He sat with his eyes closed as tight as they could be. Every time he opened them, he saw a strange and unfamiliar place. Somewhere he couldn't feel safe, no matter what. He cried and whimpered, but that did nothing to stop his fear. He would fall asleep and find peace in the darkness that sleep brought with, only to wake up again and find himself crying and whimpering, once more.

This cycle repeated itself several times throughout the night. Eventually he grew tired of this happening and sat up in the bed. Nothing in the room scared him now, but he still didn't want to be here. And so like he usually did, he balled up a fist and prepared to start punching himself, when all of a sudden, he hesitated strangely. He looked down at hand, almost as if there should have been something there. Something brown and furry.

Looking around the room, he couldn't see anything. Then suddenly he jumped out of the bed and walked around, quietly searching. He checked under the bed, in a wardrobe and around a chair, but couldn't find what he was looking for. After a little while of searching absent-mindedly, he noticed a light from one of the windows of the room. He liked light.

It was coming from one of the windows in the room. When he clumsily pulled the curtains away, the bright light of a rising sun, warmed his face. This caused an extremely soft and subtle smile to form.

He stood there, basking in the sunlight for a few moments longer. When he looked around his subtle smile, suddenly widened into something much bigger. There, lying on the grass near the doghouse was the brown and furry something that he had been looking for.

Glancing behind him, he saw that the old woman, who had brought him here was still fast asleep, no doubt tired after the long day before. He noticed that the door was open ever-so-slightly and took it as a chance to creep out.

However, as soon as he left the room, everything else seemed so much bigger than him. Not knowing what to do he covered his eyes with his hands and almost started scratching them.

What stopped him was a memory of the day before. The feeling of what he was trying to find. He slowly lowered his hands and although he was still scared, he chose to push on with a bravery he didn't know he had.

Eventually after much hesitation and doubt, he found his way down the stairs and at the front door. Seeing a key hanging next to the door, he cautiously grabbed it and had the door unlocked.

Then he felt as though he was in another place entirely. All fear evaporated instantly. The sunlight made him feel happy and at home. He found himself breathing in the fresh air and walking peacefully forward. He was happy and alone in this place.

But he didn't want to be alone. He looked right. Nothing. He looked left. As soon as he spotted what he had been longing for, he rushed towards it with happiness. Only slowing to approach with a little bit of natural caution.

Danielle woke up from a really good dream. As she happily opened her eyes, she found herself confused at her surroundings. When she got up, her body ached. All the happiness that her dream had brought her went away immediately, as she realised where she was. She hadn't ever woken up this early and it was still a bit dark outside. As she slumped back down to sleep, she swore to never take her comfortable bed for granted again.

She tossed and turned, but couldn't fall asleep again. Eventually she noticed the sun settling on the grass and left the doghouse, just to lay there and find warmth.

All was quiet, up until she heard a door being opened nearby. She assumed it was Jim Dear. Unable to face him, she kept her head down and hoped that he was only outside for some human thing and not coming out to scold her again.

Her heart rate picked up when he started to slowly approach her. Sighing, she slowly lifted her head and prepared to ask for the man's forgiveness. She put on the widest puppy eyes she could muster and looked up.

Her puppy eyes turned to surprised eyes as soon as she saw who was standing there. She was about to let out a series of happy barks at her friend, when suddenly something told her otherwise. Instead she approached him as slowly as he was approaching her, albeit with a wagging tail. She was stopped by the chain fastened around her collar, leaving the boy to close the rest of the distance.

Once he reached her, he stopped, looking uncertain of what to do. She placed a paw on his foot and gently licked his toes. This got a small smile from the boy, who now bent down. He carefully placed a hand on her back and then stroked gently.

After a while the two were lying together in the warm sunlight. Both were at peace and both were happy.

In her head, Danielle thought that the peace would never end, until she heard a very unpleasant and very familiar screech.