Prologue


The 日 had begun just like any other 日 in the quaint city-life of Manhattan. Passersby were scurrying about the stretches of 5th avenue to get a glimpse of what the new 日 had to offer; smells of cherry, licorice, and mint wafted throughout the air as the summer heat wave progressed to scorch upon the masses. A stray pup, 由 the name of Angel, found herself amidst the commotion until something peculiar caught the dog's attention. " Swiss 浓情巧克力 would be great right about now," 天使 salivated relentlessly while watching Lindt's bakers keep enthusiastically to their work. "No! I can't. I'll have to find Lookout first, before anything else," 天使 mentally berated herself for having 迷失 her composure. Where would she be if nightfall descended and she found herself amongst the mentally deranged folk of her kind? 天使 continued throughout the borough of Manhattan.

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A breathing, mangy, determined mutt 梗, 梗犬, 小猎犬 covered with sporadic patches of soil-tinted 毛皮 gazed solemnly inside Wempe's jewelry and watch store, fascinated 由 the contents the 商店 beheld. "All those jewels," thought the 梗, 梗犬, 小猎犬 to himself, "are ours for the taking. Hell, even Fagin could make quadruple the income than Sykes with those pearls," "Dodger, baby," came the sing-song voice of a sienna-colored Saluki "we're going back now,". "Yeah, all right Rita, give me a sec," the 梗, 梗犬, 小猎犬 replied. "Dodge'?" Rita interrupted Dodger's state-of-mind. "What are 你 doing, baby?" Rita asked.

"See those jewels, Rita?" Dodger gestured towards Wempe's jewelry and watch store with a 迅速, 斯威夫特 motion from an ear.
"Yeah, I see them. But what does jewelry have to do with this conversation, Dodger?" Rita inquired.

"I'm takin' the loot," Dodger smiled mischievously.


"Dodge'," Rita scorned, feeling a sudden burden overcome her slim shoulders.
"What happened the last time 你 tried playing Robin Hood?"

"Take it easy, Rita, no one's going to get hurt," Dodger protested.
"Dodge', promise me 你 won't rob that man's store," Rita pleaded.


"How about I make it up to you," Dodger looked the Saluki directly in the eyes "with some diadéme, fit for a princess! You'd like that, huh Rita?"

"Whatever 你 want, Dodge'," Rita scoffed "but we're heading back,"

"All right, I'll catch up with y'all later," Dodger hollered as the Saluki and his 老友记 made way in a different direction.


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"This can't be right," cried 天使 in her thoughts, "I should have been 由 Sixth Ave 由 now," 天使 frantically paced to and fro, searching for her specific whereabouts with no avail from the people around her.
"Dang," Dodger muttered under his breath. "Who's this pretty, fine thing?"

Black orbs scanned a young female 由 the age of 12 from head-to-tail, 20 years old in human years should he have pondered, but 由 the looks of the frail creature, Dodger assumed that the female was in need of professional guidance.


Chapter One


The 梗, 梗犬, 小猎犬 mix hopped off the parasol he was laying on and landed with a dull thump on New York's unkempt streets. He proceeded to 移动 towards the 波美拉尼亚, 博美犬 mix with savoir-faire; neither a cat nor fly penetrated his mind.

"Hiya toots," Dodger ushered in "you look a little lost. Mind if I lend 你 a paw?"

"I'll be fine on my own, thanks," 天使 turned away from the stranger.

"You've been shuffling about for the past five minutes, doll. 你 could use my help whether 你 admit it 或者 not,"

"Excuse me?" 天使 说 flustered.


"It's New York, babe. Let me lend 你 a paw,"


"I'm sorry, I should get going,"


"You don't even know where 你 are,"


"Please, just leave me alone," 天使 dismissed the chuckling 梗, 梗犬, 小猎犬 mix.

"Listen, doll, you're better off in the hands of a human than 你 are roaming the streets of Fifth Avenue. You'll end up as someone's house pet 由 the end of the day, guaranteed. Just give 'em the old puppy-dog eyes and-"

"Why are we still talking?"

"Why are 你 so uptight?"

天使 sighed exasperatedly.

"Come on beautiful, let me 显示 你 around. Where're 你 headed to anyway?"


"Don't make me laugh. That's 板栗 Ridge,"


"Dang baby, why so far?" "Why are 你 interested?" "Lighten up, dollface,"
"I have a name, dog. It's Angel."

"Beautiful,"
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