Lost and Found, A story of family.

Chapter 3: At the park.

It was later that afternoon when Phoenix and Ellie arrived at the sun kissed park. There were a lot of teenagers running round. It was an open place with grass. The people were in different colours.

Phoenix's nose twitched as she took in all the smells. There was a particular sent that hit her nose. It smelt of smoke. The dog started whining as she walked into the part where she and her friends played. Ellie noticed the sudden change and patted her head.

"What's wrong?" She asked her loyal companion.

Phoenix felt frustrated that she couldn't communicate with Ellie. But she thought she recognised the sent. She remembered when she was first matched with Ellie that there was an evil man in the house. That man used to smoke and then put his long stick things out on the women. Especially Ellie's mother. She let out a warning growl.

"Nixie?" Ellie sounded concerned.

"Hey, Ellie!" Came Bella's voice. "Is things okay?"

She ran over with Coco who noticed Phoenix. The Chocolate Lab trotted to her friend and sat at her side.

"What's up?" She asked her tail drooping. "You haven't looked so angry in a long time, Nix!"

"I think I smell Ellie's dad somewhere." Phoenix whimpered. "He didn't like her or her mother. Nor me to come to think about it!"

Zippy came galloping up. Her tail bouncing as she approached. But she then noticed the older dogs and calmed down. Jasmine also joined. Their owner Kate joined Bella and Ellie. The girls all in deep  talk. The two dogs stared at their friends.

"Hello," Jasmine barked. "What's wrong, Phoenix?"

"She thinks Ellie's dad is here," Coco explained. "She is scared."

Phoenix didn't move. She didn't want to. The other three dogs all looked concerned.

***

Ellie greeted her friends. Kate and Bella hugged her.

"Is phoenix okay?" Bella asked. "She's tensed in the harness."

Ellie put her hand on her pooch's head. But the dog didn't relax. Not even with the three dogs round.

"This is strange," she said, feeling anxious. "Nixie is never this tensed."

Kate suddenly saw what Phoenix had smelt. A tall dark man was in the shadows, watching them. His dark brown eyes were trained on Ellie and Phoenix. He had spiky black hair and a cigar in his mouth.

"Er ... Ellie," said Kate in a quiet voice. "I think I know why Phoenix is acting how she is."

Ellie stood there, not knowing how to react.

"Why?" She asked after a while.

"Don't want to scare you," said Kate. "But we do have unwanted company."

Phoenix suddenly growled and tried to get free of the harness. Coco, Jasmine and Zippy were also growling. But not at each other.

"Oh no!" Ellie felt the colour drain from her face. "My dad! He's meant to not be here."

Phoenix was really pulling now. Ellie had no choice to follow her friend at a rapid pace out the park. Bella clipped Coco to her leash. Kate did the same to Jasmine and Zippy. But before they got to Ellie and Phoenix, something happened. Ellie was taking Phoenix's harness off.

"Ellie!" Screamed Bella. "What the heck are you doing?"

Ellie didn't reply. She managed to slip the harness off her beloved dog's body and was only holding her leash. The dog looked so confused. Ellie turned to Bella and Kate.

"Run," she screamed back. "We'll be okay!"

Kate obeyed, but Bella stayed there. She didn't like the look of what was happening.

***

Phoenix kept growling. Even when Ellie took off her harness. She wanted to protect Ellie at all cost. She saw Jasmine and Zippy leaving at a rapid pace with Kate. But Coco and Bella remained. Phoenix's little heart raced in her chest in panic. She wanted Coco to pull Bella out the park. She didn't want her best friend to get hurt.

"Go, Coco!" She whimpered while growling. "It's not safe for you or Bella!"

Coco tried to run off, but Bella was staying put. Meanwhile, the man was getting closer. Phoenix stood in front of the trembling Ellie, hackles raised. Her usual calm self was gone. Ellie used her to stand as steady as she could. But nothing she could do would stop the events unfold.

***

Coco sat at Bella's feet as they watched the man prowling towards Phoenix and Ellie. Bella had her phone in her hand. She was texting Ellie's mother to warn her something was wrong. Coco was whimpering. She wanted to join Phoenix with trying to protect Ellie. Phoenix was so angry that she would snap at the man. But that meant Ellie's at risk. Bella suddenly made to run to grab Ellie. The girl looked close to passing out.

Must be her anxiety!" She thought as she dragged Coco over to her friend.

Phoenix had managed to get Ellie to drop her leash. She sat there, growling, showing her perfect white teeth. Ellie stumbled and managed to get to her knees as Bella managed to get to her side.

"Ellie?" Bella said, catching her as she leant forward. "Are you okay?"

Before Ellie could answer, a yelp was heard behind them. Coco growled and tried to leap up. But it was too late!

"What was that?" Ellie asked weakly.

There was running of feet and howling that hit their ears. Coco barked angrily. Then Bella managed to take a breath.

"Ellie," she said gently. "Don't freak out, but that horrid man has taken Phoenix."

Ellie was too weak to respond. Coco trotted closer and nuzzled the visually impaired girl with sorrow in her eyes. Bella pulled her friend into a tight hug. It was then that Ellie started to cry. Bella rocked her friend gently and let Coco into the hug. Ellie didn't even push them away.

***

Phoenix felt her neck hurt as the man grabbed her collar. She tried to snap at his wrist but to receive a stamp on her tail. She yelped and felt pain shoot through her.as she felt herself being dragged. She saw her friends disappearing as the man got faster. She let out a howl of misery as the man threw her into a metal house thing. Then her whole world went black.

—————

A/N:

Hey all. Thought I would drop the dog napping chapter now. What did you think?

See you next time for a chapter on Phoenix's first day in dog prison.

Wolfie out!

Wordcount apart from Author's not and this is: 1040