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Snowfire and Hound walked down the left pathway while Lucien and Chris took the right. Hound kept his ears folded back against his head as he walked, whimpering quietly as unsettled ash got stirred up from their pawsteps.

Snowfire looked down at him and then petted his head, "It's alright Hound."

Hound looked up at him for a second before looking back down the path, whimpering a little less thanks to the paw slowly petting him. They padded down the path for a few minutes before the sound of bricks and wooden pieces being flung from one place to another within one of the buildings caught their attention. Both Hound's and Snowfire's ears perked up and Hound brought his muzzle back into a growl, preparing to jump into action.

At the sound of Hound's growling cut all the other sounds out almost instantly, turning the brick flinging into hushed voices. The two made their way over to the building slowly, their paws creating barely any sound on the dirt and ash. As they drew near they looked into the doorframe and saw a figure in black military aiming a machine gun at them. Before they could even react another figure rushed over to them and bashed the butt of his gun against Snowfire's muzzle, sending him to the floor with his head banging severely. Hound's growls turned into angry barks as he jumped up and went to take a bite out of the figure's arm as he turned to aim his gun. The figure twisted and turned as Hound pressed his jaw down onto the limb, blood spilling out from the wound he had created.

"You stupid mutt!" The other figure said as he rushed over to his comrade, sending a hard kick into Hound's stomach. This sent the German Shepard flying off the figure with a painful yelp, his small body falling to the floor with a loud thump.

Snowfire moved over to the fallen dog as quickly as he could and started to pet him softly. The two figures loomed over them, their shadows tumbling onto the two canines. Hound's eyes open slowly and looked at Snowfire, a small smile forming on his muzzle.

"I-I did good?" Hound asked in a stuttered tone.

"You did very good," Snowfire said into his ear as the two figures rose their guns and aimed them at the two.

A shot rang through the air and blood splattered onto Snowfire's fur, turning the white to a crimson red. Snowfire instinctively closed his eyes, turned away and screamed, fearing what he might see. The blood smelled different when he drew it in, human, not dog. Snowfire opened his eyes and looked up, seeing only one figure aiming his gun around the burnt out building.

"Who's there?" The figure asked, "Show yourself!"

Nothing replied to the figure's demand.

After a second or two of complete silence another shot rang through the air and entered the figure's head, sending a stream of blood into the air and onto the floor around him. As the figure's body fell another figure jumped down from a hidden section of the second floor, jumping down from a giant hole in the floor. A Stetson sat on top of the man's head as he stood up, the long coat he wore draped over his figure until finally he stood straight.

"You know, I ain't fully on board with you animal-kind, but I don't believe in punishing someone who hasn't done anything." The man said in a heavily Taxis voice, reminding Snowfire of an elderly cowboy from an old movie.

"Thank you," Snowfire said, still on the floor.

"No problem, mind if I ask what a man and his dog is doing in this place of death."

"Looking for survivors, a friend of mine got out of here and we came back to see if there was anyone else."

"I can understand that," the Texan said as he walked over and put a hand down for Snowfire. "The name's Jacob."

"Mine's Snowfire," he said as he took the hand and got up. "Have you seen anyone else here?"

"No one who the city's army hasn't got to."

"Damn," Snowfire said under his breath.

"Anyway, how's your dog?" Jacob asked.

"Hound will be fine, I think." He replied as the German Shepard slowly got up, a small limp forming as he took pawsteps over to the two. "You ok Hound?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm ok." Hound replied, his voice slghtly horse.

"Well that's a new one," Jacob said with his eyebrows up.

"Yeah, Hound's a unique dog."

"You can say that again," The Texan replied as he adjusted his hat so it sat more comfortably on his head.

At that moment Chris and Lucien ran around the near corner, followed by a smaller female horse.

"What happened? Who got shot?" Lucien asked as he got to the three of them.

"It's fine, these a-holes tried to shoot us died. Luckily Jacob got to them first," Snowfire said as he motioned to the Texan.

"Hi," Jacob replied as he offered the three of them his hand to shake. "The name's Jacob Walker, it's nice to meet you all."

"It's good to meet you," Jacob said as Chris shook his hand, and then to Lucien.

"It's good to meet you too," They replied as they shook his hand.

"And it's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am." He said when he went to shake Mylo's hooved hand, but she just looked at him in confusion.

"What should I do?" She asked Chris.

"You're meant to shake it, like we did." The horse replied.

She slowly putting her hand slowly into the Texan's and shook it. "It's good to meet you too."

Jacob bowed slightly and looked to Chris, "I can see the resemblance."

"Thank you," Chris replied.

The five of them searched the burned town, but found nothing more in the remains except for a few food cans and a couple of bedrolls inside an old basement. After the search all five of them started the walk back to their camp, Lucien and Snowfire talked with Jacob will Hound padded in front of them, Chris and Mylo talked intently with each other as they walked. They got back to the camp within the hour and settled in.

"It's a tad basic," Jacob said.

"Yeah, it's only been a few days since we got it up." Lucien replied.

"Not complaining, I love basic. Never felt the same since this whole technology revolution started up."

"Can't say I blame you," Chris said. "Some of these new technological advances freak me out sometimes."

"I know the feeling," Jacob said.

Hound started to bounce around Mylo doggishly, trying to coax her to play with him. Mylo bent down slightly and began to pet Hound's cheeks for a second before she picked up a nearby stick, throwing it out and having Hound bring it back to her.

Chris smiled softly as he watched Mylo play with Hound, sitting down in the sand.

"She's quiet something, ain't she?" Lucian asked.

"That she is," Jacob replied with a smile. "So, any plans for today?"

"Well, there's always improvements to the camp that need doing." Snowfire replied.

* * * *

Jacob sat down by the fire with the bottle of whiskey in one hand and four glasses in the other. The smooth liquid glinted by the fire's flickers as it was poured into the glasses. Jacob passed one glass to Chris, one to Lucien, and then one to Snowfire.

"Cheers," Jacob said as he poured himself a drink and raised it up.

"Cheers," Lucien and Snowfire said, raising their glasses.

Chris replayed the word and action just a second after the other two, drinking it along with them. The liquid burned Chris's muzzle and forced him to spit it out into the fire, the alcohol turning into tiny fire balls that burned out after barely a second.

"You ok there?" Jacob asked.

"F-fine," Chris choked out.

"Not used to alcohol are you?"

"No, never had it before."

"Well, whiskey isn't the best first drink to have." Jacob said, "I can get you something a little weaker if you want."

"No, I'm fine." Chris said, giving the Texan his glass.

"If you're sure," Jacob said. The night progressed and Lucien and Chris gave their glasses to Jacob and padded to their shelter, Jacob soon doing the same, leaving Snowfire alone with Hound. Hound put his head onto Snowfire's lap and looked into the fire once again.

Snowfire's vision started to unfocus slightly as the alcohol took effect, his mind slowing down slowly. The fox took the bottle and poured himself another glass, drinking it in two gulps. This made his nerves dull and his mind barely register the feel of Hound's head on his lap lightening, and the feeling of two paws push his chest down, making his body fall onto the log.

"H-Hound? What are you doing?" Snowfire asked.

"Making you comfortable, that's all." Hound said before bounding off into the shelter, retrieving the bedroll and putting it over his white form.

"You're too good... for me," Snowfire mumbled.

"Yeah," Hound said as he sat up in front of him, staying silent for a moment. "Master, can I show you something?"

"Sure,"

Hound stayed still for a moment, taking a breath in and then out, while working up the courage to continue. He then slowly moved forward, pressing his black lips against Snowfire's. The feeling of hope filled Hound's body as quickly as the fox's lips pressed against his, the sweet taste from the kiss filled him with even more hope. Hound's heart fluttered as he kissed back, his body going limp against Snowfire. He moaned slowly as his tongue moved into Snowfire's muzzle by its own accord, lapping softly at the fox's own soft tongue.

Snowfire moved his lips moved away from Hound's slowly, the German Shepard's blue eyes meeting his own green ones. Snowfire's paws roamed Hound's back as the started to nuzzle each other, their snouts slowly going over the other's warm muzzle. Snowfire moved the tip of his muzzle to Hound's ear and nibbled softly, making the German Shepard moan slightly.

"Master... I feel things for you that I don't for anyone else." Hound almost moaned, his eyes flickering half open. "I want to be with you, always. Master, I love you more than a dog should love its Master."

Snowfire moved his paw up to Hound's cheek, slowly rubbing the short fur with his thumb. "I love you more than anything in my life, your loyalty, your respect for everyone around you, how you always find happiness in small things, everything."

"You don't know how long I've waited for this." Hound said, his body moving into an embrace with the fox.

"You have no idea," Snowfire said, enjoying the embrace with a warm smile.

After a few seconds of embrace Snowfire put his paws around Hound's back and slowly got up, walking slowly into his tent. He laid Hound into the bedroll and followed in himself, his chest pressed against Hound's fluffy chest as he moved beside him.

Hound smiled as he relaxed against Snowfire's bare white chest, his nose buried slightly into the short fur. Hound's breathing slowed down as his mind drifted off into a sleep like daze, his tongue lolling out slightly.

Hound waited a moment before he nuzzled into the creek in Snowfire's neck. "Master, thank you."

"For what?"

"For being with me," Hound almost half whimpered the words into the warm, musky, furry creak of his neck.

"No problem."

"And for being my Master," Hound replied as he moved the end of his muzzle into the inside of the fox's ear.

"You don't need to call me Master any more, you know that? Call me Snowfire, Hound. You're my equal, remember that."

"Ok... Snowfire," Hound said after a moment.

"Good boy," Snowfire gave him a little kiss as he replied, his muzzle moving over Hound's as he snuggled the German Shepard. Snowfire let out a soft breath as his mind cleared and settled into sleep.