through the roses & the thorns

[Anselm de le Poer]

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-- Often individual scents, names, and faces would stick in Anselm's memory like a fly would stick to glue. When these memories were triggered later on, the fly would beat its wings and create quite a buzz in his head. Such was the effect when he discovered Savina's scent, dominant and supreme marking the boundaries of Crimson Dreams. While the copper canine usually preferred to stay off the radar, attracting as little attention from the higher-ups as possible, here he was excited and even enthusiastic. Anselm rarely found anybody particularly agreeable, but the alluring black beauty with the Italian accent had hit a soft spot with him. In some sense, Savina embodied everything that a mother ought to be--caring and kind, but with the ferocity to defend herself and her charges if need be. That was how she was when he'd seen her last, at least. Perhaps it was fitting, then, that this uncharacteristic woman was deserving of his uncharacteristic attention. Skittering away from the marked borders, he prowled around through Shiloh Hills. This territory was a bit further south than he usually bothered to venture--most everything he ever needed was closer to home and there wasn't much of a reason to go out this far. He still had a rough idea, though, and before long he was hot on the trail of a groundhog. His ears pricked forward as he watched the plump rodent vanish into one of its burrows. A moment later, it popped back out somewhere else. Anselm saw his chance and took it, moving with impressive speed and pouncing when the time was right. The impact and subsequent shaking was enough to kill the animal instantly. Trotting along with the limp rodent in his jaws, he deposited it near the border and let out a bold, deep howl requesting the presence of the Commander alone. He had no reservations or fear here... he was simply visiting an old friend, and he came bearing a gift.

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