"Wrong again, Tenderfoot."

Vitani gave a low rumbling growl, a clear warning that the dalmatian had better be quiet, or she would take lumps out of him. She refused to admit that Dipstick was right especially in front of Scamp. She didn't want to lose his friendship...he was far to important to her.

"Listen up." Vitani growled "You don't know anything and if I were you I'd shut my big yapper!"

Mooch smacked Dipstick upside the head. It was making him feel normal, a typical action he would display on the farm. He growled. "Dipstick," he growled. A warning growl to let the doofus pup know he was being a nuisance.

"Here." Mooch dropped the collar at Scamp's feet. It was enough of a symbol for Mooch, giving Scamp back everything that he had and everything that Mooch did not have. His eyes widened, big and pathetic.

Scamp blew out a relieved breath as Mooch put the Dalmatian back in his place. Now, at least he didn't have to worry about saying something that would offend 'Tani again.
"Thanks, Mooch." he replied, as he slipped the collar back over his head, meaning both for returning the collar and for silencing Dipstick. For the first time in a while, he held his head a little higher, and his ears didn't droop so far. He wanted to say more, to let the sheepdog know that he was finally - with 'Tani's help - beating the depression, but he didn't know what to say, so he left it, hoping that 'Tani would fill Mooch in on what he'd missed.

Vitani quickly backed off Dipstick but not before giving him a warning glare. She really did not like that dalmatian pup, because he was just very infuriating, and mostly because he knew that he was right. Vitani would never in a million years admit that she felt something a lot more than friendship towards Scamp...after all he didn't like her in that way. She was 'Tani, one of his best friends, nothing more or less.

She padded padded back over to Scamp "I shouldn't have lost it like that." she said softly.

"Geez Mooch, not so hard!!" Dipstick grumbled irritably. Usually he would just sit back and take it, but he found since coming out here he'd become a lot bolder. Possibly a lot stupider too. He really should have listened to his common sense. But again, he didn't. "'s not my fault Tani can't own up to her feelings.." Automatically he braced himself, for once sensing he'd taken a step too far.

Scamp instinctively placed a paw over 'Tani's to prevent her from going for Dipstick again - and then realised what that looked like, and removed it just as quickly, his face reddening a shade or two.
"'Tani, ignore him." he said quickly, trying to mask his embarassment. "He's just an idiot, right Mooch?"
He looked down at his paws, willing himself not to meet her eyes again. "And, uh..." his voice was a barely audible mutter that no-one but her would pick up "thanks, 'Tani."

Vitani gave a low growl her claws digging into the ground as she tried to prevent herself from launching an attack on Dipstick. She really wanted to but she reminded herself that she wasn't the person who lashed out at everyone anymore. She was a better person...she would not lose her temper...she would remain calm...she would not tear lumps out of Dipstick no matter how much he deserved it.

"Shut up." Vitani said trying not to say anything she would regret.

Mooch felt as if he was in a daze. All of a sudden he was realizing what he was missing. His ears drooped but his face hardened, giving Tani a glare. A slick smile curled on his lips. He pushed a large paw on Dipstick's skinny shoulder. "Stop being such a jerk, Dipstick," he said with a grin, padding over to Scamp and placing his arm around his bud.

"Dude, this is our new gang, okay? This is our new Wizzer and Two-Tone! Tani and Scamp are ten times cooler than those guys anyway." He snickered. "And we aren't mean to members of our own gang, you got that Dipstick?"

"Oh...uh right Mooch. Sorry." It was an automatic response. Mooch was his leader, and Mooch was cool, and whatever Mooch said goes. "I was just havin' a little fun, those guys are just too sensitive...they outta lighten up." Seriously, 'Tani was way too temperamental. For once, he wised up and didn't voice it out loud, knowing she was mad enough to smack him crosseyed.
"How come you're not making fun of them? You always poked fun at me and Wizzer back on the farm and it wasn't a big deal."

"Because you and Wizzer are idiots," Mooch began but stopped. Really Dipstick was the only one there that was his connection to the farm at home. And he was still listening. He shrugged, padding over to the pup and giving him a warm smile. Something he probably wasn't used to seeing from the sheepdog. He poked the dalmatian in the chest with his paw.

"I poke fun at them too," he said with a shrug, "But now, you're with us, okay Dipstick? You're just as cool as me and Scamp and Tani!" He grinned. "Only this time we're takin' down bad guys instead of stealing from Nanny's pantry." He laughed and turned to Scamp and Tani. "Guys, Dipstick is cool, okay? He can hang with us, I promise he won't make fun of ya again."

He had a gang now. His friends were back with him.

Dipstick's eyes widened, just a little hurt by Mooch calling him an idiot. He WASN'T an idiot, he wasn't totally retarded and stupid like everyone thought. He just didn't listen to his common sense, it wasn't that he didn't have a brain. His ears drooped slightly, but he perked up when Mooch continued speaking. Speaking as if he was one of the gang again, and his tail thumped hopefully against the ground, a small hopeful smile on his maw.
"Yeah, yeah cool!! Sure I won't, not much anyway." He tried to grin at Scamp and Tani and his grin wilted at the sight of Vitani. She still seemed pretty ticked at him.

Vitani had managed to calm herself, listening to the exchange between Mooch and Dipstick. So now their trio had become a quad? She turned her head to look at Dipstick...he was a friend of Mooch so she would be civil to him. They were her 'pride' now...her friends...they looked out for each other.

Dipstick wasn't the first person she'd pick to be a part of their gang but she would have to live with it.