freckles

* chapter one hundred and thirteen *

'LAYLAAAAAA!' Eliot roared, charging at the German Shepherd, eyes glaring at his target. Layla simply took a step to the side, her back to Eliot, and the younger dog ran head first into the wall. 'Ow!'

'You hear something Ana?' Layla asked with a smile, walking over to the youngest puppy, Ana giggling.

'I don't.'

'Didn't think so.' Layla stuck her tongue out at Eliot, Eliot coughing twice before returning the gesture.

With the two girls gone doing girl stuff or whatever, Eliot was left alone.

'Rip.' Eliot talked aloud to himself. 'I'm so lonely. WAIT.' Eliot halted. 'If La-Loser is with the parasite, that means...

'CLAUDETTE I WANNA CUDDLEEEEEEE'

"Oof." Claudette laughed, Eliot diving into her stomach. "Mister Sir, you are getting too big to jump on me like that."

Claudette held her Golden Retriever tightly, her book falling to a close beside her, not having enough time to put a bookmark in the place. "We haven't cuddled in a while."

'I know!' Eliot sighed. 'It's been so long. You've been spending too much time with those human boy things.'

"I should take you and Layla and Ana on a date one day." Claudette spoke aloud, Eliot perking up. "You like that idea?"

'Uhm, yes!' Eliot wagged his tail. 'A day without the pieces of shit you kiss?? Sign me up!'

"A date it is." Claudette giggled, hugging Eliot tightly.

-

Claudette took a deep breath with her eyes closed, the wind blowing through her hair. It danced through her curls, trying to braid it, but got too confused so it only tangled her hair.

Ana laid curled up in her lap, shielding herself from the wind. Layla and Eliot laid beside Claudette, Layla with her head on Claudette's leg. They were all at the beach, the same beach Namjoon took her to on their anniversary.

It was a beautiful day, just with some wind. But Claudette couldn't complain. They sat at the top of a little sand hill, looking out at the ocean and its waves.

Claudette took another deep breath.

"It smells like my Mom." Claudette opened her eyes, stroking Ana's head. "I knew this smell was familiar."

'Mom has a mom?' Eliot tilted his head, Layla nodding.

'Everyone has a mom.' Layla looked out at the sea, remembering her first father. She missed him, a lot. But she was glad she was able to have two owners, even if the two owners were very different.

She was a military dog. She was always running around, protecting Arthur. Once, she dragged his friend by the back of his vest while Arthur shot at the bad guys. All three of them survived.

Layla didn't miss war. Not at all. She hated it, but being with Arthur made it somewhat bearable. She knew she did the right thing, being a war dog. She protected her country. She protected Arthur and her family back home.

His little sister. Oh she loved hugging Layla, calling her baby names. Layla loved it. Arthur loved it.

But Layla has her own little sister now.

Layla looked over at Ana, smiling softly. Ana lifted her head up. 'Layla?'

'Nothing nothing.' Layla smiled, going back to looking at the waves.

She loved her families very much. All of them, very much.

She would go through war again for them. And she would do it over and over.