chapter 3
Robyn awoke, rose from her bed and stretched as she looked around the room. Raised her brow, and noticed something was deeply strange. Triton was not laying in his bed near hers as he would. Lightly threw the covers aside, placely laid her feet down on the floor and walked to the doorway as she lightly called for her beloved companion.
"Triton." Robyn begun to panic when she didnt see her dog and her paced fastened as she stepped into the living room then she found him, laying on the couch. At first she placed a hand upon her chest and exhaled with relief, sat down beside her dog and lightly patted his chest. He light rose his head and glanced to robyn with a tired gaze.
Robyn glaned down to her companion, tilted her head slightly to the left and lightly but lovingly scratched behind his ear. He whimpered alittle and nuzzled her hand. "What is wrong, boy?" she asked. Robyn glanced down to her companion and immediately thought, maybe he was hungry. Getting up, and went to the get his favorite meal prepared for him as he laid on the couch for a second then slowly rose and walked to the kitchen after her.
Sitting down in the doorway, robyn placed the bowl down for triton as she went to get him cool fresh water as well. Soon she placed the bowl down, he didnt touch the food and chose to drink instead. Kneeling down, lightly petted him then left his side as she went to answer the phone.
"Hello. Hey, sis. What's up?" Whilst robyn conversed with April on the phone, triton walked to the bedroom and robyn, smiled as she watched him disappear in the room. "No, not doing anything this afternoon. I'd love to watch shadow train today. Ok, see you soon. Bye."
Ending the call, placing it down and went to the kitchen once again. Her smile turned upside when she saw the bowl still contained the food she prepared for triton. Immediately she scratched her head, picked the bowl and went to place near by triton as she said softly. "Triton. Sweetheart."
He lightly glanced to robyn and lightly panted, exposing his belly. She smiled, lightly scratched his belly and said. "Dont scare me like that big boy. Come on, eat for me. I will be back soon, mummy has to go now." Kissing him before she left, as she smiled and left him in his bed. Triton laid his head, closed his eyes and slept.
Later that afternoon, Robyn walked in the apartment with her sister and niece as they happily laughed while shadow skipped in the living room and said. "Where is triton?"
"Triton is sleeping." Robyn answered. Shadow replied. "Oh, ok. Can I go see him?" she asked. Robyn nodded, permitting the child to visit triton. Shadow walked in the room, knelt down and lightly patted triton. "Hello triton." she cooed, and he looked up to her softly then laid his head down again. Shadow titled her head confused, as she tried to get him play with her.
Then hurried out to Robyn and April. "Triton dont want to play, mummy. Is he sick?" she frowned. April and robyn glanced to each other then she immediately went to check on her dog. "Triton?" she softly called as she knelt down by her dog. Noticing that he hadnt ate much of his food. "Not hungry?" she wondered, lightly patted him and kissed him head before taking the bowl out with her to make fresh meal.
April noticed that robyn had made fresh meal for triton which wasnt abnormal as he'd like to have seconds but something was different. "Didnt triton like the food, robyn?"
"I guess he didnt like the kidney beans." she answered and resumed. "And it looked like that he only ate a small bite." April stated, concerned. "Are you sure that triton isnt sick?" pausing a second then continued. "Would it be alright, I look at him?"
"Yeah sure, sis. I'm sure he is just been stubborn. He is getting to that age now I suppose." Robyn replied, smiled alittle. April sighed agreeably alittle then answered. "I suppose so, how old is he now?"
"He will be ten years old in june." robyn answered. "Ten? Has it really been ten years?" april questioned surprised. "Yeah, why do you ask?" Robyn wondered. "It may be nothing, just no it could be nothing." April replied.
"Ok." robyn sighed, looked to shadow and noticed that she was getting sleepy. "Uh oh, someone is getting sleepy." April chuckled and agreed. "Yes i guess so someone is. Better get her home and see you soon, sis." April hugged her sister and collected her tired child, left the apartment whilst robyn sighed and went to ensure triton ate but once again, he wouldnt.
Robyn grew suspicious but assumed he was been stubborn and lightly patted him. He looked to her and laid down, after having a drink then closed his eyes. Robyn laid down, watched him sleep then she too drifted to sleep.
6:30am the following morning. Robyn awoke, with a extreme tightening of her stomach. Glancing upon Triton, as he laid in his bed. Noticing his bowl was not touched, sighed alittle as she rose from her bed and stretched then went to triton's side. "Triton, honey. Wakey wakey."
Lightly petted her dog and wouldnt wake up as he would when she lightly pet his head. Robyn continued to pet him then lightly shook him and soon realised something was terribly wrong. Her heart begun to race, color drained from her face and she begun to feel frantic as she cried his name, pleading him to wake.
Tears streamed down her face, her heart had fallen and broken in pieces. Immediately she pulled him to her chest, and cried. "TRITON! WAKE UP! PLEASE TRITON WAKE UP!"
Robyn pleaded in tears but he wouldnt wake. Placing him down and her hands trembled uncontrollably as she reached for her phone and tried to dial her sister but luckily she had speed dial as she would had dialled the wrong number. Her face was wet, from the endless tears and her nose was runnning. Waiting for the phone to be picked up, finally April answered. "Hello?"
Robyn begun incoherently, distraught she tried to explain that triton had suddenly passed away just moments before she called. April, and shadow rushed over to robyn's apartment. "Robyn?" April called, as she and her daughter walked in the room. Seeing no sign of robyn then they went to the bedroom when they heard broken sobs. Seeing robyn, cradling the deceased dog in her arms. Rocking him back and forth in her embrace, April held her daughters hand firmly as she covered her mouth with the other. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as shadow didnt know how to respond except rushed to robyn's side, and hugged her as she too cried.
April immediatetly for Donnie to come over. He agreed and was over within minutes.
The purple clad terrapin climbed in the window, and approached april. She looked up to him and said nothing. Leading the terrapin to the bedroom, and saw both shadow with robyn cradling eachother as they cried. Seeing triton, had hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Robyn?" neither she and shadow replied, they glanced under thier glassy broken eyes up to the terrapin. "Come on, lets get you washed up and get started." Donnie assured. Shadow had the shower first then robyn as she wouldnt leave her dog's side.
"What happen?" donnie asked. "I dont know. Robyn, called me at 6:30 am and said that triton had died in his sleep."
"He was a healthy dog. There was nothing wrong with him. It dont make any sense." donnie stated. "I dont know what to tell you donnie. Has to be a explanation for his death." april wondered, confused herself.
"May be it could had been his time. I'll do a quick test, lets give him a proper burial." April agreed. Robyn finally walked out, heartbroken. Complete silent. Shadow was also devastated. Donnie offered robyn to wrap and carry triton, silently nodded as she agreed. April lightly rubbed her hand up along her sister's arm as she held her close, assuring her.
They planned to meet outside the lair, within the park where Triton may peacefully rest in peace. Donnie, leapt out the window while he carried the deceased beloved pet and the O'Neils drove. April glanced her sister as she glared brokenly out the window and watched donatello leap across the rooftops with triton. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she had no idea how to assure or comfort her broken hearted sister.
Sighed alittle and softly, as she looked in the review mirror above herself and saw her daughter, just as broken. Shadow glanced up with broken glassy eyes, April tried to stay strong for her sister daughter but failed, she begun to cry herself.
Few minutes later, arriving to the lair. Donatello laid triton on the grass nearby a large tree with pink blossoms. Suddenly, the flowers begun to fall surrounding the chosen gravesite. The girls walked together, hand in hand whilst Donatello went inside to retreave the garden tools. Meanwhile, Mikey was happily playing with his new kitty in the living room whilst Raphael trained on the punching bag and Leonardo walked out of the kitchen with hot brewed tea when he had noticed his brother's sad gaze.
"Donnie what's wrong? Where did you disappear to?" Leonardo asked, Master splinter sensed it instantly and commanded the others to gather outside. Confusedly glanced the the old rat, tilted thier heads as they all stood still then immediately did as instructred. Stepping out the lair entrance, thier hearts dropped in pieces as they witnessed Robyn kneeling by the wrapped body.
Mikey cradled midnight somewhat tight, she purred softly and nuzzled in the crevice of his neck. Mikey had remembered when he, was in Robyn's position. Losing Klunk was the devastating day he ever experienced. Immediately he approached her side, knelt beside her and gently grasped her hand. Midnight leapt to her lap and comfortably snuggled against her chest.
Raphael approached April and Shadow, both immediately welcomed the embrace as the strong red clad protector felt less superior, lost in fact. He held the mother and daughter in his embrace, nuzzling his forest green terrapin cheek upon April's head and sighed softly. The old rat and blue clad terrapin approached Robyn's side, placed a clawed hand on her shoulder and she glanced up under her broken teary glance.
"So very sorry for your loss, miss robyn. He was the best and we all loved him." Splinter shared his condolences and respects. Reached up, gently grasped his hand and nuzzled her cheek upon his knuckles as she exhaled brokenly. Donatello finally joined the group and each brother, took a garden tool available.
Raphael took the digging pick, Leonardo grasped the shovel and mikey had the wheel burrow. Master splinter, Shadow and April stood aside with Robyn as they comforted the broken woman as they patiently waited for the brothers to prepare the grave. Donatello spoke to April quietly and informed her of Triton's death, her reaction was not surprising as she reacted in low whisper. "Baited? Are you sure?" Donatello nodded, confirming. "Yes, 100%. Triton was baited by a poison." April sighed, embracing herself lightly and replied, whilst glancing upon her already broken hearted sister. "This would utterly destroy her. Infuriate her in fact."
"What are we going to tell her?" Donatello wondered. "I have no idea, Donnie. I know one thing for sure, whoever had done it. Better run for the hills or skip town as they have no idea what damage they have caused my sister." Donatello draped his arm around april, comforting her as he too felt heartbreak and anger with desire for answers as why would anyone desired to murder robyn's beloved companion. Four hours later, the burial finally completed. Raphael and leonardo waited within the grave, as Donatello and Mikey carefully handed triton down. Leaving triton wrapped in the blanket that Robyn requested that he should be buried with as a symbol of her love, companionship and devotion to her beloved friend, companion and furry son.
Taking out a green purse that carried a large rose quartz crystal. "Leo." she called requesting. He looked up and without a word, he nodded as he retrieved the purse from Robyn. Kneeling down and placed near triton's heart where, thier love shall remain.
With Triton. Robyn held two fingers against her thin lips and held over triton as she said, softly and tears streamed down her cheeks. "I love you, triton. You'll always be in my heart my son."
The brothers climbed out, and carefully buried Triton as they said thier last goodbyes. The group stood tightly around the grave, shared their tears and conforted Robyn as they knew this will never ever be the same again.
As the wind lightly blew by, so did a light bark was heard. Few metres on thier right, Triton sat close by. Robyn covered her mouth, cried more as she knew. Triton approached them as she knelt down and her forehead met his spiritual head as he nuzzled lovingly, saying his goodbyes to the one woman had loved him the most.
Sharing thier last glance, as a whirl of pink blossom surrounded him and he disappeared but left a single rose in his place. Robyn picked the rose, in her fingers and kissed it tenderly then placed on the grave as she tearfully said.
"Goodbye, Triton. I love you my son. I will miss you." Mikey knelt beside robyn with midnight in his hand and cradled her, kissed her temple tenderly.
The End...
Author note
I apologise if this may not sound much sense to you my faithful readers but this is the best way i could explain in words without crying myself as this is based on my life and the eternal love that i shared with my dog that had passed away march 9th, 2018.
Robyn O'Neil is me in this story with Triton as my beloved companion and furry son; Cujo. He was the best dog i could ever wish for. I have his half sister which she and thier non related sister is grieving deeply since his passing as we all are lost without him. My entire family has become numb as we dont know how to deal with the heartache, not many people know about this. As our family remained away due to i didnt want them near because they couldnt understand the empathic bond we shared with cujo. he was and forever will be the heart and soul of our family as he is the eternal protector in life and in death.
Many people hated cujo, because he was very strong. Very smart and very fast at making sure we were always safe. We always trusted his instincts even his judgements when people approached us. As he taught us, never to be too trusting of others.
I will admit one thing as i have heard and read about this alot of couples saying this. They believed in love at first sight when they met their partners. I never believed in that because, I was always tricked and abused horrifically. But when I met and found, Cujo. It was just that.
The bond was strong from the first sight we shared that first glance. Cujo had stolen my heart and it truly was Eternal love at first sight.
As why I chosen the title of this story to share with you all. Cujo is the love of my life, he was my son. And there is no other dog in the world could ever take his place, as there will never be no other like him. He truly was One of a kind.