2.
Noah’s Park Biopark, Terrace High
‘…And now we’re split up as a Club, and poor Elpis is really depressed. Tegan doesn’t know what to do. And my best friend thinks I am a lunatic for siding with Volant’s cause.’
The zoo’s mascot, a vixen whose spotless, pure fiery red fur had earned the name of an ancient fire deity, held the fray-furred boxer in her arm. “Aw, poor Butch. It’s so
unfair: you’re not a lunatic.”
Butch Greene showed a hesitant smile. ‘You really think so, Nusku?’ he said through the sign language.
She nodded. Other than sporting an unusual fur pattern, Nusku was tall for a member of her species. She easily reached the height of a medium canine. “Of course! You and your friends
care for Volant. I don’t know if you’re right or wrong, but you
believe in what you’re doing. It’s so sweet, I like it in boys.”
The way she said it, with
that look from her slit ruby eyes, was causing Butch’s body temperature to raise quickly. Rationally, he knew Nusku had a reputation of flirting, that she was the kind of female who would look out for a toypup rather than a lifemate…and yet, he knew how to make feel one good when he was feeling down. And Drake didn’t know, or didn’t realize, how much the dog was hurt by the mocking. Butch had always supported Drake, he didn’t deserve to be ridiculed in return!
“Getting tense again, luv?” Nusku started working her magic on his shoulders and back. Butch’s expression told enough about his gratitude.
‘What should I do?’ he asked when she was finished.
“Keep fighting for what you believe in, that’s the best piece of advice I can give you. I’ve heard about that shelter, the Lucky Charm Grove: if there is a place that can educate Volant back to a more civil attitude, that’s it.”
Then the couple stopped talking, as they relaxed and enjoyed the sight of the visitors. Nusku found it funny that it was the humans who thought they were enjoying a show, when it was them with their antics to provide quite a spectacle for the animals. Better than TV!
“May I have a say in all of this?” grunted a voice…from below them.
Nusku didn’t stop her embrace with Butch.“No, my dear. Now be a good mat and shut up.”
Hannibal groaned and kept laying down while the other two sat over his back. For being a female, and not nearly built like the Alsatian, she knew how to put a male in his place! She had not appreciated her current boyfriend’s decision to vote against Volant’s return to Terrace High, as the Alsatian had discovered to his dear expenses… “I am in Security,” he said. “It’s my duty to protect the community.”
“What did I say, mat?” she asked casually.
“That you won’t see me ever again if I contradicted you,” he whimpered.
---
Karahalios House, Lev. 49, Apt. 494
“Dear, you really look chipper this morning,” Ms. Karahalios said. She patted the table, though she knew her son had learnt by heart the furniture disposition. “Come, your tea and favorite biscuits are ready.”
The Australian Terrier walked quickly to his seat and climbed up. “Thank you Mom. And yes, I do feel a lot better today.” He wagged as if to emphasize that concept.
Khloe beamed. “I
knew that you would be fine, once we got rid of that nasty dog once and for all! You’ll see, it can only go better from now on, and you won’t lose your
real friends. Like those two nice Gottschalk dogs.”
Elpis knew how to read the captions in his Mom’s voice. And, frankly, it wasn’t that hard to figure the unspoken
And you will not attend that silly Club, did I make myself clear?
The dog nodded. “I will choose better my friends. I am sorry for upsetting you, Mom, honest.”
Only her table manners prevented her from ruffling his head. “Elpis, really, you don’t have to apologize. Your father and I know you are born with a heart too big. There are way too many creatures ready to take advantage of you only to get to your money, but don’t worry: we’ll be always here to watch over you, love. Now finish your breakfast.”
Elpis proceeded to do so.
He had all the reason for being chipper, yessir!
His Mom just didn’t need to know them…
---
Gottschalk Household & Administration Offices, level 50
“Punctual. I like it,” the male German Shepherd/Husky mix said as the door opened.
Elpis walked in. “Is it safe?” he asked surreptitiously, looking around like a guerrilla, though more to the benefit of his audience. His ears and nose were in full input mode –he had never set foot in this place. In fact, no animal except for Gauss and Curie, the Foster pets and the Miltons had had such privilege.
The door hissed closed. Gauss rolled his eyes. “Safe as it gets, pup: security here is tighter than at the CIA and the KGB. Are you sure you want to go through this?”
Elpis nodded. “Positive. Thank you guys…but, well, not that I’m complaining…”
“You would like to know why we’re helping, after our voting, back at the Club?” Curie asked.
The trio led Elpis to their room. “It’s a question of image. We cannot officially support Volant’s attitude, but we understand what it is like, to be a…difficult dog.”
Curie nodded. “We had another owner, before Mr. Gottschalk. And we weren’t exactly a…role model, then.”
Elpis shook his head. “Hard to imagine. Everyone believes you come from the most rigid selection of the finest of your breeds, with an ancestry of MWDs and sledding dogs. You are supposed to be born with a code bar and a warranty.”
“Except for the code bar and the warranty,” Gauss said as the room’s door closed behind them, “you are right. Our previous owner was Uncle Sam. We belong to a breeding program called Mixed Lines All-purpose Working Dogs, or MILAWD.”
Curie sat at her desk. Soon Elpis heard her claws ticking on the keyboard. “Those like us are also called ‘the Snowflakes’, because you won’t find two of us identical to each other. So, yes, Gauss and I are supposed to be Military Working Dogs specialized in arctic environment. But we weren’t…psychologically fit.”
“A problem common with us Snowflakes,” Gauss said. “We are supposed to bond to our human partner since puppyhood, but I guess we never found the right one.”
Tictictictictic went the keyboard. “No bonding, no training, no useful. And since Uncle Sam spends a lot of money on each new litter, they sell us to a restricted selection of civilians with special needs in security.”
Elpis scratched his head. “Did Mr. Gottschalk live at the North Pole when he bought you?”
Tictictictic… “No. He chose us because we have the mind flexibility and loyalty proper of a GSD. Luckily, winters are decent here…Ah!”
Elpis detected the satisfaction in her voice. “You got in touch with Volant?!”
“No. I managed to bypass our security network and get in touch with Volant’s email at the Lucky Charm Grove.”
“What did you insert through all this time?”
“The password. Only the Security and Dad know it—“
Gauss cleared his throat.
“ Sorry. Mr. Gottschalk. And us, of course. Here.” She left the seat, leaving Elpis free to take her place. “The mail browser is on. Enter the address
[email protected]”
The Australian Terrier nodded and his fingers flew. “LCG stands for the shelter, but I take it Mr. Foster plans to expand his business, if that BG is a clue.”
Gauss nodded. “He, Mr. Gottschalk and the Miltons have great plans for the creation of whole communities that will incorporate shelters, citadels and self-providing agricultural cooperatives. All pet-friendly, pet-centered.” He kept his voice cool, but the pride in it couldn’t be denied. “They are still looking for a political figure to help them bend the laws so that the animals of said communities will have more and stronger rights in said communities, closer to real citizens than just ‘property’.”
Elpis thought they had all reason to be proud. There wasn’t a lack of initiatives for animal welfare in the world, but this was the first time three big shot businessmen joined forces in a project of this scope and extension. Old Henry Milton would’ve been proud, himself! “And why do you refer to your Dad with such formality? Military training?”
“Yup,” Curie said, wagging. “We
did learn something under the Army, after all.”
“Guys, I think you should seriously need to relax. Don’t tell me you joined the Club just because your Dad ordered it, or to keep an eye on us.”
Silence answered him. Such an
awkward silence that the small dog could hear the embarrassment coming from the Gottschalk dogs. “Oh,
please!”
Gauss crossed his arms and scoffed, turning his head like the primadonna he was. “Well, in Volant’s case it turned out we were
right, Mr. Goodheart!”
“He’s not a bad guy, I tell you. I’d keep an eye on those Mac and Piper, instead.” He finished composing the email, then sent the message, trusting the siblings not to keep a copy of it.
“Why all the care?” Curie asked. “I mean, what makes you so sure about him?”
Elpis turned the chair, looking at them as if he could see them. “In case you didn’t notice, I wasn’t the only one voting in favor of his return, back at the Club.”
Gauss and Curie exchanged a look. They all had voted mainly about giving Volant support. As for coming back, that wouldn’t be a fast process, and it depended exclusively on Volant’s attitude…and on their owner’s decision…
“Those who voted for Volant,” Gauss said, “voted with
you. Believe me, there is much indecision about that vote, but you seem to be very…persuading. So, again, what makes you so sure about that Volant character?”
Elpis sighed. “He…he talked to me about him. I mean, he told me everything. But he made me swear I wouldn’t tell to anyone, not even Tegan. And I believe him, I can tell that, at least. It cost him a lot, he has a strong armor around him, but he gave me that much trust. He said he will tell the others if and when he’ll be ready, but for now I am the only repository of his past. And I shall not betray his trust. At the cost of leaving him at the shelter.
“But, believe me. There’s more to him than you can suppose.”