The Pound

Scorch had just about enough with this school already. His grades were terrible, though, for that, he could only blame himself. And although he had one of the best groups of friends to help him out, he couldn't help but feel like they all were just avoiding him. Except for his best friend, Gallus, and his other closest friend, Ocellus. But everyone else just seemed so... distant.

Ever since Sandbar broke up with Yona, he acted like everyone hated him. In reality, nobody was really angry at him for it, he was just overreacting. Hell, he'd been avoiding Yona for at least two weeks, now. Yona, of course, was so busy trying to get Sandbar to like her again that she ended up breaking from the group on her own. Always too busy making plans that she could never carry out.

Silverstream was more on her own than anything. She felt like she couldn't do much to bring them back together.

So she stopped trying, and focused on herself.

And now, it was Scorch, Gallus, and Ocellus on their own, trying their best to salvage whatever they had left. It was just awful seeing his friend group fall apart like that. Scorch felt like the friends he had were truly- all he had. There would be nothing and no one that could replace them, as long as he was in Equestria. They were the only creatures that kept him sane, especially since they were five of the only unique creatures in the school.

And Sandbar was the pony glue that held them all together.

And as Scorch went over all this tragedy, he kept on trudging through the halls on his lonesome, eyes to the ground. He held his black book back with a sulky, pathetic grip, fingers drooping and ready to give out. Just like Scorch.

"Thump!"

"Ah!"

Scorch's vision went blank as he fell backward, right onto his backpack. It hurt like hell, since it had a crap ton of hard books on the inside. Though, Scorch had tough dragon skin, so he wasn't worried about himself at the moment. As he sat upright and rubbed sorely at his face scales, he saw a disoriented Ocellus, rubbing at her temples with her hooves. "Ow..." she groaned, not exactly aware of the sharp, royal blue eyes staring down at her.

The drake stood up first, deciding it'd be the more polite thing to do to help his female friend back onto her hooves.

"Sorry 'bout that," Scorch sighed first, holding his open claw out and catching the young nymph's attention. "I should'a watched where I was going."

Ocellus blinked as she looked up at the dragon, gathering the last of her dignity and gingerly setting her hoof in his claw. She was a bit startled when Scorch tugged her upward, but nonetheless she was able to get back onto her hooves again.

"No, no, that was my fault..." she replied to her friend's earlier statement, glancing reluctantly at the crushed cupcake she had meant to deliver. It lay smushed in its flattened, cardboard box, and by the looks of it Scorch could see that it was vanilla flavored. The orange icing splattered all over the inside was what caught his attention, though, further proving that the cupcake was really... er, gone. "That was supposed to be a cheer-up gift... I know how sad you've been feeling lately."

Scorch sighed along with his friend, rolling his eyes. "It's fine," he said, taking the box anyways. "It's cake. Who cares if it's ruined? It's still cake." He reassured, drumming his claws eagerly on the see through plastic. Ocellus giggled, amused at Scorch's unexpected hunger for a smushed cupcake.

"Have it your way, then. Where're you headed?"

"I dunno, somewhere..." Scorch replied dryly, shrugging his shoulders as he grasped his bookbag and dropped the box of smushed cupcake inside. "Gonna get some fresh air, I guess. Ain't nothing much to do around here, since..."

Ocellus looked away.

"Sil' still not talking to you?" Scorch pressed, swinging his back back onto his back and holding one strap with his right arm.

"Mhm... at least she's studying, you know? Focusing on her schoolwork..." Ocellus let out a pitiful chuckle, but that short-lived, small smile faded into a tiny, regretful frown. It was at this moment that Scorch realized he probably should not have asked.

"Right... sorry..."

"...Don't worry about it." 'Cel sighed, shaking her head to get her mind off things. "Come back soon?" She asked, looking up at Scorch with pleading eyes. "I get worried when you stay out too late."

"Pfft- Please. I'm a dragon- dragons're tough. You don't gotta worry about me." the dragon replied, brushing off his friend's plea and breezing right past her. Ocellus turned to the direction the drake was walking, worry in her eyes.

Ocellus was always a stick in the mud, he thought. She was worried about everything. This evening was really nothing different.

_______

As Scorch ambled along through Ponyville, not quite sure where he was on his way to, he spotted a quaint little dog shelter, right along the lines of the other small businesses currently going on. He hadn't the foggiest idea of how they were able to fit an entire dog pound upon rows upon rows of tiny little pony cottages, but, eh, worked for him.

As he jogged over out of curiosity, two familiar unicorn stallions rushed up to him. He realized that they looked more frantic than ever trying to sell to the next possible customer; they were sweating violently, and heaving in exasperation. "Er... hi...?" Scorch greeted in a more interrogative tone. These strange unicorn stallions, one with a red-white mustache and one lacking facial hair- both with dew yellow pony hide -gave Scorch sort of a sketchy feeling.

"Hello, hello there, scaly friend of mine!" One greeted, more peppy than out of breath. He seemed more eager than ever.

"Could we interest you in a puppy?" Another asked, lunging ahead of the first, mustached unicorn with a brow arched.

Scorch quirked a brow on his own.

But, then he considered everything he was going through at the moment. Ocellus' cheer up cupcake already got crushed, and although Scorch was still about to devour it either way it would've been nice to recieve a gift in one piece.

And again, with everything that was going on with him at the moment, how bad could a new puppy be?

"Uh... sure, I guess?"

Both stallions got even more joyous, grins of entrepreneuralism on their faces. "Then step right inside! For I can guarantee that you'll find a puppy just right for you!" The shaven one replied. Scorch didn't really get to offer his two cents; the other brother shoved him inside the small little shop quicker than he could blink.

Now, the sound of loud, irritating barking filled the dragon's ears. His left eye twitched as he looked around, watching as the two sketchy stallions quickly shuffled by his sides. "Don't be shy! Have a look around!"

Reluctantly obliging by his generous offer, the dragon took a few steps around the dark dog pound. Despite these two horses seeming so eager and delighted, this place sure had a sinister, eerie feel to it. All of these innocent animals, well, animals with the potential to be innocent; all of them were currently showing signs of either being rabid or... or sick.

Repulsed by it all, Scorch was nearly ready to call it quits.

Until he finally passed a cage, one with a heavily rusted door, and glowing blue, puppy dog eyes behind it. Shining in the darkness, like glowing lapis lazuli in the darkest of dragon caves. Scorch had never seen anything quite like it, really. Letting his claw graze the cage, one of his fingers twitched at the feeling of something warm and wet repeatedly grazing his scales.

Then, those glowing, blue eyes reappeared.

"Woah..."

"See something you like?" One of the brothers appeared right behind Scorch, and just then the dragon felt something touching his bookbag. Quickly, he whirled around with violent paranoia. His eyes flickering to the left and right, he finally made eye contact with the mustached unicorn, tension and unease rising within him.

"Yeah... Yes." He answered sternly, trying his best efforts to make it clear that he wasn't here to play around. Turning his head back to the rusted cage, he pointed a firm claw onto the browned metal. "This one. How much?"

"Seventy bits," the other unicorn spoke. "Sounds pretty reasonable to me."

Scorch rolled his eyes. Seeing as he had just enough, Scorch pulled down his backpack and began rummaging through it. The two unicorn brothers watched hungrily as the dragon tossed up the sack of bits he had, which happened to be the remainder of money he had left. "Here," he sighed, halfway regretting his decision. "Now, can I get my dog?"

"Fine by me. Just gotta sign a few papers first." The mustached one said once again, greedily tipping open the quaint little bag and counting the bits in hoof. Signaling to his brother, the latter pulled a comically large stack of papers, seemingly out of his ass, and dropped them right in front of their draconic customer. Scorch's eye twitched once again as he stared.

The damn thing was big enough to be Professor Rainbow Dash's ego.

"Fill those out, and you'll be good to go."

Scorch groaned, a claw slapping the side of his face.

_______

Surprisingly, this wasn't as bad as it seemed to be. Not as Scorch walked victoriously outside of the building, leash in hand. He had been able to acquire a small, black, studded leash for his year old puppy.

The small animal in question had to have been the most adorable thing Scorch had seen. Until now, he had never even been as happy in his life. Not since he and his friends had first became... friends. And they seemed inseperable at first. Even then, Scorched realized that not even the strongest tethers could keep a group friendship together.

But now, he had something more to look forward to.

This new something in question, was a small puppy, of course. One with piercing, turquoise eyes like that of Scorch himself, and short, wolf like ears. It had a nice, grey fur coat, mixed with a little bit of brown and black in a few strands. It was the fluffiest, most warm, most welcoming fur Scorch had ever seen and touched before. A robust, strong sighted wolfdog. Now that was cool.

Scorch had truly never felt such a connection before. And with an animal. Well, in truth, everyone in Equestrian society was an animal, but this was one of a different kind. Still, this amazing creature was going to need an amazing name. One of which Scorch chose on his own.

Tanz.

Short for Tanzanite.

It may have been a bit cliche for a dragon to name his pet dog after a gemstone. It was whatever though. A cliche was a cliche, and Scorch figured that as long as the name fit him, nothing would be the matter. Tanz himself was a tall dog- of course, not as tall as Scorch himsef, but he was at least at thigh height. For Scorch, anyways.

As Scorch started back toward the school, he realized something.

There was this questionable ring of pink around the base of Tanz' neck. Like he had some sort of damaging cords tied around the base of his neck. It was a little gross once you got a closer look at it- little darker pink bumps lying around on his skin. It wasn't very right to look at, and that particular feature was what made Scorch grateful that he got Tanz the hell out of that shelter.

Upon Tanz licking lovingly at Scorch's cheek, obviously unaware of why his owner was inspecting his pinker skin so observantly, Scorch backed away. "Heheh. Alright, let's get home. I think you might like it there."

Tanz barked loudly as Scorch led him onto the less traveled path, leading him toward the place he called home.

_______

It was darker outside now, and countless stars twinkled in the blackened sky as Scorch entered the school building. Lesser students were crowding the hallways since it was nearly curfew, and the last few ponies occupying the hallways in smaller groups were either chatting about what they'd do in their freetime the next day, or just talking about the next project due.

None of this really interested the dragon in the first place- all he wanted to do at the moment was make it back to his dorm, and try not to wake his roommate, November Rain, since the stallion was always asleep by eight in the PM. Right about now, Ocellus would be studying -by herself now, since Silverstream quit talking to her- and Scorch figured it would probably be the best idea to let her know that he made it back.

Truthfully, he would much rather keep to himself after the difficulties of today, but he figured that a little visit wouldn't hurt.

Finally making his arrival to the upstairs portion of the school, Scorch took Tanz back to his own dorm and tied his leash to the doorknob. "Stay right here, buddy, okay?"

As if he understood, Tanz showed his teeth as he panted, mouth open in a smile-like shape. Scorch took this as a reassuring gesture. And as he turned around to head to Ocellus' dorm, he found himself moving at a steady jog.

Maybe he was more excited to see Ocellus than he thought.

_______

"You did what?!"

Ocellus pulled Scorch into her dorm, pulling the door closed as it shut with a slam. She then turned to Scorch, who looked a bit confused from the gesture alone. "You adopted a dog?" The nymph asked, her voice in a lower and calmer tone. Silverstream wasn't asleep anywhere, Scorch supposed, and suggesting by the closed bathroom door and the dim lights escaping from the cracks, he assumed Silver was just in the bathroom.

"Yeah... I mean, what's so bad about that?"

Ocellus stamped her hoof. Well, she did it more timidly so that she didn't disturb anything going on under the second floor. But still, she was irked at the fact that Scorch would do this with complete disregard for his living conditions. "Scorch, we live in a school! Have you even considered the fact that whatever dog you bought can't live here?!"

Scorch rolled his eyes, crossing his arms like he usually did when met with a serious conundrum. "Look, I don't see what the problem is. The thing's got food, he's got water, I'm planning on talking to Rainy about this, so what's the problem?"

"Scorch... I hate to break it to you- I really do, but I don't think the school's gonna accept that."

"Well then, screw the school," Scorch huffed, snorting smoke from his nose like he usually did when he didn't get his way. Stomping forward and swinging the door open, he stormed out of the dorm.

"Scorch!"

But Scorch didn't listen.

_______

The dragon trudged angrily into his dorm, but was careful not to tug the leash too hard- he may have hurt Tanz if he were to take his emotional impulses that far. Right now, he was annoyed at his friend for even insinuating that Scorch couldn't keep his dog. And if Scorch couldn't keep the dog, that would mean he'd have to return him to that Torch-awful pound again. Not happening.

As he shut the door behind him, he watched as a medium-sized lump in the covers of the bottom bunk bed rustle quietly and rise up from the confines of the warm-looking bed sheets. "...Scorch...?"

"Rain," Scorch winced, realizing now that he had woken his friend up. "Sorry about that, man..."

"It's fine..." Rain replied, rubbing his eye slightly with a hoof. Seemingly unbothered, he calmly pointed a hoof over to Scorch's new friend, still attatched to the leash. "That a dog...?"

With a silent gulp, Scorch nodded. "Er... yea...?"

"Cool."

November Rain turned back over in the covers, and was already snoring quietly. The dragon merely shrugged as he made it way over to the kitchen. He grabbed a towel from the bathroom, which was adjacent to the kitchen already, and walked out with two towels. "These were supposed to be new, but I guess not." Scorch chuckled, setting them on the kitchen floor after wrapping them into more of a cradling fashion.

Then, grabbing two containers from the kitchen counter, Scorch took one in his left claw and one in his left claw, placing one on the floor. The other one he kept as he took it to the kitchen sink.

He turned on the faucet, letting the cold water run into the small bowl. After that, he set it down.

Tanz watched all of this with wide eyes, of course oblivious to Scorch's preparation.

After a short period of rummaging through the cabinets, Scorch managed to come up with a suitable means of food for his year old puppy. He scooped a bit of leftover meat from last night's dinner (Scorch's, anyway; November Rain didn't eat meat) into the container and tossed it onto the tiled floor beside his water. "Alright, bud. Eat up."

Tanz licked his lips hungrily. Trotting on over to his little area, he greedily gorged down on the last little piece of beef Scorch had last night. The dragon watched as Tanzanite guzzled down his food, then lapped up his water like it was some mere snack. He must've been really hungry- what, were they starving him in that pound?

"That solves it, then," said Scorch, clearly happy with himself. "Im'onna go crash with Gallus for a little while. Be good, buddy, okay?"

Tanz licked Scorch in his face as a friendly goodbye.

But as Scorch left, he lay somberly in his little nest of plush towels.

_______

November Rain jolted awake, his eyes wide open, and his forehead doused in the thickest, saltiest sweat he had ever perspired. His chest felt heavy. It grew harder and harder to breathe as the minutes passed by, and he felt as if there were tiny little spiders crawling up and down his back. His anxiety climbed and eventually shot through the roof, however, when he heard an ear rumbling snarl emit from underneath the bed.

Right now, he was wishing that in his first days of sharing a dorm with Scorch that he had chosen the top bunk, for it would've been less alarming for something to be under your bed. Instead, he trembled fearingly under the covers, waiting for the next terrible event to take place.

He had just woken up from a nightmare; a terrible one, in fact. One where he was torn to shreds by this unholy being, seemingly from the depths of Tartarus and below. His eyes, his ears, his legs. All of them, ripped from his core being, the flesh and tissue tearing apart violently in sync with his ear splitting bellows. And by now he realized that Scorch was still out and about.

That would have to mean it wasn't that far beyond curfew, or so he didn't think. Scorch always was a rule bender.

The snarl. Once again, rumbly, and low, and threatening, just as much as it was before. It nearly took him right back into his nightmare once again, and the scarlet liquid, he could feel running down his leg.

Wait...

November Rain glanced at his leg.

There was... there was nothing there. Except at the hoof of his bed, where he could see it. That pale, expressionless face. Those problematic rumbles, echoing deep within your soul. And November Rain could even feel the being's piercing glares...

But what was even more eerie was that it had no eyes.

The creature lunged forward, just like that. Rain let out a terrified shriek as it snapped its jaws wide open, showing its devilish, blood thirsty teeth that lined its cavernous maw. Its teeth wasn't the thing that shocked him the most, however, when he noticed the thick, pink, fleshy cords wrapped around its neck. He would've assumed they were some poor pony's intestines, but not until he looked down.

Following the cords with his eyes, he finally realized the small, canine-fitting eyes, which had blue irises that looked lifeless whenever he inspected them enough. This creature had a foul stench on top of it all, its shaggy, spiky, sharp fur being a well enough explanation for all of this. Perhaps it had risen from the deep pits of Tartarus, perhaps it fought Cerberus on the way out.

Still.

Rain quickly shuffled backward with his hindlegs, perhaps so that he could make a better escape this way. But even so, he moved at just the wrong time, giving the creature this perfect opportunity to rip violently into his chest.

Rain let out a terrified shriek, watching this eyeless entity dig endlessly into his chest, ripping off his beautiful, blue pony hide. His coat was no more, however, as the creature continued to clamp down and rip and tear, exposing Rain's pinker, and now redder flesh.

Blood splattered across its face, and upon Rain's neck. He continued to shriek until he could shriek no more, his breathing turning more and more shallow by the minute. Just like that, this foul entity gripped onto his neck, baring its mighty fangs and clamping straight into his flesh.

Rain let out one last strained moan of terror, before he eventually gave out. His vision grew blurry, and eventually, everything went black.

_______

Scorch unlocked the door to his room, tired from all the studying he had done with his best friend. Even still, he couldn't wait to maybe silently tussle with Tanz. Possibly wake Rainy up and get him to know the dog a little better. Something new for everyone, he supposed.

But as the door creaked open, the dragon dropped his keys in sight of the gruesome display before him. He could walk no further, and because of this, he had to scan over the room from where he was at the moment. He could spot Tanz, trembling in the furthest corner of the kitchen. Blood covered the entirety of the sheets in Rain's bed, and along with that, came the carnage filled sight of November Rain himself, chest ripped open, heart seemingly devoured.

The flesh on his muzzle was completely gone as well, exposing his skull, along with his blood covered teeth and gums. Scorch couldn't believe what he was even seeing, taking shaky steps forward, but then collapsing to his knees.

...Just what the hell happened, here?