Let me know what you guys think of this chapter. It took me two days off and on (mostly on) to type all this up. Next chapter is what you've all been waiting for, so stay tuned and enjoy!
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Jordyn can feel a soft and warm bulk pressed against her side, lax and completely relaxed.
Rex, her mind supplies. But, no, that can't be right.
She takes in a huge inhale of cool air that runs through her warm and fatigued with sleep lungs, arching her back in a savory stretch. With a sigh, she blinks her eyes open, only for them to widen when theyre met with a pair of ice blue. The haze of sleep instantly leaves her.
"The hell are you doin'?" she asks the cheeky looking Aussie. He looks quite a bit better today. He nudges her arm with a cold nose, looking at her expectantly. She raises an eyebrow at him, wondering why he decided he needed to climb up on her bed with her. "Alright, dude, up up up," she says as she pulls herself into a sitting position. The dog hops down slowly, obviously still in pain.
She pushes herself up, finding a pair of black sweats in one of the drawers of her dresser and sliding them over her bare legs. Her eyes meet the Aussie's ice blues, him watching her expectantly as he stands at the door, favoring his right leg.
"Alright, alright, dude, I'm comin'," she strides past the dog after grasping her phone off the bed, backpedaling down the hall to watch him hobble after her. Through the living room and to the glass back sliding door is where she leads him, popping the latch and pushing the scratched glass aside. Cool morning air rushes into the house, sending a shiver down Jordyn's spine. Rex had always scratched on the door when he wanted in. She stands aside as the dog hobbles out the door and off the cement patio to the lush green grass that is fenced in with light reddish brown wooden planks.
She watches as the dog squats to pee, before meandering back through the living room and to the kitchen, leaving the back door open for the Aussie.
Her stomach aches with hunger as she diggs through the relatively empty fridge. She'd need to go shopping, and her guest needs food.
She sits back on her feet, waking the screen on her phone for notifications.
Nothing.
All she sees is the time blaring at her. 8:14.
She doesn't know how she's going to have two dogs that don't get along, but she'll have to try. If it really won't work, she'd have to find a place for the German Shepherd to go and beg her mom when she gets home to let her keep the Aussie. She scoffs at herself. She's eighteen, she shouldn't have to ask.
Yet at the same time she doesn't want to lose her place to live.
She sighs, reaching her arm above her head to place her phone on the counter that is behind her.
She's startled when a cold nose touches her bicep, causing her to fall backward on her butt, her crulean eyes wide as they fall on the silver dog. The Aussie tilts his head at her, his mouth falling open slightly, almost in amusment.
Thats it.
That face.
She wasn't sure about the name but now its going to stick.
That face cements it in her mind.
She grumbles. "You really are a Sideswipe, aren't ya?" She takes his head in her hands, gently rubbing up and down his neck.
She pushes herself up. The only thing she sees in the fridge that is at all appealing to her are bagels. As her bagel cooks in the toaster, she treks back through the house to retrieve the bottle of pills. Sides is at the entrance to the hallway when she walks back out her door. She pets over his head as she passes, again wrapping the pill in ham.
He takes it out of her hand eagerly, licking his lips after he swallows. She chuckles as she hears the toaster pop.
With one half of the bagel inbetween her teeth and the other in her left hand, she clicks the living room 70 inch flatscreen TV on as she plops down on the plush black couch.
The news flickers on, and she rolls her eyes at all of the political talk going on. She sees Sides slowly climb up onto the couch next to her out of her periferal vision and plop down, facing the TV. A smile twitches at the corner of her mouth.
She punches a number into the remote, and a grin breaks across her face as Dissapeared flickers to life. Crime shows are her favorite.
She breaks the remaining half of the bagel in half, giving the cream cheese slathered thing to the Aussie, whom hadn't been paying attention to her eat at all. What good manners he has. She holds it infront of his nose, watching with amusment as he sniffs at it curiously, before gently taking it between his teeth. She chuckles at him, rubbing the back of his neck. She'd have to put more Neosporin on his wounds soon.
When Deadly Women is about over, she hears the loud ping of her phone. She pushes herself up eagerly, practically pouncing for the LG before the screen even had time to blacken. Its from her aunt.
"He's ready whenever"
Jordyn gives a shaky sigh, eagerness and aprehensivness bubbling in her belly.
"Ok, I'll be there in an hour or 2 I need to so shopping real quick" she sends, trying to figure out a solution to the problem she's about to have. She wouldnt be able to break up a death match between that huge German Shepherd and this Aussie. Theyre already hurt bad enough. It'll be annoying to have to switch one dog outside to let another in, and what if they accidentally meet and rip eachother apart? All she'd be able to do is beat them with the broom or hose them down, but that might not stop them. Theyre too big to pick up.
She gives a disgruntled sigh as she puts her phone back on the counter. Hopefully everything just works out. Maybe they hadn't even fought eachother? Thats a stretch, but possible. She hadn't seen them fight.
"What am I gonna do with you, Siders?" she asks the Aussie as she plops back down on the couch, ice blues intent on her. "I just hope you guys don't feel the need to tear eachother apart. I don't know what I'm gonna do yet, but hopefully it works out," she talks to the dog, venting her concern. The Aussie tilts his head at her. She heaves a sigh, pulling herself up for a shower. She begins mumbling out a list of things that she needs to buy as she walks down the hall. Her mother had transfered one thousand dollars into her bank account for emergencies and food for the month. Whatever was left over would be transfered back into her mother's account when she got home. It seems like an excessive amount, but her mother had told her it was fine. She's trying to see how little she can spend over the month.
Her mother trusts her indefinitely. That or her mother knows shes frugal with money and she's her mothers backup plan. Either works.
After a twenty minute shower and a trip to her room to dress herself in a grey tank top and dark jeans, in which she hadn't seen Sides once, she's running a black and red brush through her shaggy and short hair as she moves to look for him. She finds him still laying on the couch, and she chuckles lightly to herself.
"Alright, buddy, c'mon, you gotta go outside," She calls as she strides toward the still open back door. She would let him stay in, but she's going to be bringing the other dog back. He doesn't move, merely staring at her with eyes that stick out like becons against his grey face. She hits her knees. "Please, baby? C'mon, I'll be back in not too long," she whistles and calls at him. With what seems to be a sigh, he hops off the couch delicately, hobbling over to the girl and outside. "Atta boy," she coos before shutting the door. She retrieves a large aluminum bowl from one of the cupboards in the kitchen, filling it with water out of the tap.
She slides the door open just enough to set the bowl of water outside for the dog, who is gazing at her curiously as she sets the bowl off to the side of the door before shutting and locking it. She waves at him with a smile, before retrieving her debit card, phone and keys off the counter. She locks the deadbolt and pushes the button by the light switch to open the garage door.
She's down the street in the matter of a minute after insuring the garage door shut all the way. Walmart would have everyting she had on her mental list, so thats where she'd stop before she picks the dog up.
After her pit stop, at which she picked up a bag of Iams dog food and various food items for dinners and breakfasts, she drives the fifteen minutes it takes to get to her aunt's office from where she's at. Its just after 10, so the parking lot is relatively deserted.
She takes a parking spot right up front and switches her car off. With uncertainty eating away at her insides, she meanders into the familiar office. She's greated with a huge smile from Amelia.
"Back so soon?" She teases lightly.
"Yup," Jordyn smiles. "Wheres my dog at?"
"In the back. He was a nightmare last night, let me tell ya," Amelia rolls her eyes.
"That bad?" Jordyn is worried now.
"Yeah. He's acted like an angel today, though," Amelia nods as she types away at her computer.
"That doesn't tell me anything," Jordyn huffs as she pushes the door to the back open. She gazes around. Theres only one German Shepherd out of the eight other dogs in various cages. Her eyebrows knit together as she approaches the black dog and kneels down infront of his cage.
This dog...
He's got white front legs.
He's gazing up at her with a calculating look in his reddish brown eyes, his ears hocked forward atop his massive head.
"Finally here, eh?" Jordyn starts at the familiar smooth voice, her head whipping around to gaze at her aunt, who has blue scrubs adorning her body.
"Yeah. This is him?" She asks as she stands. Her aunt nods an affirmative.
"He was a handful last night, but he's calmed down a lot. He has no microchip, so we gave him shots and treated him with flea medication," her aunt informs as she glides across the room and over to Jordyn. Jordyn has to crane her neck to see her aunts face. Her aunt is five foot eight, so she's quite a bit taller. "We also gave him a pain injection and IV antibiotics, so you won't have to give him a pain pill until tomorrow morning and he shouldn't need any antibiotics. He has fourty-eight stitches."
Jordyn nods at her aunt, her eyes finding the German Shepherd once more. "Thank you for doing this, Auntie."
"Not a problem," her aunt waves her off. "Listen, if he bites you or gives you a hard time, call the office and Adam will pick him up and bring him back here and we can find a place for him. I have six surgeries still today so I'll be busy," She ruffles Jordyn's hair affectionately. Jordyn nods with a giggle making its way past her lips. A thought occurs to her.
"What about neutering him?"
"We can do that later on a slow day or something, and you can assist me, alright?" Jordyn smiles with a nod. "You know where the extra leashes are, help yourself and I'll see you later, kay?"
"Alright," Jordyn waves to her aunt as she goes back the way she came, from the exam rooms. With a huff she pulls a black leash off the hook on the wall before cautiously unlatching the cage and opening it slowly. The dog merely watches her intently.
She latches the leash in a noose before slowly moving to slip it over his head and around his neck, watching his face for any warning signs. He allows her to do so.
With a relieved exhale, she gently pulls on the leash, the dog pulling himself up to march stoically out of the cage, his head held high. She raises an eyebrow at him as she closes the cage before leading him to the front. His shoulders come to just below her hip. He's absolutely massive.
Amelia's attention turns to the pair when the door opens, her eyes instantly finding the black dog.
"Well, behaving himself nicely, ain't he?" she chuckles lightly. Jordyn hums. "I swear to ya, he's got wolf in him or somethin', he's one big dog."
"No kidding," Jordyn laughs quietly. "I should get him home."
"Heres your pain pills," Amelia calls. Jordyn takes the bottle from her hand with a thank you before walking toward the door, the dog marching at her side. How a little Aussie beat this behemoth of a German Shepherd she has no idea. That little Aussie must pack one hell of a punch.
Unless Sides was tag teaming the Shepherd with another dog. Jordyn tries to not think about it as she loads the dog into the passenger side seat.
Once she's in her seat, she fishes through her CD case, pulling the disc she's looking for out of it before ejecting the CD that is already in the stereo and putting it in the place of the other. As The Pretty Reckless funnels through the car, she pulls out into traffic, apprehensive of what will happen when she gets home.
She steals glances of the big dog next to her on occasion. He stays deadly calm, always facing forward. Nervousness builds in her stomach as she turns down the road she lives on. As she pulls into her driveway, she pushes the button on the garage door opener, pulling in and shutting the door behind the car.
She pops the trunk, heaving the bag of dog food over her shoulder and carrying it to set it down by the garage door. She fumbles with her keys, unlocking the door and pushing it open. She loops her arms through the five plastic bags full of food, carrying them into the house and setting them on the counter.
Now for the hard part.
Hopefully she wouldn't be ripped apart. She manages to get the dog in the house without incident, and she pulls the leash off from around his neck. He gives himself a shake, and walks off around the kitchen and to the living room. Not knowing when they ate last, she wants to feed them.
Fishing two good sized bowels from the cupboard, she cuts the top off of the bag of food with a knife before filling the two bowels. She tosses the knife in the empty sink, striding with a bowel in each hand to the living room. The German Shepherd is sniffing around the livingroom, seeming as if he's searching. She sets the food infront of him, and he simply watches her with that calculating look of his.
Her eyes land on Sides through the glass door, looking put out and grumpy. She giggles as she pushes the door open, setting the bowl down for him. "Hey, handsom, were you good?" she smiles at the dog as he tilts his head. He looks curiously down at the bowel of food, then back up to her. "I'll let you in in a bit, okay?" She asks as she stands, shutting the door. Those ice blues of his seem to glow in the morning light, making them look almost white. She smiles softly before turning on her heel back to the kitchen to put the groceries away.
As she's putting the vegetables away that she had bought for stir fry, she hears two loud barks from outside. She stands, glancing around the corner to see the German Shepherd on one side of the door, and Sides on the other. They're both standing tense, their hackles risen, but theyre otherwise quiet. The Shepherd's white legs seem to glow in the sunlight seeping through the door.
After she watches them for a moment, she decides to finish putting the groceries away. As long as they aren't trying to kill eachother through the door, they're fine. Nothing wrong with them having a friendly little standoff or whatever it is they're doing.
She pours herself a bowel of cerial to munch on as she plops down on the couch once more, the TV still on from earlier.
Her spoon pauses half way to her mouth when a heap of silver trots infront of her with a heavy limp. He sits infront of her expectantly, ice blues pleased and his mouth hanging open in happiness. She blinks, setting the spoon back in the bowel slowly.
"The hell?" she grumbles harshly, causing the dog to tilt his head and give a yip. She stands, her gaze turning to the back door. Its slid open just enough for the dogs to get in and out, the German Shepherd no where in sight. "Did you...?" she begins, worry etching itself into her belly. She sets the bowel on the coffee table and quickly joggs over to the open door. The Shepherd is laying out on the grass, soaking up the sun.
They had seen eachother.
And not ripped eachother apart.
The hell?
Her gaze again finds the Aussie. He's gazing up at the cieling, one ear pushed back and the other forward.
She doesn't know whats going on with these dogs seeming to make a truce, but she'll gladly take it. Its less fighting and having to worry for her.
A thought strikes her.
"You opened the door, didn't you?!" Jordyn says with a raised voice. The dog looks at her, his ears and eyes alert and a tilt of his head. "What am I gonna do with you?" Jordyn huffs, giving a disgruntled look. "Unbelievable."
The Aussie yips at her.
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After a few days, it became completely apparent that the Shepherd liked to stay outside, and Sides liked to follow Jordyn around wherever she went. It was hard to make the Shepherd come in at night so she could shut and lock the door, but she managed, with a bit of bribbing.
She should have bought more lunch meat.
Sides is a complete clown, living up to his namesake. He would also wait until Jordyn had fallen asleep to climb up next to her. Every time she'd woken up, he'd been right there, pressed into her side. She couldn't deny she loves it. Cuddly dogs are amazing. It almost seemed like... Like he's used to always laying by someone.
She can only assume.
Its truly bothering her that she can't come up with a name for the Shepherd. He's broody and likes to keep to himself, so she hasn't been able to get a feel of his personality quite yet. She'd sit and watch him for an hour or two where she was positive he couldnt see her, and try to get a feel for a good name for him. He wouldn't do much more than sunbathe or roll around on the grass when he thought no one was watching. Sides would lay quietly next to her, watching for himself or dozing when he got bored.
So far, no luck.
Both dogs pretty much refuse to eat their food. They had only taken nibbles here and there when they were hungry enough, but she hadnt had to refill the bowls yet. When she made dinner, she'd split the leftovers that she knew she wouldn't eat later between them. She knows it isn't helping them in eating their own food one bit, but she hates to think that they're hungry. When her mother gets back, she'll put a stop to it, Jordyn knows. She'll say "They'll eat their own food when they're hungry enough."
Sides' limp had decreased to where it is barely noticeable, and both dogs are healing nicely. Jordyn had giggled madly when Sides pestered the German Shepherd, bouncing around him and barking happily. The Shepherd had merely snarled at him in warning, yet the silver dog had continued on until Jordyn had called him away.
Tonight, she'd decided on a movie night. The house is locked up and otherwise dark, a bowel of popcorn is in her lap, Sides is curled up next to her and the Shepherd is laying in the far corner of the room. She's laid back relaxed on a mound of blankets and pillows as the first Bayverse Transformers movie flickers to life on her little 28 inch TV.
She feels Sides go stiff when Bumblebee makes his first appearence and shatters the windows out of the cars. She looks to him, his head up and eyes glued to the screen. He stays like that, unmoving as he watches the movie play.
When Barricade makes his appearance, Jordyn's breath hitches.
Barricade.
Her eyes find the Shepherd, his head down but eyes clearly reflecting the light of the TV.
Thats it.
How could she have forgotten?
That Shepherd, he's like Barricade.
She returns her gaze to the TV.
Should she really name him after a Decepticon? There aren't any Autobots that stick out to her that make her think of the dog across the room. Maybe beside Ironhide, but that doesn't really fit the Shepherd.
Barricade it is.
She isn't a fan of any Decepticons, maybe beside Knockout's egotistical ass, but it certainly fits.
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Jordyn giggles giddily as she lays back in the dark blue lawn chair, soaking up the warmth from the afternoon sun with music playing in her ears. Sides is at it again, bouncing around Barricade like an annoying little brother and yipping. The Shepherd is lazily showing his teeth to the Aussie with a half hearted snarl.
Their wounds have nearly dissapeared by now, and Sides had finished his antibiotics a week and a half ago.
Her mother would be home next week, causing aprehensivness to blossom in her belly. Would her mom let her keep one dog, let alone two? She has no idea.
Cade had finally decided he was good enough to start sleeping on the bed with the girl and Aussie last week, which elates Jordyn more than she could possibly express. He really is a gentleman, especially when Sides isn't around.
She noticed that too. He's so much calmer and less tense when the hyperactive Aussie isn't in sight.
She loves both of them and is extreamly attatched to them already. It had been too long since she had a dog. She's certainly missed it more than she coukd possibly express.
"Cade, c'mere, buddy," she calls with a laugh. He shoots up, trotting over and throwing half of his huge body over Jordyn's midsection. "Oof!" Her breath leaves her in a whoosh with a strained but true laugh. She weaves her fingers into the long fur of his neck. Barks ring out, and her eyes fall on Sideswipe, unable to contain himself as he bounces around and barks wildly, jealous.
Half hearted snarles wrack Cade's powerful body and vibrate into Jordyn's smaller one. She giggles happily.
"Alright, Sides, alright! Jealous," Jordyn gently pushes Cade off as she sits up. Sides's barks instantly subside.
She stands, wanting to try something and get out of the house. Hopefully it doesn't backfire.
She sings very off key to the song that is playing as she slides the glass door aside to enter the house, both dogs right behind her. She shuts and locks the door after her two tag alongs are in. Their nails click on the tile of the kitchen floor as they follow her into the garage. She fishes through one of the various cabinets, 'aha!' running through her mind when she untangles the tightly wound lenth of cord from the extension cords and rope.
The dogs are right behind her, watching. She turns to her right, Sides, she finds, is right there next to her. She loops the leash around his neck, clipping it together to form a noose. He watches her curiously, his ears pushed forward.
She leads the two back into the house. She'd left the other leash from the vet's on the counter, she clips that one around Cade's neck.
With her phone in her pocket and keys in hand, she loops the end of each leash around her wrists, Sides on her right and Cade on her left. She locks the door behind them, both dogs as calm as can be.
She leads them across the street, to the edge of the cherry orchard. Red is dotted throughout the trees, shinny and pristein. They'd be picking any day.
She lets out a laugh, dashing along the road, the dogs trotting briskly at her sides in the yellow glow of the afternoon light. She wants to walk them to the canal down the road and back. A two mile distance from there and back. She used to walk this with Rex all the time. He'd be off leash and would weave through the trees, but would never leave her sight.
She runs for a short distance, huffing with a smile on her face. She lets go of the dog's leashes and slows. They shooot ahead of her, Sides yipping as he bumps his body into Cade's. They stop to look back at her as she giggles happily. She hadn't been this happy since Rex died.
The two stay in Jordyn's sight, exploring and Sides acting like a complete clown as he weaves through trees and attempts to ambush Cade when he thinks he isnt paying attention. He runs around Jordyn, an endless ball of energy.
He really is something else.
Jordyn soaks up the sun's dwindling rays, sighing happily as she gazes after the two silly dogs and listens to the haooy chirping of birds. She's surprised that she actually feels content for once. She could live like this, just like this, for the rest of her life and be happy.
She watches in amusment as they chase an orange cat up an almond tree a ways infront of her. They just can't help themselves, can they?
She sees a black Honda turn down the road. She hums to herself, her eyes again finding her dogs. There had only been one other car down the road since she started her walk, a beat up white minivan. Its been a slow day obviously.
That and its basically country out here.
The dogs are sniffing around the base of the gnarled tree, Sides jumping up on it occasionally with a yip, then looking back at Jordyn expectantly. What he wants of her, she has no idea.
She gives the Honda a strange look as whoever is driving it is flying way beyond the speed limit down the road. Her eyes land on the dogs once more. She calls their names, a little too far away for comfort.
Her heartrate skyrockets when she hears the screeching of tires. A black blur slides to a stop infront of her, two men throwing the doors open to jump out. Her body is instantly tense, her face a blank mask as fear and uncertainty rushes through her.
"Can I help you?" she mumbles dangerously, her feet planted firm and her shoulders squared back in mock confidence, though she feels anything but. Grins break out across the mens faces.
"Sure can," the taller and tanned one says as they step forward. Jordyn takes a step back in response, her eyes narrowing. Now would have been a great time to have pepper spray.
Her aunt really hadn't been joking when she had told her to not go out where no one else was. Why can't she just listen, damnit?!
Jordyn's eyes widen as the men both fall forward with a screech and fear in their eyes as the force of a tank barrels into their backs, throaty snarles erupting through the dry summer air. Jordyn takes another step back. Both men are on their bellies in the dirt, a dog on each of their backs.
Never had she seen Sides look so vicious. He's snarling in the tallest man's ear as he screeches, snapping and showing his teeth. He's scarrier than the Shepherd, who has a white paw on the back of the other man's head as he snarles, long white canines exposed. He looks extremely wolflike, his eyes flashing redder in the late afternoon light. Both dog's eyes seem to glow in the light of the sun.
The man is able to throw Sides off with his lighter weight, and dives back into the car with Sides on his heels. Cade hops off the other man's back and infront of Jordyn, snarles vibrating through his tense frame as he stares down the man. With a yelp, the man pushes himself up and scoots back, afraid to take his eyes off the big black dog. He whips around, slipping on the dirt and diving over Sides and into the car.
The car takes off the way it came without the doors even being shut, the black frame skidding and swerving all over the road.
Jordyn releases a ragged breath, her chest heaving. Sides is a good ten feet away from her and on the black asfault, barking loudly after the black car until it is out of sight. He turns around, ice blues intent on Jordyn as he trots back to her to take a seat infront of her, gazing up at her. Her body is shaking, her stomach lurching and her head spinning.
"C'mon," she manages to choke out, spinning on her heel to head home before the men come back with guns or reinforcments.
Twenty minutes.
She'd be back home in twenty minutes, less if she hauls it. She's shaking too badly to walk any quicker. As she walks, the dogs fall in line beside her, causing her to feel slightly safer.
Her hand ghosts over her phone.
No, thats a bad idea.
Her aunt would freak out, and the only other person she could call is her ex, but thats not even the slightest bit a good idea.
She crosses her arms.
She has to tough it out.
Looks like she won't be going on any more walks out there.
Ever.
As Cade is at a comfortable hand level, she weaves her hands into the longer fur of the back of his neck. He merely glances up at her before again lowering his head.
If she hadn't had them, who knows what would be happening to her right now. Then again, if she didn't have them, she'd most likely be at the office.
She bannishes the what ifs from her mind. They'd do nothing for her except stress her out.
After a few minutes, she's able to calm herself and she picks up the pace.
Never had she seen dogs take down someone like that. Bite them, sure. Police dogs do it all the time and use their weight to take someone down. But tackle someone from behind in that manner? Never. Her gaze switches between the dogs at her sides, and she realizes she really doesn't know much about them, at all.
She ponders this, and is unsure of what to think about it.
Could these be military dogs that got out of their handler's backyard?
No, they would be microchipped if that were the case.
A million different things run through her mind, and she's startled by a loud bark coming from the orchard.
The first thing that runs through her mind is "Farmers dog," followed by "No, they're kept locked up."
Her head whips to the side as Sides takes off toward the bark. She calls his name frantically, her eyes landing on a gold colored Australian Shepherd that is the slightest bit bigger than Sides racing through the neat rows of trees at top speed. She screams Sides's name in horror as the dogs collide, the gold colored dog ending up pinned under the silver one as he rubs his neck and face all over the dog pinned under him, showering him in licks and whinning loudly, his bobbed tail going a mile a minute.
Jordyn is dumbfounded.
All she can do is stare at the dogs in shock.
So, they know one another?
How?
Jordyn takes notice of the darkening sky and calls Sides once more. He comes bolting back to her, happy as can be as he bounces around her. She watches him in slight amusment.
The sound of snarling hits her ears, and her head whips back around to see the gold Aussie crouched in a stalk, hackles risen and teeth pulled back as he stares Cade down with ice blue eyes that are the same tone as Side's. Cade's ears are pinned back, a growl building in his throat. With a sharp intake of breath, she takes hold of Cade's leash and pulls him across the street. She watches as Sides trails after her, him bouncing around and yipping at the other Aussie, whom stalks after them in what seems to be irritation.
Half way home.
So close yet so far.
She wearily looks up and down the street, once again relieved when she doesn't see a car.
She's able to get home without incident, and she releases a shaky breath in relief when she strides up her driveway, her hands clutched around Cade's leash. She fumbles with her keys, able to get her shaky hands steady enough to unlock the door and push it open.
Cade instantly trots inside, Jordyn drops his leash. She turns back around to find Sides still out in the driveway, his back to her as he faces the gold Aussie, which is out by the road.
"Sides?" she calls, and the dog turns to look at her. He gives one last look to the other dog before turning around and trotting toward the girl. The gold Aussie instantly rushes after him, but Jordyn blocks him from entering the house. He growls at her as she shuts and locks the door.
Before she can even turn around, Sides is barking at her at the back door, wanting out. With a sigh, she unlocks and opens the door, letting him out. Cade had made himself comfortable on the couch, his huge body splayed out over half of it. She rolls her eyes at the display.
She clicks the TV on so that she has something to listen to to drown out her thoughts, as she doesn't feel like listening to music at the moment. She isn't hungry, but she puts a pan of chicken that she had thawed in the oven for the dogs for dinner, and as a thank you. She heaves a sigh as she plops down next to Cade on the couch. He lifts his head to gaze at her for a moment, before plopping it back down. She rolls her eyes at him as she pats his hip fondly.
When the oven beeps, she hops up to remove the chicken from it and sets the hot pan on the counter. Pulling two plates out of the cupboard, she splits the chicken between them and cuts it into strips. She calls Cade, who comes running instantly. He sits infront of her, staring up at her expectantly. With a smile she sets the plate down, Cade instantly lapping at the hot meat. He shakes his head as his tongue burns from the action, looking back up at her as she laughs. With a pat to Cade's head, she sets the second plate down in the backyard for Sides. She doesn't see him, so she assumes that he is on the side of the house.
She curles up on the couch, her head resting on the couch's arm rest as she gazes at the TV tiredly. She doesn't mean to, but she closes her eyes as she focuses on the drone of the TV.
She snaps awake when vicious snarles blast through her light haze of sleep and shatter it as if it were a thin sheet of glass. Her eyes fall on the gold colored Aussie as he jumps on Cade, tearing into him. Adrenaline shoots through her body as she pushes herself up, tripping over herself and landing on her hands and knees in her panic. Sides jumps into the squabble, tearing at whatever his teeth sink into. Cade isn't sitting there and taking it, he's full out fighting, tearing into the gold Aussie. They're rolling around the living room as they fight, snarles loud. Blood is spattering the light brown carpet, steadily becoming more with each passing second.
She panicks as she tries to figure out how the damn dog even got in.
All she can think of is that he jumped the fence. How he could have jumoed a six foot fence is lost to her as she jumps up, her hands blindly grasping for a hold on one of the dogs.
She throws Sides away, and she grasps at Cade next. She can't get him away from the Aussie, and in a matter of seconds Sides is right back in the scuffle. She grabs for the gold Aussie, and when her hands land in the fur of the back of his neck, a sharp pain shoots through her arm.
Almost in slow motion, the Aussie pushes her back, his jaws clamped around her forearm. As she falls back, her vision goes black.
She feels as if she's free falling.
Down and down.
The sound of metal grating against concrete and metal hits her ears.