Chapter 4

Let's Hope

We were planning another trip to Lake Erie. It would be for all of the summer.

It was near the six-month anniversary of Katrina's death when my mom decided to get another set of puppies for me. I wear the locket Katrina gave me every day. Would the puppies replace Katrina?

I thought that over and over as we were on our way to the pound. We walked in, and immediately I covered my ears with my hands. There was so much barking, yipping, howling, and whimpering. The clerk showed us the puppies. There were two different litters of Black Lab Border Collie mixes. I wanted one from each. They looked like little black and white rats with floppy ears and shorter, furrier tails than rats.

There was one with white on the tips of their paws and tail. The other was snow white with black ears. They were mine. The lady up front told me that both litters were found in a trash can with their mothers, who had been shot in the head. The officer who found them was Officer Wickert. So, that was what I named my puppy, the black one. The other was Bandit. They asked me if I wanted them in a cage.

"No, I'll carry them." they sat in my lap, asleep, the whole way home. Wickert wore a navy blue collar, and weighed about two and a half pounds. He was about seven weeks old, so he fit right in the crook of my arm. Bandit looked like Wickert, but she had pinks spots on her nose. She was so much softer than Wickert, and she was smaller. When we got home, we made a spot in the kitchen for them to sleep and go to the bathroom. We lined it with old rags, carpet strips, and newspaper. Bandit could've probably sat in her food bowl.

For the first few weeks, they got accustomed to their stuffed animals and pen. We took them outside to play and learn to go potty. By the time they were three months, they were half the size of Katrina was when we found her.

But, when they were seven months old, they didn't need their pen. They slept with me, on my bed. They only allowed me to brush them and take them for walks. My neighbors loved to pet them and roughhouse. But, the only ones they loved best was me, Casey, and Lauren.

Why? We have no idea. Maybe they were linked with Katrina somehow. Not very likely.

Casey, Lauren, and I all decided to go to the new and improved, owned by me, Willow Evergreen, Lake Erie! I got ownership over most of the lake and all of its cabins after what happened. Really, no one owned it. So, we pretty much took over it and are renting out the cabins. And guess what? The mascot is Wickert. We took his picture as a puppy and put it on a flag, into the fabric. More and more people were renting out the cabins. The Kylos were friendly, and commonly seen.

In one incident, thought, a 3-year-old caught sight of Kalitra and started screaming and pointing. Kalitra then felt really shy and withdrawn, but I convinced her that her presence is most welcome. Then we had a new attraction including the Kylos. But Bram, the only male Kylo, is quite stubborn when it comes to this. We attached saddles to most of the Kylos, since they flew like birds. So, people sat on the saddles and the Kylos would fly around the lake. Rides were free. But, Kalitra was off limits. I had to ride her in order to maintain the order of Kylos. Usually, Bram objected to being ridden, but when Kalitra flew over, he had no objection.

Kalitra had leadership over the Kylos since Katrina died. That event was marked on our calendar as a day of no T.V., no electronics (besides lights), and spending the day with Casey, Lauren, and all of our families. Wickert and Bandit were even solemn on that day of the year. He'd only encountered one so far, though. He knew what happened, which was weird.

We were in the car to the lake. Wickert and Bandit were sitting in the middle of us, on the floor. Casey, Lauren, and I were all staying in the cabin we were in when we were here before. It'd been slightly renovated (brand new wallpaper and floors, a TV., a computer, new beds, new bedding, new pillows, and a new staircase that leads to the new bathroom). Just a few changes. Wickert and Bandit had a plaid bed by mine. This time, we were staying for the whole summer. Just me, Casey, and Lauren. Plus the tourists. I was pretty much the boss of the Lake, since I was the one whose old wolf was buried here. I really missed her. But, since the puppies were added to our family, life had more spring in every step. Meaning, Wickert and Bandit jumped on you every time you walked into the house. Which is fine, because they'd replaced Katrina, but in a good way. Kalitra had a shed by our cabin, connected by a tunnel big enough for her to fit through.

The man ran blindly through the dense forest, wanting to get anywhere. Anywhere but there. After running for what felt like forever, the man came across a small cabin, a light on inside. He looked in the window. Two sleeping, huge, dogs were sleeping, curled up against each other, like Yin and Yang. One was pitch black, the other snow white. The white one was wearing a bright red bandana around its neck. It had a dog smile playing at its black lips. The other, the pitch black, was slightly larger, and its paws were moving around like it was running. Suddenly, the black dog looked right into his eyes. He shouted and jumped back. The dog growled from inside the cabin. Then, silence. There was the voice of a girl inside, saying "It's ok, Wickert, nothin's gonna hurt you. Chill out". He scowled. Little girls get in the way. They ruin his plans.

One night, we were hanging around and talking when Wickert started growling. He stared at a dark corner in the cabin. Bandit, being a good dog, was sleeping with her head on my lap.

"Wickert, you dumb dog, what's your problem?" I got down from the bed and walked over to Wickert. I stroked his back briefly. He jumped, and wheeled around. His teeth were bared. As soon as he saw me, he wagged his tail and licked my chin, his paws on my shoulders. He jumped down, and the hair on this spine stuck straight up. His tail was sticking straight out. He pounced, snarling and mouth open, teeth bared. He disappeared into the shadows of the corner. He came back, dragging a man by the jacket. The man had fainted when Wickert attacked. I bent over the man. He was breathing fainting. I called for Kalitra. She came through her tunnel.

What is it? She asked through my thoughts. We could do that, since she couldn't talk.

It's a man. I don't know who it is. I answered back. She sniffed him, and recoiled.

I don't like his scent. He smells suspicious. I told Wickert to drag him outside. Lauren and Casey were still talking, not knowing what happened. My friends were geniuses.

"Wait." Casey finally caught on. "What happened? What's up with Wickert?" She is so fast! Lauren was still chatting to no one in particular, unaware of her surroundings.

"There was a man in the corner, hiding in the shadows." I said, as Wickert came back in, looking pleased with himself. "I'd better go check on what Wickert did. When he has a look on his face like that, he should be in trouble." I walked outside. There was the man, still passed out, laying on his back, with a pile of dirt on top of him. Wickert had attempted to bury him.

The man groaned, and stirred. He sat up. "Whozat? Wutappened?"

"Sir, I'm sorry, but my dog, Wickert has attempted to bury you, since you were hiding in our cabin. What were you doing there?" Kalitra flew out of her shed, fangs and claws bared. She HATED strangers, except for the tourists. The man stared, wide eyed, still on the ground, his arms supporting his body. "She won't attack." I turned, looked at Kalitra. "Will you?"

She sneezed, shaking her head. Her sneeze was like a dog's.

"Uh, ok, Listen, do you have a cabin I can stay in? I'm homeless. My wife kicked me out."

"Well sure! You should have just asked. I would have given you cabin # 13. That's the best one," I added. "Bandit! Wickert! Come. Let's go pups. They trotted alongside me on the way to the cabin. The homeless man was sure grateful!

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. What can I do to repay you?"

"Nothing. It was my pleasure. More tourists!" We laughed. "What's your name?"

"Calvin." We shook hands.

"Willow. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Come on pups!" I turned and started back to the cabin.

Back inside, Bandit was back onto my bed and Wickert was into his red, plaid bed. At midnight, everyone was asleep.

Calvin smiled. His plan was coming together perfectly. Now, to let the people come. They won't know what hit them. It'll be totally unsuspected. He'll set the trap, and then simply leave! Foolproof. Now, to wait.

There. Was that better? Keep reading and I will love you! Review/favorite you know the deal...
Shasta