The hounds lay in a mangled heap just up the road. Twitching and squirming with the last synaptic signals left in them. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. He ain't gonna like this I thought, caulking my shot gun. Not one bit. A ways in the distance my partner could be seen coming over the hill top. I waved him down towards the gruesome sight.

It wasn't long before I heard him coming, and it wasn't long before I heard the pace of his footfalls picking up cries of distress on his lips. "No! " " No!" "God dammit! No!" He fell to his knees in front of the dogs he'd raised since pups.

He loved them dearly since the day they hatched and he did everything to make sure they grew up strong. Checking the length of their tentacles, making sure all four of their eyes were developed properly. That was the trouble with pure breeds they were susceptible to lots of complications. They had gone on hunt after hunt together always brining back some fine specimen.

It wasn't long after that he met me.He was selling his latest catch to the store I was in he was looking for better opportunities out there hunting wing squids and long leapers we're fine and all he said. Just he wanted something more, something challenging.