A Dark Haze (Open, Joining Crowley)

[sparrow]

    His heavy paws touched the ground hard every time he took a step. He was careless where placed his feet, not truly thinking much about it. His head swam with uncomfortable thoughts and made him dizzy, his hips swaying from side to side in rhythm to his light gait. With his head and tail down, it was hard to ever imagine him as a treasured stud, whose beauty caught the eyes of many and provided his owner with  full profit. He was no longer perfectly groomed and trimmed, and his usually snow white coat was matted with stickers and almost brown in color. Traveling in the forest had proven much more difficult than he had ever thought, but he had managed. He also managed to survive the perilous highways he walked along to reach the place he tred on now. His paw pads had bled numerous times, though he never stopped to lick them or tend to them. For days he had been walking with his eyes glazed over and the same saddened look upon his face. If you were to take a quick glance at him, you would become frightened of the beast that stared back at you with cold, grey eyes. They no longer shone light blue or white, but a dulled grey ever since that fateful night on the farm. Even though he had tried to stay out of the way of most other animals, he found himself in some unpleasant predicaments, no matter how hard he tried to avoid them. His lip had torn from a few fights back and one of his back legs had a gnarly gash in it, but was not fatal. Seemed as though trouble just seemed to follow him wherever he went. Though his body was well-built and he had always trained well, he was underfed and his body was already starting to take a toll from it. He looked as though he were a walking corpse, a depressed, ugly corpse. 
    Sparrow continued to walk through his haze, though there were many thoughts in his head, they all circled around one thing. Her. She was constantly haunting his nightmares and plaguing his every thought. The beauty with no name, the one he had fallen for, though never once lusted for her. He imagined her long muzzle that would push under his head as if to tell him to never give up. She didn't speak much, but through her actions, he had always known what she meant. And somehow she was always able to cheer him up. As he thought of all the times he had been with her, when they were happy in each others silence, darker memories also started to flood back in. When his beloved and trusted owner took her out of her kennel and led her to the forest. He remembered thinking it was all a game, something fun for once. He could still hear the shot as loud and clear as if it had just gone off a few seconds ago. He saw the image of her body slumping and the life draining from her chocolate eyes.He remembered the night he had spent with her body, trying to keep her warm just as he had every other night when she was still alive.  Nothing had ever prepared him for such a loss. He was not used to having someone so close to him, and to lose her, well to him that meant losing everything. 
    He didn't exactly know where he was going or what his plans were, he just knew he had to get away from the farm that had murder written in its soil. He didn't even know if he wanted to be alive anymore. the pain of her memories were almost too much to bare. He figured that he'd just wander the Earth until he died in a fight or from starvation, which ever came first. A building not far from him caught his eye. Lifting his head to the air, he cautiously sniffed, sensing that there were others nearby. Not exactly wanting a confrontation, he tried to avoid the tall building, that crept up on him like a shadow. Clumsily he picked his way around debris and stones, trying not to let the sharp rocks tear into his already mangled paws. A quick high pitched yelp rose in his throat, though, without warning. He cursed at himself for being so clumsy, a small rock lodging itself in between two toes. He took a second to try and pick it out, it was nothing more than a small scratch, yet he hoped that the that the company he had smelt earlier didn't hear him or recognize his presence. 

[Fen]

"All I'm asking is for a little bit of...ooph put into this place. It's like a morgue. How can you expect to entertain guests here?"

Crowley rolled his eyes at the husky mix before him. "Look, that's your problem, love. You ask! Constantly! Give me a break, darling! As far as guests, do you see me throwing parties for the fucking block?" The bulldog huffed and went back to chewing at his bone. Vivian growled a bit and turned.

"Well, in that case, I'll just have to do it." She turned her nose up and escaped out the back of the church into the vacant lot they used for fighting. Vivian recoiled at the thought. She had no idea why anyone would want to fight and get some sort of sick enjoyment out of it. The night was quiet though and she heaved a sigh as she sat down on the only clean thing there, which was a busted headstone. She knew Alfonso and Lorenzo were around somewhere, and she rolled her eyes. She probably thought they were bigger idiots than Crowley did.

Suddenly, a yelp disturbed the silence and Vivian jumped slightly, her fur rising on her neck as she tried to figure out where it was coming from. She rose to her feet and headed toward the general direction of the noise. The scent was definitely male, and she stiffened a bit. Was this male here to cause harm to the family? If so, she should probably get out of there. She paused for a moment, considering it. Her curiosity eventually got the better of her and she kept going.

She was surprised to find a male husky not too far from the Church, and she smirked. "Well, well...what do we have here?" She looked down, and immediately smelled the blood on his paws. "My, you must've come a long way. Professional, traveling trespasser, I see." She knew Crowley would want to know about this, but she wasn't done toying yet. She put on her best friendly tone and met his gaze. "Why don't you come inside, darling? It's warm and we have food."

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    Sparrow turned when he heard a female's voice behind him. Suddenly he was on edge, the fur on the back of his neck stood straight up. A low growl escaped his throat but it was barely audible. He stood facing the lithe female, her vivid coat colors caught his eye and he couldn't help but look her over. All of a sudden a pain shot through his chest as he realized that the dog who stood in front of him closely resembled the size and shape of the one who he had lost. He figured she must have some Border Collie in her, if not all. Though she was not the same coloring, he still longed for the one he was missing, as he always did whenever he met another dog that looked like her. His tail dropped and he gave up his defensive posture, even if she could harm him, he couldn't care less anymore.  Bowing his head, he dared not meet her eyes again as she continued to speak. He never once uttered a word, until she brought up the part about food. Unconsciously he lifted his head and a desperate look crossed his eyes, but he shook his head, trying to clear it. "That's very kind of you miss..." his voice cracked and it was all he could do to get the words out since it had been so long since he had spoken.    
    He was about to decline her offer when he realized that this was the first time he had been offered a kindness since he left the farm. No one he had met extended a paw to help him out, or offer him anything. Instead they'd rather fight to the death over a piece of cardboard with grease stains left over on it. He mulled it over for a second, but soon the pains from his stomach hit hard and he didn't have to think anymore. "I suppose... well I would love to dine with you, that is if you have enough to spare..." He flashed her a quick half-sided grin, which must have looked strange on his seemingly emotionless face. It even felt strange on his lips after so long of never showing emotion besides regret and sadness.  "And about the trespassing, well I truly apologize for that, I guess I just was too preoccupied to notice that I was crossing any boundaries. But if you don't mind my asking, I am curios to know, who owns this land?"

[Fen]

Vivian internally sighed. Crowley wasn't going to be happy about this, but she didn't care. She loved to piss off the pudgy white bulldog who had way too little time on his hands for her antics. That's what made it more fun. She sent a quick summoning bark in the direction of the church and Alfonso came trotting over. "Yeah?" He asked, clearly not amused with her yelling at him earlier. The doberman looked down at the male on the ground and his eyes widened. "Whoa man, you look like shit."

"Precisely. Help him stand. We're taking him to Crowley." Vivian then started back toward the church as Alfonso helped the stranger up. He wasn't exactly sure what Vivian thought she was doing. For her to be so new she acted like she ran the place. Alfonso didn't argue, and helped the stranger, letting him lean against him as he hurried him toward the church.

Crowley was sitting in his 'throne' again, his rawhide in between his paws on the altar as he went over a few things with Lorenzo. He looked up as Vivian and Alfonso came through the door with a newcomer on their paws. He dismissed Lorenzo to help and he watched from his chair as Vivian went behind him to grab a hunk of meat from the old cooler behind Crowley's chair. "Whoa there, Love. Mind telling me what's going on?"

"He collapsed on out territory. Best not to let him die and draw attention, right?" Vivian said, flashing him an eyeroll as she carried the meat down and dropped it in front of the male on the carpeted floor.

Crowley sighed. "Alfonso, Lorenzo. Take the rest of the night off. I don't think this one will be putting up much of a fight." He studied the male closely. He looked very rough, and Crowley sighed. Another misfit comes wandering up to his doorstep. He gestured for Vivian to back away and give the male some room. "You won't be any trouble, will you, mate?"

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    Sparrow went back on edge as the other male approached. Internally he wondered just how many there were in this place.. As he was being helped and supported of the ground, he let out a few grunts. It was defiantly not comfortable for him to be this close to a stranger, and one that could very well take advantage of him in his weakened state. Though he let himself be helped up and escorted to the church that both other canines seemed very familiar with.
    When they entered the church, Sparrow took a quick look around, but didn't have time to take much in before he spotted the Bulldog that sat at authority. It looked as though he was the one who ran this place. He was left standing alone in front of the white male as the girl he had met earlier went to retrieve meat for him. When she placed it in front of his paws, his stomach nearly lurched out of him in hunger. He grimaced at the pain but still didn't dare take a bite out of the meat yet as the leader and the girl spoke.      
   As the leader addressed him, Sparrow made sure to keep his eyes down and his head bowed, trying to show respect. "You won't be any trouble, will you, mate?" He shook his head, still not looking up. "No, sir," his voice was course and cracked, but it was still deep and if it were said a bit louder may have held some power to it. But that was not what he was here for, he was not trying to start a fight over something as stupid as trying to be the one who held the power. He didn't know if he was welcomed here, but either way he didn't plan to stay long. Well he didn't actually plan anything... But he knew that in the future he'd be more careful not to step over any unseen territory boundaries... Whether he thought he could be stealthy or not. Apparently the worst of trouble just seemed to follow him wherever he went. All he cared about now, was getting out of this place unscathed. Yet, knowing his luck, they might as well just kill him on the spot and get it over with... In his broken state it would hardly even be a fight anymore.                         

[Fen]

Crowley nodded. "Brilliant." He eyed the male a bit. He really was in bad shape. Crowley felt a twinge of nostalgia at seeing his injuries and his emaciated state. He knew that he had looked something similar when he had first arrived in Bensonhurst. Marco had found him and swept him under his wing and molded him into the person he was today. Crowley shook himself from his reverie and looked back down at the male. "I'm Crowley, and this is Vivian." He gestured to the woman next to him. "Oh, please eat. There's plenty." Crowley grew silent for a long time. He wasn't worried that this male would attack them, and he didn't smell like a Mancini dog, so he would allow him to eat for now, and rest. He looked over to Vivian, wondering why the woman had even brought him here. Would she have done the same were he not injured and starving on their land? As he looked between them, he noticed they were of the same breed. Slightly. He knew Vivian had some Border Collie in her, but her eyes were clearly that of a husky.

"So, I'm assuming you have a name?" Crowley asked, his eyes fixing on the husky in front of him. "And don't get me wrong, but you look like you've had it rough. Where in the bloody hell did you come from?"

Vivian sent Crowley a look. She had been wondering the same thing. You didn't see too many huskies in Bensonhurst. Most people couldn't afford the bloodline as a pet and if they could, they kept them locked in the house and on tight leashes to keep from losing their investment. It made Vivian sick, but so did most anything else. She turned her nose up as Crowley spoke to the male, and she went to rest on one of the pews, perched like some regal bird of prey as her eyes studied the new person before her.

[sparrow]

"I'm Crowley, and this is Vivian. Oh, please eat. There's plenty."

Sparrow took the invitation from Crowley and dug his muzzle into the slab of meat. He wasted no time in gorging himself. Not really caring about manners at the moment, he tore, bit, and slurped. It was disgusting, yes, but it had been so long since he had had a good sturdy meal. He knew that if he ate too much, he would just end up throwing it all up, his stomach not used to it quite yet. He slowed down his eating, making less noise and mess. When he had finished, he licked his lips and sighed contently.



"So, I'm assuming you have a name? And don't get me wrong, but you look like you've had it rough. Where in the bloody hell did you come from?"

Sparrow took a deep breath before answering. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell this stranger his story, but he figured it was the least he could do after they had just aided him and brought him in. A slight grimace set upon his face before he spoke. "My name is Sparrow, sir. I was named after the bird because my owner was always saying that I could never stay in one place.. That if I could fly, I would go all over the world with my wings." He half smiled, half grimaced at the memory. It was very true that he had loved his master, although until the very end, he was as faithful as any dog could be. "I lived on a farm a long ways from here. One that I had to get away from. It was a horrid place, from which I had seen many terrible things happen, though I stood idly by and watched most of them. I'm not sure how long I have traveled. It could have been days it could have been months.. Though most of that is lost and the days went by as I had no recollection of time. There were many disputes that I had come across whilst traveling. To say the very least, I must be one lucky soul. The fights I had gotten into could have been very fatal, yet I seemed to have managed myself just fine." He shrugged his shoulders, but didn't look up as he continued. "And now... I'm not quite sure if it was luck that brought me here. Or shear stupidity"

[Fen]

Crowley listened carefully, his face an expression of interest and intrigue. This dog was definitely a mystery, even with his explanation. Crowley still felt like there was something missing, but he didn't press the matter any further. He sat up straight and nodded. "Well, Mister Sparrow. You're welcome to stay if you wish. Please let us know if you need anything at all. If you feel as though you wish to join our ranks, don't hesitate to ask me for work. You'll have to prove your worth, just as everyone else has. Get yourself back on your feet then we can talk about a job for you, if you wish to go that route."

He looked to Vivian who nodded and gave a small yawn. She was a little concerned with how well Crowley was handling an intruder, but that wasn't for her to question. If there was one thing she had learned about Crowley was that he wasn't picky when it came to potential members. If they turned out to be useless, they were cast out. He always tested them, but even Vivian hadn't gotten the opportunity to prepare herself before she had to prove her worth. She was a bit envious at how easy Crowley had taken it on the other husky in the room. She brushed those thoughts away and looked to Sparrow. She gestured down the hallway. "There's a room at the back you can use for now. I was going to turn it into a lounge but for now I'm sure you'll find it comfortable."

Crowley nodded in approval. "Do you have any questions for us, son?" He asked, tilting his head curiously at the newcomer.