Queen hazel

Chapter 12

"Well, well. What do we have here? Trying to run away? Oh ho, don't worry, I've tried that a million times. I've been waiting months to get adopted, so don't you even think about stealing my chance to get reunited with my sister." A scruffy greyhound snarled at us from the cage next to me. His legs were weak, but they looked like they had once been put to good use. But what I couldn't look away from was his eyes... his irises were hypnotic, like glittering black diamonds. Was it really him?

"Your sister? Tell me about her." I urged.

The greyhound sighed, his mind lost in memories. "My sister... She was always so kind, so protective. She wouldn't let anyone touch a hair of me. She may act tough, but inside, she was as soft as butter. Oh, my wonderful Danger..."

Rocky jumped up. "Danger? We know her! Y'know, all super-spy-tough-cool-awesome-girl? She's pretty nice. And scary. Did I mention scary?"

"So you're... Shadow?" I asked tentatively.

Shadow howled in delight. "Yes, yes! I haven't heard someone call me that in years! Say it, say it again!"

"Um... Shadow?" I said, too weirded out to do anything else.

"AWOOO! That's me, SHADOW!!!" He started giggling like a hyena.

"Don't mind him, he always does that. Guess that's what happens when you're trapped in a cage for two years," said a beagle opposite Rocky's cage. "Newbies, huh? Name's Bailey, though the folks here call me Max. We've all been renamed."

I looked up. "What are we called here?" I asked. Bailey shuddered.

"Oh. You-" He pointed at Rocky- "Was renamed Fang. You-" He pointed to Sadie. "Was renamed Sandy. You-" He pointed to Rose. "Was renamed Peanuts. You-" He pointed to me, then shuddered in disgust. "Was renamed... " I bared my teeth, bracing myself. "Cupcake."

NO WAY!! That was even worse than Lurvey! Or... maybe not.

"Well, My real name is Hazel, this is Rose, this is Sadie, and finally, Rocky." I nodded to each dog in turn.

Rose wasn't paying attention. She was pacing back and forth agitatedly in her cage. "Stop all that gibbering and jabbering. How do we get out of here? "

Shadow growled. "The only way is to get adopted, so act sweet, and the kids come running. Then, they'd go: 'Oh mommy! Can I please have this dog? It's soo adorable and sweet! Just look at those eyes!'"

I frowned. "When do people visit?"

Shadow thought for a while, and replied, "Oh, around once a month, but ever since this new buy-your-dog trend started, it's around 7 times a year."

My jaw dropped. "WHAT? NO! I'm not waiting two months to get adopted! And my actual chance of being brought home is, like, 3%!"

"1.5%, actually, since you look so scruffy,"muttered Shadow. I glared at him, but he was right. Who is gonna adopt a boring labrador who hasn't bathed in a week?

"We are getting out of here. We have to get out of here!"I said determinedly.

All the dogs around us looked at me as if I were crazy. Bailey rolled his eyes. "Didn't you hear what Shadow said? He's stayed here for two years trying to escape, but he's still here. You know why? CAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!"

The room filled with the howling of dispirited dogs. I stomped my foot, and the dogs fell silent. I looked each of them in the eye, and announced, "Nothing is impossible! And I'm gonna prove that by getting every one of you outta here. I've got a plan."