It was dark, and I could hear the rumbling outside. I didn't like that rumble. It scared me. Sometimes it was low and fast, and sometimes it was loud and lasted long. It also came with flashes of bright light. I whimpered as it rumbled louder. Was it some kind of beast trying to get in? Was the flashing light searching for people for the rumbling monster to eat? I didn't like it. I scurried up to Steve's den, and I stood looking at the thing he called his bed. I could smell him in there. I went over to where his face was and rested mine right next to it.
"Eddie!"
Oh, now I've gone and scared him. I wagged my tail apologetically. Steve sat up then, and I whined.
"It's only a storm, Eddie. It's all right," he assured me.
Giving something a name didn't always make it less scary I found. The rumbling was a beast, I knew it was. It was one I couldn't smell either, which made me even more scared of it. I figured if we were together, we would have a better chance of beating the monster if it managed to get inside.
I wanted on the bed. Steve didn't let me on there hardly at all, but I wanted to be there with him. He would keep me safe, and I would keep him safe. I hopped up on my back legs, my front paws resting on the bed. It felt soft.
"Oh, Eddie," Steve sighed. I could see him thinking, though. I felt he was going to give in. I wanted him to. The flash of light made me yelp.
"All right, but just this once," Steve said.
Yea, he said that last time too. I hopped up and crawled up to the softest part, which I heard him say was a pillow. I was not to chew it. I had earned a swat when I tried last time, but it hadn't hurt. It had been a warning, which I heeded. He put his arm over me as he got comfortable again, and I sighed happily. Then another rumble, and I started to shake. Steve rubbed my ears and petted my back comfortingly. He made me feel better. I wished I was as brave as him sometimes.
...
Morning came, and the rumbling had gone away again. I was happy to see the sun. I pranced around outside while Steve got ready for his run. This time, I played keep away with the restraint. I wanted to be free.
"Eddie, come on," Steve said, growing frustrated.
Nope, nope, nopedy nope! I bounced away and smiled. No restraint for me today. When he jumped for me, I bolted.
"Eddie!"
Catherine was around here. I could still smell her, but it was fainter now that the rumbling monster had peed everywhere and destroyed her scent. I couldn't understand how that monster could mark so much territory all at once. I was very impressed. If I wasn't so afraid of it, I almost wanted to meet it so it could show me how to pee like that. My nose was going fast, though, and I caught something. It was fairly recent. I ran after it. I burst into view of a clearing, and I could smell her everywhere.
Where are youuuuu? I barked. Catheriiiiine!
"Eddie, what are you doing?" Steve asked, finally catching up to me. He stopped and looked around. I was wagging my tail fiercely. I was sure she was there. I began my search.
"What is this?" Steve was saying to himself. He talked to himself a lot, or maybe he was talking to me. I wasn't sure. I stopped at a spot and sniffed. She had spent time there longer than anywhere else. She must have slept there. I kept going and smelled lovely scents of food. She had cooked here. I stopped at a place that was a bit burnt out.
"Someone camped here," Steve said to me. I looked up at him.
Yup, it had been Catherine. I smiled again. Steve wasn't getting it, but I knew his nose was not as good as mine.
"It couldn't have been," Steve said.
It was!
"Was Catherine here?" he asked me. I made the noise in my throat. He was conditioned now to know what that meant when I did that. I could tell.
"She was, huh," he said, rubbing my ears.
Oohhh. To the left. A little further...
"Well, she's gone now," Steve said. He stopped rubbing. Dang it, he was almost to the best spot. I did some circles in front of him, hoping to make him laugh, but he didn't. He seemed somber again.
"Come on, buddy," he ordered. I didn't want to leave, but Steve was right. Catherine was gone. I guess she had just come to check on Steve. I wondered where she had gone. I wanted her to come back.
...
"Hey, Steve," Danno's voice called. My ears perked. I smelled CharlieBoy.
"Hi, Uncle Steve!" CharlieBoy's voice called, on cue.
Yay, CharlieBoy! I got up and skittered over to him, giving him big, sloppy kisses.
"That tickles," CharlieBoy laughed, but he still hugged me. I was glad he liked me.
"Hey, guys," Steve said. "What's up?"
"Oh, just thought we'd come over and hang out for a bit. I'm getting cabin fever," Danno said. I sat patiently in front of him, knowing there was a treat in his pocket. He always brought me one, but he rarely ever let Steve see him give it to me. I didn't understand, but I knew it was a game, and I liked games.
"You still feeling okay?" Steve asked him. When he turned his back, Danno tossed me the treat, and I inhaled it in one shot. It was chewed, swallowed, and gone before Steve even turned back around. CharlieBoy giggled.
"Feeling all right, yea," Danno nodded. I padded over to my seat by the window and sat. I was still waiting for Catherine. I was not giving up hope that she would come back.
"Fetch?" CharlieBoy asked, holding up my well loved ball. Catherine was quickly forgotten.
Oh yes, yes, yes. Fetch was fun! Steve opened the back door, and we went out. Steve and Danno sat and watched while CharlieBoy and I played. I couldn't hear them talking. The wind was in my ears too loud, but I was okay with that. I was having fun. Sometimes you just gotta have fun.
Short and sweet, I know. I finally watched season 8, so I am going to incorporate the episode where Catherine comes back and Eddie bringing help to Junior. I just got season 9, so I'm going to start watching it ASAP! Thank you for reviewing!