The Agreement

[Maybe ♫]

Two large male dogs sat in the deserted Lobby, each eying each other intently. The silence that engulfed them was eerie, but neither seemed to mind. The taller of the two, a lithe wolf-like dog, cleared his throat, breaking the silence like shattering glass.

"You called for me, sir?" he spoke with a raspy voice, as if he hadn't had a drink of water all day. He cleared his throat again, ears twitching, eager to find out why his leader had summoned him here.

"Yes, Thorn," spoke the shorter, more muscular dog, whose stance and posture immediately showed that he was alpha. "As you know, the pack is growing, but not in terms of pups." His gaze faltered; he was clearly uncomfortable with the subject. "I know you are a healthy, strong, intelligent warrior, and I trust you implicitly," he began, watching as the look on the darker warrior's face turned from anxiety to slightly arrogant, as if he was silently agreeing with his alpha. After a pause that seemed to last almost a moon but, in reality, was only a few heartbeats, the leader continued.

"I need you to select a few females, strong, confident, loyal females, and give them pups." The leader cleared his throat, blinking at Thorn as a smile crept slowly onto the wolf-dog's face. "They must be willing, of course, and in good health. You must tell me your choices before you mate with them, and I will confirm or deny said females. Once the selected dogs are pregnant, you must hunt for them and make sure they are well-fed and have water. See to it that your mates are comfortable and happy." The leader seemed to begin feeling less awkward now that the request was out of the way, and he smiled casually.

"Make sure their needs are met." He paused again, and Thorn nodded, his gaze still trained on his leader. After a moment, the tall, dark brute nodded again and leapt silently off the ragged old couch and padded slowly for the door.

"Oh, and Thorn," the leader called after him, his eyes still pinned to the exact spot his warrior had been sitting a moment before. He did not shift his gaze toward the wolf-dog. "The comfort of these females is of utmost importance, do you understand?"

Looking back, the tall, thin brute nodded resolutely. "Yes, sir." He spoke, he voice rough but firm. My pleasure, he thought as he trotted slowly out of the door, not looking back to meet his alpha's stone-like eyes.

My pleasure...