Lost Athens- Sentinels Commissioned

Sencha was laying under the barren winter trees on the Western border of the Circle's territory, waiting for the pack's two males. In Summer she imagined these trees would provide fine shade and a cool place to rest, but for now they were only thick boughs of wood reaching into the sky.

The collie whuffed softly, her breath misting in the chill air. There had been a number of distractions that kept her from addressing thi issue she'd brough up with Dean when they first took in Little Thing. That was to be expected; winter meant that the entire pack was busy. Ideally she wouldn't have liked to do something of this nature during such a dangerous season.

But it couldn't wait any longer. Not if things were to go as she hoped.

Dean had just had the pleasure of making sure his new badger friend, Iris, was settled in the territory. At least, he would like to think they were friends. One rarely meets a badger. Iris had picked a spot of dirt within The Circle’s territory and grumpily set to work on digging a small burrow when Dean saw her last. Winter’s chill was in the air, and he was happy that he managed to find Iris before she would starve from winter, but that also meant he needed to find more food for her.

Not to mention the other newest Circle member, the small yellow dog he and Sencha had found. Once they helped her reach the pack, Dean had been very careful not to approach the poor female. He hoped she was acclimating and at least befriending the females of the pack.

Winter would mean things got tougher, no doubt. The hound relatively enjoyed the season because it was a part of the marvels of life, but it was a bit sad to see all the trees lose their leaves and the greenery of nature disappear.

It was as Dean was contemplating this that he finally came upon Sencha at the pack's borders where she said she wanted to talk to him and At Fault. He nodded respectfully to his leader. "Miss Sencha, what would you like to talk about?"

At Fault heard in passing that their beloved leader needed him and Dean, and so followed closely behind his easily trackable friend. The scarred mutt wagged his tail rhythmicly as he copied the nod of the hound dog to Sencha.

"We both are eager to hear the words which you speak to us!"

Sencha knew that this would be a real test for both her and the two sentinels. If she was ever to accomplish her end goal, it was absolutely crucial that she be able to get her dogs to trust her orders, even if they seemed in question.

The collie sat up, looking both dogs in turn square in the eye. "I won't lie to you; I am worried for the future. Little Thing has been badly damaged by what she endured before coming to us, and it seems unlikely that she will ever properly recover form the ordeal. At least, not as things are now."

Sencha looked into the distance, her eyes narrowing, "She almost got into a fight with Nova the other day, in part because Nova overreacted and snapped at her, but also because of Nova's fur... red, like that of the dog who attacked her. She lives in fear, and no doubt so do many other females we have not found who encountered this red devil."

Dean listened intently, visibly sorrowful about Little Thing's emotional state. "Just the color red… causes her to react?" he gasped, shock in his voice. "That's horrible. I wonder if we can ever help her see past it." He continued, "And I will keep doing my best to find any females in the area who have been wronged."

At Fault flinched. "My Dazzling Heavens? I am deeply sorry that my lovely caused another such grief. But..." The scarred mutt bumped his hound friend lightly with his shoulder. "...what can we do? We are doing our best to help those in need, like Dean's badger, but how can we help... Little... Thing? That's her name? Yes! What do you need us for?"

Sencha stood, pointing her nose in the direction of the Acropolis, looming high over the city. "From what little I've been able to gather, our new friend came from that direction. Dean, you are the finest tracker in the pack, and At Fault you are his good friend. I want the two of you to head in that direction, and see what you can find out about where Little Thing has come from- and more specifically, about her red dog. I highly doubt that he is in a pack, but if he is that means they might potentially cause problems for us later on down the line. If he isn't... it is imperitive that we act to prevent such calamities as what happened to Little Thing, when afforded the opportunity."

Dean wiggled his nose in response, feeling pride over the 'best tracker' comment and smiling a bit at his friend, but he felt compelled to ask his leader his questions. "So you want us to return with information as to whether he's in a pack or not? And by 'act'… do you wish we fight this red dog?"

The scarred mutt averted his eyes from both of them and spoke quietly towards the ground. "I do not mean to argue with you, Lady Sencha, but it is very dangerous in this time of year for two dogs to be out alone. And with my luck..." He shook himself and stood a bit taller, but still spoke aside. His skin had been prickling with cold and a slight sniffle escaped him.

"I do not wish for anything more to come upon another dog, but also to me and friend Dean. I'm flattered you have faith that we can do it, though, but... yea."

Sencha shook her head, "I didn't say you have to fight him. I simply want something done that will get his attention and make it clear that his actions have become known and will not be tolerated. I mean to go to the Brotherhood pack across the river myself and speak to them on this matter as well; they are generally well meaning, and I am confident we can expect their support."

"And At Fault, if you think it's dangerous for two healthy males to be out alone in winter, how do you expect it is for a tiny female like Little Thing? Or Nube? If you had not found her, even Nova would be out in the elements alone... where the red scoundrel prowls."

Dean looked down, pondering. Sencha was right, if they did this it would be for the betterment of other dogs. "I will do this… but I assure you I have no intentions of causing conflict. But how does one go challenging a monster without giving him a reason to harm us? Also, can The Circle afford to temporarily be missing two Sentinels?"

At Fault sighed. "If friend Dean goes, I will go too. I will see what can be done about this... red devil, as you so eloquently discribed. Do we have any other information? What he looks like, where he hails from, his scent? Other than he is presumably southward?" He streched his limbs subtly, flexing his toes and imagining what kind of fiery demon they might be put up against on their journey together, him and Dean.

"I think we'll be alright for a short while anyway," Sencha replied. "Folli, Fidi and I are competant, and Nova is hardly helpless even if she isn't much of a hunter or fighter. I don't mean to send you on a fool's quest. If after a week you haven't found any clues as to the identity of this 'red dog,' then come home. If after two weeks you have not returned, I will come looking for you personally, and help as best I can with whatever might have held back your return. I care about the both of you, and want you to be happy an prosper as much as I want anyone else in the Circle to be happy and prosper."

"Besides his color, we know very little," Sencha admitted. She scratched her neck. "Little Thing is understandably not eager to talk about him. He's fairly big, I know that, and probably has a thick, fluffy coat, and he is somewhere south of here, but within the city walls. As to how you deal with him, you speak to this red dog, it's just that simple. Do not call him out directly, not at first. If Little Thing tells the truth, he should be at least somewhat amiable at first. Be diplomatic, be discrete, but make it clear that the Circle is watching over Athens now and we will protect those who would be abused."

Dean felt deeply pleased that Sencha vowed to look for them if something went awry, and the most they could be wandering was a week. They could do this… though Dean admittedly was not the best speaker (as he was reminded of when trying to communicated with Little Thing). It would just be a statement, that The Circle was there.

"Yes, dear Sencha," he nodded reluctantly. He was doing the right thing, and maybe it would turn out to be a pleasant adventure. Besides, there was no one he would rather travel with than At Fault. "Your goal is admirable, and though I cannot speak for my good friend, I will see it through." Dean paused. "Uh… make sure Iris, the badger, is taken good care of while I'm gone."

His hound friend trotted away nobly and At Fault hoped he could be the same. But he still felt dread in the pit of his stomach, looking Sencha square in the face again. "I am frieghtened, dear Blue Sky. If what you say is true, I fear for all Athens, not just myself or my friend. Though... I am afraid for us as well. I had... I had a previous pack mate die because of my bad luck, you see. I do not want something like that to happen again."

The scarred mutt coughed back a swell of tears forming in his eyes. "I am grateful that you've accepted me and that Dean's accepted me and Nova... but... that still weighs on my heart."

Sencha butted her head against the male's shoulder gently, "All of use carry regrets and sorrows, Matthias. What you feel is perfectly natural and understandable. Fear and uncertainty isn't a thing to be ashamed of. But the difference between natural fear and a coward is that the coward is ruled by his fear, and lets it dictate how he lives his life. True courage comes from knowing your limits and faults, but doing the right thing regardless. You won't always succeed- no one always succeeds- but if your heart is true and your courage strong, things will work out in the end."

The scarred mutt grinned in return, turning his eyes up to the leaden sky. "You speak very well and I hear you. I've heard many wonderful stories of courageous dogs and acts of great nobility. Perhaps this the chance to be like one of them. I'll protect the honor of the Circle and defend myself only if this red dog attacks. I do not want us to come across as violent. Dean and I shall depart in the morning, dear Blue Sky, if you do not see us before then."

At Fault breathed heavily, redness in the corners of his eyes. "Tell Romanova... I'll think of her every day. And that my heart stays with her though my body departs. I won't let you down, Sencha."