Murder in the Flames

Chapter Fourteen- Murderer

Dasher awoke, startled. Did I oversleep? He lifted his head, just to see Oz's tail disappear through the den entrance. He released a low growl. This ends now, Oz! Carefully stepping over the other dogs, Dasher made his way out of the den. I'm so stiff! His wounds felt better, though. They were healing. He kept himself in the shadows, watching as Oz padded confidently around camp, heading for the exit.

I won't let you frame Flash! A stick snapped, and Dasher whirled around with a snarl to face Pumpkin. He relaxed. "Oh, its you." Pumpkin tipped her head to one side.

"Yes, it's me. Where are you going, Dasher?" she asked.

"I'm following the murderer." Pumpkin gasped, startled.

"You found the murderer? But- what- who is it?" she asked.

"It's Oz," Dasher replied. Pumpkin took a step back.

"Oz? Are you serious? He's the best dog in the world!"

"I know, but that's just what he wants us to think. There's evidence-" Pumpkin wasn't listening to him.

"I can't believe you just accused Oz of murdering Trickster! He'd never, ever do something like that! I can't believe you, Dasher!" Pumpkin growled. Dasher's first instinct was to hunker down and whine submissively, but he forced himself not to. No, I'm right, Pumpkin just doesn't want to admit it!

"Well I don't care what you think!" Dasher snarled. Pumpkin's eyes widened, taken aback by the venom in his voice. "I came into this pack so I could find the murderer. I didn't know the dogs, so I didn't have to worry about having a biased opinion. I have the facts, Pumpkin! But now I'm wasting precious time. I'm going to catch Oz, with or without your help!"

Dasher whipped around, sprinting away from Pumpkin before she had a chance to reply. He followed Oz's fresh scent, but forced himself to calm down. I have to do this with a clear head. Dasher leaped over a pile of rubble, leaving scuff marks in the fading soot. Faintly, in the distance, he could hear shouts of the humans and the beeping and mechanical whirr of their machines. Finally. They're starting to rebuild.

Dasher rounded a corner, and came muzzle-to-muzzle with Oz. He yelped, scrambling away from the collie. "Hello, Dasher," he barked, his voice edged with malice. "Did you really think I didn't know you were following me? Stupid dog," he snarled. Dasher trembled, and gulped. He forced himself to stand up straight. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.....

"Yes, I did follow you! Because you murdered Trickster!"

"What makes you think I did that?" Oz asked. Dasher growled.

"One, I found your broken claw at the spot where Trickster was murdered. Two, you never did burn your paw! That wasn't your blood on your muzzle, it was Trickster's! And three, you followed us, trying to scare us away from Sword's territory, and I heard what you barked to Sleet and Hail! You, Oz, are the murderer!" he snarled. His voice had gained confidence as he had spat out the evidence at the rotten dog.

Oz was watching him, an amused expression on his face. "Well, you're right, I did kill him." Dasher gasped. He had expected Oz to deny it.

"W-why? Why did you kill him?" Dasher asked. Oz chuckled.

"Revenge, sweet Dasher. Trickster wasn't a good dog, either. I was a puppy when it happened. I was just starting my training to protect the sheep. Sometimes, we need to protect them from the wolves. That's why we have sharp fangs and a thick ruff of fur around our necks, for protection. Well, I still had to sleep tied up. Because I wasn't trained yet. My mother and father dog were watching the sheep, when that Trickster slunk in, hungry. He sunk his teeth right into my mother's neck before she saw him. My father dog ran over, and he and Trickster fought, while my mother's life bled out into the ground. I had to watch it all, unable to break away from my chain, as my mother dog died. My father dog scared Trickster off, but ended up dying from an infection. Can you imagine that, Dasher? Being a pup and having to watch your parents die before your eyes," Oz finished. Dasher whimpered. That was sad. But.....

"Killing him still wasn't the right thing to do! You're as bad as him, then!" Oz shrugged.

"Maybe I am, then. What are you going to do about it?" he questioned.

"I'm going to expose you!" Dasher barked fiercely. Oz laughed.

"Really? Will you now? Looks like you didn't stop and think, Dasher. As a murderer, do you really think I'm going to have a problem killing you?" That's when it hit him.

Oh no.... oh no..... this was a horrible idea! I didn't think of that.... he's going to kill me, I won't be able to expose him, and Flash and Sword's pack are going to destroy each other! Dasher realized that Oz had lead him into a dead end. The collie started slinking forward, and Dasher backed away.

"Poor, poor Dasher, the dog who went hunting.... so loyal to his pack. But a tragedy happened," Oz began. Dasher felt his paws hit a pile of rubble, and he slowly backed up it, pieces falling away as he climbed in backwards. Oz stopped when he reached the bottom, and Dasher reached the top of the pile. He stepped away, heading over to the dented metal trash bin, the giant ones that go behind restaurants and stores. "While hunting.... he ran into a dead end...." Oz slammed his weight against the trash can, and it jolted back into the wall. Pieces of the concrete wall crumbled off. 

"And, there was an accident," the collie barked, ramming into it again. "He was crushed!" Oz howled, ramming into it again. Dasher looked up, to see a giant block of concrete fall off the building. He howled, leaping off the rubble pile a second before it smashed down, sending up a cloud of dust. Dasher sprawled across the ground, coughing, his legs weak as he tried to stand.

Oz came out of the dust, leaping and tackling Dasher. "Looks like you chose the painful way to die, then," he snarled. He opened his jaws, ready to bite down on his neck. But at that moment, an instinct kicked in. One that said: he didn't want to die. Dasher jerked away, Oz's fangs snapped an inch from his neck. He growled in frustration, as Dasher wiggled his way out of his grip.

"You're not getting away that easily!" he snarled, a crazed look in his eye. Suddenly the collie whined, his eyes bulging in pain. He whipped around, and Dasher saw it too: Pumpkin! The fox red lab was snarling, his tail gripped in her mouth.

"Stay away from Dasher!" she howled, leaping at the collie. Caught off guard, Oz let Pumpkin tumble right into him. Dasher prepared to jump in as well, but the two dogs were moving too fast, snarling and snapping. Dasher tried to follow the fight. I can't tell who's winning... please let Pumpkin win! There was a howl of pain, and Dasher's blood turned to ice. Pumpkin!

But it wasn't her. It was Oz! Pumpkin was holding on to his left ear, forcing the collie's face down. She yanked his ear again and he whined. Pumpkin pulled him down. "Submit!" she snarled. Oz growled, and Pumpkin yanked his ear with her fangs, causing it to rip slightly. Oz howled in agony.

"I submit," he finally whimpered, rolling onto his back so his stomach was exposed. Pumpkin stepped back, panting. Her eyes met Dasher, and her tail started wagging. Her dark brown eyes were bright, despite her injuries. 

"H-how are you here?" Dasher asked, stunned. 

"I followed you," Pumpkin admitted. "I was afraid that you might have been right- and I couldn't stand the thought of losing you, Dasher," she ducked her head in embarrassment. Dasher's heart felt like it was going to explode it was beating so fast. But before he could reply, she turned back to Oz, growling at him.

"It's not our place to decide what happens to you. I think that will be up to Sword," she spat. Oz cringed. "Now you're going to follow us back to camp, or we'll tear both your ears off." Oz nodded, getting to his paws. Dasher and Pumpkin flanked him on both sides, as they slowly limped back to camp. 

It's not over yet! There's still a final chapter and an epilogue!