If Everyone Cared [Mollie]

[Sabela]

And I'm singing Amen...

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight

A small shadow flitted across the ground in the dead of night. It was Aria Zorya, or Aria. She passed the gravestones with a mournful face. So many dead in one little place. She stared at each headstone, as if it would show the being that had been laid to rest here. She was careful not to tread upon the bones that were sticking out and the graves that look freshly dug.

She looked around down her long Borzoi nose. Who lived here? Anyway, she was determined to know. She felt an air of peace among these stones, and felt that she was the only one who understood them, and respected them. Her long jaws opened, her head lifting to the sky, to give a cry to the night sky. It was a cry summoning the leader of this place, and it was also a prayer for the souls who's bodies lay here, all around her.

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

[molliemonster.]

Morgen

A howl, a cry, whatever one would call it. Light, soft, whiny. It roused Morgen from where he was sleeping in the shack, and he flicked a black-lined ear with annoyance as he got to his feet, sighing and stretching. Whoever woke the brute up was in for a rude awakening. With a loud, vicious bark that rang out as a response to the intruder, Morgen busted out of the shed, sprinting at top speed, weaving through the tombstones. He loved running, loved burning energy like this. He loved the wind rushing past his ears, the ground that met his paws, everything.

He could smell the dog ahead and he leaped clear over a tombstone, growling ferociously as he landed with a thud in front of...a puppy? Oh. Oh. That changed things. He stopped growling and blinked, lowering his head slightly so that he was on her level. "Hello." He said in his deep voice, tilting his head slightly. "I'm sorry about that..odd welcome I just gave you. I, uh, am Morgen. Alpha of the Keller Tribe. What is your name?"

[Sabela]

Aria had taken a step back from the snarling male, but smiled kindly when he stopped and introduced himself. "Greetings, Morgen of Keller Pack. My name is Aria Zorya. I prefer to be called by Aria, though, if you don't mind." She raised her head so he wouldn't have to lean down. Her face came level with his shoulder. Oh well, she was young, and very tall for her age. She looked over him carefully. He didn't seem aggressive, now that he had seen her. "I have come looking for a home. I can't protect myself very well, because of my age. Would you allow me to stay? I believe I could be of use." She had used this speech many times, but had always failed. This was a hard time for the dogs, and they had just seen her as another useless mouth to feed. Well, she would prove to him that she was very useful. She wanted this home more than any others.

[molliemonster.]

Morgen

He listed to her words carefully, and committed her name to his memory. When she asked if she could said, cold-hearted Morgen smiled at her. He always did have a soft spot for puppies. "Well Aria, of course you could stay. Every dog is useful. And you'll grow up to be a fine member, I can tell." Huh. Morgen had never been this kind. And he'd never, ever accept any other dog this fast. But something about Aria made him like her. "Tell me about yourself, Aria."

[Sabela]

Her thin tail wagged slowly at his words. She didn't know this dog, but she liked him. She liked him better than her repulsive mother. She smiled at his question, and sat down, recalling things about her other dogs have said. "Well, Morgen, I am often laughed at for my skinny tail and my muzzle, but I show no resentment to any dog, except my mother." she nearly grimaced at the word mother. No. She had no mother, not anymore. "Once they get to know me, though, they stop making fun of me. They realize how much my looks help me with running, which I thoroughly enjoy doing. Even though I am but a few months old, I have an understanding of many things." That is the last thing her father told her before he died. She heard the words, in his voice, calling to her as he walked away for the last time. She thought caused her to sigh softly. She missed her father. But then she turned to Morgen, smiling. "That is what my father told me. And he also liked to comment on my speed. I was faster than him." Oh, it had been a joy when she had finally beat him. He was so fast, but she was faster. It gave her heart a thrill.

[molliemonster.]

Morgen

Morgen sat down, taking a moment to scratch behind his ear before he replied. "I don't see why you've been made fun of. You don't look funny." He said absently, taking her in. And then he listened to the rest of what she said, nodding. "Having a good understanding at a young age is very important. I did, and this is where it got me." He said, glancing around to show her that he meant his position as a pack leader. "It's better than being incredibly stupid and unable to realize it."

[Sabela]

She smiled and wagged her tail slightly. "I do agree." It felt good that another dog had told her she didn't look funny. She looked around the empty graveyard, and a thought came to her. "I don't suppose you sleep here.." The thought, frankly, kind of scared her. Sleep among spirits and rotting bodies? She didn't think so. She gazed back at her leader, watching his face. He was nice. She was relieved that he wasn't a snotty, your-a-pup-and-I'm-an-adult-so-I'm-smart-and-you're-dumb kind of dog. Without thinking about it, she let a long yawn escape her delicate jaws. Oh, she was tired. Her eyes blinked feverishly. She had been traveling all day with no rest and little food.

[molliemonster.]

Morgen

"No. It would be horrible when the weather gets bad." He said with a chuckle. "There's a very large shack not too far from here where security of this graveyard used to stay. It's actually not one of those rotting shacks. It's nice and cozy, not to mention warm. As for food, raccoons and other sorts of large vermin wander here. Even deer. And for water, there's a lake just outside of the gates to north. There's a hole in the gate so that we can get under. Would you like me to show you to the shack?"

[Sabela]

She listened attentively. Aria nodded when he asked if she would like to see the shack. "I would very much like to see the quarters." She stood up, stretching her long limbs. She stood straighter, looking through the tombstones. It looked like a creepy mist was coming. Through it, she saw the outline of a rather large shack. She guessed that was the shack that Morgen was talking about.