Sleeping on a nice soft bed was the most wonderful thing d'Artagnan has ever known. Labarge never let him sleep on the bed, and even though he got a beating every night for whining about it, he still wanted to know what it felt like to be on a bed. He had half expected this new master, he doesn't even remember if he gave him his name, to yell at him last night for whining to get on the bed, but he just smiled and picked him and oh the bed was even softer than he thought. He opened his eyes to see his new master still asleep but the sun was peeking through the blinds and stretched, giving a small yawn. He hasn't slept that good in a few months and wanted to enjoy himself the best he could and just started to remember everything that happened last night. No one has ever stood up for him before and never had he met a soft spoken man who looked mean on the outside but his scent smelled warmth and safe.
The wrappings his master put on him actually helped easy the ache he had in his ribs from being kicked twice two days prior. He couldn't remember what he did for that but then again, the moment his old master had gotten him from this woman who left no more than a couple days after, the abuse had started.
"How are you feeling?" a voice asked, interrupting his thoughts.
d'Artagnan turned his head and smiled before getting up and licking his master all over the face. Yes, he knew this man was the one who would love him and take care of him. He could smell it. He heard his master laugh and started to scratch him on his head and oh boy did that feel good. He remembered hearing something from other dogs on the street when the rare occasion Labarge took him out on a walk and rolled over on his back the best he could, legs in the air. The master must have known what he wanted and carefully rubbing his belly. Yep, this master was a keeper. No way was he running away from this master.
"I will go to the store and get you some dog food and some toys this morning," his master said, sitting up and pushing the covers off. He walked around the room and headed out towards the hallway. d'Artagnan stood up and looked over the bed and made a jump, sliding a little but patted himself on the head for a job well done. He heard water running and realized his master was getting a shower, so he decided to explore his new home. Wondering around he sniffed and pawed at things, taking in scents. There was a chair in the family room that smelled of his master so this must be where his master sat all the time. Making a note to never touch that chair, he wondered over to the couch. There were two different scents on the couch that he couldn't place. They smelled a little like his master but one smelled of protectiveness and the other of love.
Moving to the kitchen he could smell yummy food coming from the cupboards and spotted the backdoor and stared. The yard might be small but there was a yard with green grass and a large tree in the middle. He must have been sitting there awhile because the door suddenly opened up before him and morning fresh air hit his face. He looked up to see his master smile down at him and waved him out. Without a second thought, he took off into the yard, barking as he went. So this is what freedom was. Stopping twice to do his business, he would have remember to remind his master to let him out to go potty, when he smelled another dog. A mean dog.
Slowly making his way to the wooden fence, he sniffed around and backed up a little in fear. This scent smelled mean and angry. He would not be going over towards this side of the fence. He heard a whistle and turned his head to see his master motioning him back. So a whistle, as well as his name, means his master wants him. Running up to him, he slid in the kitchen and the smell of bacon hit his noise. Man did that smell good. He's always smelled bacon but never got any.
His master sat down, pulling a plate over and started eating. Months of training taught him not to beg for food so he laid down next to the chair. He was lost in his own world when a piece of bacon was placed in front of him on the flood. He looked up to see his master smile and nod before scarfing the bacon down. He heard a laugh from above him and sighed in content. After a few minutes his master stood up and announced he would be gone for the morning and would see him when he got home. Labarge never talked to him like this. Never said he would see him when he got home, never smiled in front of him, unless it was a sinister smile while beating him, and never gave him a belly rub.
He followed his master to the door and sat down when the door closed behind him. What was he suppose to do? Giving a snort he looked around the house and noticed the sunbeam hitting right behind his master's chair and figured a nice warm morning nap after that delicious bacon. Walking over behind the chair, he lowered himself down and closed his eyes. His eyes flew open a few minutes later when he heard laughter coming from outside, coming closer to the house. It didn't sound like his masters laughter and it sounded like two men, not one. Getting up he peeked from behind the chair when the front door opened and in walked two men. One tall dark skin man and one shorter man.
"Hey Athos, you awake?" the shorter man yelled.
Athos? Was that his masters name? He continued to watch the men walk around the house, wondering who they were. If this Athos was his master, they must know him and they didn't seem to be taking stuff that his master owned, but still, they were larger than him and he wouldn't last two seconds against them. He heard dishes rattling from the kitchen and smelled bacon once more.
"He must have gone out for the morning," the tall man said, walking into the family room with a plate of bacon.
d'Artagnan ducked back behind the chair when the man got closer, setting the plate on his masters chair before turning around and going back to the kitchen. The smell of bacon made his stomach growl in hunger so he came around from behind the chair, got up on his back paws, and snatched two pieces of bacon before going back behind the chair. Sure he's no guard dog, but these men don't seem to be stealing anything but food and he can put a stop to that by eating it before they do.
"Did you even save me any bacon, Porthos?"
"Of course I did," this Porthos said, voice getting closer indicating he was coming back into the room.
"Like three pieces!"
d'Artagnan continued to eat his bacon, hoping the man would leave again so he could get more when he heard footsteps stop in front of the chair.
"Hey Aramis! I'm missing two pieces of bacon."
"What a pity."
"Seriously. I had ten pieces of bacon on this plate. They couldn't have jumped off and disappeared."
d'Artagnan lifted his head when he saw the chair rock back and fourth and let out a small growl. This was his master's chair. No one was allowed to sit in his master's chair.
"ARAMIS!" The man must have jumped from the chair because it suddenly rocked back and fourth with force.
"Do you really need to yell? Athos house isn't a mansion," Aramis, who d'Artagnan remembered the big man say, said as he walked into the family room.
"Aramis. Two pieces of bacon disappeared from my plate and I just heard a growl. I think Athos house is haunted."
"Haunted? Really Porthos?"
"I'm serious."
d'Artagnan finished the last of his bacon when the chair rocked back fourth once more. Do these men not understand a warning growl when they hear it? He stood up and growled a little louder, showing teeth even though no one can see him. He will keep these men from his master's chair.
"See?! Another growl? Do you think Athos will mind if I bring over the Ouija Board?"
"Porthos, Athos house is not haunted."
d'Artagnan backed up a little, wimping when he saw a hand lay on top of the chair and soon the shorter man looked behind the chair and stared right into his eyes. Busted.
"Porthos look! A puppy!" the shorter man yelled happily with a hand stretched out to pick him up.
d'Artagnan growled as a hand reached for him and backed up, the hairs on his body standing up on end. He didn't know these men. He didn't know if they will hurt him and there was no way he was going to get hurt anymore. His new master gave him courage by showing him someone cared about him, so by God he was going to show that courage. Even if it meant biting these strangers hands.
"Hey little one, no need for that."
"Aramis, did you know Athos got a puppy?"
"No. Hey you, I'm not going to hurt you."
d'Artagnan backed up further, his butt hitting the corner of the wall. Trapped. His growls turned into small whimpers when he saw the taller man come from the other side. He did the only thing he could do. He gave a small growl and jumped at the shorter man, biting his hand and ran between his legs. Just as he cleared the legs, the front door opened and in walked his master, a bag in each arm. Without looking back, d'Artagnan ran up to his master and started barking, whining, and pawing for his master to pick him up and away from these men.
"Hey d'Artagnan, it's okay," his master said, setting the bags down and knelt down, picking him up as well. He buried himself in his master's arms as his master talked to him. "Aramis and Porthos are friends. They won't hurt you."
"d'Artagnan?"
"Saved him last night. His owner was beating him in a ally."
d'Artagnan lifted his head when he felt his master scratch him on his head and noticed the two men were closer to him and buried himself further.
"Look at me, d'Artagnan," his master said. Of course he had to obey. He lifted his head and stared at his master. "Aramis, hold your hand out but nothing else."
d'Artagnan turned his head around and saw the shorter man, Aramis, hold his hand out but that's it. Then he felt his master move closer and held his head until he smelled Aramis's hand. As he sniffed he smelled that same loving smell from the couch. Was this the man?
"Porthos. Now you."
d'Artagnan turned his head and smelled the taller mans hand, Porthos's hand, and smelled that protectiveness. These were the same scents on the couch. They knew his master. They were his friends. That means they were his friends now too. Barking happily he squirmed out of his masters, or he should now call him Athos, arms and into Aramis's while taking in the smell of love.
"Awe, see little guy. We're weren't going to hurt you but it seems you've been hurt before." Aramis took in the white bandages. "Who did this to you?"
"Man named Labarge. It was too late to take him to a shelter and he seemed comfortable with me, though he seems a little scared still, but he's warming up."
"That's to be expected."
d'Artagnan felt himself being transferred to Porthos arms and took a big whiff of the protectiveness.
"Where is this bastard at?"
"Jail for two years."
d'Artagnan sneezed and squirmed to get down when he remembered Athos had brought him something. Once on the floor, he sniffed the bags and pawed at one and knocked it over, a tennis ball rolling out of the bag. He's always wanted one of those! Jumping at the tennis ball he chased it around, picking it up in his mouth and walking over to the three men.
"I must say though, he's doing very well for an animal that's been abused."
He stopped in front of Aramis and dropped the ball, barking for him to stop talking and start playing with him. They were friends now. Wagging his tail happily when Aramis rolled the ball across the floor he barked and ran after it. When he retrieved it, Athos was sitting in his chair while Aramis and Porthos sat on the couch. Yes, this is where he belonged. With his master and new friends.