Street-Bred

Chapter Five - Running

     A low growl erupted from Fawn's chest when Cash eyed her, "Well, well, well... Fawn, sweetie! I missed ya!"

"I didn't..." Fawn snarled, baring her teeth.

"Oh, lighten up, Fawny!"

"Call me Fawny again and there's going to be a dead body on that chair," Fawn felt her blood boil when Cash slithered off the recliner.

"See, there's a problem right there. That lil' attitude you've got going on, yeah, that's not workin' for me. I mean, how can we be in love if you're always growlin' at me?"

"I'm not in love with you, Cash. Move on!"

"Fawn, we can stop playing hard to get. Now it's time for us to be together!"

"The answer is no! How can I love you if your packmates  threaten to kill my friends?"

"Oh, there's another problem. See, your little friend, that mutt... what's his name again? Faith? Grace? Something girly..." Fawn rolled her eyes when Cash paused, "he's an issue. So, I have no choice but to.. get rid of him," he said with a wicked grin.

"You will not touch any of those dogs. They're a family, and hurting one of them would hurt all of them. But you wouldn't know the feeling of what it's like to have a pack love you for real, so it's perfectly understandable if you can't relate,"Fawn felt her tan fur bristle as Cash circled her like a shark.

"Look who's talkin'! You don't even have a pack. And I am tryin' to offer you the strongest pack in the city with open paws. But no, you'd rather hang with those dumb, mangy, flea-bitten animals!" Cash's personality seemed to turn, "besides, the 'leader' of that stupid group hasn't been paying much respect. And you're smart enough to know what happens to dogs who disrespect alphas, right?" Fawn couldn't help but give a subtle nod. The lives of dogs who tried to push around powerful alphas, especially ones such as Cash, were normally ended. Cash smirked when he saw Fawn agree with him, but it soon faded into a more angry, serious expression, an expression she hadn't seen him have, "So while we're on the subject of disrespecting alphas..." Fawn gave him a fearful look, knowing where Cash was going with this, "I'm afraid to say you haven't been very kind either. Therefore, I am givin' you a final warning. You will be my mate, or else..." a low growl began to rumble from Cash. But still, Fawn didn't want to cooperate, "Or else what?"

"Or else you die!" The male barked, towering over Fawn. The Pharaoh Hound was shocked to see her admirer threatening to kill her, "You can't kill me for not being your mate!" the female spat back. Cash began to chuckle as other dogs crawled within the shadows behind him with faint snaps and growls growing in volume, "You not being my mate just builds on the real reason I would have to kill you, Actually, your death is caused by the way you treat such a powerful alpha, like myself," Fawn shrunk back as Cash and the rest of his pack stalked forward with bared teeth glimmering in the moonlight.

"And how does me being your partner help us cope with that problem?" Fawn questioned. Cash flashed a grin, but it looked more evil than happy, "Because then you would be happy. I don't know a dog who hates living in such a powerful lifestyle. And there are so many perks, like food, protection-" Fawn interrupted him.

"I don't care about that. I live my life alone, Cash. I don't need you just as much as I don't want you," Fawn kept her sentence firm, yet calmer, growling was starting to strain her throat.

"Alright, Fawn. Last chance. Would you rather have everything a dog could ever want with me, or be alone and dead without me?" That was the last thing Fawn would probably take. She was fed up with his persistence, "If I'm without you, dead or alive, then that is where I'll be the happiest," Fawn saw the lips of Cash lift, revealing large, glistening canines. Then, as if he suddenly was possessed by a demon of hatred, he threw his proud head back and howled, "I've had enough! Copperhead! Night! I demand you to kill her at once!" A tawny female dog and a black, male German Shepherd leaped out of the shadows and threw themselves at Fawn, jaws wide.

Without a second thought, Fawn fled. She and the two chasers tore out of the alley, with sounds of ferocious barks and growls behind them. Fawn dared not to look behind her, but she could already tell the tawny female, probably Copperhead, was gaining on her. The growling and panting neared, making Fawn run only on adrenaline, which was pumping wildly through her veins. The Pharaoh Hound picked up speed, paws flying through the air most of the time, rather than on the ground. Fawn's path was lit by the lights of the city, making her almost impossible to lose. Unless... she ran on the street, which had been quieter at night rather than in the morning, but still, plenty of cars sped by. Fawn glanced over her shoulder while deciding to risk her life on the road.

The male German Shepherd, Night, was hot on her heels, with Copperhead sprinting next to him. That was enough to make Fawn veer off the sidewalk and onto the street. The loud honks and screeching tires made the female grimace, yet she kept going until she made it to the sidewalk, where she heard a noise all to familiar. Thump. Reeeehk! That sound was one every dog despised hearing. This was the sound of a dog getting hit by a car. Silence followed the dreaded noise, then Fawn turned around, gulping. Night, the male that was chasing her, motionlessly lay on the road, with Copperhead staring right at him on the opposite side of the street. Horror and anguish was painted on her tawny face, until she looked up at Fawn. Then, she wiped off the fearful look and replaced it with an expression of pure hatred. Fawn knew she couldn't stay any longer. The Pharaoh Hound whipped around and sprinted away, yet Copperhead didn't pursue her. She was probably going back to tell Cash what happened. And  how that was all Fawn's fault.