Excuse me, I'm sorry [ w/ kat & Qiona ]

[Chessie]

The black speckled femme weaved through on coming traffic of human legs and leashed dogs. Was this "rush hour"? Annie looked anxiously around for an escape, she couldn't dodge this infinite walk way of humans and house pets. Deciding that fighting the current was impossible, Annie swerved and began to follow the crowd, hoping she could easily maneuver through and out this way. Annie began to cross through to the right, looking for an alley.

Seeing an opening, Annie jumped out of the flow of traffic and entered the alley. It smelled heavily of dog and she was sure there were a few already hiding in here. She hoped they wouldn't mind her stopping in until things died down in the square. Annie sniffed the ground, hoping to pick up clearer scents. She gathered a few, but their age was sketchy. All the smells were making her head spin, the freshly prepared food of the outside restaurants, new types of perfume being sprayed every five seconds, and then there was some god awful scents coming from the alley itself. More than likely dogs who didn't care to wash themselves, only indulging in a bath once every few months. But Annie would have to see past it, this was the only available space that didn't put her directly in the sun's rays and mostly out of view of humans who would not thinking twice about her,.

Moving further into the alley, Annie began to pick out a nicer spot. She peered around, behind various trash cans and bags. Her eyes not adjusted to the sudden shading of the alley, Annie could hardly see in front of her nose. She moved forward cautiously, only to step on the furry tail of another canine. Taken a back, Annie jumped back into one of the large bins, hitting her rear into it. Annie yelped in surprise and once again moved forward, stepping once more onto the canine, this time not certain which part she hit. All she knew was that she tripped over the larger mass and flipped onto her back.

Groaning, Annie looked towards the canine, still flat on her back and her legs in the air, "I am very sorry, my eyes weren't adjusted to the sudden change in light.". Annie could only hope she ran into an understanding dog, not some with a stick up it's ass, always looking for a fight. It would not find one with Annie, she's sure run with her tail between her legs before trying to attempt a fight.
  

[Zantalia]

 

It was late morning.  The half Belgian Tervuren and half Belgian Malinois cross Qi was hanging out in the alleys, they were his safe haven from the humans, from the danger of being threatened or worried...by the two leggers and their house pets.  With a snarl, Qiona leapt to his paws and spun, tearing apart a box, he saw his reflection in a nearby puddle and the eyes were amber.  With an internal snarl at himself, Qiona realized Mael was in command, how had Qi failed to keep him at bay..in his own safe haven.  The scents all around him had probably dulled his awareness, there were so many.  Another snarl and he was pacing to a spot where he sat down.  Qiona took deep breaths and tried to calm himself.  

He should have known better.  He wouldn't calm down that quickly.  Then he felt a stab of pain as his tail was stepped on, then he heard the metal garbage cans rattle and a yelp of surprise and he spun, teeth bared in a snarl, only to have his paw stomped on...by the same being...again.  With a second snarl, his hackles rose as the other being tumbled over his back.  Mael stood over the other dog, a speckled little female, his teeth bared as he snarled down at her.  He lifted his head, his amber eyes seeing so much soft flesh he could tear into and murder this threat to Qiona, opening his jaws, head poised to strike the killing blows as his ears switched to catch the female's words.  

I am very sorry, my eyes weren't adjusted to the sudden change in light.  In his own mind, Qiona registered the voice and launched himself, teeth bared at the thread that was Mael's "Mael NO!  She's just a pup!"  Qiona snarled and tore at the thread.  With a snap and a shudder, Qiona opened his eyes...and found himself...on his left side, his muzzle in a puddle of who knew what.  Lifting his head quickly, he gazed at his reflection and a sigh of relief slipped free of his jaws.  Then he turned his chocolate gaze to the black speckled female and smiled gently as he spoke.  "It's okay darling.  I'm sorry my dear..I hope I didn't frighten you too much just now."  Qiona said as he got up and shook his tawny coat a little and then rubbed his black muzzle on his left foreleg to get whatever the liquid was off his face and then turned back to the female, his dark ears tipped to pick up her lyrics.  



Word Count: 438  
"Speaking" 
Listening 
"Mental Conversation between Qiona and Mael" 

       

[Chessie]

At first, Annie was certain she was either never leaving this alley or was going to being leaving with a few scars. But to her surprise, the larger dog shuddered and snarled, snapping at seemingly nothing. As he fell to his side, Annie rolled over, prepared to help him. However, as quickly as he fell did he get up. Annie's amber eyes peered at him, his once glowing, cold yellow eyes had turned to warm brown. Perplexed, Annie stared at him for a few more seconds, holy crap... he's a magician! 

Annie now sported a smile, "It's okay darling. I'm sorry my dear..I hope I didn't frighten you too much just now." She lightened her features, letting him know she wasn't affected by it, "It's quite alright, really, I am to blame. I should have waited until I could see better." While their meeting could have gone smoother, Annie viewed this as a lucky day. Instead of spending hours in the alley, alone she had previously thought, she had a possible friend. She twitched her ears, giving a once over to her new found companion. He was a darker tan with black accenting his ears, face and tail from what she could make out. Shepherd, probably. Annie also noticed his lack of human identification. On her travels she'd come to realize that house pets often stole away from their gardens to hang around strays. 

Now with the sounds of humans conversing and their feet clicking the ground, Annie put all her focus on him. Watching for body language and simple movements that she should be aware of. She may be naive, but she wasn't stupid.

"I hope it's alright I stay here until the humans have passed." Although strays and house pets alike never bothered to mark alleys with properly, some tended to think just because they slept there once it was suddenly theirs. Annie had some strong opinions on the matter, but she wouldn't discuss them with him, wanting a day of relaxation, not getting worked up over simple matters. 

 

[Zantalia]

As he peered at the black speckled female, she stared up at him and Qi saw something flit across her face and for a second Qi looked at her unsure what to do, then he saw her smile and felt his own smile climb to his lips as his dark ears switched forward as she spoke, It's quite alright, really, I am to blame. I should have waited until I could see better.  Qiona chuckled a little as he looked to the female pup.  He saw her eyes flick over him and he let his own chocolate eyes drift over her, she was a pup still, well, not a pup pup, but a she-dog about two years old Qiona judged, pretty though, white with dark, black speckles and black ears with a black patch on her sides.  Qi himself was five years old, just over three years older than her.  Qiona couldn't complain about the unlikely company.  

Qiona flashed the young she-dog another smile, and then he sat down comfortably gazing out to the street and the passing two legs and their dogs.  Then his ears switched to the female as she spoke again, I hope it's alright I stay here until the humans have passed.  Qiona chuckled and turned his chocolate gaze to the female again.  "You can stay here as long as you like.  It's not my home alley.  If we're gonna be spending time together perhaps we should learn one another's names.  I'm Qiona.  Qi to my friends.  What about you?"  Qi asked as he shifted position and then tipped his dark ears toward her.  He wanted to know what he could call his new alleyway companion, even if it was only for a few hours.  Behind them, a ruckus of yowling rose into the sky and Qi's right ear switched back momentarily.  That tuxedoed male cat and the orange and black one.  He chuckled softly as he tipped his ears back to the female awaiting her response.  



Word Count: 331  
"Speaking" 
Listening 

         

[Chessie]

Annie's smile broadened and brightened, "You can stay here as long as you like. It's not my home alley. If we're gonna be spending time together perhaps we should learn one another's names. I'm Qiona. Qi to my friends. What about you?" Annie dipped her head slightly in greeting and respect, the male was definitely older than her by a few years, how many, she wasn't sure, but he was no longer a teenager, that much was obvious.

"It's nice to meet you Qiona, I'm Annie." His name sounded weird on her tongue, like she was testing it out. She liked the uniqueness of it, her name suddenly seemed dull in comparison. She's always thought "Annie" was the name of a overly excited, petite girl, but that was probably because that description fitted her perfectly.

Just as she was about to open her mouth for further conversation, screeches sounded from the very back of the alleyway. She jolted at the unsuspected sound, spinning her head around quickly. Two felines jumped into view from behind the largest trash bin in the alley. One black and one orange with their tails fluffed and backs arched. Annie gave a little giggle. For whatever reason cats always seemed to make her laugh. It was perhaps the way the looked, so different from her kind and pretty damn cute, if Annie did say so herself.

Turning her attention back towards the male, Annie searched for something to talk about as her thoughts had scrambled because of the quarreling cats, "Um, so, are you from.. around here?" It was a terrible starter, but its the only thing she could come up within a moments notice. She didn't want to be stupidly looking at him, trying to find a fun, quirky conversation to start.     

[Zantalia]

Qi saw the female's smile broaden and brighten and she peered at him and then his ears switched as she spoke, It's nice to meet you Qiona, I'm Annie.  Annie, a spunky name, Qi liked it and he smiled as he looked to her.  Then he chuckled as the arguing tomcats caught Annie by surprise and he moved a fraction of an inch out of her way as she turned to look.  Then he chuckled at her giggle as she watched the cats for a moment.  Then she turned back to Qi and he turned to peer at her the fighting toms just a sound in the distance now as his ears tipped forward to catch her lyrics.  Um, so, are you from.. around here?  Qi dipped his head in a brief nod.  

"More or less.  Momma was a house pet, a sweetheart of Belgian Malinois.  She was really young when she had us though, only me and my little sister were the only two survivors out of her litter of eight.  Only a few weeks after our people found out that our daddy was a Belgian Tervuren street stray they threw all three of us out to the streets.  Luckily for us, daddy found us.  He fed us and kept us warm, then integrated us into his Alley Pack.  But now I don't know where my little sister is, but I know Amur's still alive, she took to street ways easier and better than I did."  Qiona told Annie with a smile and then he fell silent for a moment as he peered at her.  "What about you Annie?  You from around here yourself?"  He asked as he tipped his dark ears to her and waited.  



Word Count: 287 
"Speaking" 
Listening 



  

[Chessie]

Annie listened intently, hanging on every word and occasionally nodding.  He background sounded rather similar to hers. She sighed contently after he finished, giving a small, sad smile as she began to recollect memories of her past, "Similar, you and I." She wanted to break some ice by offering the small joke before continuing, "My mother worked as a herder for one of the ranchers, and my father hung around the ranch for food at times, are so I'm told." She gazed thoughtfully towards the flowing traffic, "My mother ran away with him after he'd gotten her pregnant. I'm still not sure if she left on her own free will or if the rancher forced her out. Nevertheless, she loved my brothers and I." Memories of her two brothers and her causing mischief in their alley way flooded back.

"Our father loved us as well, they raised together the best they could. We learned that being both a stray and a companion had its benefits and were taught all types of techniques on how to gain food." If he didn't believe him, Annie would pull the puppy eyes that always seemed to make humans melt, "When we were a year my father kicked my brothers out of our little 'pack', he was a street dog through and through, didn't want them to challenge his authority or something male like that." She was sure he could relate. He'd definitely been in scuffles, it was almost impossible not to as a street dog. Even if he's pelt didn't show blaring evidence of fighting, there was something there that gave told her to stay alert. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why, but something did seem a tad off, "Then it was just my mother, myself and my father. He continued to protect us and care for us. However, the humans had caught my mother when she was out scavenging. I remember my father tried to break in and rescue her." She then looked down at her paws, "I haven't seen either of them sense. I think the rancher had come to collect my mother, but I can't be sure. As for my father, I think he was too 'wild' to be turned into a house pet, I can't imagine anyone really wanting him in their house, raiding their trash cans and starting fights with other leashed dogs."

Annie turned her eyes back to him, offering another smile, "But that's in the past I guess." Her father had taught her never to look back, for Annie that was easier said then done. She sometimes thought about turning herself into the humans and becoming totally tamed. Annie more often than not had doubted her ability to be on her own. Then she said, "As for your sister, I'm sure she'll turn up somewhere. Maybe she went into the forest?" Although unlikely, street dogs preferred to stay on the street. Even though coyotes, wolves, and foxes sometimes stole away into the city, they were smart enough to stay on their side of the fence, where they didn't have to worry about humans all the time. But it was still a possibility, and Annie wanted to be of some use to him.