Man's Best Friend.

The Virus.

  Zasha didn't say yes or no to Smoke. She simply grabbed the latch on his cage with her teeth and tried to flip it and slide it. Though the first attempt for the top latch was successful, the second latch was just to low to the ground for her to reach. " I'm sorry Smoke, but I don't know what to do..." Smoke yelped slightly then stared around the room for anything to help out. Then he found it.

The poster

   Smoke stretched up onto his hindpaws and latched his front paws on the fencing to get a better look at the poster. It was a black and white border collie running up a tree, then ever so quickly, turning the upper half of his body towards the space behind him, and using his hindpaws to boost him through the air like a rocket. 

It was simply genius.

    Smoke turned around to face the wall behind him and darted towards it, quickly scrambling up it, turning the upper part of his body, then used his hind-paws to pump him off. He darted through the air, his tounge lolling out of his mouth then landed gracefully on all four paws. 

    Zasha stared at Smoke in awe, her tail wagging quickly causing her whole body to wag "Oh my Canis Lupis! Alpha would love you!" Zasha yipped. She then started to circle around Smoke like she was a border collie. "Hmm... Bulky, yet very agile.... powerful weapons, yet mellow temper.... and quiet like a hunter.... Smoke? Join us. Please. Join our pack." Smoke cocked his head " B-but why? I wouldn't have a purpose!" Zasha shook her head " Oh no no no, you Smoke would have the highest role in the pack besides Beta and Alpha. You'd be pampered by Alpha like a prince!" Smoke cocked his head the other way "What's your role Zasha?" Zasha looked away whimpering slightly "I'm a scout, the second lowest rank in the pack. Alpha says I'm a sad excuse for a dog... but Beta doesn't think so, Beta thinks I'm amazing!" Smoke could tell by the way she talked of Beta, he must be a big deal in her life. "So Smoke. Will you join the apocalyptic-pack?" Smoke mulled the offer over in his head, being in the third lead role would mean free food, endless water, 24/7 protection, and other dogs to talk to. But what if Alpha and Beta didn't approve of him, or he wasn't accepted. But other dogs to talk to was something Smoke would appreciate a lot... "Yes. I guess I will join." Zasha yipped with joy and pranced around, her claw clicking and clacking on the hard floor. Smoke wagged his tail and yipped "So let's go! We can visit my humans and maybe I'll just stay with them!" Zasha stopped prancing and whimpered "Smoke...The humans are gone. A virus, is wiping them out, slowly one by one they all contract it then pass it on and die right after. Your humans are most likely... gone" Zasha whimpered softly. Smoke felt like someone just took a mallet and bashed in his head and shattered his heart. His little girl human was gone...most likely her parents too. Smoke stammered as he tried to talk "G-g-gone. My little g-g-g-girl is gone?" Zasha nudged Smoke on the shoulder "C'mon let me show you around." Just as Smoke was prepared to leave he heard the steady drip of the faucet water and say the bag. He scrambled over and lunged himself on the counter and slurpped up water, until it kind of hurt. Then he turned to the mini bag of dog food and shredded the bag with his teeth and claws. Instantly as he tasted a molecule of the food he cracked and crunched the food with his canine teeth and cusps. He stopped until every grain of food was gone, then leaped off the counter landing by Zasha who look surprised at the speed Smoke ate. "Wow. I couldn't tell you were hungry at all" The Inu joked around, "Okay lets go Smoke."

     Smoke and Zasha exited through the giant doggy flap in the thick wooden door, and walked out the hallway into the lobby, then Zasha woofed "I'll be right back Smoke!" And with that, she darted through the doggy flap, into the other wings in the giant pet hospital. Smoke started to roam around the room when a dog scent caught his attention. He followed the scent which led him to a stuffed toy under a waiting chair. As he poked at it with his nose he caught a scent of a girl dog, who's name was Maizy. Smoke looked at the toy and saw a tattered ear and another ear with a bite mark. The toy had one eye which was a green button, and a stitched line was where it's mouth should be, and it's color was a dirty grayish-pink. Whoever this Maizy was, Smoke felt an urge to bring her toy back to her. As he was about to pick it up, Zasha dashed through the doggy door, with a big cream and brown husky following. Zasha sat down, as did the husky, but Smoke's hackles began to rise. Zasha cleared her throat then thumped her tail "Smoke this is Beta."