JP - A Gloomy Walk

Bella’s ears instantly shot up and she let out a happy bark, tail wagging.

“Just stay within the perimeter around the place, okay? We have a lot of security, but outside the perimeter, you could be snatched up like she was.” Delilah explained, reminding him of the marked trees that told them where the perimeter ended.

“Okay.” Bronte said, getting to his feet. When he reached the outside, it was raining. Figures. His shoulders slumped and he looked at Bella.

Bella barked and pointed with her nose toward a covered walkway they could walk under.

Bronte hurried through the rain to the covered walkway. Even with the covered walkway, the rain made it so gloomy and damp.

Despite the gloominess and how damp everything was, Bella was having fun running up and down the path, always returning to Bronte and giving him a happy bark before she’d run off again. She never left the path, though, because she didn’t want him to feel alone.

Bronte wished he was as resilient as Bella. He walked to the end of the walkway and stopped.

Bella sat on the walkway floor and looked up at Bronte, panting with her tail wagging. She sniffed the air a few times and snorted. There seemed to be nothing around but them and the trees.

“Ready to go back?” Bronte asked, thinking the walk was terribly short.

Bella shook her head and pawed at his leg gently. She wanted to make him feel better.

“How can you stand it?” Bronte asked Bella. HIs eyes filled with tears again.

Bella’s ears fell back and she sat on her haunches, tail falling as well. She didn’t want to admit it or show it, but she’d hated what happened to her, hated that they let those male dog metas hold her down and rape her over and over again. She had cried and tried to get away, but nothing worked. They were all stronger than her…

Leaning against Bronte’s leg, she nuzzled against it.

Bronte sat on the ground, hugged Bella and wept for both of them.

Bella hugged Bronte back, wishing with all her heart that she could help him.

The wind shifted and blew the rain into them. Bronte shivered.

Bella let out a snort and tried to nudge Bronte back inside where he could dry off.

Bronte stood up and hurried with Bella back inside. He was still shivering.

Bella went to a hallway closet and pawed at it, looking back at Bronte. She knew there were towels in there and wanted him to get one so he could dry off and avoid getting sick.

Bronte opened the door and got out some towels. He draped one on Bella’s head while he vigorously rubbed his hair with another towel.

In silly dog fashion, Bella shook her head and got the towel off before biting onto it and shaking it around humorously. Her tail was wagging even more than before. Bronte had given her a blanket! Sure, it was a towel, but she saw things in simplicity.

“Bella- you’re supposed to dry off…” It was hard not to smile at the dog-girl being so happy over something so simple.

Bella looked up, blinking in confusion for a moment before going back to her playing. Somehow, she got herself wrapped up in it, though.

“I… guess that will work.” Bronte sighed.

Bella panted while lying down and smiled up at Bronte before barking at someone behind him. It was Nero walking up to them.