Still confused from her dream, not yet fully back into reality, Eight's voice seemed unnaturally loud in the silence.A rumble sounded from some were over head.
“thunder”, he said to him self more then any thing.
It was raining out side.
Shade groaned and shook her head, as her confused thoughts tumbled over one another.
*Blood... no, fighting, Dice... Darcia...*
She shook her head again. The fragments of her dream still danced before her eyes. The look Blood had given her in her dream seemed to be burned in her head.
Startled, Shade shot forward, away from the sudden sound, before turning and realising what had happend. The food... again.A rattling sound came from behind him, and throw out all the cages.
Breakfast was servied. Each of them having a different mix depending on what they needed.
She tried to force herself back into reality, and slowly, she began to truly wake up.
She went up to her breakfast, sniffing.
While she didn't know, her food was meant to build her some muscle. To enhance her best traits, speed and endurance, while also making her stronger, and without fattening her. A balanced meal....
She was surprised by the taste; it was better then last time. Or was that just because she was hungry...?
She gobbled it down quite fast, surprising herself. Had she adjusted so easily...? Was she already giving in, accepting this human-made filthy food?
Shade lifted her head and perked her ears at the sound of Jack's voice. He stayed hidden this time, but he had taken the time to give them this short peptalk... She smiled slightly and returned to eating, wondering what his benefit was in helping them. But she was sure glad he was there....“give them hell my good wolves” came the strong accent of jack some were in the whole in the wall.
Done eating, she licked her lips, yawned and stretched.
Today was the day....
Fear began to grow in her chest, but she ignored it. She remembered what she had learned; show no weakness. Be strong....
So... it was time.Then with out warning the door of the cell crashed open, slamming off the wall, with enuf nose to wake the dead.
“Good to see your all up, as to day we see what your all made of”, spax sneered.
Two other dogs flanked him. Blood and Dice. Xor and any other dog would be waiting for them in the training aier, or would be meeting them half way.
Shade perked her ears and sat down, waiting as Spax entered the room.
Dice and Blood entered as well; she suddenly realised her heart began to pound faster as she saw Blood. The image of her dream came back to her, but she dismissed it. That was a DREAM. Nothing but a dream. Whatever it had been that had made Blood look attractive in her head, was not reality. The real Blood didn't give a damn about anyone...
She turned her ears back, and waited.
The mistress... Shade hated to see her. She felt like backing down again when she saw her, but she refused to give into that feeling. No more weakness. Not showing fear, not even to HER.Humans then walked in behind them going to each cage looking in making notes on bords, one going to the computer typing things in, checking stats on the screen of each wolf. The collars giving them live info on there condition.
Mistress stood in the door way watching as the three other humans did there work. Her eyes were alight with excitement. Her clawed hand tapping her braclet in a menacing way. The three humans happy with the condition of the wolves nodded to the mistress then left.
“Right my pets”, she said, spax interpritating for her.
“Today is your real day in this place, show me I didn’t waste my money on you”, and with that she hit a button on her bracelet and the back of the cages screeched open showing there crates.
As the cages opened once more, revealing the crates, Shade knew what was expected of her.
She sighed and turned. No use making a fuss about it.... she hated the cramped space, that always made her slightly claustrofobic. But it had to be done. She had to go.
Without hassle, she walked in and sat down in her cage, waiting for the door to close. She eyed the dogs; Dice was grinning as he watched them all. The bastard.
The door came down and locked her in the crate; it was time....
She was silent as the crate moved, and all the different, confusing feelings of being pushed, being in a lift and being taken to the training room overcame her. She just sat it out, her ears turned backwards. What else could she do...?
She took deep breaths. She wanted to stay calm. She wanted to stay strong. The fear for what was coming, the fear for the crate, she pushed it all away. There was no time for it now.... she couldn't give in to it...
She suddenly realised, with a shock, that she hadn't even looked at George this morning. How would he be..? Would he be awake...?
She concentrated on that thought, to keep her mind of what was coming. But it didn't work long...
Suddenly, they arrived.
As the cover was removed from her crate, Shade's eyes needed a moment to adjust to her surroundings. She then took in every detail, just to have something to do.This room was similar to the fighting arina but instead of being round it was squer. The size of half a football pitch. Again infront of each crate was a door, so wolves could be let out. Behind the crates stood humans that were walking away with crates with wolves in them, or doing work taking down notes wile watching, and ovesly Spax and the others were there.
The room felt dark and sinister the scent of blood and death very clear in the air. Stains covered the floor and walls, and it was very fresh.
Instead of spectators watching from all sides the walls were blank but for one large window but behind it no one was there, well no human any way. One monster was thow, the huge mass of Darcia was looking down at them a smile on his handsom face.
Mistress was talking with some humans.
Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Darcia; why was that MONSTER here?! Hopefully, he wouldn't be part of training....
She tried to forget about Darcia. Instead, she focussed on what she heard. 'The light run'. So... it was about speed, it seemed. Speed, fast turns, jumping and turning, most likely. Her best thing. That was at least a LITTLE hopeful... she had feared to be thrown in a pit and fight a dog, or wolf, and the winner would just go on to the next... training like that. But it seemed this was thought out... humans truly wished to test them. It was a bit of relief... and, at the same time, worrying on it's own. After all... it wasn't clear yet what the humans wanted from them.“Right welcome to training, this is were we see if you worth keeping alive, or worth keeping around as play things”, he said.
“you muts are lucky to be here only the best trainers and wolves get to use this training falsity”.
“Awere first event of the day is called the light run and as none of you haver ever done it, Eight here will be awere test subject”, he said sneering at him. Eights door slid open and he walked out on to the training floor. Finale he was able to get down to business.
Shade growled softly. OUCH... couldn't they just TELL what was expected?Eight looked down at the floor, testing it slightly and as he did a square of light just big enough for him to stand in light up. It was extremely bright and dazzled him for a moment, thow he didn’t show it.
He looked back up at spax waiting to hear what this crap was all about. Spax mearly smiled.
The light went out, and as it did Eights collar awoke giving him a shoke that was enough to make his legs crumble from under him. Eight didn’t snare or retaliate just shut his eyes wile it happened that got back to his paws. It had been a quick sharp shoke nothing to bad.
“better stay on the light”, spax said simple.
Well, it was clear now... she was glad she wasn't the first one to do this. The thought of being shocked again made her shiver slightly; she hated that feeling so bad....
Shade watched; her eyes could easily keep up with the unpredictable light. She realised she would indeed do well at this test... but how long would it go on? Where would it stop? Would the humans try to exhaust them... and what would happen then?The light reapered then started to dart off along the floor the squear light up three at a time making a sort of trail.
Eight got the jist instantly as long as he stayed on the light he was ok, if he could keep up and got left behind he would get shocked. It was a speed and immovability test.
He chast after it, it darted left and right, with out any warning. Then out of no were it jump a squear, he didn’t have enuf time to jump it. A shock cracked throw him, his legs went and he hit the ground at fall speed rolling, he skidded back on his paws, his face the same as always. The lights didn’t stop he kept going.
Poor Eight... he was much bigger and heavier then she was, and in bad condition. He had already been in bad condition when she met him... but now, after the last fight, it was even worse..
Shade watched the amazing preformance Eight put up. And when he finally gave in... they shocked him bad.10minets
12minets
His face was still unreadable his eyes set on his task, but his body was starting to shout at him, as always he ignored it, his body would fail before he did.
13minets
14minets
Now his body was screaming, his breaths coming in short ragged gasps his sight was starting to blur his muscles felt like lead.
14.2minets.
His left leg with the Triple Eight brand gave out from under him, he slammed into the ground again the lights running away from him as he did. This time the shock hit him for longer and stronger. His back arched his eyes shut, teeth clenched but not beared. No sound came from him no snarl or yelp, it was creepy nothing.
She turned her ears down. So... no matter how well they did... they'd still be shocked. Why even bother doing it, then?
But she knew better then to refuse. Humans would surely have something even worse in store for those not cooperating....
And Eight, indeed, got up again. Shade perked her ears as he continued, going on and on... ignoring his exhaustion and pain.“Is that it Eight is that all you have to show, maybe I should give you some insentive maybe another pup would help you, GET UP”, he snarled.
Her eyes strayed to Mistress; she seemed damned pleased with herself. Eight was doing well, it seemed. Well, at this test, she would surely please her as well. But... what about the other tests?
She sighed; this was going to be a busy day... no doubt.
Dice was sitting patiently, grinning. But he only watched Eight with a half eye. He knew the wolf was amazing... one of the few wolves he respected around this place. But it where the females he was really interested in.
Spax was already walking up to Cardinal's cage, talking to her. Dice turned his ears slightly back. It was so sad that she was a favourite of the Mistress... he actually had a thing for her. But then again... the things you can't have always looked more appealing.. they always sparked his interest the most. He grinned to himself. Who knows, maybe he'd get his way with her after all, sooner or later...
His eyes then turned to Tsuna. The young boy was watching too, and Dice wondered how he would do himself. He sure had a mouth on him, ensuring them all that he had what it took...
He took a beating by Darcia yesterday. Dice had already heard about that... and the way the boy had defended himself. Admirable...
His eyes then strayed to Shade's cage.
She was the smallest of the group... and probably fast. She was expected to do fine at this test... Hm, that'd be a bit of a downer. He didn't want her to get to certain about herself. That would work against the plan he had with her...
He licked his lips. Oh yes... SHE would at least be his, sooner or later... he'd make sure of that. She'd be his toy...