While Zuma and Charm walked down the dark alley again towards Kroger, they heard a gun click. At first, they thought nothing of it because where they lived, they were used to gun sounds. But, when they heard footsteps approaching right behind them, they quickly turned around to see what was following them. There, right in front of them, was a man about 34 years old with a long knotted-up beard covered in crumbs and pieces of cigarettes. Also, the smell of alcohol lingered on his breath. Bugs and mosquitoes were flying around his head along with some cockroaches crawling up and down his legs. 

That was when Zuma's judging instincs kicked in. "Dude," said Zuma. "You look totally unpresentable. Are you okay?"

"You better shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you! Stupid dogs, what do YOU know about 'looking presentable'?"

"Well!" Charm then chimed in. "It's obvious we know a LOT more than you!"

"Shut UP" Screamed the drunk man. He suddenly aimed his gun toward the two pups. "This is what you get for being stupid by messing with the WRONG guy!" He then pulled the trigger. 

Zuma and Charm both expertly jumped out of the way in opposite directions barely dodging the bullet. The man then lost his temper and began shooting everwhere he looked. He didn't care who he shot, he was just determimed to shoot and kill Zuma and Charm. Even when he shot a random pedestrian, he didn't care. The whole time he was shooting around at everything, Zuma and Charm hid behind some trash cans. During all of the commotion, they tried to sneak off to whatever shelter they could find. While they were walking off, the man suddenly ran out of bullets. 

"Damn it! All my bullets are GONE!!!" He said looking around for Zuma and Charm. "Come out here  so we can finish this off with our fists! Come on. Put'em up and take it like a man!" 

"What's that supposed to mean? Us women aren't strong enough or something?" Charm demanded bringing attention to herself and Zuma. 

"It's a figure of speech stupid!" The man yelled to Charm.

"Excuse me, but I am NOT stupid thank you very much. It is actually scientifically proven that women ARE in fact smarter than men!" Charm snapped right back.

"It's true," Zuma said. "You don't know HOW many times I have had to learn that."

"Whatever," said the man rolling his eyes.

Charm glanced and smiled at Zuma and added, "Let us SHOW you how  tough we are, even if I AM female."

Suddenly, Zuma and Charm ran head-first toward the man. He yelled and kicked his legs. His legs missed the pups, but barely. When the pups began circling him, he tried chasing them, but tripped landing face-first on the hard, uneven cement. "Ow," he let out in pain. When he picked his face up from the ground, the pups were able to see blood pouring out of his nose. There was a bloodstain in the concrete below him. Seeing this made the pups feel sorry for him, so they walked toward him to see if he was okay when out of nowhere, he swung his arm out and hit Zuma right in the mouth sending the 4-pound-pup flying all the way to the other side of the alley.

"Owww..." Zuma cried out hearing his paw crack when he hit the ground. Blood began pouring out of his nose and mouth nonstop. Plus, his paw really hurt because he landed on it wrong. Tears began to blur his vision when he tasted his metal-tasting blood. He then began to whimper softly covering his face with his paws. Seeing this made the man smile smugly and chuckle evilly.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ZUMA?????" Charm screamed running so fast toward the man that the impact knocked the man out cold. Zuma then began to smile through his tears when he saw his love being so tough. 

"Are you okay?" Asked Charm to Zuma. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," replied Zuma trying to sound as nonchalant as he could. He then tried to stand up, but ended up toppling over onto Charm making them both fall. "Sowwy," he said with a small smile. 

"It's okay," said Charm smiling back. For a second there, she thought Zuma sounded a little different, but decided it was just her imagination. She then stood up carrying Zuma on her back. 

"Thank you, Chawm" said Zuma sleepily.

"You're welcome, Zuma," said Charm. When he fell asleep on her back, she then realized that Zuma DID sound different... like he had some sort of speech impediment...