The evenings were begging to get quite chilly; however, it had been more than five years since that was relevant to her. Her homeless friends were another matter altogether, tonight would be a cold and miserable night for them. She was grateful for Obsidian’s generosity in letting her stay and would need to find a way to make it up to her.

Dirge focused her mind on the task at hand. She was standing in the yard by the parking lot next to the Water of Life Church. Cerberus her dog was sitting statue like on the ground about 10 feet in front of her. She had an old foam pillow duct-taped tightly to her right forearm and held a small piece of wood in the same hand.

“Ok, boy lets try this again,” she held up the arm and holding the ‘knife’ threateningly at the dog. “Sic’em,” she commanded in an authoritative voice.

Although she was unable to see her companion she heard an explosion of action accompanied with a deep throaty growl. A moment later the dog crashed into her, his jaws clamped down on her protected forearm like a vice. She fought to keep herself upright as the vicious assault continued with the animal thrashing violently on her arm.

Dirge loudly barked a command after a moment that seemed an eternity, “Heel!”

The beast’s merciless assault instantly came to a halt as the powerful jaws released her. When they had first started the animal lost himself in a in the heat of the moment and was reluctant to release. Now he released immediately. He was improving and getting a lot stronger too. She silently wondered how much longer she was going to be able to keep to her feet when he attacked.

“Good boy,” she warmly said as she reached down to pet her companion. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a meaty treasure. She unwrapped the package, and then tossed him a slice of baloney. His lightening-quick jaws caught it in mid air and greedily gulped it down.

“Should we try that again boy?” she asked cheerfully as she put the meat away.