Chancey’s POV

“Up and at ‘em Cadet” Tripod urged and shoved me, I opened my eyes and forced myself up. I stretched and yawned “alright, I’m comin’” I had long since gotten used to Tripod waking me up at the crack of dawn to go train. I sprinted after him, stumbling only slightly, it was still hard getting used to only having three legs. Tripod continued to push me past my limits and make me stronger. He was a perfect drill sergeant, it was no wonder he was Bark Brigade Captain. It was business as usual, Tripod demanded fifty-five of everything, and fifteen on the obstacle course, and finished off with five extra laps in the Slop Area. After a quick power wash (Tripod attacking me with a water hose to get the gruel off) we raced to Bark Brigade, a little tired, but happy. “Hey” Tripod said stepping out in front of me “I got something for ya.” My tail was wagging instantly “really?” I asked happily. “Yeah, here, I remember you said you wanted one” he handed me a sky blue sweatband, it even matched my collar, it was perfect! I had gotten a collar as soon as my bandage came off to hide the nasty scar that was left behind from the barbed wire collar, I didn’t want anyone to see it, I didn’t want to see it myself, brought too many bad memories. I put on quickly “How’s it look?” I asked with a giggle. He looked a little nervous, but brushed it off easily enough. “Great” he said and we started walking again.

As soon as we got there I spotted Lucky, I charged and tackled him to the ground “Hi Lucky” I laughed beaming brightly. He shoved me, also smiling “hey Chancey, nice headband” I wagged my tail “thanks, Tripod gave it to me, he’s the best!” Lucky just rolled his eyes “sure he is” I laughed at his expression. “Aw, are you jealous?” I cooed sweetly, but before he could answer, Lt. Pug started Role Call. Bark Brigade was also business as usual, and before I knew it I was running to the Slop Area to meet Tripod for Evening Training. I decided I’d work on my stealth and try to sneak up on him and attack him, but it didn’t work out so well. See, just about the time I pounced he turned and we tumbled over each other into the Slop Area with him on top of me. It took me a moment to realize how close he was to me, but when I did I blushed hard. Confession: I developed a severe crush on Tripod and I was too nervous to tell him about it. “Guess I need to w-work on my s-sneak attack huh?” I stammered slightly in speech, but I don’t think he noticed. I did notice, however, he did have a slight blush, but I didn’t mention it. “I think you should. You just earned two earned two extra laps.” Two laps put me at seven given he always made me run five extra laps. “Two?” I asked, he raised a brow. “Would like me to double it?” I hurriedly shook my head, I was already at seven, I didn’t need nine. “No sir” he laughed at this “good, now get to it, Cadet.” I shoved him up off of me, he landed back first in gruel, I got up laughing and started running my laps. “It doubled!” he called to me “yes sir!” I laughed out humorously. After work out, and my nine additional laps, Tripod power washed me, and I attacked him with water hose, I didn’t get to do it often, so I had fun with it when I could.

I yawned as we walked, it had been a long day, and I was tired. “Hey, Chancey”

“Hm?”

“w-Would you like to g-go to the Fall Ball with me?”

I paused and looked at him funny. “Me, You want to take me?” I had heard about the ball, I had even helped Cadpig set up some decorations, on my one free day from training, I guess I just can’t catch a break. “Yeah, of course, who wouldn’t?” He panicked at this. “Wait, you don’t already have a date do you?” I giggled at him “I do now.” He smiled at me, obviously relieved to hear that. “Great, thanks Chancey” he said and walked into the barn, I felt like doing cart wheels, he asked me! He asked me! I kept screaming to myself internally, oh, I’d never get to sleep at this rate.

I was absolutely giddy the next day, chalk full of energy, and eager to please. Tripod was very amused; there was no doubt he knew where all the giddiness was coming from. Morning Training seemed to breeze by and I was now sneaking up on Lucky, who was sitting impatiently awaiting Role Call, I pounced, successfully pinning him to the ground and laughing merrily at his expression. “In my clutches again, eh, Lucky?” I asked teasingly. “Well as long as it’s your clutches” he said with a laugh and I giggled as I let him up. “So, listen, Chancey I-“ Lucky was shoved to the side as Mooch approached. “Get your dancin’ shoes on Spotless; I’m takin’ you to the ball with me.” I glowered at the mutt “no you’re not” I stated firmly, since I saved Mooch from the car, he’d tried desperately to get me to join his gang, but I knew he was nothing but trouble. “For your information Mooch, I already have a date.” He looked surprised, so did Lucky “Who?” the chorused, completely dumbfounded. “Tripod” I said “Tripod’s my date” Mooch looked furious, Lucky looked depressed, like he might cry or something. I wanted to know why, was he ok? Lucky took off, back to the barn, I guessed “Lucky?” I called after him worriedly, he didn’t respond. “Role Call!” I wanted to go after him, but I had to stay, I’d never missed a single day of Bark Brigade since that first day. “This isn’t over” Mooch growled walking off to join his gang, but I wasn’t paying attention to him, I was looking after Lucky who was just entering the barn. “Cadet Chancey!” I turned my head to see everyone giving me a strange look. “Huh? Oh, here!” I called, Tripod caught my eye and he looked worried. I didn’t do well in Bark Brigade, I was shouted at repeatedly, and constantly messing up, I couldn’t help it, Lucky’s tortured face kept popping up in my head. I wanted to know what was wrong with him, I’d never seen Lucky upset before, I mean sure he fought with Mooch (and occasionally Tripod), but this was different, he wasn’t angry, he looked…traumatized. As soon as Bark Brigade was over I started to head out to the Slop Area, but Tripod stopped me at the hill about halfway to it. He seemed worried, not him too. “Tripod?” I asked uncertainly. “What happened to you today? You seemed distracted” I shook my head sadly. “Lucky’s upset, and I don’t know why” I told him what happened this morning and he listened quietly. “He was going to ask you to the ball” Tripod said, I was taken aback, Lucky and I were good friends, and sure, I’ll admit I used to have a slight crush on him, but not anymore, this wasn’t making any sense. “Oh” I said shortly “ok, let’s go train.” Tripod worked me hard, and I did extra laps for poor performance today, I soon forgot about my problems, and had a good time working out with Tripod.

The workout the next morning was also good, I hadn’t talked to Lucky, or Mooch, since yesterday at Bark Brigade, so let me tell ya, when I sat down with Tripod (I’d begged him to sit with me) before Role Call I was a nervous wreck. The Fall Ball was in two days and I didn’t want to ruin my friendship with Lucky. When I caught sight of him, and he saw me with Tripod, he looked a little disheartened, I looked over to Tripod, he nodded, and I dashed over to Lucky “hey Luck” I tried to greet him as if nothing was wrong, but we both knew it wasn’t working. “Hey, Chancey” I could hear the sadness in his voice and I canted my head to the side. “What’s wrong Lucky? You seem a bit down.” Lucky let out a nearly depressed sigh “I was going to ask you to the Fall Ball, but you’re going with Tripod…” My ears fell, and tail drooped “aw, Luck, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you” Lucky shook his head with a smile. “It’s ok, but why Tripod? I mean he doesn’t really seem like your type” I actually felt a new emotion, and I didn’t like it, I was angry, I had never been angry before. “Tripod’s perfectly “my type” Lucky, I would know.”

“Yeah, well maybe if you’d hangout with someone that wasn’t Tripod, you’d find a different” he growled lowly, I wanted to cry, I really didn’t want to fight with Lucky, but he brought on himself. “What, Like you? Sorry Lucky, but you’re not exactly boyfriend material anyway!” My voice was raising, I was sure everyone was staring, this was so embarrassing! “Oh, and you think you’d make a good girlfriend? I don’t think so, you’re far to stuck up” I glowered at him, I barely noticed the other pups circling, listening intently.  “Oh, and you aren’t, face it Lucky, you’re nothing but a runt, who wishes he could be the top dog!” Lucky snarled “Well at least I’m normal, and I know people will like me” my eyes narrowed, what was he getting at? “At least I have spots, face it Chancey, you’re nothing but a three legged, spotless, runty freak!” Tears stung my eyes, how dare he? I did it before I could think about it clearly, but I would’ve done it anyway. I reached up my paw and slapped him across the face with all the force I could muster, knocking him off of his paws. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I glared at the pup I had called my best friend “I hate you Lucky, and I wish we had never met!” I shouted at him, and again I found myself fleeing from the stares, my second time ditching Bark Brigade because of my emotions, stupid Lucky.

          I ran up to the hill that was the halfway point to the Slop Area, I lied down by the large oak tree and cried for all I was worth. Why did he do that, say that did he really think those things about me? I don’t know how long I lie there before I felt someone gently nuzzle me, I weakly opened my eyes and looked up, It was Pongo. “Daddy?” I asked, he sat beside me “I heard about what happened today” he said, was he mad, was I in trouble? “I-I’m s-s-sorry, I didn’t w-want to be m-mean, I-I-I…”

“I know, sometimes we just let our emotions get the best of us” I hated that I had done it though, I got mad and lashed out, I was just like The Grump, and I hated it. “Thanks Daddy” I said softly. He nuzzled me one last time “It’ll be ok sweetie, I promise” I nodded wearily and he went back to the house. I stayed there the rest of the day, hating myself; I couldn’t believe I had acted so much like him, was I going to be like him? I wanted to talk to someone about this, but I hadn’t told anyone anything about my past, it was too painful.

I looked up from my paws when I felt another’s presence, I found myself staring my Brigade Captain straight in the eyes. I expected he’d be angry. I ditched Brigade again, and I promised I wouldn’t but he didn’t seem angry. He looked…I don’t know how he looked I had never seen that expression before. “Chancey-” he started, but I cut him off “I know, I ditched Bark Brigade, and I wasn’t supposed to. I promised I wouldn’t, b-but I couldn’t….I-I c-c-couldn’t stay I-” I was cut off guard when he hugged me, pulling me close into a warm comforting embrace. My whole body trembled and I buried my face into his chest “I-I’m sorry” I whispered pitifully. “I don’t blame you, I would’ve done the same thing.”

“But I’m turning into him”

Tripod released me and gave me a confused look “him?” I looked down at my paws.  “There’s a lot no one knows about me Tripod” I told him softly. “Tell me” he said sitting next to me, so I did, I told him everything. I told him what I remembered of my family, I told him about The Grump, I told him about Charles, and when I finally came here to the farm. I cried, I cried hard and tripped over several words, but he sat there and listened, he could feel my pain, I could tell, I saw it in his eyes. “You’re not turning into him” he assured me “You were doing you best to keep yourself in check and you slip, it happens to the rest of us, but The Grump was always angry, he never once felt regret I can assure you” I sniffed, my head down, eyes on the ground. I felt his muzzle slip under mine in a soft nuzzle, forcing my head up, so that I had to meet his gaze. I had gone a little tense, Tripod would sometimes speak with affection, but he never, nuzzled me or anything, not even close, the most affection I got was an occasional hug, I’ve had two counting just a minute ago, or a slug the shoulder with a “Man up cadet” or “no pain no gain” tossed at the end.  I smiled at him and he returned it, before I knew it we were both leaning closer, but sweet moments never seem to last.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here boys, a couple of love sick pups.” I sighed and turned on the mutt “what do you want Mooch?” I growled, leave it to him to ruin a perfectly perfect moment. “I’m here to see if you’ve ch-“

“I haven’t, I’m going with Tripod, now leave!” I growled, stupid males, they were driving me crazy. “You heard the lady, beat it!” Tripod growled stepping up beside me. Aw, he was so sweet. Mooch left grumbling and Tripod and I decided that there would be no Evening Training and headed to the barn, it was getting late anyway, so I didn’t object. We went to the barn and lay down side by side and fell into a peaceful sleep.

This was it, today was the day! The Fall Ball was tonight, Tripod declared no training today and Bark Brigade was canceled for the day, so I decided to help Cadpig and the others with decorating. I got Rolly to help me out with getting a Pumpkin into a wagon, and we were on our way back when Tripod strolled up to me “hey. Tripod” I said wagging my tail. “Hey” he greeted “What are you up to?”

“Nothin’ much, just getting’ some more decorations”

His head tilted slightly and he smiled ‘then I think you’re goin’ to have to make a return trip” he said, now my head tilted. “Why?” I asked and turned my head to see Rolly had eaten most of the pumpkin. “Rolly” I said and almost whiney tone, Tripod laughed as I redirected the wagon to go back to the pumpkin patch to get another pumpkin “I’ll go with you” Tripod offered running up beside me “so nothing will happen to it this time” I tried not to laugh, it was a pretty lame excuse to come with me, but it was sweet nonetheless.

We got the pumpkin back to the barn no problem , we split up and started to help with the finishing touches. Stringing lights, hanging the banner, you know fun stuff like that. Let me tell you after we were done, the place looked great, totally amazing!

Night fell and we all started to file into the barn, I sat outside and waited for Tripod, when he walked up, freshly groomed, a flower in his mouth, I couldn’t help but smile. “Hey Tripod”

“Hello, Chancey, here, this is for you” he said and leaned up to tuck the yellow flower in my ear. I blushed, hoping he wouldn’t see it “thank you” I said shyly and we went inside. The barn looked amazing, all strung up with lights, music playing and everyone was dancing. Dancing, how did they do that? I’d never danced a day in my life, some of them were on four legs, others on two, and moving to the music. I suddenly panicked, I had no idea what to do, I looked over to Tripod. “Tripod” I said quietly, he turned to look at me “I can’t dance” he chuckled. “I have to teach you everything don’t I?” I blushed a little harder “I guess so.” He led me over to a corner of the room where he tried to teach me. It was funny, we (mainly me) bumped heads, stomped paws, tripped, stumbled, and most importantly laughed, and we had a great time. Everything went well we talked with friends (I apologized to Lucky and we mended our friendship) and went on a moonlit walk, it was the most fun I ever had.