How the water laps and licks[open]

[[Micci]]

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The water lapped lazily at the sides of the dock creating a soft splash-splash-splash sound, the boats pulled gently at the ropes that restrained them as the current pulled back and forth. Even in safety of the docks the currents still swirled and swished. They were much more dangerous out to sea, much stronger and much more vindictive but here in the harbour they were harmless. The docks themselves were large and noisy on most days but today seemed to be a day that the humans had taken leave. Indistinctly she could hear music from a pub as well as the human rabble singing along and in a strange way it disturbed the peace of the lapping and licking water. It reminded her that even though this was the West side, it still belonged to the humans more than the dogs. It reminded her to be cautious as she wondered the docks alone.

On normal days she would be sitting waiting for the fishing boats to come in, they often dropped a fish or two. Whether by mistake of accident she wasn’t sure, she was simply glad that she was able to get a meal out of it. Yet today it seemed that none of these boats would be feeding her, almost all of them were docked and those that were not docked would not be back for many days. So she resigned to skulking around the harbour itself, searching for whatever she might find. She was tempted to catch a rat and she would soon if nothing came along to distract her of her boredom.

She walked up an alley, having to stop for a few seconds till her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the light, and spied a few bins. Using her rear end expertly she nudge the bin till it toppled over spilling the contents. With a grin and the pride of her accomplishment bright in her eyes she started foraging through the contents. Within a few seconds she abandoned hope, these bins had no food in them. Only rusted fishing hooks and nets, leftovers from a local fisherman.

She looked up the pier, wondering if there were any(local fishermen) out today standing in the cold spray and being buffeted by the winds simply to catch something for supper. Sometimes they would catch too much and they would leave the extra on the pier, then again most of them threw the extra back in or took it home with them for another night’s dinner. Of course today there wasn’t anyone there.

She left the alley, stopping once more to adjust to the brightness of the afternoon sun before trotting towards the pub. Their bins occasionally had food in them but if she was caught the owner would try and shoot her. In the window of the pub red and grin tinsel winked at her and she stood staring for a few moments before going to the bins at the back which were empty of food. Only foul smelling beer bottles and cigarette butts claimed the rights.

With a sigh she went to go sit on the wooden docks, the ones that moved with each wave as well as when you walked on them. It seemed she would have to go for rats after all... unless she was quick enough to catch a seabird which was doubtful. On the positive side she wasn’t dying of hunger, she was simply peckish so it could wait.

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[Vrancho]

His slender mouth spreads widely in a snicker, a gutteral grin. Pleased with himself, the Ghost noiselessly takes a step forward. He has been watching the beautiful dame before him for a while now, following her into the shadows of the alley. His identity was unknown, no one knew him, and since she was alone, she had no human, or so he had observed, there would be no one there to help her when she became vulnerable to him.

Only the haunted ones haunt others, and they do it so they know they aren't alone in their paths of fear, he though wickedly. Oh, it had been so long since he'd gotten his last victim. The Ghost's attention snapped back to the female as he heard a clatter, and he looked towards the precious female. She had toppled over the trash bin. What a clever little girl! He would soon take an opportunity to reveal himself to his victim. "Oh, bravo, my dear. You now have my attention," Ghost whispered inaudibly. He couldn't wait to see the horror and shock on her face when he introduced himself. As Almonte. He only told his name to the sick or dying, that way no one could pass along his identity. Ghost scuffled his feet so she knew someone was there. Time was ticking. If she was a good little girl, maybe she could earn his name.

His eyes flickered merrily. This was too fun.

[[Micci]]

She walked lazily and slowly, the human’s Christmas festivities echoed out across the water irritatingly. She could hear out of tune voices singing along to what were once beautiful renditions of times long past. Stories were held in those songs of course, she couldn’t quite understand them but most times they were pleasant to listen to. With an irritated glance she studied the bar in the distance, its flashing lights were a pain to the eyes and the head.

She froze and with a growl she whipped around to study her surroundings, she had heard a scuffling noise and whispered words on the wind. The words were soft as a pup’s lick and so she did not make out what was said but it did let her know she was being followed. Followed in her own territory?! The outrage! She studied the surroundings and then her eyes fell on the alleyway, hidden in the shadows of the now descending night she saw a creature.

She stood to her full twenty-four inches, her well defined muscles hidden underneath her fur but they added to her bulk. She growled menacingly and then she spoke, it was not the simple tone she would use in greeting or to a member of the pack. This tone was harsh, it was violent and it was warning.

”Name yourself” She said to the shadow-creature in the alley, her eyes ablaze with the anger of her own stupidity. Just because she was in her own territory did not mean she was safe.

[Vrancho]

The Ghost yawned, stretching leisurely, not a care in the world, his dark pink tongue flicked back and forth, he licked his lips and nose, anticipating what came next. He did not stir, for he knew the intelligent female did indeed know he was there, ever since his whispers and scuffling.

To the Ghost's surprise, she did not speak in fear or bewilderment, and was not entertaining for him at all, unlike most his victims. But this time, he was going to try something new on this one. Taking a sharp, small breath, he lowered his head so his face was parallel to his body, except for his tail and ears, which shot up straight dominantly.

He was a bit hesitant to reveal himself, and he hoped the territory leader didn't find him, for he was out of his territory, the East Side. But, to the Ibizan Hound, this was worth it.

He stepped out of the shadows and darkness. "Oh, I'm just a newbie, here strolling along... I've been watching you for some time, now, darling, you're quite daring to be so close to the retched two-legs. I appreciated your little trash bin show. You're not one to go hungry, dear, now are you? You're smart. Follow me."

The Ghost walked back to the docks and plunged into the water. "Let's go fishing!"

[[Micci]]

She remained where she was, she was the leader and she followed no one. They followed her, even if this creature was new there was no excuse for his lax attitude and the fact that he had being watching her! It was outrageous. She growled, a summons for him to return to his position, she had not given him leave to go fishing, she had not given him leave to wonder her lands. Her body language changed so that her previous stance had seemed almost friendly. Did he not know who she was? Her scent was strewn throughout the human land as if it were the dirt on the ground, her dominance was clear in the scent.

”Return here” she said so much more formally, wishing she could rip his throat out, ”We are not finished. You are trespassing on land, you so much as admitted it yourself. We need to have... a little chat” Of course her ‘chat’ would only become violent if the male did not comply and Pandora was most definitely okay with pinning him down to the ground. She barked once more, hurrying up his decision.