looking away with a goofy smile on his muzzle, then reached over and quickly poked her with a paw. "Yer it!"

"Hey!" Lilac sprang for him.

"Woah, who said we were playin' tag?" Fang cried delightedly, leaping away from her.

He was chased around the clearing with his newfound friend, heart pounding. This was even better than he'd expected. She was actually pretty outgoing. Perfect for him.

When they finally finished, they flopped onto their backs in the sandy-grass forest floor.

Fang panted next to her. "I'm...(pant pant)...it!"

"Let's relax...(pant)...for a while," Lilac gasped.

Suddenly a bird dipped and swished over their heads.

The two pups lay staring at the bluebird as it did swooping dives in the air, having the time of its life.

"Wonder what that's like?" Fang commented.

Lilac didn't move her head but cut her eyes toward him. "What?"

"Flyin'."

Lilac gave an amused chuckle. "I can't say that I've ever cared. I'm a dog, not a bird."

"You sayin' we can't fly?" Fang joked.

"Unless you grow wings."

"Ain't you got any imagination?" Fang rolled onto his belly and looked at her, red eyes sparking.

"Not enough, I'm afraid," Lilac replied.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Fang sat up, breaking the silence. "Y'know what you need?"

"A new leader?" Lilac muttered.

"There's that--and a little flyin'."

"Don't be stupid."

"Where's yer inner puppy?" Fang teased. He sprang to his paws.

And then he started to sing.

Fang walked in a bobbing circle as he sang.

(NOTICE: COPY THIS LINK AND PASTE IT IN ANOTHER TAB OR WINDOW! LISTEN TO IT AS YOU READ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g_0ekax290 )

 "Shipwreck in the sea of faces,
There's a dreamy world up there,
Dear friends in higher places,
Carry me away from here,
Travel light let the sun eclipse you,
'Cause your flight is about to leave,
And there's more to this brave adventure,
Than you'd ever believe,

Birdseye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you,
Wide eyes will always brighten the blue,
Chase your dreams, and remember me, speak bravery,
'cause after all those wings will take you, up so high,
So bid the forest floor goodbye, as you brace the wind and,
Take to the sky... you take to the sky

Dada, dada, dadadadadadada
Dada, dada, dadadadadadada!"

Lilac laughed and her head bobbed with the music.

Fang continued, watching the bluebird above their heads and standing on his hind legs, front paws tucked and tongue out, grinning as he sang:

"On the hills of lore and wonder,
There's a stormy world up there,
You can't whisper above the thunder,
But you can fly anywhere,
Purple burst of paper birds this,

Picture paints a thousand words,
So take a breath of mist and mystery,
And don't look back!"

Lilac sang along in the chorus, smiling as she and Fang strolled and bobbed side by side through the woods.

"Birdseye view, awake the stars 'cause they're all around you,
Wide eyes will always brighten the blue,
Chase your dreams, and remember me, speak bravery,
'cause after all those wings will take you, up so high,
So bid the forest floor goodbye, as you brace the wind and,
Take to the sky... (you take to the sky)!"

(NOTICE! NOW CLOSE THE WINDOW WITH THE SONG!)

"Having fun?" came a growl from the bushes.

Fang and Lilac instantly ceased singing, stiffening.

"Uh oh." Lilac whispered. She edged away from Fang's side. Fang's tail drooped.

Blizzard slunk from the bushes. "I warned you, shortstack, stay off our turf. But you didn't listen."

The rest of the crew, Harley and the twins (whose names happen to be Fleck and Duke) came into view.

"Boys," Blitz glanced sneeringly at Duke and Fleck, the twins, "Take little miss traitor back to the clearing. Harley, you and me are gonna teach blondie here to respect boundaries."

Fang braced himself as they advanced.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 3!