Storm on Grizzly Jaw Creek

Rex stumbled into his home & shook his Search & Rescue jacket off. The German Shepherd started to make hot tea when he heard his name from his mate, Jasmine. "I can tell you rescued someone. Who was it?" "It was that dumb teenage Bull Mastiff, Dewey! He thinks he can do anything. He was trying to impress his girlfriend. He knows the creek is dangerous in the spring with all that rain." Rex snapped. Jasmine put her head on his shoulder. "Dewey is just going through that stage. Remember you were like that!" She laughed heartily. Rex grinned & wagged his tail. "How's Belle doing?" "She is a bit moody." Rex sighed then both headed up to their room.

The next day when Jasmine dropped off their daughter, Belle at school, she said, "Dad will pick you up today alright." Belle looked disgusted & replied, "Whatever, he never comes!" Belle raced off to meet her friends. Jasmine sighed & walked back home. That afternoon, Belle walked through the door alone. She growled at her dad's picture on the hall wall. Jasmine asked, "How was school?" She poked her head out from the porch. "Fine." Belle answered. Jasmine looked at her daughter with her brown eyes. "Spill them crocodile tears. What do you got bottled up?" Belle cocked her head at her mother. "How does she know what I'm thinking?" Belle thought. Jasmine beckoned to the porch swing. Mother & daughter went to speak Belle's feelings.

Rex came home early, with joy in his ember eyes. When he came in he saw a very annoyed Jasmine leaning on the counter. His tail dropped, his smile wiped from his face, & the joy vanished from his eyes. "What now?" he asked. Jasmine stood having her brown eyes glare at him. "Lets see, oh yeah family!" Rex lowered his head then snapped his head back up & answered, "I'm saving lives here!" "For your info, can't you save time for family?" "Just to tell you I'm now Chief Searcher. So I have a harder job to do!" Jasmine growled & yelled, "You're letting the family duty down!" Her parents didn't know she was listening, but Belle hid on the other side of the counter. She gasped, she has caused her parents to fight. "I know I'm letting you down Jasmine!" Rex said weakly. "It isn't me! It's Belle! She depends on you Rex!" Jasmine replied fiercely. Rex sat & stared at the wood floor. Belle glanced at her dad. She looked at him as a proud hero but now he looked like a puppy being punished. But she already made up her mind.

The next morning Rex walked with his daughter to school. Rex was silent & tired. Belle gulped and said, "I heard you are Chief Searcher now." Rex smiled at his daughter. He started singing "My Little Girl" & Belle blushed. They tackled each other & chased each other before they reached her school. Rex hugged Belle & brushed his paw over her ears. "I'll pick you up today. Have a good day." Belle smiled then ran off to the school courtyard. He watched her go then walked toward work. Belle's heart was torn.

The phone rang in Rex's office. "Rex Molan here. Who is this?" "This is StarWing the principal of the school." Rex was full alert now. "What did Belle do now?" He knew Belle got into trouble ALOT. "Belle didn't show up for school today." Rex could feel his heartbeat race. "But I saw her! I dropped her off!" Rex snapped. "I'm sorry Rex. But she isn't here" StarWing answered. "Thank you StarWing. I'll find her. Bye StarWing." He slammed the phone down. He barked urgently & the 3 teams came to the door of his office. Rex got his jacket on while shouting orders. "Cooper take Beta squad to the canyon. Sisco take Delta squad to the forest. And Alpha team follow me to the creek!" Cooper (bloodhound) asked, "Who are we rescuing?" Rex sighed & answered, "My daughter. Move out!"

Belle stepped carefully over the rocks by the creek. It was sprinkling so the rocks were slippery. Belle looked up & saw dark clouds come. The banks of Grizzly Jaw Creek were almost swallowed by the water. But the log dam kept most of the water in the lake. She gulped as she looked at the fast moving water but anger pushed her on. Her left hind paw slipped from under her. It scraped against another rock & blood trickled down her leg. Meanwhile Rex ran his hardest & dodged all the trees & bushes. He stopped at the log dam & thought, "This is the last day for the dam." Water blasted from the dam. The sprinkle went into a hard rain. He had to find Belle before it was too late. He ran on with the team close behind.

Rex smiled as he saw Belle. "Belle!" he said with joy. Belle slowly turned around. She wanted to run to her dad but stubborn anger kept her there. "You know why I ran away? Because all you cared about is your job! You never have time for family." Belle shouted at her father. The team howled to tell they found her. Rex's sensitive ears picked up the sound of the dam breaking. "Belle get out of there now! The dam is breaking." Rex yelled. Belle looked upstream to see a huge wave of water coming. She leaped but the surf slammed her body down into the water. "Belle! I'm coming!" Rex shouted.

He ran leading the team. He could see Belle's head bob above water before it went under. She appeared again and screamed, "Dad!" Rex swerved right onto a ledge that pointed into the creek. He jumped & felt the cold water over his tired body. It ran chills down his spine. He fought the current to get to Belle. Sometimes he went under but still swam. He got close enough to Belle & lanced his powerful jaws on her wet scruff. The team threw a tied lifesaver to them. Rex grabbed onto it & all his strength was sapped from him. The team finally got them on dry land. Rex checked her pulse. It was slowing down. He quickly did CPR. No response. "Come on Belle!" mumbled a scent hound. Rex did CPR again & this time Belle's eyes flew open. She choked & gasped for air. She sat up & hugged her dad. "I'm sorry Belle." Rex whispered in her velvet ear. "I'm sorry too dad." Belle whispered back. The teams cheered & 1 dog-fox put blankets on the 2 soaking German Shepherds. The whole group walked to Rex's place for hot cider & coca.