I wrapped Bruce in a blanket and gently placed him onto the rotted loam of the backyard.
As Bruce closed his eyes with exhaustion, I headed with purpose towards the battered shed. With a mixture of urgency and trepidation, I opened the door. The room was almost pitch black. My senses were assaulted by the strong smell of dog urine and faeces. Pitiful yaps filled the cold air. I reached along the grimy wall until I located the light switch and flicked it on tentatively.
I gazed in horror at the sight that greeted me. The shed was filled with puppies of varying sizes and breeds, cramped together and trying to obtain warmth.
A Pomeranian lay feeding her puppies on a filthy old mattress which was stained with dirt and other horrific substances.
A tan and white puppy cowered pitifully in a corner of the shed, whimpering pathetically as if remembering unforeseen cruelties.
A collection of mewling mahogany and white puppies lay upon filthy newspaper. They formed a wreathing mass of consternation.
Two Moodle siblings huddled together, their apricot coloured fur creating a barrier against the cold.
"Ella, I need to talk to you," Edward called from outside the shed.
"What's wrong?" I asked with concern.
"There must be about 90 dogs here. I don't know how we're going to get them back to Forks," he said.
Before Edward and I could discuss this problem any further, we heard a loud beeping coming from the front of the house. I propelled hurriedly to the front of the house. Parked out was a pristine white bus. With a hiss, the doors opened and out walked Alice with a flourish. Jasper followed with a smile.
"I saw into the future that we are taking lots of dogs home with us," said Alice with undisguised excitement."Jasper and I thought we'd contribute to the idea. I hope you like our bus!" she said happily.
"Thank you for helping these poor dogs," I said with relief.
"Follow us around to the backyard," said Bella. "We need all the helpers we can get."
We returned to the backyard. I made my way back inside the shed. Due to my gift of communicating with animals, I knew I could give these prisoners a gift of hope and safety and that they would understand me.
"My friends and I are going to help you get out of here," I said. "They will be picking you and your puppies up. Please don't be afraid - we will not harm you."
"We trust you," said a parti-coloured Australian Shepherd with blue eyes sparkling with hope. It was seated next to a nervous looking coal black and snow white pup.
"Someone will need to help me and my friend," said a Pomeranian.
"We are only babies," said an inky coloured kelpie cross.
''On my honour, I will protect you from harm's way," I promised , meaning every word.
"Some of us are very strong and don't need to be carried,"said two energetic Staffordshires.
"I'm also very strong,"said a Labrador with determined brown eyes.
"That's great!" said Renesmee encouragingly. "If you can walk, walk. And if you can run, run."
Some dogs ran with all their might towards the bus. Others walked slowly but with determination. The dogs who were too weak or too young were lovingly carried to the bus by my family and I, who worked with vampire speed to transfer the dogs.
I carried a tri colour cavoodle to the bus. He kissed me lovingly on the cheek.
Emmett's enormous arms and broad shoulders were filled with puppies.
Renesmee managed to straddle four puppies at a time in her lap.
Edward and Bella joined hands to carry a poodle cross that was wriggling uncontrollably. It smiled enthusiastically in their arms.
Finally, the puppies and their parents were secured safely onto the bus. Though the bus was inaccessible to me due to having steps, I was able to drag myself up the steps using my powerful arms. I sat in the back of the bus with Bruce perched happily on my lap.
Suddenly I heard the sound of gravel under tyres. Two black cars sped recklessly towards us.
Oh no, I thought. The bad men are back...
Soundtrack
While I was writing this chapter I was listening to:
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