17 (Home)
(September 1990)
About a couple weeks later, Whisper had recovered well enough to leave. But before they did, they met Scout at the back door, who was seeing them off
"Thank you for all your help, Scout," Rose said, smiling at him. The collie dog smiled back, raising his ears. "You're very welcome. I hope you both make it home alright," Scout replied.
"Will you come see us?" Whisper asked.
"Maybe, young pup. This vet is my home. I can't ever leave it," Scout replied. "That's okay, Scout. You know where you belong. And I know where we belong. And I feel like we're almost there," Rose said with a tail wag.
Scout grinned at them, confident that they'd make it home okay. Most of his other patients aren't in anyway like Rose and Whisper. For that short time, he saw them as his own pups. He was happy to look after them for that brief time while they recovered.
After saying their goodbyes, the duo take off. They could finish their journey to New York. After 3 more weeks of traveling, with snatching food in between and getting a good night's rest, Rose started smelling a familiar scent.
She stopped in her tracks, perking her mix-matched ears up all the way. Whisper glanced up at her adopted mother, clearly confused. "Mama, what is it?" She asked.
"We're there, Whisper. I can smell it," Rose said, smiling big. "Really? We made it?" Whisper asked, wagging her tail.
"Yeah, I think so… let's go," Rose replied, first trotting then galloping, Whisper galloped behind her.
(New York City)
The kept galloping until they reached the right side of the Brooklyn Bridge, by that time, the Afternoon was approaching. The sun was starting to move to the center of the sky.
Rose was so ecstatic to see the city again, her heart quickened.
Whisper was mesmerized by the city's massive size. "Whoa, it's so big," she said softly. "Yes, it is. This is my home," she replied, her paws starting moving.
Whisper followed her over to the bridge. Rose's heart sped up in excitement as she couldn't wait to see the gang and her pups again. It had. been almost two years since Rose went missing.
As the two dogs make it in the city, Rose started looking around for any signs of her family. She sniffed the air and the ground. No trace.
"You sure they're here, mama?" Whisper asked, unsure of this. "I'm sure, dear. They're here. There's one place we can look," Rose said, looking ahead.
"Where?" Whisper asked, tilting her head and perking her ears. "Follow me," Rose said, trotting forward. Whisper followed at the same pace. Both dogs howl as celebration.(The Barge)
They make it to the barge, which was still in the same place as before. Rose helped Whisper down the rickety boardwalk and they entered the old barge, but something was off. The scents were old, very old.
Dodger's bed was missing, even Rose's was gone too. "No… I thought they were here…" she said, dropping her ears.
"Maybe they're someplace else…?" Whisper whimpered, sensing her adopted mother's sadness. Rose sighed and closed her eyes. "I don't know. Let's keep looking," she said, looking at her adopted daughter and nuzzles her. They them left the barge.