you'll be in my heart;; [Scatter]

[moondog__[இ]]

Put it together himself, now the picture connects
Never askin' for someone's help, to get some respect
He's only focused on what he wrote, his will is beyond reach
And now when it all unfolds, the skill of an artist

I sighed quietly to myself as my paws continued across the forest floor, already bored with this place. It was so...green. But I was not here to relax and enjoy some nice vacation. I wasn't taking a morning stroll. I was looking for something. Someone. Multiple people, even. And they all mattered to me very much.

Perhaps I would stumble upon one of my children. Oh, the joy that would bring me! And maybe they would be with Scatter...

Scatter.

My mental voice was strong, pleading. It wanted to see her as much as my heart did. And oh, how I missed her...my lover, my beautiful mate, my everything. It would be amazing if I found her, and even more so if the pups were with her. And even if they weren't, still. I missed her so badly it was unreal. Every day I thought of her. And every night...well, I couldn't say I dreamed of her. All of my dreams were nightmares, so I tried hard to avoid them. But I thought of her then, too. She had stolen my heart, she really had. It was hers.

And I had to find her. I really had to find her.

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name

[Mental..;;]

^{Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, You found me}

Weary, so weary.. Just tired and worn out, too much to do with four pups to take care of. I didn't expect it to be so much work. It was still fun, playing with the pups. But it didn't leave enough time for me and Mercutio, I didn't even know where he was and it made my heart ache.

I'm just walking around a little aimlessly, Scooter was around here somewhere. He had come with me to keep me company, knowing that I don't really like to be on my own but he had wandered off to take a look at something. He'd catch up again soon enough, even with his bad paw. He's such a good boy, it's a shame that his paw is a little deformed and that he can't use it that well. He would've been a very strong dog if it wasn't for that, but he still is.

My steps are slow as I walk, no, it's more like dawdling really. The happy glimmer is still present in my eyes, a somewhat playful look about me as my tail wags slightly. I'm happy, even though I am worried about my love, wondering where he was and what had happened to him.

A sound caught my attention, making my lift my head to take a look around and I felt my heart skip a beat before it started pounding as though it was trying to escape through my chest.

There he is!

Just as I'm thinking about him and wondering where he is I find him. I don't know if he's seen me or not, I hope he hasn't, it would make the surprise so much more fun. I make sure to stay quiet as I try my best to sneak up to him, when I got near enough I pounced, trying to just land on him, my tail wagging excitedly now.

I didn't want to scare him too much and hopefully his reaction wouldn't be too quick. I think my impact should've been enough to throw him off balance if not make him fall onto the ground. I'd come from his side. I jumped away from him though, just in case he lashed out without realizing that it was me. There were plenty of dogs who would just attack a random stranger for the sake of it and he might just think I was one of those dogs.

A happy bark escaped me as I lowered the front half of my body towards the ground in a playful way, I could feel my butt move from side to side a little as my tail wagged so fast you could almost not even see it.

I'd completely forgotten how weary I am.

Just the sight of him is enough to make me almost overwhelmed with love for him and I bet it shows too. I hope it does. Because I don't think just telling him that I love him will be enough to show how much I truly do love him.

"Where have you been?!"

My voice sounds happy but anxious at the same time as I go closer to him again, jumping on him again basically before I reach towards his face so I could lick his muzzle affectionately. I didn't really care if he answered me or not, he could ask me the exact same question I realized. But I have been with the pups, and when I haven't been with them I have been resting, getting back all my spent energy.

^{Why’d you have to wait
To find me, to find me?}

[/blockquote]

[moondog__[இ]]

Put it together himself, now the picture connects
Never askin' for someone's help, to get some respect
He's only focused on what he wrote, his will is beyond reach
And now when it all unfolds, the skill of an artist

I hadn't been expecting anyone to come along, which was was I hadn't noticed another canine lurking about. I was taken by surprise when a furry body slammed into me, causing my breath to catch and my balance to fail. I ended up on my side, winded and stunned, but I rolled onto my feel regardless and forced a breathless snarl from my throat. My hackles raised and my muscles tensed, my beautiful eyes searching wildly for what had knocked me down.

And then my heart caught.

Oh, be still, heart! But how could it when Scatter, my Scatter, was right there? She barked with joy, the front half of her body lowered to the ground, her tail wagging wildly. And love. I could see the love in her eyes. She still loved me as I loved her, and she still wanted me. Oh, what a wonderful day! It added to my list of favorite memories, fitting in with my first moments with Scatter, her telling me she loved me, and her birthing our puppies. All involving her. Now, my life was her.

"Where have you been?!"

I gave a joyous bark and lowered my hackles, moving forward as swiftly as I could. I was at her side in an instant, tail wagging, body wriggling as I nuzzled her and licked at her muzzle affectionately.

"I've been wandering, blindly. I got myself into a bit of trouble with the dog catchers but I'm here now, and you're here now, and I love you." The words were a jumbled mess but I didn't care. She was here!

"Are any of the pups with you?" I asked, suddenly even more excited than before.

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name

[Mental..;;]

^{Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, You found me}

Happy laughter was coming from me as I just let him show his affection, my tail still wagging wildly. I listened to his answer to my question and everything else that he said. Lifting my two front paws off the ground and placing them on him before leaning towards him with my weight in a playful way to see if I could push him over. I didn't need to say that I love him too because I know that he knows this already.

I'd heard his question as well and I glanced around quickly.

"Scooter was with me, he should be here too soon."

I answered him before I backed away from him in a playful way and waiting to see what he would do. All tiredness had gone from me now to be replaced by playful energy.

^{Why’d you have to wait
To find me, to find me?}

[/blockquote]

^{Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I will cross}


Barking?

There wasn't supposed to be barking? As far as I know me and mum are the only ones here.

My foot is hurting a little now from all the walking we've already done but I need to find her, even though the barking sounds happy I'm not completely sure. I need to see what's going on.

It's a good thing that I'm getting better at this whole using three legs thing, it makes it a lot easier for me as I pick up a run in the direction that the barking is coming from, barely letting my bad paw touch the ground as I covered the distance quickly with my long strides. For a disabled dog I'm pretty quick on my feet.

I came to a stop as I saw the scene, mum and dad apparently playing. Well, that was ok then. But, where's he been?

I went to them a little slower now, my tail wagging a little bit, pleased to see him again and to see that it wasn't anything to worry about. I wonder, am I bigger than him? I'm already quite a bit taller than mum, and the rest of my family but I hadn't seen him in so long I didn't really know. Maybe I was.

I decided not to interrupt them and stood just a small distance off watching.

^{I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off}

[/blockquote]

[moondog__[இ]]

Put it together himself, now the picture connects
Never askin' for someone's help, to get some respect
He's only focused on what he wrote, his will is beyond reach
And now when it all unfolds, the skill of an artist

When she said that Scooter was with her, I grinned in a doggish way, displaying my ivory teeth. I laughed heartily as she attempted to push me over and nearly succeeded, causing me to stumble slightly before hastily regaining my balance. I then ran in several quick circles around her, before I stopped and looked her in the eyes, tail still wagging furiously.

Suddenly I noticed something in my peripheral vision, and my ebony-n-ivory hued frame turned, muscles working loosely under my slick pelt. There he was, one of my pups. It was Scooter, as Scatter had said, and my how he had grown.

My tail continued to wag furiously as I moved to him, surveying him closely. He was muscled, and just about the same height that I was. I smiled wryly, nodding my head to him.

"Hello, Scooter." I said, quietly at first. "I'm sorry I've been away. Look at you! You're one big brute now. You could give your old dad a run for my money."

This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name

[Mental..;;]

^{Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, You found me}

Just like I knew he would.. I look at Scooter standing and watching us as Mercutio races in circles around me until he notices him too and goes towards him. I give them their space for a few moments before walking closer to them happily and just watching the two of them.

Scooter hasn't really had much time to get to know his dad so maybe it would be a good thing if they did, they were so alike in many ways. It wouldn't surprise me if they got along great together.

I notice that he is already almost as tall as his dad and wonder whether he will grow more, if he did then he would be one very big dog. But that would be good, it would help him to not be at too much of a disadvantage with his bad paw. Well, that's what I think anyway.

^{Why’d you have to wait
To find me, to find me?}

[/blockquote]

^{Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I will cross}


I can look him in the eye! No looking up at him like I remember from when I'd last seen him and I still have a little bit of growing left in me. I can feel my tail wag a bit more as I listen to his words, a smile on my features.

"Mum's missed you."

I comment, leaving out the part about me missing him too. But I guess he'll be able to tell that anyway. It's not exactly hard to guess that I would've missed him too. I wasn't ashamed of that, I just didn't really think I needed to mention it, mum missing him was a lot more important than me missing him.

Even though my coat is the same shade as mum's it's short like dad's. There's one random patch of nearly black hairs that cover my right eye and right ear. I've got lots of muscle too, because its harder work for me to just go about doing normal things that would take barely any effort from other dogs.

I think I will definitely be a lot bigger than him when I'm full grown, which I find a little weird because should I be around the same size as my parents? Oh well, maybe whoever chooses how big we get decided to let me be bigger so no one messes with me.. because then I won't need to be at such a disadvantage with my paw being as deformed as it is. I don't really have that much use with it.

I look over at mum and see how happy she is with dad back and it makes me even happier to see him, I don't like it when she's sad and misses him. That's why I've been sticking with her, to make sure she doesn't end up being on her own. I know that she doesn't like it.

^{I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off}

[/blockquote]

[moondog__[இ]]

Mercutio && Tybalt


Till you run away,
till you fall apart,
till you see yourself for what you are
will you be lookin for it anymore
when five becomes four?


[Mercutioxx]

I smiled grimly at his words and nodded once. "I know." I said quietly. "I regret being away for so long with all of my heart. I just want you all to know that I do care and love you." I was quiet for a moment, before I piped up happily. "But I'm not the only one that's been searching. A few days ago I ran into someone very important, and he's been following me since then, looking for you and your mother as well." I looked at Scatter and grinned.

"He's followed and not traveled with me to make sure I didn't miss you two in any of the places I passed through. But he was with me just earlier when I entered this glade. He should be here momentarily."

[Tybalt==]

Hm.

I had been following my father's trail for a while now. And yet neither of us had found my mother or my siblings. When I spoke with him in the glade earlier, I had began to loose hope. But now the sound of barking in the opposite direction reached my auds and I froze. It was happy barking. So did that mean that...?

I suddenly turned and shot off towards the sound of the noise, ignoring the branches that whipped at my body. I didn't care. All I cared about was figuring out if perhaps my father had found my mother or siblings.

My paws thumped heavily against the ground as I drew nearer, and suddenly I burst into the clearing. And there they were: my dear mother, and my brother Scooter. I froze, muscles slightly rigid as I studied them. Scooter had the same color fur as I did, and the same build, but he was taller. I was about an inch shorter than my father, but stocky and muscular like him, with a serious look and an eye color between his and mother's. I had a small, circular black spot on my head that looked like a grease mark. The tip of my muzzle was black, too, as well as the toes on my right forepaw and the very tip of my tail.

Father's gaze switched to me, and he smiled as he said something about how he knew I would be there soon. I nodded once, not taking my eyes off of my family as I stood slightly outside of the family circle.


When you're all alone,
when the melody
till you close your eyes
and think of me
will you still hear me singin anymore
when five becomes four?

[/center]

[Mental..;;]

^{Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, You found me}

I walked closer to them, laying my head lightly on Mercutio's back, a content look on my face. I'm just happy that he's back, it'll let me rest easier.

When I saw another dog approaching I knew who it was straight away and I lifted my head off Mercutio's back before I happily bounded over to my son, licking his face affectionately.

"I'm sorry you couldn't find me!"

I told him in an apologetic tone before I turned towards the other two again, heading closer to them and looking over my shoulder to see if he was following.

^{Why’d you have to wait
To find me, to find me?}

[/blockquote]

^{Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I will cross}


I listened to everything that my dad said, glancing over at my mum when she raised her head. I looked over in the direction that she went off in, and seeing my brother my tail wagged again slightly, I hadn't seen him in a while either.

"You didn't happen to see Artemis on your way did you?"

I asked my dad, a slight frown on my features. I had no idea where she was, she'd gone off by herself again and has been gone for a while now. Usually I go with her, we've become really close and she always drags me alone with her. So that she can protect me, she says. I find that funny, I don't really need her protection that much.

I wonder what he would think when he sees her, but I think it would be more fun to see what she would do to him. She's not at all pleased that he's been gone for so long and that he's left us all. She called him irresponsible the other day and gave us a long lecture on how he should be taking care of us not disappearing off into nowhere and leaving us to fend for ourselves. It had been funny to watch her pace up and down in annoyance and not be able to do anything about it.

^{I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off}

[/blockquote]

[moondog__[இ]]

Mercutio && Tybalt


Till you run away,
till you fall apart,
till you see yourself for what you are
will you be lookin for it anymore
when five becomes four?


[Mercutioxx]

I looked over at Tybalt and Scatter for a moment, smiling happily, before I looked at Scooter when he spoke. Had I seen Artemis? I frowned and shook my head once. "No. I haven't." I said, and then I laughed nervously. "I'm a bit scared to, honestly. She was the feisty one. I don't thing she'll let me off easy." I then paused again, and sighed. "I haven't seen Nessie, either. Tybalt lost her a while back, and it's upset him greatly. I want to see how my beautiful girls have turned out."

[Tybalt==]

I blinked as my mother hurried forward, licking my face and apologizing. I let my tail wag a few times, licking her face in return. It was so nice to be with the family again. Even if we weren't whole yet..I had missed this. I had missed seeing mother happy, and I had missed dad. "No, mother, I'm sorry for wandering off. I was determined to find father, and I did, but...I lost Nessie on the way. I don't know where she is." I murmured, shaking my head in shame.


When you're all alone,
when the melody
till you close your eyes
and think of me
will you still hear me singin anymore
when five becomes four?

[/center]

[Mental..;;]

^{Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why’d you have to wait?
Where were you, where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, You found me}

I listened to what everyone was saying and I looked at Tybalt when he said he'd lost Nessie.

"She was with us a day or two ago. But then she wandered off again, looking for you I think. Unless we just didn't see her."

I told him, hoping to make him feel a little less guilty. It wasn't his fault, we should have all stuck together. I wasn't worried about Artemis, I knew that she was ready to go out on her own and leave us, even though it made me sad to think she might want to go and start a life of her own without me. Without us.

^{Why’d you have to wait
To find me, to find me?}

[/blockquote]

^{Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I will cross}


I listened to his words and looked around, the frown staying on my features as I thought about it. She'd come this way and said she would meet us later, so maybe she would turn up soon, I hope so.

"She's only gotten worse."

I said with a slight smile that was affectionate, I truly did love my sister even with her flaws. She could be very bossy and intimidating for someone smaller than those she was intimidating. But without her I wasn't sure what I would do at times.

"I think if I were you I'd stay out of her way for a while, or at least try to dodge."

Tone held a little bit of a warning in it as I looked around again, I could hear sounds coming from somewhere but I wasn't completely sure where exactly they were coming from. Nor was I sure what was making them but it wasn't exactly friendly sounds and it was heading in our direction.

^{I just got lost
Every river that I tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh and I'm just waiting till the shine wears off}

[/blockquote]

^{I cannot take this anymore
I'm saying everything I've said before
All these words they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Less I hear the less you'll say
But you'll find that out anyway}


Dragging a huge hare around by the scruff of it's broken neck isn't the easiest thing to do, even without little sticks and stuff like that making it even harder. I was growling as I pulled it, as if that would warn the sticks and things to stay out of the way but I knew that wouldn't work.

I'd decided to get us some nice fresh meat to eat, having been smart enough to tell my mum and brother to meet me here so I didn't have to take it too far. Lucky too, because this bug fluffy bunny rabbit type thing was a lot bigger than I'd been expecting to get.

I could hear barking and voices as I got closer, working out who they belonged to while I kept pulling. I pulled it into the opening that the other four canines were in, just at the right angle for me to see them before they saw me.

As soon as I saw my father I dropped my kill and turned towards him, bounding towards him at full speed without any intention of stopping when I got to him.

I was probably quite a frightening site, my muzzle was stained with the hare's blood, as well as my front paws and some of my legs and chest as well from all the pulling. I didn't really enjoy all the blood that got on me while I was hunting but it was all part of it. And I loved it as a whole.

I moved away from my father again, glaring at him rather angrily, though there was a small look of relief on my features too.

"Where the hell have you been?!"

I demanded of him, ignoring Scooter's amused chuckle as I just kept my eyes focused on the brute that was my dad.

"We've been worried sick about you! You get our poor mother pregnant and then wait until she has the four puppies just so you can forget your responsibilities and disappear, leaving her to deal with us!"

Words were angry as I spoke, though I think the anger was partly from the worry that he had caused me, the rest of it was just plain anger because he'd made everyone else worry about him as well and I didn't think it was fair of him to have done that.

I shook my head and turned away from him before trotting swiftly over to my kill, taking hold of it again by a leg before dragging it over to them. Dropping it right in the middle of everyone.

"At least I can provide fresh meat. Tuck in."

Tone was less angry now though still a little annoyed as I moved out of the way so that they could eat if they wanted, I've already eaten so I'm not really hungry anymore.

^{Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, Shut up, Shut up}

[/blockquote]