Different Sides of the Fence

I look around, confused. I know I heard something and there's a fresh scent that's unfamiliar to me. I start following the scent trail, the pine needles stabing at my paws when I feel a sudden weight land on top of me. I struggle, trying to see who my attacker is. Even my police training couldn't prepare me for this.

"I never did like intruders." A female's voice says.

"Who are you? And what do you mean 'intruder'?!" I ask in a panic.

"My name is Laila, alpha of the River Pack." She responds with pride.

"Alpha? What even is that? And can you get off me?" I say as I continue to struggle beneath her. I feel the weight being lifted off my back before she speaks again.

"Figures a pet wouldn't understand something so basic." I turn to see a dog of some sort, not a breed I can recognize. She looks similar to me, a German Shepherd but she definitely doesn't smell like one. She has mostly grey fur with some brown and white markings with beautiful golden eyes. She's a lot thinner than a dog should be, I don't even know how she's standing right now, even less able to fight.

"I'm not a pet-" I try to defend myself.

"Don't even try denying it, their scent is all over you. You live with humans, you eat with humans, you sleep with humans, you're a pet." She says, her tail lashes back and forth.

"Hey, I save lives every day! And what do you do?" I fire back. Okay, so that was a bit of an exaggeration, I don't save lives every day, but I do save lives.

"Follow me," she simply replies. I cautiously walk behind her.

"Where are we going?" I ask. She turns towards me with a playful smile.

"I'm about to change your life."