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. 

Stairs and Edible Informants

     The stairs were an intimidating obstacle. There were a few steps off of the porch, but those were nothing compared to the flight which stood before me.
Schnapps and Magic sat on the landing, while the MaMA sat on one of the lower steps, instructing me on the mechanics of climbing. 

     "You place your front paws on this step," she said pointing to the second step. "And hop up with your back end onto the one below."
     I pawed at the lower step, whined and sat back down. It seemed like an impossible feat. I didn't think I could stretch far enough to get to the second step, and then do what with my back end? 

     "Or, you can start on the bottom step and walk up. Here, watch me." The MaMA got on her hands and knees and with alternating movements, climbed a few steps.
"I prefer de stretch-hop system, myself," Schnapps said. "It's quicker." 

"But if you want to be more inconspicuous, use the alternating step maneuver," said Magic.
I placed my front paws on the bottom step. Everyone watched with anticipation. My mind was in the right place but my paws didn’t get the message. I reached out to the second step but waved my foot in the air, not connecting to the next step. Why was this so hard? 

     "I don't get it." I whined.
     "Whatever, I've got more exciting things to do, like watch a spider spin a web." Magic said. He stood, and went up the stairs without a sound. It was if he had sprouted wings and flew, without his feet ever touching a step.
     "C'mon Fritter. You can do it," the MaMA cheered me on. 

    I furrowed my brow and concentrated on the step. I scootched my back legs underneath me then stretched up to the second stair with my front paws. It was a long reach, but I made it. I looked to my back end, summoned up the gumption and hopped up to the lower step. 

     I looked at the MaMA, then Schnapps.
     "Yes, yes! Little von. You are doing it," said Schnapps.
     "Keep going," MaMA encouraged.
     So I stretched again, then hopped, stretch, hop, and soon I was on the landing with Schnapps. The MaMA gave a whoop of delight. Her excited approval warmed a spot in my chest and radiated from my nose to the tip of my wagging tail. It was such a delicious feeling, I looked up the second set of steps, ready to give it another go. This time, I thought, I would try Magic's way. But first, I had to figure out the logistics. Left front paw, back right paw, front right paw, back left paw. It was just like walking, I just had to pick my feet up more, so as to not trip. The whole process clicked, and suddenly I wondered what the big deal was.
     Once I got myself coordinated, I whipped up the stairs with ease. I looked back down on MaMA and Schnapps, who watched in wide eyed surprise.
     "I think she’s got the idea," the MaMA said to Schnapps. "Now all she needs to learn is to go down the stairs."
     I flinched at the idea. I gazed down the stairs and suddenly the room began to sway. I sat down to steady my wobbly legs.
      "But we’ll think about that later," the MaMA said with a smile. "Who wants breakfast?"
     "I do," I woofed. Ever since I had that delicious meal yesterday, I longed for breakfast time to come around again, and I could relish in that decadent gravy.
     Once the bowl of scrumptious morsels was placed before me, I vowed to relish every biteful. But what seemed like only a few moments later, my bowl somehow had been licked clean. Schnapps was still eating, and I wondered if she got a larger portion than me. 

     "Schnapps," I said in a sweet voice, "are you enjoying your meal?"
     "Yes, very much so," she smacked.
     "Are you going to finish it all?"
     She glared at me, and started to growl. "Step away, little von." 

     "Well, the thing is, I finished my breakfast already and I noticed you are still eating. I think the MaMA perhaps accidentally gave you more."
     "No," Schnapps said not lifting her gravy coated snout from the bowl. "You just eat like a little piggy." She shifted her body and blocked my view from her bowl.
     I moved to the other side and laid down in front of her. I placed my head on my front paws and sucked in my cheeks to make it seem like I was thinner than I actually was. She ignored my dramatic attempt and kept eating.
     "I'm a growing pup, I need to have more breakfast," I said with wide eyes full of all the emotion I could muster, and reached out to her bowl with my front paws. I caught the edge with one of my claws and pulled the bowl towards my direction.
     "Stop it, Fritter," Schnapps barked.
     I cringed. She rarely called me by my name, so it took me off guard. 

     "Why don't you bother de cat," she suggested.
     Reluctantly, I got up and padded into the laundry room, which was located just off of the kitchen. It was where the cat ate, high up on the washing machine. His food smelled like fish and chicken, along with some minty herb I couldn't place. I stopped in the doorway when I heard a squeaky little voice, similar to the one I heard cry for help the night before.
     "Please, let me go. I've told you all I know." The voice pleaded.
     "I think you are lying," Magic said in a low growl.
     "It's the truth, I tells ya. I don't know nuthin’. Ya gotta believe me.”
     "Then what's the use keeping you around, you are useless to me except to serve as my breakfast," Magic said.
     I wondered who was serving him breakfast, if it wasn't the MaMA, and if it was to be served with gravy. 

     The little voice started to plead and shout again, but then it was muffled. I stood on my hind legs and tried to peek over the edge of the washer, but Magic had his back turned towards me.
     "What'cha doin’,” I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. Magic whipped his head in my direction, his eyes wide with surprise. His cheeks bulged out and out of his mouth hung a long tail and a tiny foot.
     "Noffin’,” he said.
     "Doesn't look like nothing," I said doubtfully. "It looks like a tail and a foot. Who were you talking to?"
     Magic sucked the tail and foot into his mouth, chewed awhile, then swallowed big.
     "I was interrogating a suspect," he said with a sinister grin. 

     "Who were you interrogating,” I asked sniffing the edge of the washer. I caught a slight scent of corn, grain, mixed with fear. "And where is he now?"
     "I don't know what you are talking about," he said licking his paws.
     “I heard someone with you. And you just said..."
     "I have no recollection of any mention of anything," he said and jumped down from the washer. "I was just having my breakfast. You must have imagined it."
     "I know what I heard," I said following him out of the washroom, however when I turned the corner, he was gone. Schnapps was at the front door waiting for me, so I joined her, and we were let out for our morning rounds.
     "I think the cat just ate somebody," I told Schnapps once we were outside. I didn't want to alarm the MaMA, but I wanted to warn Schnapps of what Magic was capable. He had already threatened to eat Sunshine, where would he stop? 

     "What did Magic do," Schnapps asked.
     "Do you remember when I heard that voice last night? The one crying for help?" Schnapps nodded and I continued. "Well, I heard one very similar coming from the top of the washer where Magic was sitting. The voice was saying that he had no information, and then that's when Magic ate him. I saw his tail and foot coming out of Magic's mouth!"
     "A little squeaky voice?" Schnapps didn't seem too concerned about the horrific act I had just witnessed.
     "Yeah, a teeny, tiny, desperate voice," I said with a nod. 

     "Oh, dat is nothing." Schnapps said, and continued up the hill. 

     "Nothing? Eating someone alive is nothing?" I gaped at her non-chalant attitude of this sickening situation.
     Schnapps turned around and shrugged her shoulders. "Yup."
     "But who was it? And why did Magic have to eat him."
     "Listen, Magic is a shady character, but he is a cat. Cats catch and eat mice. Vat you heard was a mouse, probably trying to exchange information for his life. Dat’s vat dey do."
     "A mouse? They are informants?"
     Schnapps nodded. “Dey are very small, and can get into places most animals can't. Dat is why they make good spies. Unfortunately, dey have very small brains, and dey can't retain a lot of information, or remember it ven dey are interrogated."
     "Then why would we want to capture them if they are pretty useless?"
     "Every once in a while, you get lucky," Schnapps turned back to the trail and I walked beside her. "But most of de time you just get a light snack."
     "You eat them too?" I recoiled from her side.
     "Yes, dey are quite tasty."
     I stopped walking. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.
     This assignment I had been chosen for was becoming complicated. My partner and nemesis both ate mice. Would they expect me to do the same? Could I? How strange the ways of the wild prairie were. Drill Sargent never talked about eating informants. I wondered if she ever had, or if there were even mice back at PUP Camp.
     I continued my trek along the trail and caught up with Schnapps on top of the hill. Sammy was there, along with another dog. He looked like the same breed as Sammy, medium sized with long fur, except his was tan and white. As I came closer, I noticed small brown spots speckled his face. Freckles. 

     "Hello, there little missy," he said to me as I approached the fence line. His voice was as smooth as gravy, and his eyes like two bowls of gravy. Okay, maybe I did have a slight addiction to gravy. "You must be the new partner I've heard so much about." 

     "And I guess you’re Freckles," I said motioning to his face.
     He gave a slight grin and chuckled. "I s’pose that's purdy obvious, huh? You’re ‘bout as smart as you are cute."
     My heart skipped a beat, and a rush of heat filled my cheeks. I began to giggle at his compliment, but then I remembered what Schnapps said about him; that he was a flatterer and I cleared my mind and my throat.
     "Thank you, citizen,” I said and puffed out my chest in an official way. Schnapps raised an eyebrow at me then turned to Sammy. 

     "Like I was saying," Sammy rolled her eyes and continued their conversation. I tried to concentrate on her, but could sense Freckles intent gaze. Every time I glanced over, he would give me a wink and a sly smile. I turned my head away from him and focused on Sammy and Schnapps conversation. 

     "There's rumor of a deer carcass back behind our house. The Sweater wants us to bring back the haul when the rancher goes out to check the fences. Do you want in?"
     "You know ve can't," Schnapps said.
     "Are you sure? It could mean a lot of bones," Sammy said.
     "Lil' Fritter, d’ya want to come? You can sit by me in the back of the truck."
     I'm glad I had brown fur, because my skin burned hot with a sudden flush of shyness. 

     "No, thank you. I'm not allowed to go past the perimeter," I said, just giving him the briefest of glances before sticking my nose back into the air.
     "Aw, don't be like that. We can be good friends, you and I," He said, not quite begging, but fishing for a reaction out of me.
     "She said no," Schnapps said with a snap. “Ve haf our duties, and our human to protect. Ve can't go galavanting into de field for a few bones."
     "It could be a lot of bones," Sammy insisted.
     "Of which, De Sweater would take de biggest cut." Schnapps turned and continued down the trail.      "Thanks for the offer, but ve vill be happy wit vat our human gives us."
Sammy shrugged then turned back to her house. I started to follow Schnapps when Freckles called out.
     "Goodbye, Sweet Fritter."
     I didn't look back, and continued down the path. Even though I wouldn’t mind gazing into his gravy colored eyes forever. Duty first, I told myself, a Puggle is loyal and brave.
Schnapps stormed down the hill and past the shed. She didn't even go to check out the ropes, so I knew she was miffed. Whether it was because she was going to miss out on a huge score or because she was offended that they would include a high ranking official like herself on a heist, I couldn't tell which. In one way, Schnapps was brave and committed to her job. But, on the other paw, I just found out she would look the other way while Magic would interrogate then dispose of an informant, and that she was known to do the same. And enjoy it!
     She was muttering under her breath and I decided to give her some space. Instead of following her around the back of the outbuilding, I went around the front. No need for both of us to look at the back of the building.
     I investigated the front side, my nose to the ground, when I caught a mousy scent. I traced the scent and found myself looking at four sets of paws. Two grey, one orange, and one mottled with an extra toe on the right foot. I looked up and jumped back from four kittens laughing at me.
     "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to..." 

     "Take a whiff of our feet?" The larger of the grey kitties said. "Yeah, what's the deal, toe sniffer?" The Tortie-tabby female teased.
     "I said I'm sorry, I was tracking down a mouse," I said after regaining my composure. 

     "Why are you looking for a mouse," The large grey one asked circling around me. "They ain't good for nothing but eating." 

     "Yeah," The tortie-tabby said, circling the opposite direction. "And by the looks of it, you don't need an extra meal." 

     "Toe, toe, she sniffed my toe. No, no, I told her no," sang the small grey cat.
     "Bublé, stop that infernal singing" the large one said. 

     "Bublé? That would make you Mac and Stella," I said to them, then looked at the orange kitty, "And you must be Horatio." 

     "Yeah, and what of it," asked Mac. 

     "You think knowing our names makes you smart," taunted Stella. 

     "She was smart for a dog, though she was as big as a log," sang Bublé.
     "Bublé! Stop it!" Stella and Mac shouted in unison. Horatio didn't join in on the taunting, but looked on with a bored expression. 

     "Leave Fritter alone," Horatio said with a yawn. 

     "Oooo," teased Mac and Stella, turning their attention on him. "Someone's got a girlfriend."
     Horatio didn't react, only licked his paw and rubbed his face. They refocused on me. 

     "Whaddya think you are doing sniffing around our parts, dog," Mac demanded. 

     "Don't you know the rules," asked Stella. "You are not allowed on our turf."
     "Technically, I am not on your turf. I'm allowed to go around the building, but not in the Wood Pile, and as you can see, I am far from being inside your turf." 

     "She's got a smart mouth on her, Mac," Stella hissed. "Teach her she can't talk to us like that."
     "Yeah, dog," Mac held up his paw, claws drawn. "I should scratch your eyes out for being such a smart dog. That'd teach you." 

     I stood my ground, raised my ruff and growled, "You couldn't even if you tried."
     "Stop it right dere,” Schnapps shouted, charging towards us at full tilt. 

     The young cats scattered as Schnapps sounded the alarm. I barked along with her as we chased the kitties back into the wood pile.
     "Good vork," Schnapps said. "Don't let dose katzen boss you around." 

     "I now understand what you were saying about them being a bunch of hoodlums," I said as we continued our patrol. I looked back at the wood pile and saw the kitties peering out at us from between the logs. Mac and Stella walked away laughing with Bublé following them. Only Horatio came out from the logs and watched us as we walked away. 

The Extra Toe That Will Rule Them All

     "So what's the deal with Baylor," I said after our afternoon nap. "He kept mentioning Cubby, is that his human?”
     Schnapps was sitting on top of the back of the couch, where she could see out of the window. Precariously perched on the narrow ledge, she gave me a measured look, as though she was wondering how much she wanted to tell me. 

     "Look, whether you like it or not, I am your partner, and I'm going to have to find out about who these animals are sooner or later," I said, finding a bit of boldness I didn't know I had in me.
     "Baylor is part of de Dawg Gang," Schnapps said with a resigned sigh. "He's just a mindless minion, try as he might, he just can never complete a task."
     "Cubby is the leader of the Dawg gang, then?"
     Something caught her attention out the window and her body tensed up, but apparently the threat had passed and she relaxed. She continued to talk, but continued her watch out the window.
     "Cubby is second in command. He's a blowhard, his bark is worse dan his bite, as dey say. But he's good at intimidating everyone around him. He's de brains and Baylor is de muscle." Schnapps slid down from her post and settled on the couch cushion. “Dere leader is a toy poodle by the name of Pierre DeLaCroix. Or as he is known around de neighborhood, ‘De Sweater.’” She gave me a warning look, "But never call him dat to his face."
     "The Sweater? He doesn't sound so scary," I said with a dismissive snort.
     "Don't underestimate him. He may be small in stature, but he's de leader for a reason. Never make him mad, and never make fun of his sweaters."
     I still had a hard time believing that a teeny poodle could rule a powerful syndicate. But I had to trust Schnapps. Besides, she was a small dog, and she stood up to Baylor for crumbs sakes.
     "So is that dog on the hill, the one you were talking to earlier, is she part of the Dawg gang?"
Schnapps scratched her ear with her good back leg. "Vell, dat is where it get's complicated. Her name is Sammy. She's a ranch dog."
     I gasped. "You mean..."
     "Yes, she belongs to dat crazy old rancher behind us. So does Chuck, de horse."
     "So where does Sammy fall in the Sweater's orginization?"
     "Sammy is a double agent, she takes a passive role in the gang. She doesn't participate in any hits or scores, but she stays close to pick up intel. She lives with another ranch dog, Freckles, who is part of the gang. He's de face-man, and someone to be wary of. He is a smooth one, and vill talk de collar right off of you." 

     "Good thing I don't have one," I said.
     "Not yet, little von," Schnapps said with an approving look. "But I have no doubt if you keep preforming at dis level, you'll get your tags soon enough."
My heart swelled hearing her positive assessment. But I soon was crestfallen with the thought that my training wouldn't get any easier.
     "Now, what about the cats?" 

     "CATS," screeched Sunshine behind me. He had been so quiet all day, I forgot he was around. "What cats?" 

     "Settle down, bird brain," Schnapps growled. "Fritter is asking about de Wood Pile katzen.”
     "I don't want any cats in here, isn't it bad enough that Magic is here?” Sunshine slid off of his perch and down to the lower level in his cage. He paced back and forth. "He doesn't belong in the house!" he squawked.
     "He has just about as much right to be here as any of us," Schnapps said with a yawn. Apparently this was a conversation they had many times before. "Besides, without him, we would never have struck an agreement wit de feral katzen. And let us not forget, he has kept you safe…so far.“
     "But for what reason?" Sunshine flapped his wings in his frustration, sending a cloud of feathers, emptied seed shells and dust into the air. "I don't trust him, I never have. He just showed up in the middle of the night, looking all starved and injured. How do we know that the B.O.C. didn't do that to him and send him over. He could be a sleeper spy. He certainly sleeps enough."
     "Settle down, bird," Schnapps barked. “Dat is enough out of you."

     "I don't trust him,” the bird continued. “Have you seen the way he looks at me? He's no good, I tell you! He's just waiting to put an end to me."
Schnapps jumped off the couch and charged at the cage. "I'll put an end to you right now if you don't keep dat beak shut."
     "And what makes you think, I would want to eat a gossiping little squab like you," A satiny voice came from the shadows. 

     "Squab? You dare call me a squab," Sunshine said as he ruffled his feathers and peered into the darkness. "I am a pretty bird, you could feed off of me for weeks, if you were so lucky."

     Magic emerged from out of the dark corner and jumped up on the hearth. He pressed his face against the cage and glared at Sunshine. "Shall we find out," he said and raised his paw, his claws extended.
Sunshine cowered in the furthest corner of his cage, peeping unintelligible words.
     "That's enough out of you two," the MaMA said from behind us. All of the racket must have interrupted whatever she was doing in the kitchen. "Magic, get down from there! Leave the bird alone." 

     Magic retracted his claws and pulled away. "Fine," he said as he jumped down from the hearth. "He's probably stringy."
     The MaMA returned to the kitchen.
     Magic turned his attention to me. His glowing green eyes sparkled in the fire light. "So you want to know about the Wood Pile, huh?" 

     I sat up straight and looked at him straight in the eyes, not wanting to let him know how intimidating he actually was.
     "Yes, I want to know all that you have on the Wood Pile Kitties," I demanded. 

Magic kept staring at me, a slight smirk on his face revealed his pearl white fangs. "Okay little dog, I'll tell you."
     Schnapps gave me a wary look, but then seemed to be resigned to my curiosity. I did have to learn sometime, better have it come right out of the cat's mouth. 

     "Lay it on me," I sat in front of the fire and gave him my full attention.
     "Where shall I start, hmm?" He moved closer to where I was, and laid down on the hearth. His body stretched almost the whole length as the end of his tail flipped up and down as he thought. I waited patiently as he gathered his mental notes, or perhaps he was fabricating lies to feed me, I couldn't tell. His face was a blank slate, giving not a hint of emotion, except perhaps contempt. 

     "Why don't we start at the top," I suggested. "The B.O.C.?" 

     "Ha," Magic exclaimed. "The less you know about him, the better. But let's start out with the proprietresses if The Wood Pile itself, huh?"
     "Yes, I met Meowjolina today," I said. 

     "Ah, Meowjolina, she's a beauty," Magic said with an amorous sigh. 

     "She's a shameless crumpet," Schnapps grumbled under her breath.
Magic glared at her, but must have known he wouldn't scare her, and quickly turned his attention back to me. 

     "The Wood Pile has been an institution in Cedar Village for a long time, before I arrived, even before old sauerkraut over there."
     Schnapps gave a dismissive snort and retreated back to the couch. 

     "How many generations does it go back," I asked. 

     "Who knows," Magic rolled his eyes. “Currently this family of patched tabby-tories have control of the operations. Their Matriarch is Mrs. Meowbinson. She has two daughters that help run the place, the lovely Meowjolina, and her feisty sister, Meow Ferral. They are a very distinctive group." 

     "What do you mean by distinctive? Is that the same as the dastinkter," I asked.
Magic quickly cast a questioning glance at Schnapps, then refocused on me. "No, I mean you can tell who is in line to take over the Wood Pile. Only a female in the family can run the club, and only one who has the special marking." 

     I thought about Meowjolina and her patchwork of colors. "What's the special marking?"
     "The next in line has an extra toe on their front right paw. Only a few of the Meowbinson line have the extra toe, thus they will inherit the Wood Pile club and all the responsibilities that go with it." Magic stood and arched his back to stretch. He got down from the hearth and jumped up onto the near by window sill, then looked out the frosty glass into the darkness. "The system was going well, until..." his voice trailed off as he stared off into the distance. 

     "Until what," I asked, and moved under the window where he sat. "Until old Mrs. Meowbinson had a pair of twins, both with the extra toe."
     "Meowjolina and Meow Ferral both have the marking,” I exclaimed. 

     "Yes, so there is a constant debate about who will take over when the old lady decides to step down," Magic said. He turned his head to look at me. Backlit by the outside light coming through the window, I could only see his silhouette, and the glowing of the fire reflected in his eyes. I shivered at the sight, but couldn't tell if it was him or the fact that I was away from warmth of the fire. 

     "Does that cause fighting between the sisters?” I remembered the other day when I thought Number One was after my position, and the heated jealousy I felt. How I wanted to do everything in my power to prevent her from reaching the MaMA before me. 

     "Does it ever," Magic said. "Unfortunately for Meowjolina, her sister had kittens before she could, and one of them, Stella, has the extra toe." 

     "So Meowjolina is off the hook."
     "That would be the case, except Meowjolina is driven. She wants the club, whereas Meow Ferral couldn’t even interested in the day to day operations. But since Meowjolina wants it, Ferral will make sure she won't get it. And since Ferral's daughter has the extra toe, the thought is that Ferral will inherit the club, then Stella."
     "Wow, I feel bad for Meowjolina," I said. I wondered if Number One was sad because of my prime assignment, if she really wanted it or that she just didn't want me to get it.
     "You should feel bad for Stella,” Magic said as he leapt from the ledge and padded past me. “I’d better be off.” He went to the door and sat in front of it, as though he could will it open with his glare alone.
     "Do you want to go out, kitty?" MaMA called out from the kitchen.
     "NOW," Magic said with an annoyed tone.
     "Okay, hold on to your nip," the MaMA said. She opened the door and his ears flattened back against the cold rush of air.
     "Well," she said, still holding open the door.
Magic slipped out into the dark night for his shift.
     I went back down to my blanket and laid down so I could process all the information Magic had given me. I imagined that Stella was feeling the pressure of the legacy put on her little shoulders and her extra toe. That's a lot for a little kitty.
     "Vat is on your mind, little von," Schnapps asked from her spot on the couch. The firelight cast dark shadows on her face, making her look older, somehow, more tired and worn.
     "It's a lot to ask from your child, isn’t it,” I said. "Two sisters at war for the top spot, and Stella is in the middle of it."
     "Don't feel too bad for that katzen, you have yet to meet the young Stella."
     "What are Stella and her litter mates like?"
     Schnapps raised her head, as though she could find the right words floating above her.
     "Stella knows her place, and I think she relishes in de fact dat she is second in line to run de Pile. She has three brothers, Mac, Horatio, and Bublé. Mac is like Stella, and thinks of himself as her protector. Those two are always side by side, prancing around like they already own the place. Bublé is the youngest, the artist. He thinks himself de next great songwriter. He's often found wandering around, humming a tune. He often performs his songs in de club. Horatio is a lot like you, I guess."
     "How's that?"
     "He's ambitious, but independent. Full of energy and very bright."
     "Sounds like we would get along," I said.
     Schnapps furrowed her brow and scowled. "Stay away from those katzen," she said and jumped down from the couch and clipped out of the room.
     I couldn't understand why Schnapps disliked cats so much. Sure Magic was a bit stand-offish, and somewhat cruel, and a whole lot scary. But, Meowjolina didn't seem that bad. I thought our relationship with the Kitty faction would be better if we were on friendly terms. You never knew when you could use an ally across enemy lines, or at least that is what Drill Sargent always said. 

The Marilyn

       The MaMA had built a nice fire which filled the room with a comforting warmth. My blanket was set in front of the fireplace and I had no problem falling asleep. Especially since that long hike around the perimeter. 

      I woke up from my nap before Schnapps. She was laying on the couch across from the fireplace.

"You must have had an adventurous morning," said the MaMA, putting down the paper she was reading. "You were barking and running in your sleep." 

      I had to admit that I've never had dreams so vivid and exciting. They were filled with horses, dancing cats in the wood pile, and a mysterious Dastinkter, which I secretly hoped I never met in real life. 

       Schnapps continued to snore next to the MaMA. She was as loud as the General, maybe even louder.
      I went to the couch and raised myself to check on her. She, too, was talking and running in her sleep, but her dreams sounded more terrifying than mine.
     "No, Sassy," she muttered. "Don't go near dere, it's not safe!"
     "You better occupy yourself, she'll be out for a while," said MaMA. I lowered myself, and went to my toy basket. I was full of puppy energy, and I didn't want to waste any of it waiting for an old dog to wake up.
     There were new items in the basket. I gave MaMA a questioning look.
     "I found some old things, I thought you might have fun with them," she said as she came towards the basket and knelt down. She pulled out a blonde hairy thing and held it up by a stray lock. "This is a wig," she explained with a wink. "You know, for when you want to go undercover."
     She put it on me then laughed. "Why if it isn't Marilyn Monroe! 

     The wig covered my whole body, pale strands fell down around my eyes and snout.
     "You are gorgeous. Here let me show you," she said as she picked me up and took me to a nearby mirror. "Do you like it?" 

     I gazed at my reflection,  the blonde curls cascaded over my brown fur. I thought it made me look sophisticated, suave, and beautiful. I looked at the MaMA and her bemused face. I licked her cheek. 

     "Oh yes, I do like it." I immediately thought of all the situations I could use the wig. Perhaps, I could infiltrate the Wood Pile or set up a sting operation to catch the Dastinkter. MaMA set me down and I went to show Schnapps my brilliant disguise.

     "Vat are you wearing," she asked when she saw me. I tried walking like Meowjolina, crossing my paws in front of each other, which made my body sway from side to side.
     "It's a Marilyn Monroe, MaMA gave it to me. Don't I look lovely?" 

     "I think you look like a joke."
     I tossed my head to the side to swish the wig, but it went the opposite direction and blinded me. I took a wrong step, got tangled in the golden locks, and tripped myself up. I fell with a loud thud, face first, on the unforgiving floor.
     "Ouf."
     "Are you all right,” Schnapps asked with concern.
     I peaked out from under the wig. "I thick I bith my tongue."
     "I'm sure dat won't interfere with your duties," Schnapps said, jumping down from the couch.       "Let's go on our afternoon rounds." 

     "Okay," I grabbed the wig and followed her to the door.
     "Leave dat thing here," she demanded.
     "Aw, man." I dropped the wig and the MaMA let us out. 

     The sun was out, and though the air was still brisk, it seemed warmer than before.
     Schnapps and I got on the trail and climbed the hill. I kept my nose to the ground, gathering intel by scent. Charles wasn't at the top of the hill to greet us this time, but in his place stood a long haired black and white dog. Schnapps picked up her pace and left me to inspect a suspicious hole in the ground. I found no danger and ran to catch up with Schnapps and the mystery dog. As I approached, I caught bits and pieces of their conversation. 

     "The Sweater wants to see you," said the black and white dog. 

     "It's too soon, she's not ready yet," Schnapps said. "You'll haf to tell him to be patient."
     "He won't like hearing that." 

     "Well, dat's his problem."
     The stranger nodded towards me, "I'll talk to you later."
     "Who was that," I asked Schnapps as we both watched the other dog walk across her territory. "Who is the sweater?"
     “Dat is nothing for you to worry about now," said Schnapps as she turned back onto the trail and headed to the shed. "Do you want to grab a rope and play a little tug?"
     "Do I ever!” It had been awhile since I got to play tug. Okay, it had only been a day, but it seemed like forever.
     "Why don't you go grab one? I'll keep watch out here."
     I dove down into the secret rope stash. "Which one should I grab?"
     "You're choice," Schnapps called down after me. “Dey are all good ropes."
     I went to the corner and picked out one with three knots in it and drug it back out with me.
     "Ah, dat is one of my favorites," Schnapps said, admiring my choice.
     I held fast to my end while Schnapps took the other and quickly tugged at it. She was strong for being such and old dog, but I kept my grip and shifted my weight to my back end. Schnapps shook, pulled and tugged, but I pulled back with all my might and stayed put.
     "You are very strong, little von," she said with the rope still in her mouth.
     "Thank you," I said, but in my moment of annunciation, she whipped the rope out of my mouth and ran.
     I took chase, and we ran around the home base. I caught hold of one end and the fight continued.       We ran together ducking and weaving, the rope tethered between us, stopping only for a tense, unyielding stand off.
     "You've got some skills," I said through my teeth, careful not to let the rope loose this time. I've never had such a rambunctious game of tug. Schnapps was a serious opponent. My body tingled with invigorated energy.
      Schnapps chuckled through her grip. "You've been vell trained. And you are surprisingly strong for a pup so young. Once you've grown, you will be formidable."
I yanked with all my strength and pulled Schnapps forward a step. She shook her end, which sent vibrations down the rope and tickled my teeth.
     "Ha, nice try," I taunted. "You won't be able shake it out of my mouth this time."
     Schnapps glanced over my head, then back at me. She dropped the rope and puffed herself up.
     "Are you giving up so easily," I egged her on. Then I sensed another presence looming over my head. I looked up and the rope fell from my gaping mouth.
     Above me stood a huge yellow dog. In his mouth he held an equally large stick. It was more like a whole tree, it was so big.
     I shuffled from out under the behemoth, for fear of him dropping the log and squishing me.
     "Wha-what are you," I exclaimed.
     "Hello, Baylor," Schnapps said to the yellow dog.
     "Hi Schnapps," Baylor said. "Your human isn't around is she? I've been ordered to take her out, uh...I mean give her this uhm...firewood. Yeah, firewood."
     "What do you mean take her out," I asked. Baylor looked from side to side, then down at me. His eyes got big, as though he hadn't noticed me before. He dropped the log, barely missing me by a few hairs. I yipped and stood beside Schnapps. Okay, it was behind Schnapps, but dang that tree almost did me in.
     "Who are you," Baylor asked.
     “This is Fritter, my new partner," Schnapps said, still in her protective stance. I marveled at how brave she was. Baylor was ten times her size and yet she stood her ground. "You can take your stick and go home. You are not going to take out anyone today. She is still mad at you for de last time you tried."
     "Why do you have to be so mean, Schnapps? I just want to do my job. You know how Cubby gets when I don't complete my tasks," he whined. He looked down at his stick then at us with a sorrowful face. "C'mon, just let me take one whack at her good knee. I promise not to hit her hard. Just enough for me to report that I did it. I don't have to do it well."
     "Like I said," Schnapps reprimanded him. "She's not going to let you do it, so you might as well go home."
     Just then the door opened and the MaMA came out onto the porch. 

     "Baylor, go home” she shouted.  

     Baylor stood and wagged his tail in excitement. He picked up his weapon and approached the porch. I started toward the porch, but Schnapps shot me a look that read "stand down." I worried for the MaMA, weren't we supposed to protect her from such a situation as this? We had an obvious suspect that wished her harm. We knew his intent, and he was holding a weapon of wooden destruction. Was Schnapps testing me again? Was I to override her orders and stop Baylor? And if I was, how was I to stop such a ginormous animal?
     "No, Baylor," MaMA said, pointing away from the porch. "I said go home."
     Baylor stopped his advance. His tail and head dropped.
     "Go on, shoo!"
     Baylor turned away and started down the hill. "Aw man, Cubby is going to chew my hide," I heard him mutter as he left.
     I looked back at MaMA. She, too, was brave and strong willed, like Schnapps. I wondered why she needed us at all. She was very capable of taking care of herself.
MaMA's attention was no longer on us or Baylor, but she was looking out into the distance. A loud rumble came up the private road. I followed her gaze and saw a beat up, rusted out truck barreling up the road.
     "That lunatic," MaMA said under her breath. "When will he ever learn not to drive so recklessly? Hasn't he hurt enough people?" Her voice cracked, and I got the feeling that she was one of those people the lunatic had hurt. 

     I sought for clarity from Schnapps, but she too was intently watching the truck, a pained expression on her face.
     MaMa called us to return inside. The sun had begun it's decent, and since we had stopped playing, I was getting cold, so I didn't delay. 

     Schnapps trotted in after me. I found my blanket in front of the fireplace and laid down to let it warm my chilled fur. Schnapps went over to the couch, where the MaMA had sat down. She attempted to jump up, but her trajectory was off and she stumbled back to the floor. Then I noticed she held her back leg up, and it was shaking. Was she hurt during our playtime? 

     "Are you injured, Schnapps? I'm sorry if I was too rough on you earlier," I said. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
     She tried jumping onto the couch again, this time landing her spot, but just barely. 

     "I am always in pain, little von. But it has nothing to do wit you." She sat on the MaMA's lap and looked over her shoulder at her.
     "Is it time for your massage appointment, madame," MaMA said in a silly, fancy accent. Schnapps nodded at her and the MaMA began to rub her shoulders, working and kneading down her back, to her hips and back up. 

     Schnapps closed her eyes and lowered her head. She winced when MaMA came upon her hips, but she didn't yip, but rode out the pain by inhaling deeply.
     I went over to the couch and sat in front of them. 

     "What happened to you," I asked.
     "It's an old injury, nearly put me out of commission," Schnapps said between long breaths. "It hurts de most during de vinter. De cold tightens up my wounds."
     I must have looked horrified, because when Schnapps slightly opened her eyes and reassured me that she would be all right.
     "Just promise me dat you vill stay away from dat rancher and his truck." She shut her eyes again. I went back to my blanket and watched them.
     Poor Schnapps. I wondered if her injury and MaMA's sadness were related. It all seemed to stem around the rancher and his truck. What if he was responsible for her partner's untimely end? After all I did hear her shout out in her nightmarish sleep. Right then, I vowed to bring the rancher to justice. And even though I wouldn't be able to heal Schnapps' body, perhaps I could lessen the emotional wounds from which she suffered. I just didn’t know how.

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." 

De Others

     I woke in the middle of the night, and as I like before, I was disoriented and unclear of my surroundings. The MaMA had requisitioned a bed for me, a squishy one with dark brown fake fur and a small divot in the center. It was almost like sleeping in the pile back at PUP camp. Almost. It lacked the warmth of my brethren, the undulating movement of their breathing, and the occasional wafting reminder of what we had eaten that day. 

     Anxious, I began to fret and whine.
     "Oh, Fritter," I heard a groan from the larger bed beside mine. "Do you need to go out?"
     I hadn't thought of it before, but I could use the facilities.
     I whimpered some more and the MaMA got out of bed and got dressed. She picked me up and placed me inside of her coat. From in there, I took in her scent once again. She was deliciously warm smelling. Spice, wood, and floral all at once. I had been getting to know her and her scent all night. She was nice, for a human, though I really didn't know what to expect, having such little interaction with humans before today.
     She had presented to me a basket of toys. Balls, chewy rubber bones, but my favorite had to be the furry ones that go squeak. Schnapps had watched us play with passive interest, and periodically snoozed on the couch.
     I was placed on the ground outside and was shocked at how cold it was. Schnapps was suddenly by my side, looking off into the distance, and sniffing the air.
     “Dey are out dere," she said. "And dey are watching."
     "Who,” I asked.
     “De others. Dey are keeping an eye on you."
     "C'mon, Fritter," MaMA complained as she shivered and jumped up and down in place. "I want to go back to bed."
     "Better take care of business, little von."
     I wasn't sure I wanted to go, now that there were things watching me. But my bladder out ruled my concerns of being exposed. Soon I was back in my bed, mashing down the fluff to make things more comfortable.
     Schnapps' words took hold in my imagination, every time I shut my eyes, I became suddenly aware of pairs of eyes watching me. Their shadowy figures loomed over my bed. I'd wake, readjust my bed and position, and try again to no avail. I must have been making a racket, because soon the MaMA stood over me.
     "Are you having troubles, little brown dog?"
     She picked me up and brought me to her giant bed. It was much nicer than mine, with room to spread out. Plus it had the MaMA's nice scent.
     "This is just for tonight," she said with a stern voice.
     I curled up behind her crooked knee and sighed, reveling in the warmth and comfort. Well, we'll see about that. 

     I had the best sleep I've ever had. I don't know how I ended up sprawled across the MaMA's face, but that's where I woke up. I like to think it was some kind of inner protective instinct, that I automatically shifted during the night and gravitated to higher ground to better secure the perimeter. 

     "Mmmph, Friffer. Your buff is on my fafe," MaMA mumbled. She carefully relieved me from my vantage point, and took me outside.
     The sun shone over the icy winter-scape, and the snow sparkled and glittered in its light. I was set down on an icy patch, and I sniffed for a good place to relieve myself. I was then reminded of Schnapps warning from the night before. I, too, had the distinct feeling that I was being watched. 

     I scanned the horizon, yet saw no one, except Schnapps, who was trotting towards me with her usual efficient clip. However, her back leg seemed to be out of step with the rest of her feet. A slight limp I hadn't noticed before. 

     "Good morning, Schnapps," I greeted her. "Did you sleep well?"
     "As vell as can be expected," she said with a grumble. "Are you ready for your training?"
     "Yes," I said, but was interrupted by my loud stomach.
     "First, ve vill haf de breakfast, yes," she said. I followed her and the MaMA back inside. I was airlifted up the stairs, and set down in the kitchen, while MaMA fixed our food.
     "May I ask you a personal question?" If I was to be partnered with Schnapps, I thought it only best to know everything about her.
     "You may speak freely," she said with a bow of her head.
     "What breed of dog are you? I haven't known a lot of other breeds except for my parents and some of the neighbor dogs. One of our neighbors was a German Shepard. He spoke with the same accent as you do, but you look nothing like him."
     "You are very keen," she said giving me a look of approval. "I am a Schnauzer, a proud, German race, bred for hunting."
     I know hunting breeds. Beagles were bred for hunting foxes, and surely that German Shepard I knew hunted bigger animals. But I had a hard time believing that Schnapps, a dog no bigger than myself, could be a good hunter. And I'm not even full grown. 

     "Excuse me, Schnapps. But aren't you a bit small to be a hunter?" 

     "What good is de size, ven de rabbit goes down de hole? It takes more than size to be a hunter, you haf to be quick, you haf to be smart," she barked. "And I vill haf you know, I once took down a mighty deer once."
     "Oh," I said, impressed with her resume. "What's a deer?"
     "You vill find out," she assured me.
     I wanted to ask her more, but breakfast was served. MaMA placed before us bowls of chopped meat, rice, vegetables and gravy. Never in my life had I been treated to such delicacies.
I dove in, smacking and relishing every mouthful. After I swallowed one bite, I immediately craved another, and another. 

     Soon all the food in the dish was gone. So I did what any respectable Puggle might do, and licked every drop of gravy clean. The bowl tried to escape my attempts, and I ended up chasing it across the floor. 

     Enough of this. I put my foot down in the middle of the bowl and licked around it. That prevented the constant movement, and allowed me to properly clean the dish. After the inside was all licked out, I flipped the dish with my nose and inspected the other side. After I was done, I sat and eyed Schnapps' bowl. Either she wasn't as hungry as I was, or she was terrible at cleaning up. She stood over her bowl staring at me in disbelief. Gravy dripped off of her wiry, grey whiskers.
     "Are you going to finish your gravy," I asked.
     Schnapps gaped at me.
     “Vat?"
     "Wow," MaMA said. "I'm going to have to watch what I feed you. Don't want you to get chubby."
     I thought of Number One and her big behind. She was always the first one to the chow line, and her weight showed it. I would also have to be mindful about how much I ate. However, that gravy was to die for, and I wanted nothing more than to lick the drippings off of Schnapps' beard.
     "Quit looking at me like I'm your next meal," she growled then lowered her head to lick her bowl.
     "Good Morning, Good Morning," a high-pitched voice chirped. 

     "What was that," I asked.
     "Oh, dat is just Sunshine," Schnapps said nodding to the other room. "He's just Admin. Go ahead and say hello."
     I tore myself away from the gravy worshiping and went into the next room. I didn't get to fully inspect it last night, so I was happy to be able to gather more intel and explore the Home base more.
The wall between the kitchen and the next room was made of red brick. On this side, it had a fireplace and a low hearth. On the hearth sat a cage. On the highest perch in the cage sat a grey bird with a yellow head and bright orange cheeks.
     "Good Morning, good morning," he peeped.
     "Hello," I said. "My name is Fritter."
     "I know, you are the new partner for Schnapps, and you are a little brown dog, and you like to eat, and you like the squeaky toys, and..." The bird talked a mile a minute. I wondered how he breathed.
     "And your name is Sunshine? That's a lovely name," I said, desperate to get a word in.
     "Yes! Yes, my name is Sunshine. I'm a pretty bird. I take care of all the assignments, paperwork, gossip, communications, requisitions. I'm a pretty bird."
     Oh, my. This bird was cuckoo.
     "Did you say gossip,” I asked him.
     Sunshine ceased his chittering and gave me a sideways look. 

     "Did I?"
     "Yes," I said. "It was between paperwork and communications." Sunshine grabbed the side of the cage with his beak and slid down to the bottom of the cage. He moved to the corner and peeked over the edge.
     "Psst...come closer," he whispered.
I stood on my hind legs so that I could get closer to the cage. I lowered my ear to where his beak was.
     "I know everything about everyone around here," Sunshine said in a hushed tone. "If you need intel on what's really going down, you know who to ask."
     "Yeah?"
     "You want the dirt on anyone, just say the word," he squatted down in his cage, casting paranoid glances around the room. "Like how your partner got her limp?"
     "You can tell me?"
     "Yeah, come...closer."
     I leaned in as he instructed.
     "Just like that, closer, closer," Sunshine urged.
     I pressed my ear against the bars, I couldn't get any closer if I wanted to, unless I got in there with him. Suddenly, a piercing pain took hold of me, or in this case, a bird beak and my ear. I yelped and yanked my ear away from the cage. Sunshine's head rammed against the bars and he let go of my ear.
     A volley of cackling laughter came from above us. I looked up and saw the black cat from the night before, rolling on a second set of stairs above the fireplace.

     "What are you laughing at? That hurt," I said then cast an accusing glare at the double crossing bird. "And what was that, Sunshine? Are you mental or something?"
     "I'm a pretty bird," he said as he climbed back up to his high perch.
     "Ha, ha." The cat continued to laugh. "You stupid dog."
     My face pinched and all my wrinkles furrowed. No one had ever called me stupid before, and I didn't like it. I decided to take the higher road and ignore his insult.
     "I'm sorry, I never got to introduce myself last night. My name is..."
     "I know who you are." The black cat arched his back then pulled his body forward into a long stretch before taking slow measured steps down the stairs. "I just don't know what you are." 

     "I'm a Puggle," I said, puffing out my chest in proud Puggle fashion.
     "What's a Puggle?"
      I cleared my voice to recite our motto. "A Puggle is loyal and brave..."
     The cat stared at me with his nose down and his ears back. "All I know is that you are short on snout and big on ears. And what is up with that silly tail. Why does it curl like that?" 

I looked back at my tail. Never in my lifetime did I think it silly. I always found it expressive. It would curl tight if I was anxious, almost a perfect curve of curiosity, and straighten out flat when I was relaxed. I turned back to the cat, who was licking his paws, then rubbed his face.
     "Well, you have a pointy face," I said.
     "Ooo, is that the best you can do," he mocked.
     Schnapps came around the corner, "Vat is going on here?"
     "I see you have a new little partner to train, eh Schnapps," the cat padded past Schnapps, running his tail around her snout. She snarled at his taunting.
     "Let's hope she lasts longer than your previous protege."
     Schnapps snapped at the cat’s tail, but he was too quick and sauntered out of the room, laughing under his breath.
     "What's his deal," I asked coming up to Schnapps' side.
     “Dat is Magic," she said. "His heart is as dark as his fur is black. Don’t vaste your time talking wit him.”
     "I've never had experience with a cat before, are they all like him?"
     "Let me give you a vord of advice, young von. Dere is no such thing as a good cat." Schnapps turned and headed to the door. "Are you ready for your first day?"
     "Yes," I said, cheered by the thought of adventure.