09-7-2010 at 5:40 AM

"Fine," she said. "You guys feel like family to me. I just hate to see anything happen to anyone."

09-7-2010 at 5:35 AM

Dinah snorted. "All the more reason for you to go on ahead with her. Do as you wish."<br /><br />She hoped Cobalt was still back in the cave, watching Frappe and Rolo. The storm wasn't showing any signs of letting up and she didn't need any more to worry about.

09-7-2010 at 4:22 AM

"I won't run ahead." Sheena said with a fierce glance. "If you need any help I want to be right here. If Kendra passes out I think you'll need me."

09-7-2010 at 4:04 AM

"I won't run ahead." Sheena said with a fierce glance. "If you need any help I want to be right here. If Kendra passes out I think you'll need me."

09-7-2010 at 3:20 AM

Dusk nudged the pup a little, ensuring that the precious cargo wouldn't fall in the long process of trudging back to the cave. He turned to Kendra, "I admire your courage, and your willingness to stay with Kineta, but this way we can put all of our focus into the pup and making sure nothing happens to her. I promise I'll take care of her as if she were my own." And with that, he walked around to the non-leafy end of the tree branch and gave a quick nod to Dinah. His green eyes shone with determination as he began to slowly drag Kineta,like a wounded soldier on a tree branch stretcher, back to safety.

09-6-2010 at 9:07 AM

Kendra stood up and looked at her paws. She then walked over and touched her nose to Kineta's and started walking towards the cave slowly. She realized Dinah was right and she best listen.. she wasn't thinking clearly..

09-6-2010 at 9:02 AM

Dinah closed her eyes and prayed for patience. "Please, Kendra. I can't look after you and the pup too. If you go ahead, at least we'll run across you on our way if you pass out. If you trail behind you'll slow us down even further, and that's dangerous for all of us."<br /><br /><br /><br />"Frappe." Cobalt was getting more and more worried about the waterlogged and exhausted aussie, but he tried not to show it in his voice or body language. That was an odd question from the normally exuberant dog, and he didn't like it. "You made one mistake. Dinah won't kill you and she certainly won't hate you. Go to sleep; you look trashed." Possibly not the most tactful thing he could've said, Cobalt thought in retrospect, but maybe sleep would do Frappe good.

09-6-2010 at 8:42 AM

Frappe turned and looked softly at Cobalt. "okay." She went over to where Rolo was laying and sat down. "Cobalt, do you think of me as a...I don't know, burden?"<br /><br />Her ears flattened against her head and her eyes slowly shut. It seemed like all of today's events were playing back in her head in fast foward. Her mind was racing and her vision became blurry. But no, she was not going to let the darkness take over her. She knew that if she passed out here, Cobalt would have to worry about her and Rolo. So she stayed strong and fought back the urge to just lay down and close her eyes.<br /><br />Rolo meanwhile hummed in her sleep, a simple tune that Dinah used to sing to her.

09-6-2010 at 8:13 AM

Kendra put her head down. "Thanks..... But sorry I can't leave..." She sniffed Kineta and moved out of the way. "I'm gonna stay.. I'll be fine. I'm not leaving her." Kendra's mind was set not even an angry Dinah was going to get to go. Kendra then sat down to watch knowing that there was no way Dinah was going to let her help in her current state. "I'll follow behind you guys, I'll make it fine." She felt much better after sitting down the world was much less dizzying. She would be fine she just hoped Dinah would use her energy helping Kineta not arguing with her.

09-6-2010 at 7:50 AM

Dinah heard the distress call as well and didn't give it a second thought-- she bolted past the shivering Frappe and into the chaos.<br /><br />Average though she may be at agility, and timid as she may be when it came to other dogs, Dinah was not one to be defeated by the weather. She dodged flying branches and leaped over fallen trees, arriving at her companions' location in record time. She took one look at Kendra and snarled, "Back to the cave. Now. If you collapse we're all done for." A glare in Sheena's direction implied that the other border collie was supposed to go as well. Then Dinah turned to Dusk. "I'll help get her onto the branch, but you'll have to pull her. I'm not strong enough."<br /><br />Meanwhile, Cobalt had not moved from his place in the back of the cave. He worried about Dinah and Dusk, and a sinking feeling in his chest told him all was not well with his other kennel-mate. However, someone had to stay and care for Rolo... and Frappe wasn't looking too happy either.<br /><br />"Frappe," he said, as calmly as he could when thunder was drowning out every other word and the wind shifted to blow rain and leaves into the first few feet of the cave. "It's warmer back here."

09-6-2010 at 5:09 AM

Frappe stayed behind insdie the shelter. For some reason, she didn't want to go outside and hear what all of the commotion was about. On top of that, her trip in the lake had reduced her to a wet and cold version of herself. She was so tempted to go over to Dinah and relax as if the border was her mom, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. she knew that there was tension between the two and didn't want to start anything. Rolo looked up at Frappe with her cheerful eyes, before curling up into a tighter ball and falling asleep.<br /><br />"Wish I could do that right about now." Frappe said to herself before sitting down by the cave's entrance. All that they had to do was wait for it to be all over. After watching the other dogs outside fumble around each other as they got hurt, Frappe came to the conclusion that this just might be the biggest trial the dogs have ever faced in their life.

09-6-2010 at 1:36 AM

Sheena was walking the length of the lake when she heard Kendra howl for help. Rushing to find Kendra she avoid getting hit in the head by a big branch that fell right as she ran under it. "This weather is getting crazy" She mumbled to herself under her breath. She ran faster to find that Dusk was there and a little pup was laying on the ground. <br /><br />Sheena sees the cuts on Kendra "Do you need some help?" she says between licking Kendra's badly bleeding cuts. "These don't look very good."

09-5-2010 at 11:53 AM

Kendra weakly said, "Thanks Dusk..." Another small tree branch flew into her face leaving it more cut up. Then another with sharp ends flew into her side.. Kendra was losing more blood now along with getting beaten by the storm. She was hopeful that help was on the way so she stood her ground.

09-5-2010 at 11:27 AM

Dusk heard the howl, and quickly bounded out of the safety and warmth of the cave to help Kendra. He had seen her general direction so he basically knew where he was going. A few mushrooms blown off a log nearby hit his side as he ran through the forest, this storm was getting crazier every minute. As he squinted through the rain, he spied Kineta lying on the ground. Quickly, he was on full alert, and raced faster to their spot under the tree. The first thing he smelled was blood. He licked Kendra's head, slightly cleaning her wound, and preventing any blood from running down her face and into her eyes. He then turned and nudged the limp pup gently with his nose, he could see this wouldn't be easy. Very carefully, Dusk walked a ways into the forest and found a fallen tree branch with the leaves still attached. It was too heavy for the wind, but just perfect to lay a pup on and drag to safety. A sudden angry gust of howling wind told him he'd need some help with this... His bark echoed across the woods, and he took the branch back to Kenita, hoping the others were on their way.

09-5-2010 at 10:49 AM

Dusk was wrong and right Kendra just wanted him safe. Even if she had been a bit annoyed with him for a second she quickly regreted it. She turned around to watch and make sure he got safely to the cave then sighed with relief. Suddenly something came flying at her and she had to jump backwards to dodge a tree limb. She looked around and saw an area that seemed to have safer trees that was closer to the cave, she quickly ran over to it and laid down so she wouldn't get knocked over by the wind. She was still within sight to anyone that poked their head out of the cave though. <br><br> She sighed and listened carefully. She was so mad at her self! She should have guessed that Kineta would follow her into the woods! The puppy was always causing trouble and she guessed that the nut that had hit Dinah was from Kineta. She should have known sooner! She should have! She mentally beat her self up while listening for any sounds from Kineta. <br><br><br><br> Kineta had followed Kendra when she was heading to the cave but she had gotten lost. She really was near the cave but she couldn't tell.. the trees were all shaking and the young puppy was scared! She had climbed down to a large lower branch and was holding onto it for dear life. She could barely see anything as her goggles got pounded with rain. Suddenly she hard a loud crack and.. she.. she was falling! Kineta fell a few feet before crashing into the ground on her side. Kineta let out a loud cry! <br><br><br><br> Kendra heard a crash and a loud cry and bolted up and sped towards it. She reached Kineta when she was just out of sight of the cave. "Are you okay???!?!" <br><br> Kineta looked up and saw Kendra "I'm not really hurt I just......" Her words trailed off as she passed out from having all the wind knocked out of her. <br><br> Kendra was glad to know her friend would be okay.. She pawed Kineta's goggles back into the proper place. Then stared at her for a moment. She thought "I can't just leave her here..." Kineta was only a few months old but half her full size. She could sill be picked up by a storng person but she was too heavy for Kendra to pull.. "I know! The others can help me push her into the cave!" Kendra let out a howl and stood over Kineta to make sure none of the smaller tree branches went flying into the already knocked out friend. Kendra continued to get beaten with the rain, wind, and some small flying objects. A small tree branch suddenly flew right into Kendra's face as it fell to the ground she could feel warm blood on her face from where it had cut her. She wasn't about to leave her friend for a second though!

09-5-2010 at 10:47 AM

Dusk recognized Kendra once she began yelling at him. From far away he had no idea what dog it was, and the wind was blowing the wrong direction so he was not able to pick up her scent. He ducked his head a bit in thanks. "If you want any help finding your friend, it really isn't safe to be out here alone.. Don't hesitate to ask." Dusk knew though that most likely, if he read Kendra right, that she'd be annoyed having him tag along. He trotted off in the direction she had pointed, ducking as random things flew at him. His fur swirled wet and crazily about him, giving him a wild appearance as he approached the cave. He could smell that the others were just beyond the initial opening and he stepped inside.

09-5-2010 at 10:28 AM

Kendra saw Dusk acting cautiously and quickly got annoyed with him. She was worried sick about her friend and now she was gonna have to stand here longer because some dog... She growled a little and turned to face Dusk straight on. "Would you get inside! Your brother is in there and you saw me at the lake! This is not the time to be all careful about everything! She then realized how harsh she was sounding and let out a quick sigh. "Sorry, I'm on edge because my friend might be out there in trouble." Without explaining further Kendra pointed with her nose and paw towards the cave and started to walk further away from it scanning the tree line.

09-5-2010 at 10:22 AM

Dusk heard a returning howl, and swiftly trotted in the direction whence it had come. Leaning into the wind, as not to fall over, he kept going at a steady pace until he spied the dog. Excited to see someone, but wary of the dog since he did not know them well, he slowly approached cautiously and ducked into the forest where there was less rain. A sudden crack of lightning was followed by thunder and a heavier rain began to bombard the forest with giant droplets.

09-5-2010 at 10:14 AM

Kendra glanced back at Cobalt her eyes full of fear. She noded slowly to say yes to Cobalt. She then checked to make sure everyone was safe inside. She then stepped further away from the cave and closer to the storm outside. She searched the tree line and whined softly it was hard to see through the down pouring rain. Kendra then lifted her ears to hear. A howl? Yes! A howl! She listned more closely and knew it wasn't the dog she was looking for.. however it sounded like it might be one of the dogs she met earlier. She lifted her head high and howled a return then walked even further away from the cave so the dog would be able to spot her easier. The wind and rain battered and she had to dig her claws into the earth to keep still. She howled again sure that the dog would be able to find them and get to safety if she just stood there a bit longer. She continued to search the tree line worriedly.

09-5-2010 at 9:41 AM

Dusk ran through the storm, trying to find the others, but they had already disappeared into the forest when he reached the treeline. Leaves and branches swirled crazily in the air as if they were weightless. Dusk took a deep breath and let out a single long solid note into the wind. He howled calling for someone to tell him where they had all run off to.