Fate... a word fabricated by those who cannot accept that they have failed, is denied by Jack Kurai all too often. He blames himself for everything that has gone wrong in his life, but would fall victim to the ever poetic "ill-fated love." The Pet

By Nicholas Gruber
Codes: Romance, Violence
Species: Canine, Mouse, Feline
Copyright 2005 by Nicholas Gruber

Fate... a word fabricated by those who cannot accept that they have failed, is denied by Jack Kurai all too often. He blames himself for everything that has gone wrong in his life, but would fall victim to the ever poetic "ill-fated love."

The first rays of sun peered through the blinds as expert marksman Sgt. Jack Kurai pulled on his pants, smiling at his beautiful wife Jen as she slept. Next would come his shirt, fitting closely to his well sculpted torso, his tail wagging as he saw her stir and grab onto his right leg. "Nuu Jack... Don't go to work... stay, sleep... cuddle..." Although her voice was still laced with sleep, it was still beautiful.

"Heh... Just can't slip out without you knowing anymore can I, hun?" He checked the action on his USP Tactical handgun, and slid it into his strap on holster. The gun and leg holster dropped on the bed next to his wife.

"While you're down there babe... put that on for me hun." Jack smiled until he felt the strap pull tight on his upper thigh. "Owww... hey watch it! If this keeps up I won't be able to have kids... Speaking of which, when can we start trying?" Jack asked, eager to have a son or daughter of his own, their own.

"Tonight hun... tonight. We'll start trying as soon as you get home; now go to work, before I pull you back to bed." Jack's already fluffy, arched tail waggled more. He threw on his jacket and grabbed his keys on the way to the door.

The day would progress very slowly, paperwork to fill out and weapons to clean. Jack and his team were assigned the inside work, whilst the second team was outside cleaning the armored transport, and repainting the word SWAT on the side, where the paint was charred from Molotov cocktails. Jack threw his one hundred first pencil into the ceiling as the small red emergency beacon flashed on his desk. The husky waggled his tail in excitement as the lethargy was shattered.

Jack bounded from behind his desk, and ran through the double doors, and jumped into the rear of the transport. He didn't quite know what the emergency was, but he knew getting shot at was definitely more fun than pushing pencils.

"Okay team... there is a shooter running wild in the North Kempton Mall, the shooter is very heavily armed and may have hostages. There may be more than one shooter, so be alert. Dieter, you're sniping from this point, here." The captain pointed to a high point on a water tower a few hundred yards from the mall. "Vince, you're taking the PSG1 up on sniper duty, and James will be your spotter. Jack... There's too much of a risk to send in a team... You have to go in alone, be silent and quick... your only objective is to eliminate this shooter. The hardest part will be knowing who he is. Now, grab your gear, ETA in four minutes."

There was a rush of furres as they all picked out their weapon boxes from beneath their seats, and strapped on Kevlar vests. Jack slammed a magazine into his MP5 submachine gun, and hopped out of the transport, his combat boots thudding quietly on the approach. As soon as he put a mirror to the door to see around the corner, a bullet whizzed past him and struck the glass, shattering it and causing him to draw back. Jack took in a deep breath, dropping his primary arm and drew his pistol, so he could get off quicker shots. He slid across the doorway and fired his gun three times, striking an AK-47 wielding feline. As he continued across the doorway, he spotted a second possible shooter crouched behind a stack of drywall. He looked to his MP5, and back at his USP. The submachine gun had thirty rounds, and his pistol had nine left, but his pistol had more power so the husky approximated where he was hiding and fired off all nine rounds, the spread covering three feet to make sure he hit him. He was rewarded with the sight of blood pouring from behind the drywall. He used the time to do a roll back to get his primary. As he picked it up, a shotgun blast caught him in the back, throwing him from his feet. The force knocked his gun away again, and his Kevlar was badly damaged. A smirking ferret holding a shotgun stood over him, with his gun pointed at his head. Jack feared for the worst, but was saved by Dieter's excellent shooting.

Jack picked up his MP5 and worked his way into the building, until he was in the main lobby, all of the terrified furres had fled into the stores and locked themselves inside. Jack's combat boots clacked on the marble floor as he approached the only two left in the main area. His heart sank into his stomach as he saw that one of them was his wife. "Jen! Let her go!" Jack started to lose his cool.

A small vulpine female raised her .38 special at him and said in an almost excited voice, "Drop your gun, sidearm, and vest or I ventilate your little tramp's skull!" Jack gave her three nods and then another, to start a well practiced plan.

Jack laid his submachine gun on the ground so he wouldn't mar the three-thousand dollar weapon. Next he slowly dropped out his .45 caliber USP. Jen waited until the gun was halfway down before ducking. Jack's feet dropped out from under him, and he caught the falling gun, firing off three rounds into the fox's chest. Her eyes dilated in surprise as she fell to the ground, dead before her body hit the marble floor. Jen ran to him, crying into his shoulder.

"Shhh... it's okay hun... shhhh... everything?s alright now." Jack buried his muzzle deep into the soft, lush fur of his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a fox aiming a handgun at him. With speed lent to him from the thought of his Jennifer dying, he spun her around, taking five nine millimeter slugs that were meant for her.

Dieter aimed through his Swarovski scope, and let out a single rifle round, which struck him in the head. Jen had no time to react, but looked into Jack's eyes, which now faced her. The husky's soft facial features smiled at her. She brought her hand to his face, and saw that her paws were stained crimson. "Oh Jack... no..." He remained smiling at her, knowing that he would die in just a few minutes. He leaned in and kissed her for the last time. Tears flowed openly down her cheeks as Jen watched her husband die slowly, but pain showed not on his face. Instead he sat down, not feeling pain but numb. The female husky sat down with him.

"I... I... don't... have m-much time hun..." Jack stuttered, a slight trickle of blood running down his mouth and down the front of his chest, into the spot where the bullet pierced the weakened Kevlar. Jen cradled her husband tightly, not wanting him to leave her, but knew all too well that he would in fact, have to within a few minutes. For almost an entire minute nothing was said, the female husky satisfied with the fact that she was able to be with her husband. Finally, Jack broke the silence.

?J-Jen? I... I want you to? to do me? a favor. The first feral... you get? name him after me? okay? N-not you?your son? Just a pet? I? I love you Jennifer? Don?t forget about me?? Jennifer felt his paw go limp in her grasp, and Jack?s head lolled to one side, his eyes fluttering gracefully for one second, and then finally closing in eternal sleep.

?Jack? no? no, no, no.? She whispered, her breaths choked in tears, feeling the love of her life slipping from her arms, to lay down on the hard, cold, unforgiving marble floor, never to arise again.

End Chapter 1

Chapter 2

?Yeah? that was my life? It was awesome? until I died. Oh well? Well enough about my sad story, let?s get on with life. That may have sounded odd, coming from someone who is supposed to be dead. Well as far as anyone is concerned, I AM dead. Well Jack Kurai is dead? now my name is just Jack. So call me Jack. I?m Jen?s pet, her little Siberian husky puppy. It?s really a great life. I get fed two times a day, as much water as I want; I get to play with Jen as much as I want. But it?s not like my other life, which I miss so very much. I only remember bits and pieces of it, but I know that Jen was my wife whom I loved very much, and now I cannot have the same kind of relationship with her anymore. It makes me very sad. Being a puppy is kinda cool I guess? I feel like I have ADD or something because my mind won?t stay on anything very long. Anyway here comes my master and secret love? Jennifer Kur- I mean, Jennifer Hazel.?

I watched Jennifer walk into the room, her apartment door still open as she said something to someone outside. I could tell that she was happier than the day before yesterday. My previous self had died a little over four months ago, but Jen was still finding it hard to cope with, I felt so bad for her. I watched her give the unknown furre outside a little ?come in? wave, and smiled.

Yay! Jen is having one of her friends over! For all you folks, my Jennifer does have friends, they help her along with her life and they ALWAYS bring me snacks. I love snacks. I love Jen more though. But her one otter friend is really nice. I think her name is Jack too? very odd name for a girl, but then again she is a very odd girl. But she can still find that little spot on my belly and behind my ears that makes my leg go thump-thump-thump! Oh yes, another thing that really annoys me, is that? I can?t read anymore! And my thumbs are gone too! OH THE AGONY! GAHHH!!! And not only that? My understanding of furre speak is very limited, I know the words, Jack, No, Yes, Bad Dog, Good Dog, Roll over, Attack, Up, Fetch, Bedtime, and? FOOD! Well? let?s see who this friend is? EH?! A guy!? Nuu Jen? Bad Jen? Stop!

I could barely believe my eyes? Jen had let another male into OUR house! I drew back on my paws and lowered myself down to the ground and barked loudly, hoping to scare him away. To make a real long story short? it didn?t. As he stepped inside, I gazed upon a fairly well built fox, just about five foot ten inches tall, and he was dressed in an olive drab BDU with jungle boots on. This fox didn?t scare me at all, so I ran up and did the only thing I could. Bark, and jump up and try to nip at his hands, which must have been taken as a friendly gesture, because I was picked up and cuddled by him. Rather than squirming, I did a sneaky bad thing. I laid my ears and let him pet me for a while, hearing his deeper voice saying something about Jack, good doggy, and pet. It was then when I delivered my stealth attack. I peed.

I was expecting that he would drop me, so I could run away and bite him again. But he must have had a puppy before too and he held me out over the floor to Jen, and she took me in her arms while laughing, and handed the fox man a paper towel. I silently sniggered at him, my panting tongue hanging out at him in a look of triumph. The triumph was short lived; Jennifer took me off into the bathroom and put me down by the scruff of my neck. I heard the words, Bad Dog! Pee! And the name Justin. As I was about to walk off into the shower to put my tail down, I felt her hand collide with my tail end. A sharp yelp escaped my muzzle as I felt the sting. My Jen hit me? I felt like dying and crying at the same time, but knew she would understand neither.

Oww Jen... please don't hit me again... that hurt... I'm sorry for peeing on your new boyfrie...

And that's when it hit me... for the first time I realized that Jen had a new boyfriend. All of this must have sounded like a bunch of whimpers, because she scratched my head and opened the door to the bathroom, ready to let me out. I sulked off into the shower, laying my head on my paws, still shocked by the new discovery I had made. Jen left the room with the light out and I cried to myself for hours, finally admitting defeat, losing my wife to another.

It was about three hours before I left the safety of the bathroom, which I had deemed mine. When I approached the kitchen, I found my Jen eating a well prepared romantic dinner with the fox that I learned to hate. It looked just like the ones that that we used to have together, back when I could interact with bipedal furs. Sadly I made my way to the dish they had left for me, to find a very tasty and surprising glob of cold Alfredo and shrimp. My tail began to wag uncontrollably, and I looked over at the dining couple. Justin smiled at me, and I caught a whiff of his scent on my dish, being that foxes have scent glands in their paws. I gave him a friendly woof. Okay, maybe the guy didn't suck as much as I thought.

End Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Well, it's been three or four months since the last incident occurred. Things have been going quite slowly around here. Jen's boyfriend was coming over much more frequently, and even though I am still sore and jealous, I don't think I would rather have anyone else looking after my lovely Jennifer while I was taking a real relaxing dirt nap. I'm not quite as small anymore, and now I get much more food three times a day. Justin seems to understand me almost as well as my Jennifer does. Last week he installed a doggy door for me, and I can leave whenever I want. I also learned a few more words, and you wouldn't believe my understanding of normal furre speak. I'm still feeling good though, Justin's scent still hasn't reached our bedroom. And# Oh, hey! It's Joe!

My tail waggled as my new friend Joe, a miniature pinscher wandered over to me, trying to tackle me as he came. I sidestepped and butted him with my head, sending him in a headlong roll in the grass. "Hey Joe! What's up? Anything new and exciting?" I asked in my best important tone.

"Hey, Jack my boy! You've gotten bigger! You know... you look exactly like the Jack that used to live with your master, same markings and all. Nothing's new, except Mary's due to have her pups this afternoon." Joe sat down, scratching his ears.

"Joe... promise you won't get all freaked out and consider me a section 8, but I am the same Jack... just as a feral." I was ready to hear him crack up in laughter, but instead he shrugged.

?Yeah? I figured as much? It?s actually not that uncommon here. Lots of us know what we once were. Not everyone comes back though, certain people just go on to that great big park in the sky.? Joe wandered around the back yard for a little bit, before I called him over to me.

?Well Joe, I?m gonna head back inside, okay? Tell Mary that I said congratulations and give her this.? I dropped a tennis ball at his feet, and turned to leave.

?Damn kid! This is one of those titanium core Wilsons, isn?t it? They?re supposed to withstand even the hardest bite. I?ll make sure it gets to her, count on me. See ya round, kid.?

I walked inside, with a smile on my face, Joe always knew just how to make me laugh. It wasn?t that he was trying to be funny or anything, but it was just something about him that always could put a smile on my face. My nails clicked on the linoleum kitchen floor as I entered, walking straight to my water dish. As I came to my dish, I noticed that the surface of the water was rippling like crazy, and as I peered down into it, I saw a little ball of brown fur, clawing at the sides of the stainless steel bowl. I had drunk enough of the water that the mouse couldn?t reach the top of it, and was swimming futilely. I sighed and reached my muzzle down into the water, taking hold of the mouse by its back, and threw it in the air with a little flick of my head, catching it on my back.

?T...Thanks sir. But I fear you are going to eat me now, is that it? Squeak?? The little creature clung to my fur, starting to sniffle. I could tell that it was a female and that she was ready to cry, so I turned back at her and smiled a genuinely friendly gesture.

?Haha? no, you don?t have to worry about me eating you. I have plenty of my own food to keep me fed. My name?s Jack, what?s yours?? I lowered myself to a laying position so she could get off of me.

I could tell she was surprised by my reaction to her being in my water bowl. She timidly nibbled on my paw, the rodential thank you. ?M? my name?s Cornflower, sir. You sound just like the other Jack that used to live here? I bet you?re the same aren?t you?? She asked timidly, covering her face in her tiny paws. I smiled and laughed, studying her frail features.

?You bet, Miss Cornflower. I?ve seen you before when I was actually bipedal. You used to chew open all of our flour bags, didn?t you? Don?t worry I don?t care if you did, I?d actually be flattered if you lived here with me.? I nosed her, making her squeak and giggle.

?Hee hee! Stop that, sir! That tickles! I?d be glad to live here with you, so long as you make sure that your master Jen knows that I am with you, and not a pest.? She nibbled comically on one of the pellets sitting in the dish next to my water bowl. I leaned my head down, so that she could get on again, and resisted the urge to sneeze when her tiny feet scurried across the bridge of my nose, and between my eyes. When she was on top of my head and securely nuzzled into my thick fur, I began to walk to find my master, going slowly, so I was not to disturb her much.

?Miss Cornflower, exactly how did you know that my name used to be Jack, and also? How did you know that my master?s name is Jen?? I queried, not exactly sure on how she knew. I knew that it was not a guess.

?Oh? I can understand all of the things that you furres say, you?d be surprised, every feral who lives around furres long enough learns their language, even if they cannot speak it themselves. You will too, and very quickly if you were once one.? She shrugged casually, but gripped onto my ear as we approached Jennifer as she watched the television. I had my new mouse friend translate what she said to me. Jen said a few words that I had learned over the last few months, something about me, a mouse, friend, and okay. ?She said, oh Jack, you have a mouse on your head, she must be your new friend, okay, I won?t freak out if I see her.? Cornflower bounced up and down happily as I wandered back into the kitchen to find her a place to live. I ended up settling for an old watch box, and some shredded newspaper that I found in its previous state. We moved it into the master bedroom, off in the corner. I set Cornflower down in her little makeshift bed and bid her adieu before going back outside to sit on the porch where my master and my other ?master? were.

It was actually a little while before I made it to the porch in the front of our house, after I chased after a few of my lapine friends that I had made. We played ?where?s the bunny? for a little while before I realized that there was a black car sitting a few blocks down from where our house was. My old habits still resided in me, as I watched it edge its way to the front of our house. It was a brand new Lexus ES 2005, and I noticed that it was being driven by a particularly familiar feline. I felt a sudden sharp pain, right between my eyes as a barrage of images flew through my mind, most of them from the point of a bipedal furre. I remembered exactly who it was that was driving the car. It was a woman by the name of Mei Friedman, the widow of a man that I had killed in a bad drug bust. She rolled down the window and I saw her holding something in her hand, I knew it wasn?t a gun, or a grenade. Instead it was a long piece of black-pipe, with a string, no, a fuse sticking out of it. My legs drove my forward at an incredible speed, racing faster than I have ever run before, in this life or the previous. I arrived at the front of the house as the fuse was lit and the bomb thrown at my two masters. Thinking quickly, I caught the object between my teeth, dropping it at my feet.

?What do you have there Jack?MY GOD! It?s a bomb!? Justin yelled, as he saw that the burning fuse was nearing the pipe. I quickly placed my paw over the casing of the bomb, holding it firmly against the ground, as a gripped the steadily burning, nitrocellulose fuse in my jaws, and gave it a good tug. With a slight hiss the burning fuse fizzled out between my teeth, burning my lips, but I was happy as I saw the fuse was disconnected from its original home. Before I had time to react, I saw Justin jump to his feet, taking careful aim with a very familiar looking gun. Three loud shots rang out, and as I looked over, I saw the black Lexus swerve gently off the road and come to a slow stop in the front of someone?s yard. I could see that through the tinted, shattered windows, there was a gooey substance covering the windshield of the car. Okay, maybe this guy was growing on me.

Jen grabbed Justin in a tight hug, making him lower the pistol that I now knew was a USP Tactical, the very same weapon that I used to use. But I knew it was not mine, because this was much more refined. There was a compensator on the front of it, and it had a new set of Owl Tritium sights on it. Okay? this guy was growing on me even more than before, so what, I like the guy. ?Justin, you saved my life! Are you okay?! You aren?t hurt are you?? Jen started breathing normally again after a few minutes.

?Yeah, I?m fine Jen, are you okay?? He asked, setting his weapon down on the rail of the porch for a moment. Jen nodded her head, feeling much calmer, as she saw a police car drive up to the Lexus. ?You should be thanking Jack here? HE saved your life. I?ve never seen a dog that was as smart as he is! He knew just what to do??

I felt his hand rub me between the ears, and I rolled over, yelping at him to rub my belly. Jennifer knelt down to me, her comfortable old jeans against the white painted floor made me remember when we first painted the porch together. ?You know? this is the 2nd Jack that saved my life? Are you sure you aren?t my Jack Kurai?? She studied my face. I licked her.

?Justin! He just winked at me!?

End Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Oh? alright?but just another fifteen minutes? I really don?t feel like getting up yet Justin? I swear I?ll be up and ready for your little Sunday morning jog as long as you give me fifteen minutes. Eh? What?s that I smell? Is that a REAL pepperoni stick?! Not a doggy treat one?! Okay I?m up, just gimmie.

Slowly my muscles untangled themselves from the knots of sleep, and I stretched myself out over the bed before springing after the small bit of pepperoni that my new master Justin had promised me. He gave it a toss and watched it fly into my open mouth, almost like a hungry baby bird. A few rays of dawn peered through the blinds and I yawned again, before we started out on a run. Justin was dressed in his standard BDU and I was dressed in my standard K-9 issue? um? fur.

For a bipedal creature, Justin had endurance and speed. The pace he set had me going at a nice bounding gait, but yet very quickly. I woofed to make sure he was still paying attention to me. To my surprise, he made a very feral sounding fox yelp to make sure I knew that I was being paid attention to.

We passed a few local restaurants, Luigi?s Pizza, Sam?s Family Restaurant, and my favorite one of all? Ayumi?s Japanese Bar and Grill. I remember that I used to go eat there every day for lunch break. Miss Ayumi herself knew me by name and order. Every day she would as me about my wife, and then serve me a platter of chicken fried rice, and a delicious grilled meat of something. I never dared to ask what it was. As soon as we were about to pass it, he stopped across the street and motioned for me to cross with him. I eagerly followed, and saw that there was a mail box near the restaurant. But to my pleasant surprise, we walked through the dual glass doors of Ayumi?s. My tail waggled as the familiar oriental scents wafted into my enhanced nose. Before I wasn?t aware of just how much better the sense of smell was as a feral. A very friendly looking femme feline stepped out from the back. I wagged my tail wagged faster as I saw the figure of a kimono clad feline with a beautiful cr?me complexion, black tips adorned her ears and cute muzzle as if she had dipped them into charcoal dust. Ayumi was very short, barely five feet in height, and she didn't look even ninety pounds. No matter how nice and innocent she looked, I knew very well that she was as lethal as I used to be. She had a very short tanto style fighting knife tucked deep inside her kimono, and drew it out whenever she was being hit on or threatened. I never figured out how she managed to do that without spilling her guts everywhere.

"Hi! Welcome to my bar, I'm Ayumi!" Her obviously Asian eyes scrunched together as she smiled, only making her seem more innocent.

"Hi, my name's Justin... And this here's my close companion Jack." He extended his paw for a shake and I mischievously gave her kimono sash a tug, like I had done when I was in high school. She gave a little mew in surprise, as her robe came open to reveal a quite slender body... and a surprise to me, a USP Tactical pistol, the same model as my old gun.

Justin tied back her sash and gave me a sly smile. "So Miss Ayumi, you have a USP? They're good guns."

She blushed under her white fur, "Yeah... I had two robberies last month. The third time, I sent them out in body bags. I remember that Jack Kurai, a usual customer used to have one. What a man... strong and handsome, and a damn good person if you ask me. Too bad he has a wife, I'd kill to be her. Haven't seen him lately though."

Justin bowed his head, and I felt my cheeks redden as I heard the compliments. "Ayumi... I have bad news... Jack was killed months ago. I'm so sorry to have to tell you that."

The kitten looked as though she had been stabbed with a rather sharp knife as a few tears rolled down her cheek. I felt kind of bad for her, and yet I wondered why people always cried over me. I nuzzled her leg to make her feel better. Justin walked her over to a booth seat where our orders were placed by Ayu's only son, who was about five years old, and was very polite.

It was a few minutes before she stopped crying. "Well, I guess... t... That I won't be able to hope that he'll leave his wife anymore. I really liked him. He looked just like your dog Jack."

Justin looked down at me, getting pampered by her. "This dog here is Jennifer's and mine. We're engaged to marry. Some days I really wish he was still here, because they seemed to have a perfect life. But I think that if he were able to see us, he would think that I would be a good mate for his Jen... my Jen."

He shot me a look that asked me if I really was the Jack Kurai that had loved Jennifer before him, and I returned with a look that said, "Well, what do you think?"

Thinking quickly he said to me, "Uhh... let's eat..." I .smiled triumphantly, knowing that I had won the round be for devouring my food.

End Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Yeah? It?s been a little while since I?ve gotten back to normal after seeing that poor little kitten cry over me. She used to be so happy with her job, but now whenever I see her out and about she?s quite sullen. It hurts me to see someone like her so sad. But alas, there is nothing I can do. Not a whole lot has happened since the Ayumi trouble, oh. We do have a new neighbor moving in across the street. A fairly elderly couple, very nice. They really like to give me treats and pet me whenever they see me, so I like them. They also have a dog of their own. A husky, just like me. But it?s a she, and she has the most beautiful, dusty red coat I have ever seen, I think I?ll go talk to her today.

I peered through the window in the dining room, looking at the new dog that was playfully running around in her yard. She had to be the prettiest around, just then I heard my master Jen clap her hands sharply, which I knew meant I was in trouble. I looked back at her, my paws still resting on the window sill.

?JACK! Get down off of that counter this instant!? Jen scowled at me, giving me a glare that made me want to crawl away with my tail between my legs. So, I did. I threw myself off the counter and dropped my body low on my shoulders, slinking away like a wolf. Jen didn?t bother chasing after me because, she knew I already had felt the shame at being yelled at. I hate being yelled at, I really do, by Jennifer especially. Slowly I snuck around the dining room and out the front door which, was standing wide open because there was a piano halfway through it. The men trying to move the piano inside, had found that the weight was too much for their tastes, and needed to go and get a dolly to get it inside. I looked around, to see the new femme lying down under a tree, being that it was just about ninety degrees and the sun was out at its peak. Quietly I slunk across the street and across the well kept yard, nothing but soft green grass beneath my feet. I must have been a wolf in a previous past life, because? I know what I was in my most recent past life, because for some reason I?m able to get anywhere I need to get without being seen or heard. With another few strides I was in a bit of well manicured shrubbery, the kind that old people like the ones that I am dealing with, like to have. They must be obsessive compulsive because, EVERYTHING in their yard is beautiful (especially their husky).

I looked out at her though the bush and saw that she was just about to fall asleep, but I felt very much like an obsessed stalker. Waiting quietly for another minute or so to gather my nerves, I found the courage to go out and talk to her. Casually I waltzed out from behind my only cover and nodded to her, ?Hey there!?

She looked up with a start, getting back on her feet. It took her a second to shake the sleep from her eyes and look at me, smiling. ?Hello there to you too!? She took off running towards me, and I laid down and covered my eyes, knowing exactly what would happen. From inside my little paw shelter, I heard the distinct squeal of a female dog. I looked up and my suspicions were confirmed, she hadn?t gotten used to her leash yet. I walked over to her and undid the spring-loaded catch with my teeth. Not to mention snuffle around in her fur a little. I smiled and sat down, watching her do the same as we introduced ourselves.

?My name?s Jack miss, welcome to the neighborhood.? I bowed my head in a polite nod, and she laughed.

?Jack Miss? That?s a funny name!? She giggled a little, and my heart soared, because I was laughing with her. ?No I know what you mean, but thanks for the welcome. I?m Kaitlynn.? I could feel my heart beating fast and I was very nervous, even more nervous than when I used to do drug busts. Talking to beautiful females was scarier than getting shot at. I tried to think of something nice to say, but I didn?t know what would be considered offensive, and I was about to compliment her eyes, but what came out was totally different, ?You have a very fine body Miss Kaitlynn.?

She looked at me a little shocked, and I drew in a deep breath, knowing that I had just said something really, really stupid, and laid down, covering my eyes again. She picked her paw up and batted me playfully on the top of my head a few times before laughing, and soon enough, I was laughing too. ?I?m really sorry about that, I? I? SWEAR I wasn?t going to say that? I was just going to say that you have the most beautiful? liquid amber eyes I have ever seen in my whole entire life.? And with that, she was completely won over. We would spend the next several hours laughing and playing, rolling around and tackling each other.

When the sun started to dip down below the Lapine Mountains, we trotted up a hill that wasn?t too far from her house to watch the sunset. The sun looked like it was a ball of warm gold, and the light reflected off of her beautiful, almost russet colored coat. She looked at me and smiled and I smiled back, as she put her head on my neck and we waited until the sun went down way below the mountains. I looked back at her and then we both got a really bad feeling in our stomachs, knowing that it was now very late. We laughed and sprinted down the hill and back to her house, feeling as free as a pair of spirit wolves. I left her at her house, getting a lick on the nose. I felt that I could die right then and there and not regret anything. And even as I was getting the worst lecture of my life, I still had the lovely look in my eyes, not caring what Jennifer had to say at the moment, because it was all worth it.

End Chapter 5

Chapter 6

By dawn's first light I was awake, trying desperately to hold onto the fragments of last night's dream which were quickly fading from my mind. I remembered that it had something to do with my previous life, and how I died, but instead of seeing it like it was happening, I could take time to pick out finer details, like Dieter was wearing a sterling silver cross, and the female shooter was using a Smith and Wesson .38 special with rosewood grips. I stood up, after a good stretch and walked over to the little cigar box to talk with Cornflower, only to find that she wasn't there. I shrugged knowing that she would be out gathering seeds for the day, which in my opinion was stupid. She was always welcome to birdseed and other food. Blinking my eyes, I started off toward the kitchen to get a drink. Silently my paws pressed into the carpet, but my nails did click when they touched the linoleum. As I walked over to my water bowl, I faintly heard a few squeaks, which I knew as musteline, a language of predatory rodents. I understood it very well, for Cornflower used it very often, to hold private conversations with me. Not many other mice knew the language, but apparently someone did. "And here he comes now! Hoy! Jack come here, I want someone to meet you!" I heard the all too familiar voice of my mouse companion.

"Sure..." I replied rather sleepily, "Sorry, jus' a little tired." I made a detour from my water bowl over to them. When I came to look at her, I found that she was lying staring into the eyes of a male mouse. At first glance I thought his fur was very dark, then I noticed that it was wet.

"Jack this is Dan. Dan, Jack." Cornflower was now on her feet, her whiskers twitching happily at me, I could nearly see the joy overflowing out of her. Dan put his two front paws on my nose as I carefully placed the tip of my claw on his, greeting him in rodent formal salutation. I stared down the bridge of my muzzle at him. He appeared to be kind, yet extremely brave, daring to greet a superior creature as myself with very little shown fear. Once he was dried off properly, thanks to a cotton ball that I found lying around, his fur looked a beautiful walnut color, so I figured he looked EXACTLY like a walnut, being about the same size and all. For a while we talked, discussing what we thought our previous lives were like. He figured that he was a big game safari guide. I told him I was heading up a SWAT team, and he remembered hearing about me on the news once. He also told me how he would be moving in with Cornflower with my permission, which I extended to him with my fullest approval.

When the two mice had scurried off to do god-knows-what, I finally made my way outside to talk to my new friend. I stopped to water the plants before crossing the street and found that she was already outside lying under the same tree she was the day before, snoozing away with a rubber bone under one of her paws. My eyes temporarily closed as I felt a warm rush of emotion wash over me, the corners of my lips raised and made me look crazy, but all I knew was that I was trying to imitate a human smile. I walked over to her, and got about twelve feet from her, before dropping onto my belly. The grass was cold and wet from dew, and I felt a shiver go down my spine as I inched over to her silently. I placed my face only a few inches from her own and touched her paw, causing her to wake. I never saw ANYTHING jump that far in my life, though it would be kind of startling to see a face as soon as you wake up. But you wouldn?t think a face as handsome as mine would scare anyone?

"Wake up there sleepy head! It's your favorite neighbor. Let's go down to the stream today before our masters get up." Feeling that only a very small portion of my message had gotten to her, I nuzzled into the thick lustrous fur of her neck, which not only made her smile but made me smile too.

Kaitlynn yawned sleepily, "Or you could lay down right this minute and go to sleep with me, and then we will go swimming later." I shook my head defeated with a smile of controversial victory. That girl drives a hard bargain.

"Mmmmm... I could go for another massage Kat..." I laid myself out and stretched out my legs, which were now full furre not feral. I looked over to my husky, and she was also furre, and not feral.

"Of course my Jack... " I felt a sharp tap in the middle of my forehead. Kat was slowly turning back into a feral, and the beautiful scenery once more transformed into her well groomed yard.

"Good dreams? Your drool gives it away... not to mention you kept saying my name and massage..." I looked up at her and saw her laughing at me. As I lifted my head, I felt a ribbon of drool snap, and I was once again embarrassed. Quickly, I rubbed my head in the grass.

A few minutes of chit chat, and some affectionate nuzzling would take place before we would go down to a small stream that ran by our houses. By then it was midday and we were panting like mad. As soon as we crossed the street and down the shale bank, the water looked so cool and refreshing that we both dashed across the train tracks and into the stream, not caring about anything else. Kaitlynn started to laugh and giggle a little as we waded about chest deep in the stream, the cold water instantly sending shivers throughout our bodies. I sighed as I felt all of the pent up heat, and my longing for a way to escape it, dissolve instantly, as soon as I hit that water. The stream was one that would feed into a large river not a mile away, and was fed by springs, making the water colder than imaginable. I took a couple of mouthfuls of water to quench my thirst. As soon as the water hit my tongue, I tasted the coolest, most crisp tasting water that I had ever drank. I looked over at Kaitlynn only find her shivering, and extremely cold. I waded over to her and gave her a quick nudge, "Cold already? Your belly isn't even wet!"

"Brrrrrrr... It's so cold an-woah!" Her words were drown out because I chose to jump on her and dunk her head under the water. I was surprised to get thrown off of her with such great strength.

"I'm gonna get you for that!" Kaitlynn lowered her ears and chased after me through the water her tail waggling. I smiled and took off onto the bank, and got no more than three steps before I felt my rear legs get picked up, causing me to sprawl head over heels. I landed with a soft bump, a dripping wet femme standing over me. She stared at me, for a few minutes, before doing her trademark head bat.

"Wow I wasn't expecting you to be so fast... nor strong..." I looked away from her earthen brown eyes to compliment her.

"Hah!" She laughed, "I didn't expect you to be so slow and weak gramps!" Not a second had passed before I flipped her on her back, folding my front leg down on her throat, effectively pinning her.

I brought my jaws to her ear and whispered, "What was it that you were saying my dear? I was too busy flipping you on your ass to hear." I released my leg from her neck and nuzzled it, letting her know that I was kidding. Even wet she had he best scent of any feral around. Kat started laughing and then I laid down next to her, the warm sun and grass feeling rather good on my cold wet body. "At least you're cooled off though." And with that she gave me a lick on the cheek.

End Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Another few weeks passed, nothing much happening, in fact the only thing that was out of the ordinary was that Jennifer and Justin were arguing more than usual. To tell you the truth, I've never heard them argue before. This time I thought they were arguing about moving. When I confirmed that it was true... I felt as though my heart was going to tear itself in two. What was I to do about Kaitlynn... and Cornflower... I knew that she was bearing a litter of mice and wouldn't want to go with me... My entire world was being turned upside down. I only thought of my beautiful Kaitlynn though, the thought of being without her was more than I could bear... She was the only one I had truly loved since Jen... and I was going to lose her.

As I laid down next to Cornflower's box... I felt a hot tear... one of anger... sorrow... and resent slip down my face. Time passed slowly as I waited for her to wake. Every minute seemed like an hour. An eternity later, I saw her paper shreddings rustle, and a heavier Cornflower peeked her head up. I told her everything. And felt her gentle paws caressing my nose, which in a small way made me feel better.

"Jack... All I have to say is that home is where the heart is... and well... this place won't be home without you. Wherever you go, I'm coming with you... it's the least I could do, you saved my life remember." The tiny mouse wrapped her arms around my nose in a hug and I saw the paper rustle again. Dan peeked out groggily, paper in his hair.

"Wuzzat?" He stretched himself out and rubbed his eyes. Cornflower sighed and cleaned off the shreddings. I smiled thinking they were a great couple.

"We're moving with Jack sometime, okay hun?" She nuzzled into his neck and he looked at me and smiled.

?Oh? Well I guess we are then? I think we owe it to you Jack.? He pulled Cornflower back into the shreddings and fell back asleep. I felt a slow smile creep across my face as I at least knew two of my best friends were coming with me when we moved. I was saddened as I remembered that my lovely Kaitlynn would not be joining us? I looked out across the street to watch my favorite red hued husky playing with the neighboring puppies, and again I felt the sorrow? I would never be able to watch my pups grow up like so many others would. She looked so happy? teaching those pups how to stalk and chase each other around? I have no recollection of my mother? but I know it must have been a joyous time? to be a child. I couldn?t stand to see her with the pups any longer and had to turn my head away. Sadly I slunk over to her to tell her the bad news?

?You? you?re what??? Her eyes had already started to well up with tears as I told her. She clung to my neck, wrapping her feral legs around me, as she sobbed and whined into my thick neck fur. I buried my muzzle into her fur as well?feeling how thick and warm it was, not to mention fragrant. I could hear her breathing getting more and more rapid? knowing that she was hyperventilating because of her panic.

?Jack? please? don?t go.. Not now..? Her words cut as deep as a knife as I knew how much I would hurt her by leaving.

?I?m sorry Kaitlynn? you know I don?t want to go? I? I..? I knew what words were choked in my throat, but no matter how much I tried? I couldn?t get over the feeling that I was betraying Jennifer, ?want to stay here.? I could tell that they weren?t the words she had been expecting either. And that?s when she said something that would make my blood run cold.

?Jack? mate with me right now?? I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach as hard as they could, the impact of the words she was saying truly rocked me. ?I want to mother your children? Jack please..?

I was beginning to see black bubbles in front of my face, when I remembered, ?Breathe Jack? Breathe.? Automatically I started to breathe again, watching the dots dissolve. ?Kaitlynn? I.. I would love to have pups.. but, I don?t want them to grow up without a father? I?m sorry.? I turned away from her and started walking.

?JACK!... I? I love you. I know you still long for your Jennifer.. I do? But please know that? I?ll wait for you! I swear? goodbye until then Jack!? She caught up to me and gave me a kiss, before looking into my eyes.

?Kaitlynn? Don?t wait for me? You?re far too good of a person to go on lonely throughout your entire life. I want you to have a family, but never name a child Jack. I told Jennifer to name her pet Jack, and look what happened. Whatever happens? just know?? I knew what I was about to say then and there, and knew that it was true as well, ?know that I? I love you Kaitlynn, you?ve shown me that it is possible to love again, and I thank you for it. I must bid you adieu dearest Kaitlynn? Perhaps we will meet again.? I let another hot tear escape my eye and splash on the grass beneath my feet.

?No Jack? I doubt we will ever meet again? I can feel it. This is our final goodbye. I love you Jack, and live well wherever you go now. I would tell you to love again but I can feel also, that you have been hurt too many times to try once more. All I must say is, live long and happily, and when you finally go back to the earth, may it be your last, and pass on into eternal bliss. Goodbye my love.? And with that I turned yet again, and walked of forcing myself not to cry and to block out Kaitlynn?s sobs.

It was a long and slow walk home, as memories of the last few weeks with Kaitlynn were all that I had left. There were going to be no new ones, and it saddened me greatly. I got home only to see Jennifer arguing with Justin again, and that their cars were packed with personal belongings and that a moving van was being loaded with furniture. Reluctantly I hopped in the back seat of Jennifer?s car along with the cigar box containing Dan and Cornflower. I smiled at them through reddened eyes, and my white facial fur was tearstained. They both touched my nose reassuringly. I laid down and fell asleep, waiting to arrive at our new home. Would I ever be more wrong in my life?

When I next awoke, I would see the veterinarian?s office. Unlike many other animals, I did not loathe the vet?s office. Actually I enjoyed going there most of the times that I had gone before, because I got petted a lot. Now I didn?t want to do much of anything. A nylon lead was strapped around my neck and I was led into the waiting room, smelling fear and anxiety as soon as I walked in. I laid my head in Jen?s lap across three chairs and looked into her eyes, they were full of tears and she was silently crying. I knew how she felt and how hard it was to move away from home.

Unknown to me, Justin was shaking out the contents of the cigar box outside the door of the car. He set down Dan and Cornflower on the grass and gave them a gentle push to send them off. They both stared at him in disbelief. ?Go on you two??

A woman dressed in a white lab coat came through a door and ushered us inside of a room I hadn?t been in before, I knew her as Sam? she was the first vet I had ever let give me an injection. I hopped up on the cold metal table and waggled my tail at her in greeting. She smiled an oddly sad smile at me before stroking my head without her latex glove. I looked back at my masters, and saw that both Jennifer and Justin were extremely sad looking, Jennifer was crying by this point. I didn?t think moving was going to be quite this traumatic for both of them. Then something I wasn?t expecting to happen, happened. Jennifer and her mate came over to me and rubbed me between the ears, and Jennifer even kissed my cheek. I smiled and licked her face, and she cried harder. I was about to even lick Justin?s hand, when I saw them both turn away from me and walk out the door. I knew something was wrong then and there. Before I could react, I felt something stab into my forepaw, and I looked down seeing a syringe inject its contents into my right front leg. I was thinking about fighting her and trying to run after my masters when it hit me? They weren?t coming back to get me afterward? They didn?t want me anymore. I looked at Jennifer as she looked back at me, and shot her a look of betrayal and sorrow. A cool liquid coursed through my veins at an alarming rate. And I began to feel sleepy, so sleepy that I couldn?t whine anymore let alone stand. As I collapsed onto the cold metal table I had a final flashback at my previous life. I remember that we had failed to stop a suicidal teenager, who had injected himself with the same drug administered to me, sodium pentobarbital. I laid my head in Sam?s hands as I felt my eyelids becoming very heavy, and I felt like going to sleep. ?I?m so sorry Jack?? She whispered to me as I licked her hands weakly. I saw my vision start to blur and decided that it was time to go to my final calling. And with that I let myself slip off into a deep sleep, one that I would not wake from.


The End

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