The canine’s mouth could easily bite my body in two. I could barely see it with either of my eyes, but I could sense it stood easily twice my height. As I stared it down (up?) I realized I was surrounded more more of the shadow canines. The air was hot, damp, and noxious from the scents of death and decay. No sounds were being made, but their body posture declared their indecision and their aggression.
Running was out of the question.
I couldn’t tell if these were wolves or dogs.
Only one way to find out.
“Who’s a good boy!”
All the shadow canines closed their mouths and held their head back a bit.
“Are you a good boy?”
Behind me a shadow canine yipped and jumped. The largest of the shadow canines tilted its head. I could see one wispy ear flopping up and the other folding over.
“Come here! Show me a good boy!”
The shadow canine barked brightly. The sound shook me to my bones. It lunged forward at me, but as it did, it became smaller. When its nose eagerly nuzzled my outstretched hand, it was the size of a mature German Shepard. All the other shadow canines also reduced in size.
I was surrounded by a pack of shadow dogs, and all of them wanted to show me they were the most good of good boys. All dogs are puppies. Young dogs. Old dogs. And dead dogs. All puppies.
Something loud and flaming came charging into our midst. The flaming thing growled aggressively at the shadow dogs and nipped at them until they had backed away from me. Only when there was space between me and the shadow dogs did the Flaming Skeletal Pit Bull of Unusual Jealousy make himself clear to me.
“Really? Fucking really?”
He did not turn to face me, but continued guarding me from the now cowing and submissive shadow dogs.
“You better explain yourself, mister.”
He turned back to look at me for a moment, but quickly dropped his gaze upon seeing my anger. His tail wavered. His flames self-extinguished.
“Are they a threat to me? If not, stand the fuck down.”
He dropped his head and his tail. He glanced back at me again and started to wag his tail but thought twice about it. He regained his fleshy form, appearing a bright white in contrast to the shadowy form of the dogs. The shadow dogs perked up at his display.
“You guys. Make peace with him.”
The shadow dogs slowly came forward and introduced themselves to the pit bull. After meeting them all, the pit bull quickly came to me and leaned against me.
“You’ll always be my baby for as long as you want to be, you silly jealous rooster.” I knelt down and wrapped my arms around his bulk. His tail began wagging in earnest, slapping several of the inquiring shadow dogs in their faces.
He relaxed and laid down at my feet. Belly rubs confirmed his status to me. The shadow dogs pressed in to me and each conspired to be the one my free hand would be patting.
The surrounding light brightened some, and I recognized my neighborhood. I realized then what and where these shadow dogs came from and why they were submissive before the pit bull. While I did not “adopt” any of them, they have adopted me, with my ghost hound leading their pack. At least now I know what the Skeletal Flaming Pit Bull of Starting Some Shit is up to when he goes on his rounds.