Top Dog grinned, "That's more like it. You're a part of my Street Dogs now. Hold yourself with pride."
Picking up a spare drink from a pile Top Dog rose it into the air, "To the new Wild Dog!"
"Aye!", the group cheered.
Jay sighed with relief. Being alone in this city is a death wish. He knew that all too well.
"So Wild Dog, Jay calls you his comrade in death, but what's your actual name?", a Street Dog asked.
The young boy shook his head.
"Not gonna say?"
Hearth tilted her head slightly, "Do you even have one?"
A solemn look formed in the boy's eyes.
A Street Dog fell into a fit of giggles, "Yo Three-Eyes! This kid is just like you!"
"What?!", a voice shouted from a distance away.
"He ain't got a name!"
"No name?! Then let him earn one!"
Another laughed, "True!"
The young boy's head was knocked forward as a Street Dog ruffled his hair with a little too much force, "For now we'll just call you Wild Dog! Make yourself a good name!"
"That name sucks!"
Through their drunken humor the group laughed together. Eventually their focus shifted away from Jay and the young boy, giving them some space. With an awkward laugh Jay commented, "A bit suffocating to be the center of attention."
Hearth stared at Jay, "It better not happen again."
"I'm sorry?"
"If I hear you're fighting whole gangs by yourself there will be consequences."
"Oh. . . uh- I will keep that in mind."
"Mm.", nodding in satisfaction Hearth stumbled away.
Watching her walk Jay held a troubling look, "She might've had too much to drink. I'm gonna make sure she's okay."
The young boy did not respond.
Managing to lift himself out of his chair Jay made his way towards Hearth. Eventually the two disappearing from the young boy's field of vision. Spending his time watching the flame he simply let the atmosphere progress.
Slowly the party was being dispersed. Those who drank too much called it quits early to rest. Like a rolling snowball more people began to take their leave. Several people made their way home, most in the arms of their comrades due to their drunken stupor. Eventually very few people remained at the parking lot. Most were casually chatting, the high energy activity no longer present among them.
Standing up the young boy made his way to a dark area. Behind the Motel was a dark alleyway, the lights long since broken. Leaning against the sturdy wall he felt his body shake. It has been a long while since he had any activity on this level. Too much happened today, a lot was out of the ordinary. More than he could handle at the moment.
Thus, without him fully realizing it, the young boy fell asleep in the dark alleyway. Slowly the sun rose, the warm light shining onto the city. Neon lights turned off one after the other, for a majority of the city was active at night. Indoor lights flicked off as the light was replaced with natural sunlight.
A little distance away from the Street Dogs homebase was an injured person. Holding a hastily bandaged wound on his stomach he limped through the alleys, "Damn Street Dogs! I'll make sure you wipe. I did not go through all of this for you to take it all from me! The Heavy Thorns were to be a District, that was the plan!"
Eyes bloodshot the man took each step through pure hate and spite, "It took me too long to build up to this point! You think you can just take it from me?!"
Pain sprouted across his body and he fell against a wall, "I'll make sure you wipe. Doesn't matter what method I have to use. I swear it upon my very blood! The Street Dogs will be a thing of the past!"
"That so?"
The Heavy Thorn leader's focus zeroed in on the source of the voice, "Who the hell?"
"Calm yourself. Facing everything with baring teeth, you're not a dog."
"Tsk!"
Sunlight crept into the alleyway, shining light on a hooded figure, "You're alive, is that not enough?"
"Hell no. That damned Street Dog just swooped in and wiped out my Heavy Thorns. You think I'll be pleased that I still got my skin?"
"Figured not. Ambitious people like yourself are never pleased."
"So who the hell are you?"
"My name isn't important. . . instead we seem to have a similar goal in mind."
"The only goal I have is wiping the Street Dogs."
"You're sounding like a broken record Warrell."
"Shit. . . so you know my name."
"I know quite a bit. I was watching your rise in fame despite having a mediocre ability. Needless to say I was impressed, until. . . well you can guess."
Warrell, the leader of the Heavy Thorns, placed his head against the wall, "So you want the Street Dogs gone too."
"Not the Street Dogs specifically, but one less gang is good. Plus they seem to have some serious potential, that's dangerous. Very dangerous indeed."
Warrell felt a migraine appear, "Get to the point."
"Prove yourself worthy, and I will give you what you need to wipe the Street Dogs."
"Prove myself. . . ?", Warrell's face twisted from anger, "I've done nothing but prove myself for the past year!"
"And where did this get you?"
The hooded figure waved a finger, "No no, let's not get angry anyway. I'm being gracious here aren't I? Do you accept my proposal or not?"
". . . Fine, what do you want?"
"Excellent!", pulling a small square from the depths of their clothes the hooded figure tossed it onto Warrell's lap, "Information is on that. Complete it and you will hear from me again."
The shadow underneath the hooded figure leapt from the ground and consumed them entirely. In the next moment they vanished, leaving Warrell alone. With a sigh Warrell fetched the paper and read it, "Damn. . . talk about impossible. Whatever, if it brings me to my goal so be it."
Shaking to stand back to his feet he continued to place one foot after the other. In his hate filled eyes, there was a glimmer of hope too.
Time passed as the Street Dogs all rested from the party. A majority of them were unavailable because of it. A prime time for someone to take advantage and strike. Such weakness shouldn't ever be shown. Especially not in this city.
"Street Dogs huh? What a strange name.", a small person spoke aloud.
"Are you sure about this Miss? A freshly promoted District would be full of arrogance."
"We shall determine their true colors while the iron is hot."
"As you wish Miss."
The one called Miss was a small woman. Although she wasn't young in terms of age or maturity. Rather she was just short. Pink bobbing hair split into two pigtails sprung back and forth as she walked. A simple red dress nearly touched the asphalt. This rather unassuming figure was a fearsome individual. A solid District owner for the past two years, among the first generation of street gangs to make their presence known in this city.
Titled the Young Miss of the Royal Dominion, Stella Vontu. Ruling the nearby Annatto District the Young Miss held an iron grip of command. Considered one of the few Street Gangs capable of standing up against the Quadrants, Royal Dominion was a feared gang in the Northern Quadrant. Despite this power, the Young Miss wasn't an ambitious individual. Instead she worked towards the goal of stability. It is thanks to this mindset that the Annatto District has remained in her control for the past two years.
She rarely acted personally, now only stepping out to greet the new District gang as a neighbor. It wasn't of goodwill that she was doing this however. Instead it was to gauge her competitor. A necessary step to maintaining stability.
"A single person wiping a District is a worrisome thing. Such a threat needs to be investigated ourselves.", she mumbled under her breath.
Jay's actions might have brought vast amounts of Rep to the Street Dogs, but it had an equal amount of consequences to it. The Street Dogs are now viewed with animosity and caution. With such a strong threat making its presence known, it's often treated like a wild flame that must be snuffed out as soon as possible.
Stella placed her hands behind her back, "What a simple place. I hadn't expected the Street Dogs to have such. . . barbaric tastes."
A man behind her leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Young Miss, it's not a good idea to judge them just yet. They have just been promoted after all."
"You need not lecture me. Still, barrels of smoke, bottles tossed about. It's not a good sight."
Having approached the front of the Street Dogs' homebase she heavily judged its current condition. A mess from the party still lied about, no one having an opportunity to clean it just yet. Stella gently touched her dress. Rather unwilling to wander about the mess she signaled one of the men following her, "Let's get their attention."
An important method to introducing yourself to a rival street gang is power. In a city where the strong ruled, it was important to showcase your strength. Via Cred, Rep, and even physical demonstrations. Casual talks do not happen between them without one gang gaining an edge.
To showcase this, Stella had ordered her men to make a bit of nose. Barrels were kicked, dents appearing on their sides as they knocked over. Smoldering ashes falling onto the asphalt. The noise was enough to wake those still at the Motel. One of these people was none other than the Top Dog. Swinging the door open from his room he looked at the parking lot, "Who the fuck thinks they can make a mess here?"
Stella looked up casually, "A neighbor has come to greet you. Is it not rude to leave them waiting?"
"Neighbor, who the hell are you?"
"My fame seems to elude you. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Stella. Stella Vontu. My Royal Dominion has come to greet the new District."
"Oh, the people playing princess next door. I heard of ya."
To not lose edge in the showcase of power, it was important to match the enemy gang's energy. However you couldn't go too beyond, else a brawl might start then and there. Therefor it was a fragile dance of raising the tension without breaking it. Thus to Top Dog, despite waking not that long ago, decided to show his own strength.
Leaping off the second floor Top Dog landed with a thunderous boom. His muscles visibly rippled from the impact, but he was clearly unbothered. Two men stepped between him and Stella. She patted the side of one to have them move. Stepping forward she taunted, "Playing princess was it? Seems you hold true to the name of Dog, with how much you're yapping."
"Bet you spent all morning thinking of that one."
Top Dog's massive frame towered over Stella, but she was unbothered by the height difference. Staring down Top Dog demanded, "So what the hell you want?"
"Can't come for a cup of tea?"
"You'll have to pardon my lack of manners. Been raised on the street you see. Don't got time for tea."
With two district leaders staring each other down the tension rose to a critical point. The Street Dogs that remained at the Motel were gathering up behind Top Dog. Stella's men remained in a simple formation behind her. Their positions orderly and well mannered. Two rival gangs stared each other down.
Tension was on the verge of snapping.