✨️❗️NEW NOVEL EXCERPT❗️✨️

 Hi lovelies! I'm a day late, sorry about that! Here's the next novel excerpt from Dog Down!!

CW: animals in danger
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Indigo was about to say something about heading back when she heard scuffling coming from the top of the dumpster. All three animals seemed to hear it, as each of them jerked their head in that direction.

The scuffling stopped then, for several long moments, and Indigo almost thought they’d all imagined it. But then there it was again, and Indigo took the initiative to tentatively step forward a few steps. “Hello?” she thought-voiced when she was close enough to the dumpster.

“Gracias a dios!” a gruff voice came from the dumpster, followed by the appearance of the squarest dog head Indigo had ever seen, which caused her to jump back in surprise. “I thought you guys were those dead humans! Man, am I glad to see other animals,” the bulldog thought-voiced with a tilt of his head. “I’ve been in here for like three hours,” he huffed, looking down at the ground from his place atop the trash. “You see that wood there?” he used his stout muzzle to point at the plank of wood on the ground, “Used it to get up here. It fell. The dead humans came, and I hid in the trash. Think you guys can pick it back up so I can get down?” he asked.

Indigo, Benji, and Kandy all looked at one another. “Don’t look at me,” Kandy remarked, “I’m too small,” she added.

So, it was up to the big dogs. “Right,” Indigo nodded once in determination, and then walked over to the plank of wood.

“What if you stand at this end—” Benji started, pointing to the far end with his paw, “—and I

It was as good a plan as any, and the dogs went to work trying to execute it. Unfortunately, with no one on the other end of the plank, it fell over with a short thwap sound, leaving all the animals frozen in place for several moments at the worry of more dead-walkers showing up. But after a few moments, and no shrieks or wails, they figured the coast was still clear.

“We’re gonna need your help,” Indigo looked over at Kandy, who was frowning, but nodded regardless as she came over to assist them.

“What can I even do?” she asked.

Indigo thought for a moment, and then said, “take up my job, just stand at the end here and keep it from moving. I’ll push it up with my nose while Benji uses his muzzle to push it all the way up to the top of the dumpster.”

They went to work doing just that, and after a little bit of back and forth, and some minor cussing on Kandy’s part, they managed to get the heavy plank of wood up and to the top of the dumpster.

“Right on, dudes!” he said, and scampered quickly down the plank and onto the ground. “Sir Squibbles,” he introduced himself. “You guys from around here?”

Indigo shook her head. “No, we’re from uh… ” she paused, looking in the direction they’d come from, “way down that way.”

Sir Squibbles tilted his head. “Okay, whatever,” he shrugged. “What do I call you guys?”

“I’m Indigo,” Indigo started, then looked at Benji, “that’s Benji, and the cat is Kandy,” she finished, then noticed Kandy was standing a little ways away. “Kandy?”

“You cool with cats?” she thought-voiced, addressing Sir Squibbles, who really seemed to notice her then. His hackles rose a bit, causing Kandy to take a step back, and Indigo thought they were going to have to break up a fight suddenly.

But the bulldog relaxed and nodded. “So’s long as you stays outta my way,” he remarked.

Kandy visibly relaxed. “No problem.”

“So… what were you doing in the dumpster?” Indigo asked.

“Well, I—” Sir Squibbles started but immediately stopped as a shriek rang out from about a block away. “Actually, we’ll talk later. Come on, imma take you guys to a safe spot,” he announced, and began to lead the way back down the alley.

The trio looked at each other, but silently came to the same conclusion: what choice did they have? They trailed behind Sir Squibbles obediently, their sniffers pointed to the sky and their ears on a swivel as they walked through the unfamiliar city. In some ways, it was similar to back home, with the same gray buildings and dusty coat on everything. There were abandoned cars, and weeds and grass sprouting from under them, and there was that same hollow emptiness that radiated down the chilly streets.

But the signs were different, the atmosphere felt strange, and Indigo knew that without Sir Squibbles, it would be very easy to get lost here.
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If you liked this and want to read more, let me know in the comments!

I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR BETA READERS FOR THIS BOOK SOON!! IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, LET ME KNOW!!