Marsden Park

A common dog park with benches for visitors and a fountain in the middle and surrounded by a metal fence with an opening towards the street. It is a grassy, open area with trees that is well kept and gardened. Many dogs are taken here daily on their walks. During the night, the streetlights come on and lighten up the area. Named after David Marsden, an old mayor of Hartford, Marsden Park is on the better part of town near the nicer houses. It's pretty much in the center of Hartford.

Chico yawned and walked into the area. Lucy's scent lead him here. The thread had made a tiny hole in his blue jumper. Nothing serious. He looked around for Lucy and sat down by the fountain. Having a quick drink out of it he waited for the fiery tempered yorkie.

Lucy dashed into the park. There were house-folk walking their dogs almost everywhere, although it wasn't exactly crowded. She spotted a small copse that seemed empty. She squeezed through the iron fence, and trotted in the little clump of trees. She found a little moss between some roots. She lied down on it, resting her mussel on her paws.

"Lucy, you to know we were worried about you since you were smaller."she started. "But after we show you concern, you do nothing but spit on us."she said. "You know how that feels like?"she said with a bit of anger in her voice. "Whatever."Jasmine turned around and trotted back home.

-cecil boulveard-

Chico looked at Lucy and shrugged. He followed Jasmine and grinned. Lucy could do what as t she wanted. After all, it was a free country.

Glancing around,he noticed he was in a Longpaw park. He growled,and ran into a grove of trees.Stupid,i need to get out of here. He snorted,and noticed Lucy. He blinked,and swallowed. He saw her lying on some moss.

Camaro was freezing.

The dalmatian tried to hide his violent shivers as he sauntered lazily through the park, but they were so strong they could not be suppressed and his thin pelt quivered wildly with every step. He cursed to himself for getting stuck outside on such a cold day, and briefly considered just going to the the few houses scattered across the road a few blocks down -- but nah. Camaro hated humans. He only leeched them of their advantages when it was absolutely unnecessary, and he detested those fat lazy dogs that were constantly around to do their bidding. Always counting on a meal, no need to search for a sleeping spot every night; they had everything. Pitiful creatures. Where was their sense of challenge?

Well, Camaro certainly had had enough challenge in his life. His pelt, once so clean and robust, was thin and marred with countless scars from years of hardship. His belly was almost nonexsistant beneath him, and the outlines of his ribs were clearly visible through his ratty pelt. Camaro wasn't on the brink of starvation, but he knew pain and hunger -- just like any other stray, he'd suffered his fair share. Yawning widely, his cracked and stained fangs displayed clearly, the dalmation stopped beneath an old Magnolia tree, its widespread branches shielding him from the sky. For now, this would have to be a sufficient shelter.

James bounded into Marsden Park with no thoughts but to mess about in his Aussie head. He felt the muscles in his legs tremor slightly from the cold that his medium length coat couldn't keep out and when he breathed out through his mouth fog skidded up into the air above him. This was a normal day to him: go walking around the city for a while, stop by the park for some fun, do something stupid and life threatening, and then go home to his humans. It was natural to him since he was left behind for a while now, when his humans visited their kin. He never did hold a grudge against them for it. He was able to see the hardships and grow a sense of adventure and ever since then he craved adrenaline.

The male jumped onto the stone surrounding the water fountain, balancing quickly before he fell, and began to walk the perimeter of the landmark. It wasn't something that would get his blood pumping but it was something that he could do while he let his mind think of something stupid.

For a while Camaro sat in silence, staring blankly ahead as he let his thoughts wander. A flicker of movement, however, caught his eye, and he turned to watch curiously as another dog entered the park. Camaro wasn't sure what breed it was, but the dog was medium sized and didn't really seem interested in looking around. He raised his eyes as the dog jumped onto the rim of the park's water fountain, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he balanced along the slippery stone. Camaro snorted in half amusement, half wonder, waiting to see if the dog would fall or hold his position.

James barely concentrated as he walked along the iced stone, he didn't have the time to! He had to think of something to do before he drove himself mad with boredom. Him bored was never a good thing for anyone. But life and humans and everything was so BORING! With a frustrated growl, Jamie let himself fall off the fountain and onto the ground next to it, landing on his back. He looked up into the blue sky, eyes squinted as he fought the urge to do something incredibly stupid like trying to climb a tree or talking to a squirrel or maybe even running head first into the slippery rock. Yeah, he needed something or someone to entertain him.

Seeing two other dogs enter the park,he snarled. He notice one was a rouge,and the other a house-pet. He then glanced around for any Longpaws. He saw none,and he blasted out of the brush. He saw everything was a blur. He raced towards the barn. He didn't like to be around so many dogs. Yet instead he ran up a tree. Almost running into it. He growled.

Briar bounced into the park, his dark eyes bright with mischeif and cockiness. he stared around at the big dogs and felt his hackles rise a little. he shook his head and began trotting over to a place where humans drank (drinking fountain) and reared up on his hind legs. he grinned noticing a button on the side where two legs would fill up their clear things (drink bottles). with his two front paws he pressed the button then leapt back and began lapping the spraying water off the concrete.

Chico arrived at the park were his master would take of the lead. As he did so he ran away and the master sat down on a bench with the big piece of paper that had letters on it. Noticing a cairn terrier nearby he ran up to him. He pocked his nose in the water and then raised his big head. "Hello!" He said cheerfully.

Camaro rolled his eyes as he watched several other dogs enter the park, but his attention was still focused on the male circling the fountain. When he flopped unceremoniously off the stone and onto his side, Camaro grinned crookedly -- this must be one of those hyperactive idiot dogs. Though their stupidity always irritated him, it had been a boring week and Camaro was in for some entertainment. Rising to his paws and shaking his pelt, Camaro trotted over to the dog, who was now squinting at the sky as if he could decipher some hidden meaning from the clouds. "Morning," He said to the dog, voice casual and friendly but with a slight, drawling note.

briar looked up from lapping at the water and narrowed his dark eyes. "greetings dalmatian", he glanced at the house pet and nodded before glancing off towards the place where he stashed his food. his small belly rumbled but there was no way that he was going to allow any dog to steal his hard earned noms!

Camaro blinked when he heard another voice addressing him and turned around. He hadn't even noticed the other dog drinking from the fountain, his every sense having been turned to the Australian shepherd. He didn't respond as he watched the small stray walk away, but narrowed his eyes and briefly wondered if he should follow. Nah, maybe some other time. Turning his attention back to the Australian shepherd, Camaro waited for his response.

Flicking his ears the tiny terrier turned and raced over to his bush. he glanced around then carefully scent marked it. he glanced around suspiciously before wriggling through the thick branches of the bush and began digging. soon he unearthed a large bone and dragged it out. he lay infront of his bush happily gnawing on the bone. his bright dark eyes glittered with curioisity.

Clover padded into the park, smelling heavily of wolf after investigating the forest and arguing with a fiery wolf and a golden wolf. she twitched her tail and glanced around noting the different types of dogs. she smirked noticing a terrier like herself eating a huge bone. she wondered why none of the other bigger dogs had taken it from him. emitting her normal sweet scent the female trotted over to the fountain and leapt up onto the edge of it then happily splashed into the water.

James looked over at the Dalmatian who was peering down at him, giving the male - he could tell by the way he sounded and smelt - a sort of halo light around him. His markings were that of an average dog of his breed but something seemed different about his eyes. They were brown, yes, but to a degree that made James feel like he was being thought of differently than what the other male was letting known, that he was a toy that a mere child didn't want anyone else to play with. It made the Aussie inwardly squirm, with anxiety or anxiousness he didn't know. Setting those strange thoughts, ones he had never thought about before with anyone, aside, he refocused his gaze on the whole of the dog's face. "Good morning."

The young male terrier glanced up feeling eyes on him, his dark eyes met hers and he bared his teeth a little warning her not to try to take his meal. he went back to gnawing on it wondering where his bestfriend was. bramble was always late. Finishing his bone he gave a satisfied burp and stood, he tilted his head seeing the female splashing around in the fountain and smirked. what a pup, probbaly some housepet. he turned and trotted over to a tree, relieving himself on it he yawned and turned his head towards the street that ran past the park. there were plenty of fast food places and they often chucked out good food.

Camaro resisted the urge to flinch when the australian shepherd looked up to meet his gaze. He felt as if those dark green eyes were staring right through him, cutting through his act as easily as a knife through butter. He didn't move, though, remaining impervious despite his rampant thoughts, and instead gave the dog a crooked grin. Taking half a step back, Camaro sat down, unwilling to get drenched by the fine mist emitting from the fountain. "Whats your name?" He asked the dog, looking him over and giving him another lazy smile.

There was a slight tug at the corner of James's lips as he saw the male's grin. When the dog stepped back so he would not get his coat wet James got up and shook his fur, determinedly shaking water in the Dalmatian's direction. Once the water was mostly off of him, Jamie gave his tail one last shake before padding close to the male, getting right in his face and staring him down with his eyes, "Why would you like to know?" he questioned, his voice rougher and deeper than one would think for a dog his age and size.

Camaro, having predicted the dog to be shy and withdrawn, was nothing short of shocked when it stood up and shook its coat vigorously, deliberation in every movement as Camaro was doused with water. Letting out a slew of curses and profanities, the gangly dog leaped to his feet and stared in disgust at the water running in cold rivulets down his dirty pelt. "You little pest," He snarled at the shepherd, shivers already wracking his body as the cold water permeated his thin pelt. He resisted the urge to leap at the dog and bowl him over, but Camaro knew good and well that he lacked the strength. Instead, he raised himself to his full height to meet the smaller dog as it closed the space between them.

Camaro didn't flinch when the dog spoke, instead meeting his gaze. Another tremor wracked his body, but this time it wasn't from the cold -- he'd been hit by that same sense of helplessness as he had been when looking at the dog moments before. Now, feeling the shepherd inches from his face, the sensation was much stronger, and Camaro fought the urge to turn tail and run. He didn't know what it was about this dog that was making him so nervous and self conscious and jittery, but he sure as heck wasn't going to show weakness -- Camaro had never rolled that way, and he never planned on it. Instead, he furrowed his eyes, trying to hide his anxiety, and fixed the shepherd with a piercing look. "Am I not allowed to ask?" He said, voice much colder than it had been before.

"Oh no, you have every right to ask. What I want to know is why you are asking me." James ignored the height the other male put on when he stood up straight, ignoring the feeling of being looked down upon. He could sense that the other was cautious now, could see it behind his well hidden eyes. Very well hidden but not enough that James couldn't see the small flicker of doubt, a small thought of being helpless. "At first there was only you and me in the park but then more dogs entered. You could have easily gone to any one of them to talk to but you chose me. Why? Easy, you thought I was entertaining, I could feel your eyes on me the entire time I was walking the perimeter of the fountain. But again, why? Because you are bored and are looking for someone to play with to your heart's content before using them in some way and leaving them behind in the dust. You don't just want to know my name, oh no. No, you want to know secrets that I haven't told anyone else so you can possibly blackmail me with so that you can use me before leaving me behind like all the others before me. Just because you. were. bored." James sidestepped the Dalmatian and began walking away but not before turning his head back, "Oh, and the name is James." He tossed his a smile before walking forward again.

To put it simply, Camaro was thunderstruck. His eyes steadily widened the longer the dog spoke, and by the time he'd whirled around, Camaro figured he must look like some shell shocked owl. He stood dumbfounded as the shepherd -- James -- walked away, trying to process what exactly had just happened, because never in all his years had Camaro ever met a dog so bold or stupid or infuriating! The longer he stood there trying to gauge his thoughts and emotions the more confused he became, until he was practically stuttering and spitting and tripping over his own words as he attempted to formulate a response. Needless to say, it was futile.

After a while, Camaro gave up trying to speak and stared at James's retreating form. He knew why he was so speechless and bothered by the dogs words -- because, ultimately, they were true. Though he'd never taken pride in manipulating and fooling with other dogs intentions, Camaro was well aware of how conniving and sly he could be. It was his way of life, the way he got by, and the fact that he'd just gotten called out on it did not sit well. Camaro had never been so humiliated, so embarrassed in his life; how was it that this dog, this strange, foolish dog who he'd first laid eyes on less than ten minutes ago, could decipher and pick him apart so well?

Without realizing it, Camaro found himself running to catch up with James. He felt like his legs were on auto pilot, propelling him forward without his permission, but he didn't fight it. As angry and embarrassed and willing to rip this dog apart as he may be, Camaro felt inexplicably drawn towards him. Though he'd never admit it, not even to himself, the dalmatian admired James for pulling up enough boldness and courage to actually fight back and spit out a retort against Camaro's cruel facade. So, when Camaro reached the dog, he didn't try to lunge at him or go for his throat; he simply skidded to a halt beside him, his lanky legs tumbling over each other as he struggled not to faceplant on the grass.

"You," Camaro panted, short of breath. "Are an idiot."