Guardian Angel (Guardians Of The Galaxy Fanfiction)

Protecting Dish

The young pup padded out of the darkness and into the light of the Social Circle. He had no clue why everyone called it that. It was just a bunch of lost creatures talking to each other in small clusters in a large room. They never talked about anything interesting, or if they did he was listening in on the wrong conversations.

"Hey mutt," called a voice behind him.

The fur on the pup's spine bristled and he spiraled around to face the one who had spoken to him. "My name isn't mutt," he corrected. "It's Dish."

"Mutt, Dish, whatever," joked the leader of the small group. He was a pup but he was almost five months old, three whole moons older than Dish.

"Good one Diesel," snorted a sandy colored she-pup with gleaming cold blue eyes. "He's nothing but a runt."

"I am not a runt," Dish growled, baring his teeth in a snarl as his fur bristled.

"Oh I'm so scared," chuckled a dark brown and white male pup as he looked to the sandy she-pup. "Aren't you Desert?"

"Just trembling inside Drift," agreed Desert as she looked to her friend before she let out a harsh bark and Dish took a step back in fear.

"Look at the way it jumps! What's the matter runt? Never heard a bark before," snorted Drift as he took a step forward, extending his claws.

"Look," chimed in Diesel as he pointed to Dish. "He hasn't even been marked yet."

"Marked," Dish dared to ask as he straightened and took a step forward, his eyes narrowed to slits. "What does marked mean?"

Desert took a step forward and Dish saw her shoulders. They looked like they had been ripped apart and infused with cybernetic parts. She looked like almost all of the other creatures here. "You aren't one of us until the Terrans find you useful."

"I am useful," Dish argued as he thrust his ears forward. He wished that he was as large as the other pups so he could intimidate them for a change.

"Who told you that," asked Drift as he wagged his tail.

"You're mother," asked Desert as she continued looking down on Dish and smiling in mockery.

"Of course not, "chimed in Diesel, always with the most hurtful comments. "She's dead and probably thankful for it."

With a yowl Dish suddenly darted forward. She leaped for Diesel's throat but Diesel was expecting it. He reared on his hind legs and slammed a paw against his face, just under his eye. Blood oozed from the claw marks but Dish wouldn't give up that easily. He snarled and bolted again, snapping his jaws close to Diesel's hind leg.

Diesel turned and snapped his jaws against Dish's shoulder until he tasted blood in his mouth. Dish yelped in agony and Diesel dropped him. Dish whimpered in pain as he rolled on his side, his chest heaving with the effort to breath. Diesel smiled to his companions before he struck a claw against Dish's underbelly. Dish howled, his eyes widening in agony.

"Should we finish him off," asked Diesel over his shoulders to his friends. Desert and Drift nodded in agreement and Diesel raised a paw, ready to deliver another painful blow.

"Leave him alone!"

Diesel looked up and his own eyes widened as Ashen leaped in front of Dish. She bared her teeth in a snarl and sunk her teeth into Diesel's shoulder. She threw him into Drift and Desert look on with surprise in her eyes. Desert thought about attacking but thought better of it. She lowered her head into her shoulders before she helped Drift and Diesel untangle themselves from each other.

"If I ever catch you doing this again, to anyone, I will find you," threatened Ashen as she pawed at the ground to show her powerful muscles. "And next time I won't be as merciful."