Metal cell doors clanged against walls. Locks lifted and fell as canines were released from their prison, barks accompanied by the sounds of paws thundering over the concrete floor as dogs raced through the halls and out the doors. Zuma continued to free the dogs from their enclosures. The shepherd trotted up to a kennel and narrowed her eyes to try to get a better look at movement in the back of the cold cell.
Zuma's dark fur began to rise slowly along her neck. She could sense something in the kennel, but it seemed mean. The canine took a cautious step back as her legs stiffened. Fear crept through her veins and her brain told her to run but she couldn't leave someone behind. Zuma didn't want to leave any dog behind, but that wasn't the only reason for her to stay in front of the eery kennel. Curiosity tugged at her paws. She wanted to know what was lurking beneath those shadows that had frightened her.
Suddenly, a large bulky dog launched itself from the corner and against the cage door. The shepherd stumbled back and fell in shock. Her eyes were stretched wide with fear and she scrambled to get up. Zuma pushed herself against the wall and forced her gaze onto the beast. Her stare locked with the brute's. All that she could see in his eyes was rage and resentment that glazed his black optics.
Zuma stayed in her spot, frozen. Her legs trembled and her dark tail was curled between her long tan legs. The shepherd had never seen a dog with such ferocity. His expression was emotionless besides the anger and hostility that he felt towards her. The small shepherd slowly rose back to her full height. She held her breath and forced her ears to perk up, taking a slow step towards the beast's cell.
The dog continued to growl and snap at the door as Zuma neared him. She planted her paws and lifted her head with her tail out. The shepherd held her dominant posture as she glared into the male's dark eyes. Her lips curled to bare her white fangs as she let out a guttural growl,"Beasts like you are worthless. You have no loyalty and you shall gain nothing from it." She snapped at him. Zuma turned tail and trotted off down the hall with her head high, leaving the dog in the past to be destroyed.
Continuing her mission through the halls she came to a stop in front of a kennel that held captive what looked to be a lab mix. Her white fur was patched with yellowish tan patches. Zuma met the female's chocolatey eyes that showed emotion, unlike the tyrant she had been confronted with earlier. The shepherd relaxed out of her dominant posture. She was sure that the lab mix wouldn't be a threat towards her. Leaning back on her haunches, Zuma wrapped her front paws around the lock and began lifting it to open the door. Her ears perked as she heard the female speak,"Thank you, I've been waiting for the day I would leave this prison." The lab barked, her voice filled with gratitude.
The shepherd gave a short brisk nod and flipped the lock. She stood on all four paws and met the patched dog's gaze,"Stay away from loose rocks and structures." Zuma mumbled and turned to trot off but before she could the lab interrupted her,"I will, and my name is Elsa." The shepherd turned as a slight, friendly smile crept on the lab's muzzle. A moment of silence passed before she responded,"I'm Zuma." The shepherd replied before turning and continuing down the halls.
Zuma slipped under the broken brick walls of the pound, the rising sun falling down on the dew covered grass. The shepherd stood on the stone stairs as her optics scanned the area where cars used to park which was now covered with more than a dozen dogs. The canine let out an audible huff before forcing herself into the crowd of dogs. Within the crowd were many different breeds of dogs of all ages and sizes.
A stubby legged dog with pointed ears sat on the outside of the mass of dogs. The female was white but most of her torso and head were covered in a brownish orange pattern. Adding to her small size was a tiny tail that was barely visible through her tufts of fur along her rump. Two golden hued dogs stood beside each other with their heads together, Zuma presumed these two were purebred golden retrievers though she couldn't understand why humans would have given up such a dog.
Two more dogs, puppies, sat huddled together. Their tiny bodies shook with fear as their wide eyes flicked from side to side. One of the two had curly fur, she guessed this dog was poodle, and the other pup had to be a mix. He was white and patterned with black splotches. The shepherd continued to push her way through the dogs and her gaze landed on another german shepherd. A female. The shepherd was slightly taller than Zuma, her head was a light tan accompanied by a graying muzzle. She quickly took notice of the female's tense posture and noted that she probably wouldn't be one to warm up to others quickly.
At the middle of the group sat a small group of dogs conversing together quietly, sometimes looking up quickly before continuing their conversation. Zuma narrowed her eyes slightly suspicious of the group. In the middle was what looked to be a mixed breed. His eyes were a deep brown and his markings looked to be mixed with a german shepherd and rottweiler, but his ears were flopped down on top of his head. One of the others was a large sable german shepherd.
Zuma turned from the rest of the dogs and padded quickly over to the side. Out of the corner of her eyes she caught a familiar face, the male german shepherd she had helped earlier. She turned and started off towards the male who was sat down by a red and white husky, but he didn't look to pleased as the female rambled on beside him. She trotted up in front of him and flicked her tail,"I never got your name." Zuma spoke with a slight tilt of her skull. He turned his attention to her and narrowed his eyes slightly before speaking,"Timber." His tone didn't seem too inviting.
Zuma gave a curt nod and took a seat beside him, up close she noticed how much taller he actually was then her. The shepherd closed her eyes briefly and sighed, trying to relax her nerves. Since the day before when something had shaken the earth, she's been on edge. She opened her eyes and laid them upon the tense group. All the dogs were tense or confused, scared, only making Zuma come quicker to the realization that none of them were safe.
Bang. Just like that, everything that was once in front of her was gone in a minute. The earth rattled and shook the shepherd to her core. Alarmed and frightened barks arose around her and pierced the air that was thickened with smoke and dust. Nothing was visible and Zuma realized she couldn't see her own two paws in front of her. Her mind screamed at her to run, she tried, but her legs buckled beneath her as whatever the force was shook the earth and took her down with it. The shepherd knew it would happen again. The darkness that swamped her seemed to suck the air from her lungs. She couldn't bark, couldn't speak, couldn't scream. Zuma had to run. She had to pick herself back up and run. The small german shepherd hauled herself to her unstable legs and turned towards the field, or.. What she thought was the direction of the field. She couldn't be sure anymore. Running was useless and might get her lost or even dead, but it's all she was capable of. So she did so.
