Nadia | Duck Tolling Retriever | Deviant | Mentions: Everyone in the living area pff

The living room was quickly filling with dogs, all concerned with the pup that had hid under the aloe plant. Nadia wasn't too certain that she would be hidden for much longer, but she definitely wasn't going to make it easy for them by just coming out. No one had noticed her physically yet, she kept quiet and observed. The few dogs seemed worried over the pup, mostly mad she had run off on her own. Nadia didn't understand pack dynamics, but it did seem like a mentor and student kind of thing with the way they were talking. She crouched a little lower as another joined the mix, happy that the pup was okay. They must think we're dangerous she thought to herself with how they were acting, unaware that they really feared dogs going over board on a drifting boat.

A few options ran through her mind. She could hop down and make a run for it upstairs, but she didn't know how many dogs were upstairs. And if they thought she and Critter were hostile, then they might not hesitate to attack. She could stay hidden, but she wasn't in a great spot. She'd be pretty easily cornered, and she didn't have the greatest faith in being able to jump over them and land smoothly on tile and a rocking boat. Another option was to just come clean now, and hope they didn't immediately attack her. Giving up seemed the smartest choice, it had the least amount of cons, besides being at their mercy. The only other option was to fight her way out, and besides a few scraps here and there, she couldn't take on a whole pack, let alone trained fighters.

Well another option would be to sneak to a new hiding spot, but that would take a little searching and that was time she didn't have to find a feasible hiding space that they wouldn't find her. Generally boats had engine rooms, she could easily hide there. She just wasn't sure where the door was, and how easy it would be to get to it. She didn't like her options. All of them would end up with her being found out. Maybe if she waits until the pack moves lower to the bedrooms then she could sneak up and hop off to the dock. That left Critter still on the boat, and she knew she was down below in the bedrooms. She moved on her pawpads to make as little noise as possible as she moved to the fridge. She wasn't sure what she was going to do yet. Stepping carefully she got ontop of the fridge, looking over the edge to the counter below. Whatever she was going to do, she needed to do it quickly. If she hopped down, she was definitely going to bring attention to herself.

Screw it she said, hopping onto the counter, then the floor and bolted for the stairs to the upper deck.

Words: 498

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Gizmo | Male | Lurcher | Scout | Mentions: The Pack, Nadia, Rabbit

Gizmo's floppy ears twitched and angled themselves as he curiously listened to the noises going about around him. The sound of ocean waves were dull to him now, giving way to the frantic and angry noises that were emanating down the stairs leading to the lower deck. He watched as his superiors and other packmates move about frantically, some heading down the stairs while others dawdled with worry. Gizmo felt empty, tired, and somewhat distant.

He stood up now, his four paws holding fast to the wooden deck as he moved about on autopilot. In his state of mind he didn't care about the deviants anymore. At this point, all he wanted to do was wail out and collapse onto someone's shoulder.

Passing by some of his packmates, Gizmo had ended up by the stairs leading to the lower deck. He figured he could follow everyone else and their commotion. He still had a job to do, an obligation to them as a new member to their pack. He would see to fulfill it, even when he felt completely awful. He figured the present situation would distract him from Liam.

It was during his odd thoughts about Liam did Gizmo truly felt the gravity of the situation. He hadn't known Lucky for long, and his daughter even less so, but realizing that she was missing and possibly down there with the deviants... Gizmo felt a stir in his chest. The distance he felt grew shorter. In a short time, his feelings gave way to a quaking determination.

Gizmo twitched his ears. Nails clacked against wood as someone no, multiple rushed towards his position. Not recognizing any traits about the sound, he stood beside the stair entrance, eyes focused on the dark opening. Barks sounded out from the stairs, causing Gizmo to tense his muscles. He was ready to lunge forward within a heartbeat. As a sighthound, he was bred for it, after all.

Word Count: 324

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Morning | female (she/her) | Doberman/Greyhound | scout | mentions: Nadia, Veira

Morning froze in shock as the rusty-furred deviant skidded out in front of the small group gathering in the living room. The deviant was rather thin, slightly smaller than Morning herself, with a small hole in her right ear that spoke of a fight or other scrape in the past. She had a scrappy, almost disdainful look about her, like the Innsaei dogs were just one more little obstacle to cross. Pale amber eyes glared defiantly at the whole group of them, scanning every dog's face. Looking for weaknesses? Morning didn't know. Whatever she was doing, it was clear that this deviant was not a dog to cross. Despite being larger, Morning had little doubt that the deviant could beat her - and possible a few other dogs - in a fight.

When Veira barked at the deviant, Morning jumped a bit, but quickly recovered herself. Focus. Stay grounded. She's not barking at you, she thought to herself. Her eyes traced the deviant's path. Had the dog been atop the cabinets the whole time? She should have noticed... but then again, this dog seemed to be good at hiding. Morning slowly backed to the tail end of the group, not wanting to get in Veira's way or be involved in the seemingly inevitable fight. Rubbing her chain in a self-conscious way, she hoped that no dog would notice her. She didn't need a fight right now.

[214 words]

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Rabbit | Female | Wolfdog | Trainee | Mentions: Veira, Brindle, Captain, Morning, Nadia; Gizmo (more indirectly)

Rabbit had been preparing to protest, to tell Veira that they hadn't had time to call for assistance since she heard the growl. Before she could, however, Brindle was there. She couldn't help but brace for more scolding when she first heard the Alpha entering the conversation, but then Brindle came to her and pressed her small, pink nose to her forehead. Rabbit felt the tension fall out from her muscles as she turned her head to lick back at the Alpha. Soft whines escaped her, ringing at a slight vibrato due to her tail rapidly wagging again. It was a wonder, truly, how quickly the pup's fear of scolding melted again into relief.

"I'm," she started quietly, interrupted by a hiccup. "I'm okay, Alpha! I just don't feel so g... good."

Rabbit considered trying to crawl out from her hiding place then, feeling safer now with Brindle's show of relief. A sudden pair of thumps stopped her, followed by the sound of paws bolting across the floor. Rabbit yelped and and curled herself into a tighter ball, her hackles raising instantly. Her swimming vision obscured the intricacies of the action unfolding at the exit, but Veira was up the stairs in an instant, blocking the Deviant's path. If Captain was making a move, she didn't see it; her quick scan across the room must have missed him and Morning entirely. Rabbit thought she heard the sound of more paws approaching from the stairs, as well. However, she didn't even try to confirm the presence of another dog. The very sound of angry barks and snarling set Rabbit's heart to racing, and she found herself glancing back to Brindle with one last whimper before slamming her eyes shut.

[288 Words]

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