A howl went up, calling the pack to order, and they circled once around the building before running off down the street.With some staying in human form, others going full dog, it looked like a group of joggers had gotten together.
Since Facebook was still up, Ross tapped in,Question for my essential oil friends.Which oil calms frantic friends down?Chloroform?Pretty sure it’s chloroform.
Not expecting an immediate response, he let the phone rest on his leg for a while.The wolves were well out of hearing range now, already onto the main street and running like air wasn’t a thing to worry about.Show-offs.Shaking his head, he tapped in a search for the local pounds in the area.Oh look, they were now open for business.He punched in the number of the nearest one.
“Northeast Animal Shelter, how can I help you?”a falsely chipper voice responded.
“Hi, my dog got loose and I think someone picked him up.He looks like a cross between a deerhound and a wolf?Big, dark brown, kind of goofy?”
“Oh, yes, someone picked up a dog like that this morning.We’ve got him in a stray hold.He wasn’t wearing a collar.”
Ross smiled evilly.He may be willing to sacrifice sleep and go to Dunham’s rescue, but the man would pay.“Yeah, I’m not surprised.I’ll swing by and take a look, make sure it’s my dog.I’ll see you in about twenty minutes?”
“Of course, see you then.”
Due to enormous personal flaws Ross refused to work on, he neglected to tell the pack he had a lead on Dunham.Instead, he called over to Keane, “Hey, can you take me back to my place?”
“Huh?”Keane had to switch train of thought before he shrugged.“Sure.We might as well go back.We’re both useless here.”
“That we are.”Ross left it at that and didn’t say a word as they drove back to the clan’s territory.He just finished his coffee, mourned its demise, and made a note to get another cup.Dunham could stew for a while.
After Keane dropped him off, Ross went to Dunham’s place.He took his time grabbing an assortment of clothes for the man, then went to get his car.Another stop at the Den to borrow a collar and a leash from the wide assortment they had there for the dogs, and then he was on his way.Yes, the collar might be flower power pink with sparkles.And yes, Ross might have chosen it deliberately for its sparkle effect.
The animal shelter hadn’t changed from the last time he was in it, roughly three weeks ago now.The woman at the front desk recognized him immediately.Then again, the group who had adopted every single dog in one shot was likely pretty memorable.
“Oh, hi,” the woman greeted.“You again.Are you here to adopt a dog yourself this time?”
“No, I’m here to pull one of mine that got picked up this morning.”Ross held up the collar and leash as if in illustration.“He got caught wandering around.”
“Ohhh.Which dog are we talking about?”
It was no doubt her way of making sure Ross really was missing a dog, and not just trying to claim one to get out of paying the fees.He pulled out his phone and flipped to the picture again, magnifying it before displaying it to her.“This is him.”
She gave him a nod of satisfaction.“That’s the one.We found him near an apartment building?”
Ross gave her his best smile.“Yeah, he likes the kids over there.”
“Well, I’m not surprised.He’s friendly.And very smart.”
“Not smart enough to avoid being picked up by you guys, though.”A fact Ross would never, ever let him live down.“Can I get him out today?”
“Sure.I’ll just need you to sign him out.What’s his name?”
“Dun.”Ross went through the motions of the paperwork before following her into the back kennels.They’d added a few dogs since he’d been here last, no surprise.Dunham lay flat on the floor, brown eyes soulful.Ross gave him a sardonic little wave as the woman unlatched the door.
Dunham just sighed woefully.
“Come here, Dun,” Ross crooned, biting back an evil chuckle.“Be a good boy and put your collar back on.”
Dunham rolled his eyes, expression both horrified and pleading.
Ross smirked, jiggling the collar pointedly.
Sighing again, Dunham stood still and let himself be collared.Ross, just to rub it in, gave him a pat on the head once he was done and received quite the glare in return.
Cackling internally, he stood and gave the lady a polite smile.“Thanks so much for your help.Come on, Dun-Dun, time to go home.”
Dunham slinked a little sheepishly at his side—in perfect heel position, which cracked Ross up even further—all the way outside.It was entirely possible Ross was enjoying this due to the fact that he was utterly exhausted and dry drunk because of it.He didn’t care.He enjoyed it anyway.
