Last Author's note here:

1. I really enjoyed finishing this story off, it was a blast; I learnt a lot and am actively planning the next couple of installments. PM me if you have any ideas. Yet again here is the link to Essansee's page with the first batch of content: u/4525893/Essansee. Check out my page for the release scheduele (subject to change).

2. I thought that by now, you'd know that I don't do number 2's. Enjoy!

"Mom? What's going on?" Danielle was dumbfounded by her mother's distressed state. Tramp was sat beside her, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He was focused on comforting his mate.

As soon as her parents noticed her and Angel's presence, they tried awkwardly to pretend as if nothing was wrong. Lady nuzzled deep into Tramp's fur to hide her tears, while Tramp straightened up quickly.

"Mom?" She asked again, recieving no reply, "Dad? What's happening?"

Sensing the need to reply, Tramp answered rather quickly, "Oh! Hey kid. Nothing to worry about, just a few plain old things here and there."

That wasn't enough to satisfy Danielle's confusion, "What's wrong with Mom?"

"Uhm...that was just...ya' see...", he stuttered out, before being cut off.

"I overheard a conversation between Jim, Darling and Aunt Sarah.", Lady said tearfully.

"And?" Danielle asked still not getting it.

"They were talking about sending you away." As she said these words, her daughter's eyes grew wide.

The rare afternoon sun provided great warmth in the otherwise normally freezing winter. Typically Danielle would let go and simply soak up the warmth, but at that moment she was stuck in thought. There was a big decision to make and the thought of making it struck many different emotions in the young dog.

On one hand, going off with young Thomas would allow her to be her 'own dog'. On the other, she couldn't face the idea of leaving behind her loving family for an uncertain future. She knew that she lacked the adventerous spirit of her brother, Scamp.

Sighing, she thought of her mother, who was still likely off sobbing somewhere. She couldn't bare the thought of leaving her beloved mother in such grief. The same went for her father. Although he didn't show it, there was clear sadness in the air around him. How could she leave them both?

Collette would probably be sad, but she would be just fine, especially now that she could actually talk with Meelus.

Annette had Killian and Scamp had Angel, their very own soulmates.

It was her who would be saddest. To leave the home she had been born in and grown fond with. To leave behind Jim Dear and Darling for new human masters. Part of her couldn't fathom the thought of leaving. Yet, a different part seemed eager to venture out with her new companion, Thomas. Maybe she did have a bit of Scamp in her after all.

Or maybe it was the realization that she needed to be there for Thomas. She couldn't understand why he acted the way he did, but it clearly made him scared and that was something which she would not allow. If he had to go off without her, she'd spend all her days questioning his health and safety.

She took a long, careful and deep breath, before standing up to seek out her parents.

They were curled up together on the carpet. A bundle of grey and brown fur. Normally Tramp would be taking a nap about now, but today Lady's sorrow kept him fully awake. This was only the third time she had seen her parents this sad, the first being when Scamp had run away on his adventure and the second being when Annette was presumed dead, something that left her father completely broken on the inside. Now here she was, about to bring heartache back to their lives.

As her eyes lingered over them both, she wandered whether she could still bear the task of delivering her decision. She started off in the opposite direction, before stopping herself and taking another deep breath. "You can do this." She told herself.

"Mom?" She asked in a gentle and soft voice.

Despite the tone of her voice, both dogs jumped at her sudden presence. They quickly straightened themselves and looked patiently at their daughter; realizing that she was about to make her decision.

"I want to go with Thomas." She almost winced as she said these words, getting ready to hear her parent's anguish and possible disappointment. To her surprise they just smiled at her.

"That's good to hear kid." Tramp said, smiling even wider.

Danielle looked curiously at them both, "You're not sad...or mad?"

"You're our little lady, but you're no puppy anymore, making big decisions is part of growing up." Tramp explained slowly. "And this is yours' to make." Added in Lady.

She opened her mouth to talk, but then shut it, not wanting to sound her emotions in the wrong way. Instead she rushed at both her parents, who embraced her as if she was still a puppy. Curled up with her parents, she fell asleep, trying not to cry.

Snow piled up on itself. Despite Winter's end being right around the corner, the snow stubbornly continued to fall. This and a strange fog, made for a gloomy atmosphere. The day didn't look very cheery, but there was happiness somewhere. In a humble house up in the hills, overlooking a valley, Danielle sat, staring out of the window at nothing in particular.

She was lost in thought. Her family who she constantly missed, invaded her mind. While she liked it here and was almost completely settled in, she felt sadder than she had anticipated. Her thoughts ended when she felt a gentle hand move it's way up and down her back.

"Walt!" She yelled behind her.

"Yes dear?" Came a response.

"I think she's hungry! She looks a little sad!" She yelled yet again.

No response came. Instead a well-dressed man came into the room and set a plate of food in front of the dog.

He looked at his wife, "With weather like this, I can't blame her for feeling this way."

"I don't think it's the weather." She said, sounding rather concerned.

Walt and Peggy Luske were the kind owners of this warm house. It took her a while, but eventually through much overhearing, Danielle had figured out that Peggy and Darling were sisters and that was how they're family was connected. They had both taken a lot of effort to help her adjust. She didn't want to see them concerned. She forced a wag of her tail and a small bark.

"Look!" Walt said, pointing at her, "Must've been nothing, I'm going to check on Thomas, it's getting late."

"Walt! You shouldn't leave him alone!" Peggy said, angrily.

"Calm down dear, ever since this little lady arrived, Thomas has been doing nothing but good." He bent down to give Danielle a well earned scratch under the chin. "Gaining more vocabulary, eating a healthy amount, doing things on his own and no distress what. so. ever." He stated the last bit rather happily.

"Oh alright! Just don't jinx it!" She said amusingly. "Bring him in, supper will be ready shortly."

Danielle got especially excited now, she hadn't seen her friend since he had gone out that morning for whatever 'therapy' was. She didn't mind being sad, but when he was around there was no room for sadness. The moment he stepped through the door, she was under his feet and as bent down, he chuckled at her excitement.

"Go...Good...Dowg." He stuttered out as well as he could, while Danielle went at work covering him in slobbery dog kisses. "You're getting there." She thought.

The two made their way into the kitchen, where Danielle sighed contentedly and smiled at where she was now.