BLUE STEPPED BACK IN HORROR. This was the dog she had seen leading the killing armies in Raven’s mystical eye!
Robo’s mere size caused the other dogs to retreat and bow, ears drawn back. His right front leg and right hind leg were monstrosities of technology made of titanium and green fluid. His right ear was now merely rods and circuitry with a current of energy flashing like a halo over his skull. And his eye—his right eye was spellbinding. Made of three parts, the eye almost looked like a goggle with metal, mesh straps holding it place. The lens had a constant red glow. And finally, there was the cruel titanium rod that held it all together, screwed directly into Robo’s skull.
As he slowly stepped off the helicopter, there was no sound in the meadow except for the loud, powerful swoosh of his smooth hydraulic parts. He scanned his surroundings before walking directly over to Blue. He sniffed her before demanding in an icy snarl, “Where is it?”
Upon her silence, he turned to Snow, back hunched and head low, and repeated the question. “Where is it, Snow?”
Snow rolled over in submission as she spoke meekly, “She’s hidden it, and I can’t find it.”
Blue watched his metal paw slash through one of Snow’s perfectly formed ears with the precision of a sword. The beautiful white wolf was no longer perfect.
He turned back to Blue, still held down by three other dogs.
Robo looked down at his bloodied robotic paw and wiped it on his broad chest. He narrowed his eyes and turned to Blue, “I’m so sorry, Blue. This is not how I wanted to meet you. But this is simply business.”
Blue challenged this claim. “You just slashed another dog for business,” she snarled. “I don’t think you know the meaning of the word.”
Robo’s eye darkened and he smirked. “Wow, not even scared. I’m impressed, Blue.”
He turned away from her and walked toward Copper. Robo curled his lips, “General, you know, I’ve been keeping a close eye on you.”
Copper rolled his eyes. “If you intend to kill us, you can always skip the chit-chat. You know, let’s just be all business.”
Robo chuckled, “I have no intention of that, but thanks for the idea. You always did talk too much anyway, Copper.”
He turned toward Destiny, her eyes wide with fear. She shrunk away from him.
“Well, hello there. Dusty, isn’t it?” Robo asked, and Destiny instinctively stuttered, “Destiny.” Robo smiled warmly. “Oh, my mistake,” He lifted his head high above her. “For some reason, I thought Claw had killed you. He should have, so why are you still alive?” Robo snarled viciously.
Destiny yelped in terror and put her paws over her face, as if to make him disappear. Robo turned toward the young wolf. “And of course, Duncan. I’m not surprised to see you here, next to all the traitors. If my paw didn’t already have blood on it,” he looked over at Snow, who had slunk away, “I would kill you right here.
“Okay, now that we’ve had our introductions,” he said, “Blue, where’s the orb?”
Blue cocked her head. “Why do you care?”
Robo said, “I need it to do…certain things.”
Blue shook her head and laughed. “Sorry, I’m gonna pass on helping you with the end of the world, and all that,” she said in a defiant tone.
Robo shook his head. “I’d kill you quickly if you didn’t know where the orb was.”
Blue sneered, “Then it’s a good thing I know where the orb is.”
Robo shook his head. “You naïve dog. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Oh yeah, I’m pretty sure I do,” Blue said simply.
Robo sat down, his natural eyebrow raised. Narrowing his eye, he spoke softly, “You know Blue, I can search around in your head to find out where you put it. I have the technology, I can force you to tell me where the orb is.”
Blue sneered. “I’d like to see you try.”
“In fact, I think I can do even better,” Robo said. “Maybe we should have our scientists implant fake memories into that very teeny, tiny brain of yours, and cause you to murder everyone you love.”
Now Blue was listening.
“My Dog! Can you just tell us your super evil plan?” Copper shouted sarcastically, interrupting the argument. Blue and Robo both looked at him.
Robo sighed and walked over to Copper, who was crouched low in a fighting stance. Robo reached toward Copper and yanked out a small earpiece, hidden in his long ears. “Classic SAD.” He smashed the earpiece into the ground, small sparks flying.
“You know, Blue. You’ve been working for the wrong side; Copper here was supposed to kill you,” he laughed.
”You’re lying,” she said, but there was insecurity in her voice.
“Oh no, my little alley mutt. I’m afraid I’m not.”
Robo rose to his feet, and turned to the robot dogs.
“Put the General in the helicopter, he’ll be necessary. Meanwhile, Blue and I are going to take a little walk to find the orb.” The robotic dogs nodded, forced Copper to his shaky feet, and pushed him towards the helicopter. Copper lowered his head and gave a low, menacing growl. Blue turned, worried he was going to try to fight his captors.
Instead, he lifted his head and, with his Alabama twang, started to sing.
Robo, you’re just like a Lego.
I can take you apart
And you don’t have a heart
And you’re acting like a great big FAAAART.
Copper drew out the last word with a classic Bloodhound howl.
The robot dogs looked stunned. Even Robo was knocked off guard.
Then there is Blue,
She’s a Debbie Downer too,
But you must admit,
She’s a lot prettier than yoooooooou.
“C’mon everyone, sing along!” Copper bellowed, now throwing his paw around a robot dog like an old friend.
Robo’s soldiers, confused and disoriented, finally gave in, their last remaining memories of being real dogs kicking in. Some sang about squirrels, others, lullabies from their puppyhood.
Robo looked in horror at this howling, singing, out-of-tune choir.
Blue felt a cold nose prod her during the distraction. She jerked her head around and saw Raven. He had the bag with the orb around his neck, and Destiny and Duncan at his side. Quickly, he slipped the bag over Blue’s neck, taking advantage of the distraction. They slowly backed away from the helicopter. Once Copper noticed them gone, he leapt over his captors and ran toward his friends.
“Get them!” Robo yelled.
Blue led their escape. A burst of adrenaline ensured their getaway. She didn’t dare stop. Robot dogs snapped at their heels, and she could still feel their breath on her tail. Her heart pounded.
Suddenly, Blue dug her paws into the dirt, wincing in pain, trying to halt.
A giant gorge was ahead with a waterfall roaring down the side of the cliff. Blue turned, panting. The robot dogs were gaining on them.
She saw rocks piercing out the edge of the gorge, and she howled to the others, “Down the rocks!”
“Not so fast!” Robo slid in front of them, blocking the only escape for Copper and Blue. The two pups were able to slip past him, and quickly jumped down the rocks, disappearing before the robotic dogs could reach them.
Robo’s natural eye flamed with hatred. He screamed at Blue and Copper, “You’re not going anywhere!”
A laser fired from his metallic shoulder, and Robo aimed it at Copper.
Raven had been hiding in the underbrush, and leapt forward, smashing into Robo’s side. The laser still fired, tearing into the rocky ground, causing it to crack under Blue and Copper.
They both fell into the rapids below.
Water filled Blue’s mouth, and she struggled to breathe. The current was too strong for her to swim. She flailed about desperately, hoping her claws would find tree limbs or anything to keep her from drowning. Because it was still night, she couldn’t even be sure which way was up.
Finally, she broke the surface. Her vision was still blurry, but she managed to make out Copper’s bobbing head in the moonlight.
Blue realized he was trying to swim towards her. It was too late. The waterfall consumed them both, and Blue felt her stomach drop. The water took her under, but this time she didn’t fight; she was too exhausted.
She closed her eyes, defeated. Suddenly, she felt jaws grab onto her scruff and pull her back to the surface. Blue opened her eyes only to see Copper being swept away.
Blue whimpered, “We have to get him!” But a cold voice answered, “We can’t,” Blue realized Raven was her rescuer. He had a small gash in his shoulder and large claw marks on his chest.
“Copper is gone.” Raven answered, his eyes dull and blank. “Let him return to the Open Meadow, as we all must do when our time is done.”
Blue felt her eyes burn, and hung her head between her paws. “No. No. NO!” she whimpered.
She lay down on the beach, her fur heavy with water. Too many dogs had left her. She no longer had the energy or willpower to go on. She closed her eyes, thinking about Copper, the sweet Bloodhound who had made her laugh, that had made her sing, that had believed in her.
The grief was too much.
“Um, Blue?” Destiny whispered, interrupting her thoughts. “Look up.”
Blue turned back toward the waterfall and saw Robo standing at the side of the cliff. He started to jump from rock to rock, with his army following close behind. His robotic eye was smashed, oozing red liquid that burned the fur around it.
Blue lowered her head, shivering. She closed her eyes. She didn’t care. Let Robo capture her. Why should she make friends, just to lose them? Love is pain and she had had enough.
Raven twitched nervously, waiting for Blue. Finally, he muttered, “Oh for Dog’s sake, Blue,” and started to forcibly drag her to her feet. Blue snarled, nipping at him. He ignored her, saying, “Stop thinking just about yourself.”
Finally, he pushed her, along with the others, into a thicket of sweet smelling blackberries. It was perfect—the thorns protected them from an easy attack, and the berries hid their scent from the rapidly approaching dogs.
They watched as Robo roared, “Go go go!”
The panicked robot dogs ran past the thicket, intent on pleasing their leader. When they had safely passed, Blue crawled out.
“They’ll be back soon,” Blue announced, and ran back to the river. She had noticed some dead fish on the bank earlier, and now dragged them around the trail to throw off the robot dogs. She hoped to buy enough time to give Destiny and Duncan a chance to escape.
Blue returned to the others. “Run away, as far as you can,” she said sternly.
“But why? We want to help,” Destiny whined.
“Yeah, why can’t we help?” growled Duncan.
Blue said to Duncan, “I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I’m counting on you to protect Destiny. To help her survive.”
Duncan replied, “Destiny already knows how to do that, remember? She’s been on her own for a long time now without me or you.”
Blue winced.
“I was left in an old coat in a brick wall. I couldn’t find you,” she said, hurt. “I looked for you and Max, but couldn’t find either one of you. I didn’t know what to do. I was almost dead until Vince found me.”
Blue looked confused.
“Vince,” Destiny continued, “It was his coat. He was homeless, like me, and he saved my life.”
Another human who wanted to do the right thing.
“Just do as I ask,” Blue said firmly to both puppies.
Duncan growled his displeasure, but finally nodded. “Fine, whatever. Though, I would love to get my paws on that stupid, old mutt, Robo”
The thought of losing Destiny twice broke Blue’s heart. But Destiny would be safer with Duncan. Blue still had to try to find Max.
Blue nuzzled Destiny. “I’m so glad you are alive. I’m praying your brother is, too.”
Destiny nuzzled Blue back, with tears in her eyes. “I just found you. This is so unfair. I’ve been looking for you forever,” she cried. “I need to give you this.” Destiny lowered her head and something that had been previously hidden in her coat of fur slid off her neck and onto Blue’s neck.
It was a necklace that held a stone with a husky’s image burned into it.
“Destiny, where did you get this?” Blue asked.
Destiny studied her paws shyly. “I stole it.”
“Stealing?” Blue laughed. “What a great alley dog! I’m proud of you.”
Destiny brightened with the praise.
“I want you to have it—it was meant for you!”
Blue shifted uncomfortably and looked at the necklace. She softly said, “I’ll treasure it.”
Destiny started to cry again. “I believe in you, Blue.”
One last time, Blue licked away Destiny’s tears. Destiny breathed deeply.
They heard more barking outside the thicket. “No more talking,” Blue warned in a low voice.
They waited until the barking faded away. Then, Raven and Blue said their final goodbyes to Duncan and Destiny, who started running, leaving the fields, the woods, and the river behind.
Raven and Blue went the other direction. The rocky ground under their paws transformed into rich dirt, which slowly turned into sand covered with driftwood and shells.
Blue stopped to survey her surroundings. They were on a beach by a still body of warm, salt water. When Blue waded into the greenish-blue water, she could see straight down to her paws.
“Where are we?” she asked to Raven.
Raven said, “It’s the Gulf Coast, city mutt.”
“Are we going the right way?” Blue asked with concern.
“The right way does not necessarily mean where we’re meant to be,” he said crisply. “We are where we are meant to be.”
They continued to run on the sand.
“You know, stealing is bad…” Raven spoke up.
Blue sighed. “Oh, please, you’ve been a dog in tough times before. We both know that stuff isn’t simply handed to us. Besides, I’ll probably give the necklace away anyway. It’s like a huge choking hazard and I don’t want to worry about it.”
Raven shook his head. “Do you think she gave you a necklace because she thought you would choke on it?”
Blue laughed. “Why else would she give it to me? I’ve already abandoned her twice.”
Raven sighed. “She loves you in a way that you can’t possibly understand,” he said. “You’re so blind sometimes, Blue.”
Blue grew silent.
Hours later, there was no freshwater and no shade. Just the constant smell of saltwater and fish. Even Raven’s patience was running low. With the midday sun blazing down, they both were tired and thirsty. Their mouths started to crack, their noses and eyes burned from the salt. All Blue could think about was the great shade trees and the fresh water fountains in the parks of Atlanta.
Suddenly, Blue saw a dark figure rise up from the waves of heat.
“Oh no,” she rasped, taking a step back. “Is that one of Robo’s dogs?”
Raven shook his head slowly. “No, it’s something else.”
The figure came closer, and Blue realized it was a thin brown dog with bright purple eyes. Purple eyes? Surely this must be a mirage, she thought.
With tail wagging, the brown dog bounded over to them. “Wow, I never thought I’d see dogs out this far. You two look pitiful.”
She noticed that Blue had her ears back, suspicious and distrustful.
“Relax, little Sheila,” she said. “I was just about to say hello.” She bowed with a flourish. “My name is Ash. Dingo at your service.”
Blue did not want to like this dog.
Raven stepped forward. “We would like somewhere to rest please. We’ve had a very long day.”
Ash nodded. “You look pretty knackered. If you can hang in there just a bit longer, old chap, I’ll take you back to the pack.”
Blue glared at Raven. “What are you doing?” she snarled quietly.
Raven answered, “Not dying.”