A PAW'S WARMTH

"Kora?"

Slightly confused that she was not welcomed, the emerald eyes roam around her apartment. She called again as she takes her shoes off and put it aside. Unfortunately, she forgot to bring her umbrella today, she was uncomfortable because of her wet clothes and shoes that were soaked due to bad weather.

"Kora? Where are you?"

Asami scanned her apartment that was the same size as her father's bathroom at his exclusive condominium. She got a hard time looking for an affordable apartment near her university. Also, the adjustment from a woman who has everything to an independent woman is hard, you need to earn by your own, it's also isn't easy just like the program that she chooses – Veterinary Medicine but she'd rather be alone than to live with a father who pushes every single thing he wants to her. Be an engineer, do this, do that, etc, etc.

She never felt this kind of freedom before, she can do everything that she wanted to do, she didn't have to follow her father's order, and she can spend all her time by herself. Well not really by herself but with her pet.

"Kora, Honey? Can you come out? I miss you you know?"

She walks towards every favorite spot of her pet, on the sofa, behind the bathroom door, under the dining table, near the kitchen island yet she can't find it. Her pet usually welcomes her with kisses or sometimes by whining and scratching behind the closed doors and Asami was always excited to go home because of her pet. But where was she?

Asami decided to check the last favorite spot of her pet, she walks towards her bedroom and notices the closed door, she didn't think twice to open her room excitedly to see her adorable pet.

And there it was, a copper-colored and wooly coated dog lying on its belly at Asami's bed. Its nose was tucked underneath her pillow and it barely acknowledges its owner. Asami finds everything about her dog cute, a smile immediately planted on her face as she saw her dog with its strange habits.

"Is being in my bed interesting than me?" Asami chuckled and reached for her pillow. She lifted it up until her dog see her and she still can't help to become mesmerized with the eyes of the dog when it looks at her. Its eyes were clear as snow and ocean water and it looks at you like it's watching you through the depths of your soul. The dog has a distinctive look like a wolf and can be intimidating but Asami never experiences fear when she adopted the dog, for her, it was the sweetest dog and the cutest especially when the dog drops the intimidating look as it tilted it's head with curiosity and smile with its tongue sticking out.

Another thing that helps her live through the number of problems was her dog, every gesture of her dog towards her can melt her worries away. She felt blessed she never thought that the dog would be a sweet Siberian Husky because the first time she saw the dog was lying under the unmaintained old car of her landlord, her tongue was out while breathing very fast, her ribs were visible enough on her thin body, and Asami can't even see a single fur because of scabies all over her body.

Asami isn't really fond of dogs or any kind of animal but what pulls her attention was the eyes that stare deep down to her soul. She hesitates if she will adopt the dog and if she can deal with the responsibilities of having a pet but she tried to help and gain its trust by giving water to drink and some leftover food to eat. Asami thought that it would be challenging to gain the dog trust because of the situation that the dog has experience but she's wrong, the moment the dog stand up, wags her tail and pass through the given food and water while staggering on her way towards the woman, Asami knew that she would do everything to bring the dog back to being healthy. She can't help herself to smile when she saw the dog sit as if she's asking to be pet. Asami pauses a little thinking if she would pet the dog but she can wash her hand later.

"Please don't stare at me like that" Asami pleaded and got surprised when the dog tilted it's head as if inquiring the meaning of what she said

Asami's cheek was hurting, she forgot the last time she smile for too long and it's the dog's fault. She slowly and gently gesturing her hands towards the dog's head as if she was testing a water temperature and carefully observing the dog's reaction. The dog looks upward and follows the hand that's about to reach her and the emerald eyes drifted to the dog's dirty and old collar

"So you're abandoned huh?" She forgot petting the dog and got focused on finding what's written on the dog's collar until she felt a tongue licking her outstretched hand, Asami quickly withdraw her hand and immediately regret her actions as the dog got startled, took a number of steps backward to distance itself and gave the girl a heart-melting behavior that a dog does – bow it's head and tail down, displaying the submissiveness while giving an apologetic eyes.

Asami felt guiltier than the dog, she could only sigh as she called again the dog

"Sorry for surprising you, never been licked by a dog before so…." The girl stopped, she didn't know why she was explaining to a dog and the worst is talking to it "As if you can understand me" then she stares at the dog waiting for its next movement and when the dog didn't move a single muscles she called with a gentle voice and a gesture of a hand "Come here" Asami kneel so the dog can see her in an eye-level, it started to walk cautiously towards her and stopped with a safe distance between them.

She bribed the dog by putting a line of sandwiches towards Asami and closed enough the dog made a beeline while eating. Asami carefully put her hand on the dog's head after eating and confidently petting its head when the dog didn't show any hostile action. She reached for the collar and read its name

'DOG'

"The Heck" Asami's eyebrows twitched as she read. It's more like a label than a name. The dog's irresponsible owner definitely didn't care for the dog, he/she can't even name a dog properly, a name is an identity and the previous owner didn't even give the dog its privilege to have its identity.

The emerald eyes roam for the second time on the dog's body and can't help to sigh. She hopes she will not regret her impulsive decision because she can't ignore its eyes that are full of emotion. The dog is thankful and happy for the food that is given and it was confirmed when the dog poked her using its nose and barked at her while its tail excitedly wags. A sound of thunder came and a small number of raindrops started to fall, the dog immediately walks away and hide under the old car exactly knowing what's happening. Asami watches for awhile and strengthens her resolve.

"Come here" the girl called and gesture, but the dog only watch, making Asami feel like a fool for a second

"Come here Dog" She tried again using the name of the dog, hoping that it will respond to her but it didn't. She sighed and thought that if she's already having a hard time right now what other things in the future that will make her sigh too when she keeps the dog

Unbeknownst to Asami a car passed by and an empty soft-drink can fly towards them

"KORA!" She shouted letting her native tongue slipped due to her shock and when the car was already far to be seen, Asami look at the dog again and it was doing the same, it's looking as if why did she suddenly call the dog. This gave Asami a thing to try.

"Kora, come here" she tried for the 3rd time and a smile donned on her face when it stands, walk and followed her into her new home

The memory made Asami emotional and crawl towards the dog lying on her bed, she hugs her fur baby and her body immediately relaxed when she smells Kora. It smells like a usual dog but its scent gives a relaxing odor that melts all her stress and forgot her exhaustion.

"I'm home, Kora"

How she wished that their days are always peaceful like this.

She thought that being a first-time pet mom would be difficult, but it didn't for Asami, treating Korra's scabies is pricey but easy because Kora was the most adorable, sweetest, goofiest yet intelligent and obedient dog she had ever encountered. Unlike other dogs, Kora wouldn't run when she saw an injection, she'd rather whimper while being hugged and pet by Asami until the pain is gone, and when the treatment is done, Kora always makes Asami the proudest pet mom when she licks the girl's hand or face as if the dog was thanking her

Kora was unique than the other dog, she started to notice little things immediately after she adopted her.

Asami had watched many dogs' rescuing videos when it appeared on her newsfeed and she can't help to see the difference between Kora and other dogs. Street dogs are usually in a depressing state where their trust to people is almost gone while when she met Kora, she can tell that she still believes in the goodness in people.

During Kora's first week on Asami's house, she seems to be shy while observing the new environment, she never hops and sleep on sofa and bed even when invited, she would sleep on her doormat (because Asami is focusing on her medication and healthy foods that she doesn't have money for Kora's bed) as if the dog is ashamed on her skin. The dog also never barked or call the woman's attention for food, Kora was patient on everything and when Asami was about to give her food, the snuggler pet would lick Asami on the face with excitement first before digging on her own food.

Until the raven-haired girl saw instances where she thought that her dog was a human trapped in a human body

It was after a toxic schedule of Asami due to her final week, Kora's skin was completely healed from the scabies but the ointments and some medications are still needed, the dog's fur was starting to grow slowly and the woman finds it cute that some of Kora's fur are piled up on different parts of her fur baby.

Kora was already at her feet waggling her tail excessively and tapping her paws on floor as Asami opened Kora's cabinet, the emerald eyes wander inside it, it was full of her dog's clothes (Asami enjoys window shopping for her dog's clothes and purchasing it online) Most are blue-colored clothes with different variety from pajama, sweater, jerseys, jackets, outdoor gear, others are toys, bag, and accessories like bandana and shoes, Yes most of them are blue because Kora would always bark at her and wouldn't shut up whenever she tried dressing the dog with a different color.

The raven-haired woman didn't need to call the four-legged pet but recently she's having a problem dressing Kora because some of her clothes are getting smaller. Kora has gained weight and Asami's heart swell every time her buddy's health is improving.

Kora runs towards the main door. Asami followed and saw her buddy is waiting for her to open the door and when she did, she thought that it was right to put Kora on a slightly thick sweater because the weather is a little colder than normal.

Kora didn't run nor walk first, she's always patient and wait until Asami steps outside.

"Kora, Let's go"

Kora didn't even need a leash during walks, she never wanders too far, and Kora always makes sure that Asami is walking with her by glancing every minute. The woman trusts Kora enough that she didn't need to check Kora if she's following her.

They walk silently towards the nearest park, Asami appreciating the views on the streets and Kora sniffing every tree and plant she can see. Children immediately swarm around them at the park and pet Kora, her canine buddy preferred playing with the kids than to other dogs that make her quite famous on the kids and their parents in the area.

"Kora" Asami shows a frisbee and gave it to one of the children

"Try throwing it and she will catch it for you" Kora barks at her and that makes the kids excited. The woman smiled at this and pet Kora with affection

"Let me try"

"I'm next"

"Throw it"

And they did

The children squeals, showing their excitement when Kora runs as fast as she could in the direction of the flying frisbee and jump to catch it. Asami couldn't help herself to feel so proud of her dog every time Kora rushing towards Asami to give the frisbee that she caught and vice versa whenever Kora receives a pat from her master.

Asami planned to spend her whole afternoon with Kora at the park. Asami sits on a bench doing some of her paperwork and when she's done she opens a book, reads it while glancing at Kora every minute. The dorky dog is pretty much always where the kids are, playing with the children, chasing a frisbee, fetching, playing tag of war, digging together with the children on the sandbox, lying beside the children reading a book and watching those who are coloring their coloring books.

Until a loud cry was heard, Asami immediately turns her head on the direction of the crying child and saw another Kora's peculiarity that made up her mind that her dog is human trapped in a dog's body.

Kora walks slowly, circling the kid as if assessing what was happening and when the kid noticed Kora's prescience the kid stop crying. Kora sits beside her, reach her using her snout, and when she felt that the kid acknowledges her, Kora roll over and exposed her stomach as if it was asking that kid to rub her belly. Asami was astonished, she never saw that act of kindness on the other dogs, maybe she did but she never saw it personally.

"Hello, are you lost too?"

The kid was starting to calm down and a smile was slowly forming on his lips, Kora side-lie and answers in a low short yet numbers of howl as if it's talking to the kid. The kid was talking to Kora and Kora was answering him with her low howls when Asami came to their side

" I saw you crying while looking around, are you lost?"

The kid nod and look around hoping that he'll see her parents but unfortunately not

"Don't worry just stay where you last saw your parents and they will eventually come back to find you, Kora and I will stay with you until your parents find you"

"Is she your dog?"

Before Asami could reply, a bark was heard

"I guess that's your answer little kid" Asami chuckled as she kneels down to pat the lying dog, Kora's tail was wagging and hitting the floor then stand up to walk on the bench that Asami occupied, the dog reach for the frisbee and runs back to give the kid the toy.

The boy gave Asami a quizzing look while the woman smiled at him, indicating that he could play with Kora

Asami didn't show her surprise but she did when she already sat on the bench and contemplate everything that happened in front of her

A dog sensing the emotions of people that surround her, giving them calming and soothing sensations that will put a smile onto peoples face and help them relax

An animal that displays humanity through simple actions

How unthinkable it is

Asami could only giggle on this

Everyone has fears even the most courageous one. It may be a fear on height, insects, thunder, etc and Asami isn't an exception

Now that she had Kora on her life losing her was Asami's greatest fear then things involving her father second to it.

The warmth that Kora gave made her house a home, she never fails to give Asami light during her downs, Kora's simple gestures offer Asami comfort that eases her anxiety and the companionship of Kora was enough to ease loneliness.

The woman felt like she was needed and wanted.

But then Asami's greatest fear uncover itself and met her

They were on the street, Asami took Kora for a walk. The weather was fine, the familiar neighbor smile at the pair when they pass by and Kora greets every child that she met. It was a normal walk for the pair until Kora become restless to the point that she becomes jumpy on everything and frightened because she doesn't know where to hide. Asami pause for awhile observing the behavior of her dog, this is the first time she saw Kora like this and then –

A sudden strong magnitude of the earthquake was felt, everyone in the vicinity got alarmed and the panic cries from the neighborhood can be heard.

The raven-haired woman tried to keep herself calm despite the nauseous feeling that she's having from being swayed side to side, she noticed that some of the people got out from their respective home, the houses from the outside was shaking like toys that anytime they would break.

Asami immediately stops looking at the houses when she felt that something bump on her legs, she lowered her line of sight and saw the terrified Kora, bumping unto every people she passes toward the unknown direction.

"Kora! I'm here buddy!"

A terror-stricken expression was donned to Asami's face, she shouts as loud as she can so Kora would know where she is but it is futile, Kora's panic blocked Asami's voice. The woman tried to follow the fur haired but lost her balance and fell to the ground because the earthquake makes even just standing hard.

Asami could only watch Kora run until she could no longer see her image and how ironic it is that the raven-haired woman slowly realizes that her greatest fear came into her as fast as the blink of an eye.

Asami never saw the depths of her dog's eyes again.

That day marks the beginning of her end.

Author's notes: I'm guilty enough that English is not my mother language and my vocabulary is limited but I tried to proofread to make this one presentable. Its been so long since the last chapter that I published and I hope I'm not getting rusty.

Anyway, I hope this story, as well as the chapter, suits your taste.

See you again with the next updates!