Oh, I didn't say there ain't gonna be an entrance," Fang smirked. "Just not one that involves any, y'know, danger."
 

"It's official, then," Afghanna murmured as she fell in beside Skip, "One of us is a few pieces of kibble short of a full bowl."

"Glad you admit it," Fang called back. 

Afghanna crossed her eyes at him, but he wasn't looking as they walked. Rose padded quickly to catch up to Fang.

"So," Rose asked in her sugar-sweet voice, "You think your plan will work, Fang?" She cast adoring blue eyes up at him.

"Worth a shot," Fang said curtly, not looking at her. "'Course, I am a pro."

"At getting humiliated," Skip whispered to Affy. Afghanna didn't reply.

Rose giggled. Then she halted, crashing into Fang. He had stopped suddenly.

They were at the gate to The Tramp's house by now. Fang paused, walking over to a nearby puddle and looking at his reflection in it. He took a forepaw and tried smoothing down his messy tuft of fur at the top of his head. It wouldn't stay down. He shook his ears, suddenly conscious of how long they were.

Afghanna stood beside him, her reflection appearing next to his. "You look fine," she said, giving him a fond lick on the cheek. 

Fang looked at her, red eyes brimming with confusion. "What if she..." he trailed off, shaking himself. Afghanna was the closest thing he had to a real friend. But he couldn't confide in her with his worries now, not with Rose and Skip looking on. "Yeah," he said, lifting his head. "I know. I always do."

But his eyes betrayed his anxiousness.

Afghanna gave him a very long look, then nodded primly and stepped back. "We'll keep the rest of her little family outta your fur."

Fang blinked at her. "Yeah, yeah, thanks." He turned, taking a deep breath, and entered the yard.

He knew where she would be. He had managed to snatch a bit of complaints from Annette and Collette about how where Angel slept was better than where they slept. Fang reached the front porch, hopped up on his back legs and scratched at a window, letting out slow, soft barks.

A head appeared almost instantly at the window. It was Angel. Fang's heart rate picked up, but he played it cool. He jerked his head over his shoulder, indicating she come out.

Angel used the dog door and was out in a minute. "Fang?" she whispered, ears drooping. "It's so early--why are you here?"

"Gimme a break, doll, can't I stop by for a visit?"

Angel raised her eyebrows, yellow collar dangling. "You heard what Tramp said last time you were here. You can't be here."

"How's that for a greeting to your own personal hero?" Fang muttered. "Whatever--look. I'm just here with a proposition for ya."

"Not interested."

"Y'haven't even hear it yet."

"So what?" Angel grunted. "I told you, I don't want anything to do with that side of the tracks."

"Hey, hey, no problem." Fang lifted his head. "And this has nothin' to do with it. Just wanted to take ya somewhere special for breakfast, that's all."

"Yeah?" Angel's eyelids lowered, an amused smile curling on her muzzle. "Where?"

"Hungry, are we?" Fang teased. "Okay, then, follow me."

Angel trotted prettily to his side and they exited the yard together. "As long as I'm home before the family notices I'm missing."

"Relax, dollface, they won't know what hit 'em." Fang grinned.

"That makes me feel so much better." Angel muttered sarcastically.

"Heh-heh-heh," Fang chuckled, head nodding with the laugh.

Chapter 8

Fang and Angel were leaving the alley behind Bernie's Pastries, toenails clicking on the sidewalk.

"What'd I tell you?" Fang swiped his tongue around his muzzle. "Bernie's Pastries--best breakfast place on the block." He winked sideways at Angel. "Great pickings, huh?"

Angel laughed. "When you put it that way, I think I feel it coming back up."

Fang grinned. "Shoulda brought an umbrella." She elbowed him for that, paw nearly missing his ear.

"So, where to now?" Angel asked.

Fang felt his fur rise. "Don't you wanna get back t'your snuggly li'l family?"

"Not just yet." Angel laughed. "We've got an hour yet. How about taking a trip to the Park?"

"Hey, nah, I gotta better place." Fang panted. Angel chuckled, nodding for him to lead. He did.

They talked as they walked, Fang at last two inches ahead of her, but still brushing against her, side-by-side. They came to a wide bridge, and when they went across, the ground became muckier, and the mud squished between Angel's toes in a way that made something in her mind flicker with doubt.

"This way." Fang cocked his head. "So," he cleared his throat. "What's so great 'bout a family anyway?"

Angel didn't even have to think about it, with a fond look at her yellow collar and gold liscence. "They're always there for you--no matter how bad you've been to them, they'll be ready for you to come home whenever you realize how good you've got it after all. Just ask Scamp."

Fang bristled at the mutt-pup's name, but ignored it. Things were going too well. "Yeah?" He looked down as they trotted.

"Sure." Angel shrugged. "It's better than being out here. Trust me, I know."

Fang nuzzled her as they went. "Yeah, well, I guess there ain't any arguin' with that."

"Now you're catching on." Angel smiled.

Fang led her through a wide, huge cave-like pipe. "C'mon, slowpaws, you're gonna miss it!"

Angel giggled. "Aheh, what'm I missing?" She began to go into the pipe. She was halfway through when he answered:

Fang bounced on his paws--he'd long lost his cool attitude earlier when spending enough time with her. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this way. "C'mon, Ang', yer gonna miss it! Ooh, sun's comin' up--you'll love this!"

"Why?" Angel chuckled. "What..."

She stopped cold right behind him, mouth agape.

Sun hit mounds and mounds, piles and piles, caves, crannies, and various dirty items that proved a dog's dream. Angel turned to look behind them, tilting her head back at the sign above them:

"See? This'll be a great place to hang around!" Fang exclaimed. "I came here once--best time o' my life. I wanted t'come back, but, y'know, I thought I'd save it for..." Fang looked around. "Angel?"

 He caught up to her outside the Junkyard. She was hurrying away, ears drooping and head down, eyes closed and her eyebrows lowered in an angry expression.

"Angel?" Fang stopped in front of her and bent his head until he could look her full in the face. "You okay?"

"Why did you bring me here?" Angel shoved her head up and glared at him.

Fang lifted a paw, leaning a little bit away from her, mouth open to answer. "I, uh, well..."

"Don't you know what that is?" Angel snapped. She began walking again. Fang followed, totally confused.

They ended up in the alley across from the Park, boxes and crates stacked up on the side of a brick building. Angel was already trying to lift the notch on the wooden gate to head back home. Fang caught up with her and nudged her away with his caramel-brown nose.

"Hey!" Angel snarled. "Back off, Fang! I'm going home."

"What's the problem here?" Fang asked, voice quivering. He narrowed his eyes, exasperated. "What'd I do now?"

"You took me...there!" Angel jerked her head back the way they'd come, yellow collar jangling.

"The Junkyard?" Fang confirmed. "What's wrong with the..."

"Everything!" Angel exploded.

Fang jumped up onto the boxes, staring down at her. "What?"

"I was there when I was abandoned." Angel snapped. "Every time. Buster, he took me in."

"Heard of him." Fang scratched his ear. "Rottweiler-Doberman mix, right?"

"Yes." Angel locked eyes with the Golden Retriever. "And he treated me like dirt. I'll never go back. My home is on the other side of the tracks. With your hated pedigrees and collar-wearers. With my family."

"Your family?" Fang growled, the word spat out as a furious bark. "With the wimpy mutt?"

"Ughh, Fang, when will you learn?" Angel groaned. She sighed and lowered her head. "No one will take Scamp's place."

"What does he have that I don't?" Fang sprang down from the boxes and padded towards her, and she backed up as he did. He looked searchingly into her eyes, red irises sparkling with hurt. 

"Fang--"

"What then?" Fang yelped. "What else is it 'e has?