Street Bound

Chapter 7

All that could be heard was the pounding of the paws against the stiff ground. Her heartbeat going a million miles a minute as she pushed herself faster to not get caught. She could feel them speed up to causing her to gulp her fear, yet she pushed herself even further than before. 'I'm almost there' she thought to herself as she felt a snap at her ankle. The shepherd had caught up. If she doesn't speed up now. Keesha will catch her and she's out. On the first trial. There was no way she was to let that happen.

Raven pushed herself so hard her lungs burned with adrenaline and her paws felt like that could walk off her body any minute. She crossed the line. The finish line if that's what you want to call it. The line that told everyone she passed her first trial. She let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

Taylor trots over to Raven panting. "Nice work I though Keesha was gonna catch you there for a minute. Well need to work on better pacing yourself, but still nice work." She nodded her head before trotting over to the water bowl and lapping up lots.

Raven sat on her rump as she noticed a tan and white dog walking over with Bobo the leader dog. "Raven this is Rebel. He is our newest member besides you. He joined our little clan last month." Raven studied the male. His muscles were very well protruding and his eyes held no emotion.

Bobo turned and trotted away Rebel hot on her trail. Raven looked around to see just Keesha and her still there. "Congrats you passed Trial one. Three more to go chika." With that the shepherd walked away her fluffy tail swooshing in the wind.

After nobody was in sight any longer Raven collapsed on the ground exhausted. She was mentally and physically drained from the past couple of days.

The next morning she awoke to someone stepping on her tail she jumped up and began snarling at the intruder only to find the male, Rebel, stepping on her tail. "Get a move on Rat. Trial number 2 is today" he grinned evilly acausing Raven to shudder with Fear once more. What could possibly be so bad?

After it all was set up Raven stood in the middle of a ditch confused as to what was to happen next. Bobo glanced down upon Raven as everyone watched from Above. "Escape." Is all she said before dropping a flaming branch into the pit. Raven jumped back as far as she could against the ditch's dirt wall. She whined and howled as the dogs from above threw more and more brush and branches in.

Think Raven. Think. She thought to herself deciding what her next move would be. An idea popped into her head as she turned around and began to dig as fast as she could. She began to tunnel her way out as she heard the fire growing Larger and larger. She dug using all her might until finally she felt the loose dirt and grass above and could see the sky.

She broke free. Trial number 2 done. Two more to go, and as Taylor said. They only get harder. They are meant to push you to your breaking point.

Raven panted as she flopped on the ground grass and dirt covering her pelt turning her whiteness to a very dark brown with green mixed in.

"That was only part one of Trial 2" Rebel said sneakily before trotting to another area everyone following including Raven.

Raven about shit herself when she seen what part two of Trial two looked like.
In front of her stood a line of used pieces of coal lit.

"You must walk the flames to conclude your part 2 of Trial 2" Bobo spoke calmly like it was so big deal. "Begin" she stated firmly smirking

Raven's eyes widen with fear as she came to the start of the line. She quickly but carefully placed one paw on the first coal and yelped pulling it was fast causing the pack to laugh. She growled in annoyance and decided running over them would be the best bet.

So that's what she did she ran over the coals. The searing pain branding her paw pads as she hit her tongue from crying out. The end was so close yet so far away. Finally she reached the end and face planted into the dirt once more for the day.

Stomping of paws could be heard as they applauded Raven. "Very well Raven. Very well. You have proven me wrong thus far." Bobo said as she turned and left Rebel following closely behind as usual.

Keesha and Taylor ended up having to carefully carry Raven back as her paws were to burned to actually be able to walk. They left her with some moss to cover her paws.

Raven whined as she carefully wrapped her paws in the moss every little movement felt like every fur from her body was being ripped off and then sewn back on again.

Finally finished she whined a long painful whine. Before shutting her eyes exhausted. Is this really what she's in for? How much pain can one dog take...