So soon in the morning and he is already awake. He hurriedly came to give me food. Surely, he won't be at home today. But don't get fooled, I am not complaining. My name is Martis, a five years old cat. My human is the grandson of my late owner. It has been two weeks since I got into his house. He is really kind but so unlucky, like his late grandmother. Is it a disease in their family? I tough.I don't think so, perhaps it is because I am a cat, a black cat.

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. Enraged birds cursing on their flight as their calm lunch-break is disrupted. The crunchy leaves echo through the otherwise silent forest and all my friends turn their head to the source of the annoying noise and while deciding whether to run away or stare in interest.

And then I finally saw the noisy monster. But, to my surprise, it was not some big animal or any kind of monster but one of those human creatures. It was rather small, not much taller than me and its thin legs were moving ridiculously fast, making its approach in my direction. Its hair was a color of setting sun and strangely growing only from the top of its very round head.

But OH MY GOD, it was so noisy! With its every step the birds screeched in horror as they quickly flew away and the furry squirrels hurried to climb up the closest tree in hope of not being followed. But this thing just continued to run with an occasional high-pitched squeals for no reason whatsoever, spreading its arms as if trying to fly like a butterfly and jumping in a very funny way. Its head was turning all over the place, not knowing where to rest its curious eyes but… OH HELL NO.

Its eyes connected with mine and it finally saw me. Suddenly, the stomping stopped but my heartbeat picked up a pace. This thing watched me with utmost curiosity and I believe if I was closer I could see myself mirrored in its eyes. Then it took something from the blue thing in its hand and dropped it on the ground before its feet. My eyes followed to the ground and I could see a variety of acorns and other colorful feed, but then this thing started to step closer with a hand stretched before it with a piece of yellow root in it, looking at me expectantly.

Yeah, as if I am going to be dumb enough to let you come closer; I turned without hesitation and quickly started to jump away.

BYE, you annoying creature!

My babies are sweet

Too sweet for this world

Not an ounce of deceit

As the maelstrom swirls

My sweet little loves

It's time for your baths

Close your eyes with what was

Escape Jah's cruel wraths

When I was a babe, mamma used to fed me walnuts. They were so good! She had big brown eyes - proud of me.

I miss walnuts so much! I was in a tree, and it bumped and then there were no more walnuts.

Until I found the human lady in the house with the spinning things all over in her yard; she gives me a walnut.

I came back the next day, she gave me another. Her eyes are like momma's - big brown and proud of me.

One day the lady with the spinning yard wasn't there.

I came back the next day,

And the next,

Nothing.

I remember momma after the tree bumped too hard. Red stuff, smelled awful. Momma never looked at me proud again.

I go inside the house.

The lady is sleeping. She's not awake. There are walnuts on the floor. The lady's eyes are still big. Still brown, but they don't see me.

I touch the lady.

She stirs, but there's red stuff on her. She's like how momma was.

I scream and I run and I make noise. I push stuff to the floor and they break and make more noise.

A man walks in and sees the lady. He falls and screams and gets back up.

He comes to me - he's scary so I run away.

The picks something up.

I'm sorry lady.

I'm sorry - he's too big.

It is a long time and I miss walnuts.

I wonder about the lady.

I miss momma.

The scary man gives me walnuts now.

He's got blue eyes, but they are proud and big too.

He says the lady will be ok.

Because of me.

I’d see her every day before.

Coming down the stairs in the morning, coming home from school, before bed.

She was my human. Before, in the morning she came downstairs and petted my head, and I wagged my tail, and she made me food. She was the best human. It was always the same every day, walks at similar times, same food, it was always nice with my human.

She had long, ebony hair, and was tall. Taller than me on my 2 back paws. She usually wore soft hoodies and jeans, and wore Converse most of the time, which was good for our walks. She had dark brown eyes, while mine were what she called ‘Jade Green’

I guess that’s why they call me Jade.

Some days it was weird, she would act or look strange. She once left for 3 days and didn’t come back, but grandma was here so it wasn’t that bad. Grandma had short dark hair with gray patches running through it. She was a small, round woman, who would often give me treats! Then that started happening more often. She would be gone for a really long time and I didn’t know why, and didn’t know what to do about it.

After a few months of this she finally came back! She looked more frail however, and more sickly. Her face looked odd, and much more pail. Her arms were skinnier, couldn’t throw the ball like she used to. Her joints were stiffer, couldn’t play like she used to. Her legs were skinnier, and weaker, she couldn’t walk like she used to. Eventually she couldn’t walk at all. She had this chair—and it had wheels on it too! At least I thought she could roll with me now; we never really go out anymore.

Grandma started coming over more, she started taking me on walks! Eventually she started coming everyday, at least I would be able to walk more.

One day, after Grandma left, she played with me a little bit. She did it the best she could. She could barely throw the ball across the room; and she couldn’t move much. But it was enough for me.

Then, she went upstairs with the stair lift, she couldn’t use her legs at all anymore. She carefully climbed into bed as I followed, and lied down. I lied by her legs, and she sat up, put her hands on my cheeks, ruffled my hair, and said—

“You are my world,” and then she laid down, and that was it.

I got up in the morning to wake her.

She was cold.

She didn’t move

And didn’t make anymore sound.

Then Grandma came by again, her eyes looked wet when she found her. A big truck came later around noon. They took her downstairs, outside, and into the truck. That was the last time I saw her. Everyone left for a while, about a day and a half. Until Grandma came back! She put me on my leash, took me outside, and into her red car, and told me—

“Time to go home Jade, Nancy won’t come back. But one day—you’ll go to her.”

Everyone should have a dog.

You can usually tell a good person by a good pet. Good people enjoy a good scratch and some may mess up but it's forgiven. Since good people, can be willing to learn.

Rodney might be one who needed a dog the most.

The leader of the pack was Tally. She had a mate named Marcus who understood the order of the pack for the most part. Most of the time.

But Tally had gotten her way nonetheless.

She told me of something called a foster.

The foster was named Rodney.

Rodney, was a boy. A very quiet boy who wasn't like kids. Big two-legged pups explored and ran around, else how did they get the lay of their land and start making their place in the pack.

The Pack was to have eyes watching out and watching over to make sure everything ran smooth.

Rodney didn't understand a lot.

Rodney was going to be shy and possibly not enjoy a hug. Being gentle was going to be very important.

"Rodney doesn't like loud noises."

Tally spun her finger, which I followed.

"Wag your tail."

"Good boy!"

Rodney was going to need a lot of looking after. A lot more than normal big puppies.

But, I was here. Don't worry Tally, he'll be a good dog in no time.

Wait, wait where are you going? Aren't we-- Rodney's being picked up. Today. Today Tally, did you forget?

Why did you close the door.

I scraped up my nails at the door.

Dumb doorknobs.

I got off my hind legs and lay down, curled in front of the door step.

When they came back I just about leapt out of my skin! They were gone so long! It was forever and forever...!

"Um."

Rodney was here!

Eager to please I toddled around in the awkward circle that made Tally laugh and call me good boy.

And again she laughed, almost losing her sense when I nipped my tail.

Humans. Always giddy at the smallest things.

"Hello doggy."

Yes! Hello Rodney!

Rodney got a lot less hackled, he had no fur, but I could just feel it in the air like sewing needles all around like that spiky bush dead on the road during a big trip.

For the time being he was as docile as he'd probably ever get.

His eyes were sharp. Too sharp and empty.

Whatever poured out that was so heavy and mean made me want to just shake it, shake it off but I remembered everything Tally had said.

I remembered how we'd met at that big white building where he'd been in scratchy, stiff clothes that could not have been comfortable. I lightly wondered if it was some punishment vest.

And his hair then had been held down by a snapping, stinging odor of hair spray.

We continued our stare.

Tally was really nervous, smelling of sweat and some other feeling that was... familiar. Once.

When she'd had this big belly and a second heartbeat.

Rodney finally looked at Tally. "Can we-- play? Is he mine?"

"Well he's the family dog but, I do think he likes you quite a bit."

Rodney flinched a bit as his fingers brushed up my wet nose. I whimpered, asking, for a pet.

Slowly, I nuzzled my sweet spot at his hand.

Making him pay attention and with an uncertain crease did he pet me.

Rodney was gonna be a real good boy.

Slow sluggish steps creep up the spiral stairs. Sleep covers her face but she still comes. She always comes. The man stays in bed but my lady always comes. I watch her with intense certainty, I am here for her, to protect her, I need to go patrol and she holds the key, or in this case opposable thumbs to unlock the door and turn the knob. I am ready! She comes, she looks at me with deep compassion, "What is it? Are you ok?" I stare at the door. She sighs. She begrudgingly opens the door to my cauchapony of alerts and snarls. "Shhhhh, Marie, quiet, it's 3:34am." I explode into the yard. I glance back and she waits exhausted leaning against the wall by the window waiting and watching me. I do this for her, for them but mostly for her. I finish and request reentry. She greets me warmly with concern and says, "What was it? What did you find?" She pets me gently and kisses me on the head, I follow her to the bathroom demanding more pets as she smiles and abides. Then I go to open the bathroom door and check on the others. She quietly calls me back. "Marie, not yet, it's too early. Come here my baby." I follow her and hop on my favorite blue couch, where I have created a nest of pillows and blankets that my lady always rearranges. She looks down at me lovingly gives me one last pet, kisses me and says, "Goodnight my baby, I love you."