Kierra

Going through the grass and making my way farther up to level ground, I get back to my journey home, my ribs protesting the climbing. I go a couple miles before the smells coming from a bar and grill have me salivating, then past houses with no problems, but have to tear myself away from the amazing scents of food. Of course, since I'm hungry, everywhere I go someone is going to have food.

Not far after that, I hit another bridge. Not a highway though this time, just a single one-way lane. Timing it just right, I'm able to dart across without too much of a stir. It being a wooded park, this side sees me through it quite fast and easily.

That is until I almost go head first right into the river.

Apparently, this side of the park edges a bend of the water. I follow it carefully to prevent any more mishaps.

Another bridge.

I'm tired of seeing bridges.

If I try to keep following the waterway here, I'll be going west instead of south.

Luckily it's not a big bridge, so I tear my way down it and turn to follow the larger body of liquid ice. There's a large fence that I end up running along for a ways, have to slow way down when I reach a school. A high school from the looks of it, can't see the name of it from here. That's fine, it's not important.

The fence is longer than it looks, then hooks off into a road. Just have to dart around before I'm once again hidden in foliage. Pretty sure there's a spattering of people that see me, but as long as they don't try catching me, we're good.

Another half-hour finds me at another bridge. This is getting ridiculous. Don't care if I am following a damn river, doesn't mean that there has to be so many damn bridges. It's a regular two-lane road going through this time. Luckily this one has a set of lights not far away, so I'm able to get across on a red without too much trouble, then on my merry way once more.

At one point a small dog comes flying out of nowhere at me, turns out I'm near a parking lot and this little dude got out of a window.

The constant yapping is getting annoying, the tiny Yorkshire terrier testing the limits of my patience. Even light growls from me aren't enough to get him to sod off. I turn and go back to the parking lot.

I sit at the edge of it for at least ten minutes till I hear someone calling out for a 'Pooka'. How apropos. His yapping has stopped, sitting next to me and panting. Once he hears what I think is a woman, he yaps at me a few more times then goes for her. Either a she or a really high pitched he, either way.

Watching his little brown butt take off makes me smile. Annoying, but cute. Stomach growls in protest of his running away, but I squash the need. I turn and start back on my own adventure, having done my good deed for the day, not counting the old guy thing.

I walk for miles, run a few more. I want to rest, but I'd like to get home sooner rather than later. Longer I'm out the more nervous I get of being found by unsavories. Really wouldn't want to have to scare the shit out of some dogcatcher or tear into some good Samaritan jackass trying to slap a rope or collar on me.

I'm about to cross yet another road that leads into a bridge when I catch the name of it; 'Prairie Hill Road'. It will lead me to a highway that I need to follow until I reach 'Latham Road'. The going is tricky, getting spotted many times; unavoidable. Screeching brakes gets me running faster.

Two lanes merge with four then back to two after a few miles. I keep hearing the sound of a specific motor as it tails me. I'm not about to be stopped now dammit, they want to cause beef, then let's go.

Prairies lead into farmlands. Latham comes up fast, I take the left turn sharply, diving into the cornfield that borders the road. The sound of brakes getting punched echoes around me. I stop only for a moment to catch my breath, maw parted in a grin.

Can't stay in here too long though, it's easy to get turned around in these fields. Latham leads into Ralston then North 2nd, but from Ralston, I can take a pretty straight shot home. I peek out through the stalks before exiting them. Looks clear.

I follow the road down but have to growl when I hear the same motor again. Screw it, I stop and look for it. I don't know one model from another, can tell you if it's a jeep, truck, car, bug, or a few others, but specific models are beyond me. What's following me is a 'car'.

Long nose and back end, ugly brown color. Actually, I think the brown is where color had been stripped away. Four doors with a broken back window covered in plastic. Got a feeling I know what these idiots are hoping for.

Half tempted to let 'em catch me and tear up their whole operation from the inside. That can go so wrong in so many ways though, and I need to get to Bastion, so this has to be quick. Quick, but painful. My jaw opens in another smile.

I trot down further towards the end of the field. The road isn't really a busy one, and with the time of day, even less so. Another hour or so when it really starts getting dark will be another story, everyone wants to get home.

Towards the end of the street, one of the guys gets out and tries calling for me. He can't tell my gender, so that automatically makes me a female. Funny how that works. I need them both out of the car, so I dance around the one calling for me.

Sure enough, the other parks and gets out. One crazy white boy and an indistinguishable. Either very dirty white, or a possible Hispanic. Gangster wannabes. This oughta be fun.

Tongue lolling out as if I'm winded, I let them steadily get closer. One pulls out a leash, the other a chain. Not a very thick link, talk about being unprepared. These poor sops won't know what hit 'em. Their pants hang low on their waists, even better. I ignore the insults they hurl from my not holding still.

I let White Boy get within touching distance when I dart out and grab his pant leg, yanking down hard. He does manage to get a handful of my fur, but he ends up tripping himself with his own pants. The heavy smell of his cologne about gives me an instant migraine.

Good God. Guys, come on, you really don't need to bathe in the stuff to smell pretty.

Darting back away from the other's lunge, I dance around some more, mouth wide as I play. Lots of 'bro' and 'cuz' get tossed around. The leash makes its way around my neck, he doesn't even realize I walked into it on purpose.

Crowing as if he caught the prize, I grab the slack of the thin leash within my teeth and pull it hard from his hand. He made the mistake of looping it on his wrist, the wet sound of it snapping is quite lovely. Dirty Boy goes down yelling, throwing the leather strap off his swelling limb in a panic.

White Boy with the chain comes at me again, I yip at him as if I were a playing dog. His face goes red in his anger. I bow at him, waving my long tail in the air at him.

He doubles up the chain, changing his grip, boy thinks he's gonna try to hit me with it. I yip again, my yellow eyes narrowing. Stalking closer, I lower my rump and leave myself open.

The chain is in one hand as he reaches out with the other for the leather strap laying next to me, just as he grabs it, my teeth whip around and sink into his face. Top canines sinking into his left cheek, bottom canines into his right. His high pitched scream is the biggest reason I let go.

Damn, dude. My ears ring painfully as I dance away, the chain in his hand totally forgotten. Because I had jerked back before letting go, his face is all torn up. The jerking reminds me that not all my injuries are healed. Bet he'll think again before going after any type of canine though.

The other is looking at me, eyes as wide as saucers as he tries to backpedal. I stalk him, bloody teeth bared. My plan gets disrupted as a car goes by and actually stops.

He looks over, and that's all the time I need as I lunge, knocking him onto his back. Sharp teeth take hard sinking nips all over his abdomen before I get to his face, his screaming stops as he looks me dead in the face. I inhale deeply of his fear, showing him I'm doing so. Then I push into his mind, pushing images of him being torn to pieces.

A bladder releases, but before I leave, I impress the need on him of going to the police and telling them all about the dogfighting ring he's a part of. He starts praying, but I think I get my point across.

Body ducking down when I hear a shot fired, my eyes fly to the man on the curb aiming a gun at me. Recognition fills his eyes, then he throws his arms out in a gesture for me to run away. Weird, but I don't argue. Since his eyes have shown that he knows what I am, I impress on him what these two men are, then I turn and run into the cornfield. Going to have to circle around before I can head home, that way I don't lead anyone with me if anyone chances on following.

See? I'm learning.