Paws pounded the ground as the dog raced through the woods, keen nose searching the air for the scent she once knew well. It's different now, older, covered by a different perfume than it was in those long ago days. But still, her heartbeat quickened as the scent gets closer and closer.
Leaping off a ledge, she whimpers as she lands wrong, turning her right front paw. "It doesn't matter. " she Whispers, ignoring the pain as she bounds into the clearing. A howl of joy, fear, alarm and grief bursts from her lunges as her teeth close on the wrist of the man with the gun.
"Run!" She barks, knowing full well that there's no way the woman could possibly understand go of the man's arm, she bared her teeth. Judging by his scent, he was no longer a threat. He seemed to have grasped the severity of what he had been about to do. His hands shook, and tears filled his eyes. Part of her wanted to comfort him, but most of her didn't care.
" Y..you.." her head whipped around as the gravelly voice reached her ears. Her tail started to wag, and she bounded over to where the gray clad woman knelt on the ground. She barked joyfully as she pressed her head against the woman's shoulder, licking the tears off of her cheeks .
Soft , worn fingers caressed her fur, which fell in golden waves, covered in bursts and woods.
Suddenly, she gasped. Crushed against the woman's chest, she couldn't breathe, as she felt herself shaking with the force of the human's sobs.
"Thank you." The soft voice whispered, hot breath on her neck, eyes searching her, fingers softly untangling the mess of golden fur.
"I'm here. I've come home." She wanted to say, but she knew Kate wouldn't understand. So she settled for a long sigh, closing her eyes against the hand that stroked her head.