Queen hazel

Chapter 9

Friends was an overstatement. The dogs weren't exactly your ideal BFF. Once we stepped into the common room without the protection of Danger, I felt hostile glares burn into my fur. I shrunk into a ball, terrified of making a wrong move.

Meanwhile, Rose was bouncing up and down like a hyper kangaroo. She rushed over to a scarred dog, and started chattering like a cockatoo. Seriously, how was she not afraid?

I padded uncertainly towards a buff pup. Although he seemed a lot younger than me, he still stared daggers at me, making me shiver. Hesitantly, I stuttered, "Um... hi? I'm H-Hazel, w-what's your n-name?

"Dagger. Now, scram, you piece of dung."

Offended, I started wandering the common room. Suddenly, a piercing howl deafened me. I dragged my gaze towards the sound. Standing on a large rock was a poodle. (I know, I know. But NEVER underestimate poodles: they are evil at heart. In fact, you can see it in their eyes...) She opened her mouth to howl again. I covered my ears with my paws, as more dogs stood to attention. The poodle raked her gaze commandingly among the settled dogs.

"As many of you know," she began. "The poochies we drove out were rescued today."

Growls sounded among the dogs.

"INITIATION! INITIATION! INITIATION!" a chant began. Uh oh! I don't like the sound of this....

"SILENCE!" She screamed. "Hazel, Rose, come forth." I padded towards her on shaky paws, Rose bouncing along.

"Do you, Hazel and Rose, agree to keep silent of this group?"

We hastily nodded.

"Then I, Coco, as a member of The Savages"- So the group was called The Savages.... Eek!- "Command you two to take the name!"

"TAKE THE NAME! TAKE THE NAME!"sounded excited barks.

"Hazel, from now on, you shall be named Fear, and will be called so for years on."

I shivered at my new name.

"Rose, starting now, you will be recognized as Rammer. And for generations more." Rose bowed her head, expressionless.

"TAKE THE BLOW! TAKE THE BLOW!" The Savages yowled.

"Fear, stand forth." I obeyed, too scared to do anything else. Coco lifted a paw, claws unsheathed. I looked up. Her eyes were filled with pure spite (I told ya!). I whimpered, waiting for the terrible pain, but nothing came.

I opened my eyes. Coco was struggling on the floor, a Labrador and border collie holding her down.

"Geroff me! Make them take the blow!"she shrieked.

Rose and l scrambled to our room and slammed the door shut. Panting heavily, we pushed the desk to the door. We could hear the pounding of the dogs outside.

"Get out of here, cowards! Be a proper Savage!"yelled somebody. I recognised his voice: it was Dagger, the pup. It was sad how someone so young could be so evil.

Just then, we heard a calm voice.

"What are you doing to our guests?" It was Danger!

"We were just... completing the initiation,"whimpered Coco.

"They are staying temporarily! You only need to gather a group! Also, you're harassing two fellow Savages' room! You know what the punishment is."

"Y-yes, Madam."

"Call me Danger. Now go back to what you were doing."

There was the sound of disappointed dogs shuffling back to their places.

Rose and l let out a heavy sigh. We pushed the desk back to its original spot. Not moments later, the Lab and border collie entered the room.

"Hey. Sorry about that. Those guys are harsh,"said the Lab.

So they must be the 'fellow Savages' Danger was talking about.

"You're our roommates! I am so relieved,"moaned Rose.

"Yeah. I think apart from Danger, we're the only ones who have a heart,"piped up the border collie.

"Anyway, nice to meet you! Hazel and Rose, isn't it? I'm Rocky, and this is Sadie."said the Labrador.

Phew, not everyone here had creepy names! And although Coco didn't, her personality was as cold as ice. Thank god Danger was there!

I learned about Sadie's and Rocky's backstories. Rocky's owner moved away, and abandoned Rocky at home. Soon, he got depressed and went out on the street.

Sadie's story was so sad, I tried hard not to cry. She was constantly beaten up by her owners, and was finally so weak that her owners left her alone, bleeding to her death. Luckily, Danger found them both and nursed them back to health.

"She might seem tough, but she was a mother to us,"sighed Sadie.

The door opened. Danger emerged, narrowing her eyes as she saw us talking to Rocky and Sadie.

"Looks like you made some friends."

Rose and I glanced at each other uncertainly. Was she mad at us? Danger let out a wheezy laugh when she saw our expressions.

"No! It's good to be like a big family..." Suddenly, Danger's gaze grew wistful and melancholic. Her thoughts seem to have left the present.

"Uh oh!" Sadie whispered to me. "She's in her mood, don't disturb her."

Danger heaved a deep sigh. "I'm going out."

She nudged open the door and padded outside. I looked at Rose as if to say: what's up with her? She shrugged.