James Sidney sat in a wooden chair in the kitchen of his house, holding a young red and cream pup. He was situated near the wooden table. The kitchen joined onto the room which accomodated the front door, as their house had to be fairly small to house Jame's kennels. James was a breeder, waiting for his not-so-easy-to-please customer. The litter's mother, a burgundy, brown-eyed ex-show dog named Tara, was sure to breed good offspring with her mate, the maroon, blue-eyed Axel... how could you not get a bad litter from an ex-show dog and an ex-sled dog? Yet somehow, something seemed off about this young pup.<br /><br />Axel sat solemnly beside him. There was no wagging of his solid-red tail today. He knew the occaison. Knew the home where one of his two only daughters was going to. The show dog business. Tara had told him of it. It was mighty tough, and very hard to make it to popularity. Axel worried about the pup, though - she had stick-thin legs, something undesirable in the show business. He didn't want to do anything stupid to upset James; and he had no idea where that logic came from, so he remained sitting quietly.<br /><br />James placed the young pup onto the boarded floor and got up out of his chair. The pup immediately ran over to Axel and licked his leg. Axel smiled and gave her a large lick. The pup was a little suprised by the force her father gave but she appreciated it.<br /><br />James stood in front of the sink, hand on its side. He ran his fingers through his auburn hair with the other and sighed. He looked out the window at the blue sky. No clouds today. It was a perfect summer day, yet he felt so stressed.<br /><br />Yes, today was the day that Mr Elias Santiago would be making another of his infamous visits. James could tell that Axel wasn't happy with him. Axel was a lot like his wife, Helene. They'd both be quiet and listen when the air was full of tension. He reached for a wooden cupboard nearby and opened it, retreiving a small glass. James inspected it for cleanliness with his brown eyes, looking for any signs of unwashedness. James hated dirty crockery. Satisfied, he filled it up with water. <br /><br />He wasn't looking forward to departing with the young pup. He didn't like seperating with any of them - although he was a breeder, all of the pups felt just as part of the family as the dogs or his wife.<br />The pup stood in the doorway and having found her master yipped and ran towards him. James turned around to see her.<br />"Why hello there, Jenna," he gently said, patting her. Jenna lovingly accepted them. He took a drink from the glass. Jenna noticed it and looked at it longingly, licking her lips. She was a bit thirsty.<br />"You want some?" James asked. Jenna barked and wagged her tail in response. "Here you go." James kneeled down, lowered the glass and held it for her as she lapped the water up.<br /><br />"How many times have I told you <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> to share your drinks with the dogs, James Sidney?" A voice called from the doorway. James looked up to meet the face of Helene. Axel sat proudly and quietly beside her, showing off his nobility in the form of his leather collar. James took another large sip from the glass.<br />"I don't recall you ever have... have you ever?" he answered. Helene walked towards him, Axel in tow, and took the glass from him. Jenna pined for the water to be returned.<br /><br />"Naw, look what you've done, Hel! Now poor little Jenna's upset! Come here girl," James said, motioning towards Jenna. "That's it..." Jenna walked closer and licked his hand. "Good girl. Now let's get you a-"<br />He was interrupted by Helene setting a ceramic bowl full to the brim of water on some old newspaper on the floor.<br />"Drink?" Helene asked smartly.<br />"Oh." James stood up from his kneeling position.<br /><br />"James, you look terrible. Is something wrong?" Helene asked. "Um - not that - terribly stressed or mean, I didn't mean to offend you or anyth..."<br />James raised his hand up slowly to signify he didn't take offense.<br />"...ing."<br />"...I look as I always do when Elias visits..." he replied. "...unlike you, and your curly black hair, and your stunning..."<br />"...blue green eyes," Helene finished.<br />"...well, yes."<br />The burgundy husky Tara stepped into the doorway. Axel turned around, noticing her. He walked towards her happily and sat next to her.<br />"Everything will be fine," Helene told James. Tara looked at Axel.<br />"And you know it," she said.<br /><br />"I'm just a bit nervous, that's all," Axel stated. Tara peered at him curiously. Axel glanced at her.<br />"What!" he exclaimed.<br />"Nothing," Tara calmly asked. She knew how to get things out of him.<br />Axel sighed.<br />"Well any parent would be concerned if they were letting one of their only two daughters go with that Santiago," Axel scorned. Tara said nothing. "It's silly. Our Jenna can't cope with the show dog business, no way."<br />"She might," Tara said. "You never know."<br />"Yeah, but Tara... she's only a pup. Santiago is stern and hard. And look at her - he won't like her... the poor girl's got stick thin legs, something he wouldn't accept."<br />"Not from my side of the family, as far as I know," Tara said.<br /><br />"Mommy!" Jenna called, running up to her parents.<br />"Hey babe," Axel joked. Jenna frowned at him.<br />"You are not mommy," she said. "And I am not <span style="font-style: italic;">babe</span>."<br />"Hello darling," Tara greeted her. Jenna still hadn't mastered the art of fusing two words together such as "isn't" or "aren't".<br />"Mommy, I do not want to leave," Jenna said, her ears tilting back.<br />"Why not?"<br />"I' have heard James talk about him. He sounds scary..."<br />"Aw, he isn't <span style="text-decoration: underline;">that</span> scary, Jenna," Tara replied. "Although, not terrifingly so... he does get a bit... iffy I suppose..."<br />"What is an iff?" Jenna asked.<br />"A little bit scary. Not that much," Axel answered.<br />"Oh, okay." Jenna looked down, thinking. "Can I go play with Dimitri and Amos?" Tara looked aside at Axel.<br />"Well... you kind of have to stay here for the moment, as much as you love your brothers," she replied.<br />"Can't she at least see Serah? Or Rebecca?" Axel asked. Tara looked down at Jenna.<br />"Oh, yes! Sister Sera! Cousin Becky!" Jenna barked excitedly. Serah was Jenna's burgundy sister and Becky her copper-colored cousin.<br />"Alright, I'll bring Serah in," Tara sighed.<br />"Why can I not see cousin Becky?" Jenna asked.<br />"You can't right now, Jen," Axel answered her, as Tara trotted off to retreive Serah from the next room.<br />"Why?"<br />"I know you're close to Rebecca, but now's not the time. This is a close family matter." Jenna sighed.<br />"Okay daddy..."<br /><br />James withdrew from the comforting hug Helene had just given him. He had needed it; he felt slightly better about the whole deal he had made with Elias.<br />"Well, I suppose I'd better get ready..." James said, planting a kiss on his wife's cheek. Helene nodded. "Axel! Tara!"<br />Axel trotted up to him dutifully.<br />"Good boy. But er... where's Tara?" he asked to nobody in particular.<br />Tara gracefully walked over to him with Serah held in her mouth. Jenna tried to duplicate the graceful trot to Axel's amusement. James knelt and took Serah from Tara.<br />"Tara? You look... different," he said, holding Serah up. "Look how small you are!"<br />Tara growled quietly. James laughed and petted her.<br />"Don't worry, I was just playing." Helene stood over him nearby. She knelt as well to look at Serah closely.<br />"She looks so much like her mother," she commented, stroking the pup gently with a finger.<br />"Spitting image," James said. "Except for the solid red tail and some minor differences, Axel seems to have taken care of that."<br /><br />They were interrupted by a sharp rapping on the front door. James sighed.<br />"That'll be Elias," he said. Helene took Serah from James, patted down some of her out-of-place fur and placed her onto the ground. Jenna barked and attempted to pounce on Serah, but her sister was too quick and grabbed her tail. They proceeded into a rambuncious chase game.<br />"Girls! Girls, come back here!" Tara called. The two pups obeyed and returned to their mother.<br />"They were only having a bit of fun," Axel whispered to her. Tara ignored him.<br />"Mr Santiago's here, so remember what we talked about. Don't start running all over the house, don't make too much noise, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">do not</span> bite or snap at him if he picks you up."<br />"Yes mother," Serah said.<br />"Tar, go easy on them, they're only pups!" Axel said anxiously to her.<br />"In the show dog business even pups must act like dogs," Tara shot back at him. Axel looked down at Jenna. She was looking at her paws and seemed nervous and scared.<br />"You've got that Jenna?" Tara said.<br />"I think she does without all the pressure you're putting on her," Axel scowled, and licked Jenna to comfort her.<br /><br />Helene sat quietly in the wooden chair near the kitchen table, nursing her tea. James was talking with the scrawny Elias in the room that joined onto the kitchen. Axel sat quietly nearby, listening in. Tara stayed near Helene, minding the two pups.<br />"So where is this pup you have for me, James?" Elias cooly asked.<br />"Right.. hang on a sec-" James started.<br />"Is one of them the two daughters playing near Tara?"<br />"Ah, yes, yes they are." Elias walked towards the pups and knelt down in front of Tara. Axel moved closer, keeping an eye on Elias. He didn't trust him. Not one bit.<br /><br />"I see... pretty little things, aren't they?" Elias commented. "Of course, from such a fine damsel such as Tara, you wouldn't expect any less." Tara had the urge to growl at him but she held it in. "Well, there's only one question left - which was born first?"<br />"The maroon one - Jenna," James answered. Elias picked Jenna up to inspect her closer. She squealed in suprise.<br />"Hmm... pretty face... nice, curly tail... lovely eyes, I see... her coloration is nice too... but, are you sure she's the first born?" Elias asked.<br />"Well, yes," James said. "Why?"<br />"Her... legs, you see," Elias said, showing James. "They're a little <span style="font-style: italic;">thin</span>." Axel straightened up. He knew it. He knew Elias would pick that out.<br />"Well... they're not that thin..." James said. "Helene helped Tara with the birth and she assured me and Jenna was the first born female." Elias wasn't happy with any flaw - he was a perfectionist with his dogs by habit.<br /><br />"Hmph. Well I can't enter a dog with those legs like hers," Elias said. "The image doesn't bode well with the business, you know that, James."<br />"I understand Elias, but-"<br />"You offered me the first-born female of your two most-prized huskies. Tara, an excellent show dog in her day, and Axel, also a good sled dog. Yet you present me this?" Jenna managed a growl. Tara barked once to grab her attention. Jenna looked around to meet Tara's stern face. She quietened immediately.<br />"Elias, I can relate with your concern, but you wanted the first born female of the litter and there she is," James said. <br />Jenna started to get shaky, scared of where this was heading.<br /><br />"You have never failed me in the past James."<br />"I always try to please," he said, slightly nervous.<br />"...until you gave me... this rat."<br />Helene stood upright from the seat she was in and bumped the table forward by accident.<br />"Jenna is not a rat," she said, her voice raised.<br />"I would have thought you'd chosen a wife whom could hold her tongue better in business deals between men, James," Elias said, tempting James to lose his temper. James knew better.<br />"Please sit down, Helene," he said. Helene did as she was told, annoyed at Elias' attitude.<br />"Serah I could take. But this one will not cope," Elias stated angrily. Jenna started to pine for her mother. "Especially with that racket, that has to be ironed out of her."<br />"Jenna, quiet," James said calmly. Jenna turned her big brown eyes onto James and complied.<br />"I'm sorry James. The deal is off."<br /><br />"What?" James asked, bewildered. "We arranged this, for month-"<br />"I don't care, I'm not taking this thing," Elias yelled. "I'm through with you!"<br />"But Elias-" At this point Elias Santiago became infuriated with James' attempted appeals.<br />"I don't care if you have to feed your damned dogs, or your silly little wife, I will NOT take this - this MUTT - a disgrace to her show heritage - in my kennels! You can have the stupid thing, I'M THROUGH!"<br />Then Elias did the unthinkable.<br />He threw Jenna and sent her sailing through the air and plummetting towards the cold, hard ground. She landed with a loud innocent yelp of pain.<br /><br />Axel snarled, clearly losing control, and lunged at Elias, latching onto his arm. Helene was standing up yelling at him. James was stunned - he couldn't believe what Elias had done. Tara was barking angrily at the fight in front of her, while Serah stood stock still, terrified of everything.<br /><br />Tara stopped barking, noticing Jenna could potentially be crushed. She was lying on the ground and couldn't seem to get up easily. She ran towards the scene, avoiding the wrestling Axel and Elias, and grabbed Jenna in her mouth. She left her at the next room's door and ran back for Serah. She dodged Elias stepping back onto where Jenna had been and went straight for her other daughter.<br />"Mother, I'm scared!" Serah cried.<br />"It's okay Serah, just hold on," Tara said, picking her up and placing her next to Jenna. She tried for the door desperately. James saw her struggle and opened the door for her. Tara picked Jenna up and ran in with Serah.<br /><br />The door shut behind then. All of the noise could be heard through the door.<br />Tara turned around. Four little pups were huddled together, scared as anything.<br />"Mom!" one of the maroon ones called, and ran towards her. "What's going on?!"<br />"Amos, there's a bit of a commotion, I know, but-"<br />"What's wrong with Jenna?" another asked.<br />"Woodrow, I know you're concerned, but-"<br />"Where's dad?"<br />"Quiet!" Tara snapped. "Amos, there's a fight outside. Woodrow, Jenna's hurt. Everette, he's outside dealing with Mr Santiago. Any questions?"<br />One last pup sat away from the confused bunch. He was a darkish burgundy color and brown eyes, and asked the simplest yet most complex question to answer:<br />"Why do they hate each other?"<br /><br />Axel had made a mess of Elias. His clothes were torn, he had several bite marks and had quite a bit of blood on him. James had pulled Axel away from him by the collar. Helene was trying to clean Elias and bandage the wounds. Tara wandered out of the room she was in, having dealt with her son Dimitri's question somewhat lamely. Helene finished cleaning Elias up and moved away.<br />"Is there anything else I can do for you? Perhaps lend you an overcoat?" Helene asked, not particularly wanting to help him, but it was her duty.<br />Elias ignored her and found his overcoat, which he had removed upon entering. He turned around and glared at James.<br />"They'll hear of this, Sidney," he threatened. The pups sneaked into the room to see Elias quickly don his hat and slam the door behind him. <br /><br />Tara walked over to Axel, whom was panting and also blood-stained and had a few bruises.<br />"James won't walk free from this," he said. "I've ruined it all..." He looked over at Jenna, whom had been helped in somewhat by the other pups.<br />"All this mess because of our daughter..." Tara said, starting to tear up. Axel licked her muzzle.<br />"She's not just our daughter, and she didn't cause this. How could she? Look at her," he said. "She's our <span style="font-style: italic;">Winona</span>."<br /><br /><br />