Lost and Found, A story of family.

Chapter 1: Finding the way.

Large snowflakes hit the ground. The temperature dropped to the minuses. Everything was as white as a fresh blanket put on a bed. It was too cold for Ellie who was wondering down her childhood road. Her white cane in had, she felt so alone. Her dirty blond hair was loose and flowing down her back, her one working blue eye was so droopy from the lack of sleep, worrying about where her best friend was. Her artificial eye was slightly sticky from all the crying. She wore a purple duffle-coat and boots which were getting damper with every step she struggled to make. Her breaths were getting rapid as she failed once again to find Phoenix.

"Nixie?" She tried for the millionth time that day. "Where are you? Come girl?"

But nothing. Not even the sound of running thumping of paws and clattering of a collar. Ellie sighed in frustration. Her best friend was missing. She won't give up now. But she knew as the storm got worse overhead, she had to give up that night again. She forgot her equipment to help her go out in the dark.

"Come back, Ellie!" Called her distressed mother. "I'm sure we will find Nixie soon!"

Ellie turned round and made her slow way home. Her mother followed her back, making she didn't trip over.

"Do you ever think I will find her?" Ellie asked as they got into the house.

"I'm sure you will!" Her mother put a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Even all your friends are looking."

Ellie nodded. She knew that. But her phone wasn't blowing up with notifications from her friends. She took her phone out of her pocket and stumbled up to her room.

"It's dinner soon," her mother called after her.

But Ellie didn't want dinner. She was about to open her door when a notification came on her screen. It was from her friend Bella.

We found her.

Ellie didn't hesitate to ring her best friend. She let the phone ring out.

"Hello," came Bella's voice over the line.

"Hey, Bella!" Ellie said. "You found Nixie?"

"Yeah," said Bella excitedly. "We saw her trotting down near the park."

"That very same park?" Ellie's heart started to race. "The one where that man grabbed her?"

"Yes," came the reply. "That very same park!"

Ellie was getting excited. Her pooch was making her way home?

"Ellie?" Came Bella's concerned voice. "Are you okay?"

It took a long time for Ellie to reply. What was happening? She wanted it to be definitely true.

"Wait," she said after five minutes. "How do you know it's definitely Phoenix? It could have been any golden retriever, Bella!"

"That is true," said Bella. "But I recognise her from her dark ears and her green eyes. Retrievers eyes aren't usually green."

Ellie got excited. "She is nearby!" She squealed down the phone.

"Aww, bless you," said Bella. "I'm sure she'll find your house, soon!"

"Do you have a tracker on her?" Ellie asked, slightly calmer now.

"No," said Bella. "But we informed the Police. They have arrested the man responsible and now he is where he belongs."

Ellie found Phoenix's shiny black hat harness and stroked the leather with her thumb. The cold handle was disconnected from it and was lying under Ellie's bed. The girl sighed with relief.

"Thank you, Bella!" She managed to get out.

"That's okay," said her best friend.

"Dinner time!" Came her mother's voice.

Ellie put her friend's harness on the floor.

"I better go, Bella!" She sighed.

"Okay," said Bella. "Hopefully see you tomorrow with your Pooch back!"

"Yeah ... hopefully!" Said Ellie. "Bye!"

Bella said bye and the girls ended the call. Then Ellie ran downstairs.

"What's got you so excited?" Her mother was waiting for her.

"Phinex is near!" Ellie smiled. "Bella saw her at the park."

"I told you someone will find her., didn't I?" Her mother patted her gently on the shoulder. "And the police has taken the man to prison. So you will have your friend back!"

Ellie nodded. She couldn't wait to hug and curl up with her best friend.

***

Meanwhile, out in the wilderness, the thumping of paws could be heard. Snow fluttered down as the pup trotted alone, nose to the ground. She didn't know her true destination was. But all she knew was that she had to be back at her owner's side. She remembered a strange man grabbing her and taking her away from her owner's side in a park one day, but tried to remember why they were in the park in the first place. Her tail was tucked between her legs and her hackles raised, the cute Golden Retriever felt so lost.

It had been a few days since she broke free from the cage. She remembered about that horrid man not feeding her. But whenever he could, the dog that was the man's guard dog would bring her leftovers. But often, it was only tiny scraps. Phoenix would just eat them without complaining. Jinx was not that scary and wanted freedom. But didn't know how to get out of there.

Phoenix shuddered as the snow hit her. She wanted so much to be in Ellie's arms and be in a warm bed. But so far, not much luck. She growled suddenly and made herself small. Then suddenly she could smell someone familiar. It smelt like Ellie's human friend Bella. Her growling stopped and she got excited instead. She must be nearly home!

She dived into a bin and started eating anything food like. She didn't care what it was. It all tasted great. It was a lot more than scraps that Jinx brought her each day.

A booming bark reached her ears and she saw her friend trotting up. She got out the bin and trotted up to Jinx.

"How did you make it out?" She yapped at the german Shepard. "That man put you in his house."

"He got taken into human cages!" Jinx bounded over to his friend. "That meant I could be free!"

Phoenix sat on the ground, the snow made her paw pads sting a bit. But she smiled at the older dog.

"You need a home, Jinx!" She told him. "A loving home with loving people and lots of fresh food and water."

Jinx looked at her sadly. Phoenix got closer and nuzzled him. All that time in the cage, she felt alone. Apart from when Jinx would check up on her. Would Ellie's family let Jinx live with us. She thought.

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A/N:

Here is chapter 1 of Lost and Found. I hope you liked it. I tried to be descriptive.

Being blind myself does sometimes mean that I lack in descriptions. But even so, I hope you enjoyed chapter 1.

Now, you may ask why I started the story like this. It is because of setting up what is to come.

Chapter 2 will be up next Thursday.

Wolfie out!

Word count apart from this: 1095