Misty: A Dog's Life

Beginnings

The frosty morning light shone in through the window above the empty stall, the dog lay tired in her little nest of hay. Leaning down she licked the five new puppies that nestled into her belly fur, squirming as she nosed them around. All the pups were males except one small female. Two of the males were black and white, the other two were dark brown and white, while the only female had mottled light brown patches on her white fur.  

The dog pricked her ears listening to the horses snort and stomp in their stalls, looking through the window watching a lone cloud drift across the sky. Looking at her pups her gaze rested on the small female, who looked just like her father. They were all so small, whimpering as they clambered over each other vying for a place to nurse.

Carefully standing up the pups whimpered in protest as they now couldn't nurse. Nosing strands of hay over the pups she trotted out of the stall towards the open barn door, peering around the corner to make sure the human wasn't there. Certain that he wasn't around she walked into the open, snow sticking to her fur. Padding over to a barrel of water she stood on her hind legs, forepaws hanging over the edge as she lapped at the cold water, sending shivers down her spine. Hopping back down she glanced around looking for something to eat.

Her eyes landed on a silver metal can that sat in a corner beside a door. Hesitantly she darted across the yard stopping once she reached the can. Warily glancing at the door she sniffed around the can before rising up to put her forepaws over the top. Wedging her nose under the lid she shoved it off into the snow, with a hollow thud. Tearing the filmy gray bag open with her teeth she put her nose down shoving her muzzle through the inedible pieces of paper and plastics, a savory scent led her to several scraps of meat. Gobbling up the delicious morsels she sniffed around, but failed to find anything else to eat. Suddenly the door opened up and a young girl walked outside, stopping as she saw her.

The dog froze not knowing what to do before she turned around bolting towards the tree line. Daring a glance over her shoulder she saw the girl watching her before hurrying back inside. Quickly making her way back to the barn she trotted to her stall. Rounding the corner she saw the black cat sitting besides her pups licking them. Locking eyes with the cat she started forward and the cat jumped back leaping up the hay bales staring down at her. The dog sniffed her pups before curling around them. They squirmed and whined as they nosed into her side searching for milk. 

By the time the sun sat low in the sky she decided that the pups were strong enough to be named. Gazing down at the largest and first born pup she tilted her head before murmuring," Stone." She nodded looking at the next pup studying his brown and white fur before calling him, "Rocky." The name "Ash" instantly popped into her head when she looked at the other black and white male. "I'll call you Aspen," she said licking the pup's head. Then she looked down at the small female who climbed over her brothers fighting for a place to nurse. Laying her head on her paws she yawned her eyes resting on the pup," I think I'll call you Misty." Curling her tail around the pups she felt her eyes close, drifting into sleep dreaming about her pups.