Chapter 1: Nowhere to go
The fray had been SS's last, and this was the same with the others as well. Bhoora was shaking and his voice came in deep sobs. He had been adopted into the gang by Mum, and so he had a deep affection for Mum. Mum was the first to fall to the humans. SS had been beaten to death by them. He too was hit by the strange red thing that hit Mum, but he got more than just one. None of us, not even SS knew what this new weapon was. A terrible tragedy was the norm to learn, if life was your teacher.
Bhoora managed to escape the humans and hid in a corner. He watched SS as he staggered with the last of his strength trying to create a diversion at the cost of his life. One of the humans came with a heavy stick and brought it down on SS's head. Like Langda before him, SS died without a whimper. One blow to his head was enough to end his services on Earth.
The others too succumbed to the red stings. After the deed was done, the humans cleared the field. Soon, there was nothing remaining that spoke of the carnage that had taken place except for SS's blood that soaked the dry tarmac on that fateful day. What a terrible waste of life? What wanton destruction? Who were these humans, what gave them the right to kill us who didn't strike down their kinsmen even when we had them at our mercy? Is this what makes you human? Is this why you look down upon us?
Tears were flowing uncontrollably and all three of us bundled together in our moment of sorrow as we used to during the cold wintry nights. Of course then it was for warmth, but this time it was for support.
Thannkfully, Fate was kind enough to let us weep to our heart's content. But day was soon breaking over the brow of the sky, and soon we'd have to start moving. There could be more vicious humans here too.
It was terribly difficult for Grease to control his temper against humans. He'd always been the one who broke off from a fight, but the news of SS and the others death had been too much. He woke with a grim expression looking for a fight. His tear stained eyes did not betray a sign of fear, nor any other emotion other than rage.
He soon found his fight. A rag picker, a comical looking human whom we always barked at because they scavenged scrap from places we fed was his first target. Bhoora's account of SS's death drove him into a frenzy. Without a sound he was charging at the fellow. He had his back to us, and so didn't realize what was in store for him.
Grease bit hard on the knee cracking bone, and the rag picker fell screaming. He struck back at Grease with his curved rag picking tool but Grease was unstoppable. Bhoora and i tried hard to pull Grease off him lest we attract human ire here as well. After much biting and barking, Grease let off the rag picker who now looked like a rag doll in pain and blood. We ran for all we were worth from the scene of 'crime'.
"Are you out of your mind, have you forgotten the law? We don't attack humans, we don't kill humans!! You'll get us killed as well just like Mum and SS. Is that what they died for?"
"I'd rather die fighting that cursed biped than live in fear of what they'll do to me! I'll avenge Mother's death, as will i avenge SS and the rest of our family". Grease's voice sounded raspy. He had been barking and growling far more than his throat would allow him. "Why didn't you let me finish him. SS and Mum would have been pleased with me".
"SS and the others are dead. You must learn to accept this fact and move on Grease. War with the human race will surely bring death upon all of us, and we don't intend to die by a human's hand". Bhoora sounded cold, but he spoke the truth. There was no sense in all of us dying for those who were already gone. "Let's return to our old turf". His voice came out more like a command than a statement.
Yes, we'll return home. Where else can we go now?
Chapter 2 The long journey home
Puphood was long since over for us, but we still had been behaving like pups. Behaving like pups until now. The sight was indeed menacing. Three fierce looking dogs now made their way back to Thakurdwar. We anticipated trouble on the way back for we were mending our way through the turfs of other gangs.
We had covered these places running the time before, but this time there was no running. The day was still breaking across the horizon when the first fight began. A skinny looking mongrel came at us barking for all his worth. We didn't bother to look.
"Don't you know this is our turf, who'd you think you are to be tresspassing these grounds. Shall i teach...."
Before the words could even come out, Grease was at his throat holding it in a vice like grip. We didn't bother to talk with the mongrel but his threatening growls had now turned to piteous whimpers. His gang stood watching, but none dared to make a move. Surely we looked like hardened fighters indeed. If happiness made you sweet, grief made you tough. And we were tougher than nails as we made our way past the others.
At the end of the curb, Grease dropped him without a word just as he'd picked him up. We left him there more dead than alive!
A good portion of this trek back was through no mans land, but we didn't bother. And at last, we could see our good ol' turf in the distance.
Chapter 3 You've got to earn your respect
Excitement and joy is what we felt as we could see and smell those good ol' sights and smells, but there was something different here. A new smell greeted us. The smell of a new gang who'd taken over our turf!
We were greeted the same way we'd greet a stranger, menacingly!
"Who're you? What do you want? F*** off, this is our turf!" exclaimed an old hound with one eye. He called himself Sol Lek, the one eyed one. Sol Lek had a small gang of four members, and new entrants included Tango and Charlie too! Talk of faithfulness, these sons of bitches these days owe allegiance to no one!
"And what if we don't?" These words rang out in unison from all three of us at once.
"Then prepare to die!" No sooner had he said these words, his troop began to charge!
And so throwing caution and safety to the winds, we too charged with all our might. Fate always rewards the brave, and no worries if we weren't rewarded. Atleast we tried...
Now you know what it is to have a dog's life indeed... Wait a minute, "Who goes there?"
Woof, woof!!
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