Prologue

A pair of baby blue eyes peered upwards towards the shafts of light that filtered in. The vision was blurry 
and the eyes unfocused. The head sunk downward giving up the effort. Craning a neck like that was 
tiresome and it hurt.
 
She had been in the cardboard prison since early in the morning. The sun had risen almost to the middle of 
the sky signaling that many hours had passed. It seemed like forever. The never ending boredom dragged 
on and on.

Pawing had been no use and nawing was painful to her little baby teeth. Besides that it was almost as 
hopeless as pawing. Tiny dents marred the surface in the corner but nothing more.

Sinking down wards until her cream belly rested solidly on the grainy surface below her the puppy gave a 
sigh. Smells filter through the box and loud sounds of the outside world sifted through unpleasantly loud. 
All she could do was wait for her freedom patiently as her siblings had done. They were released therefore 
her puppy logic deemed that the same would happen to her.

Sunlight flooded into her box as the lid was opened slowly. Expectantly she clumsily staggered to her feet. 
A pair of hands reached down and plucked her up. One hand held her uncomfortably by the scruff and the 
other boosted her rump. The hands then shoved her over into another pair.

The second pair of hand held her expertly against a rough navy shirt. The hands were calloused but firm. A 
whiskery face suddenly filled her vision as the face belonging to the hands measured and looked her over.

"Ah odd lookin' pup fur shore." A deep voice commented uncomfortably close to her ear. It was loud but 
had a pleasant quality to it., "A wee bit small too."

"Well Captain, you know that I only sell the best. How's the growlithe that I sold you before?" The first 
voice said in a cautious tone. She couldn't figure out way. This captain man seemed nice and friendly. Still 
she had much to learn about humans and their behavior.

"Ol' Captain? Why he's a grand lad. Biggest arcanine you've ever seen." The older man chuckled good 
naturedly, "I'm sorry to have been suspicious of ye. Ye have proved yer worth at yer trade. Ye shouldn't 
have to do it agin."

"Well sir take a look at this puppy. She's a smart one. If she's anything like her parents I can guarantee that 
she'll also be loyal and protective. Watch."

Suddenly she found herself on the hard packed clay that made up the market place's footing. Wobbly, she 
took a timid step forward with her tiny black nose to the ground.

"Pup." The second voice encourage from somewhere up above. Puzzled she turned to look at the sound. 
The brightness made her blink and she settled for tottering to the man's feet. Tired from her little adventure 
she plopped down on his sandaled foot.

"She be healthy and seemingly smart. How much? I would wait for your next batch, ye know I prefer 
males, but thee ship, well, she's on a schedule."

"100 poke yen for such a fine girl."
"Ach, a little brute such as this? Worth more towards 50 yen." The Captain grumbled.
"Surely a sound little puppy is worth more than that hag sum. 85 yen." The first voice cajoled.
"Neh, she's a runt. 60 yen."
"80, but that's as low as I'll go for such a nice puppy. Don't forget she's purebred."
"75 yen and no more." The captain said and the two men shook hands. Money was exchanged as well as 
some banner.

She was suddenly she was swooped up from where she had been resting. The calloused hands man had her 
once again. Aloft she saw the market place wiz by as the two long legs pumped below her. The sound of 
the big man's footfall changed from a dull thud to a loud, hollow thunk.

Suddenly the rocking motion stopped and her four tiny paws were on firm ground again. The surface below 
her seemed firm anyway but it felt almost like she was walking on a tree. She moved cautiously along the 
wooden deck careful not to fall into the empty space below.

She had made a small circuit around the narrow planks and was starting back to the man when a shudder 
ran through the ground she was standing on. Caught by surprise the jolt sent her flying into the nothingness 
below. Or so she thought. Instead of falling endlessly she splashed painfully on a liquid substance.

The liquid poured ruthlessly into her eyes, mouth, and noise. It stung horribly as she tried to breath air. 
Sputtering and struggling she managed to keep her small face out of the awful stuff but her limbs were 
weak and she was tiring.

Something big flew overhead and landed with a heavy splash beside her. Small waves rolled over her until 
a pair of strong jaws clamped gently on her scruff. A treading motion was going on under her. Suddenly 
she was no longer floating but was suspended in the air. With a heavy thump she landed on the deck in a 
puddle of salt water.

"Good boy, Captain. We wouldn't want thee wee pup drownin'. Why she doesn't even have ah name yet." 
The deep voice chuckled sympathetically, "Why she'll be called Salty Brine. Salty fur short."

"Salty Brine eh? Hope you live up to it lass." The arcanine barked gleefully, "Welcome to the mighty ship 
Ramrod."

The sopping wet puppy squinted upwards and made out the hulking figure of a ship. She wrinkled her brow 
and had her doubts about her new home.