AUTHORS NOTE:

Hello fellow Lady and the Tramp source-rs, I see you have been brought to my first *cough* GOOD *cough* fanfiction. You may be wondering, why did you make a small gang of dogs? Did you rip off Doverstar? I'll tell you the story of how this fanfiction came to be.

When I was about the age of seven or six, I would draw a large group of street dogs (5, 6, 7 etc.) that I would call "The Junkyard Dogs" (I hadn't watched LATT2 before). There would be around 5-6 protagonists and one antagonist. I did many of these, all different, except I still have a few drawings and I even remember the names! One gang consisted of a doberman named Drake, a guard dog, two beagle mix twins Milo and Theo. That was all for one gang because I never really finished. Another gang had many dogs including a blood hound named Marshall, and an antagonist german shepered-doberman mix named Shane. There were other dogs in that gang, I just can't recall the names. Anyways, 7-5 months ago, I had wanted to make a fursona on LATTS and I wanted to make a few characters based off a few of my best friends, whom would be my fursona's friends. I chose my two best friends to star in my fanfic. Of course, their real names aren't Ryan and Sarge ('Sarge' actually does have a scar on his face in real life), but those are their nicknames. They did indeed names their characters chose their breeds, and 'Sarge' helped with his parents' names and history. Soon, I had came up with concept sketches and presented them to my friends, whom were quite impressed. Soon, I had reviewed some VERY old sketches of Kali. She went through many changes, infact I might change her design. 

After a while, I came up with a plot and started to write my fanfic, I even came up for ideas for prequels and sequels, and here we are.

Sorry for boring you and now may I present: Catching the Culprits!

     Chapter 1: Missing Them

It rained. It poured, heavily. These darn April showers. My beautiful, soft fur, was now drenched. My silver metal chain was getting soaked, my golden cross was dangling from it. I shivered. If only I hadn’t been the one who had to get food. Sarge could’ve done it, Ryan could’ve too. I spent my whole entire day searching for food. I informed Ryan and Sarge that it was a Sunday and most places were closed. The only place where you could get food was the Junkyard. But it’s not safe there. If you encounter Buster, you’ll be dead meat. Or at least that’s what I’ve been told. Tramp told me about Buster and how they were friends. He told me about this purebred cocker spaniel he met. Lady’s her name, I think. Well, Tramp fell in love with her and Buster grew jealous. Then, Tramp and Buster fought and that’s when Tramp told me to stay away from him and to NEVER EVER enter the junkyard. That’s what I told Ryan and Sarge but, they wouldn’t listen. They said that it was the “female’s job to get the food”. I argued and said we weren’t a pack. Well, they went on blabbering and blabbering and well here I am searching for food in the pouring rain. Puddles everywhere getting my aching paws soaked. 

I suddenly smelt something. Food? No, an aroma similar to smoke. Barbaq-Nope. No barbeques in the rain. Well maybe it IS food. I immediately bolted to where this smell was. I could find it easily considering I’m part bloodhound. Instantly, I came closer to the smell and crept closer and closer to it. Suddenly I felt some heat. Not enough to dry my fur but, perhaps warm enough for a mouse or a roach. At least there’s heat.

I noticed it coming from the corner of an alley with a large, torn up, pale green rag covering this smoky scent. 

I poked my head from underneath the rag and realized it was Sarge and Ryan. 

Ryan was rolled up in a ball with one of his shaggy chocolate colored ears covering his right eye, he was shivering. His stomach growled yet he tried to ignore it.  

Sarge was cold, I could easily tell. He tried hiding it. 

I noticed that the smoky aroma was a small flame. 

“Hey guys. How’d you get this fire?” I questioned.

“Hey Kali.” Sarge greeted. 

“I went down to an old chapel, snuck in, and snatched a lit candle near the altar. We could’ve used you though. Y’know how everyone thinks you belong to the deacon because of your c-“

“Did you get us food?” Ryan interrupted. His stomach growled.

“Sorry guys. I told you shops aren’t open on Sundays.” I confessed.

“You said you’d be getting the food!” Ryan argued.

“Maybe if you actually STOP thinking about food for ONCE you might not be AS hungry!” Sarge barked.

“Hmm..” Ryan said. He paused for a moment. “Okay Sarge, new plan.” Ryan had obviously thought about food. “It’s still unfair that you didn’t get food.”

“The shops weren’t-“

“It’s not her fault, Ryan. And lay off and stop acting like a pup.” Sarge growled.

“You’re not my dad.” Ryan said.

“I never said I was now did I?” Sarge replied like a smart-alec.

“You were acting like one!” Ryan argued. 

“Yeah but that doesn’t mean I WAS your fath-“

“Okay guys, enough! Stop arguing!” I barked.

“Now you’re acting like a mom.” Sarge said.

“I’m the ONLY machure one here!” I growled back at Sarge. I shook my fur, releasing the raindrops, which fired at Ryan and Sarge. I wasn’t dry, but I wasn’t as wet as before so it was better. I then lay down and slowly closed my eyes with the small fire heating me.

I soon fell into a deep slumber. 

A dream slowly came into my head. It was almost like a flashback, from when I was a pup. 

Mother, Father, my siblings and I went for a walk throughout the town. A friend of my father’s, Tramp, came along as well. My older siblings and I were playing around while Tramp and the grownups chatted.

Appearing out of nowhere, several dog catcher cars appeared. Men with uniforms, came out holding huge nets. I was frightened. Father took me by the fur on my neck and held me in his mouth. A net rapidly swooped down near father, he pounced on the dog catcher causing me to fly in the air. Tramp caught me in his mouth by the scruff on the back of my neck, and bolted away before those scary men could catch us. I never saw mother, father, or my siblings ever again.

Tramp took me into an alley.

“Where’s Mommy and Daddy and sisters and brother?” I asked in my little puppy voice (I sure was cute back then).

Tramp frowned.

“They’re not here anymore.” Tramp said. 

I was puzzled and cocked my small dainty head to the side.

“What do you mean, Uncle Tramp?” I questioned.

“They’ve been caught” he paused. “By the pound.” He added. 

Now, I was only a few months old and I didn’t know much at all. But I knew what the pound was. And I knew that it was no good.

I sobbed and sobbed. Tears poured down my furry cheeks. I stayed close to Uncle Tramp. Then, I awoke. The fire was out. Sarge was lying down in a relaxed position sleeping soundly, while Ryan was on his back, his arms pointed upward and his sepia colored paws twitched frequently. His mouth was opened and his watery pink-red tongue was hanging out of his mouth. Perhaps he was dreaming about chasing something, perhaps a small rabbit, or a meat truck. He often had those dreams.

I was cold, and the ground was wet, but it was no longer raining so, I walked outside and looked up at the stars. Each dazzling little beautiful star twinkling from high above. 

“Are you up there mother? Father? Brother? Sisters?” I quietly asked. I dropped my head and softly cried. 

I heard a small noise. Not any louder than a tip-toe of a baby mouse. I turned around and saw what the noise was. It was Sarge. I quickly dried my tears. 

“Hey.” He whispered. “’You okay?” I thought I heard you cryin’.” 

“No, I’m all right. I just-“ I dropped my head again. “I just miss my family.” 

“There still with you.” Sarge said.

“Not a chance.” I quietly retorted.

“There with you in your heart.” He comforted. 

I was still gloomy about the loss of my family, and wherever Tramp left to, leaving me out here, with no one. Until, Ryan came back and Sarge left the Police Force. 

Sarge walked back inside the shelter he and Ryan had made, I stayed outside for a while, and looked around. I looked at the asphalt ground, the brick walls, the huge open space where I could see another alley, a small one, only a few feet wide, and about seven feet long, a dead end. I gazed upon the bright, beautiful silver moon, how it was shimmering on everything, not much of a light, but it sure was glamorous. I looked again at the twinkling stars, they sparkled and shined, but their shine wasn’t as bold as the radiant moon. 

I sighed, as my stomach growled fiercely. 

“I might as well look for food now.” I said to myself. 

I started trotting toward the small alley, and I checked my ways for traffic. The alley was full of trash cans, my search might be successful. I searched through one rotten trash cans, looking for food, perhaps chicken skin or something a human didn’t mean to throw out. I dunked my head in, only to find orange rinds, pieces of green broken beer bottles, banana peels, newspaper bit, and a rag. A small rag that was a bit damp. It looked fairly clean so I snatched it and brought it back to the shelter, placing it where I had slept. I hurried back to the alley and searched through another trash can. Once again, I dunked my head in the waste bin to find scraps of turkey, ham and veal! I carried them back to the shelter, as my mouth watered. I tried not eating them but, I accidently gulped one. I then placed two of the skins in front of Ryan and two in front of Sarge, and one for me, because I had eaten one already. 

“That should be enough. I contributed already, they should get more food if they’re still hungry.” I said to myself as I started to lie down, and hopefully fall asleep. But the hunger kept me awake. My eyes were wide open, never closing, not once. I tried to cope, but I couldn’t. I waited and waited to fall asleep, I didn’t. The minutes passed and then sun started its arrival. 

Chapter 2: Breakfast at Tony’s

As Sarge stared to slowly awake, I shut my eyes tight. He walked over to me, slowly, ignoring the meat skin I left for him.

“Y’didn’t fall asleep last night, I can tell, Kali.” He said to me, noticing the wrinkly bags under my eyes.

I opened me eyes and looked at him.

“No. The hunger kept me awake. All I could find were scraps of meat and a small rag.” I responded, sleepily.

Sarge turned back to where he slept, and examined the skin.

“Oh, that’s why the skins were there. Thanks.” Sarge said, and then smiled at me. 

“No problem.” I replied. I paused for about a moment or two then realized something. 

“Sarge! It’s Monday! The shops are opened! I’ll go down to Tony’s and- wait, we’ll all go to Tony’s! We’ll get more food! Yes! Sarge, go awake Ryan and we’ll head off!” I exclaimed.

“Right away!” Sarge answered as he walked over to Ryan.

“Hey Biscuit Fur, get up we’re heading to Tony’s for breakfast.” Sarge said to Ryan. 

Immediately, Ryan awoke and leaped to his four paws.

“Tony’s?! Oh boy! Let’s go!” Ryan yipped.

“C’mon guys!” I said as I headed out of our “tent”. 

Ryan started to bolt, far ahead of me.

“Hey Speedy slow down. Y’don’t even know where Tony’s is!” I said to him. He paused and turned at me.

“Yeah, you’re right, I just DESPERATELY want food!” he barked.

“Calm down m’kay? We’ll be there any sec-“ I smelt an aroma of something, Italian. My mouth watered, Ryan and Sarge did the same, drool trickled down Ryan’s paws.

It was spaghetti and meatballs and perhaps some pizza! I started to sprint faster than I ever had before, but I stopped before I entered Tony’s. 

“Okay guys if we go in all at once, we will probably get more food. Now, c’mon.” I whispered to Ryan and Sarge. I walked through a small old passage way Tramp used to lead me through. I sat down at the jade colored door. I pawed at it and barked.

Tony looked down at me. At once, he recognized my furry mutt face.

“Joe! It’s the poochy girl!” Tony called.

Joe rushed over to the olive green door.

“It IS the poochy girl! And she brought some friends! What should I get them?” Joe asked his boss.

“Get bones, and a lot of ‘em. Get some plates and give them to the pooches..” answered Tony.

“Okay Tony, you the boss.” Joe said as he grabbed a few silver dishes full of bones. He handed them to Tony who placed them on the asphalt ground. 

At once, I started to gnaw on one, taking my time, biting it at a moderate pace, while Ryan stuffed all of his bones in his mouth, drooling on all of them. 

“Ryan, c’mon slow down, stop being a pig.” I said to him.

Ryan spit out two of his bones, and continued drooling on one bone.

Sarge poked me with one of his bones. I turned to him. He had his bone in his mouth, partially sticking out of his mouth, resembling a large cigar. I chuckled a bit, and made my bone look identical, the bone half way out my mouth. Sarge smirked, and continued gnawing his bone. 

“Guys, at the most, only eat two, save one for later incase we can’t find food another time.” I told Ryan and Sarge. They nodded at me.

“Good idea.” Ryan said.

I lay down, put the bottom of the bone between my paws and started to bite at the top of it. 

Ryan had already finished two of his bones and impatiently waited for Sarge and I to finish up our bones.

“Guys c’mon hurry up!” Ryan tbarked.

“Ryan, it’s not a race, we got lots of time to spare. We’ll be done in about five minutes or so.” I responded as I finished my first bone.

Sarge had just finished eating his second bone. 

“C’mon guys, take your bones and let’s go back to our ‘tent’.” I said to Sarge and Ryan. We collected our bones, and proceeded to our shelter. 

“What should we do?” Ryan said, a bit bored out of his mind, even though we just got back to our home and were just preoccupied when we were eating our bones and walking here.

“We could go to the park.” Sarge suggested. 

“Guys, we need to think ahead of time, what should we get for lunch and supper?” I asked. 

“Maybe we could go on a walk around a neighborhood and collect small feasts from door to door.” Ryan said. 

“We’ll do that for dinner.” I informed Ryan. He nodded his head in agreement. 

“Can we go to the park now?” Ryan asked.

“Alright, fine.” I responded as we headed out of the “cave”, making our way to the park. I checked both ways for tnraffic, amaking sure the dog catcher wasn’t around. I quickly crossed the road with Ryan and Sarge following me, ljike small ducks, cars cautioned, traffic stopping immediately.

       Chapter 3: Muffin 

We made our way to Veteran’s Park and walked across a small bridge. Ryan noticed a lake  and he decided to wade in it. He rolled around in it, getting his auburn colored fur soaked. 

“Hey Ryan, how’s the water?” Kali asked her friend.

“I can’t hear you! There’s water in my ears!” Ryan howled as he paddled through out the lake. He sat up and pawed at his ears and water was released.

“Can you hear me now?” I barked loudly.

“Yep!” he answered.

“How’s the water Shaggy Ears?” I asked.

“A little cold but if you get some sun, it gets warmer.” He responded.

Sarge was busy looking at something else, perhaps gazing upon the trees or staring at squirrels, looking at the pathways in they were going, maybe food was there.

Sneakily, I pushed Sarge in the water. He made a massive splash and it drenched him, and me. He growled at me and I just chuckled, and leaped in the water, getting him even more wet. Sarge got out of the lake, and shook off the water. He sat down underneath an oak tree and enjoyed the shade. He realized the sun would get him dry so he moved near a bench, the golden sun shined on his dark back and he was scorching. He then decided to go back underneath the oak tree were he would be at a fairly medium temperature. 

Suddenly, my nose caught a familiar aroma. And surprisingly it wasn’t food. I got out of the lake, shook the water off and kept my nose close to the ground.

“What’re you doing?” Ryan asked. 

“I smell something, I’m tracking down the scent.” I answered, not looking at him, my nose still on the ground.

“What is it? Food?” He questioned.

“I don’t think so, Ryan. It smells like a home and soap.” I responded.

“You look like a bloodhound trying to track down a criminal.” Sarge teased. I looked up at him.

“That’s because I AM part bloodhound!” I barked. I put my nose back to the ground and continued tracking down this familiar scent.

Ryan continued splashing around in the water while I tracked down the scent. 

I soon bumped into a small bichon, a house dog, with a maroon colored collar and white, fluffy fur. He had a white tuft of fur on the top of his head and his ears and tail were shaggy, just like mine.

“Hiya, whatcha doing?” he asked.

“I smell something, and it’s not food this time.” I told him, chuckling a bit.

“What does it smell like?” he asked.

“It smells like a house and soap.” I told him.

“Maybe it’s me. I just had a bath and I’m a house dog.” He explained.

I thought about what he had said so I sniffed his coat a few times. The scent seemed familiar, very familiar.

“M-muffin? Is that you?” I asked the bichon.

“Yep, do I know you?” he responded.

“Yeah! Don’t’cha remember? It’s me, Kali! We knew each other as pups! Don’t’cha remember Sarge and Ryan?” I said trying to refresh his memory.

“Oh yeah! We met when you were walking the streets with Sarge and Ryan! You guys were sneaking up behind a meat stand!” Muffin said, happy that he’d remember old friends. “Do you remember Fatshack and Chloe?” 

“I remember meeting them a few times.” I responded.

“Fatshack is being so annoying and is making fun of Chloe, and since I’m the big brother and all, I have to break up the fights and stand up for her. Sooooo annoying!” said Muffin.

“Ugh, that must be a pain.” I said.

“Yeah.” Muffin paused. “We’re having bacon for breakfast tomorrow, want to stop by?” 

“Sure!” I responded.

“Great!” Muffin returned. He looked at the sky. It was nearing the evening, the sun was setting. “Sorry Kali, I have to go now. I’ll see you tomorrow morning! My house is blue and across the street from Jim Dear’s and Darling’s!” he called out as he headed home.

“Okay! Bye!” I called back.

Muffin left the park, with his golden ID tag jingling along as he walked. 

     Chapter Four: Destroyed

“Sarge, Ryan, c’mere.” I called, softly.

Ryan got out of the lake, shook off the water of his fur, and headed toward me. Sarge simply rose to his paws and slowly trotted over. “Muffin invited us over for breakfast tomorrow. He’s having bacon.” I informed them. Ryan’s mouth watered.

“Bacon.” He said, drooling. 

“Yep, bacon.” I said. I repeated the word in my head. “Bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon. Bacon.” 

“Should we start to get dinner?” Sarge asked.

“Yeah, we should. Let’s go to a nearby neighborhood. Like the one over there.” I said pointing to my left with my furry muzzle. 

“Ryan, you take the cul de sac, Sarge, you take the right side, and I’ll take the left.” I informed them. “Now, let’s get-“ I stopped myself. “Wait. How are we supposed to hold all of the food?” I asked.

“We could go to the flower shop down the street and get some baskets.” Sarge suggested.

“Great idea. How many do you think we’ll need?” I asked.

“Probably six. Two for each of us.” Sarge said.

“M’kay, I’ll go to the flower shop and get  baskets.” I said.

I walked on the drab concrete street, down to a nice flower shop called “Martha’s Flower Emporium”. It was very large, it was painted white, with a beautiful array of exotic flowers on display a the window. The owner, Martha,  was busy showing off the display, watering the plants, putting in more soil, making every flower perfect. Because she wasn’t looking, I snuck into the back of the store and stole six baskets, carrying them with my mouth and I put a few around my neck. I headed back to the park where Sarge and Ryan were waiting for me. I stopped in front of them and dropped the baskets, two for each of us.

“There. Now let’s go!” I said, determined that we’d be getting some food.

Ryan bolted up the street and headed to the coldasack, begging at door to door, while Sarge broke through windows, and stole some food. As always, I’d get most food because everyone thought I was an angel dog or I belonged to the priest because of my beautiful chain with a cross dangling from it. After we gathered our food, we headed back to the alley in which our “tent” was at. We hid behind trash cans making sure no dog catchers would see us. We went to our shelter to find that it was destroyed.