Hounded

"Please, Daddy? Pleeasssseee?"

Stayne sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose, and spoke as patiently as he could. "Katarina, I said no. Michael is still a baby."

Katarina pouted, her lip trembling. "But Daaadddyy! I promise to take care of it! Honest!"

Stayne leaned against the couch and took a deep breath. He should never have allowed Katarina to go and visit Bayard and Bielle. How was he supposed to know that Bielle's oldest bitch pup had just given birth? Bielle had been so proud of Bethany.

Katarina quietly entered the kennel, smiling at Bayard and Bielle. Bielle smiled at her. "Hello, little human. Have you come to see Bethany's pups?"

Katarina's eyes widened, and she grinned. "She had puppies? Oooh let me see, please!"

Bielle smiled, and led Katarina to where Bethany lay. She gave a cry of delight at seeing the furry shapes pressed up against their Momma. "Oh….They're so cute! Will you let me have one?"

Bayard smiled. "Well, they still have a lot of growing to do, but once they're old enough, you may come and pick out just the pup you want. Just be sure to ask your parents."

Katarina grinned, and ran to the cottage. Her Momma wasn't there, but her Daddy was. 'Good', she thought 'He'll let me have a puppy.'

Alannah entered the cottage, and Katarina ran up to her. "Momma! Guess what happened!"

Alannah grinned at her. "I haven't the slightest idea."

"Bethany had puppies and they're really cute and small and furry and Bielle and Bayard said that when they get bigger I can pick one out and I promise to feed it and walk it and take care of it and everything so can I please, please, please, please, please have a puppy? Pleeasssseee?"

Alannah looked over at Stayne, who subtly shook his head. She sighed in understanding, and knelt in front of Katarina. "Have you asked Daddy?" Katarina frowned, and nodded. "And what did he say?"

Katarina pouted, looking at the floor, and spoke in a low tone. "He said that Michael was still a baby."

Alannah placed her hand under Katarina's chin, lifting her head up. "He's right. Sweetie, right now there's no way we can have a puppy in this cottage. Michael is still too young. He might hurt the puppy without meaning to."

Katarina sighed, and then brightened up. "What if the puppy stays in the Kennels? I could go and visit it every day!"

Alannah smiled. "You drive a hard bargain, Katarina. Tell you what. If you promise to take sole responsibility-to walk it, feed it, clean up after it-then you can have a puppy." She looked over at Stayne. "That seem fair to you, Ilosivic?"

Stayne grinned. "Why not?"

Katarina whooped in happiness and hugged her parents. "Thank you, thank you! I'm going to go tell Bethany that I can have one of her puppies!"

She ran out of the cottage. Alannah shook her head in amusement and walked over to the couch, sitting next to Stayne. He looked over at her. "Do you think she's old enough for such a big responsibility?"

Alannah nodded. "I do. Besides, I know you. Katarina would have broken your resolve quickly enough." She giggled at Stayne's indignant expression.

Three months later, Katarina became the proud owner of Badger.