The Whisperer

Muts

Walking into the town center, it's busy with movement and noise. Everyone has a job, a  commitment and we all work as a team, if one stops we all crash to  the ground.

I was just blessed to get the most difficult job.

Z set a fast pace, walking straight to the tavern just on the edge of the village. I could feel the stares, searing into my skin. I was always observed, watched when I went into town. People watched Dash warily. He growled and ran ahead into the tavern. Walking in after him, I noticed no one was inside but outside in the courtyard. I could hear the cheers. The yells. The yelps of pain.

I stormed through and everyone grew quiet. A large group of men stood in a circle, surrounding the whimpers of pain, like a cage of muscle. As I stepped forward, I was met by a large man, shirtless. He was tall, ripped with muscle. At his side was a whip, plastered with blood. 

"Skylar! How good of you to join us! We were just whipping a new recruit into shape!" 

He sneered as the crowd roared with laughter. I kept my face  neutral, waiting for silence. 

"Jeremy." I stated  "I thought we had established that you and your mutts were not to do my job." 

The crowd watched on in interest as I saw Jeremy's face transform into one of disgust and anger.

"We do not let a child , let alone a girl do what can be simply achieved by force, no need for spoon feeding."

 The crowd muttered their approval. I resisted to role my eyes. Idiots. We have had this conversation before. 

I sighed "You will achieve nothing but a scared beaten pup that refuses to trust."

Jeremy growled "We do not need trus-"

"Of course you need trust!" I snapped, interrupting him. "If the animal does not trust you, they will not help you hunt but be to scared to do anything besides cower and cry. You MUST have trust for this to work!" 

Jeremy's eyes turned to slits. He stepped forward and raised the whip. Dash growled and stepped in front of me while I reached for my machete at my waist. He was pulled back by the tavern owner and he whispered something in his ear. Jeremy grunted and stormed out, leaving the men standing in shock. 

"Alright men!" yelled the owner, Bruce. "Back to your drinks. Shows over." They slowly dispersed leaving only me, Dash, Z, Bruce and the whimpering dog in the courtyard. 

Bruce sighed "I might not be able to hold him back next time." 

I placed my hand on Dash's head, silencing his growls. "I know, thank you Bruce." I said  "I'll look after the dog." He nodded and went back to his customers.

"Sky," Z started "I'm sorry, I didn't kno-"

"I know," I interrupted "You couldn't have. Thank you for bringing me Z. Go back to your mum." 

He nodded his thanks, leaving me in silence. 

I let out a huge breath, my shoulders slumping. Dash whined and rubbed his face of my leg.

"I'm alright. Just a close call."  I huffed. 

"Okay. Lets get back to business."  I  UN-clipped my  machete and peeled off my coat. Stretching my arms and neck, I was ready to go. I turned back to the pup. 

She was a small thing, malnourished. With caramel fur that was stained red.

"Hey sweetie." I said softly . She whimpered, trying move away from me then yelped in pain as her whip marks got bigger. 

"Shhhhh, shhhhh. Don't be scared. I'm here to help, not hurt." I tried to put as much reassurance in my eyes and body posture, trying to calm the poor girl down.

This hadn't been the first time I had done this. There had been many dogs, pups. Scared of us. Scared of people. The saying "man's best friend" became non existent when the werewolves came. The dogs could smell the wolf part but also saw that they shifted into humans, into loved ones. They became confused and scared. The were intimidated by the wolves, by a bigger threat, believing that they were prey.

They didn't realize that there were still humans out there. They believed that we were wolves too. So the dogs ran, left without a trace. If you ever encountered one, you had best to run as they were rabid. No one could tame them, convince them otherwise.

Except me. 

That's why Dash, my family pet, stuck around and that is why I am considered the devil spawn, crazy. Because I can tame the un-tameable. 

                                                                            *************************

I soon was able to sit next to the pup and examine it's scars. They were bleeding profusely. As I tried to touch them, the pup yelped and bit me.

"crap!" I shuffled a bit back, holding my hand to my chest. Dash growled and prowled towards the pup, making it cower in fear. 

"Dash!" He looked up at me, his ears perked at my tone of voice.

"No! Down!" He whined and trudged back to wall he was sitting next to before, sulking.

I rolled my eyes "Don't mind him," I said to the pup, moving toward it again. "He's just a grumpy pants." The pup lifted it's head up slightly to look at me then at Dash. It gave a small yelp. Dash growled. "Oh hush you." I smiled down at the pup and bent over to pet her head. She grumbled in approval. 

"I know your hurting, but the only way for me help you is if I take you home. Do I have permission to pick you up?" I asked to the pup.

She looked up at me and grunted at the pain it caused her. In answer to my question, she blinked at me, pain in her eyes. 

"Okay. Good." I stood up and grabbed my coat, gently wrapping it around her and placing her in my arms. She cried out in pain, burying her head in my arm. 

"I know, I'm sorry. It's not far. Dash grab my machete and head home to see if anyone is there. I'll catch up."

Dash picked up the machete in his mouth and ran off, towards home. 

I followed out of the tavern, making soothing noises to the pup, not remembering to try and mask the scent of blood that left a trail to home.