Chancey’s POV

I jogged easily down the trail, the warm spring breeze offering an almost soothing feeling. I was alone again, ever since almost all of my friends paired up; I found myself on my own a lot. I pushed forward into a sprint, I was headed for Halfway Hill as I had self entitled it, it was the halfway point to the Slop Area. I had grown quite a bit, I was just over my first year, Lucky said I looked just like Mom, I was flattered that he thought me so beautiful, Pebble was lucky to have someone like him. Rolly and Jewel had gotten together as odd as it seems, and Cadpig had found a male, a Sheppard dog down the road named Mystic, they were both very spiritual, to such an extent it often scared me. Me? I had no one, I like Tripod, all my friends know I’ve crushed on him forever, and I love him dearly, but the problem is, I’ve admitted it to everyone but him.

I was suddenly jarred from my thoughts when Mooch jumped out into the trail; I stopped not so gracefully before him. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t little Spotless” he sneered “and look, she’s all alone.” I rolled my eyes as I dusted off my shoulders. “I’m not alone, everyone else is just slackin’, and you know how fast I am these days” I said as a confident smirk played across my face, but the same smirk crossed his face as he circled me tightly. “I know you’re lying Chancey, you’re terrible at it” I rolled my eyes “what do you want Mooch?” I asked impatiently. “I’m offering you the honor of hanging out with me in the gang, a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to follow moi around all day. What do you say?” Heh, this was going to be fun. “Sure, Mooch, I’d love to follow you around all day, and do whatever it was that you asked of me” I crooned sweetly, smirk ever present. “Really?”

“Mm-hm” I said getting so close to him that we were now nose-to-nose “When pigs fly and chickens lay golden eggs!” I growled shoving past him and running off, he was so annoying.  I finally made it to the hill where I promptly sat with a huff, eyes narrowing in annoyance at the small yellow flower at my paw (one leg remember?) My anger seemed to evaporate however, and I grew tired, so I slumped to the ground and slipped into a peaceful sleep.

I growled when someone gently probed me. “Go away Mooch, I know it’s you” he probed me again, this time harder, I growled again and my eyes shot open with a flash of anger “Mooch I-!”

“Have a nice nap, Chancey?”  I looked up to the male “Tripod?” I asked as I pulled myself up into a sit. “The one and only” he said confidently, I just laughed and shook my head. “I figured you’d still be working out, what are you doing back so early?” I asked as he sat next to me. “Oh, I just turned in early” I looked at him closely, before pouncing. “Are you sick or-or dying?” I asked looking him over, Tripod never turned in early, never! It was so not like him. He laughed shoving me off of him. “No, but it’s not as fun when you’re alone, so I just turned in.” That made since. “So, where’s Lucky and the others, I thought you’d be with them” I shook my head. “Nah, there all busy with their boyfriends and girlfriends, so I just went for a run and took a nap. I find myself alone a lot now days”

“It can’t be that bad” Tripod argued. “But it is, they’re all taking pity ‘cause I’m all alone, or in the way when it’s just a party for two.” Surely Tripod understood what I meant. “I just wish I had what they had…” I said, not meeting his gaze “I wish I had someone who loved me like that.” Tripod chuckled “you sound like a girl” I slugged his shoulder “I am a girl, and who cares? I still want it.” Tripod sighed. “Me too, maybe we’ll find it soon enough, now c’mon, I’ll race ya to the Slop Area and back!”

“I win!” Tripod announced triumphantly “guess you’re not the fastest on the farm anymore, huh, Chancey?” I scoffed and rolled my eyes “you only won ‘cause you got a head start” I stated defensively and shoved him playfully. “Did not, you’re just a sore loser” he said and shoved me back. I shoved him in return “You tryin’ to start something Chancey?” he asked with a cunning grin and a gleam in his eyes. “Maybe, maybe not, who cares?” I asked and pounced on him, we wrestled for a long time, neither of us willing to be pinned and too prideful to accept a draw. Eventually though, I thought I had outsmarted him and pinned him, but he easily used his back legs to toss me over head, and the next thing I knew he was leaning over me. I was instantly aware of how close he was and blushed, of course he caught it, and he smirked at my sudden shyness. He leaned over and let his nose touch mine; I gasped in surprise, and blushed even harder as he leaned in and nuzzled me affectionately “I love you, Chancey” he told me after he pulled away. “I have for a long time, I just couldn’t tell you” I nuzzled into him, finally! “I love you too, Tripod” I said softly “I love you too.”

As days and weeks passed I felt like I was walking on air, not only were Tripod and I now mates, but we were having puppies! Everyone was so excited for us, well except Mooch, but I don’t think he was ever happy. Tripod was becoming very protective of me, which amused everyone I had told him I don’t know how many times “I’m pregnant, not helpless!” I really liked that he was looking after me though, but apparently, according to Lucky, nothing was funnier than Tripod the night I gave birth. He’d have paced a hole in the floor if it had been possible. I felt for him sincerely, but I would not have him in there with me, it wasn’t exactly dignifying for a female when she gave birth.

 I was in the house, Perdi was at my side in the kitchen Anita and Nanny were also being a big help. Pebble, Lucky and the others were in the living room, and I could actually here Lucky laughing. “Tripod, calm down, she’s giving birth, not dying.” Several barks of laughter followed the comment, and I smiled weakly, but everything didn’t go well, I could hear my pets talking. “Oh, the poor thing, it’s so sad” What, what was? “Five pups and only one survivor, it’s so tragic.” No! Just one out of five? Tears pricked my eyes and I looked to Perdi, she was saddened “I’m so sorry dear” she said softly as Anita gave me my pup, my little girl. “S-s-send Tripod in p-please” I told her as tears slipped down my cheeks, Nanny had been informing everyone throughout the labor, so I was sure he knew. Perdi nodded as she and the women walked out, I leaned over and gently licked my pup, she squeaked and squirmed as she pressed closer to me. “Chancey…” I looked up to him “Tripod…” I said softly, I could tell he’d been crying “I’m sorry” I whispered. He walked up and laid beside me “what on earth for?” he asked. I blinked back more tears “I must’ve done something wrong” I mumbled sadly as I gazed at my only pup. “Chancey…look at me” I refused, I couldn’t look at him right now, he sighed and nuzzled me beneath my chin, forcing my head up to meet his deep sorrowful gaze. “This wasn’t your fault, you did everything you could to make sure they’d be healthy, it’s not your fault.” I sighed, maybe he was right, I nuzzled deeper into him and let a few more tears fall, he comforted me throughout the night, but I knew I hadn’t failed, we still had one pup, and she was more than I could ever ask for. She’d grow up beautiful and strong, she was a survivor, she was going to be fine, we all were.

The End

The last of my Chancey’s Tale series, bummer, It’s kinda short, but don’t worry, I’ll keep tellin’ stories, but more about her daughter than her, be lookin’ out for ‘em!