Serpent Lake Pieces of peace

Newt didn’t know his ‘accessory’ as a ‘collar’ but he sure hadn’t known life without the light chain against his neck. Occasionally it has been released for various reasons that his master had seen fit, and with the true loyalty of a pet, he’d never much thought to question it. But he knew enough about it to know it wasn’t a bear trap. So when the other dog assumed the worst of his necklace, he barked out a laugh of his own. Having leaned forward to capture his scent, he now pulled back in his fit of amusement.

“That ain’t no bear trap, if it were—Hell, I’d be hollering myself dead.” He began, not sure he thought it so funny anymore after giving it some more thought. He’d leave those nasty traps for the foxes and badgers, he done enough hunting in his short life to know better than that. “You ain’t got one. You must be a stray.” Thinking out loud more than anything, he tilted his head at her with the consideration she’d gone wild. But with all the scents he’d pick up, and the absent scent humans in the area, it became clear to him a lot of these dogs had gone stray.

“Where you staying at? You stay out here?” Was Newt’s next inquiry, wanting to prove something to his theory.