Chapter 3: The New World

Hilda reacts with a shocked look and tries to reach out to Twig but the doctor grips his hand on Hilda's arm and pulls her back.

Hilda: Doctor, not now! Twig is in trouble, I need to make sure he-

Doctor: Have you seen Twig? He is not okay! We will try our best to cure him or make him live longer for you to say goodbye.

Hilda: Would you?

Veterinarian: I'm sure, kid.

Hilda now walks away in a depressed fashion, now that she knows that she can't see Twig again, she can't even reach out to him either which brought her to tears pretty quickly.

Hilda walks on the street where she saw the pup wolf in and sees Dagger sleeping in the basket. Hilda smiled a little before walking away with a sad face.

Johanna: How's Twig?

Hilda: He's not getting better.

Johanna gasped loudly from what happened at the hospital.

Hilda: All thanks to you,mum! If you haven't given him the tea, he wouldn't have to die like that!

Johanna: Hilda! What got you to say that?!

Hilda: Oh I don't know,maybe it's the fact that you KILLED HIM!

Johanna: Maybe it's that you haven't been paying attention to Twig lately! You haven't checked on Twig before you went out with your friends!

Hilda quickly shrugged her off and grabbed a plate and started to fill it with wheat and meat pies and started eating.

Johanna followed her actions and ate dinner with her.

As Hilda now does her bedtime routine, Johanna sighs to herself, she now worries about when will Hilda start doing something rash and result in serious consequences.

While this was all happening, Dagger was dragging his basket all the way towards their home since Dagger saw Hilda walking to her home.

Dagger is now at the front door and Dagger scratches it to get her to notice.

Johanna: Oh it's Twig.

Wait,Twig?

Her mind couldn't think that was Twig until she opened the door to see Dagger begging for food.

Johanna: Aaww, you poor little thing. Wait here, I got some meat pie left.

Johanna walked over to the table and gave Dagger morsels of meat pie on his basket and proceeded to close the door.

Dagger ate his meal and then walked around the house to find a way in.

Luckily there was a path to their backward and then the backdoor, Dagger quickly ran through the backyard and entered the backdoor through the doggy door that was used to be Twig's and now walked up the stairs safely, now that Johanna is now asleep on the couch.

Dagger walked up and pushed over the unlocked door of Hilda's room.

Dagger walked in and then climbed onto Hilda's bed and rested on her back until tomorrow.

Hilda: yawns Good mornin- Dagger?!

Dagger woofs in happiness

Hilda: Dagger, what are you doing here? You gotta hide befo-

Johanna was awaken by the sudden voice of Hilda from the bedroom and went upstairs to see who is she talking to.

Johanna: Hilda, who are you talking to?

Hilda: Just myself, mum! Alright, just hide under my bed and then I can give you food.

Hilda hides Dagger under the bed but before she could fully fold the bedsheets to appear normal, Johanna walks in to see Hilda, rushing to clean the bedsheet.

Johanna: Hilda? Why are you in a rush?

Hilda: Oh, just rushing to go downstairs with you.

Johanna: You seem a little worried.

Hilda: Worried about what?

Before Johanna could ask her another question, Dagger comes out of the bed and sat down with a smile.

Johanna: Aah! How did you got in here? Hilda?!

Hilda: How could I got him in? When did you first see him?

Johanna: After dinner and when you're going to sleep.

Hilda: So how could I got him in?

While Hilda and Johanna are arguing over Dagger, he slowly goes back to the bottom of the bed in distress over the argument.

Thankfully the argument ended and they walked down to eat breakfast.

They were quiet the entire time, eating their breakfast and when they ended, Johanna finally broke the silence.

Johanna: Hey, I'm gonna go to the market to get some food for us, do you….. wanna come along?

Hilda: Hhmmpphh, sure. A little sunlight could be good.

After they dress up their outdoor attire, they went out of the door.

Johanna: Wait, I forgot my wallet, wait for me.

Hilda: Sure.

Johanna walks in and then walks up to her bedroom and then sees Dagger.

Dagger woofs in happiness

Johanna: Shush,you. You're getting kicked out.

Johanna grabs Dagger and kicks him out of the house and locks the backdoor and blocks the doggy door. Johanna walks to her room and grabs her wallet and walks out to the door.

Johanna: Here it is, now let's go.

Hilda: Mum, why do you smell like Dagger?

Johanna: I don't know. Maybe I just encountered Dagger while getting my wallet.

Hilda: Oh, ok.

While they were walking towards the market, Dagger follows them along after going around the backyard fence and then walking out the alleyway and then walking behind them.

Johanna and Hilda finally reached the market and they saw her friends and their families with them as well.

Hilda: Hey Frida, how are you today?

Frida: I'm fine. How are you and how's Twig?

Hilda: Oh, he's not any better.

David: Oh, I'm sorry about that.

Before any of them could say something, they were pulled over to buy material and food for their homes.

Dagger then started barking to find Hilda but he couldn't find her in the crowds so he started walking around to find her, thankfully she is easy to find considering her hair.

Hilda: Mum, whose dog is barking?

Johanna: Ignore it, it's probably the neighbor's dog. And we got everything for New Year's today.

Hilda and Johanna walked out of the market until the seller walked in front of them.

Seller: Hello Hilda.

Johanna: Wait, how do you know my daughter's name?

Seller: I was a seller around here and overheard her friends calling her that and the fact that SHE robbed my stall!

Johanna: What?!

Seller: I have to run around town to get my items back an-

Johanna: Get to the point already.

Seller: Your daughter and her friends tried my stuff and never paid.

Johanna: Hilda, explain yourself.

Hilda: We forgot to bring money but don't worry, we brought them back.

Johanna: And still, you are held responsible for your actions.

Hilda: But mum! I gave the items back and paid him ba-

Seller: When? I recorded my money very well and I find no extra 15 shillings!

As everyone is now on the verge of caring for the scene the seller is creating, Johanna sighed and paid him the 15 shillings.

Johanna: Hilda, I don't know what happened between you and him but since this is New Year's, I'm letting you off the hook for now, you're restricted tomorrow after New Year's.

Hilda: Yes mum.

Dagger then walks out of the market and barks at Hilda.

Hilda: Wait, I know that? Dagger?!

Dagger woofs in happiness

Hilda: But how did you- Mum?!

Johanna, now sighing: Fine, you can keep him for now but you're still restricted.

Hilda: Yes mum.

Johanna: Now let's prepare the fireworks, but please keep Dagger away from the fireworks for now.

Hilda: Yes ma'am. Dagger, you need to be away from us. This thing can blow really loud.

Dagger woofs in approval

Hilda: Ok Dagger, let's keep you at my bedroom window for now.

Johanna: We ready now?

Hilda: I'm ready. I'm sorry for that incident with the seller, I can explain myself when we are home.

Johanna: Don't worry, we can cherish that here.

While they were talking, they met up with Frida and David again.

Frida: Hey Hilda, do you have the fireworks?

Hilda: We do! What about you?

David: Got ours as well. Ready to light up the sky together?

Hilda: I am so ready but I want to do it with my mum.

Frida: Oh, ok. We can meet up later.

Hilda: See you soon.

David: You can join us at my house to feast.

Hilda: We will!

Johanna and Hilda now prepares the fireworks while the 5 minutes of the countdown now begins.

While at the hospital*

Twig in his thoughts:

Where is she? Isn't she supposed to help me? Please,come back. These aches are hurting, please. I promised to be with you. Please.

Twig has now died from the stomach ache while they were celebrating New Year's.