"Wh-wh-what's going on? This isn't part of my schedule!" the black and white terrier barked. He was presently being coaxed into a travel kennel by a flustered, heavy-set man. When coaxing wouldn't work, the man tried stuffing the dog into the carrier. But the resistant terrier only splayed out his legs and refused.

"Come on.....in you go....." the man strained, giving a shove that sent the dog slamming into the kennel.

"Watch it, ugly!" the dog turned to snap.

But the kennel door was quickly shut, locking the terrier in a prison of plastic. He lay down with a huff and placed his finely shapen head on his dainty, showy paws.

"There must be a mistake here, my water therapy isn't until 10," he grumbled, "The Mister will straighten this out."

The room surrounding the kennel was a picturesque foyer of elegant French architecture. There was warmness in the color of the wood floors, the royal red walls and the wrought iron accents adorning the staircase to the upstairs. Indeed it was elaborate for a simple entrance and to Tuxedo the fox terrier, it was the entrance to the luxury that was home. So many lonely days spent traveling the dog show circuit, being felt on by judge after judge, switching handlers so quickly it would make an inexperienced dog pass out; Tux would never show it but he was glad to return home after a long show weekend and eager to return to his regular itinerary. But now he was being loaded up again and had no clue of where he was to be taken.

An exquisitely dressed man entered the foyer with the heavy-set man following behind.

"I just don't know Mr. Madisan. He did seem awful sore about getting in. Think you should reconsider?" the heavy man knelt down to the door of the kennel and offered a hand to Tux through the metal bars. Tux growled and snapped, making it clear that he was not open for consolation.

"Nonsense Howard! I'm sure the poor fellow is ready for an early retirement. He's been so deppressed lately, I think the circuit is sucking the life out of him," Mr. Madisan told Howard. "He'll love Lyonelles and the family I'm sending him to is a respectable one. He's served me well and it's time he found what a real dog's life is like. See that they have all the proper comforts for him when you get there, Howard, and have an easy trip yourself."

Mr. Madisan tapped the top of the carrier twice and wished Tux a quick farewell. The terrier clawed at the kennel door, desparate to return to his spot on his favorite silken couch and sleep the day away.

"Come back here and get me out of this thing NOW, damn it!" Tux barked.

But Mr. Madisan had long since retreated into the sitting room with no intention of returning. Howard grabbed the handle of the crate and whisked Tux out the door to an awaiting luxury car.

"B-b-but I can't LEAVE, I'm booked up with studding appointments and show clinics and massage therapy and....... please please please take me back!" Tux whined loudly.

The car door slammed shut and they were soon moving through the busy New Orleans streets. Tux continued to whine, never stopping a moment for silence.

"Poor fella', he must think he's being shipped off to another show," Howard told himself.

"You idiot! Do you have any idea how many females are on my waiting list? Nevermind showing!" Tux growled.

Before he lost his voice completely, Tux halted his string of high-pitched protests to accept the fact that no matter what he did, the crate would not be opened to his old home's welcoming foyer ever agian. His stomach churned with worry and his shiny black ears drooped; where were they taking him?

They traveled for three full hours, but not once did Tux rest. Rest was impossible when there was so much to wonder and worry about. Finally the passenger door was opened and Tux's leash was clipped to his sleek designer collar. He was led out to find a quaint little white house, raised on brick stilts and surrounded by waving oak trees bustling with squirrels. The yard was littered with children's toys and the porch looked quite inviting with its rocking chair and shaded concrete floors, cool despite the mid-March warmth. The air was different here than what Tux was used to breathing. It was sweet and had a million new scents flowing through it; he could hardly take them all in. Howard led him up the little steps and onto the concrete porch. Before the door lay a dusty doormat with the worn words "Wipe Your Paws" across its bristles.

"How charming," Tux muttered, rolling his eyes.

Howard gave the door a knock. It was opened by a little blonde haired girl about six-years-old dressed in muddy jeans and a smudged purple t-shirt. She squeeled at the sight of Tux and ran to fetch her father. He met them at the door and exchanged a few welcoming words with Howard. All the while, the little girl persistantly tried to pet the adgitated Tux.

"What is this, some kind of redneck daycare center?" he rasped when she finally caught him by the collar. The little girl pulled him close in a tight hug, kissing his velvet ears and stroking his black saddle-marked back. The father, who was a brawny looking man, knelt down to take a look at his new dog. He caressed Tux's head and scratched behind his ears while he was still trapped in the little girl's arms.

"Will he hunt?" the father asked.

"I beg your pardon!" Tux barked.

"He might have a little hunt in him.......somewhere," Howard told him, unsure. "You could try to train him."

"You like him Anna?" the father asked the little girl.

"Oh yes sir, yes sir! Can we have him Mister Howard, can we?"

Howard chuckled, "Of course you can dear; he may take a little time to warm up to a new home but he'll come around."

Tux finally broke free of the little girl Anna's embrace and quickly hid behind Howard's chunky legs.

"Kim!" the father called inside. A kindly-faced woman came to the door. Tux could tell it was the little girl's mother by her zealous reaction.

"Isn't he darling! Look at those sweet little eyes! Oh, he's gorgous, David!" she exclaimed, fondling Tux's ears.

"We'll have him then, I've got the check right here," David told Howard with a grin. He exchanged the check for a folder full of Tux's papers. Howard handed the little girl Tux's leash, nodded to the family and was soon dissapearing into a cloud of gravel and dust. For a long moment Tux was parylized with fear. The only traces of the life he'd always known had just sped down a dirt road, far out of sight and likely never to return as far as he was concerned. What had just happened? The thought stunned him...... he was ditched. In the blink of an eye and not a second more he was somebody else's dog.

Tux was led inside the family's tiny farmhouse. The strong smell of food and dog hit him like a sack of bricks. He sneezed. All of the walls were accented with tacky knick knacks; the tv blared and flashed in the corner of the tiny living room. The little girl tugged his leash and he was soon surrounded by their kitchen's lemon-yellow walls.

"You'll sleep in here Tuxey," Anna pointed to a small dog bed in one of the corners. Three other little beds lined the same wall; a tasty looking bone rested in one. Momentarily forgeting his plight, Tux licked his lips. Rawhide bones were never allowed in his old home as they were far too messy to have around the priceless rugs and furnishings. Little Hannah lifted him up under the crooks of his arms and placed him in his apparently feaux-lambskin lined bed. He decided to humor her and sat.

"That's your spot Tuxey! Daddy and I are goin' to the store to getcha' some food an' dishes of your own," she told him, "You be a good boy and stay here!" She bounded out of the kitchen, leaving Tux to himself. He snorted, "Yeah right"

Tux wasted no time. He snatched up the partially-knawed rawhide and dug in zealously. He plopped down in the bed it was sitting in and continued to chew away when a clicking noise came up from behind him.

"WHAT are you doing in my house and WHAT do you think you're doing with my bone?!?" barked a very adgitated female dog.

Tux dropped the chew and whipped around to find a small Jack Russell Terrier with reddish brown spots masking her eyes and ears. Her hackles were raised; the two were eye to eye and her teeth were ready to give him a piece of her mind. Tux's gaze turned from surprise to challenge. He cooly picked up the bone again.

"Your bone?" Tux teased, the rawhide still between his teeth.

"Put.......it........down," she growled. The female lowered her head, looking eager to fight.

He dropped the bone to his feet and put his paw quickly on top of it, "Uhhhh... no."

The female sprung, going for his neck. She grabbed his scruff and forced him to the ground. He dropped the bone on contact but she didn't let up, clinching down harder and harder on the skin of the back of his neck. Never being in a fight in his sheltered life, Tux had no idea what had hit him. He began to struggle against her grip and soon began to yelp and whine.

"Please please please please please!" he hollered.

The female basicly spit him out. She licked her own paws, desparately trying to get the taste of his fruity shampoo off her tongue.

"Anybody ever told you you taste worse than rusted metal?"

Tux shook himself then backed into the wall, "What the hell is wrong with you?!?"

"I wouldn't bother asking, considering there's so much you'd better started explaining."

"They dumped me off here, I'm from New Orleans."

"City boy, eh?" she laughed, "I shouldn't worry then, you won't be around long." The female turned and struted smoothly toward the kitchen's back dog door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tux snapped, dashing up and blocking her.

She smiled fakely, "It means everything and everyone is going to roll out the welcome wagon and treat you like royalty." She flitted her eyes seductively and almost floated out of his way. Tux, trying his hardest not to look interested, stepped beside her as if she would allow him to follow. She could tell she already had him wrapped around her paw. Then, without notice, the firey female shoved stunned Tux aside with a stern growl. He immediately got the message.... "BACK OFF". She proceeded to the door, nose high in the air.

"Wait!" he called after her "I....I don't believe I caught your name..."

"Don't believe I threw it," she snapped as she stepped out of the dog door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruffian stamped into the barn, her tail popping side to side with anger. She wore a perpetual snarl and was, of course, not in a good mood. The barn was certainly old, complete with rusty-hinged doors, cob webs everywhere, and the thick scents of pesticides, hay and animal manure. Ruffian leapt up onto a hay bale to find two sleeping dogs. One was a purebred miniature pinscher, who looked as sharp and uniform as her breed's name suggested. The other was a mix of miniature pinscher and rat terrier. She was thick and hardy, also having a good bit of light brown on her underbelly and face. Ruffian barked, waking the the two suddenly.

"Angele, Nicki! We got a problem...." Her voice was low and course.

"Awwww, c'mon girl! Ain't like I got all day to break, you know that," the min pin, Angele, yawned.

"Tough!" retorted the furious Ruffian.

"Alright, what's going on Ruff?" asked Nicki, the cross.

"There's a DOG in our house," Ruffian hissed.

Nicki gave Angele a peculiar look. "Ummm, Ruffian... I know this might sound crazy but- we kinda' are dogs"

Ruffian came between her two friends, sweetly at first, "I mean, DEAREST Nicki, a dog......... NOT A BITCH YOU IDIOT!"

"Oh," Nicki giggled.

"So what's the problem?" teased Angele, "He fixed?"

The two fell over laughing, Ruffian growing more and more annoyed by the second.

"Some snotty fox terrier the humans probably spent a whole lot of money they could have on us for; thinks he can park himself anywhere he wants and starts chewing my bone and laying in my bed like he owns them both. Would have skinned the pussy alive but I guess I'd rather let nature take its course and wait for the coyotes do the work for me," she told them, still steaming mad.

"C'mon now Ruff, you know that's just how males are......especially being a terrier," said Nicki.

Ruffian glared at her, though not truely offended.

"What she's tryin' to say is, well, maybe he ain't that bad. Bad first impression maybe? Might turn out that you're missin' out..." Angele winked. She and Nicki quickly left Ruffian behind in the barn, off to meet the new dog.

"Fine with me," she barked after them, "I'd rather "miss out" than be some pretty boy's doormat!"

Ruffian flopped onto the pile of hay. 'Who did that guy think he was anyway? I should have run him off when I had the chance; it's MY house, MY family, MINE!' her mind screamed. A lump of anger welled up in her throat. Ruffian had lived out the entire three years of life as the top dog of the farm. She called the shots and she always, always got her way. A cocky male intruder who could possibly endanger her place as the dominant was just too much to let fly with so much at stake. So there on the hay bale Ruffian stayed, convincing herself over and over that the newcomer would vanish in time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tux was busy exploring the kitchen when Nicki and Angele sprung through the dog door. He sunk under the table, fearing another encounter with the defensive Ruffian.

"Whoa baby, we ain't gonna' hurt you none," assured Angele, peeking under the table.

Tux flinched. His pure black ears were nearly flat against the back of his pure black head. 'Gorgeousness!' Nicki thought, waving her paw daintily at Tux.

"Hard to tell who's going to hurt you and who isn't around this place," he replied, crawling back out. "Some hotheaded bitch jumped me a little after I first got here. Looked like one of those Jack Russell dogs, you know her?"

"Ol' Ruffian-Rose? Know her good enough. Doesn't mean I get her most of the time; she's got a head harder than nothin' else. Now come here and let me see what she done to you," insisted Angele.

The min pin was soon at work cleaning the bite wounds on Tux's neck. He was surprised; no dog had ever treated him with such sencere kindness. In fact, the only dogs he had ever come in contact at all were the catty, two-faced, hopped-up-on-high-protein-kibble show dogs of his rigorous career. Most of them hated his guts for some reason or another, usually for stealing their spotlight. This dog was different. Very different.

"There 'nah, all cleaned up. She didn't do her worst that's for 'sho," Angele nodded at Nicki.

"Sure didn't! Almost took this one dog's eye out last spring when he came wandering around the property, she did."

"You'd think her mama was part alligator," Angele added, shaking her head. "Ain't no way to go about findin' a descent male."

"Tell me about it," Tux said to himself. "So........exactly where am I?"

"Lyonelles. It's a little farming town alright but we're big on hospitality....most of us at least," Angele answered.

"Wow. Well, uh...." he stumbled over himself, "I'm Champion Veux Carre Lorango-Peluche's Black Tie Affair, please call me Tux, and I'm from New Orleans, bred and born there."

"You must be one of those fancy show dogs like on the Animal Channel!" Nicki yapped.

Tux, finally getting comfortable, scratched behind his ears,"Yep, I'm one of the top Smooth Fox Terriers in the entire state.....well, I was at least."

Tux suddenly felt another pang of hopelesness and started to wander solemnly to his unfamiliar bed.

Angele nudged him before he could go a step further "Hey now honey, don't think that way. You gotta' be positive. You got us now, and wait till' you meet the rest of the gang. We're a fam'ly Tux and you just got to leave everything that's in the past behind you and give us a chance."

The two females smiled back at him, Nicki wagging her tail blissfully. They seemed so simple and pure......maybe this is what real dogs were like.

Tux smiled back. In his heart he was willing to try again, to start his troubled life over no matter how hard it may be.

Evening came quickly and the human family was soon sitting down to dinner. Instead of his regular dining hour in the morning, Tux was given his dish while the family ate. His new metal bowl was filled with an apparently unmeasured amount of hard, tasteless kibble. He was so used to special, prepared meals that he hardly touched the crude meal until Nicki hinted, "Eat it....you'll like what comes next."

And something did. After the family had finnished eating, they offered their plates full of scraps down to the three awaiting pets. This kind of thing was never EVER allowed in Tux's old house. No respectable show dog ever ate scraps; human food was awful for the figure. But when Angele offered him a piece of half eated barbeque rib he couldn't resist. The sweet flavor kissed his tongue. It tasted, to him, almost a thousand times better than any BARF stew ever did. The father, David, reached down to scratch him behind the ears, "Eats like he's never seen food in his life." Tux wagged and looked up at him thankfully.

Just then, Ruffian burst through the dog door. She glared coldly at Tux as she made her way over to David, giving him a stern growl. He moved aside and watched her genious at work.

Ruffian gave the man the biggest of puppy-eyed looks, scratched playfully at his leg then waved her paw in the air. Her adorable request was met and down flew the biggest steak bone Tux had ever seen. She caught it in mid air and immidiately took it to her bed. Ruffian turned her back on everyone and began to savagely feast on the t-bone, as if she was a starving lion. Tux was immobile with reverence, though there was no use in hoping that she would teach him how to beg like that.

Tux's first night in his new home was serene. The three other dogs were sound asleep as the moments ticked on. He noticed any and every sound that made itself present: the ticking of the kitchen clock, the whirr of the window unit, the single locust calling outside. In the city there were constantly noises much louder, but Tux had always easily tuned them out. Here the night sounds were small but seemed to echo in ones head like familiar voices instead of being mere annoyances. He looked over at the three females, all resting peacfully. Nicki was the closest to him, beside her slept Angele, and Ruffian was nearest the door to the living room. Illuminated in the faint moonlight, she was the last thing he saw before nodding off into the most pristine sleep of his life.

Tux woke late the next morning. All through the night he had enjoyed a most wonderful dream, but try as he might he could not remember what it had been about. All he could recall was warmth and the rapturous feeling of heartbeat against his own. He stretched himself out, leaving the dream behind in his bed. After a quick breakfast, complete with delicious soggy Cheerios, he followed Nicki and Angele outside- Ruffian had accompanied David on a routine checking of the livestock and was still absent- to be properly introduced to the farm and the "fam'ly". The two walked him through the barn to meet the various farm animals living there. The newest residences were Dusk and Dawn, two almost newborn goat kids. They stared out of their pen at Tux, wide eyed and flicking their tails with interest. There were also chickens, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, and a sagging Jersey milk cow called Lou. Behind the barn lay the pastures. One seemed to go on forever beyond the property. In it were kept David's large herd of cattle, nonchalantly grazing on the long, new grass. In a nearby little feild fenced off from the large pasture stood a striking horse, almost completely white if not for two black splotches on his rump. He stamped the ground and pressed harder against the wooden fence. Tux had never seen such a proud, intimidating looking creature. He had never seen a horse in his life, only the humble mules who pulled the carts for the tourists back home.

"And that mah' friend," Angele told him smartly, "Is Deaux. You'll never find a better horse, nowhere! David paid dearly for 'im when he was just a scrawny little foal. A genuine registered Tennessee Walkin' boy. Mighty friendly too; little Hannah rides 'im bareback all the time."

"Called him Deaux 'cause he's only got two spots," Nicki nodded.

"Deaux is big," said Tux worriedly.

"Trust me honey, he's a big ol' softie. Just about raised the boy myself," assured Angele.

"Hey Angie! Happen to know then the Boss'll be bringing my food around?" Deaux called to Angele. The three trotted up to the fence, Tux hoping Deaux didn't mind strangers. Angele put her paws on the lowest board of the fence, "Should be right along honey."

The lanky but supple horse glanced down at Tux, eyes matching the clear sky, "Who's this?"

"Oh...yeah....I'm Tux. Nice to meet you Deaux..." he said uneasily as a velvety pink muzzle sniffed him over from above.

"He'll be stayin' with us big guy. Came all the way down from New Or-leens," Angele told Deaux.

"Well tan my hide and make me a fancy western belt.....WE-E-ELCOME HOME TUX!" Deaux whinnied. He flung his head joyously as the three trotted off along the fence line.

Angele led the way back to the farmhouse. The chickens were out in their yard, scratching in the dirt beside the barn. A mocking bird screamed curses at another from one of the garden's posts and the scent of the fresh morning grass, dripping wet with dew, tickled Tux's nose. They rounded the house and crossed through the front yard. When they reached the front road Tux stopped in his tracks.

"We can't leave the property..........can we?"

"C'mon Tux, we can go wherever we want. Now do you want to meet the guys or not?" Nicki yapped.

Tux looked back at the house, he wasn't sure. Angele began leading the way along the side of the dirt road; Tux had no choice but to follow. The three followed the roadside ditch with a little stream of water trickling through. Tux avoided wetting his paws and couldn't help but scoff at Angele and Nicki's puppy-ish behavior. They splashed through the stream after each other, barking wildly and getting water and mud all over. Tux trailed a good distance behind; after all, he had been meticulously groomed only the day before the last. It wasn't long before Nicki led them into a dirt drive of yet another tiny, raised house. Tux was surprised; on the house's wooden front porch were a pack of dogs, big and small, all sprawled out together. They were all talking among themselves when a liver nosed, fluffy-tailed Australian Shepherd spotted Angele, Tux and Nicki coming up the drive and bounded down to greet them. He was a friendly looking fellow; his coat was liver-chocolate, tan, and white all placed in the perfect spots and his hazel eyes were soft and deep. He wore a deep blue bandana around his neck and a clownish smile across his face. He slid to a stop in front of Tux, displaying a playful bow.

"Well hiya there buddy!" he barked. The shepherd circled Tux intently, sniffing everywhere and wagging his feather-duster tail as he went.

"Rip, this is David's new boy, Tux," Angele told him, "And Tux, this is our head dog, Ripley. Thought we'd let him show you 'round."

Tux flattened his ears as Ripley nudged him, "Glad to have you with us Tux. I know they're just dyin' to meet you and......."

Before the shepherd could finnish, the entire pack of dogs sprung from the porch and ran wild eyed straight for Tux. His tail tucked between his legs as the mob descended on him, sniffing and barking and even nipping in all the exitement.

"Hey.....HEY.....HEY!" Tux yelled, "Can't we do this in a civil, orderly.....?"

A lady rough collie wrapped her bushy tail around Tux's neck, "Hi there big boy. What brings a well bred looking fella' like you to a dusty old one horse town like this?"

"Heh heh, eeeasy Hanabelle. Don't wanna' scare 'im off now, do you?" Ripley teased. "Let's get down to some iner-ductions, eh?"

Tux sneezed as Hanahbelle's tail whipped across his nose. He was a little hesistant to stick around for more "iner-ductions" but once again, he had no choice.

"These here are The Girls," Ripley indicated to the three dogs hovering behind Tux. Besides the striking Hanabelle, "The Girls" consisted of a thick-boned, blue heeler/Australian cattle dog looking female, and a scruffy little black and brown terrier mix with soft, wirey fur. Ripley introduced them as Peggy Sue and Oliver. "These three ladies are the finest crooners you're ever gonna' meet," said Ripley.

"Awww Rip, don't go makin' us sound like somethin' we ain't you ol' biscuit hound," Peggy Sue laughed, "You're gonna' love it here Tux."

Tux had a lot of names to remember. There was Tyler and Charlee the feisty longhair chihuahuas, Bianca the cumbersome Jack Russell/Basset Hound cross, Bo the rat terrier, Revel the Yellow Lab/Huskey mix, Luci and Laci the twin piebald Dachshund sisters, Joshua the old black Lab, and the Catahoula Leopard Dog mixes-Splash, Mokie, Trigger and Floyd- and their mother Sammy. Tux had to explain for what felt like the millionth time where he came from, how he got here, and, as much as he'd have loved to forget it, how Ruffian had whooped his big city butt.

"She's a live wire ain't she?" Ripley nudged Tux playfully. Tux scowled, not thinking it all that funny.

"I wonder what's been keeping Ruffian so edgy lately," said Charlee. Charlee was an adorable little lap dog; she had a lovely creme and fawn coat with little baby blue bows on her ears. Tux couldn't help but think her and her golden colored partner, Tyler, the most precious things he had ever seen.

"I don't think it's particularly that difficult to figure out, honey," Bianca chortled, the slyest of grins across her face.

"What do you mean Miss B?" asked young Mokie, cocking her head.

"Wellll, you'd be edgy too if you were out all night."

"Been with Milo, you'd suppose," added Oliver. Everyone's interest was thoroughly peaked as they stood around the all-knowing Miss B.

"I wouldn't suppose such a noble thing of her," Bianca practically growled, "Probably running around with anything BUT Milo is what I'd suppose."

'Oh wonderful, just in time for Desparate Housepets' Tux thought sourly to himself.

"Mmmmmm-hmmmmm, she's certainly got the record to show for it," agreed Hannabelle.

"Oh yes," replied Laci and Luci in unison.

"And to slap the icing on that devil's cake, I hear she's not far off from her...." Bianca looked about, "H-E-A-T."

The others gasped. Tux still didn't quite sense the sevarity of the situation, and Ripley, apparently, didn't either. The shepherd was sprawled out in the dirt next to Tux, tolerating his daily dose of grooming parlor drama.

Nicki shook her head, "Wouldn't go around makin' wild assumtions like that, now. Done stirred it up enough herself, poor Ruff."

"I'm just saying," Bianca fixed her trance-like gaze on the little Min Pin, "Wouldn't be so surprised to find her with a bed full of puppies pretty soon. Not necessarily part cocker either."

Angele rolled her eyes, "Well we're headin' home. Show Tux back b-fore supper time Ripley."

She turned tail, Nicki following closely, and began down the dusty drive agian.

"Well!" snorted Bianca. Miss B, as they knew her, was a tubby old bitty. Her ears flopped over like a Basset Hound but her face was clearly Jack Russell as it lacked much of that classic droop. She had black ticking marks across her white body and a mask of black and copper brown on her eyes and ears.

"So...," Tux began, hoping to change the subject, "What do you guys do around here exactly?"

"We don't show if that's what you're wondering," smarted Revel.

Hanabelle smiled sweetly down at him "It's simple, Spots. When we aren't working, we do whatever we want. We're sort of like......"

"Strays with benifits," said Peggy Sue, wagging her stump of a tail.

"What do you mean 'working'?" asked Tux.

The entire pack burst into laughter. "You'll find out boy, you'll find out alright," cackled Joshua.

"Don't think too much of it sweetie, David's a good master. He won't throw you into a job this early," Charlie assured him. Tux still looked puzzled. The only work he had ever done was trot around the ring and bring home ribbons. It had never occurred to them that some dogs actually had to do real work.

"Take Hanabelle, Peg, and Ripley for example," said Oliver, "They're herding dogs. Me, Joshua, Sammy and her kids her are hunters. Rev's a cattle guarder. Charlee and Tyler, Laci and Luci, and Bo all take care of their families' children and Bianca, she's a world class garbage disposal."

Tux snorted, he could see Miss B shoveling down a huge pile of leftover anything. Bianca glared at him, then at Oliver, but it was obvious that she wasn't at all ashamed of her position.

"And what's Ruffian supposed to be?" he couldn't help but ask.

"None of your business!"

Ruffian came from behind him, whipping angerily past then gretting Ripley with a friendly sniff. He stole a glance at Miss B but, like a professional gossip, she showed no expression. None of the ladies did.

"What's going on Rip?" she asked.

"Just briefin' Tux here on a few things. I'm sure you two have.......met......before." Sweet old Rip was definately not good at this.

"Yes," she muttered, looking over her shoulder at Tux, not daring to answer how she would have liked. He wagged his tail back at her. If he was going to stay in this looney bin he might as well try and make nice with Her Edgy-ness. Ruffian quickly snapped her attention back to Ripley.

"Well then, you've got your paws full. I'll just head on home, no sense in my being around to......"

"Nonsense Ruff, you'll stay with us. We were going down to the creek to meet up with Marie's band, right Ripley?" said little Tyler.

"We insist," Bianca challenged. The others nodded. Tux sighed, wondering how long it would possibly take these dogs to get somewhere.

"I could use a break. We had a calving this morning with some problems. Dr. Kinley's at the barn helping Dave so I guess he'll be fine," said Ruffian.

"Righty then, let's git goin'," Ripley began toward the back of his home with the pack on his trail. They ran on through the open feild, even the small ones, without missing a step. Tux, however, could hardly keep up and struggled after them. His chest heaved; he coughed and wheezed and tried to press on but only found himself getting farther and farther away from them. Tux finally collapsed of exhaustion, wondering if they had noticed he wasn't with them yet. After catching his breath he rose to find Ruffian scowling at him only a few inches away.

"And just what are you doing, pretty boy?"

"I....uh.....think I got something in my paw so I just...."

"Listen here Champ, this is the last place a pansey like you oughta be, espcially nuzzling in on my territory. You know you've got a lot of nerve just barging in here expecting us to take you in and baby you like we've got nothing in the world better to do."

"You think I wouldn't go if I could? Please! This place is deader than an armadillo on a Texas highway. What in the makes you think I chose to be let off at this dump?"

"You are such a snob, you know that?"

"And what are you, Miss Personality?"

Ruffian stamped the ground with her paw, "I suggest you shut that overrun mouth of yours before you get yourself in some more trouble, buddy."

They were nose to nose again. Ruffian's eyes were furious but that wasn't quite the reason they made Tux back down.

"I'm sorry. I'll......I'll just find my way out of here, alright?"

Ruffian's stomach lurched. Tux's pathetic expression bore right through her. He ambled around her solemnly, ears back, toward Ripley's house. Toward the road out of town. Was she going soft? This was the same jerk who challenged her for her own bone, who had just waltzed into her family without notice. She couldn't believe he was turning her around.

"Come on," she sighed, "They're probably wondering what happened to you."

The pack had reached the creek on the otherside of the thin woods line. They were gathered together with a small band of strays and were mingling happily. Tux followed Ruffian into the crowd where they were greeted by the strays' alphas, the brindle and white Basenji mix Marie and her Rottweiler-looking mate Roux. Tux didn't even recognise them as strays; they were a very healthy looking group of dogs. Suddenly a scruffy looking salt-and-pepper English cocker spaniel tore out of the crowd and straight for Ruffian. He met her with nuzzles and kisses.

"Oh darlin', I missed you. Somethin' been wrong, sweetheart? I waited for you late last night, had a whole pork chop for us and everything," he whimpered. Ruffian looked tense, not happy at all to see the little spaniel. Tux struggled to hear them as they began to walk off together.

"Milo I......," she stumbled, "I was so tired from mousing in the barn yesterday evening, I could hardly stand. I'm so sorry Mi, I had to get some sleep. I would have come out to tell you it's just that the clearing's so far off."

'What a production. Must have taken her extra long to think of that one' Tux thought to himself.

Milo's voice was as smooth as silk as he wrapped himself around Ruffian, "Now don't you worry about that. We can always get together another time. How about behind that catfish place tonight? There'll be pleanty of scraps, and maybe we could find a nice spot after and...."

"I'm going down to the camp with David tonight, but another time for sure, Milo, I promise." Ruffian was faintly shaking.

The spaniel's expression turned rapidly from compassionate to icy. His haunches raised and his tail grew stiff. For the first time, Tux saw Ruffian submit and submit fast. She turned over on her side and nervously allowed him to sniff her over.

"I'm dissapointed Ruffian. VERY dissapointed. We don't have much time left...meet me in the clearing in exactly seven days," he growled.

"Milo, I'm not so sure......"

"Seven....days," he whispered in her ear, "Or we'll have ourselves a problem...." Milo slinked past her, making his way back toward the band with a spring in his trot and a happy grin across his face.

Tux couldn't catch the last part- even though he had "sort of" followed them to the edge of the clearing- but he understood loud and clear what Ruffian had gotten herself into and that Milo was no happy-go-lucky cocker. He thought twice about going to her and seeing if she was alright, but he knew she'd accuse him for listening in. He quieted his conscious and unconspicuously snuck back into the crowd where everyone had fallen silent exept for the curl-tailed alpha female, Marie. She was a beautiful dog, wearing a "coat" of dark brown brindle markings over a white base. She was a medium sized mix and had long, powerfull legs. Her voice was even more powerful.

"I'm sure everyone is well aware of the new hardship that has befallen us strays recently. Other packs in the area have been resisting the Stray's Code, breaking the #1 law.....letting humans see them deliberately. They are stealing without limit. I've even heard of a band actually breaking into a human home in broad daylight to steal food right in front of their eyes. This kind of behavior has to stop! You may think it is only the effect of the shortage of food we've been having. But these dogs' unnessessary ignorance is going to make all strays pay......some with their very lives."

Tux felt the dogs around him shudder. Marie began to pace the circle of both pets and strays that had formed around her. Out of the corner of his eye, Tux spotted a small litter of puppies playing at the feet of a dark dappled Catahoula mix. From the look of them, they had to belong to Marie and the brawny Roux. The dappled female hushed them as their father continued where Marie left off.

"Without being able to take from the human garbage, since security will be promisingly tight, there is a high possiblity of finding ourselves starving in a matter of days. The growth of the Briaridge pack has almost completely wiped out our already dwendling natural food sources; overhunting's gone on everywhere. And so we ask your help pets, we ask you to help your brothers."

Ripley barked, "You have our word Roux, we'll do whatever we can." The other pets nodded in approval.

"How about a stash?" Tux blurted.

The crowd was now fixed on him. Marie beckoned him to the middle of the circle.

"A stash. Get us pets to bring food to a safe spot, then just take from there. I know we won't be able to take a lot at a time, but there are more of us than there are of you. It can only help," he offered.

Marie and Roux smiled at each other, pleased with the new dog's plan. The group began to whisper among themselves. Tux even heard the usual "he's so cute!" being passed between young females.

"Thank you Tux, I have no idea how much this means to us. And for being so new I admire your courage," said Marie, touching a friendly nose to Tux's. The majority agreed with Tux's idea and the plan was set. The food storage was to be right there at the creek clearing. Many of the dogs began digging a place of deposit beneath a large boulder on the other side of the creek. Meanwhile, Tux was invited to join Marie, Roux, and their children to share the final portion of a stray's delicacy- a cow found dead by the pack weeks earlier. When offered, Tux shied away.

"It's just not sanitary.....no offense."

The pair weren't offended at all; Roux could hardly keep himself from laughing.

"Where'dyou think your fancy dog food comes from, boy?"

Tux thought back to the hard green kibbles he had eaten the night before. No telling what that stuff was made of. He insisted that his stomach was hyper-sensistive and the alphas shrugged it off. They and their litter dug in as if they had never seen food, or whatever you would call a rotting cow carcass, before.

The sun was begining to set. Ripley barked to his group to follow him out of the woods. Ruffian stuck to Ripley's side; she was keeping eerilly silent. Tux thanked Marie and Roux once again for their hospitality. He had always thought of all strays as being the disgusting thugs who ran around fighting, gang raping, and stealing food like those found in the city. These guys stole for their lives though, and he was inspired by their strength and will to stay alive.

Ruffian and Tux broke off from the group and jaunted home down the now darkened dirt road. They didn't speak, nor did they look at each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruffian was hurting....badly. That meeting with Milo had her feeling even more hollow and sorry for herself than usual. She knew the others talked about her. They talked about how she had been running out on Milo, she knew they did. How were they to know how awfully he treated her? How were they to know how many times he had bitten her or forced her....

'Why can't I just end this?' she thought, trying to keep from breaking down in front of Tux who ran quietly behind her. She was supposed to be the strongest, the leader of her farm's dogs. She couldn't even free herself from an abusive relationship. Some leader! But she knew exactly why she dared not to separate herself from Milo. Under his "affectionate" outer layer lay what Milo truely was- vicious. Killing her wouldn't be under him. All he wanted from her was a litter after all; there wasn't much for him to lose. Once she came into heat Milo would act even more of a savage, he would be twelve times more dangerous to challenge. The only thing she could do was to try and keep her distance from him for as long as possible, and to hope for a miracle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tux was glad to be home. His first day had drained him and something about what the strange spaniel Milo had said to Ruffian disturbed him. 'Ruffian wouldn't let him do anything to her, she almost tried to kill me! Gosh that dame's got grit' Tux thought to himself.

Supper was surved. After eating Ruffian immediately went to sleep, looking much too tired to snub the new guy that night. Full to bursting, Tux lay on the couch with Nicki and Angele while the family watched the talking box.

"You shouldn't listen to 'em Tux, that Bianca anyway. Ruff's a good girl at heart she is, just has a sorry way of showin' it sometimes," Angele told him.

"Or a lot of the time," Nicki quietly added.

Tux rested his head on his paws, thought for a moment, then looked sideways at Angele, "What's.....exactly, WRONG with her though?"

Angele sighed, "Don't you find it a little early to be askin' those kinds of questions, Mista Tuxedo." And with that said, Angele went to bed.

Tux looked over at Nicki who turned her head quickly. 'They know,' he mouthed, 'something'.

David didn't go to any camp that night, nor the next. Ruffian didn't go anywhere either. She didn't leave the property with the others to socialize at Ripley's place. She wouldn't join Tux, Angele, and Nicki with David and little Anna to the annual Lyonelles community barbeque either. Tux had had such a wonderful time at the barbeque. There was food everywhere. Humans made lovely comments about him to David and he even got to meet a few other dogs from around Lyonelles. Ripley, Revel and The Girls were there as well. Hannahbelle, Reggy Sue and Oliver performed with their cowgirl owner a kind of line dance routine. Tux was impressed, he had no idea the three showgirls were that talented.

"All in the basic package, sugar," Hannahbelle winked.

But for the life of him, he couldn't get Ruffian off his mind. Nicki and Angele didn't seem very bothered by her situation-perhaps they really didn't know what was going on- so why in the world should he? Back in the circuit there was pleanty of scandal. Pleanty of abusive stud dogs and equally violent brood females. Here such a thing seemed so personal. Maybe there was something even more individual to what he was feeling. Something about Ruffian.

"Come on girl! Dont'cha wanna go down fishin' at the creek, Ruff?" Anna begged, straining to pull Ruffian off of the porch by her vibrant pink nylon leash. Ruffian resisted greatly, whining and barking. The little girl clipped off the leash and began running away from the house, calling back, "Suit yourself!" Ruffian flopped onto the back porch. She thought of Milo's request. It was the fifth day. She hadn't seen him, hadn't heard him- but he was there and he would stop at nothing once time was up.

Tux followed David who was out in the pasture on Deaux, to see what he was doing with the cattle. It was time for their vaccinations and he was to herd them into a holding pen with a little help from some other humans. Tux watched Deaux and David work from affar. They ran behind the cows, pushing them toward the awaiting pen. Deaux cut around the herd to keep a few runnaways from straying. It was a daring display, though a ways off. Tux couldn't help inching closer and closer until he wasn't very far away at all. The fatal thought struck him late: the herd was running straight for him! He became paralysed. All he could hear were pounding hooves. All he could see were the massive bodies hurtling for him. He shut his eyes tight, hoping in the moment only to die quickly.

"BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK!!!"

Tux felt the herd fly off to the side, only feet from where he now lay. His eyes were still sealed shut. Dirt coated the inside of his his mouth and nose. He could hardly catch his breath. But Tux felt something else as well. He had been knocked over on his side and whatever had was still laying over him, breathing heavily. He opened his eyes to Ruffian who had her head burried in his neck. She had scared the herd the other way. She had saved his life.

"Oh you idiot!" she panted, pushing in harder.

Tux couldn't speak. He wasn't back to Earth yet; the only thing he could feel conscientously was the rise and fall of Ruffian's body against his own. She looked into his eyes and he suddenly snapped back. Ruffian quickly corrected herself, stumbling off of him. He pulled himself up as well, shook the dirt from his coat and spit it from his mouth, then stared over at her, awestruck. Ruffian's ears were pulled back. She hoped no one had seen.

"Why did you do that?"

"I.....I don't know....." studdered Ruffian, embarrassed.

"Ruffian, you just...."

She ran. She ran for the farmhouse, not looking behind. Tux's heart was still racing. He darted after her with a surge of speed he had never experienced before and cut her off. Both were panting now, standing stock still for a moment, almost nose to nose. Then she rammed him aside and continued on, still not looking back.

Tux spent the rest of the afternoon in the barn, thinking. The same question ran through his mind over and over: why would she risk her life for a dog she didn't even remotely like? He tried to reason with himself, trying to find an excuse.

By bedtime he was past ready to retire for the night. Ruffian had made herself scarce at dinner. David offered her portion of scraps to Tux but he refused them. Nicki and Angele looked quizically at each other; Tux had grown very fond of scraps and it wasn't like him at all to turn them down. He curled up in his bed, Ruffian still wasn't around. Nicki and Angele had already gone to sleep right after the lights were turned out. Though he was quite tired, something urged him up and out the front dog door. He silently tip toed out into the warm spring night where those thousands of beautiful smells drifted into his nose. One was particularly beautiful. He followed it, turning to find Ruffian perched at the very end, staring off into the distance. He quietly went too her, walking low to the ground, and came up beside her. He expected her to be surprised but she didn't look it. She only turned to see him slowly, lightly smiling.

"I know why, Tux," she whispered dreamily, inching closer to his muzzle. She gently touched her face to his, wagging her stump of a tail ryhmically. Ruffian's eyes were intranced in his own.

"I think I do too," he told her sternly, pulling away. "I think you want a body guard."

"No Tux," she near gasped, "I....I love you."

Tux had no idea what to think. He was once an extremely popular stud. He had flirted, he had mated...but loved? All of this time he had struggled to find the missing link between his own "kind"- the show dogs- and these rowdy small town dogs. Maybe it was their strange capacity for such a thing.

"You don't!"

"I do!" she snapped. For all the weakness she was showing she still had the same fire inside as the moment he had first met her. But even deeper inside she was still helpless and frightened; somehow, he could see it coming through.

"I'm so sorry, I've treated you awfully, Tux. All I ask- I...I guess- is for you to forgive me. Nothing more if you don't want me"

"Want you? You're a little conceited for 'sorry'." He growled. Tux couldn't imagine why he felt so angry.

"Please," she sighed, nuzzling under his chin.

Tux shivered. He couldn't help it and he certainly hoped she didn't feel it. But she had; she ran her entire back under his muzzle, from head to tail. She circled him like a lioness readying to take down her prey. But instead of the killing bite she passed her warm tounge over his face. The anger left him. The tenseness left him. The only thing left of him was raw dog, drained of all the senseless pride and superior bearing of his past self. All this time he had been in Lyonelles, trying his hardest to make do of the life that he had been thrown into, he had felt it nearly hopeless to fit in. For all of the progress he would make in his transition, he would always backslide. The stampede earlier had secured it in his mind. But in Ruffian there was hope. She could teach him to work like a farm dog, to play like a farm dog- to start over. Could she actually teach him to love as well?

She waited for his answer, now keeping a little distance. Ruffian knew the conseqences, she knew this would push her reputation over the edge but there was no turning back for her. She needed Tux and she knew he needed her, somehow.

Tux made up his mind. He touched his cold nose to hers, tail wagging gaily. Ruffian nudged her head under his where their chests touched. His dream was now reality; he felt her warmth and heartbeat against his own. That was all that mattered now, not even what all of this would ultimately lead to mattered.

"I'll protect you Ruffian. No one's going to lay a paw on you."

"You know? You know about....him?"

"I heard you talking to Milo at the clearing. I think it's disgusting."

"Oh Tux!" she sobbed. All of Ruffian's hurt spilled out. She told Tux painfully how Milo constantly dominated her, shoving and biting and altogether abusing her into submission. She even told Tux how he was to force her into preganancy and then later into leaving her home to be isolated with him as a stray when he would break away from his pack to start his own. He could hardly bare to listen to her. He wanted so badly to defend her and now felt as if he could personaly tear the vile stray limb from limb, though he knew he would never have a chance against Milo.

Ruffian ended her sad account with a trembling breath. There was nothing else for her to say. The moonlight seemed to seemed to single the pair out like a spotlight in the darkness. They were locked together in the silence of the night, in what felt like a dream. The two's eyes met and they gazed tenderly at each other.

She whispered, caressing his neck, "C'mon Tuxey, let's go down to the barn....just the two of us...."

"No Ruffian! We can't, it's...it's just too risky right now. You know that."

Ruffian blushed, "Of course, of course, you're right. It's just that.....I've wanted a litter for so long......."

"You'll have one," he grinned, "soon enough. I promise."

She kissed him again. Ruffian had never felt this happy in her entire life; she couldn't have pried herself from Tux if she tried that night. Only days ago she had sworn to throw him out, now she was asking him to father her puppies. It just didn't make sense. But 'sense' had no meaning to her in the moment; she only knew that she felt for Tux what she had never felt for Milo, even though the feeling had come so suddenly to her.

Tux was slipping faster and faster into a wonderful daze. His voice was dreamy, "Think we'll have a chance? Together I mean."

"No matter what it costs, Tuxey" she sighed, laying her head on his chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Tux awoke he was curled up in the kitchen. It was eight in the morning and he had no idea when or how he had gotten back to bed. What had happened last night? He looked down, still half asleep, to find Ruffian's rawhide bone at his side, and remembered. She was nowhere to be seen, neither were the other two dogs or the humans. He stretched and climbed out of bed. Somthing felt strange about his meeting with Ruffian. It had all happened so rapidly, she hadn't given him a moment to think about it. Now it was too late- no turning back.

David came through the kitchen door with Ruffian at his side. She followed him devotedly as he began to rummage through drawers. Tux trotted over to them. David reached down and scratched him behind the ear after finding a roll of masking tape, then he left the kitchen. Ruffian didn't follow. She looked around, making sure Angele and Nicki weren't in sight, before they touched noses.

"Tired?" she teased.

"Hardly," Tux tried to keep himself dignified.

Ruffian playfully nipped his ear then dashed out of the dog door. Before he knew it he was chasing her across the yard. The pair darted and bounced and danced, soon wrestling tenderly with each other. They had no idea that Angele and Nicki had been watching them; they were certainly in an awkward enough position.

"Somethin' you wanna' share with us?" Angele finally spoke through Ruffian and Tux's rowdy laughter. The two froze.

"Oh! Nicki, you scared me," startled Ruffian, pulling away from Tux.

"What are you guys doing?" Nicki asked.

"We were....just playing around. You know Ruff and I have worked things out. Figured we might as well be......," he paused, glancing over at Ruffian. Her eyes widened rapidly. "......friends."

"I see," said Angele suspiciously.

Ruffian play bowed nervously to the other two females, "Join us?"

"You know we got work to do Ruff, now quit that foolin' around. Jumpin' around like some kinda' five month old puppy," Angele brushed past them, leaving for the barn.

"I'm glad you two've made up. It can always stand to be a little friendlier around here," Nicki nodded to them then trotted off after Angele.

"Be there in a second!" Ruffian called after them. When they were out of sight she turned to Tux again. She kissed his muzzle, what she had longed to do since they parted the night before. Tux's tail wagged as he watched her bound away merrily for the barn. 'Dog, I'm good' he thought proudly to himself.

Tux lazed in the barn with the others after a long morning of mousing. This was one of their most important jobs: clearing the barn of pesky rodents. Nicki, Ruffian and Angele all caught and killed their share. Tux, on the other hand, would trap the mouse with his paw, but when it came time to kill it he just couldn't bring himself to get it in his mouth. Then it would bite at him, he would let go and it would scuttle away- so went the cycle until it came time for them to quit. For the spring time, it was quite hot so relaxing on the hay bales was greatly welcomed after a good long while of hunting. Ruffian tore into a particularly plump rat while she lay right next to Tux.

She nosed the carcass to him, "Try it, you'll love it."

Nicki and Angele exchanged glances. She never offered them anything of hers.

The last thing Tux wanted to do was refuse her, so, without a word, he dig into the fresh-killed rat. And just as she promised, it was good.

"Betcha' never had that served to you on a crystal dish," Nicki winked.

They all laughed together, and Tux could tell the tension was decreasing. Sure enough, Ruffian was helping him "in". The four of them traveled down to the creek, minus the strays, that afternoon. There they met with a few of the pets who were already lying around the clearing.

"Glad to see you back out and about again Ruffian," Sammy the kindly Catahoula female barked.

"Yes, we were beggining to worry, dear," said Bianca fakely.

"Poor Milo's been worried sick about you. Have you been feeling poorly, Ruff?" asked tiny Charlee.

Ruffian balked, "I'm afraid so. I....I guess I haven't quite been feeling....myself."

Nicki and Angele shot her such a look that Tux flinched at the sight of them. They knew something wasn't right.

The next day-day seven to be exact- rolled on swiftly. Tux and Ruffian shared only brief moments of affection. To let the others know was to gain certain distrust with Milo being so two-sided, though the couple had no idea how severe the situation might turn out to be. The four dogs followed David around through his daily chores and Tux even joined in a game of fetch with Anna in the yard once Ruffian showed him how. He enjoyed it thoroughly; who knew such a pointless looking game could be so much fun? Tux was begining to truely feel like he belonged in this new family. David's wife Kim was very kind to him, Anna loved playing with him and gave him loads of attention whenever she was around and David was a constant source of appreciation. The two groups of dogs had made it clear perfectly clear that he was one of them now and were tolerant of his slow transition to farm life. Everyone treated him like a brother, unlike the "family" he had come from. It seemed impossible for his life to get any better.

Anna kissed Tux on the top of his head before running along to bed after dinner. 'Kids aren't all that bad' he laughed to himself. The four dogs curled up to sleep in almost perfect unison. The kitchen clock punctuated every second and was lulling Tux into drowsiness. But not long after Angele was snorting in her sleep, Ruffian began to stir. She climbed out of her bed and stretched herself all over then padded quitely over to Tux's bed. She nudged him softly, urging him to get up.

"What is it?" he cocked his head.

She only beckoned him to follow her out the kitchen door. They were out in the night air together once again and it felt wonderful. But Tux couldn't understand why every time she called him closer she would only dash away. Something was definately different about her that night. Ruffian ran for the barn with Tux close in toe. He felt a couple of cold raindrops splash his nose. Soon it was pouring and they were soaked through by the time they reached the barn. Tux began licking the water off of her soaked coat and she did the same to his. Their tounges met at the end of each others' muzzles.

"Alright Ruff, why'd you drag me out here?" he asked her, still burning red in the face under his shiny black fur.

"Why do you think, liverbiscuit?" she giggled, slipping under his belly, then teasingly out again.

"But.......!"

She was slowly backing him into a cozy little barn stall full of hay. The way Ruffian looked at him sent shivers up and down his terrier spine.

"C'mon pretty boy, you've got nothing to lose," she crooned. Tux stumbled into the stall. His heart beat so rapidly that he was hardly able to contain it. It occured to him that he had no chance against Ruffian's persistance. There was nothing left to do but give in, and he did just that. The pair danced around each other playfully, displaying the most puppyish of behaviors. Ruffian turned over on her back for a moment, letting him sniff her over. But only for a moment. When he got close enough she grabbed him by the nape and pulled him into a zealous little scuffle. Tux had done this a thousand times but never had it felt so lovely. Ruffian came out of the games and into all seriousness after what seemed like an eternity of courtship. She turned and gave him the universal signal- now there was no turning back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much farther into the night, Ruffian and Tux lay down, exhausted, in the hay, wrapped around each other to keep out the wind and the rest of the world. Tux panted heavily, in between breaths licking Ruffian's velvet button ears. She kept very still, only thinking of how warm their future could turn out to be. It was all done.

Thunder crashed outside. The rain seemed to had let up a bit but the wind was still pounding against the old barn's walls. Tux pulled Ruffian closer, not wanting to have to ever let go. They were now true mates and he would keep her and his unborn family close....at all costs.

He tensed. Something had come into the barn. Tux stood himself low over Ruffian; whatever had just entered, he sensed, was dangerous.

And it was. Milo stepped into the barn stall to find Tux over Ruffian. Milo's lip curled and the words oozed sharply from his muzzle "What do we have here, Ruffian? Couldn't sleep so we found something else to do, eh?"

Tux could feel every ounce of him simmer with hatred. Every hair stood on end. He could feel Ruffian's stand as well.

"Back up Milo.......I swear I'll tear you apart...." he growled, trying to look as intimidating as possible.

Milo laughed, "You? Oh I've heard about you. You're the scrawny little show boy everybody's been yappin' about. I'd be doing you a BIIIG favor if I took you down right now. Got my girl in a convenient spot there, dontcha' buddy?"

Ruffian snarled, now standing completely under Tux, just for Milo.

"You don't have any business with us," Tux snapped.

"Ah really city boy? And what kind of business would you have with my Ruffian?"

"Get away from her Milo....!" Tux barked in his face. Ruffian stood beside him, still tense.

Milo said nothing more, but went for his throat. He was met by teeth instead of fur and the two males were soon circling each other. Tux felt power surging through him. Milo had to be taken care of. They met again in a violent crash with Tux catching his first blow- he tore the end of Milo's matted ear. He felt the blood in his mouth, shaking his head to try and relieve it's nasty feel and taste. That's when Milo lunged at his front left leg. He clamped on viciously. Tux let out a wail of pain and tried to tear his leg away from Milo's jaws. The spaniel mix only bit down harder, pulling only intesified the pain. Out of fear, he lashed out for Milo's face, scarring his muzzle and lip. Milo let go of his leg and Tux immediately collapsed on the ground in shock and searing pain. Milo licked his muzzle before proceeding on to finnish his deadly job. But now something stood in the way: Ruffian. She stood in front of Tux, stock stiff with a look that told she would fight for keeps. Milo smirked through the wound across his muzzle.

"C'mon baby, move aside. You want me to get rid of the evidense for you don'tcha? Of course....there'll obviously be more to deal with later...."

"You won't live long enough to see my puppies," she threatened, eyes aflame, "much less kill them."

"Neither will you!" he growled deafeningly, throwing himself at her head on.

Tux heard the thrashing of the fight beside him, but the pain of Milo's bite sealed his eyes shut. His spine stiffened with the violent thrashing and growling of the two fighting rivals. Then for a moment there was only rustling which broke with a blood-chilling gasp. Was it Ruffian's? Tux couldn't bare to open his eyes. But Ruffian was the farthest thing from beaten; her jaws were clinched fiercly around the neck of her once greatest fear. She had conquered it and now let it free.

Milo heaved and rasped when she let him go, stumbling with tail tucked.

"Get out of my sight Milo. Show that disgusting face around here again and it'll be on your hide," she roared.

Milo growled, ambling away from the scene- hiding his scars. Before scuttling out of the barn and out into the unforgiving storm and darkness, he turned to Ruffian and scowled ominously, "As you wish.....dearest."