Street-Bred

Chapter Seventeen - The Final Plan

     The pack-dogs gasped in unison when they heard the young one's accusation. Fawn widened her green eyes in shock, "I... I would never do such a thing! I've never killed anyone! Why, I don't even know your father!"

"Liar!" The pup snapped, "does the name, 'Night' ring a bell?" Fawn's mouth gaped open when she heard that familiar name. That dog who chased her in the beginning... he was a father. But she never murdered him. He was hit by a car, "Well?! Does it? Or are you just to afraid to admit it?" The three-month old baby snarled.

"I never touched him. He was hit by a car," Fawn let the words spill out, but shut her mouth straight after. The pup concealed her teeth, yet her brown eyes still burned with hatred, "Then why did Copperhead say she witnessed the entire thing? She said you ran across the road, my dad followed you, and you turned around and killed him!"

"That was a lie. She said that because," she gazed at her packmates, who were listening intently, "Cash would have killed her if she told the truth. Night died from a car, not from me."

"Fawn is being honest," April told the young one, "I ran into her straight afterwards. There was no blood on her whatsoever," the tiny female dog whimpered as the truth unfolded before her.

"You mean... Copperhead lied to everyone?" she whined.

"I'm afraid so..." Fawn sighed, approaching the pup.

"Wh-why would she d-do that?" The pup sniffled.

"Cash is an evil dog. If she hadn't lied, she would have been dead. If it wasn't for Cash," Fawn paused, feeling sadness create a knot in her throat, "your father would still be alive..."

"He's coming..." The pup whispered as she stared up at Fawn with deep, brown eyes, "they are coming. To kill you."

"Cash is...?" Marley asked nervously.

"Yes... but not if I can help it."

"What do you mean?" Finn inquired.

"I was supposed to be their spy, but... if I don't come back with a report, they'll never find you," the pup answered, standing up with a determined gleam in her eyes.

"Cash will always find us. And if he doesn't, he will spend the rest of his life searching. But, I think I have an idea on how to get rid of him..." Fawn announced.

"And, what's that?" April asked.

"We should send this little one back to Cash's pack. She can report that we're weak, so weak that he doesn't need the whole pack to kill us. Then, we'll lead him to a more open area, and I'll tell them all the truth," Fawn elucidated.

"But, isn't that dangerous? What if he traps us in here?" Marley whined.

"He won't. We'll wait outside. And, we'll be ready for him," Fawn turned her attention to the pup, "just make sure Copperhead and your mother is within that group that's coming to us. I want to make sure Copperhead never lies again."

"But I can't remember the way back to Cash very well..." the young dog admitted.

"That's okay!" Paisley piped in, "I know the way!"

"Paisley will lead you home, tomorrow. For now, you should stay here," April told the young one.

"Okay..." she sat down with a sigh of relief.

"What is your name?" Fawn tilted her head at the pup.

"Avis. My name is Avis."

That evening...

"Hello, I'm ba-" Ace paused when he noticed a white ball of fur laying lazily next to Fawn.

"Who's that?" Mei, now nearly ten months old, asked as she wagged her large, fluffy tail.

"This is Avis. Avis, meet Buck, Shelby, Ace and Mei. We found her today wandering around, she's part of Cash's pack," Fawn explained.

"Cash, huh?" Buck narrowed his eyes.

"Don't worry, she's helping us. Tomorrow, she's going to bring Cash and some of his pack back here," April padded up to him.

"Well, in that case," Shelby walked up to Avis to sit next to her, "welcome, I suppose."

"Fawn?" Marley looked over to the Pharaoh Hound.

"Yes, Marley?"

"Where exactly is this open area we need to lead Cash to?"

"I was just about to ask that, don't fret," Fawn gazed at Ace, "hey, Ace. On your patrol, where was the most open area?"

"Well, let me think," the blue-eyed male paused in thought, "there was an abandoned construction site. Why?"

"That will be where we run to when Cash arrives. You will lead the way, right?"

"Sure, but... are you positive you want to do this?" Ace asked.

"Absolutely. I am sick and tired of running from that fool," Fawn growled at the thought of Cash. She noticed that her fear of him had almost vanished completely. She knew that he wasn't as powerful and strong as he said he was, heck, he used a little pup to do the dirty work for him. And someone who puts the life of a pup in danger, especially ones as young as Avis, don't deserve to be leaders, "very well. Let's get some rest, we've got a lot of work to do."

"I agree," Fawn walked over to an empty area and Ace lay next to her. She smiled at him before giving him a quick nuzzle and resting her head.