With Good Company – Release Restraints Part I

  “… C’mon Grimm, you can do it harder!” Drake growled as he adjusted his stance. Grimm was panting hard, but he dashed forward again, roughly slamming himself into Drake. He bit down carefully, and Drake knocked him off.
  “Grimm, stop being easy with me, I told ya I’ll be fine.” Drake shook his head with an exasperated sigh. “Be rough, toughen up, I want ya to bite hard enough t’ make me flinch!”
  “Okay…” The mix grumbled, scrambling up. He glanced at Einstein, who was watching him practice, and the Great Dane gave an encouraging nod and a goofy smile. Grimm shifted and then pounced at the big canine, this time biting his shoulder deeper and, surprising the Beauceron, used the ground to push up from the ground and head-butt the side of his jaw.
  The move stunned him only for a moment before he bit Grimm’s scruff and tossed him off once more, making him roll away. He shifted his jaw a bit before he grinned. “Very slick move, bud.” He chuckled. “Don’t expect it t’ work again all because it was clever though, ‘cause I’ll be ready for it.”
  The mix made a second dash, getting under Drake’s belly and suddenly pushing up with his paws, hoping to use his back to wind him. Seeing this move coming, the large dog promptly laid down right on top of Grimm. The Shepherd mix struggled and growled, and the Beauceron turned his head and bit down on the back of Grimm’s neck, making the younger dog freeze.
  “Too easy, bud.” He said, getting up and walking over Grimm, turning around and sitting, shaking his head. “Even if that trick worked you would have been stuck in the same spot, under your opponent until they caught their wind.”
  “Sorry…” The mix looked down at his paws.
  Growling, Drake stepped forward and pushed Grimm onto his back, making him yelp. Einstein had seen him do this before, but it still made him worried even if he knew he wouldn’t hurt his friend. “I don’t want your apologies bud.” Drake growled. “I want progress, so,” he pressed his paw down firmly, “make some!”
  “Got it, Drake.” Grimm winced, batting the paw off him firmly. If there was one thing he learned so far, it was how to escape a pin.
  Drake shook his head, sitting back down. “I know ya got it in ya bud, you can stop me from pinning you down just fine.” He raised an eyebrow. “That better not be all you can learn, or you’ll be a sitting duck to that broda of yours.”
  “I just don’t want to hurt him too much.” Grimm replied, scratching behind his head with a footpaw.
  “Did your fight in the warehouse knock out your mem’ry section?” The Beauceron growled. “Cause I’m pretty sure your broda was out for your blood.”
  “I know, I know he was!” Grimm sighed in exasperation. “He’s still my brother, and I don’t want to kill him…”
  Shaking his head, Drake glared at him. “You’re gonna have t’ if you want to get him off your back for good, bud.”

  Grimm and Einstein were walking back to their home, the mix looking down at the sidewalk and not saying a word. The big Dane wondered how to cheer his buddy up, seeing that he looked depressed. He knew why, and he knew Grimm wouldn’t want to talk about it.
  He noticed a hotdog stand ahead of them, and figured it’d be nice if they ate together to cheer him up. He wasn’t one for ideas, but he knew that he could take a blow or two. Though for this, he figured he could easily knock over the stand and take the strand of hot dogs.
  “Hey Grimm, you might wanna get ahead.” He said, eyeing the hotdog stand.
  Glancing at it, the young dog shook his head. “It’s okay, I’m not that…” He was interrupted by his stomach growling loudly. His training with Drake had really made him hungry, but he didn’t want to admit it because he was upset.
  Giving a nod of understanding, Einstein nudged him forward. “Meet you at the street corner.” He said, pausing to let Grimm get ahead of him. Grimm acted casual, walking by the stand without even looking at it. The owner of the stand looked at him suspiciously, but, despite the scent of the warm dogs he ignored it, continuing on his way.
  He had hardly reached the corner when he heard a crash behind him and he looked back in surprise. Apparently the owner had been keeping his eye on Grimm the whole time and hadn’t seen the huge Dane coming. A long line of dogs was around Einstein’s neck, one end in his muzzle to keep it from tripping him up, and he gave a gruff woof to tell Grimm to get moving.
  Though he wasn’t in the mood for food, he felt his heart racing. Turning around, he jumped on the trunk of a passing car, Einstein doing the same to the car coming up behind it. It thrilled him to ride cars like this, to hop from car to car to get to his destination. Seeing the daring grin on Grimm’s face cheered Einstein up loads, knowing that his pal was still in there.
  The duo hopped from car to car, horns blaring around them to warn other drivers of their presence but was treated as regular city noise, hopping from ride to ride towards the docks until they ended up in the bed of a truck that worked near their area.
  The Shepherd mix felt loads better after his travelling, and he hopped out of the truck and rolled a few feet, chuckling as he ended up on his back. He watched Einstein do the same, receiving a dopey smile. Rolling onto their paws, the duo went to the end of the docks, sitting by the water.
  Removing the hot dogs from his neck, setting them between them, Einstein nosed the steaming dogs towards the younger dog. Gratefully taking a few in his muzzle and chewing, Grimm looked out towards the ocean, feeling the warm sea air brushing through his fur. They silently ate, enjoying the splashing waves, Einstein waiting until he was sure Grimm was calm enough to speak to him.
  He didn’t have long to wait as Grimm swallowed his bite and asked, “Do you think I’m being too soft, Einstein?”
  “What do you mean, Grimm?” The large hound asked, wanting Grimm to lead the conversation.
  “Well… About Adrian, my training with Drake to try and be firm but gentle with him if we ever meet up again.”
  “I don’t think so.” The Dane looked at him. “You’re just trying to do what you want because he’s family, but Drake is trying to train you to hurt him like he’s a bad guy.”
  Grimm took another bite, staying silent.
  “Do you really think he’s a bad guy, Grimm?”
  “… No…” Grimm mumbled, looking at the ocean. “But Drake is right, isn’t he? If Adrian is trying to kill me, I have to learn to fight him back.”
  Einstein licked his cheek, making the young mix look at him. “You’ve gotten pretty strong already pal.” He said with a friendly smile. The young dog had grown from his thin state; he had not only helped the team get more meals, but also been getting faster and stronger due to the constant running and fighting he had to do against rival dogs.
  “Adrian’s had months to get strong though.” Grimm pointed out. “I dunno if I can get as good as him at fighting.”
  “You can and you are, Grimm.” Einstein gave him a fatherly nuzzle. “You can do it.”
  The mix looked up at the tall dog, who gave him his usual dopey smile. He looked down at the ocean before he smiled. “Alright, if you think I can do it, I will do it.” He said, nuzzling Einstein’s neck.

  “… So,” a large German Shepherd turned to his two young protégés, his dull eyes looking them over, “who do you think would be a good addition to my little organization?” He didn’t need to speak loudly. His demeanor and his size showed he had all the power, he had fought hard to get where he was, and he wasn’t afraid to kill anyone who disobeyed him.
  When they were silent, he gave an impatient sigh; sometimes he hated having to be specific to be sure they spoke. “Miss Striker, please.”
  “We think we have someone, sir.” The young, beautiful Border Collie, Aim, said. “Before you met us, months before, he broke us out of the pound.”
  “Yeah, he was big and tough!” Her dim brother, Chase yipped. He quickly fell silent as he was glared at by his sister and stared at by their boss.
  “Big and tough isn’t specific mister Striker, please shut up.” The Shepherd growled softly.
  “Sorry sir…”
  “If I may add sir, he was right.” Aim said tentatively. “Though to be more specific… He was a lot like you.”
  “Like me.” The Shepherd repeated, head tilting only slightly.
  “Tough, shared a lighter tone of your fur, he had your eyes…” She was cut off by another low growl.
  “A name, you blithering idiot, if you have a name then give it to me!”
  “Yes sir. His name was Adrian; he taught us most of what we know before we met you.” The female Collie said.
  Silent for a few moments, the Shepherd turned his back on the two. They took that as a signal that they were dismissed, and as they were leaving they heard him give them an order. “Bring him to me.”
  When he heard their claws at a fair distance, he gave a soft chuckle. “Little Adrian the follower now his own dog… Hopefully he doesn’t mind the family visit.”

  “So sis, where did you last see him?” Chase asked, looking at his sister.
  “At the warehouse, he got chased out by some big dog, but I don’t know the breed well. Someone that looked like him left with Einstein from that homeless guy’s gang.” She said, relating all information she could recall. “He went into hiding for a while, but it didn’t take him long to become active again, I saw him grabbing food from the dumpster just down the street, so he may be back home eating.”
  “Well let’s go then, off to the warehouse!” And before she could react, her brother was zooming down the street, jumping on cars to get across and taking off.
  “Chase!” She yelled after him before sighing. “Oh forget it.” She sat to wait for the cars to stop for the light, going when she could, stopping when she had to, and taking back alleys where she could. When she reached the warehouses, she could see her brother pawing, chasing, and nipping at mice around him to amuse himself while he waited for her.
  “Come on sis, if you work hard I know you can keep up.” He said with a smile.
  “Just slow down for me, please.” She said, shaking her head. “How can you have so much energy?”
  “I have no idea, I just do.” He said, doing a small flip.
  “Right… Well, at least we’re here.” She said, looking around. She quickly found which one it was and started walking towards it, her brother followed behind her, humming and tail flicking side to side. She took a look inside, seeing that it was dark.
  “Wait here.” She mouthed, her brother pouting and sitting. She went inside, taking a look at the floor. As she thought, there were fresh paw prints in the dust. She followed them a moment, Chase watching her from outside, until she motioned for him to come in with her tail.
  “Well?” He whispered in her ear.
  “The same mistake everyone makes in a dusty building. They leave tracks.” She muttered back, starting to lead her brother along the trail. They saw the prints easily, sniffing lightly. No mistake, it was Adrian’s tracks. They both stopped a moment as they heard noise a few corners ahead, getting down low.
  Chase was bouncing his legs a bit eagerly, a grin on his face. Aim glared at him to try and make him settle down, but he ignored her, continuing to bounce. Outside, some clouds built up, a light roar of thunder booming out above them. The female Collie was relieved that they’d have some noise to cover their approach, starting to step forward again.
  Lightning flashed outside of the window, illuminating the duo and casting shadows from between the crates and beams, lighting up small parts of the canine siblings. Aim peeked around a corner and saw a hole where some light was coming out. She crept up, Chase right behind her, and peeked inside, trying to stay out of the light.
  There she saw Adrian, growling and ripping some leftover meat on a ham bone, gnawing at the milky white surface for anything he could get. He had a lantern by him, the white light dim as it showed his living space. There was a ripped up doggy bed, some moldy sheets, and some boxes of old dog food he had torn open to live off of while he had them. He was looking thinner, seeming to have not cared much about eating as much as getting at his brother.
  Glancing at Chase, the young female gave a nod, starting to push her way in. Seeing the moving shadows, Adrian growled deeply, back fur rising aggressively.
  “Who’s there?” He said softly, a threatening tone in his words. “This is my place you’re intruding on and I will…” He paused as the two came into the light.
  “Hello mister Adrian.” Aim said, giving a light smile. Chase bounced softly on his paws beside her, looking around the space.
  “Why are you two here?” Adrian said a bit louder, standing up a bit straighter. His fur still stuck out aggressively, on guard of any tricks.
  Aim nodded at her brother, who started to circle around the other canine. It would appear more threatening if he wasn’t twitching so much to get on with it. “We’re here for you. An associate of ours wants to see you.’
  The mix huffed out his nose in contempt, baring his teeth. “Not interested, I have better things to do than be in some busy-body’s pet pack.” He said softly, dangerously.
  “Who said you had a choice?” Chase yipped, taking no time at all to dart forward toward Adrian to get him. Aim tried to flank him, but her quick, calculating eyes caught something. She changed her direction, tackling her brother aside. Adrian kicked one of the crates behind him and stepped back, and suddenly shelves around them started tumbling down, the weight enough to kill any of them.
  Chase was stunned, and as he helped his sister up he saw Adrian crawling out through a hole in the side of the warehouse through the gaps between crates. “Sis, he’s getting away!” He snarled, turning tail and stuffing himself past the entrance hole they came in. Aim tried to follow as fast as she could, wishing she was as fast as her brother.
  Adrian raced between the warehouses, rain cascading down and flattening his fur. He didn’t look back, knowing that would only slow him down. He panted heavily, wishing he had worked towards speed instead of all strength. The speedy Collie was soon outside, quickly finding the hole the mix had left.
  Sniffing, he followed the fresh trail, barking deeply to let his sister know which way he was going. Aim heard him when she got out herself, and followed the echo. The mix could hear Chase too, and forced his body to move quicker. The lack of proper meals had taken its toll, leaving the mix only a bit slower than the following Collie. It was only a matter of time…

  “Come on Grimm, under here!” Einstein led them to an alleyway, underneath a metal sheet that had been ignored by garbage collectors. They sheltered under it, panting softly. The rain had started suddenly, surprising both of them.
  The young mix shook his fur out, the bigger dog doing the same beside him. Even though he shook the mass majority of the water out of his fur, he still shivered, the windy air blowing over him. Fatherly as ever, Einstein nosed the young hound to lie down, and lay down on top of him to warm him up.
  “Thanks.” Grimm said, snuggling up to keep warm. “Rain is a bit too heavy to get back home, eh?”
  “Yeah, but hopefully they don’t come looking for us, we can take care of ourselves, right?” Einstein looked down, licking his ears. Grimm nodded in response, watching cars zooming by with windshield wipers going at top speed so they could see. He thought he saw movement across the street and lightning flashed above, and he jolted a bit, pushing Einstein up slightly.
  “Oof! Grimm, what is it?” The big dog asked, looking curious.
  “I thought I saw…” Grimm started, before slowly relaxing back down. “Never mind, I was probably hallucinating, thinking about him and all.”
  Einstein looked where Grimm was staring, but he saw nothing. He nuzzled between Grimm’s ears, wondering what he had seen to make him want to go so fast.

  Adrian turned down an alleyway, his chest heaving as rain splashed down his thin body.  He was surprised those two hadn’t given up, especially in these conditions. He was thinking so much about how to get away he ran head-first into a wooden fence.
  “Damn!” He snarled, stars bursting in his eyes. He tried to recover quickly, but as his vision started clearing a shape came from the corner of his eye and slammed the side of his head into the fence again, bringing him into the dark void of unconsciousness.
  Chase was hardly panting, his breaths slow. He stood with a paw on Adrian’s neck to keep him from getting up again. “That’s why you don’t run. Because no matter what I’ll catch you.” He said to the unconscious form, smirking.
  Soon Aim joined him in the alley panting heavily, rainwater dripping on her lolling tongue. She noticed Adrian lying very still on the ground, and she walked up and hit her brother on the back of his head.
  “Ouch! What?!” He barked at her, teeth bared.
  “You didn’t kill him did you?” She asked, glaring at him.
  “No, I didn’t, just knocked him out. He’s fine.” Chase sat and scratched the side of his head with a muddy paw. “If you want to lose that paw, slap me again.”
  Ignoring him, Aim inspected Adrian. “You’re lucky he’s alive or we’d be joining him.” She said, shaking her head. “Come on; help me get him back to Sliver.”
  Both Collies lifted the prone dog up with their teeth, Chase by his scruff and Aim by his back, and started moving as quickly as possible back to their base. This was what Grimm had thought he had hallucinated, his brother being carried off by two strange dogs. He didn’t know that it had been reality.

To be continued…

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