"Wrong again, Tenderfoot."

"Mooch, I can't just forget about her." Scamp insisted miserably. "But I can't win her back." his tail and ears drooped even further. "You were right. Siblings... it's just wrong."
That doesn't mean that I don't still wish things could be different. Every moment, I wish that... but it can't change. he added silently.

Mooch's head titled to the side slightly. He placed a big paw on the pup's back and gave him a warm smile.

"You don't have to forget about her," he said, sounding highly out of character, he was sure Dipstick would say something about the kind words. "I mean come on man, there are plenty of other girls here. Once you replace her with someone else, it'll be different! You'll be able to see Angel like what she is, your sister." Eyes narrowing, Mooch gave Scamp a wink. "Don't worry, It'll all get better. Just stick with me and Tani! I promise."

Scamp looked up slowly, his eyes meeting Mooch's for a moment, before he looked away. He wished he could believe the other mutt's words, but he couldn't see past his pain. "How can I replace her, Mooch?" he asked brokenly. "How can anyone else compare to her?" If Angel couldn't be his... was there really anything to be gained by living anymore?
The Scamp of a few years ago would have been horified by such thoughts. He'd had so much more to live for back then. Then Angel had come into his life, and become everything to him. And now she'd been taken away... was it really worth it?
As he looked down at his paws, emotional pain racking his heart with every breath, he felt something sharp jab into his neck. Puzzled, he raised a paw... and from inside his collar, pulled out the shard of glowing crystal that he'd meant to give to Angel. For all the good that would do him now.
He clenched his paw, shattering the crystal beneath it. Shattered beyond repair... just as his heart was. The glass-like shards dug into his paw, but he barely noticed. He turned away miserably.

(OOC: 'Tani, could you have followed Scamp out here as well, please? Mooch'll need all the help he can get to drag Scamp back to seeing sense )

Vitani had followed Mooch and Scamp at a distance, she hadn't meant to make Scamp so upset...only show him that moving on was what was best. Now he was even more depressed and it was her fault.

Vitani's sapphire eyes caught sight of Mooch, Scamp and a dalmatian pup she'd never seen before with a goody expression on his face. Sucking in a breath to calm herself, she approached. Hopefully she could make Scamp feel a little better. He deserved to be happy and she had promised Angel she would try and get his attention on someone other than her.

"Hey Scamp." Vitani said sitting down on the other side of the pup.

"'Tani?" Scamp looked up as she approached, and there was nothing to hide the raw pain in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but there was nothing more to say. He flopped down, resting his head on his forepaws, his eyes, for some reason he couldn't comprehend, never leaving Vitani.
"I can't go on." he eventually whispered as he - finally - lowered his eyes from hers.

Vitani's instict kicked in and she leaned down and gave his cheek a small lick, like she did to Kovu when he was down, which was always promptly followed by his squeals of 'eww that's gross' but it usually did the trick. Her cheeks burned under her fur as she rested her cheek against Scamp's

"It's not as bad as it seems." she murmered "Things'll look up...you'll see."

Scamp's eyed widened as 'Tani's tongue touched his cheek, and he felt his face burning. In that single moment, all his problems with Angel seemed to disappear, and he wished it would never end. All too soon, 'Tani pulled away, and all his mixed-up feelings about Angel came crashing back down on him.
What just happened? he silently asked himself, as he stared at 'Tani, speechless. When he finally found his voice, he could only manage to whisper "But... how can I...?"

Mooch stood there speechless. Oh he had probably taken the lick the wrong way, but he didn't know that. His mouth twitched slightly, eyes wide and confused. He had stayed quiet because it seemed like Tani had things under control. As Scamp continued to speak the grey furred sheepdog's own feelings came crashing down on him. What did Scamp have that he didn't have? Why did Tani like Scamp and not him? Why did most female dogs like someone else and not him? Two-Tone had gone for Lucky that one time. Angel was with Patch. Tani, Mooch was SURE after the lick, liked Scamp. Annette liked Tripod. Colette thought he stunk and Penny was cranky about something or other that she claimed he had done on the farm. His tail drooped a little, the hound only showing minor visual cues of his loneliness and sadness.

"You...you just can okay?" Mooch said to answer his half formed question. "It is NOT so bad! Angel's not so great, pal, okay? Sorry to be harsh but you've got Tani to be gentle with you." It was a jab. Hopefully Tani would catch on. "Seriously, dude. Stick with us. We'll have fun, we'll play and we'll find you a girl who cares about you." He sighed, lowering his head. "Dipstick's fun too. We can play with him. You've got me and him and...and...Tani..." He managed a smile behind his loneliness. "What more do you need?"

Dipstick's attention had waned. But when Mooch spoke he snapped to attention. Because usually if he didn't Mooch smacked him upside the head. "Oh, oh yeah yeah! What more do you need?" He puffed his chest out. "Mooch is the MASTER of looking cool. He showed me and Wizzer and Two-Tone and he can show you too!" Hm....what happened? Had he missed something? Now the lioness cub looked embarrassed. Had she done something funny and he missed it? Dang it Dipstick you gotta pay more attention! Coulda missed something worth laughin at!

(pff, Dipstick...he never pays attention xD)

Scamp could only shake his head silently. "You don't understand. You couldn't understand." he whispered, turning to face away from Mooch... and finding himself looking at 'Tani again. He kind of wished she'd lick his cheek again, maybe a bit longer this time. He didn't know what he was feeling - but somehow, Angel leaving him didn't seem so bad when 'Tani was close.

(OOC: Scamp's not listening XD maybe just physically bashing some sense into him might work better )

Mooch grinned. Dipstick. Despite denying it he missed the dimwitted pup. But upon hearing Scamp's ramblings he grew furious. Scamp was hung up on a girl who didn't even like him and yet he STILL had chicks going after him! It wasn't fair!

"ALRIGHT, THAT DOES IT!" It was time for some tough love. Mooch drew back his large paw and smacked Scamp in the back of the head. Without waiting for a response, Mooch moved to the front of the pup and grabbed him by the collar. That was another thing Scamp had and he didn't. Family. And yet he was still complaining?! "You need to get your act together and fast! Read my muzzle. ANGEL-IS-NOT-WORTH-IT."

Scamp struggled against Mooch. He tried to pull away, but only suceeded in choking himself when the larger mutt didn't let up the grip on his collar at all. That didn't stop him from pulling harder though. His mind rebelled against Mooch's words. Angel WAS worth it. She always would be. He couldn't voice those thoughts while his collar was strangling him, however. And he had a feeling that telling Mooch that he was wrong might not be the smartest idea he'd ever had. Instead, he shot a 'help me!' glance in 'Tani's direction.

Vitani smacked Mooch up the head "Scamp's not gonna have much problems anymore if you don't let him go!" Vitani snapped. The earlier jibe had not gone unnoticed. Mooch was her friend...like another brother to her...but sometimes he could be a bit of a bully.

Vitani looked at the goofy dog, Dipwad or something similar, he seemed like he didn't understand anything that was going on.

Dipstick looked between Tani and Scamp, the light of comprehension dawning in his eyes. A devious smirk crossed his maw. "Oohhh...do you see what I see Mooch? Scamp and 'Taaani, sittin in a treeeee, K-I-S-S-I-N-Geeeee!!" He chanted, swaying in place. "You two got a CRUSH on each other don't you? I can see it!"

Vitani's cheeks burned so furiously that her gold fur was tinged slightly pink by the skin beneath. She had to admit that the lick was a bit too much...still...Scamp needed her and Mooch. Her sapphire eyes then snapped to Dipstick in fury and she did what she usually did when she was embarrassed...she lashed put at Dipstick.

"Shut up!" she growled "This doesn't concern you!"