Upon Three Paws

Chapter 14

Going Back

I yawn lazily as I lay sprawled out in the heated sand. Half my body is buried beneath a thick layer of it, something I've never thought of doing until recently when Fesco was trying to catch me. This way he can't get a hold on me as easily and I'm more camouflaged.

The heat becomes a little too hot and I reemerge from the sand. After doing my business and burying it, I saunter back out towards the hallway.

When I don't hear any movement coming from Fesco -wherever he is- I sneak out and press myself against the side of the couch. It's rough material soothes the itch developing from the sand caught under my fur. I shake myself out in relief as it fades away.

Looking up, I jump to hide behind the couch in surprise when I see Fesco sitting on the other end of the hall, head downcast. Curiosity and worry squeezes my chest. I've never seen Fesco do this before, and his abrupt change in body language, it makes me feel uneasy.

Slowly, cautiously, I creep towards him, ready to run away if necessary. I'm at a disadvantage being unable to see his eyes and emotions, preventing me from predicting his next actions.

Leaning closer, yet still safely out of his reach, I sniff the air, snorting in confusion as I catch his scent, but notice that it's tainted with the smell of amusement. I growl in dislike of the situation. His body language is telling my eyes that he's either sad, or possibly tired. His scent however convinces me that he's finding confusing me entertaining.

My mind snaps back to reality when I see his shoulders droop. Narrowing my eyes at this, I inhale another breath of his scent and am surprised to smell something similar to the feeling of rejection.

Grumbling to myself, I walk closer to Fesco and plunk myself down hesitantly in front of his neatly folded legs, still ready to jump back out of his reach if I feel it's necessary. My nostrils flare at the scent of my favourite meat and the tension is pushed to the back of my head. Rapidly searching Fesco for the source of it, I notice how he's hiding his hand in his leg and out of my sight. One quick sniff tells me that he indeed is keeping the meat there.

Pouncing onto his guilty arm, I dig my snout into his folded hand and grab the meat before chewing and practically stalling it whole. My stomach growls for more. I rise up onto my haunches, not even reaching halfway up Fesco's chest so I can look him in the eye and ask for more.

His eyes are filled with that calm patience I commonly see on him. Sitting back down on his leg, I bump his finger with my snout, signalling that I want more. Fesco chuckles softly. I yelp in surprise when he picks me up and stands. A growl emanates from my chest as he turns into the kitchen, a large grey plastic cage sits with the door open on the table.

"It's alright Peppa. We need to go make sure you're healthy. Okay?"

My ears go back against my head and I try backing away from it, but with the entrance being large enough to allow Fesco's hands in -although barely- he easily places me inside. Spinning around to face the only exit and entrance, I watch as Fesco clicks it into place. He lifts the cage off the table, making my fall into the soft blankets covering the bottom.

Light flickers through the holes on both sides near the top as it sways and prevents me from balancing on my paws. I recognize the peculiar rocking motion, which confuses me because no matter how much I rack my brain I come up empty.

My ears perk up at the sound of the door to outside opening. Fresh air sweeps through the holes in the cage and the movement ruffles my fur. The air fills my lungs and puts to rest my anxieties for now.