Invane: Annual Guess

“First of all. Why are we here?" Horizoki questioned me while I answered him, “Just surveillance for the VPD Horizoki." “Could they do that on their own?" “Think they are busy however." “With what?" We ended the conversation there as I held my tongue, unsure whether or not to tell them about their secret invasion plan against some other kingdom or so I was told. But shaking my head after that short pause of silence, I turned around towards Horizoki and growled at him “However, we need eyes on our target. Yang and Ling did say that they are here." “You mean multiple targets, Hunter." Huzizu interrupted with eyes rolling in his head. I turned towards him with narrowed eyes; remaining silent too as I gradually nodded “Yeah. That."

At the pause, we hanged around the alleyway some more. Eyes upon the walking or flying dragons across our visions as they went about upon their day. Did I ever mention that it was the afternoon. Food was being heated up adjacent to us. Perhaps from the right however, I think. I could not tell because of the rotten food that Horizoki and Hayizo kept on eating behind me. They had found these food in the trash can or in bags where flies were hovering around them. It had made Harkell and Havlut gagged however. That being said, my ear flicked to the back hearing such said two wolves complaining to Horizoki and Haziyo about the food. Thus begun a short fight between the two which was stopped by Huzizu who growled at the four of them. On this time, the dragons had taken noticed and shift their heads facing us. Having been exposed, I had wanted to facepalmed myself. Instead, I forepaw all four wolves behind me with a snarling growl.

“Why did you four had to expose us there? We were close into finding out the culprit!" “You idiot!" Screamed Horizoki while he ran up to my face, met up with my eyes as he snarled. Mirroring me. “We are not even one step closer into fighting them! We are just-" “Shut up." I interrupted afterwards, slamming a fist down his forehead as he grunted. He was sent a few inches away from me. Dust flew in all directions while the three other wolves gasped in shocked; eyes widened while they watched Horizoki flew off. For when the dust settled was the only time that silence fell over us. I stayed silent a bit before splitting my snout and spoke towards the other three, “Guess this is not working. We should all split up and do our own thing instead." “Meaning?" Questioned Harkell, turning back towards me. But I just smiled back at him, a slight nod later before turning tail and walked off towards the afternoon sun in front of me. The other remaining wolves left standing ran forth after me, exposing themselves to the sun and the other dragons as well.

Upon the sunlight, I exhaled a breath. The other wolves, save for Horizoki, sat surrounding me at the center of the road. Dragons coming from both north and south directions were a bit irritated seeing us, some spread their wings and flew off somewhere while others heed their intended direction. I raised my head towards the three remaining wolves in front of me. “What is our plan? What can we do to get this culprit?" Although silence had fell short after, Harkell was the only one who spoke to me. Something smart. “We should get a pet dog. Have it growl at culprits and friendly towards dragons. Stats had said that this is most effective way to sniff them out without having to do the dirty work." “I do hope that stats are right…" Trailed Havlut, with his ears flatten against his skull. He whined a bit before glancing my way. But I remained silent and kept watch at Harkell for a moment, before nodding “Fine. Do we have any money to purchase one?" No one said anything. I groaned or growled. I could not tell which however. But regardless, I turned my attention to Harkell again and spoke answering the following the silence “Guess we got to go out of town then." “Free?" Havlut questioned with a tilt of his head, “Free puppies or dogs." “But they would take a while!" Exclaimed Harkell, I just shook my head “We are broke. How else are we going to purchase one?" “By doing it the old wolf way!" Said Horizoki as he joined in onto the group. The four of us turned our attention towards him as he smiled, waving his tail happily as if he had no problems with the world or something. As he grinned towards the rest of us, we all looked towards one another and slightly nodded.

Then the next thing that the wolf knew, he was pounced by the four of us. A large cloud hovered over us while a bunch of different sounds erupted and filled the skies. Many dragons glance our way again; most looking a bit uncomfortable while others were still irritated. Still, many of them flew off and headed in other alterative directions instead. Having not wanted to deal with our insane methods again. A few minutes later into the fight and we had Horizoki tied up in a leash. Four legs held high and tied to that brown rope that Haziyo had from out of nowhere. A big white sock was stuff inside his snout with his eyes looking a bit wide and concerned. Ears flatten while the four of us stood around Horizoki and made a post. A snap came following afterwards and a picture was printed out from a nearby camera which hits the grounds. Then, Harkell rose to his feet and walked forth towards the camera. Bending down to grab the photo upon the ground, he fling it a few times and revealed the picture in the photo. He showed it to us after. “Nice!" I exclaimed, “Got my good side apparently." Responded Haziyo with a smile upon his snout, Havlut just nodded his head. Huzizu smiled silently. Meanwhile, Horizoki growled and grunted. Whined and waggled his way as he looked pleading towards us. Harkell caved in and exhaled a breath, “So much for selling this cattle for a buck." He walked over to Horizoki and untied his legs, gaining him mobility afterwards as Horizoki turned over and stood right up.

Stretching himself by bending his back forward, head lowered till it was touching the ground and his eyes closed. He yawned and returned to his natural position. “Then how else are we going to get-" “We do not need currency." Started Haziyo as he held his paw, “We just need to 'borrow' it however." “You are an idiot." Respond Harkell poking his chest with his paw as Haziyo turned towards him and smiled. The two wolves kept staring at one another at least for a while. Till Harkell growled and narrowed his eyes, shaking his head afterwards before stabbing him again with his paw “If we get caught by the VPD. You are finish." “What you mean by that?" “He meant, 'killing or murdering' you." “Do not those two meant the same thing?" We all fell silent. Till I growled and slammed my paw upon the ground, loud enough for the other wolves to hear me as they turned to face me again, “Enough! We are wasting time and space. We need to get a pup!" The other wolves roared in agreement which had me taken back for a while. But shaking my head again, I take the lead and led them northward towards a nearby pet shop that was close. Entered in. Chaos happened. We got out with a 'stolen' pup. Easy piece!

“Now then." Responded I while I face the pup that was held in my arms. “I need you to find this culprit." I ordered and held up a picture or photo of such said culprit that was given to us by Yang and Ling. “I bet a million bucks that they had like millions of copies of that culprit." Commented Horizoki while the other three looked at him as if he was crazy. The pup sniffed the photo, gaining its scent after a while. Then hop down to the ground from my paws and shoved his entire head upon the ground. Sniffing hard, he turned towards me and bump onto my foot. He started sniffing that as well. I groaned, facepalming myself while Horizoki laughed a bit before pointing at the pup and spoke, “Ha. There is not scented smell on that photo; just ourselves." “I figured that." I growled at Horizoki, angry as he sealed his snout a bit. I shook my head again and exhaled a breath; glancing back down upon the pup once more. Repeating the cycle several times before the door behind us opened. Out came a dragon whose scales were riddle with fur. With his claw against the surface of the door, he growled at us angrily shouting which caught our attention as we started facing him however.

“Thieves! You stole a pup wolf! Unhand the vermin and report yourselves to the police now!"

“Its the cops!" Screamed Horizoki as he and Haziyo started breaking into a run. Fled down the road and towards the nearest alley corner that they could find, disappearing shortly after while the rest of us turned towards such said dragon with irritation. Yet neither of us said anything more while the dragon kept stare upon us. Then I picked up the pup and walked towards the dragon; shoved it into his claws and spoke.

“Thieves! You stole a pup wolf!" Unhand the vermin and report yourselves to the police now!"

However, unlike the comics or stories that I had read in the past. This tactic never worked at all. Why? Because the dragon was looking so confuse at us that he started blinking after processing the recent minute that had unfolded upon his own claws. We had saw him lowering his head upon the pup held in his claws. Then after a pause, he had tears in his eyes and cried out to us “Sorry store owners! I will return this to you and report myself." He gave the pup back to us. Closed the door of the pet shop, locked it and walked northward towards the VPD police station nearby. I snickered, chuckled a bit at the events unfolding. But Harkell and Havlut were surprise that their snouts hanged opened a bit. With their stuttering, Horizoki smiled proudly with tears in his eyes. I turned towards the remaining of them and spoke, “Well guess we are to keep the pup then." “What are we going to name it?" Horizoki questioned me, “I do not know. Maybe we should wait a bit before." A pause later before realization hits, “We are suppose to find the culprit! What are we doing?" 'Finding the culprit?" Repeated Horizoki while I growled at him, “That was what I just said seconds ago."

“Quick hold this pup, Harkell." I demanded shoving the pup towards the wolf who broke from his stuttering and looked at the stolen pup. “How am I suppose to train the guy?" He asked back at me, but I said nothing as I ran up the road back towards the entrance and turned around once more. The other wolves turned towards me with confusion upon their faces. But were a bit surprise that I had many barrels adjacent to me that popped out of nowhere as I grinned, “If the pup is useless in sniffing out culprits. Then this would work!" “Hunter! This is stupid!" Cried Havlut, “Run!" Screamed Horizoki as the three of them race down the road following the barrel that was chasing after them. Both the barrel and the wolves raced till they disappeared from my sights. I watched them run, even held my paw up towards my forehead a bit to block the sun that was hitting my eyes with its rays. For a while, peace and silence had prospered. But sometimes I had wondered for how long. I shook my head, ridding that thought for a while as I sat adjacently to the barrels beside me.

Dragons that surrounded me were looking my way. Some looking displeased. Others excited about the committed actions that I had done to inflict justice towards the culprits and my own packmates however. Though all of the said dragons had indeed left or departed from my sights, more and more of them joined in onto the judging. A few of them could not believe it at all. Regardless, I closed my eyes and exhaled a breath. Getting up from the cold grounds underneath me, I raced down the road towards the end where the other wolves were heavily panting. Eyes straining to correct themselves and dirt scent rubbing my nose. I sneezed to the ground after witnessing their dirtiness which caught attention towards the other wolves however. “Should had figured you be here by now." Responded Harkell in between breaths while I nodded in agreement with him. A smile drifted from my snout as Harkell and Havlut faced me,speaking “The barrel was a success however, despite throwing it in our direction." “We caught someone?" I questioned, ears perk up suddenly in interest and excitement while both wolves nodded their heads and nudged their noses in the direction of where the barrel was.

To my surprise it was standing upright. How? I could not tell however. But I walked towards it. Till I stopped, when I was adjacent to it. As my tail wagged a bit whether or not it was in happiness or worried, I turned towards the other wolves. Harkell and Havlut nodded their heads, smiling. Horizoki and Haziyo were laid upon the ground. Heads upon their paws with ears pulled back. 'They seemed worried about something' I thought to myself before turning to the barrel again. Rose to my hind legs, I held the tip of the barrel with my paw. Tilting it forward until the barrel hit the ground on its side and I peered right in. The barrel was empty. I blinked a bit before turning back to Harkell and Havlut, both equally looking a bit confuse while they hesitated walked up towards me and peered into the opening of the barrel as well. “Well." Commented Havlut with a frown, “I never suspected the barrel to be empty." “Though there be someone chasing it by now." Responded Harkell, shifting his eyes towards Havlut who raised his shoulders frowning.

Such said two fell to silent again as I exhaled a breath and closed my eyes. Reopening them again, I spoke with a breath “Fine. Let just use our last tactic for today." “And then we can get ice scream?" Questioned Horizoki with his ears perked up, head held high as he looked towards us, specifically me, with his tail wagging. I glanced at Horizoki then towards Havlut and Harkell with concern looks. But either of them said nothing back as they held their gazes to me then to Horizoki before laughing after a short pause of silence. With a shake of their heads, they walked the distance to Horizoki and held their heads towards his back and head whispering something to him that made his eyes sparkle. For by the time he race back to Haziyo, I walked up towards the pair of wolves. They gaze at me in silence, but chuckled before nodding their heads. Reaffirming their interest in such a cold treat while I groaned, reminding them how broke we are. “We can just steal. We are wolves after all." “Wild wolves." I stressed at Harkell and Havlut, “Nah. More like domestic wolves now after you held yourself accountable for that one incident that forced us into an 'alliance' with the reptiles." “That was only one time!" I demanded, stabbing a paw at his chest to which he laughed at me and shake his head, turned tail and walked off with Harkell following behind him. They all left me alone; but I joined them a few seconds afterwards.

Later, it was already evening. The sun sinks from the skies into the horizon afterwards. Whereas the sun's rays shrink upon the incoming darkness that comes; houses, buildings and anything else had their lights on suddenly. The streets were gradually decreasing in population; dragons retired to their 'caves' where their love ones were waiting for them. And us running out of time once again. We were stationed upon one particular building, Horizoki and Havlut held the length of the hose with Haziyo stationed behind them, holding onto the wheel where the water would flow from. Meanwhile, me and Harkell held the tip of the hose. Hoisting it high, pointing straight towards the road. Drippings of water had came from the opening; pooling upon our hind legs while Harkell frowned at me whispering “I do not think this plan would work, Hunter. This seems like a desperate attempt to get someone." “It is the only option we got left." I muttered in response to him, then faced him for a short moment “Besides, we needed to reach a five page criteria otherwise, the author is going to have our hides for rugs." “Is that even a thing? Can an author- ""Just shut up alright?" I frowned at him with a narrowed eyes as he did sealed his snout afterwards and in response no doubt.

Few dragons take notice of us. Even a hatchling was pointing at us while shouting at its mother whom takes no notice at us; knowing the antics that we had committed about upon the realm of the reptilian. With the sun continuing sinking and the lights suddenly grew darker, I yelled upon the silence that loomed over us “Now!" Then at a sequence of events; Haziyo turned the wheel fast, we heard water rushing through the hose which Horizoki and Havlut held tightly with their paws. Both equally looking worried as their eyes faced at our backsides. The waters rushed to the other end, spread outward towards the roads before us and painted it wet if that was even a color however. However the hose itself was straining to be free from our grips; though the waters were fired at a steady blast. “We need more water!" I screamed, “More water!" Shouted Haziyo as he continued turning the wheel. More water flew from the hose, sprayed outward at a hard blast. The hose strained even harder that Harkell lose his grip with it. For he rolled upon the ground as the hose rose in altitude and brought me along with it. Horizoki and Havlut both looking terrified, concerned and interested in what I was doing.

The hose's surface grew wetter by the minute till my paws was soaked by it however. I groaned, tightly gripping against the hose as it continues moving high and low like a horse driving its owner from its back. It was a wild ride however. Perhaps one that I would have never forget in my time here living in the reptilian realm. “Turn it off!" I screamed, remembering that I was still held high, “What?" Questioned Haziyo with his eyes met towards the hose and me, I repeated the statement again at a louder voice which was heard by my packmates, even Haziyo who turned the wheel in the opposite direction. The water stopped flowing and with it, the hose stopped being violent. Dropped to the ground where a huge puddle soften my fall. Moising my back as I faced the skies, groaning yet I felt my heart beating in my chest loudly. As Horizoki, Harkell and Havlut ran up towards me screaming at me whether or not was I alright; I held my paw up into the air and gave them a thumbs up.

“Just let me rest here alright?" I say while the others laughed. On that note, the evenings had gone and midnight had arrived. The moon held high above us and the stars twinkled while I got up from the puddle underneath me. Silence and peace had overcame as the ringing echoed upon our ears. I exhaled a breath and said nothing while I was nudged by Horizoki and Harkell, pleased with their efforts into making my life a living hell. But at the same time, worth it in the end regardless. As the safety of my well being was rest assured, I perked my ears and shifted my attention towards the right in the direction of where that sound was coming from. There, I spotted a VPD officer whom I had recognized as Chief Yang. I was a bit surprise that she came out to see us; let alone the business effort left upon her desk. As I held my head and ears pulled back, she and I stayed silent. Yet it was only her that expressed differently than me. For she stretched her claw out towards me, petting my forehead as I closed my eyes and felt it. She was like this for a little while before she retracted it and kneeled down in front of me.

“Long day?" “Rough." I commented, rolling my eyes as I exercised an exhaled sigh. Chief Yang laughed a bit and shook her head, but calmed afterwards as she questioned me “DId you catch the culprit?" “We tried. Many attempted times. All produced no results." “Other than the insanity that we driven to the dragons themselves." “Laughed Horizoki joining in the conversation while Havlut, Harkell, Haziyo and Huzizu raced to join us too, laughing along the way. Yang laughed too before shaking her head, “Great. It was what we had needed after what happened to the police station a short while ago." “You mean…" I trailed looking at her with a surprise as she frowned and nodded in the following silence. Yet she got up onto her feet, her expression changed suddenly which had indeed startled us. For as she walked bypassing us, she spoke towards me with a wink “And by the way, thanks for the puppy."