The Hellhound

The hellhound retraced its steps.  Its nose slowly alternated between the damp ground and cold air as it searched, desiring a certain familiar scent.  The slightest whiff would be enough.  A single scent and the hound would be off for the races.  Legs tensing up at each unique odor, the air was unfortunately rife with too many smells, overloading its senses with data.  Spinning this way and that, only one faint scent stood out.  

Desiring to run, it lept into action toward the source.  Lean muscles powered it forward through the night as the scent grew, eventually leading to a creature not quite half the size of the towering hellhound.  Its scent was similar to that of which the hound desired, but not quite the same.  Breathing the scent in deeply to lock it away in its memory, the hound released a wave of hot air out of its mouth as it slowly revealed its presence to the small creature.  The thing before the hound smelled equally sweet and yet also rancid at the same time.  A cry let loose from the creature adding a tinge of saltiness to the air.  Such a high pitched noise from something so small surprised the beast.  Its ears hurting from the assaulting sobs, the hound quickly repositioned behind the awful thing and gave it a nudge.  Guiding it forward, the hound gently pushed it toward the scent of similarly smelling creatures before then disappearing back into the night.  

The hellhound resumed its search, desperate not to fail.  Before long, another scent caught the hellhound's attention.  Bounding down pavement and earth alike, the hellhound raced past all manner of creatures; various shapes and sizes splayed out, all moving around in small packs.  Thickly coated in a layer of night, the hellhound quickened its pace until nothing besides a fast blur could be seen by those surrounding it until a towering silhouette came into view.  The hound panted out of breath as the figure approached.  A deep, booming voice pierced the peacefulness of the night as massive hands reached down, gently scratching at the hellhound’s neck.  

“Good Boy.”