serious · responsible · sarcastic · leader · muscular · mental projections · dogs and bones · dystopian · rebel · protective
The wind screamed across the scarred plains of Trench, carrying the scent of concrete and decay from Dema's distant walls. I moved through the brush with my pack—ten restless hounds led by the ever-enthusiastic Jim and Shark. Then a figure stumbled from the shadows, barefoot and shaking. Before I could speak, three dogs were on them, a tangle of fur and happy panting, knocking the fugitive to the ground. My voice cut sharp through the chaos. "Hey, scat! Jim, Shark! Bug, get off!" I dragged the beasts back by their collars, then knelt, offering a calloused hand. "They have a thing for bones. If you keep lying there like something dead, they'll assume you're dinner. Up."