On Monday September 6, two days after the opening rugby match of the season of the North East State and College Canine Rugby competition, 5 members of the team that won that match wondered the streets of New Haven in search for an old friend and enemy. 

The leaders of this plan, Tramp and his son Scamp, were at the helm and their counterparts, Mooch, Scratchy and Sparky, reluctantly followed on behind them. The two mongrels and the sheepdog did not feel so confident in encountering their old obnoxious Junkyard leader because when they were in, his orders for the clan were that each individuals trouble is their own and no one looks out for anyone but themselves. But Scamp's care for his friends inspired them and therefore they left the Junkyard to begin a new life. Besides, even though they went along with the rules, their hearts were always in the right place and they never really wanted to see each other take a fall because of their negligence. That would be an extremely tough burden to carry for the rest of your life. Sparky thought.

"Are you sure that you know what you're doing, 'kay?" Mooch, slightly nervous, asked the younger schnauzer. "I don't know if this is safe."

"Just trust us on this." Scamp assured. "Once we find him, we'll corner him so that he cannot get away and then we'll use this leash to put around his neck and clip the buckle onto something to secure him into position." He notioned to the leash that was hanging around his neck like a scarf; which was one of the leashes that his owners Jim Dear and Darling used to walk them every now and then. "Then once he is tied up like a prisoner we will talk to and reason with him. It will be all civilized and everything. We are not going to harm him; we are going to help him."

"Scamp is right." Tramp added. "You all know that I used to train Buster to be a top class stray. I taught him since he was just a pup, and he also looked up to me as a father figure, so he trusted me. We both know each other very well, and as his trainer I can give him just a little more help. He needs it."

"But why would you want him on our team?" Sparky asked.

"Because, first of all, he is the fittest and most commited canine I have ever known." Tramp replied. "He would always be willing to try something that was offered to him and would never hold back. Whether it was overcoming the tough obstacles of the streets or testing the endurance of his body, he would almost always succeed. So looking at his 'resume', his qualifications could earn him a spot as a Navy SEAL dog; and I really mean that. Secondly, he knows how to tackle another dog because I have seen him do it in a fight; and he defends himself with speed and agility in that if another dog attacks him, he counters the attack or dodges it with his swift movements. So his speed and tackling ability could come in very handy in both offense and defense in rugby. He could sidestep a defender or palm him or her off when he has the ball, and he could lay some hard tackles on them when defending. But bottom line: With all his experience he could be the perfect player for the game."

The Ex-JD's exchanged glances at each other as the veteran stray finished, and they seemed to agree with what he was saying.

"I suppose you're right, Tramp." Scratchy said. "Yes, he is unbelievably fit and I during the time that I was in the Junkyard I don't ever remember any dog getting the better of him in a fight."

"Yeah, not even Sparky when he challenged him to a wrestle with a hat, 'Kay?!" Mooch said in amusement. "Buster flicked him into a chimney pipe when he tried, remember?"

"Oh, yeah; and he looked like the black knight!" Scratchy laughed.

"How about a Mongrel/Labrador hybrid: A 'Mongrador'?" Scamp put in. The others all laughed when he said this. Even Sparky found it amusing, even though the experience of being caked with soot seemed embarrassing for him at the time.

"Very clever, Scamp." He therefore remarked. "I like it."

"But, anyway," Tramp continued, getting back on point. "once we find him and get him bound, let's all be friendly and reason with him the best we can. Then we'll offer to let him join the team; just offer, not force. We all have freedom of choice in life. So it will only be fair to let him make his own decision, otherwise we will be attempting to run his life for him and he will end up hating us even more. Let's all show our loyalty and help out an old friend."

"Hear, hear!" Scamp responded. The Ex-JD's knew that this made perfect sense and they showed their favor by nodding. 

But just behind them, two familiar voices sounded the exact same thing that Scamp had just said:

"Yes! Hear, hear!"

The two schanuzers and their counterparts turned around in suprise and spotted the remaining members of the once-Junkyard-clan; Afghan hound Ruby and French bulldog Francois; walking towards them. Tramp and Scamp looked at each other for a few seconds in exchange of thoughts to one another before focusing their eyes back on them. Mooch, Scratchy and Sparky did likewise.

"Hey, you two." Tramp remarked when they came close. "I assume you heard about our plan."

"Two right, our fine leader." Francois replied. "And we would like to help you out. I think we have a few little things to say to Buster ourselves."

"But we can also add a few extra numbers to your squad if you need backup to capture Buster." Ruby added.

"Good thinking." Scamp replied. "This way we will have the whole Ex-Junkyard Clan as leverage. Then we can ALL reason with Buster and hopefully it will convince him to accept our friendship."

"All the better addition to the operation." Tramp replied. "Now let's get going. I am picking up his scent."

Tramp led the pack as he sniffed the ground while walking to pick up Buster's location. They walked through several alleyways before Tramp suddenly stopped his troops on the corner of the entrance to one. He gestured a 'quiet' signal to them because he felt positive that Buster was in this alley at this very moment; and he wanted everyone to remain silent and get ready to begin their operation before Buster would notice any suspicious activity and make a move.

"Okay," Tramp whispered to his pack. "He is here. Now, do not let him know that you are here just yet. We have to surprise him. He might try to run away if we all enter on him at one place at one time. One of us has to go up to him first and see how he reacts. Most likely he might want to retaliate or escape us. If that is the case, we must all intervene immediately; from different locations so that we create a 'cage' to not leave any gaps for him to escape through; and back him into the corner so that he cannot make any such move. Then we will hold him to the ground and get the collar and leash on him and hook the leash handle onto either one of the planks of wood in the fence or something else useful in the alleyway, such as a tap. Then he will remain held and we can talk to him from there."

"Alright, then." Scamp spoke up in a likewise whisper. "I volunteer to face him first. He and I have some unfinished business to take care of." He sounded very determined when he said this.

"You are truly positive zat you want to do this, Scamp?" Francois asked.

"I am not afraid of him because I believe that somewhere inside, his heart is still there. He had no intention of hurting me when I wanted to become a street dog and he was willing to teach me all the tricks; as well as the rest of you guys;..." He gestured towards the Ex-JD's with an appreciative smile. "...and he was never really willing to go as far as to kill someone who turned against him. so I know that he will not produce anything too nasty. Besides, you all have my back."

"That is right." Sparky then responded in agreement. "We have the numbers against him, so he will not be able to escape."

"Yes. Oh, and by the way..." Something precautionary came up in Scamp's mind, and he shuddered slightly at the thought of a nasty experience with it. "Keep an eye out for the dogcatcher's van. They are still continuously driving around town and we could still be suspected targets as they kept chasing us around for ages when we were on the streets."

"But we shouldn't be worried about them so much now because we are all licenced." Ruby responded.

"Yes, but Buster is not." Scamp continued. "If they catch him, he will be impounded and we may never see him again. We can't let that happen. If they do end up coming, we have to do whatever it takes to ensure Buster is safe from the wrong hands. This will be another way of proving our loyalty to him so that he will further gain our trust."

Everyone else looked at each other briefly and then nodded in agreement as they found that Scamp's point was very valid.

"Just keep this in mind, all the same. This may not happen but one can never be too prepared for the worst case scenario."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, whirlwind." Tramp replied in deep agreeement at his son's proposed precautionary action.

"Okay. Let's do it." Scamp said. "Ruby and Francois; you two stay on this side and back me up. Dad; you, Scratchy, Sparky and Mooch take the other alley and follow that around to get to the back fence of this alley and enter from there once I give you the signal. It will be a three-time

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