A Shining Moon

Chapter 2

So, apparently, I was home. I had my own food, and my own bed…but the space was shared with by the little girl, who later on I figured out she was called Nina, and the cat, Mr. Fluff. I liked it though, I felt at ease, and I was able to sleep very well at night. I still can't figure out what exactly home means. Oh well.

In the morning, Nina got up, brushed my fur, and headed off to eat. I also went to eat myself, and by the time we were done, she had to leave. I watched as she climbed into a big yellow car and it drove away. Minutes later, her family also left. I sat there, whining, wanting her to come back. I didn't want to be alone. Even though the cat was there, I didn't feel like dealing with him. So, I decided to follow the scent of the yellow car, and track down Nina.

I walked past many things, including other two-legged creatures, who pet me kindly, and fed me treats. But then, it was back to tracking down Nina. What if she got into danger and I wasn't there? What if the yellow car was evil and devoured her? I had to find her!

When the scent finally faded, I was now at an even bigger building than the building where Nina lives. I could smell other two-legged creatures like her inside, and a lot of talking.

I paced around the building, looking for an entrance, but no luck. So, I decided to just lay near the steps, and wait. Maybe Nina would come walking out eventually, and treat me! Yeah! I was now even happier.

Few hours passed, and I still hadn't moved, when suddenly, a familiar face looked straight at me. Her mouth was open wide. She seemed very happy and pleased! Nina came over and gave me a hug.

"Good boy! You came to school to wait for me!" She pet my fur as she hugged me close.

A voice then spoke behind her. "Hey, Nina, is that you're new dog?"

Nina turned around. "Yup! Isn't he just cute?" She scratched my head.

"Sure is! What's his name?"

"I haven't given him a name yet. Hm…" She looked at me deep in the eye, and a smile spread across her face. "I'm going to call him…Moon. Because his eyes are white and beautiful, just like the Moon."

I could only thump my tail to those words, even though I didn't know what they meant. But something told me it was a good thing.

So, after I had waited for Nina at that building, she walked me to another building, but this one was smaller. I waited for her outside, because she said it was supposed to be a surprise. She came out with a box, but without saying anything, she took hold of the rope around my neck, and we walked home.

When we did get home, she had me sit down, and I watched as she started to open the box. I sniffed it, trying to see if I could determine what the object was, but with little luck. When she finally had the box open, she held out a red leather ring of some sort.

She held it out to me, "This is your new collar. See? It has your name on it." She touched a silver tag that was attached to the thing she called a collar. She then opened it, and started putting it around my neck. "There! Now you are really my dog." She smiled and pet me.

I wagged my tail. I liked the words her dog. I was her dog. I now belonged to her pack. I was accepted.

Day after day, I waited for Nina at the big building she left for every morning. But there were two days where she didn't go at all, and she spent all day with me. But when she did go back after those two days, I was there at the steps waiting for her to walk through those doors and we walked home.

One day in particular, she told me to not wait for her at the building because she wasn't going to walk through the doors. She told me to stay home. I had no choice but to listen to her, so, I lounged around in the entrance to the house, just waiting for her to walk through again.

A scent tickled my nose. When I turned to look, it was the cat.

"Did your master abandon you already, pooch?" He sat near me and gave me a super fake smile.

"Abandon? Nina wouldn't leave me. She loves me." I tiled my head in confusion.

"Tsk. You naïve canine. Dogs like you are always abandoned and forgotten. It's what nature intended for animals like you. Cats are the way to go." He grinned.

I lowered my ears. "You're wrong…" But then I thought, maybe that's why I ended up on the streets.

After the cat had left, I lay there alone. Being bothered was the last thing I wanted at that moment. I just couldn't get those nasty words and thoughts out of my head. Nina would never leave me because then her taking me in wouldn't make any sense.

When Nina did come home, I didn't act as excited as I usually do. She tried to play with me, but I just didn't budge. Her face twisted into this sad expression, and she just left me alone.

Before bed, she filled up my bowl, and hugged me good night. "I'm sorry I made you sad today, Moon. Tomorrow you can come wait for me at school again, okay?" She smiled and went off to bed. At least now I could go back to waiting for her. I perked a bit.

In the morning, it was the same routine. Eat, watch Nina eat, follow the yellow car and lay on the steps of the big building. Only this time, I couldn't lay down on the steps. Some big man shooed me off, and told me to get. So I moved, and then went right back up again to lay down. He came again, and shooed me. This was repeated a good few times, until I got a bit frustrated and let out a sigh which made my cheeks flap.

The man gasped, "How dare you growl at me!"

Growl? I didn't growl!

"Get out of here! You beast! We don't need an animal like you around the children!"

At that instant, Nina came to my rescue. "Principle Marger! Please don't scare him. He's my dog. He's waiting for me."

"He is a vicious animal. He shouldn't be allowed around children, none the less free to roam as he pleases!"

"He isn't vicious!" She tugged my ear.

"This animal growled at me! If I ever see him around here again, I will be sure to call animal control!" He wagged his finger in Nina's face.

Nina's face. I had never seen Nina make this face. I couldn't even put a name into it. "Come on, Moon. Let's go home." With that, we headed home.