Just Another Day...{Open}

[Dixie]

It was a warm summer morning and Dixie had just awoke from a good nights rest. She opened her big brown eyes and came back from her dreams. She looked around her. She had slept in the old barn. The light of the morning sun shined in the cracked open door. The light reveeled a rather large barn owl in the rafters. It gave a small hoot and closed its eyes. Dixie looked up at it with curiosity. It was quite a beautiful owl. Dixie stretched out her front legs as far as they could go and and then pulled them back under herself. She did the same with the back. She gave a great yawn and steadily walked towards the door.

The sunlight was blinding. Going from the dark confines of the barn to the open and ligh filled outdoors caused Dixie's eyes to have to ajust to the light change. When she could finally see she looked out over Skyline Ranch. It was like any other day. The sheep were out in the pasture and the little house sat in the sistance. She could hear the occasional bird chirp happily through the wide open sky. Looking around she felt at ease. this place was so beautiful. The wide open space was what any dog could dream of. The fresh air and the pure wilderness beyond. This was what Dixie had dreamed of before she had started her work here. With a sigh, Dixie ventured a little farter from the barn.

The dew covered grass beneith her paws was cool and yet very refreshing. Dixie made her way over to one of the tubs filled with water that the livstock drank out of. She got up on her hind legs and drank some. She lapped up the cool water with her tongue for nearly a minute and got back on all fours.

[D.esire]

Rocky had always been the type to be off on his own, he was independant, and always seeking an adventure. However, you can't be along forever. He wanted to settle down, have a family, but still be the dog he is today. The only problem was, the only dogs he knew that lived in this place were owned by humans. Having had a bad expirence with humans, Rocky was too hesitant to live with them. This could be an adventure though, having a relationship with an owned dog...it would be interesting. But it didn't matter to him, anyone was fine. This was not his main concern at the moment though, right now he was focused on finding food and water. Maybe even a cattle or sheep to mess around with for some excersize. The desert can really take alot outof a dog in a day.

Rocky was a nice sized australian cattle dog, he was bred for herding, but had an unfortunent incedent and ran away. Now he joyusly lives his days as a stray, cunducting his own mischieveous activities along the land. Following his own personal trail, Rocky saw the Skyline border up ahead, beyond that was the city. He smiled as he saw most of the animals sleeping, so he would be able to sneek in and grab a drink from the trough, and perhaps a bite from leftovers. He lowered his back so that he was nearly touching the ground. Then the dog began at an agile and swift run, heading for one of the water troughs.

Seeing another dog, Rocky made his way to a trough distanced from her. He was unaware if she was a herding dog, or a guard. If the female was a herding dog, no problem- but if she was a guard; there could be issues. Rocky snuk passed the sleeping sheep and made it to the water. Crouching, he slipped under the white fence and lapped up some to drink. The water was cool and refreshing, and the dew infested grass was a rather better feel on his paws other than the hot sand.

[F.red.]

Rocket padded out of the house and let a yawn escape from his jaw. He stretched his front legs out and trotted off to patrol the fields. Rocket's pace was quick and he kept his nose to the ground. The light scent of a dog he had never met before tunneled into his nostrials. Rocket now moved at a fast trot following the scent, soon he stopped at the ranches border where the scent got stronger. He followed the scent and soon saw a male cattle dog drinking from the water trough. Rocket howled, it echoed through the fields and even some birds picking at the grass took to the sky. The guard dog charged at the intruder ready to attack. Rocket was ready to fight and wasn't about to see a cattle dog wander around his fields.

The Alaskan Husky mix's lips curled into a snarl as he gained ground on him. Soon Rocket was just three yards away and he was ready to rip him to shreds if he didn't back down. He stopped ten inches away from the cattle dog, a loud growl escaped from Rocket and waited for the cattle dog to make a move.

[D.esire]

Rocky looked up, perking his auds to the howl. "Shoot!" He said to himself, "They got a gaurd dog." The australian cattle dog quickly slunk under the white fence and walked a few steps away. "Havin' fun?" Dakota smirked, now talking to the husky. Though Rocket was not the type to fight, he was out of their land now, so he could be unharmed. His maw dripped lightly with the cool water, however he had still not got any of the food. Turning, the ausi cattle began his way to a nearby tree, but not before he turned his head and looked to the dog. "Y'know I'll be back." With a wide grin, he padded to the shade of the tree and sat back on his haunches. Good, the sand here was a bit cooler than the others.

With a look around, he saw Dixie. Dixie was a dog who he'd seen around here before, in fact he even knew her name. The farmers would call out her name once in a while. Rocky had seen her do her work, and with a smirk, he stood from his tree and trotted away. Once the dog was views distance from Rocket, he made his way over to the herding dog. She seemed to be resting, or waiting for the farmers. As Rocky approached, he made sure to be on the outside of the gate. The stray let his head go through the gate and he looked over at her, "Now, what are you doing?" This was no threat at all, infact he was grinning. Behind him, the dogs tail swayed back and forth. The summer heat pressed down against his fur like needles. He ignored it though, happy just to have gotten water in his body.

[Dixie]

Dixie had been watching from afar what had gone down between Rocket and the stray. She shook her head and hoped that there would not be a fight. It was too early for a fight. Besides all the poor thing wanted was something to drink. She smiled at herself and watched on. The stray had got away without a scratch. Thank goodness, Dixie said to herself. She watched the dog make its way to a nearby tree, but then after a few moments he started walking towards her. He came up to the gate that led out of the property and spoke.

Oh well I'm not doing much of anything really. Dixie grinned and continued. Just watching what was happening between you and Rocket I suppose. She looked over to the Husky and then turned back. He can be a bully of sorts sometimes but I guess he's just doing his job.This cattle dog was quite handsome in Dixie's opinion. He was a little dirty but what do you expect from a street dog.

Dixie looked around her making sure none of her fellow working dogs had awaken. they would probably not be very pleased with her for talking to a stray but he was another dog, stray or not. Excuse me, I'm Dixie. And you are? Dixie said this in a very friendly voice. She hadn't interacted much with dogs that did not live on the ranch but she had always wanted to. Living with the same dogs day after day could get pretty boring and they tended to get on your nerves. Dixie got up and walked a little closer to the gate as to get a better look at her visitor. When she made it to her destinate spot she sat right back down on the cool grass.

[F.red.]

Rocket watched as the cattle dog taunted him then a sudden call came from the fields. "ROCKET!!!" It said and Rocket knew who is was, he charged and soon reached a farmer. As the farmer's hand reached out to pet him Rocket licked it as it came closer. "Ready boy??" The farmer said with a soothing tone, Rocket barked and wagged his tail a mile a minute. They had been working to get his herding skills up and today's livestock; cattle. These were the young bulls and Rocket was the first up to herd them. Rocket jumped over the fence and started padding towards them. Multiple whistles came from the farmer and Rocket followed there meanings. Rocket slowly came along side the young bulls, they bolted and Rocket stayed close to the ground.

He slowly gained on the cattle and one didn't move. It was a black one with a white hoof and nose, it stared at Rocket but he broke the ice by barking loudly at it. The young bull ran to join the other three. Rocket looked over to see the cattle dog with Dixie, he had met her before and had a bit of a crush on her. He charged at the cattle dog clearing the fence in the process. Rocket barked louldy as he gained on the cattle dog, if he went slipped out of the fence Rocket would clear that one too. He snarled and felt the urge to rip the cattle dog apart.

[D.esire]

As Rocky had emerged from the other side of the fence, allowing his head to rest neatly on it, he spoke to Dixie. Finally, there was a dog here who didn't wan't to kill him. His paws preened against the ground softly, as the addreniline from the recent rush was building up. As Dixie spoke, she spoke with such a soft tone that it felt like she was singing. Perhaps this was so just becasue Rocky had been contantly yelling at, or bickering and all. As she replied that she had been watching the two male's delema, Rocky smirked. Then she marked on how he can be somthing of a bully. Replying in his own sarcastic tone, he joked, "Bully. Huh, I hadn't really noticed." Rocky, however, nodded to the doing his job bit, it was true. But they were all dogs here, so what these humans were doing- seperating them- Rocky wasn't too fond of.

As Dixie had scanned for the humans, Rocky took another glance back over at Rocket. He was learning how to herd some cattle it seemed. The australian cattle dog looked back over at Dixie, realizing that neither had mentioned their name. She introduced herself as Dixie, then inquired for his name. Truth be told, he had many names, or so said the humans who walked the streets. Mutt, Dirty Dog, Stupid, and others which he is not proud of. "Rocky." He replied, allowing himself to escape his thoughts. The dog's auds perked and swerved to the left as he herd the sound of beating steps and barking. With a grunt, he looked over to see the husky pounding his way over to fight. As much as Rocky would love to stand his ground to meet the rather, as he saw beutifull, Dixie- the male was just not a fighter. Looking back at her, he spoke his final words. "If you ever want to live on the wild side for a little while, I live right over there." Dakota looked back, and there stood a peticularly small tree. However, that was just becasue of the distance, really, it was larger in size. As he invited Dixie to almost what seemed like a date, he simply gave her a wink of goodbye, and found himelf chasing his way through the sand.

Once again Dakota was on the side of no water, and hot sand. His paws kicked up some of the warm dirt behind him, and he gained his speed. Being an cattle dog, he was quick and agile. It would be minutes, however, before he reached his nice home.

[Dixie]

Dixie listened to the stray very carefully. Dixie was after all a great listener. She laughed a little at his sarcastic remark about her fellow Skyline dog, Rocket. Yes well I do suppose he is doing his job. She laughed a little again. She looked over to where Rocket was, one of her masters had called him over and they started rounding up the sheep. She just rolled her eyes and brought her attention back to the dog before her. He stated his name, it was Rocky.

Dixie had also noticed that Rocket had finished more quickly then usual with the sheep and started toward Rocky and herself. Oh great here comes Rocket, he can be such a pain sometimes. She again rolled her eyes and tried to ignore him. She did notice however Rocky getting up and starting to turn away. He told her she was welcome to try living on the "wild" side and gestured to where he apparently lived. He turned completely around and started out to the tree in the far distance.


Dixie was quite taken aback by these words. She stood on the other side of the gate in deep thought. If I ever wanted to try living on the wild side, she thought to herself. She looked around her. Living on the "wild" side would deprive her from all of this. Food, water, shelter, and humans. She looked out over the fields dotted with white sheep. Loose the wonderful job of pleasing the humans by herding sheep. All these thoughts took over her body like a cold winter's night. Immobilizing her body from moving.

It took Dixie some time before she finally moved. She did after all did not start working till before dinner, she brought the sheep in for the night. By the time she made up her mind Rocky was mearly a dot like one of the sheep in the distance, it seemed he was nearly to the tree. Dixie got up from her sitting position and trotted over to take a quick drink from the trough. She look three big tongue fulls and headed for the nearest open gate. She slipped through the gate with ease and started trotting over to wards the boundary line of Skyline. When she reached the last fence post she sighed and thought it over once more. I am just going to have a little fun, not leave Skyline just live differently for a day. She walked past the pole and picked up speed as she left the farm completely.

[F.red.]

Night started to fall and as Rocket was looking out before heading out for the last patrol. Rocket watched as the farmer was walking around calling someone, then the name hit him, Dixie. He got up and started trotting at the fence, sniffing the ground for any scents. Rocket's jet black nose picked up the scent of Dixie and as he followed it, it lead him to the ranch's border. He growled and crawled under the fence to keep foloowing Dixie. Rocket followed the scent and as he picked up his head he saw none other then the move ment of a tri-colored dog. He picked up the pace and as it got darker, a tree appeared in the distance and scent of Dixie was stronger now. Then he remembered what that stray had said to her, a low growl escaped from deep within the alaskan husky.

It was dark now and Rocket stopped as he got closer to the tree. Rocket slowly padded around the tree and stopped behind it, waiting and watching for the stray to appear. Once the stray got close he would lept at him and make sure the note got through to him.

[D.esire]

Rocky had made it to his home, it was a large weaping willow tree. He pushed through the layer of leaves that dangled down belown, the night was falling, and his home was dark. There was a blue-like glow in his tree, from the rising's moons light pressing through the leaves. Inside was totaly secluded, it was him alone. He wondered if Dixie would take his advise and come over for a little while. Wether it was today or whichever. Nevertheless he decided to stay up for a while. Inside his home was the needed necessities. He had a few scraps of meat from the nice store owner Mr. Kabler...or somthing like that. Rocky decided to save them so he could eat only when he was really hungry. On one side was an old beat up SkyLine Ranch bed.

No, Rocky did not steal this from them. One day the owner had thrown it out becasue it was old and torn, so Rocky did the favor or taking it out of the trash had making it his bed. He had a few other scraps of food that pedestrians would give him as he wandered the town. Sitting back on the bed, Rocky licked his paws and cleaned himself for the night. The sand had made him quite dirty, so he spent the next few minutes cleaning himself. Once he was finished, the cattle dog herd a sound. Taking in the deep wiff of the air, the stray senced another dog. This, however, was not Dixie. "Rocket." He exlaimed in a negitive tone. Unsure where the husky was, Rocky spoke up. "This isn't your home." He said it with determination. "I left Skyline, so leave here. I'm not going to hurt you."

The ausi hated fights, all it ended was two injured dogs, no effect, and possibly even a dead dog.