Novel & Cerita Bungou Stray Dogs

The night was dark and cold in Banglador, but it was colder and darker in Malkouth. It was nearing dawn by the time that the wolves had finished their hunting expedition and returned to their dens. There was a time when the pack had all come to rest together after a night's activities, but Balthazar had put an end to that when the wolves had begun to turn against their own kind.

“If you follow us home, I’m sure you can have some food.” Hana’s eyes glaze over for a bit and then she snaps out of it. She turns to Asha. “Beta Wendy says we can bring the stray.” The stray? What stray? I look around for strays. “Come on, we’re allowed to bring you.” Hana reaches for my hands. Realisation dawns on me. “Oh,” I say. “I’m the stray?” They press their lips together, and I frown, offended. But they weren’t wrong. It’s better to be labeled a stray than a rogue.

It wasn’t like anything we’d heard before. I turned the handle slowly, pushing the door open just a crack. My heart pounded in my chest. As I peered out, I saw something small and moving. I stepped back quickly, my finger tensing on the trigger, but then I froze. A stray dog. It was a small, scruffy-looking dog with matted fur, sitting by the door and wagging its tail. Its big eyes stared up at us, a mix of confusion and curiosity. “Nooo… throw that thing away,” Bishop muttered, clearly annoyed.

Sniffing the air, I immediately knew who the scent belonged to. A stray dog? I almost chased after the sound, but I didn’t have much time to act because six stray dogs appeared in front of me, smiling through their teeth while their dark eyes stared at me from head to toe.

“I hope they checked around the area for others. Anyway, Tobias knows his job.” “Yes, he does. He said they checked thoroughly, and there was no other wolf around. “Probably stray rogues,” Rowan chuckled. “Nothing to worry about. Still, we have tight security.” My lips twitched with a ghost of a smile at Rowan’s words. Rogues are already considered stray wolves as they have an allegiance or loyalty to any pack. So he calls these ones stray rogues, and it's just him having a run of words.

Instead, we wound our way through dusty back roads, past trailer homes and barren fields of cactus and rock, until we wound up at a tiny group of cabins out in the desert. “What’s this?” “This is the fine establishment where we’re staying,” Killian said as he climbed out of the car. “Bob’s Desert Oasis.” “…Bob?” As we got out of the car, a barking pack of dogs – half a dozen of them – raced out of the main house. They were all mutts, though there seemed to be a lot of labrador in the mix. I jumped back in the convertible, but Derek bent over and held out his hands. The dogs raced around him, sniffing him, jumping up on his jeans excitedly.

Then they could have figured out what we were doing here and figured out at least one of us are from here, but now we can pretend to be lost on our way to find a nice place to camp for the night. I have no idea what a Rogue is, or what they’re like, other than the obvious. In my mind they’re feral dogs with froth coming from their mouths as they sneer and growl at anything that comes near them. Of course in their wolf forms, if they did that as humans I’m not sure I would be able to contain my laughter. The thought makes me suck my lips into my mouth to stop myself from grinning like a maniac, as Azaire grips my hand tighter and picks up his speed.

He wasn’t kidding. We rounded the final corner to reach our baggage claim, and there she was—Xenia. A petite Puerto Rican woman with her duo-tone hair, half a rich, almost-black brown, and the other half a vibrant blonde, like dusk and dawn fighting for attention, braided into Princess Leia buns, oversized sunglasses perched on her head, her smile radiant as she waved at us. Beside her were two dogs: a regally alert corgi and a giant Leonberger tucked close into Xenia’s side, her posture low, tail tucked, but gaze locked onto Clay. Her anxiety read like a pulse, vibrating just beneath the surface—but she didn’t move from Xenia’s side. Not an inch. Pockets started wriggling so hard in his car

Some bared their teeths, drool dropping off like wild dogs. Rogues!! The name clicked in my head before I could finish processing it. I was in rogue territory. How far had I run? “ohh my, Look what we got here,” one of them, tall with a crooked smile. Probably their leader who was holding a bow and a quiver of arrows strapped at his back stepped forward. “A pretty little lost pup just stumbled into our backyard.” A series of laughter that sounded like a pack of hyenas crying echoed through the crowd.

Rhoda invited the group to join her in a short prayer as an offering, and she cried again until they all left. They walk home on foot because the terrain appears rocky and rugged, preventing vehicles from entering. Rhoda's eyes widen as she turns to Rudolf, saying, "Honey, look who's coming across us." She whispers as Rudolf also stares at people approaching. He hides his face with his bonnet, as Rhoda and the children try to protect themselves from the scorching heat and wind. "Why are Sulema and Bong in Bagiou City, Honey?" Rhoda asks quickly in whispers. "We should always be aware and cautious," He responds. "What if we greet them and see if they still recognize us?" Suggests Rhoda.