At least the perpetual gray rain had stopped, Shiv thought as she strode down the street. Her boots ground on the concrete as she walked, eyes alert in the city darkness, watching every corner, shadowed doorway, car she passed. She walked this way every day, but had no intention of being a victim from being oblivious to it. The city was never safe. She loved it.

Snarling erupted from the alley next to her and she spun to see two of the semi-feral dogs that roamed the streets tearing at each other in a tangle of teeth and wild enraged eyes. A third dog stalked around them, the white of its teeth almost glowing in the dim light, tail high, circling close. She realized the third was a bitch waiting for her mate to be decided. The crescendo of threat and violence changed tone as one dog’s voice became yowls of pain in counterpoint to the sudden drop in volume of the victor. She watched as they separated, pride and arousal in every line of the stronger male as he backed from his foe before turning to the bitch.