Yoru | Male | 4 Years Old | Tosa Inu | Loner
Location: The Streets | Mentions: Luna, Tem

Yoru's senses were in overdrive, the myriad of scents and sounds surrounding him near overwhelming. Nothing beyond the pounding of his pulse in his ears could be heard above the shouts of the humans gathered around the ring in a circle. The sharp, coppery tang of blood could be detected in the air, and he could see dried streaks of it splattered against the walls as well as wet puddles pooling in the dirt around his paws. It was unfamiliar, unnerving. What was this place? He wasn't alone. There was another dog in the pit, and that at the least, felt familiar until the other male launched toward him with a ferocious snarl and sliced his nose open, droplets of crimson liquid dotting the ground as he jerked backward.

"What is this?" He demanded furiously. "This isn't how we do things." His foe sneered contemptuously, and Yoru felt his frustration grow, hackles rising. "I don't know where you're from pal," the other dog replied scornfully, "but around here it's fight or die. Wise up before it's too late because only one of us is leaving this ring alive and right now all bets are on me." Without another word, his opponent rushed him again, and everything went black. The nightmare, or memory rather, faded as Yoru's eyes opened, a dull gray wall flooding his vision.

Rising into a sitting position, Yoru remained motionless for a few moments longer until the tight feeling in his chest lessened, and his breaths felt less ragged. This was the fifth time he'd had the dream. The dog's face, his words, the sight of his torn, broken body at the end still haunted him. He would never forget. Leaving the lonely alleyway behind, Yoru did the same thing he'd done every day since escaping his captors, searched the streets for his home or his owners, not a hint of either ever found. The lack of nourishment and proper rest were beginning to wear him down. His limbs felt sluggish, his eyes drooping, head held low. Once a proud dog, he couldn't find the energy to walk with the same confident stride he once possessed.

As he turned down another pathway the pungent scent of rotting things lured him to a trashcan nestled against the far wall. Once the thought of eating garbage would have appalled him, but he couldn't afford to be picky. The metal can was knocked to the ground with a resounding clang, and he rummaged through the pile of rubbish, consuming anything that appeared to be edible. It wasn't enough. Nothing he found on the streets ever was, but something was better than nothing. He would have moved on if the sounds of growling followed by a panicked voice in the adjacent alley hadn't caught his attention. He paused, straining to listen, but was unable to pick up more than a few words.

It sounded as if there might be trouble and he found his paws moving in the direction the sounds came from. Within a matter of seconds, he was lingering at the alley entranceway, spotting two other dogs further down. A corgi stood with her back turned toward him, facing an only slightly larger male striking a dominant pose. Amber eyes narrowed slightly and he started toward them, not bothering to be quiet as his untrimmed nails clicked against the pavement. He came to a stop just behind Luna, staring down at Autem with an unreadable expression. "Is there a problem here?" The scent of other dogs hung heavy in the area, wreathing around them. A pack lived here, and while that was sure to leave him outnumbered, he was undeterred by the threat.