Just Because I'm Losing Doesn't Mean I'm Lost (Bear)

[everscale]

It was the third day of Bella's long trek. She must have wandered every street she had ever known in this city, and neither smelled nor heard any sign of her family. She had done her best to keep up with her grooming, but the grime of the city still clung to the fur she could not reach on the back of her neck. She was wobbling on her paws, weak from hunger, with her tail dragging behind her legs. She did not have the energy or spirit to hold it up over her back anymore. After three days it did not seem she would ever find her humans. 

Bella had found a couple scraps of food in her wanderings. Discarded hamburgers and hot-dogs, mostly. She had come to this park because people had picnics here, and sometimes they left their food lying around. Her stomach was snarling. She felt almost queasy with hunger. So far, though, she had found the picnic spots all too well cleaned up or picked over by other wandering dogs who were far better at this survival bit than she was. With her heart sinking ever lower, Bella wandered along a stone path with her head down, silently ignoring the humans that jogged or biked past. There was no scent of her humans, either. Bella was running out of ideas. Maybe she was just going to die. 

[DENI.]

It was a good day for the male. His stomach was full, and his fur was shining with health. Bear had been born a stray, and he knew his way around the city. Sometimes food was hard to come by, but when you had muscle backing you... Well, it wasn't too hard to steal from some poor unfortunate soul.

And speaking of poor souls, he spied one from the shade of the tree he was laying in. He was comfortable, very comfortable. His thick pelt made spring a very hot season, so he was often forced to decide whether or not moving was actually worth it. She was walking toward him on the path, so he could see her face. It was clear that she was miserable, though she didn't yet seem to be starving too much. Her pelt had an air of "keep" around it, like she was trying to keep it clean. His pelt was so mottled that it didn't really matter.

Finally, he opened his jaws in a wide yawn and got to his paws. She was a pretty thing, and he knew he could win her trust fairly easily. He trotted over to her, giving the humans a wide berth. He was not a cute enough dog to garner their affection or pity. Finally, he fell into step beside her. He was easily a foot taller than her, so he had to look down when he spoke.

"You're looking awfully pitiful, what's the matter?" He questioned, getting straight to the point.

[everscale]

Bella's survival instincts were few and far between. The big stray had been padding along at her side for several heartbeats before she realized he was there, and when she did she was only startled for a second, pausing mid-step to stare at him before continuing on her way. He set off no alarm bells in her mind. Every dog Bella had ever met was as friendly as she was. Such was the blessing of a sheltered life in a human apartment. Everything she saw was only as far away from her humans as the length of her leash.

"I've lost my humans," Bella admitted quietly. Her paws dragged against the stone path and her ears drooped. She did not think she had been so lost before, not even when her humans first took her from her family. There had been warmth and a soft bed and good food, and lots of treats at the time. There was nothing now. "There was a fire," she sighed, lifting her head to look up at the sky. It was brilliantly clear, which meant a cold night. She had never been so glad for her thick fur before. Outside the apartments everything seemed cold, once the sun went down. 

[DENI.]

The little white girl was more than willing to dump all of her problems on to his shoulders. She explained that her humans were lost and there had been a fire in their home. He bit back the response that came to his lips; that she would probably never see them again. The humans were going through a hard time, and their dog was probably the last thing on their minds.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He murmured, his voice sounding perfectly sympathetic. "Would you like me to help you find something to eat in the mean time? You look hungry." He said softly, nosing her in the shoulder. She was a very pretty girl, and he was determined to win her trust before some other brute did.

[everscale]

Bella glanced at bear when he nuzzled her shoulder, flattening her ears a little. She did not so much as know this dog's name but it was good to meet someone who was less than cruel to her. She had seen many dogs in her wanderings, all wiry and wild, with sharp voices and sharper teeth. She had been run off from more trash-cans than she could count. It would have been strengthening if she could just find something to eat, but she did not have enough fat to burn to let it strengthen her. She was going to die if she could not get some food. There was no hesitation in accepting Bear's offer.

"Thank you," Bella nodded, wagging her tail a little before glancing at the winding trail ahead of them. There did not seem to be any picnics anywhere to steal from, but she had to trust that a dog like him knew how to get food in this place. She was used to relying on humans, relying on a stronger, more experienced dog would be no different. "My name is Bella."

Pausing, Bella gave her pelt a light shake. It was uncomfortable, having the fur on her shoulders tangled up and dirty. Sighing, Bella forced herself to ignore the feeling and went on her way. She would have to get used to matted fur.