The black dog chuckled.  “Not yet,” he said, motioning for the red pup to come forward.  Slowly, she moved up to him, laughing as he started to sniff her.  “But now I do.”

 

 

 

            He led her away from the ally, nose in the air.  After just a moment, he laughed slightly, turning where Jenna’s faded scent was coming.  Every few feet, Zark would stop again, making sure he hadn’t lost the trail.

 

 

 

            The red pup was about to ask Zark a question when she saw a medium sized tan husky running toward them.

 

 

 

            “Mom…?” she whispered.

 

 

 

            “Jenna!” Autumn shouted, growling slightly.  “Get away from that dog!”

 

 

 

            Jenna stopped and cocked her head, not understanding why her mother wanted her to get away from Zark.  He was just helping her get home.

 

 

 

            “But Zark is just trying to help me get home,” she tried to explain.  “He’s not going to hurt me.”

 

 

 

            Zark hesitated as the angry female ran towards him, unsure of what to do.  He knew she only wanted to take her pup home, but he also knew a female would protect her pup no matter what.

 

 

 

            “Listen,” he said calmly.  “I was only trying--”

 

 

 

            His words were cut short as Autumn leapt at him, her teeth sinking into his throat.  Yelping in pain and surprise, Zark stumbled backward, trying to get the female husky off.

 

 

 

            “Mom, no!” Jenna cried, panicking.  “Zark just wanted to help me!”

 

 

 

            Autumn ignored her and bit the male harder, growling viscously.  In one quick motion, she shoved him to the ground.

 

 

 

            Jenna watched, running around them franticly, trying to think of a way to break them apart.  Before she could, a loud sound caused her to spin around.

 

 

 

            A few houses away, a man slammed open the door.  He was holding what looked like a silver stick that twinkled menacingly when the sun hit it.

 

 

 

            “You worthless creatures!” he hollered, raising the stick to his eye.  “Get away from my property!”

 

 

 

            As Jenna started toward her mother and Zark, a loud band rang though the air, causing her to jump.

 

 

 

            With a yelp, Autumn hit the ground as Zark ran in the opposite direction, his tail tightly held between his hind legs.

 

 

 

            “Mom…?” Jenna asked, slowly walking up to her.  “Are you okay mom?”

 

 

 

            Autumn painfully pushed herself up onto her feet, her eyes clamped shut in pain.  “Let’s just get you home.”

 

 

 

            Jenna slowly nodded and followed her mother, noticing a trail of blood behind her.  Not wanting to ask what it was, the pup pushed it out of her mind.

 

 

 

            After a few minutes, the two arrived on the doorstep of their house.  Scratching on the door to get someone’s attention, Jenna glanced at her mother with a worried look.

 

 

 

            Slowly the door opened and a squeal of joy came.  Rosie opened the door the rest of the way, running out to grab Jenna.

 

 

 

            “Mom!  Dad!” she called, smiling.

 

 

 

            The young girl’s parents appeared in the doorway, gasping as they saw Autumn.  Rosie’s father approached the dog, whispering to her.

 

 

 

            With a whine, she collapsed, gasping for breath.  In a painful motion, she pulled her bandana off, letting it fall softly in the snow.  Autumn looked up at Jenna still in Rosie’s arms, her eyes saying what she wasn’t able to.

 

 

 

            Slowly, she shut her eyes, putting all her efforts into breathing.  Soon her movements ceased and she went limp.

 

 

 

            Rosie’s mother gasped again, putting her hands over her mouth in shock.  “Oh dear…” she sad sadly.

 

 

 

            The young girl’s father rested his hand on Autumn’s chest, praying to feel the thumping of her head.  Looking up, he shook his head.  “She’s gone.”

 

 

 

            Rosie stood there holding Jenna close, trying to keep the tears she knew were forming from falling.  Looking down at the bandana still laying in the snow, she picked it up.

 

 

 

            “Here Jenna,” she said, tying it onto the pup.

 

 

 

            “What are we going to do with… Autumn’s body?” Rosie’s mother asked her father.

 

 

 

            He glanced at her body quickly.  “I'll bring it in the back yard and we can bury her there.”  He stopped, glancing toward their house.  “Why don’t you do dig the grave.”

 

 

 

            She nodded, walking toward the shed to get a shovel and into the backyard.  With great sorrow, she started to dig.  After thirty minutes, the hole was big enough to bury Autumn.

 

 

 

            “It’s ready,” she called, trying to keep her voice from breaking.

 

 

 

            A few moments later, he came around with Autumn’s limp body in his arms.  Rosie followed, still clutching Jenna.

 

 

 

            Gently, Rosie’s father lowered the husky into the grave and slowly filled it with dirt.  He glanced at his wife and daughter, then at the fresh pile of dirt marking Autumn’s grave.

 

 

 

            “We’ll miss you Autumn,” he sad sadly.  “You were a great dog.”

 

 

 

            The family stood around in silence for a few minutes before the chill of the wind sent them inside.  Rosie set Jenna down sadly as she went up to her room.

 

 

 

            Jenna walked over to the window, staring at the place her mother had been buried.  Sighing, she glanced at the bandana that was now around her neck.  It was the final thing she had to remember her by.

 

 

 

            “I'll miss you, mom,” she said, a single tear sliding down her muzzle.  “I'll never forget you.”

 

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