I sat along the shore line watching the set. The colors of the sun fading as the colors of the dark sky pushed them away. "Beautiful," I said to myself. After a while the moon rose above the blackish blue ocean. Its relfection shining into my eyes.  I looked down at the crytal necklace dangling from around my neck twinkling like the stars. I felt at home here, safe, relaxed. The ocean's calm waves swished lightly then died as a nights wind blew. A couple hours passed and I decided to head home.

The streets were empty as I walked home. A rattle in the dumpster startled me. "Found me some dinner." I heard someone say from inside the dumpster. The voice sounded quite familiar as it rang through my head. "Axel?" I asked hoping I wouldn't be wrong and have someone staring at me as if I was crazy. Luckily I wasn't wrong. At the call of his name he shot his head up and smiled friendly at me. "Oh Hey Kalona. What are you doin' out here this late."

"Nothin'. The question is, what're you doin' in a dumpster?"

He giggled. "Lookin' for food."

I smiled at his weird laugh. "You know you could always come to my house."

He shrugged and picked up his food. "Mmmmm. Mmmmmm, mmmm." He looked at to see if I understood but I didn't. I stared at him with a puzzled look on my face.

"Take the meat out of your mouth and maybe I'll understand you."

He dropped it and licked his muzzle. "I said, that you're never really there." He was right. I wasn't home in the morning or most of the night. "Well you could always come to the beach and find me."

He nodded. "I know." A loud scream echoed through the alley from a house across the street. A happy laughter got closer as the shouting of a man ended. "Gets easier everytime-" A black shadow  stood no less than one foot away, stopped and stared at me and Axel. Axel stood with his head cocked and eyebrows pulled together in confusion. The shadow walked closer and became visible in the dim street light. He glanced over to Axel then focused back on me. His one green eye and one blue eye twinkled as he scanned my face. "Um.. Hi," I said breaking the akward silence. At the sound of my voice he dropped his food and smiled a somewhat nervous boyish smile. "I'm Kalona and you are?"

"Kalona," He whispered to himself not thinking that it was quite loud. "I'm..I'm Doren." 

"Nice to meet you."

He smiled boyishly again. "You too."

"I'm Axel..." I giggled at Axel, knowing he probably felt left out. Doren stared at him blankly. "Yeah...uh..nice to meet you too."  Feeling quite akward at this time I decided to head home.

"Well... I gotta go. See ya Axel. Nice meeting you Doren." I smiled nicely at both of them then walked away.

"See ya Kal." Axel called.

As I walked home I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw Doren. I smiled akwardly. Is he following me. I thought. "Oh hey Doren," I greeted him akwardly. "You alright?"

He layed his ears flat on his head and smiled shyly. "Um..Yeah..I just...uh wanted to ask you something." 

"Yeah?" I countinued to walk and reached my porch, Doren sat next to me biting his lower lip.

"Can I show you around my town?"

"Your town?"

"The forest! I live out in the wild." He smiled boyishly down at me with a sense of hope in his eyes.

I wasn't really the one to hurt others feelings. So my answer was "Sure." He smiled and his tail wagged happiy. "Great can you meet me at the beach?"

"Okay. Sure." `

"See you tomorrow?" He said making it sound like a question.

"Yeah. See ya."

When he left and I layed my head down on my paws and smiled to myself. "Wow. Smiled once and he fell head over heels for me. I must be really good looking!" I praised myself.

The next day I began walking over to the beach. "Hey Kal!" Someone called and I turned to see Axel running over to me. "Hey Axel!"

"Where ya headed?" He asked slowling his pace to match mine. "Well...uh...Doren asked me to meet him at the beach." I was afraid to tell him. I always knew Axel liked me, I was afraid he might get up set. His happy smile faded and his happy tone died along with it. "Oh...I see."

"If your angry I get it but-"
He shook his head. "No...No its alright. I gotta go. I'll see ya later. I guess." He walked away slowly. "Axel..." I tried to call him back but he was already gone.

When I made it to the beach Doren was sitting there watching the sun set. He turned to see me and he smiled as I approched. "Hey! Sorry I'm late." I smiled.  "Its okay." His boyish smile made me giggle.

"May I show you my town, now?" He smiled steeping aside to show me a large group of trees.

"Why you may."

As we walked around the beautiful forest he showed me everything and told me everything about it. When the sun set and it was to dark to see anything, we walked by moonlight back to the beach.

"That was amazing!" I said as I stumbbled out of the darkness. "Yeah its nice."

 We joked and laughed and a bright red flashed across the sky and was soon met by green.They washed over the sky like water washing up on the beach. "Beautiful." I said and smiled at the dancing lights. "Well.. I wouldn't say that with you standing here. Compared to you... its alright."

I lowered my head as I felt my cheeks flush. I looked back up into his eyes as he stared into mine. I felt my heart flutter as he leaned closer. The lights ended and left us in darkness.

When  I woke up the next morning I was at home. I don't remeber what happened last night. Just that I was at the beach with Doren, then I wake up and I'm home. I looked around and I saw no one.

"Hey Kal!" Someone called. I turned and I saw Doren with my favorite boyish smile on his face.

"Hi Doren. What's up?"

"Just came to see you." He smiled and kissed my cheek. He forwned at my expression. "What's wrong?"

"Um...what exactly happened...last night?" He explained everything and I was taken aback. "So...what your saying....is that...I could be...pregnant?"

He nodded once. "There's a possiblity..." I felt sick, like I was going to pass out.

"I'm so sorry.... I-" He hung his head and shut his eyes in pain. I put my head under his chin and lifted his head back up. "It's...It's not your fault."

"Yes it is, I'm the cause of all the pain yout feel! I'm the one who got you pregnant..."

I licked his cheek and smiled warmly, "Its okay, I'm perfectly fine." I was lieing what I really wanted to say was "Its okay, it may be true... it is true... and I feel fine...actually I feel like I'm going to faint but...its...well...its alright" But there was no way I was going to say that, besides I didn't feel like sounding like a moron at the time...

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine Doren."

"Thats good but you won't be when you have to tell Axel."

That was so true. I knew it will kill me inside if I made Axel mad. "Then I won't tell him."

"Your gonna have to tell him when nine weeks from now you-"

"Fine I'll tell him tomorrow..." I sighed I knew exactly how he would take it. I hoped he would faint, then  when he woke up I would tell him I was joking or act like I never told him.

I woke up next to Doren but he was still asleep. He was on his back and his paws were up to the air. I smiled at his weird way of sleeping and gently licked his ear. I was going to tell Axel. I was going to tell him and I wasn't going to be afraid. I was going to walk straight up to him and tell him everything. Or...maybe tell him and watch him pass out, then when he woke up if still remembered I told him, face him yelling at me, if he didn't, just walk away.

Walking toward his dupster I was feeling quite nervous. I knew how he would take it, yellin at me or fainting, and both ways would reuin our friendship. Seeing his tail flick from side to side from underneath his dumpster I felt my heart race. Walk away and when the pups are born make something up. I thought then scolded myself for even thinking that.

"Um...Axel...can...can I talk...to you..."

He came out from underneath his dumpster and frowned at me, "Whats wrong Kal?"

"Okay, if I tell you this...promise me you won't get mad..."

"Okay...but what are you talking about?" He said his facial expression becoming more serious.

"I think...well, I think that... maybe... I might be..." I took a deep breath. "Pregnant." Please faint, I thought, Fainting will help me out a lot. To my disadvantage he didn't. His facial expression didn't change. It was like I hadn't spoken, wasn't even there. His stare seemed glassy, as if he couldn't see me anymore. I stepped infront of his face and stared into his eyes. They had an thousand yard stare, this would have been a good time to be able to read his mind. He shifted his eyes away from mine but still didn't budge.

"Axel..." I followed his eye movement, but still he didn't look at me. I thought of something that I knew would make him talk. "Axel if you don't answer me I'll...give you details!" I felt quite akward in giving him the details but if it would make him talk to me I would.

I opened my mouth as if I were to begin talking and his head snapped up. "No! Please don't!"

I smiled and sighed in relief. "Good your talking to me."

"Nope, just didn't want to have nightmares."

"Just for that I should tell you."

"If you do I...won't be your friend anymore..."

"Was that suppose to be a threat?"

Just by looking in his eyes I could tell he knew it was a terrible threat. "Well...uh...yeah...yeah it was." I began laughing at his idiodicness. "Its not funny I'm serious."

"Whatever."

"So are you sure your pregnant?"

I sighed I wasn't exactly sure..."Um...Yeah...I guess."

He narrowed his eyes. "Do you have any proof?"

Truth be told I didn't. "Um...I don't feel well..."

He rolled his eyes. "That was a lousy exuse."

I shrugged. I had to give myself credit for at least trying, but I really didn't know if I was pregnant.

"This could be all in your head."

"Axel, your a pest, you know that right?" 

He nodded, then his gaze drifted off up into the sky. I looked up and saw nothing. He glanced at me then smiled as if a light bold shined over his head.

"What?" I asked staring at his evil smile.

"Did you eat anything this morning?"

"Well...no...what does that-" He scooted away and began searching through his dumster for...food. I could feel my eyes bulging, I thought maybe they were going to pop out of my head. He really didn't exect me to eat out of a dumpster! I frowned. He came back out with a piece of meat in his mouth.

"No. No. No. No, I'm not eating out of the garbage."

"Please, c'mon  its just a test."

"Fine." I took it from him and ate it, I swallowed slowly and to my amazement it wasn't bad. "See I'm fine."

"No you have to digest." I frowned, bad enough I had to eat it now I had to let sit inside me. I wished he would have just passed out.

I lied down and waited like he said. So far it felt like we were here for hours and I wanted to go to the beach. I was starting to feel sick but I wasn't going to tell Axel and give him a sense of winning. Then I realized either way he would win, if I did get sick he would win knowing I was going to have pups, and if I didn't he would be right about it being in my head. I narrowed my eyes at him, I guess he knew that I figured everything out and he smiled proudly. I stood and began walking away.

"Wait for me!" He called running after me. "C'mon Kal, just admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you aren't pregnant and its all in your head."

I stoped walking and stared at him. "Do you know how I'm feeling inside?"

He shook his head.

"I fell sick and partly disgusted. And like I'm going to spontaneously combust and when I'm dead I'm going to haunt you!"

"Oh, c'mon on Kal, you know I don't believe in that stuff." He busted into loud guffaws, then he instantly stopped. "I'm a little miffed you forgot about that." After a while I realized that I was holding my breath. I exhaled and frowned at him. "I'm miffed that your still annoying." 

"Hey, you said my annoyingness was funny." 

"Okay first off 'annoyingness' is not a word and second I never said that!"

"Yeah you did you said-"

"Gah! Your annoyingness, is not being funny know!"

"Ha so you admit it! It was funny!" 

I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to take him by the throat and strangle him, but I knew I would regret it. I had and idea, I was going annoy him like he was annoying me.

"The only reason why you're doing this is because...you're jealous!"

His jaw dropped and he gasped in shock. "Jealous! Me! Whatever."

"Yeah thats the only reason why you're keeping me here."

"No you could leave anytime you want and never return."

I nodded. "Really. So if I walk away and never, ever talk to you again, you won't care."

"Uh...Yeah go ahead."

I shrugged and walked away. I headed home to my amzement he didn't follow me or even call me back.

"I'll give him three days." I laughed to myself. I heard a noise and I turned to see Doren, his leg was bleeding and a long scar trailed down his face.

I got up and ran towards him. "What happened to you?" I helped him over to my porch and he lied down and winced in pain. "You're little friend is what happened." I've been gone for four minutes. No way... a lot can happen in four minutes. I thought.

I looked at him confused. No way Axel could have done this. "Are...are you sure?"

He nooded. I licked his wounds, then shook my head. I knew Axel was jealous but he went to far. I stood up and shook my fur. "Where are you goin'?" Doren asked licking his paw.

"I'm going to crack some sense into Axel."

"Don't you mean smack."

I shook my head. "I mean crack as in cracking some bones."

I glanced back at and he was smiling. "Don't tell me my girl's a scrapper?"

I laughed. "When it comes to you, I'm the ultimate scrapper." He smiled.

 When I made it to Axel he was laying next to his dumpster basking in the sunlight. I stood over him blocking his sun. "Dumb clouds," He said not realizing it was me.

"Axel!" I growled startling him.

"What! Oh....hey Kal!"

I backed off him and glared at him. "What?" he asked standing up.

"Don't act like you don't know!"

"Um...don't know what?"

I took my paw and place it on his head shoving him down. "Ouch! What in the world are you doing! Are you mad 'cause I still didn't talk to you? Ha. I knew-"

"No I'm not mad at that I wanna know why did you attack Doren and I want the truth and if you try to run I'll-"

"Whoa, whoa what do you mean why did I attack Doren, I haven't seen the dude in three days!"

I put more weight on my paw and he gagged. "Geez...let me up and....I..."

I let him up but swiftly pinned him against the wall, I was finding it hard to believe he could have harmed Doren if he couldn't even shove me off.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about and would you stop with the roughness!"

I snarled impatiently but let him down. "Why would Doren tell me you did if you didn't!"

"I don't know and stop yellin' at me!"

"I can't I'm confused and angry, and I don't believe you!"

He frowned. "What do you mean you don't believe me?"

"I mean I believe my mate and I don't believe you!" He stared at me his eyes filled with anger. "When have I ever lied to you, Kalona?!"

"I don't know..." As he talked I noticed blood on his teeth. "Whats that on your teeth?!"

"What, how am I suppose to know I can't see it!"

"Ugh!" I screamed. "Lick your teeth!" He licked his teeth and realized the taste.

"Okay its blood, what does that have to do with anything?"

I once again pinned him up against the wall. "Its Doren's isn't it!"

"No! I told you I haven't seen Doren in three days, Kalona!"

I growled baring my fangs. "How do I know if yesterday was the third and today you tried to kill him!"

Axel rolled his eyes. "If I wanted to kil him, I would have and yet I wouldn't have cause I wouldn't want to make you sad..." I let him down and sighed. I began walking away. "I still don't believe you."

He shrugged. "You don't have to, becuase I know I didn't do it."

"Whatever..." I walked back home.  I was still angry with Axel but if he didn't do it, who did?"
Until I figured out who did me and Axel were no longer friends.

 And that could be a long time...