crushed a dog flat in the distance. I spotted a shiny can overflowing with food scraps, my heart leapt and I bounded towards it. But just as I was about to get to it, there was a snarl and a huge black and brown dog appeared “get lost scrap” he snarled at me “or Ill break your neck”.

I cringed into the cold pavement “please” I pleaded “I have pups they are dying”

“I don’t care” spat the dog “every dog takes care of it’s self, now get out” he rushed forward and I ran back into the familiar alleyways of my home.

When I had put the dog far behind me I slowed and began a fast trot. I continued down the alleyway before turning off to another unfamiliar one. This time I found food scattered along the ground as if it had been chucked from about. I looked up and saw the windows of the human dwelling above me and the strange cloth they wore about their bodies hanging in thin air. I shivered and darted over to some food before I was seen. I found a large piece of old rotten meat and picked it up, finally a decent meal. I quickly ran the rest of the way back to my pups. My pups were still huddling together when I reached them. Their eyes were open now but they still couldn’t feed on solids yet. I lay down beside them and began tearing into the meat, the delicious flavour hit my mouth. My pups started suckling for the little milk I had I had named the surviving three, two females and one male, the female that was identical to me was named Honey, a darker female with black legs and streak on her back was named Mud, for she looked as if she had been wading in mud and the male was Thistle, his pelt was long and he bit like thorns in my side. I gulped down the rest of the meat and began to groom the pups; Thistle had stopped feeding and was fast asleep, his tiny sides moving up and down rapidly. I nuzzled his long fur and lay my head on the cold hard ground; I had no shelter in this cold alleyway, only the warmth of my body. I shivered and curled my body in a tight ball, with a belly fuller than it had ever been I fell asleep.

My eyes snap open as something prods me in the side. I look up to see a young human looking down at me and prodding me with a stick “ewww it’s alive” yowled the human. Four others were standing behind it , the humans were all male. I cringed against the wall of the alley, terrified. The human laughed and poked me harder “look how scared it is” sneered the human. Suddenly one picked up mud and lifted her into the air, she squealed in protest and squirmed in his grip. I snarled, drawing my lips back in a snarl to reveal my sharp teeth. The human just ignored me “look what I’ve got” yowled the human holding mud, the other humans laughed and poked her “ hey catch Roy” sneered the human holding Mud He threw her at the human called Roy who caught her “ewww it’s so gross” yowled the human, he began to shake her violently “Wake up you stupid mutt” yelled the human “ I could only watch helplessly as the human shook her over and over. Suddenly a dark shape slammed into the human and sent him stumbling, I looked up to see another, female human. She was glaring at the human with all the disgust and hatred the cruel man had ever showed toward me “shake that pup again” roared the human “and Ill kill you”. She reached forward and tried to take the pup but the male human had recovered and deliberately pulled Mud away from her “what’s it to you, it’s just a stupid animal”

“Just and animal” spat the human “it’s better than you dirtbag” as she said it she took a step forward and clenched her hands into fists.

The male human holding mud snarled and pushed Mud’s rescuer violently. To my shock, In retaliation to the push the female humans fist hit the male in the face so hard I heard the thump and smelt the blood. The male fell to the ground still clutching Mud; the female leant down and snatched her from him, glaring hatred. The male got slowly you his feet then ran like a frightened dog, his friends followed him, fear and shock coming off them in waves. The female watched them go before turning back to me. I cringed away from her but she just smiled at me “it’s alright girl” she growled in a soft Tvoice “ I won’t hurt you” she lent down and placed Mud carefully at my side again. I pulled her into my side instantly “my name is Jenna” said the girl softly, she reached out her hand towards me, I cringed back expecting a hit, but Jenna just pulled away “are you hungry girl” she asked. She stood up and walked over to a white bag; she stuck her hand inside and pulled out a delicious smelling object wrapped in more white crinkly stuff. She unwrapped the object and I saw that it was some type of food, she walked back over to me and crouched down again “here you are sweetie” she growled kindly pushing the food towards me “mum won’t mind me sharing” she sat back on her haunches and watched me. I leant forward and sniffed the food, it smelled delicious, I pulled back and looked at Jenna was this a trick “go on” urged Jenna “it’s alright”. I cringed away and into my pups protectively, Jenna sighed “I’ll leave it here” Jenna growled and got to her feet, then without a word she disappeared down the alleyway. I stared after her for a few heartbeats then looked down at the food, it was hot and smelled of cooked meat, I leant down and licked the food experimentally, the flavour hit me instantly it was delicious, I pulled back, hesitating, Jenna had saved Mud and even given me this food and for the first time in my life I felt that mot all humans were as mean and cruel as the man at my old home. I carefully reached forward and gulped down the food, it was warm and delicious.

 The next day

The next day Jenna came to see me again. She brought food and a strange white soft thing. I cringed away again still scared she might turn on me and beat me. But she just smiled warmly and knelt beside me again, she put the white thing over my scrawny body and placed some more warm food at my paws “it’s okay girl” she growled kindly “I won’t hurt you”. She reached forward and touched my head, I pulled away expecting a beat but she just ran her hand gently over my head and smiled warmly again. Her touch felt nice and I leant my head into her hand, she laughed softly and rubbed a bit harder although still very gently “you’re so cute” she growled she rubbed me under the chin then stood up “eat the food” she advised softly, she knelt down again and took the white soft thing from my back, she shook it and it became bigger. I pulled back, frightened, “its okay girl” growled Jenna softly "it’s only a blanket", she knelt down again and put the ‘blanket’ over me. Instantly I felt the warmth from my body fill the space under the blanket “this will keep you warm” growled Jenna. She gently pulled my pups closer to me so that they we pressed against my  belly and under  the blanket " there you are sweetheart" she growled softly. She stood up and walked quietky away. I Once she was gone I dipped my head and gulped down the food she had brought, It was so delisious. I could feel the warmth thrill through my body and already my milk was begining to come and my pups were ninily feeding under the warmth of the blanket. I gulped down the lst bites of the food and lsy my head on the cold cround, for once in my life I felt as if Humans could be loving and kind. Jenna had never shown anything but kindness and protectivness toward me, but what if that was just a show what if she came back tommorow and tried to take my pups away and kill them. All though, he skin had smell sweet and kind not bad and bloody like the cruel man of my old home, and she had defended me againsrt the group who was trying to hurt my pups . I closed my eyes and thought about it.

The next morning 

I open my eyes as a cold splash wets my muzzle. I look up to see clouds covering the sky and a cold sleet has begun to fall. I shiver and pull back futher into the warnth of my blanket, there is little shelter here and every drop  soaks into my pitifull body like ice. I can fell my pups sqirming beneath me and I know that they are cold aswell but there is no shelter anywhere. The sleet began to get hevier and soon my blanket was soaked and I shivered as the cold eaisily penertrated my thin pelt. Suddenly a familiar scent wafts over me and I see Jenna comimg towards me, alarm and fear shoots through my body when I see a second human beside her an adult!. I cringed away, so this was a trick, jenna had brought this other human to hurt me. Jenna reached me first telling the other human to stay back "it's alright girl" she growled softly "this is my mum Keyara she won't hurt you shes come to help". I snifed the air still unsure of whether to trust the adult, her scent was sweet like Jennas and filled with concern.

Keyara walked slowly toward me keeping low, she reached me and slowly placed her hand on my head "your so beautifull" she growled softly " how could anyone hurt you" she broke off and I felt a wave of anger thrill through her "people like that discust me" she spat. I cringed away from her anger expecting her to turn on me, but she only lay her hand on me again "Im sorry girl" she wispered kindly.

"mum we have to get her home before this sleet gets heavier"

I pricked my ears 'home'!. were thay taking me back to my old home to be beaten by the creul man again. "go get the box" growled Keyara "Quickly". Jenna nodded and raced off again. while she was gone Keyara lifted off the blanket and put her hands on my pups "so small" she growled, her voice was odd as if she were fighting sadness, I sniffed the air and smelled sadness and anger coming off her in waves, Jenna apeared then carrying a lage object. She placed it beside me. I pulled back unsure.