REIN (pt.1)

She was amazing… so caring and gentle. Protective and sweet, wanting only the best for her children she loved so much…

            Rein whined and rolled over.

            She… she had to be all that! She was… no, she is his mother! The mother didn’t remember… just… feeling her scent once again… the scent of safety and peace… and love…

            “Mum…,” he whined when something cold pushed him not really gently.

“Wake up!” Rein sighed. This voice belonged to someone he disliked… to an adult Doberman who had been treating him like a garbage all the time. To his father.

            Rein didn’t really know how his mother could have loved such a cold hearted, mean, cruel male. He didn’t want to believe his father was really his father… but unfortunately, there was no chance. He’d never spoken about her anyway, and Rein hadn’t found courage to ask him. “Get up… NOW!” His father shouted. Rein was afraid even to talk. He just got up and bowed his head. “I… am sorry it took me so long, father,” he whispered. “What? I can’t hear you!” His father shouted at him, watching his young son trembling. “I am sorry it took me so long, father!” Rein shouted back in awe. The older Doberman smirked and nodded. “Finally! And now, outside!” Rein whined, but he knew all the whining was futile. The Doberman standing in front of him didn’t care. “But father… I am thirsty… please… can I drink?” Rein crouched awaiting a burst of anger, which came. “WHAT?!” The father’s bared fangs appeared dangerously close to Rein’s face. “Dad… please… don’t beat me!” Rein squeaked shaking with fear. The dog in front of him was so intimidating and Rein knew he wouldn’t have had any problems with killing him. But luckily, there was a master. The master who loved Rein. He was the only reason keeping him alive. When he needed to feel love, when he needed someone who could pet him and play with him, his master was there. But well… his father didn’t approve of this. But his master was at work. “I won’t beat you yet. I will do it if you don’t run outside and do at least fifty laps around the house!”

            After a while, Rein was running around the house being watched by is father. He was really weak and slow. It was because his father hadn’t let him sleep long enough or eat a lot.

But he couldn’t stop. He didn’t want to make his father mad. He had done it once and it had been nothing pleasant. Actually, he had been grateful he could have walked away after the punishment. Finally, it was over. Rein almost fainted when he reached his bowl with water. He coughed and began drinking quickly, like it was his last drink in his life. He knew his father was watching him all the time – that was the worst. “I suppose you should rest for a while now,” he smirked.

            Oh no… please…

            His father was nice to him… and that was a sign of something really bad. Like… no food today… or water. The father called it ‘shaping of the mind and the body’ and Rein didn’t know why. He just thought it were another words for hurting someone who cannot defend himself. But there was no point in refusing such an offer. The young Doberman was heading to his bed when he heard his father’s voice. It sounded really angry. “Didn’t you forget something?!!”

            “I… yes… sorry, dad… thank you…,” Rein whispered in tears, cuddling against his blanket. The blanket meant so much for him. Maybe because it was much more humane than his father.

            Later that day, his master came home and an unknown man accompanied him. Well… not unknown to the master, obviously. But Rein hadn’t seen him before. His father was sleeping so he watched the man with curiosity.

            “Oh look… here he is,” The master smiled when Rein entered the room. The man nodded and smiled, too. “Yeah, he is really cute. I think Clare and Mike will love him. But are you sure you want to sell him?”

            The master nodded. “I don’t want to but I really cannot afford to raise two dobes. I have to work sometimes and such a dog is really demanding, if you know what I mean.”

            “But I you said-“

            “Yes, don’t worry,” the master laughed, “he doesn’t pee inside or whatever. I don’t know how he learned it, but I have never seen him doing it here.”

            Rein didn’t understand a word, but if he could have, he would have told them it had been his father who had taught him… in a painful but effective way.

            “Oh… okay… let’s talk about the price. I suppose he has a pedigree and some papers confirming it.”

            “Indeed… a clear European bloodline. Very fine, I have to say,” the master nodded.

“I want just the best… so, tell me – how much?”

            “I guess 850 would be good enough.” The man scowled a little bit, but he laughed afterwards. He was the master’s friend so he knew he was honest with him. “I guess it’s a good price for a good dog.”

            Meanwhile, Rein came closer and started to sniff the man. Well… he could smell two more scents. And they appealed to him. But after a while, he trotted back to a room where his father was. He was about lying down when those two men entered the room. Rein’s father didn’t move or act… he just continued sleeping or pretended to sleep. Rein looked at the master and at the man… but something was wrong… the man was holding some papers and Rein’s leash… “What?” Rein gasped as the master took his blanket, put it in a bag and gave the bag to the man. “Dad?” Rein whispered. “Dad? What’s happening?”

            No response.

The master stroked Rein gently: “Rein… I am so sorry, but you need a new home. And I think we have found a new one for you. A good enough for you. I will come to check you soon, but now… I am no longer your master.”        

            “Dad?!” Rein didn’t understand but he was sure something important was happening. He nuzzled his father who didn’t pay attention. “Dad! Please! Help me!” Rein cried when the man picked him up. “Dad! Dad!!!” But it was futile. His father betrayed him. He didn’t say a word… he didn’t even looked at his son. Just kept lying. “I HATE YOU!” Rein shouted. He had never liked him, but this was more than enough. Rein cried, but he didn’t even try to run away. He wanted to return to his father never more. He let the man take him away, weeping bitterly. Soon, the men were gone and Rein’s father was alone. He had a perfect reason why he hadn’t paid attention. “Rein… son…Rein…,” he whispered and sobbed, but soon, he began to cry. “Rein… please… forgive me… but… I hope it will be better like this… Rein!”

            As they were closer and closer to his new home, Rein was surer and surer he would coil down in the nearest corner and cry. But his new owner was really sweet to him. He was petting him all the time and when they arrived, two other humans ran towards them.

            “Love… so where is he!?” Rein was sure the one who’d said that was a female human.

  Her voice was soothing and pleasant and Rein had to admit he liked it. “I have him right here!” The new master laughed and passed Rein to his wife. She laughed when Rein tried to lick her chin. “Aww, he is such a sweetheart. Mike, look!” A young human looked at Rein. No doubt… this human had to be a pup, at least in Rein’s opinion. “Whoa, dad! Thanks! It’s a dobbie, isn’t it?” The kid yelled in excitement and stroked Rein few times. Well… that was something Rein enjoyed. Nobody had ever given him such love and regard. He got a new dog bed and his new master put the blanket on it. Rein jumped on the blanket, barking in a happy and playful way. He spent the rest of the day by playing with his new family and when he fell asleep, the master picked him up gently and laid him on the dog bed, which was close to his (and his wife’s) own. Rein felt happy… finally happy.

            A year passed. A year full of so amazing and great things. Rein had no need to complain. His family was so kind to him and he loved them, especially Clare. She had no job so she was staying home when her husband was at work and Mike at the school. Rein watched her every day and every day, she found some time to pet him or at least talk to him. And Rein realized he loved her more than the rest of the family. Well... Mike was nice too, but he didn’t pay the same attention to him like Clare. And the master? He hadn’t time. He worked much harder than his previous master, so he had barely time for his wife and son. His previous master visited him a few times. He had promised