//------------------------------// // Chapter 42: Flying Dogs // Story: The Reader // by GnollReader //------------------------------// The alpha walked the tunnels searching for the guards. He had taken a nice nap, but when he had woken up he had found, much to his annoyance, that none of the dogs were on their stations. He gave a silent curse, why did he always have to take care of everything himself? He found them in the tunnel to the cells, all of them were standing facing down the end of the tunnel and arguing wildly. He couldn't even see the end of the tunnel over their heads. He was about to start screaming at them when there was an explosion down at the end of the tunnel. A second later a guard dog came flying down the tunnel, scattering the dogs unlucky enough to stand in its way and landing in front of the alpha with a loud thump. Its head was strongly deformed and it was covered in splinters. A scream savage enough to turn his blood into ice roared through the tunnel and the guard dogs down at the end started screaming wildly. The alpha reared his head up to see what was going on but was met by another flying dog crashing into the wall besides him. There was a huge gash in its chest. More screams erupted and the sounds of fighting could be heard drawing nearer. He caught a glimpse of the front and his eyes went wide. --- Scar dug his claws into another unlucky dog and smashed it into the ceiling. He remembered what his father had once told him when he had still been a pup, 'Gnoll way of fight is simple. Bite it, claw it, stomp it... if it still moves repeat.' The gnoll buried his teeth in a dogs head. It gave a satisfying crunch as his jaws closed down on it. He continued his way down the tunnel, the ponies following him carefully. Some of the dogs had recovered from the initial shock and brought up their spears. The gnoll cared little for them. He slashed around himself wildly and gave them no time to organize themselves. A few spears cut his lower arms but he took no notice of them, he had met blood flies with more painful stings. One of the dogs thrust his spear upwards and hit the gnoll's shoulder on a lucky shot. It went in deep but it also trapped the spear. The dog didn't realize he should have let it go until a ferocious swing from the gnoll's hand took off its head. Scar reached up and broke the spear off at the end where it penetrated his skin. He would take care of it later. The pain would serve to keep him going. "Everyone, fall back! Retreat!" a voice suddenly called out in the back. The dogs started to run from the gnoll and down the tunnel past a single dog. Scar fixed it with his eyes, it stood a bit taller than the others and his eyes looked smarter. Scar figured it was the alpha. Good. If he would kill it the other dogs were sure to run for their lives. Scar stepped towards the dog and gave off a savage snarl, the dog was shivering as Scar drew nearer but it stood its ground. The gnoll couldn't help but think that this one was a good alpha, it was brave. Brave but stupid, if it had some sense in it the dog would run too. When the gnoll was about to jump it though it suddenly spoke to him, "I do not wish any more of my pack to die. Leave our den and we will not hinder you. Stay and we will fight to the death." the dog bared its teeth. The gnoll towered over the dog and eyed it with red eyes, there was blood dripping from its claws and fangs. "Scar will leave... but Scar will take ponies with it." he bared his own teeth. The dogs standing a few feet behind the alpha whimpered at the sight. The alpha looked past Scar and saw the ponies, "You brought this thing into my den? I didn't think I'd see the day the ponies would grow some balls." he turned to the gnoll. "Leave then, take them with you. We will not stop them. Just leave our den." Scar stepped closer, his fangs now in front of the dog's face. He could smell his fear but the alpha didn't show it, very brave indeed the gnoll thought. Very brave and very stupid. "If Scar hears dogs steal ponies again Scar will come and rip out alpha's throat. Is only warning dig dogs will get, Scar will not let single dog live if it has to come again." the dog gulped but nodded. "Good... ponies leave, Scar will come last." the dog took a careful step backwards and let the ponies walk past between him and Scar. The gnoll never took its eyes of the dog, if it would try anything he would rip it to pieces. --- When the last ponies had passed Scar gave the dog another look before he vanished down the tunnel himself. The alpha gave a breath of relief, his knees still felt wobbly. He turned to the remaining dogs, "Get the pack together, we're leaving this den. Get me the runners, we need to send messages to the other dens, they need to be warned." There was a thump as something came trashing down a tunnel from above. It was a dog bound in rope, it looked around wildly until it spotted the alpha. "Boss! I got captured and was hanging from a tree but the branch broke and I got free and I came to warn you! The ponies are coming and they're bringing a beast with..." he saw the carnage down the tunnel, "...them." The alpha facepalmed and rubbed his temples, "Damn it, Pips..." why did all of his dogs have to be so useless? He noticed something shiny lying on the ground before him, "Is that a door knob?"