A medium sized white dog with small black and brown patches padded through the lush undergrowth, sniffing the air cautiously. Her electric blue eyes wandered her surroundings, her fur standing on end. There was a scent of a pack of wild dogs in the air, as well as a stale scent of wolves.

The she dog growled to herself, rolling her eyes. "Great.." She had heard all about the Shattered Souls and nothing good.

She tensed up as she heard bushes rustling. A small, slender russet brown dog slipped out of the bushes with a huff, his head turned to a larger black and tan dog who practically stumbled through the tall grass near the bush. "You have a valid point, Brier , but I can't see why the hunters have to do all the work..." The smaller dog mumbled, trailing off. His almond brown eyes met hers. "Hey, mongrel! What do you think you are doing on Lone Cry territory."

"Mongrel? I will have you know, my name's not mongrel, its Electra, walking twig." The she dog growled.

The smaller dog's comrade stepped forward. His lips pulled back in a warning snarl.

Electra eyed both of the dogs, taking every small detail of the two. The smaller one wasn't just a small, link shaped dog but also had a narrow scout. The larger dog had red tinted eyes and a more wrinkly muzzle. They are hounds. A Dachshund and Bloodhound clearly.

Suddenly a larger black wolf-like dog bounded over. "Rowan! Briar!" He panted, his tone urgent. "We..we need you back at camp immediately. Two omegas are fighting and...they.. they are drawing blood."

"You are the alpha and you can't even keep your pack under control!" The dachshund snapped. "That's just pitiful."

Briar mumbled. "Rowan, It's best if we head back. Let alpha take care of the runt."

Rowan, the smaller russet colored dog, opened his mouth as if to argue before giving a hesitant nod. "Fine. Let's go!" He snorted, before bounding off through the tall grass. His larger friend stumbling after him.

The wolf-like alpha watched them leave before he eyed Electra, uncertainty in his amber gaze. "Look, if you are here for a fight - we don't want one, we have enough trouble as it is - so please if that's why you are here, keep it moving." He then turned around, doubt coming off him in waves.

Electra froze where she stood, her mind buzzing. She didn't know what brought her here. She was a house pet, she had a good home, food in her belly and a warm place to sleep. But something drove her to this forest, to this very pack of strays.

"I'm..I'm not here as a t-threat.." The smaller dog managed to say.

"Then what brings you here..you are fairly no bigger than that hard-headed Dachshund." The alpha informed in a light hearted tone.

"I'm pretty sure I'm bigger than him. One look at him, you would think he was a toy." Electra murmured after some thought.

"You know he's not a toy breed?" The alpha seemed surprised.

"Of course, he's a hound not a toy." Electra said with a light chuckle, giving her coat a shake.

"What's your name?" The wolf dog gave a slight tilt of his head.

"I'm Electra.." She replied. "What is yours?" Her blue eyes narrow a bit.

"Nebula." The alpha laughed. "Say, would you be interested in joining my pack?"

Electra was caught off guard by the question. Am I really willing to throw away my family..my home..my house pet life..to join a pack of wild dogs? Back at home she spent most of her days eating and sleeping. Her life has grown dull and meaningless. She thrived the life of adventure and freedom of a wild dog.

"Yes, but I will give you a fair warning, I don't take orders from anyone especially one who can't keep his pack under control." Electra snarled.

Nebula snorted, his amber gaze falling to the ground. "Yeah...whatever." He padded through the tall grass, leading the way. "Follow me.."

Electra threw a glance over her shoulder, thinking about the home she left behind.

"Are you coming or not?" Nebula turned to look at her. "I'm not.." He trailed off, turning around and padded over to her. "Are..are you okay?"

"Do you want the truth?" Electra turned around, tilting her head, her blue eyes narrowed.

"Uh..yeah?" Confusion filled Nebula's bright amber gaze. 

"I'm fine." The smaller dog hissed, getting to her paws. "I don't need any one to look after me."

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There were large rocks   surrounding the clearing. A hole was dug in the earth just in front of the rock. Nebula informed. "The tunnel leads into the camp." The alpha added. "Bigger dogs normally have to climb over the rocks. That includes me...I will see you on the other side."

Electra watched Nebula disappear over the rocks, hesitating before jumping into the hole, she was just small enough to squeeze her way through the narrow tunnel. She mumbled about bumping her head and then held her head low as she neared the end of the tunnel, sunlight pouring through.

The small dog hopped out of the hole and onto the grassy ground. The alpha was seat on a large rock in the center of the clearing.

"We have a new pack  member. Her name is Electra." Nebula announced.

Rowan, the russet colored dachshund from before padded forward to the rock. "Really? You accepted her! What use will she provide in our pack?"

"Electra, what type of dog is Rowan?"  The larger black wolf dog asked, peering down on the small she-dog.

"He's a Dachshund! He comes from the hound group." Electra answered, she noticed Rowan's surprised expression, his jaw dropped.

"She's clever and ambitious, not to mention stubborn. And with those wolves closing we need all the help we can get." Nebula pointed out.

"You will be a guard. Gaia will be your mentor." The large black dog added. A large shaggy gray and white dog padded forward and gave Electra a sniff. "Hello, there, little one. You are from around here, are you?"

Electra shook her head in response to the Olde English Sheepdog. Electra gave the larger a return sniff.

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There was Gaia, standing before a flock of sheep. Her fur blowing in the wind. Her golden gaze bold as she stared into the wild amber eyes of a wolf. Its lips pulled back into a snarl. The sheepdog snorted. "You think I'm afraid of you, dear, I'm not. Go back to the forest." The grayish white wolf lunged without the slightest warning but Gaia was prepared, giving the feral animal a headbutt to the chest, knocking the air out of it. Due to wolves being no different than foxes she showed little mercy, snapping her jaws at the wolf's hind legs and pulled the wolf to the ground, after hearing a snap from its leg. She lunged forward, giving a mighty bark, sending the wolf scurrying off as fast as it could with its injured leg.

As the sun rose over the horizon, the sheepdog stood proudly, her head held high until that is the farmer strolled over with a muscular black and white dog. His glossy coat as soft as silk. "Well, looks we have a newer, younger sheepdog." The farmer boasted.
His son asked."But dad, what are we going to do with Gaia?"
"Heck, If I know and who cares. We have our new number one sheepdog right here!"

_____________________________

"Electra, you alright? You zoned out there for a second." Gaia tilted her head, her voice full of warmth.

Electra blinked rapidly, giving a shake of her coat. "Yeah, I'm fine." She replied.

"Her training can start tomorrow." Nebula informed before bounding off the rock.

Electra noticed Briar near the back, carrying a limp body, as he padded past she realized it wasn't a rabbit but a small dog, its creamy color fur stained crimson.

Gaia noticed. "I know its a hard to take in. Its not something you are used to. But you will grow used to it, dear."