The Accident

     The next morning, we went out on our morning rounds, dressed to the nines. Schnapps in her pretty blue sweater with the heart on the chest, and me in my tough, don't-mess-with-me red hoodie. As soon as we stepped outside, I knew something was wrong. The sky was dark grey, and the wind was filled with desperate scents: loss, defeat, sadness. 

     Without the sun, the temperature was colder, as though the air was made of ice, and it hurt to breathe. Even though I had reservations about my hoodie, I was actually glad I had it on to cut the bite of the wind.  

We trotted up the hill, which was made more difficult by the nasty weather blowing in. The snow had been covered by a sheet of ice, and it made climbing up to the top of the hill seem impossible. But we dug in our claws and soldiered on.
     Charles was at the top, swinging his head, and stomping his feet impatiently.
     "Oh, Schnapps, Fritter," he said with anguish when we reached him. "It's awful, totally and utterly awful."
     “Vat is wrong," Schnapps asked. "Did something bad happen during the bone heist?”
     Charles raised his head and whickered. He pounded his hooves against the frozen ground, sending shards of ice into the air.
     "I knew dat bone job was doomed," Schnapps said.
     "Do you know what happened," I asked.
     "Freckles and Sammy rounded up Baylor and Cubby and they all went out, following the rancher as he went to feed the cattle. I guess when they arrived at the spot, everything was normal. They started loading the bones into the back of the truck when a pack of coyotes showed. The feral cats tipped the coyotes off, and that's when everything went haywire."
     Schnapps and I listened intently as he talked. He spoke so fast he had developed a case of the hiccoughs.
     "So, hic. The rancher, hic, hearing the coyotes, hic, and the other dogs fighting, hic, went and got his rifle. Hic, hic, hic.”
     "Oh no," Schnapps murmured, and she gave me a mournful glance. 

     "Did he shoot off some warning shots, to scare away the coyotes," I asked.
     Charles' hiccoughing became more rapid, so much so he had difficulty talking.
     "The rancher has a thing about coyotes," Schnapps filled me in. 

     "But this time, hic, it's much worse. Hic, hic, hic." Charles took another breath and held it for a count, before continuing. “From what Sammy says, it was total chaos. Coyotes, dogs, cats, all running from the rancher's wild shots. In the confusion, the rancher got into his truck, and Freckles was still loading bones, and…he… he…“ 

     "He what,” Schnapps and I said in unison.
     "It was dark out, and the rancher didn’t know he was there, and he backed over Freckles.”

     ”He hit Freckles with his truck,” I said. The news didn't sound any better coming from my mouth. A pit opened up in my belly, and ached with despair. "Poor Freckles."
     "Did he get hurt badly," Schnapps asked, serious and all business like.
     "He was hit on his hind leg, and is at the vet now. He had to have surgery, and I heard his hip was shattered. It will be a long recovery. Sammy is beside herself. It’s so sad.”
     “That Rancher needs to be stopped!” My hackles raised and my emotions bubbled up and got away from me, and I fought to keep myself under control. Schnapps gave me another look that said to simmer down.

     “Hopefully, nothing else vent wrong,” Schnapps said, cocking her head to the side.
     “Well, there was something else, but I don’t think it is relevant to the case,” Charles said.

     “Nothing should be overlooked,” Schnapps said. “You never know if it vill be related or not.”
     "One of the feral kittens went missing."
     "Which one," I asked. I hoped it wasn’t Horatio. He seemed the most sensible out of all the kitties.
     Charles gave me a glancing look. "What does it matter? They look all the same to me."
     "It matters a lot," Schnapps added. She was on the same thought that I was on.
     "That one that is always prancing around here, humming."
     “That would be Bublé,” I said. 

     "Thank you for the information. Ve vill check into it," Schnapps said and turned to go down the hill.
     "Thanks Charles," I said and turned to follow.
     "Fritter," Charles called out, and I looked back over my shoulder. "I'm glad you decided not to go. I don't know what I would do if the Rancher hurt another sweet dog like you."
     "You mean besides Freckles?"
     "I mean like Schnapps’ former partner, Sassy."
     "What are you talking about," I asked, but Schnapps yelled for me to come. I hesitated, I wanted more answers from the horse, but he also had turned away and was returning to his stable.
I met up with Schnapps in front of the outbuilding. She raised her eyebrows.
     "Did the horse have anything else to say," she asked.
     "He said he was glad I didn't go on the bone heist. He didn't want to see me hurt, too."
Schnapps gave a thoughtful nod. "Yes, dat Rancher has hurt many animals."
     “Including your former partner, Sassy?" I knew I was overstepping my bounds, but I had to know what happened to Sassy.
     Schnapps glared at me and snarled. "Never speak of her."
     "I'm sorry. Forget I said anything." I lowered my head.
     She snorted and continued towards the Wood Pile. I followed but still couldn't get the thought that the Rancher had something to do with Schnapps' partner being gone. What happened? Why did Schnapps get so angry when I asked her? What did it have to do with her injury? 

     Stella and Mac were roughhousing outside of the Wood Pile. They stopped and hissed as we approached.
     “Vere is your mother,” Schnapps asked.
     "What is it to you," Mac asked with a sneer. 

     “Ve heard dat your brother, Bublé, has gone missing. Ve want to ask her a few questions."
     "It's none of your business," Stella said, smoothing out her puffed up fur, back to its sleek coat. 

     "Still, if you have made an alliance with de coyotes, it does involve us. Coyotes are a threat, dey cannot be trusted."
     I remained silent so far. I didn't want to interrupt Schnapps, who knew more about these kinds of things. Plus I didn't want to irritate her any more than she was. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a blur of movement. Horatio appeared on the roof of the outbuilding, balancing on the edge of the gutter. 

     "There's Horatio," I whispered to Schnapps. “Above us, at your ten.”
     Schnapps barely moved, just a slight flicker of her bushy eyebrows told me that she had glanced up to see. 

 "Be good kitties and go and fetch your mother for us."
     "Cat's don't fetch," Mac said with a boisterous laugh. "Only disgusting dogs do tricks."
     "And wear stupid sweaters," Stella added.
     Horatio jumped down from the gutter onto a large stack of logs, just outside the Wood Pile. He studied us for a moment. His keen blue eyes scanned every inch of us, and I suddenly got very warm and uncomfortable.
     "I heard that rancher hurt his dog," Horatio said narrowing his eyes.
     "An unfortunate result ven dealing with coyotes," Schnapps said.
     "Coyotes are just mangy, skinny dogs," Horatio said. It wasn't a challenge, or a snide remark, he said it matter of factly. He kept his gaze steady on us, then called out. "Hey, ma? The house dogs are here to talk to you."

     A tortie-tabby cat came out, a mirror image of Meowjolina. Her eyes were watery, but her face was pinched tight.

  

  "What do you want," she demanded.
     “Ve heard dat one of your kittens has gone missing. Ve wanted to see if you were all right," Schnapps said, softening her usual gruff way of speaking.
     "Good riddance," said Mac. "He was always getting in the way." 

     "And his stupid singing, argh," Stella added.
     "Go inside," Meow Ferral hissed and swiped her paw in their direction. All three kitties ran into the Wood Pile. But soon, I could see them peeking through the logs.
     “Ve are sorry for your loss, Miss Ferral," Schnapps said as she bowed her head in respect. I mimicked the gesture.
     “Why would you care,” Meow Ferral said, giving us a frosty glare. “Anyways, like they said, that kid wasn't cut out for this kind of life. Always was humming like an idiot, never watched where he was going."
     "You don't seem too concerned about his disappearance."
     "He was more trouble than he was worth, if you really want to know." Meow Ferral sat down and began to groom herself. She licked her paw and passed it over her head and ear, then repeated the process.
     "Could you tell us who you think could have done dis,” Schnapps pressed on.
     "Who knows. Could have been a hawk looking for an easy meal."
     "Or a coyote,” Schnapps suggested. 

     Meow Ferral gave us a vicious scowl. "What are you insinuating, dog?"
     "Someone mentioned dat you may have made a deal with de coyote pack dat has been roaming the area." Schnapps began to pace in front of Meow Ferral. "I'm thinking dat you told dem de Dawg gang was planning a hit on the deer carcass. Something vent wrong, and dey took your kid as punishment."
     "I don't know who may have told you that," she growled, "but the cats hate the coyotes as much as we hate you. How would striking a deal with them benefit us?"
     Schnapps ceased her pacing and stared down Ferral. "If de coyotes take down enough of de Dawg gang, de cats would have a bigger territory."
     "You have an active imagination, Schnapps." She gave a breathy chuckle. "If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at the rancher. Or better yet, put an end to The Sweater. If he didn't send those dogs out on such a dangerous assignment, that brown cow dog would still be alive."
     "Freckles was only wounded," I said.
     Her eyes went wide, then she regained her cool demeanor. "Oh, well that's a relief," she said, unconvincingly.
     "So what about your son, are you not concerned for his welfare," I asked, ignoring Schnapps warning looks.
     "Like I said," Meow Ferral spoke with a low purr, "that kid was destined to be hawk feed." She stood up and with a flip of her tail, she went back into the Wood Pile, where we couldn't follow. 

     "So now what," I asked giving Schnapps a helpless look.
     "Now ve grill De Sweater, and see if ve can get him to unravel." 

The Inevitable Meeting

     We had gotten a few feet away from the outbuilding when Schnapps spotted Baylor coming toward us.
     "Oh no," Schnapps sighed. “Vat does he vant, now?"
     "Hey, Hey. Wait up," he called out. We stopped but Schnapps shifted her weight. The cold and the excitement of the already busy morning were taking their toll on her old injury. The house where Baylor had come from had a small fenced-in yard. Within the chain-linked fence, a small white dog paced and barked. 

     "Baylor, come back. Baylor, it's not safe out there. Baylor, are you listening to me? Whoa! Was that a hawk? Hawk, Hawk!"
     "What's wrong with that dog," I asked Schnapps.
     “Dat is Gaby, she gets nervous in open spaces," she said, shaking her head. "She got rolled by a hawk once, a scary experience for any small dog, but she never got over it. And now she's scared of any shadow dat crosses her path, even her own." 

     "The poor thing," I said.
     “Ve all haf our own fears,” Schnapps said. I couldn't imagine what Schnapps would be afraid of, she was the bravest dog I've ever met.
     "Hey, Schnapps. Hey, Fritter. Thanks for waiting," Baylor said when he reached us.
     "Hi, Baylor. How are you today," I asked. He looked at me with watery eyes.
     "Nobody has ever asked me that before," he said, his voice cracked with emotion. "It's always, 'Baylor do this. Baylor do that. Baylor, you're so dumb. Baylor, can't you do anything right.'" He hung his head and sniffed.
     I approached him and met his lowered gaze. ”Are you okay?"
     "Yeah, I'm great," He said, bouncing back from his blue mood. "Thanks for asking. How are you?"
     "I am well. Thank you." We both wagged our tails in agreement. 

     "So, now dat ve have shared our feelings," Schnapps butted in. “Vat did you want from us? Ve are very busy dogs." I knew Schnapps really wanted to get back inside and on the couch.
     "Oh, yeah. Cubby said that you should bring the kid here to see The Sweater."
     "And I've sent word to him dat she's not ready," Schnapps said impatiently.
     "Cubby said that if you didn't bring her down to meet The Sweater, then I was supposed to bust your master's kneecaps." Baylor winced when repeating his orders.
     "I take it you don't like busting kneecaps," I asked.
     "Oh, no. I like your human. She's really nice to me. When she's not mad at me, that is. She gives me treats, and belly rubs. Even when I try to bust her kneecaps, she always stops me and tosses my stick away. And when I bring it back, she throws it again, and again. It's really fun." 

     "So why do you work for those dogs? You just don't seem like the criminal type," I said.
Baylor looked from side to side to make sure no one was listening. 

     "The Sweater is really scary," he said in a whisper. "But he throws me a bone every once in a while."
     "Baylor, Baylor," yipped Gaby. "Hawk, hawk!"
     Baylor scanned the sky, then called back. "That wasn't a hawk, it was a sparrow." He rolled his eyes and turned back to us. "I better go and calm her down. I hate it when she gets worked up over a sparrow." 

     We watched him go, then once again returned to our duties. 

     "Schnapps! You stay right there," called out an authoritative voice.
     “Vat now? Doesn't anyone around here understand dat I have an appointment to keep," she said with a heavy sigh. 

     A big, burly, dog came charging up our road. His wooly fur was all black except for a white inverted triangle on his chin. He stood a little too close and huffed his foul breath over our heads. 

     "Is dis da kid, den,” he asked in his gruff voice.
     "Yes, this is Fritter," Schnapps said, not backing down from his intimidating presence. I fought the urge to cower behind Schnapps, but the little voice inside me told me to be brave. 

     "Why have you been ignoring us," he demanded.
     “Why are you in such a hurry to meet her? Does Pierre have to go shopping for a new ugly sweater?"
     The big dog balked at her retort. "I wouldn't be talkin' 'bout Mr. DeLaCroix likes dat if I were you."
     “Vell, unlike you and de rest of the dogs around here, I am not scared of Pierre and his stupid sweaters. Vere does he get dose cheap looking knock-offs anyvays? De shelter lost and found."
I couldn't help but laugh, and got the stink eye from the scary dog.
     "I'll ask again," Schnapps growled. “Vat is your boss's hurry?"
     "He wants to talk to da little dog before da big score tonight."
     "Fine," Schnapps said. "But if he thinks he's going to recruit her, he better think again."
     "Bring her down to da corner this afternoon," said the big dog before trotting back down the road.
I exhaled for the first time in what seemed like forever.
     "Was that...Cubby," I asked Schnapps as we watched him disappear over the horizon.
     "Yes. Dat was Cubby," she said continuing back to the house. "It seems ve cannot delay your introduction to De Sweater any longer. I wanted to let you have de time to grow more confident.”
     A shiver ran down my spine. If that was Cubby, the second in command of the Cedar Village Dawg gang, I wasn't looking forward to meeting The Sweater. Cubby frightened me, and knowing that Baylor is intimidated by Cubby, what was Pierre DeLaCroix like. 

     My nap was fitful. When I woke, Schnapps was watching me from her spot on the MaMA's lap, getting her massage. Instead of looking relaxed though, her body stayed rigid, and her eyes keen and focused, as though she was thinking about what she was going to say at the meeting with The Sweater.
     I sat below them and chewed on my paw.
     "Don't worry, little von," Schnapps said. "I'm concocting up a plan as we speak."
     "What do you think he wants with me?"
     "He vill try to recruit you to pull off dis bone heist," She looked at me. Though her eyebrows shaded her eyes,  a brilliant twinkle was still evident. “Ve already know dat dey plan on hitting dat deer carcass and grabbing all the bones before the coyotes do. De Sweater recruits other dogs, like Baylor, Freckles and Sammy to do his dirty vork."
     "So what are we going to do?"
She raised her nose in the air and sniffed, starting to enjoy her rub down.
     “Ve are going to convince him dat you are too small, too young and inexperienced to go on such a big score."
     “Oh. Is that how you feel about me?" I lowered my head, unable to look her in the eyes. I thought I was making progress in my training, showing Schnapps and the MaMA how brave and strong I was, that I was a good dog.
     "Of course not," she said dismissively.
     "Couldn't we just tell him no? That I won't be his lackey?" I didn't like my skills being dismissed and devalued.
     "A dog like Pierre DeLaCroix does not take no for an answer. You have to make him think it vas his idea to reject you."
     Schnapps hopped down from the couch and stretched. She looked over her shoulder and without a word, the MaMA stood and went to the door. We were let out to start our afternoon rounds. At the top of the hill we both scanned the designated meeting place. No one was there yet.
     "Good," said Schnapps. “Ve have some time to work out de details.” 

Charles loped up to the fence and hung his head over the top pole.
     "Good afternoon, Ladies," he said.
Schnapps gave him a dismissive sniff and ran off to the shed. I had the feeling that she'd want me to follow her, but I felt the need for a bit of legal advice. 

     "Charles, may I ask you a question," I directed it at his big head.
     "Is this about the big heist tonight?"
     "How did you know?"
     "One tends to hear many things in the corral," he said twitching his large ears. "I heard The Sweater wants to see you." 

     I sat in amazement. For a neighborhood with a bunch of secrets, everyone sure knew a lot.
     "I don't know what to do," I shook my head, my ears flapped loudly. "That's not what I mean, I know I cannot join them. It's not part of my job, or the moral code instilled in my training. I'm a good dog, I can't be involved in illegal activities." 

     "I'm glad to hear you say that," Charles said, nodding his head. "Keep to your code, listen to what Schnapps says and follow her lead. She's been in this game for a long time, and she's stayed on the right side of the fence." 

     I furrowed my brows. "I wish that were true, Charles."
     He looked at me with a curious expression. "Whatever do you mean?"
     "She admitted to me that she has eaten mice before." I stuck my tongue out in disgust.
     "I thought all dogs enjoyed a furry appetizer every once in a while,” he said with a wistful smirk.
     "Have you ever eaten a mouse?"
     "They do tend to get everywhere, I can't say that I've eaten one on purpose, but I have found them rooting around in my hay," he said with a chuckle. “Though, I think I would know when there was something different about my hay."
     "I guess I shouldn't be so judgmental," I said.
     "Like the saying goes, 'Don't knock it until you've tried it.'" 

     "Fritter," Schnapps shouted. She peered around the corner of the shed and motioned me to come.
     "Thanks for the advice, Charles," I said as I left.
     "Anytime, little brown dog." 

     I crawled under the shed and found Schnapps pacing the small area.
     "Sorry, Schnapps," I said. "Charles was giving me some advice." 

     "And vat did de horse tell you," she asked with raised eyebrows. 

     "He said to trust you, and follow your lead."
     "You do not trust me?" Her voice was steady, but her pained expression told me that she was insulted.
     "No, no. You got it all wrong. I do trust you. I just don't know how this is going to go down, and I'm worried."
     She stared at me for a long moment before speaking again. "You should be worried. De Sweater is a dog dat knows a lot of tricks. Ve just need to be on our toes, make sure ve don't fall for any of dem.”
     "What are we going to do," I asked. 

     "Ven ve go down dere, you let me do de introductions. Don't speak unless he asks you a question, den act silly. Dat shouldn't be too hard for you, I've seen you in a wig,” she said with a playful wink. 

     "You want me to be a Marilyn?" I wagged with excitment. "Should I go get the wig?"
     "No, just pretend you are a goofy dog."
     "Like Baylor, he's pretty goofy." 

     Schnapps sat and pondered the question. “Dat just might work,” she said. “De Sweater already has enough troubles with Baylor, I doubt he would want to recruit another one like him.”
     With the plan in place, we left the shed and headed down the drive to the crossroads. 

First Day

     “Ready to go meet de others,” Schnapps asked as she scratched at the door. The MaMA approached and let us out.
     “Show her ropes, Schnapps” MaMA instructed. “Don't go too far, and keep an eye on little Fritter." Schnapps grumbled a mumbled reply as she left. 

     As anxious I was to get orientation training started and over with, first day jitters took a hold of me. I hesitated at the door even though I needed to prove myself and earn my tags. Otherwise I wouldn’t become a permanent member of the team, then what would happen to me. But how many “others” were there. A sudden shiver ran up my spine.
     "Go on little brown dog. Have a good time, stay with Schnapps. Don't go off on your own," MaMA said.
     I went out into the frosty weather, and stood on the small front porch. I scanned the area and was taken back at the vast landscape. Our territory seemed to go on forever, nothing but rolling, snow covered hills as far as I could see.
     I shuddered and realized how small I was in comparison to the world. It was much larger than the training yard I grew up in. My legs quivered and threatened to go out from under me. I sat down and tried to control my breathing.
     Schnapps came up and cocked her head.
     "Is everything all right? Vat is wrong?"
     "This yard..." I said between labored gasps, "It's so huge! Are we responsible for everything? Shouldn't we have backup? We should have a platoon of Puggles for this area, not just two little dogs!"

“Ve are only responsible for a small area," she reassured me. "Come now, ve need to inspect de perimeter. Perhaps you vill calm down ven you see vere our borders lie."
I stood up on still wobbling legs. C'mon Fritter, you are better than this, remember your training. A Puggle is brave. Get out there, the little voice inside me said. You don't argue with the little voice, so I left the porch and followed Schnapps.
There was an established trail which followed a weathered lodgepole fence, that we took. It went straight up to the top of a hill, where Schnapps stood waiting for me.
“This area is know as Cedar Village. From here you can see de other homes, vere other families live.” 

There were four other houses, besides our own, spread apart from each other. A short distance away, I could see a black road, snaking across the landscape.
"It's so open, I can see so far from up here," I said. 

“Dere are also lots of hidden dangers out dere, never take your security for granted."
"Who's your new friend?" A booming voice came from above.
I leapt backwards at the mystery voice. From the corner of my eye, I spotted one of the fence posts move, but it was not like the other fence posts, it had fur. I traced the furry pole to a large brown and white body, a long neck, which ended in ginormous head. 

"Holy crud, are you a deer," I asked the lumpy head as it came closer to me. If this monster was a deer, Schnapps is a better hunter than I thought.
The creature gave Schnapps a sideways glance. "Is this one for real," it asked. 

"She's just green," said Schnapps. Her comment confused me, perhaps her eyesight was going, because I was anything but green.
The creature turned back to me. "I am of the equine persuasion." 

"Huh?"
"He's a horse," Schnapps said to me with a huff. "A hay-burning, fancy, lawn ornament.”
The horse sputtered, his lips waggled and he shook his long mane. “I serve a greater purpose than just eating hay! I am highly educated.” He stomped his huge stone like feet. The ground shook with every footfall.
"You do sound very smart," I said, hoping to diffuse the situation. I didn't want to get squished by the horse's hurt feelings, not on my first day. "And you are so big, and strong."
The horse ceased his tantrum, focused on me, and bowed his head. "Why thank you little dog," he said. "And may I add that you are very keen yourself, I'm sure you will be a great asset to your human."
"Thank you," I said. "My name is Fritter.” 

“And I am Charles Reginold Huntington the Third, Esquire,” he said, bowing his head low to his hooves. “If you are ever in the need for legal representation, or advice, I'm your horse."
Schnapps shook out her fur. “Ve just call him Chuck," she said. “Sometimes Chuck Vagon.”

"Charles," the horse corrected, "I prefer Charles."
“Vatever,” Schnapps said as she turned and continued down the path. “I still have to show de young von de ropes."
"Good luck, Miss Fritter. I look forward to speaking with you more,” Said Charles.  “I hope your tenure is long and prosperous.”
"Thank you, Charles," I said as chased after Schnapps. I had to wonder what happened to Schnapps last partner. Everyone seemed to be wary of her, and the constant well wishes for my longevity twisted in my stomach. Or perhaps it was my gut adjusting to the decadent breakfast, which I may or may not have eaten too quickly.
Schnapps descended the hill and circled around a shed before I lost sight of her. I turned the corner of the small building, but couldn't see her. I raised my nose and took a deep breath, then caught her scent; experience, age, knowledge, regret. I lowered my nose and followed her trail to a hole under the shed. 

"Schnapps? Are you under there?"
"Come on down," her voice echoed from underneath the shed.
I went front first into the depths of the tunnel. It was dark, cool, and moist. It seemed to go on forever, but soon opened up to a small underground room. I caught a whole new collection of scents: Musty, woodsy, rancid, then Schnapps. I spotted her in the corner of the room standing over a cache of shaded items.

"Over here, little von," she said.
"What is this place," I asked.
"It's vere I keep de ropes," she said. "And other treasures." 

I looked over her shoulder and saw different strands of ropes: blue and green, yellow, tattered, knotted. Accompanying the ropes were balls of different sizes, a couple of well chewed bones, and a small, stuffed toy dog.
"Wow, this is quite the collection," I said. "May I?"
"Please." She stepped aside with her chest puffed out, proud of her treasures.
I took a closer sniff. I honed in on Schnapps scent, but also smelled other dogs. Perhaps one of her former partners?
"Did you bring your last partner here?"
Her beard bristled.
"Of course I did," she huffed. "It's vere we keep de ropes."
I decided to change the subject. "I smell another animal, not canine, nor feline."
"Das Stinktier," she said in a hushed tone. "A vile creature dat would like nothing more than to steal my ropes."
I nodded, not knowing what a Dastinkter was, but I didn't want to seem more unknowledgeable. I already mistook a horse for a deer. Perhaps a dastinkter was another word for deer.
“Would you like to do some rope training," Schnapps asked, breaking my train of thought.
"Maybe later," I said, fearing she was testing my dedication to the job. "Have we finished the perimeter check?"
Schnapps narrowed her eyes and gave me a slight grin of approval. "Good. Duty always comes first."
She crawled out the tunnel and I followed, light hearted and more sure of myself. I passed at least one test. How many were there to come?
Once we got out of the underground treasure trove, we resumed on the trail around the back of the outbuilding where the car was parked. I picked up a now familiar scent, something feline, but feminine.
"By now, you've got their scent," Schnapps said with a dismissive sniff.
"More cats?" I paused in place. My first encounter with a cat wasn’t great, I didn’t know if these cats would react the same way.
"Yes, and de worse kind, de feral katen." She slowly approached the edge of the building. “Dey follow their own rules, protected by an alliance between Magic and de B.O.C." 

"Who is the B.O.C?"
Schnapps' raised her ruff and bared her teeth, "He's only known as de Big Orange Cat. He's in charge of de Wood Pile Kitty Club. It's one of de places dey congregate."
On the other side of the wall, I could hear scuffling and mewing.
"It sounds like they are having a party," I said. Schnapps shot me a cold glare over her shoulder.
"If I had my way, I would be rid of dese troublemakers. It's bad enough dat I have to share living quarters with one."
"Why not chase them off, if they are such a nuisance?"
Schnapps peered around the corner, then lowered her voice to just above a whisper. "Because, even though dey are unpredictable and a bane to my existence, dey are a good source of information ven things really go wrong. According to de agreement, dey are to stay within a small radius around de outbuilding. If dey cross the boundries, it is in your jurisdiction to chase dem back." 

Just then a multi-colored, mottled cat slinked around the corner.
"Well, well. Hey there Schnapps. What brings you sniffing around our corner," she asked with a flirtatious purr. "Word is you have a new recruit."
"Not now, Meowjolina," Schnapps said as she pushed by the exotic feline.
The curious cat craned her neck and spotted me. "I've never seen a dog like you before," she said with a sweet voice. "Aren't you a pretty kitty."
"I'm not a kitty," I protested. "I'm a Puggle."
"Now, now, let's not get our tails in a twist. It's just a saying we have around here." Meowjolina sashayed close and circled her tail around my head. "Why don't you come in and we can get to know each other a little better."
"Knock dat off," Schnapps barked, and Meowjolina puffed up and hissed back. "You know dat is against de rules. You stay in your area, and ve look de other way. A dog has no business in de Wood Pile. Let's go, Fritter."
I tiptoed around Meowjolina and followed Schnapps.
"Hey Fritter, if you ever decide to have a little fun, you know where to come. My sister, Meow Ferral, has a couple of small fries that would love to play with you," Meowjolina called after us.
"Ignore her, she just vants you to get into trouble," Schnapps said through her clenched jaw.
Meowjolina didn't seem like a threat, but I decided that I should follow Schnapps' experience and instincts.
We walked down the drive and Schnapps pointed out the rest of the boundries.
"Our routine vill be on a strict timeline," she said. "Breakfast, inspect the perimeter, then morning nap. We'll do some combat training before de afternoon patrol."
We returned to the porch and Schnapps took one last survey of our territory. I scanned the neighborhood as well. The houses were all connected by a car sized paths, which intersected at the bottom of the hill. A gang of dogs gathered there. They appeared to be having a meeting, but paused and looked in our direction.
"Who are they?" I pointed my nose in their direction. "Should we go down there?"
"Not right now," she said as she scratched on the door to signal the MaMA. "You vill meet dem soon enough."