Bit By Bit P2

Many moments later, Ben nudged Deco hard in the side and told him that they better be off.
Before Deco registered what Ben had said, Ben had his nose to the ground in vain attempt to find the dog's scent.

"No damn use trying to find a dog in this weather. Except-"

There was something in the way that he said this that frightened Deco.

"Except for the fact that you can run a damn sight faster than most dogs I know."

Deco whimpered.

"But what use is that if we don't know-"

" There's still enough of the scent lingering here to tell me that she went of towards the station."

Deco gulped nervously.

"But-"

"Go on. And get on it, we're wasting time."

" Sorry."

Deco grumbled. He started running, tripping over his paws at first, than became more steady as he went. Tracks, tracks, I'm going to the station. He stopped, tripped, and skidded in the mud. He stumbled to his feat, an odd earthy taste in his mouth.

Deco spat the mud out of his mouth. "Yyyyeck." That was when he saw it. A dull glint on the ground. He looked up and he felt elation surge through him. There where the tracks and only a few meters ahead of one of the old freight trains, was a white dog. Her fur was slicked back by the rain and her scarf was stained brown in places. But what really excited Deco was the hare, lying at her paws.

"Good job Deco."

Ben had walked up to him, panting and wheezing slightly.

"I'll head over to that locomotive. You keep watch here."

Deco nodded. Fear and anxiety rose like a wave in his stomach.

"If all goes according to plan, we can overwhelm her and snatch the prey with out so much as a scuffle."

At that, Deco froze. What would happen if they couldn't avoid a scuffle? What if one of them got hurt? These questions raged silently in his head and he shook it. He looked up to see Ben retreating towards the old train. Deco sighed, the anxiety he still had not quite extinguished. He quietly backed into the grass that lay just a few feet behind him and sat down, murmuring softly to Fly.

" Why'd I follow... Oh if only I where back at home... safe and sound..."

Deco swung his head back up. Ben was climbing the locomotive steps and Albina hadn't seen him. It wasn't until Ben was actually in the locomotive that Deco realized the plan. Ben had now climbed out of the hole where a windshield might once have been. Albina hadn't noticed them. The rain masked their scent all too well. Deco's heart quickened and in one swift movement he had jumped onto the tracks.

"What the?"

Albina recoiled  at the sight of him. Deco chanced a glance at the locomotive just in time to see Ben's head disappearing back under the wind shield.

"Who are you?"

She was not unkind in asking this, but Deco felt threatened all the same. Was it him, or had, for the smallest sliver of a second, her eyes taken on an odd luminescence? Deco shook his head and looked back up at Albina.

"M' name's Deco..." He muttered.

"Come again?"

"Deco. My name's Deco."

He shivered slightly.  Wether it was do to the cold or fear, he did not know.

"Why are you here?"

It wasn't rude. In fact, the way Albina had said it almost seemed motherly. Or at least friendly.

"Be-Beyra sent m-"

Deco and Albina immediately both looked up in shock as a terrified yelp split the silence. It was fallowed almost immediately by a loud splash.

"Ben!"

Deco cried out and ran towards the locomotive, slipping on the slick rail road as he went. Deco rounded the corner to the far side of the locomotive to see Ben lying on his side on the neighboring track.  

"Ben! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

He said testily.

"Are you sure? I could take a look at it, if you'd like."

Deco swung his head violently to his right. Albina sat next to him, head cocked to one side.

"I'm fine..."

Ben was getting up now and Deco sighed.

" But I'm afraid you won't be."

It happened so fast Deco could hardly tell what exactly happened.  All he know was that one second, Ben was in front of him and the next he was next to him. Ben had Albina pinned by the neck. The female dog whimpered and kicked but it was to no avail. Ben let Albina go.

"Sorry..."

He said.

"Beyra's orders."

Ben than turned and started towards Albina's kill.

"Are you coming Deco?"

Deco nearly jumped out of his skin. He had been looking at the odd way Albina's left fore-leg was bent at the ankle.

"C-coming..."

Deco trotted after Ben. They  reached the hare and Ben picked it up. Deco sobbed and Ben looked up at him.

"Wat'f wong?"

Ben spoke through his mouth full of hare.

"I just can't believe we hurt her..."

Deco thought he heard Ben sigh slightly as the made their way back toward the trees.