Zahm

A black dog with matted fur, no tail, flopped ears, and eyes nearly covered by his own coat, came towards the Marsh. He had been in the wild for a few years now, thanks to a wolf named Silver. Although he had learned some about how to live in the wilds, he depended on foraging dumps and the town for his food.

Now he paused beside the murky waters and lapped greedily at the water, quenching his thirst that was emplified by the hot weather and his dark, thick coat.

Akili & Dima

Akili, now four feet in length, glided towards Zahm. Her sides and neck were deeply speckled and livid with yellows, tans, blacks, greens, and tans. She paused at the shore and looked up at the strange looking mutt. "Wow, I've never seen such a dog before. How funny you look!" She piped up with interest.

Dima, Akili's brother, was laying on shore a few feet away. He would be a bit over four feet in length if it wasn't for the half of tail he was missing. He was also missing part of his hind leg and a few toes on a front leg. But they were old scars, and he had learned how to get around good enough, although swimming was a good deal harder. "Akili, don't you know any manners?" the alligator snorted sleepily.

Zahm

Zahm pulled back at first, startled by the alligators. "Funny looking? I'll show you funny looking!" he snorted indignantly. Unlike many mutts, Zahm didn't possess much common sense or intelligence, although he was very street smart when it came to scavenging for food.

Before he could say anything else, he heard the voice of another creature and turned around to see Dima. Looking smaller because of his shorter tail, Zahm choose him as the target. Growling, the mangy dog rushed upon the alligator and tried to grab his back.

Akili & Dima

Dima had closed his eyes, not fearing any canines. Never had they bothered him before, so he took the fact for granet. Then jaws closed about his back, bringing the reptile awake and thrashing in a frenzy. His tough hide and broad back saved him from any real injury, but it was certainly possible for Zahm to kill the little gator if he tried hard enough. Dima tried to reach back and snap the dog, but couldn't reach. "Let go, you filthy mutt! Leave me be!"

Akili darted into the water out of instinct, then cruised back towards the shore, giving a loud, strange chirp. "Let him go! Or I'll bite you!" she warned, beginning to clamber onto shore towards the dog.

Zahm

Zahm growled with delight and tried placing a paw over Dima's back to help hold him still. "Shut up, I'm having fun! I've never tasted such a creature before, but I imagine you'll taste good! Such easy food to catch, too!" The dog pointed out, biting harder and ignoring Akili and her threats.

Galar, Akili, & Dima

Dima gave a very loud chirp, followed by a hiss. "Let go!" he felt the pain of Zahm's jaws beginning to break through his hide. He struggled and struggled, but he just couldn't get away.

Akili rushed across the ground in a swinging gate, "I said get away!" she roared in a sharp voice. As she drew near, she snapped at his hind leg.

The water churned a ways down the marsh line. Galar was on his way, responding the chirps of his friends!

Zahm

Zahm yelped as the fangs hit his leg. Instantly, he released Dima and struck at Akili's muzzle, snapping furiously at it to try and make her let go, "They bite!" he yelped out during his attack, surprised by Akili's move. He didn't notice Galar.

Galar, Akili, & Dima

Dima struck the instant Zahm released him. His jaws set to come down on the dog's frnt leg.

Akili hissed out in pain when his fangs tore at her muzzle, causing blood to ooze out from the wounds. But she held on, still thrashing.

Galar reached the shore and thundered across the ground as fast as his short, stocky legs could take him. He could see his 'adopted' little ones were getting attacked by some big black... something. A dog? He'd never quite seen something like that before, although it reminded him of Spark, the spaniel dog that visited him every once in a great while.

Dog or not, he had to defend Akili and Dima, even though they were far old enough to be on their own by now. Galar snapped out at Zahm's head, ready to seize the entire bulk between his massive jaws.

Zahm

Zahm yelped shrilly as he found his head suddenly imprisoned by two impossibly large jaws. He had never actually seen an alligator before, or at least an adult, until now. He thrashed his limbs about wildly, kicking at the youngsters and trying to claw at Galar, although his doggish claws weren't going to do much of any damage to his reptilian armor.

Galar, Akili, & Dima

Akili hissed loudly, getting kicked forceably in the jaw by Zahm's struggles, "Ouch!" She cried out, backing off a bit now that her 'guardian' was here.

Dima hissed again as well, getting kicked in his eye. He snapped once more at Zahm before backing off. Galar could easily handle this trouble maker.

Galar, spurred on by Zahm's struggles and Akili's cry, bit harder down on the dog's head. He wasn't being very careful with the amount of crushing power he used.

Zahm

Zahm yelped shrilly as the pressure increased. His claws struck out like mad, now pawing with increased frenzy at the alligator's jaws. And then suddenly, his body shuddered violently before going stiff. A loud crunching was heard during the time, and then the matted black body slowly relaxed in death.