Lost and Found, A story of family.

Chapter 7: The plan!

The sky got darker. The yard where Phoenix lay in her cage filled with clouds. She whimpered and felt the rain coming through the bars which she lapped at. She wished she had proper water, though.

***

Delilah trotted as fast as she could after Jinx. All she could think about was how to get the three of them out of the disgusting dump which was not her home. Her rightful home was also with Ellie and her mother. When she was a pup, Delilah was adopted by Ellie's family from a shelter because of her mother being agressive towards Delilah. When Jinx was also added to the pack, Delilah felt it was her duty to look after him. They would stick by Ellie all the time to make sure she got to places without tripping.  Delilah would even protect Ellie from her father. But would get hurt in the process.

"I miss Ellie," she thought as she trotted now. She felt upset and scared. "I will help Nixie. If it is the last thing I will ever do!"

She got closer to the trash box and saw Jinx, sniffing at it.

"Hey, Bro!" She barked.

Jinx stopped in his tracks as he heard Delilah trotting up to him. He lowered his head in shame.

"Oh, Hey, Delilah!" He said slightly whimpering.

"What's wrong?" Delilah playfully swished at him with a paw. "I won't hurt you!"

"I know, sis!" Jinx grinned despite himself. He did miss the nice Delilah!

"Any luck?" Asked Delilah.

"I don't think Master has scraps tonight!" Jinx sighed staring at the trash. "Just paper. He must of eaten everything."

"We need to look after little Nixie!" Delilah sighed. "But how?"

"We need to help her out of that cage," Jinx stared closer to the trash. "But Master has made sure she won't."

The two dogs stared at one another. Both thinking hard.

"Is there a way you could put your body weight on it, Delilah?" Jinx asked after a while. "Like force the door open?"

"Possibly?" Delilah looked at her reflection in a piece of glass that was in the trash. "But I don't want to hurt her!"

"What do you mean?" Jinx felt confused.

"Ellie wouldn't forgive us if her guide dog returns with wounds like us!" Delilah pointed out. "

"Oh, yeah!" Jinx nodded. "How would we get her free without Master seeing?"

Delilah stood there in thought. The cogs in her brain came to life.

"We'll take it in turns," she said after a while. "One will stand guard as the other attacks the metal thing on her collar."

She sighed sadly. "Poor Nixie. She doesn't deserve to be chained up for no reason."

"The plan is worth a try!" Jinx said. "We do need to tell her, though before we even try!"

"Good point," sighed Delilah, noticing something in the trash heap. "Wait, what's that?"

"What do you mean?" Jinx stared at where Delilah was looking. "Bones?"

Delilah put her nose to the pile. She managed to find some meaty bones.

"You found something?" Jinx asked, also looking. "Is there enough for us and Nixie?"

"There is enough," said Delilah. "Although we should just treat her to them. We had our food."

"Good point," sighed Jinx.

Delilah gently picked one up. Jinx copied and followed the older dog out.

***

When they got back to Phoenix, the Golden retriever looked up from a bowl of kibble that somehow appeared. The rain had stopped while the bigger dogs were fetching the food.

"Master must of got here before us," sighed Delilah. "Don't eat that, Nixie!" She added, staring at the kibble.

"It smells off," sighed Phoenix. "Like days old. I don't like Kibble anyway! I'm into my bones!"

"Here," said Jinx managing to push his in the cage. "Delilah has one, too!"

Delilah nodded and dropped it through the bars. Phoenix felt happy as she started on Jinx's bone first. Delilah and Jinx watched the younger dog as she chewed.

"We have a plan, Little one!" Delilah confessed. "It may hurt. But I don't want to hurt you!"

Phoenix looked up. Her eyes had dark circles that looked purple.

"Anything to get back to Ellie!" She whimpered, chewing.

Delilah's heart raced in her chest. She looked at Phoenix.

"Because I am bigger than you both," she said. "I will be using my body weight to force that door open."

Jinx nodded. "Then we both will take turns to guard you as if you are still in the cage. Meanwhile, the other will try and free you from the metal thing on your collar."

Phoenix let the words settle in her brain. She smiled.

"Worth the try!" She confirmed. "But when do we try it?"

"Master is out all day tomorrow," Jinx said, excitedly. "Maybe then?"

Delilah nodded. "We could!"

"Then it is sorted," said Phoenix. "I will be ready whenever you are."

She looked straight at Delilah.

"We are friends, now, Delilah," she told the XL Bully. "I can trust you."

Delilah felt warm inside. Her tail lifted up and wagged. So did Jinx's tail.

"All three of us will be out of here and back to Ellie and her Mother," he barked with joy.

"Hopefully," said Phoenix. "If this plan works, of course."

The three dogs stared at one another. Phoenix picked up the other bone and started eating. She let the taste of the meat melt on her tongue.

"Hasn't master given you water?" Jinx asked. "You do look thirsty, Nixie!"

Phoenix shook her head.

"I had to lick up the rain water," she admitted. "When it does rain."

"You haven't drank for all this time?" Delilah sounded concerned. "That's bad."

"I'm surprised you are still alive," Jinx said.

"Same, to be honest!" Phoenix nodded. "I guess the food keeps me going."

"We will make sure you get some fluids in you," Delilah sighed. "You poor pup!"

"Bet you two want to go home," Phoenix said, crunching the bone. "I think Ellie and her mother will be happy to get the three of us back!"

Delilah and Jinx nodded. Then Delilah's ears pricked up.

"Master calls," she told Jinx. "Time to get back into our horrible house."

"It smells horrible," Phoenix grimaced. "Mixture of smoking and old meat."

The older dogs both nodded. Phoenix sighed.

"See you both tomorrow," she told them. "Don't want you both to get into scrapes with Master."

They both nodded and left Phoenix who lay back down and curled up the best she could. She wondered how long would it take to get back to her home. She really wanted Ellie back.

—————

A/N:

Here is chapter 7? Wow! And this was probably one of my favourite ones to write.

Q&A:

1: What kind of bones do you think they are?

2: Do you think their plan will go well?

3: How long do you think it will take the three of them to get back to Ellie and her mother?

Hope you loved the chapter and see you for chapter 8.

Wolfie out!

Wordcount excluding Author's note and this:1103.