Finishing my 'food', I hear my dad move out of the room and into the den to use the phone there. I soon follow, wanting to hear what I can about the conversation. I hear my dad calling as I listen nervously. Maybe it's too late for the vet to be called, maybe there is a six year waiting list.
But soon I hear my dad respond, "Hello, I would like to make an appointment to get a new dog we just adopted vaccinated, and anything else that we will need in order to be able to get him a license."
My dad nods his head a few times, "We're not sure of age, but still young, I think," he says before listening again, "We believe that he's part wolf, but not sure just how much he is."
I keep listening and perk my ears up, "He's friendly and docile, no signs of aggression. Yes, I know wolf dogs can be unpredictable, but I can guarantee that he won't be," he says as he seems to think about it for a bit, "So we will need vaccinations, a general exam, maybe stool samples, I think we can do all this."
He nods his head, "Ten thirty? We can be there, and you want him muzzled? Are you sure? He shouldn't be a problem," he says, but finally nods, "Okay... wolf dogs can be unpredictable, we can figure something out," he says with a sigh, making me wince nervously.
My dad says a few more things, but I'm just left staring at the den doorway as my dad finishes up as I give him an accusing look and he sighs, "Sorry, he wouldn't take no for an answer. They don't allow hybrids in otherwise. But I'm sure as long as nothing happens, you will be allowed to go without next time. Just have to earn their trust," he says.
I sigh at this. Great, wonder what other horrors this vet trip will include. Am I going to have to get x-rays, obedience school? Dog crate? My mind starts to race as I'm not sure I want it all, but at the same time, it would let me be with the family or go outside without the risk of the pound or other issues.
My dad, sensing my troubled mind, leans down and rubs my head, "Don't worry, we're here for you, and if it's too much, we can figure something else out. But I want you to at least try this for a while, for us, and for yourself," he says.
Giving a small nervous nod, I think it's not so much that I think it would really be all too bad, but it definitely would hurt my ego a little bit. It's more just how far would it go? This is in some ways a bigger change than just turning into an eagle or wolf. Maybe my dad and I should have a talk about this later.
I rub my nose against him as my ears perk up, and I hear my sister yelling, "Fluffy butt, where are you?" My dad gives me a raised eyebrow as I just have no answer, even if I could speak.
My dad calls out, "If you mean the dog, he's with me over here by the den." I can hear my sister running from the dining room, a slice of pizza still in her hand, half eaten as she laughs, "There you are, Fluffy, let's go watch TV," she says, which perks my ears as this was definitely something that I wanted to know if I can watch if weirdly coloured.
I walk over to her and nuzzle, as this time I remember to let my sister lead me to the TV room without attempting to go first on my own. Though now, after TV as an eagle, I'm nervous. I don't see why it would be a problem, but who knows. My sister quickly jumps onto the couch and pats the couch next to her for me to sit down.
I quickly move to jump over onto it as I hear an ahem from behind and turn to see my dad and mom looking at my sister and me. I perk my ears up, wondering, then realize, oh yeah... dogs don't normally go on couches. But my mom lightens her look and smiles, "Sarah, the dog can go on the couch today, but we have to discuss it in the future." I can tell it's more to me to say, we can figure out the rules later.
Hearing this, I quickly jump up onto the couch, trying to be careful of my claws and not letting them dig into the couch... which sounds a lot easier than it is, gahhhh maybe when I'm a leopard it will be much easier, the whole retracted claws and such.
I settle down onto the couch, curling up as my sister gives me a small hug, causing me to whine slightly in a good way. The smell of the couch is strong in a good way, making me truly feel like I am home. Soon, my sister turns on the TV and starts a cartoon, it wasn't one I recognized, but then again, maybe it was just the mud they sprayed over the TV.
As I'm watching the TV, I see a dog run across as my eyes follow it, ignoring the main character that is going the opposite way. The bark it gives perks my ears up as I look at it, fighting the urge to bark back, as that would be embarrassing. Though my lips still pull back slightly as my tail wags, not threatening, but more wanting to reply.
Despite my best attempts, when the dog barks again, I give a quick bark back and then duck my head down as my mom and dad give me a questioning look and I try to hide my head in my paws, tail tucking between my legs. Sarah, though, just finds it funny as she laughs, "You found a friend?" she asks, pointing to the TV.
I give a small shrug. I wasn't sure why I was barking. Was it a challenge, was it a reply, was it friendship? I know it had felt right. I keep watching the TV as every little thing starts to distract me. But soon I give a yawn as I am up later than I have been the last week, by now my brain would go, whelp, it's dark, time to sleep.
My mom notices this and looks at the clock that is showing nine pm as she gets up, "Sarah, I think the dog wants to sleep. You mind if he sleeps in your brother's room? He can be near you but on his own," she says.
I can't help but smile inwardly, even if it looks more like laughing like a wolf as I slowly get up. Sleeping in my bed would feel great. A chance for some kind of return to normality, even if not a long lasting one.
My sister gets excited, which is a rare occasion for her as she usually wants to stay up, but before I know it, she's already running to the stairs and yelling, "Come on, Fluffy." leaving me to scramble to try to catch up to her, my claws skidding on the kitchen floor.
I manage to avoid sliding into a cupboard. I really hope I can learn to run on linoleum as it's both cold and slippery as I get back onto carpet and make my way to the stairs where she's waiting for me, "Come on, Fluffy, you're a big slowpoke," she says. I spot Shiners out of the corner of my eye outside as he's laughing at my antics.
Finally, at the stairs I start up after my sister, thankfully going up was a lot easier and less scary. She walks into my bedroom and sits down on my bed, patting it with a hand, "This will be your bed tonight, sleep here," she says. I perk my ears up, nudging against her slightly before climbing onto the bed and sniffing it. It smells a little stale, but definitely smell myself on it.
Curling up and closing my eyes, I feel my sister's hand on my head as she smiles, "I've always wanted a dog, I'm glad we got you," she says before turning to head to her own bed. I lift my head up, giving a small bark before curling up again.
I try to ignore all the sounds in the house, at least this room isn't quite as heavily scented due to not being used in a week, though it's still there. As I'm finally getting ready to drift off I hear Shiners' voice, <So how was your first day as a wolf? You get any fleas yet?> he asks.
Shaking my head, I give a small laugh, "<It's definitely...interesting, going to the vet tomorrow...so maybe after that I can talk to you outside, see what my mom and dad feel up for, I'm sure they want to talk to me and see how I'm doing.>"
I yawn again, calling out, <Sleep well, Shiners...> and soon I feel myself start to drift off to sleep.
The next morning, I wake up and look around as it is bright, must be morning, did I sleep in? I look at the clock, seeing that it's six a.m., feeling confused. Why is it so bright outside and in my bedroom? I stretch out, the house is rather quiet at the moment, kinda wanting to just go back to sleep, and then the reason I wake up becomes apparent as I suddenly feel uncomfortable and need to go outside. As curious as I am about the brightness, I have a bigger priority. I quickly get up, heading down the stairs, too panicked to even worry about tripping or falling down the stairs.
I make it to my parents' bed and scratch at the door trying to open it, but no luck. Ughhh, we should have thought about this and what to do in a situation like this, not like I can easily let myself out.
I still hear my mom and dad's breathing inside as I scratch even harder. Eventually, I hear my dad grumbling as he opens the door, "WHAT?" he says a little harshly, making me wince slightly and back off. But I soon recover and try to nod my head towards the front door, hoping he gets the idea.
My dad looks confused, almost like he doesn't remember having a dog, and then seems to realize it's me, "Mike, what's wrong? It's still early," he says as I run away, head into the kitchen and to the front door as he follows me and then I scratch at it.
My dad seems to understand as he quickly unlocks the door and lets me out as I run outside into the driveway and then off onto the lawn. A moment later, all the panic and pressure is gone, and I can finally relax as I walk back. Now that I am awake and less panicked, the feeling of the grass against my paws feels cold and a little ticklish.
Dad just shakes his head, "We really didn't plan any of this out too well, did we? Maybe when we see the vet, we can figure some stuff out, or ask my friends that have dogs what they suggest."
I give a nod of my head as I stretch out and rub against him, hoping we can talk later, as there are so many things that we will need to sort out. I walk back to the front door thinking I'm going to need more sleep if I'm going to the vet.
My dad opens the door up as I walk in, shivering slightly as my body adjusts to the warmth and start to run up the stairs to try to get some more sleep before the vet. Though I already hear my sister running down the stairs, making me groan a little bit, so much for a nap, maybe after the vet, if I'm still alive.
She comes over when she sees me and gives me a hug, "You're up, Fluffy, I thought you ran away," she says as I nudge against her, shaking my head. I would never do that intentionally.
From the kitchen my dad calls, "Sarah, go feed Fluffy, remember water and kibbles," he says as my tail wags and I feel a little hungry at the idea as I follow Sarah to the cupboard where she gets the kibbles, sticking my head into the cupboard already smelling the food.
Sarah lightly pushes my nose away, "Fluffy, I can't get you the food if you're in the way," she says, making me back up, mortified, and sit down as she gets a bowl and pours the dog food into it before adding some warm water as I lick my lips.
I can't help but lick my lips at the smell as it smells so much better and my instincts tell me to eat it all quickly before someone else does. But personally, if I'm going to live as a dog I want to at least see how it tastes in better details. I lean in and take some of the kibbles and chew on them. There is a strange, dry plain, but slightly strong flavour that is hard for me to explain.
I am halfway through a mouthful as I suddenly choke and cough, turning around and running into the dining room as I slide into the wall, moving so fast. I notice the confused, horrified looks on my parents' faces as they try to hide the sudden concern. Dad finally getting out a, "Wow, that was quite...the dream you had," he says nervously.
She nods her head at this, "Yeah, though I'm glad I had it, it was kinda neat." She then looks over at me, still coughing as I swallowed the wrong way, and gets concerned, "Oh, Fluffy, did you forget how to swallow?" she asks, apparently oblivious to the chaos she had just created.
Please, please, please don't know, I think in panic, but at least she seems to be treating it as a dream. I feel my heart racing as I give Sarah the best cutest dog look and tilt my head to the side as she laughs, "Silly dog," she says as I turn around and go to finish my food. We're definitely having a talk later for sure.
