"May the odds be ever in your favor".
-Effie Trinket, The Hunger Games
How could someone recover something they lost. Something so dearly to them, and they couldn't think of anything else. How even in a moment it was there, and the next second it was gone. That's how I felt after Owen, and how I would continue to feel the rest of the days of my life.
My dream was very vivid, but it was hazy around too. I had just awoken inside my dream. My head was wobbly. I could barely stand up, not even that, I was small. Smaller than I have ever been. I was just a little pup again right after I was born. I remember being weak, I was the runt of the pack. Well, close to the runt I guess. I have my other sibling to thank for that.
I got up from my little spot by the dumpster. That was home. It will always be my home. I could smell the sweet scents all around me. I had a sense of deja vu all over again. With the smells of dirt, rats, and out-dated cheeseburgers. I licked my lips at the thought. I was missing something. I had been so focused on where I was, I didn't pay attention to who I was with. I was with them.
I saw my mother and siblings. I could see Bexley and Rotter trotting, close behind Mother. She always paid close attention to those most loyal to her. I glanced over to see Kenzie, she was chasing the rat we called Frank. Frank was nice, sometimes. Sometimes we all agreed to save him for lunch later. My heart leapt, for a slight moment, I felt remorse for my sister. My sister passed too soon by the plague we call pravo. It sucks. Excuse me, that wasn't very dog like of me.
I quickly remember the betrayal though, that remorse vanished as quickly as it had come. I could still remember her bark, and the way we used to run together though. That will stay with me forever, even when I head up to Baboo. Lastly, I saw Owen, my dear sweet brother. He too was gone too soon, like with Kenzie. Except he wasn't a dogstabber. He was only trying to do what he thought right. Defend a dogstabbing parent. I couldn't blame him though, we all fell for Mother's tricks.
At least he didn't have to see the betrayal continue after he was gone. I could only thank Baboo for not letting my brother suffer any longer.
We were all together again. Fear and anxiety started creeping up to me. It was impossible for all of us to be together though. Owen and Kenzie were gone. There was no way we could be at the same place at the same time. Unless. Well, unless, I was with Owen and Kenzie. I don't remember dying though, if I did, it was harmless.
I checked around one more time. Mother seemed defenseless. She seemed non-dangerous either, she looked peaceful. I could probably even say, happy at peace with everything. I felt a gut wrenching feeling. I looked at my Mother's golden eyes, and dark brown fur. How if you touched it, it would feel as though you were in heaven. I could smell her strawberry scent.
I could never hate my Mother, despise her for what she did, yes, but I could never hate her. We were all there together depending upon one's survival. I was at peace too, I was happy here. I wanted to stay here. When the shopkeeper came out, Mother growled and bit him. I felt protected by my mother for once. Too bad that didn't happen a second time.
My dream shifted and I went to that cruel human's house. I could still smell the rotting tomatoes in his van. I remembered the chains he had for us. When we got there, he put us in a dark room. My first thought was he would take care of us. I sure hoped I would stay right, but the human ended up proving me wrong. How sad that is. James. I growled in my sleep. I didn't like him at all. If you couldn't tell that already.
My vision turned dark and gloomy. All around me, gray, it was dark. There were shadows casted against everything I saw. I was getting scared. I could hear James chuckle in the distance. The agonizing steps, getting closer and closer to me. I hunched down, back arched, ready to pounce and bite. I was prepared for the worst, but it didn't come. I slowly backed away. I was okay. I was finally okay.
James jumped out from behind me. He had his broom in one hand, and his belt in the other. I can already hear my heart pounding. I ran, fast, with my tail tucked between my legs. The human was fast. I needed to be faster. No. I was faster. I had to be, to escape the torture I knew he was going to put me through.
I was running fast, fast, and faster. I made it all the way to the corner. Uh oh. I was trapped. I turned around, there stood James menacingly. His face turned up in a smile. All I could think of was coward, vile, and most of all pure evil. That's when I knew humans were despicable to me. I was whimpering, and it was my turn to be a coward. I sat there, and I waited, but it never came. The pain. I opened my eyes, and he was gone.
I remembered how he would beat me with a broom in the end. I would whimper into the corner, praying to Baboo to end my suffering. My Baboo, our version of the Lord. Except, he didn't want us to call him that. We were also his children. I knew I would one day see him again. I didn't know it would be on multiple occasions though.
I would whimper and pout, while mother laid there to watch. Thinking, how it was me and not her. The things I did to protect her. I regretted it for a split second, but I knew I wouldn't take it back. It brought me to this moment, of being on my own. I could never hate her, despite everything, she was still my mother after all. Just because she did awful things doesn't mean I shouldn't forgive her. I can forgive, but I will never forget. I will never forget the pain James caused me, nor how she laid there and let me take it.
I had to learn to take my bad experience and turn it into a lesson. Don't let people fool you, and don't let others run over you. No matter how small you may be, I am a mighty dog. I should turn that into a quote.
I remember escaping and leaving the house. I never ran so fast out of a house before. Then again, I never lived in a house either. I ventured on to the streets unsafe for some of my life. I got into trouble here and there. I was unsafe, troubled, I shifted into a dog. Grown up, rugged from being out on the streets for so long.
I woke up from my dreams. I had to sit there and make sure none of it wasn't real. I thought about my last one, the one where I wasn't safe. I wasn't safe until the woman picked me up.
Her kindness strengthened me. I had never experienced such gentleness from a human. James had taught me that humans were bad. Evil, mischievous and most of all the most vile creatures on the planet. We can't forget the word despicable either. Somehow, this human woman had changed my whole view of humans. I knew there would be ones like James, and then there are ones like Sally. The good kind. The kind you want to keep around forever. I had hoped to stay with Sally, but Baboo had other plans for me.
My dream shifted again to the male human, the nice one. We were in a strange building. Sally, the human, had taken me there. I was sick, I could barely move. Sounds quite familiar I might add. I remembered that I was hurt. I was hurting badly. I could hear them talking, strangely. I was moved around quite a lot. I couldn't handle the pain anymore.
I cried out at first. I howled to the moon. It was unbearable. I can't remember what the cat did to me. All I could think of was the vengeance. The death of the cat played in my mind. I thought of James. I was becoming like him. The thought sickened me even more. I never wanted to be like a bad human.
Then, everything went black. I slowly very carefully opened my eyes. I could see color! That was the most exciting thing. I realized I was no longer a pup, the older we got, the more we saw everything. Everything I looked at I knew what color it was. Brown, green, purple and blue. Oh, everything was so beautiful. My senses were heightened.
I couldn't help but feel overjoyed at my new sight. It was amazing, I was dazzled by everything. I was learning everything again. It was thrilling, then I thought I was dead. Bittersweet moment ended. The human took home with him. Well, that's what I figured. I also figured I wasn't dead, just in a different place.
I looked around and the scents were different. It was salty and sweet. I wasn't in that strange building anymore. I was at that male human's house. I could sniff him all around the place, and whew, he sure did smell too. I had to move my nose around. The human sure did have some smelly problems. I saw him laying down in his bed. I got up and walked around. I saw a bowl of water and food. I didn't think it was for me so I went and laid back down.
I could feel my throat getting scratchy. I needed that water and food. I wanted that water and food. Memories of James flooded my mind. I thought better of it. I didn't think I had what it took to take another beating. I just went to sleep, ready for the next day.
The next morning I woke up again. This time the male human was awake too. When he saw me awake he jumped up excited to see me. I just stared at him. James never made that face at me. He almost seemed happy to see me. He looked at me hopefully.
I got up and stretched my paws. I walked around. I looked at the bowl of water, finding myself thirsty again. I stopped and listened around. I could hear the male human heartbeat.
"Thump, thump, thump." I heard it in rhythm. I didn't hear any other noises. I focused on his heartbeat only.
The male human got up. My concentration fell, I was too distracted by his sudden movements. He went over to a table. He picked up the bowl. The human carefully carried it over to me. He bent down towards me.
"Hi, I am Max. I am your owner. I know that you can't understand me but this is a collar. I am a vet and I helped you." He said to me,
I still had no clue what he meant. He reached to put the collar on me. I backed away from Max. He put his hands up, in a surrendinger motion. I tilted my head towards the side, confused at what he meant. He only chuckled at me.
"I'm not going to hurt you J, just let me put this on you." He said again, in a soft voice.
What did he mean by J? Who was this J. I certainly hope it wasn't me. What kind of human would call something J. That sounded like a weird name. My name was Mutt, not J. This Max human better get that straight. He got up and put the collar back on the table. He went towards the couch and put his shoes on.
I walked over to him. I sniffed his pants and shoes. Gross. I smelled cats. Why on earth would this human like cats? Who in their right mind would like cats. I know that I don't.
"I have to go J, I will see you when I get back." He said it again, J. I still didn't know what he meant by J. The human left and it was just me. Since it was only me, why not sniff around ,and figure out what this human wants. I decided that I still didn't feel good. I went and laid back down on the floor. So much for snooping around. I dozed off to the sound of nature outside the window. Well, until the bird couldn't shut up.
I woke up thirsty. I went over to the water bowl, afraid I would get hit. I sniffed it. It smelled new. It had a pink color. Right beside the bowl, there was another filled with sweet scents of cheese. I could feel my mouth water. I then heard my stomach growling at the thought of food. I resisted and headed back to sleep.
My dreams consisted of James. I shouldn't say dreams with him, more like terrifying nightmares that won't go away. No matter how hard I tried, he stays with me, imprinted into my mind forever. At least, I hoped it wouldn't be forever.
It felt like no time had passed. The human came back home. I woke up to the sound of his footsteps. I could barely hear him though, they were light as a feather. I saw him walk over to the bowl of water and food. He bent down to look. Max turned towards me, concerned written across his face.
"You didn't eat, did you"? He asked, looking at me.
I didn't know what to think. Again, I was thirsty. When I didn't get up the human came over to me. He picked me up and sat me in front of the water bowl. I again resisted the urge to drink. Max sat down next to me, and started petting my fur. It felt good, to be what's the word, loved. That's how I felt at that moment.
"It's ok." He said in a calming voice.
"You need to eat and drink. It's not good if you don't, you're weak, you need to be strong." He said, in a baby voice.
My instincts told me not to trust him, but I was so thirsty. I didn't resist this time. I started to drink the water. Once it touched my tongue, it was over with. I couldn't stop myself. I kept drinking and drinking until there wasn't any. I looked over at the food. The cheese scent filled my nose. The sweet scent of hunger. I gobbled it up, and it settled against my stomach. When I was finished I looked up at the human. He showed hope in his eyes again. I then knew I was safe.
No matter where I went I knew I would be safe with him. He became my safe haven. Most importantly my safe house ,away from all the dangers from the world. Days went by then a couple of years. I eventually found a word to call him-- Master, or as you might know, Alpha.The leader of the pact. The one you must protect at all times. The one I would never bow down to until now. If the Master, Max needed protecting I am going to do it. I learned new tricks also and got delicious rewards in return. I started learning more words as I grew up.
We eventually moved into a bigger building. Max even got me a bigger yard to play outside. I can't even believe that Max would buy me my own building. Well, he put it in the backyard. Boy, was I happy. I was thrilled. He wasn't anything like James. Oh, I got toys. My favorite is the rope. Max doesn't like playing that one too much with me, he ends up on the floor. I am always trying to get it away from him.
Max would take me to meet other dogs. I didn't like them very much, they always wanted to sniff my butt. What's so interesting about my butt. My milkshake doesn't bring them, so why gives then? I should probably ask them that next time. It might be a smart move. I was at peace, like in my dream. I had been running for so long, I almost missed my moment. The moment where I found my human.
Max was my human. The one I was sworn to protect. We all have a human. Our best friend. The one we would do anything for. For my family, it was James, the vile, ungrateful human, but for me it was Max. The human who took care of me, and made sure I was where I belonged. He made sure I was safe and protected.
We went to the dog park. Max had me on my leash, walking me around.
"You are my new friend. Matter of fact you're my only friend." Max said to me with a wink.
I looked up at him, his glasses sliding down his long nose. Don't worry Max, you're my only friend too. Good thing were buddies, or this would be weird. If only he could understand me. Actually, it is weird talking by myself about him.
Oh, how I wish I could have captured him at that moment. Little did I know, it would mean more to me later than in that exact moment. My safe haven, my friend, my master, and most importantly my safe house. Gone without a moment's notice.