"Total! Be quiet!" He kept barking and jumping around the stream like an overexcited puppy. "Max! Hey Max! Total's here."
Total took that moment to splash him and Fang fell into the stream. He growled at his dog who licked him innocently and became all lovey-dovey. He laughed and rubbed him between the ears. Total barked once and hopped onto the land, shaking himself dry. Fang held his hands up to his face.
"Hey boy! Stop!" Total hopped around in circles and finally plopped down on a bed of grass. Fang wrung his shirt out and attempted to get dry in the sun. Something worried him. "Max?"
A breeze carried the scent of lilacs to his nose and for some reason he knew Max wasn't there. Fang shot up and startled Total. There was no Max today. With his head hung low, he wondered if she was just late. Or maybe she was coming later. But deep inside, she wasn't coming today at all. Total, sensing his masters unhappiness, whimpered and curled up to his side. Fang gave him a ghost of a smile and looked up at the cloudless clear blue sky.