Look up ^-^

Hey Dragon, I am afraid I am going to have to drop out of the competition. Nothing is really coming to mind for my writing piece. Hopefully I can think of something by the next contest. Good luck to everyone else though! ^-^

Okay!
Have a great day, then :)
I hope you'll consider joining next year.

Thanks^^ I have already started one, I hope it will be finished by the end of the month!

Ah, great!
I look forwards to reading your story :)

Part 2
It worked. My friends and family slunk to the back of their cages. Due to the fact that I was immobile, I stood my ground. Or rather, sat my ground.
Well Chara, we dont like you either, I yipped back, stating the obvious. I could feel my body tensing, an sign of anger and frustration. My eyes narrowed. But how do you know she is still alive?
Chara chuckled quietly. Her eyes sparkled evilly as she spoke.
Wouldnt you like to know? Ill tell you how she is doing and where she was last, as long as you do one small favor for me, she trilled. Tail twitching, she stepped forward, staring me straight in the eyes.
Sighing, I hung my head. On one hand, I desperately wanted Style back with us and safe, even if she was stuck in this prison. On the other hand, I couldnt trust this nasty new addition in the kennels. I didnt trust her, for good reasons.
This was quite possibly the hardest decision I had to make. I went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons. I knew I had to make my mind up quickly. After some time, I had reached my final resolution.
Chara?
Yes, mutt?
I ignored her degrading remark. I had a feeling that I was going to have to learn how to put up with her.
Tell me what you know, I begged before I could change my mind again.
Dont you want to know what I want? Charas cold eyes shone in the dim light. She stood confidently, sure of herself. I hated to give her the satisfaction of being needed by a so called mutt.
Fine. But be quick about it.
Disobey Master. No matter what he asks, snarls Chara, teeth bared.
Did I hear that correctly? I must have heard it wrong. Anyone who disobeys Master is savagely punished. It would be instant death for me, as I already have made 1 to many mistakes.
Do you accept now?
Charas voice jolts me back to the world in front of me. I sigh. I have to do this. For Style.
I accept.
Wonderful. Have fun
Without another word, she turns and retreats into the black depths of her chamber.
Chara, where is Style?
Chara growls. She turns to me once more. Clearly she expected me to forget. Like I would abandon a friend.
Style ran to the west side of the facility, into the fruit gardens. The last I saw, she had a bleeding wound on her left flank, and was favoring her left side. She broke her muzzle off, so she can eat. I know nothing more.
She pawed at the ground. Her body posture signaled she was tense. Looking up, she stared at the dogs trapped in the cages around her.
Now, don't bother me again. Or I can promise you that you will be sorry!
The other hounds whimpered. More than a few of them were trembling. I could smell their fear. With a sigh, I let my head rest on my paws in front of me. Closing my eyes, I started to drift into a blissful, welcome sleep when a voice meekly barked.
Sophie?
I look up once more. Was that Moon? It sounded like him.
Thank you.

Oooph. I groaned as I struggled to my feet. It had been a little over a week since I had made the fateful deal with Chara. It was surprising how quickly someone could mellow out after a week without 2 meals a day and fresh water, along with the whole stay-in-your-cell-all-day-long deal. She had given up tormenting us after we got used to the constant stream of insults.
The week of rest had also helped me recover my strength. I could stand again, and while I couldnt put much weight on my right side, I was able to hobble around enough to eat and drink. Not that the food and water did much to help me. Master had checked on me the first few days, which I found exceedingly strange. Moon was overjoyed with the fact that I was feeling better. Even Chara was slightly more sympathetic towards me.
As I staggered over to my water bowl, I caught a whiff of scent on a cool draft of air. Raising my head, I was able to figure out where the scent came from. It smelled of salt and water, a familiar scent. A storm from the coast was rolling in. I panicked a little bit. These types of storms were often violent and loud, and they were quite dangerous.
Howling, I broadcast the message across the farm. The other dogs looked worried, and Charas eyes widen. Her tail was low between her legs, and her entire frame was shaking fiercely. I could tell that she was frightened. She noticed me staring at her and dipped her head, mortified.
Chara? Are you okay? I gently inquire, inviting her to talk. I sit on my haunches, allowing my trembling legs a break. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Moon step to the front of his cage, eyes weary. I had a feeling this might escalate. One by one, the other canines step to the front of the wire crates, a bit apprehensive and scared, but eager to join in. I suspect they just want to watch us put Chara in her rightful place. But that's not what I plan on doing today.
No. Im not okay.
Charas normally powerful voice is small and weak. Some of the other hounds glance at each other, surprised. I can hear them whispering to each other, confused and excited. I cant make out what they are saying. Chara looks horrified and whines, her pride wounded deeply.
I bark sharply at the others, warning them to shut their mouths. I have a plan, and I need Chara on my side if I want to be able to pull it off successfully. The scolded sighthounds oblige, but dont look too happy about it. However, they sit back and settle in to watch the show that is rapidly unfolding in front of their eyes.
Would you like to talk about it Chara? We aren't judging you, I offer softly, urging her to talk to us. My tail wags slightly, and I tilt my head in a thoughtful way.
Chara takes one last look at us before continuing. Her eyes are nostalgic, and express sorrow, pain, and intense agitation.
Im...Im...Im scared of storms. When I was just a young pup, we lived in kennels with spacious outdoor pens. I was caught outside one day, and my former Master had closed the door separating the indoor run and the outdoor one. I was unable to take shelter when a thunderstorm rolled in. It was deafening, and the rain was torrential. There was no cover, so I huddled next to the wall. I was scarred that day, and the fear has never subsided, she whispered, almost inaudible. Her usually piercing eyes were watering, and she slumped over, indicating sadness and distress. To be honest, she looked pathetic and pitiful.
I knew I had to be careful with what I said next. I could ruin this chance, maybe even turning Chara on us permanently. Winning Chara could mean life and death for Style. And me. If I could win this battle, I had a chance at convincing Chara to drop the favor I owed her.
But Moon beat me to it. Even before I could formulate a basic idea of what to say, he had started to speak. Now I just had to wait it out. Moon was...well, he was Moon. There was nothing wrong with that, but if something went wrong, he could have his sweet little heart torn to shreds by a nasty comment. Nothenless, he could also use his soft words to elevate this alliance to an even higher level by working his magic. I just hoped it was the latter.
Chara, there is nothing wrong with being scared of something. Everyone has a fear, whether they are deathly afraid of spiders, or scared to the bone when a butterfly flutters past. I for one, am afraid of glass. Call me weird, but to me, it is a dangerous, potentially lethal weapon just waiting for the chance to bury into my vulnerable flesh. Sophie is scared of bacon tacos. She thinks they are poisonous or something.
Wow. Thanks Moon. No one needed to know that. But yes, bacon tacos were scary. If Master ate them, they must be bad.
Moon continued on. He spoke with more enthusiasm, urging the others to join in.
Ask anyone of these dogs. I can guarantee that each one of them is afraid of something. And if they wont tell you, I can, he declared, as the other dogs stared at him with shock evident in their wide eyes. As I watched Chara, she seemed to survey the dogs in front of her. You could almost see the gears turning in her head. And suddenly, she settled on a young male, and boldly inquired about what he was scared about.
Well, Im...Im frightened by trees. They are so large, towering over us. They could fall onto us and kill us within seconds, he stuttered, clearly uncomfortable with sharing this personal information with others. Moon looked satisfied, and settled back in to watch how this unfolded. He had once again lived up to his name.
I was shocked as more and more of my fellow prisoners came forth about the fear hiding inside of them. I had never dreamed of this small intervention to go so well, and it just kept going.
Soon, Chara had visibly settled down. I watched the conversation with a watchful eye, ready to intervene if things took a turn for the worse. Soon, rain started to pelt the roof, thunder rumbling in the distance. Confident that everything was going stupendously, I curled up in a tight ball, the atmosphere around me joyful, which was a rare occurrence her in the ramshackle shed. Even with dark clouds in the sky, the barn seemed to glow with glorious, abundant glee.

Two weeks after the fateful storm, the collection of so-called slow mutts and rejects had banded together, forming a strong pack. Chara had taken back her favor, instead saying that we had helped her in a different way. We had given her a family. And with Chara, Moon, and I at the head of the pack, we had formulated a plan to get our beloved lost family member back. With a larger group to work with, I had been able to tweak the plan to perfection. Now we just had to wait.
Thankfully, I had a feeling that we would not have much longer until we could unleash our scheme. Today was dreary and cool, which meant that we would be taken out instead of the top dogs. And the first step in our plan required Master unlocking my cage. I had studied how he had unlatched the doors when he entered the building, and I had a feeling that I if I could manage to open Moons cage and Charas cage up, then we could free everyone.
Of course, it could also go horribly wrong. If I made a mistake, and lost a few precious seconds, I could be caught. And if he caught me, then our plan would be foiled. If I only opened one lock, Master could easily grab me and my fellow escapee. I had to precise and ridiculously fast, which shouldnt be too hard, considering I was born for speed. But the stakes were still high. I sure wouldnt have bet anything on the outcome of us succeeding. But this was the best thing we could think of.
As if on cue, the door creaked open. Fresh air came rushing in, a welcome blast of revitalization. Dogs stood up, determined and daring. We all stared at Master as he walked in, his footsteps thudding loudly on the cool concrete floor. Adjusting his navy blue ball cap, he seemed uneasy at the complete silence he was greeted with. His eyes staring into our eyes like lasers, we stood strong. With a few mumbles, he grabbed a handful of chain leads. Stepping to my cage first, he flicked the latch upwards, and I readied myself to bolt out the door.
Within seconds, the door swung open. He stood out of the way, waiting for me to step out politely like I usually did. But of course, that wasnt going to happen today. I gathered my legs and leaped out of the door, heading for Charas cage first. With one lightning quick motion, I stood up on my hind legs and jammed the lock with my muzzle. Pulling up and to the side, the door sprung open with a click! Chara bounded out, heading onto Moons cage. I ran to the next cage, freeing a young piebald female just as quickly. She yipped with thanks, repeating the action on her friends latch. Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly saw Master lunge at me, chain out.
I sidestepped, sending him barreling past me. As more and more dogs escaped, the fury in his eyes grew. He seemed to breathe smoke, like the fabled dragons of times past. With a roar that seems to shake the shed, he once again jumps at me, but Im expecting it this time, and dodge the attack. This time, he trips, falling hard onto the ground. With a groan, he forces himself to stand up, his face bloodied and scratched. He is in full rage mode now, something Id only heard of before. But for some reason, I was not terrified or submissive. No. I was ready for this. I had gotten this far, and I wasnt about to back down now.
This time, I lunged at Master. Jumping at his face, I flew through the air. When he raised his hand in defense, I took advantage of it, using it as a rebound board. Pushing against it, I was able to return to the ground, and in the process of doing that, I had pushed his hand into his face with great force, causing him to stumble backwards. I could almost see the gears turning in his head. The prey had become the predator, and it was confusing his tiny, malicious mind.
He stumbled to the door as I ran around. As he twisted the doorknob, I signaled the dogs. With a click, the door slid open just a few inches. Perfect.
As one, the pack of pitiful looking pups stampede, hitting the door with great force, knocking it wide open. I was blocked by the mass of dogs escaping, so I took a running start and leaped over Master. Using his back as a springboard, I felt as if I had wings on my back. Stretched out, like I was in full stride, the wind pushed back at me. Tail arrow straight, I glided through the air. The sun suddenly pierced through the clouds, bathing the green Florida grass in war golden sunlight.
And just as suddenly as I took off, I landed. Somehow, I managed to stay on my paws. As I looked back to make sure everyone was out, I noticed Master. His face was as white as a ghost, his eyes wide in shock. Then he fell to the ground, the gruff, terrible man. He had fainted dead away.
With the daylight fading, I ran after the troop of jubilant racers. We had no idea how long we had before Master called for backup. For the first time in a long while, I ran without boundaries. Catching up with the pack, we ran in sync, as one. Passing lush bushes, tall palm trees, and vividly colored flowers, the scent of the outdoors surrounding us. My friends, no, my family, were free.
As we reached the training grounds, we readied ourselves for the barrage of slander from the champions. But to our surprise, they stared at us, with amazement and resentment in their eyes. I realized that they were envious of us. They might be treated well, but they still never got the chance to experience life without restraint. But we couldnt help them. We were on a mission.
As we reached the west gardens, I assigned dogs to groups. Each group had a leader, and a different area to search. Moon had the younger, nervous dogs and pups, Chara took the older dogs, and I led the group of unruly, stubborn hounds. Each group had different strengths and weaknesses, but together, we were strong.
We divided the land quickly, and set off. Leading my group, we bolted off into the thick orchard of exotic fruit trees, dodging low hanging branches. My charges seemed to be easily distracted by the succulent fruits, but with a sharp reprimand I got them back under control. Our keen eyes scanned the area, while our advanced sense of scent helped us to pick up traces of Style. We couldnt bark, as that would alert nearby gardeners and perhaps Master to our whereabouts.
Our group had little luck in picking up any sign of Style. We had found one or two spots where her scent was faint, but no trail followed. We quickly realized that Style had not been in the orchard for a long time. We could just hope that the other groups were having better luck. If not, we had just landed ourselves in a heap of trouble for nothing.
As we wandered the area, we found only a few signs of Style occupying the area. We eventually looped around, finding ourselves at the paved path again. As we exited the small forest of trunks and fruit, we spotted another group bounding towards us. As they got closer, I realized that it was Moons group. The distinct black dog ran at the front of the pack, tongue lolling. He seemed both happy and forlorn. Finally, they cleared a small hedge and landed back on the cool tile.
Any trace of Style? I inquired, head tilted. Moon shook his head in sympathy.
Almost nothing. We found a few drops of blood, probably from when she first got away. Other then that, there was barely anything. How did you do? he mumbled. As he spoke, his head drooped.
The same as you. We found some barely perceptible hints that she had been around, but they were old and weathered. I guess we just have the other group to wait for now.
Our small pack two thirds complete, we wandered a few feet into the orchard to conceal ourselves for passer-by. As we waited, many of the sighthounds rested, stretched out and asleep. Others sat, alert, and a few wandered around. Some quietly conversed with each other. Moon and I stayed by the treeline, waiting for the last part of the group to report back.
Suddenly, a unmistakable sound drifted through the wind, softly signaling us to come. The prognosis of our mission was not good.
Rallying the troops, we dashed off to find Chara and the others. Hearts heavy, the once rejuvenating air now is stifling. Some of the pack lags behind, while some simply jog. I understand, I dont want to go anywhere either. I feel like curling into a small ball and feeling sorry for myself. But the pack needs strong leaders, and I cant let them down.
As we descend upon the flower gardens, we pause to let the stragglers catch up. Moon stares into my eyes, looking for strength. But I cant offer him any. This is hard on everyone, but Moon and I...we have known Style for so long, she was like a littermate to us. She was like a sister, and now we have lost her.
Soon we arrive on the scene. In a grove of palm trees, the other dogs were surrounding what I presumed to be the body. Chara leaves the huddle, padding softly over to us. We acknowledge each other briefly, but we really dont have any focus right now. As Moon and I advance, with Chara trailing behind us, the few dogs gathered around the body move away, showing respect.
I had prepared myself for something bad, but I still wasnt ready. As my eyes settled on the corpse, I broke down. Style had not passed on peacefully. The outlines of her skeleton were clearly visible, a sign that she had starved. Her eyes were closed, thankfully. She was splayed out on the ground, and the ground around her was disturbed. Dirt and grime covered her gorgeous fawn coat, marred with scars that had accumulated over her wild weeks, and her mouth was open, gaping. She had cleary fought death, but it had overcome her.

Part 3
I couldnt take it. One of my dearest friends was gone, forever. Collapsing onto the ground, my mind churned. How could she have died?! Why did this happen? I was aware that the others were staring, but I didnt give a lick of care about it. Right now, only Style mattered.
After what seemed like hours, I sat up. Gesturing to the rest of the pack to join me. When everyone sat around the body, I tipped my nose up, high and proud. With a deep breath, I reverted back to the state that my great, great, great, and many more greats, ancestors instincts. And I howled.
At first, it was a deep, low note, full of forlorn and anger. And it rose, both in pitch and volume. Than Moon joined in, our voices intertwining to create a complex weave of sorrow. Chara joined next, and then, one at a time, everyone joined in. The entire pack mourned together, creating a haunting serenade to the heavens for our lost family member. A work of art, the music we created seemed like the right form of remembrance for the dog who treasured beauty.
One by one, the dogs dropped out of the sound weaving, lowering their heads in respect for our fallen comrade. Soon, Chara, Moon, and I were the last ones. Taking one last breath, we finished off the masterpiece, mingling our voices and raising the volume for all to hear. Fading, we finished off the song, dipping our heads. All was silent except for the rustle of the leaves in the wind.
Rising, I turned and slunk over to the nearest palm tree. Grabbing a fallen leaf, I dragged it over to the body. Maneuvering the leaf artfully, I covered the neck and head. The others followed suit, grabbing leaves, flowers, and vines. Before long, the body was completely covered.
After everyone had placed an object on Styles corpse, Moon and I walked up one last time. Touching our muzzles to the skillfully made mound of flora, we said our final goodbyes. Everyone walked out of the grove, letting us pay our respects in private. With one last look at Styles final resting place, we followed our pack away.
As we crossed the tile pathways, the normally bright colors seemed dull in our eyes, and the air seemed heavy. Everyone's heads were hung low, tail tucked in between our legs. Moons usually wide eyes were closed tightly, and his usually cowering frame was heaving. Chara still walked with her head held high, but she didnt have her usual snotty aura. The rest of the group was coping in various degrees of mourning. Some walked with a confident posture, and others seemed to drag along, barely moving.

I cowered in the corner of the small metal box. The world outside passed by in a blur, and the wind cut sharply through the vents. I hid by head in between my legs, hoping to cut off some of the resounding racket caused by the highway. I couldnt even hear the other dogs, separated from me with a thin sheet of silver iron.
This morning, Master arrived in the kennels early. With the sky outside still dark, he had snapped a lead on a few of us. Chara and Moon also came, along with many of the prizewinning dogs. They were loaded into the transport truck right before we left, Master making sure conditions were as stress free as possible for them. He was extra careful when taking us outside now, and had shoved us into the truck quickly.
Ever since we had ran off, Master had showed much more caution when handling us. We now had 3 types of lock on our cage, and a leash was snapped to our collar full time. In my case, the leash was tied to the bars of my cell. There was almost no way to get away.

We had ran free for a few hours before Master started tracking us down. Using a net and some sort of stick with a noose on it, he captured all of us quickly with the help of some of his friends. We put up quite a struggle though, and by time he had captured us again, his dark brown hair was slicked back with sweat, almost black.
Master had beat me, leaving me sore and with open wounds for many days. Moon and Chara suffered similar punishments, though not to the extent of my penalty. The other dogs were also punished, but with a very low degree of severity. Most had food suspended for a few days, and two were shipped of to some unknown destination. We could only hope that they were doing better than us.
Master had established more rigorous training programs too, and we endured dire discipline if we refused to run, or even ran just a few seconds slower than his standard, which his small stopwatch showed up to a tenth of a second. A few dogs refused to run at all, lying down in the dirt. These dogs had terrible sentences inflicted onto them, and one of them had come close to death, slipping into what seemed to be a coma. He later woke up, and was now recovering.
After a few months, Master decided to send a few us to the local racetrack. After increasing our feed a bit so we did not seem so skinny, he had selected a choice few to make the journey. The night before we left we were all given baths, and our basic needs were fulfilled. I unfortunately, was one of the chosen victims. And that brings us to where we are now.

As we travel down the bumpy roads, I start to feel nauseous. I have been in a vehicle only a few times in my short life, and I hated the feeling of the constant stopping and speeding. Sticking my nose out of the vent, in a hope to get a quick breath of fresh air. Instead, I was greeted with the smokey smell of exhaust, and withdrew my muzzle from the window.
As we made a sharp right turn, the tire screeched and I could hear the engine gunning up. Soon, the truck slanted upwards, meaning we all slid backwards. Scrambling for my footing, I fell flat on my face. The cool metal connecting with my jaw made a loud pop! I picked myself up, and the truck soon leveled out, much to my relief.
Suddenly, the truck came to a stop. The engine stopped, and the slam of the drivers door made me jump. I heard Masters leather boots crunching on the gravel outside, and the metallic click of the latch that secured the cover on the truck being deactivated. A stream of sunlight abruptly blasted my side of the truck, causing me to blink a few times. I was greatly appreciative of the wave of cool air that washed over me though.
As Master unloaded us one by one, I detected new smells and noises. I had only been to a racetrack once before, and that was only for a few hours. Now I was backstage, behind the air conditioned barns where I would be staying. At least, Chara said they were air conditioned.
Within a half hour, we were all crated up in our new temporary home. Here, I had a fleece blanket to lay on, and fresh water for a change. I gladly accepted these luxuries, chewing on a small red ball that had been tossed half heartedly into my cage. Unlike my kennel at home, I could walk two full paces in here, and I had plenty of room to stretch out. All was good.

Moon had a look of amazement on his face, almost he couldnt believe what was in front of his eyes. I didnt blame him. These were the best conditions Id lived in since I was a young puppy. I didnt know how long I would be able to lavish these special treats, so I took it as it came. Enjoying the moment, I dozed off, content

I woke up with a start. I realized I had a long, black nylon lead snapped to a new collar. Master stood outside of my door, waiting for me to step out. Still groggy, I stumbled out the door, eyes adjusting to the light. Master quickly shoved a new muzzle on my head, I wondered why I was being treated so nicely. In a daze, I was led out the door into the bright sunlight.
Warm air washed over me, wrapping me in a robe of security. Every doubt I had was quickly replaced by happiness. Passing barns similar to the one I had been in a few minutes earlier, I was able to watch as other dogs were led out. Some had colorful, elaborate decorated collars and leads, and others wore simple, one color sets. Stepping high with pride, I thought I detected a trace of a smile on Masters gruff, serious face.
Soon, we were joined by a man who I recognized as one of Masters friends. He led a small, muscled spotted female who was outfitted in a pink racing silk. Her body was covered in sweat, and she was panting heavily. From what I gathered, she had just ran a race and came in first place. I also learned I was to be running in my maiden race. Suddenly nervous, I turned to her, hoping to get a few pointers.
I heard you just won your race. Im new here, and I dont know what Im doing. I was wondering if you could give me a few tips? I inquired, ears pricked and alert.
She turned to me, and with a voice of silk, replied,
Run fast, but keep a steady grip. Stay on the inside rail, and be careful around the turns. If you start to slide, try to get out of the way and curl up in a ball. And save your strength for the homestretch, than sprint as fast as possible.
She paused, seeming to think. Her eyes were thoughtful, and her tail wagged slowly from side to side.
And whatever you do, keep your focus on the track ahead. Do your best, and dont worry about the other dogs unless one of them is down if front of you.
Then she was gone. Masters friend had entered a barn that seemed to be his home base. She followed obediently, with one last glance back at me. She seemed to wish me luck in whatever might come next.
Within a few minutes we had reached the back area if the track. Master handed me off to a new person, a woman with blond hair that looked young. She studied me with a watchful eye, and reading a sheet of paper that Master had given her. She stroked my shining, satin, coat and scratched my head absentmindedly. As she read the sheet, she seemed taken aback by something. Looking back down at me quickly, she compared me to the picture that I could now make out on the paper.
No. This cant be...but she matches the description perfectly, and the pedigree is perfectly in tune, she muttered, her voice full of confusion.
If this is truly is correct, than the dog in front of me is one of the fabled Distinct Speed puppies. But if that was so, I wonder why we havent heard about her yet.
I was muddled. I hadnt heard anything about my bloodlines before, much less something about me. Still, as I puzzled over the information that had just been released to me, heads turned to stare at me. The other dogs that were milling about me quietly conversed with each other, peeking at me from time to time. By time Master arrived back on scene,gripping a mess of red fabric, the general area was abuzz.
My head was about to explode. Master had taken possession of my lead, and was standing tall. He babbled to the other humans, shaking their hands and puffing up at compliments. When I finally took interest in the conversation, I realized they were talking about me! Master reveled in the glory of having a Distinct Speed dog. Meanwhile, I just wanted to get away from the ruckus.
Without warning, a bell rang loudly, scaring me. The other people scrambled over to their charges, and Master turned towards me. Unfolding the cloth, I realized it was a silk. Tomato red with a large black 1, he rubbed it on my head. Then he unsnapped my lead with a click. Pulling the silk over my head, and maneuvering my legs through specially designed holes, it fit like a glove.
A man in a visor attended the gate, and yelled something at everyone in the warm-up pen. One by one, we were led through the gate. The other dogs were confident, and the general attitude wore off on me. I pranced at Masters side, excited and ready to run. Soon, we made our entrance onto the track.
The dirt and clay squashed beneath my feet. I was thankful that it was dry, and the other hounds seemed relieved by this discovery too. I could hear the announcer going over our statistics. The crowd rumbled in approval at the selection of racers today. Master shortened my lead as I jigged back and forth, now nervous. Soon, we had reached the chute, essentially a metal box that had gates on either side. On the press of a button, the front gate would shoot up and we would go shooting out.
Master led me to the first opening and unsnapped my lead. Staring into my eyes, I could tell he was both proud and annoyed.
Let's see what you can do Sophie. Make the Celes Kennel proud today, he whispered, patting me roughly on the head. Then he urged me into the dark slot, and closed the gate behind me.
I could see the track ahead through the openings in the sheet of metal separating me from the world. I heard the other dogs scrambling around inside of their assigned places, anxious to begin the race. The steward walked in front of the loading gate, then jogged back over, waving a flag back and forth. A decoy sped past, going at a speed faster than the one at home had ever gone. Suddenly, the doorway spang open with a rattle.
Without thinking, I shot out within milliseconds. Accelerating to top speed in less than a second, my legs were straining with the effort of the weight of my body. Still, I ran as if I had never ran before. If I could win this race, then there was a chance that Master could see that I could indeed run, and I might be promoted to the racing barn. Instantly, I switched gears, hoping a new lead might help me go faster. I was right, and I sped down the straight stretch of sandy track.
And then, I reached the first turn. Remembering the advice I had been given earlier, I kept my focus on the track, and I was able to angle my body correctly to dart perfectly around the curve. But even though I managed to get around the turn, another dog was coming up beside me.
Taking my eyes off the track, I commited a grave mistake. I focused on passing the other dog. I didnt see the other dog coming up on the inside before it was too late. I had dropped back to third place. Anger bubbling up inside of me, I growled. Opening up my stride, I attempted to take them over, but I just couldnt keep up. With a wave of sadness, I slowed down. And thats when I saw her. Style was back.
The familiar fawn coat was beside me, a mass of churning muscle. She raced ahead of me, her speed superior to mine. Kicking my gait up a few notches, I desperately chased after her.
Style! Wait for me!
She didnt answer.
Style? Can you hear me?!
Once again, no response.
And then I remembered. Style was gone, dead. And she wasnt coming back.
The next few seconds seemed to last hours, never ending. In a moment, I was tumbling, flipping through the dirt. Sliding towards the fence, my eyes stung and my nose filled with debris. I heard the crown gasp. I tried to stop myself, bracing my legs against the ground. Even that didnt work, and as a result, I heard the bone in one of my front legs snap. Pain screamed through my body.
Still flying, my right front leg hung limp. I could barely see, but I could make out the others dogs shooting past me without a care. And then I struck the fence.
My shoulder received the brunt of the hit. My flesh was torn apart, and a deep gash stretched from the front of my shoulder to my flanks. I could tell an artery had been hit. Crimson blood flowed from the cut, causing me to quickly start losing strength. A coppery smell filled the air within seconds. I started to gasp for air as I slowly died.
Thoughts ran through my head, leaving me in both mental and physical agony. What would Moon do without me? What would the pack do without one of their leaders? How would Chara react? What would happen to the dogs after I was gone, unable to protect them?
As my vision faded, I tried to curl up, trying to relieve the excruciating pain. Nothing worked. Panting, I was barely aware of being lifted up into the air. Faraway voices were hurried and frantic, and I could tell I had been lowered onto another cold, sterile surface. My silk was removed, the red stained even deeper. A man in a white coat walked towards me, blurry and wavy. He was holding a syringe.
Noooooo! I have...have to get...get back...to my pack, I gasped, my barking weak and hushed. Suddenly, a dull pain pinched my neck.
Please, dont do this to me...try to heal me...Im begging...of you

The men stood over the pale corpse on the table before them. The cold, lifeless body was resting in a pool of dark blood, eyes clouding over. Her blue-gray fur was painted with red, matted down with the sweat from the hard run. They took a black bag out of a cabinet, and carefully packed the dead dog into it with respect. It would later be autopsied, to see if drugs were involved and what physical condition the dog was in.
Many animal welfare fights groups fought with this case. Eventually, on a anonymous tip, the Florida Animal Care And Control entered the property. After the found the shed of abused, starving dogs, they seized control of the animals and Blake was convicted with animal abuse. He was made to pay a fine and was sentenced to 5-10 years in prison.
Moon was sent to a rehabilitation group, where he made new friends and gained confidence. He became a demo dog, touring around the country to show people what wonderful pets greyhounds could be. He never forgot Sophie.
Chara was also sent to a rescue group, but she was placed for adoption. A couple with a young baby adopted her within days, and was welcomed with much joy. She bonded with them, and now enjoys playing with her new people.
The rest of the pack was divided, and some of them were placed in new homes together. A few were sold to new kennels and others were retired, where they happily relaxed in the warm sun. Others were advocates for the breed, and a few went on to new careers in the show ring.
Everything was perfect...but we all know that it wont last long...
The End

Hi Dragon.

I don't think I will enter a story, I don't have time to write one that long.
If it can be a paragraph, or a bit longer maybe. But not an entire book.

SO I totally thought I'd be able to do this, but school has gotten too hectic and I'm currently in charge of 80 head of cattle and a pregnant mare on top of all my other stuff so I don't think I can think straight enough to participate this year. Hopefully next year after school is done I can though

can i join? if so i choose angsty fantasy