The Road Rovers were having their vacation at Headquarters. Not much has happened since they defeated General Parvo and the Groomer, except the fact that they had nothing to do on their spare time. The Headquarters was about 300 feet beneath the surface, and no one knew about them, not even their masters.

The TV blared in the living room as Blitz, Exile and Hunter were watching the Eukaneuba Tournament of Champions. They didn’t care about the masters of the dogs, but they cared about the dogs and what country they represented. Exile wanted the dogs or Russian blood to win; Blitz wanted Germany, and Hunter wanted America to win. But the tournament could go any way.

“Man, this tournament is getting hot! Every country wants to win really bad, but it can only have one winner” Hunter replied as he grabbed a handful of popcorn from the coffee table, and shoved it into his mouth.

“Dream on, blondie! The winner will be Germany since the Doberman is the most good-looking dog out of the litter!” Blitz replied as he flexed his muscles at Hunter, since he was a Golden Labrador Retriever and Blitz was a Doberman.

“Don’t be weird, boy. Mother Russia will win since the Huskies are proud and beautiful” Exile replied as he watched Russia’s top dogs take the runway after Germany. Exile was a blue Russian husky for Moscow’s czar.

“We’ll see who gets their tooshies bitten tonight. And I guarantee Huntie, you’ll be crying in the end”

“Please Blitz. Everyone knows that America has the best dogs in the world, especially Labrador Retrievers. And believe me, I never cry in an event like this” Hunter mumbled as he kept stuffing more popcorn into his mouth. Exile just rolled his eyes as Hunter and Blitz kept arguing about which country had the better dogs. To be honest, he never really cared about who was better than who. All he cared about was trying to find a special someone to fill his lonely heart. He would have asked Colleen, but she was with Hunter.

Exile looked away from the television screen, thinking of how his life had been miserable and lonely. He was treated like a prince by his masters, but he didn’t want that. He wanted a dog that felt the same way and understood how he felt.

“Why Exile. How come you have a frown on your face?” a female piped up from behind him as Exile turned around to meet Colleen, a border collie from London, England. He secretly wished she was with him, but Exile knew that he couldn’t change the past, even if he wanted to. He loved her like a sister, but he wished for more.

“Oh, comrade Colleen. It is nothing. I just do not like heavy competition”

“I understand, but … is England’s top dogs in this, Huntie?” Colleen asked as she jumped onto the couch, and sat between Hunter and Blitz.

“Oh, pretty girly dog’s country is losing to my country. But Blitz will cheer girly dog with a milkshake” Blitz taunted Colleen as she was ready to knock him out of his misery.

“Damn you…” Colleen said as she was about to lunge at Blitz with Hunter holding her back. Exile enjoyed the entertainment until Master’s voice rang through the speakers.

“Rovers, report to the main entrance at once” Master replied in a tone that was urgent to them. Exile found some peace when he was told that they might have a mission.

“Ah, shitake mushrooms! Now we won’t know who’s gonna win the tournament” Hunter complained as he got off the couch and stretched.

“Who cares? Let’s go see Master” Exile ignored Hunter as he walked out of the room, and down to the main entrance.

All the Road Rovers were counted at the main entrance, including Shag: a sheep dog from Switzerland who can’t speak, and Muzzle: a failed experiment that is used for chewing the crap out of enemies.

“Road Rovers …”

“Let me guess. Parvo is back from the dead?”

“No”

“We get to bite tooshies off of cats in Egypt” Blitz pleaded happily.

“Don’t be weird, boy” Exile complained as he smacked himself on the forehead.

“No, you have a new comrade joining the team” Master replied as he pointed to the steel transformation chamber behind them. When the dogs turned around, they saw the chamber open and smoke began to pile out onto the floor. The smoke cleared, and a white husky stepped out of the chamber. A female husky, which made Colleen look twice.

“Everyone, I want you to meet Mariah, the white husky from Russia” Master introduced the team to the new dog. Exile couldn’t stop looking at her; Mariah was a Russian, just like him, but she had white fur and green eyes. Her tail was long and bushy; her ears pointed and her body was slightly shaking.

“Poor dear. She must be in shock” Colleen replied as the new dog took one step away from the chamber, and fell to the ground.

“Oh, another pretty girly dog. I can have twice the fun, and twice the tooshies” Blitz replied cheerfully as he looked at the female husky. Exile slapped him in the back of the head, and rushed over to Mariah’s aid.

“Blitz, just shut the hell up! Can’t you see the girl is scared?” Colleen yelled as she almost punched Blitz while being held back by Shag.

Exile walked over to Mariah, and knelt down in front of her. He placed his paw underneath her chin, and forced her to look at him. Her green eyes stared at him with confusion and fright.

“Don’t be frightened. You are safe, my angel” Exile soothed her as he helped her to her feet. Mariah looked into his eyes, and smiled shyly as she gripped at his shoulders for support. She shook in his arms as she looked at her surroundings. Where was the snow? The ice? Where was her homeland of Russia?

“Wha … Where …Mariah tried to speak, but she clutched at her throat.

“Try not to speak. Your vocal cords might be sore” Hunter replied as he stepped forward cautiously to her. Exile wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and smiled at her.

“Yeah, no need to speak. Just show us your tooshie” Blitz sneered at her as he bared his canine teeth at Mariah. She looked at him with terror shining in her eyes. Her head began to ache, and before she knew it, Mariah passed out. Exile realized this, and quickly caught her before she hit the floor. He picked her up like a groom held his bride, and looked at her beauty.

“Nice going, Blitz”

“You made her faint on us, you bloody bitch!” Colleen roared as she slapped Blitz across the muzzle.

“I’m no girly dog”

“That’s enough. I should have considered cats instead of dogs. Exile, take Mariah to the medical wing so she’ll regain consciousness. The rest of you, return to your quarters” Master ordered as the Rovers did as they were told.

“Hunter, can I talk to you privately?” Master asked Hunter as everyone left the room and out of hearing range.

“Hunter, I want you to keep a close eye on Mariah”

“Of course. But don’t you trust her?” Hunter asked Master curiously.

“I do, but she doesn’t know much about us. I want you and Exile to be teaching her everything we know” Master informed him as Hunter now understood what was needed to be done.

“Yes sir” Hunter replied as he went off to his room.

“Hunter?”

“Yes sir?”

“Make Mariah feel at home” Master requested as he watched Hunter leave to go to bed.

“I hope Mariah will fell that she now has a family” Master breathed quietly as he patted Muzzle on the head.