Dream

CW: References to animal abuse and violence

Dream

“Alright ya rebel, get in the truck” Grandma growled, opening a truck door so I could climb in. Slamming the truck door, she continued the argument with the disgruntled neighbour. Sound was muffled, in the truck. But, this fight was picking up volume.

Snarling my lip, I hope grandma tears her apart. Humans…I growl. Grandma won’t, she’ll walk away, again. But only after the other woman backs down….and, there she goes, grandma turns and gets back into the truck.

“You’re such a problem child” she stats backing out of the driveway. “One day that bitch or her husband is going to shoot you.” I can feel the sadness and concern radiating from her as she drives me back up the dirt road. I hop in the front seat and nudge her in comfort, and immediately she rubs my head. “Why? why do you keep going there?” she asks absently, passing by the road that leads to home.

‘Cats’ I wooohooo ‘a hoard of cats’

Grandma scoffs, as if she can understand, “are you willing to die over her cats, feral or not, she’s claiming them, she’ll kill you just like I’d kill for you. Stop harassing the neighbors” It isn’t true, Gram is too sweet, I’ve witnessed her escorting spiders, back out side, she just acts mean, to keep assholes like that out of her life. No one messes with a mean dog.

I can’t make any guarantees. Its in my nature to chase cats, just like its in a cats nature to run. Turning towards the window, I paw until the electric devise rolls it down and I stick my head out letting the breeze hit me in the face.

I stink, those bastards sprayed me with cow shit. Again. I don’t mind the smell of cow shit, but Gram does not, which means I’m going to town to get a gosh darn bath. Again. That’s the worst of it right there, Huskies, as a breed, don’t like baths.

As she rants, I close my eyes and drift back, to the best day of my life. The day I met him, Grams son, and the love of my life. It was like a Dream, yet the best reality I’ve ever known.

Stuck in the crate, to small to stand up in, waiting for my execution. Ear throbbing, half torn off by Storm, the sire that they were trying to breed me too. Like I would have ever lowered my standards to accept that animal. Never.

I would rather be dead, before that would happen, even living in those cages, smelling of molding kibble, piss, and my despair. I would tell myself, there must be more to life. Once, they hooked me to a sled and let me run, the wind in my face, so I knew the edge of freedom.

Just when I thought, it was over, I smelt him on the breeze. A coalesces of sweat and determination, born from hard work, and….awww live wires, those sweet treats the human kids sometimes shared. I smile at the memory. Driving up the road, I have only escaped down. His truck running hot, and bleeding black gold, like he was in a rush to get anywhere. I knew, that this was my last hope. My last chance to live, and make no mistake I wanted to live.

I watched as he shook hands with the Boss, a cruel man. Cruel just for sport, and undiscrimitory on who was on the receiving end. I snarled my lip at the mere sight of the boss as he walked down towards the steal kennels that were electric with excitement. Hope, for every last dog, and puppy. Boss steered the man down towards the puppies, a mere 12 feet from the small plastic crate I was a prisoner in. Through the round air holes I watched as Boss Lady handed a plump ball of fur, they called Badger into his waiting hands, as they conversed in the human language. Badger started to wiggle so the man put him down at his feet and the little idiot ran away from the best chance he never knew he had. Some dogs were like humans in that way, never knowing a good thing when it came along.

Right from the start I knew, this human was different. He didn’t take the first pup he was handed, he looked over them all. This guy was searching for something, and although I didn’t quite understand what that ‘something’ was I was determined to be it, if I was given so much as a glance.

My odds were looking good, as he asked to meet the other dogs, not just the puppies. He had work to do in the bush, he told them, and he would need a strong huskies help. Patiently, the Boss Lady obliged him, as the Boss bragged about their licensed pure bloodline, to this charismatic stranger, until he met all the dogs on the property. All, except me. Boss wasn’t even going to show me. Why would he, I was a disappointment to him.

“Is that all the dogs?” his voice was the sound of booming Angels.

“You seen ‘em all” Boss chuckled playing the part of the entrepreneur. They were standing not even a yard away from my cell. I let out a long howl to make my presents known.

It worked, immediately he turned, and start to walk my way. “What about this one?” he asked striding over to the crate.

“You don’t want that one. There is something wrong with her. I was just going to put her down.” Boss said over the crate, but the stranger had crouched down and was eyeing me with soft brown eyes, “She doesn’t get along with other dogs, at 5 she’s never had a litter, nearly tore up Storm yesterday, even though she’s in heat, trust me you don’t want this dog.”

He stood, but I wasn’t afraid, this human saw me, I mean really saw me, looked right into my soul, and from that moment I knew, he was breaking me out of this joint.

Now I’m not saying it was love at first sight. Love? A Human? At that point in time I didn’t believe in liking a human much for anything except food. I didn’t trust anyone. But I knew, if I wanted to live, the only chance I had was leaving this place with him. A common goal, because he was determined to take me from this place. “Trust me” his voice said softly without him ever speaking the words. Instead he said it with his big puppy dog eyes.

“I mean, I just need a dog to take in the bush. To work, pull a sled with supplies” he told the Boss, “the work will probably kill her anyways. Be a sham to take one of your other prize dogs, only for them to be worked to death.” I could see he was wearing The Boss down.

“She’ll run off. You won’t be able to trust her to pull a sled. ” Boss scoffed

“I I doubt she’ll run when tethered to a weighed sled, but if she does the wild life will eat her, either way she probably won’t last and I’ll be back here trying to get another dog.” Casually, he shrugged.

“It’s my reputation on the line” Boss told him “I wouldn’t want anyone to think that she is the type of dog my breeding is producing”

“Understood” He nodded, “Still I would like to see her, see if I could manger her on my own, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. I think this could be a win/win situation” very smoothly He sweet talked the boss into ordering my crate to be opened when not even six hours ago he had promised I would never come out of, alive.

I stretched arrogantly, after the boss lady put the heavy chained leash around my neck, and without trouble, I let her led me out. I didn’t do any of my usual habits. Barking, jumping up, tangling her in the chain, trying to bolt….No this time I was the ‘perfect’ pet. Calm, happy, it was comical to see the Boss and his lady staring with their mouths hanging open. I sat, as if I was an obedient dog at the stranger’s feet and looked to him for direction. I couldn’t control the smile on snout, this was the sweetest revenge I have tasted. Way better then earlier when I had nipped the Boss man and tasted his blood.

I looked up at Him, this unexpected stranger and my eyes rounded, perhaps then in that moment it was pure love.

“How much?” He asked the two sweetest words my ears have ever heard, and they started negotiating the terms of my release. I sat quietly, patiently waiting my heart swelled with pride….no joy! I didn’t know what to expect when we left this place, nor did I care. All I knew is that, today was the day of my emancipation.

My release was contingent on the terms of a five page contract that seem to take an eternity to draft, but soon enough, I was walking beside my rescuer towards his truck. Not even sparing a backwards glance. I didn’t wait for my invitation to hop up into his truck, he had a copy of my contract and papers in his hand. He removed the chain from around my neck and I shook off the invisible bonds that tied me to this place. I was free. Sitting in the passenger seat I was more than ready for my life to begin. 1,945 days after I was born. He rolled my window down, before backing out of the driveway and pointing his vehicle towards the closest highway.

I put my head out the window and felt the wind rush over me, as if the world let go of the breath it was holding. After several turns and twists on back dirt roads, He pulled the truck over, so that we both could relieve ourselves. I went back into the bush, to take care of my business. Not wanting to soil the air he took into his lungs. When I was done, I found him waiting patiently for me, with a cool bowl of water.

“Sorry I don’t have any food to give you” he said, as if he was apologizing, “but we’re headed towards Momma’s place, so you wouldn’t want to ruin your appetite.” I flinched out of habit when he went to pat my head and a storm clouded his eyes, before he bent down beside the watering bowl. “One day, in your life, you won’t ever flinch when a man reaches out his hand.” He told me scratching my head, and gently, so that I didn’t even know he was examining my mangled ear, until it was over. “She’ll fix you up too” he opened the passenger door for me. And I jumped in happily.

After he slid behind the wheel, strangely, he took me in his arms. Before I even knew it was happening, He, had me cradled in his arms like a human babe, and before I had time to panic, or ripe out his throat, he started talking to me. He told me softly as he held me in his arms, “I dreamt of you. I dreamt I would find you in that horrible place, and when I took you from that place, you would be the best dog the world, or anyone in it had ever know.” He nuzzled my neck, as he whispered his sweet dream as if he needed to release it into the cab of his truck. “Better than Lucy, my moms dog that she raised from a pup. Or Lily, who started out a crazy untrained nuisances until Mom took her for three years to train her for my brother. You will be more talented than any dog that acts in the movies, and you are already smarter, than any dog that they have made a movie about. I dreamed all of this. And I know, my dream will come true. All my dreams come true. I am so happy that you are in my life, that you are my dog. One day, because of what I did today, you will return the favor, and save my life. I want to say thank you Dream, before we even start this adventure together. I want to say thank you before I forget, I want to say thank you” I heard his tears before I felt there wetness on my fur “ I want to say thank you now, because I don’t know how long I’ll have the best dog, you, in the world, in my life. Because I don’t know what day will be the day you give your life for mine. But I do know, every day you are breathing on this dirt I will be your faithful friend, Dream, your dutiful servant, and your trusted companion. I’ll try, never to go where they don’t allow dogs, and If I have to go, where you aren’t allowed, I’ll make sure you are safe, so never again will you ever have to endure what you have already endured, Dream. That I’ll promise you on my word, on my name.I am your Dad now, Dreamer, and you are my dog, my responsibility. Welcome to our pack. And know, if that day comes, when that day comes, when I need you to save my life know, I’ll love you even if you don’t save me. ” He repeated these words, his dream until they healed something in my soul, I hadn’t even realized was broken. And when he knew, that I heard his words, I understood his words, that I believed his words, he returned me to the passenger seat so carefully that I started to cry, only then did he turn the engine over, and pull back onto the highway, towards home, and my new life.

I came back into Grams truck, and licked her hand that was casually laying on the console between us, remembering that day, the best day of my life.

“Don’t think you can butter me up, you old reprobate” Gramma chuckled scratching behind the healed ear she had mended three years ago. It still held the scared bite mark of the fight I had with Storm, and both Dad and Grams took to stroking it tenderly, as if reminding themselves to thank me every chance they got for an act I had not yet done. A premonition yet to come to fruition. If, when that day ever comes I won’t even hesitate to give the rest of my days for his, for that we are all certain. Gently, I nuzzle Grams, as if apologizing to her for her troubles. The ones I caused.

“Fine” She chuckled “I’ll stop and get you a pup cup” laughing she pulls into town petting my gently, “After your bath” she informs me gruffly, as if her reputation as a grouch is at stake. I smile, being privileged with her secrets, and obediently agree to her terms.

Later, back at Grams house, I can hear the pack barking with excitement at our return. The whole pack is here at Grandmas for a sleep over as her human kids go city touring. As soon as Grams opens the door they rush out to greet us. All rescues from different puppy mills. Lily, the aging security, a black German Sheppard, that I have a long history of getting to know her, her obnoxious cowboy corky brother Tuck, Lucy, Grams cute mixed Australian Sheppard, Jessica the pug, and my sister Mira who was a condition of my release that my Dad honored after meeting my Mom. We are all one happy pack. My pack.

“Relieved you made it out” Lucy said excitedly, “I thought they shot you, especially when Mom headed towards town.” I strutted into the house, happy to be home, well my second home and jumped up on Grams bed to take a nap.

“Nope” I reassured Lucy with a grin, and then snarled at Mira, just to make her jealous.

“Good, I hope this is the end of it” Lucy commented laying beside me at the foot of the bed.

“Nope” I answered, snatching the toy Mira is playing with, to initiate a tug a war.

“What do you mean ‘nope’?” Lucy growls

“First chance we get, I want to go back and liberate them” I tell her honestly.

“Mom, won’t let you off leash long enough to give you the opportunity” Even Lucy knows better, it breaks Grams heart every time she has to put us on a leash. “I don’t understand why you’re willing to risk our weekend for a bunch of….”

“a bunch of what” I snarl, going still. No one understands, which is expected from a bunch of humans, but from Lucy, she should understand, and it hurts that she doesn’t.

“Cats” she says bravely. “Their just cats. They aren’t worth fighting for, not worth getting shot over.” Her soft brown eyes filled with worry, pleads with me.

“They are still living creatures being held captive in cages. Even Cats don’t deserve to live that way.”

“Right, but are they worth dying for?”

I won’t die, I think quietly to myself as I find a comfortable spot to nap, I know how I’m going to die.